Lipstick Diaries, Round Three: Besame Red Hot Red and NARS Michiyo

Pay no attention to the woman in front of the curtain with some slightly jacked-up base makeup; she was trying a few new products and didn't always hit it out of the park. Let's focus on the lipsticks instead! On the left, we have a shade that has slowly become one of my all-time favorites, Besame Red Hot Red. I've probably said that about every Besame lipstick I own, but it really matters with Red Hot Red because I once called the shade "redundant." Yes, it's still like Victory Red and Besame Red got together and had a warm-toned baby, but it's definitely a little different. I think it's one of the most flattering reds I own.

On the opposite end of the color spectrum, we have NARS Michiyo, a very cool-toned pink. I'm weirdly picky about shades like this, probably because they clash with my warm-ish undertones. Michiyo seems to have the "right amount" of clash, if that makes sense: it sticks out without looking bad. I wore this makeup to class this past week and garnered half a dozen compliments. Granted, I teach a lot of ELL students who are openly obsessed with bright lipsticks and will compliment me any time I wear one, but they were especially enthusiastic about this one. Michiyo has also has great staying power (especially if you apply, blot, and re-apply) and photographs beautifully.

REVIEW: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

Few things make you feel better about your spending habits and your "makeup rehab" progress than buying just two items and spending under $60 at a Sephora sale. While very few products tickled my fancy, I was definitely looking forward to testing out the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. Admittedly, I haven't had much luck with NARS formulas, but I've heard nothing but raves for this sheer foundation.

The NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer will run you $45 for 1.9oz. Yes, that's bigger than the standard 1oz tube, but you'll want to use almost 1/4 teaspoon of this product to get the listed SPF30 and some coverage, so you'll go through it faster. I've always been a fan of NARS's simple, sleek packaging, and this black squeeze tube is no different.

Natural light on top, flash on the bottom. From left to right: Buxom Show Some Skin Foundation in Tickle the Ivory, NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Finland, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer in 03 Fondant.

I went for the lightest shade in the range, Finland, which is listed as the palest shade with yellow undertones. I think the undertones look a bit peachy, and it's closer to NC15 than my usual base product choices, but it was workable for me. I'm more disappointed by the darker end of the range: there are only a couple of deep shades, and the gaps between them are pretty big. Given the shade ranges on their more recent launches, I know NARS can do better.

This is a tinted moisturizer, so I didn't expect much coverage. However, this product definitely gave me a more even, healthy-looking complexion, and he also concealed the pink post-inflammatory pigmentation I had on my cheeks. It generally looked smooth and natural on my skin, but it clung a little to the dryer parts of my face, especially my chin and the lower half of my cheeks.

The NARS tinted moisturizer also has a strong perfume-y scent that I could smell as I applied it. I didn't notice it throughout the day, but it was potent enough to make me go "ugh" while I rubbed it in.

Despite the strong fragrance and the bit of clinging, I really liked how this tinted moisturizer made my skin look shortly after application. It photographs beautifully, especially on a cell phone, and it looks incredibly natural. I definitely noticed the shine appearing on my nose around the 3 hour mark, but it still looked good. Then we get to the 8 hour photo, and wow, when is the last time you ever saw my face look that shiny?! (There's a secret part of me that wants to love the shine, since my skin is so dry that it only looks that shiny after I've applied moisturizer, but the logical side of me knows it's not a good look.) Besides the shine, you can also see that the tinted moisturizer has worn off of my nose completely.

I may have kept this tinted moisturizer for work days and just used a powder or a primer on my nose, but there's another problem: this irritated my skin. Every time I put it on, I would develop a new pimple or an angry hive within an hour. The ingredients list looks relatively benign, so if I had to blame anything for this, I'd blame the fragrance.

So I guess I can amend the introduction to this post: I'll be returning this tinted moisturizer and will therefore have purchased just one item from the recent Sephora sale. Hey, you gotta take your wins where you can get 'em.

RATING: 3 out of 5

I buy my NARS products from Sephora.

1P2L: Lipstick with NARS Jungle Red

When I get stumped by my makeup, I'm tempted to buy a new product, illogically thinking that'll make everything fresh and exciting again. The smarter thing to do, of course, is to use what I already have, but try a few new looks or alternative application methods. With that in mind, I've decided to start a new series called 1P2L (1 product, 2 looks). The goal? To use the same product to create discernibly different looks. I'm not a makeup artist, so of course none of my creations will be particularly awesome or unique, but I do hope they'll serve the "stop buying shit you don't need" purpose.

For lipstick, I decided to try out my newest shade, NARS Jungle Red. The look on the left is meant to be very soft and youthful, while the look on the right is a more traditional winged liner deal.

The trick with the lips on the left: use your lipstick as a stain instead of applying it at full opacity. You can do this two different ways. The first method is to rub your finger on the lipstick, then pat the color in to your lips, using a clean finger to spread or press it in without distributing more pigment. The second method necessitates a thin layer of slick lip balm on the lips; then you brush the lipstick on using light, feathery strokes, applying as literal pressure as possible. I actually did both here--pressing with my finger for a base layer, then adding balm and a bit more lipstick on top for more color--but do whatever works best for you.

