Fall Beauty Favorites | Lipsticks + Glosses

Do you ladies switch up your beauty routines and essentials as the seasons change? Though I keep things the same in the spring and summer months, I love swapping products in my beauty arsenal when fall hits. There's something about those beautiful nudes, browns, plums, and rose shades that just scream "fall is here" to me. And since you guys are well aware of my lippie obsession, I decided I would share some of my current lipstick and lipgloss picks for the season here on the blog. 

NYX Round Lipstick in Thalia (top, left)- This is my go-to nude lippie of the fall season. It's a pretty mauve shade of nude that I believe compliments many complexions.

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in Mochalicious (top, right)- This is my throwback 90's shade for the fall. It's highly pigmented, long-lasting, and very affordable. I feel like I'm channeling Kima, Keisha, and Pam when I'm rocking this lippie!

MAC Lipstick in Creme de la Femme (bottom, left)- This is my second pick nude lippie for the fall. Unlike Thalia, it has a frost finish, so I use it for more of a soft night look. 

Clinique Chubby Moisturizing Lip Balm in Roomiest Rose (bottom, right)- I received this beauty from my cousin Tresa and instantly fell in love with it. For my divas that aren't really big on rocking lipstick, this balm gives you color without the commitment. This balm is creamy, moisturizing, and has a great color payoff. 

NYX Lipgloss in African Queen (top, left)- This is my all-time favorite NYX lipgloss. It's a shimmery violet shade that's sure to turn heads. And it looks gorgeous on women of color! Every time I wear it, someone stops me to ask me what I'm wearing on my lips. 

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Shameless (top, right)- For my ladies that have MAC Heroine on their wishlist but don't want to commit to the price, this lippie is perfect for you! I have them both and they are nearly identical. It applies soft and moisturizing, but dries into a beautiful matte. 

Wet n Wild Fergie Lipstain in Throwing Shade (bottom, left)- To be honest, I grabbed up this lippie for the name. How could you go wrong with a lipgloss called Throwing Shade anyways? Though it's actually a lipstain, it's pretty moisturizing. If you don't have this one in your collection, you might want to grab it up!

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in Ravin' Raisin (bottom, right)- This is one of my fall favorites simply because I've never owned a color that compares to this lipstick at all. It's a vampy shade of purple that has mauve undertones. Out of all the lipsticks on this list, I would say this one is definitely my wildcard. 

WHAT LIPSTICKS AND GLOSSES ARE YOU WEARING THIS SEASON?

Summer Beauty Wish List

1. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater (shop)

2. O.P.I. Nail Lacquer in You're Such a BudaPest (shop)

3. NYX The Curve Eyeliner (shop)

4. The Body Shop Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz (shop)

5. The Body Shop Vitamin C Facial Cleansing Polish (shop)

6. MAC 187 Stippling Brush (shop)

7. MAC Lipstick in Candy Yum-Yum (shop)

8. Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer (shop)

9. Beauty Blender Beautyblender & Blendercleanser Duo (shop)

HAVE YOU USED ANY OF THESE ITEMS?

WHAT'S ON YOUR BEAUTY WISH LIST?

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Blues Mama: FOTD + Baby Bump Reveal

Happy Hump Day, guys! I promised myself I wouldn't wait forever to share another FOTD here on the blog.  And since I rarely wear blue eyeshadow, I thought it would be nice to share today's look with you all. For some reason, I usually stick to neutral shades, pinks, or purples when it comes to adding color to my eyes. I even use a bit of green every now and again, but I can't remember the last time I've worn blue. So I pulled out my BH Cosmetics 120 Palette (1st edition), picked out a few turquoise shades that complimented the turquoise in my tank top (since I wanted to be bright like that), and rocked a neutral lippie using MAC Lipstick in Shy Girl and MAC Lipglass in Cultured. And I didn't care whether the eye would be daytime friendly or not, because I just wanted to be bold like that :-)

I wish I would have taken these pictures with my camera instead of my phone so you could get a better view of how intense the eyeshadows actually were. I'm sorry :( I'll make a note to take better pictures next time.

