On my lips: MAC Shop Cook Naughty Saute lipstick

I showed you the swatch of MAC's Naughty Saute from the Shop Cook collection here.  Now, here it is on my lips.  I love it!  What do you think?

[Edited to add...] When I first saw this color on me I thought of NYX Paris, but I compared them side by side  and while similar, Paris is a bit dustier or darker, while NS is brighter, more yellow and glossier.

Lipstick Madness! Bold, bright lipstick swatches and thoughts

Whew! Do you all watch A&E's Intervention?  Yeh... I love that show.  I need a box of tissues to watch.

Sorry I've been away a while.   It's that time of year where my favorite Pisces celebrate their bdays.  In the midst of it all, I lost my aunt to cancer.  (Talk about an emotional roller coaster.) Quite tragic to watch some one's life slip away.  I knew she was losing her battle to cancer, but I didn't grasp that that was what dying looked like until I reflected back, watched scenes of people dying in movies and tried to gather information on planning a funeral, dealing with the dying, etc.  It's catch 22.  If I knew, I would have been more sensitive, I think.  Since, I didn't fully wrap my head around it while I was with her, I was a bit stronger.  It hurts, but I accept that we are mortals.  I was her name sake.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...   One thing that brought a bit of sunshine my way was bright lipsticks.  There was no shortage of them!  MAC, Wet N Wild and Maybelline all brought the madness.  Of course, MAC has been releasing collections left and right *sigh* 

Here's a round-up of lippies that I've been wanting to cover, but the moment I'm loving one lipstick, here comes another.  My goal is to eventually have fotd's or at least lip swatches with these lipsticks.

Top to bottom:

1. Naughty Saute (MAC Shop Cook)

2. Innocence, Beware! (MAC Shop Cook, repromote)

3.Quick Sizzle (MAC Shop Cook)

4. Watch Me Simmer (MAC Shop Cook)
5. Flamingo (MAC Iris Apfel)
6. Party Parrot (MAC Iris Apfel)
7. Lady Danger (MAC, permanent)
8. Scarlet Ibis (MAC Iris Apfel)
9. Pink Pigeon (MAC Iris Apfel)
10. Fuchsia Fever (Maybelline)
11. Dollhouse Pink (Wet N Wild)
12. Purty Persimmon (Wet N Wild)
13. Cherry Picking (Wet N Wild)
*14. Smoked Purple (MAC Make Me Over)
*Threw this in for GP... another unused lipstick
**Darn!  I forgot Viva Glam Nicki!  I guess she will get her own post!

Let's take a closer look at the colors and my thoughts on them!

1. Naughty Saute (MAC Shop Cook) MAC says this is a bright pepto pink.  It is, but in a positive way. Bad would be bright in a pastel pink kind of way.  This bright starts to lean the slightest bit neon.  I was skeptical about this because of color and cremesheen formula, but so glad I got it!  I love this pink and the cremesheen formula on this isn't as slippery as I anticipated. I can wear this creame formula without a liner and it stays put.  I am self conscious about my teeth in this particular pink though =(

2. Innocence, Beware! (MAC Shop Cook, repromote)  We already saw this from the MAC Venemous Villians collection.  I passed it up then.   I bought it this time strictly because I've been impressed with MAC lippies since Iris Apfel. MAC says this is a light yellow pink.  On me, it's a nice pinky nude.  I could have lived without this one, but it's not like my other nudes.

3.Quick Sizzle (MAC Shop Cook)  I thought this was the highly anticipated lipstick because people thought this would replace the highly sought after Pink Pigeon from Iris Apfel.  Once I tried this, this is much deeper with a hint of berry in it and more velvet than Pink Pigeon.  The recent mattes formulas from MAC are love!  So this is definitely a winner.

4. Watch Me Simmer (MAC Shop Cook) Gorg... sorry I can't recall more details from when I tried it on.

5. Flamingo (MAC Iris Apfel) For me this is a pastel coral.  I love the lustre formula on this! It's more opaque than you would expect, but it's light enough for a great Spring/Summer feel.

6. Party Parrot (MAC Iris Apfel) It's not hot pink, it's not hot orange or red... it's a hot, bold coral shade that's amazing!  Definitely a winner.  It looked spectacular on the MAC mua!  Missed out on it? OCC Trollop I believe is close.  You will get an amazing color, but you will sadly miss out on the formula.

7. Lady Danger (MAC, permanent) MAC says this is a vivid coral-red.  That's an interesting description, but yes it is a vivid orange red.  This is a unique show stopping lipstick recognizable anywhere.  The formula makes it that much better.

8. Scarlet Ibis (MAC Iris Apfel) exactly like Lady Danger in the swatch. I think this has a tinge more red. I'll compare on lips.  Sometimes the formula brings out different tones.

