Bright Lips: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in 'Unapologetic'

After my love affair with the Revlon matte balm in 'Elusive,' (Click!) I knew I had to get another one of these bad boys for my upcoming trip to Las Vegas! I bought this really pretty white dress that I thought would be PERFECT with a matte neutral eye and a bright ass lip because hey, its Vegas. Let's get obnoxious. In comes the color 'Unapologetic:'

Rather than go with a rather obvious red lip, I thought a bright pink would be a fantastic way to bring some brightness to my look. I love wearing pinks but I can never quite pull off fuschia. This shade Unapologetic is far more orangey-red pink rather than purpley pink and I'm in love!

Just like the shade 'Elusive,' this color goes on super smooth and is so comfortable on the lips (such a surprise for a matte balm!). There is a pleasant mint smell to the lip crayon that I really enjoy and kind of makes my lips feel a little tingly upon application.

This product definitely isn't a stain, however it is plenty long-wearing and lasts through eating and drinking with out smearing or feathering! That's my kind of makeup: no fuss please!

I might be having another affair with a lip product...and I'm completely unapologetic  about it....oh snap!

xxSJ

My Fave Eye Cream: Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

I never really thought I'd be the type of person who would be into eye creams...they just seem so bourgey and meant for old people! All my naive preconceptions changed when I started using the Origins GinZing (Zing!) Refreshing eye cream a couple months back.  This little potion is meant specifically to refresh tired or puffy eyes as it is formulated with caffeine, ginseng, and natural brighteners.

My favorite thing about this eye cream is that it has a really pretty pearlescent quality to it. I think that is what helps the most with refreshing and brightening my tired looking eyes. Especially in the Summer months when I get dehydrated easily and can wake up hot and puffy, this cooling and hydrating eye cream does an amazing job at de-puffing my undereye area and livening up my skin a little bit. My boyfriend lovingly refers to this as the 'magic de-puffer' since he's used it on particularly puffy days as well!

I don't really care for the smell of this product... it just kind of smells like plants. It's also a bit expensive at $30 for 0.5oz of product, but just a tap of this product on your undereye area is enough to get the job done so this should last you!
This is the first eye cream I've ever tried and used regularly so perhaps I'm approaching this topic with out a lot of knowledge but I really like this stuff. Origins is also a great brand that focuses on using ingredients from the earth that will work with all skin types. The less chemicals I have to put on my skin, the better! I think I might try a different eye cream when I run out of this just to broaden my horizons a bit but I may very well come back to this in the future!

xxSJ

Youtube Favorite: Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in 'Nude'

This product has been so hyped by some of my favorite beauty girls on youtube its unreal! It is the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eye Kohl in the color nude.  Now you might be wondering, 'A nude eyeliner??? What the heck are ya supposed to do with a nude eyeliner??' Well let me tell you, not much. The purpose of nude or light colored eyeliners is to make your eyes look bigger by tightlining your upper lash line or lining your lower waterline. The nude color makes your lids kind of blend in with your eyeballs and creates the illusion of bigger, brighter eyes.

The concept is awesome and I've found it really does work. When I want to create the illusion of big and bright eyes, I usually just dab some light shadow on my waterline and it does the trick.  A pencil would be so much easier than precisely tapping shadow onto my lid, so I gave this product  a shot.  

This product is inexpensive at only $4. When I swatched it and played with the color it was very creamy (important for eye products! You don't want to have to pull on your delicate eye area too much if a product is too stiff!) and had nice pigmentation.

When I applied this to my waterline, I noticed it went on smoothly and gave that brightening effect that its supposed to create.
HOWEVER. Less than an hour later, this product was completely GONE. This is not a waterproof product because the wetness of my own eyes removed this right away from my eyeline. I know that the waterline is a tough area to maintain color or products, but its doable. This product unfortunately just doesn't get the job done. It might work for photos since it gives an immediate but short effect, but for day to day wear, this won't be a staple for me.

