anything green

subtle smoky eye

2011-01-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

if you've ever read this blog before, you know that i'm more about the statement lip than i am the statement eye. to me, it's so much more comfortable to do neutral eyes and slap on a bright lipstick. but i was in an experimental mood last saturday night, and decided to try a not-too-dramatic smoky eye. i thought the result was appropriate for a lingerie shower:

i first applied wet 'n wild's idol eyes creme shadow stick in "techno" all over my lid. then i brushed on a layer of maybelline's shadow quad in "natural smokes." i liked how the purple still kind of came through....

the purple shade, "techno", is the one i used

on top, i layered the top left shade, the one labeled "lid"

by the way, i just figured out this weekend that if i curl my hair with a curling iron, and then hairspray it upside down, it turns out awesome like in the first picture. i really should do that more often, but i'm just so gosh darn lazy (about hair. about makeup, not so much).

review: eucerin intensive repair lotion

2011-01-24T22:31:00.000-08:00

you may (or may not) remember my saga with AHA lotions for my bumpy arms (click here if you don't). well, basically i purchased this one that worked pretty well, but smelled so strongly that it repulsed my husband. not so good, especially since i plan on staying married for a very long time.

so the quest continues. i've been using the walgreens brand of AHA face lotion for nighttime, which is working out fabulously. BUT i also need something during the day. you know, a 2-punch approach. the walgreens cream is too strong to use twice a day, plus a little too thick under my clothes. i really want something lightweight.

well, daniel helped me pick out this lotion a couple of weeks ago. he actually scoured all the labels at walmart for any sign of "AHA", which is alpha-hydroxy acid by the way, just because he detests my old palmer's lotion so much. ha!

i never would've seen that it says "alpha hydroxy" on the bottle had it not been for daniel. i waffled on what size to buy for a while, and luckily i bought the smaller one....

why was it lucky? because this lotion sucks. anyone remember what elmer's glue feels like on your hands? that's exactly the same feeling and consistency this lotions has as i'm rubbing it into my skin. gross. plus i'm not convinced it actually moisturizes anything.

by the way, i grabbed this image of off instyle's website, where it was listed as a best beauty buy! apparently this lotion is "anti-inflammatory, soothing, and hydrating." which makes me even more suspicious that beauty editors just say good things about whatever new product has just hit the shelves. not cool.

don't let that deter you, though. hey, if you really like the feel (and smell!) of elmer's glue, then by all means- buy this lotion. as for me, the quest continues....

next on the list:

nude lipstick

2011-01-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

let me introduce to you my favorite nude lipstick-

nyc cosmetics ultra last lipstick in "mousse"

in real life, the color looks more like this:

it has a little bit of an orange/peach tone to it, but i would call it a caramel color:

here's what it looks like on me:

without flash

with flash

i really love the formula of this lipstick! i never would've tried it, because, well let's just face it- the packaging looks so cheap that the actual product can't be that promising. but i was wrong! i read a review about this lipstick range on makeup and beauty blog, and couldn't get over how smooth and creamy it looked! this lipstick claims to be long-lasting, but don't believe it. it's not. in fact, i would call it more moisturizing than long-lasting. a lot more moisturizing that some lipsticks that claim to be moisturizing! i'm really loving the texture of it. in the pictures, i have a very thin layer of clear lip balm over the lipstick, but it's smooth and creamy even without it. i liked this so much that i went out and bought another shade, "rose gold", which is also awesome!

wanna know my inspiration for caramel-colored lips? hilary duff, who seriously has the best lips in the whole world (except maybe for angelina jolie....):

i know the shade i bought isn't quite like hers, but i tried! i mean, how gorgeous is this picture?? and i wish i could rock the smudgy/sparkly eye makeup like she is.... sigh, maybe tomorrow.

new nail polish: wet 'n wild megalast in "red tape"

2011-01-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

i'm not sure i'm a red nail polish type girl. i've never really worn it before. red nail polish always says high-maintenance and trashy to me, but i thought it would be nice to branch out of my usual blue/green/purples* and experiment with something new. i loathe the idea of getting stuck in a rut.

i took these pics yesterday, six days into my manicure. is that incredible or is that incredible?? as you can see, i finally had some chippage on my index finger, but that didn't happen until yesterday! wow. these wet 'n wild megalast polishes are seriously well-formulated. love them. here's proof:

from L to R: "red tape", "haze of love", "bite the bullet", "private viewing"

i now own 4 of them. they last longer (and are easier to apply) than any other polish i've ever tried.... BUT i don't make it a habit to try higher-priced nail polish (OPI, essie, orly, etc.). within a couple days of painting my nails, i usually get bored and am ready to switch colors anyway.

*about the blue/green/purple thing.... apparently those are "my" colors, because that's all i ever wear- shirts, nail polish, colored eyeshadow, jewelry.... i've yet to find a shade of blue or purple that i don't like with my coloring. now green, on the other hand, is quite a bit trickier....

wet 'n wild color icon eyeliner in "green"

2011-01-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

ok, i'm back! if you've been wondering where the heck i was, i've been sick all last week. i had some crazy virus that included fever, chills, cough, head congestion, vomiting.... haha, too much information?

anyway, i'm finally feeling better and actually feel like getting dolled up with makeup again. my husband knew i was really sick last week when i didn't even feel like putting on any makeup at all! ha.

well, in trying to look alive again today, i tried out a new shade of eyeliner, hoping it would make me bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. i've been looking for the perfect shade of emerald green eyeliner (like this) for forever:

photo: glamour

isn't it beautiful?? i really love it with brown eyes, but i was hoping it would make my blue-green eyes more intense, too. you can judge for yourself:

i think i like it! finally, a green eyeliner that actually shows up on my waterline! it's so hard (at least in my experience) to find a colored pencil eyeliner that's vibrant enough to make an impact and soft enough to glide on easily. would you be shocked to know that i paid 50 cents for this pencil?? wet 'n wild was having a 50% off sale (!!) last week at walgreens, so i just had to buy it (and the purple liner too). even at full price, these eyeliners are only 99 cents! now these are the brand-new reformulated liners that wet 'n wild just put out. so glad they did, because the old ones sucked haha.

here's a lovely swatch of the color:

pretty, right? not too teal, not too olive. i don't think olive makeup is for me :S. not with my coloring. i do better with gem tones, i think.

holy grail lip product: maybelline moisture extreme lipstick in "rum raisin"

2011-01-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

i mentioned this lipstick in my new faves post last week. i seriously can't rave enough about it. i bought it on a 40% maybelline sale at rite aid (i think in november??), mostly just on a whim. But at first swipe, I knew it was a keeper. It's somehow everything I want in one package- sheer to medium color that can be applied without a mirror, feels like a balm, goes with any eye makeup look, and brightens my face up instantly. see for yourself:

so easy, and yet so pretty! you can tell more in the second picture that it's not an opaque, creamy finish. it's more gel/balm-like, which is awesome. it somehow makes my cheeks look flushed and my eyes sparkle. that should really be the test of a fabulous lipstick-

1. does it make your cheeks look flushed?

2. does it make your eyes bright and sparkly?

3. can you apply it with ease?

4. do you have 4+ back-ups of it in various purses, drawers, or places around your house?

then it's a holy grail lipstick :). no but seriously, i do have several back-ups.... i spotted these moisture extreme lipsticks on clearance at walgreens around thanksgiving time, and had a panic attack, thinking that they were being discontinued. so i bought like 3 tubes for myself (they were between 2 and 3 dollars, but still....). oh, and also a couple for my mom.... and my sister.... and my cousin :S. and you know what?? they all love it too! of course it helps that we all have the exact same coloring, but still. it's fabulous!

maybelline used to have a huge color selection of these lipsticks, but they've discontinued all but about 10. the amazing "rum raisin" is among them. although i think walgreens is phasing them out to make room for new products this january, they're still sold at target and walmart (and online, of course!). so for now, i'm safe!

pretty green storage

2011-01-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

i feel the need to share a few pretty things with you that my husband just doesn't appreciate as much as i do-

this thing is so cool! first of all, the swirly green pattern just screams my name. but when i first spotted it at marshalls, i was very waffle-y about it, because i really just have so many swirly green objects in my life (namely coffee mugs....), and i'm trying to do a better job of buying things dissimilar to things i already have. but THEN i realized it was magnetic! it sticks to my fridge like a boss! i don't know why i would need my makeup to be stuck to a refrigerator, but that's ok. it's still awesome! right? right.

the other awesome thing- this friggin sweet makeup bag from target! my mom bought it for me for christmas. i would say that she has impeccable taste, but i actually picked it out myself. so i guess i'll just tell myself that i have impeccable taste.

look at all the stuff it houses- with room to spare!

erm, i don't know why that maybelline cover-all stick is still in there. i don't even use it anymore. oops!

i could probably fit twice as much stuff in there, and it would still stand upright! sweet.

just in case you wanna know, the makeup bag is for things i take with me in my purse every day. the magnetic divider is for things that don't travel too well- brushes, eyeshadows that crumble if you sneeze on them, items that are packaged cheaply and open inside your bag and get glitter everywhere.... you get the idea.

anyone wanna share makeup storage ideas? i get strangely excited when i see pictures of how others organize their makeup. actually, i get strangely excited when i see a picture of makeup, period.

new nail polish: wet 'n wild megalast in "bite the bullet"

2011-01-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

a polish that's not really new to me, but it's new to you-

with flash: looks a lot like the color in the bottle, doesn't it? until you see it....

without the flash! now it looks more greige/mushroom-y

shown: katie showing off her mani and her new HUGE green ring.... love!

in real life, the shade is somewhere in between. it's definitely more of a dull purple than a greige color. i used 2 coats, no top coat, just fyi, if you're into that sort of thing....

today's face is brought to you by some new faves!