 Brows:

MAC Brow Pencil in Spiked

MAC Studio Fix Concealer in NC42

Eyes:

Ruby Kisses Eyeshadow Primer

BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette (1st Edition)

Avon Super Extend Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Avon Super Drama Mascara in Black

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeliner in Dark Brown (bottom lash line)

Face: 

Avon Illuminating Face Perfector (primer)

Avon Perfect Wear Foundation in Toffee (discontinued)

MAC MSF in Dark

(Flush of) La Femme Blush in Golden Ruby

Lips:

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Bloom

MAC Lipglass in Cultured 

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Shy Girl

And while I'm sharing, I decided to share a few full shots of today's look. I'm at my 25th week of pregnancy and realized that I haven't posted any pics of the baby bump yet!  So here goes nothing!  

Too bad I can't rock these heels for too long! 

Guess it will be sandal city for me the rest of this summer!

What fashions & makeup looks are you rocking this week?

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Purple Kisses: FOTD with MAC Heroine Lipstick

Okay, I'll admit it. It's been forever and a day since I've posted a FOTD here on the blog! And to get back into the groove of things, I decided to share today's look with you guys.  I reached for my beloved MAC Wonder Woman Defiance palette to play up my eyes and pulled out my MAC Heroine lipstick that I was so happy to FINALLY get from the MAC Spring 2013 Fashion Sets Collection. Talk about somebody being pressed to get a lipstick! But anyways, I came up with a basic look that's perfect for daytime wear/everyday wear. I even toned down the lippie by adding a gloss, making it more wearable for anytime. Check out the deets for today's look below and tell me what you think!

Brows:

MAC Brow Pencil in Spiked

Milani Brow Tint Pen in Dark Brown

MAC Studio Fix Concealer in NC42

Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Wonder Woman Eyeshadow Palette in Defiance

Avon Super Extend Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Avon Super Drama Mascara in Black

Avon Glimmerstick Chromes in Electric Pink (inner bottom lash)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey (bottom lash corners)

Face: 

Avon Illuminating Face Perfector (primer)

Avon Perfect Wear Foundation in Toffee (discontinued)

MAC MSF in Dark

La Femme Blush in Mulberry (not pictured)

Lips:

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Purple Rain

MAC Plushglass in I ♥ U (LE from the Quite Cute Collection)

MAC Matte Lipstick in Heroine

What eyeshadows and lip colors have you been reaching for lately?

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February Beauty Favorites

Hey ladies! Just wanted to do a quick post to share my beauty favorites for the month of February.  I was enjoying nude lips, plum lips (per usual), lilac pouts, mauve blush and products that helped give me a bit of a glow.  Check them out below!

I found myself applying The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost on the daily after my moisturizer and right before my primer (if I wore makeup).  It gave my face a radiant glow, makes it feel soft and silky, and smells so refreshing! The heavenly citrus-y smell is a great pick-me-up for the mornings also.  The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost can be purchased from The Body Shop.

Looking for something new to set my highlighted areas when applying foundation, I dug in my crate and brought out my Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder.  When I first got it, I only used it a few times to set my undereye concealer, but since I've been practicing to perfect my highlighting technique, I've found this most helpful. I purchased the Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder from Makeup Mania.  There are different sizes and shades available also.

Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve has become my favorite blush over the months.  It is my favorite from the Milani line, and I find myself reaching for it everyday! I just love the mauve/plum flush it gives my complexion when I apply it.  Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve can be found at the Milani website as well as most drugstores.

I've been using the Avon Magix Illuminating Face Perfector as a primer for a while now and I must say I'm loving it.  I love that it applies as a soft gel and dries to almost a powdery consistency-- this is the perfect canvas for my otherwise oily skin!  It helps my foundation to glide on smoothly and makes my skin feel so soft!  Avon Magix Illuminating Face Perfector can be purchased from the Avon website or from your local Avon Independent Sales Representative.

I didn't play with too much lip color in February, but when I did I was constantly grabbing for these products, especially Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Hot Plum.  It is the perfect plum lipstick! It has great pigment and is quite moisturizing.  Hot Plum has been my favorite lipstick this season so be prepared to see a couple of FOTDs featuring this lippie in the upcoming weeks!  Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Hot Plum could be purchased at virtually any drugstore.

  

If you saw my Valentine's Day FOTD on Instagram or Facebook, you will see that I pulled my MAC Lipglass in Pink Poodle out of the stash! I've been loving this hot pink gloss lately and almost forgot I had it! MAC Tinted Lipglass in Pink Poodle can be purchased from your local MAC counter or from the MAC website.

