Bright Pink Lipstick!

I've mentioned before that I don't really talk about lip color too much only because lip colors really depend on your skin tone and they can look completely different depending on who is wearing them. However, today I thought I would break my own rule. I am pretty obsessed with the bright pink lipstick trend. I think I first fell in love with the color that Christina Aguilera was wearing for some event.

It is really funny because a blog had the same picture and called the color ugly. Oh well, I like it.

Ever since I saw it on her, I had to get my hands on a tube of it. However, hot pink and bright red lipsticks are probably two of the hardest colors to find the right shade of...unless you are going to a make-up counter of course. I think all together I have four that are my favorites. Each are different and hit at two different price points. Here they are in order of favorite to least favorite.

1. Napoleon Perdis - Calypso
I love the Calypso color because it is so intense. It is a very bright pink, but has a bit of a reddish in it, which went very well with my skin as you can see in the picture below. It goes on very smoothly, but I would definitely recommend using a lip brush to apply it. I like to wear my Cottage Cheese NYX pencil as a base and then put the color over it to give a little more shimmer. Still, it is very shiny on its own. I guess the only drawback is price. This lipstick is great, but also $22.00. I bought it with a gift certificate a couple of months ago at Ulta.

Of course the lighting in my dining room does it no justice, but I think you
can get a somewhat good idea of how bright and shiny it is. It is really an intense pink. 

2. Milani - Fuchsia Freeze
Milani is great because a lot of their shadows and lipsticks are really good quality, but for a really good price. The Fuchsia Freeze is a slight bit lighter than Calypso, but definitely just as beautiful. It also has a bit more shimmer than the Calypso of which I like. I bought mine at Walgreens, but I didn't see it on their webpage. If you find it at Walgreens, it will cost you $4.99, but Amazon has it for $3.88. I did see one color called Rose Hip on the website, but I think if you have a more yellowish skin tone it would not be good. It seemed to be more fitting for someone with blonde hair or African American women.

3. Loreal Colour Riche- Minx
Minx is kind of a tricky color. It looks like of dull and almost purply on the hand, but it is a pretty intense shade. I really like Loreal Colour Riche lipsticks. I think they make up more than half of my obscene lipstick collection. They are moisturizing and the colors are also very diverse. They also don't seem to feather as much either. If you were looking for a pink that is a little more subtle, yet still bright, this might be the right color for you. Of course, I couldn't find it on the Walgreen's website, but they may still have it on the shelf. That probably goes for the Milani color too. I did find it on E-bay brand new for $2.99 though.

4. Milani Sheer Color Lipstick - Luscious
I have a swatch below of all four colors, but if you go looking for this color, make sure it is part of their sheer color line and has a pink base with a gold cover rather than a full gold case. They also make a color called luscious that is very dark and red. I like this color least only because it is a much lighter bright pink and is definitely more opalescent than rich with color. Still, it is a really beautiful shade. This one again could not be found on the Walgreens website. I think it was on sale when I bought it, so you would need an alternative location to find it. I did find it on Amazon for $6.20.

So, those are my four favorite pinks and here is a swatch of each one!

Ugh, I really need to do something about the lighting in here and get my camera fixed. This was taken with my phone camera and I don't feel the colors look as nice. Sorry guys!

Pictured from left to right.

1. Milani Luscious
2. Milani  Fuchsia Freeze
3. Napoleon Perdis Calypso
4. Loreal Colour Riche Minx

Reader Question - Mascara Brushes

This is why I love my readers. I was feeling a bit disappointed that I was low on Cosmetic Tuesday ideas. After all, it is probably my favorite day of the week. However, just when I was getting ready to retire my mind swirling with no ideas, I get this lovely comment:

Hi Michelle! I love Cosmetic Tuesdays. I was wondering if you have tried all of the crazy mascara 

brushes (fat, thin, long, disco ball…) and what you thought of all of them.

Thank you so much for this idea! No only is this a great topic, but it is also a good source for inspiration on doing some posts about other make-up essentials, such as brushes!

