Lipstick Diaries #7: Stila Beso and Hourglass Empress

Entry #7 includes two faboosh liquid lipsticks in bold colors, just in time for fall!

Stila Beso is my current favorite matte red. It's relatively neutral, with a good balance of blue and orange, though if I had to peg it as either cool or warm, I'd say it reads a bit more warm. The formula is very moussey and creamy, and it spreads easily on my lips. This lipstick will last through eating and drinking with next to no fading. Also, if you do experience any fading, it's easy to touch-up.

Hourglass Empress is my vamp shade of choice. It's a deep-but-not-too-brown plum shade that will flatter a lot of skintones. The Hourglass formula is a bit thicker than the Stila, which means touch-ups are not recommended; however, I find that this lipstick lasts pretty damn well through eating and drinking. This is one of the more drying matte lipstick formulas on the market, so if you're already prone to dryness, give this one a pass.

While I love both of these shades, I'm not totally wild about the applicators. The doe foots are flexible, so I have to be very careful when applying to avoid a mess--I usually start by lining my lips with the tip of the applicator. I also have to wipe off a lot of excess product on the mouths of the tubes, because a dab goes such a long way!

5 Luxury Products I'd Repurchase Without Hesitation

Consider the Byronic hero. He was cynical, critical, and often sulky, the kind of guy you reluctantly cheered for because--while he was certainly a hero of sorts--he was still a major douchebag. But if there's one thing we can't fault a Byronic hero for, its his patience: those guys gave new meaning to the word "brood." They thought long and hard about damn near everything, so much so that their thoughts became 95% of every poem or play they were in.

I think this is why I've always kind of liked Byronic heroes. I am the very definition of a brooder, especially when it comes to my money: I fret and fuss over nearly every penny I spend. It's very rare for me to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on a single piece of makeup, because when I do, I'm often disappointed. (For example, I have yet to try a single $100+ foundation that could top MAC Face & Body, the large bottles of which cost less than $10 per ounce.) There's plenty of great stuff at drugstore and mid-end prices that kicks luxury's ass. But I have found some luxury items that are so wonderful, unique, and perfect-for-me that I would actually pay double for them, should the need arise. Here's a list of them.

Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Powder Foundation, $61 -- Still one of my most popular reviews to date, this is the only powder foundation that has ever worked on my dry skin. The packaging is super luxurious: while it does get scratched up very easily, it's heavy and safe, and you can drop this powder numerous times without it breaking. The product itself is finely milled and can be layered heavily without making your skin look cakey. I'm especially happy about D&G's shade range; they're one of the few brands that creates shades for the very pale all the way up to the moderately dark. I prefer to use this as a matte setting and touch-up powder, but it works just fine as a foundation as well.

Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil, $23 -- It's true that the Shu pencil isn't much more expensive than most mid-end options. But because it's quite hard to get in the states these days (which can add a high shipping cost), I consider this a luxury product. You may pay $23 for this pencil, but you're getting something that may very well outlive you. I've sharpened mine 5 or 6 times, and it still looks practically brand new because you get so much product and need so little to fill in your brows. As you can see by the damaged cap, this pencil is a well-loved part of my collection.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl, $41 -- Yet another product that is seemingly bottomless! $41 is a hefty price for a liquid highlighter, but you get an entire ounce of product in easy-to-use, hygienic plastic packaging with a pump. And an ounce of this stuff really does last: I think I've had my bottle for 3 years now, and even after creating several sample pots for friends and using it regularly, I've hardly made a dent in it. You can use a thin layer of the SSP for a natural glow, pack it on for tons of shine, or even add a dash to your foundation for extra dewiness. It's simply amazing.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light, $45 -- The second powder on my list is this beauty from Hourglass. I purchased my compact second-hand, never expecting the stuff to work out for me. Well...I love it. This is an off-white satin finish powder that makes a fantastic finishing powder for pale skin. It doesn't add shine or make you look matte, it just gives your skin a soft-focus finish. It's especially good for photography.

YSL Creme de Blush in Babydoll, discontinued -- I don't think I'll ever get over this product being discontinued, because it's the most perfect clean pink I've ever owned. The formula is a light, airy mousse that's easy to blend and does not disturb your foundation. The color brightens up my complexion without looking garish or overdone. YSL supposedly discontinued this formula in favor of the Kiss and Blush product, but I don't think it's at all comparable--the Creme de Blush is a thousand times better. I will probably cry when my pot runs out.

