One of my favorite things about season changes is being able to buy new shades of nail polish that go with the season. In my opinion, any time is a good time for buying nail polish, but new seasons make it even more exciting because I can’t wait to see what shades brands put out. The one thing I love more than pretty nail polish is affordable pretty nail polish, and I know I’m not the only one who gets a little stingy when it comes to spending money! So I have found some really pretty nail polishes that are super summer-worthy and cost less than $5.
1. Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in ‘Hot Tamale’ – $2.99
Wow, this is the most flavorful red-orange I’ve ever seen. The only time I ever wear orange nail polish is for Halloween, and I usually don’t like red-orange as a color at all, but this nail polish was just so appealing because it reminded me of all the colorful fruit pictures I’ve been seeing on Instagram for the summer. If this nail polish were a fruit, it’d definitely be something citrus-y and refreshing!
2. Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in ‘Coral Reef’ – $2.99
This color kind of reminds me of Patrick from Spongebob! It’s a really pretty pink that’s perfect for a playful day at the beach because it isn’t too light and it’s also not a hot pink (for some reason I don’t find hot pinks too appealing). Like all other Sally Hansen Hard As Nails products I’ve tried, the quality of this one is really good — not thin and watered down, but not thick and globby.
3. Wet n Wild Wild Shine in ‘Lavender Creme’ — $0.99
I like nail polishes from the Wild Shine collection because I find that the quality of the polish is pretty good for just a buck! The shades are all really pigmented, so I really only use two thin coats of polish. Plus, as the name suggests, it has a nice glossy finish, so I never feel the need to put on a top coat for shine. The color of the bottle isn’t exactly true to the color you get on your nails (the bottle color is just a teeny bit darker and prettier in my opinion), but nevertheless this is definitely a hot color for a summer party!
4. Jesse’s Girl in ‘Jasmine’ – $3.99
First thing’s first, I had no idea that I shared a name with this shade until I just checked the name on the bottle! Anyway, I honestly have never heard of Jesse’s Girl brand cosmetics before (I found it at my local Rite Aid) and I was just so taken with this light, minty color that I had to buy it! This cool color will definitely keep you cool for the summer because it’s just so chill and casual and wearable at literally any event — party; barbeque, outing with friends.
5. Salon Perfect in ‘Gone Sailing’ – $3.99
‘Gone Sailing’ is seriously the perfect name for this shade because it truly makes me feel like I have the sea at my fingertips. Okay, maybe not the entire sea, maybe just my own underwater kingdom. The color is gorgeous and so mermaid-like (and why wouldn’t you want to channel your inner mermaid for the summer?). Unlike the other polishes on this list, this one actually has no type of shiny finish whatsoever; it’s completely matte!
So these are some great summer colors if you’re on a budget, and they’re definitely my favorites this season! If I had to pick just one to crown my absolute favorite of the summer, it would definitely be ‘Jasmine’ because the mint color is so refreshing!
So back in May I bought a couple of products that I really needed/wanted and let me tell you, they’re pretty damn awesome. Like these products literally give me life. Okay, well they don’t exactly give me life, but I do get really excited when using them. So I decided to write a post about their awesomeness! Alas, my May Kiss List was born. Maybe you’ve read my January Kiss List and loved it so much that you’re excited to see what products I’ve listed this time. So without further ado, I give you the best of my May purchases.
1. Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in ‘Lady Balls’ — $21
I love red lipsticks, and I had been using this fantastic red lip creme from Tarte for many months, but then I ran out and really needed a new red lipstick (that particular shade was limited edition). So I went looking around at Sephora for my new red lipstick and I swatched ‘Lady Balls’ and fell in love!
It’s literally a bright, cherry red color — perfect for getting dressed up or if you just want to make a bold statement (which I pretty much always want to do). This is from the Melted matte collection, which is great because matte is my favorite lip finish. I also love that it goes on soft and really smooth — no yucky, sticky feeling at all! I have worn this lip color for more than 12 hours and haven’t experienced fading, creasing, or dry lips (which can sometimes be an issue with a lot of matte lipsticks). The applicator tip gives me ample control when I’m trying to get every application perfect (or as close to perfect as I can get it!) Bottom line, I hope this lipstick never gets discontinued ever, because I have literally found my red lipstick match made in heaven!
2. ELF Face Primer — $3
Cosmetics from ELF are one of my favorite finds because they’re great quality and super inexpensive — just ask the gel eyeliner from ELF that I use basically every day. Anyway, I picked this up at CVS Pharmacy one day because I really wanted to start using primer again. I’m actually really picky when it comes to making primer purchases because I have oily skin and wear medium coverage foundation, so I hate using primers that make my face and foundation noticeably oily. It was really cheap so I went for it and I was NOT disappointed.
When applying this primer, you get a sort of silky feel that gets worked into your skin really quickly. Two pumps is usually enough for my entire face and I don’t wait for this dry because I never feel like I need to. I have worn this under foundation for 13-14 hours at a time and I have rarely felt the need to blot or reapply my makeup. A definite favorite!
3. ELF Eyeshadow Primer — $1
I love doing fun eyeshadow looks but sometimes my eyeshadow fades throughout the day. Despite this I’ve never felt the need to purchase eyeshadow primer, but since this was only $1 I decided to go for it. I love that the product is actually white because when I rub it on my eyelids it leaves a light, white base, so if I want to do an extremely bright and vivid look all the colors show up nicely. My eyelids don’t feel oily and I haven’t experienced any creasing so far. I definitely think that this eyeshadow primer is great if you’re looking for something extremely affordable or if you’re an eyeshadow beginner.
