Five Favorite Fall Lipsticks | #BATVCollab

The post contains products I purchased myself, press samples, affiliate and referral links.*

It's most people's favorite time of the year! Fall has arrived! Well, for all the rest of you it has. As I type this, it's still 80 plus degrees in Florida. So, fall is only here in name.

Nevertheless, I'm ready to break out some of my favorite fall lipstick shades because berry and vampy lips are essentially my favorite fall beauty trend.

With that in mind, I wanted to share my top five favorite lip colors to rock in the fall. And I teamed up with a few other beauty youtubers from the Beauty and the Vlog Podcast group to create a playlist where you can find a litany of fall lipstick color options all in one place.

Check out my favorites below and maybe add a few of them to your personal arsenal. Don't forget to tell me what your favorites are and if we have any in common.

Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey  |  Nars Audacious Lipstick Vivien | Bdellium Tools Automatic Lip Crayon Sinister Rouge (press sample) | MAC lipstick Diva and Rebel

Video music: Music: "Sugar" by Vibe Tracks

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Also, some of the links in the post above are "referral links" or “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item or sign up for a service, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral rewards.Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review + Swatches: OFRA x MannyMua Liquid Lipsticks

* This post contains products I purchased myself and press samples *

Hello hello guys! I have something a little fun to share with you today. If you've been paying attention to the internet beauty buzz, then you know OFRA Cosmetics did their most recent liquid lipstick collab with MannyMua. That little collab spawned three new lipstick shades -- all of the neutral, everyday, wearable variety.

The lipsticks dropped April 22 and you guys went HAM! All the lippies sold out the same day. In response to demand, OFRA produced a second run of the shades and made them available again last week. And like clockwork, those sold out as well.

Can I blame you guys? Nope. Manny did an excellent job working on three colors that would appeal to the masses. You can wear these to the office, grocery store, and even on a fun night out. It only makes sense everyone was clamoring for them. I'm hopeful that like previous successful OFRA collabs, these will get restocked soon, and become available permanently. Don't forget, the Kathleen Light's shades all sold out multiple times and to this day you can still order Miami Fever and Havana Nights. So if you haven't grabbed any of Manny's shades, and you want them, don't give up hope yet.


Your girl was part of the internet hubub -- snagging all three shades (Aries, Charmed, and Hypno) on their first release date. And I'm here today to share them with you.

You can expect the same awesome formula we've come to love from OFRA's liquid lipsticks, which is to say: a velvety smooth (almost mousey) consistency that's highly pigmented, moisturizing and comfortable to wear. Check out my original reviews and mentions here and here for a more detailed review.

Manny's three shades retail for $19.90 each (same as the permanent line) or you can purchase all three in a bundle for $49.70. Plus, there are quite a few coupon codes out there that will nab you anywhere from 20-40% off.  A quick Google search will save you some cash, so don't forget to do that.

Aries is a soft peachy nude that's great for any occassion (I like to mix mine wth OFRA Mocha to make it a little deeper)
Charmed is a dusty brownish rose/mauve shade -- and my favorite of the three
Hypno is the vampiest of the bunch, a raspberry wine like shade -- great if you want to be a little bold, but not too crazy.

Check out my video below to see hand and lip swatches or just scroll down for photo swatches (your choice).

OFRA liquid lipstick |  OFRA lipgloss stick | OCC Anti-Feathered Lip Liner 

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So, are these shades you want to add to your collection? Were you able to get any of the lipsticks during the first two releases? Which one is your favorite? 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products (OFRA lip gloss stick and Miami Fever liquid lipstick) or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Additionally, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color | Review + Swatches

The liquid lipstick trend is showing zero signs of slowing down. And I can totally get behind that. We've seen plenty of high end liquid lippies hit the market, but in the past year or so, affordable drugstore options have started to pop up like a vengeance.

The latest drugstore brand to join the party? Maybelline, whose Color Sensational lipstick line has been all the rage every season with each new color launch. Well guys, they added liquid lipsticks to the Color Sensational line for their Spring 2016 release, which hit stores earlier this month.

The Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color line retails for $7.99 each and has 10 shades ranging from soft easy nudes to bright, wild, and vampy shades.

Check out my video to see all 10 shades and find out how they perform.

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Join the ULTA Rewards program and earn a $10 off coupon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bdellium Tools Lip Crayons | Review + Swatches | New

Press Samples

I am so excited to share this post. As you may know by now, I'm a big fan of Bdellium Tools. I have purchased their brushes at various shows (The Makeup Show and IMATS) and I've even chosen to work with them on reviews because I love their products so much. You can see previous Bdellium Tools posts here. 

So when the brand reached out to me again to tell me they were releasing a new line of lip crayons, I was instantly interested. I know they take good care to bring quality products that are also affordable and was psyched that they are branching out into makeup. 

Of course I wanted to take the new lippies out for a test run! C'mon, that's a no brainer. 

