Drugstore Chubbies

You must know this by now, but I’m a sucker for a new lip product. In the past several months, I’ve been trolling the drugstore aisles becoming more aware of what is there, and falling in love with a few new items.

I initially fell in love with Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm many years ago when they first came out. It was the first chubby I ever got my hands on. I now have NARS Velvet Gloss pencils (essentially a fat pencil), Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint, and Urban Decay’s Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Color. All of these are essentially lip crayons. Fat lip pencils/lip balms with beautiful color. I have been attempting to break out of my high end makeup love affair, and start discovering the amazing makeup that the drugstore holds.

I’ve finally gotten over my fear of getting the wrong thing at the drugstore. Over the last several months I’ve picked up some new lip “chubby” pencils. I love that these are twistable color lip products. These three products are new at the drugstore in the past several months.

Flower Sheer Up Lip Tint in Lacey Laurel, Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Stick in Fresh Papaya, Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Berry Twist

Flower Beauty Makeup is a new line exclusively at Wal-Mart by Drew Barrymore. It’s supposed to be high end makeup at an affordable price. I’ve tried several other lip products from the Flower line, and the Sheer Up Lip Tint is a nice addition at $7.98. This lip tint has no odor at all. I love that. I normally expect drugstore products to smell either waxy or super sweet and candy like. The texture of this lip tint is creamy on the lip. It looks great with one swipe of color, and builds up nicely with several passes over the lip. There is no drag when applying it, but of the three in this review, it is the hardest of all the products. I don’t feel like it would snap off if I twisted it up a little higher than I needed to when applying.

Flower Sheer Up Lip Tint in Lacey Laurel

The Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Stick is so smooth going on. It almost feels like I’m putting butter on my lips. It does have a bit of fine gritty texture to it because of the reflective quality of the lip product. I only noticed it today as I was sitting down to review this product for my blog. I have several of these chubbies from Neutrogena, and I only just noticed it. What I really notice and don’t care for is the scent. It’s very strong and sweet. It reminds me of Fruit Loops cereal. Sugary, sweet and artificial. I know some people like the scent, but I’m not a fan. Over all, I love the color, the feel of it on my lips, the way it wears for at least 3 hours (sometimes longer) and the price.

Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Stick in Fresh Papaya

I was a bit hesitant to pick up the Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm because I couldn’t see the actual color of the product. The cap was opaque and supposedly the color of the product. I had read great reviews of this product the first week it was out, so I took a step of faith, and got one. Recently, it’s been my favorite drugstore chubby and I use it all the time. I love how hydrating it feels on my lips, and how build-able the color is. Of these three chubbies, this one has the best texture. It’s amazingly smooth and creamy. It’s not heavy at all on my lips. They do have a slight waxy scent. I only smell it when I put the product right to my nose and sniff. If I didn’t already have a drawer full of chubbies, I would get the entire Cover Girl Jumbo Gloss Balm line. I might do that still.

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Berry Twist

Do you prefer a tube of lipstick over the chubbies? Do you have a favorite brand of chubby you swear by? What lip product is in your purse right now that you’re wearing for spring? I’d love to hear from you. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Flower Beauty Lip Products Review

I’ve been waiting to share this review with you. I managed to take the pictures myself. You know those awkward arm’s length pictures people take of themselves on vacation, that’s what I did. Only I had a digital SLR camera with a flash at arm’s length. I should have put some of the epic photo fails here, but it’s already a photo heavy post. So here we go!

If you’re not familiar with Flower Beauty, it’s Drew Barrymore’s brand new cosmetic line. It’s available only at Wal-Mart. The idea is high-end products at drugstore prices. Of course I was very intrigued and wanted to see if the ideal held up in reality. I was interested in trying out more of the line, but my local Wal-Mart only had a 3-sided end cap display with nail polish, mascara, eye liner, and 4 types of lip products that will all be featured here in this post.

