My Favorite Sunscreens!

Hi everyone! 

I just wanted to do a quick post to answer a question I got today on Beauty Broadcast Live. Several people were asking about favorite sunscreens, including one for the face that wasn't too sticky or heavy.  I said- I have a product that totally qualifies! I've been swimming a lot lately, and before hopping in, I take off all the day's makeup and makeup sure I'm covered in sunscreen. Here's what I use!

• Neutrogena Clear Face Break-Out Free Liquid-Lotion (SPF 30) - I love that this is a face-specific sunscreen that's oil-free. It's very light and blends into the skin quickly- it's not at all sticky on the skin. It's also water-resistant for 80 minutes. I haven't noticed any breakouts or skin issues since I've been using this, so I'd say it's living up to its "Clear Face" name. Oh, and most importantly, I haven't gotten a sunburn since I've been using this, and I've been swimming a lot!
• Coppertone Clearly Sheer for Beach & Pool (SPF 50) - This is probably the most light-weight sunscreen I've ever used. It's a spray, so it's very quick to apply. But don't get cocky like I did at first and try to apply it TOO quickly. You know how it is... you're feeling all cool with your spray-on sunscreen, but then you miss large patches of skin and end up burning. Take your time and take a couple passes over your arms, for example, and it DOES seem to provide the protection I need. Like the Neutrogena, this claims to be water resistant for 80 minutes. It claims to have a "light, clean scent" - and I'd agree with that. I particularly like the spray-on style when it comes to re-applying it. Even when I'm being careful and making a point to get everywhere, I can apply this in much less time than it would take to rub a lotion all over my body. 

What are your must-have sunscreens? I'd love to hear about them! :) 

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• I'm wearing a bright coral shirt with parrots on the front. 
• I just posted a review on a travel hot roller set. Spoiler alert- it's awesome. 
• This week has FLOWN by.
• Breastfeeding class last night was fun & very informative. I feel much less intimidated by the process. Until I saw the handout that shows what a breastfed baby's poo will look like... 
• You know what sound good right now? Sweet potato fries.

#Electric Challenge Day 5: Purple Haze

Happy Friday!

It's the 5th and final day of the Electric Challenge! Thank you SO MUCH for the nice feedback on the looks I've done throughout the week, and there are now more than 100 #ElectricChallenge pictures on Instagram- how cool! The idea of this challenge is to use the Urban Decay Electric Palette every day for a week, and you have to make sure you work in all of the different shades by the time the 5 days are up! Click here to see all of my Electric Challenge blogs from this week. It's been so much fun to get up each day and map out my eye looks, and I've really enjoyed seeing how these intense shades can transform so easily when you blend them or incorporate other eyeshadows entirely. I think the purple in this palette is one of my favorite shades, so I made that the primary focus of this look, with a blue pop! I think it's a great way to make brown eyes glow!

Today's Electric Palette shades are Chaos and Urban. 

Urban is a stunning metallic purple that takes on different tones depending on whether you apply it very concentrated or sheer. Chaos is an intense royal blue with a satin finish- but in application, it seems pretty matte. In addition to these colors, I worked in some classic neutrals from my Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. That's a very handy thing to use alongside Electric!

(Click to enlarge)

1. For my base, I applied a matte white cream shadow stick from Jordana all over the lid and around the inner corner. I dabbed over it with my finger to remove any excess product. 
2. Next I added a few neutrals- from the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette, I used Venus (shimmery white) on the lid, Faint (cool matte brown) in the crease, and W.O.S. as my creamy highlight under the brow. 
3. I patted Urban on the lid, starting at the outer part and working inward halfway. I went more intense on the outside, and then used a lighter touch so the purple would start to fade into the white. I also blended Urban on the outer part of the crease and just above it. So we end up experiencing 3 tones from just one shade... intense purple (outer corner), lilac (center of lid), and a pinkish purple tone as the color fades up. 
4. Then I lined my upper lashline with black liquid liner (FYI- I'm using black liquid a lot with these looks because it sets to a matte finish & gives me the intense definition I want with these bright colors!), and I used a blue liner from NYX on my lower waterline. 
5. With an angled liner brush, I applied Chaos along my lower lashline- it's a great match for the blue eyeliner... just get it wedged right in there between all the lashes. Then I used a smudge brush to do a double line with Urban- underneath the blue. 
6. I finished the look with mascara on my upper and lower lashes, along with a strip of falsies on the upper lashline. 

