Revlon Soft Nude 070

Rarely do I find a drugstore brand that I like. I know, that sounds kind of snobby, but it's true. I find that I'm often more disappointed than impressed. However, I do come across some gems from time to time. I heard a lot of buzz surrounding Revlon's lipsticks. Specifically, Soft Nude 070. So, I bought it! By the way, I originally talked about this color in my favorites post, but I wanted to save the details for this one.

I purchased mine for about $8 USD. I heard a lot of mixed reviews about the packaging. Some say it's cute, some say it's just a rip off of NARS and Dior. Frankly, I don't really care. When it comes to packaging, I expect the product to be durable. The cute factor is just an added bonus. What I did find interesting though, is the price tag. $8? Really? Drugstore cosmetics aren't as cheap as they used to be. So for my $8, I expect to get a bang for my buck. 

The color is a warm-peachy nude. If I had to compare, I'd say the finish is similar to MAC Lustres or Cremesheens. The finish is glossy but it has a nice color payoff that is quite opaque and buildable. The downside? It's not long wearing. I felt the need to frequently reapply. This lipstick clearly cannot last through a meal. However, most of my lipsticks can't so I'm used to this. 

The other problem, well, not really a problem but... I can't wear this on its own. I have to apply MAC Lip Erase before using this. As I've said before on this blog, I have very red, pigmented lips. On its own, this color doesn't look so hot. The lip erase is just an extra step but it's worth it for me. 

The thing I like a lot about this lipstick is how versatile it is. I'm a cool, NW20 and this, at first glance, would look better on someone with warm or perhaps even darker skin. This nude actually suits me very well. Truthfully, I didn't think I'd like this when I first opened it, but I was pleasantly surprised. Thumbs up!!

The only thing I dislike about buying drugstore lipsticks is that there's no testers. Have you ever bought a lipstick based off of the color on the sticker at the bottom? Then you go home, open it up, and say "What the hell?". It's happened to the best of us. On the top of these lipsticks, there's a hunk of plastic with the coordinating color. I must say, it was pretty true to color. I've seen their line of mattes, and you can see through the top of the lipstick which is pretty ingenious. 

Would I buy this again?

Sure! It's a great nude and though the prices have gone up, it's still pretty affordable. I'd like to try other colors from the line as well. The longevity of the lipstick is really the most I can complain about but again, most of my lipsticks wear off after an hour or two. **I forgot to add that it is kind of drying so be sure to exfoliate before applying!

Have you tried Revlon's lipsticks? What do you think? I'm going to try the mattes next....

Lusting for...

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! I had a great holiday. It was nice to sit back with the family and stuff my face, haha. I'm feeling quite tired today so I'm glad I did all of my housework yesterday! Anyway, I compiled a list of things I'm lusting for right now. More likely than not, I probably won't get any of these things any time soon. Still, I can dream, right?! Don't forget to tell me what's on your list too!

Viktor & Rolf: Flowerbomb

I've never had the pleasure of smelling this but I heard only good things about it.

NARS Etrusque

So, remember how I said I probably won't get any of these things? Well, maybe I'd invest in this eyeshadow. It's my dream gold.

NARS Bougainville


In a nutshell, it's a pretty berry gloss. I'm not a huge gloss lover but this is an exception. I've heard bad things about NARS glosses. The smell, in particular. I have a NARS gloss and yes, it does have that plastic smell but it doesn't bother me!

Guerlain Rouge G: Gardenia


Hello, Rouge G! I've wanted one of these lipsticks for the longest time. I just can't justify the price. They're about $46 USD. That's a lot of cash to drop on just a lipstick. The only makeup item that I invest extra money into is my foundation. Maybe someday I'll take the plunge and treat myself to it.

YSL Rouge Volupte #2, Sensual Silk


This one boasts a $34 USD price tag, but I'd be less hesitant to buy this than the Rouge G. Isn't she pretty? Yes, I said "she".

Clarisonic Mia


Last, but never least, the Clarisonic Mia. I need one of these -- with the sensitive brush heads, of course! I have dry skin. Very, very dry skin with blemishes. These are suppose to clean the skin really well and rid dead skin cells. Sounds like a miracle worker! Does anyone own one of these? What do you think of it?

Marcel Wanders collection is UP!

Good morning! I just wanted to give you a friendly reminder that the MAC Marcel Wanders collection is now for sale on the US website. Click here to shop! Free shipping code: "WANDERS".

Are you buying anything? I *might* get that 'Martha' lipstick, but I don't know. I really wanted the 187 brush until I saw the ridiculous price. In the end, for me, it's all about the performance of my brushes versus the aesthetics. It would've been nice to have, but I'm definitely passing.

