Just a small something...

Hey guys...been kinda down and not feeling well.  Suffering from toothaches is never a good time.  Am working on new blog posts and should have something up by tomorrow. 

Summer Lips featuring Tokidoki and Urban Decay

Hola!  Here's a quick post about what my favorite summer lip colors have been.  I have not worn much outside of this combo, and am loving it!

L - Tokidoki Gelato Balm in Donutella / R - Urban Decay's Lipstick in 5150

 

 

 

The duo above is Tokidoki's Gelato Lip Balm Stain in Donutella, which is a Peach color with a Melon flavor.  I have seen this retail for $9.00 USD.  I picked this balm up earlier this year, and am very happy I did.  This is a true balm, that gives a slight shine to lips.  The color of this is a sheer peachy melon color.  I find that it moisturizes quite nicely.  The biggest surprise is the nice stain it leaves behind once the product wears away.  It really does give a nice stain to the lips. 

Gelato Balm Stain in DONUTELLA

There are no huge chunks of glitter or shimmer in this, which is a huge plus.  The balm stick has broken once, but I have repaired it using the freezer method, and have had no trouble since.  The packaging does not feel too sturdy, but I have had no accidents with this opening in my pocket or my purse.  The cap has the cutest Tokidoki characters on it.

Urban Decay's lipstick in 5150 is not only a summer favorite, but also a stash discovery I made a few weeks ago.  This was something I had in my stash that I had not touched for a long time.  I almost felt like slapping myself for not touching this earlier.

Urban Decay's 5150 lipstick

The color of this lipstick is a red coral, with a bit of pink/orange to it.  It is the perfect summer color.  It does contain glitters in it that are gold, but it does not make the formulation seem too gritty.  When the lipstick wears away, you notice the glitter a lot more.  The packaging for this is very heavy, metal tube, with a decently thick plastic covering.  The lipstick itself has "urban decay" printed into it, sooo cute, which may be why I did not use it as much before.  In the summer, I can tan really dark, and this color never looks bad on me.  I have also seen it on lighter ladies, and it still looks wonderful and juicy.  Once applied, it does have some shine.  This formulation is also scented, though it is not too annoying.  I have seen this retail for $22.00 USD.

Donutella / 5150

5150 / Donutella

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Stash Discovery 6/13/2011 Sugar Round the Clock Palette

I know many of you have been in my shoes.  You lem a product, you buy it, you use it, and then, sometimes, it goes into storage.  This happens to a lot of my shadow palettes.  One such product I found the other day was Sugar's 'Round the Clock palette in DAY JOB.

Sugar Round the Clock day job palette

This palette is chock full of neutrals.  There was a sister palette that was for night and was full of brights, but I was unable to get one before they became discontinued.  The palette above has eight shadows, ranging in color and texture.  They have a bit of fallout, but I did find it to be overkill.  All of the colors were easy to blend.  The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th  were the shadows I found to be the most buttery and easy to pick up and use.  The packaging has no color names or numbers.

 

Swatched over Benetint's Stay don't Stray

 I never got into Urban Decay's Naked Palette, but I like to think that this is kinda like it :).  The shadows did not take much to build up.  Again, some where soft and created some fallout.  Others, I definitely had two to three layers of shadow to get some nice intensity.  This was a palette I purchased at Marshall's when you could still find good makeup there.  At least in my area, stores like Marshall's and TJ MAXXX haven't carried makeup in a while.  I believe I only paid about $5.00 USD for this palette.  It really is a bummer that this line was discontinued.  I know it may have seemed a bit juvenile, but they did have some wonderful products.

What has been your latest stash discovery?

Cha Cha tint Swatch/Review!

Hey there!  Finally, after way too long of a wait, I have some swatches/pix of Benefit's Cha Cha Tint.  This tint can be found exclusively on hsn.com for 29.00 USD.  I have heard that this will be released at other stores later on this year.

Benetint Cha Cha Tint

 The consistency of this tint is more like Posie Tint and less like Benetint.  Cha Cha is thicker and more viscous than Benetint.  Its creamy and opaque.  Like Benetint, it has a pretty quick dry down time, so working quickly is highly suggested.  This can be used on both lips and cheeks.  Benefit describes this as a mango colored tint.  I do find that this is quite orange and, when layered, can turn almost orange-red (at least on my skin tone).

