Happy National Lipstick Day!

That's right, dear readers: Today, July 29th, happens to be National Lipstick Day here in the U.S. Apparently lipstick is the most popular cosmetic item and therefore deserves a prominent place on the national calendar. In honor of this, I thought I'd share a little tip on determining which lip colors will look good on you.

Most people only consider their skin color when browsing for the next perfect nude or vivacious fuchsia. Actually, the first feature you should look at is your lips themselves. The natural color of your lips has everything to do with how that lipstick will look on you. Unless you cover your lips with concealer first, the color you see in the tube is going to look different on your lips. For example, there's a generalization that pale pinks look good on pale girls. If I wear a super light pink lip, I look like a corpse. Here's the reason why: My lips, though not extremely pigmented, are actually a neutral reddish-pink. If I want to look alive, I can't wear anything lighter than my own lips, so an extremely light pink or nude will make me look dead.

After you've got that straight, then you consider your skin and hair color to determine whether the color will be flattering. Also, don't be surprised if you have cool-toned skin and a warm color looks good on you, and vice versa. If you have neutral lips like I do, you may have more color options than you think. More than once, I've been shocked when an obviously warm-toned color has looked flattering on. I recently got a Revlon Moondrops lipstick in the color Apple Polish, a bright orange-y red, and it's now one of my favorite summer lip colors. I'm thinking that's because not only are my lips neutral, but I have pink and yellow undertones.

I'm making this sound like a scientific study, but it's not. All of you lipstick-wearers probably already know what colors look good on you just by eyeballing them in the store. I just thought it would be fun to share how I hunt for lipsticks. Maybe the next time you're shopping for a lipstick, be a little adventurous and pick up a great shade that you normally wouldn't dream of wearing. Who knows? It might just be your new favorite.

xEsther

Aaaaaaand...It's a Tag! What's Your Makeup Style?

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Hello, dear readers,


I've been in a bit of a blogging rut, as you may have noticed, so I'm doing a tag today. This one is newer and I found it on Elle & Blair. Here are my answers to the "What's Your Makeup Style?" tag.


1. EEK! You've got five minutes to do your makeup for a date. What's your minimum?
I can usually get some foundation on the center of my face to cover up redness, a tiny bit of concealer under my eyes, and some lipstick on in five minutes. I usually take longer, but I can do it if I'm in a hurry.


2. Pick a trend—crazy cat eyeliner, super hot pink blush, or feathered false lashes?
I wouldn't actually wear any of these, but crazy cat eyeliner would probably look the least certifiably insane of the three.


3. If you had to either give up all makeup for two months or give up your skincare for a week, which would you pick?
As much as I hate to say it, I would give up my skincare for a week. If I break out that week, I can cover it up, and then I'll proceed to be diligent about my skin afterwards. I don't wear face makeup every day anyway, so my skin wouldn't suffer too much.


4. What beauty products are always in your purse?
Lip balm, whatever lipstick I'm wearing that day, and hand cream. I do occasionally forget the hand cream.


5. Are there any beauty products that you keep coming back to throughout the years?
Almay Smart Shade Concealer in Light, L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Tropical Coral, Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Rose Blush, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent.


6. Smoky eyes or red lips?
Red lips. I love the look of a classic red lip with my very fair skin and dark hair. I'll take any excuse to wear red lipstick.


7. Lipstick or lipgloss?
Lipstick.


8. Are there any products that you never expected to like but ended up loving?
Beauty UK Lipstick in In the Buff and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Demure.


I would love to see any of you do this tag. Again, I apologize for being such a lousy blogger. I really haven't been able to think of any great ideas, nor have I had the chance to figure out what to do for an updated skincare routine post. 


I hope you've all been enjoying June; I know I have! Have a lovely start to the week.


xEsther

40 Beauty Questions: Reloaded

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Hello, dear readers,

I have a new night time skincare routine [morning hasn't changed] and foundation routine coming up soon, and I'm also long overdue for a review on the Fusion of Color powder products. Because I want to take pictures for my foundation routine, I have to do it when I'm actually wearing makeup for a "Before" and "After." I literally just started my new skincare routine last night, so I'm in no position to share it with you. I can't exactly tell you anything until I get some results, positive or negative. For today, then, I'm doing a tag that I did back in September 2011, so we can both see how different the answers are. Considering September was less than a year ago, they'll be extremely similar, but I want to do it anyway!