Lipstick Diaries #3: Hourglass Riviera and NARS Rikugien

It's time for the next edition of Lipstick Diaries...and for a change, I like both shades, even though they are totally different!

First up is Hourglass Riviera (obvs the Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick formula). This is the only orange lipstick I've ever loved. It's not too orange, not too yellow, just straight up orange. True, it makes my teeth look a bit yellow when I smile, and if I don't conceal the sallow spots on my face, it can exacerbate them. But it's so face-brightening, I just can't help but love it. I wear this when I want something bold, but don't want the traditional red or the runway-ready hot pink.

Next, NARS Rikugien. I got this little Satin Lip Pencil in the 2015 Sephora Birthday Gift, and initially, I kinda wrote it off. The formula still doesn't wow me--I definitely wiped it all off of my mouth halfway through a tub of popcorn and 30 minutes in to Ant-Man. It's a great every day shade for work, though, because it's so close to my natural lip color, just with more brown and plum tones to it. I could smear it on my mouth sans a mirror and still look presentable.

Lipstick Diaries #1: MAC Lady Danger and Hourglass Canvas

In my current quest to reduce my stash to stuff I well and truly love and will use on a regular basis, I am going to attempt to go through my lipsticks, one by one, and photograph them to figure out what flatters me. I'm not 100% sure if I'll have the willpower or the wherewithall to do that, but here's hoping!

First up, MAC Lady Danger. It's obvious why this shade is a cult classic: I haven't found too many other matte warm reds that compare in terms of sheer oomph. At the risk of sounding like a beauty magazine ("Spend an hour doing your hair and another hour messing it up, cause that's chic!"), this is one of the most modern, uber-cool shades of lipstick I own. But the thing is...I don't think it flatters me that much, at least in pictures. When I wear it, I can't stop staring at it, and it's an absolute attention-getter. Here, though? Not so sure. Comment and let me know, aight?

Next, Hourglass Canvas. This is one of the Opaque Rogue Liquid Lipsticks, which I really enjoy for their longevity and pigmentation.  It's also one of the very few nudes I own. My mom loves this one every time because it's not bright, but it's also clearly there; it's not non-existent the way some neutrals are. However, Canvas self-eliminated itself from my collection: my tube is almost empty and I can't get any more out. D: While I really enjoy this lipstick, I can't help thinking that I need something a shade or two lighter and the slightest bit softer to truly flatter my skintone.

NOTE: I'll be traveling throughout the rest of June and most of July. Several posts have been queued up to fill my absence, but I may be slow answering comments and emails.

Recent Acquisitions, Pale Foundation Swatches, and More

I took this picture and immediately scolded myself. "How, how, HOW did this happen?!" I screeched internally, wondering what possessed me to spend all of my non-existent money on this pile of stuff. Then I remember that I swapped for half of this, was gifted another chunk of it (thank you, seriously!), and got the rest on sale. Oh, and there's a ton of samples, too. That always bulks up a haul.

First, the basics: I repurchased the Paula's Choice Sheer Matte Tint in Level 1, because it's a staple. Although it's darker than my neck, it's sheer enough that I can get away with it, and it's perfect for work or I'm-in-a-rush days. The NARS Sheer Glow was an incredibly sweet gift, as are the samples in the middle and the Chanel cream blush in Fantastic. :) Bobbi Brown Skin foundation was one of my Friends & Family sale purchases; I'm testing it out right now, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it just yet. Will review it shortly.

My other F&F purchases were Shiseido cottons (a staple) and the Hourglass Opaque Rogue Liquid Lipstick in Ballet. This looks like a soft, mid-tone pink in most of the photos I see...maybe I got a dud, but this shade is definitely a berry-fuchsia on me, much darker than I expected. It's not BAD, but I'm not sure it flatters me. I'll probably send it back for one of the other shades. The Urban Decay Perversion mascara was a Sephora 100 point perk. I also bought the It Cosmetics CC Cream in Fair and Hourglass ORLL in Edition from Reddit/blogsales.

This is me wearing Bobbi Brown Skin and Hourglass Ballet. There's no denying that Skin photographs beautifully, but macro shots in my review will show that I haven't managed to wrangle it yet. I'm going to give it a third try, and if I'm not satisfied, it'll also be going back. :/ On the bright side, I received my VIB cards in the mail, so I can still get 20% off of my exchange products.

