The Perfect Holiday Red Lip

With the Christmas holiday next week, it’s safe to say that the biggest makeup trend on everyone’s mind is a bold red lip.  If you’ve followed my blog, or watched any of my videos before, you know I’m not always the most daring when it comes to lip color. But this year, I think I’m going to give a bold lip a whirl on the 25^th.  Here are some of my top picks for lip colors this year- both from my personal collection, and taken from others, in all price ranges.

Urban Decay, Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb

This is described as a ‘classic red’ color.  I purchased this color after my makeover (which you receive when you bump up to a VIB level at Sephora), and it works really well for any classic sort of pin-up look, especially with a winged-out liner.  I pair this lipstick with Urban Decay’s lip liner in the shade “69.”  The lip color overall is super creamy and is easy to apply.  Me being me, I am paranoid about getting it on my teeth while wearing it and it bleeding out onto my face, but I have never had any issues.

Hourglass, Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Icon

This is definitely the priciest item on this list, but it is an absolutely beautiful color (and an item on my own personal lust list).  There is also a gloss that Hourglass makes in the same color that can be layered over for an even more intense look.  This is a deep cherry red, and was extremely popular with YouTube beauty gurus last December, and has now made its way back into the blogs.  Definitely something worth swatching if you are in a Sephora.

Wet n Wild, Lipstick in 910D/Red Velvet

This is probably the best “cheap” lip option that I have ever come across.  I did not have any sort of high hopes or expectations for this product when I bought it, but it is beyond any hopes and dreams that I could possibly have for it.  I do suggest wearing some sort of lip balm underneath it and exfoliating your lips prior to using it, as it can show dryness on the lips.  But, considering the price tag, it is well worth it!

Maybelline, The Elixir Gloss in Signature Scarlet

This is a great way to wear a red gloss and get a ‘less intense boldness,’ or a great option for layering products.  This entire line of products is great-there are so many bright, vibrant colors and the formulation is super wearable.

What type of lip look will you be rocking this season?  Let me know in the comments below, or tweet me/tag me in your Instagram photos!

Until Next Time, Happy Reading!

Allison

My Makeup Essentials

Being a makeup junkie means I’ve definitely accumulated quite the makeup stash over the years, particularly over the past two years since I’ve really gotten into makeup and collecting it.  Even though I have a large amount of product, I definitely have those ‘essentials,’ that I’ve found myself gravitating towards more recently, and I thought I’d share them with you all today.

Babylips Dr. Rescue “Too Cool”

This product has been a major life save this past winter since I’ve discovered it/since it was released.  It does have some menthol in it, which I think is why it has been so healing for ultra chapped and dried out lips.

http://amzn.to/1gH5s3Y

Smashbox PhotoFinish Primer Light

This primer definitely beats out any others that I’ve tried out.  It’s very light on the skin- there is a regular formula, but I use the “Light” for acne-prone, oily skin.  It works incredibly well, and holds my foundation and face makeup in place all day long, and when paired with my De-Slick setting spray, can work miracles!

http://amzn.to/1gH5QiU

Bobbi Brown Foundation SPF 15

My new favorite foundation, this is probably one of the best foundations I’ve ever used.  It’s extremely light-weight on the skin, but provides a great, heavy coverage that has an amazing high quality.  The only downside is the price tag, but you use so little of it with each application it is sure to last a long time.  My bottle looks as if I’ve hardly used it and I’ve had it for four months and use it almost every day of the week.

http://amzn.to/1gH5WHx

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer (for undereyes)

If you have a problem with dark or hard to conceal under eye circles, or just didn’t have a good night’s sleep the night before, definitely give this drugstore concealer a try!  There also is a brightening formulation, which I do not have, but I would like to try out next.  This makes such a difference on my skin, it’s unreal.

http://amzn.to/1ezyrbg

Tarte Amazonian Clay Concealer

This is a heavy-duty concealer that has a thick, creamy consistency.  It is super easy to work with, and the application blends well on the skin, and provides amazing coverage all day long, on almost any type of spot- scar, acne- you name it.

http://amzn.to/1gH6nBt

Milani Baked Blush “Luminoso”

I love this blush.  It is a gorgeous pink color with a slight golden hue to it that is easily buildable.  I love wearing it lightly swept it on my cheekbones for a light glow, or to build it up for a brighter glow.

http://amzn.to/1ruj9Yx

Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel “Caramel”

My favorite brow gel possible, this holds the brows in place all day, and the color tint that is in it helps add an extra dimension to the face that is perfect.  It makes doing the brows so much simpler if you don’t have the time to fill them in to the extreme- just add a swipe of the tinted gel, and there ya go!

http://amzn.to/1papxFE

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara

For the longest time, and for some odd reason, I avoided trying out this product.  When I finally caved in and gave it a shot, I fell in love, and now it’s my favorite mascara, beating out all of the Maybelline varieties that I love.  I still love the others, but this is my go-to.  It comes in numerous shades, and the volume and plump it gives your lashes is incredible!

http://amzn.to/P5rRNq

NYX Slide On Glide On Eye Pencils

My current favorite eyeliners, NYX is an amazing drugstore brand that not too many people know about.  I have a feeling this will soon change now that they are sold in CVS.  If you have not tried out the brand, definitely check out these eye pencils.  They are super silky, have great application, and stay on all day without smudging.  And the color selection is just gorgeous.

http://amzn.to/1gH7EIW

Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray

I couldn’t wear my makeup the way I currently do without this setting spray.  It holds my ‘face’ on all day long, and keeps it looking fresh from application to removal, and that makes it a Holy Grail product for me.  If you are looking for a setting spray specifically made for oily skin, definitely check out this one.