Obviously, the more full-on look is just the lipstick applied straight from the bullet. I still recommend a few additional steps, though: exfoliate your lips beforehand to get a smooth application, and use a lipliner to keep the shape relatively straight, even if you're using a very forgiving shade.

Here are the two piles of products I used for these looks. (I certainly didn't rub a candle or some perfume on my face, but it's an instagram photo, sooooo.) For the lighter look, I skipped foundation and kept the brows a little softer and messier, but I also applied a much stronger red (Stila Hibiscus) to keep the face from looking too bare. For the heavier look, I added winged liner and darker, more drawn-on brows to balance out the darker lipstick. And since Jungle Red is a satin matte, I tried to create a glossier finish on the other parts of my face.

Using lipstick as the first product for 1P2L may seem like a copout, and it...kinda is. I talk about using your lipsticks as a stain all the time. But it did encourage me to get rid of Jungle Red, since I have similar shades I consider more flattering on my skintone. Small victories!

Return of the Lipstick Diaries #7: Lime Crime Bleached and NARS Charlotte

Sometimes, Lipstick Diaries posts don't help me cull my ever-growing lipstick heard. Instead, they remind me that I already own a number of shades I love and I should wear them more often. That was the case with these two (very different) colors!

First, Lime Crime Bleached. This is probably my favorite Lime Crime Velvetine; it's my perfect nude peach shade. Lulu was lighter, had more white in its base, and was less rosy than this one, which I think is why I liked it less. The Velvetines do have that modern uber-matte finish, and I don't always care for how it looks on me. But I find that the Velvetines play well with gloss and balm, and on days like this when I use shinier finishes in similar shades on other parts of my face (and I maybe overdid it there), I prefer the matte finish.

The other shade is NARS Charlotte, one of my beloved Audacious lipsticks. As I mentioned in my previous Lipstick Diaries post, I'm picky about cool-toned reds these days and seem to prefer something deeper like Charlotte. This color is a chameleon, too: you can make it more burgundy by layering it with a dark red lipliner, or more wine-colored by layering it over a plum lipliner. These lipsticks have great staying power and a really lovely satin finish, and again, this a formula that plays well with gloss and balm.

Return of the Lipstick Diaries #1 - Urban Decay Sheer Rapture and NARS Apoline

To kick off the new year and possibly improve my chances of finishing some of my goals for the year, I decided to revive the Lipstick Diaries. This challenge requires that I wear every lipstick in my collection, photograph it, put the pictures in a post, and decide whether or not it should stay in my collection. My lip product stash underwent quite a transformation last year, so while I won't be re-swatching anything I showed last year, I've got plenty of new lipsticks to show you.
Let's start with a product from a discontinued range, Urban Decay Sheer Rapture. This is a sheer mauve-purple with a glossy finish. I don't normally go for "sheer" or "glossy," but the swatches for this one looked so good, I just had to try it. I'm glad I did: this is an easy, comfortable, every day lipstick. I'm a little mad at myself for not wearing it more! The only problem with this one is the staying power, which is par for the course with dewy makeup. Oh, and my one eyebrow is jacked up and smeared--my bad.

NARS Apoline is one of the newest Audacious lipsticks. It's a warm pink that I've been calling a "soft rosewood color," probably because my partner does so much woodworking and I spend a lot of nights listening to his internal struggles over material choices. Whatever, you know what I mean--it's a soft, creamy, not-bright-but-not-nude sort of shade. Honestly, I don't think Apoline flatters me very much; I seem to look nicer with a brighter or cooler pink. But it's just so damn pretty! I can't stop staring at it when I wear it. I'll keep this one on my radar, but even if I eventually realize it's not the best shade for me, I know I'll have a hard time purging it.

The Hype Machine: NARS Audacious Lipsticks

The Hype Machine is a series that takes a critical look at well-loved, cult classic, appears-in-every-other-Instagram-photo products and asks: are they worth the hype?

Sometimes--probably in more instances than I'd like to admit--I can be a makeup hipster. I wouldn't say that I write a product off as soon as it becomes the raved-about community wunderkind, but I'm definitely suspicious and curious at the same time. I actually imagine myself circling around hyped-up products like my cat when the furnace kicks on: on the one hand, WTF even is that noise?!, but on the other hand, oooooh waaaarm.

So it took me a while to get a NARS Audacious lipstick and test it out. My first shade was Michiyo, a bright blue-based pink. As noted in The Lipstick Diaries, I really liked this shade on my skintone and I thought the formula was nice. But I'd yet to be totally wowed, especially with the $32 price tag. When the Sephora VIB 20% off sale rolled around and I noticed I was still short a dark, blue-based red lipstick, I decided to give NARS Charlotte a try.

That, my friends, is where the love affair began.

