Cairo & Baby Lips

To get back into the groove, I thought I'd show you two new additions to my makeup collection! I've been thinking more wear-ability lately since I can only bring so much to college. I bought these a few months ago on my birthday (which happens to be the last time I bought makeup -- woot!).

William the Hippo in Pop Art Tumbler from The Met.

First item is a NARS eyeshadow in Cairo. It's my first actually. I'd always gone into Sephora and admired the NARS eyeshadows but never actually bought one. Now I have, and I do not regret it!

Cairo is a pale, beige-taupe with the slightest hint of shimmer. It's basically matte, but if you look closely, there's this subtle iridescence that is just beautiful. Hopefully you can see it in the swatch below. I think this is the perfect everyday eyeshadow color (for me at least). Definitely give it a swatch whenever you can!

Cairo on the eyes and finger.

The second thing I got is a Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Color in Baby Lips. I've been really loving sheer lip products lately so I went for this. It's sheer, but not too sheer that there's no color. Sheer lippies are my best friends on lazy days or when I'm in a rush. You don't need a mirror!

Just a pair of"baby lips", just kidding they're mine.

Baby Lips is a soft, warm pink. It's kind of a 'my lips but better' color for me. The lip product is like a lip butter -- the color is sheer, but the product is creamy and moisturizing. In the swatch, I only applied Baby Lips to part of my bottom lip so you can see the opacity. It has a nice amount of shine too! I digz it.

This has been...kind of...a mini haul...? Signing off now!

But I'm not a Nudist

Back when I first started getting into makeup, the lip colors I was most enamored with were nudes. I remember being swayed toward them by Laura (back then lollipop26 on Youtube), who sported the nude lip so effortlessly. (I might have been sold over by her accent too.) Consequently, I was at the drugstore almost weekly to seek out all these nude lip products to feed my obsession. Yeah, it was that bad.

Nude, nude, nude, nude, nude...

Because of that, I built up a little collection of nude lipsticks and lipglosses. However, they have not been given much love in the past year or two. I'd grown away from nudes, and I now much prefer darker lip colors like reds, berries, and roses. I mean, I would probably never even touch nude lip colors unless I'm wearing heavy eye makeup (which is pretty rare). And so I decided to take an inventory of the nude lip products I owned. Thanks to this, I realize that I actually have a nice variety of nudes.

1. Korres Cherry Lip Gloss in Nude: This is probably the least nude lip product I own. It's more of a 'my lips but better' shade. It's a redder/rosier nude with gold shimmers, which enhances your natural lip color making your lips appear as if they're nude (bare).
2. Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Nude Blush: Like its name suggests, the color is similar to a natural flush of color in your cheeks. Nude Blush is probably my favorite nude lipstick because it is the most wearable, and it's oh so creamy. I need to start wearing this more often.
3. Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Nude Lustre: Along with Nude Blush, this is my favorite nude lip gloss (it's always been, actually). It's a creme finish with the most subtle, barely barely noticeable, fine shimmer. I love it. Gotta finish this before it goes all bad!
4. L'Oreal Colour Juice Lip Gloss in Strawberry Smoothie: Not much to say about this one because I've never really used it (got it because it was 75% off) and it's really sheer, but it has a really interesting opalescent finish.
5. Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Sugar Plum Ice: This is a pale beige pink with a silver/frosty finish. It's actually really really frosty. But for some reason, I must have used it a lot back then because this is down to almost a nub. Perhaps I'll finish it soon (or try to).
6. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Soft Nude: This is the last nude I ever bought. Everyone had raved about this when it came out, claiming it was the perfect nude nude. In many ways it is, but if I put it on now, I just look dead. It's basically a creamier, slightly pinkier version of the next one, Nude Attitude. 
7. Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude: Nude Attitude was my go-to lipstick when I wanted to completely blank-out my lips, which explains why it's one of my most-used nudes (along with Sugar Plum Ice). This is a matte, peachy nude. Again, I don't think I'd go for such a nude nude nowadays, but it's nice to have this on hand.

