L’Oreal

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Liner

I can recall a time, in my youth, when my lip liners were everything. Being a young broke teenager, I quickly realized that I needed to buy products that could serve a dual purpose and thus began my long-life love affair with the lip liner.

Why? Well for starters, lip liners are cheaper than lipsticks and if the consistency of the liner is smooth enough it can double as a lipstick. And so from that point forward I purchased a number of L’Oreal lip liners and said goodbye to lipsticks. However, over time it seemed that the formula of lip liners felt drier, stiffer and less malleable. So gone were the days where I could get away the double duty liner; until recently that is.

Charlotte Tilbury is a British celebrity makeup artist with a burgeoning makeup line. It took me a while to give her products a shot because aside from being pricey, they are not readily available in the United States. And so I decided to start small and purchase her famous lip liner. The question now was: which shade should I buy?

Since going to my local Sephora and Ulta stores was out of the question, I did my research on YouTube – of course.  In the end, I went with the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Re-Shape & Re-size Lip Liner in the shade Iconic Nude ($22). Talk about a life changer in regards to my makeup routine. The Charlotte Tilbury lip liners are so creamy, smooth and light that they can easily be used on their own. Not only are these velvety liners easy to apply, but the color selections are amazing. The nude liners, within the range, match just about every skin tone and they last for hours.

So if your looking for a liner that will revolutionize the way you line, shape and fill your lips; don’t hesitate – the Charlotte Tilbury lip liners are worth it!

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Mascara Mania

Long, full, and lashes for days…all this and more are guaranteed by all mascaras on the market today. Which leads to the ultimate question: what is the best mascara out there? With so many to choose from, how does one go about selecting? Well, I certainly don’t recommend breaking the bank in order to buy the most expensive mascara because there are too many options at every price point. Not only should your budget be a consideration, but also your intended daily usage. Here are questions all mascara buyers should ask themselves before deciding:

  1. Do you wear mascara everyday, 2 to 3 times a week, or a handful of times a month?
  2. Do you like mascara in just the color black or do you use a variety of colors?
  3. Do you like to have both waterproof and regular mascara on hand?
  4. What is your budget?
  5. Is there a specific job your looking for in your mascara (i.e. lengthen, thickening, natural looking, curling, bottom lashes etc.)?

With those questions in mind, I’ve compiled some of my mascara favorites in the hopes of deconstructing mascara mania. 🙂

  1. Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes ($7.99): Talk about more bang for your buck. The Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes is the best value of any mascaras I have ever purchased. First and foremost, what draws me is the price. I mean $7.99, and with sales always being introduced (Buy 2, get I free currently on Ulta), makes this a budget winner. The other big plus is that it has brushes for upper and lower lashes. Now of the two, the lower lash brush is my favorite because it really does get the job done. However, you have to keep a steady hand because the brush is very small and not forgiving if you apply it too quickly.
  2. Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara ($5.99): This mascara takes the title for best color options; six to be exact (Black, Browish Black, Dark Brown, Royal Blue, Soft Black, Blackest Black). Not to mention its an American classic for a reason because it simply works! If you want natural looking lashes with a some oomph, then Maybelline Great Lash is for you.
  3. Dior Diorshow Mascara ($27.50): This is a mascara that gives volume and shape with just two coats. The Dior Diorshow Mascara also comes in four shades guaranteeing a color for every taste (blue, brown, black and purple) in addition to having a waterproof version. The biggest advantage is that this mascara is formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates (per Sephora website).
  4. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara ($23): I normally gravitate to this mascara when I want to bring the drama without having to resort to false eyelashes. The brush is super thick and can provide full and defined lashes with just one coat. Some disadvantages I find with the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is that it only comes in one shade (black), and if your not careful with the application, it can quickly get lumpy and smudges easily. So if you don’t have a steady hand or patience, I suggest you move onto other options like those below.

Honorable Mentions:

  1. Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara ($24)
  2. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes ($21)
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Makeup To-Go

Most women that I know have a makeup stash in their cars, and like me, have resorted to using it when time is limited.  So that leads me to the question: “what should someone keep in a beauty emergency kit?”  Well, here is a snapshot of my makeup to-go kit deconstructed:

  1. Sample sizes only! Given that this makeup will only be utilized under dire circumstances, there is absolutely no need to spend more money on larger products that will go bad or expire.  Sample, travel, or trial sizes are also perfect because you can keep an array of different makeup products without sacrificing space.
  2. Foundation can usually be stored in warmer settings—especially if its in powder form.  Liquid can also sustain most weather, but be on the lookout for any product separation.  If you see that, throw it out!
  3. Lipsticks run the risk of melting in hot weather, so use lip glosses or liquid lipsticks instead. The same rule applies to cream shadows and blushes.
  4. Leave skincare products home because the ingredients are often affected by warmer weather.
  5. Sample mascaras and perfumes should round out your makeup to-go kit!

In the photo:

  1. L’Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation ($12.95)
  2. On lips: Colourpop ($6) in shades LAX and Avenue mixed together
  3. Mascara: Urban Decay Perversion ($10 for travel size)

 

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