 I'm also wearing... 

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Face & Body in Creamy Tan
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Warm Light Medium
• Wet n Wild Color Icon single eyeshadow in Brulee (set undereye concealer)
• Makeup Up For Ever Pro Finish Powder in Neutral Sand
• Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (contour)
• Coastal Scents Forever Blush in Sweet
• Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki (highlight)

• Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Shadow Stick in Eternal White (base on lid)
• Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (Venus, Faint, and W.O.S. as noted above)
• Urban Decay Electric Palette 
• Jordana Color Envy Liquid Eyeliner in Black Envy (upper lashline)
• NYX Slide On Eyeliner in Sunrise Blue (lower waterline)
• Rimmel ScandalEyes Rockin' Curves Mascara (upper & lower lashes)
• Too Faced Brow Envy Kit
• Red Cherry #415 False Eyelashes

• Too Faced Perfect Lips Lip Liner in Perfect Spice
• Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in Naked Dolly (how cute is this sample size?!)

Thanks again for checking out this post! I really believe that a 5-day challenge is a great way to push your creativity and get out of a makeup rut! :) Whether it's something you're a little scared to use or just a palette that's not getting much use in your collection... deciding that you'll make use of it for 5 straight days really causes you to dig a little deeper for new ideas as opposed to just using the same shades over & over (I'm guilty of that!) Something I realized about the Electric Palette is that it's a great companion to the many basic neutrals I own. I've learned to look at these bright shades not as a palette that I have to be confined to... but rather as individually great shades that can be nice accents to a more muted look. If I can get all my editing done in time, I'll have an Electric Palette review posted on my main channel tomorrow! :) 

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• Cupcake was extra adorable while we shot Tyler's review this morning. It's like she knows when she's "on" - LOL!
• I have done so much brush cleaning this week... gotta start fresh each day when you're using these bright Electric palette shades!
• I'm trying out a travel hot roller set to review sometime soon... it gave me surprisingly big hair today.
• Yesterday I saved a frog from the pool vacuum. I think the little guy is gonna make it! 

#ElectricChallenge Day 4: The Lighter Side

Hi everyone!

Hope you're having a good Thursday! We're now on Day 4 of the Electric Challenge... in case you're new to these posts, I'm trying to work in at least one shade of the Urban Decay Electric Palette everyday for 5 days... but by the end of the week I need to have used all of the colors! My pal Kristin is doing this as well, and I've also seen lots of people posting cool #ElectricChallenge looks on Instagram! As of today, I actually have used all of the colors. I'll still be doing a look tomorrow, of course, and I also plan to shoot a review video on this palette. As far as today's look, I knew I wanted to take a softer approach to this palette. I think it's important to show that you can still work in these colors without making them super "in your face" every time. With the addition of an outside shade (gold), I was able to achieve my goal, and showed myself just how versatile this palette can be! I also figured I'd choose today as my "lighter" day since I had to go to the dentist first thing in the morning :) 

My "shades of the day" are Savage and Fringe. 

Savage is a bright, matte pink (much brighter than I was expecting!) and Fringe is a metallic teal. As you can see from the swatches, both have the potential to be extremely intense! I found that the addition of a metallic neutral (gold) really lightened the whole look, and the overlapping that happened with Fringe brought out such a pretty greenish twist in the color. I love when eyeshadows seem to transform as you overlap them... I imagine artists get the same rush as they mix paints :)  

(Click to enlarge)

1. I first used an eyeshadow primer from lid to brow, and then I patted a gold eyeshadow around the inner corner and all over the lid (I'm experimenting with the new Bella Eyes line from Milani, and this shade is Bella Gold). 
2. If you look closely, you can see that I did the tape trick! I placed it right on the corner of my eye, pointing upward toward the outer end of my brow. This gives a great edge to Fringe. I overlapped some of the gold on the outer part of the lid, pulled it into the crease, and overlapped the taped portion to create the edge. 
3. With an angled liner brush, I took a bit of Fringe downward on the outer half of my lower lashline. I also used my wispy Sigma E36 brush to dust Savage just above my crease. This shade is not playing around!! It's bright, even with the lightest application. I also used a cream color as a highlight under the brow (Milani Bella Eyes in Bella Ivory).   
4. I lined my upper lashline with black liquid liner, creating a very subtle wing that follows the "track" of the eyeshadow. I also used a nude liner to brighten my lower waterline. 
5. I applied mascara to my upper and lower lashes.
6. I used some false lashes to complete the look and further accentuate the shape of the eyeshadow. (These are the same lashes I used yesterday- Ardell #102 Demi). 

