Lipstick Musings

Beauty Spotlight Team

2012-09-18T15:30:00.000-04:00

The Beauty Spotlight Team is back with more of their favorite posts. If you look carefully we have a new member of the team. Welcome to Lola of Lola's Secret Beauty Blog. She might need to change that name since she's not a secret anymore!

So we have all heard the buzz about BB Creams? Well, now there is a newer and "better" version? Enter the CC Cream! Pammy Blogs Beauty tries Wei's Ideal Skin Perfect Finish CC Cream (and falls in love) in the Wei To Go Sleep Over Beauty Kit.

polish insomniac has bottle shots from the new Sally Hansen Lustre Shine collection - is this the return of Sally Hansen Nail Prisms we have all been waiting for???

Smoky green paired with rich copper; perfect colours for fall, Visionary beauty looks at the Chantecaille Elephant palette

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog has discovered that Le Métier de Beauté's Dualistic Eye Pencil in Tamarack might just be the most gorgeous multipurpose eye pencil ever invented!

Are you burnt out on hearing about subscription boxes? Beauty Info Zone thinks that seeing the PopSugar Must Have box will change your mind.

The Pink Sith brings you a review of the new Balenciaga Florabotanica Eau de Parfum With a Film Noir Detective Narration to get you in the mood!

Modesty Brown has a go at re-creating the Rouge Bunny Rouge Santa Ana look…then realises she has to do the school run.

Prime Beauty asks: Want super long "drag queen" lashes? Does a beauty addict have Sephora on speed dial? Of course! Get bat-worthy lashes with SENSAI Eye Lash Base 38c! You're welcome.

London MakeUp Girl has been using Chantecaille Faux Cils Longest Lash mascara for a month now. Has it given her lashes to rival Elizabeth Taylor's? Read her review of Chantecaille Faux Cils Longest Lash mascara to find out.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed wants her Canadian and US readers to look as good as Cindy Crawford so is giving away a Meaningful Beauty skincare system - enter now for supermodel potential skin!

Check out what Paula, from Older Girl Beauty, thinks is her Favorite Fall Polish.

Christa at Perilously Pale has been busy swatching her Inglot Freedom System Eye Shadows for us. Check out her more colourful 20 pan palette.

Beauty Spotlight Team...What's In Perilously Pale's Professional Kit?

2012-09-09T17:54:00.001-04:00

It's Perilously Pale's turn for the What's In My...? series and she thought you might like a peek inside her professional makeup kit to see what products she trusts for her clients.

Beauty Blog Link Love

2012-09-09T17:51:00.007-04:00

There's a Jessica Rabbit FOTD on My Funny Valentine. 'Nuff said.

Struggle with dark circles? Then have a look at Clinique's latest Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector at Adorable On Your Vanity.

Phyrra taps into her Fun side with the bright Urban Decay Holiday 2012 Fun Palette.

Don't miss Rae's nail swatches of butter LONDON's AW12 collection this week on theNotice.

Which holo polish more "you": the sheer, silvery Dodgy Barnett, or the sage green Trustafarian?

Check Fleurissante's progress in getting her cosmetics collection under control.

Beauty Reflections shows us the amazing duochrome of Kat Von D Shade Shifter Eyeshadow in Devotion. A perfect shade for fall!

The Pink Sith tells you how the Freeman Beauty Goji Berry Facial Hydration Mask and Bare Foot Peppermint & Plum Foot Lotion saved her skin during vacation and how it can help YOU all year round!

Now that September has arrived, it's time to switch up your beauty routine for fall fashion. Check out Lydia's Fall 2012 Beauty Trends summary to catch up on this season's hottest beauty looks.

Are you ready for Fall? Pammy Blogs Beauty scopes out Laura Mercier's new Fall 2012 lineup. Great products -- including her famous tinted moisturizer, now in compact form!

NARS has a great Andy Warhol-inspired Holiday collection coming out that Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed thinks you need to know about--and, of course, see--so come check it out!
--- Audrey Dao brings back Reader of the Month! Find out what September's prize is.

Cindy over at Prime Beauty is loving what Dove Conditioner is doing for her hair, and you'll love winning a $1,000 SpaFinder gift card. Enter now!

Skin Care Review: LUSH Skin's Shangri La Facial Moisturizer

2012-08-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

This summer, I've suffered more from oily skin than usual. I'm typically very dry, so this has sort of surprised me. Being 42, I'm thinking maybe I'm hitting the menopausal years (which I'm totally unprepared to handle), but regardless of the reason for the changes, I have to deal with them. That being said, I still love the feel of a rich cream on my face at night. So what's a girl to do?

I found a great solution in LUSH's Skin's Shangri La Facial Moisturizer. It's a rich cream that sinks readily into my skin and helps balance my oil production while still giving me plenty of moisture...no small feat, in my experience!

Although I find it to be very balancing (and it was sold to me on that premise), Skin's Shangri La is marketed as being for more mature skins. It's rich without being heavy, and it includes beneficial ingredients such as aloe vera extract, wheatgrass infusion and jojoba oil. The big selling point to this cream, as with a few other LUSH products, is their famed "Queen of Hungary Water", a vodka-based tonic with rosemary that purportedly smooths fine lines and tightens the skin. According to the folks at LUSH, there are at least 27 shots of vodka in each batch of this cream! I didn't notice any dramatic changes to my fine lines, but they were softened, as was the skin on my entire face. Best yet, there was no greasy residue on my forehead in the morning when I used this cream. Perhaps the vodka helped soak up some oil for me.

If you aren't familiar with the whole LUSH schtick, they make their products by hand in small batches, sending them out to their retail stores immediately due to the fact that they all have expiration dates. There's a picture on the back of each jar of the person who created your batch, along with the expiration date. Here's a shot of the lovely Nic, who whipped up my batch:

Bottom Line: I've found Skin's Shangri-La to be the perfect warm-weather solution for my finicky skin. It feels rich on application but doesn't exacerbate the oilier areas of my face and leaves little to no residue behind. I've not experienced any breakouts with this one, either. I'm going to continue with it until the weather cools at the very least, and if it can get me through the colder months, I may have found a Holy Grail skin cream.

