Beauty Tip: Use Liquid Lipsticks as Lip Liners

New discovery!

At least on my journey.

Liquid lipsticks make excellent lip liners.

Being super pigmented, easy to glide on but matte, long-lasting and serving to intensify the lipstick you put on, liquid lipsticks are It!

The Secret to an All-Over Glow

I always felt like there was some secret club of ladies who knew how to make their entire bodies look miraculously bronzed and ethereal.

I always wanted that.

But clearly I did not have enough interest to make that happen.

Until yesterday.

Yesterday I discovered bronzer.

Actually I had already been using inexpensive bronzers by BR and  liquid illuminators by ELF from shopmissa.com since I started my journey, and I had dibbled and dabbled in some MAC mineralized skinfinish like Gold Deposit.

But it's only that I had seldom been using bronzers/illuminators/highlighters. I only noticed that when I did use them on myself or on other people, they gave the effect of looking like a mermaid. Angelic. Out of this world.

I enjoyed it. But it never quite struck me as critical.

Yesterday I finally discovered that bronzer/illuminator/highlighters are not only beautiful but essential.

And this item had slowly been making it's way into my consciousness. The other day I saw a girl on pinterest go from a tired look to all-out glam, and she said all she had used was concealer and bronzer. That is when it first piqued how important bronzer/illuminators/highlighters were (I had already mentioned long ago this year to a friend that concealer was the secret to my sauce).

I had been noticing over the past weeks that I did not like my makeup on some days and liked it on others. I noticed that when I used bronzer/illuminator I received more compliments on my makeup. Yesterday it all came together.

I was looking in the mirror putting on makeup and it just did not look "right" when it was all done. It was all well-applied but the look did not yet have the "it" factor.

I applied a little highlighter and bronzer and voila! Magic! I instantly looked more poppy and all-out-glam celebrity in an instant. And I LOVED my makeup now. It was absolutely perfect.

I began to watch youtube videos to learn about best bronzers/illuminators/highlighters on the market, both expensive and inexpensive. I put a number of them on my wish list and will be building on this item over time.

There was one particular video yesterday that struck me where the girl mentioned that this item(s) makes or breaks her look. That for her bronzers/illuminators/highlighters were indeed her favorite makeup item. I had never heard such a statement from anyone's mouth before. She said that loving this item makes her have such a large collection of them.

As a lipstick lover, it was puzzling. But intriguing. And it made me take this item way more seriously. The girl in the youtube video looked absolutely bronzed to heaven. And she looked gorgeous. She had a ton of bronzers/illuminators/highlighters. She mentioned that even if she did no makeup, or if it were summer and she did not want to put on foundation, she would take her face and body cream and put some liquid illuminator in it, mixing them together and apply it to her face and body. The idea was brilliant. And I am sure it has been circulating around forever, but I am just discovering it for myself.

So I tried it today and oh my is it stunning. I can look naturally glowy and get a poppy look by mixing these items and then adding a touch more on my high points like my cheekbones, forehead, bridge of nose, etc. It was the best no-makeup makeup look I have tried on myself. And I may do it more regularly. It also served to remind me that when I actually do a full face of makeup, the bronzer/illuminator/highlighter is quintessential in a look, especially for a dewy/glowy look.

Another girl from youtube introduced me to the all over body glow. I always wondered how to look youthful, dewy and glowy throughout the seasons. Apparently there are body illuminators made for the body, which is why since forever there are 'some' ladies who have looked absolutely glistening with a healthy and stunning glow all over. Why has it took so long for me to discover this for myself?!

(Note that bronzers, illuminators and highlighters are three different items but I used them interchangeably sometimes depending on the shade. I can even use an eyeshadow as a highlighter.)

What an item!

I look forward to introducing this item to my face and body, with my newfound understanding. I can't wait to shine!

How Lipstick has lead to a Complete Transformation

In truth, I fell in love with lipstick first.

Everything else fell into place, or rather is falling into place, as a result.

Falling in love with lipstick made it necessary for me to learn how to properly make up my face.

When I learned how to do makeup, I started to wear makeup regularly. Because I enjoy it. Because it makes me happy. It feels like a massage every morning.

But doing makeup regularly made me start to question my style choices.

From there, I started to think more critically of the ways people put their styles together. It takes a special kind of creative genius to create well-coordinated outfits. I recognize that. I respect it. And I want to emulate it.

