My Picks: MAC Buy 2 Get 1 Free Lipsticks- Barbeque, Coral Bliss, and Mehr

L to R: Barbeque, Coral Bliss, Mehr

 MAC giving away product for free?? Must be dreamin' amiright? No need to pinch yourself, ladies and gents. MAC recently ran a superb special where you could buy any 2 lip products and get a third lippie free. I took advantage of this deal and got three lipsticks I have had my eye on for a bit.

 I chose 'Coral Bliss,' a pinkier leaning cremesheen formula, 'Barbecue,' a matte red with bright orange undertones, and 'Mehr,' a matte mauve a la Kylie Jenner lip craze.

All of these colors have quickly moved into my summertime rotation with Coral Bliss being my go to for an easy and bright lip look that goes with any outfit or makeup. Thanks to my friend from PT school Virginia for drawing my attention to this shade! Mehr will transition with ease into the cooler months and Barbeque will be reserved for when I want that stand out pout.

xxSJ

NARS Audacious Lipstick 'Apoline'

Everybody: gird your loins for the most perfect neutral lipstick in all of creation.

 NARS recently came out with some new additions to their incredible Audacious lipstick line. The color 'Apoline' was calling to me as the most perfect neutral lip color. I couldn't justify the steep $34 price tag for myself, so I bought this pretty lippie for my sister first (does anyone else do this???). She looks incredible in it, so I did the only other thing I could think of to get my hands on this gorgeous product--I asked Santa.
Lo and behold, I was graced by this little guy on Christmas morning. The NARS Audacious line is stunning--housed in a black, soft touch finish case with a magnetic closure, this lipstick with the NARS logo engraved on the side will certainly make you feel luxurious every time you use it.

 This satin finish lipstick is ultra pigmented while being super lightweight on the lips giving you long wear coverage and a super comfortable feel. Apoline is a warm dusty pink that is super flattering on my skin and works well with almost any makeup look.

This lipstick wears for about 4 hours through eating and drinking and softens up my cracked, winterized lips leaving a touchable, bouncy finish behind. This is definitely my favorite lipstick and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to add some luxury to their makeup kit!

Check out my other Audacious lipstick reviews!
Grace and Natalie
Juliette
Claudia and Brigitte

Check out the NARS Audacious lipstick line at Sephora by clicking HERE!

xxSJ

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in 'Double Dare' and 'Lovesick'

 The liquid lipstick trend has hit the beauty world hard and I don't think its going anywhere any time soon. I decided to hop on this trend after thorough research on what I thought the best liquid lipstick formula would be for my dry, depraved lips. I settled on trying out Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks due to their reputation of having a long-lasting and very comfortable formulation.  I settled on picking two neutral colors to try this trend out.

R: Lovesick, L: Double Dare

 I picked out 'Lovesick,' a mauve pinky nude, and 'Double Dare,' a dusty rose mauve. The products come housed in a slender plastic tube with ornate black designs on it. I like the sleek packaging a lot, and the slimness may make it seem like you get less product, you actually get 0.22oz of liquid lipstick which is double what you get in an Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipstick. The applicator is a standard doefoot applicator which I found very easy to use to get a relatively perfect application.

Top: Double Dare, Bottom: Lovesick

I love this product a lot.  I am someone who LOVES lipstick to death but can't be bothered to reapply it through out the day when it fades. I also have a profession that doesn't allow me to look in mirrors often or take frequent restroom breaks for touch ups so I tend to avoid putting on lip products at risk of fading or smearing in an unflattering way. I think this product solves this issue for me as I get a full 8 hours of wear time out of this lipstick with no touch ups needed. This stuff lasts through eating and drinking and best of all, it doesn't make my lips feel uncomfortable. I definitely wouldn't say that this lipstick makes my lips feel moisturized while I wear it, but I'm certainly not bothered by it.

As an added bonus, I noticed in the morning following wearing this product my lips always looked and felt very refreshed. After some light investigating I discovered this product is infused with Vitamin E and sunflower seeds which my lips apparently respond really well to!

I'm in love with these lipsticks and will surely pick up more shades in the future. It's a beautiful product that works and costs the fair price of $20 per tube. Its not cheap, but its not going to break the bank if I hold off on my normal Starbucks purchases for the week!

