I don't know what it is about the color red lately but I've been rocking some red lips and nails like nobody's business!
I wanted to share 3 red lipstick shades from the drugstore brand, NYC. First let me say each lipstick costs just .99! That's right, just 99 cents! I picked up three shades and I must say that I really have enjoyed them. The first shade was "Sheer Red" which is the least pigmented of the three. It has more brown undertones. Next I got "Ruby" which has more pink undertones. The last shade is called "Retro Red". It is a classic Marilyn Monroe bright red lipstick shade. It has fabulous blue undertones which make anyones teeth whiter. I feel these lipsticks are a great way to experiment with bold colors, like red, without paying a lot. The application for each shade was smooth and creamy. Each shade was bold and pigmented. The only drawback was that they don't last as long on my lips as I would like. How can I complain though...they are only .99 each and they work!
In addition to these lipsticks, I picked up a bottle of Essie's "Leading Lady" nail polish (part of the Winter 2012 collection). A lot of people have been comparing this shade to Essie's Ruby Slippers. I don't own Ruby Slippers so I can't compare but I can say this is a lovely color that applied smoothly and is perfect for the holidays. It's a deep red, almost a cranberry shade with fine red glitter. Below you will see "Leading Lady" pictured in the sunlight and in indoor light. You can get "Leading Lady" at Ulta or at many drugstores for $8.00.
The last goodie I picked up was Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara. I picked up my tube at Ulta for $19.00. I have REALLY enjoyed this mascara. It definitely lengthens my lashes, curls and separates them without clumps. The best part is that it doesn't smudge under my eyes! This mascara is paraben, sulfate and synthetic dye free too. After only one week of use, I'm already feeling attached to this mascara...I think it's definitely a keeper! Oh and did I mention the packaging? So cute!
I was a bad girl the other day. I went into my local Belk store to get some clothes and I walked out with a new blush (including a nice gift with purchase) and no new clothes! I'm a sucker for a beautiful blush and my new Pure Color blush by Estee Lauder in the shade Wild Sunset is stunning. I love just about any shade of blush but this one caught my eye. It's perfect for the summer and looks great on.
Closeup of Wild Sunset
Recently Estee Lauder updated their blush line and Wild Sunset pulled me in the fastest. It's a bold, coral shade with gold shimmer. Don't be scared of the shimmer though, it's very fine and adds a perfect "glow".
Pictured above- Wild Sunset blush and Estee Lauder eye pencil in SoftSmudge Brown
While at the Estee Lauder counter I also picked up an Artist's Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Brown. I have been looking for a good eye pencil in a brown shade that is not too dark. This pencil has worked great and is perfect for small eyes like mine since black eyeliner can overwhelm and make them appear smaller.
Wild Sunset and Softsmudge Brown are available at your local Estee Lauder counter or at www.esteelauder.com Swatches of both the blush and eye pencil are pictured at the bottom of this blog entry.
Because I purchased over $35.00 in products at Estee Lauder, I received this nice gift with purchase. It included a cute blue and white bag, .24oz of Advanced Night Repair, a Pure Color lipstick in the shade Candy, .5oz of Time Zone Line & Wrinkle creme, .17oz of Time Zone eye creme, double ended Sumptuous mascara and Lash Primer Plus and 1.7 fl. oz of Soft Clean Creme Cleanser.
I've been using the primer and mascara which I have enjoyed. The primer is nice and helps my itty bitty lashes look longer. The mascara has not caused "raccoon eyes" and has held up well. I do wish the mascara was more thickening but it does lengthen well. The lipstick shade is a bright, shimmery pink but I wish it lasted longer on my lips-it seems to disappear too quickly. A swatch of this lipstick is pictured at the bottom of this entry.
Closeup of the Sumptuous mascara wand
Recently I also visited my local Ulta store and picked up a few goodies I've been eyeing for a while. I purchased a bottle of Pantene's Aqua Light shampoo, a new Clarisonic brush head (for normal skin), a bottle of Essie's Millionails (on clearance!) and Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting.
