Lather and Laquer: A Beauty Realm

Escapades of a 1950s Housewife: The Fashion of I Love Lucy

2013-10-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

I Love Lucy is my favorite sitcom of all time. Ironically it is also the first sitcom I ever saw; I discovered it at age 7 and kind of got the idea in my head that all good TV shows were in black and white ! It kept me from recognizing the quality in sitcoms that were in color for many years--in fact my husband had to introduce me to Seinfeld when we were in college!! Weird, huh?

Anyhow, I own every single Lucy episode, including the long-lost pilot, courtesy of said husband, and I have seen them all innumerable times. I performed "Vitametavegamin" in a theatre class in high school (and was questioned for my choice of "imitating a drunk"--an accusation that theatre teacher would learn to regret!!) and can still recite the words of the majority of the episodes. I truly love Lucy.
And growing up on it, I learned to appreciate the fashion sense of the show.
It took a few episodes for the writers to get into the swing of the plot-- the zany housewife of a Cuban band leader in post-WWII New York City has a hard time accepting the ordinary role of staying at home, and always wants to get into her husband's act. She loves shopping and glamour and struggles to reconcile with her middle class lifestyle. She is best friends with the older, frumpier wife of her landlord. They both get up to ridiculous adventures that often constitute elaborate and hysterical costumes. Now you have the background (which, in my ideal world, you would already know!), so without further ado, here are 8 things I learned from I Love Lucy fashion:

1. Simple can be sexy
Lucy rocked the 1950s look that we now identify as archetypal of the 1950s--but in the most conservative way. In a few episodes she dons stunning ballgowns, but usually in a character role/skit (within the show), an even then, nothing too revealing.
You more often find her in long skirts, button downs, capes, cute housedresses, and even trousers. And she simply ROCKS them. Her sexiness is in her long neck, slim ankles, the way she carries herself, her arced eyebrows, and her effortless but nonetheless engaging accessories (a sparkly hairpiece here, elaborate embroidery there, and that hair of course!).

2. Dress For The Occasion
This goes right along with Number 1-- Lucy doesn't try to be something she's not (well, besides her frequent attempts to get into Ricky's act)--she dresses the part.
This means being casual, comfortable, but nice-looking while at home, gorgeous and fancy but not overdone when she goes out, and, best of all, she always has a piece in the back of her closet appropriate for every situation!

When they move to the country, Lucy raises chickens and learns how to mow the lawn, but she doesn't stop wearing lipstick! She does begin to wear a lot more gingham, plaid, and generally pastoral outfits.

When in Europe, Lucy adapts her wardrobe to each apt (and hysterical) situation:

From left to right--

Lucy hiking in the Alps, at the Monte Carlo Casino, and making wine at an Italian vineyard.

See how each outfit is perfectly suited to the situation? Brilliance.

3. When in doubt, add a belt, bow, or lace.

Any of these add extra pizazz to an ordinary outfit. The belt can be around the waist or up high, and the bow or lace can be placed anywhere, including the hair.

Look at this sweet collar bow--

And this patterned one--

And lace touches below, left to right---

in the hair and on the dress, along the collar, and a lace overlay shirt with simple black skirt.

Lucy never hesitates to belt it. Belts allow you to emphasize your womanly curves and look put-together. They also keep your pants from flapping in the back as you plan your newest exploit!

4. Pearls, pearls, pearls !!!

Drop earrings, clusters, chokers, single strand, stud, flowers. All the female characters wear them well!

5. How to wear trousers

Fitted around the waist but not too tight elsewhere, with a crease and big pockets. Belted, naturally.
When women in the show wear pants, they look casual but still classy, with little touches to ensure that they appear put-together. The pants are always high-waisted (no low rise! Pants were made to go OVER your hips) and usually a dark color. Black looks best, especially with the cute little flats they style them with. Most important of all, blouses and shirts are tucked in, to emphasize your waist.

6. Always be prepared.
Lucy never knows what shenanigans she is going to get up to, or more importantly, what celebrity she may bump into. This means being at your best as much as you can! Having your hair styled, fingernails polished, and your face on. Remember the episode where her and Ethel get caught in curlers when they meet John Wayne?? Lucy tries to cover her curlers by yanking her purse over her head.

