makeup blog

THE BEST LIQUID LIPSTICK? | NOW EASILY ACCESSIBLE!

July 5, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

It’s hump day already, yay! I hope that if you’re here in the U.S.A, that you had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July.

I LOVE liquid lipstick, and have tried a *lot* of them. I had heard really great things from fellow bloggers, my YouTube friends, and “real-life” friends about Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks, but because they weren’t widely available at mass retailers I typically shop at, I hadn’t taken the plunge to order them. Now, however, they’re available at Ulta.com, so I ordered my first one to try out…and as you may have guessed by the spoiler alert title of this post, I am OBSESSED.

About the Brand

In May of 2013 Dose of Colors was launched by freelance makeup artist Anna Petrosian. Dose of Colors is cruelty-free company (that means they don’t test on animals) and is also vegan. The liquid lipsticks are also gluten free and paraben free.

Shade Range and Cost

This liquid lipstick cost $18 which is comparable to other high-end liquid lipsticks. There are 25 shades in the range, and I picked up the color “Stone” which is a pinky-nude, a go to for me on a daily basis.

First Impressions and Packaging

The liquid lipstick is in a frosted bottle with the color of the lipstick showing through. The bottle is the same size and shape as a Jeffree Star Cosmetics liquid lipstick if you are familiar with those, just about half an inch longer than a regular tube of lipstick. The applicator is awesome, it fits onto the lips perfectly and I like how it’s easy to stay on the lips.

Wear

This lipstick feels incredible on the lips! The website states a velvet matte finish, which I do agree is accurate. It is matte, but it doesn’t dry down completely, which I liked because it didn’t settle into every single line on my lips, or looked dry and cracked. I was able to wear this lipstick for an entire day without touching up! My preference is still to touch up midday, especially if I’ve eating salad because salad dressing or other oily foods can breakdown even the best liquid lipsticks, but I love that I can put this on and not think about it or worry about touching up.

My Routine

I use a little EOS lip balm, line my lips with a lip liner, and then apply one coat of my Dose of Color liquid lipstick. I love that this lipstick gives me full opacity in one coat, because I do not like having to layer on liquid lipsticks because I find that always makes my lips appear and feel very dry. I re-apply midday and then remove when I take off all of my makeup for my night routine.

Final Thoughts

I hope that Ulta.com gets a high volume of sales so that they begin testing Dose of Color in stores! I cannot wait to pick up more of these, and it has sky-rocketed to the top of my liquid lipstick favorites list in just a couple of weeks.

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You can now shop some of the Dose of Colors collection at Ulta.com or you can view the entire collection at DoseofColors.com

Have you tried these lipsticks? Let me know! Thank you for reading, and please subscribe!

MY 7 MOST USED HIGH-END MAKEUP ITEMS | JANUARY-JUNE 2017

June 28, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

We have made it to the middle of the week! I hope that you enjoyed my post on Monday (if you missed it, you can read it here) where I shared the seven drugstore makeup products I’ve reached for the most so far this year. Today I want to share the seven high-end, more costly, makeup products that I have been using the most so far in 2017. If you like this post, please be sure to share it : ) I have share links at the bottom of every blog post.

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer in White Out

I love this concealer for brightening my under eye area, and often use this mixed with a light colored concealer so it isn’t quite so harsh. This is a great choice for others with very fair skin like mine who often can’t find a concealer lighter than their skin for brightening the under eye area. You can read my review on this here and see how I brighten my dark circles.

Benefit Cosmetics Boxed Blush in Galifornia

This is a gorgeous blush! I did an entire review on it (read that here) and can’t stop using it! But, why would I?! It is PERFECT for summer!

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Palette in 20

I don’t always contour, but when I want a beautiful cream contour that looks natural, I reach for this! Read this to see how-to do a cream contour.

