NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stain

I'm starting to like NYC New York Color a lot.  They have great swatches from eyeshadow to lip color.  I decided to try their lip stain.  I got the NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stain in Berry Long Time.  The product has a stiff applicator, just like a felt-tip marker from the good ole school days.  What I like about the color is that you can go from sheer to intense.

EOS Smooth Spheres

I have always been meaning to try EOS (stands for Evolution of Smooth) products for quite some time.  I read in one of my many magazines about this new drugstore line made of organic ingredients.  It's USDA approved organic, paraben-free, and contains shea butter and jojoba oil among other organic ingredients.  The lip balm-smooth sphere was just over $3, about a dollar or a little more than your usual choice of lip balm.  Am I the only one that thinks this was a play on the word "evolution" with the shape looking like an egg?

Couture Brushes

I spent a considerable amount of time this past weekend on a makeup shopping spree!  I got a few items from Target and CVS as well as from Urban Decay and M.A.C.  I needed a new powder brush for my bronzer.  I've learned a new technique to applying bronzer

Maybelline Volum Express Falsies

Maybelline Volum Express Falsies Mascara
Retail Price:  ~$8.00-9.00
Where To Find:  Local drugstores, such as CVS or Walgreens; Target; Ulta

Happy New Year!  Hope everyone had a wonderful time ringing in 2011!

I don't know wear mascara on a regular basis, but one thing I love about mascara is how much it can open up your eyes and intensify your look almost instantly.  I tried false eyelashes for New Year's (upcoming post), but because it took me a little while to get the hang of it (a couple re-dos :)).  It was fun to wear, and I do plan on perfecting the process.  In the meantime, while shopping at Ulta for the false lashes, I thought it would be wise to have a backup plan.  That's where Maybelline Volum Express Falsies comes in.  Luckily, on New Year's Eve, the false lashes application worked out, so I didn't use it then.

I've been the Falsies for almost a week now on a daily basis, since I don't have the time in the morning to spend putting on the false lashes.  For an everyday intensity of false lashes, I love Falsies!  I really does add volume to my very thin lashes.  Also, it doesn't clump!  It's spoon brush and flexible wand allows you to start the application closer to the root without poking your eye out.  And it's the keratin fiber formula that adds the volume/more lashes to your own lashes.  There you go, instant false lashes.  I've always loved Maybelline's great lash line, but their falsies line is becoming another favorite.  You can't beat the price either!

I think one or two coats is great for an everyday look.  An extra coat or two you'll get a more intensified look.

Don't forget to use a good eyelash curler!

I'll post some before and after pics later :)

Revlon Liquid Eyeliner Pen

Product: Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen 

Color: Blackest Black 001

Cost: $8.00-$9.00

Where to find: local drugstore, Target, Walmart

I have always been an eyeliner pencil girl.  Really, the liquid eyeliner scared me.  With pencils, if I make a mistake, usually I can use the tip of my finger, a Q-tip or a tissue to wipe it off.  Sometimes I just blend for a smoky eye look.  With liquid eyeliner, it seems so final..no room for mistake.  For one, you had to have a really steady hand to apply.  Two, if you made a mistake and you already have your eyeshadow applied, the only way to wipe off the mistake is to use a damp tissue or makeup remover.  You risk messing up your artwork.  Anyway, I used to stay away from those products.  

I bought Revlon's Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in blackest black, after a friend suggested it works really well.  I gave it a shot.  Again, I wasn't a fan.  It took twice as long to apply because I had to be careful not to make a mistake.  And frankly, I didn't have that kind of time with my work/school schedule.  Recently, I took a chance on it again.  Actually, I misplaced my staple black eyeliner pencil, and I was running late that morning for work.

I applied it and took a step back...it looked fabulous!!  In fact, this liquid pen gave me a bold, bright (and precisely outlined) eyes.  Also, it lives up to Revlon's colorstay feature.  One application lasted from about 6:45am to about 3:00pm.  Like the eye pencil, the good thing about the pen versus a liquid eyeliner in a pot is that it's easy to carry around in your purse if you need to reapply.  It took a couple tries before I got the hang of applying it in a timely manner.  Patience...is a virtue.