She doesn't lounge around in her pajamas all day--she gets dressed and does her hair and makeup and is always ready to go. This is good advice for all of us!

7. Speaking of makeup....

Lucy was the queen of Highlighting and Contouring. She did it to emphasize the angles of her face on television, but it soon became part of her normal routine because it was so flattering--it literally gave her no bad angles in photographs.
Also, many women would shy away from a bright lipstick if they had hair as bright as hers, but she used it to complement her coloring! And those eyes!! Lucy was all about the big, exaggerated expressions, so she wore false lashes and plenty of mascara, and high arched brows to frame them.

So remember-- highlight and contour (especially those cheekbones), defined eyebrows, heavy on the eyes and lips!

8. Casual is cool !
Because she spends most of her days around the apartment (or the house, in later seasons), Lucy is relaxed much of the time. But she still looks cute--and efficient! here are some casual little touches that I love that she styles, from left to right:

Thick framed glasses and a narrow tie!; A deep V neck with stripes underneath; The baseball T.

Even the most casual (the baseball T, for example) looks chic tucked in, with makeup and curls done, and a little bow in her hair.

In conclusion, here are some of my absolute favorite outfits from the series:

I couldn't find the Scandinavian-ish heavy sweater she wears at the beginning of "Lucy Gets Chummy With the Neighbors" but it is a true favorite of mine and I find myself forever searching for my own version to wear with a button-down !!

So remember, keep is simple, classy, and with fun details, or you'll have some 'splainin to do !!!!!!!!!!!

Ombre Lips, Inside and Out

2013-09-30T14:54:00.001-07:00

Can you do ombre lips?
Ombre has hit every other feature it seems--clothing, hair, nails, eyeshadow...

source

And they've done a form of ombre lips... but I find them kind of scary.

source

They look like something off a mannequin-faced character standing in the background of a science fiction movie. I don't like that the top and bottom lip don't match, and when done this way, the bottom lip vanishes into your chin, like the top lip dripped..? or something. Ick.

So I decided to do an experiment--ombre lips with the darkest color on the outside, and then on the inside. You know, just some fun beauty testing randomosity. Here we go!

Let me warn you I consumed a donut (maple bar, mmmmm) immediately prior to taking these photos.

In case you're wondering about the telltale sugary flakes around my lips.

Here are the colors I used--

the lightest, a nude, is Mac Snob;

The medium shade is Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in pink pop;

The darkest is Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in candy apple!

First I put on the nude shade at the center of my kisser...

Then added the medium, and finally traced the deepest on the outside.
So I looked scarily like this...

I blended and blended the three together but I still looked like a silly version of a 1990s heroine
that hadn't quite mastered the subtle lipliner look.

So I did the reverse! But only with the medium and dark shade--
I put the deep red at the center of my lips, and then added the medium pink elsewhere.
So it looked like I had been sucking on a cherry popsicle for 4 hours. It is unique and cute!

And far more practical for hanging out than the icky lipliner look.
It is especially good for playing with your puppy.

Who happens to look like a savage beast in this image, but he's just playing, as you can tell by the cool look on my subtley ombre-lipped face!

September Faves

2013-09-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

My favorite items this month!

And they are---

Garnier BB Cream (the Oily/Combo kind)

Yes to Tomatoes roll-on zit remover

Pixi Smoky Eye stick

Revlon Vivids (this one is Pink Pop)

Kuumba Made roll-on perfume (in Egyptian Musk)

Equate Eye Allergy drops (these help me so much during the season transitions and they instantly whiten and brighten your peepers)

On Overalls

2013-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help myself... I bought a pair a few weeks ago.
They are overall shorts and something about the softness of the denim, with the worn in shredding, and the clink of the metal links and the pressure of the straps on my shoulders took me right back to the 90s and my childhood. I loved overalls. They were really trendy and I was always on the quest for the perfect pair (Old Navy had some good ones!!).
So yeah, I've seen the overall trend coming back (is it, or is it in my mind?), and I just had to have these. So I made them mine!
And I've taken a bit of flack for it (people without a shred of fashion sense calling me "farmer" and teasing me about my little 1990s flashback) but I don't care--I love my overalls and I have a romanticized vision of farm life, so what does it hurt?