2011-01-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

(i tried to post this yesterday, but blogger was being moody.... sorry)

this is what my face looked like yesterday:

face:

maybelline dream smooth foundation

maybelline dream mousse concealer (under eyes)

maybelline superstay concealer (under eyes)

covergirl cheekers blush in "classic pink"

wet 'n wild natural blend pressed powder

eyes:

maybelline define-a-line eyeliner in "chestnut brown"

wet 'n wild color icon eyeshadow trio in "walking on eggshells"

maybelline great lash mascara in "blackest black"

maybelline define-a-brow eyebrow pencil in "light blonde"

lips:

e.l.f. luscious liquid lipstick in "cherry tart"

this is a really basic, subtle look that i imagine would be appropriate anywhere. it's all about brightening up the eyes, but still looking natural. i LOVE the chestnut brown eyeliner. this maybelline liner has quickly become my favorite, and not just because the packaging is lime green! it goes on soooo smoooooth. plus that medium brown color is just great. somehow it makes my eyes look more blue than green, like black or brown-black liner usually goes. in this look, i lined my eyes all the way around, but it still looks natural and bright-eyed! because this liner goes on so smoothly, it only lasts about half a day before disappearing, but having to touch it up once a day isn't a big deal to me, i still love it!

ok, on to another favorite product. this wet 'n wild eyeshadow is super pigmented and smooth. plus is never. creases. ever. isn't that incredible for a $3 eyeshadow? i never would've tried it if i haven't read glowing reviews online. the pink shade (the very lowest one) is great for a wash on your eyelid. it reminds me of pink satin ballet slippers because of its shimmery finish. the brown shade is perfect for shading your crease. i've been using this for a lot of my looks, even without the pink shade.

here i have the pink shade on my lid, and the brown blended into the outside corners and crease.

even without a flash, look how glowy and pretty it is!

i've been doing this eye look a lot lately, either when i look really tired, or when i just want something subtle that pairs wear with any kind of bright lipstick! i've yet to try a lipstick that clashes with this eye makeup.

enjoy! more looks coming, i promise!

the new year is for a new start, right?

2011-01-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

yes, i'm still alive, if anyone's still around to read this....

i don't really know why i quit blogging. too busy? too lazy? i don't know. but in the months (*ahem*.... sorry) that i've been away, i've somehow ended up with an almost entirely different makeup routine.... what? how did that happen? the products that i last called favorite no longer seem to be favorite.... it appears that i've purchased a great many products toward the end of 2010....

so, in honor of a new year and a new start, i give you.... NEW FAVES!

from top:

1. maybelline dream smooth foundation

2. maybelline dream mousse concealer

3. maybelline superstay concealer ("cream")

4. maybelline define-a-line eyeliner ("chestnut brown")

5. maybelline moisture extreme lipstick ("rum raisin")

6. nyc liquid lip shine

7. wet 'n wild natural blend pressed powder

8. covergirl cheekers blush ("classic pink")

9. maybelline eye studio color plush silk eyeshadow ("copper chic")

10. wet 'n wild color icon eyeshadow trio ("walking on eggshells")

11. loreal HIP eyeshadow ("electrified")

12. loreal HIP eyeshadow ("precious")

13. wet 'n wild mega eyes creme liner

um, wow.... that seems like a lot. and looking at the list, it seems like i have a huge love affair with maybelline right now. anyways, stay tuned because i'll be posting reviews of all of these amazing products soon!

wishlist for fall: shiny brown hair color

2010-08-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

i haven't been dyeing my hair for a couple of months now. it's been liberating, easy, and just plain lazy. perfect for summer. but i'm becoming more and more discontent with my natural look. you know why? because i've been reading (too many) september issue magazines, which are basically comprised of 500 pages of wishful thinking. they make you unsatisfied with everything in your closet. oh yeah, and the weather. it's still scorching hot outside, and i'm wishing for changing leaves and a brisk feeling in the air. and a beautiful autumnal (gah, i hate that word!) hair color to match.

now here's the tough part- which one do i want??

photo: nicky hilton, glamour.com/beauty

light golden brown?

medium golden brown?

photo: jessica biel, glamour.com/beauty

rich auburn?

tell me which one is better! i'm thinking i wanna make the change before i leave for my trip to new york in 3 weeks! :D

2010-08-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

a couple of weeks ago, there was a sale at walgreens- certain brands of sally hansen nail polish 2 for $4. i couldn't help it.

l: "pacific blue", r: "glazed sand"

with flash

"glazed sand" look like a beautiful rose gold color.... but on me, it looked really pale. champagne, really. disappointed....

but "pacific blue" is awesome! kind of like an electric version of royal blue. love love love. i first wore it on my hands, but now it's on my toes too, because i think it's perfect for the end of summer.

new nail polish: wet 'n wild megalast in "private viewing"

2010-08-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

have you tried the new wet 'n wild polishes yet? and by new i mean a few months ago.... well you should, because they're amazing! they're $2, available everywhere, last forever, and are all super sophisticated colors. here's the first one i tried-

2 coats, no top coat

,i really like this shade. it's kind of so ugly that it's awesome. lucky magazine featured a shade like this a few months ago, and i much prefer it to the dark taupe shades that are soooo popular these days. kind of reminds me of chanel inattendu:

photo: makeup and beauty blog

or this awesome rimmel one (in milk chocolate) that is now defunct:

photo: mocha mishmash

wet 'n wild's "megalast" formula is amazing, by the way. i've bought another one, and still want more!

so what do you think about this color? kind of reminds me of chai tea... mmmmmm, chai tea. i should go make myself some. isn't rainy weather perfect for a hot cup of chai tea? and jazz.... and jelly shoes!

3 ways visine can make you prettier

2010-08-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

1. well let's get the obvious one out of the way- use it as eyedrops! i do this when i have to get up at an ungodly hour to work at an estate sale at 7 in the morning.... and also in the afternoon when i inevitably get sleepy and bleary-eyed....

2. dab it on pimples or red spots. eye drops don't just get the red out of your eyes, they take it out of your skin too. i do this a lot when i go swimming and can't wear lots of concealer. just put it on any red spots on clean skin and leave it, or put on makeup after that. it makes your skin tone more even.

3. use it to mix liquid liner. last week i was just piddling around at home, and tried to wash my hands, and the water wouldn't turn on! the maintenance guys were working on the plumbing. oh, the joys of living in an apartment.... but it was one of those days where i *really* needed some eyeliner. but somewhere in the deep recesses of my cognition, i remembered reading that you can use visine (instead of water) with dark eyeshadow to make eyeliner. perfect! that's so genius, because visine is formulated for eyes, so it won't irrate them as eyeliner! and it worked great!

so recently, i've just permanently kept a bottle of eyedrops in my makeup bag. it can really save the day.

easy every day eye makeup look

2010-08-14T19:15:00.000-07:00

this is an eye look that i do a lot, especially when i want to look classy and professional. like for meeting my boss, going to church, and oh yeah, my college graduation!

me and daniel being silly.... and look, he wore green on my big day, just for me! awwwww.....

me being silly all by myself....

it's really easy- all it takes is 2 shadows:

covergirl eye enhancers 4 kit in "urban basics"

1. the taupe shade (2nd from L) on the lid

covergirl eye enhancers 4 kit in "country woods"

2. sable brown (on L) in the crease

that's it! this would be perfect for an every day wear-to-work look. just add brown liner, mascara, pretty, neutral lipstick, and you're ready to go!

favorite face wash: neutrogena acne stress control power-cream wash

2010-08-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

you might have noticed that my posts have been less than sporadic lately. i have a super good reason for my flakiness too: my skin went haywire this summer! you don't exactly feel like taking pictures of yourself and putting them out there for the world to see when you have a sudden bout of acne all over your face.... you ladies with acne know what i mean, right?

i don't really know what happened to my face.... as a teenager i never really struggled very much with acne.... just a couple little blemishes every now and then. i think i remember having a huge monster zit only once in high school.... so why did my skin wait until i was almost graduated from college to freak out on me?? who knows. i had painful, monster zits everywhere. and i hadn't really changed my routine at all. i was so excited when my husband bought me my clarisonic mia for graduation, hoping that it would solve all of my problems. it definitely makes my face smooth, but didn't really clear up (or prevent) the random acne. that st. ives green tea scrub felt nice, but i guess the 1% salicylic acid wasn't cutting it.

then one day a little over a month ago, i saw an ad in a magazine for neutrogena's acne stress control face wash (with 2% salicylic acid), which claims to prevent most acne from even surfacing! i was too curious not to try it. so i did.

about $6 or $7, depending on where you buy it

last month around the time of my period my skin was awful. it took me like 30 min. every day to cover up all of the red spots with makeup.... but when i started using this cleanser, i noticed that slowly, my spots started disappearing. the redness started fading too. i was using less concealer. and you know, the big nasty zips have never come back! it's almost magical. it really keeps big zits from popping up! i still have the occasional little bump that's not really a zit, but that's what my skin in high school looked like anyway. glad to have you back, old skin.

i couldn't be happier with this face wash. the actual product is mint green, like the packaging, smells clean and awesome, and has a great tingle. i use it once in the morning and once at night with my clarisonic. i know skincare is very personal, in that what works for me may not work for you, but you may want to try it if you have frustrating acne like i did!

i actually just found a coupon for $1 off a neutrogena cleanser, so i'm gonna go buy another tube today!!

new most favoritest lip gloss. of. all. time.

2010-08-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

apparently i will just brainlessly haul off and buy anything that gianna from nouveau cheap says is awesome. but hey, it's been working for me! she's always right.

my latest discovery? a very unlikely one.... a lip gloss from black radiance. haha. it's only funny because i bet the manufacturers didn't think that someone of my pallor would buy their products for women of color.... lol. it reminds me of that time my (male) cousin bought the pantene shampoo for women of color because it was the only formula in the drugstore he wasn't allergic to.... good times :).

well, gianna tested out a darker berry shade, but i had my eye on this amazing golden peach color. i actually ran out the very next day to buy it....

black radiance radiant lip gloss in "copper glow"

$2.84 at walmart!

isn't it beautiful?? it's 10 times more shimmery, metallic, and pigmented in real life. and it's not sticky at all! it has a sort of strong flowery fragrance to it that fades after not too long. buy hey, old lady smells have never really bothered me. and it lasts pretty long for a lip gloss!

i'm not really much of a gloss person, but this one is changing my mind!

sally hansen hard as nails in "sheer vanilla"

2010-08-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

you know how in magazines editors are always talking about their favorite sheer pale pink color for their skin tone? well i think this is mine.... except it's not pink. huh?

i don't really like the look of pink polish on me, but this milky shade is perfect. it only takes one quick coat to make you look polished (ha) and professional. i usually don't need to look polished and professional, but sometimes i do! plus it's super long-lasting, only $2, and available almost everywhere.

did you also know that it's a great base coat? oh, and sometimes i paint a coat of this over a different color to make it more pastel. more about that later :P. don't worry, i won't leave you hanging.

anyone else have a boring, sheer, neutral favorite?

inspired by: the chanel runway

2010-08-09T13:24:00.000-07:00

i love silver eyeshadow. and i love gold eyeshadow even more. but it never really occurred to me to combine them in one makeup look. check out the chanel face on the right:

photo: who what wear

my version's not quite so dramatic, but i like it anyway:

definitely good for those sleepy bleary-eyed days!

