Lips

RiRi Hearts MAC Fall: RiRi Woo Lipglass

September 18th, 2013 by Karen 13 Comments

Hey, Red. How’s it going? Are you wearing MAC RiRi Woo Lipglass ($16.50)? Why yes, yes I am.

Yeah, it’s coo’, RiRi Woo. You and I can be BFFs. We can get dressed up and storm the city sidewalk, stopping strangers in their tracks. They’ll stare at your opaque, crimson color and admire your glistening finish…which shines bright like a diamond (shines bright like a diamond).

Of course, they’ll be compelled to ask about you! I know I’d want to know your name if I saw you stroll past me on the sidewalk.

Of all the lip products in MAC RiRi Hearts for fall, RiRi Woo Lipglass is my favorite of the bunch, and if I had to pick just one lip product from the release, it would be the one dropping into my (already overstuffed) makeup bag.

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Are the RiRi Hearts MAC Lipsticks in Nude, Talk That Talk, Who’s That Chick and RiRi Woo Channeling the ’90s?

September 17th, 2013 by Karen 41 Comments

Well pass me a button-down flannel and fire up the Soundgarden, because I’m getting a decidedly ’90s vibe from the four lipsticks in the new RiRi Hearts MAC fall collection.

I wore lippies similar to these back then, when I wasn’t wearing MAC Paramount. The colors take me back to a kinder, gentler time…back when tiny black backpacks, spaghetti-strap dresses and baby tees ruled the world! — and when Lil’ Kim wasn’t so frightening.

RiRi Hearts MAC Lipsticks from the left: RiRi Woo, Talk That Talk, Nude and Who's That Chick — From the left: RiRi Woo, Talk That Talk, Nude and Who’s That Chick

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Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald and Topaz: A Jeweler’s Inventory, or the New Classic Cream Lipsticks in the Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection

September 16th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

The four new Classic Cream Lipsticks from the Dolce Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection, available in November — The four new Classic Cream Lipsticks from the Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection, coming this November. From the left: Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald and Topaz.

In the event you were wondering how it feels to wear green lipstick late on a Monday afternoon…

Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Emerald — Straaaange!

Emerald, one of four new Classic Cream Lipsticks in the eight-piece Dolce & Gabbana Sicilian Jewels holiday collection, is one of those colors that can look edgy and cute if you’re a teen or in your early 20s…but fast-forward a decade or two and it’s “Hello, Helena Bonham Crazy!”

The four jewel-toned lipsticks in the release ($35 each) are joined by four matching nail polishes, so yeah, while you’re sporting your funky green lip, you can also rock green claws/paws.

I think Emerald’s the most fashion-forward lippie in the collection by far (I’ve yet to see the nail polishes up close and personal), and to truly pull it off, you either have to be a villain from the Harry Potter movies or a 6-foot-tall model stomping down a runway in Milan.

Or something like that.

Who cares though? It’s still fun. 🙂

The other lipsticks seem pretty tame by comparison. Red Ruby, purple Amethyst and amber Topaz take a more classic route.

Dolce Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection Lipsticks — Elegant golden packaging…

Dolce Gabbana Sicilian Jewels Collection Lipstick Caps — Cute caps!

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Ask MBB: Got Any Must-Have Coral Lipstick Faves?

September 10th, 2013 by Karen 23 Comments

That’s MAC Vegas Volt, one of my favorite corals, electrifying my kisser…

Hi Karen!

You mentioned in one of your posts that you love everything coral. May I ask, what are your favorite coral lipsticks? 🙂

It doesn’t matter if they’re cheap or high end. I’m looking for a new one since my only coral lipstick is running out and…it’s limited edition.

I know, right?

Thank you, K!
-Emae

Hi Emae,

I admire your ability to commit to one coral shade. That’s love, right there!

I have trouble with coral lipstick monogamy. You see, I’m a coral flirt (it’s a legitimate problem), but there are a few corals I keep coming back to over and over again.

Coral Lipsticks from MAC, NARS, Hourglass, Tom Ford Beauty and bareMinerals — One can never have too many corals…

Here are some of my tried-and-true permanent collection coral faves…

NARS Lodhi Satin Lip Pencil: This satiny coral is the real deal, babe, and I start to hyperventilate when I can’t find it. It lasts for hours, doesn’t feather, and it’s super easy to apply. If I ever had to commit to just one coral — perish the thought! — Lodhi would be a serious contender.
MAC Ravishing Lipstick: This fresh, flirty coral is all innocent and sweet.
MAC Crosswires Lipstick: For potent “look at me lips,” this punchy, pigmented pinkish orange does the trick.
MAC Costa Chic Lipstick: You can’t miss this frosty, medium-toned coral. It’s one of my faves to wear with cat eyes.
Tom Ford Lip Color in True Coral: This bright reddish pink is no joke! At $48, it’s redonkulously expensive, but every time I bust out the tube, I derive great joy out of pretending that I’m hanging out with Lisa Vanderpump and Jiggy… (In these daydreams we’re talking about Manolos over tall glasses of cucumber spa water.)
Hourglass Muse Opaque Liquid Lipstick: A long-wearing, sophisticated reddish coral with a matte finish, this coral can be tricky to apply (something to think about), and a little goes a looong way. Oh! — but it looks absolutely fab with Nectar Lipgloss from Hourglasson top. I’ve been loving that combo for at least a month.

