Revlon Crushed Velvet - Push Up Plum (swatch) DISC

There is nothing like the perfect red, wine, brown, burgundy lip to put you in the fall/winter mood!  No trouble with that here since it has been cold and we have already had a bit of snow.  I present to you Revlon Crush Velvet lipstick in Push Up Plum!

This is a creamy, beautiful plummy red color that has been over-sprayed with the most beautiful shimmer.  The shimmer does not run throughout the lip color...which was not good when I first swatched it as I was hoping to get a silvery red color out of this.  But the more and more I used this, the more I loved it!  The formulation is very smooth and creamy.  I do not find this lipstick to be too drying.  I think this collection came out a few years ago...along with a glittery eye shadow,  liquid lip/cheek stain, etc.  This was the only color of the lipsticks that I picked up.

I find this to be a great year round color as I am a huge fan of all shades of red for any time of year.  This is especially striking with a pale wash over the eye, very thin liner, tons of lashes/mascara, and a defined cheek.  With a color this bold, I like to keep the eyes and cheeks very innocent, and vamp up the mouth as much as I can.

This lipstick is no longer available in stores.  You may find it online or stores like Big Lots or Dollar Tree now.

What are your favorite fall/winter lip looks?

My Favorite Nudes - Smashbox Lipgloss in Smitten

I present to you one of my favorite nude glosses, Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Smitten!

SB Lip Enhancing Gloss in Smitten

These glosses can be found at places like Ulta, Sephora, online, etc.  It retails for $18.00 USD.  The formulation of this gloss is non-sticky and does have a slight sweet scent, but not over the top.  The packaging is a basic screw top with a doe foot applicator.

The gloss in Smitten was part of a two piece kit Ulta did that contained a face and body highlighter in the color Allure.  I believe when I purchased this, it was only $12.00...TOTAL STEAL!  You cannot find this gloss in the actual range now, but the closest dupe would be Debut or Pixel.  This gloss is completely nude, no shimmer whatsoever.

lt - Blended / rt - Swipe

4-5 hours is the length of wear I get with this gloss.  This color in particular could be built up, but I love its sheer color, as it tends to really improve the color of ones lips.  This is definitely what I would call MY LIPS BUT BETTER!

The Lip Enhancing gloss line has a ton of colors, ranging from shimmery/glittery to no shimmer.  Bright and bold colors to a ton of nudes.  I do wish they would expand the line to include all of the colors made available in special kits.  I have had this gloss for about a year now, no changes in formula or wear.  I hope that I may find another one!

What are your favorite Smashbox lip gloss colors???

July Favorites 2011

Hello guys and gals!  GAH!  I feel like I have been away for too long...and I have.  I know this is beating a dead horse, but it has been sooo hot!!!  To top it all off, I live an apartment where the AC likes to blow a fuse every week...ugh!

Enough of that, let us get on to favorites.  This month, with the heat being what it was, I noticed a change in what I usually I use.  I started using a new gel liner (clinique), got my hair cut from it being down to my butt to just above my shoulders(ahhhh), and made my routine quick and summer easy.

I have broken my favorites down to eyes, face,lips and brushes.

Face:

FACE - July Favs

FACE:

• Benefit Cha Cha tint (double duty on lips this summer as well)
• Smashbox Face and Body highlighter in Allure
• Stila Sun powder bronzer in shade 02
• MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Eversun
• Urban Decay Primer Potion in Pore Perfecting (light despite being thicker formula)
• MUFE HD powder
• Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer

Lips - July Favs

LIPS:

• Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Wallflower
• Soap & Glory Mighty Mouth Exfoliator/Balm
• Maybelline Colorsensation Pop balm in Fruit Punch 130 LE (I wish more people liked these, I love the balm formula and the color it deposits).
• NYX ip liner in Bloom (fuchsia)
• Softlips lip balm
• Stila Long Wear Lip Color in Intriguing (a gorgeous matte Fuchsia...I cannot stop using this!)
• Dior Lip glow
• Revlon SuperLustrous Lip Balm in Peach Crystal LE
• Tokidoki Gelato Lip Balm and Stain in Donutella

Eyes - July Favs

EYES:

• MUFE 12 color Flash Palette (amazing for cheeks and as eye bases)
• Smashbox eye shadow single in Nude
• Smashbox Waterproof shadow liner in Ideal Eyes
• Stila Prime Pot in Taffy (nice under shadows, but really nice on its own, so pigmented for a base)
• MACPRO Pigment in Steel Blue
• MAC Pigment in Spiritualize LE
• Clinique Brush on Liner in True Black
• WnW Color Icon single in Nutty
• LORAC Behind the Scenes primer 
• Benefit Instant Brow
• LORAC Special Effects Mascara

BRUSHES:

• Smashbox #33 smudger/precision 
• Sonia Kashuk small tapered face
• Revlon All over shadow 
• Sonia Kashuk small duo fiber 
• Bobbi Brown ultra fine eye liner
• Stila double ended 
• Smashbox #28 shadow
• Ecotools flat concealer

Alright guys, let me know if anyone has any questions about the aforementioned products.  I also am working on a hair care product favorites post...this new haircut has me using all different sorts of stuff.  Hope everyone is staying cool!

