Revlon Lip Butters

These brand new beauties from Revlon boasting an incredibly moisturizing formula are nearly impossible to find.  Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon a display of Lip Butters at Target that was surprisingly not yet picked over!  I narrowed my selection down to two and came away with the shades seen above: Berry Smoothie (left) and Raspberry Pie (right).  Isn't the diamond packaging just gorgeous?  They come in a fairly wide range of shades as well.

At this point, very few drugstore lipstick formulas blow me away, but Revlon is almost always an exception and the Lip Butters don't disappoint.  The texture is smooth and feels exactly like a slightly heavier lip balm, but has the pigment and color payoff of a lipstick, plus a bit of shine like a gloss.  Hello, miracle formula!  Revlon has nailed the best of all three worlds with these Lip Butters!  They'll be especially great for chapped lips in winter.  No wonder they're so hard to track down!  If you spot these, take advantage!  I'm sure I'll be back for more. 

Berry Smoothie

Berry Smoothie

Raspberry Pie

Raspberry Pie

 Berry Smoothie is subtle and is a perfect everyday lip color, or useful for when you're playing up your eyes.  It's definitely not a nude, but doesn't quite pack the visual punch that Raspberry Pie does, either.  It's my opinion that every lady needs a fuchsia lipstick shade in her beauty arsenal, so if yours is lacking, Raspberry Pie is a great one! 

Perhaps the best part of all, though, is the price.  These were just over $6 each at my local Target, practically a pittance for such a great product!  Lip Butters would make a lovely present for anybody who likes color on their lips, whether it's balm or gloss or lipstick.  Seriously, they're too amazing too pass up!  I've also seen them for sale at Walgreens but have yet to find them anywhere online.

Anyone else tried the Lip Butters yet?  Thoughts?

Exude Lipstick

It's safe to say that although I've tried nearly every sort of lipstick available these days, I've never tried one like Exude.  Everything about it from the formula to the applicator is a brand new innovation.  Rather than a traditional molded lipstick, Exude is a cream-liquid hybrid formula encased in a plastic tube applicator that resembles a classic lipstick.  This means no more melted lipsticks, no more messy breakages, and the angled tip never wears down!

There was a bit of a learning curve to use it, though.  At first I couldn't figure out which way to twist the tube to make the lipstick come out of the applicator.  And the formula took a little getting used to; it's way more glossy than what I normally wear, and it can get a little smeary if you apply too much.  But...

Once I overcame these minor hurdles (it didn't take long!), I fell in love with Exude.  It's available in nine different shades, but of course I tried Red, and I adore the color.  It's a perfect true red that flatters almost any skintone, and it's slightly mint flavored!  The color payoff is amazing.  And the glossiness is a great change that will be especially appreciated when lips start chapping this winter.  The white tube packaging is another elegant plus.  If you're a fan of lip gloss, definitely try this!  If you love lipstick, try it too!  It's become one of my go-to lipsticks for sure.

 

Full disclosure: Although this lipstick was sent to me gratis by Exude's very nice PR department, the opinions are, of course, my own.  And I'd never recommend a product I wouldn't pay for myself.

Fall 2011 Trend: Blue Period

NARS Fall 2011 Campaign

 It seems a little strange to start thinking about fall trends already, but if turquoise was a hot color for summer, this fall's color is a deeper blue.  More primary than midnight, this sapphire shade is popping up everywhere!  Only fitting, as sapphire is September's birthstone and the primary blue evokes back-to-school art supplies.  Perhaps it also has a bit to do with Kate's iconic engagement ring?

Wearing blue has benefits: it makes your eyes look brighter and your teeth looker whiter!  Throw on Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" and check out these true blue picks to stay on-trend this fall!

NARS released the fabulous bright blue shade Outremer for fall 2011; models for the campaign show you how to keep it modern and artistic (see first picture, above).  Other great blue shadows include Sugarpill's Afterparty, a metallic blue, and MAC's frosty Corn Flower pigment.  If blue eyeshadow is a bit much, try Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliner pencil in Deviant, a bright electric blue for a hint of color on your eyelids.  For the most subtle eye brightening trick, try a blue mascara like this one called Blue Noir from Buxom Lash!

Another simple way to wear the blue trend?  Nail polish, naturally!  Essie Mesmerize is a gorgeous primary blue and Sephora by OPI Midnight Mambo amps it up with chunky bits of glitter.