I've been loving the lilac-hued lips lately, so my go-to lipstick + lipgloss combination last month was Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick in Oh La Lilac and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle.  It's like these two products were made to be paired!  I love the soft look they give combined.  Both Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick in Oh La Lilac and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle can be purchased at most drugstores.

Now lastly, but certainly not least are the nude lippies I was into for the month of February.  Since I was most often wearing a neutral look everywhere I went, I stayed grabbing for these three lippies.

I most often wore MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Shy Girl (as it is one of my favorite nude lipsticks) and layered it with MAC Lipglass in Emancipation from the Wonder Woman LE Collection to make it last longer. Both were purchased from MAC, but Emancipation was LE and is no longer being sold.

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Perfect is that rare nude that I keep in my purse. I love the doe-foot applicator and the fruity fragrance of the gloss. If I'm barely wearing anything at all, it's usually only an application or two of NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Perfect on my lips.  It can be purchased from Ulta, Cherry Culture, or the NYX website.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR 

CURRENT BEAUTY FAVORITES?

PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS!

Three Ways to Wear Red Lips

When it comes to a polished, classic makeup look, there's nothing that compares to a bold red lip.  Red lips demand attention and add a silent sexiness to an otherwise average look.  And contrary to popular belief, a beautiful red lip can be achieved by every woman--women of ALL shades.  Whether you prefer to wear a moisturizing, creamy formula of lipstick, a high-shine gloss, or a retro matte lipstick, you too can rock a powerful red lippie.  Here are my three favorite ways to achieve a red puckered pout:

The Sultry, Satin Way  

To achieve this lip look, I used Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Berry Berry Nice which retails for $7 on the Avon website. This lipstick's formula is creamy and moisturizing, all while providing opaque color. This is what makes it the easiest and most versatile way to rock the red lip.

For other creamy red lipstick options, check out Cover Girl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Hot, Burn, or Flame (depending on which red suits you best) or Milani Color Perfect Lipstick in Red Label or Red Velvet.  Cover Girl and Milani Lipsticks can be purchased at Ulta Beauty and various drugstores.

The High-Shine Gloss Way 

With this look, I used MAC Lipglass in Wicked Ways from the Venomous Villains collection.  It retailed for $14.50 at the time of purchase and was a limited edition lip gloss. Choosing to rock your red lips in gloss form is a great way to try a red lip without committing to using a lipstick.  Lip gloss is more buildable, as  you can apply just a bit or slather on as much as you like to achieve the intensity of color that you desire.

For other red lip gloss options, check out NYX Round Lip Gloss in True Red or Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Fire. Both can be purchased at Ulta Beauty and various drugstores.

The Classic Matte Way 

Of the three ways to rock a fierce red lip, this one is my favorite.  The matte red lip just exudes retro glam.  And it just wouldn't be right if I didn't rock my darling favorite matte lippie, MAC Ruby Woo, to sell you on wearing red lipstick.  MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick retails for $15 on the MAC website and is one of MAC's bestsellers for obvious reasons.  Just wearing this lipstick makes me feel like a supermodel or a socialite or some other sexy beast, I tell ya!

For other matte red lipstick options, check out Wet n Wild Mega Last in Stoplight Red, Revlon Matte Lipstick in Really Red, or NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl. Wet n Wild and Revlon lipsticks can be purchased at various drugstores while the NARS lip pencil is available at Sephora and the NARS website.

Warning: Don't Forget the Liner

To keep these lip looks in their truest red form, I've lined my lips with Avon Ultra Luxury Lipliner in Wildberry.  If you would like to tone your red lip down, however, you could use a brown liner such as NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Expresso or Iman Perfect Lip Pencil in Espresso.  Just be sure to blend the lip liner in well with the lipstick!

ARE YOU A FAN OF RED LIPSTICK?

SHARE YOUR FAVORITES IN THE COMMENTS!

NYX Round Lipsticks: Review + Swatches

Are you still rocking your beautiful nudes and pink lips into the fall season?  Well, as much as I love the plum pouts rising to the occasion recently, I love nude and pink lipsticks also.  So for the ladies who love nudes and pinks as much as I do, and for those of you who aren't quite ready to step into that deeply-hued lip-rocking territory, I have a treat for you.  Today I'm sharing a few NYX lipsticks that I love to wear in any season.  Even before I became a big lipstick fan, I first played around with NYX lipsticks and found colors I was comfortable with wearing.  For my non-lipstick wearers, I hope this post makes you want to try out a tube! 