Pictured above- Clarisonic brush head for normal skin, Pantene Aqua Light shampoo & Essie's Millionails strengthener.
Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting in Honey Glow
I've been using the Pantene Aqua Light shampoo this past week and it's okay. It does cleanse well and is lightweight like it claims BUT it leaves my hair very dry. I know most cleansing shampoos can be drying and I guess my hair is just too thirsty to care. The shampoo states it provides weightless nourishment without silicone that can weigh down hair. I think this would be a great shampoo for someone with fine hair.
I was so excited to see Essie's Millionails on clearance. Essie is redesigning their packaging therefore some products are on clearance. I have used this nail strengthener in the past with success. Usually it costs $15.00 which is very steep but I found my bottle on clearance for $4.99!
This past week I decided to replace my Clarisonic brush head. I've been using the sensitive skin one but I bought a normal skin brush this week, so hopefully all will go well. All single Clarisonic brush heads are available at Ulta for $25.00 each.
The last item I was excited to pick up was Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting. I can't tell you how many times I've swatched this, picked it up then placed it back without buying. It's designed to be a body bronzer. It's a HUGE compact (.85 oz) that comes with a body puff. The bronzer can be applied dry or wet. I used it today on my neck and chest and I was happy with the results. You can find it at Ulta for $45.00. You can see a swatch at the bottom of this blog entry.
Neutrogena's Micro-Mist sunless tan and Sinful Colors polish in Hazard
Of course no haul would be complete without a trip to the local drugstore. I chose Rite Aide and picked up some self tanner, nail polish and some more bronzer (because clearly I don't have enough)!
I have been using Neutrogena's Micro-Mist airbrush sunless tan this past week and I have mixed thoughts about this product. It sprays a very fine mist which is super-easy to apply. The result is a product that doesn't have to be rubbed in and the product doesn't smell after it's applied. The negatives about this product is that it only makes your skin about 1 shade darker and that if not used in a WELL-VENTILATED area, you might lose your ability to breathe freely. I'm not kidding. This stuff is so strong that it gave me a coughing fit when I used it. I know it can't be healthy to inhale it too often but I used it in my bathroom which is fairly large and still I was overpowered by the smell. If you can get past the fumes it gives off when applied, you may decide to use it often. Neutrogena's micro-mist sunless tanning spray is usually priced around $10.00
I haven't tried my bottle of Sinful Colors polish yet but I've heard good things about this brand and the $1.99 price tag doesn't hurt either! I have been using my City Color bronzer though. It's a nice, large compact that has a raised palm tree and a gold overspray. The nice thing is that this bronzer has gold shimmer throughout the product, not just in the overspray. I've used this on my chest and I liked the results. I usually don't go for a shimmery bronzer but this one is pretty decent for the $3.99 price.
City Color bronzer in Sunset. On the left you can see where I have used the product past the gold overspray (which is seen to the right). See swatch below.
Swatches of products mentioned above (L-R)- City Color bronzer in Sunset, Laura Geller's Baked Body Frosting in Honey Glow, Estee Lauder's Wild Sunset Pure Color blush, Estee Lauder's Artist's Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Brown and Estee Lauder's Pure Color lipstick in Candy.
It may be cold outside but I've been getting ready for spring! Since I've been doing a little shopping lately, I wanted to share some things I've picked up that I am currently impressed with. I could not hold out any longer on the Naked 2 palette and I just HAD to have two new shades from Essie's Spring 2012 collection. Of course I also picked up some more leopard print items...I can't get enough of leopard print lately!
When the last Naked palette came out I ordered it immediately online via www.sephora.com and I probably was one of the first to get it. Even the Urban Decay rep at my local Ulta didn't have one yet, lol. This time when the Naked 2 palette came out I decided to wait. Well...last week I broke down and purchased it. I purchased it as a reward for surviving a stressful week at work and I'm glad I did. It's really a great palette with 5 brand new shades and yes I do believe there is enough room in everyone's collection to have both palettes.