So, let’s see, I think I should first start with some essential mascara tips and work my way to wands and products.

Mascara Tips and Ideas

1.     Mascara is probably the most frustrating of make-up topics. I say this mainly because mascara should be replaces more often than other products. This bugs me since I really love to buy my mascara in different colors. I think right now I have blue, black, brown, and purple mascara. In any case, experts recommend disposing of mascara after two or three months of use. They tell you to do this for two reasons. First, it dries out, and second, if you pick up bacteria in your make-up, which is inevitable, you can hurt your eyes. I tend to ignore that rule and keep mine longer, but I would be careful with following my poor example.

1. One tip to extending the life of your mascara is by not pumping the wand. My make-up artist sister saw me doing this one day and just lost it. Basically, by pumping the wand all you are doing is letting air in and that will end your mascara’s life far quicker than just dipping it one more time.

1. 2.     A second tip is that before opening your mascara, lightly tap the closed tube against your hand to get the extra product off of the brush. This will make for a smoother application. You do not want to get clumpy lashes, or as we like to call it in my family, spider lashes.

1. 3.     Look for the signs of an aged mascara. If you are going to keep your mascara past two months, make sure your mascara is not drying out too much. A good mascara will have some shine and will apply smoothly. If it is providing some friction, clumping your lashes or looks cakey on the brush, you really need to get rid of that product immediately. It doesn’t look good and it probably means you are in danger of giving yourself an eye infection or losing control of the wand only to end up with mascara on your lid or nose. I don’t know about you, but I hate when that happens, it really ruins all of the work you just did.

1. 4.     Don’t believe the hype. Just like other make-up or hair products, mascara comes with a line of advertisements. Some products claim to add volume, others separate your lashes, and some claim they will make them longer. This is all malarkey. The mascara formula itself will generally never do these things. It is really how you apply it, the wand you use and the natural volume and length of your lashes. I will give my thickening lash remedy below and the volume and defining lash ideas will follow in my wand verbiage.

Thicker lashes

To get thicker lashes, you will want to use a primer. This can be a true primer like what Studio Gear makes or Revlon, or even clear mascara. I think the primers are probably better suited though. If you apply your primer first and let it dry, it will instantly add a coat to your lashes to thicken them. Since lashes tend to thin out as they get further away from your eye, add a second coat to the tips. Then, add your mascara after. This should thicken your lashes in a natural way without adding falsies.

$14 at studiogearcosmetics.com

$3.99 at drugstore.com

Mascara Wands

1.     Thick Wands – This is the wand type I use. I like my mascara wands thick and with plentiful bristles. This is because I have really long and thick lashes. The more bristles you have, the better the wand will separate your lashes giving you less clumping, more definition, and probably more volume. The thicker the wand, the better the coverage you will get on length as well. So, if you have thicker and longer lashes, Benefit’s Bad Gal is a really great product. I wish I would provide you with a second option for cheaper, but unfortunately I have not found a competing product that works nearly as well as this one. Bad Gal can be purchased on the Benefit website or at Ulta.

$19.00 full size at Ulta or Sephora, or sample for $9 at Sephora

2.

            Skinny wands – Skinny wands tend to work better for shorter lashes. If you want definition, you will want to look for more bristles on the wand, but the skinnier wand should allow you more control. My favorite mascaras that would fit this type of wand would be Maybelline’s Great Lash mascara and Studio Gear’s mascaras.

The Maybelline mascara is the most popular one you are used to hearing about. It comes in the pink tube with a pink or green top. The best part is that it comes in blue in addition to the standard black and brown. The blue is also a really gorgeous color too, not your standard navy.

$5.49 at Walgreens

Studio Gear is probably a product you haven’t heard of before unless you are familiar with the prestige lines at Ulta. This is actually the company my sister worked for when she was a make-up artist. They have some pretty good products, but they are exclusive to Ulta. You can buy most of their products on the website, but if you have an Ulta nearby, I would recommend going in instead to make sure you get exposure to everything they have to offer. 

