Lipstick Diaries #10: MAC Scarlet Ibis and ELF Gotta Glow Lip Tint

It's the last entry in the Lipstick Diaries! Thank you, lovely people, for taking this journey with me. :)

Let's start with the "I dunno what to doooooo!" item: MAC Scarlet Ibis. This is a limited edition matte lipstick from the Iris Apfel collection. Contrary to popular opinion, I do find this shade to be slightly different from Lady Danger: Scarlet Ibis is less orange and has an overall softer quality to it. That being said, I love love love Scarlet Ibis, but looking at this picture makes me wonder if it's truly flattering for me. What do you guys think? Am I crazy, or is this less attractive on me than, say, Stila Beso or MAC Ruby Woo?!

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have a glossy, sheer, morphs-to-suit-you product: the ELF Gotta Glow Lip Tint. The bottom of the tube says "Perfect Pink," but as of right now, this is the only shade available. In the tube, this product appears to be a super-soft, pastel, baby pink. When you apply it to your lips, however, it responds to your body heat and warms up to a bright, sheer pink color. Obviously, this a newer version of the "mood lipsticks" of the 90s, but...I kinda like it. It's the kind of easy-to-wear color that works well with simple beautifying looks. As a note, this color will look a little different on everybody: my face heats up easily and my lips are naturally a sheer red color, so the ELF tint turns a sheer fuchsia on me; I've seen it look much softer on other people.

5 Underrated Must-Try Products

MAC Face & Body foundation, Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil, Skindinavia, CoverGirl Clump Crusher...these are all products I love and blog about regularly. But I'm not the only one: those are true cult favorites, the kind of stuff most beauty bloggers have at least tried, if not recommended. Raving on about them would be pretty pointless, not because they aren't worth it, but because you've probably already heard of them.

I'd like to take a different route today. Here are 5 products I absolutely adore and recommend on a weekly basis, but you never see them mentioned on YouTube or the blogosphere.

Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint -- The best tinted moisturizer I've ever tried.  It definitely is sheer and matte, but that doesn't mean it's non-existent or chalky. This will even out your skintone and provide some coverage, and while it certainly isn't a dewy product, it also isn't flat or drying. It lasts decently on my oily nose and looks like bare, healthy skin on the rest of my face. I also love that it has SPF 30, which is more than the standard SPF15 in most tinted moisturizers. If I'm in a hurry, I'll slap this on as my sunscreen, foundation, and concealer.

Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear Gloss -- I've been very vocal about my dislike of gloss, with its goopy texture and poor staying power, so putting a gloss on a Top 5 list might seem suspect. But I can't deny it: this stuff is the best. It's completely clear, so I can use it over any lipstick or lip pencil, and it's thick enough to stay on my lips without feathering, but not so sticky that it's uncomfortable. A matte lip will almost always be the longest-lasting lip, but I will say that this stuff doesn't eat through my lip color the way most thinner, more slippery glosses do. And it looks nice on bare lips and eyelids, too!

Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glows -- These pigmented cream blushes don't come in a wide range of colors, but the colors they DO come in are all gorgeous. I currently own Isadore (pictured) and Tansoleil, and they're both staples in my collection. The texture is slightly tacky under your fingers, but the product is weightless on my face and blends out like a dream. One of the cool things about these is that they show up true-to-life on camera. If you're like me and you use HD on the regular, you know that's a big deal, since you usually have to pile blush on and look like a clown in real life to get it to show on film.

Elizabeth Arden Lip Fix Cream -- Sometimes described as a "balm" or "moisturizing," this product is truly neither. It's not DRYING, but it's not going to make your lips plump and luscious, either. What it will do is smooth over the surface of your lips, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and prevent feathering when you apply your lipstick. And if you wear as many bold lip colors as I do? It's an absolutely invaluable tool.

