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.

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.

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.

Messy Wands and Ugly Tubes: Notes on Mascara

I've just now come to terms with my sizable collection of mascaras. While I definitely don't have the biggest mascara drawer out there, I've gathered quite a few tubes of the stuff despite my self-professed eye makeup apathy. Really, brow pencil and mascara are the only eye makeup I wear on a regular basis...but I couldn't finish my makeup without them. I've come to realize that I have a "lips-lashes-skin" philosophy, a la Poppy King: if my skin looks nice, my lashes are done up, and I've got a great lipstick on, I don't need much else.

I decided I should gather these mascaras together and share my notes.

Here's my current line up, from left to right: Maybelline Full n' Soft, L'oreal Voluminous Miss Manga, L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black, Urban Decay Perversion, CoverGirl Lash Blast Clump Crusher, Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam, and Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes. The CoverGirl is water-resistant and Perversion is a sample that's most likely not waterproof. Beyond that, I buy waterproof formulas in the blackest formula available with few exceptions.

For the purposes of this post, the mascaras are referred to as follows:

Maybelline Full n' Soft = Full n' Soft
L'oreal Voluminous Miss Manga = Miss Manga
L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black = Voluminous
Urban Decay Perversion = Perversion
CoverGirl Lash Blast Clump Crusher = Clump Crusher
Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam = Retro Glam
Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes = MGLLL


TUBES: Is there some reason why so many mascaras have to have these ridiculously shaped tubes? Do they do something special for the formula that I'm just not catching? Because Miss Manga, Clump Crusher, and Retro Glam are all a giant pain in my ass to hold. See the big, round middles and the teeny bottoms? They're not ergonomic in the hands, and they can't stand up on their own. If the problem is that you don't want mascara rolling away (admittedly annoying), why not make the tubes square, like MGLLL? All of this aside, I like sleek simplicity with  most of my packaging, so the Urban Decay and Voluminous tubes are the most visually appealing to me. MGLLL is cute, although I'm biased because it's a classic design.

WET OR DRY?: Perversion and Miss Manga have the wettest formulas of the bunch. They take quite a while to dry, especially Perversion, which almost always leads to messiness and clumping. MGLLL is also on the wet side, but it's slightly thicker, more of a cream than a gel formula. I find that it dries faster than Miss Manga and Perversion as well. Full n' Soft is a drier, almost powdery formula, but it doesn't flake or clump, as compared to Voluminous and Retro Glam, which are so dry they actually kind of scrape my lashes. Clump Crusher represents the middle ground, having a gel-like consistency.

SHADE: The advertisements for Perversion are no lie: that is some black, black stuff! It's a shame it's so messy. Really, all of these are quite dark. If I had to pick which was the least black, though, I'd have to go with Maybelline Full n' Soft and Retro Glam, which look softer compared to the rest of this bunch.

BRUSHES: Clump Crusher and MGLLL have rubberized brushes; the rest are of the traditional fiber variety. In terms of shape, we have a small variety here. Voluminous, Full n' Soft, and Perversion all have relatively traditional brush shapes. Of those three, Full n' Soft has the longest brush hairs and Perversion is the most dense. Miss Manga and MGLLL both come to a pointed "spade" shape, but the difference in brush hair lengths is more pronounced with MGLLL. Retro Glam has a wavy shape. Clump Crusher is shaped sort of like a spoon: one side is flat and the other is curved.

BEST FOR A NATURAL LOOK: This award definitely goes to Full n' Soft. You get decent length and volume with this mascara, but no matter how many layers you pile on, it never looks spidery or dry. I've never had any problems with flaking, either, and it's easy to remove. This is my go-to work mascara.

BEST FOR A DRAMATIC LOOK: I don't often go for the super-clumpy, "I'm totally wearing mascara!" look, but if I do, I'll reach for something like Miss Manga or MGLLL. Both of these pitch-black mascaras distribute a ton of product and give me plenty of volume with some length. Clumping is there, but it's minimal.

BEST ALL-AROUND: While Clump Crusher has been temporarily usurped by these other mascaras, it will forever hold a special place in my heart. This product really does give you length and volume without the clumps. At the time of this writing, it only comes in regular and water-resistant formulas, but believe me, that's enough: my only gripe with this mascara is that it's tough to remove. I love that I can get a lengthier, more fluttery look by using mostly the flat side of the brush, or I can get thicker lashes with the round side.