$14.50 at Ulta or Studio Gear's website

Disco Ball Wand

Now the disco ball wand is just crazy. I put a picture of one that Loreal makes below. Honestly, I found no good use for this wand. I can’t remember where I tried this crazy thing, but I didn’t like it. The claim is that it thickens lashes. I can see that because the entire product is concentrated one crazy little ball. However, I think you can get the same result from a regular brush and some primer underneath. My take is that you should just leave it on the shelf and walk away quickly. If you did buy it already, I think you can still use it for thickening the tips of your lashes and perhaps applying it to your bottom lashes. Oh, that reminds me! I like to apply mascara to my bottom lashes since they are a bit longer. My sister is not a fan, explaining that unless you are skilled at applying mascara, you should avoid it. This really depends on how you feel about the situation; I don’t believe this is fuel for an age old feud on the use of mascara for your bottom lashes. However, if you are nervous about it, this wand might actually be a good thing to use to learn how to apply it. The ball is short and offers a great level of control. Since it claims to come on thicker, you will probably want to give that tube a really good whack against your hand to remove extra product though.

Curved Wands

I don’t really see a great benefit in the curved wand to be completely frank. If anything, I think it really only ruins the distribution of the mascara to your lashes. Sure, your lashes curve along your eye, but think about how you store your mascara. Generally, it is placed downward into a tube. This just means that the mascara will not distribute evenly over the wand. Chances are you will end up with more mascara on the bottom or middle of the brush. This may not be completely noticeable, but I don’t see a problem with our traditional straight wands to create a great need for the curve.

Length of the Wand

I actually don’t see much benefit or loss in how long your mascara brush is. Generally, you are going to need to apply more mascara to your inner lashes than your outter, and most wands are shorter than your lashes span. So, the shorter length really only offers you a little more control, if anything. I really think the length of the bristles, their material and the number of bristles matter. I would say avoid plastic bristles like what will come in a Max Factor mascara and opt for something with a little flexibility. The average wand soaks in some of the product where as a plastic bristle will just plop clumps on your lashes making more work for you. Also, remember that the price of mascara really means nothing.  I had a Smashbox mascara I hated just as much as a Max Factor mascara. I have always loved the Maybelline Great Lash mascaras just as much as I love my Bad Gal. It just really depends on the user and diagnosing your issue with application. If you have specific questions about a particular mascara, please let me know. Tell me what the problem is you are seeing, or what it is you would like out of your mascara and I can possibly help individually.

Given that, I will leave you with my steps to applying mascara in succession!

1. I first apply my primer to both my top and bottom lashes, adding a second coat to my inner lashes and the tips. I actually use my primer for my eyebrows too…I thought I should mention it.
2. Once dry, I add my mascara. For the first eye I start from the inside and work my way out. I generally start by doing quick short applications and do the inside first since the most product will be on the wand when you start and those are the thinnest lashes. I then elongate my application as I move toward the outter part of my eye. I add a little extra to the tips and then in a back and forth motion work the wand through my lower lashes.
3. For the second eye I usually start at the outside of my eye. I do this because if I am going to have to dip the wand again, I want more product on the inner lashes just like I did with the first eye.
4. Once done, I inspect for clumps and use a little eyelash comb to remove any that may be there.
5. Voila! You have perfectly thick and long looking lashes.

Here are a couple of pictures of what my mascara looks like on. 

Liquid Eye Liner - Trial and Error, But Mostly Error

Liquid liner is already a pretty tricky business. It is generally dries fast, smudges faster and can be a real pain to put on the way you wish it apply. It is why I pretty much stuck to pencil eyeliner for years. Still, every now and then over the years I would find a liquid liner I thought would be different. I would spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to put it on only to find it was too harsh or just messy looking. I think the major reason for my temptation to try and fail at liquid eyeliner is that it is probably one of the only things that will last on your eyes without smudging underneath.

