Two lovely Glossy Lipsticks

I like gloss more than lipstick, which is funny considering how many lipsticks I have. When I use lipstick, I apply gloss on top most of the time. I like the shine and hydration glosses provide (well, most of them).  So the idea of "Gloss in a stick" sounds great to me: it feels like gloss, shines like gloss and has a bit more pigmentation, but not that much. If I want more color...well then I use a lipstick or lip pencil underneath (duh!).

Estee Lauder's Pure Color Gloss Stick (US$20) is just amazing. I love how it feels on my lips. I bought the Nude Almond shade weeks ago and wow, it feels so hydrating. It has a small amount of shimmer, just perfect. Love love love it.  

++Click on all pics twice for enlarged versions++

 EL's Pure Color Gloss Stick in Nude Almond

Top: My Bare lips; Bottom: W/ Nude Almond

++++

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick (US$14.50) is exactly as they describe it: 'the colour impact of a lipstick with the shine sheen of a lipglass'. Oh yes. The Impressive shade is more of a plum pink that I think goes great with my warm skintone. This shade also looks very natural on my lips.

MAC's Sheen Supreme L/S in Impressive

Top: My Bare lips; Bottom: W/ Impressive

 

Left: MAC's Impressive ; Right:  EL's Nude Almond

All in all, these two products have great quality, their texture and wear are excellent and I really love their nice sleek packaging. A bit pricey, but totally worth it.  A 5 out of 5 in my book.

I do wish there were drugstore options like them, though. I remember Revlon once released the Shiny Sheers lipsticks. I really like them, still have 3-4 around.






¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Totalbeauty.com: 11 Copy-Worthy Natural Hair and Makeup Looks

11 Copy-Worthy Natural Hair and Makeup Looks

Look like you, but better with these natural hair and makeup looks.

This is a TotalBeauty.com natural makeup article While achieving the ever-elusive natural, no-makeup makeup look seen on celebs takes a bit more effort than rolling out of bed, it does take a heck of a lot less time and effort than a smoky eye or perfecting bold red lips when done correctly. See tips

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Follow up post: Sigma brushes

You may remember my post in mid-March about the disaster with my Sigma F80 brush, about how it completely came apart...twice! (the original one and a replacement brush). Check my post HERE .

Well, I did send an email to Sigma Customer Service but not asking for another brush (since I had no pics of the second F80 they sent me, all broken up). I just wrote telling them how great the performance of their brushes was but the quality was really bad. To my surprise, they contacted me back offering to send me a new brush, just asked for my orders #. I didn't have the F80 one, but sent the F82 order #. So shortly after my post (maybe 2 weeks?) I got a new F82 now. It's funny because in any case, I wasn't even asking for an F82 replacement. But yeah, gracias.

Oh, and no, they didn't addressed the quality issue. ?!?  

What does this tells me? Again, that Sigma Beauty does have a great customer service but also that they offer a 1 year warranty (when many companies offer way less than that) because they know about the quality issue. Apparently, their way of dealing with it is just sending a replacement brush. Yes, that's my humble opinion.

So if you have problems with your brushes, like I did, don't waste your time and contact them immediately so you can get a replacement.

About the new F82 they sent, I'd swear it looks and feels fluffier on my skin --even after washing it a few times-- compared to the original one. Not that the brush is fluffy, but it looks bigger and doesn't feel as tight as the other. I think it works wonderfully with cream products the most.  Here are some pics. You be the judge.

Sigma F82 brush: Replacement brush (top) and the one I bought back 

in September '10 (maybe?--don't remember well right now)

 Sigma F82 -- my original brush

Sigma F82 -- my original brush: after sweeping it on the palm of my hand.

It transforms to an angle brush, lol. 

Sigma F82 -- my replacement brush

Sigma F82 -- my replacement brush

Sigma F82 -- replacement brush compared to the original one

Sigma F82 -- my replacement brush compared to the ELF Studio Powder Brush (sorry, it's dirty)

Sigma F82 -- my replacement brush compared to the ELF Studio Powder Brush

Have a great week! ¡Que tengan una linda semana!




¡Vivan, amen y rían!

My new Bobbi Brown makeup acquisitions! -- Swatches & First thoughts

The first time I bought a Bobbi Brown product was months ago. I ordered the Hydrating Face Toner online after reading good reviews. The price was acceptable and I love hydrating toners...OMG, That was bad, really bad. It smells horribly. I couldn't use it (I tried for about 3-4 times): the smell stayed on my face too long.  I wondered if all her products had a strong scent as the toner. I didn't have the time to go to my nearest Macy's cosmetics counter to check on that, so I put buying other BBrown products 'on hold'.

When the F&F sale was up last week, I thought it was a good opp. to try the other products I've been interested in for a long time. I ordered a few things on the 11th and it arrived on the 15th (last Friday). That was fast! I wanted to share some pics and swatches. The back of my arm is NC30-32 -ish skin.  Click twice on all pics for bigger versions.

I ordered:

1. Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in 4.5 Warm Natural (Reg. $40 USD for 0.31oz)  -- I've been wanting to try a BBrown foundation for too long, but right now I wanted something different from all the different foundations that I have - mostly liquid . My first impression is...Wow! This shade is a great match for my NC 37-40 skin and it does looks like skin, very natural. Gotta see how it performs, though I know (at least on me) cream foundations don't last more than 4hrs on my combination skin. To me, foundation sticks are for makeup that I will not have on for a long time and/or a quick makeup fix.

2. Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Peach (Reg. $22 USD for 0.06oz) -- This just feels amazing. Very emollient but not too creamy, with just the right consistency.  I got this to deal with the dark spots/areas in my face, due to my Melasma...and it works just great.  Love how hydrated skin feels with this on. I will compare how it performs vs my Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer soon and share it with you.

Dent courtesy of yours truly and my camera...don't ask.

3. Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks in Cabo Coral (Reg. $24 for 0.38 fl.oz) -- I've read b4 that the Pot Rouges put other cream blushes to shame and my first thought is...yes. It feel and looks so good. This particular shade is described as a "pink nectar" in the website. To me it is just a nice coral.

 Bonus: Since I already had free shipping, I used a code to get for free the...

4.  Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eyeliner in Mahogany Ink (Reg. $21 USD for 0.1 oz) -- I think BBrown don't have this shade anymore or changed its name? Anyway it is very similar to MAC's Dip Down Fluidline E/L. It's cool.

MAC Dipdown E/L on the right

I also got a sample of her Luminizing Foundation but I it's too light for me.

So that's all for now. Hope you are having a fantastic Sunday. ¡Hasta luego!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Pixiwoo: Jennifer Lopez -'On The Floor' make-up tutorial

Love, love, love this look. Excellent tutorial. How about those lashes? Beautiful.

I think this is one of the best songs Jennifer Lopez has released in quite a while. Can't help but dance every time I hear it.Watch the video (Youtube).

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Sephora's Chic Week--15% off!

Beauty Insiders only! April 15-21, 2011. 

My kind of event! And I still haven't used my Sephora gift card from last Christmas...woohoo.  ++Happy dance++

Click on the pic for all the details.

¡Vivan, ámen y rían!

Totalbeauty.com: The Best and Worst Beauty Supplements

The Best and Worst Beauty Supplements

Could perfecting your beauty be as easy as taking a pill? Find out.

This is a TotalBeauty.com health & beauty article If you want to speed up the beautifying process, there are dietary supplements you can take that claim to provide beauty benefits in addition to increasing your overall health and mental wellbeing. See which ones our readers say are the best (and the worst!). Read reviews

The Worst No. 2: Borba Gummi Bear Boosters, $25

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 4.6

"Target sells gummi vitamins for much cheaper and I bet those would help your skin just the same ... as in 'not much.'"

The Worst No. 1: Glowelle Natural Pomegranate Lychee Flavor Beauty Drink Dietary Supplement Powder Sticks, $40

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 4.4

"I tried this recently and wasn't impressed with the results. Didn't notice any improvements in my skin or hair or nails."

The Best No. 9: Arbonne Go3 Fizzing Beverage Tablet, $20

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 7.4

"I found that it did give me energy and curb hunger as it promised."

Want to see what other supplements made the list? Click here!

Tutorial: Blues + Greens w/ MAC E/S

This is the tutorial for a look I posted back in February, with the same name (check it out here). I wished I could have posted it before...hope you like it.  Short and to the point.

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Review+Swatches: Skin 79 Super Plus BB Cream Triple Functions

I've been interested in trying a BB cream for a long time because they provide so many 'good for your skin' ingredients--my aging skin needs all the help there is!! LOL. So I looked around the internet about the best ones out there and decided for the Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream Triple Functions (the 'hot pink bottle'). I went to the Skin79 website and read about it: it looked promising so I decided to buy it.

NAME: Skin 79 Super Plus BB Cream Triple Functions

PRICE: USD $29.00 for 40g (1.41oz)

DESCRIPTION: This one is for oily skin--but I decided to get it because I have combination skin.  As shown in their website...

Image from: Skin79Usa.com

My experience with it?  Mmm, no. This just doesn't look well on my NC 37-40 skin. In all honesty, I didn't use it long enough because of the reasons mentioned below, so I can't say it does all it claims to do.  What I can say is:

• It looked so pasty on my skin and the undertone was more pink than yellow.
• It felt very creamy and provided considerable coverage, which I liked. 
• But then, when I thought my skin had absorbed it all, it still felt kinda heavy even though I didn't apply much.
• I looked dead with this on, specially if I had my picture taken (w/ flash).  The website mentions applying a base or foundation on top of it if necessary, which I did. It was too much and I felt my skin didn't look ok.  (And I use foundations that are considered 'heavy'!)
• If I try using a powder (that goes well with my skintone) or a bit of bronzer on top, I just look ridiculous. Also, I didn't like how my foundations looked if I mixed them with this product (I'm telling you, I was looking for ways to make this work...). 

RATING: Undefined ??? -- I really cannot say it is a good/bad product simply because I couldn't use it long enough to say it provides what it claims to do. The first impression was just terrible. I can say it does not looks good on my latina/medium skin with neutral to yellow undertones. Also, it does not do well with flash photography.  I do like the bottle but I consider the pump dispenses too much product, though you can control how much you want. I do think the price is reasonable for the amount of product you get.

PLEASE NOTE: When I was doing my 'research', I read about how many people got a fake product when they bought it through Ebay and the likes. Be sure to buy directly from the manufacturer or authorized retailers.

Here are some pics & swatches:

 --No flash, under fluorescent lighting (daylight type)--

--This is not even a full pump!--

 --Blended and absorbed; skin looks brighter--

--And then...oh no..flash photography!!!--

I just gave it to my Mom, who is Caucasian. I'm sure it will do well on her fair complexion. I feel silly for buying this: all the pics are from ladies with very white skin.  What can I say? I bought it because I read and saw pics of other ladies with a skintone similar to mine. I will try other BB creams from other brands, but only if they offer some more pigmented shades.

Hope you are all having a great weekend. 

Besos!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!