Favorite 5: ColourPop Lippie Stix

Hi Lovelies -

I'm a HUGE fan of affordable, high-quality makeup products - and if it's cruelty-free, it's for me - which is why I love ColourPop! They have an amazing selection of lip colors and formulas, and have been growing rapidly to include brow, eye and face products a well! They come out with new products and develop new shades on the reg, making it easy to keep up with trends without doing too much damage to your wallet! They offer some great kits that contain several of their fabulous products to try for one low price, and it's always worth it to check out the Last Call  section of their website to snag some discontinued products at a 20% off!  I enjoy so many of their offerings, but my biggest addiction is their lip products - Lippie Stix, Lippie Pencils, Ultra-Matte, Ultra-Blotted, Ultra-Satin, Ultra-Metallic Liquid Lips...there is truly a lip shade and formula for everyone! I am almost always blown away by the pigmentation, high-end feel, and longevity of their lip products, and for $6 or less with free shipping over $30, you seriously can't beat the value.  There are so many of their lip products that I love and reach for daily,  I want to share my favorites with you. I'm going to break it down into two posts to make things easier - Lippie Stix, and then Liquid Lip colors; today, let's talk about my 5 favorite ColourPop Lippie Stix :)


Lumiere - $5

Source

Lumiere was one of the first ColourPop products I ever bought, and it remains one of my top must-haves; it definitely sparked my addiction to ColourPop! It is a dusty mauve pink, definitely leans cool, and IMO is simply stunning! It can be worn alone for a more subtle look, or paired with the matching Lippie Pencil for a more opaque, intense mauve lip that lasts and lasts.

Lumiere - natural light

Lumiere - artificial light

Cookie - $5

Cookie is described as a warm brown nude, and it is my most reached for of the five Lippie Stix. This color goes with any look, from "no-makeup makeup" to the most outrageous smoky eye. If I don't want to think about it too much, I just want things to be simple and easy, or I'm not sure what color will work best with my LOTD, I go with Cookie, and it always works.

Source

Cookie swatch 

Cookie

Cookie - indoors

Cookie - natural lighting (outdoors)

Tootsi - $5

Source

Tootsti is a pinky greige shade, a cooler take on Cookie. It has that gray undertone that might scare some people, but for those of you interested in trying out the trend, it is definitely user-friendly and not too over-the-top...really, it's the perfect greige shade. It also has a matching Lippie Pencil.

Tootsi swatch 

Tootsi - with flash

Tootsi - no flash

Tootsi - indoors

Grunge - $5

Source

A mid-toned red brown, Grunge is a bit of a darker take on your everyday lip color. I must admit, I was initially drawn to the nostalgia of the name more than the color, as I was a child of the 90's and definitely lived that grunge life for awhile (Doc Martens, flannel everything, dog collars and my dad's old sweaters were my wardrobe staples - don't judge). However, when I actually put Grunge on my lips, I knew it was the perfect shade for those days when you want a little more oomph, but still want to keep with a neutral-ish hue. It is a true 90's lipcolor - matching Lippie Pencil and mini-backpack optional.

Grunge swatch

Grunge - with flash

Grunge - no flash

Grunge - natural light

Brink - $5

Source

This terracota rose shade is my ultimate YLBB (your lips but better) color. When I'm feeling drab or not quite up to adulting, this Lippie instantly brings life back to my face and makes me feel pulled together when I'm not.  Lippie Pencil also available.

Brink swatch

Brink - with flash

There you have my 5 favorite ColourPop Lippe Stix! Have you tried any ColourPop Lippie Stix? What do you think of the product? What are your favorite shades?

Thanks so much for reading - remember, live a beautiful life!

~Jessica

Colour Pop Lippie Stix

Hello Lovelies!

I recently placed a small Colour Pop order because I had heard wonderful things about their Lippie Stix, and I really wanted to try them out for myself. I ordered The Lippie Stix in the shades Frida and Lumiere, and a Lippie Pencil in the shade Lumiere. Read on to discover my thoughts on these products!

Cute packaging

The handwritten note is a nice touch!

Fab Five: My Top 5 Must-Have Beauty Products, December 2014

Hi Lovelies -

I want to share with you my top five beauty products for the merry month of December. These are my go-to winter favorites:

Source: Rimmel BB Cream Matte

BB or CC Cream  - this is great to apply for a quick base, or to use as a primer under foundation; my current go-to formula is Rimmel BB Cream Matte. Worn alone, it is super easy to apply and provides moderate coverage. As a primer, it provides a smooth, even base that foundation will glide right over. It moisturizes my skin to prevent the dreaded winter dryness, while at the same time keeping oil at bay. It creates a nice, soft look - neither too matte nor too dewy. I currently use a mix of light and medium, but as my summer glow continues to fade I will be using only light soon enough. I seriously love this stuff!

Source: Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick

Red Lipstick - This is a must-have for me during the holidays! A red lip is fabulous any time of year, but it screams "Christmas" to me - it's just so merry - so I try to rock it a little more often during the holiday season. Because there are many, many formulas and shades available, there is a red lipstick suitable for everybody out there. Some of my current faves are Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte in Siren in Scarlet and New York Color in Retro Red.  I will be doing a post on  red lips soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Source: Elizabeth Mott You're So Fine Liquid Liner

Sparkly eyeliner - There's nothing more festive than glitter, am I right?!? Glittery eye shadow can be tons of fun, but can be a bit messy if not applied properly. If I'm feeling clumsy I don't have the time to mess with glitter shadow, I reach for the next best thing - sparkly eyeliner! I recently received the Elizabeth Mott You're so Fine Liquid Liner in Glitterati in one of my beauty boxes, and it is the perfect mix of inky black liner and subtle silver glitter - ideal for this time of year! The formula applies like a dream (seriously, one of the most effortless wings I have ever done), and once it dries it does not budge.