I'm so disappointed! I always feel kind of duped when a product is recommended by multiple people and it just doesn't work for me. It feels like a terrible joke.

I'll just have to stick with using my good old fashioned light eyeshadow in the waterline trick if I'm looking to create that doe-eyed effect!
xxSJ

NOTD: Orly 'Rage'

Orly's 'Rage' nail polish is metallic done right! I love this rose gold polish because unlike other metallics I have used, this polish manages to give the gorgeous metallic, foil-like finish with out highlighting brush strokes, ridges on the nails, and other imperfections. This polish is simply perfection and is my vote for best Rose Gold polish! 

Pretty!
Orly nail polish is pretty cool because it is the same price as OPI, China Glaze, or Essie but you get a lot more product in the bottle! This stuff is easy to apply and lasts chip-free for days. I have found Orly at Bed Bath and Beyond and Ulta for about $8 a bottle.

xxSJ

Life on a Budget: Essence Eyeshadows

Do any of you have a color that catches your eye and you're just drawn to it? For me, its peach.  I spotted this peach eyeshadow on the Essence display and racked my mind for what I've heard about Essence eyeshadows in the past. I couldn't remember much, but these shadows are only about $2 a pop so I figured I'd live a little and buy the peach shadow along with a pretty taupe to go with it!

The packaging is clear acrylic which is great for seeing the color inside. These containers are kind of hard to open which is fine by me because I hate it when eyeshadows or powders pop open on their own! I don't want anything denting my shadows or shadow cracking and going everywhere!

The taupe shadow is a metallic shade called 'Party All Night' and the peachy color is a shimmery color called 'Peach Beach.' 

The designs printed on the shadows are kind of space or futuristic looking to me! I noticed that the Party All Night shade had a bit of a metallic spray to it that came off when I swatched it. It seems as you get past the first layer of this shadow it will be less of a metallic finish. I didn't notice this overlay on the Peach Beach shadow.

Here are the shadows swatched with a primed wrist! They are very pigmented as you can see! I'm a bit disappointed with the Peach Beach color as I thought you would be able to see more of a peach or pink hue. It definitely shows up as a gold!  These shadows are apparently two different finishes according to the back of the 2.5g containers. The taupe is a metallic finish while the peach is holographic. I really didn't notice a difference between the consistency or finish to the shadows though.

I used the Peach Beach all over my lid and placed the Party All Night color on my crease. The colors show up much more subtle when you use a brush to apply them. It was a very pretty and neutral look that I think would be far more intense and metallic if you used your fingers to apply these.  These colors lasted all day on my lids with no creasing over the top of UD Primer Potion.

Overall I'm really pleased with these inexpensive eyeshadows!  Peach Beach was on sale for $1.29 while Party All Night was $2.29. I could see myself reaching for these multiple times as I like the look they gave my eyes. Party All Night also looks like one of those colors that can be swept all over the lid and crease on its own but still look like you used multiple colors for your look. I love lazy day colors like those!

I am a happy camper with my new shades!

xxSJ

Spotlight on: MAC Lovelorn Lipstick

Things I don't need more of: Nail polish, eyeshadow, pounds on my body, high-heels, scarves...and lipstick. Sometimes, though, you have a bit of a relapse and you need to just shove a cupcake in your mouth...ooooooor wander into the MAC store. Go ahead, judge me.

Are you done? Good. On with the lipstick lovin'!  

Sometimes when I wander into MAC, I know immediately what I'm leaving with because there is a product that I just can't stop touching and I'm drawn to like a helpless little insect to a bug zapper. This trip, it was Lovelorn lipstick. It just looked so perfect and pretty among all the other beautiful MAC lipsticks that I couldn't keep my hands to myself! 

Lovelorn is a bright mauve-pink. It is a couple shades darker than MAC Angel/Maybelline Lust for Blush/Revlon Primrose and far more saturated with color. It is a lustre finish which is my favorite finish of lipstick. The color glides on easily, doesn't settle unfortunately into fine lines, and wears for plenty of time with out smearing everywhere. It also fades nicely and evenly instead of patchy or leaving a lovely rim around the edges of your lips.  