Becca Cosmetics Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

This is an item I have been using for a long time (I first spoke about it in 2015 here)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe

This is my hands-down favorite eyebrow pencil, and it is always a repurchase for me.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

This is a pricy powder, but I really think it is worth it! This is super finely milled, doesn’t look cakey, and keeps my oily t-zone in check!

Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Nude

I absolutely love to rock a nude lip, and this lip liner works with any nude lipstick or gloss! You can read my tips for wearing a nude lip here.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your life to read my blog! It means so much to me!! xx

MY 30TH BIRTHDAY MAKEUP, HAIR, AND OUTFIT DETAILS!

March 15, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you are having a wonderful week! I had some questions about the makeup that I wore for my surprise 30th birthday party, so today I will be sharing all of my birthday deets with shopping links : )

MAKEUP

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 1

Bobbi Brown Liner in Nude

Esteé Lauder DoubleWear Foundation in 1C1 Cool Bone

Kat Von D Lock It Concealer in White Out

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Palette in 20

Too Faced Sweethearts Bronzer in Sweet Tea

Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Sparkling Bellini

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Too Faced Natural Eyes Natural Eye Palettte

L’Oréal Linuer Intense in Black

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Taupe

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara in Black Water Resistant

Kiss Lashes

HAIR

TRESemmé Heat Tamer Leave-In Spray

L’Oréal Elnett Satin Hairspray

OGX Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum

Batiste XXL Plumping Powder

OUTFIT

SHOP WITH ME

I hope that you found this helpful! If you have any questions, please let me know! I hope that you have a fabulous week! Thank you for reading and please subscribe! xx

TOO FACED MASCARA MELT OFF! DO YOU NEED IT? FOLLOW UP REVIEW

March 6, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! If you’re a regular reader of this blog or if you watch my YouTube videos then you know that I love wearing waterproof mascara to avoid makeup smudges and to hold a curl when I curl my lashes. If you wear waterproof mascara, you probably know that it is a huuuuge pain to remove! Today I want to share a product that I did a first impression video and demo on back in June of last year to let you know how it fits into my current beauty routine.

Too Faced Mascara Melt Off

First Impression and Demo Video

Follow Up Review

Do I use this every day? No, and I do find that it’s an “extra” step so I do not use this every day. I use the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water (I use the one with the blue cap) on a cotton round held to my eye to remove my eye makeup most days. However, I do like to use the Too Faced Mascara Melt Off a couple of times a week because the mascara builds up little by little when it isn’t completely removed. I LOVE the way my lashes feel after using this! My lashes feel super soft and completely free of any mascara gunk.

Do You Need This?

You could use other things to remove waterproof mascara and condition your lashes such as coconut oil, baby oil, petroleum jelly, or olive oil, but that is going to be a lot messier. I personally like this product because I can get the oil directly onto my lashes and not deal with the mess dripping on my face.

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THE DRUGSTORE B.B CREAM YOU NEED TO TRY!

March 1, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Some days I get super excited to do my makeup and want to do a full face of makeup but other days I just want (or need) a go-to that is fast but leaves me with a pretty look that lasts all day.

L’Oreal Skin Beautifier B.B Cream

This B.B cream claims to prime, correct, hydrate, and perfect. With “beautifying beads” inside are encapsulated pigments infused with an ultra-light lotion with antioxidant Vitamin E. This comes out of the tube as a white lotion transforms to your perfect shade.

Why I Love It

This is easy to apply with your fingers or a foundation brush (I like the Sigma F60). I love that this gives me a natural look that looks like bare skin. This is easy to apply in only a minute and then a little under eye concealer and boom you’re done! I have combo/oily skin so when I saw this said “hydrates” I was nervous but it wears very well on me, even my oily prone t-zone! I have been using this product for three years, and originally included it on this blog in 2014 (here and here).