Recently, I got back into my liquid eyeliner trial and error. I realized that based on watching a Tiffany D video, part of the issue is the applicator you use. She recommended probably my favorite liquid eyeliner in this world, Loreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner. What makes this eyeliner so great is that it has a strong felt tip, which makes application a lot easier than using those little flimsy applicators that come with most liquid eyeliners. You gain a level of control with the felt tip that makes it similar to applying a pencil eyeliner. Even better, it stays on like a dream and lasts for a long time. I think my most recent tube has lasted me three months or more and hasn't dried out yet. BUT, and there is a but, my issue was that it only came in one color of which is black. For my skin tone and eye color, black can be rather harsh for daily wear. See, black eyeliner has the power to make eyes stand out or it can make your eyes appear smaller than they are. This has been a problem for me, so I was definitely happy to see when I was planning this post that they make it in two brown colors as well. Still, if you are like me, you notice that even though brown is a better option, sometimes the browns have too much red in them and it makes you look tired. I will have to try their new browns to see if they are any better and report later when I find one at a Walgreens. 

I digress; however. So, in my search for liquid liner, I have had a hard time. I tried an NYX felt tip liner, but the liner never seemed to adhere to the tip as well as my loreal eyeliner. I then decided to try a Hard Candy liquid eyeliner I purchased from Walmart. That product had a ton of colors, but they never showed up on my eyes. Then, I found the one that I will warn you about. I was at an Ulta and found the brand LA Splash. If you have been to an Ulta you know they have two sections for make-up. They have their prestige lines, which are your more expensive brands, and then they have your drugstore brands. The LA Splash was in the drugstore brand section and had a ton of different color options. I
immediately went for the olive green thinking, this would be great, no more reddish brown or black liquid liner for me. Well, I got it home and immediately I hated the brush. I guess in all of my excitement I forgot to see if it was a felt tip. Plus, perhaps I was thinking that my felt tip experience made me a better candidate for using the flimsy brushes. Neither of these details mattered because what happened next was just uncalled for. I applied the eyeliner below my bottom water line and above my top lashes as to avoid getting the product in my eyes. However, this mattered very little. It burnt my eyes so bad I had to rinse them out and wash off all of the make-up I already put on my eyes. It was horrendous.

To make matters worse, I don't even have sensitive eyes. I am a contact wearer for maybe the past decade and a half, so I have my fingers in my eyes all of the time. Still, this eyeliner made my eyes water and produced a burning sensation like you wouldn't believe.

So...if you are ever at the store and wish to purchase an eyeliner, please, please, please avoid LA Splash unless you are really daring. There other products may be great, I'm not actually sure, but their eyeliners are just simply not suited for your eyes.

Hair Dye - Everybody Does It

Hair Dye, oh where to start. I have had my share of hair dye experiences. Prior to my college years, I was a big fan of dying my hair myself. I have naturally chocolate brown hair, so I generally would turn it variations of brown or red just to spice things up every now and then. When I went to college, I then began getting it done professionally. At that time in the early 2000s, streaks and highlights were in. I would get a nice blondish gold put in. I thought it was cute, but from time to time I would get horrified by the way it seemed that my hair was just turning lighter and lighter as a result of touch ups. I ditched that my senior year for black. I think the black was my favorite because it made my hair so shiny. Now, I am back to dying out of the box. My reasons for seeking out the box versus the salon have many reasons.

For one, dying your hair at home is far more economical than it is to get it done at the salon. Aside from the fear of putting my own highlights in, I went to a salon in college because Central Illinois hair salon prices are far cheaper per foil than they are in Chicago or the Chicago suburbs for that matter. I moved home to the Chicagoland area after college, so I am sure you can see the trend here.

Recently, I got up the nerve to try doing my own highlights at home. I was searching all of the popular hair dye brands (loreal, garnier, John Frieda, etc.) for what colors they have to offer for my boring brown locks. I guess every now and then a change is just a good thing. It can improve your mood, do wonders for your make-up and it is just fun to pamper yourself. Well, I

came across a Loreal two-in-one kit. Essentially, you start out by dying your hair one color, and then they give you a bleaching agent to add your own streaks or highlights. I was seriously scared about this decision, so I watched youtube videos, Loreal videos, read the instructions a million and one times and then decided I was brave enough to buy the product and try it out.