E.L.F Makeup Remover Pen -- A $3 miracle worker. I'm a complete slob when it comes to applying my mascara, and I still make the occasional mistake when I wing out my eyeliner. This guy cleans up even the most waterproof makeup in a second, and it's perfect for removing the littlest boo-boo without messing up the rest of your face. The tip is 2-sided, so if one end gets filthy (and the one pictured here is, oops), you can just flip it around. Store it straight up with the tip pointed down for the best results.

And here's a picture of me wearing all five products. (Purposely taken straight on instead of at my usual 3/4 profile, because the Blogger Head Tilt was mentioned on Makeup Alley recently and I decided to break the habit at least once. Shots like this actually make it clear why I tilt my head, but whatever, here it is, nobody's perfect, move along, nothing to see here.)

My Skincare

I've sought out more modest ways to say this, but it turns out there aren't any, so I'm just going to tell it like it is: I have relatively nice, hassle-free skin. I think the relative clarity of my skin kind of balances out my crazy, difficult, lion's mane mop of hair, which is a constant source of frustration for me. Obviously, a lot of this is genetic: my mother, like me, was always combination-dry and pretty much acne-free. The women on her side of the family have always had quite clear, ten-years-younger-looking-than-you-actually-are skin. But I'm like my father in that I am ghost white and somewhat sensitive to certain skincare ingredients, like high levels of alcohol and salicylic acid. Figuring out my "skin genetics" and talking to my parents about what worked (and didn't work) for them really helped me find better ways to care for my own skin.

Another important factor in my skin's health is my diet. A few people have told me that diet doesn't affect skin, but I have to disagree with that based on my studies and my own experiences; the first year of graduate school, when I survived on a diet of absolute shit, wreaked havoc on my face. And as soon as I reverted back to my usual diet, the acne, flaky patches, and overall dull appearance cleared right up. I'm not going to act like I eat a "model's diet" of primarily raw foods and no fats or junk, because that's a complete lie, and I certainly don't think it's necessary for the average person. But I DO eat a lot of fresh veggies, non-fat yogurt, lean meat, and whole grains ,because..that's what I like. Seriously. I've always loved chocolate and I eat it almost every day, but my favorite food is a sweet tomato, and I never cared for most starches, fried foods, or processed products, even as as child. White bread tastes like cardboard to me. I don't get what the big deal is about white potatoes (although I loves me a sweet potato or a yam!). And I rarely drink carbonated beverages like Coke because I just...er, don't like them that much. My biggest "weak spot" is fruit--if I wanted something sweet, I'd eat candy, and if I wanted something substantial, I'd eat a vegetable--so I try to sneak it in and get my 3 servings a day.

For reference's sake, some of my favorite snacks include Fage 0% Greek yogurt with fresh fruit or honey and nuts, Triscuit crackers and goat's milk cheese, raw veggies with dill dip, antipasto bar offerings (like stuffed banana papers or sundried tomatoes), homemade whole grain Egg McMuffins, and Luna bars. As far as liquids go, I have a cup of coffee almost every morning, or a non-fat caramel cappuccino, and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sometimes I'll make a fruit-and-yogurt smoothie or have some Bolthouse Farms juice. In the summer, I drink an iced chai almost every night; in cooler weather, I have hot cocoa instead.

And of course, chocolate. I fucking LOVE chocolate.

So maintaining a diet that works well for my body and keeping my family's skin history in mind are definitely half of the equation. But I've also done my best to find products that really work for my skin type and address my concerns. And while no one product can work for everybody, I have to say that I've used most of these products for years and stand behind them wholeheartedly.

Before I delve in to the products I use, I should probably list the concerns I'm regularly trying to address:

1. My oddball skintype. I call my skin "combination dry" because the majority of it is the freaking Sahara, with no sebum production whatsoever going on. But regardless of the time of year, my  nose and eyelids are always absolute oil slicks. This means I have to find products that will moisturize the majority of my face without turning those two "hot spots" in to an oily mess. My skin type does change slightly with the climate, and in a Pennsylvania summer, it's more like true-blue combination skin, with a normal-to-oily t-zone and dryness on the cheeks, chin, temples, and jaw. Regardless, I generally treat my skin like dry skin and look for moisturizing products.

