Top 5 | Fall Lippies 2015

Hello cupcakes!

Welcome to a brand new series called "Top Five"! T5 is exactly as it sounds; depending on the topic of the video I will show you my top 5 favorite products. This installment (the first ever!) is all about my top five FALL lippies! With fall "officially" a week away, what a great way to go through my collection & showcase which 5 will be gracing my lips more often that not during the upcoming season.

L'Oreal Freida's Nude

My first pick for the fall season is "Freida's Nude" by L'Oreal. This color is an amazing color & is one that looks good on everyone! It is a taupe-greige with a purple undertone but it's not too over the top! This was an exclusive so I suggest if you can find it, snag it!

Covergirl Rush

My next pick is an old class: Covergirl's "Rush". Its a beautiful, dusty rose (& for some reason in the video - linked below - I was having a hard time remember the color & kept referring to it as "brownish pink". Forgive me for my brain fog hahah). The color payoff is super pigmented & is not sticky at all. This color was part of their LipPerfection line & has since been discontinued. You can purchase a similar shade (according to CG's website) called "Sweetheart Blush".

Milani Naturally Chic

My final drugstore pick is Milani's "Naturally Chic". This color is more pink than a dusty rose but it is still a gorgeous fall color. I use to wear this one all the time when I worked in an insurance office & it has uh-maze-ing staying power for a drugstore product. The color pigmentation is also to die for! Milani products are definitely ones that I try to stock up on whenever I find them at the store because their lipsticks are just that amazing.

BareMinerals Get Ready

My first "high end" pick for fall is from BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie line called "Get Ready". The pinker of the 5, this color would be great to transition from late summer into early fall & still be classically chich.

Estee Lauder Berry Truffle
Estee Lauder's Berry Truffle looks super intimidating in the tube with its dark purple-brown coloring but when applied, it really isn't all that horrifying. It is a dark color which is perfect for fall without being so scary looking. This color has a nice purple sheen to it that's subtle enough for you to wear to work.

Here you can see all of my favorite fall colors side by side. Rush, Naturally Chic, & Get Ready are all very similar but their undertones & shades of pink that's infused in them is at different degree levels. Freida's Nude is probably by far my all time favorite out of the five; even with it's lilac undertones.

What colors are you guys loving for fall or are you excited to start rolling out? I love fall & all the rich colors they bring out.

L'Oreal Spring 2013 Color Riche Balms

So as with any new thing that comes out in the makeup community, us beauty bloggers just HAVE to get our grubby little paws on it. I actually bought these when I bought my L'Oreal Spring 2013 nail polishes {blog post found here} but I kept forgetting to swatch these & post them. So, here yah go! Just be warned, this is heavily picture laden.

 There are 6 colors total: a light pink, a coral, a magenta, a purpley shade, a blue, & a butterscoth yellowy shade. I swatched the blue & yellow in the store & was NOT pleased. The blue was a light blue tint that I could only imagine it making one look like they had frost bite. Yeah, not a smart color choice L'Oreal. What's with makeup companies coming out with a LIGHT blue lip product this spring? It's HIDEOUS! The yellow color didn't have ANY pigmentation to it at all. In fact, it was just like applying a clear balm. SOOOOO not worth it.

 

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: "Provence Romance", "Legally Regal", "Come By My Window", & "Laze in the Maze" 

This first color is "Provence Romance". In the tube it is a purple based pink but more on the magenta side. I was actually hoping this would be a gorgeous balm but it didn't do anything to my lips except make them glossy.

The second color I grabbed was "Legally Regal". I'm not really too thrilled with the color which is another purpley pink but more on the purple side this time. This one actually had quite a bit of pigmentation on it.

The third color I picked up is called "Come By My Window"; a light baby pink - PERFECT for every day! This one as well had quite a bit or pigmentation on it.

The final color I grabbed was the one I was most excited for - "Laze in the Maze"; a gorgeous coral color! I don't know what it is lately but I've been ITCHING for tons of coral lippies. The pigmentation on this one is sheer but can get a good solid coat with some work.

Overall, I don't know why I keep buying the Color Riche balms when I'm never satisfied with them. They feel greasy on my lips & the pigmentation is hit or miss depending on the color you get. I was hoping they were like the Revlon lip butters but they pale in comparison. I think this may be my last time getting these.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: "Provence Romance", "Legally Regal", "Come By My Window", & "Laze in the Maze"
With Flash.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: "Provence Romance", "Legally Regal", "Come By My Window", & "Laze in the Maze"
Without Flash.

xox.

Popping My BirchBox Cherry

So I decided to join the Birchbox cult & ordered my first box - which just happened to be August's "Beauty School" box. I'm not sure what to think considering Beauty Army spoiled me by letting me pick me samples. For those of you who don't know what Birchbox or Beauty Army is: they are beauty subscription boxes that send out various beauty samples; sometimes they even throw in a full size product. Birchbox is a monthly fee of $10 & Beauty Army is $12 monthly. Not bad considering you get 5-6 products per box {B.A. is a guaranteed 6 & you get to pick them, whereas BB picks them for you}. Links to join either {or my other subscription box, Juelp - for those nail polish junkies!} are in the side bars.
    This month's box looked like this:

Please excuse the crummy cell phone picture. My regular camera is indisposed at the moment.

