Category: lips

Holiday Gifting: Affordable Beauty From FLOWER

I remember hearing about Drew Barrymore’s new makeup line when it first came out. Lucky for me, I had met the makeup artist who Drew worked with developing the line and was able to get info from her about the new products. One thing that resonated was that she truly believed and emphasized that this was luxury level formulas at Wal-Mart prices.

It was almost too good to believe. But low and behold… every product I’ve tried from FLOWER has been just that – luxury, functional, beautiful and effective. And at great prices. Goes without saying their gift lineup makes for perfect holiday gifts for those on your list (even if you are on a budget like me!).

I’ve tried out several of the gift sets and here are my favorites:

FLOWER Brushes: I particularly love the foundation brush, but each is made from soft, man-made hair. The hefty handles are a breeze to use. Offerings include:

Ultimate Powder Brush
Liquid Foundation Brush
Eyeliner Brush
Eye Shadow Brush
Ultimate Lip/Concealer Brush

FLOWER Cosmetic Bags: These new additions come in every size and are styled perfectly for travel. Offerings include:

Small Cosmetic Bag
Double Zip Foldover
Cosmetic Clutch
Train Case

FLOWER Fragrance Collection: This set of three is designed around moods and time of day. I have been wearing Cherished and the powdery musk is perfect for cozy winter days. The three scents:

Cherished (white bottle) – Lemon, Iris, Vanilla, Sandalwood and Musk
Radiant (pink bottle) – Fresh, green, Magnolia and Amber
Sultry (purple bottle) – Pepper, Jasmine, Musk and Patchouli

FLOWER COLOR IN THE LINES Mini Chubby Beauty Set: Drew does chubbies right. These lip and eye versions are self-sharpening and come in wearable and bold shades.

Available at Walmart.com

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Holiday Gifting – bareMinerals Main Attraction

Happy Cyber Monday – hope you all are having fun getting your shop on. Some amazing deals I posted on Friday are still going on so make sure to check out this post before you hit “BUY”. Speaking of holiday shopping, I have another gift idea to share with you today:

I continue to be blown away when it comes to the value in bareMinerals gift sets. They are truly an awesome deal – flawless in delivery of quality products and formulas that are certainly crowd-pleasers. It can be tricky buying makeup for someone else, but their concoctions seem to always suit a wide range of complexions and skin types.

This technically is a set to create a “screen siren look” but I find the contents are more like a fabulous, neutral everyday look. The eye shadows are a shimmery light pinky gold and deeper chocolate. I like wearing the lighter Matinee all over lids for a quick and easy look. The set instructs Opening Night, the darker brown, in the crease and along the lower lash line but it is a little dramatic for me. I tend to limit just a wash of Opening Night in the center of my lids.

The Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner in Absolute Black is an all-day workhorse. I only really wear black eyeliner but this one isn’t so intense and I like the less inky look for daytime. And a favorite is always the Lash Domination 10-in-one Volumizing mascara with its wacky brush and conditioning formula.

Typically, I am not a huge blush fan but Flair is fairly sheer and can be built into a deeper shade. On me, it is a true winter glow. Marvelous Moxie lipstick in Make Your Move might just be the nude lipstick I have forever been searching for. I know nude lipstick is super personal, but if you have light-to-medium skin tone like me, this might just be your golden ticket.

Marvelous Moxie lip gloss in Leading Lady is also a nude shade but with a punch of shimmer. I get fairly good staying power and hydration from this formula. But my favorite part is the minty tingle.

Major bonus points for a super high-quality tapered brush included. bareMinerals brushes are all I use any more for bronzer and blush – they just seem to have gotten it spot on.

All in all, this set has wearable, great shades and formulas that I know I treasure as staples of my makeup drawer. For the beauty buff on your list, you can’t go wrong with bareMinerals. Available at Sephora.

Holiday Gifting – NARS Vault

I figure we might as well start out Belle Belle’s holiday gifting series with a bang. I am absolutely lusting over this offering from NARS – perfect for the true beauty buff. And I have been meaning to share with you guys how much I love these two new formulas from the brand that both were released earlier this year.