 I'm also wearing...

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Face & Body in Creamy Tan
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Warm Light Medium
• Wet n Wild Color Icon single shadow in Brulee (to set undereye concealer)
• Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Classic Ivory
• Milani Matte Baked Bronzer in 07 Sienna (for contouring)
• ELF Studio Blush in Pink Passion
• It Cosmetics Hello Light Illuminating Powder (highlight)

• Milani Eyeshadow Primer
• Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Gold (lid shade)
• Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Ivory (highlight)
• Urban Decay Electric Palette
• Jordana Color Envy Liquid Eyeliner in Black Envy (upper lashline)
• Milani Shadow Eyez Jumbo Pencil in Almond Cream (lower waterline)
• Rimmel ScandalEyes Rockin' Curves Mascara
• Too Faced Brow Envy Kit
• Ardell Glamour False Lashes #102 Demi

• Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob
• Tarte LipSurgence Lip Luster in Escape

I love how this look is softness with an edge. The colors are lighter and brighter than yesterday's look, but still quite colorful! And I think the "tape trick" on the outer corners gives the eyes a little something extra- compared to what I normally do. I just love that a palette you might glance at and think "NEON!!" can actually play nicely with other shadows and end up giving you a fun, almost pastel look. 

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• Sorry I had to miss Beauty Broadcast Live today! The dentist appointment was routine & went fine. I've said it before and I'll say it again... my hygienist is one of the most pleasant people on the planet. And she's a fast flosser :)
• New vlog & express video still to come this afternoon/evening!
• My eyes are tired.
• Has anyone tried the Makeup Genius app for iPad? I just got it but haven't tried it out yet. 
• Doing some grilling tonight- which will include grilled corn on the cob! Love it!!

#ElectricChallenge Day 3: Bold Pops

Happy Wednesday everyone!

It's Day 3 of the Electric Challenge, so here's my "Face of the Day!" For the past couple of days I've used bright colors from this palette all over my lids, so today I thought I'd do something different, with an overall smokey look that incorporates small, but bright pops of color. Despite the smokey theme, this looks feels very different for me since I don't often wear super bright yellowish/greens. I tend to go for more olive-type tones, so it was really fun to see how a shade like "Thrash" would look on me! And if you're just now stumbling across my Urban Decay Electric Palette Challenge posts on my blog, be sure to check out Day 1 and Day 2! Also, my buddy Kristin is doing this as well with daily Instagram pics! :)  

Today the shades that I worked in are Gonzo, Chaos, Freak, and Thrash.

Thrash is such a vivid yellow-ish shade with a hint of green- it has a super fine shimmer to it, but it looks rather matte after application. Freak is a minty, shimmery green. I just barely snuck these blues into the look- but I used Chaos, a really true blue, and Gonzo, a bright/lighter blue. 

(Click to enlarge)

1. I started out with a couple of basic cream bases. I used a black shadow stick all over my lid and on my lower waterline (FYI- the Mally matte black shadow stick always seems to last me ALL DAY in the waterline!) And then I used a matte white shadow stick to encircle my tear duct area and a little upward flick on the outer corner.
2. Then I patted a matte black eyeshadow all over my lid, and blended it up into the crease with a slight outer-V shape. I also smudged it on my lower lashline. 
3. Now for some color pops! With the small end of the brush that comes with the Electric Palette, I patted Thrash around my inner corner. I also used that same brush with Freak on the outside, creating a little border to the look.
4. With a very small blending brush (Sigma E36), I use Chaos just above my crease, on the outer part. It shows up in a very subtle way, but I like it. 
5. Then on the inner above-crease area, I used the lighter blue- Gonzo. I wanted these blues to just come off like a light haze that fades out from the black. 
6. To finish the look, I used a matte cream highlight color under the brow, a thin line of black liquid liner on my upper lashline, and mascara on my top and bottom lashes. I also applied some false lashes that I thought nicely framed this eye look. 