 Natural light on top, flash on the bottom; from left to right: Charlotte, Anna, Michiyo.

Charlotte almost got me hooked on this range. Yes, it was a hair drying like Michiyo before it, but neither was horrendously parching, and both shades were saturated, wore evenly, and garnered boatloads of compliments. I noticed that these lipsticks were better than many of their counterparts in my collection--they wear more evenly than MAC satins and are less heavy than the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks, for instance.

I fell in love with the packaging as well. To some extent, it's typical NARS: sleek and black with the logo embossed on the case. But NARS is infamous for using rubberized black packaging, which gathers fingerprints and dirt like crazy. The Audacious tubes are matte and smooth, making them easy to clean. They're also magnetic so the lid snaps on tightly.

From left to right: Michiyo, Charlotte, Anna.

Now, I said that Charlotte almost got me hooked on the range. Anna was a bit of a wake-up call for me. It seems like a perfect cool pink in most bloggers' photos, so I was suckered in to buying a tube of it. But on my fair skin, this stuff turns straight purple. It's not a bad shade--my mom actually loves it on me--but it's not the color I thought I'd get. In fact, while the Audacious color range is expansive, I find that the "softer" shades run a hair dark for my liking. As such, there's no truly flattering nude pink or beige shade for me here.

Do I think this is the end-all be-all of lipsticks? Probably not, especially if you dislike anything even remotely drying or already have a pigmented satin lipstick range you love. Is $32 a little steep? Definitely. But if you can find a few shades that really speak to you and flatter your complexion, it may be worth the splurge for such a beautiful-looking formula. Just resist the urge to replace every single lipstick in your collection with an Audacious counterpart. I almost fell down that rabbit hole myself.

Almost.

BOTTOM LINE: The NARS Audacious lipsticks aren't the kindest to super dry lips, nor are they the cheapest lipstick you can get. But the color range is phenomenal, and the formula definitely reeks of quality. Save your pennies for a few signature shades.

The Hype Machine is a series that represents my experiences and opinions. It is not meant to be a personal attack on a specific company, product, or consumer. I always recommend that you try products for yourself and see how they work for you. Everybody is unique, after all!

Fair-to-Light Concealer Swatch Fest

In the spirit of this blog and my endless desire to try ALL TEH PALE-ISH THINGS!, I have swatched almost every concealer I currently own. The one exception is my Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, because I've swatched it a zillion times already and I didn't have enough room on my hand.

The back of my hand ranges from N10-15, depending on the time of year and what I've been up to. I think I'm closer to N10 at the moment.

Direct sunlight on top, indirect sunlight in middle, flash on bottom. From left to right: Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in Fair Neutral, By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer Brush in 1 Porcelain, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Light 1 Chantilly, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant, NARS stick concealer in Chantilly, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Fair.

Lipstick Diaries #8: NARS Michiyo and Urban Decay Native

You can tell we're getting to the end of the line here with the Lipstick Diaries: I'm only posting about stuff I know I love.

First up is NARS Michiyo, one of the new Audacious lipsticks. It's clear why this formula was instantly popular on its release: it's pigmented, creamy, and has good wear time without being uber-matte or excessively drying. It does, actually, dry my lips out a bit, but only a bit; I can wear Michiyo for a good 6 hours with minimal fading, no smearing, and bearable dryness/tightness at the end of the day. What I really love about Michiyo is its bright, saturated, cool-toned goodness. Yes, it's very similar to Viva Glam Miley Cyrus, but Michiyo is more purple and a hair darker and shut up let me have this.

Next, Urban Decay Native, one of the only nudes I've ever loved! Don't let the blush (which isn't supposed to be that color) fool you: this one truly suits my skintone. It's a soft, delicate pink in a creamy, comfortable formula. This one isn't as long-wearing as Michiyo or MAC Faux, but it's less drying. When I wear a dark eye look, this is my go-to shade.

What's in your "OH CRAP MAKEUP EMERGENCY" kit?

For the most part, I am not obsessive about wearing makeup every time I go in public. On days when I wear it, I take my time putting it on at home; on days when I don't wear it, I just say, "Eh, screw it," and go about my life. No big.

But there are times when I wake up way too late for work and have to rush to the bus stop looking like the Night of the Living Dead. (What sadist invented snooze alarms, anyway?!) And there are times when I'm bumming around the house with a few friends when they suddenly decide to traipse out to the city for a big party or a major event. And at moments like that, I'm glad I have an "emergency kit."

My emergency kit contains bobby pins, q-tips, and 4 itty bitty pieces of makeup. They're housed in a Bite Beauty tin from a Christmas gift set, which fits perfectly in my purse. Here's what I keep with me:

1. Buxom Some Show Skin in Tickle the Ivory -- Hidden in that little NARS pot is roughly 2-3 applications of my current favorite tinted moisturizer. Not only does it contain SPF30 (so I don't have to carry an extra satchet of sunscreen), it's also very easy to apply in a rush.