Lancome Review: "You've Got The Look" Color Design Eye Shadow Single

2012-08-29T09:55:00.000-04:00

I'm still in the shimmery eye shadow phase from summer, so when I found the new Color Design Eye Shadow Single "You've Got The Look" from Lancome, I was smitten. It's got color, it's got depth, and it still plays nicely with others.

"You've Got The Look" is, at its heart, a pretty plummy shadow that works well for the lid or crease. What makes this such a fun color is the golden overtone to the shade, which gives it a great shimmer without being glittery and adds depth to an otherwise ubiquitous eye color.

You can see above just how shimmery this shade is, as well as just how much gold is overlaid with the plum base. It takes an otherwise ordinary color to an entirely new level and gives it far more versatility than a typical neutral would.

In some lights (and when used in the depth of the crease), the neutral plum is very apparent and is excellent for shading. However, when used on the higher planes of the eye, the gold surges forth and adds amazing highlighting:

Worn in the crease, "You've Got The Look" adds depth and dimension to the eye. Worn across the lid, it literally shades itself, appearing nearly holographic as the light plays across the higher and lower planes of the lid. There's no overt glitter shining through, either, and this color applies with little to no fallout.

Bottom Line: On first glimpse, "You've Got The Look" is a very typical neutral plum, but once applied it becomes far more. It can carry you from day to night with ease and can be used alone or with other colors for a variety of effects. Definitely one to keep in your arsenal of shadows.

BB Cream Review: Missha Cho Bo Yang Cream SPF 30/PA++

2012-08-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't done a foundation review in quite some time, and there's a reason for that: I haven't been wearing too much foundation lately. When I do, it's been the sheer Armani Face Fabric, which I just realized I somehow never reviewed. But the other day I misplaced my Armani and went rooting around in my foundation drawer, and what did I find but my Missha Cho Bo Yang BB Cream. I'd forgotten all about it! Seriously forgotten. That should tell you how out-of-control my makeup situation is.

But today I'm here to right a wrong and give this little BB Cream its due...because I owe it a lot.

I bought the Cho Bo Yang cream when it was packaged as a special purchase along with the M Signature Real Complete BB Cream SPF 25 PA++. It was a good value and I couldn't decide between the two formulas, so I took a chance and got them both. I've been happy with both formulas, but the Cho Bo Yang has a few advantages over its sister cream, among them better coverage and more skin-serving ingredients.

Cho Bo Yang BB Cream is marketed as an "herbal prescription BB Cream" that is tri-functional through the use of Chinese herbal ingredients including Korean Wild Ginseng, Cordyceps Sinesis, and pure gold. These ingredients purportedly work in synergy to promote wrinkle repairing and whitening, while the SPF 30 PA++ gives sun protection. It was developed to keep skin radiant while offering no irritation during wear, and claims to be long-wearing.

The formula is fairly thick for a BB Cream, as you can see below:

Compare that to the consistency of the M Signature Complete Cream, which is much more liquid and has a slightly more yellow tone:

Due to the fairly thick consistency, Cho Bo Yang is capable of offering strong medium coverage that can easily be buffed out to a sheerer finish. It's perfect for those "not-quite-perfect-skin" days. At first, I found it a little difficult to work with because it can drag a bit on the skin. However, with a little work, I realized that if I warm it between my fingertips before applying, it glides on like silk. The finish is dewy at first, then dries down to a what I would call "luminous", so if you prefer a more matte finish you'll need to follow with powder. As far as BB Creams go, it is fairly long-lasting and has carried me through a day in the kitchen without a problem, but it won't take you into the evening. It's also not very sweat-proof, so if you're going to be in the heat or working out, I'd suggest you try something else.

The color 01 is a greyish pink typical of many Korean BB Creams. It goes on a little ghostly, but as it warms and melds with my skin it becomes much more natural...unless I apply it very heavily, it's capable of giving me a "no-makeup makeup" effect quickly and easily.

The above shot is swatched fairly heavily and not blended at all, but it gives you a good idea of the potential coverage, as it blocks out my veins very well. I find I can build this cream over problem areas such as ruddy cheeks without it becoming mask-like on my skin. You can tell from this shot that the color match is nearly perfect, and once it sets, it's an excellent shade for my pale, neutral skin.

I love that it has SPF in it, but don't like that the bottle came with only Korean writing on it so I'm not entirely sure what the full ingredient list includes. I'm assuming the sun protection consists of physical blocks simply because I'm sensitive to chemical sunscreens and I find this cream to be soothing and non-irritating, but I can't be sure. Those of you who have a lot of sensitivities or want a complete ingredients list will need to contact Missha, as I don't read Korean. I do detect a light floral/herbal fragrance to it, so beware if you are sensitive--although I'm typically pretty sensitive to fragrances and have had no problems.

Bottom Line: This is my favorite of the BB Creams I've tried, thanks to its good coverage and nice finish. It takes a bit of work to get it on, but it's worth the trouble in my opinion. I haven't had problems with the slight fragrance, and although I haven't experienced any life-altering improvements in my skin while using Cho Bo Yang, I also haven't experienced breakouts or irritation. For my dry/combination skin, it lasts well for about 6-8 hours, but will need some serious touch-up work after that since once it decides to fall apart, it does so quickly and completely. That being said, I have yet to find a truly long-lasting BB Cream, so I can't hold that against it. If you have fairly normal skin and want to try a BB Cream with more than average coverage, this just may be your answer.

Cho Bo Yang BB Cream can be found at the Missha US site and elsewhere on the web.

Beauty Blog Link Love

2012-08-26T16:42:00.000-04:00

Looking for a great red lipstick for the fall? Jenn from Spiced Beauty shows you her current favourite!

Addicted to Beauty has a Disney bliss out with these amazing Disney Princess Nail Decals - are you a Princess Jasmine, Princess Ariel or Cinders?