4. Urban Decay Perversion Mascara — $21
OH. EM. GOD. Mascara is probably the makeup product I’d never leave home without, so I’m really picky about which ones I purchase. My eyelashes are naturally long and curled, so I hate mascaras that make them look clumpy and spidery. I do love getting a “fake eyelashes” look, but without too much drama. I started off by buying a sample sized mascara and I loved it so much that I bought the full-sized one.
Perversion from UD doesn’t clump my eyelashes together and it also doesn’t cause any flaking. Plus, removal is pretty easy — I just gently wipe it off with makeup remover wipes so that I can start again fresh the next day. I also really love the wand itself because I hate wands that are so small and sparse that you could literally count the number of bristles on the wand. This is definitely a fantastic mascara!
5. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Hardener — $3.99
It’s weird how I pay attention to my nails every single week, but I don’t actually pay attention to them. Basically, I’m a huge fan of nail art so I paint my nails all sorts of designs, but I don’t usually think twice about caring for them the way that I should. I use a base coat and that’s about as careful as I am. But I was at Rite-Aid one day and my eyes glanced over this nail hardener. It was only $3.99 so I decided to go for it. It promises to strengthen your nails and reduce chipping and breaking, which sounded like a great idea to me. In the past my nails have broken much more easily when they got really long, and so far I haven’t experienced any breaking or chipping since using this.
Be warned, however, this product does NOT promise to grow your nails faster, so don’t expect it to!
I would totally repurchase every single product on this list because, well, they’re great!
What are some of your favorite makeup products from May?
Your skin is the largest organ, so make sure you treat it right! Over the years I’ve definitely had my share of skin struggles, like many others, but those struggles did open me up to a world of skincare that I (honestly) probably wouldn’t have known existed if my troubles didn’t force me to pay attention. Some people have great skin without even paying much attention to it, while others treat their skin like its gold and get great results. And I’m not just talking about the skin on your face, either. Here are some #skingoals that we should all strive for no matter what our skin condition is.
1. Wash your face at least twice a day.
Most people wash their faces in the morning when they wake up, but after a long, exhausting day at work, school, and home, it can be easy to just throw yourself in bed and not give a care in the world about washing your face; you just want to sleep and that’s understandbale. But not removing the dirt and grime of the day from your skin can lead to clogged pores, which can lead to skin problems. Even if you aren’t acne prone, you should still aim to cleanse your face at least twice a day — it’s so refreshing!
2. Never sleep with makeup on.
This paster year in college, I was so guilty of falling asleep with makeup on. It was an accident because I didn’t remove my makeup early enough so I’d fall asleep surrounded by papers and books with perfectly winged eyeliner, mascara, and full foundation. This is a one-way ticket to clogged pores and unhealthy skin! Remove everything from your face before you sleep. I like to use Neutrogena makeup wipes on my entire face, and then go wash my face completely with my face wash to make sure I really get everything out.
3. If a product irritates your skin, stop using it.
No one likes to spend money on a product that they end up not being able to use, but if your lotion is causing a rash on your arm or making you break out, stop using it immediately. Prolonged use will only make it worse. If you don’t want it to go to waste, give it to a friend or family member; maybe they’ll have better luck with it than you did.
4. Seek professional help if needed.
Don’t punish yourself for years and years because you’re too stubborn or too embarassed to see a dermatologist. Even if you think next year will be the year you conquer your skin issue by yourself, chances are things will get worse. Dermatologists aren’t just for treating facial issues; they can give you a full body exam if you want, and help you treat skin conditions before they become really serious.
5. Drink lots of water.
Water keeps your skin hydrated, and some experts say that it can influence the elasticity of your skin, thereby making it less likely to crack (cracks in the skin are fantastic for irritations!) This doesn’t mean you should drink yourself sick with water, but aim to stay hydrated by consuming water regualrly.
6. FYI, DIY isn’t always best.
One time on Facebook, I saw a video of a DIY charcoal pore strip using non-toxic glue. It looked cool so I shared the video to my timeline, and I even thought about trying it myself (because some pore strips are pretty expensive). But I got a wake-up call from a friend who said that that’s actually dangerous to put glue on your face, and it can cause my skin to become immensely irritated. Beware of some DIY facials, because (depending on your skin) some of them might actually cause more harm than good.
7. Don’t be overly aggressive with your skin.
Save your aggression for the soccer field; you need to be rather gentle with all types of skin. Scrubbing the shit out of your face and arms will cause redness, and can even break the skin. You’re not scrubbing an apple, so be nice!
8. Be consistent with your skincare regimen.
You’re not going to see results overnight; you’re not going to use a lotion on your legs for two days and wake up on the third day with super smooth, glowing model legs. You need to stick to a regimen for many, many months (sometimes a year or so) before you decide that it doesn’t improve the quality of your skin. Plus, being hasty and changing products like you change your answers on a multiple choice test can further aggitate your skin.
9. Shave carefully!
You’re not sheering a sheep (though if you were you’d probably still be careful because sheep are adorable!) You could accidentally nick your skin and cause it to bleed. You can also get annoying razor bumps! Try to find a good razor that can at least meet you halfway. I like using Schick Hydro Silk razors because they give me a close, clean and smooth finish without the need for aggression.