2. any decent mascara sample -- Mascara does a great job of making me look more awake and put-together with very minimal effort. I just toss in whatever sample I have handy, provided said sample isn't of a mascara I absolutely abhor. I'm currently carrying around a mascara that I love: NARS Audacious.

3. Anastasia Perfect Brow pencil in Medium Brown -- Somebody sold me this sample-sized pencil for a few dollars. It doesn't top my Shu Uemura Hard Formula pencil, and my favorite Becca brow products are actually the Brow Wiz and the clear brow gel. But it's still a really good pencil with plenty of pigment, and the size makes it a perfect fit for my emergency kit.

4. Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon -- I lurv the Beach Tints! I mostly use them as blushes, but they can also work as sheer lip tints in a pinch. Watermelon is the perfect "every day" shade for my fair skin, and it blends in beautifully.

So I gotta ask: what's in your emergency kit?

REVIEW: NARS Audacious Mascara

If a store is offering free mascara samples, I'm pretty much there. I'm not entirely sure what prompts this, because I've yet to meet a mascara that tops ye olde Maybelline Full n' Soft. If I had to guess, though, it probably has something to do with my belief that a tiny tube of mascara is more substantial and fun than most foil packet skincare samples.

But because, again, few mascaras work as well for me as Full n' Soft and they cost more, I'm usually disappointed. I'm glad to say that the NARS Audacious Mascara in Black Moon is a rare exception.

The NARS Audacious Mascara retails at $26 for the full 0.32oz size, which is relatively standard for a high-end mascara. To the best of my knowledge, Black Moon is the only shade available, although I'm sure some cool bright shades will come out for fall.

The packaging is NARS's typical black rubberized stuff, which most people have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, it's really elegant and beautiful; I feel classy pulling this stuff out of my makeup bag. It also makes it easier to grip the tube. On the other hand, it gets dirty freakishly easily and is a pain in the arse to clean up. So it's pretty and functional, but probably best left on your vanity.

The wand has rubber bristles. These are not my favorite thing because they tend to be really freaking pointy and painful. Luckily, this brush is minimally pointy: it definitely isn't as soft as a traditional fiber brush, but it doesn't cause me immense pain like that horrendous Kat von D mascara. I can wiggle it in to the roots of the lashes without making my eyes water. If you have very sensitive eyes, you may want to check out the brush on a sample tube at your nearest retailer.

While I usually hate rubber bristle brushes, I have to say that this one does the mascara a lot of favors. The formula is thick, creamy, and slightly on the dry side, which tends to lead to plenty of volume and inky goodness (yay!), but also major clumps (eek). I didn't really have this problem with the NARS mascara because the brush separated the lashes well while still coating them. The result is great volume, good length, and minimal clumps.

The wear on this mascara is also almost-perfect. I didn't have any problems with smudging. I did see a very tiny amount of flaking, but that was at the 5-6 hour mark, and it was just a few itty bitty flakes on each cheek.

One of the best things about Audacious is that you can easily "amp it up" by adding eyeliner or doing an extra coat. This may seem like a silly thing to get excited about, but it's been my experience that a lot of mascaras do not layer well and/or do not look all that different when you tightline. I'm especially wowed by how voluminous and thick my lashes look with just two coats of the mascara: there's tons of volume, but the clumping is still minimal.

Removing those two layers, though, is a little tricky. Audacious is by no means the most tenacious mascara I've ever used, but I do have to hold my baby oil-soaked cotton square on to my lashes for a good 30 seconds per eye to remove the stuff. I can't imagine micellar waters or especially gentle cleansers removing it.

Overall, this mascara is pretty damn impressive. I'm hesitant to give it a perfect score because of the slightly pokey brush, the less-than-optimal removal, and the little bit o' flaking...but I'll be tempted to buy a full tube when this sample runs out. And considering how adverse I am to paying high-end prices for mascara, I think that deserves a 5.

RATING: 5 out of 5

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.

Fair-to-Light Foundation Swatch Fest

It's been a while since I've done one of these "look at all of the foundations yaaaay!" posts, probably because I haven't had enough foundation samples and have been distracted by other things. But I managed to get many, many sample packs in the past few days, and I wanted to highlight two products in particular: Buxom Show Some Skin and CoverFX Total Cover Cream.

I swatched these up against two staples in my collection: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly and Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint in Level 1 Fair Light, which are roughly N5 and NW15 respectively. The back of my hand is around N10-15, depending on the time of year; I'd say it's closer to N10 right now.

Please note that the Buxom and CoverFX sample packs came with two darker shades suitable for medium to ebony skintones, but I decided not to include those because I have nothing even remotely comparable to swatch them against.

Direct sunlight on top, flash on the bottom. From left to right: NARS Chantilly, Buxom Tickle the Ivory, CoverFX N20, Paula's Choice Level 1, Buxom Fair Game, CoverFX N40.

10 Products You MUST Try This Winter

I'm a dry-skinned person, so you'd think that I hate winter and love summer. Winter is the harbinger of major snowfall, dry central heat, and cold-cracked hands. What's the love if you're already used to having a tight, flaky, scratchy face?

