Spring Flower Makeup Series - Vibrant MAC Lipsticks For Spring!

A lipstick selection inspired by ranunculus.

 Left to Right: Show Orchid, Flowerplay, Real Doll, Gladiola, Coral Polyp, Impassioned, Toxic Tale

Ranunculus come in a variety of colors.

Nothing says spring to me more than bright, pretty lips.  Here are selection of colors from MAC that put a spring in my step.  Some were limited edition and no longer available but Show Orchid and Impassioned are two of my favorite and are permanent! 

Do you have a favorite spring shade?  I love fuchsia and bright pink in spring and then transition to coral for summer.

 Left to Right: Show Orchid, Flowerplay, Real Doll, Gladiola, Coral Polyp, Impassioned, Toxic Tale

 Left to Right: Show Orchid, Flowerplay, Real Doll, Gladiola, Coral Polyp, Impassioned, Toxic Tale

 Left to Right: Show Orchid, Flowerplay, Real Doll, Gladiola, Coral Polyp, Impassioned, Toxic Tale

 

Do you like bright lips for spring?

Eve Pearl Lip Color in 209 Amaretto - Brown Lips Didn't Die With 90210

Eve Pearl Lipstick in 209 Amaretto.

Now I am a child of the 90's.  Maybe it's me getting old, but something about that decade felt like the last great wave of cool underground edge.  Before everyone had the internet... when people just had one phone.... things felt more precious. 

If you wanted to be cool, you did your research.  Things are so easy now.  Want to know what your favorite celeb has on their face at the red carpet?  It's usually online in full detail with a video tutorial on YouTube before they've even handed out the first award.  Back in the 90's, I always wanted to know what lipstick Kelly and Brenda were wearing.  They had this perfect brown, brick red matte shade that epitomizes that era for me.  I remember trying color after color to get that 90210 brick red.

Possibly due to my exhausting attempts to find the perfect Brenda and Kelly shade, I always associated brick red lips with 90210.  And subsequently I've always associated 90210 with the 90's along with MC Hammer, Roxette, Z. Calvaricci and other things I loved at the time but feel dated now.

So sure enough, it's been a while since I've even thought about brown reds for lips.  (Full disclosure) The lovely Eve Pearl and her team sent me a lovely package to thank me for some recent reviews I had done.  Her products seriously blow me away, but I had to say when I saw the tube of lipstick.... my first reaction was oh no 90210!  I thought why would they pick this color? But of course, not to look a gift horse in the mouth, I decided to try it. 

The formula on this lipstick is sublime.  Very nice slip.  It doesn't feel cakey on, and there is great pigmentation with a very light, glossy texture.

Now for the color.  In the tube, 209 Amaretto looks bronzey, warm brown with golden shimmer.  And on the lips, it is that... but more.  There is a rosiness to it.  This color is glossy, moisturizing and has a great sheen.  It isn't that dry matte that was popular among our friends at Beverly Hills High.  Amaretto brings out a brightness on my face.  The hue is a perfect amount of color and intensity without being overbearing or brash.  The overall effect is colorful but polished... A blushing, brownish red that makes me think that there was legitimacy to why I thought brown lips were so great back in the 90's. 

I am going to IMATS In a couple weeks in New York, and you will see me getting more lippies from Eve Pearl because of the formula.  Will you see me there in brown lips?  You just might. :) 

 Ingredients:

MICROCRYSTALLINE, COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX, POLYETHYLENE, BEES WAX, CERESIN, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, ISOSTEARYL ISOSTEARATE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, BIS-DIGYLCERYL POLYACYLADIPADE-2, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, OCTYLDODEANOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E) B.H.A, HEXAPEPTIDE-11 +/-: MICA, C.I.77891 TITANIUM DIOXIDE, C.I.77491 IRON OXIDE RED, C.I.77492 IRON OXIDE YELLOW, C.I.77499 IRON OXIDE BLACK, C.I.15850 D&C RED NO.6, C.I.15850:1 D&C RED NO.7

 Super moiturized.

Donna, Kelly, Brenda.... call me!

Eve Pearl Lip Color Lipstick in 209 Amaretto is $24 for 4.2g, 0.147oz and is available at www.evepearl.com

What's your take on brown/red lips?  Do you have a favorite 90210 episode?

Wet n' Wild Mega Last Lip Color - Mega Color! Mega Wear! Mini Price! - Bare It All, Smokin' Hot Pink, Wine Room, Cherry Bomb

Wet n' Wild Mega Last Lip Color

I have been on such a Wet n' Wild kick lately.  Everything I'm trying I am loving and in disbelief of the price tag.  One of my good friends from makeupalley.com (and also from real life) basically made it her mission that I try these lipsticks.  In a period of chatting online over the course of the day, she had left her desk twice to get go get these lippies.