silver on top, gold on the bottom courtesy of my trusty old profusion palette. and you thought i'd forgotten about it. ha.

and on my lips:

covergirl's lipslicks in demure. just a sheer wash of a sort of mauvey color. i love these things because they're moisturizing. wish they had more colors!

wet 'n wild idol eyes creme shadow pencil in "pixie"

2010-07-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

i have a confession to throw out there: i LOVE me some cream eyeshadow. i would wear cream eyeshadow all the time, if i could get away with it. i love the consistency, the easy blending, and the metallic or pearly sheen of them. they just have much more of something special to them than do powder eyeshadows.

the problem is, there don't seem to be many good ones at the drugstore. and there certainly aren't very wide color selections. i've worn the revlon cream eyeshadows before, and they're just ok. nothing very wow about them, at least not to me.

anyway, i saw a good review online about this cream eyeshadow that's (gasp!) only 2 buckaroos! i swear, i will buy just about anything for $2. pathetic, i know.

and surprise, i actually like this! the color is a kind of champagne/taupe and the consistency is very smooth. easy to glide on. the finish isn't particularly metallic, which is ok, because i like how subtle it is. just a nice flattering wash of color. kind of like a candlelight glow. because it's so subtle, this shadow stick is ideal for highlighting the browbone. i hate it when people use white (or any kind of pale) shimmery shadow to highlight their browbones and it's just way too shimmery and metallic. i want my browbones to subtly catch the light, not blind you with a ridiculous amount of shimmer.

it's also really great for swiping over the corners of your eyes (the tear duct area), or underneath your lashes to look very awake. and because it applies smooth and not sticky, it's perfect as a powder eyeshadow base. i've tested it with multiple colors, and it keeps powder eyeshadow on longer, makes it more vibrant, and adds a little extra glow. love.

inspired by: hermes scarf ad

2010-07-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

once, a very long time ago, i purchased a beautiful ralph lauren scarf on ebay. i think i may have worn it once... or twice. ever. and then i saw this ad:

aha! now i finally have a cute way to wear it:

it's really easy. you just tie it around the crown of your head (wherever is most flattering on you), and tie it at the nape of your neck. then when you divide your hair into 3 sections, include the ends of the scarf in 2 of them. then just braid like normal and tie with a small, neutral ponytail holder (mine is off-white).

i like it when the ends of the scarf hang down lower than my actual braid. makes my hair look longer or something. just saying....

walgreens alpha-hydroxy face cream

2010-06-17T20:22:00.000-07:00

i have stumbled across a hidden drugstore gem. i never would've found out about this product were i not an obsessive beauty blog reader. but someone (now i don't know who!) said that this face cream was cheap and amazing, which meant that i had to track it down because cheap and amazing are two of my favorite things. in fact, when my husband first met me he called me cheap and amazing.

not really.

are you curious yet? it's not even a name brand product! it's a walgreens brand cream spiked with alpha-hydroxy acid (or AHAs.... you know how i feel about AHA).

i call this a hidden gem because it's not available at every walgreens.... first i could only find it at one like 20 miles away from my house.... so i snatched it up! now i've seen it in multiple locations. but it's only $5.99!

because this cream has such a high level of AHAs, it works wonderfully for me. as i've said, i have "chicken skin" on the backs of my arms, and AHA is the only ingredient that helps. my old lotion (lubriderm) did ok at keeping the chicken skin at bay, but this stuff is on a whole different level! i apply it at night before bed, and wake up with smooth, silky arms! never in my life have i had smooth, silky arms. don't you love it when your old favorite is discontinued, only to find a new, better favorite? i do now.

yeah, i know, this is supposed to be a face cream. have i tried it on my face? yup, every night. has it made a noticeable difference in my skin? i think so. i don't really see any flakes on my face by the end of the day anymore (unless i use an acne spot treatment, which is a whole different story). so am i happy with this stuff? yes! will i take it with me on all of my little trips this summer? yes! will i cry if i can't find anymore? most definitely YES!

revlon colorstay eyeliner in "teal"

2010-06-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

did you know that revlon's amazing colorstay eyeliner is only $5 at walmart? i did not. i guess it's been a while since i bought one of these, even though i used to be obsessed. i wore the "black brown" like every day in high school...... why did i stop that again? i can't remember.

at first i didn't like this liner. i couldn't really get it right. then i realized it looks totally dorky unless the liner is very sharp. i lined my eyes almost all the way around, and i like how it brightens them up. this would be a great look for summer traveling, because all revlon colorstay products are the mother of long-lasting, and because it only took me one product for my eyes (not including black mascara, of course). oh yeah, and because the packaging is very travel-friendly.

*note to self: take this with me to mammoth cave and dinosaur world next month!! woot!

ode to skinny eyebrows

2010-06-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

i've always admired dark, thick, glossy eyebrows like megan fox's and kim kardashian's. but just recently, i've felt that super-groomed, skinny brows are oddly appealing.

oh alexis, you can do no wrong. i would eat mayonnaise if you told me it was cool.

photo: wikstenmade

i always just kind of let my brows do their thing, which is ok since they've always been skinny. but is society right? is there really no such thing as too skinny?? the skinnier the better?? i don't know, but i'm debating whether or not i should find out.

revlon nail enamel in "minted"

2010-06-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

alright, so i caved. i finally bought this mint polish after walgreens-stalking it all over town. i know i say this about every new nail polish i buy, but this one is my *favorite*!

(until the next one, of course.)

doesn't it go perfectly with my bangle??

ok, so the formula's not so great. but that's what base and top coats were invented for, folks! i've gotten four days of wear from this manicure already, with only one tiny chip. and it's not because revlon nail polish is amazing, it's because my sally hansen top coat is.

maybelline eye studio eyeshadows... be ye warned!!

2010-06-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

if you're thinking about buying one of these new maybelline shadows, be careful!!!!!

they look almost the same, don't they?? but one of these things is not like the other.... one is shimmery and beautiful, and one is total crap. of course, i got duped into buying the crap one first..... grrrr. at least it was on sale....

just to prove that there's a *huge* difference-

sunset seduction- for those who want dull, boring eyes

copper chic- for those who want glamorous, shimmery, dynamic eyes

"sunset seduction" looked shimmery in the package, but as soon as i put the applicator in the pan, it became obvious that the shimmer was frugally dusted on top only. no shimmer in the actual product! booo.... now "copper chic", on the other hand....

here's a simple look with copper chic (just the peachy color- super easy):

so, just to summarize:

"copper chic"- good. buy.

sunset seduction- baaaad, do not buy!!

wet 'n wild meglast lipstick in "just peachy"

2010-06-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

oops, sorry for being absent. i've been off having some birthday/memorial day/summer vacation fun. but don't worry, i have *tons* of new stuff to review and gush about. first off, my new favorite peach lip product! (i refuse to say "lippie", because i hate that word. almost as much as i hate "gorge." bleh).

it's part of wet 'n wild's new collection called megalast. let me just say, both the lipstick and the nail polish from this collection are awesome. i highly recommend them, especially because they're dirt cheap. here's the lipstick in "just peachy" in person:

oh look, it's featured in my lip products hall of fame =P. it's the one on top in the black tube.

now, this is called "megalast" after all, so it's very matte and long-lasting. if you weren't born with perfectly moist, pillowy lips, then it will probably accentuate any dry spots. so uhh, exfoliate! even still, i like to wear it with a little balm or gloss over it.

here it is with just a little balm:

and here it is with shiny gloss (which i think i prefer):

can we talk about the color? how perfect is it?? it's like the love child of pale peach and pale pink. for some reason, this perfect shade is *so hard* for me to find at the drugstore. who would've thought that one of the cheapest makeup brands in the world would make it? it's laughable.

by the way, there are lots of other mouth-watering shades too. "wine room" looks particularly appealing.... anyone else love these lipsticks? or found your perfect peachy-pink shade?

carrie bradshaw look

2010-05-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

since i have accidental free cable tv now, i've been a total bum and have basically done nothing except work and watch tv. yup, the post-grad life is a good one. while watching an old rerun of sex and the city the other night, i couldn't keep from staring at carrie's stunning makeup. she had very warm gold eyeshadow on (which is basically my favorite eyeshadow look of all time) and bright pink cheeks. but what really killed me was her perfect spicy-neutral matte lipstick that made her eyes look so blue. observe:

instyle

ok, so the pictures don't do her any justice. but if you've ever seen an episode of sex and the city, you know what i'm talking about. so i instantly thought, how can i try this myself?? i dug out some old covergirl outlast lipsticks, and this is what happened:

eyes: the gold pan from covergirl's 4-pan in "country woods"

cheeks: that same cotton candy pink blush from last time (i'm looking for a new one, btw)

lips: 2 covergirl outlast shades- "sleek suede" (L) and "my papaya" (R), below:

i actually wore "my papaya" to my wedding.... which made me smile today :). i've forgotten how much i loved these outlast lipsticks. i think i have like... uhh too many. i'm definitely gonna have to start wearing these more, since they stay awesome-looking for hours upon hours, which is great for this ridiculously hot nashville weather.

sale at rite-aid!

2010-05-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

look what i scored today (on the cheap!):

i've been running low on my staples (my maybelline eyebrow pencil, concealer, and mascara), but i've been waiting for a good drugstore sale. i was really holding out for a BOGO sale, but this week's sale at rite-aid is almost as good. it's 40% off on all maybelline cosmetics! pretty good. so all i had to do was register for a wellness+ card (i haven't yet because i hardly ever shop at rite-aid), and i got all my items at a discounted price. here's how much i spent:

concealer- $3.33
brow pencil- $4.01
mascara- $3.11
----------
TOTAL: $11.42 (with tax)

not bad, eh? the receipt said i saved $6.98. i was feeling pretty smart, until i realized... uhhh why didn't i buy more necessities?? i may have to go back for some superstay lipsticks, because i'm quite fond of them :).

i feel spoiled

2010-05-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

look what my parents-in-law just got me for graduation!

it's a jewelry armoire! i was sooooo excited!

ok, so now you've seen all of my jewelry... ha. i even had room to fill the bottom 2 drawers with all of my lipsticks! pretty cool.

a big part of me feels guilty for all of this stuff, though.... i have a clarisonic, enough jewelry to fill a large piece of furniture, a very easy part-time job that i love and happens to pay well, a nice apartment, internet, and yesterday my husband and i discovered that the internet guy accidentally hooked up our cable too! so now we have cable tv.... who the heck am i?? i never thought i would have all of this....

i feel bad.

no more shopping for me for a while. i have waaaay more than i need, and some people don't have nearly enough to stay alive. it makes me sick to my stomach.

not that i don't appreciate an awesome gift, because i definitely do!

alexa chung eyes how-to

2010-05-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

every picture i've ever seen of alexa chung has me green with envy about her eye makeup. how does she do it?? it's magical. it makes her eyes look such a cool steel blue.

selective potential

see? she has the same makeup going on. it makes her blue eyes look bright and sparkly, without having to use anything sparkly at all. how??

well, i've been playing around with it for a while, and i may have come pretty close. and let me just say, it looks more dramatic in real life. i'll let you be the judge.

wanna know the secret? you first make a thick line of chocolate brown shadow over about half of your lids, and then black liquid liner close to your upper lashes. see?

i finally figured out that you need that smudgy stuff to get the look i was going for. the liner of liquid liner just wasn't enough. at least for me, because i have huge eyes, apparently. some would even go so far as to say i look like a precious moments doll, which i do not.

some products you need (which you probably already have anyway):

1. matte chocolate brown shadow (mine is from the japanese Y100 store from like a billion years ago. i used the darkest one is the tiny pan. my point is, anything will work).

