Fresh picks for cheeks and lips!

L-R- Hard Candy Fox in a Box blush duo, Cargo Beach Blush, Essence XXXL Shine lipgloss, NYX Blush, Revlon Colorburst lipgloss and CoverGirl Lip Perfection lipstick.

I don't know what it is about blush and lip gloss lately!  I'm always finding myself picking up a new blush and gloss when I don't need one.  I LOVE blush...I'm always looking for that perfect shade that highlights my cheekbones and gives my face good color.  Gloss is the same way.  I want a gloss that makes my thin lips fuller and comes in a shade that goes with everything!  That's not too tall of an order, right?!

Covergirl Lip Perfection lipstick in Feline (see swatch below)

This past weekend I picked up a few blushes, some tubes of gloss and a new lipstick.  I was standing in Target and met a nice woman who was in search of a new foundation brush.  I recommended a great Sonia Kashuk one (flat blusher brush) and she recommended to me a new CoverGirl lipstick which I had to pick up of course!  Makeup lovers unite!  Because of her suggestion, I picked up CoverGirl's Lip Perfection lipstick in Feline for around $6.  It states it helps smooth and improve the overall appearance of lips.  Anything for better lips I say!  I really like this lipstick.  It does go on smooth and the color payoff is great.  It seems to last longer than my other drugstore lipsticks too.  I received many compliments over the weekend while wearing this shade and I will probably pick up a few more.

Cargo's Beach Blush in Miami

I also stopped by Ulta and got a few items.  I've heard a lot about Cargo blushes and I almost picked up a set from Cargo that included an AWESOME blush but I backed down at the last minute.  I picked up Cargo's Beach Blush in Miami instead.  It is like a blush and bronzer in one.  It goes on incredibly smooth, is not too bright but it gives my cheeks a soft glow.  It does have some shimmer, however it is not too chunky nor glittery.  I really am excited about this product and I hope to pick up some more Cargo bronzers and blushes in the future.  You can find it at Ulta for $28. 

NYX blush in Terra Cotta

I also couldn't resist picking up another blush by NYX.  I chose Terra Cotta which is a warm, bronze-toned blush which will make a great contour shade that will be perfect for summer.  This shade is more shimmery than the Cargo blush and is more bronze.  I find that NYX blushes give a lot of bang for your buck and go on smooth.  You can find this blush at Ulta for $6.

Hard Candy's Fox in a Box Bronzing Duo in Skinny Dipping

Hard Candy is always a great brand to get a lot of color payoff for very little money.  You can find Hard Candy at your local Walmart.  In the past I've recommended their Sheer Envy primer (see review here) and now I want to recommend their Fox in a Box bronzing duo in Skinny Dipping.  This duo contains a bronzer and cheek color.  You can use each color individually or you can combine them.  I prefer to swirl my brush in both colors to get a gorgeous, warm coral that will be perfect for this summer.  There are more expensive brands that carry wonderful coral cheek colors but if you are looking for good color at a small price, then pick up this choice for $6.  I love the texture and the cute packaging (Benefit anyone?!).

L-R Blush Swatches- Skinny Dipping, Terra Cotta, Miami

Top-Bottom Lipgloss/Lipstick Swatches- Revlon's Rosegold, Essence's Glamour To Go and Covergirl's Feline

I would not have normally picked up another one of Revlon's Colorburst lip glosses since the one I purchased in the past failed to impress me (see review here) however I had a certificate for a free one, so I went ahead and picked up another.  Revlon's Colorburst gloss just isn't for me.  I really don't think it's opaque enough and the color is too streaky.  It's really a shame since they have a nice color selection and good packaging.  I do like Essence's XXXL Shine gloss though.  I find that it is not only super shiny but it goes on smoothly and is super cheap.  You can find it at Ulta for only $1.99!  At that price you cannot find another gloss this great.

Revlon's Colorburst Lipgloss in "Peony"

When I saw the most recent Revlon lipgloss display at my local Walgreens, I couldn't resist purchasing a tube.  I really enjoy Revlon lipgloss, so I decided that this one would probably be a winner too.

First let me say the packaging is great.  The tube reminds me of Chanel's glossimers.  It's sleek, handy and fits into any sized purse quite well.  The top is identical to Revlon's Colorburst lipsticks (which I love) and the tube is thinner and longer than Revlon Super Lustrous gloss.  The wand is doe foot style.

When I first applied the gloss, I noticed the smell.  This gloss smells identical to vanilla extract (straight from the kitchen)!  It's not totally offensive however it is noticeable.  Secondly, I noticed that it took 3-4 tries to get enough product out of the tube to completely cover my lips.  When you pull the applicator out, the tube tends to "clean" the applicator too well.  

The biggest issue I had with this gloss is that it is too sheer.  Now it may be color choice however I feel that the formula sheers out too much.  Revlon's Super Lustrous gloss is much more opaque and provides better coverage.  I don't dislike this gloss...it's nice to have on hand and does add shimmer without being over the top.  I do think though the Super Lustrous gloss is a better choice since it has more color payoff and costs less on average.  Both choices offer .2oz of product.  You can find Revlon's Colorburst lipgloss for around $7.50 at any drugstore.

Swatch of "Peony" above (with flash)

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.