LEAST FAVORITE: Retro Glam is pure trash to me; it does next to nothing for my lashes. Voluminous was a favorite of mine in graduate school, but I'm having a hard time figuring out why; it's a pain in the arse to remove, it flakes everywhere, and it dries out my lashes. Perversion is much-loved in the blogosphere, but I found that it stayed wet for so long that spidery lashes were unavoidable, even with tons of combing. It's also insanely messy.

Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy...NEVER AGAIN

My skin was a bit of a mess this past week, so I took a few days away from makeup to let it heal. This past weekend marked the first time I painted my face in 6 days! Eek!

I decided that, since I'd been makeup-free for a while, I should get back in to it with one of my favorite things: a red lip. Hilariously, I decided to purge this shade--Bite Beauty HPP in Pomegranate--after putting it on. It's GORGEOUS, and I recommend it constantly, but I don't think it's as suited to my tastes as, say, the Hourglass liquid lipsticks. (Are you guys sick of hearing about that formula yet? Come to think of it, has Hourglass hired me to promote this lipstick line yet?) It'll be sent off to a better home. :)

Then I decided to try Urban Decay's Midnight Cowboy eyeshadow for the first time in years. And I remembered why I haven't worn it for years: the glitter fallout is INSANE. I ended up looking like a four year old who'd gone crazy with a glitter crayon. UUUGH.

BASE: MAC Strobe Cream, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx01, Dolce & Gabbana powder foundation in 50 Ivory, Skindinavia setting spray

EYES: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Midnight Cowboy, Catrice eyeshadow in Starlight Espresso [D/C], Wet n' Wild eyeshadow in Brulee, Shu Uemura brow pencil in Seal Brown, L'oreal Miss Manga mascara, Maybelline Full n' Soft mascara, Milani Liquid Eyes pencil in Black

CHEEKS: Scott Barnes Chic Palette in Posh [D/C]

LIPS: Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate

25 Tops: MAC Please Me (sort of) and UD Native, plus a "Skincare State of the Union"

Please note that there is no top image for this post. That's because the lipstick I was going to toss in to this challenge, MAC Please Me, was recently stolen from me. What had happened was...I took a bag containing several personal items, including some makeup, into the bathroom at work on Wednesday. I wasn't feeling well and I was a bit out of it, so I forgot the bag in the bathroom. Right before my class, I realized the bag was missing; I looked everywhere and couldn't find it. Nobody has returned the bag or contacted me (my information was inside). So they made off with a lot of personal items, including my MAC Blot Powder, my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (an HG product)...and, I realized today when I reached for them and came up empty, my MAC Please Me lipstick and my Bobbi Brown Tutu gloss.

I was so upset, I almost cried on the spot. I don't say this because I want you to pity me and send me free things--my life is not that hard, and I always tell people to donate their money to worthwhile charities instead--but rather because it was a moment when I felt incredible pain. I don't make a lot of money, and these were items I'd worked hard for. And because most people aren't as pale as I am, I sincerely doubt that the thief will even be able to use what they stole. They stole that bag probably thinking there was money in it, and when they checked and realized it was just personal items, they probably...well, they might've used some of the stuff, but it's more likely that they just chucked my hard work in to a dumpster.

But I decided, "I am NOT going to let this person defeat me." I put on UD Native instead. And I realized that I truly, truly love this lipstick, even more than the Please Me/Tutu combination. I am not a vengeful person, but I am honest. Here's the truth: selfish, greedy people always get their comeuppance. And I will look flawless, no matter how much of my stuff you steal.

BASE: MAC Face & Body in N1 + White, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx02, Dolce & Gabbana powder foundation in 50 Ivory

EYES: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Makeup Forever Aqua Cream in #02, Wet n' Wild Comfort Zone palette, Wet n' Wild eyeshadow in Brulee, Shu Uemura brow pencil in Seal Brown, CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara, Anastasia clear brow gel

CHEEKS: Scott Barnes Chic Palette in Posh [D/C]

LIPS: Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Native

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In other news, my skin has changed a good deal over the past 6 months or so. I think it's a mixture of aging, hormones, and stress. I'm experiencing lots of tiny bumps on my forehead (I think they're clogged pores), more sensitivity and acne, and a much oilier t-zone than I previously did. So I've been slowly switching out my products to figure out what might be causing the change in texture; namely, I've replaced konjac sponges with baby washcloths (because the latter are washable), and I've started using my mother's CeraVe PM cream. I'll try to keep you guys posted!

