~LIPSTICK GRAFFITI~

e.l.f. Studio Tone Correcting Powder

2012-01-09T15:55:00.000-05:00

e.l.f. is a brand sold in some chain stores, like select Target stores, but if you are like me, you need to rely on the online store for this brand. On a recent Internet shopping trip to e.l.f., I saw the Studio Tone Correcting Powder, a multi-colored powder compact that is supposed to even out skin tone and absorb excess oil. For $3, I decided, why not? When it arrived, my first impression

Pantene Beautiful Lengths Replenishing Mask

2011-07-26T11:39:00.000-04:00

Obviously I haven't been posting here much lately, but finally a product has impressed me enough to dust off this blog and write a review! With hair nearly to my waist, I am very particular about the conditioner I use, and I have tried nearly every deep conditioner there is on the market. When I tried Pantene Beautiful Lengths Replenishing Mask, it was love at first sight. Pantene's website

Wet n Wild Color Icon Shimmer Pencil

2011-04-11T15:23:00.000-04:00

This was yet another impulse purchase, yet unlike most of my impulse purchases, I don't regret this one! I picked up a Wet n Wild Color Icon Shimmer Pencil in Silver for 69 cents at Walgreens, figuring if I didn't like it, well, the kids could color with it! I almost always wear black eyeliner, and even when I don't, I prefer dark liners like navy or purple. I decided to try this silver liner

Sally Hansen No Chip

2011-04-01T09:40:00.000-04:00

When I take the time to paint my nails, I want that manicure to last long enough to enjoy it! I have no tolerance for chips. So Sally Hansen's No Chip Acrylic Top Coat sounded very promising to me. Sally Hansen's website promises this top coat "seals nail color" and "helps resist chipping and peeling". So I bought a bottle and tested it out. I wasn't impressed. Within 24 hours of my

Wet 'n Wild MegaPlump Mascara

2011-01-06T09:48:00.002-05:00

I am a confessed mascara junkie, and it's very hard for me to pass up trying a new mascara, even if it's a brand I don't particularly like. Take Wet 'n Wild's MegaPlump mascara, for instance. I am not a fan of Wet 'n Wild, and not just because the brand has a stupid, 80's name. I have just found that most of their products end up in the trash can not long after I open them because they are,

Pink Leopard Print Heels: Need I Say More?

2010-12-30T15:18:00.003-05:00

Not one to resist anything leopard print, I admit to nearly squealing like a valley girl when I saw these pink and ivory leopard shoes on Forever21.com. These shoes have several things going for them: (1) they are leopard print (my fetish for leopard has already been covered); (2) the heels don't look like towering threats to my ability to walk or impending knee pain inflicters; and (3) the

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

2010-08-11T08:49:00.003-04:00

After my brief self-imposed retirement, I am back, here today to review Maybelline The Falsies mascara. I've mentioned before that mascara is one of my favorite beauty products, so when I saw this beckoning to me from the shelves of Walmart, I caved and put it into my cart.The product claim (according to Maybelline's website): "The Falsies Mascara delivers a false lash look; giving you a full

Curtain Call

2010-03-17T15:05:00.002-04:00

Over 2 years ago, I got the idea to start a beauty blog. The name Lipstick Graffiti materialized after running through so many other options that just didn't click for me; this one seemed to catch the right blend of grit and girlie, beauty and brains.I have posted less and less frequently, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. With increased job demands and a busier life all around, I

My Wish List: e.l.f.'s Punk Funk Eye Shadow!

2010-02-18T14:32:00.003-05:00

Every now and then I check out e.l.f.'s website, since the hick town I live in doesn't offer any stores with these products. I've used their Brightening Eye Color before, and I was impressed with the pigmentation and lasting power of an eye shadow quad that ran a buck. (Granted, the triangles of color are very small, but come on, we're not using a shovel to plaster the color on, are we? A

Grape Cuticle Treatment

2010-02-17T15:34:00.002-05:00

I read this in an old copy of Fitness magazine (April 2009), and I can't wait to try it! It's a simple homemade recipe for a nail and cuticle treatment:Ingredients:5 grapes (red ones are packed with more antioxidants than green)1 tablespoon sugarGrapeseed oil or hand creamDirections:1. Slice grapes in half widthwise2. Dip the fleshy side into the sugar and use it to massage the skin around each

Dry Winter Skin

2010-02-12T10:05:00.003-05:00

According to my current winter beauty challenges poll (on sidebar at right), dry skin is the biggest complaint during the cold months. Never fear! I've rounded up a few great articles with tips and ideas to care for dry skin and keep it soft, no matter the season:Dry Skin: Dry Skin Fixes for Hands, Feet, Body and Lips: useful and easy tips from beautyabout.comDry Skin: article on MayoClinic.com

Updated Review: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

2010-01-18T19:21:00.004-05:00

Sometimes, apparently, I jump the gun in posting a negative review of a product. That was the case with Aussie Deeeeep 3-Minute Miracle, which I originally reviewed in May 2009 (read the review by clicking here).After writing that review, essentially stating that I simply wasn't impressed with this conditioner, I let the bottle sit in the shower, untouched by me again. My two stepdaughters have