Top 5 MAC Blushes for Fall / Winter

Hello, lovelies! I'm in a surprisingly good mood considering it's Monday. Maybe it's because the weather is gorgeous and it's about 64 degrees, oh yes!

I wanted to share with you my top five favorite MAC blushes for fall / winter. Not all of these are your basic blushes. There's an MSF and two beauty powders as well. For this time of year, I tend to fancy colors that add warmth to my face because I'm very pale. However, when I'm doing a smoky eye look, I love cool colors that almost lean purple. Either way, I think all of these colors set the tone for the season.

1. Summer Rose Beauty Powder

2. Petticoat MSF

3. Peachykeen Sheertone Shimmer

4. Buddy Up (Too Fabulous)

5. Pinch Me Sheertone

What's your favorite blushes for fall / winter? Do tell! I'm sorry to say, but I have a blush fetish!!

MAC Warm Thrillseekers Pigment Swatches

As promised, though a little late, I took pictures of the Warm Thrillseekers pigments. Supposedly, these are geared toward warmer skin tones but I think these can work for a whole array of people. Each set is $32.50 USD.

L-R: Gold Mode, Gilded Green, Most Darling, Gift O' Glamour, Reflects Bronze

L-R: Most Darling, Gilded Green, Gift O' Glamour, Gold Mode, Reflects Bronze
All pigments were swatched when wet.

Descriptions:

Most Darling - medium brown shimmer

Gilded Green - mint ice cream

Gift O' Glamour - pale metallic pink (though it's more of a champagne pink)

Gold Mode - peachy gold shimmer

Reflects Bronze - peachy orange glitter sparkle

By the way, I'm sorry my arm has goosebumps. It's FREEZING in here! I hope it doesn't distract you...

Favorites... and not so favorites!

Here's my most up to date favorites and not so favorites for the fall season!

Favorites

1. Rain, you say? No problem! I've been loving my Barbie rain boots! I bought them from Target online for about $25 USD. I bought them this past March. Sadly, they aren't available anymore...

2. I've also been loving warm blushes. I don't know if there's some rule that states cools go with cools and warm goes with warm. Hopefully, I won't be damned for my love of rule breaking and warm blushes. I think that colors like Pinch Me (MAC) and Peachykeen (MAC) add necessary warmth to my skin -- especially during these winter months.

Pinch Me (MAC) (Permanent)

3. Revlon Soft Nude 070 was something I bought as an impulse buy. I did NOT like this at first, but I'll talk about that in another post because I'd like to review it. Plus, I may have found the best lip combo ever for this lipstick.

4. My favorite perfume of all time is Dior's Hypnotic Poison. Sadly, I ran out of this a while ago so I have to buy a new one, but I always associate this perfume with the fall & winter. 

Picture found via Google image search

5. My absolute biggest favorite of all is my UD Naked palette. I believe this product lives up to the massive hype surrounding it. I love neutrals. I love smoky eyes. I love shimmer. I love the Naked palette, forever and always. I received this as a birthday gift and let me tell you, I've used it almost every single day since. My MAC shadows barely see daylight since this bad boy came into my life.

Favorites that aren't beauty related...

• Warm apple cider and cinnamon sticks -- I love this on a cold night!
• Hoodies and yoga pants
• My iPod. This will forever be my most prized inanimate possession. My life would never be right without it!
• Morning coffee. My life would never be right without this either...
• House! I LOVE to watch House!!!
• Supernatural -- just can't get enough of those Winchester brothers!
• Macaroons. I only buy them from Wegmans (a grocery store located in New Jersey and the tri-state area). They make the best macaroons ever. I have a recipe to make them and it's a simple recipe too, but I'm afraid they won't be as amazing!

Not so Favorites.... if that makes sense!

I go through a lot of phases with my makeup and other stuff and here's the routines I'm currently over:

• Pink lips. It's not that I hate them... I love them but outgrew them. It was a big phase I went through over the summer. Don't worry VG Gaga, I'll always have love for you!
• Liquid eyeliner. I've been into deep smoky eyes with smudged eyeliner. Preferably, MAC's pearl glide liners.
• Lip gloss. I've been loving nude lips sans gloss.
• Bright pink blushes. As stated before, I've been into warmer colors.

So, what's your current in and out's?

By the way!! I got that Warm Thrillseekers set of pigments in the mail yesterday. I'm going to swatch them later so you can see what they look like up against a cool skin tone. Frankly, I think almost anybody can rock these.

When I'm Sad I...

BUY PIGMENTS!