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.

REVIEW: Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks

Here we go again: another review of an already stupidly popular product with a cult following. Why do I bother? Because I am a bonafide lipstick goddess, thankyouverymuch, so my opinion matters!

...but yeah, I totally understand that most of you probably already own some of these. It's cool.

Urban Decay's Revolution lipsticks are a revamp of their old, not-in-a-pencil lipstick formula, and a much needed one at that. While the original formulation was decent, it was incredibly slick--meaning bright colors slipped off of your mouth and feathered in less than an hour--and contained in the most horrendous, overwrought packaging I've ever seen. Urban Decay heard the endless complaints about how their packaging was beautiful, but not at all functional, and they took it to heart; their new products, including these lipsticks, are encased in sleek, easy-to-use containers that still look edgy and young.

I purchased my lipsticks for $22 each at Sephora. I decided to start with one bright, a blue-based red called F-Bomb, and one nude, a soft pink called Native. (And I've already shown them in my Dolce & Gabbana powder foundation review. SO SUE ME.)

The formula is best described as a rich cream with a "soft" finish: not matte, but not overly shiny, either. It just looks plump and slightly moist. I could sort of "feel" these on my lips, which doesn't bother me in the slightest, but those of you who prefer balm-like, completely weightless formulations may want to test the Revolution lipsticks before purchasing. They have no discernible scent.

The wear is relatively impressive: both shades stayed on my lips for about 5 hours before they needed touched up. They did not feather, slide, or get patchy. The formula does dry my lips out a little, which is a bit odd given how creamy they feel when you're wearing them, but it's nothing a little post-shower lipbalm can't fix. I do think that, given the thickness and opacity of these lipsticks, you'll want to exfoliate your lips before you apply them so you have the smoothest canvas possible, as they can emphasize flakes and cracks.

The one major issue I had with these lipsticks is the bullet shape, which made it difficult to apply the bright red F-Bomb without a lip brush. That in and of itself is not a sin, but because this is a very rich, smooth formula, I found it difficult to get the super-sharp lip line I prefer--you can see how the edges of my lips look a bit "smeary" in the F-Bomb swatch above. To be fair, I usually wear lipliners with my bright lipsticks, so I'm not opposed to getting those sharp lines with lipliners instead of a lip brush.

I liked the formula enough to try out some more shades. Unfortunately, the one I really wanted, Catfight, was sold out everywhere, so I just went with Naked. This shade is a very flattering sort of neutral pink that would work on a variety of skintones. (I didn't exfoliate my lips before applying Naked, though, so you can see how it emphasizes the minor flakes I have.)

The one odd thing about Naked is that it doesn't seem to have quite the same staying power. I wore it to my sister's graduation and had to reapply twice within a 5 hour period. Hum...maybe the pigment just isn't as intense, so there isn't a staining effect?

Of the three shades I've tried, F-Bomb is my least favorite. It's not BAD, it's just not all that unique or special. It's slightly cool/blue-based, but not as purple-y as Hourglass Icon or Shiseido Nocturne. NARS Cruella looks almost burgundy next to it. Elizabeth Arden Poppy looks warm in this batch of swatches, but that's just because they're mostly blue-based; it's probably the most neutral, balanced red lipstick I've found. Chanel Dragon is probably the closest in terms of color, but is quite different with regards to formulation.

Native is actually my favorite of the bunch: it's one of the very few "nude" shades I've found that doesn't wash me out, and it works beautifully with dark eye looks. The shade is lighter and less pink than MAC Please Me, and is also cooler than Lipstick Queen Pink Sinner. It has replaced Lancome Sweet Embrace, which is similar in color, but ever-so-slightly lighter and a bit more beige. (I have to wear a gloss on top of Sweet Embrace to make it work for me.)

Naked is, as the name suggests, more peachy-beige than the aforementioned pinks.

So I would I recommend these lipsticks? To most people, yes. I don't think I'll go out of my way to get all of the bright shades, as I tend to prefer a more matte formulation for my brights. But the nudes are incredibly beautiful and seem to work well on my skintone, something I normally don't get to say. And despite the slight drying effect, the formula is generally comfortable to wear and provides plenty of color.

RATING: 4 out of 5.

Oh, and here's some bonus kitty-in-a-window!