Find these liquid lipsticks HERE!

xxSJ

MAC Goodies: Flamingo Park collection

MAC has recently done some out of character things for the brand such as lowering their eyeshadow pan cost to a meager $6 as well as starting a loyalty program AND providing free shipping, no minimum. After a recent browsing sesh on their website, I noticed that MAC now has a 'sale' section online! MAC and 'sale' are two words I never thought I would see in the same sentence, but I suppose they are attempting to move some old stock out of inventory.  The MAC Flamingo Park collection was a collection full of deliciously gorgeous pinks that I completely drooled over. I repeatedly added products into my shopping cart only to have them sit there for days, unable to pull the trigger (being that I am a grad student with low funds for my makeup hoarding!).  After seeing some of the Flamingo Park collection on sale for 30% off, I finally felt like I could pull the trigger!

I purchased a lipstick and a blush. The lipstick is in the color 'Flocking Fabulous' and is a hot coral color.

The blush is the color 'Spring Flock' and is a bright peachy coral in the pan but shows up a bit more subdued when swatched.

Wearing Spring Flock blush and Flocking Fabulous lipstick

MAC blushes wear for about 6-8 hours on my skin and this shade of lipstick lasted about 4 hours through light drinking. This creamy shade needs to be reapplied after meals though!

I recommend stalking MAC's website for the random sale you may stumble across! You never know what goodies you might find...I think these two products were awesome items to add to my collection that I'll get plenty of wear out of.

xxSJ

NARS Audacious Lipsticks: 'Grace' and 'Natalie'

Grace

 I love the NARS Audacious lipsticks SO MUCH so I recently decided to add two bold colors to my collection. I've recently been adoring wearing bolder colors this summer and stepping out of my comfort zone a little bit. While browsing the NARS area in Sephora, I was drawn to the color 'Grace,' a vibrant red leaning coral, and 'Natalie,' a bright flamingo coral.

Natalie

 The colors look a bit similar in the tube but swatch quite differently on the skin.

L:Grace, R: Natalie

The NARS Audacious lipsticks are some of the only lipstick formulas I've found that moisturize my lips while maintaining a matte finish and lasting for hours through eating and drinking. I love that these lipsticks have the lasting power of a liquid lipstick but look gorgeous without making my lips look like a desert wasteland.

L: Natalie, R: Grace

On me, Natalie has the perfect amount of orangish coral to be perfectly wearable on my complexion. Since I'm newer to rocking more bold colors, I love colors like this that are bold but still wearable. Though Grace is described as a bright coral, on me this color is a perfect red. I love these types of reds that are rather ambiguous....is it pink? Is it red? The world may never know...and it doesn't matter because its beautiful. 

L to R: Claudia, Brigitte, Natalie, Grace

 I think these two lipsticks are the perfect colors to add to my Audacious lipstick collection! The one con about these lipsticks is that they are $32.00 which is definitely on the pricier side. However, for someone like myself who struggles with finding lip perfection, I think adding some select colors to my collection is well worth it!

Click here for my review of Brigitte and Claudia!

Find NARS Audacious lipsticks HERE

xxSJ

Review: Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip

Sephora comes out with these value kits every couple of months, it seems! I was excited to try this lip kit out as it comes with 1 full size product and very neutral shades. Here are my thoughts on this little box of goodies!

The little box comes with the deluxe samples inside. The Smashbox lipgloss is actually a full size product! 

From left to right: 

Smashbox Be Legendary lip gloss in 'Pout'

Bite Beauty 'Meritage'

Marc Jacobs Lust for Lacquer in 'Kissability'

Buxom Full On Lip Cream in 'White Russian'

NARS 'Orgasm'

Urban Decay Revolution lipstick 'Naked'

Swatched on my lips are in the same order (upper left, upper right, middle left...etc) as the list above and swatches on my arm.

My favorite product out of the bunch was the BITE lip pencil in 'Meritage.'  I found the color to be very flattering and the pencil to be extremely hydrating and lovely to wear. The color wore off after about 5 hours of wear (including eating and drinking) and wore off in a flattering way. I also REALLY enjoyed the Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in 'Naked.' It was a bit heavier than the BITE pencil but had a longer wear time. The color is quite a neutral pretty pink.

As for the glosses, I really enjoyed the Buxom lip cream. This lip gloss is a lip plumper so it has a very minty and cool feeling on the lips followed by a tingly sensation.  The color is nice on top of other lipstick, otherwise it is not noticeable on bare lips. I also enjoy NARS 'Orgasm' in the summer and spring for an easy breezy look. This gloss has some pigment to it so need to layer this product up.

As far as misses, I really don't see myself wearing the light Smashbox color. Though nice the product is full size, I think that it is too milky and rather unflattering on me. The Marc Jacobs gloss also barely showed up at all even though the little tube looks like it is packed with glitter. Such a disappointment!

