Milani Moisture Matte Lipstick-- Matte Confident

  It's really hard for me to turn down a matte red lipstick, especially one by a brand as fabulous as Milani.  I've yet to meet a Milani product I didn't like and their lipsticks are particularly stunning.

  The new Moisture Matte spring 2015 lipstick collection is a set of eight matte finish shades.  There's a nice cross section of nudes and pinks, a fuschia, purple and orange, but only one bona fide red.  I found this rather odd, and initially disappointing, because it's a dark, dramatic ruby shade, cool and remote, not so easily accessible.  I would have, given the option, gone for a truer, more classic shade, but curiosity and the always fantastic price point ($5.99 retail) got the better of me.

Matte Confident-- Milani Moisture Mattes

LLPT's Best Beauty of 2014!

  

LLPT's Best Beauty of 2014

  Well, C's and my Christmas vacation is drawing to a close and before we both head off to work tomorrow morning, we will have devoured three boxes of chocolates in four days.  I'll get back on the workout bandwagon tomorrow, as well, but in the meantime, I'll just savor a breakfast (now lunch, lol) truffle or two.and tell you all about my favorite beauty products of 2014, both new launches and products I just discovered this year.

July Favorites and the Return of the Happy Caturday Poll!!

  Happy Caturday, guys and gals!!  August came in like a lion, lol, with a big night-long thunderstorm.  It's though to choose between watching a spectacular light show and sleeping, I must admit, but sleep sort of naturally won out.  It was wonderful to drift off to thunder rumbling, though... Just the coolest thing ever, electrical storms (as long as the lightening doesn't touch down).

  Anyhoo, July was a really fun product month as I discovered four products that I've been pretty much living in.

July Favorites-- L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector day/night cream, Butter London Ladybird, e.l.f. Tone Correcting Powder, Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking

Quick & Dirty Milani Bella Blue Lipstick Review

  Hi friends!!  For as long as I remember, I've been much more a lipstick gal than an eyeshadow one, and I can only trace this to my mom, whose lipstick stash rivals my own (and may exceed at this point).  Unlike her, though, I have this propensity towards blue lipstick.  You won't likely catch me running around in public with blue eyeshadow, but on the lips, it's a whole different story, and one that I can't explain.

  The last time I recall a mainstream brand releasing a blue lippy was L'Oreal in the mid to late '90s with Blue Mood.  I don't remember much about it except that it didn't translate on the lip like I'd hoped it would, like it wasn't blue enough, so I got rid of it.  I think about it often, lol.  When I saw the first press releases for Milani's limited edition summer collection, Bella Blue, and that it included a blue lipstick, I got all excited and couldn't wait to get my hands on one.

Milani Bella Blue lipstick

Milani Spring Lips & Tips

  

  Hi friends!!  Do you ever feel like there are some brands that absolutely would not show up on your radar, were it not for beauty blogs?  Milani is one of those for me, despite its fairly prolific drugstore status.  I've used a couple of their core nail polishes and I adore their holos from a couple summers ago but I've never really delved into their full lineup.  My friend Dani of From Polish, With Love convinced me that I need some of Milani's Spring 2014 polish collection in my life (check out her full collection review HERE; it's seriously THE prettiest set of the season).  I decided I'd try out one of their highly regarded blogger-darling lipsticks, too.

Happy Caturday Poll and February Favorites

  Happy Caturday, all!!  I don't really tend to purchase a ton of makeup during any given month, and my polish buying has really tapered off, too, but I kind of went a little crazy during February (for me, anyway, lol).  So, I thought I'd tell you what I've really been enjoying this month (reviews imminent!).

Battle of the Matte Red Lippies!!

  Hi everyone!!  One of my new year's resolutions was to start trying a little harder to look put together.  It's been a wonderful thing to feel free enough to show up any and everywhere sans makeup and there's a lot to be said, I think, for feeling comfortable, beautiful, even (though I never really got that far, lol) just as you are.  But, I've felt ready to step it up a little and have some fun with color again.  Besides, I was starting to really miss my red lips.