 

Mini Mascara Reviews!

Mascara is one of my favorite makeup products. I know it sounds odd, me being such a lips-and-cheeks girl who rarely wears a lot of eye makeup. But it's because I wear so little eye makeup that mascara is so important to me: big, flirty lashes and well-groomed brows can make an otherwise bare eye look so polished and clean. So from time to time, I try four or five new mascaras at once to see if any of them can replace my Holy Grail: Prestige My Biggest Lashes.

Let me explain why I love Prestige MBL so much. One layer volumizes and lengthens without getting clumpy or spidery, and it still looks natural. But I can do two or three layers or pile it on top of a primer, like DiorShow Maximizer, for a super-dramatic, flattering look. It doesn't flake or smear. It just...works on my lashes.

And that's the important thing to remember: everyone's lashes are different, just like everyone's skin. You may love a mascara I hate. But just like with skin tones and types, it's easy to find a "lash twin." If one or two or my hits works for you, it's a decent bet that my misses would be misses for you as well. Not to mention, all mascaras make claims about what they do. We certainly want to see if they match up to those claims!

Eyeko Skinny Brush mascara retails for $19 at Sephora. It's advertised as a "conditioning mascara that adds length." The brush is, indeed, long and skinny, and the short, coarse bristles wine around the wand. The tube is certainly cool; it's a squeeze tube that you're supposed to be able to roll up to get every last bit of product. That's the only positive thing I can say. This brush DOES lengthen, but it bends my lashes and looks clumpy, spidery, and dry. The clumps are HORRENDOUS, even after I've scraped the brush off on the rim of the mascara tube and a piece of tissue. And conditioning? I wore this mascara for about 4 days straight, and it dried my lashes out. Not my thang, boo.

CoverGirl Clump Crusher mascara is a new addition to the popular Lash Blast line, and I got it for about $7.50 at Target. I bought it after seeing it on one of JoshCollierMUA's YouTube videos. It sounded like my kind of mascara, and sure enough, it was. I have seriously fallen in love with this stuff! The thick, slightly-curved rubber bristle brush applies plenty of product, but combs it through to prevent clumps, as per advertisements. The length is decent, the volume is WOW. The formula was slightly sticky for the first few days, but when it dried up, it was smooth and creamy. My only complaints: the water resistant formula is very difficult to remove, so just imagine trying to remove a waterproof version, and the clunky CoverGirl Lash Blast packaging is always a pain in the ass to get a good grip on.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume lifting mascara costs $22 at Estee Lauder counters. It claims to be ultra-light, lifting, and volumizing for even the finest, straightest lashes. And I can believe that: the formula is slightly thin, but not wet, and it applies to the lashes without any clumping or sticking. The cone-shaped bristle brush keeps lashes separated and makes it easy to apply mascara to your bottom lashes and the inner corner of your eyes. And it held a curl on my sister's babydoll, stick-straight lashes! I absolutely love this mascara, but not for a "bold" look; I think it makes my lashes look beautiful, but it's still very natural, not super-dramatic. The one issue is that it's a bit difficult to layer--it can start looking clumpy if you try and force it to look thick and dramatic. I have travel-sized versions of this mascara, and I always keep one in my purse!

Maybelline One-by-One was a surprisingly cheap mascara, costing me just $5.50 at Target. The brush is a HUGE, rubber oval with long, porcupine-like bristles. It claims to be "bold without the bulk," a mascara that adds plenty of volume without clumping up your lashes and maintaining a lot of separation. It definitely separates, and the length is very impressive. But the volume is just "okay." The formula is also quite wet and the brush is a tad difficult to handle. I always made a bit of a mess out of my eyelid with this one. I did get a smidge of flaking with this one, but nothing too extreme, just one or two flakes on my cheeks at the end of the day. Overall, it's a good mascara, but I won't repurchase; I greatly prefer CoverGirl Clump Crusher.

