Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog

Rihanna for MAC Cosmetics: RiRi Woo Lipstick Review and Swatches!

2013-05-19T05:08:00.005-07:00

Finally, my RiRi Woo lipstick (Rihanna for MAC Cosmetics) is here and I LOVE it! RiRi Woo is a gorgeous cool, matte, retro red lipstick that will suit any complexion. What was new to me is the dry texture of RiRi Woo, which made the application a little bit difficult at first, but what is great about it, is that the lipstick stays on for literally the entire day. I can eat/drink/kiss all day without reapplying it, so it is smudge free.

My favorite thing about RiRi Woo is the matte finish and the gorgeous dark, red shade! I've heard that RiRi Woo is almost identical with Ruby Woo (which I don't own, so I can't tell), but at least I know that whenever I will run out of this one, Ruby Woo is next on my list.

Riri Woo looks just like any regular MAC lipstick, only difference is a pretty "RiRi" engraved.

RiRi Woo swatch

wearing RiRi Woo (two different lightings)

Summary:

I am glad that RiRi Woo turned out to be a pretty classic, universal shade that can be worn by anybody and it will look great on. I don't own any red lipstick with dry texture that actually suits me well,so I am very happy, that I got RiRi Woo.

Have a great day Ladies

xox

On My May Beauty Wishlist ♥

2013-05-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

L'oreal Color Vibrancy Dual Protect Spray ($6.59) - I'm running out of my CHI heat protectant and this L'oreal leave-in spray seems to have all I am looking for: UV filters (perfect for Spring/Summer!), protection up to 450F and conditioning color-treated hair (I use similar shade hair dye to refresh color and give my hair extra shine).

Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Bronzer/Blush Duo ($12.99) - I think the most purchased product by me would be a bronzer haha. I love bronzers and this bronzer/blush duo looks just gorgeous. I can only imagine how it will look on the skin. I don't own any Sonia Kashuk products yet, but I've heard they are great, so I think this one will be a good first choice.

Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil ($8.00) - I found a sample of this Essie cuticle oil in the magazine and all I am going to say is that this product smells AMAZING. If you like fruity scents you will love it! Plus it absorbs pretty quickly, leaving your hands with that very pleasant scent of apricots, yum!

Chanel Mademoiselle ($85) - I've had my eyes on this fragrance, since my friend let me use it one night and I fell in love with it instantly. I am not a big fan of Chanel No. 5, but Mademoiselle smells amazing!

Rihanna for MAC Cosmetics Riri Woo lipstick $15.00)- I don't have any dark matte red lipstick in my collection and since I love Rihanna, Riri Woo was a must have! I am super excited to receive this baby, hopefully by the next week, so stay tuned for some swatches and review!

And what is on your current beauty wishlist?

xox

Beauty Coalition Weekly Roundup 05/06/2013

2013-05-06T05:20:00.003-07:00

Mama Fashionista: Find out why Quinn has traded in her foundation, now that she's discovered Smashbox's CC Cream!

BeautyTidbits: Addicted to your flat iron? Beat the heat damage with the new Agadir Argan Oil Hair Shield 450 plus Spray Treatment!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If you favor luminous foundations or the perfect tinted moisturizers, then say hello to Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free SPF 15! It is nothing short of perfection!

Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: DIY Prom Makeup Tips

Beauty Info Zone: Are you looking for an inexpensive but highly effective eye mask? Beauty Info Zone has found the answer.

The FabZilla: You've heard it but don't really know much about it. So what is this thing called maracuja?

Lipgloss Break: Lipgloss Break is giving away a Modella travel cosmetic bag. Enter to win!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle: Elixir Collection is a unique new collection from I Colonialim an iconic Italian bath & body brand

Beauty 101: Casey knew that she found the perfect way to clean her brushes when she tried the Koren Zander Pro Brush Soap. Check out her review!

Beauty Professor: Have a job interview coming up? The Beauty Professor's shares her tutorial on polished interview makeup!

Midnight Manicures: Looking for a bronzer that lives up to the hype? See what Jeanie thinks of the Milani Bronzer XL in the new Radiant Tan.

Midnight Manicures: Midnight Manicures announces a new Contributor to the team, Jamie, the creator of Sea Lore Polish. Check out Jamie's newest collection Sea Lore "Spring Seas".

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Brushes Review!