2. My legitimate fear of the sun. I mean, c'mon, most companies don't even make a foundation that's a shade darker than me, let alone my actual Casper-white skintone. My MAC Face & Body? It's two parts white to one part color. So it's important to me to find skincare with a high SPF that won't make my face or body break out in teeny tiny reactionary bumps. Which brings me to...

3. Sensitivity. If I find a product that really does the job and doesn't sting my face, cause a rash, or suck any semblance of moisture from my skin, it's a given that I'll keep that product around. If a product DOES cause a problem, I have to sit down and figure out what ingredient might have caused that problem. Some of the ingredients I seem to have trouble with are alcohol, salicylic acid, and tea tree oil, although I can use salicylic acid on my body (below the neck) in small amounts. My face tends to be quite sensitive to physical pressure as well, so I try to use extra-soft brushes and gentle exfoliants.

3. Discoloration, the most obvious being the disconnect between my N5ish body and neck and N15 face. But I also have a lot of redness in my t-zone, the Undereye Circles of Doom, and an odd scar that runs between my nose and lip. If I get a zit, it takes about a month to fade, as the pigmentation tends to linger on my pale skin long after the pustule/cyst is gone.

I'm very stringent about removing my makeup. I've always used something oil-based to completely break down even the longest-wearing products, and the only times I slept in my makeup were the nights I accidentally passed out mid-homework during graduate school. I've been using baby oil as my makeup remover ever since I looked at the label of my Mehron remover and realized the primary ingredient was plain old mineral oil. I soak a Shiseido Facial Cotton in baby oil and sweep it across my face to start breaking down the makeup. Then I hold the cotton over each eye for 30 seconds to remove my waterproof mascara. When my face is good and slick, I massage the oil in to my face for a minute, stimulating the skin and breaking down the makeup even more; this felt super-gross and weird when I first started using oils, but now I love the feeling! Then I wipe a dry Shi cotton all over my face to remove the excess oil (which the makeup is still suspended in) and I hop in to the shower.

That's actually an important part of my every day routine: cleansing with Clean & Clear Daily Pore Cleanser while I'm in the shower at night, and ONLY when I'm in the shower. I find that if I cleanse more than once a day on a very regular basis, I stress out my skin, leading to dryness, flaking, and acne. If my skin is really haggard in the morning, I might splash it with a bit of lukewarm water, but that's it. After my nightly shower, I smooth a thick layer of Avon Nurtura Replenishing Cream over my face and neck. This rich cream is so incredibly moisturizing without being greasy or heavy, but it's also so cheap! I get it for $4 during Avon sales or on Ebay. I've used it for about 4 years now and would absolutely DIE if they discontinued it. I also rub some Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on my lips to lock in moisture, and sometimes I put it on my eyelashes and cuticles as well. I technically don't wear the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Liquid SPF60 every day, but I do every day that I'm outside for more than 5 minutes, so I consider it an important part of my daily routine.

Roughly twice a week, I exfoliate and use extra moisturizers. The absolute best facial exfoliant I've ever used is the humble konjac sponge, which I order from Chinese eBay sellers. A konjac sponge is essentially a dry piece of vegetable fiber that softens up in water so you can rub it across your skin in super-gentle, circular motions. Sounds weird and gross, I know, but it really works for me (as long as I apply next to no pressure--no need to be rough with your skin, especially if it's sensitive!)! I also exfoliate my lips, primarily before I put on a bright lipstick. I used to use olive oil and brown sugar, which worked great, but was super-messy, so I switched to the travel-friendly ELF Lip Exfoliator. Immediately after I exfoliate my lips and pat them dry, I apply a thick layer of the C.O Bigelow Rose Salve. This rose salve has a much oilier, more emollient feel than the Smith's version. If my face feels a bit dry and tight or looks dull, I use a pump and a half of Elizabeth Arden Let There Be light Radiant Skin Lotion. It works especially well under sheer foundations to amp up my glow! I just wish they hadn't discontinued this product; luckily, I have a back-up in the downstairs fridge. I use the tiniest bit of the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream all around my eyes about once a week for extra smoothness; I don't need it, but it sure feels good. Because it's so damn expensive, though, I tend to stick with sample pots and use them sparingly.