2. an angle brush. i used my ecotools one to apply the brown shadow. wet, in case you were wondering. i suppose a regular applicator would work too, but probably not a fluffy eyeshadow brush.

3. black liquid liner, of course. this is absolutely essential. mine is from n.y.c. and it's $2! more about that later.

4. cotton candy pink blush. have you noticed that in all of the first 3 pictures that the girls have that perfectly-pinched pink cheek thing going on?? this shade of blush does that. it's from the japanese revlon line, also from a million years ago. but i think sonia kashuk's pink flamingo blush is almost exactly the same.

5. a swipe of pink gloss. again, alexa always pairs her smudgy eyes with pink gloss. the one i used in the pictures was covergirl's lipslicks in cutie. at first i thought i hated that gloss, but now i realized i love it. more about that too!

in other news, i dyed my hair with coffee last night. in the bathtub. i've smelled like coffee all day, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. it turned out ok, so i may not dye my hair with store-bought dye anymore. i'm getting tired of it. when i get it all figured out, i may do a tutorial on that.

these nail polishes make my mouth water....

2010-05-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

holy moly. i think i NEED all of these!

american apparel nail laquer in "office", $6

essie resort collection summer 2010 collection in "playa del platinum", $8

photo: makeup and beauty blog

and my favorite:

china glaze vintage vixen fall 2010 collection in "ingrid", $6

photo: makeup and beauty blog

i've never tried any of these formulas, but the shades are great. i know they're everywhere now, because they're so of-the-moment, but i still love them! especially that china glaze shade. soooo pretty! it's different from the rest of the "greige" shades these days, because of that awesome shimmer.

yes, i know it's too early to be pining for fall makeup colors.

no more holy grail foundation....??

2010-05-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

i can't believe it. my favorite foundation is no more. how did this happen?

when i browse the drugstore makeup aisles, i keep looking for a good deal on my foundation (i'm down to my last bottle now. i usually buy them BOGO so i always have an extra). but everywhere i go, i can only find 4 crappy shades. i just thought that since it's not a new foundation, the stores had pared down their selection to make room for newer products. but noooooo. i checked the revlon website last night, and they only carry those 4 shades!! who ever heard of a foundation line with only 4 shades? preposterous! the lightest shade is "buff". i'm almost 100% sure it's too dark for me.

you know what this is, don't you? discrimination on my pale skin. just kidding (but seriously).

ok, so now the question is, what do i use now? i'm leaning towards the regular revlon colorstay for normal/dry skin. any thoughts/reviews/opinions? they still have ivory shades for us pasty people. i'm hoping it's similar....?

my favorite perfume of all time

2010-05-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

i just realized i've never said anything about fragrance before. maybe because this is one of the few areas where i know exactly what i like- fruity and happy. so it only makes sense that i looooove escada. they have several different scents, but they all smell very similar. this is the one i'm using now:

since this is one of escada's earlier fragrances, you can find it for cheaper (about $25-ish?) than some of the newer ones. but like i said, they all smell pretty much the same- happy! as soon as i spray it on, i have the inexplicable urge to dance around like richard simmons.

here's another favorite:

it also smells happy. but maybe sweeter than the escada one? i would totally wear this one a lot, but it's expensive! it's about $25 for that tiny, tiny amount. boo, gwen stefani.

what are y'all's favorites? especially for spring/summer?

exciting beauty news: i have a new fancy gismo!

2010-05-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

sorry i've been MIA lately. i've been busy with, you know, graduating from colllege!!! woooo~!

in celebration of my being awesome, my husband bought me a ridiculously awesome present:

a clarisonic!! how excited am i? very. i've never even said i really wanted one. he just did some research and thought this sounded like something i would like. what a good husband :P haha. he even bought the brand-new yellow clarisonic mia and had it engraved for me! i guess he really wants me to stay pretty, huh? ha.

daniel's pretty cute, huh?

i always imagined the brush to be kind of stiff to get all that crap out your pores, but it's surprisingly soft!

the box i keep it in, with a trial-size clarisonic cleanser and a replacement brush head. oh yeah, it also came with a full-size (big!) cleanser called gentle hydro cleanser, which is pretty cool. it retails on its own for $25 online :S. eep.

my clarisonic box, heehee

well, i've been using this for about a week and a half so far, only at night. has it made a big difference? definitely! i guess from the stress of trying to get all my schoolwork done, my face went crazy a few weeks ago. i've never broken out that bad in my entire life, not even during puberty. i had several big pimples, plus the delightful mt. vesuvius on my chin. nice for all those grad pictures, huh? thankfully, i did a good job of concealing all of it. but still! having tons of zits lurking under your makeup does nothing for anyone's self-esteem!

my little clarisonic friend has cleared all of that mess up. in just a few days. and now my face feels like velvet.... or suede.... or something that's not human skin. awesome! and i haven't broken out since. i still have some little tiny bumps (i get those all the time), so maybe when i switch from the sensitive brush head to the normal, that will clear up too? who knows. all i know is i love this guy.

like i said, it's only been a week and half-ish, so i'll update you on any further progress. but i'm guessing that things will only get better from here.

new nail polish: wet 'n wild in "blazed"

2010-05-15T00:31:00.000-07:00

why am i so attracted to this shade of nail polish? on all accounts it just doesn't make sense.... it's um, orange. i usually hate orange. but something about this punchy, coral-y shade was calling to me. see for yourself. can you take your eyes away from it??

fyi, this isn't a very long-lasting formula. but hey, it's $2. and i still love the neon color.

new favorite body wash!

2010-05-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

i don't think i've ever repurchased one particular kind of body wash/shower gel before. it seems to take me forever to finish a bottle, and by that time, i'm bored. but i tend to go for citrusy scents. one of my favorites was bath and body works' white citrus shower gel. but um, it's kind of pricey for such a small (but cute!) bottle.

but HOLY MOLY, i think i heard some handel's messiah when i smelled this body wash. WOW.

olay sheer moisture ribbons with mandarin oil

it's singularly amazing. of course, it's all wrong for me. the bottle isn't green, it isn't an amazing bargain, and it's not citrusy at all. but i can't help it, i'm in love. it smells kind of sweet and exotic at the same time (yall, i really can't describe scents to save my life. i'm not one of those people who can be like, "well the top notes are such-and-such and the drydown is doo-hickey...." yeah right). but trust me when i saw it's awesome.

it's a little over $6 at walmart, which is probably twice as much as i'd usually pay, but can i help it that my mom is in town and told me i needed it?? haha, i think not. it also comes in bar soap, for about $3 for 2, which is a considerably better deal. maybe next time i'll do that.

i'm not used to such a creamy body wash. i always do the gel thing. but it's nice. it's also really great for shaving your legs. just saying....

review: st. ives green tea scrub

2010-05-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

well, i totally caved on this the other day. i saw it at a drugstore, saw that it had green tea (i'm such a sucker for green tea anything- beverages, skin care, anything.... i did grow up in japan, after all!), and that the product itself was bright green! had to buy it.

it's a little pricier than the regular st. ives apricot scrub (a little over $5 at walmart) for a smaller amount of product. but hey, i like trying new things. is there anything worse than being stuck in a rut? i think not.

i really like it! it feels kind of weird for a scrub, but in a good way. it has smaller granules than the apricot scrub, but they aren't sharp like a microderm abrasion product. it feels more like a washcloth. just slightly rough.

like i said, it's bright green (love!) and the smell is awesome. fresh and pretty, but not old lady at all. and it makes my face feel very smooth. but i don't really worry about using it 2x a day, because it feels gentler than the apricot scrub. i don't think it's as stripping of my skin.

i've been using it for a couple weeks now, and i think i like it. but of course, i'm fickle, so i may change my mind. in which case, i'll let you know!

found: holy grail lipstick!!

2010-05-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

revlon colorburst lipstick in soft rose!

i've suspiciously eyed this lipstick many a time in the drugstore aisles but never convinced myself to spend $8 on it. but THEN....

i found a $3 coupon! go to revlon.com, and all you have to do is register your e-mail address to print out a $3 off coupon for any colorburst lipstick. woot!

what i love about this lipstick is it's exactly the same shade as covergirl's now defunct blushberry shine. PLUS everything they've said about this lipstick is true. it feels very light and luscious, but is highly pigmented. it's not as sheer as blushberry shine, but i'm ok with that. that means it actually stays put on my lips! after the creamy feeling kind of fades and you think your lipstick has all worn off, it leaves behind a super pretty vintage-doll-looking stain! even after eating a meal, which means it's perfect for dates!

also, you can get different effects with it. in the picture above, i just applied one very light layer. it just kind of brightens up your face and looks natural. but if you apply more, it's a more classic, sophisticated look. the shade is neutral enough to go with practically anything. i've worn it with cool eyeshadows and warm eyeshadows. oh, it's definitely never leaving my purse.

i think i will cry if they ever discontinue it, which means they will, just because i love it.

DON'T try this at home: honey on your face

2010-04-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

i read on bellasugar.com the other day that washing your face with honey is good for dry, flaky skin. they also said it was antimicrobial, so it wouldn't cause you to break out! sounds perfect, right?

ha! not even close. i felt pretty good about it at first. i mixed some honey with warm water, and rubbed it all over my face. it wasn't as sticky as i thought. and my skin felt smooth and soft. but the next day? i realized i had some honey stuck in my hair (yuck!) and tiny little bumps all over my face.

darn. i was hoping it'd be awesome.

BUT, i did read a tip in seventeen (hey, i was waiting in an eternal line at walmart) that you can dye your hair darker with coffee. since i'm apparently such a glutton for punishment, i might try that too.

but i think i'll wait until after graduation next week....

