August Favorites: Beauty.
I love the end of the month now.
Only because it means I can talk about all of my beauty obsessions and pretend like people care. Indulge me, if you will.
I don’t think I have anything to ramble about, so I will leave the rambling for the actual details. Let’s go.
First up, lips.
I’m pretty sure this revlon balm stain in cherish is the only lip color that I’ve been consistently in love with for such a long period of time. I’ve been talking about this shade for months and actually WEARING it for months. Not a week goes by that I don’t put this on. It’s still my go-to color.
And since we are coming up on Fall, I had a let’s-use-all-your-summery-colors surge and dug through my lipsticks to find MAC’s st. germain. I love this shade but was a little too scared to wear it last summer. It’s one of those things that you have to play with, but luckily cool tones work with my skin and eyes. I find that I like this best when I just “dot” it on my lips as opposed to rubbing it all over. If I rub it, it looks a bit too Nicki Minaj-ish, which I just can’t pull off. This color is actually sooo similar to the balm stain too – just a touch more lilac/purpley. I find it’s so light that it works better with a smoky eye or thick liner and neutral shadow. We’ll get to that later.
I’ve been topping both of these with the gloss I discovered last month. Most gorgeous combos.
Next, blush! So at the beginning of the month, tarte had their 30% off friends + family sale. On top of getting another one of my favorite brushes ever, I got one of these maracuja airblush blushes. I’ve been all about cream or gel blushes this year and absolutely love this shade. Comes as no surprised though considering I freak out over all things tarte. Especially blush.
No more blush for me though. Blush binge is over until I use what I have.
GAH. Okay. So if you’re a makeup junkie like myself, you know marc jacobs released a line this month. I wanted to hate it. I didn’t even want to try it. Honestly, I figured it might not be all that great.
I was so wrong. The first thing I bought was the black felt-tip liner thing on top. If you’ve been reading then you know I don’t really like liquid or felt liners and prefer gel pencils. However, occasionally I like to do some neutral shadow, mascara, precise black liner and a bright lip like MAC candy yum yum or maybelline shocking coral. I have tried a ton of black liner pens – mostly from drugstore brands – and just think they stink. THIS IS THE BEST BLACK LINER I HAVE EVER USED. I just feel the need to shout it.
Since I loved that so much, I also picked up this gel liner. I also really like this (so smooth) but am slightly disappointed that it doesn’t come off as the bright purpleish/blue on the packaging. It’s a bit darker. Oh well.
The thing is that I am a purple freak. You will see that as you continue to read. Ever since I read in Seventeen or YM or some magazine over 20 years ago that purple shadow compliments green eyes, I’ve never stopped. Purple is my go-to shade and I always find a way to work it into my eyes. Just you wait…
Before I go on my purple binge, these are the other liners I’ve been wearing – of course, two of my fave urban decay 24/7 pencils in empire and invasion. Not new, but still favorites. Have I gone one beauty post without talking about those? Probably not. They have been my most consistently used product overall for years. Which is huge. In case you haven’t noticed, I sort of have makeup ADD.
One of my favorite new products this month is this smashbox shadow stick pencil thing in shimmering ivy. I’ve been using it to do an easy smoky eye with no actual shadow – just the stick and the smudger end. When they say this is waterproof, it really is waterproof. Immediately after drawing it on, it sets so quickly that it’s difficult to smudge! Love this and want it in more colors.
K. HELLO lover.
I’m convinced that one of the best things of all time is colored mascara. I believe that it can totally be pulled off and not be so 80s-esque if done properly. I like butter london polishes and earlier this month, they released a whole makeup line at ulta with stunning mascara colors. You might remember that last year I talked about my infatuation with the YSL purple mascara (also have it in burgundy – so pretty) – I finished it up and have not had a purple mascara in my hands for a few months.
I will say – I think the YSL versions are fabulous and wearable for every day. They are very mild but draw just the right amount of attention to your eyes with the color. BUT. I freaking love how bright this butter one is. I use regular mascara and then will wipe the wand off and lightly tap it against my lashes for a bit of color. It doesn’t look like you are wearing full-on bright purple mascara, but it definitely looks like something is going on. The only downside is that if you did want to wear this as regular mascara – i.e. use it on bare lashes with the actual brush – the brush and the formula and kind of… goopy. It doesn’t seem to evenly distribute on the wand.
Works for how I’m using it though… and the hot pink is probably next on my list.
As a note, for those of you that are afraid to wear colors like this but want to? You just gotta own it. Know it’s not for everyone but if you like it? Go for it.
See? Purple binge.
The first color may not look too purple, but it is so difficult to photograph. It’s MAC’s pressed pigment in moth and it’s actually a lighter pinkish-purple-gray shade. It’s really pretty but REALLY sparkly, so you’ve been warned.
The second color is just a sephora brand eyeshadow – the color is purple casino. Unfortunately, I think it is sold out as I can’t find a link. This shade of purple is my favorite shadow to wear – whether it’s on the lid or used as a liner under my eyes. Freaking love it.
