My favorite lip look

I love pink, shiny lips! It's an easy, classic, feminine look that's never out of style and acceptable for the office or the bar or your living room!

Here is a combo that I wear daily:
American Beauty lipstick in Cherry Blossom (Kohl's) with a swipe of Hard Candy Plexi Gloss in Genie.
Easy, long lasting, cute!

Spider-Man and a Nice Sweater

Today I had a fun beige sweater that drapes on the sides and has a lacy cutout in the back I wanted to wear.

But I also wanted to wear my Spider-Man T-Shirt.

I didn't know how to reconcile these two styles: nice office wear and a casual T. I decided on...what the hell? BOTH. And the look is actually very spiffy--I've gotten a boatload of compliments!
I paired with dark skinny jeans and my sneakers. A good warm Saturday outfit with a little flirt to it.

Sweater : Nordstrom (I got it at the Rack on a discount after I saw it in the main store)
T-Shirt: Macy's (they had a few superheroes but Spidey's the best and I loved the white stripes on red)
Jeans: Macy's
Shoes: Converse
Jewelry: long necklace is a hodge podge I created, the shorter Hindu hand bauble is from Kohl's

Happy Weekending!
I recommend mixing the formal office wear and weekend casuals for a new look!

Current Raves

Products I am currently enjoying:

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in Black Tie.

This stuff is groovy!! It really does last and is chip resistent, and the color is unique and fun.
It is a deep slate grey that looks nearly black, but it has iridescent shoots of purple and green in it, and sometimes becomes a slivery brown.

Maybelline Shinesensational in Peach Sorbet.
Not gloopy, but has a good lasting time and nice shine, and a little peachy tint to it, but is still sheer.

CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion.  Mine is the water resistant kind and I've worn it every day for 2 weeks.  No fallout, it really does last and is waterproof, and separates the lashes while still giving volume.  I'm very impressed!

Those are my favorite drugstore bits, and as far as higher end...

I've always wanted thick, luscious eyebrows, maybe because mine have always been thin and blonde.

So I've been swabbing over my brows a couple times a week with this stuff, before I go to bed, and SHOCKER: IT WORKS!  It works very well.  I have fuller and darker brows already.  This baby is a keeper.

Benefit Stay-Don't-Stray.

This is a serious primer that I put on first thing under and over my eyes, as it is a brightener as well, and helps conceal my under eye circles in the morning.  It really does help your eye makeup stick! It is a bit drying though, so I have to use heavy cream around my eyes first, and be careful not to use too much.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover concealer.

A little goes a LONG way with this stuff, and the texture is thick and creamy, so it really does STICK to any discolorations or pimples you dab it on.

It also works under eyes if necessary.  I usually just moisturize, use this in a few necessary places, and then powder and go.  I don't need any foundation; this little tube does its job well.

Lush's Ro's Argan Body Conditioner.  My hubby gave me this, and a few other Lush goodies, for Christmas. I've never tried it before but now I'm addicted!! It smells SO good.  It is worth buying just for that delicious, sweet rose smell.  And the smell lasts for days too.

But it also moisturizes incredibly well. You're supposed to use it like you would hair conditioner...put it on your wet body, then towel dry. But I've even used it on my dry skin for extra extra moisture.  I LOVE IT.

Twirly curls

Just a quick hair notion for those of you that are like me and want to roll out of bed, slap on some war paint, and go, without worrying about styling your hair in the wee morning hours...

I used a medium-heated wand and threw some curls in freshly-washed hair last night before, spritzed with hairspray, and some shine oil, and hit the sack.
This morning, all I had to do was give them a bit of a fluff with my hands (no brushing!!!), and I popped a headband in (for a fun look, and also to control those wild ones on the top of my head springing up like antennae). The sparkles on the multi-band headband contrasted with the sexy, tousled curls in an interesting way.
I got several double takes and a lot of compliments.

Easy, fun, and definitely stylish.
I love the look of slept-in hair.

Lychee on top!!

I am enjoying CoverGirl's wet slicks lipgloss in lychee splash!

It is a nice winter gloss--sheer but with a sweet pop of color, and moisturizing without being sticky (which is a necessity, what with these winter winds blowing, and me not enjoying the tips of scarves getting stuck to my gluey lips)!

It comes in multiple colors/flavors, and I like the pinks and reds best.
Today I am wearing the lychee, which is a soft pink with an opalescent sheen (but not too much of a sheen--like those tacky, sparkly ones that make you look like a victim of 1997).

I picked mine up at the market for $4.

It is spot-on for the workplace, and I keep one of these in my pocket at all times, as I can slip some on during a meeting without a mirror and not feel like a jackass.








A light coat of Lychee Splash.