Thanks to this little inventory check, I think I'll go back and finish some of these lipsticks. If not, they'd probably just sit there forever. Might as well mix up my lip color instead of sticking to one all the time. What do you feel about nude lip products? Love them, hate them or just okay with them?

MAC Je Joue

As promised, here are my thoughts on some recent acquisitions from the CCO. But before we get to the reviews, I'd love for you to watch this fun little stop motion clip I made with the products. Indeed, I play with my makeup more than I should.

Did you like it? I hope it wasn't too choppy because I was holding my camera between my knees (since I lack a tripod). Anyway, onto the actual reviews! I felt like being more creative with my product shots by the way, so don't mind me. :P

In order of appearance, first up is the MAC Fluidline in Rich Ground. This was the first product that caught my eye on the shelves of the CCO. The color was just beautiful. It screamed 'fall' to me, reminding me of cinnamon and honey roasted pecans. I swatched the tester gently and immediately asked the lady for a new one.

I finally understand what the hype around Fluidline is all about! It applies so so so smoothly, like fluid. The color is pigmented and stays put for hours without smudging. It's amazing! It has the loveliest subtle shimmer running through; it's totally not a boring brown eyeliner! I can tell I'll be using this very often this season in lieu of black liner. Here's a swatch of the Rich Ground in all its glorious beauty.

All the pretties, yes?

Next up is the MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Supreme Style. I remember when these first came out, people ran out to get them. Everyone was raving about how this was the perfect hybrid of gloss and lipstick. And that really appealed to me because my favorite type of lipstick is this hybrid. I never really got to getting these MAC ones, so when I saw this on the lip display, I had to snag one.

Supreme Style isn't very unique or out-there, it's basically a pale peachy pink with a pretty gold sheen. I chose a more neutral shade because I wanted to get more wear out of it. The texture and feel to this is reminiscent of the Revlon lip butters. It glides right on and feels lightweight and moisturizing. The lipstick has the signature MAC vanilla scent, which I actually quite enjoy. I wouldn't say that this product is as super amazing and revolutionary as it was raved to be, but it is nice to have. I really like the sleek glossy, black packaging for this, though, as opposed to the regular MAC lipsticks.

That sheen is really pretty though, I must say.

Lastly, I have the MAC Sheertone Blush in Loverush. It's a matte deep reddish plum, and I would say this is the quintessential fall blush color. It gives you a natural, flushed color, kind of like how your cheeks get really red when you're out in the cold.

The powder is so unbelievably smooth, and applies really well. The color is pretty pigmented though, so I would use a light hand in order to not look like I'm all bruised up. I think this color definitely suits a lot of skintones, and I read up that it's the perfect blush for dark-skinned ladies. Now, I'm not necessarily dark-skinned, but blush usually never shows up well on my skin, but this does! Praise tha lawd, this does!

I applied it rather heavily and messily here, but you get the gist, right? Perfectly flushed cheeks.

I have to say, I'm very pleased with these purchases. MAC re-promotes their colors a lot, so I wouldn't worry too much about these not being readily available. Be sure to check out a CCO if you must! I hope you're all having a great week. What products have you acquired recently?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the Same!

Well, errr, same family!

For a heart-wrenching few seconds, I thought I had misplaced my beloved Revlon Soft Rose. In desperation, I looted my makeup drawer and found it lying in a corner, unscathed. Thankfully. I breathed a big sigh of relief. After rescuing my Soft Rose from that miserable little corner, I pulled out a lip gloss that I thought looked quite similar to the lipstick: Korres Natural Purple. And then I pulled out another one that looked similar and then another and then another...until I had 5 things in my hands and 5 swatches on my arm.

The theme turned out to be deep, plum/purple shades. It's funny though, because Soft Rose is well, a rose. But one shade let to another and it turned into a bunch of purples and plums. But I must say that there really isn't much actual purple going on in this group. However, the overall feel of the shades is very autumn-esque...and aren't plummy purples the quintessential fall color? I guess I gathered a little welcoming committee for the fall season, huh?