My Routine

I still use a primer when I use this (I use Benefit PoreFessional) but then I dot this on my face and then blend it in with either my fingers or a foundation brush. You can also apply this with a sponge (I like the Beauty Blender). I do set this *lightly* with loose powder (I use Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder) and if you want a little more coverage you could use a powder foundation. I wear this in the shade fair, but it is also available in light, medium, and deep.

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Thank you, as always, for reading! Please let me know in the comments your favorite B.B cream or C.C cream : )

DON’T EVEN BOTHER WITH OTHER NAIL POLISH REMOVER! JUST BUY THIS…

February 15, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I hope that you felt extra loved yesterday for St. Valentine’s Day and that you’re having a great week : ) I recently shared how I get Salon Quality Nail Treatments at Home and I try a lot of nail care items because I do my own nails. I decided that although it may seem like a silly item to dedicate an entire blog post to, I truly think that I have a nail polish remover that you *NEED* to try!

Cutex Spa Formula Nail Polish Remover

Why I Love It

This 98% acetone nail polish remover takes off my nail polish, even glitters and hard to remove polish, so much faster than any other nail polish I’ve used before. I love that I don’t have to use tons of cotton rounds or really scrub to get my polish off. This nail polish remover also claims to remove gel nails but I don’t typically wear gel polishes. Cutex Spa Formula Nail Polish Remover is not only fast-acting but it contains conditioning oils which is a nice bonus, too.

My Routine

I use cotton rounds or cotton balls to remove the polish off of my nails. It has been so nice not having to avoid glitter polishes because I don’t want to struggle to get them off, because with this it doesn’t take long at all! If I am wearing hard to remove polishes, such as a glitter polish, I will hold the cotton round on my nail for 20 or 30 seconds and then lightly rub to get the polish completely off.

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If you like random “must try” product reviews like this, please tell me to keep them coming! If there is something else beauty related you’d like to see, please let me know that as well! Thank you for reading! xx

NATURAL CREAM CONTOUR MADE EASY!

February 8, 2017 & 1 Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

In the summer I tend to stick to a powder contour since I have combination/oily skin, but lately I’ve been loving doing a very subtle bit of contouring with cream products to help define my features. I have used several products, and for every day use I have found my favorite that I keep going back to because one product gives me my contour, highlight, and blush.

Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Palette

Why I Love It

This product contains four .08oz cream products to contour your face and you only need a tiny bit of product to get a lot of impact. I like to apply these products using the Beauty Blender Blusher (the medium sized Beauty Blender) or with brushes. When I use brushes I use a brush like the Cover FX Dual Ended Contour Brush for the contour and highlight and a small stippling blush like my very favorite cream blush brush the E.L.F Small Stipple Brush (the BEST $3 investment you’ll make all month, promise!) to stipple on the blush. I personally tend to use the brushes more because I find it easier to not mess up my foundation this way, but the sponge technique does blend seamlessly which looks airbrushed and lovely.

My Routine

After setting my foundation and concealer with a loose power (I like the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder) I use the the contour color to contour my cheekbones, nose, and temples, the matte highlight when I want to highlight the bridge of my nose or between my cheekbone and jawline, the shimmery highlight for the tip of my nose, cupids bow, and cheek bone, and the blush to brighten the apples of my cheeks.

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If you have any questions, as always please ask! I love talking to you in the comments! Please don’t forget today is the LAST DAY to enter my giveaway!! You can enter to win a Target Gift Card and ChapStick goodies here!

THE PERFECT TAUPE/GRAY NAIL POLISH

February 6, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you had a great weekend and that you had a fun Super Bowl Sunday if you’re in the United States! Today I want to share the nail polish that I’ve worn several times in a row because with the nail polish collection that I boast, that is pretty rare.

Essie “Miss Fancy Pants”

Why I Love It

Neutral nails are very popular right now, but finding the perfect color for your skin tone can be quite the challenge. I have tried so many neutral shades, and I’ve finally landed on one that seems to compliment my skin, and it’s a beautiful taupe-y gray that I think would compliment a lot of other skin tones as well.

