The Autumn Lip Edit

Today I've got my autumn lip edit, the colours that I think are going to be featured in my lip wardrobe this upcoming season. We've got the typical reds and berries, some pretty pinky-mauves, and a good ol' nude to round out the bunch. Let's dive in.

Tanya Burr Cosmetics Lipgloss in Chic. This cream finish gloss has beautiful pigmentation and shine, but it can be worn quite lightly if you want a more natural look. The colour is like a brownish-nude with just a hint of peach, making it the perfect every day nude. The smell is out of this world, and the applicator is perfect. Love.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lipstain in Honey. Chubby sticks are all the rage now and this is an oldie but a goodie. This baby is literally my lips but WAAAAY better. It's the perfect mauvey shade and has a slightly balmy feel, making it look natural. It has a nice minty feel on the lips and wears well throughout the day.

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Syrup. This shade is kind of hard to describe, I would say it's mauve with a bit of plum but it's still strangely a nude colour when on the lips. I love the Lustre formula because it can be worn quite sheer and is really moisturizing.

Wet N Wild Megaslicks Balm Stain in Lady and the Vamp. This cheap sucka is awesome for its price, it's a lovely berry-purple shade. It can also be worn quite sheer but when built up is quite pigmented and has a lot of shine.

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Strawberry Suede. Strawberry Suede is a gorgeous almost neon matte red, it isn't one of those awful matte formulas that's drying and it lasts forever. I believe it has been discontinued, but apparently the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in 109 is very similar!

Bourjois Colour Burst Lipstain in Red Sunshine. This beauty is gonna be difficult to find if you're living in the states like me, but it's worth the hunt. It's a beautifully glossy shade that looks like you've just rubbed a strawberry on your lips. It's also very moisturizing and wears well throughout the day.

NYX Butter Gloss in Red Velvet. I'm not a huge fan of dark glosses, but this one is definitely beautiful. A deep, rich red with a blue tint is a perfect colour for the holiday season. The formula for these is as perfect as a gloss can get, pigmented without being sticky and heavy and still moisturizing.

Rimmel London Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 107. This is my favourite lipstick ever. It is a beautiful bordeaux red that has cool undertones, perfect for my skintone. It has a velvety smooth finish and wears surprisingly well. It's also really buildable so you can wear it as a stain or a super-dark vamp red.

What are your picks for the season?
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Why the CCO is the Bomb Dot Com

Okay so I don't know about you guys, but I have this very dangerous problem / serious advantage of working next to one of only a few CCO's in my state. If you don't know what a CCO is, it stands for Cosmetic Company Outlet and they basically sell discounted Estee Lauder products. So, after work I can't help but peruse the vast selection of Limited Edition as well as Permanent products (hello Well Dressed blush for $14). Estee Lauder owns MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Origins, Smashbox, and even Tom Ford and these brands plus more can be found there. I generally spend hours looking at the MAC stuff. It's a problem. But honestly, I rarely even go to the actual MAC counters anymore unless there's something specific I want there.

I love the fact that the CCO stocks overrun LE products, but the greatest thing is finding a Permanent Collection product for a fraction of the price. Above I have pictured MAC's Well Dressed blush which generally runs for $22.00, I paid $14.50. The paint pot in Soft Ochre? Usually $21, I snagged it for $11. ANGEL lipstick, the cult favourite is usually $16 I pay $10. The Taupe Shape blush was a LE product but would have been the same price as Well Dressed. I mean really, if you have one near you it's completely unnecessary to shop at the MAC counter exclusively. So, if you've got one near you I highly recommend a little rendezvous into the CCO, but don't say I didn't warn you, you will want to buy EVERYTHING.

I've got my eye on some Tom Ford beauties at the moment, sorry wallet.
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Being Happy With Yourself

I know I've been posting every other day recently, but I just felt the need to share this post with you right now. My friend called me today rather upset, I'm sure she won't mind me telling you this, because she didn't feel pretty. I'm someone who has definitely struggled with low self-esteem issues, and really I still do. It's a part of growing up. You look in the mirror and see all the things you hate. My crooked nose, the way my lips look when I smile, the fact that I can't lose that extra fat in my tummy. But really, why does that matter? No one else sees it, people think you're BEAUTIFUL. I'm telling you, it's true. I never thought anyone would ever think I was even pretty but they do, and even if no one else did, I know you're beautiful and you know you're beautiful.