• Rimmel London Blush in Plum: An oldie but a goodie. This tiny little blush is quite lovely for the price I paid (under $1 since it was being discontinued). It's pigmented but just a little bit on the chalky side. The color is kind of this dirty plum but at the same time, it's also kind of a hybrid rosy color. It's almost like a slightly darker version of the popular Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed. Plum is probably my favorite fall blush color.
• Revlon Colorbust Lipstick in Soft Rose: This is my one of my most loved lipsticks ever. It's the perfect mid-tone lip color, not a pink or nude and not a red either. Soft Rose is, like its name suggests, a muted rose with a lovely cream finish. It's not very glossy or shiny, which I love because I can pat the color down to make it a stain. It's one of those no-brainer shades that I pop on as I rush out the door to school, and it adds such a nice, natural flush of color to my lips.
• L'Oreal HiP Jelly Balm in Succulent: It seems that L'Oreal's HiP line is basically non-existent nowadays. I remember that it was such a hit a couple years back, but now I hear next to nothing about it. They still have those awesome color liners, though, right? It's a shame because they had some pretty good products. Succulent is this grape jelly (how aptly named) color that sheers out to be a nice pink. The texture and feel of this is very reminiscent of the The Body Shop Born Lippy Lip Balms, but with a less overpowering scent.
• Korres Cherry Lipgloss in Natural Purple: When I pulled this out of the drawer, I thought that this was the lip gloss version of Soft Rose. But it really isn't. Natural Purple is more neutral/brown while Soft Rose leans slightly more pink/red. There's also this milky-looking factor to the gloss that the lipstick lacks. They're kind of close, though!
• Lancome Color Fever Plumper in Downtown Pink: I'm not sure why I picked this out to add to the group, the color doesn't really match all the others, but it sure is a really pretty autumn lip color. Downtown Pink is a deep magenta with a very fine golden sheen. The consistency is rather thick and very pigmented so it's almost like a liquid lipstick. I don't always like the tingly feeling that plumpers give your lips, but this one actually feels pretty comfortable.

Sorry about all the babbling, here are some swatches!

1.) Succulent, 2.) Plum, 3.) Soft Rose, 4.) Natural Purple, 5.) Downtown Pink.

Are you enjoying the cooler weather like me? I know I'll be giving my Soft Rose some more love this fall/winter season, but what are your favorite fall lip and cheek colors? Do you have any makeup twins?

Fall into Autumn

Your cheeks turn red from the crisp, cold air. You start bundling up in a nice chunky scarf. You lose the summer dresses and break out the warm pea coat. You chuckle a little the first day you're able to see your own breath. You are delighted by all the warm colors invading the trees. You see more and more leaves piling up on the ground with each passing day. Before you know it, you've fallen into the loveliest season of the year: autumn.

With September having finally arrived, the end of summer and the shuffling in of autumn is nigh. Autumn in New England has always been so magical. Whether it is going apple-picking or simply taking a walk in the park, the season brings a calm beauty to our surroundings that I just can't describe. The foliage is absolutely beautiful and the air so crisp. 

When I first got my DSLR last year in November, I was so giddy in testing out the settings and getting to know this baby that I went out a lot to take pictures throughout the city. I took these pictures just a week before the trees lost all their leaves. After half an hour or so, my fingers were basically all frozen but I still kept on snapping away.

The squirrel was so chubby and ready to hibernate.

And so, to welcome the incoming autumn, I pulled some makeup products from my collection that reminded me of the warm autumn leaves and the overall essence of the season. It made me think of cozy browns and taupes as well as deep plums and reds.