Was this enthusiasm well deserved?  Oh yes.  I got these four colors at a local Walgreens and quickly unsealed them as soon as I got home.  Holy schnikes!  These are pigmented.  They literally stained my arms during swatching.  Wet n' Wild claims that these lippies have 4 hours of wear.  In my opinion, Wet n' Wild is underestimating.  I wore Wine Room for an entire day and only had to lightly touch up after eating lunch.

The texture on these lipsticks were dry but not drying.  If you've tried Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense, they are similar in the vein of texture.  The pigmentation and color pay-off is really insane.  And are you ready for the best part?  They are $2.99.

Left to right: 902C Bare It All, 905D Smokin' Hot Pink, 906D Wine Room, 918D Cherry Bomb

Left to right: 902C Bare It All, 905D Smokin' Hot Pink, 906D Wine Room, 918D Cherry Bomb

902C Bare It All

902C Bare It All

902C Bare It All

This nudey beige is a very pretty, non-dulling shade against my NC30/35 skin.  What I liked about it is that it covered the blue,purple pigmentation of my lips and left me with a very neutral look.  I will definitely grab this when I do an intense smoky eye and want to play down my lips.

905D Smokin' Hot Pink

905D Smokin' Hot Pink

905D Smokin' Hot Pink

This is my favorite of the four.  What a perfectly pretty pink for spring!  It's not too bright or pushing fuchsia where I couldn't wear this to work.  I think it just brightened my whole face.  I love this one!

906D Wine Room

906D Wine Room

906D Wine Room

At first, I got Smokin' Hot Pink and Wine Room confused.  From the tube, they are pretty similar.  I had to keep checking the label to make sure I knew which one was which.  But on, Wine Room is a little deeper, a little more muted.  This dusty rose is nice for everyday or if you like Smokin' Hot Pink but want something a little more subtle.

918D Cherry Bomb

918D Cherry Bomb

918D Cherry Bomb

Hello Daddy!  Hello Mom!  I'm you're ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!  This vampy dark red was probably my least favorite of the bunch.  Not because I didn't like the shade, but it just seemed to tug a little more than the others.  I would definitely recommend a liner or using a lipbrush when applying this color.  I had difficulty keeping within my lip shade straight from the tube (a problem I usually don't have with even the most diffcult of reds).  However, I have to say once it's on... it's on.  This shade is soooooooo pigmented.   It stained the arm I swatched it on for hours, even after multiple washings and MAC wipes!  So kudos for staying power.

The Runaways with Cherry Bomb.  What shade would Joan Jet wear?

Wet n' Wild Mega Last Lip Color is $2.99 and comes in 20 shades.  They are available at drugstores and mass retailers nationwide.

Have you tried these yet?  Are you skeptical when it comes to drugstore products?  What's the last drugstore product that wow'ed you?

Saturday Stash #001 - Clé de Peau Beauté Lip Color Compact in 102! A New Series!

 Jewel inspired lip compact.

So here is a new feature on Beautyburg, a weekly peak into my stash.  I will be pulling an older item or something that I've loving and share it with you guys.  Feel free to share some of your favorite items from your stash in the comments or tweet it to me!  I love seeing different collections.

Here is one of my most elegant pieces of lip lacquer.  Clé de Peau Beauté put out a couple of these gorgeous lip cases inspired by gems.  The lip color part applies very light but super rich in pigmentation.  The gloss has tiny micro glitters and is really slick.  The combination is actually very long lasting.  This formula lasts on lips for up to 4 hours.  I think it's pretty impressive considering how slippery and shiny the gloss part is. 

The red lipstick portion.

 With the gloss on top.  Enlarge to see the tiny glitter.

 This case comes with the best retractable lip brush.  

A rounded tip lip brush on one end and a spatula for gloss on the other. 

Sadly this product isn't available anymore!  There are some newer formulas out from CdP that I am dying to try.  But these products are pricey, so it might have to be one at a time.

So what's your favorite thing from your stash!?

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Park Avenue Peach 535 - Swatches and Photos

Park Ave. Peach

I have been having so much fun reviewing some drugstore lipcolors the past couple of weeks.  The bar being set by drugstore products has been set really high!  I have been really impressed by the overall quality of everything I've been trying.