LORAC Showstopper Palette

LORAC Showstopper w/flash

Hello again!  Here is the last palette in this three part series!  This is probably the most elegant of the palettes.  Same basic information as the others...purchased at loraccosmetics.com, same price, same packaging, same formulation, etc.

No flash

The top left hand corner is a light baby peach shimmer.  The top right hand corner is a light peach sheen, almost looks wet.  The bottom left hand corner is a slightly rusted brown, and the bottom right corner is dark gunmetal grey with silver shimmers.  The blush is peach toned with gold glimmer/sheen running throughout.

With Flash over Paula Dorf eye primer

No flash over eye primer

At the price point that I got all of these palettes at, it was a no brainer.  They contain some of the softest shadows I have ever owned, and I like that the palettes are themed.  The colors they contain do work well with one another, and aid in creating simple to fantastic looks.  I suggest you check out LORAC cosmetics!

June Favorites 2011

Happy Wednesday!  It is so bloody hot out.  Thought I would cool down by staying inside in the AC and letting you all know what my June Favorites are...

 The rundown:

• LORAC TANtalize Me baked bronzer (so beautiful)
• Smashbox Face and Body Highlighter in Allure (glowy x1000)
• LORAC Caribbean Heat Bronzer (great trio of shades)
• MAC Melon Pigment (need I say more?)
• Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion in Brightening(very light)
• Smashbox O Gloss (the cutest pink stain)
• Sonia Kashuk Showstoppers eye shadow quad (beautiful,glittery, creamy colors)
• Maybelline The Falsies in Blackest Black ( total drugstore HG)
• Revlon Just Bitten lip stains in Gothic and Flame (these have taken over for summer lips)
• Stila Mineral Matte eye shadow in Nanda Devi (perfect for brows)
• Fusion Beauty Illumifill Line Filling Luminizer (so perfect for under eyes and cheek h/l)
• LORAC TANtalizer mini bronzer (been using as a peachy, gold eye shadow, its to die for)
• Smashbox eye shadow single in Nude (the perfect neutral)
• Tarina Tarantino eye dream hypershadow in Victorian Punk (drools for purple)
• Smashbox shadow liner brush # 30
• Crown Precision Detail brush #C431
• Maybelline Moisture Extreme lip liner in # 95 Nude
• Sonia Kashuk Flat Top brush

What have all of you been digging on?

Product in motion : Maybelline The Falsies

Guys and gals...

There is nothing I love more than a great drugstore find.  Sure, there are the cult classics we all know and may use, such as Coty Airspun Powder.  But I love finding newer products that I feel will stand the test of time.  That for me is Maybelline The Falsies Mascara.

This product comes in two versions, Washable and Black Drama, both regular and waterproof formulas.

I will have a more in depth review with more pictures later.  But I wanted to show you why I love this mascara!!!

Maybelline The Falsies (e/s CG Indigo)

Just wanted to let everyone know...yeah, this stuff is that good :)

May Favorites!

Hey guys and gals!  Here is the best of the best for the month of May.  Some of these products I use all the time, others I have just started obsessing about in May.  

Just a few things to obsess about :)

May Favorites:

1. Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray - This stuff locks your makeup DOWN!  No joke!

2.  LORAC Tantalize Me Baked Bronzer - bronze/gold, ultimate cheek sheen

3.  Fresh SUGAR Rose lip treatment - Def in my top 3 favorite lip balms

4.  Make Up For Ever Smokey Lash in Extra Black - Fake lashes in a tube.  Amazing formulation.

5.  L'Oreal MagicSmooth Souffle in 530 Sun Beige - Major coverage for something so light and airy

6.  Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #15 - The most summer friendly shadows!!!

7.  Anastasia Brow Powder duo in Brunette/Dark Brown - I have yet to find something better.  HG!

8.  Tokidoki Gelato lip balm stain in Donutella - coral, moisturizing, and leaves a stain like no other

9.  MAC pigment in Rich Life - Dark espresso brown with silver reflects.  Easy to blend, amazing for smokey eyes

10.  Tarte Amazonian 12 hour blush in Tipsy - This is an orange creamsicle on my cheeks.  Pictures do not do this blush justice

11.  LORAC eyeshadow in Cappuccino - the most adorable, teddy brown neutral

12.  Benefit boxed powder in Dallas - plummy, glowy color for my cheeks.  Contours well!

13.  Amazing Cosmetics Concealer in Medium Beige - I keep coming back to this.  Great opacity, blendibility, and good color range

14.  Urban Decay Lip Junkie gloss in Wallflower - cools, plumps and the prettiest nude

15.  Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel eyeliner in 27 Caviar Ink - Smooth and inky

16.  Wet N Wild Color Icon shadow single in Brulee - HG highlight

17.  Make Up For Ever #55N large Duo Fiber brush - For cheek color, highlight, it cannot be beat!