D.G.S.Beauty: Learn a fun, simple and affordable way to create your very own makeup brush holder

The Lacquered Lady: Looking for some lightweight moisture this summer? The Lacquered Lady reviews Vaseline's new Spray and Go Moisturizer

Pammy Blogs Beauty : Turn Your Shower into a Spa! Pammy Blogs Beauty tests it out ExfoliKate Body

Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder Review & Swatches! (Kim Kardashian favorite)

2013-05-05T04:13:00.001-07:00

I was looking for a good loose setting powder, when I came around the famous Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana. This is one of the favorite makeup products used by Kim Kardashian's makeup artist and it doesn't really matter if you are a fan of her or not, her complexion and makeup always look so flawless and gorgeous, that I was super excited to try out Banana and see how it will work for me. I wasn't really sure where can I get this product, so I just bough it on Ebay (it cost me $12 including shipping).

Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana is a yellow loose setting powder. I wasn't sure how the shade will work on my skin, since I have cool complexion, but after reading so many great reviews online, and how actually the yellow color neutralize any redness on your skin and ads instant glow to the skin, I was more than sure that I picked the right shade.

This powder feels very soft on the skin, mostly because it is very well milled. It has no shimmer in it and leaves your skin feeling velvety. I also like using ELF HD transparent setting powder (white), but the slight difference I could see between ELF and Ben Nye, was that Ben Nye left my skin glowing and not as pale as ELF before blending in.

Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana swatch

credit: http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/

There is no way, you will ever feel that this product leaves your skin feeling cakey. That's the thing a love about loose setting powders. Also I've worn it for the entire day on top of my foundation and it kept my t-zone nicely matte. The only thing I don't like it about Ben Nye luxury powder is the size of the cap. Since it is too small to fit my brush, I put a little bit of the product on my wrist and applied it from there.

Summary: For the smooth, velvety finish., stay on power, this powder is a must have! It never felt cakey and it kept my t-zone matte almost for entire day.

Have you tried any other shades of Ben Nye luxury powder? Would love to know what you think!
xox

Top 4 Favorites Products of Month April 2013

2013-05-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

My April's favorites products are here!

ELF HD Blush in Headliner - this is a must have cream blush! It used to be always sold out whenever I wanted to order it, but now I am not surprised, because this blush is gorgeous! Pretty pink shade, wonderful color payoff, stays on long time and super blendable. Full review with swatches soon!

Nivea Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss Lip Butter- I love lip butters, especially the ones that smell good. This Nivea lip product has a very sweet scent and gives my lips a nice shine. Not sticky at all and easy to apply, love it!

Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Mask Dead Sea Minerals - this is my favorite face mask ever. I also have the chocolate one, which smells DELICIOUS (review here), but I feel like this one works more intense and cleans out my pores really well. I need to try more Freeman's masks since they are super affordable and they actually do the job.

NYX Eyeshadow Base in White - I use this eyeshadow base almost every single time when I apply my eyeshadows. It makes any color pop, giving a beautiful color payoff and because it feels a little bit sticky on the lids, it holds the pigment very good.

What are your favorite April's beauty products ?

xox

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream Review!

2013-04-30T04:59:00.003-07:00

BB creams promise to do so many amazing things to your skin, that when you read what is on the packaging you almost feel like you found a perfect skincare/makeup face product. I wish it could be true and that easy. I feel like finding a good BB cream for my combination skin is always quite the challenge. Having some experience with Garnier Skin Perfector BB Cream and Essence all-in-one BB Cream now it's time for Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream review, that I got in shade medium.

Review:
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream texture is more liquid than the texture of both Essence and Garnier bb creams and feels very light on the skin. I got it in the shade medium, which on the swatch looks pretty dark but after blending out there is not much pigment left.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in medium swatches

Covering blemishes without using a concealer is nearly impossible, because the product gives only a very sheer tint. I would expect a little bit more coverage, because after all it is a bb cream not just a regular tinted moisturizer. The product stays on for good couple of hours, but the t-zone gets oily after like 3-4 hours of me wearing it. I think if you have dry/normal skin and you are looking for a light, sheer coverage face product, you probably are going to like Dream Fresh BB Cream.

Summary:
Overall, I like to use this product during sunny warm/hot days because it is light, sheer, gives some color to my face and has SPF30. Unfortunately, I wouldn't call it a good bb cream, because it doesn't really cover any blemishes on my skin and concealer in my case is needed.

April 2013 Beauty Deals, Promotions & Discounts!

