Rave: Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Glosses

  Hey all! So several months ago, I picked up Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef. It was the perfect summer color, and I absolutely fell in love with the formulation (I usually prefer lipsticks to glosses, but this is an exception). Recently I decided to get the color Pink Pop as well, and turns out I love it even more! Read on for some swatches and features of my new favorite glosses.

Coral Reef on top, Pink Pop below

Coral Reef on left, Pink Pop on right

Sheer application of Coral Reef

Sheer application of Pink Pop

   Features:
  -Excellent pigmentation; the swatches above we just one quick swipe from the applicator.
  -Doe foot applicator applies an even coat.
  -Perfect balance between sticky and oily - I love the formula! SPF 15.
  -Great color choices - I haven't tried any of the other ones yet,  though I want to.
  -Buildable color. One swipe across the lip makes for a natural tint (as pictured); apply to both lips and you'll achieve an almost-lipstick effect.
  -Pink Pop and Coral Reef contain no shimmer, and are just glossy enough.
  -Very elegant, sturdy packaging. Reminds me of Estée Lauder packaging.

  All in all, the glosses are definitely a favorite for me. Buy at any drugstore, or on drugstore.com for $7. That's all for today! What's your favorite lip gloss?

   Love, Val

Face of the Day: Birthday Edition!

  Hey everyone and happy Thanksgiving! Today is also my birthday, so I figured a face of the day is appropriate. I did a "classic me" look - I use these products all the time! I think it's important not to look like  a completely different person on your birthday, no?

Face:
Revlon Colorstay foundation in Nude  (mixed with moisturizer)
Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer (on blemishes)
Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (lightly dusted all over)
Nars Dolce Vita Blush (on apples of cheeks)

Eyes:
Maybelline Cream Shadow Quad in Natural (middle shade all over lid, light shade as highlight)
L'Oreal Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara (on curled lashes)

Lips:
Nars Dolce Vita Lipstick

I've had a great day so far, including some really awesome presents (like a Sephora gift card and Philosophy minis!). On Sunday I'm heading over to Sephora for my beauty insider birthday freebie. :)
What are your Thanksgiving plans?


Love, Val

Dressy Fall Makeup

Hey guys! It's been too long since my last post, but I'm finally posting a tutorial for you guys. It's a dressed-up fall look, with matte neutrals and hints of plum. I kept everything soft and blended to keep it pretty. :) Enjoy!

1) Start off with your usual foundation routine. I added powder here because I like matte finishes for fall, but it's up to you! (Revlon Colorstay foundation in Nude, Maybelline Dream Matte powder in Medium Sand)

2) Let's start off with eyes. Use a primer, then select a bronze color and place it in the crease. Add a matte brown to the outer corner, and fill in the lid with a gray. Blend everything well; keep it soft and smoky. I used sponge tip applicators to help with a sheer application. (Urban Decay Primer Potion, Revlon Colorstay quad in Coffee Bean)

3) Finish the eyes with smudged pencil liner on the upper lash line and inner rims, curled lashes and mascara! (Wet n Wild eyeliner in black, Stila Major Major lash mascara)

4) Add a blush with a rose or plum tone to the cheekbones for a pretty flush. (Nars Dolce Vita blush)

5) Complete the look with a lip color in the plum family! I used a more red tone. (Neutrogena Plum Kiss lipstick)

Done! Get your hair ready and you're ready to go!

Hope you liked it! Have a great Sunday and enjoy the rest of fall!

Love, Val

Review: Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

  Happy Saturday everyone! Today I have for you a review of the Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, as requested by the lovely Rakhshanda. I am absolutely in love with this powder, and was thinking about reviewing it anyway. So let's begin!

Coverage: I wouldn't buy this for the coverage - it's quite sheer and just blends into the skin. That's a plus though, color-wise, as they only carry four colors (I have Medium Sand).

Finish: Completely matte. This is definitely not a "satin" or "natural finish" powder, so don't expect that.

Texture: Silky smooth! Doesn't feel drying on my skin.

Application: For sheer application, apply with a kabuki brush or powder brush; for more product (read: if you're getting oily) use the provided powder puff.

Formula: The powder is oil-free, so it won't clog pores. No SPF. Dermatologist tested.

Packaging: This might be the most fun part - the bottom swivels out to reveal a mirror and powder puff!