#radiantorchid Ulta Super Shiny Lip Butter Chicago

  Hi all!!  It's a winter wonderland around these parts, like I know it is for a lot of you.  Once a year we get a fairly decent sized snow storm in here in OR and yesterday we got something like 6 inches... I wasn't one who brought out my ruler to measure it, nor did I pay attention to the folks on facebook who posted shots of their own rulers in the snow, and I don't really pay attention to the local news, lol, so really, I'm just speculating.
  Anyhoo, a couple weekends ago, when it was merely cold without being precipitous, Candice of Mommy Does Her Nails and I got together for another one of our brunch/shopping dates.  I was on the lookout for a Pantone Color of the Year-named radiant orchid lip color and I nearly left Ulta empty handed, which was odd.  As we were in line to check out (she found some polishes to take home) my friend noticed a couple Ulta Super Shiny Lip Butters in one of those rounders they keep up front so you can find even MOAR goodies you can't live without as you wait to be rung up.  At the price ($8 regular but I got it on sale for $4), it was worth a small risk and the color in the tube, a warm, medium toned purpley mauvey pink, was decidedly more orchid than anything their prestige lines had to offer (also odd).  And you know what?  It totally works!  The beauty of this year's color is how inclusive it is-- it encapsulates orchid purple as well as bright and deep magentas, and I wanted something sort of true for my lips.  The color is Chicago and it's gorgeous and wearable.

e.l.f. Matte Lip Color Rich Red

Hi guys and gals!  I got a few comments regarding my red lips on my recent Wantable box review and I've actually had the photos done for a while, it's just taken me a while to get the post up.

It seems drugstore brand e.l.f. has taken the beauty community by storm, thanks to nice products, spare, chic packaging, and a really low price point.  I first learned of this potentially fantastic matte red lip pencil here, via Eating Lipstick.  Target is the only store around me that carries e.l.f., and it's not in a terribly convenient location but when Mommy Does Her Nails and I were out galavanting around a few weeks ago, we ended up at Target and I decided it was time to give this color a go.

The packaging is long, narrow, and satiny and the color on the end is a fair indicator of what the actual color looks like on-- at least, in this case it is.

To wear Rich Red, I prepped my lips as I always do when wearing red-- exfoliate lightly with the edge of a damp washcloth, line and fill in with a clear liner.  Because of the matte factor, I used a tiny bit of EOS lip balm to aid in slip.

 I'm a hunka-hunka burnin' love, behby.

Rich Red is a cool toned blue-red.  As it turns out, this formula glides on quite nicely and behaves all the way around like a matte-creme hybrid, rather than a true matte.  The thin pencil design makes it remarkably easy to apply a precise line (right corner o' the mouth notwithstanding, lol).  Because this isn't a true matte, it doesn't have quite the staying power (still decent, though, to be certain), but it also doesn't dry my lips out as much as, for instance, the true matte red MAC Ruby Woo.  Rich Red is actually a nice, lower maintenance, and lower cost alternative with a nearly identical finish and vibe.

I'm smiling because I'm listening to Rush, and also because I just got back from the salon and my hair looks fabulous.  Believe me when I say it hasn't looked that good since. :/

The only complaint I have about this lip color is the size.  The packaging's quite inefficient for the color itself, which measures about half a centimeter in diameter and about two inches in length.  That's pretty small and makes the great price seem like somewhat less of a bargain.  Even so, it's an affordable, classic, wearable red with a nice formula and a nearly matte finish. 

I bought e.l.f. Matter Lip Color in Rich Red for $3 at Target.

Thank you for reading and have a loverly day!! ♥ 

Butter London Lippy Tinted Balm Strawberry Fields

*press sample

Hi everyone!  The Butter London Rock Your Colour subset I've been most excited about is the Lippy Tinted Balm collection.  Like the cream blushes, there's something for everyone in the Balms, whether you're into a classic, minimal, or more colorful look.  It's a full spectrum lineup with a peach, nude, pink, rose, wine, and red shade.  I'm stoked to be able to try the red one, Strawberry Fields.