A cute, bright orange box awaited my anxious hands as I held a Birchbox in my hands for the first time {I know, I know - I'm a little late on the band wagon. Whoops!}
    Cut the tape & pulled out this cute little cardboard box with an embossed BB logo on it:

See? Cute. ^__^

Personally, I like Beauty Army's boxes a lot more - they're more sturdy, a sleek black, & have cute pink camo print on the inside. The BB box is a plain, cardboard with pink embossing. Meh. I mean, I can still repurpose it & use it to hold other makeup items until I get my makeup storage system. Once I opened up the little box, I am greeted by bright pink {yayy! my favorite!} tissue paper & a little card greeting & introducing me to this month's box.
    This box was all about beauty essentials - as says the little "Beauty School" card that came with it. The card contains some rather valuable information, actually, for those who are new to the makeup world. It has tips on how to reduce the look of blush should you add too much {without taking off your entire face}, how to fix smeared mascara & eyeliner, what to do should your makeup melt in the heat, & a few other helpful tips. The card also contained information on how to read a product label & a "tools of the trade" section about different beauty tools {kabukis, eyelash curler, foundation brush, etc}. In my first box I received: 

• Juicy Couture: Viva la Juicy La Fleur: This modern scent is a feminine blend of wild berries, mandarin, & waterlily {card excerpt}.
  Product Size Received: 0.5 fl oz
  Full Size:
  Cost of Full Size: $70.00 USD
  Where to Buy: Sephora or Ulta

My Thoughts: After reading the description, I thought I would be head over heels for this scent - I love anything berry/fruity scented. I'm not a very big floral fan & the floral scents take over the berry goodness. According to the sample card this scent is described as "a veil of sparkling mandarin, wild berries, dewy honeysuckle & soft jasmine. A whisper of creamy gourmand addiction envelopes the skin". I might eventually purchase this in a full size but as of right now, it's not on my "must haves" list. It would be a very nice daytime scent, though.

• Miss Jessie's Original Stretch Silkening Creme: Apply to soaking wet hair to loosen tight curls & add tons of shine {card excerpt}.
  Product Size Received: 2oz.
  Full Size: 8oz.
  Cost of Full Size: $22.00 USD {according to the BB card}
  Where to Buy: MissJessies.com & Some Targets carry limited Supplies

My Thoughts: I did some research on the Miss Jessie's website, & the 8oz is not the full size. The biggest size they have is a 16oz for $38.00 USD. According to the website, this is a styling product used to make curls more elastic & fuller. I don't really have "curly" hair {it's more of a soft wave} so I'm not sure that I can get much use out of this product. I guess I will give it a shot & review it later depending on how it works with my hair. It smells like regular ol' conditioner.. nothing special. Part of me thinks that I smell a hint of coconut but I could be crazy.

• Pixi Beauty: Lip & Line Primer: A double-sided wand feautring a waterproof liner & a creamy lipstick {card excerpt}.
  Product Received: 0.051 oz
  Full Size: 0.051 oz
  Cost of Full Size: $18.00 USD
  Where to Buy: Target, Target.com, or PixiBeauty.com

My Thoughts: First off, the BB card says it's a lipstick - it is NOT a lipstick but a lip primer. The "color" I got No.1 in Nearly Nude. This is definitely going to be in another review so my thoughts on that later.

• Yu-Be: Moisturizing Skin Cream: Best selling Japanese cream that hydrates chapped lips, rough heels, & cracked hands {card excerpt}.
  Product Received: 0.1oz
  Full Size: 1.25oz {tube} OR 2.5ox {jar}
  Cost of Full Size: $16.00 USD {$25.00 USD for the jar}
  Where to Buy: Sephora or Yu-Be.com

My Thoughts: Umm.. not sure how I feel that it's for your lips *&* your hands & feet. I decided to try a little on my "flip-flop" heels {I'm sure all you flip-flop loving gals know what I mean}. The feel is a thick yellowish cream but melts into the skin like a body butter. Just with it sitting on my heel while I type this review, the spot feels mildly softer. I'm sure regular usage & some exfoliation would see better results.

    The final product I got was a Schick Hydro Silk Razor. BB wrapped an information sheet around it that reads as follows: We scour the high-end beauty world for products you need to try. Like right now. But we also keep an eye out for affordable finds that will improve your day to day, like this new razor by Schick. The water activated serum moisturizes skin while you shave, & the innovative oval-shaped design hugs tricky areas like knees & ankles. We're adding this trial to your usual sample haul because we think you'll love it. I love Schick razors! This is a 5 blade razor & I received one with a pretty blue handle - or are they all blue? If you got a BB in August, what color razor did you get? I flipped the package over to see what the back of the package said & omgosh! COUPONS! As you will find out as you follow me through either Facebook or the blog, I am a coupon-holic & it's even more so when they're beauty or HBA coupons. I received a $4.00 of any Schick Hydro Silk Refill & 55c off any Skintimate Shave Gel. I'm not a big fan of the skintimate shave gels though - they make my skin feel tight after I get out of the shower. I much prefer my EOS shave creme.

    Welp, that was everything. Personally, I think the products were definitely worth over the $10 I paid - the Pixi Lip & Line Primer alone was $18! Overal, I'm satisified with my first box. Hope I got you interested in some new products. Let me know what you think of what was in your August BB. Have another subscription service that you think is way better than BB or Beauty Army? Link me! I'd love to try it. Also, was everyone's Pixi product the lip & line primer in Nearly Clear? If not, what color did you get?
    Until next time, my loves!