2013-04-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

Beauty Deals, Promotions & Discounts as of 29th April 2013:

:: ELF Cosmetics 40% SALE! Ends Tonight! Code: FORTY

:: Tarte Cosmetics 25% OFF Sale! Click here

:: Benefit Cosmetics FREE deluxe minis of the Porefessional & "that gal" with any $60 order. Code: PRIMEME. Exp. 04/30

:: BH Cosmetics Mother's Day 60% OFF SALE. Link here

:: Cherry Culture 25% OFF all Mehron items. Code: MH25 Expires: 04/30

:: Drugstore.Com Get a Free Boots Botanics Mask with $20 Boots purchase.

:: Beauty.Com Gifts with purchase! Click here

:: Folica.Com SALE! Link here.

:: Urban Decay SALE! Link here.

:: Ulta.Com awesome deals including NYX Cosmetics, Revlon and Big Sexy Hair

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman Brushes Review!

2013-04-25T07:05:00.004-07:00

I've wanted to get Real Techniques brushes for a while now, especially when I saw that their stippling brush looks similar to Sigma F80 foundation brush (which is my Holy Grail among foundation brushes!). I also needed a good blush brush and since I prefer angled brushes, Real Techniques blush brush looked really interesting, so I wanted give it a try.

First of all the brushes are high quality made. I hate cheap brushes, I feel like if you are thinking about buying your first brush, you should think about good quality. Maybe it will cost you a little bit more money but trust me, it will be worth it and good brushes make a difference in your makeup. Real Techniques stippling brush cost $10 and blush brush is $9, so really not that much.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Like I mentioned before, Sigma F80 is my number one among foundation brushes. I only use F80, beautyblender or my fingers. Any other types of foundation brushes just don't work for me ( example Sigma F60). When I received this brush, I was a little surprise that it is actually much smaller than F80, but because of the size, I feel like it works even better than F80 especially around the nose area and under your eyes. The brush is dense, super soft and blending my foundation was just so easy! I think it is a fantastic brush and I'm very happy that I found my another favorite among foundation brushes, definitely a must have!

Real Techniques Blush Brush

This blush brush is another great tool from Real Techniques. Because the bristles are different length, applying and blending product is literally fool proof. It is super soft and dense and I really can not say anything bad about it.

Because both brushes are made of synthetic bristles you can use it with powder as well cream products. Love it!

Summary: These brushes are great quality, super soft, very easy to work with and blend powder as well as cream shadows. I am so going to get more Real Techniques tools!

What are your favorite makeup brushes?

have a fab day
xox

Beauty Coalition Weekly Roundup 04/23/2013

2013-04-23T03:22:00.004-07:00

Mama Fashionista: Mama Fashionista shares the products and tools she's been using lately to get her curls sleek and straight, while maintaining their health!

Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: Beautiful Spring Wedding Featured on Style Me Pretty

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: It is no secret that Clarins makes so many gorgeous products, but their new Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Petal Shimmer No. 4 is simply pure magic!

BeautyTidbits: Check out the the swatches and review of the new Prestige Cosmetics Total Intensity Bold Eyeshadow trios over at BeautyTidbits.

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: L'oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer Review!

Painted Ladies: IMAN Cosmetics Blush in Allure is a budget-friendly win, says Sheila at Painted Ladies.

Scottish Beauty Blog: Outdoor hot tubs and pampering packages, Sarah from Scottish Beauty Blog is hanging out at Scotland's Stobo Castle.

TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla shares how you can update cat-eyes for spring and summer!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Website: OMG! The most beautiful collection of colors for Spring are blooming at AVEDA

Blushing Noir: RocksBox just may be the only jewelry subscription box that is a WIN every time!

Lipgloss Break: Lipgloss Break shares tips on how to efficiently pack (and stock) a travel cosmetic bag!

D.G.S.Beauty: Looking for new skincare products? Check out D.G.S.Beauty's review on a few B. Kamins products

Fabulous Awesomeness: Heard the fuss about keratin but don't know what it is? Mina Slater will tell you in What Is Keratin & Why It's In My Hair Care!

The Lacquered Lady: Check out this gorgeous gray holo!

L'oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer Review!

2013-04-16T10:33:00.002-07:00

After my not really pleasant experience with ELF Eyeliners Crayons I was pretty skeptical about trying another crayon product but L'oreal True Match Concealer Crayon, got pretty good reviews so I decided to try it. And now kind of a funny-not-really story. After I used it for the first time, I forgot to close the top and I realized that the next day and the crayon was totally DRY like no color payoff anything... I was so upset but I rubbed off the top layer, kept it closed and was hoping it will be usable again. Thank God the crayon works great again, phew! But let's get to the review part.

