September Favorites!

I feel like I'm a bit late on this post, but the last week has been pretty busy for me, so you'll have to excuse the late-ness of this post. September has been a pretty good month for beauty, so let's jump right in!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick -- Black Cherry & Milani Color Statement Lipstick -- Sangria. So this is actually a color combination that my friend Jas introduced me to, and I am obsessed. Together, these two lipsticks make the perfect deep oxblood color. I keep looking for a color like this, and it seems that I can only find the perfect shade when I mix these two together! I always apply Sangria first, then Black Cherry on top, to ensure maximum opacity. And of course I had to include pictures from Tumblr of when I first tried this combo on.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Nail Lacquer -- Black Dahlia. Obviously, I've been loving the oxblood colors this month. But this color is absolutely incredible. If you are looking for an almost-black red nail color, this is the perfect color! The formula is incredibly creamy and fast-drying, and it has a pretty decent staying power. Keep in mind that most nail colors don't last on me because I work with my hands so much, so if you don't spend every day sewing for 4+ hours, then this will probably last even longer on your nails!

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara & Maybelline The Mega Plush Waterproof Mascara. This is another combination I've been wearing nonstop this month, and when I try to go for each of these mascaras alone, I notice a definite difference. I always apply The Mega Plush first, then The Rocket second. What I love about this combination is that The Mega Plush really separates my lashes, and acts almost like a primer for the super volumizing effects of The Rocket!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette -- Triple Fudge. So being brilliant as I am, I forgot this palette at home back in California before moving out here to North Carolina. Go figure. Andrew sent a big care package to me, and he sent me my beloved palette in the box! Of course, I've raved about this palette for almost a solid year now, but I didn't realize how much I missed the shade Triple Fudge until I was left without it for almost two months. This is my go-to brow shade, and my brows are definitely loving having it back!

Mossimo Harmony Combat Boots. I featured these boots in the Fall Lookbook I posted not too long ago, and the reason is because I wear these boots almost every day. They are so easy to wear, and they don't do that weird sock slipping thing that a lot of boots I own tend to do. When I first saw these boots in Target back in August, I fell in love with them completely. I love the strappy studded detailing, and they're super easy to slip on because they zip right up!

What have you been loving this month?

- D.

REVIEW - Maybelline The Mattes Lipsticks

Recently, Maybelline released their new fall lipstick collection, which is their Color Sensational The Mattes collection! This is Maybelline's first launch of a matte lipstick, which is super exciting for me, since I absolutely adore Maybelline's Vivids.

I'm usually pretty hesitant about matte lipsticks, because I really dislike the uncomfortable, heavy, drying feeling that you often find with them. I love the Wet n Wild Megalast lipsticks, for instance, but they are so uncomfortable and they really drag on the lips. You pretty much have to wear a gloss on top to keep your lips from cracking. I often feel the same way about the matte MAC lipsticks as well. That being said, lets move on to the lipsticks I am reviewing today!

The colors I purchased are "Divine Wine" and "Mesmerizing Magenta." I felt that these two colors were right up my alley, especially "Divine Wine," since I've been loving deep wine lips lately!

There are ten shades in this collection (so far), ranging from subtle nudes to bright pinks to deep berries. The packaging is exactly the same as the classic Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks, except that the caps are a matte, frosted glass finish. They are all the same color, which means you either have to open up the tube or flip it over in order to figure out which one is which. It's not really a problem, but it's something worth noting. I usually store these lipsticks upside down, which the square packing is great for! 

It is absolutely unbelievable just how smoothly these lipsticks apply. As you may be able to tell from the swatches, they aren't what I would consider a true matte, like MAC's matte lipsticks, for example. However, I much prefer this formula! While these lipsticks aren't a true matte when you look at them with a critical eye, they are just creamy enough to make application a breeze, but matte enough to give the appearance of a classic matte lip!

As for pigmentation, the swatches above were done in one quick swipe. That alone should tell you a lot! They are incredibly creamy for a matte lipstick, which makes them very comfortable on the lips. One of my biggest complaints with matte lipsticks is that they often dry out my lips too much, making my lips look chapped and just not so appealing. With these lipsticks, I don't have that problem at all!

Final Thoughts? This collection has a fantastic range of shades, and I believe that it is permanent so I wouldn't be surprised if they add more. The finish is just matte enough, without being drying, and is just creamy enough to make application easy and comfortable. For a drugstore lipstick, I am incredibly impressed! 