Anyhow, this kit was $25 and I do recommend trying these kits out when they come out at Sephora if one or two products in the kit interest you. They are a great way to try out some products for a steal.

xxSJ

Review: Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick 'Lovecraft'

 I received a mini Kat Von D studded kiss lipstick in the cult favorite color 'Lovecraft' and was excited to try out my first product from this collection! Kat Von D's lipsticks come housed in a black plastic tube covered in studs. Its very edgy in appearance and I can't think of a brand that's anything like it!

The tube does not snap closed very firmly and so I've found this little guy in my purse with out the cap on completely! This might only be a defect with the mini size but still something to note--these are so cute and might be intended for display on vanities. 

The color 'Lovecraft' is a 'matte mauve pink nude' and is one of those colors that always ends up being hit sellers among makeup lines because of the universal appeal. Worth noting is that the color swatches very rosey and warm on my wrist but appears almost purple hued with gray undertones when on my lips! 

 I definitely like how opaque and smooth this color is on the lips. I wouldn't call this lipstick revolutionary by any means as far as wear time or comfort, but I do think it is a very nice formula. The color stays put on the lips with out slipping or smearing and almost has a powdery feeling to it.

Overall, I like this lipstick and can see the appeal. The formula I would imagine caters to deeper or brighter colors quite well where you really want the lip product to be pigmented and stay put with out having to use a liquid or matte lipstick. If you've been unhappy with your lipsticks and are looking for a new formula to try I'd give this one a shot. Its definitely good and I see how it could be some people's holy grail!

Kat Von D lipsticks are $21 for 0.10oz of product ($210/oz). Check them out Here!

xxSJ

NARS Audacious Lipsticks: Claudia and Brigitte

My sister completely spoiled me by giving me 2 of the NARS Audacious lipsticks as a present for receiving my white coat a couple weekends ago! These are the newest lip installments from NARS and they are amazing. 

The lippies come housed in a perfectly rectangular metal package with NARS subtly mattified on the bottom.  The container is magnetic so the cap stays securely attached and multiple lipsticks will also stay nice and lined up. I LOVE how neat and clean this packaging looks. Ultra modern and beautifully chic. 

The bullet is housed inside with NARS delicately stamped into the lipstick. This contains 0.14oz of product, which is a bit more than the standard bullet (MAC lipsticks have 0.1oz of product). 

The Audacious line includes all matte shades packed with vibrant pigmentation. The matte formula is surprisingly silky smooth making for easy application that keeps your lips looking soft and supple rather than dry and chapped.

Claudia is a cool pink that is super vibrant. Brigitte is a nude rose that leans slightly coral and is filled with warmth.

I love this pair of lipsticks that my sister picked out for me. These colors alone completely round out my Spring needs for lip color with a cool and a warm pink option.  These lipsticks wear for hours on end with out needing to reapply through eating and drinking and they don't feather around the edges. I noticed that Claudia does not reapply very well since the color tends to build up in an unflattering way. Its best to blot it off first with a tissue to even out the product and then reapply.

I chose to sport Claudia on my lips during my white coat ceremony to add a punch of color to my otherwise neutral outfit! It was perfect and I received a ton of compliments.

I have my eye on the color 'Anna' as my next big purchase, but at $32 a pop, I think I'll wait for a special occasion. These lipsticks have a hefty price tag but you receive some hefty results. Dramatic and bold color while being comfortable and fuss free? Count me in!

Check these colors out at Sephora here: Sephora Audacious lipsticks
Check out my post on NARS Juliette here!
xxSJ

Get down with your bad self: MAC Lipstick in 'Rebel'

MAC Rebel is an infamous MAC lipstick listed in its top 10 bestsellers.  As its name implies, this lipstick is a little bit out of the ordinary and certainly demands attention. 

Though 'Rebel' looks like a deep vampy purple in the tube, it swatches as a midtone fuschia color on the skin. It has a satin finish leaving it appearing glossy and a bit more toned down than if it was a matte or vivid. 

I find that this lipstick takes some working with to get a clean finish. In one swipe, it can appear a bit patchy and unkempt. I think to get ultra clean edges and full impact color, a lip liner may be necessary!

As with all MAC lipsticks, this has a pleasant vanilla scent and it wears well for 4 hours. It begins to fade starting from the middle so if you don't check the mirror often be warned! You may end up looking like you're wearing dark lip liner and no lipstick. 