The shade I bought is W4-5 light-medium, which is a warm, yellow undertone shade and it actually suits my skin great. I use this crayon mainly to cover any blemishes, because it is too dark for under eye concealing and also I think it has a little bit too thick texture to use it there ( I simply prefer liquid under eye concealers ).

L'oreal True Match Concealer Crayon in W4-5, light-medium swatch

L'oreal True Match Concealer Crayon coverage is pretty good and the product is very blendable, which makes it easy to use. I've seen some people buying lighter and darker shades of this concealer and using it as a highlight and contour, which is a good idea, considering the soft texture of this crayon.

Summary: Overall, I really like this product as a blemish concealer. It does the job without looking cakey and stays on for few good hours. As for under eye concealing, I would rather go for something a little bit lighter and more liquid in texture.

Price: $7.99

What is your favorite concealer ever?
xox

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Light Bronzer Review and Swatches!

2013-04-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

After debating over if I should get that super cute Too Faced heart shaped blush for $30 or get two Physicians Formula Happy Boosters (blush and bronzer) instead, I decided to go for the quantity (but still keeping the good quality!lol) and I got these super cute Happy Boosters in Light Bronzer and Pink (Pink review soon!).

Happy Boosters look just adorable and I was very excited to try their Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Light Bronzer shade, since I was looking for a natural, not too dark bronzer for Spring. I know that there are four shades available from the Happy Booster's Glow & Mood collection: Bronzer, Light Bronzer, Translucent and Beige. At first I wanted to get Bronzer shade but it was out of stock, so I ended up picking up Light Bronzer, which still gives my cheeks a nice glow. The bronzer comes with a little brush, but I am using my Sigma F40 blush brush to apply it.

Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Light Bronzer swatches

I used flash on the picture above for you to see that Happy Booster in Light Bronzer has some shimmer in it, but when you apply it onto the face, it just leaves a beautiful satin glow. I think this shade is a perfect choice for a fair/light skin ladies. The only thing I am not a big fan of is the scent of this bronzer. It is kinda strong, but the good thing is that I didn't smell anything after applying it on my cheeks.

Summary:

Overall, I think Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Light Bronzer is a must-have for Spring/Summer! Also if you are not very experienced with using bronzers, this product will be a fantastic choice, because not only it looks natural on the skin, but it's sheer and buildable, which makes its almost foolproof and there is no way you will end up looking streaky or orangy.

Price: $9.76

xox

European Drugstore Beauty Brands: Essence & Catrice Haul!

2013-04-09T06:02:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love affordable and good makeup? Products, that actually work and don't cost a whole fortune. Yes, I am a big fan of them too. Catrice and Essence has been my favorite European beauty drugstore brands, since I first laid my eyes on them and tried few products.With Catrice I have never bought anything that I didn't like, but with a little bit cheaper Essence, I kinda have love-hate relationship, but products that I am showing today are all fab!

essence All-In-One BB Cream

While, I am waiting for my shipment from drugstore.com with Maybelline BB Cream, I decided to try this affordable Essence product, since it's Spring time and I wanted to switch things up a little bit and go lighter on my skin :) I wore this BB Cream today and I have to say, that I it looks and feels great on my skin. Even greater than my old Garnier BB Cream which I liked a lot, but the biggest issue I had with it was pretty bad oiliness after few hours of wearing and after that experience, I kinda stepped away from bb creams, because I thought they all will make my t-zone oily (I have combination skin). This affordable bb cream not only gives a nice coverage, but as well it doesn't feel greasy on my skin, and that is the IT thing I was looking in a good bb cream. It kept my face nicely matte almost all day (I set it with Rimmel Stay Matte powder). The shade I got is the darkest, but with my NW25/NC25 and the nature of bb cream (less pigmented than regular foundation) it fits me perfectly and if I have to be honest, I didn't really have to touch up with concealer either.

Catrice Cheek & Lip Colour in Picked Cherry Blossom

(from their limited edition Neo Geisha)

I got this item, because it was on sale and first I thought about it as a cream blush, but when I put it on my lips, I totally fell in love with the shade and how beautifully it suits my complexion and adds pop of color! On the swatch it looks almost identical with my NYX Matte Lipstick, but on the lips NYX is slighty brighter, more neonish looking, than Catrice. Both are gorgeous matte shades! Love it!