From purple smoky eyes to cherry stained lips, Phyrra loves the gorgeous Fall 2012 Beauty Trends. Which ones are your favorite?

Check out Krasey Beauty's party face of the day!

If you've ever wondered about how your favourite serums and moisturizers work, this Tatcha skincare ingredient breakdown on theNotice is a must-read.

Find out if Audrey Dao agrees with the hype of the Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Mascara!

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed loves purple so much that it's no wonder she is loving the Lancôme Midnight Roses collection check out her swatches and see if you fall in love too!

Have you ever considered eyelash extensions? Lisa from Beauty Info Zone had them done and the results are simply amazing.

Miss Beauty Nerd is packing Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation for her beach vacation. Find out why this foundation makes it into her suitcase!

Are you ready for Fall? Jessika from polish insomiac shares her top picks from the Fall 2012 Germany by OPI collection!

Over at Makeup Morsels, MM highlights the uncanny resemblance between one of her favorite paintings and three of her favorite eyeshadows.

Prime Beauty shows you how to get pretty "fierce" this fall with Tarte's Call of the Wild Amazonian Clay Eye Shadow Palette.

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella splurged and invested in the Kerastase Chroma Riche range, however she isn't liking it too much. Find out why!

See how Tracy at Beauty Reflections defeated the evil oily eyelid curse with Make Up Forever Eye Prime!

Ben Nye Essential Eyeshadow Palette is a HUGE hit for Christina the Glitterholic! Check out her swatches and FOTD and find out where to get this gorgeous palette.

Has Too Faced managed to bring sexy back? Find out if that honour still belongs to Justin Timberlake in Lydia's review of The Return of Sexy Palette for Fall 2012 on The Perfectly Imperfect Beauty Blog.

In need of gentle yet effective skincare? Pammy Blogs Beauty tries out Jurlique's Herbal Recovery Line.

At Lipstick Musings, Shannon's got a quick tutorial to show you how to remove the toughest glitter polishes in a flash--and it's foil-free!

Gouldylox is really bad at math, but she thinks she figured out how committing this beauty sin will impact you for the rest of your life.

Jude reviews the Japonesque Complexion Perfection brush set on Love Lust & Fairy Dust.

Anita drools over pictures of the upcoming Guerlain Holiday 2012 Collection. Take a sneak peek over at Pleasureflush!
--- If you like the look of Midnight Violets Blog why not check out her 250 follower giveaway!

Skin Care Review: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

2012-08-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Image Courtesy of Kiehl's.

As you all probably know by now, I'm a big fan of Kiehl's skin care. I've strayed, my eye has been drawn to more decadent products, but I always seem to return to Kiehl's. The products are reasonably priced and incredibly effective. They're also fairly luxurious and feel wonderful on the skin.

Midnight Recovery Concentrate is no exception. It's a lightweight oil that regenerates, replenishes and repairs skin, leaving it smooth and soft in the morning. When I use it layered over the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate at night, I'm left glowing in the morning. The combination is incredibly effective at rejuvenating my skin, especially when its gotten dry and dull. What's more, this magical oil is perfect for combination and even oilier skin types due to its lightweight texture.

Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a blend of nourishing oils such as squaline to replenish skin, Evening Primrose to repair and boost overall radiance, and eight essential oils including Lavender oil to soothe skin and stimulate its natural repair process. Together, the combination offers a knockout punch to ageing skin. It's also 99.8% natural and contains no parabens.

Bottom Line: I love this product. I don't use it every night because I have so many other products to try, but when I do I reap amazing benefits the next morning. My skin is soft, smooth, radiant and fresh-looking. If you've never tried a skin oil, this is the place to start, and if you're an afficianado of oils like me, you need to add this to your arsenal.

Lovely Lipstick Review: NARS Funny Face Matte Lipstick

2012-08-23T16:16:00.001-04:00

Hello, ladies and gentlemen! I know I've been gone a while, and I'm so sorry I didn't update the blog to at least tell you what was going on. I've had some setbacks with my neck that caused me to have to lay off the computer (torture), plus school started back, making my life one big, busy blur. It's hard to write intelligently at 8:00 at night when you've been up since 4:30 and at work since 6:00!

But I think I'm back now, and I'm raring to go! To celebrate, I thought I'd bring you a happy little lipstick review on one of my new favorites...NARS Matte Lipstick in Funny Face.

Oh, there are so many reasons to love this lipstick. The Audrey Hepburn reference, the vivid fuchsia color, the creamy matte texture...seriously, what's not to love? I haven't found a single thing not to like about this one.

Funny Face is, at its heart, a brilliant hot pink lipstick that really pops on the lips. It's bright and happy, and fuchsia is one of the hot colors for the season, which is a plus. As you all know, I'm usually a "red" girl, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood for the drama. Well, actually, I'm always in the mood for drama, but I'm not always in the mood to commit to the upkeep involved with my beloved dramatic reds. That's when the pinks and berries come into play. They still give me plenty of color, but in a slightly less in-your-face manner. Pinks and berries also tend to require less re-application, as in my experience they fade down more evenly and typically leave a lovely pink stain behind. Overall---WINNING! (OMG, I can't believe I just went there).

Here's a shot of Funny Face on my arm in indirect sunlight:

As you can see, it's a gorgeous mid-range fuchsia that pulls just slightly cool, but still remains primarily neutral on my neutral/cool skin. This shot also shows the matte finish, which is truly lovely. It works incredibly well with the bright color because it tones things down just a bit. I think that if Funny Face had a satiny or glossy finish, it would be waaaay over the top. However, with the matte finish reigning things in a bit, the lipstick instead manages to stay on the right side of the line between bright and garish.

But even better than the arm swatch is the appearance on the lips. It's not visible on my arm, and it's barely visible on the actual bullet of lipstick, but Funny Face has an iridescent glow to it that's quite unexpected.

As you can see above, this iridescence gives the effect of creaminess without adding any glossiness. It adds fullness to my lips without the stickiness of a creamy or glossy lip product. It also allows for the staying power of a true matte, which means that I only have to reapply after meals, not every few hours.

