ELF Matte Lip Color

I picked up a couple of the ELF Matte Lip Color pencil...things this past weekend while spending an obscene amount of money on drugstore makeup. The professionals rage retails for around 3$ each. I had heard a lot about this particular item and had considered ordering it a few times, but figured I would eventually get to a store that had them in and could get to it then. I picked up one in the color Natural which is like a cool toned, muted, light pink shade. The second was Coral a pale peachy nude shade. I was worried from swatches I'd seen that Coral would be super pale and dead looking, but with my really fair complexion it turned out the be more of a natural lip shade.



Top: Coral Bottom: Natural



Top: Coral Bottom: Natural



Top: Coral Bottom: Natural

You get a ton of product in these, 1.8 grams for 3$. I will say that they feel the most drying of any matte lipstick I've ever used. It also seems to feel really heavy on the lips, almost like a really thick lipgloss, but without the shine. I do prefer a matte lip most days and have used lots of formulations in the past, I've never used any that were this uncomfortable to wear. I do think the dry formula is one of the reasons these are such a long wearing product, even with a bit of lip balm (which was necessary for these to be tolerable) they lasted 4+ hours on my lips.

 Even though these are only 3$ I would say shell out 2$ more and go for the NYX Matte Lipsticks instead. They have a more extensive color range and are MUCH more comfortable on the lips. These do wear well but between the dryness and the uncomfortable weight on the lips I don't think they're worth it. There are other more comfortable matte options on the market if you're willing to shell out just a couple of bucks more.

Have you tried the ELF Matte Lip Color? What did you think?

Ring Around

If you saw my last post you'll know I've been on a bit of a ring kick lately. Accessories in general really, but rings especially. I intentionally sought out a sore called Secret of Treasure...no not a typo that is the name of the shop, it's on 8th Ave just south of the Port Authority. It is essentially and import type store and everything is $2.99. If you live in New York and have ever been to one of the Gem Story stores, it is essentially the same thing. 

So I went in looking for some cocktail rings in various colors, shapes, and sizes. I wound up leaving with four, and that required some serious self control as I could have easily bought more. I got 3 silver and 1 gold.

My favorite is the last one. It is the smallest and the oblong shaped stone is really flattering. I have short stubby fingers and while I don't spend a whole lot of time worrying about it, it is nice to come across things that diminish their stumpy appearance.

In retrospect I think I would swap out the only gold one for something else. When I started wearing it and looking at it in profile on my finger, I realized it looks a bit like a cowboy hat. Not. Cute. 

Head on its a little classier looking but I might have to go back and revisit some of the other gold options.

I foresee this summer being the summer of rings, but we'll see. It's so easy to pick a new accessory obsession if you're only shelling out 3$ a pop. It's a good thing the shop is out of the way of my daily trek otherwise I would have a hard time saying no to a quick look on my way home everyday.

What have you been enjoying lately?

xoxo

Molly

Minted...

I have been lusting over these mint jeans from Forever 21 for weeks now. Just before Valentines Day I spotted them whilst shopping, but my wallet had other priorities that day. Not being able to get them off my mind, I went back only to find that they had completely sold out. I decided I could just order them, but alas sold out online as well. I was ready to admit defeat until this past Sunday, on a Connecticut shopping adventure, I found them. Last pair. My size. Kismet.

Jacket, Top, Pants, Necklace: Forever 21

Loafers: Ellen Tracy

The whole outfit was a Forever 21 free for all, but I loved the look. The really lightweight camel color blazer softens the mint black combo and helps keep the outfit from looking too one note. I'm clearly channeling Don Johnson in that first photo. No. Shame.

The Ellen Tracy loafers were a TJMaxx find and love at first sight. I'm disappointed to report, THEY KILL. I wore them to work the other day and was in so so so much pain I thought I might punch someone. I think though...with some persistence and a little stretching, we will come to a comfort agreement. 

L-R: 3$ Store, Street Vendor, 3$ Store, 3$ Store, Alaska

I'm loving the ring overload thing at the moment. I love looking at my fingers and seeing some of the places I've been, or some of the bargains I've gotten.  There is a store in NYC that sells everything for $2.99 and it's the best place for stocking up on trendy pieces that are actually pretty sturdy.

The nails have become a staple for me. I blame LLYMLRS but it's so easy and interesting. This combo is Color Club Jackie Oh, Zoya Mitzi, and Models Own+Wah Nails nail art pen in Black. I swear this little pen is worth the shipping to America, mine is almost out and that never happens to me with almost anything beauty related. Ever.

I'm suddenly really excited about the rapidly approaching warmer weather and he fashion funtimes it brings.