I've read that eyeliner pens tend to dry up, so you can't get many uses out of it compared to a pencil.  Plan on using a liquid eyeliner on a regular basis, or else it will dry up!

The New Workout Plan

And by plan, I mean a regiment to taking care of your face before and after workouts, dance practices, dodgeball games, hot yoga, etc.  We lose a lot of toxins, oils, and electrolytes during any physical activity, thus it's important to bring your body back to its normal states.  And that includes your face!

Use Neutrogena Deep Clean Sport Facial Cleanser.  Its leak-proof compact container allows you to throw it in your bag and not worry about spills or about taking up space.  It has a light, refreshing formula and does a good job at removing make-up before a workout and removing excess oils and such after a workout.  This cute, boxy leak-proof container holds about 60 washes!  This product is part of Neutrogena's new Sport cleansing line, so check out their wipes and body wash too!

After the face wash, I recommend a facial spray versus your moisturizer.  Even though you finished working out, the skin is still trying to return to equilibrium, which means the pores are still working to get rid of stuff.  Maybe you've noticed that even after you stop moving around and your heart rate is back to normal, you're still sweating.  After the face wash, you want to keep your skin hydrated and moist, but yet keep the pores open.  A facial spray does just that.  Clinique's Moisture Surge Face Spray Thirsty Skin Relief is my favorite right now.  The spray hydrates your skin with aloe (no oils!).  Also, this facial spray is good under your makeup should you need to powder up and look like you didn't just come from the gym or played flag football.

Tips

1.  Always remove makeup before you workout.  Really, you're at the gym!  If you're worried about how you look, you seriously aren't there to "workout".  Your skin will thank you later.
2.  This quick pre/post workout routine shouldn't replace your daily facial washing/moisturizing routine.  This is just a quick way to clean and hydrate your skin, so you look and feel refreshed!

True Blue Baby I Love You...

I've recently fallen in love with blue mascara.  I already wear black eyeliner as one of my staples for every day makeup, and, if time allows, I'll add some colored eye shadow.  However, I don't always have the time in the morning to play around with eye shadows.  So I needed a quick alternative to add a little color to my eyes.  Thus, began the search for the perfect blue mascara. 

I pretty much approached my search blindly, buying Buxom Lash Mascara Special Effect Blue Noir ($18 Sephora) (1) simply because it was the first blue mascara I saw in Sephora and it had this bright blue color which would be perfect for my dark eyelashes.  I really like the hour-glass shaped brush; it is able to reach almost all the eyelash hairs after two applications of the first coat.  Also, it's not made with too many chemicals, which I think adds to the lightness of the formula.  One major issue with this product was the smudging.  It holds up for a couple hours, but by the end of the day, I found that I had blue raccoon eyes (not the look I'm going for).  And the oddest thing was that the smudging on the bottom of my eyes was difficult to remove!  The blue color was only visible in certain lights.  Since I have dark eyelashes, I might as well have been wearing black mascara.

My next two purchases of blue mascara were more successful.  The first was Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara in Navy ($24.50) (2).  The color is pretty visible particularly at the tips of the eyelashes.  There was no smudging or clumping; and it lasts all day.  It is pricier than Buxom's, but considering the brand and being a top-rated mascara, it's a good buy.


Third's always the charm, right?  Maybelline's Great Lash Washable Mascara In Royal Blue ($4.49 Target, $5.29 CVS) (3) is the best one out there.  Clump-free; smudge-free; all-day wear; amazing color that is visible from the roots to the tips; and super cheap!!!  Maybelline's Great Lash line has actually won several Beauty awards from Allure, Teen Vogue, Essence, and Woman's Day; so for a drugstore product, it certainly has earned its place in the world of makeup and in my makeup bag :)
 

Tips

1.  Do not pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube.

2.  For a second coat, do not wait until the first coat is dry or else you'll get clumps.

3.  Whether the mascara is waterproof or not, after each full coat, wait 5-10 seconds before your first blink.

4.  Make sure the area around the eyes is oil-free to prevent smudging.

5.  When applying, use a zig-zag motion (left to right) starting at the roots in order to get maximum separation of lashes and to prevent clumps.
6.  Black mascara is a universal standard.  Definitely keep one in your makeup bag! (I'll have a post on my favorite black mascaras soon!)