In my experience, tinted balms are very sheer and deliver a wash of color while being adequately moisturizing.  The cool thing about Strawberry Fields is that it's more pigmented than your average balm, so it feels and looks like a medium coverage lipstick with the slip and moisturization of a balm.  The bullet is very soft.  Mine leaned off its base a little with my first swipe, at room temperature.  This seems to be par for the course, as the same thing happened to Gotham Polish and I couldn't help but notice The DIY Lady's tube is a little off center, as mine is.  Just an observation... don't swivel it up too far and be careful to not use too much pressure.

Strawberry Fields is a super creamy warm red with a hint of pink and a touch of brown and the combination truly make the shade reminiscent of a ripe, juicy strawberry.  The peek-a-boo factor gives this a great summer feel but also makes Strawberry Fields a nice, not so dramatic everyday red.  If you've always wanted to try a red, but have been intimidated by the boldness, this is a great place to start.  For a balm type, the color is long lasting and the moisture is satisfying.  I do like reapplying this every four hours or so but it does leave a pretty stain on lips for an even more undone, casual red lip look, no liner necessary.  It's got a subtle vanilla scent, too.

 Action shot, paired with BL Cheeky Cream Blush in Naughty Biscuit and a workout top.  I don't often exercize in my makeup... but when I do, I wear Butter London. 

Strawberry Fields is available for $20 at Ulta and on butterlondon.com.  Like Butter London on facebook to stay abreadth of specials and new releases.

Thanks for reading and have a lovely day! 

*press sample

MAC Ruby Woo

Happy Sunday, friends!!
It's recently come to my attention that every self-respecting red lippy lover ought to have the iconic MAC Ruby Woo in his or her lineup.  Three nights ago I'm pretty sure I had a dream about it, and the next morning, I left for work early so I could stop by Nordstrom and pick myself up a tube.

Apparently MAC lipsticks are quite beloved, as are MAC products in general?  I dunno.  I've always stayed away because the counter is super crowded whenever I've gone in.  This Ruby Woo is supposed to be a perfect for all skintones retro matte blue-red (see packaging, lol), and I've been on the lookout for a red lippy that's matte on its own (no blotting/reapplying, lather, rinse, repeat, etc.).  Matte apparently equals not creamy at all, and this neither looks creamy nor feels it going on.  In fact, it's a rather pain in the neck little lipstick, but if you do it right and have a little patience with it, it looks pretty amazing.

 

First, because this stuff is so matte, you'll need to exfoliate your lips before applying, every time (I'm good with a dampened tip of a washrag).  Lining is necessary, as with 99.9% of reds.  I use a clear liner, which simply acts as a shield to prevent bleeding.  I generally don't like applying balm under my reds because it tends to sheer out the color.  Balm is perfectly acceptable and even advisable here-- I like the EOS balms because they provide good moisturization with minimal shine and greasiness.  Ruby Woo will absorb it anyway, but it helps the color to glide on a little more smoothly.  This lipstick is very dry.  The dryness makes precise application straight from the tube a little difficult and I'd recommend a lip brush to line your lips after you've done your base liner (in fact, I'm officially in the market for a good lip brush, incidentally, lol).  Be careful with touchups, as well-- too many layers of this will cause the pigments to glom together and look cakey, in which event, you'll need to start fresh over with your application.

Boromir gets it.

Did I mention it's vanilla scented?  I'm honestly not sure how much I'll be reaching for this one.  It's totally novel right now and the matte looks deliciously pinup, but it is so. high. maintenance.

Here are my pros and cons.

Pros

• I LOVE the finish.  It's pinup perfection.
• The blue-red shade is flattering and easy to wear.
• The light vanilla scent is a nice touch.
• At $15, the price point for Ruby Woo is better than a lot of high end lipsticks.
• Ruby Woo is part of MAC's core collection and easy to find.

Cons

• This takes time, patience, and preparation to apply properly.
• The vanilla scent is a little too sweet some days (not a pro or a con, really, just kind of there). 