This product has been on the market the longest of my recent reviews (L'Oreal Infalliable, Covergirl Lip Perfection).  Maybelline New York Color Sensational Lipcolor comes in 48 shades.  Park Ave. Peach is actually categorized in the "Reds" shades.  It's red-based for sure, but is it an actual red?  No.  But it is very, very pretty.  Park Ave. Peach is a pigmented soft creamy mid-toned peachy pink.  I appreciated that it was so opaque.  The color went on smoothly and covered my naturally dark pink, blue-based lips.  It was a pleasant surprise!  I was expecting this shade to be sheer, but I was really about how fully pigmented it was.  I would definitely wear this to the office.  It doesn't feel like spring with pretty pinks does it?!

The tube.  Unfortunately, there is no way to see the color without opening the tube.

Swatched.  The texture was creamy and moisturizing.  No tugging on application.

 

On lips.  I like the full coverage and the slight shine.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor  in Park Ave. Pink 535 is $7 and available nationwide at drugstores.

What are some of your favorite drugstore lippies? 

Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm SPF 15 in Hibiscus 215 - Easy Everyday Lips - Photos and Swatches

NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in Hibiscus.

Does anyone remember Covergirl Lipslicks Lipgloss?  They still make them, but I never liked them much.  They smelled incredibly waxy, and they felt exactly how they smelled.  Just not a pleasurable lipgloss/lip balm/lippie experience.

Now comes Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm SPF 15, a new lip balm with sheer color.  This is a huge improvement over Lipslicks.  No waxy scent.  No waxy feel.  This formula is infused with shea and mango butter and feels super moisturizing.  There is a little more than a hint of color, not completely sheer, and just a touch of shine.  This is my new go-to for quick, casual YLBB (your lips but better).   I think I need more shades.

Nice clear top to view the color.  No guess work from a plastic swatch.

Hibiscus 215, a sheer blue pink.

Swatched.  Shine but not super slippery.

Hibiscus on lips. 

Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm SPF 15 in Hibiscus 215 $6 for 0.07oz is available at drugstores nationwide.  Available in 16 shades.

What's your favorite YLBB product?

MAC Peacocky Kissable Lipcolour - Enchantée and Strut Your Stuff

 Enchantée and Strut Your Stuff.

Here's more to our MAC Catch Up Friday!  So many new collections out and 2011 is just getting started.  I had so much fun going into detail about Mega Metal Shadows that I completely neglected Kissable Lipcolours which also came out with the Peacocky collection.

Kissable Lipcolours are new formula that's more liquid lipstick than lipgloss.  These are similar in texture to Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipsticks, ($22 for 0.12oz).  MAC's version is cheaper ($18 for 5g, 0.17oz) and a better value.  I also prefer the texture to these vs. the Korres.  They feel really moisturizing on lips, maybe hence the idea of being "kissable."

I purchased only two shades, but there are 12 shades available, including one artist color (Peacocky a teal blue).  These are limited edition, so if you like them, get them now.  Enchantée is a soft blue-based baby milky pink.  This reminds me of the Lady Gaga Viva Glam, but I didn't do a comp swatch.  Very pink, very light.  I purchased this online not knowling what the texture and transparency would be like.  As you can see, these are rather opaque, so for my NC35 skin, it's a little too light.  Strut Your Stuff is a blazen orange red.  The only negative thing I would say about this shade is that considering this formula, I would expect bleeding or straying.  This isn't the type of color that will just stay in place, and also the fact that it's so pigmented, you may want to start first with a lipliner to prevent bleeding.

 Enchantée and Strut Your Stuff.

 Enchantée en lèvres.

Strut Your Stuff on the catwalk, the street, your hallway.  It's a walk-off people!

Have you tried these yet?  Do you like liquid lipsticks?  How do you wear baby pink lips?

L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR - Forever Fuchsia (138) - Swatches and Review - Improved Fragrance (or Lack Thereof!)

L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR in Forever Fuchsia.

Happy Saturday and weekend everyone!  I hope everyone's 2011 is seeming brighter every day.  One of my resolutions this year was to keep up with more drugstore makeup.  Last year, I discovered some really impressive products from Revlon.  I don't believe that there is a big quality gap between drugstore and department store as their used to be.  The amount of research, marketing, process and technology that goes into a drugstore product launch can completely outweigh many department store products.  With large companies like L'Oreal and P&G, and the huge labs that come with them, there is bound to be a lot of science and testing that goes into drugstore products before they reach our shelves.

The L'Oreal lipsticks that I knew before I tried Infalliable Le Rouge 10HR never really got much love from me.  I always thought that they were pretty in the tube, but that signature L'Oreal fragrance that they used on their products was literally invasive on my senses.  I could smell, taste and almost feel the scent all over me.  Needless to say, their old lipsticks did not spend a lot of time on my lips.