The Sigma Resort Palette

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all are having a fantastic day!  For today’s post, it’s a long overdue one.  This is a brief review/thought session on a Christmas present that I received this past Christmas from one of my AWESOME Aunts (SHOUTOUT TO YOU!!!!).  I’ve been meaning to write this for the longest time, but just haven’t, and today, well, it’s finally happening.  So let’s hop right in!

First off, let me just say that when I saw the Sigma packaging I was ready to cry.  I had no idea what I was getting, and I just got so excited and emotional, and just yea…. I was so excited and grateful.  When I opened it up, I was pretty much terrified to even touch it, because I didn’t want to ruin it’s ‘perfection,’ and I started jumping up and down screaming (like a 3 year old) hugging my Aunt.  It was great.

For those of you that don’t know, the Resort Palette by Sigma is a Limited Edition palette.  It comes with 8 eyeshadows, 1 blush, 1 liquid highlight, and 1 double-ended eyeliner pencil.  It is all beautifully packaged (about the size of a Naked palette) and there is a large mirror inside).  The eye colors range from smokey to neutral to bright, and there are so many looks you can create.  The blush is a gorgeous soft to medium pink shade, and the eyeliners come in a bright blue shade, and a staple brown.

The eyeshadow colors (from left to right): Muse, Fawn, Luna, Topaz, Papaya, Moonbeam, Neela, and Midori.

Eye colors (left to right): Muse, Fawn, Luna, Topaz, Papaya.

Eye colors (left to right): Topaz, Papaya, Moonbeam, Neela, Midori.

Overall, I think this is definitely something that I will get more use out of during the summer months due to the amount of bright shades, and the temperature of the liners when swatched.  However, so far, my favorites of the shadows have been Fawn and Luna.  I just love the neutral look of Fawn as an all over the lid color, and Luna in the inner corners of the eye.  It’s a great basic look.  I can’t wait to mix and match some of the brighter colors with other bright outfits for some fun summer looks!

So you have this palette?  What do you think of it?  What are you favorite looks to create with it?

The Sephora Makeover Experience

If you follow me on Instagram, (allisoncomments) then you already know that I was recently lucky enough to have a makeover done at Sephora.  This was so much fun for a beauty/makeup junkie like myself, and I learned so much from the experience.  In need of some pampering and just a fun day, I used the free makeover that comes complimentary with the upgrade to Sephora’s VIB program.

I went into the whole thing with a few expectations.  I first wanted to find a new foundation that I was going to be able to use on an everyday basis as well as a concealer, as what I’d been using from the high end side of things (MakeUp Forever HD foundation) had been making me feel cake-y, and I’d never tried a real quality concealer.  I also wanted to use this as a learning opportunity and finally learn how to properly do the whole lip-liner thing and wear lipstick – particularly red.  (If you watch my videos, then you know, this is something I’m terrified to even attempt)

The women at Sephora were incredible.  Never have I felt more ‘at home’ in a store before.  They listened to my thoughts and concerns, and taught me well.  I love the products they used on me, and loved the finished look- which turned out to be a sort of modern-day pin-up look.

I definitely did not have a ‘traditional’ makeover experience.  Mainly because I ended up having an artist from URBAN DECAY complete my look!  (only a true makeup junkie would understand how unbelievable cool this was, and would appreciate the fact that I was ready to squeal with delight when they told me they could do this)  This was such a great opportunity, and of course I couldn’t turn it down.

While I had a total face makeover, the three stand-out products were as follows: the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation with SPF 15 in 0 Porcelain, the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour blush in Blissful, and finally, the main event, the Urban Decay lipstick in the color F-Bomb.  I absolutely love all three of these products, and I’ve included close up pictures of all of them below.

If YOU have a chance, or are in the need of a little pampering, try getting your look re-done at Sephora.  It is a super relaxing, fun thing to do by yourself, and FOR yourself (because it’s never a bad thing to spend time taking care of yourself and being happy!) and you can really learn so much from the entire experience. 

If you’ve done a makeover at Sephora, or anywhere, let me know about your experience in the comments below – I’d love to hear about it!!!  Or, if you’ve tried out a new look on your own recently, let me know!  And don’t forget to tweet me pictures or send me them on Instagram!

Until next time, Happy Reading,

Allison