The easiest trick of all is Benefit's California Kissin' lip gloss; it has the slightest aqua sheen to make your teeth look extra white! 

Finally, pretty up your vanity with one of these beautifully blue packaged products.  Van Cleef & Arpels's Midnight in Paris perfume is decorated like the night sky and is one of the most gorgeous bottles I've ever seen.  And don;t forget your complexion!  This enzyme mask from Ole Henriksen is loaded with antioxidant rich blue-and-blackberries to keep skin young and glowing. 

So what do you think?  Will you participate in fall's blue makeup trend?  Which product would you most likely wear?  Let me know!

Beauty Bloggers Create Shades for MAC!

via

 Uhm, how cool is this?!  Nine beauty bloggers were recently approached by MAC to create a unique line of eyeshadows and lip glosses!  The Divine Nine visited the MAC lab in Toronto and each developed a signature shade.  This Bloggers' Obsession collection will be available exclusively online (how fitting!) starting June 21.

Lip Glass shades range from shimmery light pink to deep violet, and the four eyeshadows are Sparkle, Neely, Sparkle! (rusty brown with champagne sparkle), Jealousy Wakes (emerald green with teal and gold), Parisian Skies (subtle grey-blue), and Hocus Pocus (sooty grey with silver).

Each piece is priced at $14.50 and will only be available for a limited time.  I definitely plan to pick up at least one (I'm thinking Hocus Pocus); this collaboration is exciting and I want to support it!  Here's to future beauty blogger/cosmetic company collections!  Hopefully there will be many more to come.

Summer's Best Lips & Cheeks

Whether you prefer lipstick or lip balm, blush or bronzer, there's something on this list of summer's best lips and cheeks that's sure to please anyone!  From the latest lip balm/lipstick combo innovation to a mood-elevating violet scented blush, Applied Glamour's guide has got you covered.

Top row:
Bare Minerals Blush in Fruit Cocktail is the brightest, most vivid pink blush you'll find.  A little goes a long way, so this will last forever!  Orange is a hot color for lips this summer, so you'll be perfectly in style with Topshop's new Lips in Ohh La La.  For a softer, more subtle blush, try Almay's Smart Shade Blush in Pink Rose.  It has great buildable color and magically transforms to your ideal shade of pink!  Too Faced's Leopard Love palette has everything you could possibly want for your cheeks.  Blush, light bronzer, and a deeper bronzer all packed to look like leopard print! 

Middle row:
NARS Velvet Gloss lip pencil in New Lover is golden strawberry shade with amazing texture that's great all over your lips.  Since it's a pencil format, it won't melt in your bag when temperatures heat up!  New this season is MAC's Surf, Baby! collection of summery, beachy shades with lovely surf-inspired packaging.  Naturally Eccentric lustre lipstick is a great nude that will look perfect with a tan.  The latest and greatest lip product this summer is Pixi's Succulent Lip Twin in Pink Peony.  Inside the tube is a pigmented glossy lip balm, while the cap contains a mini lipstick for extra color.  Genius!  For a true gloss, try Korres Cherry Full Color lip gloss.  It's shiny without being sticky and formulated with vitamins C and E for extra moisture and protection. 

Bottom row:
Physician's Formula Happy Glow and Mood Boosting blush does exactly what the name describes.  Use this violet scented, heart bedecked, perfectly pink blush to brighten your complexion and your morning routine!  Sometimes in summer, tinted lip balm is the only sort of lip product that will do.  Burt's Bees just released a new tinted version of their cult favorite lip balm to keep your lips hydrated and smooth without weighing them down with too much product.  Finally, Bella Bamba is the latest to join Benefit's family of gorgeous cheek powders.  It's perfect for contouring sculpted cheekbones (or faking it!).

The Best Red Lipsticks (and how to wear them!)

No makeup item is more glamorous and show-stopping than red lipstick!  This is not for those who are shy; red is guaranteed to get you noticed (in a good way, of course!).  If you want to change up your look, wear something bold, and bring a little glamour into your life, red lipstick is the easiest and quickest way to do it!

Since red lipstick is so bold, it usually looks best if you keep the rest of your makeup relatively simple.  Black eyeliner and lots of mascara is all you really need!  False eyelashes work wonders if you know how to apply them (tutorial coming soon!).  If you want a little extra glam for evening, sweep a shimmery neutral eyeshadow all over your eyelid, and lightly blend a dark brown shadow into your crease.   