$1 bronzer (for very pale girls)

2010-04-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

i bought this eyeshadow on recommendation from nouveaucheap (if you haven't browsed her blog yet, you seriously need to!). it's sally girl connecting eyeshadow in cinnamon, and they're all $1 at sally beauty supply stores. i thought it was pretty nifty that you could hook them together with other eyeshadows and build your own palette!

unfortunately, it kind of sucks as an eyeshadow. it's not very pigmented, and not shimmery enough for my liking (i LOVE shimmer eyeshadows). but one day on a whim, i discovered that it's awesome at giving my white skin some glow.

i love it because it's so natural. now i must confess, i've never extensively tested out bronzers before. but i do know (from some of my friends, ahem) that when pale people try to compensate by piling on the bronzer, they just look too orange or too muddy. not cute. but this, i like.

try it, it's only a dollar!

new nail polish: revlon's "lilac pastelle"

2010-04-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

oh, my my. i really don't mean to keep buying new nail polishes. but can i help it that i love pastels, and it's spring so there are tons of new pastels on the market?? of course i can't. that's what i'm telling myself, anyway.

i've been looking for a lilac cream for FOREVER. who would've thought that i'd love cream formulas so much? i used to be all about the metallics (you know, when i was 12....). i paid between $4 and $4.50 for this at walgreens.... i don't usually spend that much on a silly nail polish, but what can i say? i loved it and walgreens was the only place that had it. end of story.

they also had a gorgeous mint green shade in this spring collection that's totally my cup of tea.... you're next, mint green.

review: hard candy balm girls tinted lip balm

2010-04-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

i bought this balm about a month ago, because the color just looked amazing. it's so hard to find a cross between peach and pink at the drugstore, for some reason. unfortunately for me, this is one of my favorite shades! anyway, i was really hoping that this balm would be the answers to my lip product wish:

1. the perfect mixture of peach and pink
2. sheer color
3. moisturizing

well, it seems that i got more than what i wished for- it's not only sheer but practically invisible!

what? but it looks so pigmented in the tube! oh no, on my lips it's like wearing plain old clear balm. bah.

but it does feel really great- super super smooth. like butter. compared to all of my other lip balms (even eos!), it's way smoother and creamier. plus when you wear it over a lipstick, it makes the texture look light and amazing (more about that later)! so i'm definitely keeping it around. i just wish it had some tint to it....

review: palmer's cocoa butter formula for dry, ashy skin

2010-04-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

(yes, i know it's been a couple weeks since i last wrote.... so sorry! i've been super busy and stressed about my senior recital. pictures from that later! i'm feeling less stressed out now, so i couldn't wait to get back to my blog :)

ok ok, i know it's funny. why would a VERY WHITE girl like me need a lotion for ashy skin? actually, my husband thinks this is pretty darn hilarious.

well, the reason i'm using this is because it contains AHAs, which keeps my chicken skin on my arms under control. my old favorite (lubriderm triple therapy lotion) is MIA. i've been to umpteen different drugstores, not to mention several targets and walmarts..... nothing. but ironically, at the walmart about a mile away from my house, i found another lotion with the same ingredient, that's even cheaper. score!

i believe it was less than $6. in a huge bottle. and just fyi, the bottle i bought doesn't have a slightly scandalous female form on the front :P.

so does it work as well as my lubriderm stuff? yes, i think so. it's really light and milky feeling. and i think it keeps the chicken skin away on the backs of my arms.

BUT....

the smell! oh my! it's very (as my husband said) pungent. so much so that he has stopped cuddling with me when we're trying to fall asleep. eep :S. so i guess i'm still looking for a new body lotion with AHA for my arms....

review: olay age defying daily renewal cleanser

2010-03-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

well, i ran out of my st. ives scrub a while ago, and even though it's been working great for me, i decided to try something new. i was also slightly scared that i'm exfoliating my face way too much. for whatever reason, this cleanser looked appealing to me:

actually, i bought the generic "equate" version, but we don't need to get into whether we think generics are the same or not. all the ingredients are the same, so i say the generic is just as good. plus i only payed $3. woot.

you can't tell from the picture, but the label says it has small microbeads and beta-hydroxy complex. which means it will chemically exfoliate my face, and the microbeads won't be too harsh. when you pump out the cleanser, it kind of looks and feels like lotion. and it totally has an old-lady smell. but i'm not opposed to old-ladylike things (case in point: pond's dry skin cream!), so that doesn't really bother me too badly.

i've been using this cleanser day and night for a couple weeks now, and i think i like it. nothing dramatic has happened, but i haven't broken out, i have less flakiness on my face by the end of the day, and i think it's getting rid of some red splotches. i still have some little bumps that aren't acne (i don't know what they are, but i deeply dislike them). my face just looks more.... even. yesterday i didn't even wear foundation, just some concealer. but of course, i wouldn't be me if i didn't change my mind incessantly, so now i'm craving this new facial "cleanser":

holy moly! i read some reviews about this "jane iredale magic mitt" on beauty.com, and basically you just get this mitt wet with warm water, and something about the fibers cleans your face really thoroughly! you can wash it whenever, take it on a plane, and even stop buying face wash. i'm just curious enough that i really wanna try this....

bad idea?

e.l.f. haul.... from target!

2010-03-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

look at all the stuff i got for $11!

oh yeah, and a n.y.c. liquid eyeliner thrown in there too. i read that one of the rockettes swears by this eyeliner, and i'm in the market for a new one (for the musical!), so i bought it. it was definitely less than $2. oh yeah, and the fake lashes are for the play too. who wants to mess with gobs of mascara on stage? not me.

anyways, the coolest thing i got from my "haul" (does $11 count as a haul?) is the palette. you can purchase little magnetic pans of eyeshadow, blush, or lipgloss (only eyeshadow is available at target, though) and make your own customized palette! so cool. i know what you're thinking: why do i need any more eyeshadow?? i have that huge honkin' palette of 120 colors. but i'm not actually gonna take that thing on a trip somewhere! or carry it in my purse! so i figured this was a good thing to keep on hand:

moondust, mocha, pink ice, and golden glow

these are all of my favorite neutral shadow colors! and i'm really loving having them all together in one palette. and even though each component is only $1, this stuff is good quality! not as shimmery as some other shadows i have, but i really like it. you could make these shades work for anything, for a daytime event or even a more dramatic situation. i'm definitely taking this with me to my in-laws' house this weekend.

i'll post more about the other items after i've tested them out!

"updo" of the week

2010-03-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

ok, again, it's not really an updo. a down do? i'm just supposed to show up to play rehearsal with all of my hair out of my face. naturally, i don't wanna look ugly while i'm rehearsing, so i feel compelled to be creative.

for this look, i parted my hair on the side, braided the hair near my temple on both sides, and then braided the rest of it together at the end:

next time i'll have to braid it a little tighter. it ended up falling out by the end of practice.... boo. so i guess my braids defeated the purpose of keeping my hair out of my face..... oh well, next time, next time.

jordana incolor pretty shine luxury gloss: gotta catch 'em all!

2010-03-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

whew, what a mouthful of a name. i bet you guys have tried these lipglosses before, because they're only 2 bucks at walgreens. the first one i ever tried (like 2 years ago... ha!) was "dazzling", the bright tangerine shade. the formula is awesome! it's smooth, pigmented but still a little sheer, shiny, and smells like apples. this is a perfect gloss for spring and summer:

the next one i tried was "adorable", a pale nude gloss. i figured the formula would be the same. nope, not so. it's thicker, stickier, and very frosty. BUT, i've found that if you apply clear balm first, it goes on really smooth and sheer. it's pretty to pair with bold eyes:

my newest addition is "lovely", which is really true to its name! it's like a beigy pink, mostly beige. this gloss has a lot of shimmer to it, but isn't sticky like "adorable."

i like this shade because it's slightly darker than my natural lip color and is really neutral. which means i finally found something to wear with my teal shirts! see?

yay! plus because of the shimmer, it doesn't wear off as quickly as the other two. here are some pics of the actual tubes. you'll see that "dazzling" is actually a tangerine color, not blood orange like it looks in the first picture.

top: dazzling

middle: adorable

bottom: lovely

of course, they have other shades available too. the bright red looks interesting.... anyone else tried these?

review: wet 'n wild megalast long-wear lipstick

2010-03-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

so i'm frantically memorizing lines for "oklahoma!" which is coming up soon.... and of course i get distracted and wonder.... how should i style my hair on stage? what shade of long-last lipstick should i wear?

so when i went to walgreens the other day to get a new wide-tooth comb, of course i HAD to hunt for a good lipstick for the play. i wanted something that was kind of berry-hued for my character (i think red is too dramatic.... berry is nice and innocent, i think. she is a country girl after all, not that i know anything about being a country girl.... ha!). and it definitely needed to be kiss-proof (*ahem* sorry, husband). in the past i've used many different shades of covergirl outlast lipstick, but i didn't really wanna shell out $8-9.... so this is what i picked!

photo: wnwbeauty.com

the color i picked is "eternal", which i thought has pretty flattering, and still visible from stage. unfortunately, when i tried to apply the color, it felt really strange on my lips! it had a mousse-like texture.... which is great for my maybelline dream mousse blush, but looks kinda funny on your lips.... i let it dry for a long time, then applied the clear balm. now the balm did feel good. but after applying it, i tested my lipstick, and it rubbed right off! it had the staying power of gloss! weird....