Swatch: Essence Bb cream in 03 Medium , Catrice lip and cheek colour in Picked Cherry Blossom

essence get BIG LASHES Volume Boost mascara

This is my second repurchase. This cheap mascara is one of the only few mascaras that I have used in my life ,that is 100% clump-free. It goes on so smoothly, it's buildable and leaves your lashes looking longer, thicker and because it's clump free - very natural. Totally worth the price! PS: I mentioned it in my October

favorites.

Catrice Re-Touch Reflecting Concealer in Light Beige

I mentioned this product few times on my blog already ( review here), because it is my #1 under eye concealer! I bought like 4 or 5 of them already, because I can not imagine my makeup without it anymore lol. It really makes a big difference. I use it as an under eye concealer, brightener and highlight. This is the perfect product to go along with bronzer to naturally contour and highlight your face.

And that's it my Loves! If you have a hard time finding these brands at your local drugstore, you can get them on Ebay (look for legit sellers though!).

have a fab day Dolls!
xox

Favorite at the moment: Olay Pore Minimizing Cleanser + Scrub Review!

2013-04-07T06:24:00.003-07:00

It's been a while since I did a full skincare product review, so I though my new favorite everyday Olay pore minimizing cleanser + scrub will be a perfect product to do a review on.

My skin's biggest concerns are enlarged pores and blemishes and from my experience most of the cleansers I've used so far were too gentle and gave me a pretty average results. Olay pore minimizing cleanser + scrub is a 2 in 1 foaming cleanser that cleanse and gentle exfoliate, so it can be used on daily basis. I use it with my Olay X Pro brush (let me know, if you want me to do a review on it) and it works pretty good for me.

Olay Pore Minimizing Cleanser has a fresh scent and it's another thing I like about it, because not only it leaves my skin clean and fresh but also it smells good. The mixture of foamy texture and exfoliating "microbead ribbons" helps smoothing out my skin and get rid of all the dirt and oil buildup.

The texture changes from cream to foam.

When it comes to blemishes, usually I can see a difference after one use, and most gentle cleansers on the market are not working that good for me, because they are too mild. Olay Pore Minimizing Cleanser is a gentle cleanser, but because it also exfoliate, it leaves my skin visibly cleaner and smoother.

What is your favorite cleanser at the moment?
xox

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Creamy Beige Review!

2013-04-04T04:59:00.000-07:00

I ran of my Catrice setting powder and although I liked it, I noticed that after few hours it was making my t-zone really oily. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder claimed to help minimize appearance of pores and guaranteed long lasting shine control. For around $5 that sounded like a deal for me and I got it in shade 018 Creamy Beige.

Previously, I've had a great experience with Rimmel Natural Bronzer (love it!) but I've never used any of Rimmel face powders and after trying Stay Matte I am really impressed! Let's start from the beginning. This powder feels so light on the skin and it really does minimize the appearance of pores! I used it on top of Revlon PhotoReady foundation and my face looked flawless, I loved it. Also Stay Matte kept my face matte almost all day, with other drugstore setting powders that rarely happened.

The pretty interesting thing about this matte powder is that it has tiny sparks in it. I actually realized that after swatching it on my hand, because either in the packaging or on my face it is not visible. I actually like that because it doesn't make my face look flat, which happens often when using only matte products, but it gives it some dimension & healthy glow.

Tiny sparkles in Stay Matte

Overall, Stay Matte does the job and I think it deserves a big A for its lightweight formula as well as the ability to minimize the appearance of pores. With my combination skin, this product was all I was looking for in a good matte setting powder.

Have a great day Ladies,

xox

Beauty Coalition Weekly Roundup 04/02/2013

2013-04-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

Fabulous Awesomeness: Mina Slater shares how you can win 2 sets of the NAAT Brazilian Keratin Collection by nuNAAT! It's a GOGO (get 1, give 1) giveaway so you could snag a full set for you and a friend!

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shows us her favorite lipsticks from Rimmel London: Kate Moss Collection.

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog is utterly smitten with the Maybelline Color Whispers, and loves them so much that she went back for two more in pink!

Mama Fashionista: March Julep It Girl Unboxing!

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen is celebrating her 3rd blog anniversary with a giveaway! Enter to win!

Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Destany tests out FEVERshadow from Wishful Bath & Beauty is the stunning Rue's Wildflowers!

TheFabZilla: Giveaway alert: Enter to win Too Faced Better Than False Lashes via TheFabZilla. Ends 4/7/13.

D.G.S.Beauty: LA FRESH is refreshing. You will be wanting these items in your purse today.