Each Naked 2 palette comes with a sample size of Lip Junkie gloss in Naked and a double ended brush.
If you are not familiar with the first Naked palette, please read my review and tutorial here.
The first difference you will notice about the two palettes is the packaging. The first palette is a velvet covered box with a magnetic closure. The Naked 2 palette is made of metal and securely closes by snapping shut. I personally like the packaging on the first palette since I have found the Naked 2 harder to open and close. The metal packaging however does protect the eyeshadows better.
The only repeat shade is from the first palette is Half Baked (which happens to be one of my favorites!). Half Baked is a warm toned gold with an incredible sheen. The 5 new shades are Booty Call, Tease, Snakebite, Pistol and Busted. I have found that the Naked 2 palette has more "cool toned" shades whereas the first Naked palette has warmer shades. I personally love Booty Call, Suspect, Pistol and Busted. I actually based my decision to purchase the Naked 2 palette on the swatch I made of Pistol in the store. You can purchase the Naked 2 palette (and the original Naked palette) at Ulta, Sephora or www.urbandecay.com for $50 each. Pictured below are some close-ups and swatches of each color.
#1- FOXY- a warm, vanilla colored matte shade
#2- HALF BAKED- a warm, golden shimmer
#3- BOOTY CALL- shimmery champagne shade
#4- CHOPPER- shimmer based bronze with slight glitter
#5- TEASE- cool toned, matte brown
#6- SNAKEBITE- cool toned brown with bronze and gold
#7- SUSPECT- golden beige with shimmer
#8- PISTOL- cool toned shimmery gray
#9- VERVE- shimmery "mother of pearl" shade
#10- YDK- cool toned bronze, similar to rose gold
#11- BUSTED- deep brown with a sheen finish
#12- BLACKOUT- black with a matte finish
~~~~~~~Swatches~~~~~~~
Booty Call, Chopper, Tease and Snakebite
Suspect, Pistol, Verve and YDK
Foxy, Half Baked (repeat from 1st Naked palette), Busted and Blackout
Close-Up Shots of the Shadows
L-R- Foxy, Half Baked, Booty Call & Chopper
L-R- Tease, Snakebite & Suspect
L-R- Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted & Blackout
Swatch of Lip Junkie gloss in "Naked"
~~~~~~~Spring Nail Polish Picks~~~~~~~
L-R- Essie's A Crewed Interest, Sally Hansen's Gem Crush in Be-Jeweled and Essie's Ole' Caliente
In addition to the Naked 2 palette, I picked up two shades from Essie's Spring 2012 collection plus a lovely polish by Sally Hansen. A Crewed Interest is a creamy, peach shade that is really unique. Ole' Caliente is a bold, orange-red that would look phenomenal against tan skin. Sally Hansen's Be-Jeweled is currently on my toes and it sparkles very nicely. If you are a purple lover like myself, you will love this shade! Essie costs $8 each and Sally Hansen's Gem Crush shades are about $6.50 each. You can find Essie and Sally Hansen at Ulta or your local CVS.
I also picked up a new blue polish by Milani in honor of my son's recent blue belt in karate and a new bronzer. Bolting Blue is a nice bold, blue shade that goes on smoothly. You can find Milani nail polish at Target, CVS and Walmart. Park Ave Princess is a smooth, medium toned bronzer that has no shimmer. I really like this bronzer since it goes on smoothly, doesn't fade throughout the day and gives me a nice glow. You can find this bronzer at Ulta for $29.00. Did I mention it is waterproof too?!
Milani's Bolting Blue nail polish and Tarte's Park AvePrincess bronzer
Close-up of Tarte's Park Ave Princess (notice I am wearing Ole' Caliente by Essie on my nails).
~~~~~~~Shoes & Dresses~~~~~~~
I've been hunting down some leopard flats and look at what I found at Target! Run...don't walk to Target for these super-cute leopard flats!!! They are only $14.99!
I needed some nude pumps for a new suit I bought recently...how about these? I found them at Target for only $29.99! They are comfortable too! Nude pumps go with everything!