I received four of the seven available shades: Helen of Troy (dusty rose), In the Nude (peachy-nude), Sinister Rouge (vampy burgundy) and Kadooment (orange-red). 

I love a nice lip crayon because they are easy to swipe on and carry around. These have a nice slim (not chubby like the Revlon or Clinique variety) casing and a simple glossy black metal packaging.  At first glance they seem pretty unassuming. The colors I received are pretty simple to wear. Nothing too wild. They range from easy every day shades (Helen of Troy and In the Nude) to bright (Kadooment) and vampy (Sinister Rouge).  

BUT! Once you swipe these on, they're far from ho-hum. They give you everything you want for only $10 each (1.5 g):

• Moisture for days: They're made with shea butter so they are buttery smooth and keep your lips soft and hydrated. 
• Lip balm feel, high impact color: These may feel like a buttery lip balm but they deliver lots of pigment. No sheer, hiding-in-plain-sight colors here. Nope. Think high end color quality. 

Besides looking and feeling awesome there lip crayons don't require a sharpener (just twist the bottom like you would a lipstick tube) and they are paraben and fragrance free.  

I've been wearing Helen of Troy and Sinister Rouge on heavy rotation for the past 3 weeks. One of the two colors is always in my purse.  You know, in case you have trouble deciding which of the seven shades you want, those are just my suggestions (wink, wink!). 

You can purchase the Bdellium Tools lip crayons here. Bonus: Free shipping on orders over $20 and 10% off your order with coupon code GIRLYTHINGS

Which colors will you get? 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Swatches | NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks | *New*

Now that the eagerly anticipated NYX Liquid Suede Cream lipsticks are out on the market, I had to run off an get them.

Special thanks to my friend Jen, who alerted me to their release so I could sit on the edge of my seat until they were available.

These babies sold out fast on the NYX site, but luckily, they're also available at ULTA. My local ULTA hasn't gotten them in stock yet, so I ordered mine online. The best part about getting them from ULTA is that they're eligible for coupons (I used a 20% off full purchase coupon) and you can earn rewards points that later turn into cash back (stack additional savings with ebates too).

These retail for $6.99 and come in 12 different shades. At that price point (and with my extra savings), I had to get them all -- for research purposes, of course.

The 12 shades from left to right are: Stone Fox, Life's a Beach, Cherry Skies, Soft Spoken, Orange County, Sway, Sandstorm, Pink Lust, Tea & Cookies, Amethyst, Kitten Heels and Vintage. 

These are all highly pigmented, apply smoothly, and dry down matte. Check out my video to see all the swatches on my lips to get an idea of how they look. Then order your favorite shades. You're definitely going to want these. 

Review + Swatches: Dirty Little Secret Cosmetics Lipsticks

I'm kind of excited to share today's post for several reasons: 

1. We're talking lipstick and I love lipstick. 
2. The products are from an indie brand and priced affordably
3. It's high time I shared some swatches of items I bought at IMATS

The opportunity to discover new (or new-to-me) brands and products is one of the best things attending makeup trade shows. (So are the savings opportunities) And IMATs definitely delivered. One of the new brands I discovered (though I'm not claiming to be Christopher Columbus here) was a little indie company called Dirty Little Secrets Cosmetics whose main area of focus (at least right now) is lipstick.

The owner, Emanuela deFalco, decided to launch her own lipstick line hoping to bring customers quality products in an array of colors that would satisfy the daring (think rainbow lips) and demure (think easy-to-wear shades) without totally breaking the bank. The result was Dirty Little Secret, which currently offers 20 different lipstick shades that pack a pigmentation punch and smell yummy. They retail for $10, which I consider to be on the higher end of the drugstore price point -- but certainly more affordable than your typical prestige brand. 

I picked up three shades from the collection: Hopeless, Poison, and Guilty Pleasure. 

After playing around with them, I've gotta say, they're rather good. I've put a noticeable dent in Hopeless and Guilty Pleasure and received a compliment or two while wearing Poison. 

Here are a few things I think you'll benefit from knowing about all three lipsticks I tried and then we'll go into each shade individually:

• The formula is creamy, glides onto lips and feels moisturizing
• They smell like bubble gum -- although they don't really taste like anything (the smell makes you lick your lips to check)
• The three shades I purchased have a glossy finish (but they varied in opaqueness) 
• Longevity is pretty much what you would expect with your typical glossy lipstick (these do not make any claims about being long wearing)

Guilty Pleasure

Guilty Pleasure is a violet-hued pink that would've been a perfect orchid inspired shade when orchid was Pantone's color of the year. It has medium coverage that can be built up to medium-full. 

It looks more violet in the tube,  but ends up more pinkish lavender on the lips, making is a super wearable shade. I reach for it much more often than I anticipated. The tube has actually started to take the distinctive curvature of my lips. 

Hopeless

Hopeless is a peach-toned sheer nude that's super easy to wear and perfect for every day. You can build it up from sheer to light-medium coverage and it has a nice glossy finish. 

