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

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!

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

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!

wet 'n wild meglast lipstick in "just peachy"

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?

found: holy grail lipstick!!

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.

review: hard candy balm girls tinted lip balm

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....

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

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

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.

what to pair with your bright lipstick

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??

in my makeup bag

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.

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

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.

Behold: The amazing power of face primer!

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!

Make your own Blushberry Shine!

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

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.

Lipstick Storage

I was goofing around yesterday after a long, boring day of book-cramming, and found a bunch of amazing pictures and videos of ways girls had organized their makeup. While I didn't have enough energy to organize all of my makeup (actually most of it is lipstick anyway.... Who am I kidding?) I just chose to tackle my box lipsticks. That whole box thing sounded convenient at first... until I started dumping them out on the bathroom floor to find the right one, and "Mr. Green" kept stepping on them and getting annoyed.... Plus it just wasn't very elegant, which of course I am. Or at least this puts me a step closer to elegance. See???



This is all of them, except for like 2 that I'm trying to get rid of. The colors just won't work for me, no matter how I combine it with other things. So these are all the ones that I could actually wear. My husband was happy about this, because he said I would have to get rid of one to buy a new one, so that my system would keep working! Hmmm, smart. Not sure I like that, but it's smart.

120 days of shadow: Day 2

I'm not so sure about this one. My husband liked it, so I guess it wasn't awful. I chose an indigo-ish blue. I'm always wary of this shade, because it sort of makes me look like I got punched in the eye. This time I tried to make it better by lining my eyes with navy liner. A little less bruise-y, maybe?



Now let's talk about what shades of lipstick go with this eye look. Personally, I don't like anything even remotely colored on my lips when I'm wearing blue on my eyes. I feel like a sad remnant of the 80s. So today I chose the only nude lipstick I own (I know, I know.... I'm really more of a colored lipstick kind of girl, so this eyeshadow challenge is hard for me!). I just bought it last week, and it's Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush, which I love. I also love the fact that I got this lipstick at Dollar Tree for..... you guessed it! A dollar! More about Dollar Tree finds tomorrow.....

I'm wearing Nude Blush in the picture above, and this is what the tube looks like here:

How to pick out a lipcolor

It's a very simple, self-developed rule for picking out your perfect shade. You'll be amazed at just how easy it is. Ready?

Buy the first shade you're attracted to.

I know, I know. So easy! In case you're skeptical, let me explain. Usually your eye is drawn to shades that work well with your coloring. USUALLY. Unless you're still attracted to frosty pink lip gloss from the 80s. If that describes you, then I'm afraid you're beyond my helping abilities. But generally speaking, fair girls are attracted to lighter, brighter shades, warmer-skinned girls are attracted to beigy nude colors, and dark-skinned girls pick dark, dramatic colors. Want proof? Here are the colors I'm ALWAYS magically drawn to in the makeup aisle:

From left: Maybelline Superstay in Special Sparkle (discontinued), WetnWild Diamond Brilliance in 611 Baby's Got Bling, Maybelline Color Sensational in Peachy Scene, and Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine for Lips in Peony. Oh yeah, the one at the bottom is something I got at the dollar store is unidentifiable.

Yup, uncannily weird that they all look the same. And you know what? All of them are flattering on me. Go out and try it. Bonus points if you can get a flattering lipstick for free :P.

One positive of a bad economy: haggling for lipstick

This is how bad the economy has become, folks. You can actually barter for makeup! Well, only if you do it right. So pay attention.

I went to Walgreens a couple of days ago to pick up some Sinful Colors nail polish (it's BOGO this week!), and happened to browse through the clearance bucket at the back of the store. I picked up a tube of lipstick (it's like a compulsion.... step away from the lipstick!!) and found a smushed-up, but still fetching shade on the inside. It had a price tag of $7 on it! Inside I was thinking, "who would pay 7 bucks for a lipstick that looks half eaten?" I mean, it had lipstick all over the inside AND the outside. It was seriously a mess. So I marched up to the cashier's desk, and said (smiling and charming, of course), "I don't think anyone's going to purchase this. Would it be OK if I took it off your hands?" The dude said sure. He didn't seem too happy to be alive that day, but oh well because I got lipstick! Here's the lovely shade after I cleaned it up:


Nice, huh? It's very flattering. It's a Loreal Colour Riche shade called "Laetitia's Blush", which is (of course) discontinued. That's always my luck- I find a super lovely shade and this makes me elated, but my elation is tempered by my knowledge that my elation will be short-lived. Sigh.

That's OK, because it's not absolutely perfect. It has some small silver shimmer going on, which I don't really care for. I like a creamy and un-shimmery effect, for my lipstick at least. Lipgloss is a different story.

Anyway, if you're going to try to bamboozle some makeup from your own local drugstore, I have some guidelines which I think will make it more successful:

1. Make sure the product appears undesirable. I mean to anyone who's not you.
2. Try to ask a male cashier, if at all possible. You can probably get away with more if you smile pretty. And they probably couldn't care any less about old tubes of lipstick.
3. Always have something else to buy at the check-out. I had my nailpolish. I figure it looks better if you seem like a legitimate customer, and not someone who just wants to use up their free air conditioning.

Have at it!

Gold gloss

I read this week on Glamour Magazine's beauty blog that gold gloss is a new look to try for summer. Since I'm a total cheapskate and didn't want to spend $10-ish bucks for yet another gloss, I decided to invent one myself. I finally ended up with one concoction that really worked- I rubbed gold powder eyeshadow on my lips with a sponge applicator, and then layered peach gloss with gold flecks over it. I'm pretty sure that the color of the lip gloss doesn't really matter, since the eyeshadow is so pigmented. But I'd say go with a gloss with shimmer in it instead of a glassy, watery finish. That'll add to the bronzey look.

Cheapest pink lips ever!

This past weekend I was contemplating buying a bright pink lip stain. I really like lip stains and figured hot pink would look give with my blue eyes. On the way to go buy it, though, I had an epiphanous moment! I stopped in a Dollar Tree and bought a 4 pack of highlighters (for a dollar... duh) and proceeded to use the pink one on my lips (don't worry, it's non-toxic). And guess what? It was so pretty! And it stayed on for the rest of the day without drying out my lips.

I have a theory that this will look good on everyone. Try it and let me know!

Skinny gloss

I posted last week about finding my new perfect gloss- Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine for Lips in Peony. Well, I think it's officially surpassed perfect now. I've discovered since buying it that I've been snacking less. It's because my lips feel and look so perfect, and I'm way less likely to grab something when passing food because I don't want to mess up my lips (or eat a bunch of pinky-peach gloss). I'm wearing my new gloss almost all the time these days, so I'm munching way less.

And guess what? I've lost a whole pound this week! Yup, call me a genius.