Painted Ladies: City Color Beauty's Elegantly Bold is a budget-friendly palette that packs a punch!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Website: PONDS has some user-friendly, really affordable and brand new skincare items that smell like roses.

In Her Makeup Bag: Stephanie shares an easy eye makeup trick to simplifying your beauty routine (or for days you're just feeling lazy)

Beauty by Miss L: This week Miss L showed one of her favorite daily look done using MUA Undressed palette.

Beauty Professor: The Beauty Professor discusses her way of using the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate compact in Intensity 01!

The Lacquered Lady: Try your hand at this easy and fun nail art from The Lacquered Lady.

Pamm Blogs Beauty: The MAC Matters Challenge Continues!!! See how Pammy Blogs Beauty is continuing to build her MAC Core Collection with (less than) $21 a Month!!!

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: Nyx Angel Blush Review and Swatches!

Endless Summer: Elena opens, applies and closes Vault Lip Gloss with one hand!

Portrait of Mai: Mai swatches and reviews some choice eyeshadows, finishing powder, and lip lustres from Fyrinnae's 50s Retro Collection!

NYX Matte Lipstick in Summer Breeze Review and Swatches!

2013-04-01T06:06:00.002-07:00

NYX Matte Lipstick in Summer Breeze is my first matte lip product and I have to say that I love the outcome! I definitely have to take care of my lips to keep it hydrated and smooth, before applying Summer Breeze ( a gentle scrub and chapstick is a must), but I really like the matte finish. I feel like it looks edgy, but elegant at the same time.

The color is a pretty intense pink with blue undertones, so it's a great pick for ladies with cool complexion. Despite that NYX Summer Breeze is a matte product, I find the texture a bit moisturizing, not chalky, which is great.

I think this lipstick is a fantastic choice for summer, both day & night time and I definitely will be rocking Summer Breeze along with Maybelline Vivids this summer!

Have you tried NYX Matte Lipsticks? I would love to see how the other shades worked for you!

xox

Nyx Angel Blush Review and Swatches!

2013-03-28T07:58:00.001-07:00

I've decided it is time to update my humble collection of cheek colors, after realizing, that most of the blushes I own are pretty dark and deep colors like fuchsia, watermelon or peach. I wanted to try lighter and more natural looking shades like pale pinks and mauves.

NYX Angel blush looked more like a pale pink shade on the website, but in real life it is more pale peachy-pink color. When I first saw it I thought it will be way too light and will not show up on my face at all.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by how soft and pigmented the blush is. It shows up on the cheeks immediately and because the color is buildable, you can decide how intense you want your cheeks to look. On the website it says Nyx Angel is a matte blush but for me it is more semi-satin finish, but I think it is a great product for all complexions, including people with combination (myself) and oily skin.

Overall, I really the shade and the pigmentation. It is a great, affordable blush and I definitely will get more shades.

Let me know, if you own any other NYX blushes and share your opinion below. I would love to know, what other shades are the most flattering!

xox

Ba Star Mineral Natural Shadow Palette Review!

2013-03-26T06:58:00.003-07:00

If you are a cheerleader or a dancer you probably already know Ba Star makeup company. They are known for very colorful and glittery makeup products (and not only!). Natural Shadow Palette is one of the more day time appropriate product and after testing it out, I am quite impressed with the quality, given that the palette cost less than $10!

Natural Shadow Palette contains five shades: three first are called Bronze, Cocoa and Nude and two last are gold and white gel glitters. Bronze, Cocoa and Nude are shimmery, soft and very pigmented. I was actually pretty impressed with the softness and the color payoff. These have nothing from chalkiness and they blend out very nicely.

Even though used all together, they create a nice smokey eyes, I personally don't like too much shimmer on my eyes, so I would stick to one or two shades. The Nude color is a very pretty highlighting shade that you can put on your brow bone or inner corners. My favorite is Cocoa which is a gorgeous dark brown color with gold shimmer in it, perfect color for smokey eyes!

Last two shades are not really eyeshadows, but gel glitters. They are very easy to work with because they are pretty sticky, so you can control exactly where you want them on your face.

Overall, I have to admit that I really didn't expect these eyeshadows to be that great quality. Very pretty rich shades, soft and easy to blend with and the stay power is great!

If you are interested in buying Natural Shadow Palette use 50% OFF code: BBSMOKY, so instead the regular price ($8.75) you will get the palette for $4.37.

Have a great day!

xox

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Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in Golden Beige Review!