Not surprisingly this shade is pretty fool-proof so it's been on heavy rotation. We're nearly past the lip-curved indentation phase and inching closer and closer to flattened tip. 

Poison

Poison is a bright barbie-like fuchsia and if you know me, you know I love a bright fuchsia. So I was drawn to this shade like a magnet. The site describes this a a full coverage shade and while it offers fabulous color pigmentation, it feels more like medium-full coverage to me. As you can see from the photo below, the color pay off is great but it doesn't look fully opaque to me. Still, the color is pretty and definitely noticeable. 

Haul: IMATS NYC 2015

Ladies and gentlemen, I survived my first IMATs -- and in the process had a blast visiting New York with my sister. We attended on Sunday, so it was the day after all the big YouTubers went and got kicked out. I have no idea how it compares to Saturday's apparent mayhem, but it seems the event was nice and calm for the first few hours we were there. It wasn't until a little later in the afternoon that the crowds started to get a little thicker and it started to feel like other trade shows I've attended in the past (e.g., The Makeup Show, Premiere Orlando).

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it was better or worse without the YouTubers there. I wasn't there to witness the crowds that would surround them. I don't know what the YouTubers did or didn't do to merit getting booted. I only know what I heard. If the rumors are true, and judging by the venue and event layout, I can see how too many people crowing around to take photos with their favorite "gurus" could have resulted in the vloggers getting the boot. All I'm saying is that I can understand how it would become a safety concern.

Anyway, that's all I've got to say on that subject because I wasn't attending with the goal to partake in any YouTube meet and greets (although I probably would've said hi discreetly had I seen any of them -- I am friendly after all). I understand that some people attend hoping to see their favorite internet beauty personalities and can see how it would be disappointing that they're not there. My main focus, though, was to shop and chat with brand reps to learn about products and what not. So for me the trip was a total success.

With that said, I promised an IMATS haul and that's exactly what you'll get! So check out my video below to see everything I got (and even some swatches).

And here's a list of all the products:

• Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleanser (Quick Dry formula)
• Alcone Company Non-Latex makeup sponges
• Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray
• Skindinavia Oil Control Primer Spray
• Skindinavia Original Primer Spray
• Bdellium Tools Tapered Contour Brush (944)
• Bdellium Tools 10-piece Studio Mineral brush set with makeup roll which includes the following brushes:
• #964 AP Blusher
• #957 Precision Cheek
• #955 Finishing
• #945 Contour
• #942 Slanted Contour
• #781 Crease
• #776 Blending
• #769 Angled Contour
• #765 Small Angle Shader
• #755 Smudge
• Beauty Blender Body Blender
• Serenity + Scott: Gatsby (lipstick) + Copper Auburn (brow gel)
• Dirty Little Secret lipsticks: Poison, Guilty Pleasure, Hopeless
• Lip Bar liquid lipstick: Candy Land and Dirty Red
• Cozette Brushes: S145, D255, S165, S175, S185
• Stilazzi shadows and blushes:
• MS04
• MS08
• MB10
• MB16
• MB18
• MB19
• MS43
• MS44
• MS45
• PS26
• Ever Glaze polishes: Lil' Bow-tique, Don't Grape About it, Floral-escent, Paint My Piggies Pink, Orchid, Top Coat
• IBD polish in Tickled Pink
• Chacott Cleansing Water (travel size)

Alright, I showed you mine, now tell me about your haul. Did you go to IMATS and what was your favorite purchase?

Review + Giveaway: OFRA Cosmetics Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick

Can I just tell you how awesome it is to be on vacation? I suddenly have all this extra time on my hands to tend to things I've been sorely neglecting. If only I could spend more of my time playing with makeup and beauty products and less time doing boring grown up things like working.

Being a grown up is by far the dumbest thing I've ever done.

I know, I know. I had work before and I was way better about posting and filming. You're right. It just meant I was neglecting other aspects of my life (like spending time with family and friends). After a while, it was becoming difficult to keep neglecting those area of my life without consequence, so I had to reprioritize -- and now I'm trying to reprioritize again.

It's a juggling game. I'll probably find myself shuffling things around again at some point. But for now, let's revel in my sudden return to the beauty realm.

Let's talk about lipstick already! That's what you came here for, right?

While I was at The Makeup Show (TMS) in Orlando (back in November), I stopped by the OFRA Cosmetics booth. Visiting the OFRA booth has become a bit of a tradition now. I discovered this brand at TMS back in 2012 and have been hooked ever since.

My first purchase from OFRA was a lipstick, a liquid lipstick, and two eyeshadows that were actually a gift with purchase. I was thoroughly impressed with every item I purchased and returned the next year ready to add more to my collection. Sadly, OFRA didn't bring their liquid lipsticks with them in 2013. But I was pleasantly surprised to see they had them at the show again this year. I immediately picked up two more colors: Santa Monica and Laguna Beach.