This is how I wear my overalls--

The saucy way: (pardon my demonic red eyes)

Overalls: Solissa | Shirt: H&M

The sweet way:

Overalls: Solissa | Shirt: Express

Both require bangs and bravery.

I highly encourage you to pull out a pair and throw them on.

They add something special to the everyday beyond jeans and a t-shirt. So be plucky! Try the trend.
It will be a trend...right? I heard it would... either way, I'm happy.

*Items purchased and styled by yours truly!

Bettie Page Beauty

2013-08-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

It's simple, really.

Cut those bangs! And cut em bluntly.

Define those lips and brows...

And most of all stay happy and healthy and embrace those curves!

GoodSkin BB10 - a disappointing BB Cream

2013-08-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

I like GoodSkin Labs. Their products are straightforward, effective, and don't distract from their purpose with flashing lights and ridiculous applicators.
You get what you pay for!
I haven't had a mediocre experience with any of their products...until now.

Their version of a BB cream is a complete letdown!
The texture is like milk (not in a good way), the color was waaaaaaay off and too light, and it did not give me instantly flawless skin, radiance, or basically anything it promised. I had to wash it off and return it.

Remember these?!

2013-08-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

I unearthed these beauties in an old makeup bag that I rediscovered last night!

Remember when the Mentha glosses were THE SHIT..??

And for good reason. I love the texture and the taste, and it reminds me of summer night games and the days when my husband was still my boyfriend.

And the strawberry balm is just luscious. I've written about it on here before.

Anyhow, just wanted to share my excitement! These lippies will never go out of style.

Retro Beauty: Bette Davis Eyes

2013-08-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

Did you ever hear that Kim Carnes song?? It is one of my favorites, and complements my love of the glamorous Hollywood babe as well.

There's a reason the song is about her eyes... Bette Davis had those deep-set, heavy-lidded eyes that she could lift so slowly it made you hold your breath. She was smoldering, temperamental, and a stone cold fox. She had so many diverse roles, and used her facial expressions to capture Southern sweethearts of cast-iron bitches. Her makeup went along with these roles, but classic Bette Davis beauty can be defined as the smooth, seemingly airbrushed skin as a blank canvas, deep red lips and subtly smoky eyes, with baby doll lashes (meaning you don't hesitate to over-mascara your bottom row of lashes, it is okay if they look a bit spidery) and thin, arched brows (classic Flapper style). OBSERVE:

To get her look today I recommend:

hair curling cream (Apply to damp locks, brush through, then twirl hair into a bun or braids to dry)
A glossy red lip stain
Tweezers and eyebrow pencil
Deep gray or brown eyeshadow
A medium-full coverage tinted moisturizer or BB cream
Highlighter

TransAtlantic Style

2013-07-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

My British Bestie finally returned to SLC ! She was here for a 3 week holiday and on our agenda we had camping, Las Vegas, and other escapades. Here are some snippets of our style, American (me) and English (her)....

A Touch of Trout

2013-07-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Office clothes run the risk of looking drab. Too many beige and neutrals, both on your body and your skin can drag you down and allow you to merge with your surroundings.

Stand out with a splash of brightness!

I like to pick a particular color and accent my outfit and makeup with it.

Today I pulled it off with a hot coral shade on my t-shirt under a blazer, nails, lips, and cheeks.

NAILS: Butter in Trout Pout

CHEEKS: Benefit Fine-One-One

LIPS: Maybelline Color Whisper in Coral Ambition

Out-With-The-Girls Fashion

2013-07-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

Hitting the club on a Friday in the Salt Lake Valley, we like to keep it simple, saucy, and fun !
Remember, if you're showing full décolletage, cover the legs (at least to the upper knee). Likewise, if you're baring legs, keep the upper body classy. Remember a skirt should be long enough to cover the essentials and short enough to keep it interesting.