I'm enjoying the fact that this look has some different "levels" of color. With this palette, you can do some all-out crazy brightness! But when you're adding pops of color, I like not making them all the same volume- if that makes sense. The inner yellow/green really captures your attention first... then your eye goes to the outer green, and finally the subtle blue fade. It's varying levels of color that surround the matte black core of the look. I like playing with the palette in this way!

 I'm also wearing...

• ELF Studio Moisturizing Foundation Stick in Natural
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Face & Body in Creamy Vanilla (as under-eye concealer)
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus
• Milani Bronzer XL in Fake Tan
• Boots No7 Natural Blush Tint in Coral Flush
• ELF Studio Blush in Gotta Glow (highlight) 

• Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick in Matte Black (base all over lid, waterline)
• Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Shadow Stick in Eternal White (base on outer corners)
• Urban Decay Electric Palette
• Sigma Eyeshadow in Control (matte black all over lid, smudged underneath)
• Sally Girl Eyeshadow in Beige (highlight under brow)
• Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Liner in Blackest Black (upper lashline)
• Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara
• Too Faced Brow Envy Kit
• Ardell Glamour False Lashes #102 Demi

• Estee Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick in Pink Voltage

Thanks so much for keeping up with my daily looks for the Electric Challenge! Whether or not this is a look you see yourself wearing with these particular colors, maybe it gives you a little inspiration for other shades in your collection. I must say, I always have fun doing my makeup in the mornings, but this week it's been extra fun to have an added "purpose". I find myself already scheming about what I'll try the next day with this palette! :) 

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• I tweeted & facebooked about this - but tomorrow I have a dentist appointment in the morning & won't be doing Beauty Broadcast Live! Between that appointment and some other house stuff I'm working on, I'm not going to be able to fit it in, but I plan to get a new vlog posted tomorrow! Oh, and #ElectricChallenge will still be happening-- hope I don't blind the dentist! ;)
• Does anyone watch New York Med? I believe it airs on ABC. Tyler and I had a couple episodes on DVR and watched them last night. I LOVE it! Talk about true reality TV.
• Nothing clears my mind like a nice long swim. Such a nice re-charge for mind & body.
• I have a new video on my main channel coming this afternoon + a new express review!

#ElectricChallenge Day 2: Vivid Orange

It's day 2 of the Electric Challenge! I was challenged to incorporate shades from the Urban Decay Electric Palette into my eye looks for a week, so that's exactly what I'm doing. Check out my Day 1 post for my first look, details on why I'm doing this, and the "rules" :) It's been great seeing lots of your #ElectricChallenge pictures on Instagram! Such incredible talent! For today's look, I chose to work in the vivid orange shade... it's probably the color I was most excited about, and it didn't disappoint when it comes to brightness! This look was actually incredibly simple... hope you like it!

The shades from this palette that I used today are Revolt, Slow Burn, and Urban. 

Revolt is a metallic silver, Slow Burn is a super-saturated orange with a hint of shimmer, and Urban is a metallic purple. Urban practically feels like a cream when you swatch it with your finger. So intense!

(Click to enlarge)

1. I primed my lids with a yellow/orange Maybelline Color Tattoo called Fierce & Tangy :) I also used a white shadow stick from Jordana around my inner corner.
2. With a small brush, I patted Slow Burn all over my lid, and I also wedged it into the crease. On top of the base, Slow Burn takes on a purely orange look.
3. With a small blending brush (I love Sigma's E36), I buffed Slow Burn lightly above the crease. Without the base underneath, I see more red coming out of the shadow. I love that subtle color shift. I also used a bare brush to further blend out the color, and applied a sheer amount of a matte cream shadow under the brow. 
4. Now for a couple of accents- I used the silver Revlot shade around my inner corner, and slightly upward onto the inner-most part of the lid for an added pop. Then I smudged Urban on my lower lashline. 
5. I used liquid liner across my upper lashline, and a plum liner on my lower waterline. I also added a bit more Urban with an angled brush at the outer corner to blend in with the wing. 
6. I finished the look with mascara on my upper and lower lashes, as well as a full strip of false eyelashes.  

 The more I look at this orange/purple color combo, the more I like it. I thought to do this because I've been loving the way more muted tones of these shades look together (I've done a peach/plum look), so this was a way to take that concept and kick it up a notch. I also like how just a hint of that yellowish-orange cream base is peeking through around the inner corner (you can see it in the lower picture). All-in-all, when your eyes are open- the look isn't TOO crazy! But when you look down, you can see that the highest concentration of orange is right there in the crease :)    

 I'm also wearing...