Rather than keep you in suspense, I think it's pretty obvious that I'm about to review a product that I love. Let's be real. I was disappointed they didn't have the product available at the show last year and I bought more of them this year. You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that I stand firmly in the I-love-this-product category.

But what's a review without my telling you why I love them?

An unsubstantiated opinion -- that's what it is. And we don't give those around here. It would make my life a million times easier but it doesn't really give you any useable insight whether you'll like it too. You want to know why. No, you need to know why before you go spend your hard earned cash. So that's exactly what you're going to get.

Let's break it down.

Packaging, cost and availability

OFRA's Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick retail for $19.90 and are available for purchase on OFRA's website. The fact that these are only available online is one of my chief complaints because I can't get instant gratification. And dammit, I'm a child of the "right now" generation. Gimme. I like to be able to look at and swatch colors in person, and I don't necessarily feel their site offers much in the form of swatches. This is the primary reason I wait until I visit their booth at the show, so I can really take a good look at the colors I'm choosing. Mostly, because I don't want to have to bother with mail-in returns if I don't color match correctly. But, who knows? Maybe I'll inspire more bloggers to try this brand and then there will be swatches galore online. 

And, while we're over here being honest, it's hard to beat show prices too. I paid $5 each for my liquid lipsticks (in 2012 and 2014). That being said, the product's performance and consistency merit the price. (Exposure to show pricing has ruined me you guys. I want everything at a discount now) But don't fret, you can save 30% on your entire purchase with this code: girlythingsbye (good through 2/1/2015)

The liquid lipsticks come packaged in a tube (pictured above) with a doe-foot applicator. OFRA did update the packaging since 2012. Originally the tube was round (now its square) and came with a brush applicator. I'm a fan of the new packaging. I feel that the doe-foot applicator improves application. It picks up less product (good since these give a lot of color pay off) and is generally less messy. Plus, I found the original brush applicator a bit stiff and didn't think it spread the product on my lips as nicely. The updated packaging is definitely an improvement in my book. 

Performance and consistency

The liquid lipsticks have a buttery smooth consistency and smell like cake batter (think Cold Stone Creamery). For the purpose of comparison, they feel like NYX butter glosses when applied. That means, they glide on like butter so they can slide around a bit on your lips before they set, which for some may cause some feathering. I don't actually experience this problem, but a friend of mine brought it to my attention so, I'm sharing it with you. If you're like my friend, here's a useful tip: Use a lipliner, then apply the liquid lipstick. Lip liners are generally a drier consistency so they'll hold these in place until they set. Voila, no feathering. 

They don't take too long to set (maybe a minute, if that long) and once they do, they stay put. The lipsticks dry down to a matte finish and feel like long-lasting lipstick (meaning they're not super sticky and can feel a bit dry) However, they did not  dry out my lips like some long-lasting lipsticks tend to do. They'll probably stay put all day -- as long as you don't eat or drink. 

But since that's not totally realistic, I was able wear these for five hours without much (if any) wear and tear. Unfortunately, I need to eat, so five hours was the longest amount of time I wore these before eating led to reapplication.

You also get amazing color pay off with these. I have three colors and with all of them I get the exact color pay off I see in the tube with one swipe. You could try to build them to be more intense, but I found that to be totally unnecessary and a waste of product.

Overall thoughts

Well, if it isn't obvious, I really love these liquid lipsticks. I own three colors (Palm Beach, Laguna Beach, and Santa Monica) and have ordered two more since typing up this review (Hollywood and Plumas). Between the color pay off, lasting quality, and ease of use, I've become quite the fan. This year at the show, I got to meet the brand's chemist who makes all their makeup formulations and I gave him a big thumbs up on their liquid lipsticks.

By the way, you read that right. OFRA has their own in-house chemist so all their products are theirs. They don't buy mass produced products (ahem, 88 color eyeshadow palette that I'm guilty of owning) and slap their brand name on them. They create everything themselves. And their stuff is so impressive, they've even had large, well-known brands seeking out their stuff. 

Check out my video review for additional information and to hear more about the giveaway!

Giveaway

While I was at the show, I met with the brand representatives and told then how much I loved their liquid lipsticks and how thrilled I was they brought them to the show again this year. They graciously gave me three liquid lipsticks (Santa Monica, Mocha, and New Orleans) for me to host a giveaway for my subscribers. That means one lucky subbie gets to try these out for free!

Giveaway rules: 

1. Contest is open only in the U.S. and Puerto Rico 
2. Only one entry per person. Youtube comments are the only valid entry.
3. Subscriber must be 18 or older to participate (or have parental permission to do so because you'll need to share your mailing address with me)
4. Must be subscribed to my Youtube channel 
5. Watch the video and leave a comment (giveaway comment entries only valid on Youtube) telling me: (1) Your favorite lipstick shade (any brand) and (2) one OFRA product you're interested in trying (go to their site and do some "window" shopping) other than the liquid lipstick.
6. Contest closes Sunday, January 11 at midnight EST.  Any entries submitted after that will be void. 
7. I'll contact the winner via their YouTube inbox (so make sure you don't block emails!). Winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing information, otherwise I'll have to choose another winner. 
8. Once I notify the winner and receive their information, I will announce their name (YouTube handle) in this blog post and in the video's information bar. 

Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash. The makers and manufacturers of the items being given away are in no way affiliated with this contest. While I take every precaution to ensure packages are delivered to contest winners, I do not take any responsibility for items lost, stolen, or damaged during the shipping process once I have confirmed shipment from my end.

Disclosure of Material Connection (for items reviewed): I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Disclosure of Material Connection (for giveaway items): I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Holiday Gift Guide 2013: Beauty Gifts $30 or less

1. Real Techniques Cosmetics Brush Set ($30) / 2. Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral LE Matte/Neutral Palette ($30) / 3. Stila Color Me Glossy Lip Glaze ($28) / 4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Covet Waterproof Liner set ($28) / 5. Stila Tools of the Trade brush set ($28) / 6. MAC Stroke of Midnight Viva Glam 1 set ($30) /  7. Benefit Cosmetics Luve It Up! Color Kit ($25) / 8. Julep Hand Model kit ($25) / 9.  ALTERNA Caviar Experience Kit  ($29)/ 10. Living Proof beauty product ($29)

Makeup and beauty tools:

It's quite possible to purchase quality makeup and brushes for affordable prices, especially during the holidays with all the great gift sets. Best of all, you don't always have to hit up a specialty store to find them. Case in point, the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Limited Edition matte and shimmer palette is available at Target and offers fantastic pigmentation and easy blending. Speaking of blending, you can also find a Real Techniques brush set while you're there. 

If your giftee prefers high-end brand (how particular of him/her) don't fret. Stila has a great lip glaze set that includes nine glosses and a brush set both just under $30. There's also Anatasia Beverly Hills waterproof liner set and Benefit's cute LuveiIt Up kit, which includes three neutral shadows, a mini creaseless cream shadow, and Dandelion lip gloss. For the bold diva on your list, check out MAC's Viva Glam 1 holiday set that includes the original lipstick and gloss inspired by RuPaul. Bonus, every cent you pay for the set goes to HIV/AIDS research, so it's a do-good, look-good gift. 

Hands and nails:

If you've got a nail obsessed giftee on your list, instead go for a little something different than  nail polish and try this Model Hands set by Julep. Help your nail fashionista take care of her hands and tips so all the fun colors and designs she wears will look even better on her soft smooth and nourished hands. 

Hair

If you're gifting a gal (or guy) with luscious locks, consider helping her (or him) discover some awesome new hair products. Alterna's Caviar kit is a great anti-aging hair travel set that will help keep locks nourished, shiny, and full -- all signs of a youthful mane. And if Jennifer Aniston is his/her hair icon (and honestly, isn't she everyone's?) give them one of the various Living Proof hair care travel kits to address a variety of hair needs. My personal favorite is the  No Frizz Smoothing and Frizz Fighting line. Fantastic humidity fighting products that are light weight, smell great, and leave your hair looking ah-ma-zing. 

Review & Swatch: Inglot Lipstick #140

The longer I blog, the more my love for lipstick grows. When I first started out, I was more of a gloss girl. It was less intimidating and more fool proof. But as I've gotten braver about my beauty choices, I've discovered I'm rather fond of a bold lip.

My growing lipstick collection includes a mix of high-end and drugstore selections. But when I'm choosing a new lipstick to add to the stash, I look for four main things: the color (Do I like it? Does it compliment my skin?), finish (I tend to favor creams, satins, and mattes and avoid anything too frosty), pigmentation (Does it offer good color pay off or is it sheer?), and moisturizing properties (Is it creamy and moisturizing? Am I willing to forgo this for color and performance?).

I recently went through this exact though process when I acquired my first Inglot lipstick in #140 at The Makeup Show.

First of all, look at that amazing color! It's a beautiful red-blue fuchsia cream that I was immediately drawn to. I'm also totally digging the pretty metal black case. It looks so sleek! And while the packaging isn't a deciding factor, it's certainly a nice little aesthetic bonus once I make a purchase. Plus, when you buy a higher end product, you kind of expect something more in the area of presentation.

But the luxe quality of this Inglot shade doesn't stop with the pretty packaging. Just check out the color payoff and gorgeous hue. If only the picture could show you how lovely it feels.

Inglot lipstick #140 swatch

Let there be no question as to why I love this lipstick. When I swatched this color at the Inglot booth, I was in love. It's creamy and smooth and feels incredible on your lips, thanks to a formula infused with Vitamin E and kernel oil. Also, the shade is right up my alley. As you probably know, I love a fuchsia lip (here's video proof). And, oh by the way, you get this kind of color pay off pretty much as soon as you swipe it on your pucker.