This color is actually really similar to the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in 'Elusive' (Pictures!), except instead of a matte finish, this lipstick has a nice sheen to it. This lipstick won't stand up to eating and drinking as well as the matte balm does, but it will have a different, more glossy finish. 

It's so pretty and I'm so happy with this purchase! I think this will definitely get its fair share of use in the coming months.

MAC lipsticks are $16 per tube. Though expensive compared to drugstore prices, MAC lipsticks are far cheaper than other high-end brands you may find at Sephora such as NARS ($26 per tube), BITE Beauty ($24 per tube), or YSL ($34 a tube). I think a MAC lipstick is worth it if its a color you'll get some wear out of.

xxSJ

My Top Lip Products for Springtime

Time to wrap up my 'Picks for Springtime' series with my favorite post of them all: Springtime Lippies!!!! I love how in Spring, your tan is starting to develop, freckles are peeking through foundation, and lips are getting brighter and pinker! Here are my faves for the Spring, starting with glosses:

NYX Butter Gloss in Eclair is a bright blue-toned pink with no shimmer in it. It feels super luxurious and buttery on the lips! Full Review here!

MAC Lipglass in 'Nympette' is a bright pink with golden shimmer running through out. This is a super complex lipgloss and is a favorite of many for its gorgeous finish.

NARS lipgloss in 'Orgasm' is a cult favorite with a reason! This peachy gloss has a golden shimmer in it that gives a juicy, plumping effect and long lasting color. Full review here!

Now for hybrid lip products!

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Elusive is a matte, creamy lip crayon that is the most gorgeous bright pink. This neutral pink will make a statement and lasts through eating and drinking! Review!

Too Faced La Creme Drenched Color Lip Cream in 'Juicy Melons' is a creamy bright coral color that is such a pretty toned down coral. This is a great coral to rock if you're intimidated by bright colors. Full Review here!

Maybelline Color Whisper in 'Lust for Blush' is a dupe for MAC Angel lipstick--a light baby pink! Review here!

Finally, time for the lipsticks!

MAC Cremecup lipstick is a mauvey light pink. It gives a gorgeous neutral finish with out looking like you covered your lips in concealer.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Primrose is a cult favorite. This is a baby pink lipstick that wears smoothly and is super comfortable!

MAC Peach Blossom lipstick is an easy everyday lipstick that I don't think gets enough love! Its a peachy natural color that works as a great 'this goes with everything so I'll slap this on' color. Review!

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate lipstick in 17 is a deeper peach color that runs slightly coraly-pink. It is a brighter neutral that is easy to wear. Review!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon is a deep coral pink that is certainly bright and spring-worthy. The wearability and finish of Revlon lipsticks is outstanding and why they are my favorite drugstore lipstick! Full review here!

Cremecup, Primrose, Peach Blossom, #17, Pink in the Afternoon

So there you have it! My Springtime lippy picks :) Let me know what your favorite lip products are for the Spring and keep an eye out for a Summer Picks series!