And I think you can see that Ballet looks very, very berry on me. So sad. :( I was hoping for something softer/milkier and lighter.

Also on my face: Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx01 for spot concealing, Anastasia Dipbrow in Taupe (reviewing soon, really, I am just so behind), L'oreal Miss Manga mascara, Cargo Catalina blush, MUFE Uplight #11, Wet n' Wild liquid eyeliner, and Milani Liquid Eyes pencil. I didn't wear any powder or primer because I wanted to test Bobbi Brown Skin on it's lonesome; the next time I wear it, I'm adding my sunscreens, which double as primers.

Here are some swatches of my newest foundation acquisitions. Be prepared to see this photo multiple times, because I hate reswatching a base product unless it's necessary. *lazy*

Natural light on top, flash on bottom. From left to right: Bobbi Brown Skin liquid foundation in 00 Alabaster, NARS Sheer Glow liquid foundation in Light 1 Siberia, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx02, It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream in Fair.

The first three are in the N10 range, while the It CC Cream looks more like an N15 product to me--we'll see how it looks when I apply it. NARS Siberia has strong cool yellow undertones, which bodes well for me. BB Alabaster and KA Sx02 are slightly pink.

As a final note, I've complete 25 tops! Here are all of the lipsticks I decided to purge:

1. MAC Neon Orange
2. MAC Sounds Like Noise [LE]
3. NARS Cruella
4. NARS Roman Holiday
5. Lipstick Queen Saint Berry
6. Bite Madeira
7. Beauty Cosmetics Flouron
9. Bite Pomegranate
10. Revlon Back Cherry
11. Elizabeth Arden Poppy Cream
12. MAC Impassioned
13. Laura Mercier Mulberry lip stain

Don't forget: I'm giving away a free Kevyn Aucoin lash curler!

REVIEW: Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks

I cannot believe that I've ranted, raved, and gushed about these liquid lipsticks for nearly a year, but have never written a formal review. Maybe it's because I'm afraid that a formal review will turn people off: the current trend is for weightless, shiny lipsticks, and these babies are anything but. Still, one of my goals is to become the semi-official Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick spokesperson. That requires some writing.

The Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks are just what they say on the tin: "indestructible matte" liquid lipsticks with opaque pigmentation and an incredibly long wear time. A full-size tube will run you $28 for 0.10 ounces, which isn't bad for a high-end lipstick. There are several "mini tubes" available at $10 for 0.03 ounces, which is a good way to try the colors without making a major financial commitment. In case it isn't clear in the header image, I have two full-size tubes and two mini-tubes.

The packaging is a mixed bag for me. They come in these long, kinda flat tubes that are clear on the front and metallic on the back and lid. This means they can't stand up on a desk or a vanity, and they get covered in fingerprints, making them kind of unsightly in photographs. However, you can see the exact color of the product and how much you have left, and that's always a bonus. Color names and batch codes are on the back.

EXPAND FOR LARGER IMAGES -- from left to right: Riviera, Muse, Canvas, Icon

The liquid formulation feels slightly thick and very creamy. You apply the product with a doe-foot applicator, which I find relatively easy to control. It's easy to overdo it, so I always wipe the applicator off on the rim of the tube before I apply. Trust me: it's better to have too little than too much!

The lipstick will start to dry almost immediately, and will completely set in about 2-3 minutes, so be sure to fix any mistakes quickly. This product has to be removed with an oil-based remover, so just faffing around with a q-tip isn't going to help you. Also, try not to rub your lips together until the product has sat for a few minutes; this can cause lines and creases.

 I own 4 shades: Riviera, a bold orange, Muse, a bright coral, Canvas, a soft mid-tone pink, and Icon, a blue-based red. The pictures above demonstrate how pigmented and opaque the shades are. I will note that the more neutral/pale shades like Canvas can apply slightly streaky if you aren't careful; again, it's helpful to only use a little bit of product at a time.

