Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara and Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder

May 13th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 10 Comments

Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara in Black — Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara in Black ($12)

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

Price and ease of use: two of the main, biggest things I factor into my makeup buying decisions. If something is way too complicated or doesn’t apply well, I’m not going to use it. And if it’s overly pricey or not worth investing in, I’m not going to buy it, which is why I love both of the two products I’m showing you here.

I first encountered Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara a year (maybe two?) ago when it was the birthday gift at Sephora. It came in a mini version with a nude lipstick, the shade of which I can’t remember now, unfortunately. I’ve since finished the lipstick, and I’m almost done with that particular mascara, but I also have a second one that I keep in my purse.

This mascara has served me SO well. The mini one has been perfect for my purse (and, let’s be honest, I kind of love the mini versions of most things). It’s great daytime and nighttime looks.

The wand is also a perfect shape, in my opinion. Wider at one end, it tapers down to a really nice point that gives me lovely, fanned out lashes every time. It also deposits just the right amount of product.

And the color is another factor for me. It’s a gorgeous inky black. If you like brown mascaras, you’re out of luck, because this one only comes in black, but I wouldn’t mind seeing it released some other colors.

Bonus: It doesn't make my lashes push up against my glasses! — Bonus: It doesn’t make my lashes push up against my glasses!

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The Essie Resort 2016 Collection Will Get Your Fingers and Toes Ready for Summer!

May 13th, 2016 by Jen Clark 19 Comments

I feel the need to talk about some nail polish today, so let’s talk about this cute collection, Essie Resort 2016.

If you knew me a couple of years ago, you probably would have known about my ridiculous polish addiction. Like, the addiction was real. I had a shelf covered with hundreds — yes, hundreds — of bottles.

I’ve since downsized to my current nail polish collection, but those were the days… I would paint my nails a different color almost every day of the week, not even kidding. I even got really good at design, but alas, babies came and time got short, and sleep became more important.

I am so, so ashamed to admit that I’ve only painted my nails maybe once over the last six months (!). That is just ree-dic and so unlike me, so when my best friend texted me the other day to go get my nails done with her, I jumped at the chance.

I also did something really different — I got acrylics! — and had them do the almond shape. I’ve always admired almond shaped nails but never thought to try them myself. Turns out, I LOVE them! There’s just something so feminine about long nails, although I am having the hardest time typing this post. You win some, you lose some, I guess.

In honor of my new nails, I’m wearing the new Essie Resort Collection for 2016.

All of these colors are so up my alley. I’ve never, ever been one to shy away from bright colors. In fact, they’re what I gravitate toward, and these are gorgeous! And actually pretty unique!

Normally when I get new nail polish colors the ones I decide to get aren’t too special compared to the polishes I already have, but some of these are unique and unlike anything I own.

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The Best in Beauty From the Boot, Vol. 9: A Face of the Day with Giorgio Armani Beauty

May 13th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 18 Comments

Armani Lip Maestro 400 The Red Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow 5 Gold Blitz — Wearing Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in 400 The Red on my lips, and Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz on my eyes

Let’s do something a little different today, shall we?

I’ve only ever tried two products from the Giorgio Armani Beauty range, which is definitely not enough to write one of my usual brand spotlight posts. Those two products are so good, though, that I feel like I can’t not somehow tell you about them.

I’m talking about the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in 400 The Red and the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz. They’ve been around for years now, but if you’ve never tried them before, here’s what you’ve been missing out on.

Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro in 400 The Red ($38)

I think the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestros were the first lipsticks in liquid form I’d ever heard of, but they couldn’t be any more different from the moisture-sucking liquid lipsticks we’re so used to seeing these days.

The Lip Maestros are so creamy, and comfy, and lush…

Applying shade 400 The Red on my lips feels like coating them in the softest velvet drape, if that makes any sense… It really makes me understand what a ‘velvet finish’ truly is. Besides, its amount of sheen and point of red are just right.

