ProductWhores

Bite Multistick!

I love Bite lipsticks almost as much as I love "Grease 2" (long story involving me attempting to convince co-workers it's even better than "Grease" and they have to see it immediately).  I am absolutely convinced Stephanie Zinone would ROCK Bite's Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Mistletoe.  Anyway, I haven't met a Bite product I don't like and their Multistick is no different. Bite Beauty Multisticks are so pigmented and gorgeous (and such a wide array of colors) everyone should own at least one (but you'll probably want more).  What's especially impressive is how ridiculously great the formula is.  I was impressed at just how very creamy and blendable they are, especially easy to use for someone like me who is heavy-handed when applying cheek color from a tube.  I was able to blend in the colors beautifully using only a light touch of my fingers (no dragging my poor skin to get it to blend!).  Biscotti (a stunning deep rose) has become my go-to for cheeks and lips.  Thank you, Bite, for making another killer product.  Now if someone could come up with a collection tied into "Grease 2," I might just explode from excitement.  These retail for $24.00.

Note:  Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with Bite Beauty

Glow On

Ooohh, I want this so very, very badly.  Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Bricks are amazing and this holiday release combines three of them in one fabulous product.  The Bobbi to Glow Shimmer Brick Palette puts the Gold, Bronze and Wild Rose shades together so you can have all the options you could possibly need to shimmer until the sun comes up.  I'm partial to the Gold shade because it's SO, SO pretty, but the other two are great as well.  I love using these as eyeshadows, but they also give you a fairly subtle glow when used as an all over face powder.  It's also a great value - for $69, you get $122 worth of product, which is fabulous.  This one is definitely coming home with me during their Friends & Family sale.  (Is it bad that I want to type the words "You Glow, Girl" to end this post? Because I so, so do).

Multitask Your Troubles Away

 

When it's hot outside, I get lazier with my makeup because, well, I know it's going to sweat right off when I inevitably look like I've run a marathon after just walking to the mailbox. (Being a sweaty girl is fun, y'all!)  But I still at least "attempt" to look good on a daily basis because hey, you never know who you're going to run into on that walk!  My laziness does, however, make me turn to more multitasking products than usual because it's just easier, and easier is key to life sometimes.  Which is why right now, I'm loving the new Multibalms from Pixi Beauty.  The chubby sticks of color come in five different shades - Watermelon Veil (Pink), Sheer Sculpt (Cocoa), Wild Rose (Mauve Rose), Baby Petal (Petal) and Soft Strawberry (Red Berry) and can be used on both your lips and cheeks to brighten up your face.  I love them because the colors are all super natural and pretty, the formula is moisturizing on lips and blendable on cheeks, and each one is only $12, so you can buy all of them without feeling too guilty. (Not that I'm encouraging that, but... I wouldn't tell you NOT to either).  I love how easy they are and how I can throw one in my bag in the morning and use it after work or a hike to look presentable for the rest of my night.  If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Soft Strawberry color (pictured above).  It's a subdued red, and soooooo gorgeous.  Definitely a must have!  

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with Pixi

Become A Narsissist

As I've said before here, blush is my least favorite makeup item to spend money on.  I don't know... it just never seems to make that much difference in my look and good ones are expensive and I always just covet eyeshadow palettes or lipsticks before I fall in love with any blushes.  That being said, I do enjoy a good blush palette.  Mainly because they're easy to travel with and mean I don't have to pack a ton of individual blushes, so I'm carrying less.  (You wouldn't think this would be a big deal, but I seriously spent fifteen minutes at Newark Airport over the holidays transferring things piece by piece between my luggage to avoid paying the extra $100 heavy bag fee.  That is insane.  They will pry that money out of my cold, dead hands.  The people behind me in line loved me, I'm sure).  NARS' new NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette is basically one stop shopping for face colors.  You get four blushes (Icy Lilac, Sausalito Sunset, Shimmering Rose Peach, Fleshy Pink), two Contour Blushes (Paloma - a pink beige, and Paloma II - a deep rose) and a Laguna Bronzing Powder.  It's pretty genius, really.  Especially since all the shades are gorgeous - pigmented and totally wearable.  At $65, it's a little bit of a splurge, but I think we all know when the word NARS is involved, it's worth it.  I've become a NARSissist and I'm pretty damn happy about it!  