In my experience, plenty. I've whined about this before and I'll whine about it again: I don't like summer. It's sticky, it breaks my face out in heat and sun rashes, and it makes me sweat a lot. I'm a fussy-fussy-two-by-four and I hate sweating. I'd much rather be cuddled up in a sweater with a cup of hot cocoa in my hands and a layer of mega-rich cream on my face.

Because winter is not easy on the skin, especially if you're normal to dry all year round, I've decided to list my 10 favorite products for getting through the winter flawlessly.

The Skincare

1. Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butters - There is nothing else like this thick, rich moisturizer when my body feels dry and itchy. Loaded with pumpkin oil and other skin-soothing ingredients, Haus of Gloi's pumpkin butter is one of the only body care products that keeps my skin smooth and soft during the winter. See full review here.

2. MAC Strobe Cream - MAC Strobe Cream is best known as a highlighter, but it's actually created to be, and marketed as, a lightweight moisturizer with light-reflecting properties. Of course, you can use it as a highlighter--I certainly do--but it also works great under makeup to add a glow to your face. Best of all, it's very affordable: a 1oz bottle is just $10! See more info here.

3. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, fragrance free - My love, my baby, my wooblet. There are plenty of other hand creams I've enjoyed (L'occitane's wide selection comes to mind), but if my fingers are cracked and ashy, and I'm trying to get them back to square one? Nothing works as well as this drugstore gem. I also use it on the end of my nose after a sinus infection or cold to heal chapped skin.

4. Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment - This is PC's most potent AHA exfoliator, with 10% glycolic acid. I've noticed a marked improvement in my skin's texture since I switched from physical to chemical exfoliants, and I'm in love with this thin, lightweight formulation. I use it once a week--usually on Friday nights--and wake up with noticeably softer, smoother, more even skin. More details in the upcoming Sample Rundown #4.

The Base Products

5. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer - Now that my skin is behaving itself and the "tan" on my face is starting to fade, I can often get away with a spot of concealer and a dusting of powder. This new NARS concealer has quickly become a staple in my routine, thanks to its blendable medium coverage and creamy formula that sits beautifully on the skin. I love it so much that, when my makeup bag was stolen from me a few months back, I immediately rushed out and bought another tube.

6. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee - How have I not written about these little wunderkinds before?! They're one of the newest additions to the Josie Maran line, and I'd argue that they're already cult classics. The lightweight gel-texture formula sits beautifully on even the driest cheeks, lasts for at least 6 hours, and is glowy enough to eliminate the need for highlighter.

7. Ecotools powder brush - My skin gets more sensitive in the winter, so I need the softest tools out there. The Ecotools powder brush tops that list: it's as soft and fluffy as a kitten's paw. It's also very, very affordable! I've had this particular brush for at least 5 years, and I've had zero problems with ferrule glue loosening or brush hairs falling out.

The Comfortable Colors

8. Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks - I wouldn't call any lipstick truly "moisturizing," but the Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks are about as close as you're going to get. These lipsticks sit comfortably on my lips, even when they're cracked or dry, and have decent staying power. As an added bonus, the color range is phenomenal. See full review here.

9. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade - I used to live in the Great White Frozen North, where strong winds would whip up the mountains of snow and fling them right in to your face. One of my biggest annoyances with this was how it wiped off my eye makeup. That's not a problem with Anastasia' new Dipbrow Pomade. Although the creamy formula has a slight learning curve, it's a dream once you get used to it thanks to the pigmentation and long wear time. This stuff lasts over 12 hours on my face, through wind, rain, and anything else Mother Nature throws at me. Full review coming soon.

10. NYX Butter Gloss - I'm not a gloss person, but if I was? I'd load up on these. At just $5 apiece, these glosses are just as buttery and smooth as the name suggests. They manage to stay on your lips without bleeding all over the place, but they're not especially sticky, which is quite a feat. And the color range? Phenomenal.

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!

25 Tops: Lipstick Queen Pink Sinner

Let me get this out of the way: I've been dealing with something akin to face dysmorphic disorder. I obsess over my face, my skin, and my makeup all throughout the day; I look at myself in every mirror in the house, and I'm never satisfied. I'm not 100% sure what's going on with me, but I think it's a combination of aging changing my skin ever so slightly and general stress. Logically, I know there's nothing wrong with my skin, and there are so many people with bigger problems: painful acne, aching rosacea flare-ups, fungal infections...I'm just having a moment. So please bear with me while I try to get myself back in balance.

All of this being said, I'm currently trying to find a foundation that can replace MAC Face & Body. It's still quite beautiful on my skin, but my bottles are getting old (they're from January 2011). While I keep the bottles in the fridge, and while they seem to be functioning properly, I get a little icked out putting a 3 1/2 year old product all over my face. Before I shell out $70 to replace them, I'd like to see if I can find something with medium coverage that matches me out of the bottle.

