Monday Oops: lavender lipstick

When I was a very young bride, I worked in a bank. I had a beautiful gray skirt and a slightly sparkly purple sweater that made a beautiful yet professional combination. I found a lavender shade of nail polish which quietly complemented the outfit, and for some reason I no longer understand, I bought lipstick that matched the nail polish. The fact that it was grape-scented should have been a clue that it was not meant for the career woman, but at the time I just thought it was fun.

I remember wearing the outfit, complete with nail polish and lipstick to work one day. One of my co-workers gushed about how beautiful everything was.

"Your lipstick is lovely!" she exclaimed! "You look just like those people in the Titanic movie...."

"...you know, when they're all floating in the water around the iceberg."

Oh. Not quite the effect I had in mind.

Monday Oops: dramatic eyes

Several months ago I saw a fun eye makeup idea and I decided to try it at home. It included black eye shadow and green liquid eyeliner. It was easy to do -- a smoky eye with black on the outside of the eyelid blending to charcoal. I used a Kat Von D Autograph eyeliner in the color Peacock (my favorite eyeliner, which seems to be discontinued at Sephora). I liked what I saw in the mirror, but it was very dramatic. Very.

It would have been perfect makeup to go with a sparkly little dress and huge earrings. Or a concert t-shirt (U2, perhaps), skinny jeans and heels.

I thought I remembered that the eye shadow (from Ulta) faded quickly the previous time I wore it. "I'll have to remember this the next time Mark and I go out for dinner," I thought, and I went on with my day.

I taught the children's math lesson, we went grocery shopping, and we ate lunch. And then I happened to glance in the mirror again.

The eye shadow had not faded. Not at all.

The eye shadow was still very very dark. And sparkly too.

I'd been grocery shopping...at noon...wearing out-to-dinner makeup, a gray t-shirt and jeans.

Oops.

Please tell me all about your latest makeup oops.

Product Review: Rosebud Lip Balm

If you read my other blog, you already know all about my favorite lip balm. It's Rosebud lip balm, available in regular, mint, mocha, brambleberry or strawberry fragrances. I don't think the regular one has a fragrance at all. I love the mocha fragrance--it wakes me up while it moisturizes my lips.

Rosebud lip balms give me a bit of shine while enhancing my natural lip color. For a little more color, I use a nude-colored lip liner before applying the lip balm. This is a great way to get a neutral lip color to balance a bold eye makeup effect.

This lip balm has worked well for me whether I'm in the dry desert or the windy northwest. I've learned that in the desert summer, it's best to keep it at home rather than in my purse--it tends to melt.

Sometimes these metal tins are a little difficult to open, so I bought some empty plastic lip balm containers on ebay, and I scoop a little Rosebud lip balm into them.

What's your favorite lip product?

Product Review: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

Sally Hansen's "complete salon manicure" does everything it promises. I truly do not need the top coat I usually apply over other polishes. This polish lasts almost a week, and if I do chip it a little, it layers very well, so the chips are easy to fix.

The shade pictured here is "Commander in Chic." It looked gray at drugstore.com but is actually plum. I like to wear it when I wear a brown blouse; I think it adds a touch of femininity without being foofy. It's a good summer color, but it will be perfect for fall too--with all the greens and rusts and peaches I'll wear. With the right accessories I think it would really pop with teal clothing also.

This shade is very similar to the purpley side of CoverGirl's Smoky Shadow Blast in Silver Sky.

If you're taking advantage of the sale on those Smoky Shadows, you might add Commander in Chic to your basket too. Drugstore.com offers free shipping on a $25 order, so add some things from your shopping list(razor refills or paper towels or children's vitamins) and save yourself the shipping charge.

The silver side of the eyeliner is supposed to be an eye shadow, but as I said the other day, I find that it creases almost instantly. However, it makes a fun eyeliner. If I apply it early in the morning, it disappears by midafternoon, but it's easy to reapply. It's sparkly without being glittery, so it's very wearable every day--you don't have to save this for a night out.

Returning to the Complete Salon Manicure products, I did find that the brighter or more intense colors look smoother. The nude color I tried (Peachy Kean) was a little gloppy. My favorite shade is "Grass Slippers." It's a lime green I often wear on my toes.

The ring I'm wearing in the photo is my touch of green for the day. It's connemara marble and you can buy it at QVC. Or you can do what I did and watch ebay (use the "favorite searches" feature so you don't miss any new listings) and save half the price.

What's your favorite nail polish brand? What shade are you wearing this summer?

Product Review: CoverGirl Smoky Shadow Blast

I have several colors of Cover Girl's Smoky Shadow Blast Shadow Stick. It's a double-ended makeup stick, with a smoky eyeliner on one side and an eye shadow on the other. I love the eyeliners. They make a thick but smoky line, a fast way to get a smudged-on-purpose effect. I don't like the eye shadows as shadows though...they crease within an hour! I've tried wearing an eye primer but that didn't help. Some of the shadows can be worn as subtle eye liners, so they are still very useable. I grab one of these when I'm in a hurry and want an eyeliner that looks great without eye shadow.

Drugstore.com has a sale on these right now; buy one get one half off. I am not sure they would survive the trip in the mail in our desert heat at this time of year, but if it's not 105 in your location, this is a good deal. Drugstore.com also sells Rosebud Lip Salve, which is the best lip balm ever, Mrs. Meyers cleaning products (the lemon verbena scent is fabulous!) and just about everything you find at your local drustore.

Have you tried these shadows? What did you think of them? Do you have a favorite eyeliner?