Love those Lips!

I wanted to stop by for a short blog about lip liners.  I don't really use lip liners much.  I have less than 10 in all and I only use about 3-4 on a regular basis.  Since I am always on the lookout for a deal, I thought I would share with you a little secret...the best lip liner only costs .99!  They are called Jordana lip liners and they come in tons of colors.  You can find Jordana lip liners at your nearest Walgreens.  I find that these lip liners are highly pigmented, go on smoothly and that they don't tug.  They are truly a steal for only .99 and I challenge you to find a better liner at a price point this low!

L-R
"Deep Purple", "Mahogany", "Petal" and "Natural"

Swatches L-R
"Deep Purple", "Mahogany", "Petal" and "Natural"

Deep Purple is good for a plum/wine colored lip.  It blends nicely with most purple-based lipsticks and glosses.  Mahogany is good for a deep red or brown lip.  It looks nice even on small lips like my own since the darker color provides a stronger line of definition.  Petal is a good choice for pink or mauve toned lips...it's not too bright and has good color payoff.  Natural is a good choice for nude looks, light browns or light mauve lip colors.  I find that I use Natural most often.

Luxe for Less

It's that time again...another luxe look for less!

The pick for this week is another lip look.  I've paired a lip liner, lipstick and gloss again.  All items are affordable and can be easily found.  The pictures below really don't do the look justice.  This look has more of a "berry" and/or "plum" feel to it than what comes across in the pictures below. 

Lip gloss--$6.99 at CVS--Milani 3D Glitzy Glamour gloss in "Fashion Diva"
Lipstick--$5.54 at Target--Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in "Plum-Tastic"
Lip liner--$.99 at Walgreens--Jordana lip liner in "Deep Purple"

Total for look--$13.52

L-R swatches-
Milani gloss, Jordana lip liner and Maybelline lipstick. 


The Milani 3D gloss is full of sparkle!  The gloss goes on thick but it is not totally opaque.  This gloss has tons of glitter and shine which can fake a good set of lips on anyone.  The gloss has a slightly sweet smell to it and it goes on smoothly.  This gloss would be a great accessory to anyone going out for the night or going to work.  It's not too bright but it still makes a point to shine and enhance your lips.  The only drawback is that this gloss doesn't have the staying power like other glosses do.  Oh and did I mention the super-cute bottle it comes in?  Fancy isn't it?

Jordana Lip Liners are truly one of my favorite drugstore finds.  I am not a lip liner kind of gal.  I don't mind lip liners but I rarely use them unless I wear dark colors.  I had been looking for a nice plum color to enhance my lips since I think purple tones look good on me.  This liner (and every other Jordana liner I've tried) worked well.  It doesn't pull or tug on the lips and the color payoff is rich and vibrant.  You also can't beat the .99 price tag either.  Buy one and it just may make you a new fan of lip liners!  I know I love them now!

The Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick line did not interest me too much when it came out.  I had thought it was just another way for a makeup company to get more money for the same item they sold (and repackaged) in the past.  Well, I am going to change my thoughts.  The Color Sensational line is not my favorite however I do like the formulation, texture, color payoff and packaging (somewhat).  I now own 4 lipsticks from this line and each give wonderful color pigmentation.  Some of the colors are really flattering and moisturizing as well.  The only drawback is the packaging.  I don't mind the lipstick case itself...it is sleek and easy to open.  The bad thing about this packaging is that ANYONE at the store can open it up, play with it and then put it back on the shelf.  There is no protective seal around the cap which freaks me out a bit.  Anyone could have played with the lipstick you chose to buy a mere few hours after that touchy-feely person left the store.  The possibility of germs coming from a new, unsealed lipstick is slightly overwhelming. 

The final look--this picture doesn't really capture the true plum tones that this look gives.  The picture above is slightly too pink however it does highlight the nice gloss coverage and pigmentation that the lipstick gives.

ELF Haul

Cheap makeup...most people either embrace it or shun it.  When I use the word cheap I'm making reference to the price, not the quality.  There is probably MORE makeup that works well at a lower price point than you would find at the department store.  I love going to Walgreens, CVS, RiteAid, etc and searching for a deal.  I like it even more when I can find items for "buy one get one free" or even 1/2 off.  I even love digging through the clearance bins in search of a deal.  I discovered one of my favorite lip glosses (Rimmel's Vinyl Shine gloss in "Surreal") in a clearance bin once and I never ignored those bins again!