The product: L'Oreal Couleur Experte Express Two-In-One Multi-Tonal Color System
Hair Color: French Eclair (Light Ash Brown-Cooler)
My Experience: I have to say as scared as I was, the instructions and videos were accurate. The experience is similar to what they say, the bleach doesn't run. However, I will say two things. First, when you see someone doing their hair, it appears much easier than it is. In the salon you are being worked on by professionals who do highlights constantly. They are fast and obviously have a one-up on you who can't see the back of your head. Secondly, you are limited in time for how long you should keep the bleach on. This means that if you are slow and start at the bottom, the bottom of your hair could reach ten minutes just as you finish the top parts. If your hair is sensitive this could mean you are literally bleach blond underneath and gold or orange-ish up top. They tell you to test your hair after ten minutes by wiping some off, but as I have experienced even with salon professionals, my hair is dark and you can't really see the finished color as well as you can when it is dry. Lastly, it is extremely important you read the instructions, watch the videos and have a mirror and comb available for separating ends. Choosing pieces to dye is not as easy as it would seem. You almost have to practice without the dye before starting, like the night before.

I found that my hair did bleach a bit, but I was scared and washed it off probably a little early. I was worried this meant my hair would be orange, but it actually was more golden. You can't really see it or else I would post a picture. I might try it again to see if I loose my nerve and can be faster at it, but that is just me. I am never happy with my first try.

The Skinny: If you are brave and want to spend $14.99 on highlights compared to salon prices, go for it. However, like I said, watch the video on Youtube, read the instructions, practice the technique and make sure you have a hand mirror and a comb. I was planning on using foils, but like they say and I experienced, the bleach is actually pretty good at keeping place. Oh, and one more note, be careful when you pull pieces, one of the issues I had was that I was ending up with hairs that were coming from other places and I was starting to worry that my pieces were getting to wide. If you are doing this yourself, you really want to ensure you do small, skinny chunks or else your mess up, if one should happen, will be more noticeable.

Six Drug Store Cosmetics I Can't Live Without

Hi everybody! I am feeling in a make-up mood again today, so today is going to be my list of six drug store cosmetics I can't do without. I usually don't buy a lot of drug store cosmetics unless I find something really special, so I will follow with a list of mid-level cosmetics that are worth the money.

1. Revlon Powder Blush (60 Wine With Everything) $9.99 at Walgreens

What can I say about this blush. I can't exactly say it is ground shattering technology or anything, but I just love it. I think this color is the perfect pink to bring out my naturally green eyes to finish my look. The powder is loose and easy to apply. The color comes on muted ensuring you don't walk around looking like a clown and it lasts a long time.

2. Loreal Magicsmooth Souffle Foundation (520 Creamy Natural) $15.99 at Walgreens

I tried this product out on a whim. It is a new Loreal product and I have to admit I haven't liked their foundations in the past, especially any foundation product that claims to be a mouse. However, this product is great. I picked it up at a store because it claimed to go on smooth and blend well with various skin tones. I have to say, it does everything it says it will. I have naturally oily skin and I often find that my olive, yet pale toned skin does not match most foundations out there, especially drug store brands. This product on the other hand is perfect for my skin tone. It is so good, my husband is the one who I had determine which color was the best fit. I generally begin application by applying a little bit to my forhead, cheeks and chin. As soon as I put this product on, it matches my skin tone so well, I can barely see it. It smooths on nice with a sponge, I'm not sure about a foundation brush, though. All I can say is that it beats paying $25 dollars for more expensive brands. The best part is that since I am an allergy sufferer, hiding my dark circles can be a chore. When I finish my make-up I stick my spone into the product to give one more application under my eyes and it is perfect. For $15.99, you can't beat it.