This flash photograph provides the best representation of the colors. I don't wear Lipstick Queen Pink Sinner very often, but I think that's because I mostly wear bright lips, and if I don't, I wear something strong enough on the eye that I feel better with quite a pale lip. Pink Sinner doesn't fit that bill: it's a slightly warm, mid-tone pink that gives a distinct rosebud look. Really, I should wear it more. It's a KEEP for now! What do you guys think?

I'm going to PURGE NARS Penny Lane, however, because it's too brown for my skin. The Wet n' Wild Nude Awakening palette, I'm...not so sure about. I LOVE the super-pale shade in the top left, and there's less fallout with Nude Awakening than with other WnW palettes. But a lot of the other shades seem really sheer. Hum...that's a MAYBE. I also PURGED my Makeup Forever HD Pressed Powder recently. I'd originally bought it for my mom, but she's not wowed by it, and I never really use it.

For reference, here's the FOTD in natural light on a cloudy day (aka, a regular day in Pennsylvania), and with flash on a standard definition camera:

KEEP PILE:
1. Hourglass Muse
2. Hourglass Riviera
3. Hourglass Icon (mini-size)
4. Chanel Dragon [D/C]
5. Lancome Pale Lip
6. Bite Beauty Velvet
7. Lipstick Queen Saint Pinky Nude
8. Lipstick Queen Jean Queen
9. MAC Scarlet Ibis [LE]
10. MAC Viva Glam Nicki [LE]
11. Urban Decay Native
12. MAC Candy Yum Yum
13. Lipstick Queen Sinner Bright Rose
14. Lipstick Queen Sinner Pink

PURGE PILE:
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

MAYBE PILE:
1. MAC Impassioned
2. Elizabeth Arden Poppy Cream

NEW STUFF:
1. MAC Relentlessly Red
2. MAC Sushi Kiss

STOLEN:
1. MAC Please Me

 LEFT TO CONSIDER/TEST:
1. MAC Petals and Peacocks [LE]
2. MAC Party Parrot [LE]
3. Bite Quince
4. Bite Cranberry
5. MAC Betty Bright [LE]
6. MAC Ruby Woo
7. Lipstick Queen Rose Sinner
8. MAC Viva Glam VI Special Edition [LE]
9. Laura Mercier Mulberry lip stain
10. Maybelline Super Stay Non-Stop Red
11. MAC Lady Danger
12. Revlon Black Cherry
13. MAC Girl About Town

REVIEW: MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation

I recently swapped for a few generous foundation samples. At the top of my to-try list: MAC Studio Fix Fluid in the shade NW13. Now, NW13 is a bit darker than I would normally go for, seeing as my neck is N5 with cool yellow undertones. It's also touted as a matte foundation with decent wear time--not exactly at the top of the list for dry-skinned people. Regardless, I'm one of those people who is going to try just about every pale-ish foundation she can get her hands on.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid is advertised as a "modern foundation that combines a natural matte finish and medium, buildable coverage with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF15 protection." It comes in a whopping 35 shades, ranging from relatively pale to quite dark (NW58!), and costs $27 for 1oz. Essentially, this is supposed to be a gentler, liquid version of the infamous Studio Fix powder foundation, which is full-coverage and uber-matte.

From left to right: MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW13, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly, Paula's Choice Sheer Matte Tint in Level 1, Makeup Forever Matte Velvet + in #15.

Straight off the bat, I dislike the undertones in this product. Yes, there are some people who are super-pink or super-yellow, but new shades with more neutral, less extreme undertones would really improve this line. Also, let me repeat that I knew NW13 was going to match my face and not my neck; I still wanted to test out the formula and compare it to some similar shades. For the record, NARS Chantilly is the same shade as my neck.

Here's my face before and after a layer of MAC SFF, applied with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. (Don't be fooled by how pale it appears in the after picture: like many foundations, SFF applies very light, then oxidizes to its "real shade" in about 15-20 minutes.) It certainly does provide medium coverage with a satin-matte finish. So just like what it says on the can!

...kind of. MAC claims that this foundation is easy to apply and blend, but I found it to be quite streaky. I really had to buff the product in to get an even finish. I also found it difficult to build up the coverage, since a second layer made the product look very dry and cakey, even when I tested it out with a damp Beauty Blender. To be fair, one layer managed to look matte without looking fake or powdery, and that's pretty impressive on my dry skin.

My approval faded as the day went on. First of all, the foundation started to feel kind of itchy and heavy on my face, particularly around my temples and chin. That rarely happens, but it always turns me off.

What really killed it for me, though, was how the foundation wore on my combination-dry skin. Compare the picture on the left (freshly applied) to the picture in the middle (after 2 hours) and on the right (after 4 hours). I stayed in the air conditioning all day, and I only get super-oily on my nose--the rest of my face is normal or dry in the summer time. So how the Hell am I so shiny?! I thought this was supposed to be a "long-wearing," "natural matte" product--where the Hell is the grease coming from?!

Hence, Studio Fix Fluid isn't striking me as the best option for oily skin or summer outings. Oh, but it gets better...