10. Use lip balm religiously.
Your lips are still part of your skin, so they require care as well. Overly chapped or dry lips can lead to very painful peeling. Avoid this by moisturizing your lips on the regular with your favorite lip balm. I apply lip balm to my lips multiple times throughout the day because I can’t stand the way my lips feel when they’re even remotely dry! You’ll have soft, supple lips in the long run!
11. Actually test products before using them.
Before using a new product, my mom always made me test it out for 24 hours on a small patch of skin on my arm, much to my dismay because I couldn’t wait to use a new product. This serves its purpose very well. It’s very possible that a product won’t agree with your skin. Fun fact: I actually can’t use EOS lip balms because the first one I ever used dried out my lips insanely and left me with a strane looking dark mark on my lip, which took many months to heal.
12. Have patience!
Like I said, nothing is going to change in the blink of an eye. There is no such thing as a miracle product. Haste makes waste, so treat your skin gently and with patience — it’s one of the best things you can do for your skin.
I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope I was able to offer some skin advice that’s *life changing* for you. Please note that I am not a doctor of any kind and I do not claim to be. These were just some eye-opening things that I have realized over the years when it comes to skincare.
Happy Almost Mother’s Day! So this upcoming day of celebration and thankfulness for the love of the prominent women in our lives raises a big question: what gift should I get her??? I know, I know. One can spend many, many days pondering over what Mother’s Day purchases should be made, and it can be especially hard on a budget! But don’t worry, to help, I’ve got quite a few fabulous gift ideas all in one, big blog post from someone who knows the struggle of buying gifs for loved ones all too well.
Infinity scarf. No, not the super warm, crochet-styles ones made from wool; I’m talking about the pretty, light, flowy ones that are perfect for the spring. Help your mom channel the springtime vibes all in one piece of apparel. Scarves often pull together otherwise plain outfits, and there are tons of beautiful designs to pick from, not to mention the gorgeous and inspiring color schemes. Plus, scarves are typically very inexpensive, so you won’t find yourself breaking the bank.
Flats. With all the running around your mom does for you — trips to the grocery store, picking you up from soccer practice, working hard so you can be happy — she might like a new pair of shoes so she can run around in style. With the spring season, there are so many pretty flats from stores like Forever21 and Charlotte Russe. If your mom isn’t the ballet flat kind of person, you can get her some other kind of footwear: sandals; sneakers; heels. Shoes are a well-appreciated gift that will certainly be put to good use.
Jewelry.A gift guide for women wouldn’t be complete without jewelry! There will always be jewelry for everyone’s taste, so you’ll never worry about finding the piece that’s just right.
Glamulet is a great site for pretty pieces of arm candy. Plus, you can pick out your own charms for a bracelet (be prepared to stare at the charms all day because they are beautiful!) And guess what, you could potentially spend $0 on a gorgeous bracelet for Mother’s Day! Check out Glamulet’s campaign page and share your favorite charm on your social media profiles to be entered for the chance to win one of 100 free bracelets. Since I love all of my wonderful readers (y’all are truly amazing) I’ve actually got a present for you: take 15% off your Glamulet order of $70 or more using the promo code: BB-MOM How awesome is that!? You better act fast, though, because Mother’s Day is approaching and this offer ends on May 9th. #love #childoftheyear
A New Wallet. You know when you just know your wallet is in need of a major makeover? Well, there aren’t any wallet makeup artists that I know of, so the best solution is to buy a new wallet, which is why it’s a great gift idea for Mother’s Day (and Father’s Day, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it). I was able to buy a Nine West wallet from T.J. Maxx for less than $25. Plus, just like footwear, wallets can be used daily.
A Pretty Dress. Does your mom have that brunch with co-workers coming up, or a company party to attend? Maybe you’re planning a family trip together. This is the perfect opportunity to buy your mom an outfit for such events. She’ll be able to look fabulous while showing off her Mother’s Day gift!
Bath salts. Everyone loves a good day of R&R. Hell, even a few hours of R&R can be greatly appreciated. Greatly. A gift of beautiful-smelling bath salts is a great way to get your mom on her way to indulging her senses in comfort while taking a well-deserved break from the world. Places like Bath & Body Works have a great selection of salts for you to choose from. This is an inexpensive, yet thoughtful option.
Scented candles. I’m not sure what it is with me and scented candles, but they’re wonderful. My mom loves buying nice smelling candles to emit a beautiful aroma around the house. Scented candles would also be great additions to your mom’s spa day — just like people do in the movies when they want to relax. You can buy several mini candles or a few big ones for low prices.
Lotion sets. Anything fragrance related is usually a safe option. Bath & Body Works, The Body Shop and Victoria’s Secret usually have sets that include shower gel, lotion and perfume, plus there are many collections to choose from that sometimes come packaged in a cute travel bag (if you purchase travel size) or some other cute case that can be used for storing makeup and small knick-knacks.
Facial masks. First of all, facial masks can easily become an obsession. Second of all, there are so many to choose from, especially since lots of stores and companies come out with a new kind of mask, more exotic than the previous one. But if the recipient of your gift isn’t too big on wilder mixtures and scents, stick to classics like seaweed and honey & oat masks. The great thing is that you get a fair amount of product in the tub that will definitely last a while because masks aren’t meant for everyday use.