The texture of Funny Face is excellent. It feels creamy on application, then dries down a bit within the first 10 minutes or so. Being a matte, it of course isn't moisturizing, but it's not drying either. I wore it for 4 days in a row and didn't end up with dry or chapped lips. If you do tend toward dry lips (I do), you might also consider applying a light layer of lip balm underneath, which gives the lipstick a very creamy texture while retaining the matte finish. Lasting power on me was exceptional. I found that I did have to reapply after meals, but on the day when I missed lunch, this lasted 8 hours! Plus, when it does fade down, it leaves behind a gorgeous, bright pink stain that doesn't leave an unsightly ring around the mouth.

Bottom Line: This is a definite winner in the matte lipstick department. I love that it's so bright and happy because it puts me in a good mood. The color is dramatic, but the matte finish tones it down just enough to make it suitable for day wear. The iridescence is brightening and plumping and adds an unexpected twist. I've been wearing this nearly every day since I got it.

2012-08-19T16:05:00.003-04:00

We have some excitement with two of our Beauty Spotlight Team members. We are always proud of everyone but this is an extra special award. Check out Stylist.com to find out which of our beauties have earned this honor.

The Pink Sith Reviews skincare from TATCHA which was inspired by Geisha. Plus she’s giving away a full sized Brightening Serum!

Modesty Brown realises she has a new addiction: Sheer Lipsticks. Check out swatches of her collection, including new additions from ILIA Beauty and W3LL People.

Visionary Beautyrealises that you can have too many lipsticks, here’s a look at her Chanel Coco Shine collection.

Addicted to nail polish and "monthly" beauty subscriptions? Pammy Blogs Beauty sure is! Check out what she got in her Julep Maven August Box.

Do you ever despair of finding the perfect eyeshadows to wear to work? Beauty Info Zone has the answer with Hourglass Suede Visionaire Eyeshadow Duo.

Are you ready for Fall? Jessika from polish insomiac shares her top picks from the Fall 2012 Germany by OPI collection!

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed tries to give Lisa Rinna a run for her money with her newly-plumped lips - check it out and see which Lisa you think wins the prize!

Now that you've got your summer color, Paula, from Older Girl Beauty challenges you to add some Orange to your routine.

The return of Nars Outlaw Blush with their Fall 2012 collection has Perilously Pale wishing she had discovered this beauty before it was originally discontinued.

Prime Beauty added another neutral/nude eye shadow palette to her collection. Find out why Anastasia's She Wears It Well is different from the pack. Hint: Youthful Synergy Complex®.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shows you a quick makeup look for a quiet day at home.

What's In 15-Minute Beauty Fanatic's Desk Drawer?

2012-08-12T15:00:00.000-04:00

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shares the crazy amount of product hiding in the desk drawer in her office. She has to be prepared for staying a while, but this might be a bit too much!

See what's hiding in her desk drawer!

Beauty Blog Link Love

2012-08-12T10:42:00.003-04:00

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed is way too lazy to have to deal with sharpeners and thinks twist up pencils are the way to go - check out her Revlon, Annabelle and Clinique swatches and see if you agree!

Phyrra lets her skin shine through with Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation. See why she loves it!

This hemp-based oil has stopped Gouldylox's nails and cuticles from looking like farm animals gnawed on them. If you have weak nails or brutal cuticles, you should check this out!

Jenny finds summer in a tube AKA Clarins Crystal Balm in Crystal Coral. See her review and FOTD on My Funny Valentine.

Bun Bun Makeup Tips shares her Makeup Tutorial for Hooded Lids - Vertical Gradient Method of Eyeshadow Application!

Love matte finishes, violet eyeshadow, or Lana Del Rey? Then you need to check out this violet and black smokey eye makeup look on theNotice!

Do you need a little sparkle in your life? If so, Shannon from Lipstick Musings has exactly what you're looking for with Deborah Lippmann's Razzle Dazzle!

Looking for the perfect lip crayon? Check out this Canadian Beauty find over at Spiced Beauty Blog.

FabDiva20 has been on a Sugarpill rampage and purchased two amazing Chromalust Loose Eyeshadows from Sugarpill! Check out her Sugarpill Hysteric and Birthday Girl reviews and swatches!

Have you ever wondered what's involved with a keratin straightening treatment? Lisa from Beauty Info Zone had the NV BKT Treatment done and explains it step by step for you.

Check out what Steal My Heart Lovee has to say about the Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer.

Check out Krasey Beauty's latest face of the day, full of brights from Sugarpill and Make Up For Ever!

Fleurissante shows you the swatches of Guerlain Shine Automatique lipsticks.

Keeping your over 40 skin youthful and dewy can be tricky. Prime Beauty gets her JLo Glow with the new BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone!

Shard glitter - the coolest glitter type yet! Musicalhouses shows you Cirque Potosi, a gorgeous mix of glitter shapes and colours!

Got frizzy hair? Find out which product will tame it on My Lips But Better.

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella tries a micellar lotion from the Himalaya! Will it work as good as Bioderma? Check it out!

Check out Midnight Violets informative bronzer post. Including application, favourites & tips!

Fall is coming and Anita has been enjoying testing out 3 shades of Guerlain's new liquid lipsticks, Rouge G L'Extrait. See what she thinks of them over on Pleasureflush.

Want to hear about a shower gel that cures headaches and makes you smell divine? Hear all about Lush's Flying Fox and its miracles at Adorable On Your Vanity.

Jude reviews Veet EasyWax Electrical Roll-On Kit and concludes it's the best at home kit for salon results!

Beauty Reflections shows you her favourite Fall 2012 eyeshadow palettes, the Shu Uemura Chocolat-Donna palettes!

Are you both oily and sensitive? Not to fear, Miss Beauty Nerd has the perfect regimen for you!

Makeup, Beauty& More reviews and swatches some of the hottest fall nail colors by Zoya!
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Pammy Blogs Beauty is Too Faced's "Beauty Blogger of the Month" for August 2012! Come check out the announcement post and enter her $25 Too Faced Gift Card Giveaway!