• L'Oreal HiP Shadow Stick in Meticulous (2): I can imagine a nice argyle sweater with this pale taupe, almost barley-like color.
• Revlon Beyond Natural Eye Pencil in Brown (1): This is the perfect warm red-brown, like rich, warm caramel. The pencil itself is nice and creamy.
• MAC Eyeshadow in Evening Aura (7): The pale, yellow-orange hue that leaves turn into in the beginning of the season is exemplified in this eyeshadow.
• Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow Quad in Coffee Bean (8): The consumption of hot coffee marks the beginning of the cooler months, and what better to represent that than this quad of cozy neutrals so aptly named?
• MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe (3): I have a thin, knitted beanie in this cult-favorite taupe from MAC. It's perfect for those cold, but not too cold days, not to mention beanies are so cute.
• Maybelline Expertwear Eyeshadow in Urban Brown (6): This is such a rich, teddy bear brown color, and I think autumn truly is the season of rich colors.
• Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Brown Mist (4): A cool brown with a forest green shimmer, I liken this to the exposed branches and tree trunks during the later half of the season.
• Maybelline Expertwear Eyeshadow in Cinnamon Spice (5): This is probably my quintessential fall eyeshadow color. Not only is the name of the color oh-so appropriate, the color itself reminds me of spiced cider, Thanksgiving, and of course, cinnamon/pumpkin spice lattes.

My favorite type of foliage is when the leaves turn a deep, vibrant, gorgeous red. It's breathtaking. The red is such a contrast against the usually cloudless, pale blue sky and against the other foliage. I likened this color to lip and cheek products.

• Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain in Plum Pout (11): More than anything, this is a deep red rather than a plum. Freshly applied, the color is so deep and pigmented, but after a while it leaves the perfect berry stain that I associate with autumn.
• Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Soft Rose (12): This is a lovely muted rose that is just perfect for this season -- definitely my staple autumn lip.
• NARS Lipstick in Flamenco (13): Vibrant red lips are always popular, but this one allows you the option of building up the color or leaving it sheer.
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment (14): The cold weather can take a toll on your lips, so this is great to keep them moisturized. It has a very pleasant lemon scent.
• Rimmel Blush in Plum (10): I wish I had a deeper plum blush, but this will do for now. It is a muted dusty plum color that provides the right amount of flush to the cheeks.
• L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Smoldering Plum (9): You know I love this already, but basically this is the deep purple/plum color of the season. 
• Jack Black Lip Balm in Lemon & Chamomile (15): Another lemon scent, eh? Well this one reminds me of yummy lemon honey tea...which is perfect to warm yourself up in cold weather!

So, are you guys looking forward to the cooler weather of autumn as much as I am? And to those of you in the southern hemisphere, it's going to be spring and summer soon, I think? I've always wondered, what's it like to have Christmas during the summer? Ah, but I can't wait for the colder months, mmmm...

Fierce like a Flamenco Dancer

...is what I think I am when I wear this lipstick: NARS's accurately-named lipstick in Flamenco.

As you may have spotted in my last post, I received some Sephora goodies in the mail, and one of them was this lipstick. It's my first ever red lipstick. I have a red lipstain, but I never owned an actual red lipstick. Red lipstick just oozes maturity to you, right? Well at last, I have gone through this rite of passage successfully, and I finally feel a little grown up.

Let's pretend this was the reason I bought it on my birthday a few weeks back (I really was just on the hunt for something NARS).

Matches the book, huh? Writing my research paper on Roald Dahl.

What I like most about this lipstick is that it's sheer, which makes it extremely versatile. I can wear it lightly as if there's just a stain on my lips or I can build it up to an intense, magnificent red. And when I do build it up, it's seriously gorgeous. Refer to the picture below!

Left is one swipe and the right is a couple layers. See how natural AND fierce this lipstick can be? This particular shade of red also brightens up my face so much. It instantly gives my face a much-needed lift.

This is definitely a fantastic beginner red lipstick and consequently, a great investment. The texture is buttery smooth, the color is versatile and build-able, and it fades in such a nice way. Basically, I'm in love with this lipstick. It's awesome.

On a side note, sorry for the absence this week. It's been super stressful with all my term finals and I also took the SATs (remember those?) yesterday. It was actually not that bad, or at least that was what I felt during and after the test. I usually need to freak out or something but I stayed surprisingly calm. I really really hope I did okay. *cross my fingers* Also, (if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know but...) I got my top braces off last Saturday. Can you see them pearly whites in my lip swatch?

Back to regular posting this week hopefully! Have a great week ahead!