Honestly, gurl, I think this lipstick is pure perfection.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz ($35)

Speaking of pure perfection…

Aside from the hefty price tag, there’s nothing less than perfect about the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow in 5 Gold Blitz. It is the creamiest, most pigmented, easiest to blend eyeshadow I’ve ever tried.

Its gorgeous metallic finish makes your lids look like they’re coated in golden foil – a look they keep for hours, and hours, and hours…

For today’s face I’ve applied 05 Gold Blitz on my mobile lids with my finger and blended it out past the crease with a MAC 217 Blending Brush. Then I’ve applied it along my lower lashlines with a MAC 219 Pencil Brush and diffused the edge with ZOEVA’s 231 Luxe Petit Crease brush.

Other products used for this look include:

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Lipstick Queen Cupid’s Bow Jumbo Lip Pencils: These Pretty and Precise Pencils Hit the Target

May 13th, 2016 by Adia Goss 20 Comments

I love that these $22 Lipstick Queen Cupid’s Bow lipstick/jumbo lip pencil hybrids are so smooth, pigmented and easy to apply, and you can get a nice outline around your lips with them. Lipstick Queen is a new brand to me, but I’m loving the luxe vibe.

I’ve reviewed my share of lipstick/lip pencil hybrids (remember the ones from Glo Minerals?), so I like to think of myself as a bit of an expert on the subject.

DETAILS:
0.07oz

“Inspired by the artful precision of a perfectly applied cupid’s bow, this jumbo pencil is packed with pigment and works just like a lipstick and lip liner together in one. Loaded with hydrating ingredients to keep your pout in perfect condition, these pencils give lips a velvety drama that can be drawn on with one simply stroke. Lips are instantly saturated with rich, plush pigments and a dramatic yet moisture-rich satin matte finish. Naughty, nice and playful, with allow-like precision…just like Cupid himself!”

— lipstickqueen.com

Plush, powerful pigments with intense staying power and a satin matte finish

Contains precious mineral Tourmaline sourced from metamorphic rock in Brazil, known for its energizing and radiance-boosting qualities

Luxurious formulation cushions lips in comfort

Artful precision with one effortless application – glides on with intense color pay-off

Complimentary sharpener included

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Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Chrome Mascara in Sapphire Makes Lashes Twinkle Like Little Gemstones!

May 12th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 9 Comments

I can’t lie, I’m a little “vanilla” when it comes to mascara. When I was getting a new one a few weeks back, I accidentally picked up one in “brown/black” and recoiled the instant I recognized my gaffe. I’ve just always been more of a “blackest black” kind of chick when it comes to these lashes, and I don’t deviate that often.

Not long ago NYX released an immense range of vibrant, affordable colorful mascaras that seem lovely, and the world of glittery mascaras is vast, but I just haven’t been able to part with my precious carbon black hues…

Enter Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Chrome Mascara (about $6 at Walmart), a different, also affordable take on the brand’s already popular glitter mascaras.

Graphite, a metallic aluminum silver, and Sapphire, a deep, luminous gemstone blue, have me changing my tune about shimmery, colorful mascara.

They’re both new shade additions to the existing range, all of which are about $6 each.

“Create futuristic chrome lashes that are fun and flirty with Lash Tinsel Chrome Mascara. The pearl packed formula evenly coats lashes and the comb-like applicator removes any clumps for a professional look every time! Layer over black or a tonal mascara for a more vivid, multi-dimensional look.”

— hardcandy.com

Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Mascara in Sapphire

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The Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints by Tarte: Nine Shades From Sweet to Sexy

May 12th, 2016 by Anna Oh 17 Comments

There’s a lot to love about these Tarte Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints ($20), and the best way I can describe them is “trend-in-a-good-way.” The nine shades are hydrating, vegan-friendly, and so pigmented that they’re really just upgraded lipglosses. Every shade rocks. The color palette inspired me to create one of my most colorful illustrations yet!

beauty illustration tarte anna oh tarteist glossy lip paint — A beauty illustration inspired by the Tarteist Glossy Lip Paints

As a range, they’re neutral…with an edge. Among the shades are plenty of rosy nudes, plus a few really, really fun shades. I love how Tarte totally went there with the one called Poison. It’s a black plum that stains my lips a deep purple.