With that in mind, I was extremely reluctant to try L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR, but trying to keep an open mind, I decided to try one.  I purchased Forever Fuchsia, a bold bright, blue-based, mid-toned fuchsia pink.  My initial impression was a shock.  No more fragrance!  Dealing with the old fragrance again was a huge hurdle that I was dreading in my mind.  You can imagine how revealed and almost excited I was when I opened the tubed and sniffed nothing!  Hoorah!  When I extended the lipstick, I liked the added touch of the L'Oreal logo on the tube.  It's a nice touch that adds a bit of luxury.

The application was not what I expected.  The texture on application is traditional lipstick, but the color adheres to your lips and bonds to them.  It's not drying, but the finish is more semi-matte vs. completely satin.  It feels more like it's sitting on top of your lips and creating a seal of color.  This is probably to help add to the wear time of the lipstick.  On my road tests, 1 application lasted about 5-6 hours, with eating, drinking, talking, being exposed to elements, etc.  I don't think it's really realistic to expect a full 10 hours, as claimed, without reapplying. 

Another added plus to this lipstick is that you can see the actual shade without opening the tube.  The clear top lets you see inside.  No more pre-tested lipsticks (by who knows who... gross!)!

The shade is visible from the tube.  No more weird, inaccurate plastic swatches.

The display.

First applied.

After 5 hours, without re-application.  This is post-coffee and lunch.

To Review:

L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR - Forever Fuchsia (138) is $9.99 at drugstores (prices may vary depending on location). 

Pro: No fragrance!  Seals nicely with lips without being overly drying.  Pigmented.  Large variety of shades.  Lipstick is visible without opening the tube or breaking the seal. 

Con: Doesn't live up to 10 hour claim.  Slightly pricier than other drugstore lipsticks.

Overall Beautyburg Rating: B+

Do you like long-wearing lipsticks?  How do you feel about scents in your lipsticks?  Has scent ever driven you away from a product?

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick - Darling (395) and Hot (305)

 

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks in Darling and Hot.

Covergirl launches a new formula of lipstick called Lip Perfection Lipstick with corresponding lip liners.  Lip Perfection Lipstick comes in 42 shades and promises to help "create soft, smooth, beautiful lips in just 7 days."  This formula contains Covergirl's "Silk Therapy Complex" to help sustain moisture.

Recently, many drugstore brands have been coming out with more "premium" lip colors to really match those offered by department stores.  I have to say that while some have been let downs, for the most part, there have been vast improvements in drugstore offerings from when I was student and drugstore was my *only* store.  Back then, I really felt like I was missing out by not being able to afford department store options.  But I have to commend brands like Revlon, L'Oreal, Milani, Maybelline New York and Covergirl for really closing in the gaps between the drugstore and department store worlds.  Now, I don't think I'm missing out on anything!

Lip Perfection Lipstick by Covergirl is really rich and pigmented.  I found the texture to be slightly more balm than satin.  They are creamy but dry slightly balmy matte finish.  The fragrance has also improved from the last time I tried a CG lipstick.  It isn't overpowering at all; I might even say it's pleasant.  I wore Hot and found no bleeding, without lipliner, and no feathering.  Even after removal, my lips were stained from the red pigmentation (good sign in my book!). 

The gunmetal packaging.

I liked the square-ish tubing and the gunmetal cap.  Looks sleek, and the shape lends to easy storage!  No rolling lipsticks escapes to the floor!

 Darling (395)

Darling is a frosty cool soft pink with pearly shimmery.  I had hoped it was more mauve from the label, but alas, your best guesstimate is the fate of a drugstore purchase. 

 Hot (305)

Hot looks like a cool blue red in the tube, but I found it slightly warm, orange red on the lips (see below).  A very flattering color similar to Dolce and Gabbana Devil.  This is the shade that Drew Barrymore wears in the ad.

 Darling and Hot swatched. 

Darling (395) on lips.

 Hot (305) on lips.

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks are available at drugstores nationwide.  I purchased mine for $7.99 each, prices may vary depending on location.

To Review: 

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks in Darling and Hot, $7.99 for 3.5g, 0.12oz
Pro: Smooth, balmy finish.  Hydrating but not overly slick and shiny.  Good pigmentation, especially on Hot.  Pleasant, not overpowering fragrance.
Con: Bad swatches on Covergirl's website.  Hard to pick colors without breaking seal and opening the tube (which is a no-no anyway!).
Overall Beautyburg Rating: A-

Do you feel that drugstore makeup has improved recently?  Do you have tips for picking drugstore shades without testing the tube?