How people match lipsticks to purses or accessories and sometimes blouses and dresses. That is only one type of matching. Sometimes jewelry matches the shoes. Or the clutch matches the head scarf. Most frequently shoes match the bag. But I will be honest with you: I never noticed these things until recently. It just never passed my mind. It just did not fall into the line of thoughts of interest.

How people chose articles of clothing also intrigued me. What was truly high quality? I walked into a Saks fifth avenue store recently and felt a $2000 dress and it was heavy as bricks and thick as well. This turned me on to the fact that I had truly been wearing poor quality clothing for a long time. Thin material was not the way of fashion it turns out. It simply was a way to "encourage" more consumerism by making people desire material with more weight. More coverage. I am not saying it is right. But what I am saying is it makes a serious difference. The fit will be out of this world. Beautifully contouring the body. The comfort unparalleled. The look, intoxicating. I had been missing out. And while I would not shoot for highly priced items, I would aim for high quality pieces. And discontinue further investment in anything less than high quality.

How people select wardrobe items. A cousin of mine said that she bought Christian Louboutins on sale for $250 long before they were hot. She bought then simply because she appreciated the style and fit. This is critical for me to remember because it suggested not following current trends but rather selection based upon personal style. What you purchase may eventually become on trend but your personal style trumps trends always.

I am currently shifting my thoughts about appearance. My look never mattered to me, because I was so much more than my look. And while that is still true, my look can also reflect my creativity and my style. 2015 has truly been a transformative year in more ways than one. I look forward to finally becoming my own image of me.

A New FAV Shopping Experience: Burlington Coat Factory!

Yes! Ross is my favorite store to shop in. I love to find nice handbags, clothing and dresses here for phenomenal prices! The quality of the clothing lasts and lasts and look like materials sold for hundreds of dollars.

But recently, I took notice of a store I had seriously enjoyed all the while but have not gotten a chance to have it nearby me: Burlington Coat Factory. I bought a winter coat from there almost 7 years ago for about $60 and it looked great over time. I purchased a new coat recently from Burlington and I absolutely love the coat for the quality and price point.

I also picked up some Calvin Klein infinity scarves that look absolutely beautiful. I adore the jewelry and accessories at Burlington most of all. The watches and necklaces are stunning and the prices, excellent.

Now that I live near Burlington Coat Factory, I intend to enjoy it!

How a Lady on the Bus Inspired Me to Wear Lipsticks for the Rest of My Life

Let's be clear: I already wanted to wear lipsticks everyday forever and ever. But I was afraid.

Like so many of us, I feared lipstick. Lipstick, to me, represented power. It represented boldness. It was pure artistry. In some ways, wizardry. And bold and brights were trending. And how did I feel about it? Scared.

Will I look crazy? Like a clown perhaps? How can I look people in the eye knowing I have this bright, bold color on my lip that is completely unnatural? How could I wear lipstick so that lipstick wouldn't wear me? How do you even apply lipstick correctly when each attempt looks like a 2-year-old drew it?

I sheepishly thought to myself, "But I love lipstick." I feel like a woman in lipstick, feminine, daring, powerful. I had amassed several lippies and little by little I began to wear them out everyday. Because it made me feel good.

But then a new fear took hold. What happens when lipsticks go out of style? I knew that lip gloss was the hot lip product not too long ago and now everyone was onto lipsticks. But what happens when the next trend completely makes my lipstick collection seem null and void?

This is where the lady on the bus came in.

I was taking the Megabus to another state because it's $1 if you get it in advance so what the hey. While waiting on line I see a polished woman standing in front of me and she happens to have on a beautiful shade of orange on her lips...so I ask her which lipstick it is. She tells me it's Siren from Revlon. She continues to chat with me, telling me that she absolutely loves lipsticks (just like me!) and her favorite brand is Revlon. But what she would later say impressed my life forever.

She said gleefully that she had been wearing lipstick everyday for 3 decades. Whaaaaaa? Yes! 3 Decades! This woman did not look older than late 40s or early 50s. But she would tell me that she was knocking on 70! This woman was 68 years old...and she looked absolutely fabulous and stunning. She was well put-together and everything about her stated class, style and elegance. I told her I wanted to look like her when I grow up!

What struck me most about what she said is.....if she was wearing lipstick for 3 decades (and looking that fierce), it means that she was wearing lipstick even when the lip gloss trend was all the rage! Which means that I TOO can do it! I can wear lipstick regardless what the trend is. It is amazing what seeing an example makes you realize that you can do...and do well.