Later, when I got it home, I realized the reason I was so in love with it is that it's nearly a perfect match for MAC's Girl About Town (basically my favorite lipstick). The only visible difference I can detect (upon really close side-by-side inspection) is that #140 is slightly redder. It's not immediately apparent to the naked eye. But it shows a little more on camera. Dare I say, I think Inglot's version is a bit creamier and more moisturizing? I dare. But let it be said the difference isn't overly significant. (P.S. I'm still on the hunt for a satisfying drugstore dupe, not a close-enough dupe)

My experience with my first Inglot lipstick has been positive. I've found it's comparable to other high end lines it competes with (such as MAC) in terms of pigmentation and performance -- something I already expected after using their shadows. But what I also like, is that you get to save a little money. Since I've already started comparing it to MAC Girl About Town, let's stick to it. Inglot retails for $12 here in the US (I paid $9 at the show), while MAC retails for $15. A $3 savings might not seem that impressive compared to how much you can save at the drugstore, but it's still money in your pocket. And in my book that counts, especially since you're not compromising prestige, look and quality.

As for how it wears throughout the day, it's pretty much as expected for a creamy lipstick. This isn't meant to be long wearing, so you'll definitely need to carry it with you and reapply. Hey, no one said a bold lip wasn't a little high maintenance.

Another little thing you should know: It has a fruity smell. For the sake of comparison, the scent is really similar to that of Milani color statement lipsticks.

Have you tried Inglot lipsticks? Are you a fan? Do you agree with my assessment? If you're new to the brand, are you likely to give these a try?

OCC Lip Tar Swatches: Mein Herr, Yaoi, Rhythm Box, Black Metal Dahlia

A while back, I shared swatches and a rambling review of my first Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lip tar (check it out here) purchase. Although sometimes tricky to use (you'll need a lip brush and steady hand), I really loved their color pay off and moisturizing quality. The 0.33 fl. oz tubes are packed with fabulous lip loving ingredients like hemp oil and Vitamin E and peppermint oil (to give them an antibacterial quality). They're also paraben free.

Aside from all that goodness, OCC's lip tars are so pigmented and easy to spread, all you need is a tiny drop for an opaque and colorful pout. That means you'll have them for a really long time.

Interestingly enough, when I first purchased them they retailed for $16, but now they'll run you $18. Considering my three original purchases still look brand new (I'm not kidding when I say one drop goes a LONG way), I'm not going to gripe over an extra $2.

If I had to gripe about something, it's that I wish they were easier to apply, so I could easily swipe more on after eating. As it is, it requires a little more work than a tube of lipstick or gloss. But I understand there's a reason behind this, they're easier to mix and create customized color (part of their appeal) in this liquidy form. Clearly, it's not a big enough gripe to keep me from acquiring more. And that's exactly what I did recently.

If you've check out my Makeup Show hauls (here and here) you already knew that. Today,  I'm finally getting around to sharing some swatches. But first, a quick reminder of the three lip tars I purchased:

OCC Lip Tars (left to right): Yaoi, Rhythm Box, Black Metal Dahlia

And a photo of the lip tar I received as part of the blogger preview:

OCC Lip Tar in Mein Herr

Enough reminders, let's check out what these babies look like when you wear them already.

OCC Lip Tar Yaoi

Yaoi is part of the metallic lip tar line and can be best described as a shimmery bright fuchsia. And you guys know that I can't resist a fuchsia lipstick or nail polish. It's only natural I'd eventually get my hands on Yaoi.

While Yaoi is part of the metallic line, it's not overly shimmery or frosty, which I like because it makes it more wearable. It has shimmer, but it's not overpowering. 

OCC lip tar in Rhythm Box

Rhythm Box is part of the stained gloss lip tar collection and can be best described as a translucent burgundy. To me, it looks like a berry stain with a little bit of glossy shine. I think this might be my favorite as the sheer and glossy finish makes this color incredibly easy to wear.

OCC lip tar in Mein Herr

I know I love my pigmented colors, but I'm really in love with the stained gloss line. Mein Herr is a pretty sheer nude gloss that's really easy to wear every day. I also love wearing it over a lot of my lipsticks to mute them down and give them some shine.

OCC lip tar Black Metal Dahlia

Black Metal Dahlia, as the name suggests, is part of the metallic line. It can be best described as a deep burgundy with red pearl finish. Unlike Yaoi, Black Metal Dahlia definitely looks metallic. It's a vampy statement color that would look lovely with simple makeup -- making your lips take center stage. Of all the colors shared today, this was the trickiest to work with as blotting can cause some splotchiness and the pearly finish can make it more obvious (that's magnified by super close up camera shots).

While the color is beautiful and I love a bold lip, Black Metal Dahlia is a bit too intense for me, I think it's the simmer. To counteract that (and not leave this pretty color sitting around collecting dust), I apply it by dabbing it on with my finger to give it more of a stain effect.