I definitely plan to be purchasing more of these lipsticks, and I'm even planning to send a few over to Sarah, who unfortunately can't get them yet. As far as I know, this collection is only available in the US so far, but if you can get your hands on them, they are definitely worth picking up!

Are you planning on purchasing any of this collection?

- D. 

My Lipstick Collection

Summer is my favorite time to wear super bright lip colors, which inspired me to do a post on my lipstick collection. It's not as vast as a lot of people seem to think, however the products I am swatching and sharing are only the traditional, lipstick-in-a-tube lip colors in my collection. A lot of the lip colors I have purchased have been bought as dupes for other more expensive products, so I will also leave a list of dupes with each color. If you would like to see my collection of liquid lip colors, let me know in the comments!

See, my collection isn't all that large after all!

Naturals/Nudes: 

• MAC "Shy Girl" -- This color is pretty much known as MAC's ultimate nude shade. It's definitely a peachier color, and extremely wearable. It's a great color to wear when you want to have a muted lip but don't want to have that concealer-lip look that a lot of nudes tend to give. I purchased this as a dupe for Marc Jacobs Love Marc Lip Gel in "Severine." It is also similar to NYX's Round Lipstick in "Pumpkin Pie" or Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Demure."
• Rimmel Moisture Renew "Latino" -- Latino is great for a light wash of an almost metallic pink color. It isn't so shimmery that it's unwearable, but it's also not very opaque. It does give some moisture, but not as much as a lip balm would. It is a very frosty, light pink shade. Similar to Chanel Rouge Coco in "Charme," although it is a bit more metallic. 
• Revlon Lip Butter "Peach Parfait" -- Few things compare to Revlon's Lip Butters. This color is a shimmery peachy pink and gives great moisture and is super easy to apply with or without a mirror. It reminds me a little bit of MAC "Viva Glam V" in color, although it is much more sheer.
• Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural "N9" -- I got this lipstick with my birthday gift from Sephora and it is such a gorgeous your-lips-but-better color. It is a dusty rose color that is hydrating, but because it is a more moisturizing lip color, it isn't very long-wearing. It is very similar to the Revlon Lip Butter in "Pink Truffle."
• Revlon Super Lustrous "Satin Plum" -- This is a sheer plum color with just a hint of frost. It isn't terribly frosty, although it's not quite my cup of tea since I tend to lean more toward creams or mattes. Almost identical to MAC "Creme de la Femme."

Brights/Neons:

• Maybelline Vivids "Fuchsia Flash" -- This is a great blue-toned neon pink color, and one of my favorites for summer! It is gorgeous on pretty much every skin tone, and I actually really love seeing this color on darker skin tones. It is very similar to MAC "Candy Yum Yum," although much glossier. 
• Maybelline Vivids "Brazen Berry" -- This is a great color if you want to jump on the Radiant Orchid train. It is definitely a great way of adding a pop of purple without getting that frostbitten look. It is very similar to MAC "Heroine" lipstick, as well as Milani "Violet Volt."
• Maybelline Vivids "Shocking Coral" -- This is my favorite coral lip color. After being super let down and unable to find MAC "Party Parrot," I settled for this color and I'm still very happy with it! It is a bit glossier than "Party Parrot" might be, but it is still very comparable. It is also similar to Milani "Flamingo Pose."
• NYC "Blue Rose" -- This is an older NYC lipstick, but I believe they just repackaged it into their Expert Last Lipstick collection. It is a very blue-toned pink, even more so than Maybelline's "Fuchsia Flash." I actually completely forgot how much I loved this lipstick until swatching it today! It is almost a dead on match for MAC "Show Orchid."