What are you guys wearing to welcome the Spring?

xoxo

Molly

The Straight Hair Experiment...

I've had impossibly curly hair like, forever, so when I was around 13 and stick straight became all the rage well...tragic was the word for it. Over time, however, I learned to love and celebrate my spirals, wearing them daily with pride. Every now and again though, I get that itch to bust out my flat iron and spend a few hours doing my hair...

 

Now I must say this was not my best job, which leads me to my next topic, the tool of choice.

size comparisson

NuMe Petite

This is the NuMe Petite Iron in Baby Blue. (not really baby blue at all but I'm not splitting hairs. LOL) I bought this with a 100$ giftcard I received from MyGlam Bag. (Which, for the record, I am no longer subscribed to.) The total came to around 37$, which is pretty affordable for a decent tool. This however, is not an especially outstanding tool. 

I'm not very skilled with hair tools, but I spent quite a long time on this job and found that my results didn't turn out 100% straight nor did they last very long. The iron doesn't seem to get very hot, it doesn't heat up very quickly, and it is quite tiny. My fine hair pulls through fine but if your hair is on the thicker side look for a model with much wider plates.

For me It works as I can count on one hand the number of times a year I straighten my hair. On the other hand if you are genuinely looking for a tool that will work for you on a daily basis look elsewhere.

xoxo

Molly

Springtime for Kitty...

Just wanted to share a quick manicure I did recently in the hopes that Mother Nature would take the hint and give us a little spring weather. It sort of worked too!

(L-R) Models Own Nail Art Pen in Black, Illamasqua Jo'Mina, Joe Fresh Coral

Sunlight

Shade

I was so pleased with how this came out and it was just the perfect color combination! Will most definitely be rocking this combo again as the weather continues to get warmer. What polishes have you guys been loving lately??

xoxo

Molly

Foudation Musings of a Non-Foundation Girl

I have never really found a base product that I have ever liked. I always feel like you can see the product on the skin and that applying foundation in the morning simply takes too long. That said I have found myself revisiting foundation products a lot in the past few weeks. I got a Beauty Blender sponge in a recent Birchbox and decided that I wanted to try it. I reached for my old Make Up Forever HD foundation ran the Beauty Blender under the tap and went to town. When I was done I was pretty pleased that my skin looked even and didn't look caked in cosmetic. 

That said, it took FOREVER...(which in reality is only like 5 minutes). It's just not something I can see myself taking the time to do on a daily basis. Special occasions, sure, at 5 am, not a freakin' chance. 

In that very same Birchbox was a baby sample of this puppy

Photo Allure.com

I love this stuff. It is a bit shimmery, but glowy shimmery not glittery.  It subtly evens out your skintone and creates a really lovely awake and toned appearance on the face. I also almost have enough Birchbox points to get it for cheap. It retails from Jouer for $38.

This discovery also had me thinking about another Make Up Forever product that I had wanted quite badly last summer but never got.

 

Photo Sephora.com

Since Make Up Forever is supposed to be a IMATS I think I might go ahead and pick this up. It sounds like my dream foundation product. Light weight, sheer coverage, natural looking once applied. Another bonus is 50ml for $38 versus HD which is 30ml for $40. Who doesn't love a little value in life.

If any of you have thoughts on either of these products, good or bad, please let me know. Who knows one (or both) could make a real appearance here pretty soon.

xoxo

Molly

Gettin Cheeky

I am obsessed with cheek products lately. Coincidentally I have also come across come exceptionally good items lately. The first being a tried and true makeup favorite of many people Benefit's Hoola Bronzer. I was lucky enough to be gifted it by a friend who already had one and wanted to rid herself of a duplicate.

 It has the prettiest natural tan color that comes across very naturally on my skin tone. I was always so uninspired by bronzers in the past because I always thought they made my face look dirty and I was also never all that upset to be pale. As it is I've only been contouring with it and I love the definition it gives my face.

The next product is a very recent addition that has single handedly taken over my makeup life. It's the Joe Fresh Cream Blush in Flush.

It looks really really red in the pan and is in fact a very very pigmented cream product. The way this applies to the skin is so flawless. It looks like a lovely winter wind-blown flush. (thus the name) It isn't a cream to powder formula, (which seems to be very popular lately) but a true creamy almost gel finish. It sinks into the skin so beautifully and lasts FOREVER.

Joe Fresh is a Canadian brand that has only recently launched in the U.S. and I got this at one of their stores in Manhattan. The best part is that this is $8 and the most expensive item in the whole makeup range. I could easily see this brand becoming a go to for me when I need an inexpensive makeup fix.

What have you been obsessing over lately?

xoxo

Molly