A heavier-handed application of Lychee...|

Lychee worn over L'Oreal's Color Riche Balm in "Merino Muave" (a nude violet).

Lychee worn over Korres lip butter in Pomegranate

(can't tell in this photo exactly, but the colors mix nicely and last a decent amount of time... the Korres also leaves a hint of a kind of lip liner look at the edges, for a fuller lip).

 

In short, Lychee Splash brings out the glow in your cheeks and lets the light glisten on your lips in an appealing way that isn't too stripper-eqsue.  It is an innocent, appealing look, and won't stick to your boyfriend's/girlfriend's lips if you decide to lay one on 'em!

 

Wear time is decent, about 1 1/2- 2 hours, depending on the thickeness of the coat you apply.

I like the slanted tip applicator, and you don't need to have perfectly exfoliated lips to wear it--it conceals the winter chapped lips just fine and does a good job of bringing some moisture.

And like I said above, NO STICKIES!

The little nail polish that could!

Sorry it's been awhile folks, been struggling with health issues again and I've spent the last 4 days in bed.

But...that means I've had plenty of time to fiddle with my fingernails! And I've got a winner of a new shade to share with you:

I PINK I CAN!

This color is from Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure line (which is supposed to contain the base coat, polish, and top coat all in one). I have seen these babies in their chunky jars everywhere, and I picked mine up during a grocery run at Smith's, so they are widely available.
I have seen the largest color selection for this line at my beloved Target.

This is a FABULOUS pink.  Not too bubble gum, not too coral.  As you can see, it looks different in all shades of light.  Unfortunately, these were taken from my sick bed, so there aren't many variances in the photos. But I'm back at work today and in this light, they look like vibrant little coral firecrackers.
And the name is fun, it reminds me of the Little Engine that Could ("I think I can, I think I can!")

The color payoff is the best I've seen in drugstore polish--I considered just doing one coat.  Drying time is decent as well, and I am very impressed with the texture and brush.
I will definitely be checking out other shades in this line!
I got it for about $6. DEAL  ! The chubby little glass bottles are cute and will last a while.

Like a blackhead vaccuum

My blackheads have been awful lately!
They are definitely something that requires upkeep; if you’re not adamant about cleaning those bad boys out, they’ll take over.

For me, this means my nose, the area between my eyebrows, and around my lips become speckled with nasty little blackheads.  They aren’t horrific or anything, and a little tinted moisturizer and powder helps day-to-day, but when I’m face-to-face with someone, or take close-up-photos, I get self-conscious about them, and there is always the issue of them turning into a bigger pimple problem if you ignore them too long.

I usually steam my face and squish some of them out with Sephora’s little tool intended for that purpose.  But that is painful and annoying and takes forever, and doesn’t even catch all of the little buggers.  Plus you shouldn’t squeeze your skin like that much. It’s bad for it!

I saw Soap & Glory’s Hot Cloth Cleanser at Sephora, and being in love with this cute and effective brand, and never having heard of “Hot Cloth” (which is more of a European thing apparently), I was curious.

So I checked it out.
It comes in a fun metal tube, with a white muslin cloth (edged in pink!).
I slather on about a dime’s size (a nickel if a want a deeper clean), rub it into my skin, and make sure there are generous dollops covering the zones I tend to get the worst blackheads in.

You only need leave it on a minute or two, but I tend to do 5 minutes or so, and I’ve seen better results the longer I have left it on.  The texture is surprisingly creamy and rich, and smoothes right on.
I’ve used it both in the bathtub, and from the sink.  It is effective both ways and not too messy.

After 5 minutes or so (who’s timing these things??), I soak the muslin cloth in as hot of water as I can stand, and peel it open so it is a full square, then press it into my skin and hold it there a few moments.  This helps open up the pores to get the gunk out, that the actual cream has been loosening up.

I repeat this step 4-5 times.  Then I soak the cloth in hot water once more, and scrub the shit out of my skin with it.  The muslin has such a nice texture and exfoliates well, without scratching your skin!
Then I wring it out, hang the cloth to dry for next time, and splash my face with a few fresh, hot rinses, and voila! Clean, glowing skin.

I was surprised to see that my face literally glows after using this, and it lasts the whole day.  Lotions absorb better as well, so it is a wonderful treatment to use at night before slathering on the heavy cream this winter.  It also helps clear up other skin ailments besides blackheads.
The cloth is also wonderful for using with multiple skin products, and I’ve been reaching for it to rinse off face masks as well.

The only drawback is that you need to have access to very hot water for this to work optimally, and how it was designed to. And the effects do not last terribly long (I do this treatment at least twice a week to maintain the clear, fresh skin it provides).
But for dissolving a lot of makeup and wiping out blackheads, it does in impressive job!
I would definitely repurchase in the future.