Reds:

• MAC "Russian Red" -- Without a doubt, "Russian Red" is my favorite red lipstick. It is a deep, cool-toned red that looks great on every skin tone. Personally, I prefer it over the much-coveted "Ruby Woo." It is a matte formula, but not so matte that it is uncomfortable or drying. It is very similar to Makeup Geek "Elegant," but for whatever reason, the Makeup Geek lipsticks are not available on the website currently. It also reminds me of Wet n Wild Mega Last "Stoplight Red."
• Revlon Super Lustrous "Love That Red" -- A more orangey-toned red, "Love That Red" looks best on warmer skin tones. On cooler skin tones, it definitely comes across much more orange, which is why I don't tend to reach for this color much. It reminds me a bit of MAC "Lady Danger," but it also reminds me of "Ruby Woo." I'd say this color is kind of like if those two had a baby. It also reminds me of Milani "Red Label."
• Revlon Lip Butter "Red Velvet" -- This is another fantastic color from the Revlon Lip Butters, and "Red Velvet" isn't sheer at all like some of the others. It is definitely buildable, and reminds me quite a lot of NYX Butter Gloss in "Red Velvet." It is a bit of a brown-toned red, much like the cake! It reminds me of a much sheerer version of LimeCrime "Wicked."

Plums/Berries:

• Milani "Plumrose" -- This color on the lips is absolutely beautiful. It makes my lips look so good, but it's just natural enough to look like you're hardly wearing anything at all! It is a plummy-pink color that reminds me of MAC "Craving."
• Milani "Sangria" -- This lipstick is great if you want to have a dark berry lip but you want it to be comfortable and fuss-free. This lipstick isn't super opaque, so it isn't as precarious as, say MAC "Rebel," but it is comparable in color.
• Wet n Wild Mega Last "Sugar Plum Fairy" -- Now this color is a pretty solid dupe for MAC "Rebel." They are both matte, berry colors, but the Wet n Wild lipstick is only $1.99! This is one of my all-time favorite lipsticks for the fall and winter. Of course, it is very similar to Milani "Sangria."

And that's my entire lipstick collection! I'm actually quite surprised at how well I recently cleared out my stash, because there used to be tons more! My name is Danielle, and I am a lipstick addict. If you want to see the rest of my lip collection, let me know in the comments, or +1 this post!

- D. 

REVIEW: Maybelline Color Sensational Color Elixir

Time for a quick review!

I recently saw this advertisement for the Maybelline Color Sensational Color Elixir, while watching Once Upon a Time with +Andrew, and when we saw the commercial, we could not stop laughing. Cosmetic commercials will always be hilarious to me. Regardless, I was intrigued. They described it as a "creamy lip lacquer." Personally, I love lip lacquers. I love the longevity of them, in comparison to lipsticks or glosses, and I love the pigmentation in them. So this commercial instantly made me curious to try them!

This is the model from the Maybelline website in the color "Signature Scarlet." The website reads, "Fall under the spell of the elixir effect...Hyper-saturated color, ultra cushiony feel...The new hypnotic lip sensation." 

A few days after seeing the commercial, I ran out to my local Walmart and purchased two of them -- one in "Signature Scarlet" and one in "Mauve Mystique."

There are 20 shades in the collection, ranging from nudes, to purples, to bright reds, and even a couple of orange and coral shades. I purchased "Signature Scarlet" because I'm always on the lookout for a good red, and the color in the picture was amazing. 

Today, I wore it out for the first time!

I must say, the opacity of this is phenomenal. I was absolutely shocked. It was so smooth, vibrant, and non-sticky. Sticky lipglosses are the #1 reason I don't typically wear lipgloss. I have noticed that this product doesn't swatch very well, but for some reason, it glides so beautifully on the lips. This red is a glossy, cool-toned red, and the mauve color is defined by "my lips but better." The colors do stain, so they are somewhat longwearing. In terms of full-on vibrancy, though, they last about 2 hours (if you aren't eating or drinking) before they being to fade. This is coming from someone who has an anxious habit of lip biting. 

Something I really loved about this product, though, is that when I took it off, my lips actually felt smoother. The commercial claims that it has an "addictive cushiony feel of a balm." I totally agree with that. After putting it on for the first time, I just kept rubbing my lips together and wanted to put on more and more product because it felt so nice and smooth when applied. 

Now for the negatives. This is a messy product. If you plan to wear this, bring a mirror with you to check for feathering and smears, because it will do both of those things. I am curious to see if using a lip pencil will help the feathering, but you do need to keep an eye on it if you are wearing it. 

All-in-all, I'd say this is a great product. It feels so nice when applied, and creates a beautiful, pigment-rich lip look. 

- d.

First post and October Favorites!