It's giveaway time over at Beauty In The Mirror, with NUXE Reve de Miel (plus extras) up for grabs! Pop over and enter.

Tutorial: The Easiest Way Ever to Remove Glitter Nail Polish!

2012-08-07T16:43:00.000-04:00

I'm a fan of glitter polishes. This should come as no surprise to those of you who have been with me all summer, given my love for lacquers like Deborah Lippmann's Razzle Dazzle and Ruby Red Slippers. When it comes down to it, I love everything that sparkles. But what I don't like is how difficult those glitter polishes are to remove. Some of them are nearly impossible to get off my nails, and as I have no patience at all, I had to find a good way to remove that glitter.

Enter the "foil method" of removal. In this method, you soak cotton pads in nail polish remover, wrap the cotton around your fingertips, then wrap foil around the cotton to hold it to the tips of your fingers, and wait 3-5 minutes for the remover to do its job. It's an effective method, but I had some issues with it--namely, I can never wrestle the foil onto my fingertips tightly enough to hold the soaked cotton on my fingertips. If I moved a muscle, the entire thing would fall off uselessly.

So I came up with my own soaking method and it's worked wonders. I'm going to walk you through it:

First. you're going to need cotton pads, nail polish remover, and latex gloves (you can get a box of 100 for about $7.99 at Sally Beauty Supply). Once you've gathered your supplies, it's time to get to work.

Okay, here are my gnarly. abused, way-past-their-expiration-date nails. I'm wearing Lippmann's Bad Romance, which is incredibly stubborn.

First off, soak your cotton pads and wrap one around each fingertip. It gets a little tricky when you do your entire hand, but if you just hold the pads in place for a few seconds as you move onto the next step, you'll be fine. Just remember to do only one hand at a time. Once you've gotten that glove on, you'll have no trouble doing the other hand.

Next, pull on the latex glove. This is great because the glove holds pressure on the fingertips, allowing the polish remover to really sink in, and because it's secure--no foils to fall off with no warning! As a matter of fact, I don't even sit still and wait on this. Instead, I go about my business for a few minutes.

After enough time has elapsed you can pull the gloves (and your polish) right off! It's like a Christmas miracle, I tell you! The glitter slides right off the nails.

So, there's my take on foil removal of glitter polishes. Give it a try--I think you'll like it!

Beauty Spotlight Team 8/4/12

2012-08-04T07:23:00.000-04:00

The Pink Sith shows you the next in her series of Highlighters You Can't Have but this time you have a chance to win this coveted and discontinued beauty. See? She's not all bad!

All You Magazine has released their "Best Beauty Buys" Winners! Pammy Blogs Beauty is reviewing some items and giving away an assortment of winning products! Come check it out!

Planning a holiday and need a travel kit, Visionary Beauty looks at the current skin care routine.

The much sought after Chanel Fleur de Lotus Collection has made it's way all the way from Asia to the U.S.! This Nordstrom exclusive has a lot to love, but Prime Beauty, thinks the star of the show is the lovely Fleur de Lotus Joues Contraste Blush!

Have you been wanting to try the new summer blues on your nails but couldn't get up the nerve? Never fear! Shannon from Lipstick Musings has found the perfect pastel in Julep's nail lacquer in Amy!

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed is already thinking fall - and with amazing colours from the fall Dior collection, how can she not? Check our her swatches and see if you're ready to ditch summer!

London Makeup Girl loves finding independent, home grown brands. Read about Soapsmith, a London based and themed bath and body company in her post this week.

Paula, from Older Girl Beauty, got big waves with her new Sedu 38mm Clipless Curling Iron and is giving one away to a reader to try for themselves.

Have you been debating Dior Fall? Beauty Info Zone has a palette that will push you over the edge. Go to the Golden Savannah to see what you are missing.

Perilously Pale finally finds a skin care regime that performs with Somme Institute.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic liked the way Revlon Overtime Mascara worked, but did it last for 24 hours?

Julep Nail Review and Nail of the Day: Amy

2012-07-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm loving taking part in the Julep Maven program, and it's done a great job of introducing me to these great nail lacquers. So much so that, despite having 5 colors at home already (and more coming each month), when I ventured into Sephora recently I still found myself reaching for more.

This time I chose Amy, which the fine folks at Julep describe as a smoky, turquoise cream. I think that's a pretty apt description of the color, although it doesn't really read smoky on my tips. Instead, it's a mid-tone, creamy, opaque turquoise. Either way, I'm loving it.

As with my other Julep polishes, Amy has a great formula that boasts a creamy, workable texture and great opacity. The directions instruct users to apply 2 coats (which I did), but I was happy with the finish at one coat. Wear time was also excellent, with no chips or tip wear until about 4 days in, and I'm very hard on my nails. Dry time was average, and I do recommend a good top coat for additional shine.

Bottom Line: I've jumped on this summer's teal-family bandwagon with Amy and I'm glad I did. The color livens up my fingertips and gives me the feel of a bright summer day. While many green/teal/light blue shades tend to look less than fantastic on me, but this one somehow comes off as a very fun, summery neutral. Highly recommend.

I've Finally Found a Bronzer I Can Love! Bobbi Brown Bronzer/Blush Duo in Pink Peony and Bahama Brown

2012-07-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm normally not a fan of bronzers for several reasons: 1) They always pull orange or muddy on me, 2) They do not make me look magically tan, and 3) Even the few that have made me look magically tan make me look ridiculous, because I have a crazy-pale body. Having a bronzey glow floating above a pasty chest and shoulders isn't my idea of pretty. And before you call me on my raving reviews of Chanel's Sable Rose and Bronze Corail, keep in mind that on me they don't read as bronze, per se, but rather as glowing blushes that liven up my pale complexion.