Outfits of the Summer

2013-07-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

Some simple ensembles I've thrown together recently--

I got this blue dress with small green polka dots at Target for $30 and it has served me well!
It is spot-on (hardy har, like the pun?) for summer weddings (as worn below), BBQs (throw a drop- shoulder denim jacket over it), or even to office functions (cardigan or blazer on top!).

My go-to summer arts fest outfit-- a candy striped sundress with sweater for when the sun sets, and a straw hat. Simple face--eyes are tightlined, pink balm on the lips.

A funky-fresh casual Friday office outfit. Summery linen skirt with a flirty blazer on top!

Blue Mask

2013-06-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

Freeman's Anti Stress Dead Sea Minerals Mask

I love this mask. THIS stuff. Have you seen it?

The texture, the smell, both are divine, but I'll admit I bought it for the COLOR.

And the effects make it more than worth a purchase.

They have the little one-use samples at a lot of drugstores, but I bought the full tube at Smith's grocery. It was less than $5.

I've had this tube more than a year, using it about once a week, and I still have 1/3 left.

You can smear it on thick or do a thin layer and it will still dry, even in a steamy bath.

It dries up all the nasties---mainly pimples and boils, I haven't noticed it works any wonders on blackheads but definitely makes them temporarily less noticeable.

It smells like a salty oceanish fragrance--I personally like it, though others might find it kind of strong (especially if you're applying it under your nose!). The scent (based on essential oils) is supposed to be the anti-stress part here.

It has a thick, creamy paste texture and spreads veeeeeeery easily. It is quite fun to put on. That brilliant turquoise !!

It dries quickly too, between 5-10 minutes depending on your skin and what you're doing. It becomes more sheer as it dries and you can touch it and tell it's not going anywhere.

It can be kind of a pain to scrub off, as merely splashing and running a washcloth over your face will still leave a Smurf-ish tint, so I use a little face loofah thing from The Body Shop and scrub scrub, splash, scrub, and follow up with an exfoliater to get any leftover bits.

Key Ingredients: Kaolin (clay) and sea salt, both intended to purge your skin of all ickies.
This stuff is supposed to dry them out and moisturize and make your skin glow.
Yes to the first and last, but not so much the moisture--this baby dries you out, so follow up with a good cream to maintain that glow.

This is me right after rinsing the mask off and getting out of the tub, no filter, and icky yellow bathroom lights, terrible iPhone photo. But you get the idea.

And this morning when I woke up those few irritated red pimples were 1/4 their size.

Good stuff, especially considering its availability, and that it costs less than a fiver.

ADDICT

2013-06-23T10:10:00.001-07:00

Packing this morning for our big house move.

This is my second load of lippies and makes my addiction pretty damn clear, yet I'm still in the denial stage!!!

Restless

2013-06-14T09:11:00.001-07:00

Did I get fidgety last night and cut myself a few bangs back?

YUP.

Yummy Plum plumper

2013-06-11T11:25:00.002-07:00

That Sexy Mother Pucker stuff from Soap & Glory?

It's AMAZING.

Did you know it goes well with Nerds?

It slicks on your lips and they go snapcracklepop! and start tingling, but not in a painful way, more of in a vibrating way like you put grape jelly on them that just came out of the freezer.

I especially love putting this stuff on when I am poolside.
It just feels cool.
Refreshing in an energizing way.

Not to mention the sheer strawberry color is beautiful and looks wet. It compliments any look.

And yes, it does plump. Not ridiculously, like you were attached by bees (and they stung only your lips), it just makes your pout curvier.

I highly recommend it. I got mine at Sephora for $16. I want to try Half Naked next.

Cheapest Pink Retro Lips....for summer!

2013-06-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

This is the cheapest shimmering pink lip stuff I own and I am IN LOVE with it.

It gives a touch of the bubble gum 1960s retro look without too much frost, smells nice (no nasty taste), lasts an hour or more, doesn't melt terribly in the son, really soothes my lips, and it goes on like any regular chapstick.

Because it IS a chapstick you ninny!

You can get these for $2 anywhere really (drugstore, grocery, etc). I'm going to stock up for summer because these things have SPF too! I want one for every pair of shorts and my pool tote.