Okay, well I'm not sad, just very bored! My daughter fell asleep early, all of my housework is finished, my boyfriend is busy making furniture. There's just nothing to do! Okay, okay, in all fairness my days are always hectic. Even as a stay at home mom. I rarely get to sit, there's always something to be done or someone who needs me. That's not a complaint, I love it! It's just that when I finally get that 'me' time, I don't know what to do with myself! 

So, I started thinking about how MAC released the Tartan Tale Chapter 2 pigment sets this past week and I really wanted the 'Smoky Thrillseekers' set. Or so I thought, anyway. I started to look at swatches on Temptalia of all three sets to make sure that's what I really wanted. Then I began to have second thoughts when I saw 'Dark Soul' and ' Blue Brown'. When I look at Dark Soul, I immediately picture more of the pigment on my face versus my eye due to fall out. When I look at Blue Brown, I can't help but to think that it'll look like I got punched in the eye. In this set, Jigs and Jive is the only color that is LE and new. The rest are permanent. I only truly appreciate two of the five colors (not big on the Reflects Blackened Red either). Skip!

Smoky Thrillseekers Pigments / Glitter Set (image from Temptalia)

And skipping over the 'Cool Thrillseekers' set as well...

But! But! But! I adore the 'Warm Thrillseekers' set. This is what I ordered tonight and I'm sure I won't be regretting it either. These colors look like versatile and very wearable, yet the Gilded Green color adds some fun to the mix. The Reflects Bronze is really pretty and very holiday-esque, if you ask me.

Warm Thrillseekers Pigments / Glitter Set (image from Temptalia)

So this is how my Saturday night is going so far. Not bad, but not glamorous either! I hope your weekend is more exciting than mine! Have you gotten anything from A Tartan Tale yet? Do you plan on getting anything?

**Click here to see the swatches from this set!

The Junk Drawer: Part II

Hello, hello! I'm sorry that it's been almost a week since my last post. Now that the holidays are coming, everything has been crazy busy but I have a lot of new things to talk about so stay tuned!

Okay, so this will be part II of my 'Junk Drawer' series. I'm actually loving this because I'm going through things that I never used but I'm starting to get happily reacquainted with. Remember that Stila Major Lash mascara I talked about last time? Still not my favorite, but it's good for when I'm opting for that 'natural' look. So yes, I'm liking it more than I did before but I still don't recommend it for sky high, blow your mind lashes.

Today, I've been looking at my paint pots from MAC. Generally speaking, I LOVE PAINT POTS. They are hands down, my favorite bases. However, I have two that I just don't use. Keep in mind, this series isn't just about products that I dislike; it's also about things I genuinely like yet can't seem to make it work for *me*.

Groundwork, Coral Crepe

The two paint pots that I'm talking about are Coral Crepe (LE) and Groundwork (Permanent) from the Pret A Papier collection. Overall, I didn't like that collection because as I remember, all of the colors were more complimentary to warm-toned gals.

Frankly, I have no idea why I bought Groundwork. It's not eye-catching or special. I think it was just an impulse buy. Coral Crepe is gorgeous. I think that Paradisco is the perfect mate for this color. Absolutely beautiful, I just never used it like I thought I would. However, I now feel more determined than ever to make this work. I think you could make a nice smoky eye with this using colors like Smog or Dark Horse from the UD Naked palette.

I'll let you know how it turns out in my next 'Junk Drawer' installment.

NARS Little Darling Lipstick

I'm excited about this one because it's my first NARS lipstick ever. I have a few things from this brand. It's something that I occasionally treat myself to because it is pretty expensive. However, I was so captivated by their holiday collection this year. I literally want everything!

Decribed by NARS as a "nude-beige", $24 USD

First Impressions

I always like the sleek black packaging, I just don't like how it's quick to get dirty because of the rubbery texture. Aside from that, I noticed that the lipstick is darker than what was pictured in the promo. Keep in mind, I ordered this from Sephora, before the F&F sale ended. I tried to buy it at my NARS counter, but they didn't have it yet (at the time). There aren't too many in-depth reviews of this lipstick right now because it's new so I just had to hope it was as awesome as I thought. Just by looking at it, I was a little scared because it looked a bit too brown for my taste. I gave it a whiff and didn't notice any scent. However, I do have a little cold so I asked my boyfriend to confirm my opinion and he didn't pick up on any scent either (he's such a good sport! haha). 

My Thoughts

This lipstick has decent color payoff although it's sheer, yet pigmented, with a glossy finish (so don't get turned off if you think it looks dark). In all honesty, had this color been more opaque and matte, I wouldn't have fancied it. I think this color is extremely versatile for a wide array of people. Oh, and as for scent... though I didn't pick up on one before I applied it, I noticed one after. It was very light, subtle, and pleasant but it didn't linger. I didn't find this formula to be drying, but it gave me a decent amount of wear. Don't expect it to last too long before reapplying because it does have that glossy finish. I happen to love nudes, but I have to make them work for me. Generally, I dab them in lightly so it doesn't wash me out but I have to make sure I apply enough because my lips are quite red by nature. With this, I don't have to do anything. It just works as it is. I think this is because it's a little darker than most of the nudes I own so it's not so quick to wash me out. 