The NARS Vault in a curated collection of Audacious Lipsticks and Nail Polishes. The lipsticks have quickly become a favorite – their creamy texture last forever but don’t dry out lips. Their colors are rich and pigmented – I have been wearing Rita, the perfect cool winter red. And Audacious comes in perfectly developed range of classic shades. This set includes: Raquel, Anita, Jane, Claudia, Michiyo, Grace, Lana, Carmen, Vivien and Sandra.

The nail polish really blew me away – I would be in heaven to have these the shades (Ecume, Ithaque, Orgasm, Trouville, Schiap, Hunger, Dovima, Jungle Red, Purple Rain and Back Room). I can’t get over how perfect their black, Back Room, is on nails – opaque, rich and still classic. Their new brush design in a breeze to use. And I was delighted to find that my manicure lasted a full week – somewhat of a miracle with my nails.

Both collections are housed in a wooden box with the signature NARS soft-touch finish and over-sized interior mirror. Don’t miss out on this true collectors item. I know it is a splurge but this has major wow factor.

Available at narscosmetics.com, Saks and Barneys.

Fresh Sugar Tulip Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15

While I have always loved Fresh and have purchased a few of their lip treatments, I have never managed to accumulate the whole collection. Or even try out every single shade they offer (they are kind of hard to find here in Oklahoma). But I have adored the lemon bar scent and rich balm. And the color is always the perfect tint.

Recently, a new fresh (pun intended) tube landed on my desk in their latest shade. Don’t expect a diminutive color with Fresh Sugar Tulip unlike some of their other versions. Tulip is a strong and bold buildable pink – but the perfect pink (dare I say). It is shocking and sophisticated all at the same time. Despite the time of year, I can’t help but to keep swiping on this cheerful color.

Plus it makes my dry lips feel so so good! Smelling just like a dessert, I get a sugary and lemon scent. The balm is powered by sugar which happens to be a great humectant, sealing in moisture. Meadowfoam, black currant seed and grapeseed also work to nourish and protect. Major bonus points for SPF 15 to shield our most delicate skin from harmful rays.

Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program. I consult for Neiman Marcus which is affiliated with the Neiman Marcus Group, but as always, opinions are my own.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick

The word this fall is “purple”. While purple lips sounds scary (at least they used to to me), I recently found out they are actually a blast to wear. Imagine this: I stroll into a bar wearing Insolent Plum…. I know…

But seriously, I was meeting a group of some of my more sophisticated friends and was greeted with an effusive “I love your purple lips!”. Wow – I didn’t even really think I was wearing purple. But that is the beauty of rocking a subtle trend: my favorite kind.

Add that to the fact that the formula of Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick is something to celebrate. The pigments define lips without being cakey or matte. My dry lips remain super hydrated. But somehow this balmy texture manages to pack a color pop.

And the design of the tube is so intuitive, dare I say you don’t even need a mirror? Bonus points: this lasted through two (very sophisticated) cocktails.

NARS Holiday Soleil D’Orient Lipgloss

I’ve been wearing a lot of bold lip colors lately. There is something about a red or plum lip that gets people talking. Outfits seem to look a little bit more put together, a little more sophisticated. But even so… lipstick can be a drag. I have a pet peeve with it getting on wine glasses, teeth and that rare (okay maybe not so rare) rogue smudge on my face. So, I am fully embracing the new NARS lip gloss for holiday.

Today marks the day you fanatical NARSissts can get the holiday collection (I am included in this group). The entire collection is inspired by bold design and the “future femme”. The custom packaging is sure to be a collectors item with designs by architectural designer Chris Kabatsi. The digitally-rendered Nebula print appears on all the products.

Soleil D’Orient is a shimmering pink champagne that adds more than a regular dose of iridescence. But the effect is slightly more nude than glitter. I can officially call this the perfect holiday cocktail party lip.

Stay tuned for more reviews of the NARS Holiday 2014 Collection. You can find the NARS Holiday 2014 Collection today on www.narscosmetics.com and at department and specialty stores beginning November 1. The gift sets and palettes will be available on November 1 as well.