I really like the texture of the stick--it is very solid in the tube, but you can see the moisture glistening on the top of it. When you touch it to your lips it melts onto them, leaving a light layer that is practically glossy.

Easy quick glamour in a lip balm!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just A Thursday Face

2013-06-06T15:37:00.001-07:00

Face: L'Oreal BB cream

Cheeks: Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

Eyes: Mascara is CoverGirl Lash Blast 24 Hour in Black Gold

Eyeshadow is Urban Decay Naked Palette and benefit My Two Cents

Lips: Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment

I absolutely am in love with this stuff--the little pot of it is cute sitting on my desk, it smells like Easter candy, you only need a teeny bit, it gives gorgeous pink shine comparable to a fancy lip gloss, and moisturizer like nobody's business!!!! Plus that pot will last you a looooong time.

Took me about 7 minutes.

Isn't it funny the more you rush your makeup routine, the better it looks??
Whenever I take my time and am fastidious, it doesn't come off as beautifully and I have to do touch ups.

The Great Look of Gatsby

2013-05-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

My most popular post that I've ever posted on my blog has been regarding Great Gatsby style.
I've had some requests for another version, so voila! I am posting it on both of my blogs.

I love this montage from boticca. The Tiffany pieces in this film were absolutely stunning (Daisy's headdress was my favorite).

The art deco motif found in some of the jewelry pieces was also woven throughout the film sets--how cunning!! I'm keeping my eyes peeled for home decor done in that unique, modern art deco style (think geometric shapes and clean lines).

That is an easy way to incorporate Jazz Age style --via jewelry and decor touches. As far as the jewelry, especially keep your eyes peeled for emerald and gold touches.

Art deco decor is all about the details, gold accents, and heavy contrast between dark and light colors.
It is meant to be luxurious yet understated (not the swirls and lace of Baroque, for example).
No florals, no frills, vibrant colors, and lots of reflective qualities (glass and chrome).

If you don't want to devote an entire room to the style (it can be difficult finding the right retro furniture), you can incorporate Art Deco in simpler ways, such as wallpapering one accent wall in a room in a funky deco pattern, finding a printed rug in the same style,
or including some Alphonse Mucha prints.

Mucha was a Czech Art Noveau painter and his fantastical prints of women are dreamy and airy, and usually have neat hand-drawn borders incorporated into the piece.

The colors are vibrant and unique and a large piece like this could easily be made the centerpiece of a room.

The most popular materials of the Art Deco style are mirrors, stainless steel, dark wood with inlays, and anything "exotic" (they were obsessed with the notion of "The Orient" back then).
Popular patterns and motifs were sunbursts, nudes, leaves and feathers, stylized animals, and sharp objects (think the peaks of skyscrapers). Think utilitarian with an edge.

And of course..appearance.

Tailored suits, beaded dresses with fringe that create a lot of movement for dancing, snazzy stockings, red lips, black nail polish, bobbed hair, and dramatic eyes.

Very strappy and sexy! For the look today, try wearing dresses with fun details at a unique length (about thigh-high, not too long or too short) and glitzing it up with sparkly jewelry (costume jewelry with rhinestones is perfect for this!). Grab your pearls if you've got em!

Makeup was dramatic and flirtatious and anything but natural.

Flappers made it clear they were dolled up!

Smoky eyes, thinned and defined eyebrows, usually a beauty mark or two, bright blush on the apples of the cheeks (very doll-like), and bright lips--typically in red.

Of course, in the new Great Gatsby, Daisy is an exception to this as she is not wholly a flapper.

She goes for the "let your natural beauty shine through" approach, which centers around a flawless, glowing complexion, stunning eyes, and pink lips.

For her look you'll need groomed hair tucked neatly into place (no fly-aways or dramatic volume), neatly groomed brows that extend past the eye, heavy mascara and black eyeliner, and a sheer lip gloss.
For the skin, try a tinted moisturizer or BB cream with highlighter added to it for that extra glow.

Recommended products for this look:
Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush comes in the ideal color assortment to pull this look off and provides a sheer wash of color that lasts.