"First, apply the rich, liquid color, then seal it in

with the ultra-conditioning topcoat for satiny color that lasts."

ummm, i'm missing both the "liquid" and the "satiny color" part.... it was kind of gritty.... i did test the balm with a different brand of long-lasting lipcolor, and it works! plus it feels good on its own, too.

so unfortunately, i'm still looking for a good lipstick for stage.... i may ask kasmira from whatiwore2day, because she acts a lot, and always has a bright lipstick on.

updo of the week

2010-03-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

so, i didn't actually go to play practice this week, because it's spring break. but i decided to do an updo anyway, mainly because i was scuzzing today and didn't feel like washing my hair. i did sprinkle in some baby powder though!

this is pretty simple. it's just a little bit of french braid, tucked in and pinned:

snip 'n save

2010-03-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

even when you think you've used up all of a product, there's probably still some skulking around at the bottom. bottom-dwellers, if you will. my foundation was running low the other day, and i decided to snip open the container to see exactly how much i still had. and behold:

tons! this will last me for about a month, i'm guessing. pretty cool, huh? i wonder what else i can break open and search for treasure- toothpaste, concealer, face wash.... crab legs. mmmmm, crab. (i started a diet today, so i'm SUPER hungry).

what to pair with your bright lipstick

2010-03-13T17:00:00.000-08:00

this is what i slapped on my face for a friend's wedding today. it was really dreary outside, and i wanted to counteract that with bright lips. plus, i secretly (oops, not anymore!) want to someday be known as the crazy old lady in the garish lipstick. i'm well on my way, you know.... i already have the lipstick and i'm half-way crazy. now i'm just waiting to get old.... which is happening a lot quicker these days! .....eep.

maybelline moisture extreme lipstick in "wine and roses"

umm, it looked brighter in real life. but keep in mind, this is after i ate 2 chicken salad croissants, some pineapple, and drank nasty wedding punch! this lipstick does not claim to be long-lasting, only moisturizing. but trust me, it's both! it feels like no other lipstick i've ever tried. suuuper smooth. this is *probably* my favorite lipstick, as far as formula goes. the only problem is that they sort of have wonky shades. oh well. if i ever happen to find my perfect shade and my perfect formula in one little lipstick, i'll die a happy woman (in garish lipstick).

so anyways, it's hard to know what to do with your statement lips. if you eat too many chicken salad croissants, your lipstick will wear off, and you'll be left with a boring and lackluster face. if you go too crazy with your other makeup, though, you end up looking too theatrical. this is my solution.

pair bright lipstick with:

1. nude, shimmery shadow- just enough to make your eyes sparkle (today it was gold)

2. a subtle amount of brown eyeliner- not black! unless you're doing a black liquid cat eye with your bold lipstick, in which case i say you're awesome!

3. black mascara- waterproof, if you're going to a wedding! i swear i cry every time....

4. defined eyebrows- it kind of balances your lips. otherwise it's like hellooooo lips.

5. blush just on the apples of your cheeks- just a little bit to complement your lipstick. and you can always blend some of your lipstick into your cheeks. then you always know the colors will go together.

6. nooo face powder! unless you have extremely oily skin. i think this is a relatively new makeup trend. magazines always say it looks "fresher" to pair bold lips with "dewy" skin, whatever those words mean. does anyone else get sick of reading the same descriptive words in magazines these days??

things i'm not supposed to do that i do anyway

2010-03-12T22:59:00.000-08:00

1. sleep in my eye makeup
really, what is it gonna do? my eyes never get infected. i wash all the other junk off.

2. put q-tips in my ears

um, how else do they get clean? you just gotta be careful, that's all.

3. pick at my face
hey, you just gotta do it sometimes. this is the only item on the list that i would want to change. sometimes it leaves little red marks for a couple weeks..... yes, weeks.

4. use a scrub almost every day

i've tried to cut back, but my skin just never looks as good. i say, if it looks good, do it!

5. sleep on wet hair

can i help it that it looks wavier and better that way?

6. never use conditioner

when i use, my locks go as limp as an over-cooked spaghetti noodle.

7. twirl my hair.... constantly

it supposedly weakens your hair and makes it more susceptible to breakage. the good news is i don't bite my nails anymore.

there are probably more.... i'm just too braindead right now to think of any.

another new favorite nail polish: "mint apple"

2010-03-11T22:04:00.000-08:00

my husband saw my nail polish stash the other day and proceeded to ask, "um, why do you have 5 of the exact same color?" to which i replied, "shows what you know! they're so different!" no, but seriously, i need to lay off of the teal polish.

here's my favorite, though, that i just bought a week ago:

isn't it beautiful?? it's like the perfect cross between teal and pastel green. it's sinful colors in "mint apple". and if you look carefully, it has a little bit of shimmer in it, but now enough to get my hands confused with my 7-year-old piano students' hands. plus, i think the shimmer makes it last a little longer. i painted them sunday, and they're still going strong today (thursday)!

uhhh, have i mentioned it's $2 at walgreens?? definitely looks like a lot of those pricier pale greens that are so "trendy" right now. (bahh, i hate the word trendy. i have a family member, who will remain nameless, who I SWEAR says "trendy" in a conversation every time i see her!)

in my makeup bag

2010-03-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

1. wet 'n wild ultimate minerals loose powder in 270 fair

i used physician's formula mineral powder for a long time (which is kind of expensive for me), until i realized that it was making my winter skin look cakey. i tried this on a whim, and it makes my face look silky and smooth. i think it's the little shimmer particles in there. and um, have i mentioned that it's cheap? about $5!

2. EOS lipbalm in honeysuckle honeydew

how else can you moisturize both lips at once? this stuff is awesome. i like how it feels like it actually sinks into your lips, instead of sitting on top. i always slick this on before i go to bed, because it's not greasy and doesn't get all over my pillow.

3. rimmel fix & perfect face primer

i've posted about this before, but i apply this just under my eyes before my concealer to keep me from looking like an old lady, which i'm not.... yet.

4. ecotools brush set

my sister bought this for me for my last birthday (thanks, amy!) i use these every day! i use the big fluffy brush for my face powder (when i wear it.... sometimes i don't), the concealer brush for uhh concealer, and the angle brush for my eyeliner. i just dip the brush in my mascara excess, and line my lower lash line with the awesome blackness. i've successfully eliminated the need to buy eyeliner anymore! woot.

5. revlon colorstay active light makeup in ivory

GREAT STUFF. feels like tinted moisturizer going on, totally blends into my skin, and lasts all day. i never wanna use anything else, if i can help it.

6. maybelline great lash mascara in blackest black

you guys know how i feel about this stuff. the day they discontinue this neon tube of inky goodness will be a very dark day indeed.

7. maybelline cover up stick in medium beige

what? why medium beige? i know you've heard that you're supposed to apply an undereye concealer that's lighter than your skintone, but i always think that it only draws attention to the problem. this medium beige color has enough pigment to hide all of my darkness and looks way more natural than white under my eyes. trust me, i think i did that all through high school. eep.

8. maybelline dream mousse blush in soft plum and peach satin

these blushes are great. they blend in effortlessly, and have a touch of shimmer. super easy. i have 2 shades listed on here because i'm always switching.... if i wear blue or green, i wear the soft plum shade. i wear the peach one for pretty much everything else. am i the only one who thinks that blue, green, and teal look awful with anything orange-based? maybe it's just me....

9. mary kay signature concealer in light ivory

this is the only non-drugstore product i always buy! i think they've since changed the packaging and shade names, but this is what i still have in my makeup bag. it lasts forever, and i only need a little dab every time. it's a super lightweight liquid that completely covers little discolorations and acne. plus it's waterproof. it's $10, so a little more pricey than the rest of my items, but like i said, it'll last about a whole decade.

10. maybelline define-a-brow pencil in light blonde

the lightest pencil i can find! it totally makes my brows look natural and not too sparse. plus i just really love the green packaging. but without the cute packaging, it would still be the best eyebrow pencil i've found.

11. physician's formula baked wet/dry eyeshadow in baked sands

i've used other shades before, too. these shadows are great. they look almost metallic when you apply them wet. i use the darkest shade in this trio to line my eyes when i want a softer liner look than "blackest black." like when i want to wear really bright lipstick.

updo of the week

2010-03-08T21:53:00.000-08:00

ok, so it's not really up, it's actually a ponytail. but it kept the hair out of my face for play practice, which is really the point.

i can't tell if i'm getting better at this behind-the-head thing or not. anyway, all i did was take the top half of my hair, twist it around, and pin it in place. then i took the bottom half and twisted that a lot, and jammed more bobby pins in there.

i don't have play practice next week, because it's spring break, but maybe i'll do an updo anyway?

orly nail polish in "green with envy"

2010-03-07T21:03:00.000-08:00

why is it that almost every nail polish brand has a shade named "green with envy" and they all look vastly different? i also have the sally hansen one and it's lime green. weird.....

well, i usually don't spend more than like $2 on nail polish.... but i saw this one at sally beauty supply several months ago (december?) and i decided i needed it. it was $6, so a little expensive for me, but not exactly a huge splurge.

i think i only used 2 coats. it's very pigmented, very smooth, and will last at least 5 days on your nails. you know, depending on what you do with those nails. i like everything about it, except how hard it is to remove! lately i've been lazy (and a bit anxious, apparently) and have just been chipping all my polish off. hey, i guess that's one way to save money on nail polish remover.

wet 'n wild lipstick in "tokyo-a-pink-pink"

2010-03-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

umm, i saw this at walmart a couple of weeks ago, and i had to buy it! it does have tokyo in the name, after all.

it looked kind of coral in the tube.... on my lips? most definitely not. more like cool-toned hot pink. i couldn't decide if i liked it or not, so i took half of it (it's only $2!) and mixed it in a pot with a too-brown tinted balm i had. now it's a pretty sheer rose-brown lip tint. and i still have half a tube of that super bright lipstick, in case i get an inexplicable urge to wear a so-bright-it's-scary lipstick to my 8 o'clock microbiology class. yeah, right.

review: noah's naturals toner mist

2010-03-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

as i've made painfully clear, i have extremely dry skin on my face (especially with this crazy cold winter in nashville). so i've been looking for anything that will combat the dryness. this was the cheapest hydrating facial mist i could find on drugstore.com. i was planning to buy it online for about $8 and something, when i found it at walmart for $5! dude. so i had to buy it. this is what it claims:

"Anti-Oxidant Toner Mist with Cucumber Extracts

No Parabens

No Sodium Lauryl Sulfates

No Propylene Glycol

Enriched with floral and herbal extracts, this hydrating toning mist provides a burst of nourishing moisture to skin any time of the day."

so does it work? well it feels really good- cooling and fresh (must be the cucumber). does it make a noticeable difference in my skin? i'm not sure. so i guess if i'm not sure, then no. i imagine this would feel really good in the summer though, on a super hot day. but i'll keep using this to see if maybe it takes a while to take effect....

more later!

updo of the week

2010-03-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

i have a slightly intense drama director who requires all the girls in this year's musical to pull their hair back before getting on stage. i like to take style restrictions as an opportunity to do something cool. this is how i wore my hair last night to play practice:

um, it's really hard to take a picture of the back of your head! lol oh well, this is the best i could do. i pulled most of my hair into a messy bun and left a few strands loose at the bottom. then i took those pieces, made 2 separate braids, wrapped them around my bun in opposite directions, and pinned them in place.

my inspiration (although i think i like hers better):

photo of kristen bell: glamour.com/beauty

weird things to put on your face

2010-03-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

seriously, i've tried all of these and they're great when your face really needs something.