My Routine

I apply a coat of Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat then apply two coats of the Essie “Miss Fancy Pants” polish and then my Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. I find that this nail polish lasts well without chipping on me for several days, but I can’t seem to make it last a week! I will say that I am pretty tough on nails (read: I wash a lot of dishes!) and that this does seem to last better on me than some of my other Essie polishes. I am a huge fan of Essie’s color selection, but the staying power is hit or miss for me, but this one I’ve been pleased with.

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What is your favorite nail polish brand? I absolutely love nail polish but haven’t bought anything new in awhile..enable me ; )

Thank you, as always, for reading! xo

Why You Need THIS Lip Liner In Your Makeup Bag! Pssst It’s $2

January 25, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

There are certain staple makeup items that every woman needs, and a go-to lip liner for her every day favorite nude lipsticks is definitely an essential for every gals makeup bag.

Jordana Rock n’ Rose Lip Liner (center)

YSL Rouge Volupte 1 and Too Faced Melted Nude (bottom left to right)

Too Faced Melted Matte Queen B and Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina (top left to right)

Why You Need It

This lip liner is amazing because it is the perfect shade to match any nude or pinky nude lipstick. I mentioned this lip liner in 2015 here, so you know it’s a good one! This is the perfect liner to toss in your makeup bag because it doesn’t need to be sharpened which is perfect for on-the-go. I love that this doesn’t tug on my lips, but I am able to get a perfect outline and it also works for filling in my lips completely before applying a lipstick or gloss on top.

My Routine

I like to apply a touch of my EOS Lip Balm or Bonnie Bell Tsum Tsum Lip Smacker just to give my lips a touch of moisture and then outline my lips with the lip liner. I like to make my cupids bow pronounced, but I don’t tend to overdraw my natural lip line unless it’s a special night out. I then apply my lipstick or liquid lipstick and I’m out the door!

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What is your FAVORITE nude lipstick? Please let us know in the comments! xx

What Is A Matte Highlighter?

January 11, 2017 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday! And, much more importantly to me, HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY to my littlest love, Logan. I am so proud of you, and you’ll always be my baby!

Today I want to talk about a highlighting product that I had to try because the name itself was so contradictory to what I think of when I think of a highlighter, but it has become a go-to for me the past several months.

Benefit Shy Beam

Highlighting has been a huge trend for the past several years, and I love highlighting with powders, creams, sticks, and liquid highlighting products ranging from $2 drugstore steals to much more expensive high end brands. I love using highlighter on my cheekbones, and also my cupids bow, but because I tend to get oily on my nose/T-Zone area I often skip a highlight there. A few months ago Benefit Cosmetics launched and re-vamped a lot of their products, including their Dandelion blush, and they came out with Dandelion Shy Beam which they describe as a nude pink “matte radiance” highlighter. I was very intrigued by this “matte” highlighter claim since this is the opposite of what you think of when you think of highlighter, and honestly sounds a bit like an oxymoron.

How I Use It

I absolutely LOVE this for highlighting down the center of my nose, and for highlighting around the outer corner or my eye and cheekbone. This is fantastic for any place you want to highlight or any place the sun would naturally hit your face because it is so subtle that you can get away with using it in lots of places at once without looking like a disco ball. As someone with combo/oily skin, having a matte highlighter gives you a beautiful lit from within look that is fresh and youthful without risk of feeling like your skin looks greasy or needs blotting immediately. I like to dot this on with the brush applicator and then use a small stippling brush, like the E.L.F Small Stipple Brush, to tap it into the skin. You can also use a lightly damp Beauty Blender or your fingers to tap this into the skin. However you choose to apply this, be sure not to rub or you will risk rubbing off other makeup and won’t get the desired effect.

What are your thoughts? What is your favorite highlighter? Do you think the highlighting trend has become too much or are you still into it? Let me know in the comments! xx