MAC lipsticks with Lustre finish: Lipsticks with Lustre finish are usually not very pigmented. When you put it on you don’t get the same colour that you see in the tube. It comes as a sheer colour with sheen to it. It feels creamy on the lips. Even the darkest colours go on very sheer. I like them a lot everyday use.

Left to right:

1. 1. Most Popular from Hello Kitty collection (limited edition): A burgundy plum colour – doesn’t show up that intense as it is a Lustre lipstick.
2. 2. Capricious: A pink lipstick – I think it suits my skin tone very well (My colour is MAC NC42 foundation)
3. 3. Blow Dry: It looks like a coral colour in the tube but goes on like a nude peach colour on skin.
4. 4. Viva Glam VI Special Edition: It is one of my favourites from MAC for going out. I think it suits every skin tone.
5. 5. Cute-Ster from Hello Kitty Collection (limited edition): It’s a peach colour in the tube, goes on nude on the skin.

MAC lipsitcks with Glaze finish: Lipsticks with Glaze finishes are usually two toned. It has glitters in it that has a different tone than the colour of the lipstick. It looks gorgeous in the tube but when you put it on all you see are chunks of glitters. I personally don’t like this finish much and will think twice before purchasing another lipstick with glaze finish.

Left to right:

1. 1. Lollipop Loving: It’s a nude pink lipstick with green glitter/shimmer. Looks gorgeous like any other Glaze finished lipsticks but not so much when you put it on.
2. 2. Hue: Hue is a “blah” nude colour for me. It is one of the products that I regret buying the most.
3. 3. Big Bow from Hello Kitty collection (limited edition): It’s a deep coral pink with blue glitters embedded. Looks beautiful in the tube but again I don’t like it that much on my lips.

MAC lipsticks with Amplified finish: If you like rich pigmented lipsticks, then Amplified would be your best lipstick. I think you get the most out of your money from these lipsticks. You get exactly what you see in the tube. It goes on creamy and feels dreamy (okay the rhyme was cheesy!)

The trick with putting on an Amplified lipstick is that you never apply it directly from the tube. It will be too much if you do. I recommend using a lipliner underneath (even a clear one). Use a lip brush to apply it perfectly. Then blot with a tissue to remove access colour. Then apply again with a lip brush. This will give a stained affect and last your lip colour for hours making you look gorgeous.

Left to right:

1. 1. Impassioned: It’s a coral pink and one of my favourite colours from MAC.
2. 2. Show Orchid: A hot pink and another of my favourites.
3. 3. “Red” She Said (limited edition): A nice red lipstick. However I like MAC Red and Russian Red more than this red lipstick.

MAC Creemsheen Lipstick: This is another lipstick that goes on just like the colour in the tube. It is less pigmented and more shimmery than Amplified finished lipsticks.

Left to Right:

1. Dare You: It’s a hot red lipstick. I personally don’t like this type of hot red, but if you are going for that look then definitely give this a try.
2. Hot Gossip: A shimmery rose pink colour. It is not my favourite but there is something about this colour that I like – can’t put my finger on it though.

MAC Matte Lipstick in Russian Red: If you don’t like any shine/shimmer/glitter or even a creamy feel then go with a matte lipstick. Matte would also stay on for the longest time without touching up. The colour Russian Red is a must have red for a lady’s vanity. It has a blue undertone and looks great on any skin tone.

MAC Satin Lipstick in MAC Red: Satin finishes are almost like Matte with just a tiny bit sheen to it. MAC Red also is a blue toned red lipstick and also a must have in my opinion.

MAC lipstick with Frost finish in Strayin’ from Hello Kitty collection (limited edition): I only have this lipstick with Frost finish, so I can’t compare different colours. This is a soft pink – I like it.

MAC Slimshine Lipstick in Bare: Slimshine lipsticks come in a sleek black packaging. It’s narrower and taller than other MAC lipsticks. The lipsticks has a shine and goes on creamy. The colour Bare is one of the best nude colours for light skin tone. But I look washed out in it.

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Popster from Hello Kitty collection (limited edition): A very hydrating lip conditioner. It’s sheer soft coral pink colour. Looks very nice on the lips.