xxSJ

Steph Reads: What Alice Forgot

       I had a hunch that I would enjoy this novel, What Alice Forgot, by Liane Moriarty, but I was completely shocked that I loved it as much as I did!
      What Alice forgot is about a woman who wakes up after a bad fall in the gym with complete amnesia. Last she remembers, Alice was a 29-year-old married to the love of her life and pregnant with her first born. Now Alice is a 39-year-old with three children and in the midst of a terribly sour divorce. This novel follows Alice as she pieces together what happened in the last ten years of her life...why is her relationship with her sister so strained? What happened between her and her husband to cause a nasty divorce? Who have her children turned out to be?
      I thought there would be parts of this novel that were simply too full of confusion and conflict for me to really enjoy; that the fact that the main character doesn't exactly know whats going on might cause me to get too frustrated and want to not read any longer. However, Moriarty artfully writes this novel so the reader is finding out information along with Alice and things don't get too complicated before Alice is told details about her past that clear some things up.  There are some mysteries through out the novel that remain quite mysterious until near the end, however these mysteries allowed for me to form my own guesses and predictions and keep me engaged. I did find myself thinking about Alice's character and whether or not it was a good thing she had amnesia or not. It allowed the character to look at happenings in her own life with a completely untainted perspective and form completely different opinions than she had before. I wondered about what events in my own life would benefit me to have complete amnesia with!
     I finished this novel in under a week easily because it was such a fun and effortless read.  I would recommend this novel to any one of my friends, happily. I'm SO excited to read Liane Moriarty's other novel I purchased, The Husband's Secret. I found this novel so enjoyable that I'm sure I will love the next one! I'm also excited that I found such a fun, happy, read that distanced myself from my young adult, dystopian novels. A whole new world of literature has just opened up to me!!!!!!

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

NOTD: Butter London 'Fairy Lights'

Today's nail of the day is a Butter London color that definitely has a wow-factor, but I tire of it quickly. It is Butter London's Fairy Lights and I just can't seem to like this color for more than a couple hours time. This is a color I will sadly be leaving at home when I move to NY because, though it looks stunning in the bottle and when first applied, the metallic foil gets oh-so-tiresome to look at after a while.  

This bright pink foil polish literally looks like aluminum foil on your nails with a pink tint. In some lights, the pink can turn magenta and even appear purple. I think I would actually like this color much more if it was lighter. The brightness of the color mixed with the intense finish together make this color hard for me to swallow, I think.

The positives to this polish are the adorable name and the solid wear time (4 days chip free!). 

Butter London polishes are expensive ($15...yikes!). Though they are a 3-Free nail lacquer and thus apparently have all sorts of benefits for your nails, make sure you're in love with a color before making a purchase. This is one of those colors I unfortunately regret.

xxSJ

My Weekend Makeup Bag Picks!

What I choose to take with me on weekends away is a pretty good indication for what makeup I'm currently favoring! Here's what I chose to take with me this past weekend:
I start every morning with my Aveeno Positively Radiant daily Moisturizer for my face. It has SPF in it and makes my skin feel smooth and hydrated before I put my makeup on.
Revlon 24/7 Liquid Foundation: I like this stuff a lot for the finish it gives my skin and the comfortable wear. Full Review here!
Physician's Formula BB Powder Foundation: This powder gives a really nice coverage and a blurring effect for imperfections. Powder review here!
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla: This concealer is the closest I've been able to come to covering up my under-eye bags! It sets up nice and smooth with out cakiness. Review Here!
Benefit Hoola Bronzer: I love using this to contour, then I follow it up with NYC Sunny Bronzer to soften the color out.
Urban Decay Primer Potion is an old stand-by and favorite of mine. I have a travel size of the anti-aging formula, then I slap on some Smashbox cream eyeshadow in Quartz (Click!) to add a base color.
The UD Naked eyeshadow palette and the Dior Grege 5-Colour Palette are the eyeshadows I chose to take with me since I could get a cool gray/taupe look or a warm golden bronze using either palette. I like some versatility and options! Dior palette review here!
For my brows I've been using the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow pencil. For $3 this stuff works great! How I use this product here!
The eyeliners I brought with me are the L'Oreal Lineur Intense liner in Black Mica and the UD 24/7 liner in Perversion for my waterline. lineur intense review and Perversion review!
Bobbi Brown Apricot Blush and The Balm Frat Boy blush are bright pink and peach blushes respectively. That color choice gives me all the options I need for a fun or flushed look! Apricot review and Frat Boy review!
I've been using the L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara recently, paired with my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler for my lashes.
My NARS lipgloss in 'Tasmania' looks pretty over any lipstick I have in my purse making it a good weekender lipgloss, and my mini travel size of NARS Copacabana cream highlighter finishes my look off with a pretty sheen on my cheekbones and the bridge of my nose.