I also have a few choice body products. I just started using the Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple SPF 50 sunscreen, but I'm super-impressed with it; it doesn't feel greasy/tacky or break me out the way most high-SPF sunscreens do. After I've applied my Shiseido sunscreen to my face and neck and my Coppertone to the rest of my body, I spritz on a layer of the Banana Boat Quick-Dri Sport Body & Scalp SPF 30 sunscreen, making sure I spray down my hair and scalp as well. It's pretty smelly, but it's one of the few spray-ons that doesn't make my hair crispy and greasy-looking. All of this sunscreen can be a bit heavy on my body, where I'm more prone to acne, so I exfoliate once a week with the St. Ives Apricot Scrub (technically made for the face, but it's far too harsh for anyone's delicate facial skin, IMO) and slather on generous amounts of the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Body Treatment.

Finally, there are my emergency problem-solvers. I don't use these too often, but when I've got a major skincare issue, they're always there for me. If my skin is getting dull and tired-looking from travel, stress, or horomones, I liven it up with the GLAMGLOW Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask. It's a stupidly expensive product, and it can be quite harsh on the skin if you aren't careful, but once or twice a month? Man, it makes my face as smooth and glowing as a babydoll's! If I have a zit, I zap it with Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, which is a 10% benzoyl peroxide cream. It's quite drying, but it helps dry up the zits and calm the redness within a few days, meaning I only have to deal with the pimple's discoloration and not the texture. And while the Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter is too heavy and rich for me to rub it on my body every day, it's a life-saver on cracked hands and feet or on winter-time lizard skin, and it was my daily go-to in the colder, dryer North Dakota climate last year.

EDIT: Almost forgot to post a picture of the new skincare goodies that arrived today! :D One of my dear Paula's Choice loving friends sent them to me. Super excited for all of this, especially the mask!

Painting for the Back Row

Have you ever been to a drag show? If not, you're missing out on some mega-super-fantastic SERIOUS fun! This year, I not only watched the fantastic drag show at one of my local universities, I also pitched in and helped a bit with the makeup for a truly hilarious "Gangnam Style" routine. The task was to essentially paint the back-up dancers like baby drag queens, which, hey, no problem...except there were a few more dancers than I expected: five. FIVE! But with plenty of help from lovely friends and my amazing ability to pilfer cosmetics from the collections of others, we were able to get it done.

All of these lovely ladies were kind enough to use their own foundations and concealers, except for the few ladies who didn't own foundation or concealer at all. They were all beautiful, of course, so it wasn't even really necessary.

Plenty of saturated colors were needed, so I started with Too Faced Shadow Insurance on all of their lids before applying various shades of Mehron Aqua Color in a cat-eye shape. I set the Aqua Colors with matte powder eyeshadows by Ben Nye and Wet n' Wild. The huge lashes are from Mehron and were definitely a splurge, but they were totally worth it! Several of the dancers kept their sets. Eyebrows were liberally darkened with various shades of Maybelline Define-a-Brow (which I admit I'm not a fan of--most of the shades seemed quite red, and I had to click the pencils up a zillion times) with the exception of the two blonde ladies; for them, I used my own Clinique Superfine Liner in Soft Blonde.

The cheek colors are La Femme powder blushes in various mixtures of Flamingo Pink, Coral Spice, Terracotta, Purple Passion, and Fuchsia. Three highlighters were used liberally on the cheekbones: MAC Cream Color Base in Luna for the palest ladies, MAC Glimmer Shimmer in Orange Twink over warm blushes, and Hard Candy Glow All the Way Luminzer in Doll Face over cool blushes.