So in the past, I've stuck with blush and been quite happy to do so. Since the blogging world tends to go apeshit every year when the new cadre of bronzers are released, I've learned to just focus on eye, lip, foundation, primer and skin care products during the warmer months and have more or less avoided cheek products altogether. But a few weeks ago I was wandering through Macy's and came upon the Desert Twilight Collection, Bobbi Brown's Fall offerings of color. It's a lovely collection, and I would have bought more of it except that it's very neutral and my thing these days seems to be more centered around color.

However, what I couldn't resist was the gorgeous, spectacular, scrumdilyicious Bronzer/Blush Duo in Pink Peony and Bahama Brown. Behold:

This is an interesting product. First of all, despite what conventional reasoning would assume, the Pink Peony is the Illuminating Bronzer part of the duo, while Bahama Brown is the Shimmer Blush. That rocked my world a little bit, but I got over it when I realized Bobbi wouldn't actually be standing in my bathroom policing how I applied the products, so I could actually take this compact home and have my way with it.

The directions on the website instruct users to apply Pink Peony across the entire face for a sheer glow, then to use Bahama Brown on the apples of the cheeks. As expected, I found that wasn't the best method for me. Instead, I apply the Bahama Brown starting at the temples, making the shape of a "3" along the side of my face, contouring under my cheekbones and then finishing along my jawbone. I then apply Pink Peony lightly above my cheekbones and on the apples of my cheeks. The result is a warm, glowing, contoured effect that's truly beautiful. What I love most about this pairing is the very toned-down, extremely neutral (almost cool) tone of the Bahama Brown, which remains very subtle on my skin and never oxidizes orange or turns muddy on my skin, even on the hottest day.

This duo is housed in a round, black Bobbi Brown compact that boasts a large mirror. I do not recall a brush being included (and can't find any stray blushes or applicators floating around my bathroom), so you will need your own brush. This isn't a problem for me, since this duo lasts all day with no fading, pooling, or blotchiness--hence, I won't need to carry it with me when I leave the house and won't have to deal with carrying a separate brush in my bag. I will say that I always follow application with a good HD powder to tone down the shimmer and set the color.

Bottom Line: This is an outstanding combination for fair skin like mine, but has plenty of color for those of you who actually produce melanin as well. The two colors play perfectly off of each other and can be used together or alone for a variety of looks. The staying power and finish are excellent, and apply easily and quickly without the need for excessive blending. I'm considering going back for a backup before they run out.

2012-07-28T16:57:00.001-04:00

Phyrra shares her picks for the Best Wordpress Plugins for Beauty Bloggers.

Ever wanted to know how to make a cheap and simple palette? Check out Midnight Violets straightforward DIY post!

Hate purchasing without a lip swatch? Check out the Revlon Balm Stain megapost on My Lips But Better.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed travels all the way to Germany to polish up her nails for the fall - okay, maybe not but she does swatch some of the OPI Germany Fall/Winter 2012 collection so check it out!

Benefit Cosmetics is kicking class, with a slew of awesome new palettes. Check out the details, over at Krasey Beauty.

Short and wimpy lashes everywhere can celebrate--Find out how Angela's lashes become sky-high with Marcelle Xtension Plus mascara on Do Want Makeup.

Looking for a bright, poppy summer blush? Have a peek at Illamasqua Hussy Blusher at Adorable On Your Vanity and help yourself from falling in love!

The Pink Sith uses the entire soundtrack from The Little Mermaid to talk about Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream Nail Lacquer.

The latest skirmish in the Makeup Wars is The Battle of the Summer Lippie. Prime Beauty's soldier in this battle is YSL's Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain in #15-Rose Vinyl. Find out how she fared and check out the other warriors entries.

Are you ready for festival season? Check out Rae's floral braided hair tutorial and storybook daisies makeup look over at theNotice to add a bit of colour to your summer.

Beauty Reflections thinks these mark. Make It Rich Lip Crayons are as good as NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils!
--- It's summer giveaway time! Enter to win an Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette from Audrey Dao!

NOTD and Review of Deborah Lippmann "Razzle Dazzle" Nail Lacquer

2012-07-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

Sorry I've been so MIA in the last week or so! I've had a few setbacks with my arm, and typing hasn't been fun. I've been trying to limit it as much as possible.

However, today I'm feeling great, so I'm going to give you a Nail of the Day and a review of Deborah Lippmann's fun, fun, fun Razzle Dazzle Nail Lacquer.

Make no mistake, Razzle Dazzle is pretty intense. It's described on the Deborah Lippmann site as a "darkened raspberry sizzle (glitter)," and I can kind of get on board with that. It's deep, it's raspberry and it sizzles, for sure! I don't know if I'm all over the glitter part, though. The "glitter" is microfine and gives the illusion of intense shimmer more than glitter in my opinion. Which is wonderful for me, as I already have plenty of Lippmann glitters, and could use a lacquer that's a bit more toned-down. Plus, I associate glitter with bumpy, and Razzle Dazzle is nice and smooth.

As you can see above, the shimmer really stands out in direct light and makes this lacquer gorgeous and fun while still sophisticated. This is a great fun color for daytime, but at night in dimmer light, it's got a jewel-light quality that makes it perfect to go with your favorite LBD.

Bottom Line: I'm loving Razzle Dazzle for the summer because it's fun and pink and sparkly and it amuses me when I'm bored. What I love even more is the fact that around Christmas time, I'll be able to apply this very festive lacquer to go with any black outfit I choose, and it will perk things up and get me in the mood to par-tay! The formula is smooth and somewhat sheer and requires at least 2 fairly heavy coats or 3 thin coats to achieve full opacity on me, but it dries down quickly and holds for days. It's the perfect consistency...not too thick, not too thin...and can be worked with easily. The sparkles make it fun for everyone, but are subtle enough to work for those of you who may typically be more reserved. Overall, this is one of my favorites from Deborah Lippmann.

Beauty Spotlight Team

2012-07-22T08:54:00.001-04:00

The Pink Sith’s July Birchbox has arrived. This month's theme is the 5 senses. Does that make sense?

Is your holo polish not holo enough? Not to worry, Jessika from polish insomniac shares with us the return of GOSH Holographic!