Hourglass claims that these lipsticks will last for 14 hours. I think that's a little obscene for the average user, so I try to test products listed as "long-wearing" over a 6-8 hour period. After 3 hours and a light, dry meal, I noticed zero fading or flaking. After 8 hours, many glasses of water, and a big bowl of soup, I noticed some minor fading on the inner parts of my lips, but the majority of the color was still in place. Yes, these are definitely long-wearing! The only thing that might cause a problem is very oily food--the soup I ate was loaded with it, which I believe caused some of the patchiness in the 8-hour photo--but that's to be expected.

Hourglass also claims that these lipsticks are full of emollients, aka moisturizing ingredients. I'm sure this product contains them, because they're in the ingredients list, but be assured that it is not a weightless or moisturizing product. I can definitely feel this product on my mouth. I like that, because I think of lipstick as a kind of "armor" on my face, but if you're only in to super-lightweight balmy textures, this isn't the product for you.

And as the 8-hour image shows, these lipsticks will dry your lips a little and exaggerate fine lines after a long period of wear. The best way to combat this is to exfoliate and moisturize your lips before you apply the product; it helps the lipstick apply and stay better throughout the day. I personally don't find the dry-ness to be anything too terrible--it's easily fixed by a coat of balm after I've cleansed my face--but people with especially sensitive lips will have to give these a pass.

The Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick line has become one of my all-time favorites, and it's not hard to see why: the color range is great, the price is right, the formula is easy to use and incredibly long-wearing, and I don't have to worry about smearing or touch-ups. If you're okay with a lipstick that's tangible when you wear it, then definitely give the line a try!

RATING: 5 out of 5.

And now, some quick bonus images!

One of my recent obsessions has been Pittsburgh Popcorn, a local company that specializes in--you guessed it--gourmet, homemade popcorn. The chocolate caramel is a regular flavor and a definite favorite of mine, but their cheddar corn and most of their weekly flavors are also phenomenal. You can order online, so consider checking them out!

Here's a bonus picture of my beautiful kitty!

25 Tops: Bite Madeira

I am so, so lazy when it comes to eyeshadow. If I feel like I'm being too boring with that whole "I just want bright lipsticks!" thing, I try to wear eyeshadow, and it never really flatters me. Not to mention the fact that if I do decide to wear eyeshadow these days, I will almost always default to two stupidly easy options:

1. Slapping on a cream, like Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Epatant, and acting like I put in a lot of effort.
2. Blending a bunch of orange-and-gold junk on my eyes, because it's kinda neutral and it's hard to completely screw up.

Because I don't want to be super-duper boring, I threw on option #2 and whipped out the nude lipstick. Then I realized that this will be the third "25 Tops" post in a row to focus on orange products, and I just gave up.

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Madeira has always been an "iffy" product for me. On the one hand, I love that freaking formula to bits, and it's the only opaque nude I've owned that doesn't make me look like I ate a messy chocolate bar. On the other hand, I don't think it's the most flattering shade in my arsenal; it's still a bit dark and brown, in my opinion, and I feel like the undertones can exacerbate the sallowness at the corners of my mouth.

But I've been keeping it because, again, I don't own any other opaque nudes (so it fills a niche), and of course, my mom love love LOVES it. (If you're new here: my mom hates my bold lipsticks, but will go bonkers for nudes and soft, girly pinks.) Although I'm a big girl and I wear what I want most of the time, I have a soft spot for makeup my mom actually likes on me.

And it kinda gives me that "supermodel" lip color you see in a lot of 90s photos, which I have a weakness for:

So for now, Bite Madeira is in the MAYBE pile. Joining it is the MAC lipliner in Subculture, which I also worry is a bit brown for me. The 3 eyeshadows I used the most for this look--MAC Woodwinked, Urban Decay X, and Urban Decay Foxy (I think?)--will also stick around, because they don't take up very much room aaaaand I don't have any other orange shades. Also, I should probably purge my flesh-colored MAC Chromagraphic pencil because it's not an everyday product for me, but I'm disgusting and I love that overdone pseudo-60s look, SO THERE.

I also re-tested Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes mascara and the Hourglass Veil primer. Both of those products are "pretty good," in my opinion, and I wouldn't mind recommending them to others. But I just have other products in my collection that I think work as well, if not better, and are more suited to my skin type and personal tastes.