1. apirin- get rid of acne
you've probably heard of this one before- it's been passed around a lot of blogs lately. you take an aspirin tablet (which is salicylic acid in solid form), crush it up, mix with water, apply to face! let it dry, then wash it off. your face will be clearer the next day!

2. elmer's glue- get rid of blackheads on your nose!
my little sister told me about this one.... we were highly curious, so we ran to walmart, bought a butt-cheap bottle of elmer's glue, spread the smelly gunk on our (clean!) noses, waited for it to dry, and then peeled it off. weird and smelly, yes, but highly effective!

3. hand soap- moisturize your poor poor winter skin
i discovered this on my own. get a hand soap that has vitamin e or shea butter (or both!), or even that dial cranberry antioxidant stuff and use it as your facial cleanser. they usually smell good, work well, and are very very cheap. i like to use the dial white tea & vitamin e hand soap that i've posted about before.

4. body lotion- chemically exfoliate your poor poor winter skin
i've also posted about this before, but you can use a body lotion with cool ingredients (like AHAs) to seriously help your skin. these will slough off the outer layer of skin and make you look brighter over all.

5. sugar- physically exfoliate
i like to mix this with my usual cleanser to use a very very cheap exfoliator. want to know how to make it even cheaper? snag a small sugar packet from starbucks (or whatever coffee shop.... or even mcdonalds for that matter) and use that! a little bit is all you need.

6. olive oil- hard core moisturizer (or just eye cream)
after you wash your face at night, rub a little bit of olive oil all over your face (or if you're afraid you'll break out or get too greasy, just rub it under your eyes). your skin will be baby soft by morning! also, did you know that olive oil is noncomodogenic? sweet.

review: suave aloe vera & ginseng shampoo

2010-02-28T16:21:00.000-08:00

i just bought this shampoo last weekend. and i've used it every day since then, so i guess i've been using it long enough to review it! i couldn't find a picture on the internet, so i think it's really recent. i got it at walmart last weekend, mostly because of the packaging (it's green!):

because it was less than $2 (!), and because it says volumizing on the bottle! i call that a win-win-win situation!

now about the shampoo.... it smells really nice. pretty and clean and flower-y. and it lathers up good too. the first time i tried it, though, it really weighed my hair down and flattened my roots. wait, this is supposed to be volumizing?? what the....? but i kept giving it more tries because i love the bottle (!!!), and made sure to rinse it out really good. much better. i'm not sure it does a lot of extra volumizing, but it does make my hair wavier, so score!

this sounds silly, because who cares what color the bottle is, but i really wanted a cheap shampoo that has pretty green packaging, smells girly, and is volumizing. wish granted!

favorite nail polishes

2010-02-27T11:12:00.000-08:00

aka nail polishes over which i would cry if they discontinued. ok, not really. that's a bit dramatic.

1. winwax- #6 (from japan)

2. sally hansen- #21 tough buff

3. orly- green with envy

4. wet 'n wild- shield

5. revlon- peach nectar

6. petites- pink suede

7. pure ice- taupe drawer

8. covergirl- plum pudding

if i ever were to pack up all my stuff into 2 suitcases and move to tokyo (hey, you never know!), i know take these and throw away the rest. plus, japan has really awesome nail polishes, so i wouldn't be too sad.

wet 'n wild nailpolish in "shield"

2010-02-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

this is the polish i wore for valentine's day (that was a while ago, i know). i wore a bright purple lacy top, so i wanted something that was neutral, but still dramatic enough. oh yeah, these are also the beautiful flowers my husband got me for v-day. and that silver spoon ring. nice, huh?

i bought wet 'n wild's "shield" on recommendation from nouveau cheap again (can you tell i really like her blog?). it's dirt cheap ($2 at walgreens), is super pretty, and has no phthalates, which i made sure to tell mr. green because he's convinced i'm gonna die from carcinogenic makeup.... that's what i get for making him watch "america the beautiful", a documentary about body image and beauty.

Behold: The amazing power of face primer!

2010-02-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

I guess I'm getting older, because I've starting getting fed up with my under-eye concealer. Not the concealer itself, but the cakiness and flakiness that ensues a couple hours after application. As you know, my skin is pretty dry, and no matter how much moisturizer and eye cream I apply under my eyes, the concealer ends up dry and crusty. Why did I not think of this earlier?? The perfect solution is primer!

I went to Walmart to buy groceries the other day, and of course had to step in the cosmetics section, as usual. I was really looking for Hard Candy's Primer (Nouveau Cheap gave it good reviews), but I couldn't find it anywhere in their display! Boo. So then it was between Maybelline's New Instant Age Rewind stuff, or the Rimmel Prime and Perfect. Well, Rimmel won because it was cheaper.

Holy moly, I'm so stupid for never trying any kind of primer before. Actually, that's not true. Remember that CoverGirl Outlast foundation? I tried that a few years ago and really liked it. It had a chamber of primer (with sunscreen!) on one side, and foundation on the other. And I remember realllly liking the silky finish that stayed all day. But um, they don't make it anymore. I'm currently not on speaking terms with CoverGirl, for discontinuing my TruShine lipstick, and because I just remembered about that awesome outlast foundation.

This is how smooth my under-eyes looked: They've never looked like this- the finish looks natural! And I've stopped applying loose powder under my eyes, because it doesn't need any evening out or any staying power!

Look, Mommy, no lines! Holy moly, I love it. And it looks like this all day!

In other beautynews, check out the glow I have going on in those last two pictures. It's Wet 'n Wild's Ultimate Minerals loose blush in Rose Shimmer (I think I've mentioned this product before), but let me just reiterate that it's great. Really keeps away the winter pastiness.

And here's one last picture- more about this awesome lip product tomorrow!

The world's most classic skincare routine

2010-02-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Which is mine. And amazingly, it's really been working for me. These are my daily products:

1. Dove Beauty Bar
2. Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel
3. Clearasil Tinted Treatment Acne Cream
4. St. Ives Apricot Scrub- Blemish & Blackhead
5. Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Eye Cream
6. Pond's Dry Skin Cream

Isn't that green little box so cute?? I got it in Japan last time I was there. I use the other compartments to hold my bobby pins, hair ties, Q-tips, and nail clippers. It has successfully kept my bathroom drawer less chaotic. That has nothing to do with my skincare routine, though. Moving on....

In the morning I wash my fave with Dove's Beauty Bar (which I've reviewed before). I really like it. It's cheaper than dirt, cleans, moisturizes, and many claim that it even prevents wrinkles (!). I guess I'll have to let you know in about 25 years about the wrinkles. Except by then there will be no such thing as a "blog." Weird.

Then I swipe witch hazel all over my face. People have been using this toner forever! I started doing this because I saw that huge bottle in the picture on sale at Walgreens for $1.50. I was interested in some kind of deep cleaner because with my extra mild, moisturizing face wash, I'm always worried that I never really get my face clean. This takes care of that. It claims to purify your pores, and lock in moisture. I think it really does that, because it's never caused any crusty spots on my face. Now, I have to confess: The first time I tried this toner (and the second, third, fourth, etc.), the smell almost made me gag. But now I don't even notice it! Weird, huh?

I use cheap-o cotton rounds from Walmart to apply it. But to save even more money, I snip them in half, because you never really use the whole cotton round. So that makes the cost almost negligible:

See? Still plenty big.

After witch hazel, I dab some Clearasil Benzoyl Peroxide acne stuff on, if I happen to have a bump forming. I usually only have like one at a time. I bought this stuff because it was on sale (I used to use the Clean and Clear kind), but I don't like it at all. Only because it's tinted, though. And it would probably help conceal a blemish if you had skin the same tone as Tyra Banks, but I am much much paler than her, so it shows up dark orange on me :S. Not cute. But I kind of blend it away with my next product....

Pond's Dry Skin Cream. Now this is a true classic. It even says "The Caring Classic" on the bottle. This is saving my skin in the winter time. Very moisturizing, and makes my skin kind of shiny, in a good way. (Hey, I said shiny, not oily!). But um, don't try this if you have oily skin. This is only for old ladies, or 21-year-olds with old lady skin, like me.

Then I apply the Neutrogena Eye Cream under my eyes. I just started using this stuff, and I really like it. It's really smooth, and it absorbs super fast! I think it's because of the specific kind of Retinol in the product (or so the package says). The Retinol is supposed to get rid of dark circles, too, which is why I bought it. I don't think I've been using it long enough to tell yet, but I think I can see a small difference. Or it's wishful thinking, we'll see.

At night, I use the Apricot Scrub. This kind has salicylic acid in it, and it keeps my bumps away. I use this at night, because by the end of the day, I usually have some flakes going on. This totally gets rid of those and makes my face smooth. I always read in magazines that you're only supposed to exfoliate your face once a week, or some beauty editor propoganda like that, but how?? I tried to cut back a couple of times, thinking it was damaged my face or something, but my face just looked awful! So now I exfoliate every night. Hey, whatever works, right? Your skin cells turn over while you sleep, so when I wake up, my skin is still smooth for my makeup.

Oh, and Pond's at night too.

Let me also say that all over these are super cheap! (Except for the eye cream. But like I said, I'm trying to get rid of my circles). I truly think you can find things that work for you at the drugstore and make you look beautiful, as long as you know your skin really well. Like how much moisture do you need? Which ingredients are you sensitive to? Figure it out, then find some cheap, reliable products to help your skin's particular issues.

Make your own Blushberry Shine!

2010-01-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

Like I said a couple days ago, I found out that Cover Girl's TruShine Lipstick line is being discontinued- including my most favorite shade in the whole world- Blushberry Shine! It's a hybrid shade of sorts, so I don't really know how to describe it. I tried it on a whim about a year and a half ago. I'd read a lot online and in magazines about how good this lipstick was- sheer, shiny, and flattering. And the little tool on the Cover Girl website matched my skintone with Blushberry Shine. I usually don't trust that thing (it always picks out nasty purple shades for me), but I decided to go for it. And it was AWESOME! Sheer, glossy, buildable, ultra-flattering, and face brightening. I used to apply this while taking notes in the back of a class, it was that easy. Easy, breezy, beautiful- Cover Girl....

Wow, what a diatribe. My point is, this is the only lipstick I've ever found that could be called "every day." It went with every eyeshadow and outfit color I could think of. Bah. Still upset (can you tell??).

So what I decided to do, in a moment of brilliance, was to mix up my own. This decision was spurred by my finding an old tube of lipstick in the back of my cabinet. I received it last summer when my mom's Mary Kay representative was giving away freebies. The color is just awful for me. It's really dark and really matte, two of my not-so-favorite things. Here's what's left of the lipstick after I decapitated it:

It's called Rose Petal (wtf??). I would've named it Bordeaux, or something. Anyway, since it's so matte and opaque, it showed up really dark on me. I decided to mix it together with one of my MANY too-clear glosses that I just haven't thrown away yet (above). This is a GREAT thing to do with those too-sheer lip products. I never EVER wear them, because why would I want my naked colorless lips to look watery and shiny?? Anyway....