Pammy Blogs Beauty channels her inner "Palette Princess" as she embarks upon a new Palette Review Series with her review of Jemma Kidd's Backstage Palette.

There’s a new natural brand on the market, Visionary Beauty looks at what the raw, pure, skin and body care range from Ambre Botanicals has to offer.

Buying makeup online can be a tricky game. Modesty Brown tries a Shiseido Perfect Rouge lipstick and finds that, although the colour isn't perfect, the formula is!

Is the Yves Saint Laurent Palette Couture really the star accessory for autumn? Check out her review for Perilously Pale’s thoughts on this much anticipated release for Fall 2012.

L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows keep getting prettier and prettier. Beauty Info Zone wants to share some of the Fall 2012 shades to see if you'll "fall" for them too.

Prime Beauty continues her love affair with Kiehl’s. This time it’s the new fragrant Aromatic Blends that has her swooning.

London MakeUp Girl reviews Soapwalla Deodorant Cream, an all natural blend of oils, powder, clay and essential oils that promises to keep your armpits smelling fresh. Does it work? Read her review!

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed loves a tinted lip balm during hot weather - moisture and colour that won't melt off your face! Check out the swatches of what she's been sporting on these lazy, hazy summer days!

Review and EOTD: Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream #21

2012-07-19T10:50:00.001-04:00

I'm on a sudden cream shadow kick. I've always avoided them because, well, I'm not great at applying shadow with my fingertips and my brushes never seemed to work. This summer, I had the brilliant idea of purchasing a brush made specifically for cream shadows, and my world opened up quite a bit.

I've already told you about my current favorite neutral creams from Benefit, R.S.V.P. and Get Figgy. I've had so much success with those two that I decided to branch out into more colorful options, and of course being me, I jumped right off the deep end and chose one of Make Up For Ever's most vivid Aqua Creams, #21.

Aqua Cream #21 (I must say it was nice not to have to deal with ridiculous and double-entendre names from MUFE, even though I can never keep the numbers straight) is a brilliant turquoise/teal with plenty of shimmer. Technically, it's formulated for the eyes and cheeks, as are 15 of the Aqua Cream Shades. The remaining 6 shades are formulated for lips and cheeks, so if you plan to purchase, you may want to pay attention to what you're getting so you don't end up applying a non-eye-safe product all over your lids or one that's not safe for lips all over your mouth.

The formula of Aqua Creams is outstanding. The feel is moist and extremely lightweight right out of the jar. The shadow glides easily and evenly over the lids and is a breeze to blend. Once it sets, Aqua Cream sticks like glue with no creasing or fading at all. I've worn it for up to 15 hours with absolutely no problems, even here in Atlanta with the 95-plus-degree temperatures and crazy afternoon thunderstorms. And that wear time was without primer.

As you can see above, the color is beautiful and makes me think of the beach (even though I haven't been near an ocean in years). It's very Carribean. However, as lovely as it is, it's a LOT of color. I tend to get drawn in to the pretty items and to not put much thought into how I plan to actually wear certain colors, and this is one of them. I applied #21 as a shadow across my lids and also as a contrast in my crease, and neither method worked for me. It didn't look bad, it was just a bit much for my 42-year-old eyes. Damn ageing! It's killing me. Add to that the fact that, frankly, turquoise isn't a color I'm accustomed to wearing, and I just couldn't pull this one off as easily as my typical array of purples, greens and deep blues, and I honestly felt like my eyes were completely overtaking my face, and not in a good way.

So, what to do? Here I am all excited about having a pretty shadow, yet unable to comfortably wear it in public. I chose to go the wimpy way and use it as a liner instead. It gives just a pop of color without overwhelming my entire face.

Using #21 as a liner turned out to be my perfect summery/colorful solution. It's easing me into the whole turquoise/teal thing yet doesn't overwhelm me or make me feel as if I'm trying too hard. Plus, my almost-15-yo daughter loves, loves, loves it. I'll give her an application lesson and let her have at it!

Bottom Line: Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams are amazing. I find them to be lighter weight and easier to work with than a lot of comparable creams, and they have amazing holding power on the lids. The only caveat is that they come in a variety of very bright shades, meaning a lot of you may not find one in your comfort zone. I can recommend #13, a shimmery champagne, as a great base for fair-skinned women, as well as #16 (pink beige) and #5 (pale peach). As both shadow and as liner, these creams are easy to work with. I plan to go back for more soon, but next time I'll stick to the neutrals.

Beauty Blog Link Love

2012-07-15T15:23:00.000-04:00

Phyrra is in love with the cult product inspired by beauty balm creams, Illamasqua Skin Base! She compares shades 1, 2, 4, and Au and dazzles you with their versatility!

Say hello to summer. Fleurissante has swatched the new Dior Diorskin Nude Tan bronzers.

Gouldylox finds a mascara that may permanently end her search for the perfect mascara. Looking for a product that'll create a smokey eye in under ten seconds?

Check out Rae's review of the Sephora Smoky Kohl Eyeliner on theNotice to see if it fits the bill.

Addicted to Beauty shares her Sleek MakeUP palette collection - be prepared for palette overload!

Shannon at Lipstick Musings is captivated by the Limited Edition Ray of Light Nail Lacquer from Deborah Lippmann. Move quickly, because it will disappear soon!

Jenn from Spiced Beauty shows you the New L'Oreal Foundations especially for Women of Color!

Miss Beauty Nerd is inspired to rock a little neon with OPI's Outrageous Neons Mini Pack!

At Eyelining Obsessions Claire investigates when good liners go bad! A cautionary tale.

Beauty Reflections thinks teal eyeshadow and Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Riviera is a match made in heaven!

--- Beauty Crazed is having a summer giveaway worthy of their name - be sure to come and enter for a chance to win enough makeup to really heat up your summer!

Beauty Spotlight Team: What's In Pink Sith's Emergency Kit?