• Cover Girl Ready, Set Gorgeous Foundation in Medium Beige
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Warm Light Medium
• Wet n Wild Color Icon Single in Brulee (to set/brighten undereye concealer)
• Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light
• Sleek Face Form Contouring & Blush Palette in Light (Contour, Blush, Highlight)

• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Fierce & Tangy (all over lid)
• Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Shadow Stick in Eternal White (inner corner)
• Urban Decay Electric Palette
• Milani Eyeshadow in French Vanilla (under brow)
• Jordana Color Envy Liquid Liner in Black Envy (upper lashline)
• Jordana 12 Hr Made to Last Eyeliner in Purple Fix (lower waterline)
• Rimmel ScandalEyes Rockin' Curves Mascara (upper & lower lashes)
• Too Faced Brow Envy Kit
• Eylure Texture False Lashes #117

• NYX Retractable Lip Liner in Nude
• Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Exposed

I've noticed a few people mentioning that the shadows from this palette stain. I didn't notice any of that happening on my eyes yesterday- my Equate Face Wash Cloths took off my look completely! (And the look definitely lasted into the night- I washed it off at around 11pm) However, I did notice that the swatches on my hand were a little resistant to the baby wipes I sometimes use to get rid of swatches, but I encounter that from time to time with extra bold shadows. So far, these don't seem to have any unusual effects. Thanks for sharing in my excitement over the challenge & keep sharing your looks- it's so fun to see them! #ElectricChallenge :) 

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• I want a Rice Crispy treat. Just one. 
• Cupcake is feeling right at home in the new makeup room. Today she barged in (LOL), jumped on the back of my chair while I was shooting a video, and then started walking all over the desk like she used to! 
• Tyler & I spent Saturday taking part in a childbirth class! We learned tons. Also, now I am always keeping a big cup of water with me! The nurses running the class said some crazy-high percentage of pregnant women who come to the hospital with some sort of concern turn out to be dehydrated. Point taken! 
• Last night I had a weird dream about edible eyeshadow. It tasted awesome. 
• As my baby bump continues to grow, Tyler is on belly-button watch. He's always taking note as to whether or not my "innie" belly button has become an "outie". It's not there yet, but I could see it happening any day now! 

#ElectricChallenge Day 1: Cool Blue & Berry

Hi everyone! 

I'm so excited to kick off the Electric Challenge!! How did this begin? Well, my makeup artist extraordinaire pal, David, was watching an "episode" of Beauty Broadcast Live where I was debating whether or not to get the Urban Decay Electric Palette. He said I should only get it if I'm going to work in at least one color everyday for a period of time. He said my fellow taupe-lover Kristin Gehm should do the same! This got our wheels turning... what about a 5-day challenge? Kristin was up for it, so we each bought the palette, and we announced the challenge on Instagram yesterday for anyone who wants to do this with us! By the way, major props to Kristin for doing this challenge, even though she goes to work everyday in an office setting! I LOVE THAT! By the end of the week, I'll most likely do a review video on this palette, but each day I'll be sharing my #ElectricChallenge eye looks here on the blog. (FYI- this challenge is not sponsored by or tied to Urban Decay... it was our own idea to do this and we bought the palettes ourselves). 

The #ElectricChallenge rules!

• Use at least one shade from the Electric Palette everyday for 5 days! Use whatever combinations you want, and throw in any other shadows or products you want. BUT - make sure you've worked in all 10 Electric Palette colors by the time the 5 day challenge is up!
• Post your pics on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook with the hashtag #ElectricChallenge so we can all get inspired by one another's creations! 

 Day One!

Today I'm working 3 colors into my look from this palette-- Revolt, Gonzo, and Jilted.

Revolt is a metallic silver, Gonzo is a bright blue that comes off with a satin finish, and Jilted is a berry color that has an interesting blue-toned sheen. 