Lipliner is important to create a finished look. Lipliner makes a barrier between the lips and the lipstick, it makes the lipstick last longer and prevent bleeding. I personally use a clear lipliner everyday and like it very much. However, I really like to put an effort for special occasions and my colourful lipliners come in handy during those times.

The first picture shows the lipliners and second picture shows them applied on the back of my hands. From left to right:

1. Revlon ColorStay Lipliner in Clear
2. MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner in GingerRoot
3. MAC Cremestick Liner in SummerFruit
4. NYX LipLiner Pencil in 817 Red Hot
5. Elizabeth Arden Lip Pencil in Blush
6. Elizabeth Arden Lip Pencil in Cocoa Rose
7. Annabelle Metalic lipliner in 305 Nude Lustre
8. ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Spice
9. ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Bark
10. ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Natural Blush
11. ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Bitter
12. NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in 704 Red Hot
13. Sephora Lips Pencil 405

My favourites from the bunch:

Revlon ColorStay Lipliner in Clear: This is my absolute favourite lipliner. I use it every day and think it should be a staple in every woman’s makeup bag. It’s clear, so it can be used under any coloured lipstick/lipgloss/lipstain. It works great – my lip products don’t bleed. I am very happy with this product and will repurchase once I run out of it. It’s inexpensive and can be found at any drugstore/Walmart.

MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner in GingerRoot: It’s a peachy brown colour – very versatile and can be used under a lot of lipsticks. It’s very creamy and easy to use.

MAC Cremestick Liner in SummerFruit: My lips are unevenly pigmented. So when I wear a lipstick that’s not very pigmented my uneven lip colour shows through. I like using this nude lipliner underneath sheer lipsticks.

NYX LipLiner Pencil in 817 Red Hot: Every girl gotta have one red lipstick. Red lipsticks tend to bleed the most (or it is the most visible when bled). This is a great lip liner to use under any red lipstick. It’s very creamy and easy to apply. It prevents the lipstick from bleeding.

Elizabeth Arden Lip Pencil in Blush: It’s a great soft pink lipliner. It’s very creamy and a nice colour to have in the makeup bag.

Okay lipliners:

Elizabeth Arden Lip Pencil in Cocoa Rose: It’s a dark plum colour. I don’t tend to use it a lot, but it would look beautiful on most dark skins.

Annabelle Metalic lipliner in 305 Nude Lustre: It is a brownish-plum colour. Very creamy and feels nice on the lips.

ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Spice: A brownish plum colour. ELF lipliners are not as creamy as MAC or Elizabeth Arden. But it still works and the colours are nice.

ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Bark: A brownish plum colour.

ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Natural Blush: A soft pink lipliner

“Don’t purchase” lipliners:

ELF feather Proof-Moisturizing Lip Liner in Bitter: This particular lipliner from ELF is very hard to touch, though the other lipliners from them are much creamier. I don’t like the colour either.

NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in 704 Red Hot: This is a jumbo lip pencil. But it is too creamy as a lipliner- it wouldn’t prevent bleeding. If you want to use this as a lipstick you will need a lip brush. The colour is quite nice though – hot red like the name says.

Sephora Lips Pencil 405: It’s a glittery plum colour. It makes my lips looks even more pigmented and doesn’t goes with my skin tone at all. I got this for free at an event at Sephora – I still regret getting it.

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So not everyone can afford the best makeup and you don’t need to buy expensive makeup exclusively. Only some staple products in your makeup vanity should be enough. So the products I think are the most important and thus I would invest money in are:

1. Foundation: Foundation is the base for all your other makeup. It is totally worth it to spend some money towards it. Even if you don’t have a face primer, even if you have a cheap concealer, a great foundation will make you look fabulous nonetheless.

2. Brushes: Brushes are very important. Yes, foundation can be applied with hand, but you apply more, waste product and it goes on cakey. Yes eyeshadow can be applied with a sponge tip applicator, but colours won’t blend and won’t last long. Brushes achieve the details needed for a complete look.