3. Loreal Studio Secrets Foundation Primer $12.99 at Walgreens

Primers can be a tricky thing. As someone with oily skin, I want to use a primer, but it is often hard to get passed the oily feeling it leaves on your fingers. Do you really want to add an oil spill to your oil-prone skin? I think not. However, when I purchased the Loreal foundation, I was also looking for a primer and figured I would try this product as well. I am happy to report that it is probably the best primer I have ever had. I previously used the Smashbox primer people rave about, but I never felt that it did the job it touted. I didn't see the difference in enlarged poors and I felt it was wet to my skin. This primer, on the other hand, does not have that feel to it. It is oily to the touch, but when you rub it into your skin it immediately absorbs like a cream lotion. I apply it to my whole face before I put on anything, but after I apply lotion and an acne treatment and my make-up goes on smoothly right over. Go out and try it, I swear you will not be unhappy with your purchase. In fact, I am on my second bottle already.

4. Eco Tools Brush Sets or Singles $12.49 for the five piece set at Walgreens

I don't think that I am the first to say how useless those little sponge applicators are that come with eye shadow kits. They fall apart half of the time and forget trying to blend. When I broke into buying brush sets I was miserable over the prices. I tried buying cheap brushes just about everywhere and could never find anything worth it. On a wing and a prayer I purchased some professional-grade brushes by Sigma ($45.00 for a 7 piece set at sigmabeauty.com). They were great, but they didn't come with all of the brushes I wanted and I felt so guilty spending that money. So, upon some research I heard about Eco Tools brushes. I have to say, they are just as good as my sigma brushes. I will not lie and say that sigma doesn't have some brushes that win (a stiffer crease brush or eyeliner brush); however, I think I would have been none the wiser had I not purchased the Sigma brushes. Plus, I barely spent any money on the Eco Tools and they can be purchased at Walgreens. My favorites of the lot are a blush or powder brush and the flat brushes I use for intricate eye shadow application or concealer application. I have the set pictured above as well. If you are looking for an affordable brush set that can offer professional-level application I would run out now and buy them.

5. Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder (130 Classic Beige) $7.99 at Walgreens

Similar to my blush pick, I can't say there are a whole bunch of benefits I can brag about concerning this product. However, what I can say is that with oily skin, this means I am prone to break outs even as an adult. Putting on a primer, foundation, and powder just seems like a terrible idea. However, this powder is named perfectly, clean! It is a clean with a moderate coverage. I find it to be a perfect finish to ensure my skin is evenly toned before leaving the house. On most days (sans 90 degree days) it stays as a matted finish for most of the day.

6. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils $4.49 at Ulta (in-store and online)

I saved the best for last! Okay, so I kept hearing the rumblings about NYX as a great source for eyeshadows with high pigmentation (for those of you novices to make-up, this means intense color coverage due to the size of the particles). At first I couldn't find their products in my area (Northern Suburbs of Chicago). I was devastated, but then Ulta started carrying them in-store. I guess NYX has a couple of outlet stores or their products can be found at some perfume boutiques as well, but it is a relatively hard line to find in make-up or drug stores. The great thing is, everything people said was true and these pencils I reference are my favorite. They are jumbo eye shadow pencils, but I use them as eyeshadow primer. Now NYX does make an eye shadow primer in three colors (nude, white, and pearly white), but I found that I wanted something a little stickier to keep my color in place, so I tried the pencils and they are fantastic. I generally use the white one when I am trying to showcase bright colors because it keeps the hue true to its color without turning it a beige infused color your normal lids or beige primer tends to effect. When I am going smoky eye, I sometimes use the darker pencils to prime the outer corners of my lid to hold onto darker colors. It intensifies them a bit. Now, used as they advertise, I can't say I would. They are sticky as I said, almost wet, so I think with oily skin it will only slide and mesh with your other colors, but as a primer, they are perfect.

I hope you guys enjoyed my list and look for my list of products worth paying the price!