As you can see, Mary Kay's Rose Petal is pretty close in color to CG's Blushberry Shine:

right: Blushberry Shine
left: Rose Petal

Pretty close, right? Well, I guess all I did was dilute it and add some shine. I picked this gloss (Sally Hansen Satin Shine gloss- it's discontinued now and I got it at Dollar Tree) because it's tingly and smells good. I guess that's something the original Blushberry Shine doesn't have. Here's what I ended up with:

Here's my Blushberry Shine Remix next to the original: Pretty awesome, huh??

The color and sheerness are very VERY similar, which is good news for me. If you can't get your hands on Mary Kay's Rose Petal, there are several shades that I think might work:

Maybelline Color Sensational- Warm Me Up
Maybelline Color Sensational- Warm & Cozy
Maybelline Color Sensational- Blushing Brunette
Revlon Super Lustrous- Rum Raisin
Revlon Super Lustrous- Sparkling Cider

The cool thing, though, is if these shades aren't quite right, you can correct it by mixing in other shades too. Or you can dig through some old lipsticks that haven't got any wear because they're not quite right, mix them together, and see what happens! What you will need to make something akin to Blushberry Shine are:

Something brown
Something berry
Something clear and shiny

Find some lip products you already have that fit into the above categories, and go crazy! (Send me pics if you end up with a winning combination!)

Even though this particular mix turned out good, it's kind of hit-or-miss. Not to mention a hassle. So I'm still on the hunt for a new replacement. Neutrogena's MoistureShine Sheers in Plum Kiss is looking pretty promising right now- I'll let you know as soon as I buy it and test it!

WORST BLOGGER IN THE WORLD

2010-01-25T12:06:00.000-08:00

That's me, in case you were wondering. Things just got too crazy with school and, you know, life in general. Plus that eyeshadow challenge was a little too umm...... challenging. Ha. I really like my neutral eyeshadows lol. Anyway, I may do a few more- maybe some of the color families I haven't attempted yet. I think a lot of them are pretty similar though.

But in other news, I found out something that will seriously change the course of my life (or at least my face) for the worse. CoverGirl's TruShine Lipsticks are being DISCONTINUED!!!!!!! I found this out on the lovely Internets and was legitimately upset. That was the only lipstick I ever completely used. That was the one shade I could literally throw on in the car without a mirror and know that it would simultaneously match anything I was wearing and brighten up my tired face. SOOO upset.

I have browsed online for a worthy substitute, and the only similar shade and sheer formula I could find was Neutrogena's MoistureShine Lip Sheers in Plum Kiss. Not that I've tried it yet because they're almost $10 for a stinkin tinted lip balm. But they are tingly. Hmmm....

Anyway, I have found another tinted tingly lip balm that I like. Although the colors are a little hit-or-miss. It's Wet 'n Wild's Natural Wear Lip Shimmers:

They are $1.99 at most places, they have an amazing tingle, and are SUPER pigmented. I tried 106 and 101- 101 is definitely my favorite. The cap looks kind of spice-colored (I actually think the name is Spice- but you know how Wet 'n Wild products have a name but it comes off with the plastic wrapping so then you can never remember it), but it's kind of a peach shade. This is what it looks like on me:

It's just enough darker than my actual lips to brighten up my face and make me look "finished". I really like it a lot. My only beef? I feel like these peachy shades look clashy when I wear green, blue, or teal shirts, which is only like every day. Still looking for a new fave.... Sigh.

120 days of shadow: Day 34

2009-11-23T21:00:00.000-08:00

So today. Phew, I'm caught up now. Blue-toned purple today, to go with my purple cords, which I finally got to break out since it was finally got cold here in the South. I really like this kind of purple. Much more flattering than the pinky-violet shades I've been wearing. Bleh.

On my lips is my most favoritest lipgloss of all time. I know what you're thinking. What about Blushberry Shine?? Are you crazy, woman? How could you be so adulterous? To borrow from Brian Reagan, Blushberry Shine is favorite. But this one is a little more favorite. And it's surprising, too, because it's probably the cheapest lipgloss in the world. I dare you to find a cheaper one. It's Donna Michelle's Lipgloss in Cherry. I bought this on a whim one time at Dollar Tree (yeah, it doesn't sound like too reliable of a source, but I've actually found really good products at Dollar Tree.... Oooo, I feel a post coming on!). But despite its shady origins, it's fabulous! It has the prettiest sheer red color (which is great for pale blue-eyed people like myself), smells wonderful, and has a smooth texture that I love. Kind of waxy, but in a good way. Which makes sense because it's made of beeswax.... I've tried some other colors, but they're not as good. The other ones smell funky, and don't have hardly any pigment to them. But this is my go-to gloss. It matches anything and really brightens up my face.

120 days of shadow: Day 33

2009-11-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

This is my photo from yesterday. I had my new (well not new exactly.... got them at Goodwill for 50% off haha.... that's how cheap I am) shiny cobalt flats on, so my eyeshadow served as an homage to their awesomeness.

I mixed some pewter in there too to make it smokier. Oh and blue liner (Jordana Easyliner for Eyes in Blue Devine. No, I didn't misspell that, that's what it says!):

My lips didn't photograph well, but it's CoverGirl Lipslicks in Cutie, which is like a tinted lip balm. I used to have one of these in middle school (ha!) and I loved it. When I was out shopping the other day, I saw these and was reminded of how softening they were. And right now I'm really on a tinted lip balm kick. Plus this shade is cool- it's kind of beigy, metallic, and shimmery at the same time. And I definitely need more neutrals in my collection, since I have lots of brights. (Just incase you were wondering, I still prefer brights.)Photo: Drugstore.com

120 days of shadow: Day 32

2009-11-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is what I picked out for Saturday (even though it's Monday... oops). I didn't really feel like doing anything crazy because, um, it was Saturday. And I spent all day cleaning and studying. Glamorous, yes I know.

For the rest of my look, I put on lots of blush (Wet 'n Wild Ultimate Minerals in Rose Shimmer) and the lipstick I wore on my wedding day (everyone say awwwwwwww). It's CoverGirl Outlast in My Papaya. I like that it's almost my actual lip color, but a little brighter and punchier. Plus this stuff will not come off. Ever. Unless you get some kind of makeup remover, or if you're cheap like me, baby oil. Works like magic. I use it for my eye makeup too.

120 days of shadow: Day 31

2009-11-20T22:12:00.000-08:00

Hot pink today. Not my favorite, but I guess it's OK. I put a paler pink on the inner part of my eyelids to keep it from look like I'd just had a major cry-fest.

The reason this picture looks cheesy is because I was trying to show off my nail polish. It's one of those $2 Sinful Colors bottles from Walgreens (although I have seen them at some Targets too). The shade is Midnight Blue and it's very pigmented and very shiny. I painted my nails 3 days ago, and washed a whole sink full of nastiness today, and they're still perfect! No base or top coat or anything. Sweet.

Oh yeah, did I mention they're BOGO (free!) right now at Walgreens? Tomorrow is the last day so GO!

120 days of shadow: Day 30

2009-11-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

I decided to show how to do a classic look today. Anyone with any coloring can wear this, and it's good for special occasions. The elements:

1. Black liquid liner
2. Pale shimmery highlighter
3. Red lipstick.

I didn't actually put eyeshadow on my eyelids today, but just to mix things up, I put a pale shimmery sand on my brow bone and on the inside corners of my eyes.

The lipstick I'm wearing is Maybelline Forever Metallic Lip Pencil in Sleek Scarlet. I like the color, but it's kind of sticky. Good thing it's discontinued :P.

120 days of shadow: Day 29

2009-11-16T21:06:00.000-08:00

It was kind of gray outside, so I felt like wearing muted colors. I applied a pale green with a light hand:

and lined my eyes with Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner in Pine. I also did something I've never done before- I put concealer on my lips to cancel out their pink color, and put gold gloss on top. I read one time that Victoria Beckham doesn't actually wear lip color- she fills in her lips with a nude pencil, and then mixes it with clear gloss. Weird. It's a cool idea and a cool look, but I'm very partial to my colors. But it was fun for a day.

120 days of shadow: Day 28

2009-11-13T23:31:00.001-08:00

My eyeshadow was boring today. Just champagne. My lipstick? Just plain awesome.

I'm wearing Maybelline Superstay Lipcolor in Cherry. Boy do I love lipstick. So why am I stuck doing different eyeshadow looks??

120 days of shadow: Day 27

2009-11-12T20:51:00.000-08:00

Sapphire liner today. But for some reason it doesn't really look sapphire in the pics. But it is, OK? Get off my back.

All I did was take my angle brush (EcoTools, in case you were wondering. They're great!), get it wet, and line my entire eye with the damp shadow.

Oh, Blushberry Shine again for the lips. It's just my favorite of all time.

120 days of shadow: Day 26

2009-11-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

I think I either saw this eyeshadow look on a friend of mine from high school, or out of a magazine, or I just made it up out of sheer awesomeness. I picked this strange blue color that looks like one of the crayons in a 12-pack.... indigo, maybe?

I only applied the indigo to the inner half of my eye. I shaded the rest of my lid and the crease in with brown, and then blended them together really well in the middle. The effect is kind of metallic, which is cool. I imagine it'd be even more believable if you used two colors that are similar in hue- like gold on the inside and bronze on the outside. Hmmm, maybe I'll try that.

I didn't want my lips to compete with my eye makeup, but I'm sick of nude lip gloss. Boring. So I picked one that almost nude- shimmery gold! Love. It's Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds Liquid in Gold Gleam. If you love it, sorry, because it's discontinued. Which is really too bad because I liked Maybelline's "Wet Shine Diamonds" line (gloss and lipstick) a lot. But I got it at Dollar Tree after it was discontinued, which is cool. It really is a good way to try out new looks. You can try a color that's out of character for you, and if you love love love it, you can find a product that looks very similar. Well that's what I do, anyway.

120 days of shadow: Day 25

2009-11-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

Purple again. It's a nice color for fall, I think. This time I smudged the shadow on my inner corners.

This is that other lip product from the Y100 store. I usually don't go for candy pink lip gloss, because it blends into my lips and looks clear (the picture above is case in point...), but I had to buy it because it said "jewelry lip gloss" on the tube! Wow, I'm a sucker for advertising....