Three shades of lipstick were used: NYX Strawberry Milk, NYX Louisiana, and MAC Coral Polyp. The original plan was to add MAC Clear gloss on top, but they were already quite shiny/bright, and we were running out of time. No-brainer right there.

To finish them off and give them a majorly Shellac'ed appearance, I had them close and cover their eyes (as Mehron Aqua Colors are not waterfast unless you use certain mixing mediums) while I sprayed them with liberal amounts of ELF Studio Makeup Mist & Set.

The fantastic drag king seen here, Papi Choulo, did his own makeup using Ben Nye Creme Colors.

I didn't have much time to my makeup, unfortunately, because it was a rainy day that involved lots of running around. But I did manage to slap on some MAC Party Parrot right before the show started! The two lovely gents with me are my good friends Dan (out-of-drag queen Scarlet Fairweather), who made several special appearances, and Joe, who helped organize the festivities.

Super-Early Spa Morning and FOTD

I rolled out of bed at 7am this morning. Not my normal routine, especially on days off when all I've got to do is clean and organize. But between my sister's phone alarm going off, my parents talking downstairs, and my cat loudly hacking up a hairball...well, I wasn't falling back asleep.

She may look cute, but I know her. That's her version of

Sigh.

But even when I'm up early, I don't like putting on my makeup before noon-ish unless I need it for work or an event. I'm in the habit of running errands or shopping in the afternoon, so I want my face to look fresh at that time. So what do I do in the morning?

SPA DAY, OF COURSE!

I was going to try my sample of the much-hyped GlamGlow mud mask, but then I realized that it could irritate my skin, and I REALLY wanted to wear makeup today! So I went with my old standby, the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. I cleansed my face before applying the mask so that I'd have a good, clean surface. I also decided to exfoliate and hydrate my lips, which are extra dry and flaky these days.

The Queen Helene mask is actually best for oily skin, but I still like to use it once or twice a month on my dry skin to squeeze out the gunk in my pores. I find that it's best to apply the mask to my least oily areas (my nose) and work out to my driest (my cheeks). I also leave it on for 10 minutes instead of the usual 15-20, as this is a somewhat drying mask.

I can't wear my glasses when I'm doing a mask, which renders me blind, so I decided to sit around and have a snack. Our grocery store FINALLY had a sale on Bolthouse Farm juices, which are some of my favorite snacks, and they're fantastic for you. Fixing my poor, tired skin from the inside out!

Can you see how quickly that thing dried on my skin?! Man oh man.

ANYWAY! I remove this mask with a cloth soaked in warm water, then I rinse my face with cold water. Obviously the "pore tightening" effect of cold water is only temporary, but it was preparation  for makeup!  Also, the cold water cools and smooths my skin, which makes the moisturizer I smooth on afterward feel extra nice.

Avon Nurtura has been my favorite face cream for three years now. It's thick, rich, creamy, and uber-moisturizing, but it doesn't feel tacky or heavy on my skin, nor does it emphasize my pores or break up my makeup.

My sample of the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream, gifted to me by a kind MUAer, is so precious that I only use it maybe once a week. Today was a spa day, and I knew I wanted to wear heavier eye makeup today, so I had to pat some on to my undereyes and browbone.

ALL DONE.

I gave it all a few hours to soak in. And of course, I had to entertain myself with some classy stuff. Drag queens, anybody?

I may have screwed up that whole moisturizing routine by sitting in front of the space heater and baking myself. Erm. Oops?

BASE: Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin primer, Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Airbrush foundation in 02, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx02

EYES: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara, Shu Uemura Hard 9 Formula brow pencil in Seal Brown, Lancome Metallic eyeshadow in Pink Zinc, MAC Frost eyeshadow in Satin Taupe, MAC Frost eyeshadow in Vex, Makeup Forever Uplight #22, Milani Liquid Eye eyeliner in Black, Eyeko liquid eyeliner

CHEEKS: Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glow blush in Tansoleil, Makeup Forever Uplight #22

LIPS: Lancome Rouge In Love lipstick in Sweet Embrace, Revlon Super Lustrous gloss in Coral Reef

And now, Miss Scarlet beats her face.