Urban Decay Big Fatty mascara retails for $20 at Sephora, but I got mine as a sample. Straight off the bat, the packaging for the sample is HORRIBLE: it's a plastic tube that you don't unscrew, you just yank out, and it makes a huge mess. The formula is quite thick and slightly dry; the brush is super-long and covered with very short bristles. It kinda reminds me of my mom's favorite round hair brush. I was hoping I'd love this mascara because the brush is so neat, but oh my GOD, it was AWFUL! It clumped my lashes, made them look spidery and dry, and flaked all over my face within a few hours. It claims to lengthen, hold a curl, and volumize like woah, but I found that it gave me very little volume and actually pulled out of some of my curl. As someone with naturally curly lashes, I have to say that I'm stunned. I tossed this right after photographing it.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide mascara is a $20 "treatment mascara" that's supposed to lengthen, define, and stay in place. The brush is what I would consider a "classic brush," very simple and basic. I got my sample in an Elizabeth Arden gift with purchase...THANK GOD. I am so glad I didn't spend money on this trash! The formula seemed promising--creamy and smooth, usually my favorite texture--but it was a pain to get it to comb through my lashes. It clumped like CRAZY, but didn't add much volume or length. It just...clumped. I wore this mascara three times, and I had to force myself to wear it the second and third time, because it flakes like CRAZY! Seriously, I've never used such a flaky mascara before! Again, this baby went straight to the trash.

Primers and Day Creams: a Comparison

A makeup artist friend of mine once said, "People with dry skin shouldn't use primers; sandpaper already clings to everything." It's generally true: makeup stays put on my mostly-dry face unless it's on my nose or my eyelids, which are completely oil slicks. But just because a person with dry, normal, or combination skin is content with how long their makeup wears doesn't mean that they don't have other concerns, namely, adding a bit of a youthful glow to their skin and providing it with some sun protection. I thought it might be helpful to focus on primers for non-oily-skinned people and dissect the findings like the anal-retentive mad scientist I am. Ratings are based primarily on how well they work for a dry-skinned person.

BRAND: Elizabeth Arden

PRODUCT: Let There Be Light Radiant Skin Lotion

PRICE & SIZE: $10-20 for 1.7 oz

AVAILABILITY: discontinued, but easy to find on eBay and in TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc.

SPF: 15
MOISTURIZATION: light
ABOUT: One of my all-time favorite skincare products, I actually keep an extra tube of this--still in the box and plastic--in the downstairs fridge. This product has a faint watermelon scent and smooths beautifully in to my skin without feeling greasy or heavy. The moisture level is light, so it would probably work for normal and combination skin as well. It's shimmery, but rather sort of "opalescent," and gives my skin a faint, natural glow. I use about two pumps of this day cream on my face and neck for no-foundation days, and sometimes I mix a pump with matte or demi-matte foundations for a sheerer, glowier finish. While I absolutely love this product, I have to mention that people with darker skin (N30-ish and up) have mentioned that this product gives them a white cast.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: under makeup; day cream; foundation mixer; dry, normal, and combination skin; fair to medium skin

.

BRAND: Urban Decay

PRODUCT: Complexion Primer Potion, Brightening

PRICE & SIZE: $31 for 1 oz

AVAILABILITY: repackaged formulation available at Urban Decay, Ulta, and Sephora

SPF: 0
MOISTURIZATION:  none

ABOUT: This product is a thin, off-white primer with a good slip that feels somewhat powdery to the touch once it sets. I know that it doesn't sink in to my skin because I can still feel it when I touch my face, but it's not heavy or sticky. It does, however, add a noticeable layer of shine to my skin that will shine through sheer foundation and/or concealer, and it also keeps my face makeup looking freshly-applied for a few extra hours. Because this product doesn't moisturize, I wouldn't recommend it to people with dry skin; any flakiness you have will still shine through. If you've moisturized beforehand or have skin that isn't quite as dry as the sahara, though, you'll be fine.
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: under makeup; normal, combination, and oily skin

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BRAND: Elizabeth Arden

PRODUCT: Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer for Face

PRICE & SIZE: ???
AVAILABILITY: appears to be discontinued, or only available in sets; can be found in TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc.

SPF: 15
MOISTURIZATION: light to medium

ABOUT: This cream feels luxurious and rich, but not the slightest bit heavy or greasy, which is a hard combination to come by. I find that it sinks in to my skin after just a few minutes. While moisturizing and silky, this product doesn't provide an actual glow the way Let There Be Light does, which makes it a bit less of an under-makeup wonder product for those of us with dryer skin. It's also a pain in the arse to find--I've only ever seen tiny bottles of it from sets or kits. It mixes down very well, however, which has made it a staple in my collection; I like to mix a dollop of this cream with some Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer to make the perfect tinted moisturizer. It's a worthy day cream for those of us with dryer skin (provided you use something richer at night) or as a night cream for people with normal to oily skin.
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: day cream; foundation mixer; dry, normal, and combination skin