Here we go:

SKINCARE -
How many times do you wash your face daily?
Twice. I'll use Olay Cleansing Cloths Sensitive to take off makeup after walking home from school, but I'm not counting that as fully washing my face.

What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo) 
Combination and somewhat sensitive [oily nose and chin, normal to dry forehead and cheeks]. Fun fact: I tend to be allergic to products like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, while retinoids don't really bother me at all. It's the opposite to most people's reactions. 

What is your current facial wash?
Olay Foaming Face Wash Sensitive Skin

Do you exfoliate? 
Yes, weekly.

What brand do you use?
I just use my regular face wash with baking soda. It's a great, gentle exfoliant.

What moisturizer do you use?
In the morning I use Olay Complete Daily UV Moisturizer SPF 30 Sensitive Skin; I use SPF 15 in the winter. At night, I use Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture Sensitive Skin. This has remained the same! Told you it wouldn't be that different.

Do you have freckles? 
I have a few very faint freckles on my face, and a smattering on my arms. They tend to only be visible in the summer.

Do you use eye cream? 
No. I do have a sample size of the Clinique Eye Roller serum, because it came as a gift with purchase. I use it when I'm particularly exhausted in the morning.

Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Yes. Oh, the joys of adult acne. Instead of just breaking out on my chin from hormones, I now break out there as well as on my cheeks and nose. I occasionally break out on my forehead, too! Thankfully, the breakouts aren't that noticeable, but that doesn't make them any less annoying.

Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? 
No, and I don't think I would.

MAKE-UP
What foundation do you use? 
Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup in the shade 01.

How about concealer? 
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Light. You may have noticed that I'm always the lightest shade, unless the lightest shade is too dark. Then I try a different line!

Do you know your undertone color?
I've been told by some people that my skin looks peachy. My undertone is mostly pink, with a little bit of yellow thrown in. However, yellow-toned foundations tend to look orange on me. I'm probably one of the few people that actually wants peach or pink-toned makeup. 

What do you think of fake eyelashes?
No. The only way they're acceptable is when they're natural enough that I can't tell you're wearing them. Sorry. 

Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months? 
Yes.

What brand of mascara do you use?
When I do amuse myself by wearing mascara, I've used one of the Organic Physician's Formula mascaras, or a Clinique mascara. I can't remember the name, but it is not the High Impact Mascara. I'm the worst person for that particular makeup item, because it either bleeds below my eyes, or I rub my eyes right after putting it on. Am I the only one that feels weighed down by mascara?Sephora or MAC?

I shop at Ulta, because they have drugstore and higher-end brands. If I didn't, it would definitely be Sephora.

Do you have a MAC Pro-card? 
No.

What makeup tools do you use in make up application? 
A brush for powder; flat foundation brush or my fingers for foundation; just my fingers for concealer.

Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? 
No because I don't wear eye makeup. I tend to put concealer on my eyelids, though, to neutralize the darkness and brighten the eye area. This is still true.

For the face? 
Nope.

What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
Like I said, I don't wear eyeshadow. I do, however, like neutral colors on other people, or a lighter wash of any color. Bright eyeshadow is great on people who know how to use it. This probably doesn't answer the question. 

Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? 
I don't wear eyeliner, but I own both pencil and felt tip. Still true!

How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? 
The few times I have used it, I think I poked my eyes maybe once.

What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? 
They look harder to work with, and I imagine I would make a mess.

Do you use mineral makeup? 
I do own makeup that considers itself mineral makeup. I say "considers," because pretty much all makeup contains minerals. You know those powders you buy? Plenty of them contain talc, which is, indeed, a mineral.

What is your favorite lipstick?
I've been loving my Revlon lipsticks lately, especially ColorBurst lipstick in Carnation for spring.

How about lipgloss? 
I haven't worn it in a very long time, but Avon Glazewear lip glosses are probably my all-time favorites.

What is your favorite blush to use? 
I own a couple of blushes, but 1) I'm rubbish at using it, and 2) I don't feel like I need it. I don't have a favorite

Do you buy your makeup on ebay? 
No.

Do you like drugstore makeup? 
Yes. Every brand in any price range always has good and lousy products. There's always something to like.

Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets) 
No. 

Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? 
No. 

Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

No, but I can occasionally put on too much if my lighting is dim. Then I leave my room and look in natural lighting and brush off as much as possible!

Name a makeup crime that you hate? 
Corpse lips, spider lashes, orange tans, and unblended eye shadow. 

Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones? 
I generally prefer bright lipstick and neutral eyes.

Which celebrity always has great make up?
Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Rachel McAdams.