Since I've been on such a leopard print kick lately, how about this scarf that I found for $14.99 at World Market? I also picked up these earrings and bracelet which were both $4.99 (plus 20% off).
Finally I want to share two dresses I picked up this weekend at my favorite store...Belk! Belk always has incredible clearance racks and these dresses were a steal! The black dress was originally $110.00 and I got it for $26.00! The purple print dress was originally $98.00 and I got it for $11.99! I plan to wear the black dress to an evening wedding I am going to in March. It has a tiered skirt (hard to see in this picture) with a bodice lined in nude under lace. The purple dress will be perfect for work!
Black lace dress-$26!
Purple print dress-$11.99!
As a side note...I've been playing this song on repeat this past week :)
If there is one thing I do differently in the winter versus the summer, its that I wear darker nail polish. In the spring and summer I usually stick with bright colors like hot pink, pastels and corals. In the winter I tend to gravitate towards metallic polish, berry colors and deep shades.
Last summer I blogged about my favorite summer nail polish colors with an entry you can read here. I thought it would be appropriate to mention my favorite winter polish shades since we are right in the middle of cold weather. So without further ado, here are my favorite nail polish picks for the winter months. If the polish I chose was from a special collection and/or is not available, I've listed that below. Most of the polishes are still available online and/or in stores.
~~~~~Red~~~~~
Sultry, sexy and just a tad sinful. Red polish is a great choice for a girls night out or even the office. Make a statement with a classy, creme shade or steal some looks with red glitter that is perfect for next Christmas!
L-R- Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Lava Red, Milani Nail Lacquer in Hot Flash, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Stiletto Red, Essie in Size Matters, OPI in Color So Hot It Berns, Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Burgundy Frost and Milani One Coat Glitter in Red Sparkle.
Lava Red is a deep, almost black shade with slight red shimmer throughout.
Hot Flash is a shimmery orange/red shade that can even appear gold in some light. Hot Flash seems to be discontinued but is still available at different retailers online.
Stiletto Red and Color So Hot It Berns are creamy, classic red shades with blue undertones. Color So Hot It Berns was part of OPI's Swiss collection but is still available online.
Size Matters is a deep, purple red with a creamy finish.
Burgundy Frost is a shimmery cherry shade and Red Sparkle is a fine, red glitter polish.
~~~~~Pink~~~~~
Girly, fun and playful, you can't go wrong with pink nail polish. Here are a few choices that cover the many different shades of pink that are frosty enough for cooler weather. I've even thrown in a pearly white shade that would look great paired with pink polish!
L-R-OPI in A Rose at Dawn, Broke by Noon, Revlon Scented Polish in Coconut Crush, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Hot Cocoa, Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Pop the Cork, OPI in The One the Got Away and Loreal polish in Whimsical.
A Rose at Dawn, Broke by Noon is a frosty pink that is definitely in the mauve family. It was part of the OPI Las Vegas collection but can be found on Amazon still.
Coconut Crush is a pearly white and Hot Cocoa is a brown-based pink that appears mauve too.
Pop the Cork is a super-glittery polish which incorporates silver and pink glitter. It was part of the Holiday 2011 collection but is still available.
The One that Got Away is a deep berry shade that has gold and berry shimmer throughout. It was part of the Katy Perry collection but it's still available online.
Lastly, Whimsical is a super-shimmery shell pink that also has subtle silver shimmer.
~~~~~Purple~~~~~
From the deepest shade to a cheerful purple, winter doesn't have to be boring at all! If you love purple like I do, then these may be for you too!
L-R-OPI in Lincoln Park after Dark, OPI in Purple with a Purpose and Milani Nail Lacquer in Black Cherry.
Lincoln Park after Dark is a very deep purple that almost appears black. It's similar to eggplant but darker.
Purple with a Purpose is a shimmery purple that has blue undertones.
Black Cherry lives up to its name. It is a shade lighter than Lincoln Park after Dark and has more brown undertones as well.