The deep shades look incredible on the lips and also work when patted down to a stain, which helps them last much longer (and there’s also less to worry about when they’re applied that way, for anyone wondering).

Here are pics and thoughts on the colors.

Tarte Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint: swatches

tarteist glossy lip paint hella — Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Hella

Hella, a “white nude,” is the only color that’s a little too pale for me. It will settle into my fine lines if I don’t layer it, so I recommend using this one with a nude lip liner.

tarteist glossy lip paint obvi — Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Obvi

Obvi, a “warm nude,” is the only Lip Paint with shimmer. It’s a nice flattering color that isn’t too bright or pink.

tarteist glossy lip paint goals — Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in Goals

Goals! Love that name. This one is a “rosy nude,” and I think it brightens up the face more than the others.

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2 Months Old

May 12th, 2016 by Karen 39 Comments

My li’l lovebug, also known as “The Coywolf,” also known as your niece, is now two months old (officially nine weeks). She’s also juuust shy of 10 pounds and no longer fits the smallest of her newborn onesies, a fact I find bittersweet. 🙁

Right now Connor Claire likes…

Cooing, gurgling and laughing. She’ll talk your ear off with her chorus of cute baby sounds!
Smiling and spreading her sunshine around. 🙂 Connor smiles all the time and seems to be a very happy girl.
Taylor Dayne. HAHA! We found this out while driving in the car a couple weeks ago. Connor was having a “high needs” afternoon, so El Hub and I took her for a spin while we ran some errands. She was crying in her carseat when I left the car to pick up a pizza we’d ordered for dinner (half pepperoni and olive, half veggie), and when I got back to the car, Taylor Dayne’s I’ll Always Love You was playing on the radio.
Connor was super chill in the backseat… Ah, the soothing power of the easy listening station! ‘Tis magical.
Watching Gilmore Girls with mom. I’ve been re-watching the series while I feed her. Connor was shocked — SHOCKED! — when she found out that Dean was going to marry Lindsey.
“FaceTiming” with her lola and lolo (Tagalog for grandma and grandpa). My mom and dad are super obsessed with Connor (she’s their first grandchild), and since they can’t visit her every day, we FaceTime. They spend the entire call chatting with her, and it is so, so cute.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How I Wear Nude Lipstick (A Collaboration With Anna)

May 12th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 11 Comments

From the top, clockwise: Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in Hickory Smoked ($3.49), Colourpop Lippie Stix in Lumiere ($5), and Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in Nude Thrill ($6.99)

When I first started wearing lipstick, I was a sucker for a red lip, particularly matte red lips, and I still am. If I had to wear the same lip color for the rest of my life, it would probably be something red.

But my tastes have grown over the years to include many other colors, including nudes. A change of pace is nice sometimes, and some nudes are just too good to pass up.

I tend to go for the bolder nudes, like pink nudes, or a nude with brownish red undertones.

To go along with Anna’s favorite nude lippies, here are three of my favorite nudes that I’ve been wearing on the regular (when I’m not going for my signature red).

The first one is one of the Maybelline Vivid Mattes, and Adia did an amazing review of these a little while back, so I’m not going to spend too much time on the particulars. I will say that it’s one of my favorite everyday liquid lipsticks for a few reasons. The color lasts, it’s not overly drying, and it’s truly a universally flattering shade.

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in Nude Thrill

It can easily be worn with just a bit of mascara for a daytime look or something like a smoky eye for night.

My second favorite nude is my go-to pink for when I feel like wearing something other than red, but don’t want to wear anything particularly bright. It’s Colourpop Lippie Stix in Lumiere, a dusty mauve.

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