Hello! Sooo, as many of you may already know, I've been really into the whole beauty industry for quite some time now, and since I was 16, I have been the go-to hair and makeup artist for many of my friends, and friends' friends. When I was 18, I started in beauty school, where I primarily learned hair styling. About 6 months later, I realized it wasn't what I wanted to do with my career, and I left beauty school (insert "beauty school dropout" lyrics here). However, that has not stopped me from being passionate about the beauty industry! That's why I have decided to start posting my favorite beauty, fashion, and lifestyle favorites from month to month, just like a lot of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus. 

Let's start with a rediscovered favorite. 

L'Oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense. This is my all-time favorite liquid liner. While I typically tend to go for cream or gel liners, Lineur Intense is perfect for just about any eyeliner look. I forgot about this liner for a while, but when I recently saw it in Target, the fire was rekindled. The sponge tip allows it to apply with ease and precision, and is different than the typical felt tip or brush applicators sometimes seen with liquid liners. It is flexible like a brush, which allows for ease of application, but thin and precise like a felt tip, which allows you to build up your liner from super fine to thick and bold. And if you're looking for a black liner, let me tell you. This one is...well, carbon black. In terms of wear time, it lasts and lasts and lasts. I have oily lids, and once this stuff is dry, it won't budge until I'm ready to take it off. But when wet, it is easy to manipulate, and if you mess up, no worries! Just take a wet cotton bud and it cleans up easily.

Wet n Wild Mega Last Lip Color -- Sugar Plum Fairy. This is a truly versatile lipstick. Not only is it the most gorgeous berry color, perfect for the fall, but it can easily double as a cream cheek color! This lipstick has been my favorite cheek color for October. Crazy, you say? Try it yourself! It has a semi-matte finish, with a creamy consistency, so it will not dry out your skin or make it look oily. Just rub the color between your fingers and pat it on your cheeks. Use a buffing brush or sponge to blend it, if your fingers aren't doing the job. This stuff does have a tendency to stain, so it will last! 

Maybelline The Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara. I've never been a fan of the flaky, clumpy lash look, and I'm not blessed with super long, healthy lashes. This mascara is great for me. It definitely adds volume and length, without making your lashes look clumpy, AND it stays soft while holding a curl! To me, it's almost a "no-mascara" mascara. It feels nice on the lashes and is buildable. It is a very wet mascara when you first apply it, so if that's not your thing, skip it. I hear this mascara is typically a hit or miss, but for me, it's a hit.

Soap & Glory Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream. Some of you may already know, I am a colorguard coach. As a colorguard coach, I am very hard on my hands. And now, going into these cooler months, my hands will really begin to feel the wear and tear. However, this hand cream has been my savior! I've seen it talked about a million times and I am in love. It smells divine. The smell alone would make me want to use it. But not only does it smell good, it is so creamy and rich! And it isn't the kind of creamy and rich that lingers on your skin so you can't do anything with your hands. It soaks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. I have the travel size that I keep in my bag. 

Essie Nail Lacquer -- Vested Interest. Anyone who has followed me for a long time will know I'm not a fan of Essie nail polishes. I am so picky about polishes. I like them to be thick, but not goopy. Essie has a tendency to be too thin to achieve the opacity I like without pushing into 3-4 coats. However, Vested Interest is a gorgeous, teal gray creme that is opaque in 2 coats. Honestly, I don't know why I love this polish so much. I tend to stay away from blue-ish polishes, but this one has been on my nails nonstop since I purchased it. It has great staying power. As I said before, I work with my hands a lot, and this polish typically stays on for 5 days before beginning to chip. Maybe my bad Essie luck has changed? 

Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle -- Leaves. This is an autumn staple for me. Leaves is such an amazing scent. I even have the Scentportable for my car, and get compliments every single time someone new sits in my passenger seat (despite how messy my car actually is)! It is described as a "rich blend of golden nectar, red apple, and spiced berries." In the last month, I have burned it practically every night, and when B&BW had their 2 for $22 candle sale, of course I had to buy another one, as well as their Cinnamon & Clove Buds candle. I love pairing this with my Candle-lite Essential Elements Vanilla & Sandalwood candle (that's a mouthful), which I found at Rite Aid. Absolutely amazing, and it's burning as I type.

Charming Charlie Right On Rhinestone Watch -- Gunmetal. There isn't much I can say about this watch. Just a standard boyfriend watch with rhinestones in a gorgeous gunmetal color! I've been wearing this pretty much every single day since purchasing it. The cool thing about it was that I received a sizing kit with my purchase (basically a blunt thumb tack with instructions), so it fits just right for me now!

- d.