And more corals of note, because a girl’s gotta have options…

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This Desert Rose Comes in Pink: The Marvelously Moisturizing, Long-Lasting Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Lipstick in Fiji

September 10th, 2013 by Karen 22 Comments

Friggin’ flakes and dry lips! You’re always messing with my lipstick master plans. Like last week, what was up with that? You knew I wanted to wear MAC Vegas Volt all week long — when in Rome, right? — so what happened? Why you go and do me like that?

The heavy-duty casino air conditioning and parched Nevada desert wreaked havoc on my lips. To make matters worse, I wasn’t drinking nearly enough water.

My lips were flakier than that roommate I had in sophomore year who never paid her share of the telephone bill, and yes, I’m showing my age. Back before everyone had cell phones, people actually used to share a land line.

I know, crazy stuff. 🙂

Much as I love Vegas Volt and wanted to wear it nonstop last week in the desert, MAC’s Amplified Creme lipstick formula isn’t exactly hydrating. I knew I’d need a lippie with more moisture. Much more, like Le Metier de Beaute’s Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick in Fiji ($32).

Le Metier de Beaute Fiji Lipstick — Le MÃ©tier de BeautÃ© Colour Core Lipstick in Fiji ($32)

Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick in Fiji

An opaque warm pink with a cream finish, Fiji is one of 26 permanent shades in Le MÃ©tier’s Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick line.

Wear time like whoa!

This was my first rodeo with this particular family of lippies, and based on Fiji, it won’t be my last. Because I love it. It lasts a whopping 4-5 hours and delivers more moisture than a raging river.

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Unsung Makeup Heroes: OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics) Lip Tars

September 3rd, 2013 by Karen 8 Comments

Guest blogger Celia San Miguel wearing OCC Lip Tar in Anime

About the Author
The following guest post was written by Celia San Miguel of sickathanaverage.com. You can also find Celia on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The word “tar” might not conjure up beautiful imagery, but don’t let that dissuade you from checking out Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics’ range of oh-so-sexy Lip Tar shades ($18 each). Introduced in Fall 2008, OCC Makeup’s Lip Tar coats lips with super-saturated, astoundingly opaque pigments with a satin-y finish. The formula, meanwhile, incorporates several beneficial botanical ingredients — chiefly hemp oil, which is rife with nourishing and softening omega fatty acids; peppermint oil, which has a cooling effect and also boasts antimicrobial properties; and antioxidant-rich vitamin E, which protects lips from free radical damage and prevents premature skin aging.

Swatches of some of my favorite Lip Tars: Anime, Lovecraft and Electric Grandma

Each 100% vegan lip color is packaged inside a tiny, pocket-sized tube that, although small, will last surprisingly long given that you’ll only need a bead-sized amount for each application. Ideally, you should use a lip brush when applying the Lip Tar shade of your choice since the color saturation is almost mind-blowingly high, and you’ll want to be precise when smoothing the color onto your pout (and that goes double if you choose an ultra-bright shade like Beta, Anime, or Demure).

There is literally no product on the market that compares to OCC’s Lip Tars in terms of consistency, texture, color payoff, or longevity. Each Lip Tar shade packs a mighty punch in the opacity department, balking at the notion of wimpy sheer hues and instead embracing a bold, flamboyant, adventurous and bodacious approach to color. Pigment saturation aside, I find the Lip Tars to have a delightful texture — they’re not sticky or tacky like some glosses nor do they have the clump-prone creaminess of a lipstick; instead, they have an almost oil-like feel, though their consistency is by no means runny or watery.

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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…You’re Not Half as Shiny as These Three New Clarins Graphic Expression Fall 2013 Collection Joli Rouge Lipsticks

August 30th, 2013 by Karen 10 Comments

Clarins Spicy Cinnamon Joli Rouge — Now that’s a Spicy Cinnamon! — A Clarins Joli Rouge Lipstick in Spicy Cinnamon ($26), one of three new shades for fall.

Those matte lippies have such sass! — always seducing makeup lovers with their fabulously flat finishes.

