Top 6 Bold Lipsticks

Hey guys!  Here are my top 6 bold lipsticks.  Of course, some are seasonal and some can be worn throughout the year.  Enjoy!

MAC - Cockney is a beautiful red with hints of gold.  Love wearing this all year round, especially when I'm in the "Hollywood Glam"mood!

MAC - Rebel is a deep berry/plum lipstick.  This gives an edgy/vampy look, which I love to wear in the fall and winter.

MAC - Dear Diary is a Pro Longwear lipstick which is a limited edition.  The color definitely lasts a long time.  Wearable in the spring and summer.

MAC - Impassioned has fuchsia tones in it.  This lipstick is a bit deceiving because the swatch looks totally different from the tube, but nonetheless is a beautiful color to wear in the summer.

 

MAC - Viva Glam Nicki is a very pretty pink that I like to wear when I'm tanner.

Revlon - Siren is a beautiful orange lipstick that is very creamy.  I usually apply YSL Golden Gloss 3 on top to add a bit more shine.


*Makeup tip* - Use a lip liner to make your color last longer!

:o)

My Morning Skincare Routine

I LOVE to indulge myself when it comes to skincare.  I'm always on the hunt for the next best thing and I don't mind spending the extra cash for it either.  My skincare products range from drugstore products to luxury high end products.  Here is what I use as my morning skincare routine -

For my cleanser I use Neutrogena - Pink Grapefruit Face Scrub.  This cleanser helps with breakouts and unclogs pores as it mildly exfoliates the skin.  approx $8

After cleansing, I use Cate + Austin - Acne Treatment Pads as my toner.  I have a full review on this product (here). $60

I then use Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Eye Cream .  This eye cream is very hydrating. approx $12

For my serum I use Tata Harper - Rejuvenating Serum, which I SWEAR is botox in a bottle!  I love this serum because it brightens and minimizes the appearance of fine lines.  I saw results after one use. $150

And lastly, for my moisturizer I use Neutrogena - Tone Correcting Daily Moisturizer SPF30.  If there is one products you shouldn't skip out on, it is definitely a moisturizer with SPF.  It should be used daily (yes, even on cloudy days!) because it fights against harmful rays from the sun and other free radicals.  approx $19

:o)

My Foundation Routine

Hey guys!  Here is my foundation routine.  Great makeup starts with great skincare, so remember to exfoliate and moisturize for an even application.

I always start with using a foundation primer, which creates a barrier between your skin and foundation.  This helps to keep your makeup on longer.  I'm currently using Laura Mercier - Foundation Primer - oil free  ($32) in the colder weather because my skin tends to get dry and I feel this primer is VERY hydrating.

In the not-so-cold weather, I use MAC - Prep + Prime - Skin Base Visage $29.

I then use Kevyn Aucoin - Sensual Skin Enhancer ($45) in the color SX 11.  This is my FAVORITE concealer.  It gives a full coverage and a little goes along way.  I apply it with a concealer brush.  It has a thick consistency, so I like to blend it out with a wet Beauty Blender. ($19.95)

Next, I use Nars - Sheer Glow Foundation  ($44) in the color Barcelona, which is equivalent to MAC Studio Fix's NC42.  This has a satin finish and is buildable. I also use a wet beauty blender to blend this out to give an even and flawless application.

Lastly, I use MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish Natural ($30) in the color Medium Dark to set my foundation with a powder brush.

This concludes my foundation routine!

Makeup tip - Anytime you are using a liquid or gel product, always set it with a powder to keep it in place and this also helps your product to stay on longer!

:o)

Follow me on INSTAGRAM - lipstickandflowers

Clothing Haul/Outfit Ideas

Hello ladies (and gents ;o))!  I did a little shopping yesterday at Forever 21, so I thought I'd do a little haul/outfit idea post for you.  As you can tell, I AM READY FOR SPRING! Especially after yesterday's snowfall in NYC and temps in the teens, I just can't wait for the warmer weather to come.

Enjoy!

 Cardigan - Forever 21 (Here)

Skirt - Forever 21 (Here)

Shoes - Forever 21 (Similar)

Necklace - Aldo (Here)

Bag - Laura Merkin (Similar)

Dress - Forever 21 (Here)

Shoes - Steve Madden (Here)

Necklace - Bought this years ago, can't remember where! Sorry!

Bag - Lederer De Paris (Similar)

 Dress - Forever 21 (Here)

Shoes - Steve Madden (Here)

Bag - Nancy Gonzalez (Similar)

:o)

My Top 6 Blushes!

If there is one makeup product I can't live without, it has to be blush.  I wear different blushes according to the season, time of day and of course according to the look I'm going for.  Blush can really complete a look.  Here are some swatches of my top 6 go-to blushes. (Just as a reference, I'm a NC42 in MAC Studio Fix and Barcelona in NARS Sheer Glow Foundation.)

(L-R)
NARS - Orgasm
MAC - Ambering Rose
MAC - Eversun
MAC - Passionately Tempted
MAC - Plum Foolery
MAC - Gleeful

NARS - Orgasm  is a very pretty peachy-pink blush with accents of gold shimmer, not to mention it's a cult classic! I love to wear this in the spring and winter (or when I'm not tan). I tend to stay away from pink blushes only because they can look a bit chalky on my olive complexion. But this product gives skin a soft, healthy, luminous sheen and blends beautifully. Works well for all skin tones.  $28.

MAC - Ambering Rose  is described as a muted-rose and has a sheer-tone shimmer.  I love to wear this in the summer because it accentuates my tan.  This blush is buildable and long lasting. $20.

MAC - Eversun is a limited edition blush from the collection "Style Warrior". It's a neutral peach bronze with gold shimmer and I love to wear in the fall.  I know!  You girls are probably wondering how you're going to get this limited edition blush.  Don't worry,  I do have an alternative blush which is very similar to Eversun called Sincere.  This is a corally-beige blush and works just as well. $20

Here is the alternative -

 MAC - Sincere

MAC - Passionately Tempted is a heavy duty blush! It's highly pigmented, so application with a light hand is ideal.  It's a deep magenta-berry color and has a beautiful satin finish. I love to wear this in the fall and winter. LOVE LOVE LOVE this color! $20

MAC - Plum Foolery is described as a faintly plum color and has a slight shimmer to it.  I love wearing this in the fall.  It goes on beautifully and blends very well. $20

MAC - Gleeful is a mineralize blush that has a blue-pink undertone with gold shimmer. This is really pigmented, so a little goes a long way. I love wearing this all year round. $23.50


As for application of blush, I tend to use MAC's 129 brush.  It blends everything very well.  $35

Makeup Tip -
Want your blush to last all day?  Pop on a creme blush before applying a powder blush. Not only will this make your blush last longer, it'll enhance your powder blush as well!

:o)

New Year's Flowers

I love fresh flowers!!!!

Cane & Austin - Product Review

Too old for pimples, but too young for wrinkles?

Not only do Cane & Austin - Acne Treament Pads prevent future breakouts from occurring, they also reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars.  These treatment pads are packed with antioxidants (CoQ10), vitamins (A, C, and E) and green tea to protect against free radicals. This also contains witch hazel, which tones (but doesn't dry out) skin.  Beware: this product is quite costly ($60 a bottle), but is effective! Contains 60 pads.

I absolutely love this product.  It's heaven in a bottle!  It really helps with my occasional breakouts and has improved my complexion.  Use it morning and night after washing face.  Follow with a serum and moisturizer.