I really love the way this color looks with my light features! I have to believe that the coloring works well across a wide spectrum of skin tones since this is a MAC Top 10 bestseller.  I think this is a lipstick that works great for the Winter and even as we transition into the Spring season.

This lipstick is $16.00 for 3g of product. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to this pretty plummy fuscia, Wet n Wild sells a lipstick that is very similar to this called 'Sugar Plum Fairy.' That lipstick applies rather patchy and dry, however.

xxSJ

NARS Audacious Lipstick in 'Juliette'

audacious: adjective; showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks. 

NARS recently came out with their 'Audacious' line of lipsticks-- a line promising to be a 'modern lipstick that dresses up lips with bold coverage and ultrasoft texture.' With such high claims, I had to try this lippie out for myself! The color I tried is 'Juliette,' a  pinky coral color:

The bright lippie is housed in a super modern and sleek rectangular package. The NARS logo is both printed on the outside of the container in a matte black as well as lasered into the lipstick. The cap closes with a magnetic closure. The seal is strong so you won't have to worry about the cap slipping off in your purse.  This lipstick feels super weighty in your hands which I personally love. This lipstick is $32, so at such a high price point there better be some luxurious packaging!

The lipstick is a matte formula that is quite creamy on the skin. The color doesn't skip at all or apply patchily. On my hand, Juliette swatched as a warm coral with a lot of pink in it. On my lips, however, the color is very vibrant orange: 

natural lighting

This is why we try colors on in the store, people! This color was not what I was expecting it to look like (particularly because my sister wears this shade and it looks stunning on her!). The color certainly packs a punch and I found the wear time to be solid.  The matte formula was surprisingly comfortable (not moisturizing!) and the color was as NARS promised: bold! 

I do enjoy this lipstick and would like to pick out another color. I found it to be comfortable to wear and easy to work with, not to mention the packaging is so sleek and elegant!
The NARS Audacious lipsticks are $32 for 0.14oz of product and are an Allure best of beauty winner.

Check these lippies out at Sephora here!

xxSJ

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 'Beige Ultimate'

Yves Saint Laurent is one of the most luxurious brands out there and I have been lusting after their beautiful lipsticks for quite some time. The brand has a couple of different lipsticks but I received the iconic Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant lipstick.  The packaging is a sleek gold tube with a banded center accented with the color of the product inside. The metal tube is quite heavy and feels weighty in your hands. This packaging is so iconic and is something I would imagine fabulous moviestars from old Hollywood carrying in their beaded and sequined clutches. Does anyone else romanticize makeup like me?

It isn't just the packaging that's gorgeous, however. The product inside is a richly pigmented and silky smooth lipstick that is so buttery soft to the touch that it feels a bit slippery. As an added bonus, this product also comes with an SPF of 15! 

I have the color 3, 'Beige Ultimate.' This color is described as a 'mauve taupe' by YSL, but I have to say, it is really more of a pure beige brown. When I swatched this color on my skin I was concerned of how it would look on my pale complexion. It is a trendy color (90's style browns have made a comeback thanks to Kylie Jenner...get it gurl), and I hadn't yet tried this trend on myself. 

Here is the color on my light skin. I think the brown color takes on some peachiness on my own skin and I really like that effect! It adds a warmth and richness to my makeup that I enjoy and feels unbelievably light...so much so I kept checking my mirror to make sure the stuff was still on!  My lips are CRAZY dry right now due to being thrust back into the dry and cold climate of NYC. I feel like this lipstick does a fantastic job of masking the dryness and adding some moisture back into my lips. For the first time in a week my lips actually felt comfortable and I would use this as a chapstick if it weren't so expensive! This ultra pigmented lip product needs a light hand when applying otherwise you'll end up with quite a thick layer on your lips. It doesn't wear for a super long time (it won't stand a chance against eating or drinking) but for me, I don't mind having to reapply because the color and quality of the product is so spot on otherwise. 

This lipstick is $35 for 0.12oz of product. There's no skirting around the issue, this is silly expensive. I can't really justify this cost other than saying its a luxury brand and you are purchasing not only high quality but also a brand name (kind of like buying a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses over cheaper Forever 21 ones). If you're a collector or enthusiast like me, and have been wanting this lipstick, I think its great and would eventually like another one, therefore I would say go for it and take the plunge at the next Sephora sale! This lippie will be a gorgeous addition to your vanity and clutch... I already find myself ogling at it every chance I get.
Buy one for yourself here!

xxSJ