2012-07-15T09:50:00.003-04:00

"The Pink Sith is in the process of transferring most of her makeup to her new Helmer and purging old cosmetics to give away to her family so her makeup organization looks...well not organized at all. However the one thing that she always has organized is her "Emergency Makeup Kit". She carries this kit with her at all times. She figured she would show you the kit because she's always looking for suggestions on what else to carry in there! She would love to hear your comments and suggestions at the end of her post."

Check out what The Pink Sith reaches for when emergency strikes!

NARS Eyeshadow Review: Marie-Galante

2012-07-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm late to the game with the 2012 Summer Collections, and frankly I haven't gotten too excited by most of them. I think I'm suffering from makeup saturation...there's just not much out there that I don't already have, and most of what's left doesn't interest me. I've been in a bit of a slump. But that changed when I saw the NARS Summer Collection, specifically the eyeshadow duo Marie-Galante.

I'd not tried NARS duos before, so I was taking a gamble that the quality would be good. The color of this duo is certainly to die for: an iridescent orchid paired with iridescent regal blue? Definitely not something I already had in my drawer!

The duo is housed in the familiar rubbery black case. I have mixed feelings about these compacts because they look wonderful immediately out of the box, but if any powder gets on them at all, they look pretty rough and they're difficult, if not impossible, to clean. But if you plan to use NARS products, it's what you'll get, so I guess I need to suck it up and deal.

As you can see, the colors in the Marie-Galante duo are stunning. I love them both, and they both look good on their own as well as paired. I don't find the pigmentation to be outstanding on this duo, though. I found I had to use a lot of product to get the look I was going for and to get the colors to show up on my eye. I need to try again with damp brushes, but used with dry brushes, be prepared to do some work.

Under direct sunlight, you can see how shimmery these are. They also have small bits of glitter, although not overly so. However, if you are averse to glitter, take note. Also note that these swatches required quite a few coats to get to this intensity. Like, 5 or 6 passes with the brush. As I said, pigmentation is somewhat lacking.

Under indirect light, the colors show more depth and iridescence. You can actually see how the blue is slightly darker around the edges, then morphs to a lighter, more shimmery color towards the center of the swatch. It's a great color combination, and even though it requires more effort than I'd like, the payoff is great.

And, for the grand finale, here are a couple of shots of my eyes wearing Marie-Galante! I love that the colors really bring out the brown in my eyes. Paired with relatively subtle lips and barely-there cheeks, the effect is gorgeous and perfect for summer. I'm adoring this duo!

Bottom Line: I have fallen hard for Marie-Galante, but I truly wish the colors were denser and easier to build. I don't feel it should take 4-5 layers of color to get a decent amount of intensity, and by decent I'm not talking drag queen, I'm just talking enough to allow these amazing shades to actually shine. However, even though I'm disappointed with the pigmentation, I feel the uniqueness of the colors goes a long way towards making up for the additional work I have to do to get to my desired end. Wear time was good over primer with no fading or creasing, but I'm not usually prone to creasing. I'm going to be wearing this duo on days and nights when I feel like putting some effort into my eyes. However, for a quick and easy look, these aren't going to be my choice.

Deborah Lippmann Review and NOTD: Ray of Light

2012-07-09T17:16:00.006-04:00

I'm a recent convert to Deborah Lippmann nail lacquers, and I've purchased quite a few of them recently. I'm having a blast with every single one of them! I've already shown you Ruby Red Slippers, one of my new all-time favorites. Today, we're going to take a look at Ray of Light, which is one of the most beautiful and unique lacquers I've seen.

Ray of Light is described as an "electrically charged indigo with 3-D holographic glitter." I think that's a very apt description. It's got a cream base that's a gorgeous blue/purple, and it's infused with coppery holographic 3-D glitter in varying sizes.

The texture is thick but not goopy, and it's easy to manipulate onto the nail. I find it takes 2-3 coats to get the coverage I like, but I like heavy coverage. Dry time is average, and the lacquer lasted well on my nails for several days with only minor tip wear.

My favorite aspect of Ray of Light is the glitter. It's infused throughout the creamy base and there are 3 sizes, which gives a lot of visual appeal on the nail. The best part is the changeability of the glitter. Viewed head-on, it's a pretty coppery gold. However, when you tilt the nail, it shifts to a green metallic. It's sort of like having copper flashes along with some of the green patina of ageing copper. I'm easily entertained, and get a lot of mileage out of watching the color shift as I turn my nails this way and that.

Copper glitter

Shifting glitter

Bottom Line: Ray of Light is Limited Edition, so hit the site or the stores soon before it sells out. It's an adventurous color, but still highly wearable depending on your job. I find it very flattering against my fair skin, but I think it would be equally so on darker tones. The quality, as usual with Lippmann lacquers, is outstanding. Definitely worth a try!

A Quick Update

2012-07-09T16:21:00.000-04:00

Remember Joan Cusack in "Sixteen Candles?" You know, the poor geeky girl in the huge neck brace? I thought it was all kinds of funny when I saw the movie back in 1986. Now...not so much.

To make a long story short, I went for an MRI of my cervical spine and they discovered that I have a ruptured C7 disc. On top of that, I have chronic issues at C4, 5, and 6. To add insult to injury, C4, 5, and 6 all have bone spurs growing in them.

Soooo, they gave me a week's worth of steroids (which made me a bitch on wheels), followed by physical therapy. I go back to the doctor on July 24 to see how things have progressed. Depending on how well the rupture has healed and how the degenerative discs are doing, I will hopefully be able to continue with non-surgical treatments for several years. However, at some point in the future, sooner or later, I will have to have surgery on my neck, which scares the heck out of me.

In the meantime, for now I've been told to try to stay off the computer as much as possible to minimize the natural "hunching" that takes place when typing. I'm doing my best, limiting it to an hour or so every other day.

So I won't be posting as often as I'd like, which is frustrating because I have a whole box of products to tell you about, products you simply MUST know about and probably need, right? I'll shoot for 2-3 posts per week until this gets sorted out.

In the meantime, thanks for your patience and understanding. I love all of my readers, and I'm so glad you're all sticking by me! I appreciate you more than you know.

Shannon