Chocolate covered strawberries. Chocolate is everyone’s favorite way to dress up fruit (unless you’re allergic to chocolate!) As long as you’re very well aware of a person’s culinary likes and dislikes (and potential allergies) food is a pretty safe gift idea and chocolate covered strawberries should be one of the first ones that pop into your head. You can even make them yourself and add sprinkles and toppings! #diy.
Macarons. Let’s be real. Macarons are a great gift because we think they’re wildly sophisticated and they come in pretty colors. I always stare longingly at the macaron packs at kiosks in the mall and in bakeries, but I know I can’t have them because of my almond allergy. Pick up a pack of this sweet treat, especially if your mom has a sweet tooth!
Cupcakes. Bakeries tend to sell Mother’s Day-themed cupcakes and goodies at this time of year. Plus, you can bake an entire batch of cupcakes yourself if you have an inner baker. There is so much room for creativity with cupcakes. You can bake your mom cupcakes that are representative of her favorite sweet tooth satisfiers (cinnamon roll cupcakes, snickers cupcakes — yes, they exist!)
A neutral eyeshadow palette. Okay, I know we all have really cool moms, but chances are, yours isn’t as willing to wear neon blue and bright orange eyeshadow as you are! I’d adore the gift of the Urban Decay Electric palette (which I ended up getting for my birthday) but my mom wouldn’t be into that. So if you want to get eyeshadow for the female figure in your life, stick to neutral palettes with soft colors. They’d be more appreciative of this because these tones are workplace friendly. There are a number of subtle palettes out there, too.
Healthy skin kits. Eye creams, wrinkle creams, vitamin-infused serums — these are everyday products that many older women tend to use. A Mother’s Day Gift can be as simple as getting her something she already has a need for every single day. My mom loves using products from Olay’s Regenerist line, and would definitely love their serums as a gift. Consider helping your mom re-stock her collection as a great gift.
Mugs of love. After you say how much you love your mother, you can give her a mug that says it too! Like many of the other ideas in this post, mugs are great for everyday use. And if your mom is like mine and doesn’t actually use mugs, she’ll use it as decoration in her china.
A good book. With the trials, tribulations (and rewards) of everyday life to tackle, our moms may hardly find the time to go out and buy a good book, but now you can coax her into reading by buying the book for her! And if your mom swears up and down that she never has the time to read, having something to read will urge her to find a little bit of time — even if it’s right before bed. Never underestimate the power of a good book. When I was a kid, I received books as presents for birthdays and christmas all the time — that’s how I began writing and eventually became the writer and blogger I am now!
A picture frame.Who else’s mom loves decorating the walls with family pictures and baby photos, and photos of you when you were missing your two front teeth? There are probably plenty more milestones that your mom would love to adorn the walls with. Get her pretty picture frames to do just that! You can find nice ones from places like Target and Michael’s (in love with Michael’s!)
Bedroom slippers. Who doesn’t love warm, fuzzy slippers? They’re great for wearing for an early morning trip to the bathroom when the floor is cold, and they go perfectly with some hot tea, a good book, and a recliner!
Did you make it this far? Good! Hopefully I managed to ease the stress of finding Mother’s Day presents! And if you actually don’t have a mother figure in your immediate family, remember that you can still celebrate the other wonderful women in your lives — aunts, grandmas, mother-in-laws. Happy Mother’s Day, and don’t forget to comment below and tell me what your favorite gift idea was!
Note: This post is sponsored by Glamulet and powered by BrandBacker. As always, all statements and opinions are 100 percent my own — I’d never lie to y’all! Thank you for supporting brands that make really cool posts from Macarons & Mascara possible!
I look forward to any type of week-long (or longer) break from school because it gives me a chance to think about myself, which can be pretty hard to do when you’re juggling classes, exams, work, internship hunting and the drawn out process of getting your shit together. So when I’m being understandably selfish, I like to think about beauty products I have and ones that have really been on my mind. My Spring Break has officially started, and since I’m not going anywhere special, I’ll definitely make use of this time to explore new products. I know you’re just dying to see what super cool beauty products I’m dying to purchase, so without further ado this is my Spring Break beauty wishlist:
Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eyeshadow Palette – $36
I think this palette is super cool! I love that the concept for this palette was inspired by something as simple as peanut butter and jelly. I love the bright purple jelly shade on the palette and even the warmer shade of purple. The browns for the peanut butter are super warm and remind me of an almost sun-kissed look. The great thing about this palette is that even if I don’t feel like strutting around campus with purple eyeshadow, I can always create a beachy glow using the browns. Seriously, I can actually feel the heat just staring at this palette! I think it’s pretty affordable at $36, especially considering it’s a limited edition palette.
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipstick in ‘Firebird’ – $18
I’ve always been in love with berry colored lipsticks. I think they go beautifully with my medium-tan skin, however it’s usually a hassle for me to find one that I’m head-over-heels for. Usually the ‘berry’ lip colors I get are either way too sheer to show up on my lips or they aren’t the shade I thought they’d be. After looking at endless swatches of this shade online, I finally decided that this will be my ultimate berry lip color. It’s creamy and rich and very affordable! I was actually considering taking a trip to Manhattan to the Bite Beauty Lab where you can get your own color consultation and have your very own unique shade of lipstick made right in front of you (whoa) but in my opinion, the lipstick is fairly expensive. At $45 for one lipstick, I definitely feel a little stingy about spending, so a cheaper alternative that can give me the look I want is the way I choose to go.