All the way up until my senior year of high school, I was the girl who sat in the back of the classroom and never opened her mouth. I didn't really even talk to my friends. I stuttered through presentations and quite often I cried in front of the class because I was so terrified (mortifying). Then one day I decided I didn't want to live like that. I started being myself in public, it's honestly really easy. I mean why should it matter if other people think you're weird? I guarantee there are people out there who will love you for you. I met my very best friends this way, simply by opening my (big) mouth. And they are the greatest people I've ever known. I tell myself I'm beautiful. It sounds conceited but why the heck shouldn't you be able to say that proudly? Speeches are still something I struggle with but I've gotten so much better at it. No one should ever feel like they aren't pretty. Every single person on this Earth is unique, and that is what makes you absolutely beautiful. So let it shine, Roald Dahl said, "A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double-chin and stick out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." I don't think I've ever heard a truer statement.

Self-confidence is definitely something you gain with age. You discover that you couldn't give a crap if someone gave you a funny look as you walk across campus because you feel fabulous. So, at whatever age you are, I just want to let you know that it will get better. Surround yourself with positive people, smile, love yourself. Because truly that is what life is all about.

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The "Are You Colour Blind?" Nail Look

Okay, this is definitely a love or hate kinda thing... But I for some reason love it. Which is odd because I'm a super anal person. Ever since I saw Claire's How I Stop Biting My Nails video in which she couldn't decide on one colour, I have been loving rocking this colour block look. People constantly ask me if I realize I have different coloured nails, but I don't mind I think it's quite funny.

The polishes I used are OPI's Lucky, Lucky, Lavender and Essence Let's Get Lost. I don't know what it is about these two, but they just go together so well, and I've tried other combinations but none come out as pretty as this.

What do you think, will you be rocking this look?
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Sally Hansen Matte Effect Blue Blood

 So I realized the other day that I gave away my only navy nail polish and added it to my list. I saw this beauty in Target yesterday and snatched it off the shelf. And then when I went to paint my nails this morning, realized that it is, in fact, a matte nail polish. Bummer.

I'm not really a fan of the way matte polishes look after applied, I just find that they look rather lumpy. This one didn't look too bad and it was actually a few hours before I broke down and applied a top coat. Then, I got in the shower and the chipping began. So overall, gorgeous colour, shitty formula. For $2 I suppose it's not horrendous but I do usually like the Xtreme Wear colours so I'm a little upset.

What do you guys think about mattes?
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It's the Little Things

Sometimes, after a really rubbish day something as simple as watching a lady bird land on your jewelry dish can lighten your mood. I've been really overwhelmed lately with school and work. Being an art major is not as easy as it sounds. I've got 3 3-hour studios on top of normal classes and I'm putting in 4 hours a day outside of class per studio. It's A LOT of pressure. But I'm pushing through, and this little guy just made me think about how good I really have it. Just keep that in mind, no matter what you're going through, it'll get better.

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It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Autumn

Vest: Willow and Clay (similar here) Scarf: Forever 21 Tee: GAP Leggings: Target (No longer available online) Lips: Wet N Wild Megaslicks Balm Stain Moisturizing Lip Colour in Lady and the Vamp

The weather is getting slightly cooler here, which means it's time to whip out the scarves and vests, even if you do get a little too hot walking across campus. You just bear it in the name of looking cute. I am very much looking forward to coat weather, it's my favourite.

How would you rock a vest?
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FOTD 09.14.14

So I think I'm going to start doing Face of the Day posts at least once weekly to try to get myself to stop wearing the same makeup everyday. I'm really bad about using the same products, even though I have tons of other things that I love!

Base: I used Rimmel's Match Perfection Foundation in True Ivory for my foundation, buffed in with the Sigma F84 Kabuki. I only used a small amount because I am loving these mega-freckles. I dotted the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light under my eyes and blended that out with my fingers.

Cheeks: I'm not wearing any blush or highlighter today, but I did contour a bit with MAC's Taupe Shape blush, which is discontinued.

Eyebrows: I'm quite particular about my brows, so daily I use Anastasia's Dipbrow Pomade in Chocolate, Bobbi Brown Espresso Eyeshadow, and the Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara.

Eyes: I primed my lids with Benefit's Stay Don't Stray Primer and then swept Inglot Pearl 420 shadow across my entire lid. Through my crease I used Urban Decay Tease and MAC Nylon on my inner corners. I also ran a little bit of Urban Decay Blackout along my upper lashline. My mascara combo today was Clinique High Impact Mascara and Maybelline One by One, which I believe is no longer sold in store.