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BRAND: MAC
PRODUCT: Strobe Liquid

PRICE & SIZE: $31 for 1.7 oz

AVAILABILITY: available at MACCosmetics.com
SPF: 0
MOISTURIZATION: light
ABOUT: Strobe Liquid was, unfortunately, a disappointment for me. For starters, I find the waxy Play-Doh scent rather off-putting. I also find that this product is more tease than result: it looks incredibly shiny on my fingers, but it's not even noticeable on my face, and it feels a bit dry and uncomfortable when I apply it. Because it's shiny on my palms, which are more "normal" than oily or dry, I would hazard to guess that this is a better primer for people with oily skin who maybe want a bit of a shine to show through their matte foundation. It's also an ok foundation mixer, especially if you want to make something like MAC Face & Body a bit thinner and ever-so-slightly less matte. I've heard of people using this as a highlighter on their cheekbones, down their nose, etc, but when I tried that, it wasn't even visible. If you're dry-skinned, consider the richer Strobe Cream instead; if your skin is oily, find a highlighter you love and use it at strategic points on your face.
OVERALL RATING: 2out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: foundation mixer; normal, combination, and oily skin

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BRAND: Shiseido
PRODUCT: Urban Environment UV Protection Cream for Face/Body

PRICE & SIZE: $30 for 1.8 oz

AVAILABILITY: available at Sephora and Beauty.com

SPF: 35
MOISTURIZATION: very light?
ABOUT: I used the "original" blue-bottle lotion for a full year in undergrad when I went make-up free, so I figured it'd be safe to try this new version in the richer, water-resistant cream formulation. Suffice to say that I've fallen back in love with Shiseido sunscreen! At first, this product is a bit off-putting; it feels "heavy" to the touch and when first applied, and it has a bit of a floral scent. It soaks in after a minute or two, though, leaving my skin feeling ever-so-slightly smoother and allowing my pores to breath. I don't know if this product REALLY moisturizes, but at the very least, it doesn't dry my skin out further, and that's saying something. It also provides a great canvas for makeup. People with normal or oily skin may want to skip this particular formulation for one of the thinner lotions instead, as those will probably soak in faster.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: sun protection; under makeup; dry and combination skin


 ;

BRAND: Eucerin
PRODUCT: Q-10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Lotion

PRICE & SIZE: $10-15 for 4 oz

AVAILABILITY: available at drugstores or Drugstore.com
SPF: 15
MOISTURIZATION: medium
ABOUT: This product is obviously the cheapest on the list, providing more ounces per dollar and hangin' around on drugstore shelves, but it's also one of the most effective, especially if you have dry skin and are mainly concerned with moisture. This slightly-greasy moisturizer feels a lot like a standard body lotion, but it's incredibly delicate. It's never made my sensitive skin break out in hives, and I've used it on cut-up hands without feeling any pain. It will take a good amount of time to soak in unless your skin is the dryest of the dry, however, and it has a slightly sunscreen scent, which limits its use as a makeup primer. Now that I use sunscreens or glowy moisturizers on an almost daily basis, I use this product as a hand cream instead, especially when I'm heading outside and want some sun protection.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: sun protection; day cream; dry and normal skin

Swap Haul

I have no idea why people are willing to swap with me. I always take FOREVER to send out my end. I get sick, work sucks my brains out, or--in the case of these past 2 weeks--HR makes a boo-boo and my direct deposit needs some fixin', leaving me with zippo money to send out packages. I'm JUST now sending out 2 packages. People have the patience of saints, I swear.

Regardless of my eccentricities, here are some lovely items I've received over the past 2 weeks from exceptionally sweet MUAers. There's some lovely new nail stuff: Revlon files, OPI toe separators (guess I have no excuse not to paint my toes now), some polishes, a great pair of lashes, mascara samples from Chanel and Anastasia, Urban Decay face and eye primer cards, and an itty bitty Benefit Pore-Fessional primer sample. I also received a lot of surprisingly nice skincare stuff by Clarisonic, Clarins, Burt's Bees, and Aveeno (this little bottle is going in my purse/work cargos!). The full-sized products include several Urban Decay sale items, which were an extra 20% thanks to Friends & Family: the Brightening Complexion Potion, YDK eyeshadow, and Confession lipstick. I also swapped for 2 pencils--Benefit D'Finer D'liner and a Shiseido corrector pencil in the lightest shade--and MakeupForever Uplight highlighter in #22.