Thanks for reading and have a beautiful day! ♥

  

Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids Infra-red

Hi friends!  You've probably heard something about the Maybelline Vivids line of lipsticks.  There's a core line of 10 different shades, plus a 4-color limited edition lineup for this spring.  It was here that I found the gorgeous and daringly bright red creme, Infra-red.

All Vivids come in the same packaging-- a clear, bright red-orange case with a silver tube.  I love the simplicity and the fun look of it.

The color in the tube is a very creamy looking true red.  See that mashed tip?  Got to love it when that happens.  This is my backup tube.  I love this limited edition color so freakin' much that I had to go hunt down a backup, and when I finally found one, the tip was smooshed.  Usually this means I'll pass, but I checked no less than four stores for this color so when I found it, home with me it went. ;)

Infra-red has a slightly sweet, waxy scent to it, something I like to refer to as the lipstick scent.  Certain Estee Lauder lipsticks have a similar scent to them, and I just love it.  It makes application a multi-sensual experience, slightly old school and very glamorous.

Application is creamy and dreamy.  I've stopped using balm under most my lipsticks, and I'm happy to report that this formula is so moisturizing that I don't miss it.  Infra-red glides on beautifully and is opaque within a few swipes.  Some gals report not having to use a liner with these Vivids.  I've tried it once (not shown in the photos) and this color is definitely not as prone to bleeding as a lot of reds, but I prefer a more precise line.  I used my clear liner go-to, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Ozone.

Wear time is great, too.  This lasts a decent four hours in terms of moisture and color; I can wear it through my morning tea and not have to reapply.  It's got minimal staining as far as reds go, which is no big deal when the color and creaminess last as long as they do.  This makes taking it off at night a breeze.

Aaand, here's my full look (yes, it is a self portrait in my car.  Don't judge. lol.)  I absolutely love this color.  It's the perfect creamy '40s pinup red and can be blotted, reapplied, and blotted again to a more matte finish.  I love how bright it is for spring and how classic it looks with so much of my wardrobe.  I'm thinking a third tube is in order. ;)  The Vivids retail for around $7.49 where Maybelline products are sold.  Incidentally, my favorite chain just restocked the four LE colors, Infra-red included, so if you're interested, grab one (or three) while you can.  Here's my final word.

Pros

• Simple, fun packaging
• Pleasant soft, slightly sweet lipstick scent
• Easy application and minimal to no bleeding, with or without lipliner
• Super creamy and moisturizing formula
• Decent staying power
• Beautiful, versatile, and classic color
• Easy to remove
• Good price point at around $7.49

Cons

• The case color might be misleading.  Most of Maybelline's lip collections come in color coded tubes, but the Vivids don't.  Check the bottom label for a color indicator.
• Better yet, open the thing up.  Nope, these are NOT sealed.
• This one is LE, so unless Maybelline makes a decision based on popularity, once this one's gone, it's gone.

There's lots to be seen and read on the Vivids line in the blogosphere.  Any color in particular call out to you?

Thanks for reading, and have an amazing day!! ☼

Maybelline Color Whisper Who Wore It Red-er

My mission to find my perfect sheer red lippy led me to Maybelline's Color Whispers line.  Who Wore It Red-er looked to hold the most potential, and I was highly confident that my search was complete.  The company says it's  "Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel.  No heavy waxes or oils.  Soft, sexy gel-color."  Sounds like a slam dunk, to me.

Color Whispers come in a narrow case with packaging fairly indicative of the color inside, and I didn't realize just how indicative until I had the color on my lips.  If you see a bright blue-pink rather than a true red, you'd be correct.  I was not.

I love the size of the actual color stick, which is a little less than 1/2 inch in diameter.  It's just right for my lip size.  