L to R: Revlon, MAC, Chanel, Dior, Urban Decay

Best Drugstore Red:  Revlon Super Lustrous Certainly Red
Revlon has the best red lipsticks of any other drugstore brand; all of them are great, but my favorite is Certainly Red.  It's a fantastic bargain and almost as good as MAC.  Almost.

Best Matte Red: MAC Russian Red
There's a reason this shade is a top five favorite of makeup artists, celebrities, and just about every lady who wears lipstick, period.  Gwen Stefani adores it.  Dita Von Teese swears by it.  Russian Red is just that good.  It's a color as legendary and flattering as NARS's Orgasm blush and definitely a red lipstick staple!  It stays put for ages, hardly fades, and delivers the most saturated color of any lipstick I've used.

Best Red Lipgloss:  Urban Decay Pocket Rocket
The packaging is kind of gimmicky (holographic boys! pheromones molded into the plastic tube!), but once you get past it, there are two amazing red lipgloss shades in this collection.  Eric is a true red, while Colin is a brilliant orange red (yes, the shades are named after boys as well).  The gloss is thick but not gloopy and the colors look amazing alone or layered over lipstick.  It's especially perfect if you want to try red lips but still keep the color sheer.

Best Red Lipstick Formula: Dior Addict Red Carpet
AKA the most hydrating lipstick you will ever wear.  It feels like lip balm and shines a little like gloss but lasts like a lipstick!  The light formula is fabulous for summer.

Best Red Ever: Chanel Rouge Allure Passion
Though all the lipsticks on this list are the best of the best, this is the one I wear most often!  It's not the first red lipstick I ever bought, but it's the first I fell in love with.  It's absolutely perfect.  The formula is a little waxy so the color stays forever, but isn't drying like matte lipsticks can be.  I like to dab and blot it on my lips rather than drag the lipstick across.  The packaging is unique and glamorous.  It's pricey but unbelievably chic and the color is marvelous!  It's like a little tube of elegance, I love it.  


Red Lipstick Essentials: Primer, pretty compact mirror, black eyeliner, false eyelashes!

Bonus!  Super cool outfit ideas for rocking red lips.

Lilly fancied herself a "goth" in high school and even though she abandoned the combat boots and stark white face powder years ago, she never got over her penchant for black clothing and serious footwear.

Julia's secret once-in-a-while weekend activity was to dress up, head to a coffee shop on the other side of town, and flirt in a faux-French accent with the cute guy behind the counter who made her caramel macchiato and thought her name was Angelique.

Carmen was named after the heroine of the famous opera, had an encyclopedic knowledge of British rock bands, and loved prowling for hidden treasures in record stores more than anything in the world.

Spring Pick: Hello Kitty cosmetics

I'll admit: I was not prepared to love these products.  Yes, Hello Kitty is wonderful and adorable, but I couldn't get over the cutesy packages occupying shelf space next to Make Up For Ever and Dior at Sephora.  How could this possibly be serious makeup?  I suspect the Sephora people must have gotten similar reactions from other customers, because soon they offered the Glittercute Eyeliner in Grape Soda as a 100 point perk free sample.  It's an awesome glittery purple shade and I've been in the mood to experiment with eyeliner, so I thought "Why not?" and redeemed for it.  You guys, I am now completely sucked into the adorableness of these Hello Kitty cosmetics.

The makeup is legit.  Since my foray into Glittercute eyeliner, I've been able to experiment with all the other products, too.  Everything in the line is subtle, shimmery, and ultra girly.  The colors are fun and pretty, and application is amazing.  With shade names like Pink Bow, Grape Frosting, Kimono, and Cupcake, it's all perfect for spring!  I'm particularly loving the Charmmy Eyeshadow Sticks, but what I've really got my eye on is the Say Hello Super Fun palette.  The eyeshadows are gorgeous purples and greys and the lipgloss is in a variety of unique colors.  Another standout is the super moisturizing Sweet Gloss.

What also sets this line apart from the Hello Kitty cosmetics I loved as a little girl is that they all contain fruit extracts like apple and grape seed oil to keep your skin amazing and healthy.  How fabulous is that?