Is it any surprise that I love drag queens? Probably not, but it's probably a little surprising that a drag queen consented to do a tutorial for this blog. Meet Miss Scarlet Fairweather, who pops up on BOGL from time to time because she's A) super nice, and B) pretty damn fabulous. Even though her Poison Ivy costume was falling to bits before my eyes, she agreed to let me document her beating her face for a tutorial-type post.

Scarlet starts out by shaving and moisturizing, if necessary. ("At the very least, moisturize your lips, because you're probably going to abuse them!") Elmer's glue stick (often referred to as "Ru-Glue") was used to flatten her brows. They were then powdered down with Hard Candy Welcome Matte powder.

Scarlet uses a full-coverage concealer on her brows; she currently likes Hard Candy Glamoflauge. (NOTE: If your brows are thicker and darker like Miss Scarlet's, you may have to do the powder-and-conceal step a few times to cover them up.) While waiting for her brows to dry, she starts creating her base. Her preferred foundation is Ben Nye cream in Lite Beige, applied with a sponge wedge. Don't be shy with it--as Scarlet says, "Just dip your face in it and hope it sticks!"

Then it's time for highlighting and contouring. Scarlet used Ben Nye Character Shadow in CS3 for her contour and applied it through her temples, the top of her forehead, the hollows of her cheeks, underneath her bottom lip, and around her eyes (although she sometimes holds off on that last part if she's doing something more "natural"). She skipped contouring down the sides of her nose this time, but we both often recommend thinning out your nose for drag. Her highlight is Ben Nye Cream Highlight in Ultra Lite, applied at the tops of the brows, up the bridge of the nose and through the forehead, just above the jawline, and around (not right in) the eyes and cupid's bow--she prefers to use shadow in those tiny spots. Where you contour and highlight is going to vary based on the shape of your face and, if you're trying to do drag, which parts of your face you need to look softer or more sculpted.

Also, while it's awesome to start blending your highlight and contour in to your base, this is also a good point to leave the base makeup be for a bit so it can "cook" (a drag term for letting the makeup warm up on your skin, making it easier to blend). This is best done with theater or photography makeup, which tends to be fuller coverage and wetter in formulation; most "regular lady face" products will set.

Scarlet often uses her Character Shadow for her brows, but in this case, she was doing a character brow, so she used green shadow instead...and looked bonkers doing it. I think she was saying something to me when I snapped this picture. XD Then she lined around her eyes with NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.

Now it's powder-down time! Scarlet beats her face with some Ben Nye Translucent loose powder, rubbed in to a big puff. I mean, she literally beats her face; I always tease her about it. Anyway, for this look she used the Fair shade, while she uses the regular Translucent shade for character looks with colored or Kabuki-style bases. This powder not only sets everything in place, but it also blends it out further, making the highlights and contours look a bit more natural. (But just a bit, cause dammit, this is drag!)

Now it's time to cake your eyes! She used the NYX eyeshadow base in White for her base, then added some shape with the Coastal Scents 28 Neutral palette. She added color with Ben Nye eyeshadows in Sun Yellow and Chartreuse, La Femme blush in Coral, iNuovi blush in Dolly, and a green Wet n' Wild liquid liner. Again, if you're using strong theater-type makeup, it's good to let it sit for a few minutes and cook before you smooth it out.

Applying falsies is rarely fun, even if you're a seasoned pro. ;)

Miss Scarlet used the La Femme blush on her cheeks before painting on some more leaves and blending everything out again. La Femme blushes are quite strong, so if you aren't a drag queen, be uber-careful with them!