25 Tops: Hourglass Riviera

True story: orange used to be my favorite color. When I was a little girl, I noticed that all of the other kids liked blue, green, red, sometimes purple...pretty much every color in the 10-shade Crayola box got some love. Except for orange. Nobody liked orange! The fact of the matter is that I felt bad for orange. So I declared it my favorite color,

Now, don't misunderstand me; I really do like orange, and the warmer shades on the color wheel in general. But by the time I'd finished college, I'd admitted to myself that I wore mostly black and was drawn to red things. Alright, okay, red and black are my true blue favorite colors. I'm a walking, talking stereotype, and I've come to terms with that.

My coloring suggests that I should give orange makeup more of my time. Too many cool-toned pinks can make fair-skinned me look like a doll, and because orange is opposite to blue on the color wheel, the contrast can make my eyes pop. However, I'm just not drawn to it the way I'm drawn to red and fuchsia. I always feel quite chic and bold when I wear it, but slapping on some orange lipstick is not my first impulse.

Enter this photo from a Rae Morris makeup book. My God, that is fierce! I have to wear orange today!

...but still, I don't wear orange often. I don't know if I ever will--it's definitely not going to fly at work, and my mother absolutely hates it. I have 3 orange lipsticks, and I rarely wear them. It shouldn't be hard tofocus on those puppies and narrow this list down.

This is the second time I've worn Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Riviera, and my sweet baby Jee, do I love this formulation! Pigmented, long-lasting, totally matte...what's not to love? It's also strangely...flattering? Riviera seems to have a great balance of red and yellow tones, so I don't look overly sallow, and my teeth look surprisingly white against my lips. This is a definite KEEP. Somebody remind me to wear this lipstick more often, and get me more of these HG liquid lipsticks, STAT!

Because I'm keeping Riviera, I've decided to PURGE my two MAC oranges: the limited edition Sounds Like Noise, a yellow-based orange with a satin finish, and Neon Orange, an amplified cream that's quite close to Riviera, but slightly more red. Sounds Like Noise is actually more difficult for me to purge than Neon Orange: while it's not as flattering, it's incredibly unique. But it's not going to get worn, so it deserves a better home.

Also examined this go-round: L'oreal Voluminous mascara in Carbon Black and the Dior DiorShow Maximizer. I used to love Voluminous, but it doesn't seem to do much for me now. It's difficult to remove, it clumps like crazy, and it flakes throughout the day. The Dior lash primer makes it bearable, however, by amping up the volume and seemingly preventing some of the flakes. I won't repurchase the L'oreal mascara, but that Maximizer? Cripes, it's hard to resist.


CURRENTLY IN THE KEEP PILE:
1. Hourglass ORLL in Muse
2. Hourglass ORLL in Riviera
3. Hourglass ORLL in Icon (mini size)
4. Chanel RAL in Dragon (DC)

CURRENTLY IN THE PURGE PILE:
1. MAC ACL in Neon Orange
2. MAC SL in Sounds Like Noise (LE)

CURRENTLY IN THE MAYBE PILE:
1. MAC ACL in Impassioned

KEEP SLOTS LEFT: 21

Also, just something funny: I hate the feeling of wet hair on my neck, so I tend to pull it up with a spin pin or a clip after I wash it. The other night, I felt pieces of hair falling out of my spin pin bun, but I was distracted by a video game, so I ignored it for about 2 hours. By the time I was ready to crawl in to bed, my head looked like this:

Potential Swaps for Chanel Dragon

Chanel's long-discontinued Rouge Allure Laque in Dragon has always prompted some polarizing, powerful responses. On the one hand, it's the most perfect medium red I've ever worn, and the formula is slightly glossy and decently long-wearing. On the other hand, it's one of ye olde liquid lipstick formulas, meaning it feathers easily and sucks every drop of moisture out of your lips.

So why was there such widespread panic when the product was discontinued? Why didn't people just march off to other red lipsticks?

Uh, yeah. It's THAT gorgeous. I've never found a red that looks exactly like that on my lips. And with a little lipliner and some q-tips, I'm able to get through a hot night on the town without excessive feathering or fading. It's just my perfect red.

I've been on a quest to find the best Chanel Dragon dupes for at least 3 years now. Every time I get a new red, I swatch it against Dragon. And while I've yet to find a product that looks just like Dragon on my lips--not only in terms of color, but also with regards to the finish--I've found several potential swap-outs.