OCC lip tar Black Metal Dahlia worn as stain

It ends up looking like a deeper version of Rhythm box, with just a tiny hint of shimmer. I'll probably wear it like this most often, and slowly build up the intensity to help me get use to it's boldness.

Are you a fan of OCC lip tars? Which colors are your favorite? Are you a fan of any of the colors I shared today?

What's in my beach bag?

Summer is upon us and so is the holiday weekend. Since so many of us will be celebrating in the sun, I thought I'd share a post giving you a little peek into my beach bag. Here are the things you'd find if you went rummaging through my bag. 

1. Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration sunscreen - Here's a little nugget of truth for you: I no longer lay out in the sun to tan. We all know the various reasons why we shouldn't, let's not rehash them here. Suffice to say, my tan comes straight out of a bottle. When I'm at the beach, I slather on SPF 30 and sit under an umbrella. I really like Hawaiian Tropic's Silk Hydration sunscreen because it hydrates my skin (a must after spending time in the drying salt water) while it protects. Plus, it smells good. I usually apply this before I head out to the beach to give it time to absorb into my skin. 
2. Australian Gold continuous spray sunscreen with bronzer - If you poke through my beach bag, you'll easily find a few different sunscreens. I love the Australian Gold continuous spray sunscreen with bronzer because I can protect my skin while adding a little  color to enhance my self tan. 
3. Neutrogena Clear Face liquid sunscreen - Yep, another sunscreen. I love this one from Neutrogena because it dries matte and keeps your skin from getting oily. It also helps prevent breakouts while it protects your skin. 
4. Brightly colored beach towel - This one's pretty self explanatory. You need a towel, whether to lay on or dry off (or both). I love an over sized towel in vibrant colors. 
5. Hat - If I don't have an umbrella handy to sit under, I'll be rocking a hat to provide some shade for my face while simultaneously protecting my scalp from the harsh rays. I'm partial to a straw fedora because it's light weight and a bit breezy. 
6. Hair ties - Sometimes you just need to pull your hair up into a bun or at the very least out of your face. I always keep a few spare hair times around for a quick and easy hair fix. 
7. Sunglasses - It's bright outside so I need to protect my peepers with some shades. The last time I was a the beach without them I suffered a massive headache from all the glare off the sun and water. From that moment on, I said, "Never again." You won't catch me out at the beach or by the pool without my sunglasses. My favorites? My Ray-ban aviators. 
8. Flip flops - If you're hanging out by the pool or beach you need a good pair of flip flops. I recently purchased these (pictured) at Clarks and I totally love them. They're sturdier than rubber flip flops, plus I love the brown and white combo, they go with anything I wear to the beach. 
9. Lip balm with SPF - At any moment in time, you'll easily find at least two lip balms in my purse. It's no different when it comes to my beach bag, except the lip balms I take to the beach must have SPF. Among my favorites: Carmex (in the tube), Blistex, and Nivea Kiss of Recovery (pictured). 
10. My iPhone - This little multitasker keeps me in touch with my friends, serves up some awesome tunes, and takes pictures of our fun day out. 
11. Cover up - I love a maxi dress. We've covered this before. So chances are, I'll throw one on as a cover up when I'm headed to the beach or pool. 
12. String bikini - My opinion: the string bikini is the most flattering cut out there. You can adjust it to fit whether you're a little bloated or dropped a few lbs. Either way, it's not squeezing your hips giving you the dreaded and unflattering muffin top. 

Bonus item: Another item you'll normally find in my beach bag that's not in the photo above: spray-on leave in conditioner. I apply a generous amount to my hair after a dip in the water. It keeps my hair hydrated, detangled, and soft. I don't have a preferred brand, just any one I happen to pick up and have handy at the time. 

What are some of your beach bag must haves? 

Review: Julep Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub

I recently received Julep's Sugar Smooch lip scrub when I got my Julep Maven May subscription box. If you read my post on this month's box, you know that I paid and extra $9.99 to add it on to my box since it wasn't included in the one that I chose. 

The lip scrub retails for $14, but if you're a Julep Maven you can purchase it online for $11.20. I ordered it because I was curious to see how well it worked. But mostly, because I thought the packaging was adorable.  

I've gotta tell you, I'm totally floored by how this product works and more importantly how it feels on my lips. To give you a point of reference, I've been using Lush's Mint Julips as my lip scrub and I loved it. Julep's Sugar Smooch lip scrub totally blew Lush out of the water. 

Both scrubs have ingredients to moisturize your lips while they exfoliate. However, Julep's version seems to be more effective. The consistency is much moister than Lush, almost like a sugar paste. And when you apply it on your lips, it feels more soothing and gentle. It really does feel like butter, probably because it has shea butter in it. But the most impressive part is the soft moisturizing feeling it leaves behind when you rinse it off.  The best description I can muster is that my lips felt like I had just applied lip balm or lip butter. Completely amazing. And it smells like caramel. Absolutely delicious. 