After watching YouTube and reading blogs I discovered the ELF (Eyes Lips Face) brand.  Even though I have a local Target, it's not sold there so my first exposure to the brand came via my local Kmart.  I bought a gloss and one of those awesome fillable palettes for a dollar.  After I bought a few shadows, I began to play with the brand.  I really found the quality to be good and for only a $1, the price couldn't be beat.  Soon after checking out the $1 items, I discovered the Studio Line on their website.  I ordered more items including the whole Studio Line brush set.  Majority of the items I ordered turned out well (there were a few duds) but for $1-$3 a piece, you can't really complain.

Below you will find my latest purchases from ELF and my thoughts about each one.

Pictured above are the items I recently ordered from eyeslipsface.com  At that time there was a coupon for 55% off (except for the 100 eyeshadow palette) every item site wide.

I purchased the 100 eyeshadow palette, 2 mineral blushes in "Rose" and "Bliss", a stipple brush, plumping lip glaze in "Oasis", nourishing cuticle pen and the daily brush cleaner.  My total including s & h was $25.05.

Pictured above is the Elf Mineral Blush in "Bliss". 
$5.00 each
I found this blush too lightly pigmented for my skin tone.  I had to layer this blush HEAVILY in order for it to appear.  I think this blush would be great for someone fairer than myself though.  The texture of both blushes I ordered is nice and easy to work with. 

Above is the Elf Mineral blush in "Rose".  I really like this color.  I can layer this blush on lightly for a slight flush on my cheeks or I can put this on heavier for a more dramatic look.  This color suits my skin tone better and would be great for either warm or cool skin tones.

"Rose" is on the left (in the picture it appears more coral than it actually is) and "Bliss" is swatched on the right.

Top picture-plumping lip glaze in "Oasis" (with flash)
Bottom picture-same gloss (without flash)

$1.00

This gloss is nice but doesn't last as long as I would prefer.  The gloss has two ends and on one end there is the plumping formula which is milky-white in color.  You apply this before you apply the colored gloss.  I noticed slight plumping action but it mainly made my lips tingle than do anything else.  The color is nice though and I like the gloss well enough despite its so-so plumping action.

Pictured above-Elf's 100 Eyeshadow Palette

$10.00

I really debated on getting this palette.  I watched Emilynoel's video reviewing it and that is what swayed me.  I already have the Coastal Scents 88 palette (which I like) so I wasn't sure if this would be too similar.  Now that I have the palette, I'm glad I ordered it.  I have the original 88 palette so I feel that the Elf palette provides more shimmering colors than the 88 palette does.  If you have the metallic or shimmer 88, then this may be too similar for you.  There are matte shades and some shimmers.  There is also a few glitter shadows as well.  I believe this palette is worth the $10 it costs however not all the shadows are winners.  There are some in the palette which are poorly pigmented but there are some great shades (which I plan on swatching for my next blog).  Overall it's a good buy.  The price of this palette is lower than the 88 and you get more colors but the pigmentation in the 88 palette is better.  It's not a tie but I think there is room for both palette's in my collection.


The other 3 items I bought were as follows-

Nourishing Cuticle Pen
$1.00
I think I would like this product better if I could actually use it.  The pen applicator is extremely dry and became lodged in the casing.  There is a small tip of the applicator still exposed which does dispense tiny amounts of oil but it's a hassle to use.  This purchase was a dud.

Daily Brush Cleaner
$3.00
I've read a lot online about this cleaner.  Some hate it and say it stinks and some don't mind the smell.  I think the cleaner works well.  It is definitely not a deep cleansing product but its great to use everyday.  The smell is strong but nothing I can't look past.  I recommend this product for cleaning smaller brushes but I don't find it as useful on my blush or powder brushes since the product doesn't saturate the bristles enough.

Stipple Brush
$3.00
I have all of the Studio Line brushes which are by far my favorite Elf purchases.  They work well, don't shed and are extremely cheap ($3.00 a piece except for the kabuki brush which is $5.00 for the small one and $8.00 for the larger version).  When I saw that they added a stipple brush to the collection, I was excited.  I feel that this stipple brush is a good deal and is a great beginner brush for those unfamiliar with how to use a stipple brush.  I do find that the hairs are not as dense as I would prefer but the brush does a good job overall and is a neat way to save money since MAC's version-the 187-costs $42.00!!