Vanity: Sarah

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

Sarah, Chemistry Ph.D Student

Makeup ended up becoming a way that I could feel good about myself when I was struggling with classes and exams in an environment that is made to make you realize that you are not as smart as you thought you were.  I found painting my face with all sorts of colors and textures to be relaxing and something in my life that I had control over.  In highschool, I was the stereotypical art student, but I gave it up in the pursuit of chemistry.  While I may no longer be covered in clay and paint on a daily bases, makeup allows me to create something every day.

    I love the transformation of both applying makeup as well as removing it.  When I come home from a long day in the lab, there is no better feeling than removing my makeup and washing my face.  (Tangent: I believe that everyone should remove their makeup every night, and just washing your face doesn’t cut it.)  I have a very minimal routine that works for my non-finicky skin.  I've been using the Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes for a few years now and they get the job done. Then I wash my face with Cetaphil Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin. Last, I moisturize with Olay Sensitive Skin Beauty Fluid, which I've been using since I was in middle school. It's really the only product I've repurchased over and over.

 
 I've never used up a makeup product...I guess I should be ashamed of that, but I'm not. I've only really been using makeup for the past 3 years and don’t use the same products everyday.  I do feel guilty about some of my purchases, like the Guerlain Rouge G lipstick I've returned twice.  It’s a great lipstick, but I guess I just don’t think I can justify any $50 lipsticks.  We all have our limits, and it would seem that's mine. But I have spent over $50 on an Urban Decay eyeshadow palette with out a second thought, as it just seems a better value.




Most of my stash is made up of mid-end products with an equal smattering of high-end, indie, and drugstore goods.  I have to admit, I love packaging, and most drugstore packaging just isn’t as nice as high-end. But if a cheap product really is just as good as a high-end product (ie, Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadows), all the better! 

I love eyeshadow, and I love to depot my eyeshadows (with sufficiently not-pretty packaging)--it's like craft time for adults with fire! I feel the compulsion to have all of the eyeshadow colors and textures that exist. While others may be content with only one shade of a color, I want them all...and I'll use every single one of them. Iironically, most of my wardrobe is black. One of my favorite brands for bright eyeshadow colors is Sugarpill.  They make super bright and saturated eyeshadows that are such a pleasure to work with. I've also hit pan on another favorite, NYX Highlight. It’s the perfect matte yellow browbone highlight for me.  I also use it as an “eraser” if my crease color has gotten out of hand or if I've gone too far past the edge of my eye with a color.

Duochromes are some of my staples, eyeshadows like MAC Club, Urban Decay Fishnet, and my favorite, Fyrinnae Rapunzel Had Extensions. I've also discovered an amazing color shifting gloss, LORAC Vivid; it’s my favorite gloss in my stash.  It a smooth gloss that doesn’t get sticky or funny after you've worn it for a while.

I really dislike repeating myself.  I hate to do the same look every day; to me, that’s just boring.  There is nothing that I won't try at least once. I feel like people tend to forget that it’s only makeup and can be easily washed off.  Colored brows, mega-winged liner, strange shades of blush...why not? I love to search the internet for images of dramatic editorial and “un-wearable” looks and find ways to incorporate them into the everyday. I'm the type of person who likes to play, and playing takes time. If I had an hour to do my makeup every morning, I would somehow find a way to fill that entire hour.

Realistically, I tend to have about 20 minutes where I spread all of my colors and palettes out on my living room floor (where I do my makeup daily, as it has natural light) and try and put something together. Most days, I do try to paint my face in a manner that won't get me “spoken to” by my adviser. This doesn't mean "just taupe eyeshadow," more not coming into work with those purple eyebrows.
 

 
 
I also love to sew and to knit.  I've sewn everything from apparel to costumes, corsets to quilts. I like knowing that no one else has the exact same item I've made.  There's a lot of pride that goes into sewing and knitting items that are higher quality than what you can purchase in a store.  One of my favorite sewing quotes is: “pressing can be the difference between home-made and hand-made.” 

Also, I collect stuffed purple hippos. :D

This project is greatly indebted to the Top Shelf section of IntoTheGloss.com, which was my inspiration, and to every beautiful person who participates. This article has been slightly modified for clarity and length.