If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item, what would you use?

Concealer.

Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Yes, and I often do when I'm walking to school and I know it will sweat off anyway.

Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? 
Everyone has good and bad days, but generally yes.

In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
Like I said, every brand has fantastic products and terrible products. I can't choose a single brand that's great all around.

What do you think of makseup?? 
I think it's a fantastic way to minimize the appearance of imperfections so the focus is on your features. It's a nice confidence booster, too.

I guess that wasn't much of an update, was it? At least that didn't make it any less entertaining to fill out.

If you've done this tag, let me know so I can read it!

Have a splendid Saturday and Sunday!

xEsther

Lately I've Been Loving...

•               Mixing lipstick colors to create custom shades to coordinate with outfits. A couple have been Revlon Super Lustrous Gentlemen Prefer Pink with Maybelline Color Sensational Pink Peony, and Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 in Extreme Pink with the same Maybelline Pink Peony. 

•               Using really pale pink and summery coral nail polishes, such as Avon Speed Dry Nail Enamels in Delicata and Creamy Coral. These are polishes I've had for years.

•               Eating on a bench outside the library during lunch breaks. The library's right across from my workplace.

•               Exercising outdoors. I love going on walk/runs, in which I alternate between the two.

•               Hula hooping to girly movies. This is my favorite indoor workout, which I follow up with simple strength moves.

•               Hot weather. My college friends can probably attest better than anyone to the fact that I abhor cold weather. I'm a huge complainer in that arena.

•               High waisted skirts and dresses. I recently got some for work, and I've been loving putting together simple outfits with them. The silhouette is really flattering on me.

•               The current state of my skin. It's been really clear lately. I still have redness and undereye circles, as well as acne marks on my chin, but spots are down to a bare minimum, pretty much gone, really.

•               My long hair. It's more weighed down since it's long, so my curls are turning into looser, beachier, curls and waves. I'm loving letting it go as natural as possible with just leave in conditioner spray and smoothing serum.

So there you have it. I don't mean to copy any other bloggers, as I know a multitude have features like this, but I feel it will help keep me positive just to record the highs of life. [Not those kinds of highs, naughty!]

To happy days.

xEsther

Image from http://favim.com/image/42311/

"A Little Clinique"

Hello, dear readers,

If you've watched "The Devil Wears Prada" as many times as I have [I've lost count], you may recognize that the title of this post is actually a line from the movie during the scene where Andy meets her friends in a restaurant and shares the freebies she picked up from work.

Really, though, this post does have to do with Clinique. If you read my last post, you will know that my mother and I recently purchased "a little Clinique" in order to secure the latest freebie called Milly.

Image fromhttp://gwpaddict.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/clinique-bonus-time-at-bloomingdales-5/

I can't really say exactly how long this promotion runs, but it seems to be exclusively at Bloomingdale's. It says on the website that it ended February 27, 2011, and it also says it's not available in stores in Illinois, but that must have changed. I don't know if you can get it anywhere else, but we got it yesterday.

This isn't a review, but I thought I'd remind you what we purchased in order to get this promotion, and let you know what comes in the free gift.

Initially, my mom decided to buy me the Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in shade 01, the lightest shade. We were still about a dollar short of the promotion, so my mom got herself the City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25, which she had gotten before as either a free gift or just a regular old purchase.

Image from http://www.reallyrich.com/ Incidentally, the color of the package is NOT the color of the product.

Image from http://us.strawberrynet.com/skincare/clinique/city-block-sheer-oil-free-daily/66853/

In the Milly freebie, you get Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Air Kiss. I really love the Clinique lipgloss formula because it's sticky in a long lasting way not an "ew get that hair unstuck from my lips" kind of way.

Next is a Colour Surge Eyeshadow Duo. Now none of the females in my immediate family wear eyeshadow, but I'm always willing to have a play-around for fun.

Then comes High Impact Mascara in Black. If you've seen my last post, you'll have seen pictures of me in a pajama shirt with makeup still on. I happen to have the mascara on, and all it does for me is make my lashes slightly darker. I've been blessed with long, dark, relatively curly lashes so I'm not one to do a mascara review.

Then you get High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 in Extreme Pink, which my mom took, because she literally only wears lipstick and no other makeup. It's only fair to let her have that! After all, she's been kind enough to fund my makeup purchases when I was jobless, which was the majority of my life. Now I can relieve her of that duty. UPDATE: My mom found this to be too pale of a pink on her because she has very pigmented reddish pink lips naturally. Mine are much lighter reddish pink with almost a bit of brown in them naturally, so she gave this to me. It looked much darker and almost a vampy pink, but I love it!