(click to enlarge)

1. After priming my lids, I applied Revolt around my inner corner with the small side of the double-ended brush that comes with this palette. 
2. With a small, flat brush, I patted Gonzo on the inner two-thirds of my lid, slightly overlapping Revlot. I also pulled Gonzo up into the crease, and smudged it on the inner part of my lower lashline. 
3. Next, I placed Jilted on the outer part of my lid and into my crease. As I overlapped Gonzo a bit, an interesting purple tone started to come through. I love that! I also smudged Jilted on the outer part of the lower lashline. 
4. With a small blending brush, I lightly buffed Jilted above my crease, going all the way from the innermost part of my crease to the outer corner of my eye. Then I used a bare brush over the border to soften the edges as much as possible. 
5. Next I used a cream-colored highlight (Champagne by Sally Girl) under my brow. I also applied liquid liner with a small wing on the upper lashline, and a black cream shadow stick on my lower inner rim. I smudged it downward slightly to create a more blended effect with the colorful lower lashline. I applied two coats of mascara on my upper lashes, and one coat on the lower lashes.
6. This is the finished look! This was my first time using the palette, and Gonzo was a bit darker than I expected... I typically might have put that shade on the outer part of my eye, but I'm actually really happy with the fade that was created into the pink! Also, lots of people are scared to use pink tones on their eyes for fear of looking sickly. One tip is to use black liner to really define the eyes, especially in the lower inner rim. That way the pink doesn't look like it's coming from YOUR eye- but rather an effect with your eyeshadow. 

I'm also wearing...

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Face & Body in Creamy Tan
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in Warm Light Medium (around nose)
• Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Powder in Neutral Sand (lightly all over)
• NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in All Over Bronze Glow (contour cheekbones & hairline)
• The Balm Instain Blush in Houndstooth
• Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki (highlight tops of cheeks/cheekbones)

• Milani Eyeshadow Primer (all over lids)
• Urban Decay Electric Palette (duh)
• Sally Girl Eyeshadow in Champagne (my highlight)
• Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick in Matte Black (lower waterline)
• Jordana Color Envy Liquid Liner in Black Envy (upper lashline)
• Rimmel ScandalEyes Rockin' Curves Mascara (upper & lower lashes)
• Too Faced Brow Envy kit (not shown)

• L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paint in Blushing

I hope you enjoyed this look! I'm so excited to play with more colors tomorrow! I think this challenge is a great way to get out of a neutral-shadow comfort zone, and you also might be surprised at how flattering some shades are that you've never tried before. However, I think it's important to point out that loving neutrals is totally fine! Sometimes I think we (as makeup lovers) equate creativity to color... when people can be equally creative with more muted tones as well. The beauty of makeup is that there aren't rules (unless you choose to make them for yourself!), and it's YOUR face, so do what makes you happy! For me, this is just an opportunity to look at color differently, explore new combinations, and try something a little outside the norm. Just remember- color isn't the only way to exercise your creativity. Even a subtle technique change that you're experimenting with can tap into your creative side... not just the "shout it from the rooftop" colors- although it may be more obvious to others. Beautiful art happens in black & white as well as color. 

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• The sweet potato chips from Aldi are AWESOME.
• My lunch today is going to be an old school favorite- a tomato sandwich.
• Many people have been asking me about the new Milani Bella eyeshadows... and yes, over the weekend I did get them! Reviews will be coming- but probably after this challenge wraps up. 
• I think I have a thing for plane-related action movies lately. In the past couple of weeks we've watched Con-Air and a newer one-- Non-Stop. I've also seen that one with Denzel Washington- I think it's called Flight. It's not like we're specifically seeking out these movies, (although Con-Air is pretty awesome!) but we just keep watching them! 

Too Faced Country Star La Creme Lipstick

Hi everyone!

Hope you had a great July 4th weekend! I wanted to share a quick post on a lip product I was wearing in one of my most recent videos! When Too Faced released their Country and Rock N Roll eyeshadow palettes, they also put out a new La Creme lipstick in "Country Star". Too Faced sent me that lipstick, along with the palettes. It costs $22 on Too Faced's website. 

This new shade looks a bit pink in the swatch above, but in person and in natural daylight, it has a soft peach appearance. This lipstick doesn't contain shimmer- it's just a creamy color. Something I love about the La Creme formula is the amount of shine! The lipsticks tend to be very full-color, and my lips always look quite glossy after applying. The texture is very smooth and not at all sticky. If you're like me and you LOVE that effect, you might also enjoy the Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Colors- they also have a great, glossy finish- but come at a lower cost. I have a full blog post about the SK lippies here, and in case you were wondering, the shade Sheer Pink Lust is similar in depth to country star, but has more of a pinky tone- whereas Country Star is more peach. 