Princess and the Peony Lip Butter and Pretty in Petunia Lip Gloss

Flower Lip Butter in Princess and the Peony

This first lip swatch is the Lip Butter in Princess and the Peony. I like the way it feels on my lips. It’s very sheer in one swipe, but build-able. It doesn’t stay for hours on your lips because it’s a lip butter. I found that this lasted about 3 hours max on my lips before it looked like I wasn’t wearing anything. I would’ve re-applied long before, but I wanted to see how long before it was completely gone. I think that the darker shades might last longer. What I don’t like about his product is the packaging. It’s way too big. It’s enormous actually. The odd thing about it is, when you take the cap off, how small the bullet of product looks. It’s almost as if they are over compensating for such a small amount of product. I would like it much better in a slimmer package. I also have a difficult time getting the cap to snap back on properly. Of all the lip products in the post, the cap on this product gives me the most hassle. Over all, I like the product. I wish there was more of it in the package, and different packaging all together.

Flower Shine On Lip Gloss in Pretty in Petunia

This Lip Gloss in Pretty in Petunia is so wearable. It’s a lovely coral/pink shade that is easy to wear. I also love that it’s not sticky. It’s also one that leaves my lips feeling hydrated after wearing it. It’s not terribly long wearing, it’s a gloss after all, but I didn’t find myself reaching for it constantly. I like the formula of this gloss. It’s got enough pigment that you can see the color of it on your lips easily, and it’s smooth and easy to apply. It’s also a nice shine without being over the top.

Rose Bud Gloss Lip Color, Flamingo Flower and Petal Kiss Velvet Lip Color

Flower Velvet Lip Color in Petal Kiss

This lipstick was not in my initial haul. I went back for this shade. The two colors I got initially, I picked based on the colors on the bottom of the tube. They seemed like pretty, but not overly vivid colors. I was totally wrong. They are extremely vivid. I picked this one up a few days later to have a wearable shade for work and every day.  This is called Petal Kiss and is a matte lipstick. I like that it’s creamy when you apply it. Even though it’s totally matte, you still have a smooth and soft feeling on your lips. After a few hours it can be a bit drying. I find that to be true with most matte lipsticks, even the high-end ones. This one out performed all of my drugstore matte lipsticks. It also lasted for nearly 6 hours. I decided to wear it with a quick swipe of lip balm underneath and it’s perfect.

Flower Velvet Lip Color in Flamingo Flower

This is another Velvet Lip Color (matte lipstick) in Flamingo Flower. Basically a bright, pop pink. This is a great shade for spring and summer. I’m wearing it now with BB cream, skinny black eye liner, blackest black mascara, concealer an a hint of blush and highlighter. It’s so pretty and fresh. This one fades, but never seems to go away. It leaves a stain on my lips. Since it’s such an intense color, it’s so very obvious when my lips are chapped. They are a bit in the picture. (Oops) I make sure to exfoliate before wearing this shade, use a lip balm, and let it have time to sink in, then line my lips in a neutral shade before applying this color directly from the tube. It’s a fun color, but not one for every day, or every occasion.

Flower High Shine Lip Color in Rose Bud

I always love a red lipstick, but when looking for shades from the Flower line I specifically tried to not get a red lip color. I tried really hard. I looked at the bottom the tube where the color swatch is and this one looked more coral pink to me. Well, a deep coral pink, but anything but red. I also will say, I’m never one to swatch products in the store. All the drugstore products are sealed and for sale. I’d love it if they had testers, but those days are over. I don’t remember seeing testers in the drugstore since my mom was buying products there. So, I buy blindly. (and with hope) It’s a beautiful color, but not what I wanted. Beware the color swatches on the displays, and the colors on the bottom of the lipstick tubes. They aren’t always accurate.