The next product is Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief, which my mom took after I thrust the free gift in front of her and tried to get her to take more of it for herself. It's supposed to be a great moisturizer and can be used as a moisture mask. Again, not reviewing, just describing.

Then there's the All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage. My mom thinks it's a hoax, so I, with puffy dark circles that to me are just black holes, decided to give it a go. It's got caffeine in it, which is supposed to help do something miraculous and at least temporarily reduce puffiness, so I've used it a couple times. I can't tell if it's done anything yet. 

Then you get the lovely Milly for Clinique Cosmetics Bag Set, with its lovely pink, summery floral.

Along with this, the lovely saleslady, dutifully pitching her products, noticed my skin was rather dry and threw in a sample of the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. 

Image from http://www.prontostyle.com/shop/clinique-dramatically-different-moisturizing-lotion

We'll see how that goes. I'll test it at night.

So that's my little bit of Clinique. Well, rather a lot actually for a girl who normally purchases drug store brands only and hates spending money. Of course this time I wasn't the one doing the spending. Thanks, Mom, if you're reading!

If you'd like a review of any of these products, do let me know.

To "a little Clinique" and a whole lot of beauty for everyone!

xEsther

Soft as a Baby's...

Image from http://www.districtonehospital.com/patients-visitors/dohbabies.html

...You know the saying: Soft as a baby's bottom! I just didn't think it would ever personally apply to me. I bet you didn't expect me to have a giant picture of a baby on here, did you? 

Today I learned differently. Apparently my skin is like a baby's, and I look approximately aged 12. I've got mixed feelings on this one, folks. 

Is this what a 12-year-old looks like?

Apparently so. You tell me! [And I do have tinted moisturizer, concealer, and the remains of lipstick on here. My skin's not THAT perfect!]

Today's little anecdote begins at the Bloomingdale's Clinique counter with a truly very lovely saleswoman whom I shall call "Sally." My mom was shopping with me for work clothes when we saw this lovely gift with purchase of Clinique called "Milly." We have sort of an inside meaning for the name Millie so my mom decided that I should get one of their tinted moisturizers so she could get the free gift.

We went to the counter where Sally proceeded to call me "honey," "sweetheart," "sweetie," etc. Immediately I knew she must be thinking I'm in grade school. She told me my skin is so light and was very helpful getting the lightest possible shade for me. My mother subsequently decided that we should create a custom color for me called "My Fair Lady." I quite agreed.

Sally then proceeded to tell me that my skin was beautiful and not to let anyone tell me any different and to make sure I protect it because it's absolutely gorgeous. So that was good to hear. [Incidentally, my boss this summer asks about my skin and how I get it to look so nice all the time; rather strange to hear from a boss but quite nice, I suppose].

After we decided what to get, shade 01, she asked, "How old are you?"

"I'm actually going to be a sophomore in college." 

She looked absolutely stunned and said, "Wow. Your skin is just like a baby."

So there you have it. Apparently my baby skin makes me look about seven years younger than I am. I promise I'm telling the truth when I say I'm going to be 20 this year. 

I'm sure when I'm 30 and everyone thinks I'm 23, I will feel wonderful. When I was prom dress shopping, however, and the saleslady asked my mom if I was in middle school, it didn't make me so happy. When I deal with even more patronizing salespeople, doctors, dentists, etc., it drives me slightly mad. Then there are the 14-year-old boys looking me over because they think I'm their age. Gross.

Sally was lovely, and I appreciate the compliments and know I will be so grateful when I'm older, as well as the fact that I have pretty decent skin, but at the moment it's simply frustrating. 

On another note, though, I suppose I should mention that I really appreciate the compliments on my skin I've gotten lately. I've had friends tell me I look like Snow White, incidentally my least favorite Disney Princess, and that I should never tan because my skin is so lovely. 

I used to be teased about being so fair. I would have grade school classmates ask me why I was so white ["Oh my god Karen, you can't just ask people why they're white!"] and it's taken me years to come to terms with my skin. 

Being fair-skinned is now one of my favorite features, even though I'd rather not be confused for a baby. 

I'm getting too old for that. 

To skin as soft as a baby's...you know! ;)

xEsther

p.s. If you are interested, here are some skin care tips, and more skin care tips, and my skin care routine. Oh and here's how I fake a flawless face. I'm not using the powder now that it's summer, though.