I have a couple trips coming up in the next month so look out for a travel makeup bag post!
xxSJ

Sunday Funday!

Time for some of my favorite things from the week!

1. The Bachelorette!
My boyfriend and I have been tuning in every week to watch Andi find love on the Bachelorette....its such a guilty pleasure and though Lucas begrudgingly watches every Monday night, I think he secretly likes it. Things got intense this past week and from the looks of the previews, it looks like things are going to stay pretty dramatic in the coming episodes.

2. Orange is the New Black
This weekend has been an Orange marathon since season 2 was released on Friday.  I totally forgot that Netflix releases entire seasons all at once...not gonna lie, we 're already 9 episodes deep. If you haven't watched this show yet, DO IT. It's seriously amazing.  Be warned though if you're made easily uncomfortable--there are a lot of boobs.

3. Trying new things
Can you believe Lucas had never tried Cold Stone ice cream before?? Like a 5-year-old, I begged for ice cream Saturday afternoon since it was blistering hot and I was craving a sweet treat. We wandered into Cold Stone Creamery where he got the Birthday Cake Remix and I got my all time fave: Banana with chocolate shavings. Get a taste test of the banana ice cream next time you're at Cold Stone...its amazing!

xxSJ

Steph Reads: Book Haul!

I recently purchased some more books that I thought I'd share with you all! I'm reading as much as possible before I go to school because I know my time will be spent pouring myself into textbooks and notes rather than chick-lits, thrillers, and young adult fiction. For now, I'm spoiling myself with some fun reads :)

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn: I fell in love with Flynn's writing style while reading Gone Girl. I find it simply mesmerizing! Sharp Objects is Flynn's debut novel, a thriller about a girl returning to the small town she grew up in to investigate two murders.  As she unlocks clues to the homicides, secrets from the girl's troubling past are revealed. I know this story might not be so happy-go-lucky, but I'm looking forward to the different type of book this might play out to be!

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty: This book should end up being a TOTAL chick-lit and I'm SO looking forward to it! What Alice Forgot is about a twenty-nine year old woman, married to the love of her life, and about to give birth to her first child...except one day after taking a fall, Alice wakes up and is thirty-nine, in the midst of a divorce, and has 3 children. What happened in the last 10 years to get Alice to where she is now?

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty: This novel is about a husband who writes a letter to his wife revealing a secret to her should he pass away before her. The problem is, the wife finds this letter and reads it while the husband is still alive.  What is this secret and how will it effect their relationship?

I'm thinking I might need to start reading books electronically since all these books are taking up a lot of space I don't have and are quite costly!
Either way, I'm gonna keep reading...cuz reading is sexy.

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

Spotlight on: MAC 'Ravishing' lipstick

Coral lips can seem tricky or daunting, but not with the right product! My favorite coral lipstick is MAC's 'Ravishing' cremesheen lipstick:

This pretty coral is the perfect orangey-pink hybrid that creates a soft look on the lips. Rather than being super vibrant and a 'look-at-me!' coral, this color is quite wearable and understated.

The cremesheen formulas from MAC are one of my favorite formulas since they are, as the name implies, super creamy and hydrating.  Brighter colors like reds, corals, and hot pinks can tend to accentuate fine lines or dryness. The creamy formula of this lipstick makes it really comfortable to wear and doesn't highlight any imperfections.

I recommend this color to anyone who is daring enough to try out a coral lip! If even this subdued coral is still too bright for you, you can always pair the lip color with a gloss to tone it down a bit.

I find the Cremesheen Glass in 'Richer Lusher' tones down this color a bit and makes it look even softer than it already looks, and NARS 'Tasmania' adds a more pink tone to the lip to downplay the orange hue.

Be daring! Rock some coral this Spring :) You'll be happy you did!

xxSJ

My Top Picks: Springtime Nail Polish!