Now.
I hate myself for even talking about these. I cannot believe this is happening.
However, this is a favorites post and if I am being 100% honest with you, these are the mascaras I have worn the most this month. As a disclaimer, I should say that since the benefit they’re real mascara came out, I’ve been bashing it. I hated it. I mean – HATED. Hated as in it was the worst mascara I’ve ever tried. Hated it as in if somebody was talking about it on twitter or instagram, I had to comment and flip out and say it sucked. So hear me out.
At the end of July I was traveling a bit and had packed all of my makeup in my suitcase. I woke up and wanted to use a bit of mascara – but it was packed and in the car. I found the benefit they’re real, which is probably a year old, but has not been opened more than two or three times, and went for it. It made my lashes look the longest they had ever looked. I have VERY short, straight lashes. This was crazy. I went on my trip – used the mascara I took with me – but couldn’t stop thinking about the they’re real until I got home.
I tried it once again. Amazing length, again. I have no real interest in volume, just length. So I couldn’t believe it. Then I remembered that back when the rocket mascara came out, I bought it since people were raving. Tried it at the time, hated it at the time. It dawned on me that the rocket brush was very similar to the they’re real brush. So I took both out and tested them out for days. They have been my go-to combo for weeks  – first a coat of the rocket, then a coat of the they’re real.
But here’s the deal: I’ve decided that these mascaras only work for me after they’ve really dried out. The mascara is super wet and thick when they are new, which weighs down my lashes and does nothing. But after opening them a few times and exposing the wand/formula to air, they dry out. This is the only way I’ll use them. Another thing – as you know, I love to wear fake lashes. I don’t wear full strips, just the single clusters in the corner of my eyes. These mascaras don’t work at all for the false lashes for me – they still weigh them down and straighten them out. So I still use my old favorites.
I can’t say yet that I will re-buy these… I’ll have to see once they are finished.
Longest story ever.
One more part to that story – even though the benefit mascara isn’t waterproof, it is a PAIN to get off. Some of my favorite makeup wipes and cleansers will not remove every last bit. So I’ve been using the MAC cleanse off oil on days that I wear that mascara (or a lot of eye makeup in general) and love it. You just rub a little together between your fingers, rub it all over your eyes (literally) and it breaks down everything. It’s awesome. Anyone know of anything similar to this that I could get at Target or something?
Next up – I tried out the new Trader Joe’s makeup remover wipes. I freaking love wipes and use them for everything. These are pretty great – nothing out-of-this-world but I was more impressed than I thought I’d be. I won’t be using these consistently since TJ’s is fairly far from me… and I am happy with my Olay + Simple wipes. But overall, these were good.
Gotta give another shout out to this body butter. UGH. So good. I’ve really been trying to ration it this month but can’t help to want to use it after every shower. It is by far my favorite body butter in the entire world.
First of all, I’ve always hated hair spray and products in general because my hair is so long that it inevitably makes it all tangly. But with my curling wand, I need a little spray. I’ve been using the loreal elnett for a few months but – ugh – cannot STAND the scent. I mean, it lingers all day long and would actually make me sick. I love the spray (yes, I know that there is an unscented version… Â still not a huge fan) but wish they could do something about that, especially since it has a UV filter. Above is the next best thing I’ve found.
As for nail stuff, I’ve rediscovered this deborah lippman mermaid’s dream polish that I got last summer. It’s funny – last summer I put it on and thought it appeared too “holiday-y.” Then around Christmas time, I tried it again and thought it was too “summery.” I sort of find myself back at the same debate, so I think it works best as an accent nail.
Finishing up for summer… essie marshmallow and revlon heavenly. Pretty together!
That’s all for now. If I had the time and patience, I’d probably do my makeup full-out three times a day because I’m a lunatic.
What are you loving this month? Share, share, share!
[As usual, none of this post is sponsored and none of these companies know who I am. I only blog about this makeup stuff because I freaking love it and want to tell someone about it.]
86 Comments on “August Favorites: Beauty.”
I need to see how your eyes look with the colored mascara. Please post a photo of your eyes wearing the stuff. I remember the colored mascara from the 80’s and I have to see before I can believe. Love these posts by the way.
I look forward to your Beauty Favorites post every month. I have tried the Urban Decay pencils because of you and I love them. I have maybe five right now. My new favorite eye shadows are the new ones from Guerlain. A bit pricey, but great pigment, so will last forever. Great color combos. So hard to choose. Thank you for all of the tips. I keep looking at that body butter. May need to give it a try.
**Removes Benefit real mascara from Pinterest page she Pinned yesterday** Glad I read this!! ;)
I just got that benefit they’re real mascara to try out, but I haven’t opened it yet. Glad I read this post to see how it worked for you. Now I’m wondering how it’s going to work for me!