I love super bright, fun, colorful eyeshadow looks! I definitely want to start experimenting with my eyeshadow more by trying out funky, electrifying looks and I think this palette will be the best way for me to do this. It’s relatively cheap for a non-drugstore palette with this many shades, and the color combinations are definitely interesting. As the weather warms up, eyeshadow that reminds you of a tropical island will definitely be super cool!
I have pretty much always been in need of a stippling brush — I could just never ever find an appropriately priced one. Seriously, I have gone to numerous stores in search of an affordable stippling brush for when I apply my foundation, but could never find one so I’ve always had to settle for just the the flat brushes, which don’t get the job done as well. I prefer to stipple my foundation into my skin because I have a couple of scars from breakouts and the stippling motion almost ‘fills’ them in, in comparison to a rubbing or blending motion. But I think this will be the brush for me! I have never seen Coastal Scents being sold at any stores, so I suppose I’ll have to order it online. But if anyone knows of a place in New York (the city part, not the upstate part) where I could purchase Coastal Scents products, do let me know!
My family is Caribbean, so I’m already fully aware of the wonders of natural beauty products. We know of so many natural remedies and soaps and scrubs from Caribbean islands and African cultures, so this really isn’t the first time I’m hearing about African Black Soap. I actually am currently using an African Black Soap facial wash and mask from a brand called Shea Moisture. But what draws me to this specific product is the fact that it very clearly contains the ingredients in a more pure form. There are no added acids, fragrances, or anything like that, which could take away from effectiveness of the product. I am definitely very acne prone and would love to try a more natural product. This product is also from Coastal Scents.
Okay, we’ve all been here: we buy a product with certain expectations only to be gently let down before banging our heads against a wall, regretting every impulse that persuaded us to purchase said product in the first place. Can’t be just me, right? In a less headache-inducing manner, sometimes we make a purchase that was super awesome at first but it was just time we moved on from the product. We can still find it in ourselves to maintain a friendship (or acquaintanceship) with our old loves.
I have owned a few products that just didn’t quite fit the bill for me. If I had a nickel for every product I’ve ever purchased that I ended up tossing to the side, I’d be at least a thousandaire by now. At least. Since I wasn’t about to compile a list of every single product that fell short for me, I did the next best thing: I compiled a list of every single product I’ve used for the last few months that fell short for me. Maybe these products didn’t do the trick for you, either…
Disclaimer: I have used all of these products continuously; by no means did I use any of them just once and decide that they didn’t do the trick! Please keep this in mind when determining my credibility!
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil SystemThis system includes the facial exfoliator (not pictured), the toner (left), the anti-aging serum (middle) and the skin clearing lotion (right). I have breakout-prone skin (as well as some post acne marks sprinkling my face) and I’ve always had a difficult time finding a product that works well for me. I’ve actually been using this system since September and, at first, had relatively good results. Within the first month of use, I had noticed some improvement in the severity of my flare-ups. I loved that these products helped to calm things down in just a few days, but after a while it seemed as though my face “got used to” the products and they lost their effectiveness. This being said, I kicked this one to the curb in favor of the Shea Moisture Black Soap system (lookout for a review of this!) However, if your skin problems are light or mild, I highly recommend this system.
Tarte Lip Tint in Energy NoirI had such high hopes for this product…I thought it’d be a nice, bold berry color because I had purchased my Tarte dressed to the nines lip cremes at the same time and thought that this was also a pigmented lip creme (my fault because I should have read the name of the product more carefully. Oops). The shade is alright, though not the berry color I had in mind. It’s extremely sheer and still not much of an adequate lip tint. The finish is very similar to that of a lip gloss (which I personally don’t like anymore) so this product was definitely not one that I was fond of this month.
New York Color Long Wearing Nail Polish in French White TipNo. Just, no. It’s not that I don’t like white nail polish (I truly love it, actually) but this particular brand just got me like…no….If you love seeing ugly streaks left behind by your nail polish (which I doubt you do) then you’ll love this nail polish! This nail polish is very streaky and sometimes two coats isn’t enough to hide that! Plus, this nail polish chipped rather quickly (Ummm, what happened to being ‘Long Wearing’?) It is relatively fast drying, however that doesn’t make up for its lack of quality. Sorry, New York Color, but this one just didn’t cut the mustard.
Dove Dry SprayConfession time: I love sweating. And this is the part where you think you didn’t read that correctly so you go back and re-read that last part. Never fear, your eyes didn’t spazz out on you – I love sweating. I mean, I Zumba, box and workout on my own (and I’m pretty interested in getting into crossfit) so how can I not enjoy sweating, right? Anyway, I was hoping for a deodorant that would keep my B.O. at bay so I don’t, you know, send anyone running in the opposite direction (though, I’d be able to clear a gym pretty fast. More treadmills for me, right?) I decided to try this out because I had never used a dry spray before and plus I love the smell of pomegranate! This just did the opposite of what I wanted it to do. I felt that I smelled worse and like I had to carry it around with me to run into the bathroom, wipe my pits and apply more throughout the day. So, yeah, I was pretty self-conscious when raising my arm or hugging people. Needless to say, there will be no second date with this product.