That aside, I love the formula of this lipstick. This to me was the closest to a high-end lipstick for a drug store price. It felt so smooth and creamy on my lips. The shine was also amazing. I had a better picture showing the shine, but it was terribly out of focus. This lipstick reminded me of the Lancome Color Design formula or the Estee Lauder Pure Color formula. I was actually swatching this Flower lipstick alongside these two Lancome and Estee Lauder formulas to see how they felt. Texture, drag on the lip, shine, opacity, and it was amazing. This little $6.98 lipstick from Wal-Mart performs like a high-end lipstick. Lancome Color Design sells for $22, and Estee Lauder Pure Color sells for $25. I have several of both.

If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, I’d say give it a go. My only draw back is the inability to try the colors out first. Do some research online before going to Wal-Mart. Check with other beauty blogger and see their reviews of other colors. Look for real swatches. Make sure the colors you’re buying are the colors you really want. Even though I can wear all the colors I got, I wasn’t expecting what I got. I found the colors on the lipstick tubes to be misleading. They aren’t accurate all the time.

The Flower lipsticks have the color on the tube. Beware, it’s not a perfect color match to the product inside.

I’m excited to try some new Flower products when my local Wal-Mart starts to stock the complete collection. If I pick up anymore of them, I’ll let you know. What are you enjoying from the drug store these days? Have you tried any of the Flower products from Wal-Mart?

P.S. I have a YouTube review if you’re interested.

Lipsticks and Glosses Part 3: Reds

I’ve been waiting for this post. I won’t lie, my favorite shade of lipstick is red. I have many other shades, but when I want to feel strong and beautiful, I reach for a red. I love that anyone can wear red. I know that many women are afraid of red, they think it’s off-limits because it’s so intense. Don’t ever think that you can’t wear it. There is a shade for everyone, you just have to find it.

Most of these are reds, but there is one non-red in the bunch. I decided this was the closest place to group it with.

Bite Beauty Creme Lipstick in Cin-Cin

Here’s that one odd-ball. It’s not really an odd-ball, but a non-red. I think if falls well into a bold lip category. It’s a beautiful terracotta color from Bite Beauty called Cin-Cin. What I love about this color is that it’s very versatile. It wears well with so many colors. Clothes, makeup, just about anything I pair with it I love it. It’s a soft, creamy lipstick that’s fully opaque. It lasts for several hours without need of reapplying. I love the Bite Beauty Lipsticks. I’ll be getting a few more.

Ilia Lipstick in Arabian Knights

I picked this Ilia lipstick up in November while I was on vacation. I found this adorable boutique called Preen Apothecary that carried high-end makeup, beautiful accessories, and housewares. What I love about this lipstick is that it’s as much a lip conditioner as a lip color. It’s very hydrating. The more you swipe the lip bullet over your lips, the more sheer color you build. It also ends up as a bit of a stain when it wears of. I like this if I manage to have most of it come off during a meal. I know I’ll still have a stain of color left on my lips.

Be a Bombshell Lip Gloss in Hot Mess

A friend of mine signed me up for My Glam Bag from ipsy.com as a Christmas gift. My December bag was my first, and this lip gloss from Be a Bombshell in Hot Mess was in there. It’s a true red gloss with lots of shine. It is a bit sticky, but that depends on how much you layer on. I also found that it does best when I wear a lip liner with it. I like this one from Lipstick Queen. It keeps it from feathering outside my lip line, and doesn’t alter the color of the gloss. For all of the pictures in these lip posts, I only wore the lip color. No lip balm, no lip liner, just the color I was photographing for you.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Mightiest Maraschino

I love, love, love this new line of Chubby Stick Intense from Clinique! I especially adore this red. I’m sure I mentioned it in part 2, but chubby lip pencils are like lip crayons to me. They make me ridiculously happy, and are so easy to use. Even this bright red that I would normally apply with lots of care is made simple with the chubby stick. This Chubby is also very hydrating, and the color lasts quite a long time. it’s my new go to red. I can apply it while I’m driving in my car without worry about messing up. I don’t do that with any other red.

Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipstick in Icon

This Hourglass lipstick is another one of my November vacation lipsticks from Preen Apothecary. I know the name is Icon, but I’ve taken to calling it my Snow White lipstick. It’s really a beautiful cherry red color, and reminds me of the perfect color for Snow White. I love the way it feels on my lips. It’s so smooth and creamy, and although it’s a long-lasting lipstick, my lips never get dried out or chapped. I adore this red. It’s a high maintenance red, which means that if you smudge it at all, you’ll get high pigmented color just where you don’t want it. It’s one that I wear with caution. I don’t kiss my children when wearing this lipstick, or they will be sporting a huge red lip mark for hours. I usually wait to apply this one until after I’ve kissed my kids and husband goodbye.  That aside, I still love this lipstick. I will wear it until I have to dig it out with a lip brush, and then I’ll buy the refill. That’s the other thing I love about Hourglass lipsticks. Once you buy the full lipstick, you just have to purchase the color refill instead of getting an entire new tube of color.

I hope you enjoyed these bold colors. The full on reds are my favorites, but I’m glad I went through my stash to pull out so many other favorites. For someone like me who loves lipstick and any other type of lip product I can get my hands on, a series of lipstick reviews and lip color swatches were inevitable.

I do have a red lipstick video on my YouTube channel with (mostly) different options. Just in case you were looking for something you didn’t see here.

So let me know, are you a red lipstick wearer? Do you stay with softer, more nude shades? Did you discover a brand you want to try? Is there a lipstick I should know about that I haven’t mentioned? I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what you think.

Rebecca

Lipsticks and Glosses Part 2: Pinks

As the new year started, I wanted to share some lipstick and gloss options. I had imagined that I would pick 4 to 5 beautiful shades and talk of my deep and abiding love for them. Why they were good choices because of pigmentation, longevity of wear, and comfort. As I stood before my vanity, I decided my criteria.

1. Only lipsticks/glosses that I regularly wear would be considered
2. Price point was not a limiting factor. (Didn’t matter if it was drugstore or high end)
3. I would only list products I hadn’t already blogged about before (specific colors)

I thought my criteria would make it difficult, but it didn’t. I forget that I have a lipstick habit, not a hobby. I’ve picked up enough new shades in the past months, and have enough in my collection that I truly love, that I had no trouble selecting potential tubes of color for this blog series.

I will admit, it was only supposed to be one post, but after finding myself with 17 tubes of color, I realized I would have to break it up into several posts. So here is part 2: Pinks

MAC Lipstick – Angel

This soft pink lipstick by MAC is called Angel. I know some of you might gasp when I say this, but it’s my one and only MAC lipstick. I do like the formula. It’s opaque, and easy to apply. There’s no dragging when you put it on, and it’s not a drying formula. It’s a very nice mid-priced lipstick. The only reason I don’t have more of these, is that my closest MAC counter is an hour away. I’m sure it won’t be my last.

Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Pink-A-Boo

This Clinique lipstick is so easy to wear. I originally picked it up to wear during the summer time. I find I wear it nearly year round. It’s very moisturizing, and if I remember my Clinique lady correctly, had Shea butter in it. I love lip products like this Butter Shine Lipstick from Clinique because they give color while letting my natural lip show through. It’s almost part gloss and part lipstick. I think that this product might have been the inspiration behind Revlon’s Lip Butters. They are very similar. If I had to choose, I’d still choose Clinique over Revlon.

Anastasia Hydrafull Gloss in Moi

This full size gloss was a Sephora freebie. It’s actually a beautiful color, and although I don’t care much for glosses, I find I use this one more often than I  expected to. This Anastasia gloss has been kept in my collection for two reasons alone. I love the color. It’s almost like my natural lip color, but better. The second reason I keep this, is because my lips feel so soft after wearing it. The two reasons I might never purchase this gloss, is it’s the stickiest gloss I own. Everything gets stuck in it. I’ve had gnats get stuck in this gloss. Really. The other thing I don’t care for is the applicator. It’s a silicone paddle. It feels like someone forgot to put the velvet on the doe foot applicator. It’s the strangest/cheapest feeling applicator of all the glosses I own. I really don’t like it.