I've never tried a gel based lippy.  MAC and Laura Mercier have gel lines out, but to the best of my knowledge Maybelline is the first drugstore company to carry such a line.  With nothing but bare lip underneath, Who Wore It Red-er glides on superbly.  Apparently, this is called "good slip".  It feels smooth and moisturizing going on, but the moisture doesn't last.

indoor, flash

outdoor, shade

As the tube indicates, this is not a true red, if it can be called red, at all.  The color on Maybelline's website is highly inaccurate.  Who Wore It Red-er is a sheer, cool raspberry with a lot of gloss.  The gloss wears off quickly as well, but it leaves lips with a lovely stain (one of my favorite things about reds is the stain they leave behind as they start to wear off).  It's got a bit of a tendency to settle into fine lines, and I found that balm underneath doesn't help-- this is best worn by itself.

Bottom line, it's a nice color, but the search continues.  I see myself wearing Who Wore It Red-er a lot this summer, when I'll stash my beloved cremes in favor of light and sheer.

Now I'm going to try something new.

 Pros

• Great slip; this color glides on like a dream and makes application pleasant and easy.
• The sheer gel formula combined with red pigmentation means good color payoff with no bleeding; no additional lip products required to make this look good.  Another low-maintenance bright!
• This color is a perfect bold, bright, and classy color for the lighter makeup days of summer.
• The size of the stick is smaller and fits my lip size nicely.
• The price is very reasonable, at $5.99 a pop.

Cons

• There's not a lot of moisture to this.  It's there in the beginning but wears off quickly, making frequent application necessary.
• It's not red.  Neither the name nor Maybelline's website indicate this.  Pay attention to the color of the casing, and know that it's going to come off even less red on the lip.

So there you have it!  Feedback on the pros and cons thing is most welcome.  I feel like it's a little wordy and maybe redundant, so please let me know if you have an opinion.  Thanks for reading and have a beautiful day. ♥♥

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Red Velvet

I've been on a couple different missions lately, one of which is to find the perfect sheer red lippy.  Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet isn't it, but it has become my favorite go-to, every day red.

 I just love the quilted packaging on these things.

Obvi, I've used this a few times :) The Lip Butters are great because of how moisturizing they are.  I've been using a couple of the lighter shades off and on for the past year and my only issue is the longevity, but Red Velvet doesn't have that problem-- maybe because of the red pigmentation.  It's super moisturizing AND long lasting-- a red I don't need to wear balm underneath.  Beautiful.

Red Velvet is a darker, bluer leaning shade of red with an ever-so-slight provocation towards brick.  It's a great, wearable daytime red because it is very slightly sheer with a touch of gloss.  It does require reapplication throughout the day, but as the glossiness fades from each wear, it leaves lips with the prettiest stain.  Application is great.  I've learned to use a clear pencil under all my reds, but as I reapply this during the day, I don't keep up with the liner and I don't get any bleeding.  It's the most perfect, low maintenance red I've tried.  It makes me want to put a gigantic dollop of cream cheese frosting on it and take a bite, too.

 So, the mission continues for a nice, sheer red but I'm stoked to have Red Velvet in my life ♥

What about you?  Got any favorite Lip Butters?  or a rec for a sheer red?

Thanks for reading! 

Max Factor Fotd!

Good morning!  My UK hookup/awesome uncle got a free gift with purchase when he bought me my last batch of Max Factor nail polishes.  It's a holiday look set complete with a full size lipstick, eyeshadow, and nail polish (full size for Max Factor is mini for anyone else, but that's okay) and a mini mascara.  This is the look I've been sporting the past couple days.

Clockwise from center, Max Factor Glossfinity in Angel Nails, Earth Spirits shadow in Terra Firma, lipstick in Lilac Wine (isn't that the prettiest name?), and Masterpiece mascara in black.

Lilac Wine is a light, mauvey lilac with gold shimmer.  It's not a color I'd ever choose for myself but looked really promising, so I was really excited to try it on.  It ended up being a little on the frosty side, and while I love a good frost on my nails, that's where it should stay.  Still, it's a pretty enough color and had decent staying power.  Of course, I had to reapply after lunch, but I didn't find myself completely bare-lipped after I finished my afternoon tea.