2013-03-24T06:47:00.002-07:00

Revlon PhotoReady foundation received so many good reviews and from my great experience with other Revlon foundations, I decided to give this one a try a well (next one on my to-try list: the famous ColorStay! ).

From the research that I've done in the past, I suppose to have a cool complexion, but all medium cool undertone shades were sold out or not available, so I bought 008 Golden Beige shade, which has pretty strong yellow undertones. Maybe I am neutral because, if I have to be honest, I just feel better in warm undertone foundations, but anyways let's go back to the review.

Revlon PhotoReady is more on the liquid side and dries on the skin pretty quickly. First I apply pretty thin layer, blend it out well and then continue with another layer if I need it. On the bottle, it says that the product gives a full coverage, but from my experience, I needed at least 2 thin layers to cover all my redness, which is not a bad thing, because it means that the foundation is very buildable and I like that. Not on daily basis I need a full coverage.

Revlon PhotoReady in 008 Golden Beige swatch unblended (top) and blended (bottom)

What really impressed me though was that this foundation completely covered my enlarged pores around the nose area, I seriously couldn't believe it! Usually with other foundations that I have tried so far, I would need a dab of a concealer to achieve it. Also this products blends in with my skin, doesn't sit on top of it, so it feels very natural and clean. I love it! Revlon PhotoReady has tiny little shimmer in it, but it is very subtle. I feel like Revlon Age Defying foundation has more shimmer and because of my combination skin, makes it more oily after few hours of wearing, than PhotoReady, which leaves my face matte and smooth.

Overall, I have to say that I really like this foundation. It leaves my skin beautifully smooth, matte and it has SPF20!

Which Revlon foundation you like the most?

Disclaimer: I purchased this product with my own money.

Affordable Fabulosity: Syoss Anti-Grease Dry Shampoo Review!

2013-03-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

I have tried so many different dry shampoo brands over the past year and most of the time I ended up being disappointed, because the products would leave my hair stiff, sticky and I couldn't tell a difference between them and a regular hair spray. So when I decided to give a try another drugstore brand, I didn't expect that I will actually like it that much. That was like a year ago, now I am on my 4th Syoss Dry Shampoo bottle and
I am loving it.

This particular type of Syoss Dry Shampoo works for me wonderfully First, I spray my roots, wait for like a minute then brush off the white powder and my hair is super soft and feel fresh. Usually on the second day after washing my hair, my roots are pretty flat and this product makes styling my hair so much easier. The only thing I don't like about Syoss Dry Shampoo is that I really have to be careful to brush off the residue because otherwise it leaves my roots a little lighter than rest of the hair. I think brands should really start making dry shampoos with darker pigment for brunettes.

Anyways, Syoss Anti-Grease Dry Shampoo is my #1 at this moment and on top of that is pretty affordable!

What is your favorite dry shampoo?

xox

Disclaimer: I purchased this product with my own money.

Peppermint Lips 2nd Anniversary Giveaway Winner Announcement!

2013-03-13T02:58:00.001-07:00

First of all I wanted to thank you all for participating and writing such a great ideas of future posts! I can't thank you enough :) Now let's find out who won Elf 144 eyeshadow palette....

I am very excited to announce that the Winner of Peppermint Lips 2nd Anniversary Giveaway that will receive awesome Elf 144 eyeshadow palette is....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats Lady! You should get an e-mail from me today, so you can claim your prize!

For all of You, that didn't win this time, remember that usually there is always a giveaway going on my blog, so keep checking and of course enjoy the new posts!

Have a fab day!

xox

Beauty Coalition Weekly Roundup 03/11/2013

2013-03-11T02:26:00.001-07:00

Mama Fashionista: See what's new from Biore and Quinn shares the products that have made it into her daily routine!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: By Terry Baume de Rose Luxury Lip Balm enjoys an undisputed cult status, but does Helen from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog think it lives up to all of the hype?

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen shares a new fabulous drugstore discovery - Prestige Cosmetics Total Intensity Eyeshadows!

Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist : Great way to save Money and TIME stocking your makeup kit. Save 20-40% by using pro makeup artist discounts

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shares her reviews on Mario Badescu products for Combination/Oily/Acne-Prone skin!

Beauty by Miss L: Miss L showed her favorite beauty products of February 2013.

TheFabZilla: Have you met Matt(e) Nude? I did and I'm ready to Kiss and Tell!

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 Review & Swatches!

D.G.S.Beauty: Check out the gorgeous MAC Candy Yum Yum lippie!