Avon Glimmersticks Eye Liner

2010-01-12T19:37:00.002-05:00

I tend to either love or hate Avon products; there is usually no middle ground for me. I have heard good things about Avon's Glimmersticks eye liner, but in all the years I have been buying Avon, I've never tried them.Then I ran out of my Maybelline Unstoppable eye liner, and given my adoration for black eye liner, I needed a replacement, STAT! I don't like regular pencil liners because my skin

Repair Chapped Lips

2010-01-08T15:41:00.002-05:00

'Tis the season...for dry, cracked, chapped lips! Flaky lips can be painful, and hell, not so great to look at to boot.There are a few things you can try easily at home:1. Use warm water, a wash cloth, and a small amount of sugar to lightly buff your lips and smoothe away the dry skin. As soon as you dry your lips, apply a lip balm (tip from dailymakeover.com).2. After you brush your teeth,

Organix Shea Butter Conditioner

2010-01-04T10:45:00.003-05:00

After using hand creams and another hair conditioner containing shea butter, with wonderful results, I had decided that I hadn't met a product with shea butter that I didn't like.Until I tried Organix Shea Butter Conditioner, that is.I picked up a bottle of the Shea Butter conditioner and a bottle of the Coconut Milk Conditioner during a buy-one-get-one-free sale at Walgreen's, having high

Olay for You

2009-12-30T13:48:00.004-05:00

Olay has long been my favorite skin-care line, and it was much easier to shop for my moisturizer before they added a million different lines and products to their brand. Now, to simplify the process, Olay offers Olay for You, allowing you to answer some questions about what you want to target, about your skin, and about your habits, and then be provided with a specific list of recommended items

e.l.f. Eyelid Primer: Part Two

2009-12-11T08:58:00.004-05:00

I promised an update after testing e.l.f.'s Eyelid Primer for a third day. At lunchtime, the primer was still going strong, and it makes the eye shadow look very smooth. It even kept my colored eyeliner in place.After work, I checked again, and voila! No creases or streaks. The trick to really getting this primer to strut its stuff is to start applying it in the creases of your lids, where

e.l.f. Eyelid Primer

2009-12-10T09:56:00.004-05:00

e.l.f. offers up this Eyelid Primer for just $1, so of course I had to take it for a spin. I've been spending about $15 on Urban Decay's primer, which is great, but if I could replace it for a fraction of the cost, that would be even better!My first day, I used e.l.f.'s Eyelid Primer with a shimmery brown eye shadow. The primer looks and applies like a concealer. It applies easily enough if you

2009-11-24T09:24:00.009-05:00

The trouble with Christmas shopping? Finding a million things for ME instead...here are some of the items I am coveting right now!This flocked sweater jacket comes to us from Coldwater Creek: Crafted from wool with velvet flocking, this jacket is a mix of bold, professional, feminine, and unique that I love. It would go great with these Jessica London peep-toe oxfords:I couldn't find a larger

Jessica Simpson Fancy Perfume

2009-11-10T18:37:00.003-05:00

Given that I consider Jessica Simpson one of the most annoying and literally over-exposed individuals in creation, I didn't expect much when I first took a whiff of Fancy, one of her perfume concoctions. I actually smelled it first in one of those little scents in a flap in a magazine, and damnit, much as I didn't want to like it, I did. A lot.So when I came across a teeny-tiny bottle of Fancy

Sephora's LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler

2009-11-06T21:09:00.003-05:00

When I saw an advertisement for Sephora's LashStash Mascara Deluxe Sampler, I damn near hyperventilated. Like crack for a mascara lover, this sampler offers deluxe sample sizes of ten different mascaras from brands including Urban Decay, Benefit, Smashbox, Sephora, Tarte, Cargo, and more.For $39, this is a great way to sample so many different brands without being stuck with a full-size bottle

Revlon Nail Enamel

2009-10-29T16:36:00.003-04:00

If you seek nail polish that goes on gloppy, has uneven coverage, and starts to chip before the damn stuff is even dry, then Revlon Nail Enamel is just for you!CVS recently had Revlon nail enamel on sale as a buy-one-get-one-free deal. I was getting ready to start a new, more professional job, so I decided to pick up some more conservative colors. (My vast assortment of green, blue, black, and

Fira Cosmetics Lip Sheers

2009-10-25T17:04:00.004-04:00

Have you ever bought a cosmetic item on a spur-of-the-moment impulse, simply because it's cheap, even though you know chances are good to excellent that you won't like it? My boyfriend and I were strolling around Dollar General the other day when I spotted a collection of Fira Cosmetics Lip Sheers. I have never heard of this brand and knew I would probably end up tossing it in the trash, but

Avon Skin So Soft Signature Silk Replenishing Hand Cream

2009-10-02T09:00:00.003-04:00

Avon introduced a new Skin So Soft scent, Signature Silk, and since I needed more hand cream, I tried the Replenishing Hand Cream. I can't stand the feel of dry skin, especially my hands, so I am very particular about hand creams. Avon's website claims this hand cream is "enriched with exclusive Silkplex Technology" and "designed to caress your body, capturing the feeling of pure silk on skin."

Avon's Color Trend Lip Duo

2009-09-20T19:44:00.003-04:00

I put Avon's Color Trend Lip Duo in my online shopping cart, took it out, and put it back in several times, dubious that this product would be worth much. Finally I decided to give it a try, tempted by the lipstick/lipgloss combination. I ordered the Purple Pout duo, but it's also available in Latte Love, Pink Fizz, and Wine 'n Shine.When my order arrived, I tried the lipstick first and was