Essence Jumbo Eyeliner PenMaybe I got unlucky with this one. I’ve heard good things about Essence cosmetics so I jumped at the chance to purchase a product from them for insanely cheap (they’re products are already affordable, so getting to make a purchase for next to nothing was even better!) This was my first time using an eyeliner pen, though I have always wanted to use one. I’ve been using gel eyeliner since high school and excited when my package arrived. I swatched a bit of it on the back of my hand and was extremely pleased to see that it was pigmented and pretty hard to completely remove #stayingpower #24hourwear. Unfortunately, the times I’ve taken this out for a spin weren’t as satisfactory as I had hoped. The color wasn’t very pigmented on my eyelids and actually faded out really quickly. Creating a winged look was relatively easy with this pen, but as far as #stayingpower went, this fell flat.
Sephora Cream lip Stain in Polished PurpleOh no – my beautiful purple lipstick made it onto this list! #sadface. The color is beautiful and Sephora is an amazing brand – don’t get me wrong! However, it seems to me that there is some sort of metallic hue to this shade that I’m not too fond of. Not only that, but I feel that this dries a little too matte for my liking. At the same time, I don’t want my lips looking like I dipped them in oil! Did I mention it is hell to get this product off your lips? Well, it’s hell to get this product off your lips. Sephora is fantastic but I will not be repurchasing this particular product.
Tarte Dressed to the Nines Lip Cremes in Striking and PlushThese lip cremes are fantastic in every way, shape and form! The only reason I ditched these two shades is because they just don’t compliment my skin tone too well. They look way better on fairer skin, so I just gave them to my mom, who is significantly lighter than I am! Fantastic, high quality products, but they are just not the shades for me.
Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover‘Oil free’ my backside! Never will I ever repurchase this product! It’s extremely oily and leaves you with a gross, heavy feeling. Plus, it’s horrible if you get this in your eye! My feelings of hatred toward this product are so intense that I can’t even say anything else about it!
Wet n Wild Makeup Remover TowelettesI’ve tried many makeup remover wipes in my day and these are literally the worst ones I’ve ever used! I bought them because my go-to Elf makeup wipes weren’t in stock at Target and these were really cheap at a wonderful $2.97 for a pack of 25. The towelettes themselves are of very poor quality and it is extremely difficult to remove any makeup using these wipes. I have found myself using up two towelettes per night when removing my makeup because one is just not enough! They hardly put a dent in my foundation and I’d rather not scrub the crap out of my face to come close to wiping off my makeup!
In just a few days, we’re going to put January (and hopefully this annoyingly massive snowstorm) behind us. However, there are just some things from the first month of the new year that maybe we don’t want to leave behind. And thus, my January KissList was born – my compilation of all the wonderful lip products I had the fabulousness of using this month. It pretty much just goes without saying that I would basically do everything in my power to repurchase these products (basically everything).
Tarte Limited Edition LipSurgence Lip Creme in ‘Pizzaz’ Okay, maybe I can’t repurchase this one because it’s limited edition (so sad). I will definitely be able to find a dupe because the red shade isn’t so uncommon, but when this product runs out I will certainly miss the surge of fiery excitement that I get when applying this lip creme. I love that this product looks like an adorable mini lip crayon and it’s retractable! I don’t want to drag on and on and on about just one product so be sure to check out my swatches and review of Tarte’s LipSurgence Lip Cremes!
NYX Lipstick in ‘Hestia’ This is the lipstick that really made me fall in love with lipsticks everywhere! It’s a dark almost wine colored red, which I am SO in love with! I have worn this lipstick literally everyday without fail (yes, I really did wear it every. Single. Day). The shade really complimented my skin tone and the entire look was gorgeous (if I do say so myself) with my blue hair, winged eyeliner and massive eyelashes! The lipstick was only $6.99 and is long lasting but not drying. This is where things get a little distressfully sad: I had been taking a winter class on campus for the last three weeks and only brought three lipsticks with me and Hestia was one of them. I always put it in the small pocket of my backpack (to reapply after eating, duh). One day I just couldn’t find it! I turned my backpack inside out and went through everything I owned. I guess it was just time for us to depart. R.I.P. Hestia.
Random lip balm from school I’ve gotten into the (interesting?) habit of moisturizing my lips at least 10 times a day. I normally use Vaseline to do this and just allow it to sit until I feel I need more. However, when I lived on campus during the winter session I had forgotten my jar of Vaseline in my old room (I had to move). This actually hurt me more than you might think! Fortunately, I found a tube of lip balm that I had gotten for free from school just two weeks earlier! Let me tell you, this stuff was a lip saver! It kept my lips very hydrated and had a sweet cherry scent (pretty much like Chapstick). It was probably a cheap lip balm with my school’s logo slapped on it but it did the trick! The Vaseline wasn’t even missed that much!
NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in ‘Cherry Skies’ Literally just the other day I went out to Target and at the top of my shopping list was dark red lipstick. I needed something to replace the gaping hole in my heart that the loss of Hestia caused. I was actually hoping to find another tube of Hestia, but didn’t. I then turned my attention to looking for a tube of the NYX lip cream in Copenhagen – another really pretty vampy lip color – but to no avail. But then I found Cherry Skies and thought it would be a good fit for me. Now, I’m not super happy with the fact that the packaging looks like something I would have gone gaga over in middle school, but the color is great and exactly what I was looking for! My friend, who also writes for our school’s branch of The Odyssey, wrote a review of these cream lipsticks.
Tarte Limited Edition LipSurgence Lip Cream in ‘Luscious’ I literally lose my sh*t over these Tarte lip creams! Luscious is another beautiful color that I’ve fallen in love with in just four weeks. I describe it as a very toned down berry colored lip cream. It’s still really pretty and compliments my skin really well! It isn’t as strikingly bold as its sister, Pizzaz, but it also isn’t sheer enough for me to, you know, hate it and want to throw it across the room (just kidding, I have never and will never injure a lippie).