~Kim
If you love the marc jacobs felt pen, you will DIE over the one from Stilla. I have been using it for a couple of months now,. and I just like you could not resist buying marc jacobs one…but I am here to tell you the Stilla one is better! It is a lot darker, waterproof, and 10 bones cheaper!! You MUST check it out! LOOOOOOOVES LOVES LOVE IT!
http://www.sephora.com/stay-all-day-waterproof-liquid-eye-liner-P253818?skuId=1221084
I absolutely LOVE how long my eyelashes look with They’re Real mascara (I have long/thick eyelashes already, so this makes them look fake… win!) but I absolutely HATE how it feels for the rest of the day. Not only does it almost…. hurt? my eyelashes, but you’re right. It’s HEAVY. And it somehow always makes my eyes hurt, and then I rub them, and then they hurt again, and then the mascara sticks together, and then I have to take it off…. and it’s such a pain. It absolutely does not come off with makeup remover. Ugh. I loathe it. I wish there was a mascara that made them look exactly the same but that didn’t have the same ingredients or something!
My beauty faves that I will recommend over and over and over again?! IPSY and JULEP. Ipsy is 10 dollars a month for 5 deluxe sample size or full size beauty products (I got a sample of Urban Decay’s new lipstick, which I now LOVE and LimeCrime nail polish, which is amazing.) It is ten dollars a month and it comes in a cute little bag. Guys, sign up. Seriously. I love love love this service. http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hfyqlojtwj5f34h
Julep is 20 dollars, nail polishes and other beauty products. You get to pick your box each month and you can skip your box whenever you want without being charged! Super awesome, beautiful colors and collections! Definitely worth checking out, especially since you have the option to skip a month, so you arent obligated to pay 20 dollars each month. http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/184696/
Hey! Speaking about your straight lashes…have you tried heating up your eyelash curler with a hair dryer??? I learned that trick on Pinterest about a year ago and it TOTALLY WORKS!!! of course, you have to be careful to not put it on your eye before it has cooled slightly ( which I do by putting the edges of the eyelash curler between mt thumb and middle finger until it’s cooled just enough)…makes my lashes stay curled so much longer!!!
Anyhow, love your beauty posts…oh how I’d love to see all your sparkle and purple for real though….I don’t have the gumption anymore but I do love me some shimmery pink lipstick whenever I can get away with it!!! I’m sure you rock it all!!!
I’ve never used the mac cleanse off oil, but I also use the benefit they’re real mascara which IS a pain in the ass to get off, and I use coconut oil to get it off! You just warm it up between your fingers and rub it all around, then wipe it off with a damp cloth! It works great. It also makes a delicious smelling moisturizer for your hair or skin :)
^THIS.
Oil of any variety (I generally stick with coconut or grapeseed) is the absolute best makeup remover I have ever tried. I love They’re Real, but it is such a pain to remove. But the oil melts it off spectacularly. And since I started using oil to cleanse my face, my skin has cleared up remarkably and my lashes are longer (I think they stay softer and less brittle, so they don’t break off easily anymore).
I love the Benefit They’re Real mascara too, but I only use it about once a week because of the very reason you stated: It’s such a pain to take off! I’m really feeling the Bare Minerals Lash Domination mascara right now. You should give that one a try.
I also have the Cherish Revlon Lip Balm…it’s great, isn’t it? :)
This month I gave the Tarte Clay Foundation a try and HOLY MOLEY, I’m so glad I did. It’s really something special! It’s very reminiscent of a mousse, sort of thick, but very smooth. I also gave in and finally bought the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer…also, another great buy!!
I also hate They’re Real, but I’ve only had it for about 1.5 months. I hope the same thing happens to me and I finally see the hype! So far it just makes my lashes spidery and brittle.
Reading your monthly beauty favorites is more exciting than reading a new Glamour!
Coconut oil works really well as a makeup remover! And it is supposed to be really good for your skin! SO win win!
Yeah not psyched about Marc Jacobs make up, but you may have changed my mind, I am terrible with liner pens maybe this one will help.
And love Essie Marshmallow! Not only for the name, but I heard it looks really good on pale skin, therefore I need it ASAP! LOL!
As always love your round-ups!
I gave up on my UD bb cream because it made me orange (I’m fair) and I found something better. I’ve actually given up on bb cream altogether because I picked up foundation for my wedding. I’ve never worn foundation, never liked it. BUT after an awful experience having my makeup done for a wedding I figured that I better buy a foundation that I like. So I randomly went to the Chanel counter and got matched to one. Omg…it’s like a second skin. I put just a little bit on yesterday and its 10x better than anything else I’ve tried. Just perfect! It’s called perfection lumiere….it’s awesome. I can see myself wearing it on a semi regular basis!
I have green eyes too and hence I have a tackle box full of purples!
I have been staring at the Marc collection everyday since day one! I want the eyeliners so badly! AND his lipsticks look beautiful! I’m scared to hack up $30 for a lipstick though!
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I have that same Butter London mascara and I too, am obsessed with purple. In terms of eye makeup remover–I’ve found that coconut oil will get pretty much anything off of my eyes. I just gently rub it in and use a washcloth to help get the rest off. I haven’t come across anything it won’t take off and it’s far cheaper than most eye makeup removers!
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