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover

This lip pencil from NARS is amazing! It’s my new favorite pink. Most of my pinks have been quite pale, leaning towards the nude end or very bold, closer to a red. This is a true pink lip. Something I thought I would never wear, and would never like. This feels like glossy lipstick going on, and has staying power. It’s not one to instantly fade. It’s very reminiscent of a crayon. Maybe that’s why I love lip pencils so much. I still love crayons, and I see these as jumbo lip crayons! There are more colors I have my eye on. If you haven’t tried one of these pencils, check them out the next time you can.

ModelCo SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss in Berry Pink

This full size lip gloss from ModelCo just showed up in my December Birchbox. I wasn’t excited to see it because it was a gloss. I was also upset because it was pink. Then I tried it on. The scent of the gloss caught me off guard. It smelled delicious. I was also delighted to find that it wasn’t a sticky gloss. The other smart and functional part of the packaging is a little mirror on the side of the gloss tube. I found that this gloss is so much more than it seems. The pink is very wearable, the mirror on the outside is so very handy, and the smell is divine. This is a lip gloss that I would gladly buy again.

The next two colors I have to share with you are also Clinique Butter Shine Lipsticks. Since I’ve already discussed the type of product it is, I’ll just post the photos. These photos don’t really fall into the “pink” category, but were a close cousin: purple/plum.

Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Perfect Plum

Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Crushed Grape

My last of this 3 part series will be on bold colors, mainly red. I’m looking forward to sharing my red’s with you. I hope these lipstick posts inspire you to consider a new shade, or a new line of lip products. I didn’t expect to find as many pinks in my collection as I did. I’m also surprised that I’ve been reaching for so many soft pinks. Nearly all of them qualify as neutral pinks. They’re nearly nudes.

Let me know what you’re reaching for these days. Do you have several shades of one color? Which one is it? Do you have a favorite brand? I’d love to hear from you. Let’s talk lipstick!

Rebecca

Lipsticks and Glosses – Part 1: Nudes

Happy New Year! Sorry I’ve been so absent from my blog. The holidays were busy for me, and health issues have been rearing their ugly heads. Let’s put all that behind us, and get down to the good stuff: lipstick!

As my blog name suggests, I love lipstick. Before I was allowed to wear lipstick at 14, I loved putting Chap Stick, Vaseline, and all sorts of little girl appropriate lip gloss on my lips. I had every sort. It’s the only thing I spent my allowance on. When I was 14, my mom took me to the Clinique counter and had the ladies in white coats help me choose make up colors. It was my first encounter with makeup of any type and I was hooked. That day I got my first real lipstick. It was a peachy nude lipstick that Clinique no longer makes. Sadly I don’t remember the name, but I wore it for 2 years. I re-purchased it several times. When I was sure my mother wasn’t going to die if I chose a darker color, I started branching out.

So in memory of that first lipstick I ever wore, I start this three-part lipstick review with just a few nudes from my collection.

Bite Beauty Creme Lipstick in Cava

I picked this lipstick up at Sephora in late November while on vacation. I asked the amazing Kevin who was helping me to suggest a lipstick to replace the Dior lipstick I was returning. I had ordered the Dior shade online, and hadn’t had a chance to try the color on. It was too pink for me in natural light, and I couldn’t let myself keep a $30 lipstick I would never use. Kevin immediate suggested a bright red, but I told him I had more than 12 shades of bright red, and was looking for something different. He suggested the new line of lipsticks from Bite Beauty. This shade in Cava has a bit of a lavender undertone, and is much lighter than my natural lip shade. I have to wear foundation on my lips when I wear this shade, but I love the look it gives me. All of the Bite Beauty shades I tried on were completely opaque. I loved that!

Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Bellini

This is a drugstore pick I have been loving since I grabbed it in October. I haven’t been much of a gloss fan over the past decade, but I really like this one in Bellini. It’s not sticky, has a soft doe foot applicator, and has lots of product for the price. I might be willing to pick up a few more of these Revlon Colorburst Lip Glosses just to see how the other colors are. So far, the Revlon lip products are my top choice for drugstore lip products.