Country Star lipstick - as seen in my Too Faced Country & Rock N Roll Palette review video

When I first started trying out this color, I thought it might be TOO light on me. I started pulling in deeper lip liners to create more depth on the outsides, and I liked the look. But after further experimentation, I suppose I got more comfortable with the color and lately I haven't been adding in any additional products. The picture above shows me wearing only Country Star lipstick, and I actually really like the look. Definitely something I could picture Carrie Underwood or Miranda Lambert sporting ;) One thing to be aware of-- because this formula is SO glossy, creamy, and light in color, it can look a little streaky if you're smooshing your lips together often. It's not a huge issues- but it just doesn't look quite as even on the lips. I tend to notice that when I apply too much of this lipstick- but with just one lap around my lips, it seems to give the proper finish. If you're a fan of the luxuriously glossy La Creme formula and you also love a peachy nude lip- Country Star might be worth checking out! 

If you're interested in the new Country and Rock N Roll eye palettes from Too Faced, check out this video! :) 

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• Had such a fun July 4th weekend! Filled with grilling out, pool fun, and fireworks. Oh, and some random home decor tasks with mom-- we found some curtains for a few different rooms :) 
• The weather was gorgeous here! Now the humidity is back.
• I love homemade mac & cheese.
• Just got my new issue of Allure magazine... Taylor from Orange is the New Black is on the front! woop woop!

The Balm "Read My Lips" Lip Glosses

Hi everyone!

You know I love my lip products! So I was really excited when The Balm sent me their full line of Read My Lips lip glosses to review. These sell for $15 each on The Balm's website. I was thinking about doing a video review on these, but with 11 different colors to show, I thought it would be easier for you to compare the shades at your own pace with pictures on the blog. So here we go! The first thing I tend to wonder when a new product comes out is... what makes this different? The Balm's site says these glosses are fortified with Ginseng, which is a powerful antioxidant known for it's mentally-stimulating properties. I've been wearing these on and off for the past few weeks... I can't say I've noticed any burst in brain power, but maybe it's happening in a more subtle way ;) 

One thing that definitely DOES help my mental abilities is not being distracted by an uncomfortable lip product. The consistency of these glosses is very thin, but not at all greasy or overly slippery. I do feel that it clings nicely to my lips without a lot of added weight or sticky texture. If you love shine but can't handle sticky glosses, you may want to give one of these a spin. The staying power- particularly with the more vivid shades- is quite impressive. Even when I start to lose some shine, I still have a lot of color left over. I only noticed bleeding outside my lip line with one of these shades (I'll point that out below), but all the rest seemed to stay in place. Overall, I'm pretty impressed with the color range. I think there's something for everyone, but it's very heavy on the red/pink tones. Those looking for plums/purples or oranges don't have as many options here. Aside from the comfortable texture, one of the most impressive aspects for me is the color payoff. I love a BOLD gloss that shows up with full color on my lips, and there are only a couple of these glosses that I would describe as sheer. 

(click to enlarge)

These shades are pictured above from left to right (and yes, they all end in an exclamation point!) 

Bam! - Pop! - Snap! - Ka-Bang! - Grrr! - Zaap! - Pow! - Hubba Hubba! - Wow! - Va Va Voom! - Boom! 

Bam!

This is a very classic light pink. I love that it's so light, yet very full color. I don't have to work to build this up. This is one of my most reached for shades in the bunch because I think it suits lighter, summery makeup looks so well. 

Pop!

This soft coral is one of the few shades in the line that I would describe as sheer. Unlike the first shade, I DO have to build up this gloss a bit in order to achieve the shade you see in the picture. It's still a pretty color, and nice for someone who wants a coral gloss that isn't to orangey. 

Snap!

Anytime I look at this one, I think- "oh snap!" This is a caramel-ish nude that has more depth and warmth than most of the nude glosses I own. This is an interesting color because while I think it makes my makeup look seem very finished and pulled-together, it's the kind of lip color that will take a backseat to the rest of your makeup look. Sometimes that's what you want! 

Ka-Bang!

Staying in the neutral family- this is deeper and more brownish/bronze than the previous color. It's one of only two shades in this line that contain shimmer. I haven't picked up on any change in texture with this shade, though. This isn't the kind of color I wear often. I don't love it- but might try to get out of my comfort zone and work it in more. What do you think? 