Recent intel gathered from credible sources indicates that 1) I’ve been watching a ton of 24 lately, and 2) matte lip products have been quietly taking over ~~the world!~~ makeup bags one tube at a time.

The conspiracy runs deep, too. You can’t trust anyone…

Uh…sorry about that. Random Jack Bauer moment. They really should put a warning label before that show. “Too many back-to-back episodes may result in product paranoia.”

Hmm, where were we?

Oh, yeah! So, I’ve been diggin’ the flat finishes coming out for fall, but that doesn’t mean I love luminous lipsticks like the three new fall Joli Rouge Lipsticks from the Clarins Graphic Expression collection any less. They reflect so much light that I can practically read by ’em in the dark!

Well, not really, but medium-weight, full-coverage rosy Pink Camellia, orangey brown Spicy Cinnamon and plummy Royal Plum do almost look like glosses on my lips.

Clarins Joli Rouge Fall 2013 Lipsticks from the left Pink Camellia, Spicy Cinnamon and Royal Plum — Fom the left Pink Camellia, Spicy Cinnamon and Royal Plum

Clarins Joli Rouge Fall 2013 swatches from the left Pink Camellia, Spicy Cinnamon and Royal Plum — From the left: Pink Camellia, Spicy Cinnamon and Royal Plum

Clarins Pink Camellia Joli Rouge — Pink Camellia

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Like Gatorade for Your Lips, New Mega Moisturizing Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Colours in Pinky Beige and Spiced Berry

August 30th, 2013 by Karen 16 Comments

Wearing the new Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color in Spiced Berry ($9.99, available now at Target)

Mark my words! Come hell or high water! I AM GOING TO TARGET TO BUY THAT CAT LADY SWEATER TODAY!!

I’ve had it on my to-do list for… Heck, I don’t know how long it’s been on there. At least a week. El Hub’s car has been in the shop, so he’s been taking my Mazda to work, which has left me at home with Tabs.

Not that I mind (except for the sweater).

But I’m mobile again. Got my car back, so I can run a few errands this afternoon. Tabs needs gravy (Seriously, he really does. There isn’t a can left in the house.), and I need that sweater from Target.

When I’m there, I’m gonna swing by the Sonia Kashuk section to see if they have her Satin Luxe Lip Colours with SPF 16.

Babe, have you tried these before? I’m kicking myself for not getting on the train sooner because they’re kind of the sh*z. I’ve been wearing the two newest shades in the fall collection, Spiced Berry and Pinky Beige, off and on for the past couple of weeks and lovin’ it.

Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color in Pinky Beige and Spiced Berry — See the colors at the bottom of the tubes? Makes it so easy to find whichever shade I’m looking for.

Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Colour SPF 16

Oh, yeah. And they’re less than 10 bucks ($9.99 to be exact). The buttery, featherweight formula feels almost exactly like a $22 MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick to me, and they’re super duper smooth, so there’s none of that annoying business where the color settles into the lines on my lips.

More to love

They’re unscented and unflavored.
Contain SPF 16.
Last from 2-3 hours, which isn’t bad for something this lightweight.
And each tube has that see-through part, which makes it easy to find the shade I’m looking for at a glance.

OK, but are they worthy of a precious permanent place in your purse?

I think so…but my definition of “permanent” is more like long-term temporary. 🙂

If they do deserve that kind of love, it’s on account of how moisturizing they are — like we’re in the desert, and our Jeep Wrangler just stalled off-road 20 miles from the nearest service station, and then you apply one of these, and it’s like a giant bottle of Gatorade for your lips.

Yeah, that moisturizing.

If your pout gets crazy dry and flaky like mine does, or if you travel a lot by plane (can’t stand that recycled air!) or live somewhere with very low humidity, I think you’ll appreciate it.

Plus, the colors are totally on point for fall.

Pinky Beige

Pinky Beige just might be the perfect creamy nude. Not too cool nor warm, it’s medium coverage and massively low maintenance. You could probably pair it with any color smokey eyes — black, gray, bronze, green, blue — no problem at all. Hands down, it’s one of the most flexible, affordable lip colors you could add to your makeup bag this fall.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Spiced Berry

Spiced Berry’s shimmery finish caught my eye immediately. It’s got good glitter, ya know? Not that cheer champ stuff, but the kind of glitter that goes great with sleek black dresses, patent pumps and dainty gold jewelry.

If you like vampy lip looks or think you might like them but have yet to give ’em a try, Spiced Berry could be a good place to start.
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A

Swatches (for reference, I’m an NC42)

Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color in Pinky Beige Swatch — Pinky Beige

Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color in Spiced Berry Swatch — Spiced Berry

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