T - Cha Cha blended / B - Cha Cha swipe

I find that on cheeks, this gives an incredible flush.  I love that it leaves the tiniest touch of sheen on the skin.  On lips, this milky color gives a bright pop of mango/orange.  I have built this up on lips to be a very orange-red.  The wear on lips varies depending on what you eat/drink, but it lasted throughout most drinks and meals, leaving the slightest tint.

All of you Benefit tint users are well aware of the dry down time.  I stress to work quickly with these.  I  have found that I wait just one second to much, and end up with a streak or a few dots on my cheek. :)   I have been obsessed with this tint since I received it a few months ago.  I have yet to make a dent in the bottle.  A very tropical flush...you almost want to eat it!

Swatch and packaging

What are some of your favorite summer multi-use products?

Update

Hello all.  Am working on some blog posts now.  Just wanted to stop in and say hello to everyone first.  Was a long day and it turned into an even longer night.  Trying to relax now with some wine.  I had a major stash discovery and cannot wait to share it with you.  Good night!

Skincare - What's working!

Hey there! 

For those that know me, skincare is a HUGE part of who I am.  I grew up with brothers and sisters who went through awkward phases with acne, and I was spared that experience.  From an early age, my mother instilled in me the desire and want to always take good care of my skin.  And because of that, I am extremely fortunate in the fact that I have been able to maintain decent skin.

Current Skincare

 

 

 What's working:

1.  face wash - Philosophy Purity Made Simple.  A basic, non-foaming, moisturizing wash that really does a heavy duty job of cleaning your skin, ridding you of makeup, without stripping it.

2.  face cream - Garnier Gel Cream Moisturizer.  An extremely light moisturizer that is a gel consistency ( I hate that they used the word cream.  The only thing that comes close to a gel cream came from one of the spa series products that Bath and Body works did).  Once again, lightweight, but really softens, and never feels heavy under makeup.  Absorbs quickly.  Have not noticed that it affects my primers or foundations, whether they be powder or liquid.

3.  eye cream - Caudalie Pulpe Vitaminee Eye and Lip Cream.  Lightweight, emollient, lightly scented, so subtle that I do not think anyone would mind.  Keeps my under eye area very hydrated.  Concealer just glides over this stuff!

4.  face treatment - Mario Badescu's Buffering lotion.  I am not prone to breakouts.  Whenever I do get something, I put my buffering lotion on, and its usually gone by next day.  This is like the holy grail of quick fixes.  It can dry you out if you overuse it, or put it on areas that do not need the treatment.

5.  night treatment - Decleor Ylang Ylang Purifying Night Balm.  I usually just use a regular night cream, of if I am lazy, the day cream I used.  If I find that I am dry, or broken out, uneven texture to my skin, or suffering from patchiness, I use this balm.  It is VERY thick and VERY emollient.  But this product is amazing.  The balm can feel (scary word coming up) greasy at first, but once it melts into your skin, the smell of the ylang ylang relaxes you, and the true rewards comes when you wake up.  Anytime great aunt flo is here, or the weather changes affect my skin, I reach for this.  Extremely pricey, but well worth it. 

What's working for you guys and gals?

MAC - pigment swatches / review

So, a few posts ago, I mentioned that I had stopped at the CCO (cosmetics company outlet) and that I picked up two pigments.  They are the newer style jars, and I got them for $13.50 each.  The colors I picked up were Brash and Bold and Push the Edge.  They came out with MAC's Makeup Art Cosmetics collection in 2009.

Brash and Bold (L) / Push the Edge (R)

These are extremely bright pigments, especially Brash and Bold.  Here is another shot...

Brash and Bold is a reddened Fuchsia with a pearlescent sheen.  It was super easy to work with.  I like this as a bold lid color with a winged black liner and tons of mascara.

Push the Edge I found I had to work a bit with.  It is slightly chalky, but once you get the hang of it, works well on its own, and plays well with others.  I have found this excellent to smoke out looks with.

 

Swatches above over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk, swatches below over TFSI

I found both of these pigments a joy to work with.  Brash and Bold did not stain my eyelids, as I even tried this without primer.  The wear of these is nice as well.  I find that I can use BnB wet well, but have not had success with using Push the Edge wet.  I also did not find that they stained any of the brushes I used with them.  A bargain at $13.50 each.  Am very happy I now have these in my arsenal!

(please note, my camera is not the best around, it is what I have around at the moment.  I apologize for not having more higher quality swatches.  For any high quality MAC swatches, I suggest www.temptalia.com)

Thanks for stopping by!