Bottom Line & Recommendations


I couldn't have picked a better color for myself. I can't think off hand of any dupes to compare it to. Although the color may seem typical, I don't think it is. This color, in my opinion, would be very flattering on warmer skin tones, though it has the potential to work for a lot of people across the board. If you like nudes, you'll probably like this. Especially if you can't wear colors like Myth too well. Don't feel bad, only a handful of people can wear that color and wear it well. I'm not one of them. Also, I think think is a nice shade for fall / winter. It leans on the sheer side, yet has depth. As far as I know, this color is permanent.

A Few Tips About Foundation

Finding your perfect foundation can be a really tedious process. It involves finding your perfect shade, picking which formulation suits you best, while accommodating your skin's needs. Foundation, in my opinion, creates the canvas for your makeup. Therefore, this is a key item in your makeup collection that you should invest in. Though not everyone wears foundation or needs it, for that matter, I know there's people out there who do. For me, it makes every bit of difference in how my makeup looks and feels. This is going to be long. I tried to make it short and sweet, but it didn't work out. However, I tried to be as informative as possible!

Uggs & Jimmy Choo

Question: What do you get when you cross a pair of Jimmy Choo's with a pair of Uggs?

Answer:  A small line of boots ranging from $495 to $795 USD. (<---No, that wasn't a joke.)

I saw these online last night. I was thinking of replacing my current pair of Uggs (not with those, the classic ones, haha). They're over two years old and they've taken a good beating. 

Based upon my own observations, people either love or hate Uggs. There's really no grey area. Personally, I love my Uggs. They're crazy comfortable and go with just about everything. I'm not a big shoe person. Don't get me wrong, I like shoes. I just hate the idea of spending a lot of money on them when they just get ruined anyway. I mean, think about it. You buy a new pair of Chloe heels so you can walk around New York City and unintentionally plant your foot in someone else's gum? I'd rather have the handbag, thanks. Hey now, If I had that kind of money, it wouldn't peeve me so much. There's some honesty for ya.

The one pair I actually liked but I still pass.

Anyway, there's only one pair from the line that I actually like. The rest come packed with too much bling. And yes, the hefty price tag is a turn off. I think I'll pass on these. What do you think? Would you buy these? Check out the collection here.

*All the pictures were found via Google image search while the first image was integrated together by me.

The Junk Drawer: Stila Major Lash Mascara

So, 'The Junk Drawer' is going to be a new series on this blog, documenting the things that collect dust. I'll talk about products that I bought but didn't like, products that received a lot of hype but didn't work miracles for me. Also, I'll mention products that I genuinely like but never seem to use. I have a hard time throwing things away (unless they're gross). I like to tell myself that maybe someday I'll find some use for it. Maybe this'll help me get rid of those things and clear some much needed space in my linen closet!

Okay, so this product is the epitome of what this series is all about (for me). I didn't buy this, but I won it in a raffle at my sister in law's baby shower. Stila Major Lash mascara was part of a set from the Glam in a Can (Can Couture). This was the only thing I didn't like from the set. It doesn't do anything for my lashes. I have short, thin lashes that requires something that packs a bigger punch. I'm not sure if it's the formula or the brush or maybe both. It doesn't lengthen or thicken. Loreal Telescopic knocks this one out of the park!

As far as I know, Stila discontinued this mascara (probably why they threw it in the can). It's now called MAJOR Major Lash mascara which is suppose to be better. I hope it is.

My Halloween and blog stuff!

Hello, beautiful people! How was your Halloween? Did you dress up or do anything? I had every intention of dressing up, but I just didn't have time. Yesterday was a very busy day for me. I had house work, house work, house work up until 3 pm, then had to get my daughter fed, bathed, and into her costume so we could goto my mother in law's for a get together. I will say that for the sake of festivities, I put on some extra eye makeup. I thought I looked like a hooker. Wasn't happy about that. Anyway, we had some family over and Kristen's little cousin, Dino, who is five months old. We took them for a little trick or treating. It was a lot of fun! Kristen ended up being a butterfly. A cute butterfly, I might add!

Kristen from this morning, haha

Anyway, I decided to start a new series on this blog. I don't want to tell you what it is yet, but I'm hoping that you'll like it! First post will be up later on today. Enjoy your Monday! Or at least try to... hahah.