Overall: This is a great powder to stick in your bag for midday touchups. It's easy to use, completely mattifying, and could be a real lifesaver for those of us with oily skin. Buy it at any drugstore; I got mine at CVS for $9.

Hope you enjoyed! Leave any questions in the comments below. What's your favorite powder?


Love, Val

October Favorites

Hello all!
Just a few things I've been loving this month - I've been doing simple looks every day (no eyeshadow, same thing every day...) But I'm going to start switching it up again soon :)

Makeup:

• Maybelline Concealer Stick (medium beige) & Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (medium sand) - I've been using these two as a "foundation" everyday, for a light-coverage matte look. Yes, I'm back into matte! I think I go through phases...
• Benefit Coralista blush & Nars Dolce Vita blush - These two go together because I've been pretty much switching off between them every day! Coralista is a fresh, pretty light pink with hints of orange and Dolce Vita is a beautiful dusty rose.
• Stila Major Major Lash Mascara - I love it because it provides curled, volumized, fanned-out lashes without any clumps so it looks completely natural. Great for quick, no-time-to curl lashes!
• Nars Dolce Vita lipstick - I wear this with the corresponding blush :) It's the same color, but sheer and glossy. So gorgeous.
• Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing gloss in Raspberry - And this one, I wear with Coralista blush! Just enough raspberry color with a nice moisturizing effect.

Hair:
  I've been wearing my hair up (bun, ponytail, braid...) and unstyled for the majority of the month *guilty smile*. Good for the hair, but to be honest it's just out of laziness. November, I feel, will be a straight-hair month...

  That's all I've been loving this month! What are your October favorites?
  Love, Val

Happy Halloween! ♥

Hello girls!
  Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays... I love the candy, the costumes, and the all-around silliness that comes with it!

My sister carved this pumpkin a week ago... as you can see it didn't hold up well!

  So... what am I being for Halloween?! I decided to go for something easy, and went as three-hole-punch Jim from the TV show The Office (fellow viewers will know that the character Jim went as a three-hole-punch version of himself in one of the Halloween episodes by gluing three black circles to his white shirt). Silly, I know, but that's how I am!

Makeup: Simple, of course, as I am going as a guy... haha :) Just some concealer, powder, and blush (I couldn't resist!) on the cheeks, temples, and tip of the chin.
Hair: Pulled back. I wouldn't dream of cutting it!
Costume: White shirt, "Hello my name is... Jim" nametag, tie, three black construction paper circles down the side (to look like hole punches!). Paired with jeans and sneakers.

That's all I did for my costume! Later tonight I'm going to hand out candy and trick-or-treat with a couple friends.

What are you going as for Halloween? What's your makeup like?

Have a safe and happy Halloween!
Love, Val

P.S. I have a Twitter account! Follow me for random <140 character ramblings @vals_tweets.

Megan Fox Inspired Makeup

  Hey girls! I figured it's been too long since my last makeup tutorial, so here's one for you all. It's inspired by a look Megan Fox wore to the Armani Show at Milan Fashion week: hot pink glossy lips with dramatic, black winged eyeliner. It's perfect for nights out, or (if you're daring!) a spiced-up everyday look.

Megan, as always, looks amazing in the makeup!

1.) As usual, start off with foundation. Then, add a light layer of powder to set for a semi-matte finish. Conceal, and define your brows, if you need to (I didn't). Try to keep the foundation looking light, as we don't want to distract from the eyes and lips! (Revlon PhotoReady foundation in Nude, Maybelline Dream Matte powder in Medium Sand)

2) Now, for the winged liner! Use your liner of choice (powder, gel, pencil...); I like liquid for a dramatic line. Create a line across the upper lash line, getting gradually thicker towards the end. Then, finish it off with a thick wing angling towards the brow, and a little liner on the lower lash line. Don't forget to heap on the mascara! (Stila Stay All Day waterproof liquid liner, Stila Major Major lash mascara)

3) Add a light dusting of bronzer, taking it from the temple across the cheekbone. (Benefit Hoola bronzer)

4) Wrap things up with a fuchsia lip! Carefully outline the shape of your lips, fill in, then blend with a finger for even coverage. Coat with clear gloss. (Revlon Just Bitten lip stain in Passion, CoverGirl clear gloss)

5) Done!

  Hope you liked the tutorial! I absolutely love the look... considering wearing it to my next school dance! Have a great weekend and thank you so much for all the support. :)

  Love, Val