The NYX Round Lipsticks first appealed to me because they offered both "safe" shades and shocking shades of lipstick.  I was in awe when I visited Cherry Culture for the first time to make a lipstick purchase.  Afraid bright colors wouldn't compliment me at all, I decided on five lipsticks and clicked the BUY button.  Two years have passed and the colors Darling, Thalia, Power, Strawberry Milk, and Narcissus are still among my favorite lipsticks. 

♥My Thoughts♥

♥Packaging♥

The NYX Round Lipstick comes in sleek, black packaging.  It is embossed with a pretty white font, distinguishing it from other lipsticks.  At the top of the tube, each lipstick has its respective color and name printed on a sticker.  I love this, because on some lipstick packaging it is not clear what the color is or the name wipes off over time.

♥Application♥

The NYX Round Lipstick goes on very smooth. It has a creamy consistency and gives great color payoff with just one swipe. The lighter colors, such as Strawberry Milk and Narcissus, tend to have a streaky consistency.  One would have to play around with these colors a bit to get the desired consistency on to your lips. **For the light colors, I suggest filling in the lips with a nude colored lip pencil first, and blotting lipstick with a tissue after desired application.**  Below are the swatches-- first with flash, then without flash.

♥Pros♥

1)Variety of colors- There are currently 144 shades of NYX Round Lipstick available.  That means there is a shade or two or ten for everyone!

2) Budget-Friendly Price-  These lippies are currently on sale at the Cherry Culture website for $2.99!  Now  is a good time to snatch these up!

3)Sleek packaging- As I mentioned up top, the packaging is boss.  It has the clearly defined signature look of a higher-end lipstick for a fraction of the price. 

4)Great color payoff- The lipstick delivers a big punch of color without drying.  And for the price, I think it's a win-win!

♥Cons♥

1) Streaky consistency with lighter colors- As I explained earlier, the lighter colors tend to streak upon application.  However, with careful application, this problem can be solved with ease.

2) The "off" flavor of the lipstick- I know this may not mean much to some, but I can't help but taste the faint flavor of fragrance or something when I apply this lipstick.  This doesn't necessarily make it a deal-breaker, as many lipsticks have a distinctive smell or taste.  But with wearing CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks and MAC Lipsticks, one can become spoiled with using lipsticks of a sweet smell or "taste."

Would I repurchase?

I have and I will again! In fact, check me out wearing Thalia, my go-to nude lippie of the bunch. 

ARE YOU A FAN OF NYX ROUND LIPSTICKS?

In The Mood for Nude

Check out my nude look featuring my NYX Nude on Nude palette!

Products used:

e.l.f. Complexion Brush

Avon Healthy Makeup Concealer

Sigma Flat Top Kabuki Brush

Avon Magix Cashmere Finish Foundation

e.l.f. Blush in Blushing Rose

e.l.f. Crease Brush

e.l.f. Blending Brush

e.l.f. Studio Eyeshadow "C" Brush

e.l.f. Defining Eye Brush

Ruby Kisses Eyeshadow Primer

NYX Nude on Nude Palette

These are the specific colors I am wearing!

mark. What a Line Felt Tip Eyeliner in Brownie Points

Maybelline "The Falsies" Mascara in Black

NYX Lipliner in Expresso

MAC Lipstick in Shy Girl

I even wore nude nails!!! 

Wet 'n' Wild Nail Color in Private View

Are you getting nude this season?

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August Beauty Faves

These are the products that I couldn't get enough of in August.  They are all listed in clockwise order below:

1. Ruby Kisses Magic Eyeshadow Primer (surprisingly just as good as my UD Primer Potion)
2. Avon Perfect Wear Foundation in Toffee (my absolute favorite foundation of all time)
3. I-Mark Eyeshadows (specifically the new metallic shade "Jazzy" on the far left)
4. MAC Lipstick in Up The Amp (my new favorite lipstick... OMG I am in LOVE!)
5. NARS Blush in Taj Mahal (one of my favorite blushes in the whole wide world lol)
6. NYX Powder Blush in Cinnamon (such a beautiful color!)

Here's me with the NARS Taj Mahal Blush

And here's a close-up featuring the MAC Up The Amp Lipstick

What are your current beauty faves?