Livin' luxe without the bucks!

I love department store makeup.  Each brand has something unique and satisfying within their collections.  Clinique, Estee Lauder, MAC, Chanel, etc all are nice but it's even nicer to find makeup that doesn't cost as much AND does a good job.  Despite the lower prices, I do believe it's possible to get a good look without spending a fortune.  Each week I plan to bring you a look or product that I believe helps you to live luxe without the BIG bucks.


Here is my pick for this week.  Total cost...$11.37

I used Rimmel's lasting finish lipstick in "Airy Fairy" ($5.19 on Ulta.com), Prestige's lipliner in "Silk" ($2.19 on Ulta.com) and NYX megashine lipgloss in "Beige" (on sale at cherryculture.com for $3.99)

Pictured above is Rimmel's Airy Fairy.  It's a mauve toned pink with a nice, semi-gloss finish.

L-R
Prestige "silk" lipliner, Rimmel "Airy Fairy" lipstick and NYX "Beige" lipgloss
Pictured above is swatches of each product (with flash).

The final look.  The NYX gloss is almost a dupe for Airy Fairy yet gives the lipstick more dimension and opaque coverage.  I am not the biggest pink fan but I really don't mind this color combo.  This is a great look that is natural and suitable for everyday wear.

On a quest for the BEST mascara!

I have small eyes.  They are in fact so small that my eyelids seem to disappear when my eyes are fully open.  I also have been blessed with teeny lashes.  Thanks to genetics my lashes are few and far between.  I may have a slight olive complexion but my lashes are so lightly colored that if I don't put on mascara, you would never know I have any lashes at all!  Right now in my make-up kit I have 14 tubes of mascara...yes 14.  I've tried them all.  I've worn them all at least a week and needless to say I have some favorites so far.  Some are dry.  Some are wet and some just flat out suck.  Here they are without any further delay...

7 "high end" mascaras

L-R
Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara and Diorshow Iconic

I find Clinique's brush to be a "good fit" for my itty bitty lashes.  The wand is in a cone shape and the pointed tip really coats my inner corner lashes.  I find the formula to be good but the downside is it's ability to transfer.  It usually doesn't begin to transfer until a few hours goes by.  You can find this Clinique mascara for around $14 at your local Clinique counter.  I think its a fair price for a decent mascara.

Diorshow Iconic.  I really like the original Diorshow but I am not so sure about this one.  I think it's the wand.  The formula is okay but it does transfer somewhat throughout the day.  Iconic's formula is a little dry compared to the original but the size of the wand is nice and the small bristles are good for reaching smaller hairs.  I do believe that the price of this mascara at $27 is a little much for this formula though.

L-R
Lancome Hypnose Drama and Diorshow (original)

I really like Lancome Hypnose Drama.  Lancome has 13 mascaras (not including primers) and I find this one to be a good choice.  It is very buildable without looking overly dramatic (unless you want it to).  The brush head spins around the wand which helps reach all lashes.  It is like the original Hypnose but designed to make lashes appear fuller/thicker.  I don't find that this transfers on me but the price of $24.50 is a little scary.  I do find the one drawback of this mascara is that it tends to flake the longer I wear it.  I wish it was a little more hydrating too.

Diorshow original was the first "high end" mascara I ever bought.  Everyone commented on it and said it was a their must-have luxury mascara.  It has a great brush which is awesome at grabbing my lashes but it tends to transfer as the day wears on.  The formula is less drying compared to Iconic but not too wet.  I still do not think that this mascara is worth $24 though.  The formula should not transfer at that price point and you can find equal or better options at lower prices.

L-R
(These are sample sized)
Benefit Bad Gal Lash, Diorshow Blackout and Urban Decay Skyscraper

The 3 mascaras above were samples from either Ulta or Sephora.  I have worn each about a week at a time.

Benefit Bad Gal lash should be called just Benefit Bad lash.  I really dislike this product.  I find the formula too wet and it really makes a mess around my eyes due to the transferring.  The brush is big and "fluffy" but the formula outweighs any benefits (no pun intended) that the brush may have.  It's available for $19 at Sephora.

Diorshow Blackout is no different than Diorshow.  Blackout is supposed to be darker with more "drama" than the other Dior mascaras.  I'll be honest...I can't tell a difference.  Once again $24 can be better spent elsewhere.