The Armani Lip Maestro in shade 400 "The Red" is probably the closest match I've found in terms of color. Upon closer inspection, the Armani is a hair darker and slightly less blue; however, I think the darkness is partially because the product dries matte. Armani The Red is also a liquid lipstick, but its formulation is more creamy than liquidy, and it has a slight powdery feel on the lips. While the product lasts long, it also smears very easily; even with lipliner, the edges of my lips look quite soft after a few hours of wearing this one.

Hourglass Opaque Liquid Rouge in Icon is more blue than any of the other options seen here (to the point where it appears almost raspberry in these swatches), but it behaves the best. An incredibly long-wearing, only slightly drying liquid lipstick, Icon will last me for an entire day without feathering or fading. On my lips, it is about a shade darker than Dragon, and it dries down matte.

If you want the same bright, shiny red and aren't too concerned about longevity, Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate is your best option. This shade lasts for about 4 hours on me with minimal feathering. What it lacks in wear time it makes up for in finish: it is every bit as glossy as Chanel Dragon. It's also the least-drying option here due to the rich, creamy formula.

MAC Ruby Woo seems very off here--if you were going by swatches alone, you'd easily judge this too matte and too pink. And while, yes, it is easily the most matte option here, it also applies much more red on the lips--I think it looks pink here because the matte formulation appears more "chalky" on skin than these liquid and cream products, so it's not catching as much light. It's not particularly comfortable to apply or wear, but the color is gorgeous, and it does. not. budge.

Here are the swatches after one quick swipe with a baby wipe. The Armani and Hourglass lipsticks appear to be the most waterproof; the Hourglass lipstick also stains slightly and takes a bit more elbow grease to get off.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS: If you want the most similar formulation and a very close color, go for the Armani. If you want something that is spot-on in terms of color and finish, but performs and applies quite differently, go for the Bite. If you're willing to go a bit darker and give up all glossiness in exchange for a long-wearing, non-feathering product, go for the Hourglass. Last, but not least, if you want a similar shade in a more classic lipstick formulation, go for the MAC.

FOTD: I Can't Live Without Hourglass Liquid Lipsticks (plus a tip)

So technically I took these photos because I'm trying out a new foundation, and I wanted to show what it looked like after it'd been sitting on my skin for about 30 minutes (hint: much better). But I was just so distracted by my new-ish Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Muse. I already loved Icon, but Muse? Such a perfect, matte, unique coral shade! I feel like it completely transforms my face.

Although, you know, this is why I've started doing my Pinterest Inspiration challenge: I am so, so lazy when it comes to my everyday face. "Foundation, brows, mascara...okay, that's fine...NOW LIPSTICK!!! ...aaaaand I think I'm pretty much done." Granted, the name of this blog kinda gives away my main preoccupations, but still. You can wear a great lipstick without doing the same damn FOTD all of the time!

BASE: Chantecaille Future Skin in Porcelain, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly

EYES: Wet n' Wild Fergie eye primer, Wet n' Wild Brulee eyeshadow, Bare Minerals Lash Demolition mascara, Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil in Seal Brown

CHEEKS: Becca Beach Tint in Dragonfruit, RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

LIPS: Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Muse ♥ ♥ ♥

And now, a quick hair tip!

I know what you're thinking: "Renee, you're going to give people hair tips? Have you SEEN your hair? There's a reason why you refer to it as a 'lion's mane.' That shit is out of control and you hardly do anything with it."

Go ahead, scoff. I scoff at myself on a regular basis. (Attractive, yes?)

But I did get a question from a friend, so I figured  I should answer: "How do you get your hair so huge if it's baby fine?"

It's actually really easy: I skip washing my hair, put my hair in to a bun on top of my head (ie, a topknot), I spray on some hairspray, then I go to sleep. When I undo the bun in the morning and brush through my hair, I get some waves and tons of volume. If it looks bad for any reason (which has only happened once, to the best of my memory), I just pull it back in to a ponytail.

That's it. Super-easy. I will say that I use AquaNet hairspray, which has lots of hold, but is still brushable. I think that sticky formula helps out. Also, my hair is super-fine, but also naturally corkscrew curly; this might contribute to the texture/size after I brush it out. Still, give it a shot on a weekend!

Recent Loves and Let-Downs

Guys, that big-ass tree outside my window is driving me BONKERS. Between that and the long, dreary storm cycle we've been undergoing, my bedroom has been a pit of doom and gloom for about a week. I seriously cannot wait for fall the begin so we can have a break from stormclouds and all of the leaves fall off that ridiculous tree. (And I can wear more makeup without it melting off of my face, but that's beside the point.)