~~~~~Metallics~~~~~
I love metallic polish year-round. Silver and gold are perfect for the holidays and New Years Eve. Gunmetal stands out and is edgy enough to make a statement no matter what time of the year!
L-R-Loreal polish in Valiant, Orly polish in Shine, OPI in Glitzerland and OPI in Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous.
Valiant is a gunmetal shimmer with silver flecks.
Shine has super-fine shimmer and appears to look similar to tin foil in the bottle. Shine was part of Orly's Foil FX collection and can still be found online.
Glitzerland is a gorgeous gold that has fine glitter like Shine. Both appear to be similar in texture, the only difference being the color. Glitzerland was part of OPI's Swiss collection and can be found easily online.
Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous is a deep gunmetal with shimmer. Its more black than Valiant (which appears more brown). It was part of OPI's Swiss collection and can be found on Amazon.
~~~~~Wild Card Colors~~~~~
Rusty orange, pale neutrals, deep browns and multi-colored shades define the different choices and creativity you can express.
L-R-Wet n Wild nail color in Rustic, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Gold Silk, Milani Nail Lacquer in Ms Milani, Essie in Mink Muffs and Hard Candy nail color in Beetle.
Rustic is a glittery orange/brown shade which reminds me of fall leaves :) It does appear to be discontinued and you might can find it on ebay.
Gold Silk is similar to rose gold but is lighter and more neutral.
Ms. Milani is a pewter, champagne color. I can't find it on their website but I still see it in stores.
Mink Muffs is a creamy, purple-brown that has cool undertones.
Beetle is a multi-dimensional shade that changes colors depending on how the light hits it. Sometimes Beetle appears purple, green, pink, blue, yellow or orange. It's really a fun color to wear.
~~~~~New Essie Luxeffects Topcoats~~~~~
I adore Essie nail polish. Almost every color is smooth, doesn't bubble and dries to a creamy finish. At $8 a bottle, it's still .50 cheaper than OPI and I personally think Essie's brush works better for me. Essie may not have the color range that OPI has but when it comes to creaminess, brush size and pastel shades, Essie has OPI beat hands down.
Recently Essie came out with five different glitter top coats. Usually Essie shies away from glitter polish but the brand is now branching out to help Essie lovers get that glitter effect whenever they want. I personally like glitter nails but there is a HUGE difference between obnoxious glitter and tasteful glitter. Essie hit the mark with their topcoats because each one has just the right amount of sparkle without looking like you experimented with the your moms nail polish at 10 years old. Below you will see two of the five that are part of the new Luxeffects collection.
Pictured here is Essie's topcoat in Shine of the Times. It is one of five new glitter topcoats that Essie has recently released. It is full of glitter flakes that reflect light and appear red, orange, pink and even blue. Shine of the Times is applied in this picture on top of a pink polish called Viva Pink by Avon. Unfortunately the camera does not do the look justice.
Pictured above is Avon Nailwear Pro in Viva Pink and Essie's Shine of the Times
The second member of the Luxeffects topcoat line is Pure Pearlfection which is pictured above. Just a touch of this great topcoat over almost any polish looks amazing. It gives a pearly glow to pastels and an edgy sparkle to jewel tones. I really liked trying this color over purple and periwinkle blue. This topcoat would also look amazing over white nail polish similar to Coconut Crush by Revlon mentioned earlier in this post.
Both topcoats can be found at your local drugstore or Ulta for $8.00/bottle.
Wow...it's been awhile since I posted last. I've been trying to stay busy with my son and work has kept me at bay. I wanted to post about some recent purchases I've made over the past few weeks. I plan to do some reviews, swatches and looks with some of the items listed below. Some of the items I haven't had a chance to use yet, so this post really isn't a review but just a look at some neat products!
Enjoy!
A few weeks ago Sally's Beauty Supply had a major sale. I was able to pick up this Hot n Silky boar hair brush for $6 that came with a free brush cleaner (which really works)!
Hot n Silky paddle brush and brush cleaning tool.
Orly nail polish was on sale for buy 2 get 1 free. Originally each bottle costs around $5. I picked up 3 great summer colors.