Here's how Julep describes it:

This scrumptious blend of brown sugar, molasses, conditioning oils, vitamin E, and shea butter will leave your lips soft, smooth, and ready for color (and kisses). 

I'd say it's pretty spot on! 

Check out my video review for extra information:

Do you think you'd give Sugar Smooch lip scrub a try? Have you already? If so, how do you like it? 

Manicure Monday: Julep Maven May

It's Julep Maven time again! For the month of May, Julep's Maven* subscription boxes were all inspired by The Great Gatsby and the beauty and colors that were popular in the 1920s. I purchased the Boho Glam box this month, which included two nail polishes (Alice & Millie) and three travel-sized lipsticks. I also chose an add on for this month, the Sugar Smooch lip scrub -- which was part of the beauty maven box. 

I received Boho Glam box on May 1. However, when you choose to add on products to your box, those get shipped separately. I received my lip scrub on May 4. Julep Maven subscription boxes are $19.99**, add ons vary in price. The lip scrub add on cost me $9.99. 

Sinful Colors base coat, two coats of Julep Alice, no top coat

 Alice is a beautiful pale lavender with a shimmer finish that gives it a nearly pearl-like finish. This color is feminine and soft and definitely reminiscent of the soft, pastel, feminine colors of the 1920s. One coat results in a sheer finish, while two coats give you the color pay off in the bottle. The formula isn't overly thich, which makes it easy to work with.

Sinful Colors base coat, two coats Julep Millie, no top coat

Millie is a gorgeous indigo blue that has just a hint of purple undertone, which you can see better in person. It reminds me a bit of Sinful Colors Rain Storm and Zoya Natty, except in person it's just the slightest bit more grey-purple. Both Rain Storm and Natty are really similar to Millie and both have more product for a more affordable price (Rain Storm is $1.99, Natty is $8, Julep polishes usually run $14 when purchased at retail stores). 

Millie gives you color pay off in one coat, but two coats looks much better. It's a bit of a thicker polish than Millie so it can be just the slightest bit more difficult to work with (but only slightly). 

Sinful Colors base coat, two coats Julep Alice, one coat Julep Millie, China Glaze Fast Forward top coat

Millie and Alice compliment each other well. So, if you plan on doing some nail art, like I did, this color combo will look fantastic. 

I also received three mini lipsticks in this month's box that I was particularly excited about. The packaging is really cute, with the decorations on the box having a vintage feel to them. I also love the gold packaging for the lipsticks. Again, it gives off a vintage vibe and just looks so pretty and dainty.

Left to right: Tea for two (nude sheer), Lady in Red (matte), Satin Doll (poppy sheer)

Lady in Red is by far my favorite lipstick in this little trio. For starters, it's the only real lipstick, since the other two are sheer colors that are almost like a tinted balm. Lady in Red is a beautiful true red, which will suit all skin tones, and has blue undertones that will make your teeth look super white. It glides on smoothly and feels moisturizing on the lips. It's described as a matte shade, but I see a bit of shine to it that makes me think it's more of a satin finish. That works for me, I love a pretty satin finish. 

Satin doll is a pretty sheer poppy red that is so sheer it gives your lips (well, at least my lips) barely there coral tint. Like Lady in Red, this glides on smoothly and feels super moisturizing and creamy on the lips. But it's so sheer, you can barely tell you have anything on. Personally, I would've preferred a little more color pay off. In fact, I have tinted balms that offer more color pigmentation that this does.

 Tea for Two is described as a sheer nude. Applied, it's so sheer, it's basically translucent. You may as well just apply a little lip balm to your pout. You'll get the same result. I'm not really a fan. Like the other two lipsticks, it's incredibly creamy and feels great on your lips. But if there's no color to be had, I simply do not see the point. I prefer my lip colors to pack a little more punch.

The lip scrub is absolutely adorable in it's gold sphere package that reminds me a bit of the eos balms, except fancier. The scrub smells AH-MA-ZING, like brown sugar and caramel. It's made from brown sugar, molasses, conditioning oils, vitamin E, and shea butter, which will help keep your lips soft and kissably smooth. 

All in all, I'm glad I didn't opt for the beauty box this month. I wasn't all that interested in the mascara and would've been disappointed to only really like one or two of the products received (Lady in Red and the lip scrub). I'm sad to say, I'm left underwhelmed. 

Check out my video "unboxing" to see some of the other goodies that came in the box:

Do you subscribe to the Julep Maven program? Which box did you get this month? How did you feel about the beauty products? 

* This is my personal Julep Maven link. Using this link to join the program helps me earn Julep points, which I can eventually redeem for free subscription boxes or add-on items. These personal referral links are available to everyone who joins the Julep Maven program. 

** I redeemed my Julep Maven points in May, which means I received my subscription box for free (normally $19.99). I paid separately for the lip scrub add-on.  

Video music by Dan-O at danosongs.com