Those are five amazing lip products that I’ve been using this January! Stay tuned for my January DitchList – some heads are going to roll!
Lipstick is basically artwork on your lips. Your friends, sisters, brothers, colleagues, classmates and cats can look, but they can’t touch! Here’s a mini lesson on Jasmin’s history with lip products: until the seventh grade I have always worn Chapstick; seventh grade to sophomore year in high school I was a lipgloss junkie – I hoarded that stuff like it was candy (I mean, I have had lip gloss in flavors such as Skittles and Starburst); junior year to senior year I was back on the lip balm train, though not necessarily Chapstick; freshman year of college I wore lipstick sparingly. Now here I am wearing lipstick literally everyday! I’m wearing it as I type this!
What can I say – it’s a college girl’s crayon! Anyway, after wearing lipstick every single day, I’ve had a few hits and misses when it comes to this stuff. I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks for a really pretty pucker, but more importantly, I’ve also learned a few things that just should NEVER happen to your lipstick! Like, seriously, if you’re doing these things to your lipstick STOP.
Dabbing your lipstick on your lips to tone down the color. Guilty as charged (for a short time). When I first started wearing lipstick regularly, I would dab the color lightly on my lips because I had a super deep wine-colored red and I wasn’t 110% sure that I wanted my lips to look so vampy (who doesn’t love vampy lips? What even was going through my head then?) So to try to tone things down before setting foot outside of my dorm room, I’d just dab the lipstick on my lips and smooth it out with my finger. No biggie, right? I thought it okay…until I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of class and looked in the mirror. If you want a less impactful color on your lips then buy a less impactful color. Dabbing doesn’t look neat and it just looks washed-out and totally undermines your amazing lipstick skills! And, in case you were wondering, I started rocking dark red lips real quick!
Using it as lip liner. Again, GUILTY. This is just not a good idea because you won’t get the precision that you would if you were using actual lip liner. The shape of my lips have changed basically every other day because I kept using lipstick to line my lip shape. Sometimes I’d over exaggerate my cupid’s bow, and sometimes I wouldn’t even have a cupid’s bow! You could probably imagine how many times I messed up and had to clean up my mistakes with my finger a Q-tip. You’ll save time and your patience if you stop doing this. It’s okay if you’re using liquid lipstick because the doe foot applicator will allow for more precision than lipstick. If you don’t have any lip liner, I guess you’ll just have to skip lining your lips then.
Using it as blush. Personally, I don’t understand this. I mean, I understand it but I don’t understand it. What’s meant for my lips will only go on my lips. I know this is a cool hack, which definitely saves you money because it means you won’t have to go out and buy blush, but many lipstick formulas are just too creamy to act as blush. This is bad if you have naturally oily skin (like I do!) Plus, you wouldn’t want your cheeks to feel too slick if you’re already wearing foundation.
DEFINITELY stop using it as eyeshadow! My mom does this and I don’t recommend it, especially not if you have sensitive skin. Your eyes are a very sensitive area and some lipsticks probably aren’t safe to be used there. If I were you, I wouldn’t risk it. Use actual eye shadow rather than trying to be the Hack Princess who ends up scratching her eyes out because that lipstick didn’t take too kindly to her eyelids.
Using colors that don’t go well with your skin tone. This one is not your fault – we’ve all been complete beginners at some point and have made (grave) mistakes with our products. Take it from someone who used to buy a pretty pink lip color only to find that it looked like absolute shit against my skin (the buildup of excitement ended up being crushing). Bite Beauty has a lip lab in NYC where you go in and have a personalized lip color that’s literally everything you want it to be – even down to the scent! The specialist will sit down with you and use your desires and skin tone to create a shade that is super pretty and fits you well! You could also go to your local mall and take a visit to MAC or Sephora, where the beauty consultants can give you recommendations.
Not removing it before eating. How many times do I have to say I’m guilty? Buy, yes, totally guilty! People who wear lipstick all the time totally know the struggle! You have to check your chin after every bite to make sure you didn’t get lipstick there. Then as you pull away from your sandwich or bagel or whatever, you see your lipstick stains on your food. Do I even have to tell you that you have an increased risk of getting crumbs and chunks stuck to your lips? I have found it way easier (and less worrisome) to just remove the lipstick before sitting down to eat. This way I can enjoy my food in peace and just reapply when I’m done (I was probably due for a touch-up anyway).
These are some things I’ve learned NOT to do as a result of wearing lipstick like I get paid to do it. Sure, you probably still looked super cute even though you were doing these things (except for getting colossal crumbs stuck to your lips in #6. That ain’t pretty on anyone) but now you can look fabulous by avoiding them!
If you picked up the February 2016 issue of Seventeen then you might’ve come across a page for Seventeen Beauty Smartie, Lisette. Here, Lisette teaches readers how to totally nail the liquid lipstick look a super cute pucker. I actually began wearing lipstick every single day a few months ago, since I found a vampy red that goes great with my skin tone and blue hair, but it hadn’t occurred to me that my application methods needed a little…work…
No, I wasn’t wearing lipstick on my teeth all day (I’m not that terrible at applying lipstick) but I also wasn’t becoming a Beauty Smartie any time soon, either! After giving Lisette’s method a once over, I thought it would be beneficial to actually try it out and see what happens.