Urban Decay...I really, really like Urban Decay.  I've been wearing their eyeshadows for years and I was really excited to try this mascara.  It's not horrible.  It didn't transfer too bad but it is such a dry formula.  The brush is very delicate which is great for separating lashes but the formula is too dry to promote fullness.  You can find this mascara at Sephora for around $22.



7 "drugstore" mascaras

Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara

I love Rimmel glosses, bronzer and lipstick.  I hate this mascara.  The formula is somewhat dry, the brush scratches my lids (literally) and the mascara has a bad transfer habit...all within the first hour of wear.  I'm tired just thinking about it.  It's not worth the $7-8 you will pay.

L-R
Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black and Elf Lengthening & Defining

I really wanted to like Loreal Voluminous.  Everyone and their sister swears by it.  They say it's a miracle.  They say they don't even consider Latisse after using this.  Well I say it's no good (at least for me).  The formula is a little wet but it did coat my lashes nicely.  The brush was large and full but this stuff transferred much worse than anything I have ever tried before.  It was under my eyes and under my brows.  It smeared everywhere.  I really hate that it didn't work out...I wanted to be a member of its fan club ;)  It retails for around $7 at most drugstores.

I like Elf products.  They are cheap and sometimes can be hit or miss.  They make great blushes (studio line) and I am getting to know their lip glosses better.  I even have their whole brush kit (which is a great buy by the way).  This mascara is okay.  It's not great but it isn't horrible either.  It does its job without much fanfare and for the price that is what I expect I suppose.  The one drawback to this mascara is it's smell.  It really isn't pleasant.  I went to look on eyeslipsface.com and this particular mascara isn't listed anymore.  There is one called lengthening and volumizing mascara for $3 though.

L-R
Maybelline Pulse Perfection and Covergirl Lash Blast Length

The Maybelline Pulse Perfection is a cool idea but the mascara formula is average (at best) and the pulsating wand doesn't really seem to make much of a difference.  Basically you press a button which in return vibrates the mascara wand.  The vibration is supposed to coat the lashes better and promote longer, fuller lashes too.  I didn't notice an increase in fullness or length but I did notice that the formula transferred.  I didn't find that this mascara flaked much which was a plus.  You can find this at most drugstores for a little under $10.

I like Covergirl mascaras.  They are usually my go-to.  I had high hopes for this one.  When I read "length" on the side of the tube, I was all in.  If anything I want longer lashes...I thought this was it, this was the one.  Then I opened it and tried it.  It was such a dry formula that it didn't even coat the wand.  The wand was originally yellow and if you look close you will still see some yellow on the wand-this is after a few months of use.  I now use this mascara as a way to separate my lashes before putting on 2 more coats of a better mascara.  Is it worth $6.99?  Not in my opinion.

L-R
Covergirl Lashblast Fusion and Covergirl Lashblast Volume Waterproof

Okay...so I saved the best for last.  I love these two by Covergirl.  I had the original Lashblast before Lashblast Fusion came out so when they expanded with the Fusion, I was all in.  I like Fusion because the wand is oversized-a plus for my mini lashes and the formula doesn't transfer.  The one drawback would be that it can flake somewhat.  I also don't know if its me or not but it does seem like the tube dries up quicker than other mascaras I have.  The Lashblast Waterproof is a nice, basic waterproof mascara which separates my lashes well and is truly waterproof.  The formula does seem to take a few minutes to dry so I wouldn't recommend swimming right after applying.  Both mascaras can be found for around $6-7.

Where am I and why am I here??

After months of watching beauty related videos on Youtube and following many blogs, I decided to venture out and start my own blog (I'm not quite ready for the camera yet).  I've noticed a lot of bloggers are younger than myself and since I am venturing into my 30's,  I felt there should be more places that women of ANY age could go for ideas, tips, tutorials, support and a good laugh. 

Here is a little about myself...I have been married for just under a decade and I have one child.  I am a social worker by trade who is now in mid-level management.  I love make-up, clothes, sunglasses, photography, cooking, drawing and traveling.  I feel that I kinda forgot about all that when my child was born but during the past few years I discovered this (and good eyeshadow) all over again and I am loving it.  I want this blog to not only be beauty based but focus on other things like unique products, recipes, news, tutorials and the occasional haul.

So...if you have read this far then thanks!  I hope you keep reading as I keep posting along the way.