What put the cherry on top of the icing on the cake was that this woman's own mother had been wearing different shades of red lipstick everyday too since the early 1920s. Sadly, her mother had passed away. But I learned something from her mother as well. Something perhaps even greater. Her mother was wearing lipsticks through even more decades when trends and styles were definitely shifting...and she wore red solely, the most audacious yet classic shade, even though other shades had started to become available. That showed me that she did whatever she wanted...because it made her happy!

Inadvertently, the lipstick legacy of these two generations of ladies from that family has imprinted upon me the audacity and pure revelry of swiping on clothing for my lips each and every day, any and every way.

Gimme Gimme Liquid Lipsticks

I know it has been a while since I last posted but that does not mean I have not been keeping up with my favorite makeup item: Lipsticks!

I fell in love with MAC lipsticks early this year and I have not been the same since. I have also branched out recently and got into the newest trend for lippies: Liquid Lipsticks!

For so long, I stayed away from these because the price tag was simply too high and I figured that I had already built up a decent MAC collection so I thought I was good. But then I visited my cousin's house (where I learned even more about makeup in general because my aunt and her daughters know quite more than me on makeup), and lo and behold! My cousin had the truest purple, mattest, absolutely most gorgeousest lipstick I had ever seen.

I would find out that it was 3 Witches by Pretty Zombie Cosmetics. I tried to resist temptation but ultimately failed and gave in and purchased it. And I am sooo happy I did! This newest obsession has rocked my world.

I had ordered 3 Witches and Purple Poison and when I received them, they gave amazing pigmentation, lasted for hours and they barely budged when I drank something (but eating can cause it to smear in the inside of the lip). And they made me feel fierce. I was hooked. Of course. Since then I have tried liquid lipsticks from Kat Von D, Coloured Raine, Sephora, NYX, Milani, LA Splash, Colourpop, Stila, Hourglass, Limecrime and many more!

My absolute favorite formulas are Kat Von D, Coloured Raine, Stila and Sephora. They are each amazingly comfortable in their own way with fabulous color pay-off. But that is not to say that the others aren't great. I have a favorite lippie in most brands! Grab one!

WHOA, Wet N Wild Megalast Lipsticks

So, initially, when I was starting my journey I felt that Wet N Wild lipsticks were little cheapies at the drugstore which were good but not exceptional.

That was because I had only tried on 3 of the colors. And after buying almost all of the shades in the collection, I can say that those 3 original shades were my least favorites.

And yet when I compare these same 3 shades to other brands, I find that these colors are still better than other brands. Those shades are Pinkerbell, Don't Blink Pink and 24 Carrot Gold. I would later find that these types of shades simply are not my favorite type of shades.

I would also learn that many of the Wet N Wild lipsticks are exceptional colors when compared to all types of brands from high-end to drugstore. While the finish of these lippies are not the best when compared to more luxurious lipsticks, they wear well, look good and have mostly become my favorite shades out of all the brands I currently own including MAC, NARS, NYX, NYC, Milani, Jordana and LA Colors (and also brands I have tried/seen but do not own like YSL, Stila, Kat Von D, etc).

While I do have favorite shades in other brands and my favorite brand for lipsticks is still MAC, Wet N Wild as a collection reigns supreme for biggest surprise, best in drugstore and comparable and even rival to higher end brands when it concerns colors/shades. In fact, I used to think Jordana was my favorite drugstore lippie collection because their selection was vast, colors varied (i.e., good color range) and finish was very smooth.

But Wet N Wild have surpassed Jordana by far when it comes to the very best colors to enter the lipstick game. So much so in fact, I have largely forgotten about my Jordana collection. I seldom find a color I want to wear from Jordana even though I have 30-plus. But Wet n Wild competes with MAC on a daily!

I have purchased an excessive amount of backups for those $2 gems, especially for the lovely shades of Cherry Picking, Cherry Bomb, Just Peachy (gorgeous nude on me), Sugar Plum Fairy, Vamp it Up (super hard to find in some many stores so I purchased it on beautyjoint,com) and Spotlight Red (a red shade that rivals some of the best red shades on the market)!

I love lipsticks, and Wet N Wild has changed the way I view the world of lipsticks. Precious gems can be found in the most humble places.