3. Eye primer: Eye primer will enhance the colour of your eyeshadow, prevent eyeshadow from creasing and will make it last longer. An eye primer will increase the value of your eyeshadows even if you have budget friendly eyeshadows.

4. Waterproof eyeliner and mascara: Most women have eyeliner and mascara anyways. When you run out of them and make your next purchase, consider getting waterprood liquid and pencil eyeliner and waterproof mascara. It will prevent smudging.

5. Clear Lipliner: You don’t need to waste money getting every coloured lipliner for every lipstick that you own. Get a clear one – I recommend Revlon ColorStay Lipliner in Clear. It will go with every lipstick/lipstain/lipgloss. Line the edges of lips and then fill your lips in with it. It will prevent lipcolour form bleeding and will make it last longer.

That’s all I remember right now. I will edit this post if I find something new. You don’t have to get all these in one day. I call these investments because they are worth a bunch of money. Get one product per paycheck and you will have all the staples within a year or so. Enjoy the weekend.

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[phpbay] eye primer, 1, “, ” [/phpbay]

[phpbay] clear lipliner, 1, “, ” [/phpbay]

So you put on all the makeup and look fabulous throughout the day and get nice compliments – great. It’s time to sleep and you don’t take off the makeup – NOT great. Leaving makeup on all night can cause nasty breakouts. Next morning you wake up – all the makeup in the world is not going to make you look beautiful. It is VERY important to take off all makeup at night. You should also clean and moisturize your face afterwards.

TIP: If you are extremely tired and don’t feel like taking off makeup, wash face, put on moisturizer – use Baby Wipes for sensitive skin. It will get most makeup out of your face. Just don’t make this a daily routine.

Great makeup removers:

Whatever makeup remover you use, remember to be very gentle around the eyes to avoid premature wrinkles. I have extremely sensitive eyes. I have tried a lot of makeup removers and most of them sting my eye (though they do the job of removing makeup). Best makeup remover ever is L’oreal Dermo-Expertise Gentle Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover. It comes in a 125 ml bottle. It has 2 phases – one darker which has soft oils and another clear phase. Before each use you have shake it up, so they mix to a homogenous colour. Apply it with cotton pads or balls. If you are wearing long lasting foundation, lip colour, waterproof eyeliner or mascara – this will get everything off.  It is one of the few makeup removers that don’t sting my eyes. It’s about $10 CDN (depending on where you buy it from).

Lancome Bi-facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover also comes in 125 ml bottle and has the same consistency and gives the exact results as the L’oreal one. But its $32.50 CDN. Though I don’t know difference between them, but I see no point spending 3X money on this when L’oreal Dermo-Expertise has the same outcome.

Okay Makeup Removers (for most people):

L’oreal Refreshening Eye Makeup Remover Oil-Free comes in a 125 ml bottle. It does not remove waterproof makeup. It stings my eyes badly. If you have sensitive eyes- stay away from it.

Neutrogena oil-free Eye Makeup remover. It removes makeup but stings my eyes.

Rimmel London Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Oil Free. It removes waterproof makeup but once again stings my eyes.

Clinique Take the day Off Makeup remover. It removes waterproof makeup but stings my eyes.

Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover. It removes waterproof makeup remover but stings my eyes.

Bad Makeup Removers:

Olay mascara + Makeup Remover claims to removes waterproof mascara. It doesn’t remove all of the waterproof mascara. It stings my eyes.

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Yes it’s lip time. Many wonder how to get that plump and younger looking lips, here is what I do. First, I put a lip primer all over my lips and extend a little  outside as well. the primer is to make sure that my lipstick does not bleed. Then I line my lips all around carefully with short strokes and fill in the lips. I line my lips so that my lipstick doesn’t fade. Ladies, don’t choose a liner that’s darker than your lipstick, it’s not the 1970’s anymore, lol. Then I put my lipstick on and finish with a lipgloss. I put the gloss only on the centre of my bottom lips. This will give my lips a fuller look and a bit of shine. I don’t like to put a lipgloss all over the lips since it tends bleed and feel too sticky. If you are going to a party, I suggest putting a concealer all around your lips and blending it in to really seal the lip colour from bleeding outside. I hope you learnt something new, and women around you are dying to know your secret