Benefit They're Real mascara is thick and dark and awesome for bringing attention to the eyes.

For a gentler Daisy look, try tightlining with a dark brown or grey eyeliner pencil.
In some of the party scenes her eyes are played up more, so you could do a smudged out baby cat eye if you're going for a little more drama while maintaining the innocent look.

I love Sonia Kashuk's Illuminator.
The texture is creamy and almost gel-like and optimal for mixing in with foundation or dabbing on as a highlighter.
It catches the lights on a night out and brings out that glow without ridiculous chunks of glitter--just a subtle shimmer.

This stuff is magical. Mix it with the illuminator and blend blend blend for believable, clear, glowing skin.

L'Oreal Color Riche Balm in Pink Satin (seen here) or Rose Elixir are great for the innocent baby pink sheen Daisy always has on her lips.
They are moisturizing and kissable and foolproof.

Oh, and don't forget Daisy's nude nails.

Try OPI's Bubblebath or Essie Sugar Daddy.

If those aren't in your price range, Sally Hansen has some awesome shades for $1-$2 at Wal Mart.
Hard Core Party is one of my favorite baby pinks from that line.

What is your favorite way to incorporate Jazz Age Art Deco Gatsby style into your everyday life?

That's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.

-Daisy, The Great Gatsby

Friday Face

2013-05-17T09:30:00.001-07:00

Here it is, no filter, under these dreadful fluorescent lights!

We do Fridays casual here, so I just brushed out yesterday's curls and pulled half of them into a pony, dabbed on concealer, a bit of powder, mascara, tighlined with black, a smear of Tarte cheek stain, and that NYX mood gloss. Done.
Yes, all of these products last me through the day! When we get home I usually just re-curl my lashes and re-powder to keep the greasies at bay, and I'm good to go out (unless I add more eyeshadow for drama).

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BRIGHT summer lips

2013-05-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

4 words: Maybelline. Shocking Coral. Lipstick.

YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This stuff is awesome. I'm in love. It will be my summer go-to. I've worn it at work 2 out of 3 days this week. It is more of a fuschia than a coral I suppose, but definitely has an orange tint to it that I love. You only need a tiny bit, blot, and it holds on like a stain.

I've worn it alone, as more of a matte shade, and with several glosses over it, and it always looks glamorous and pulled-together.
I haven't had an issue with is smearing/getting on my teeth/generally making me look like a hooker.
And it doesn't dry my lips out like crazy!

And it will look fabulous with a tan. A tan that I don't have quite yet.

Here it is by itself on an otherwise makeupless Mare. It has some sheen but is the dry-down is pretty matte.

Here is the cute little tube.
The way it looks itself is pretty different than the true application color.

I like surprises.

And here it is with MAC Lipglass in Enchantress over it.

And again with Smith's Rosebud Lip Balm over it (in Minted Rose, which is a pretty coralish balm itself).

Going Jane Russell

2013-04-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

I noticed that 3 of my recent posts are about pink lip gloss.
Kinda tame, doncha think?

So I decided to go retro. bombshell. dramatic.
I decided to go all Jane Russell up in here and match my nail polish to my lipstick.

Hollywood bombshell Jane Russell's sexy secret was matching her lipstick to her nail polish. ALL THE TIME.
This notion supposedly arose in 1939 when Revlon founder Charles Revlon was dining in a fancy schmancy restaurant when he noticed a woman dabbing her mouth with a napkin. He noticed that her nail colour and the shade of her lips were twins, and was astonished. The beauty trend was born.

There are multiple ways to do this, obviously.
You can do baby pink lips and baby pink nail polish, or go 90s and do blue on blue.
But the original way, and definitely the most dramatic, is RED.
Deep red with blue undertones works best for most of us--it is flattering on skin, makes the red really pop, and makes your teeth look whiter.

Plus, you just feel extra glamorous and retro rocking those red lips and nails.

I am wearing CoverGirl Lip Perfection lipstick in Hot
and O.P.I's O.P.I. Red.