Polarbelle: Polarbelle has found the perfect universally appealing smokey eye quad in the Burberry Smokey Grey Complete Eye Palette

Painted Ladies: Sheila from Painted Ladies indulges in luxury with Guerlain's Atrrape-Couer (501) purple eyeshadow palette.

Curls N Pearls: What's better than when a self-admitted makeup junkie finds their ultimate favorite? Learn which foundation Curls N Pearls is obsessing over.

Beauty Professor: On a hunt to find a shade that matches her winter skin tone, The Beauty Professor swatches all the Revlon Colorstay and Colorstay Whipped foundations in the NC23-NC30 range!

Project Swatch: NARS just released a new product, the Satin Lip Pencil, and Emi has a review of one of the shades.

My Highest Self: Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm - Haute Pink Twist

Pammy Blogs Beauty: How I Avoid Self-Tanning Mishaps; Jergen's Natural Glow Review and $250 Giftcard Giveaway!!!

The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Website: The Advice Sisters know that redheads are all the rage, but this particular hair color is really prone to fading.

Beauty Info Zone: Amazing colors, fabulous wear, a site to behold - Le Metier de Beaute nail polish on Beauty Info Zone

Mimi's Mani's: Spring Is In The Air With Butter London Trout Pout

Portrait of Mai: If you're a fan of both Blade Runner and lipstick, check out swatches of OCC's Sci-Fi Lullabies Lip Tar Collection with its myriad of metallic lip tars

Scottish Beauty Blog: Want glowing skin? Facialist Fiona Brackenbury, the lady behind Oscar winner Adele's flawless face, gives her top tips and skin care advice to Scottish Beauty Blog

Blushing Noir: Zoya shares the magic of Pixie's with their latest collection! See full collection swatches & macro shots here!

NOTD: Spring Pastel Pink Nails with Pop of Glitter

2013-03-09T02:46:00.002-08:00

Products Used:

Revlon ColorStay Nail Polish in Cafe Pink - very pretty light pink. You need two layers for color to really show up.

Wet n Wild The Crown is Mine - review here. I seriously love this nail polish! It looks great added on top of other colors.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

xox

Mint For Spring! Forever21 Fashion Haul

2013-03-07T03:45:00.003-08:00

I couldn't be more happy about the fact that MINT - one of my favorite colors is still in this season! I mean... even if it wasn't I would probably still wear it, because I just simply love it!

I know a lot of people complain about Forever21 clothes quality, but if I have to be honest... most of the pieces from them are still holding on in my closet and are in a great condition. Besides that, they have tons of cute stuff (new arrivals almost every day) for a really great price! I shop at a lot of different places, but most of the time I will end up with Forever21, if I am looking for something trendy & affordable. Anyways, my last purchases include:

Mint Jewelry ♥

Bracelet cost $5.70 and necklace was $6.80

Capsule 2.1 Open Knit V-Back Sweater in Mint (click) - $29.80

On the website it looks more blueish, but in real like is more green mint, still very pretty. I ordered size S, and it fits great. This sweater is very soft and the back looks great.

Mint wedges (purchase from Ebay, $31.99)

Comfy & Cute!

High-low Raceback Dress in Mint (click) $15.50

Simple & gorgeous. It has two layers, so no sheer sneak peaks lol. I ordered size S, but it is pretty tight around my chest, so if you are cup C or bigger go for size medium.

And that's all! Let me know what you think about fashion haul posts and if you want to see more of them :)
Have a fab day!
xox

MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 Review & Swatches!

2013-03-06T03:51:00.000-08:00

I was very excited about trying out MAC Studio Finish Concealer with SPF35, especially after reading tons of good reviews about this product. The concealer shade I got is NW20, which works for me during Winter, but it is going to be too light for Summer. It was my first MAC face product purchase, so it took me some time figuring out what shade I actually am. After coming to the conclusion that I have cool complexion and NW series are the ones for me, number NW20 sounded like a good combo, at least for Winter, when my skin is much lighter.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 swatch

I really like the compact packaging and small size of the product, because I can take it everywhere with me. The texture is pretty thick and creamy, but unfortunately when it comes to my skin around the eyes - it sits on top of it. I does conceal as you can see below, but when you look closer it looks dry.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 before and after application

(raw picture, no photoshop used under the eye area)

Overall, I think it is a good product, but I need a concealer that will be more moisturizing and won't sit on top of my skin, which makes Catrice Re-Touch Light Reflecting Concealer still my #1 (I am on my fourth packaging!).

What are your thoughts about MAC Studio Finish Concealer?
xox