And speaking of makeup: it's time for some product porn! These are the products that have made the darkness bearable. ORLY Ancient Jade nail polish, in particular, has added a lot of pastel green sunshine to my life; I've recently gotten back in to painting my nails and have been enjoying it, but it was only when I applied Ancient Jade that I remembered why I used to love it. Cool creams like this just rock my world.

I've unexpectedly fallen in love with two very affordable products: the Wet n' Wild Fergie eye primer and the Clinique cream liner in True Black. My tube of Too Faced Shadow Insurance is just now running out, so I grabbed the Fergie primer on a whim. So imagine my surprise when I tested it out and it looked, felt, and performed JUST like TFSI! I really hope it isn't a limited edition product, because it's a $5 steal! The Clinique liner is $15, not $5, but so far, it's performed better than any other black pot liner I've used. It's an unusually soft, liquid-esque formula with the texture of a face cream.

On the more expensive (and seemingly unavailable) end of things, there's the Dior cream eyeshadow in Undressed Beige. A friend sent this in a swap package as an extra, and after I initially swatched it, I didn't give it much thought. It seemed a bit dry and glitter-chunky. But when it's on my lids? Wow, perfect shimmery, soft golden beige! I've been wearing it with my winged eyeliner everywhere I can, including my cousin's wedding. I also wore MAC Please Me matte lipstick and Bobbi Brown Tutu gloss--my recent go-to lip combo--to said wedding. I think Bobbi Brown discontinued Tutu, which is a crying shame; it was my perfect nude pink.

I have to give mad props to some of the things that kept me going during my most recent sinus infection.  I wouldn't have been able to sleep at all if I hadn't had this bottle of nasal spray. Yes, it's only a temporary solution, but when I used it with an over-the-counter decongestant pill? That was 2 or 3 hours of sleep before my stuffy nose woke me up again. And when the whole affair was over, my beloved Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream was there to fix my rough, ragged, peeling nose. I smeared a thin layer of this stuff on the sore skin every night before bed; the area was drastically improved after the first morning and completely healed by the third. Normally, it takes my nose a week or more to heal.

I haven't been emotionally scarred by any of my recent try-it-out bouts, but I have found a number of disappointments. Perhaps my biggest disappointment was the Anthony Logistics for Men Instant Fix Oil Control primer, which I got as a Sephora 100 point perk. This product promises to mattify on contact, but when I applied it to my nose, my nose was...still shiny. My nose needed a little less blotting throughout the day, but it did still need that blotting, and there was nothing matte about it. I think this product would work better for somebody with more "uniform" skin than mine--I have a face that's 95% Sahara Desert, 5% oil slick. I had a similar reaction the Hourglass Mineral Primer: it wasn't BAD, by any means, but it didn't wow me the way I hoped it would, and it didn't do anything all that spectacular compared to other primers I've used.

I've also been having a tough time with new mascaras. I got a free sample of the Dior DiorShow mascara and was beyond excited to try it, as I haven't used it for many years now. Yet again, we're dealing with a product that isn't terrible, just lackluster. It darkened my lashes a smidge and gave me a bit of volume and length, but it tended to be clumpy and flaked on me throughout the day. I have nothing against natural mascaras, but this guy wasn't really natural, just...dull. A product that DID suck hardcore was the Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes mascara. Sweet lord, this stuff was AWFUL! The large brush did next to nothing for my lashes except dry them out and make them look spidery, and the little brush just darkened my lower lashes a bit. I had to force myself to use this mascara twice to give it a fair shot. I was super-excited to try it out, as I tend to have good luck with Maybelline mascaras, but nope! Straight to the trash with this one.

Last, but not least, the much-loved Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose Kiss. This isn't a bad product, but it didn't do what everybody told me it would do: lighten and soften my natural lip color. It works nicely over pink lipsticks, but on my own lips, it's either completely clear or, if I add a whole lot, a bit gray. It also isn't the most comfortable or moisturizing lip butter out there; it can get a bit tacky and gummy on my lips after an hour or two.

And there you have it! My recent loves and let-downs. My two-job life starts up in a month, and I'm still prepping for that, but I hope to have a small backlog of posts prepared for weeks when I can't write as much. Viva la blog!