MOAR LEAVES!!!1!one

Since the lips are green, you gotta use some wonky stuff, in this case a green eyeliner pencil as a lip liner. I didn't catch the name, but I'm almost positive it's by Prestige. The lipstick is Manic Panic Poison Ivy (fitting!), and a long-discontinued ELF Soothing lipgloss in a ruby red shade was blotted on top. Odd combination, surely, but the point was to get a "dead rose" sort of color.

Now it's time to tuck it all back and find your pussy! (I'm talking about cats, you perverts, GAWD.)

And speaking of kitties, let's round out the post with pictures of Miss Scarlet's evil cat Ladey and my lazy cat Simmis!

As a side note: I might invite Miss Scarlet to do a monthly advice column here on BOGL. How would we feel about that? Would any of you want to participate? As you can see, she's ready and willing to answer your questions! :)

Porn: Favorites and New Stuff

Still using my sister's not-so-fantastic point and shoot camera until I can save up for one of my own or get the SD card slot in my computer working...and since I'm saving up for bus tickets for my SO's visit, that's going to take second fiddle for a while. Sorry, guys. :(

First, some new stuff! Not pictured are some non-beauty-clothing-thingies: chai latte K cups for the Keurig coffee maker (they're like crack, no lie,) and a nice wall shelf my mom got for $7. I'm going to use it to hold my beloved cameras. :)

I found a surprising amount of clearance clothing at a Gabriel Brothers sidewalk sale. The Bass sandles and the summer dress were $7 each, the jeans were $3, and the swimsuit bottoms were $1 each. Beyond shoes, you can't try anything on at a sidewalk sale--you purchase your items and have to take them to the car immediately afterwards--but luckily, I'm a pretty good judge of what fits me. :)

I've also been avoiding new makeup purchases, because again, I'm trying to sell some of my less-used items and buy bus passes for when my SO flies in to visit. But I was spending the day with my mother, and when we stopped at Ulta to look...well, I had a 20% off coupon. I grabbed the Lorac Baked Matte Satin blush in Exposed and the Essence gel liner in London Baby. I've tried an Essence gel liner before, one of the LE "denim" ones, and was very unimpressed with the formula. But I wanted to try London Baby because of the hype, swatches, and my understanding that I'd bought my previous pot on clearance. Sure enough, this pot was much creamier and lasted pretty darn well on a humid, 95-degree summer day and through a fit of tears (long story). I haven't tested the Lorac blush yet, but it seems to look gorgeous on just about everyone!

It's not pictured, but as far as skincare purchases go: I got a backup tube of my beloved Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream for $6 at TJ Maxx and 2 backups of my HG night cream, Avon Nurtura, during their recent BOGO sale.

And of course...Marilyn! My brother bought this for me at a sign shop in Myrtle Beach. It's obviously not a real vintage sign, just a copy, but it's the thought that counts. And what a great thought: anyone who knows me know I plan to have a woman cave with makeup advertisements and pictures of people putting on their face all over the walls. My parents actually bought me this beautiful poster last year as a Christmas gift, and I cannot wait to find a job, get my own place, and hang it up in a nice frame. :)

And now for some favorites! I've been really lazy about painting my nails for the past few months, but this mini Essie polish ($2) in Coat Azure has been my go-to for when I actually do put on some polish. I've fallen back in love with the Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue lipstick ($19.50) in Poppy Cream, an underrated red that is just perfect for a Marilyn Monroe look. I've also been digging the Revlon Just Bitten balm stains ($8), shown here in Charm and Sweetheart; I know that the formula doesn't agree with everyone, but I've had no problem with them changing colors on my lips and just adore how long they last without drying my skin out. My current favorite gloss is Butter London Lippy ($17) in Trout Pout, a beautiful bright coral pink that looks great on top of lipsticks or on its own. The ELF Essential liquid eyeliner ($1) in Ash is a surprisingly great find that I've really loved for simple, understated looks, as my usual black liner can be a bit harsh. Finally, I've only owned the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial powder ($42) in Candlelight for a few weeks, but I'm already obsessed with it and the incredible, lit-from-within glow it gives.

And I almost forgot to add...MOAR KITTEH!!!