Here’s a shot of Lisette’s tips.
Step 1: After applying my foundation and doing my eyeliner, I applied a hydrating lip balm from Nivea. I have experienced cakey lipstick in the past, so I know how important it is to have moisturized lips! After allowing the product to sit for a few minutes, I wiped it off. Quick story: there was one time in the past when I applied lip balm and then right after, I applied my lipstick! Let’s just say that was a lost cause that didn’t allow the full affect of my vampy lipstick to show through. #neveragain.
Step 2: The liquid lipstick I used was a dark purple from Sephora cream lip stain collection in the shade Polished Purple. Yes, I am that girl who will saunter around campus with outrageous colored lips. This particular liquid lipstick goes on your lips kind of shiny but then dries extremely quickly to a solid moisturizing matte. I wiped off the excess because we want this to look neat, not like the lipstick tube exploded on our lips!
Step 3: Outlining my lips was, admittedly, a challenge for me. This is where you have to channel your inner surgeon, lest you end up with lipstick everywhere but your mouth. Steady hands are definitely key here. I tried to start with my cupid’s bow and actually made a thicker outline than I had intended (oops). Then, I found that in some parts my line was crooked and a bit shaky (double oops). Outlining my lips with the Sephora liquid lipstick was pretty difficult. I tried this again with my one true love (my lipstick from NYX in Hestia) and found that outlining my lips was much easier to do with the lipstick. I suspect that this is because the liquid lipstick had a long wand so I had less control with it. But honestly, this can be countered with practice.
Step 4: This was my favorite (and least stressful) part! I didn’t have to worry about ruining a once-perfect line or making overly thick strokes. After holding my breath for Step 3, getting to color in the lines was literally like a reward. Take a look at my results:
Like I said, I still need practice when creating the outline of my lips, but I can certainly say that I learned a new approach to a spectacular art. Lisette’s tips were great and I’m really glad I decided to try this out. A resolution of mine is to enhance the makeup skills I have and develop new ones, so this was definitely a great start for me! To find out what other New Year’s resolutions I made, you can check out my post here. If you want to see more tips from Beauty Smartie Lisette, you can find her incredible work here.
Looking for a new high end lippie that won’t break the bank? How about nine new high end hippies for under $30? Don’t worry, you’re not dreaming. This is all very real thanks to the Dressed to the Nines Lip Creme Gift Set from Tarte. First of all, can I just say how proud I am of myself to have captured this steal? Seriously, I paid just $24 for a set of nine beautiful mini lip cremes. Did I mention these are limited edition lip cremes?
The set comes in three mini boxes with three lip cremes in each, so if you wanted to give a box of three to someone as a gift, Tarte just made it super easy for us to do so. Upon first look, all the lip cremes seemed to be a spectrum of pinky-red shades. They are topped with an easy to remove cap and they are retractable, so you can easily push up more product as it wears down. I really liked the presentation/packaging of the product. I’ll admit that I’m a major sucker for bright, pretty packaging and I really appreciated the detail on the front of each lip creme.
The nine colors in the set are: Ritzy, Jazzy, Luring, Stunning, Plush, Glamorous, Pizzaz, Striking and Luscious. Now, let’s get into a few pros and cons…
Pros:
Creamy & moisturizing: This product goes on easily and is very moisturizing for your lips without being overly-greasy (yuck!)
(some) were pigmented: These hippies for the most part are very pigmented, so you don’t need to apply too much to attain a great color pay off. Stunning, however, wasn’t as pigmented as I would have liked it to be.
Long-wearing: I took Pizzaz out for a test run one day. I was out of my house for about seven hours, went to the movies and ate super cheesy popcorn and emerged with my lips still looking glamorous and pizzaz-y. I didn’t once have to reapply!
They’re tiny! Running late for class or work and don’t have enough time to apply lipstick? No problem! These don’t take up much space so they’re perfect for you to grab and go.
Cream finish: These aren’t super matte but they aren’t super slick and glossy either. There isn’t much sparkle or shimmer, which I love because I’m really not a fan of either in my lip products.
Cons:
Initial minty smell: I’m kind of on the line about this one…The smell does not linger for too long, but the initial minty smell is very obvious. It tingles just slightly, but I feel like these should be either vanilla scented or fragrance free. This is especially important because some people experience mild discomfort from products with a minty fragrance. This discomfort might be just enough for some people to never use the product again! Less than a minute after applying one of the lip cremes, my mom wiped it off because of the tingle!
I think this gift set is great for anyone, especially if you’re just beginning your journey into the world of lip products. It’s not quite lipstick but it isn’t lipgloss. Like I said, these are great as gifts for others and absolutely perfect as a treat for yourself! Now let’s take a look at those swatches…
Upon first look, the one that stands out to me the most is Pizzaz because it’s the brightest shade. Ritzy is a little more sheer compared to some of the other shades. Stunning is also rather sheer. If you want to add a pop of color to your lips without going overboard then I suggest Jazzy or Luring. If you want something that’s barely there, definitely go for Stunning. Ritzy is a pretty color for everyday wear. My favorite, however, is absolutely positively Pizzaz because it’s bright, bold and solid! I would say the runner up in my book would be Striking or Luscious.
I can say with confidence that I am basically madly in love with this gift set! This set contains so many rosy shades that you can have fun experimenting around with.