Grrr!

This shade was a little deceptive! I thought it looked kind of deep in the tube, but on my lips, it's very much one of those "My Lips but Better" kinds of colors! (I just recently did a video on that topic- check it out!) It's definitely a little deeper than my natural lip color, but still captures the mauve tones that my lips have. I think it's so natural, and brings some life to the face without being too bright. I could see this being a great everyday shade for people in a conservative workplace who can't go too crazy with color!

Zaap!

Along with the coral, this is the other shade that I'd describe as somewhat sheer, but buildable. It also has a bit of shimmer, and I just feel like it's not quite as bright as what the tube would lead me to expect... and compared to the remaining shades that REALLY go there color-wise-- this one is definitely more subtle. In a sense, it's nice because I can more easily throw this on without being as careful. 

Pow!

Are you ready for some color?! We are officially in the bright zone. I think this shade is stunning! A bold fuchsia with so much pigment and shine. Definitely one of the best of the bunch, in my opinion. And with this gloss, as well as the remaining glosses, I notice quite a bit of staining. So when the shine wears off, I still have a decent amount of fairly even-looking color hanging around. Yay!

Hubba Hubba!

Hello juicy cherry gorgeousness! This is a blue-toned red that I just love! I feel like this lip color GLOWS. So much intensity, and just full-on creamy color. The one risk we run into with bright glosses is keeping them in place. Unlike a matte, red lipstick, for example, this could be a bit harder to control if you're not careful as you eat and drink. 

Wow!

While the last red is more cool, this one is warm. It reminds me of an old-school pinup type of red lip... more of a tomato red. Every bit as glam as the last shade, just a different tone. I feel like these kinds of reds are very summery, so I'm going to try to wear it more often!

Va Va Voom!

This gloss is like the child that I love... but I'm kind of mad at. For some reason, this is the only gloss that I've noticed bleeding outside of my lip line. I think I was on Beauty Broadcast Live the day I realized it was happening! Strangely enough, this shade does seem to have a slightly thinner texture than the others. I still think it's a great berry red shade! Very close to Hubba Hubba above... but in person, I notice even more depth to this color. 

 Boom!

Last but not least, our deep berry shade! This shade isn't quite as deep on the lips as it appears in the tube, but I still LOVE it. I'll be busting this one out a lot in the fall and winter! I have a lot of deep lip colors in my collection, but not many of them have this much shine. I think the level of shine, paired with this beautiful color is just a knockout combination. 

♥

My Favorites! 

Could you tell just by reading my descriptions above which ones were my favorites? Here are my top picks (and why)....

• Bam! Classic light pink. It's a can't-miss shade, especially for this time of year. And so many glosses in this tone tend to be too sheer. 
• Grrr! Just a great everyday shade. It walks the line between neutral and mauve and for many people, that's a very flattering option!
• Pow! Probably my overall #1. I cannot argue with a glossy, bold, fuchsia lip color.
• Hubba Hubba! Loving this cool red. Dresses up any look in an instant!
• Boom! A beautiful glossy berry/wine shade. If you're scared of deeper lip colors- try a shiny one like this. 

♥

Have you tried any of these new glosses? What did you think? Let me know what shades you like best, and as always, tell me what products you'd like to see reviewed either here or on my YouTube channels! :) 

Daily Nuggets...

• I've been meaning to post this blog for a few days but was having trouble getting my computer to read my memory card with all the pictures on it! Finally got it to work :) 
• Today's Beauty Broadcast Express review is something for the Disney lovers!!
• My butt is starting to feel a little better since my fall on the stairs!

• Had an awesome visit from my friend Kalee yesterday! She and her husband Jonathan & dog Mia stayed with us, and then they continued on their travels to Alabama this morning. Kalee is the bomb- and if you watch her do the weather in the morning in the Kansas City area, you know what I'm talking about! :) We watched the World Cup soccer game, waited for a thunderstorm to roll through, and then grilled some burgers & hot dogs and had a pool party! It consisted of many crazy dives from Tyler & Jonathan. Here are a couple of highlights- note the amazing rainbow in the background! :D

I think Tyler was trying to make it look like he was laying on his side in mid-air? And I can't remember what Jonathan's trick was named. Regardless- we were all laughing our butts off!

Cupcake & Mia are friends! :)