Lancome – L’Absolu Nu in Beige Tulle

This Lancome lipstick is very hydrating, and very sheer. This photo has several swipes over the lips to make sure the color came though so you could really see it. I normally only swipe once or twice with Beige Tulle for sheer color and just that hint of shine. I love this nude color with the slight peach tone to it. It’s not too peachy, and has a bit of shimmer. Just enough to make my lips look pretty and alive.

Bite Beauty Lip Shine – Champagne Pearl

This is another Bite Beauty product I picked up in November that Kevin steered me towards. It was as if he knew exactly what I was looking for. God bless Kevin at Sephora in Cincinnati! Love this color in Champagne Pearl. You can see that this gloss has more shimmer to it. I will say, I really don’t like the way it smells. That’s the only down side. I only notice it when I open the tube, I don’t notice it when it’s on my lips. (either it’s not that strong, or I get used to it) I like that it’s not too sticky. I can’t say it’s not sticky, because it is, but it’s not a major offender.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense – Curviest Caramel

This is my newest addition to my nude lipstick collection. I got this just about 2 weeks ago, and I love it! I was picking up a last minute gift for a friend, and couldn’t pass up checking out the new Chubby Intense sticks from Clinique. If you’ve followed my blog in the past, you know I’m a sucker for the regular Chubbies, and when they came out with these Intense colors, I knew it was only a matter of time. I got another color as well, but that one will wait for Part 3 of this Lipstick series.

I think this neutral color in Curviest Caramel could be worn by many women. It’s a great “every day” color, and is so easy to apply. I’ve never had problems with the original Chubbies not lasting for at least 3-4 hours, but this new Intense Chubby will last even longer. I’m not a lip licker so most of my lip products last quite a while. Even though my morning coffee cup, and the afternoon water bottle. I like that this caramel color has a slight pink undertone so it’s easy to wear. It’s not one that will give your lips that dead look.

I’ve got more of these lip swatches to show you over the coming days. I hope they’re helpful, or if nothing else, at least entertaining. Let me know: do you wear more nude lip colors, or more bold lip colors. Do you have a favorite brand, or is your collection a free for all? I’d love to hear from you, let me know.

Always in search of the perfect lipstick!

Rebecca

Midweek Manicure

Deborah Lippmann nail color in Sugar Daddy.

I needed to change my polish today. I’m one of those people. One small chip, and I have to change it all. I even keep nail polish remover in my purse.  I can’t abide a messy manicure. So for a mid week change, I decided to keep going in the metallics I’d been enjoying so much over the past week and a half, but skip the glitter.

This time I opted for my only Deborah Lippmann polish. I just picked it up last month while on vacation. I wanted to see what all the hype was about. So many people rave about these polishes, I just had to see for myself.

What I really love about this polish is the color. It’s called Sugar Daddy. In some light, it looks like a straight gold. If the lighting changes, it takes on a rose gold tone. It’s really a beautiful mirrored chrome polish. I also like how easily it applies. This polish could easily show heavy brush strokes, but doesn’t. It also dries very quickly. It’s a bit thinner than most of my other polishes, so I did have some clean up when I accidentally flooded one of my cuticles.

I really love this shade, and will enjoy using it, but I’m not sure I have to rush out and grab a bunch of other Deborah Lippmann polishes. The price is what keeps me at bay. $18 is a bit steep for me just for one polish. I might acquire a few more over time, but I won’t be purchasing them in bulk like I do with Zoya, OPI or China Glaze.

Deborah Lippmann nail color in Sugar Daddy

Are you a fan of luxury nail polishes? Do you have a price limit on what you’ll pay for nail color? What’s you’re most expensive polish? Is it worth paying more for the higher end brands? Let me know, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Cover Girl Blast Flip Sticks Review

You already know I love lipstick, and all types of lip products. The other thing I love is adding new shades to my collection. I recently received 3 of the Cover Girl Blast Flipsticks in the mail from Buzz Agent. As a Buzz Agent I received these lipsticks for free, and I have fun sharing my thoughts, ideas and coupons with others.