  The wand for Masterpiece mascara is one of those rubbery things that seem to be all the rage, at least amongst drugstore cosmetics.  I'd never tried a wand like this, and it doesn't look terribly full to me, and since I'm all about volumizing, I didn't hold much hope for this.  I ended up loving it, though.  It separates and lengthens so beautifully, doesn't flake off, even with my oily skin, and isn't terribly uncomfortable at the end of a long day.

I didn't take a closeup of the shadow, so sorry....  Terra Firma is a red based brown matte shadow, plain and simple.  The suggestion on the little insert paper says to use your fingertips to really press this color in, which I assume is because it's not overly pigmented.  I used a brush on day two and found the payoff to be just as good with a prettier, softer effect.  They suggest you line your eyes with this, too, so that's what I did.

The jury's still out on this one.  It highlighted my eyes nicely enough, but the red based brown isn't the most flattering shade on me.  The formula's nice, though, with little fallout.

This is Angel Nails, a silvery gold foil with a hint of rose that didn't come out to play here but really surprised me when I moved into certain light yesterday.  It's not an original color, but it is pretty and works well with the rest of the look.  Glossfinity claims to last seven days, and so far we're on day two with no tipwear.  This is particularly impressive on my nails at this length, which generally do not like to hold color for over 24 hours.  Formula is typical max Factor thin with a great application.  I used three coats.

Aaand, here are some shots o' the full look :)

 The best self portraits are taken while making a face.  This is not saying much.

Day two.  See how much nicer the shadow looks when I've got a brush to apply with?

One with the nails. 

The whole idea is a soft focus, natural and understatedly festive look, which is definitely accomplished.  It's a pretty little set and while the lip and eye colors aren't my cup of tea, it was fun to fall for a new mascara and fun to try a polish beyond their Special Effects line.

Thanks for reading and have a lovely day :)

Fun With Butter London Lippies

Hi, guys and gals!  I've got to say these Butter London Lippies have been some of my favorite things this year.  I've always been more of a lipstick rather than gloss gal, but the idea of wearing my favorite polish colors on my lips just sounds totally cool. 

As soon as Butter London's fall lineup of lippy and polish sets was introduced, I knew I had to have Come to Bed Red, to complement my favorite red polish.  Along with the more traditional color, though, came some matching glittery lippy sets, and I decided to be a little adventurous and take a chance on West End Wonderland.

 So this is Come to Bed Red.   It's a really difficult thing to apply properly and looks much better not so close up.  Here's my current facebook profile self-portrait. 

Come to Bed Red is killer, gorgeous, and Christmas party perfect, until it starts to bleed all over the place.  Yes, if only it had stayed put all night, like after I took those rollers out....  I dusted my lips with powder before I applied it and it still made a mess by the time dinner was served.  How do you keep red gloss from doing that?  Maybe I should try a lipliner with this thing.  I absolutely adore this color but it is such a pain in the neck that it nearly makes it not worth wearing.  

Here's West End Wonderland, a pale gold gloss with red flecks.  Kind of funny by itself, but it smells nice-- it's got a pleasant kind of cherry vanilla scent to it.

I don't get it?  Maybe I'm just not fashion forward enough, or maybe it needs a really extreme eye to go with, and I don't do extreme eyes.  I did, however, think it would be kind of pretty over a blotted down Come to Bed Red.

I like it!  The red brings out the gold sheen and West End Wonderland looks like I think it's supposed to, festive and shimmery, rather than ghastly with a sprinkling of red glitter.  I think I might wear it to work. 

If you're wondering about formula, these lippies are thick, pigmented, and longlasting, more akin to a lipstick than a gloss in some ways.  They're glossy, but not as slick and not as sticky.  Lippies are available for $17 by themselves, and selected colors are $25 in gift sets with their matching polish through Butter London's website and at Ulta.

Two more things.  Thank you to you gals who shared your thoughts and feelings on the troubling events of the past week with me.  Sharing is good and talking it out is good.  You gals are cool. <3

Aaaand, my Merry Max Factor giveaway has ended, the winner chosen, and contact has been made :) Congrats Stephanie H., your package WILL go out today (only because the p.o. was closed on Saturday...). ;)

Thank you for reading, and have yourselves a beautiful day. :)