The effect is neat.
And considering I usually wear sheer pink gloss and nude nails, I am getting quite a few stares, winks, and compliments at the office. This is a perfect way to spice of the middle of the week unexpectedly.

Obviously there are multiple ways to achieve this matchy, fun look.

But what can I say? Guess I'm just old school.

Some are more... out there than others (I've even seen YELLOW!!!). Give it a whirl.
I think coral lips/nails and lavender lips/nails will be BIG this spring!

Lip ID colour adapt

2013-04-09T14:33:00.004-07:00

Jemma Kidd--
I've seen her stuff at Target and I love glosses that "adapt" to the heat of your lips and change colors.
They are fun and girly and remind me of the mood rings I so enjoyed as a child.

Pardon my unloved nails in this picture, I haven't had a chance to do them and they're recovering from our weekend climbing rocks!

This gloss comes out clear.
I don't like the application, as you can't put it directly on lips from the tube. You have to apply it with your finger and then wipe your finger off so it doesn't turn pink and stay glossy.

But it is worth it, crappy application or not---
look at that bright pink! It has a nice sheen, no taste, and is not sticky.
Wear time is about an hour before the gloss wears off, but the pink stain hangs around longer.

I haven't had moisture/flaking issues with this stuff.
And it doesn't burn like some color changing balms do.
Especially those ones that are trying to plump at the same time.

All in all, this gloss does what it says it will and is a fun way to punch up your look.

You can put it on and forget about it.

It does adapt to the amount as well, so adding more will turn darker, and if you use a lighter touch you get a charming baby pink.

It is quite pricey ($20), but is comparable to much more expensive adapting glosses and I find I prefer it to the others I have used. Packaging is cute and doesn't leak.

It is soooooo flattering !

Check it out.

Flashdance: Hot Pink Summer Lips

2013-03-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

FLASHDANCE! I love that song. It's my jam.
The beat drops and you catch yourself screaming along -- What a feeeeelin!!!
This tends to happen when I am crusing around in the summer with the windows down.

And I have discovered a lippy that captures summer color and the excitement of that song. It is Estee Lauder Pure Color High Gloss in... FLASHDANCE of course!
(Leg warmers not required).

When I discovered the name of this gorgeous pink, I had to have it.
0.5 fluid ounces will cost you $18.50 at the counter, but I got this gem as a sample (0.27 ounces) and using it several times a week for 7 months now, it is still a nearly full tube.
It is so pigmented and richly glossy you only need a tiny smidge. This doesn't justify the ridiculous price of lip gloss, but it comes damn close.
It will last you several summers.

It has the typical Estee Lauder scent/taste, which is light and a big vanilla'ey... sweet, but not chemically. It won't freak out your date if you plant one on them. It is pretty feminine.
Best of all, it packs such a punch, and is not terribly sticky!

If I forget to pull my hair back while doing the rocking out while driving windows down mentioned above and my hair blows into my lips, it is not a major crisis where you end up screaming because your strands are glued to your mouth and the world is coming to an end.

Why yes, that is a Hello Kitty watch.

It goes rather nicely with this swatch.

So this is my #1 recommended hot pink lippy of the summer.

It is low maintenance yet sexy yet innocent. Does that make sense?

No mirror needed to apply.

Flattering on all skin tones, but I recommend sampling it before investing,

Unless you've got multiple bank rolls to blow on lip gloss.

And just because...

Don't pretend you aren't obsessed.

WHAT A FEEEEEEEELIN!!! PLEASE BELIEVE ITTTT!!!

LeGloss is le fabulous

2013-03-26T10:07:00.002-07:00

L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Gloss in Watermelon Crush.

LOVING this stuff !
The best part is the jelly-like texture - - it moisturizes your lips and really grips to them, so it lasts a decent amount of time (I've gotten 2 hours out of a thin coat!!) without being sticky in the slightest.

It's great for winter because it smooths onto dry lips without fuss, but also nice for summer because the texture is light and it is easy to apply--no mirror needed.
It has a light fruity smell and sweet taste--nothing overbearing or offensive.
Definitely kiss worthy.

Grab a tube for 7.99 at any drugstore !
HIGHLY recommended. It lasts for eternity as well.