...it broke me out.

Let's be clear: I am not one of those people who derisively refers to the brand as "MACne." I do not believe that all MAC foundations are the devil for acne-prone people, and I strongly dislike the internet rumors that every MAC foundation is going to eat your face alive. My personal opinion is that MAC is a "gateway" brand for many people, including people who are sensitive to a large number of ingredients and/or do not yet know how to properly remove their makeup at the end of the day. If more people are trying your stuff, you're bound to run in to more people with bad experiences. I've tried a number of MAC foundations over the past decade without a hitch, including Face & Body, which has been my Holy Grail for going on 3 years now.

That's why Studio Fix Fluid's negative impact on my skin is so weird. My breakouts usually consist of a few very deep, painful cysts, and they're primarily caused by internal factors (stress, diet, hormones, etc). This is one of the only external factors that has ever prompted a breakout, and the pimples are tiny pustules and white heads. They're also in weird places, like my nose (pictured above) and my temples. I was so surprised by the breakout that I actually tried to figure out what, besides SFF, could've caused it...but SFF was the only thing I changed in my regular routine.

In the end, my breakout has nothing to do with my overall rating of MAC Studio Fix Fluid. We all break out from different things, and there's just something in the formula that doesn't agree with me, simple as that. Rather, I have a hard time recommending a product that's supposed to be demi-matte and long-wearing, then doesn't last for even 2 hours on dry skin. It's also a bit uncomfortable to apply and wear. I'll give them some props, though, for having some darker shades, even if the undertones are extreme.

RATING: 2 out of 5.

BOGL's Current No/Low Makeup Routine

 

"No Makeup Makeup" is a popular breed: makeup so sheer, so seamlessly blended, and so perfectly close to your skintone, nobody realizes you're even wearing makeup. They just think you're practically perfect in every way. After years of testing and trying, I've finally figured out how to achieve this look on my face.

However, I don't really care to look like I'm not wearing ANYTHING if I've taken the time to paint my face. And anybody with decent eye sight and some knowledge of cosmetics is going to look at the above picture and say, "Yeah, she penciled her eyebrows, and there's something on her mouth." That's fine by me...as long as my skin looks completely bare to the naked eye. ;)

I prefer to call this routine "Low Makeup Makeup." Again, I like to pencil my brows, and I like to put something (either a very rich balm or a bright lipstick) on my lips with this routine, and people are going to notice that. But the average person has a hard time spotting any other products on my face, and I kinda dig that. Here's my current routine:

1. Dot NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly where needed, and in very small amounts. Today, that meant a few dots under my eyes, on some forehead and chin blemishes, over my lip scar, and on the tip of my nose. Pat in with fingers.

2. Gently blend a dime-sized amount of Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint in Shade 1 all over face, ears, and neck, skipping only my eyebrows and lips. Doing foundation after concealer is usually a no-no because you may overdo it and apply too much product, and you can rub off your concealer; I find that the NARS concealer stays pretty well put, however, and applying this tinted moisturizer second seems to blend it all together.

3. Pat some MAC Strobe Cream on to the high points of the face. For me, that means under my brows and on the tops of my cheekbones.

4. Apply a very small amount of Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon to the apples of the cheeks. Add more as is necessary; for example, I usually like to blend tiny amounts backwards from my cheekbone towards my temples.

6. Apply a coat of mascara to the top lashes. I usually go for CoverGirl Clump Crusher, and I just use the lightest pressure possible to avoid "overdoing" it.

7. Pencil in brows with Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil in Seal Brown. Soften and smooth the pencil with a brow spoolie or fingers. If my brows are being uber-wonky and won't stay in place, I'll glue them down with Anastasia Clear Brow Gel.

8. Dust a small amount of Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Matte powder foundation through the t-zone. I skip this step when my skin is at its driest.

9. For a super-lazy look, I apply a glossy balm like Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream or pure lanolin. If I want to look like I put in a bit more effort--or if I'm just in the mood for a bolder look--I slap on a bright, matte lipstick.

August 2014 Product Pileup

Beauty Sightings: Marco Marco Spring/Summer 2014 Collection

A fashion show probably seems like a strange place to go for beauty sightings, as the models' makeup is often very homogenous and there isn't a whole lot of behind-the-scenes footage. But the Marco Marco Spring/Summer 2014 collection gave us a rare treat: a runway dominated by drag queens and transgender models, all of whom appear to have done their own makeup, if this behind-the-scenes treat is to be believed. And with a wide variety of drag queens comes a wide variety of beauty product sightings!

I see some Ru Glue (ie, an Elmer's glue stick, used to flatten brow hairs) and some Tresemee hair spray. Anybody recognize the palette?

Liquid liner; the shot moves too quickly for me to see, but it looks like it COULD be MAC Boot Black.

That looks like a bottle of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in that kit! Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. (I'd say it's Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid, but the cap shown here looks black, not blue. Y/N?)