Source: Velour Lashes Whispie Sweet Nothings

Eyelashes - What goes hand in hand with red lips and sparkly eyes? LASHES! The more I try false lashes, the more I love them (and the better I get at applying them!)! Lashes can be super subtle or in-your-face dramatic; for a natural look with a bit of flare, try applying individual lashes or accent lashes. To really grab their attention, you can try full, flirty lashes or even lashes dripping with rhinestones. Whichever look you prefer, lashes are sure to give you that little extra "something" at your next holiday party!

Source: Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Body Cream

Last, but definitely not least, is a good Body Cream. My skin starts to get really dry and itchy in December, so I always upgrade my usual lotion to a nice, thick cream. Right now I am loving Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Shea Body Cream because it smells simply delicious, and whenever I apply it, it automatically puts me in the holiday spirit. While this might not be the scent for you, there are endless options in fragrance and texture (even unscented if that's what you prefer), so treat your skin well this winter and re-hydrate it with a rich body cream - you won't regret it.

Well there you have it - my Fab Five for December; hopefully I've inspired you to try something new! What are your December must-haves? I'm always looking for new products to try, so I would love to hear what you're loving this season :)

Thanks so much for reading - live a beautiful life!

~Jessica

Lip Love: Not so Nude

The '90s called, and they want their lipcolor back...

A big trend right now is '90s inspired lips: shades of brown, a la Friends-era Jennifer Aniston:

Sourced from Pinterest

While a nice escape from the bright lip colors that we have been seeing as of late, the brown lip can be a little harsh and intimidating if not applied correctly. To keep things fresh and modern, think rosy-brown or beige-toned nudes - AKA, "Kylie Jenner Lips".

Instagram: @kyliejenner

Kylie overdraws her lips, making them appear fuller and more prominent. It is rumored that she uses MAC Lip Pencil in the shade Whirl,  with a mix of MAC Lipstick in Brave and  MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam V  on top. Whatever combo she uses, it looks beautiful, and it's making me want some not-so-nude '90s lips STAT!

Instagram: @kyliejenner

This look is easy to achieve, with only two simple steps:

1. Using a natural colored lip pencil, line your lips just outside of the natural lip-line. The key here is to SLIGHTLY go outside of your natural lip - you don't want too look like you went overboard on the Juvederm!

Really, too much??   Source

2. Next, you want to fill your lips in with a matte nude lipstick. And Voila - pouty, 90's inspired Kylie Jenner lips of your very own!

For this look, I used Sephora Nano Lip Liner in Queen Quartz, with Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude on top, resulting in a pretty pink-nude lip color. 

Sephora Lip Liner in Queen Quartz and Maybelline Lipstick in Daringly Nude

For a little bit deeper nude look, I lightly lined and filled in my lips with NYC Automatic Lip Liner in Naughty Nude (this color can become quite dark if you apply more pressure, so you can achieve many different looks with one liner), and then layered New York Color Expert Last Lipstick in Creamy Caramel on top.

NYC Lip Pencil in Naughty Nude - top is light pressure, bottom is medium pressure

NYC Lip Liner in Naughty Nude and NYC Lipstick in Creamy Caramel

 If you have naturally pigmented lips, you can add a third step, which would be more of a prep-step; use a concealer to cover the perimeter of your natural lips and set with powder. This creates a blank canvas, so when you exaggerate your lip line with a liner, there are not two obvious lines competing for attention.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, unlike the '90s, we are not going for an obvious, darker brown outline with a light lip color in the middle. When you line your lips, color in the entire lip to keep uniformity, and keep your liner and lipstick shades in the same tone range to avoid the dreaded "ring around the lip" look.

Furthmore, though matte lipcolor is on trend at the moment, don't feel like you can't use a satin or gloss finish, if that's what you prefer - it's all about what works best for you and makes you feel fabulous!

You can really use any shade you like with this look, but since today's focus is on beige/nude hues, here are some great options to try for yourself, both matte and satin finishes:

Milani Lipstick in Enchanted Topaz  ($4-$6) - part of the new limited edition Bedazzled Collection, this lipstick is a matte, nude beige. It is a drier formula, so make sure to exfoliate your lips well before applying.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude ($5-$9) - a slightly more pink-toned medium beige shade. This is a creamier matte formula, and feels great on the lips.

New York Color Expert Last Lipstick in Creamy Caramel ($2-$3)- a sheer nude/brown shade; this is a your-lips-but-better color that looks great layered over a nude liner.

NYX Round Case Lipstick  in Thalia ($4-$5)- A simply gorgeous medium pink/nude, sort of a mauve with beige undertones, it pulls more nude when layered over a natural lip liner

L'Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in Jennifer's Nude ($9-$10)- pinkish beige nude with mauve undertones. this looks beautiful by itself, or layered over a matte lipstick in a similar shade (like Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude) 

Clinique Different Lipstick  in Tenderheart ($16) - A mid-tone blushing nude/brown that is a more traditional '90s lip color. While fairly sheer, this lipstick can be built up or applied over a natural liner for a more opaque appearance.

The options for nude lipstick shades are endless, so experiment with a few (or a dozen!) to see what works best for your skin tone and color preferences - there is a nude lipstick out there for everyone, even if it isn't a traditional "nude".

Do you wear nude lipstick? What's your favorite brand/color? What are your thoughts on the "Kylie Jenner Lip trend"?

Thanks for reading!

~Jessica

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12961905/?claim=fzdqsbnqpfs">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>