Nars: Larger Than Life Lip Gloss

For some reason the 'doe' foot or sponge applicator that come with most lipglosses just never makes me as happy as a brush applicator.  These day the majority of lines have switched to doe foot applicators to eliminate the occasional brush fraying & to cut costs. So I was thrilled to discover at The Make-Up Show, that Nars Cosmetics' newly launched Larger Than Life Lip Gloss collection had brushes! Rejoice!  I feel brushes deliver more gloss & more precisely.  From the top I scooped up (t)Born This way, (c)Spring Break & (b)Piree.

These glosses definitely deliver on the high impact shine that they promise.  It has a substantial texture, but isn't very tacky or too thick.  Its staying power also impressed me, we all know most glosses wear off in an instant.  This sticks around for a while. My pick of my haul is definitely Piree. It's my lips, but oh so much better. Born This Way & Spring Break are rather pale, so the might wash people out.  They offer a nice opacity to them.  I'll use those shades in my professional kit in case I need to modify any lip looks I create. The collection includes 12 shades & I will definitely go back for some more. In fact I have my eye on 3 other shades- you know I'm an addict!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Senna Cosmetics

So I did a fair amount of damage while up in NYC for The Make-Up Show. I showed  *ummm* let's say a little restraint when it came reigning in my purchases. First up Senna Cosmetics.  Though I've never tried their line before, it was created by make-up artist Eugenia Weston & has been around since 1976. 

I know you'll be shocked that I picked up more nude lip treats. The never ending quest continues. I had read in Lucky Magazine a celebrity rave about their lipliners, so of course I had to scoop up one. I went for the lip liner in Heather {t} & a gloss in Flaunt{b.}

Here's the Smooth Lip Pencil {$18} in Heather. It's a nice classic nude, with pink undertones. A great basic.

I'm loving the Lip Lacquer {$20} in Flaunt & the packaging's gorgeous, too! Doe foot applicator, but the wand still dispenses a nice amount of gloss.   It's rather opaque in coverage- it reminds me a bit of Lorac's Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick, which I love.  Together this duo offers a look that ranks high in my book, though they're solid enough on their own to get plenty of use.  Just what I need- another make-up line to love!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss.

I purchased these products.

The Make-Up Show

I had never really tried Shu Uemura before. With news that is it to be discontinued in the United States, I of course panicked & made sure I was not missing out on some great beauty love of my life. You know how it is, you always want what you can't have (or get anymore!)

Shu Uemura is known for their over the top lashes & their lash curler. Their lash curler is the gold standard among professionals & it actually comes in a gold plated version!

One of their head artists, the stunning Rita, showed me her must haves & helped steer me in the direction of some great products to try.

I picked up quite a few shadows, though I couldn't tell you the shades if I tried, the writing is so tiny on the compacts! Vice nice color intensity & blendability with the shadows. Their gel brow color & UV Mousse Primer also made the cut.

I also scored one their limited edition cleansing oils. I'm a sucker for pretty packaging & their cleansing oils have garnered a cult following. It takes a smidge getting used to - you apply it to dry skin, then add a little water to emulsify & create a milk. I use it to break down my make-up at night, then follow with another cleanser. There's free shipping over $50 online now, I would grab what you can while you can!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

The Make-Up Show

I don't know about you, but I love the whole vibe of Stila. I love it's whimsical packaging, but I don't use a huge amount of their entire line- just a shadow here & multiple lipglosses there! I wanted to try their new One Step foundation so I picked that up. This new formula claims to be a primer, foundation, concealer & powder in one! The verdict? Pretty impressive! The texture is almost mousse like without feeling like a huge amount of silicone is in it. Silicone is what gives most primers their slippery, glass like feel. Oily skin people like moi don't tend to love that feeling. It covered beautifully with medium to full coverage. I did use my regular under eye concealer, because, well I have some serious sleep deprivation!

I also picked up three of their new Smudge Stick Waterproof Gel liners at the urging of fellow blogger, Gouldylox. She is obsessed with them, as were the make-up artists at the show. These were the only shades left out of eight! You can see the subtle, but beautiful sparkle in them.

Here are swatches from what I scooped up. The liners are great- creamy & intense. I'm still on the quest for a liner for the inner rim of my lower lash line that just won't budge. I have had bad allergies the last couple of days, but for the most part these liners are holding their own amidst watery eyes! I'm very happy with my foray into Stila land & will definitely be trying more of their new launches.

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

The Make-Up Show

I know that brush cleaner doesn't sound that exciting of a purchase. But, I must adore Cinema Secrets brand to lug heavy bottles of it all day at the Make-Up Show. How often do you clean your brushes? Really clean them, not just a tissue wipe? Good brushes are an essential tool in creating flawless make-up application, but they're an investment. I still have a Virgin Russian Squirrel hair brush from over a decade ago that set me back over $100. My first question was, how do you know the squirrel was in fact a virgin, but I digress...

Regular cleaning maintains your brushes & keeps them in good shape for years of use. If you are acne prone like me, clean brushes will help keep your skin clear- most people don't think that dirty brushes might be a culprit. You can also use a gentle baby shampoo, but whatever you use make sure not to get liquid inside the metal portion that anchors the bristles...You don't want to loosen the glue or your brush will start shedding. Gently squeeze excess liquid out of the bristles, reshape if necessary, then lie flat on a paper towel until dry. When you get a good quality cleaner, you'll be both horrified & amazed at how much product comes out!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

The Make-Up Show

Well I'm back my beauties! NYC at the make-up show was a blur, but a great blur! The show just reinforced why I should be doing make-up for a living. I am in love with it. I must be if the train ride up didn't faze me. Gentlemen, when you are taking public transportation- you are not in your own home. Keep your shoes on!!! I'd also like to thank the woman who was on her cell phone the ENTIRE three hours. Kudos to your battery power sister, but take a breath & make it brief! But I digress... It's always after the show frenzy & the excitement dies down, that you realize you spent a wee bit too much money. Like your mortgage amount! So for the next several days, I'll be giving you a peek into what I picked up. First off Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. We have this line's airbrush make-up & compressor. They are very innovative & made the first water based airbrush make-up that was completely vegan. Other airbrush lines are alcohol based & can be tough on the skin.

I showed restraint on my purchases here, but I knew I wanted to pick up some of their Lip Tars. This product is a favorite of professional artists, especially for editorial work. The consistency is so interesting- incredibly light, yet intensely opaque. I picked up Conquest (L) that will be perfect for creating nude creamy lip shades & Hush (r) a pretty peach shade.

Sorry for the blurry image, but that's what you get I'm taking the picture myself in a rush to get the post up sans caffeine. I wanted to show the product on the lips, because it's so insane! It's such intense pigment, I'm going to have a blast playing with these! I also picked up a grey glitter of theirs called Slate, because even when I'm 80 I'm sure I'll still be rocking out the sparkle!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M