The second installment of my Springtime beauty picks has arrived and it should be no surprise that I had to do a post about my favorite nail polishes for the season! Nail polish is like a mood ring for me... I change it often and it usually reflects how I'm feelin. I pull out the pastels and bright colors in the Spring since the mild weather makes me so happy! The following are my top picks for Spring with links to more detailed blog posts I've done on them:

-OPI's 'Kiss on the Chic' is a really soft pink that is opaque and easy to work with. Picture!
-Essie 'Fiji' is a cult favorite soft pink with purply undertones. Picture!
-OPI's 'Strawberry Margarita' is a bright pink that demands attention! It reminds me of springtime flowers :) Picture!
-Essie 'Off the Shoulder' is a perfect bright Barbie pink that is just so creamy and gorgeous. Picture!
-Butter London 'Trout Pout' is a more-orange-than-pink coral color that gets me so many compliments every time I wear it. Picture!
-Essie 'Fashion Playground' is a pistachio color that is more unique than your standard mint. This will be my most worn Spring nail color for sure. Picture!
-Essie 'Lilacism' is a long time favorite pure lilac. It is and will always be one of my favorite nail colors as it is easy to apply and always makes me smile when it catches my eye. Picture!
-OPI's 'You're Such a Budapest' is a periwinkle, purple-blue hybrid. It is bright and eye-catching!Picture!
-Essie 'Splash of Grenadine' is a magenta color that has the coolest gelly like finish. It is super soft appearing on the nails and an easy way to wear color. Picture!
-Essie 'Mint Candy Apple' is a perfect sky blue. This color is so gorgeous with a bit of a tan and is my favorite blue that I own. Picture!

So there you have it! My picks for a Spring mani are surely going to make you smile and feel Spring-y if you put any one of them on your nails!

xxSJ

Steph Reads: Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

**sigh**
      I think I'm officially done with the young adult, dystopian genre. The novel, 'Uninvited,' had such an exciting premise, however I was left wanting more when the book was finished, and not just because this book unexpectedly turned out to be the first novel of a series (what's with everything having to be a series nowadays???).
      'Uninvited' is about a society in the future that has identified a 'kill gene.' Carriers of this gene are murderers and it isn't so much if they kill, its more a matter of when. This book takes place in a time when genetic testing is mandatory to test for this gene and carriers are ostracized to keep society safe.
The book follows the main character, Davy, who has everything going for her until she finds out she is a carrier of the kill gene. No spoilers in this book review, though I will say the book took many unexpected (sometimes chilling) turns and I certainly identified with and felt for Davy. The novel explores the complexities of labels and assumptions as well as the nature versus nurture argument. Are carriers of the kill gene going to kill because its in their DNA, or are they going to kill because of how they are treated after being labeled a killer?
      This book gave me plenty of questions to think about and definitely had some more mature subject material in it than some other young adult books I've read, however it still just doesn't quite go there for me.  This is why I think I'm done reading young adult books. The subject matter of these stories is great, but since they're written for a younger audience, rather than my mind racing after I put the book down, I just kind of go 'huh,' and then have no problem moving on. I could see myself in high school LOVING this story, and thus I recommend it to anyone under 18. Otherwise I think my time is better served with some more mature reads.

xxSJ

Check out my other Steph Reads posts!
Splintered by AG Howard
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Beneath the Glitter by Elle and Blair Fowler

NOTD: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear 'Mint Sorbet'

Today's nail of the day is of another polish from the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear line. Being as obsessed with all things mint as I am, I had to pick up the color 'Mint Sorbet' from this line after I found the last Sally Hansen polish I picked to be so great!

I really love the color of this polish. It is the perfect mint color with a bit more green in it than blue tones. This polish is pretty thick on application and settled into the ridges of my nails.

Though I enjoyed the color of this polish a lot, it chipped within a day of wearing it so I don't think this color in the Sally Hansen collection is as nice as the color 'Lacy Lilac.'

This polish only costs $2.99 so it gets an A+ for affordability, but unfortunately only gets a C for performance.

xxSJ