Cover Girl Blast Flipsticks

If you’re not familiar with the Blast Flipstick, it’s a double ended lipstick that has a creme color on one side, and a shimmer or highlight color on the other. The idea is that you can use the more pigmented color over your entire lip, and highlight your pout with the shimmer. If you check out the picture of Sofia Vergara above, you’ll see what I mean. You can also use the lipsticks individually  or mix and match to your heart’s content.

My lipstick collection ranges from high-end tubes that cost around $30 each, to drugstore brands that cost between $6.50 – $9.50 each. I do have my favorites. Aside from my favorite colors and companies, here’s what I look for in a lipstick.

1. I want something that feels good on my lips. It can’t be waxy, drying or grainy. I also don’t like it when it drags on my lips during application. I need a smooth application.
2. I want something that I don’t have to constantly reapply. There are some sheer formulas with staying power.
3. I need options. I love colors that mix well with others. I nearly never wear one shade alone. I’m always layering and mixing my lipsticks.

My perfect lipstick right now is from Hourglass. It costs $30 a tube but it’s worth every penny. I love the consistency, the deep pigments, and the rich moisture in this lipstick. On a scale of 1-10, the Hourglass lipstick gets a 9. I have to believe there is a better lipstick out there somewhere. Here’s how the Cover Girl Blast Flipsticks stack up.

I’d give these lipsticks a wink and a nod with a generous score of 6.5. Here’s why: For a drugstore brand, it’s good. There are 13 Flipsticks, and part of me wishes there were more. (you can watch the video for swatches) I found that one of the full size samples I received was a bit grainy. It was only the creme color side that was grainy, not the highlight/shimmer side. I wasn’t sure if it was just an issue with a batch of lipsticks in that shade, or if it was a formula issue with that shade. I found that some of the darker colors pulled on my lips when I was applying them. There was a bit of drag, and they didn’t apply smoothly. That’s not something I like in a lipstick. I did like that the color lasted well. I found the shades to be quite highly pigmented, and they stayed on for several hours.

I haven’t found a drugstore lipstick that rivals my favorite high-end lipsticks yet, but I do love that they are getting so much better. I hadn’t tried Cover Girl in years. After the last two Buzz Campaigns I’ve participated in with Cover Girl, I’m glad to say my opinion has changed, and I’m starting to shop Cover Girl again at the drugstore.

Where do you get most of your cosmetics? The drugstore, department store, or a specialty store like Sephora or ULTA?

I Love Putting On A New Face

I got a box from Sephora today, and inside was the illusive Boscia Bright White Mask.

I say illusive, because last month when I was visiting an actual brick and mortal Sephora, I asked an associate if they had it, and she wasn’t even familiar with the product. It was that new, and apparently not all stores are carrying it.

I’ve been wanting to try this product for weeks. I fell in love with Boscia’s Luminizing Black Mask back in April when I tried it for the first time.

It is like a giant Biore Strip for your face. I was amazed at how many blackheads it removed, and how soft my skin felt after. I know the term “Soft as a baby’s bottom” is cliche, but it’s so true after using the Luminizing Black Mask.

The reason I decided to try the Bright White Mask is because it is designed to help with hyper-pigmentation. You know; sunspots, acne scars, freckles. All I could think of was “Is this the 21 Century equivalent of Mammy’s buttermilk?” Just scroll along to 48 seconds into the video, and you’ll hear Mammy say: “Keep your shawl on your shoulders, I ain’t aiming for you to get freckled after the buttermilk I done put on you all this winter.”

 

So here I sit, typing this blog, with Boscia’s Bright White Mask on. I have high hopes for it. I normally don’t show pictures of myself cosmetically vulnerable, but I will for you.

The Lipstick Gal with Boscia’s Bright White Mask