The NARS Loves Los Angeles palette from 2013. I think this belongs to Willam, but that could just be the editing playing tricks on me.

I do believe that's an NYC liquid eyeliner! Hilariously, I notice that most drag queens seem to use cheaper drugstore liquid liners (Almay, NYC, NYX, MAC, etc). It's probably not cost-effective to buy the super-expensive options, considering how much black liquid liner the average drag queen uses.

I'm 99% sure that this is L'oreal True Match powder based on the lid of the compact and its overall design, but wow, what a yellow-looking shade!

A gratuitous porn shot featuring some MUFE and Smith's Rosebud Salve.

Speaking of beauty, can we all take a moment to appreciate the one and only Mathu Andersen? I dream of having him do my makeup some day. He is pure perfection.

GLORIOUS.

Now for a side note: I'll be away for my sister's destination wedding for a while, plus I'll be entertaining my boyfriend for most of May. With that in mind, BOGL will be on a hiatus for the rest of May. Posts will resume in June.

See in you summer!

Faking It: Getting a Glow in Winter

There was a time when I wore nothing but full coverage products in the most matte, flat formulations available. When I say matte, I mean mattttttte: not a hint of shine and borderline chalky.

Now that I'm a little older and wiser, I've come to realize that a glow is just much more flattering on my skin. Admittedly, my combination-dry skin generally lacks shine, so it could be a case of wanting what you don't have--the grass is always greener and whatnot. But I honestly do think that a little dewiness makes most people look more youthful and fresh, especially in the cold winter months. And as I prepare to visit frigid North Dakota, where the temperatures regularly drop in to the negatives, for almost a month, I'm whipping out every tool in my arsenal to keep that glow.

Nothing will beat out the importance of good skincare. Your skin is constantly changing due to the weather, hormones, etc., so you'll want to keep up with its needs on a day-to-day basis to give yourself the best possible canvas. But if you need that extra push? Well, a little makeup never hurts.

1. Don't sparkle, shine! It's been my experience that glittery highlighters look especially heavy on dry, winter-beaten skin, probably because the cold weather alters skin texture for the worst, making every little speck stick out. That's why I stick to glowy highlighters with super-fine shimmer particles, things that are more "sheeny" than "sparkly." The most natural of these is MAC Strobe Cream ($10, MACCosmetics.com), which is technically a moisturizer. I prefer to dab it over my makeup like a normal highlighter, but some people actually mix it with their foundation or apply it all over their face for extra moisture and glow. If you want a truly dewy look, consider the Makeup Forever Uplights ($29, Sephora.com) in shades #11 or #12. It's a light gel formulation that looks slightly wet, not at all glittery, on the skin. My all-time favorite highlighter is the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector ($41, Sephora.com), which contains the most subtle, layerable shimmer particles I've ever seen.

2. Moisturizers can double as makeup. I've already mentioned MAC Strobe Cream, but don't forget about old classics like Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream ($19.50, ElizabethArden.com). Yes, I can use it to moisturize my lips and lashes, but it also gives my face a dewy look. It's great as a highlighter as well--see my previous article for tips! I love this product so much, I keep 3 tubes: one in my makeup collection, one in the bathroom, and one in my purse.

3. Switch to lighter formulations for your base products. I'm not one for full coverage on most days, regardless of the weather, but I especially avoid it during the winter. Why?  Because most full-coverage foundations and concealers are matte and drying, so unless you have oily skin, they're going to cake up and look decidedly fake on dry, dehydrated skin. I stick to super-sheer tinted moisturizers, like the Tarte Tinted BB Treatment ($34, Sephora.com) or light, layerable, dewy foundations, like the infamous MAC Face & Body ($27, MACCosmetics.com). Then I spot concealer where needed. Even people with discoloration or acne are often better off using a light foundation and spot concealing as needed to prevent that dry, heavy look. For my undereyes, I've been using NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28, Sephora.com) to soften up my dark circles and keep that delicate patch of skin from shriveling up.

4. Need your full coverage? Prepare to shellac it! Truth time: I'm wearing a full-coverage foundation (Dolce & Gabbana's cream formulation) in that top image. And sure enough, as soon as I brushed it on to my skin, that normally luxurious product looked fake and slightly patchy on my dry, dry face. The fix? Generous spritzings of Skindinavia Setting Spray ($29, Skindinavia.com). This is the bridal version, which is slightly shinier, but you can use just about any formulation and get the same sort of effect. It not only holds your makeup in place, but also softens it up and adds some glow without feeling heavy or sticky.

5. Learn to love cream blushes. My cheeks are the Sahara, so I wear cream blushes almost exclusively year-round. But they're especially necessary in the winter, when my cheeks start to get flaky and take on a rougher texture. The emollient, slightly tacky feel of Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glow blushes ($26, Nordstrom.com) means that they look dewy and smooth on my cheeks, but also last throughout the day. If you have a more oily skin type, or just prefer a less moisture-ful blush, try Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush ($38, Sephora.com), a more powder-like formulation that is still blendable and comfortable on dry skin.