L-R- Passion Fruit, Frisky and Purple Crush
I also picked up a bottle of China Glaze's Flip Flop Fantasy and a new bottle of my favorite top coat, Seche Vite. China Glaze is around $5 and Seche Vite is $6.99.
Flip Flop Fantasy is a perfect color for tanned toes!
While I was in Sally's I also picked up a bottle of Miracle 7 Leave-In mist. This is an exact copy of It's a 10 leave-in mist but in true form, Sally's version only cost $12.99 versus It's A 10 costing around $18.00.
Ulta recently had a good sale where I picked up this Smashbox blush/highlighter combo in the shade Undercover for only $5!!! It usually costs around $30!
I've heard a lot of buzz about a great makeup remover called Bioderma. Bioderma is a French brand that claims to remove all makeup (including eye makeup) and is as gentle as water. I have used it a few times so far and I must say that I love it! No breakouts! I found my bottle online for $25.50 (250ml) from http://www.amazon.com/
If you know me then you might know about my love for St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I remember getting my first tub of this exfoliator in middle school...I've been hooked since! I use this in the shower before I shave and before using self tanner. You can't get a better body exfoliator for this price. I picked up mine at Walgreens for around $2. I also picked up a 4oz bottle of Bumble and Bumble's Styling Lotion. You can use this before blow drying and before heat styling. I haven't used it yet but it was originally $12.50 and I picked up mine on clearance at Walgreens for $6.99. I've heard good things about B&B, so I'm looking forward to trying it out.
Since it's summer, everyone needs a good self tanner. If you hate the way self tanner smells and you really don't want to look like an orange, then Sun Laboratories lotion is for you! I picked up my bottle for $16.99 at TJ Maxx...it's usually $36 for an 8oz bottle! This self tanner is amazing and I am in love (review coming soon)! I also picked up a special edition Wet n Wild trio called The Gilded Age and a Wet n Wild bronzer called Everything Under the Sun. The trio applies smoothly and is a great choice to achieve that golden/bronze look which is perfect for the summer!
Since I am a HUGE Wet n Wild eyeshadow fan, I couldn't resist picking up a few of their 8-pan palettes. The first one I purchased is called Blue Had Me At Hello. I love this palette. Most of the colors are well pigmented and soft. I also couldn't resist L'Oreal's new leGloss. The last thing I need is another lipgloss but I thought Golden Splash was a great color that is unique and will carry me into the fall.
Another 8-pan palette from Wet n Wild I picked up is called Comfort Zone. Each color is a warm earth tone that compliments everyone's skin color. Pictured with the Wet n Wild palette is Maybelline's new Eyestudio Color Explosion palette in Caffeine Rush. For under $10 this palette delivers and has a unique, shimmery gold shade that is unlike any other in my collection.
A drugstore lipstick line that never disappoints me is L'Oreal's Colour Riche. I picked up a tube in the shade Gilded Pink which is similar to my own lip color but better! I also wanted to try some more Jordana liners, so I picked up Jordana's Fabuliner (felt tip) in Black, Easyliner for Eyes retractable liner in Black and Easyliner for Lips retractable liner in Honey. In addition to picking up goodies for my lips, I also picked up a bottle of Essie's Smooth Sailing polish. This polish reminds me of Butter's No More Waity, Katie which is a gorgeous blue with silver shimmer. I can't wait to wear it on my toes!!
Pictured below is a closeup of the liners.
L-R- Fabuliner, Easyliner for the Lips and Easyliner for the Eyes
Last but not least...I keep seeing this super-cute tin of lotion each time I'm at the pharmacy, so I gave in. For .99 you can pick up some Nivea Creme. I already used it on my elbows and I really think my skin is softer. It's a perfect size for your makeup bag or for travel. It has a soft scent and is thick in texture but absorbs easily into the skin.
I hope you got some shopping ideas from the items listed above. If you have any favorites of your own you want to recommend, leave a comment below. Soon I will be posting reviews on Sun Labs self tanner and Bioderma makeup remover.