Lips: All I've got on my lips is the gorgeous Tanya Burr Cosmetics Gloss in Chic.

And that's it! Are you guys interested in these posts? How about outfits as well? Let me know!
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A Pamper Day

Today is the first day in a LONG time where I have no school or work. It's bliss. So I've set myelf up a bit of a pamper day. I'm currently cuddled up on my bed full of pillows and fresh sheets, with a cup of tea and my favourite Anthropologie candle burning. I look like a ridiculous person in a huge fluffy robe, Lush's Catastrophe Cosmetic mask on my face, and my hair covered in a Macadamia Oil hair mask and flowery shower cap. I'm settled in for a day full of reading, currently I'm rereading the Harry Potter series for what must be the 30th time like the little nerd I am.

I think pamper days are much needed to decompress and start over during a stressful time with a fresh mind! What do you guys do on your pamper days?
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Holy Neon Nails Batman!

So in general, when painting my nails I'll select a nice greige or pale blue. I do have some brights in my collection, but I rarely reach for them. Today, however, I found this guy lurking in my drawer. I honestly had no idea I owned him, but this is Urban Outfitter's Ringo. I know what you're thinking... "how difficult was this to apply? Do you have white on underneath?" NO I DO NOT HAHA. This baby is real highlighter ink neon yellow in 2-3 coats. TWO TO THREE. Sorry can't contain the excitement. It's so unlike me to like a colour this bright, but how can looking at that make you unhappy? I can't comment on the wear or anything because I literally just painted my nails about twenty minutes ago, but I've finally found a real non-shitty neon yellow so I couldn't not let you know.

Also, I just read this post in which Barefoot Blonde aka Amber has neon yellow nails, so now I feel like a cool kid.

Alas, I'm assuming this came in one of the polish sets and I can't find it on the website... boo. Let me know if you guys find it anywhere!
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NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Duo

So I went into Sephora the other day "just to look around." I do this all the time, but inevitably walk out carrying a little black bag. I swear it's not possible to leave without buying SOMETHING. I've been wanting to get into NARS for a while, but their products are pretty expensive so I haven't ever bit the bullet. Until I swatched the Kalahari duo in store. Instant love. The shades are described as "gold confection" and "sugared cocoa" which I think are pretty accurate. The first is a bright bronze that I would call an antique bronze kind of shade... good description there, and the second is a cooler taupe with a slight blue duo chrome. The NARS shadows are buttery and pigmented and I can't get over this combination. The great thing about this duo in particular is that you can swipe the first shadow over your lid and the second through the crease and call it a day. The shadows are so dimensional that it looks like you put a lot of effort into the look without all the work. I'm sure you've all heard it... the iconic packing is beautiful, but I fear the day when it becomes a grubby rubber mess.

Annoying but lovely packaging aside, I'm really digging this guy. You can find the beauty at Sephora for $35 and in Space NK for £25

What NARS product should I probablyshouldn'tdoitforthesakeofmybankaccount buy next?
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Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

I know I haven't posted in a while, but let me tell you... I forgot how much college bites you in the butt. So, I'm going to try to get back onto a schedule but juggling school and work is very very difficult.

Anywho, here is the magical Lasting Perfection Concealer from Collection. This is another one of those famous products that I had to pick up on my England trip. I picked the shade fair which is perfect for my super-duper pale skin. The consistency is creamy, not runny, and dries to a powder like finish making it read completely natural. The coverage is medium and buildable. While I usually like a thinner concealer, this one is easy to sheer out so I don't mind the fuller coverage. It is a little bit dry, so if you have really dry under-eyes, you should definitely moisturize before using.

Usually, I get around 8 hours of wear from this. Yesterday, however, I put it to the ultimate test. I'm staying with a few of my friends from high school this weekend so I took a roadtrip up to see them. I applied my makeup at 10AM, I fixed my eyeshadow around 7PM before going out and then got back at 3AM, eek. I'm usually not up that late, it was hard. Anyway, while my makeup didn't look AMAZING after 17 hours, it definitely held up somewhat. I think that's pretty impressive. The packing on this guy isn't special, and most of the writing has worn off by now, but the product is so amazing that it doesn't matter. There's only four shades in the range, so anyone with a pretty deep skin tone should probably stay away.

You can find the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer at Boots for £4.19, as far as getting it in the US, I've had no luck so far even online. Do you guys know anywhere we can find it?

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