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with NARS

Lazy Color

I'd like to pretend this isn't true, but the older I get, the lazier I get about certain things.  So anytime I can find a product that pulls double duty, I'm all about it.  (In fact, I jump for joy about it.  It's kinda sad).  So Smashbox's new L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Color sticks are right up my alley. They're available in five shades, all of which are named after areas of Los Angeles, so that makes me love them even more. Here's the shades that you'll find:

• Hollywood & Highlight - Sheer pink pearl
• Beverly Hills Blush - Peachy pink with gold shimmer
• Silver Lake Sunset - Warm coral
• Venice Beach Bronze - Soft bronzy shimmer
• Malibu Berry - Rich berry

I tried Beverly Hills, Silver Lake and Venice Beach and they're all great.  The colors themselves come in a thick stick that swivels up and the other end houses a small sponge for blending the color into your cheeks (or, I guess, your lips if you wanted to).  They're sort of the perfect summer products to throw into your bag because you can just put them on over tanned skin (from bronzer, of course!) and they create a really pretty, uniform look.  My favorite of the three is Venice Beach because its bronze shade is just really pretty and gives me a natural glow.  They're not super long-lasting shades, but they're so easy to reapply, I don't mind traveling with them if I'm going out after work or know it's just going to be a long day.  I'd be down with Smashbox releasing a few more shades to round out the collection.  Who can I talk to about this?        

Note:  Samples of the above items were sent to me by a PR representative working with Smashbox

Palette Bronzette

It's in the eighties in Los Angeles today, so I'm still thinking about bronze makeup.  And summer.  But mostly the bronze makeup.  Pixi's new Palette Bronzette ($28) is chock full o' goodies for the summer months, but if you're lucky enough to live in a warm climate, they're perfect for right now too.  The palette has a bronzer, a cheek glow, a highlighter, and then four different sets of shades for your eyes, divided into eye liners, crease shadows, eyelid hues and highlights.  There's a plethora of colors to play around with here - it's sort of one stop shopping for a complete look.  All you would really need besides this is foundation, lipstick and mascara and you'd be set for the day (or night).  I also love that it's totally affordable and that you can pick it up at Target (any excuse for a good Target run, right?)  Palettes like this are great for vacation too - much less to pack, which is always a good thing (especially if you're a classic overpacker like me).  And if you're on the east coast, picking it up will get you in the mood for warmer weather, bikinis and mai tais.  That alone makes the price tag worth it!

Note:  A sample of the above item was sent to me by a PR representative working with Pixi

Convert All The Colors

Is it weird that even though I don't have a ton of Stila's Convertible Colors, I desperately want this Sephora exclusive Convertible Color Palette?  It's just so pretty and I think we can all agree, the perfect palette to carry around with you on a daily basis since it's one stop shopping for every cheek and lip color you could want.  There are twelve different shades (Lillium, Magnolia, Tulip, Camellia, Peony, Rose, Gladiola, Peach Blossom, Hibiscus, Gerbera, Petunia, Fuchsia - for those of you familiar with them) and the creamy colors can be used for lips and cheeks, so they do double duty.  (I especially love them as cheek colors because while I carry around a hundred lip products a day, I barely ever have any blush with me so it's nice to be able to touch that up if I want to on the go.  Especially when no brushes are involved!)  At $49, it's a great value too since each normal-sized (but obviously much bigger) Convertible Color is $25.  This one's definitely worth picking up!   

Love That Flush

Ooh, I am super excited about this Love That Flush set!  I'm a big fan of the Josie Maran Lip and Cheek Creamy Oils, so this one is right up my alley.  For only $28, you get four different shades of her Argan Oil lip and cheek tints (Timeless Coral, Everlasting Honey, Non-Stop Watermelon and Enduring Raspberry).  They're the perfect size to travel with or toss in your bag in the morning for midday touchups, and the entire set is only $28.  (So it's a budget friendly way to test out if you like the formula before you commit to a full-sized one).  The only catch is that the set is only available online and is currently out of stock at Sephora, which is very annoying.  (They're too popular!  Everyone wants them!)  But they do have that convenient "Email When In Stock" option, so at least you'll be able to find out when you can get them the second they're back in stock.  Thank God for modern technology!

Palette Extravaganza

I was just browsing the new arrivals on Sephora's website (AS YOU DO!) and stumbled on this little gem from Givenchy.  The Palette Extravaganza Lip & Eye has four different shimmery eye shadows and a classic red lipstick in a gorgeous gold embossed compact.  It's so elegant and pretty - if I was the kind of person who touched up my makeup at the dinner table, I would totally do it with this compact.  (I mean, how pretty are those shadow shades?  I want them all!)  The only catch is that it's $66, so I probably won't be owning this one anytime soon, but a girl can always dream...

Blushing Bride

Tarte's latest cheek stain is so lovely it deserves it's own post!  I'm actually a huge fan of cream cheek color - I, personally, find it easier to use than powder blush and think it gives a more natural-looking glow (well, that is, if you don't overdo it and assuming you've chosen the best shade for your skintone - yeah, yeah, me and my rules...)  Anyway, Tarte's newest shade - Blushing Bride - is a delightful light pink which would work on just about everyone.  I have very pale skin and it gives me a healthy flush (every time I say "healthy flush" it sounds like a disease or a properly-working toilet).  The formula is nice and creamy so it goes on smooth and blends easily (FYI - the first sign of a bad cheek cream is if you have to tug and pull at your delicate facial skin).  The stain also has a really nice fruity scent to it which I adore.  This one's a definite keeper!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Tarte.