9. Pink Pigeon (MAC Iris Apfel) Pink Pigeon is not a dupe of the highly coveted MAC Candy Yum Yum (Darn, I wish I had swatched  them side by side.) It's darker than Candy Yum Yum, but it's a hot, bold and loud pink.

10. Fuchsia Fever (Maybelline) Fab offering from the drugstore to cure any bold pink lemmings.  This one is a more yellow pink and can stand up to any hot pink.  The formula is nice and creamy. 

11. Dollhouse Pink (Wet N Wild)  This pink is a bright, pastel, pepto pink.  Almost the bad version of Naughty Saute.  Absolute matte formula, be careful with this one.  If you can pull it off, great for you!  Still glad I have it though.  Don't hunt this down if you have St. Germain or  Melrose Mood from MAC.


12. Purty Persimmon (Wet N Wild)  It's the poor girl's Lady Danger.... sorta.  This is deeper, redder, not as in your face or noticeable as Lady Danger. Women wearing Lady Danger, is a mad woman with a microphone in a room full of people.  Purty Persimmon is a women in a body hugging red dress in a room full of people.

13. Cherry Picking (Wet N Wild)  Red  with a tinge of deep pink. Pretty.  Good bold color on  budget.


*14. Smoked Purple (MAC Make Me Over) Dark, vampy, eggplant purple, matte finish.

So there you have it. My latest and greatest.  I'll give Viva Glam Nicki her own post (even if you have seen 101 posts on it.  It's gorgeous!).  Do you have a favorite bright/bold lippie that you are loving right now?

Black history through a magazine editorial

The magazine editorial is titled "...Than a Brown Paper Bag."  If you are African American you may know what this means.  The "paper bag test" within the African American community is a symbol of racism within race.  At one time, people had to check their skin color at the door to gain entrance in a certain parties or organizations.  Only if you were the color of or lighter "than a brown paper bag" were you admitted.  This practice left its mark on African American cultural and lingers in modern times.  Check out Wikipedia's reference here.

For more information on this editorial and my latest work with amazing photographer Leonard Poteat, check out his blog The Close Up.  When we work together we make magic!

While you guys are at it, check out this post  that shows some more work that I'm pretty proud of!

RIP Whitney E. Houston

WHITNEY ELIZABETH HOUSTON
1963-2012

I grew up on Whitney's music.  As I kid you learned your ABC's, the National Anthem, and the words to Greatest Love of All.  Some of my fondest memories as a kid is singing along to Greatest Love of All and  bopping around to I Wanna Dance with Somebody.  The news of her death sent shock around the world.  I was en route to a party when the news came.  My stomach knotted up making it hard for me to drive to my destination

Whitney Houston had a highly successful career as old as I am.   I can't recount everything, but here are some of my favorites by one of the best voices of my time.  My prayers go out to her family.  We lost a legend, but I can't be selfish.

Check out some videos of my favorite Whitney moments:

Amber Riley's Glee rendition of  I Will Always Love You:



My favorite Whitney performance ever:



When she made her 'comeback', this was my favorite song and how I enjoyed her, upbeat and happy.
I'm not always in the mood for a heartfelt love ballad (even though she was the best at it).

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

 (Kelsey Nixon -something cute to bake your man!)

That's right, YOU! All of my readers, I'm so grateful and appreciative of all of you, taking time to read the blog, my thoughts and ramblings on makeup, staying connected even when I can't pump out posts by the minute.  I heart you all!

For me, Valentine's Day isn't as big of a deal (#singlegirlshade), but I was inspired enough to put on makeup.  I was inspired by this JLo look.  Cool and casual pink is the way I like to describe it.

Quick side bar: Today on the radio, the morning show had callers calling in to answer their survey of:  "Who you would dip in chocolate and who you would dip in fertilizer/ (ish)?"

Who would I dip in chocolate? Ryan Reynolds or Idris Elba (for double chocolate!)
Who would I dip in ish? Tre Songz.... he's a baby perv.
How would you answer the survey??

On to the fotd!

 

FACE

 MAC Matchmaster foundation 5.0

Studio Finish concealer nw25

Physician's Formula Healthy Wear powder

CHEEKS

NARS Angelika blush

MAC Porcelain Pink MSF

Black Radiance pressed powder in Creamy Beige

EYES

Nubile paint pot

Shimmery cream eye shadow (from a palette) on inner lid

Mythology eye shadow on second half of lid into the crease

Saddle eye shadow in the crease

Dark black brown shadow (from a palette) near lash line into outer v

 Smoky Heir superslick liner on top lid

UD Zero liner on water line 

UD Whiskey lightly on the bottom lid

L'Oreal False Fiber Lash mascara

LIPS

Dress It Up Pro Longwear Lipcreme

MAC Secret Lover lipstick (Make Me Over collection -- I forgot and had to google it!)

 

Again, Happy Valentine's Day.  Remember that I love you!  ;D

New Drugstore Items: Milani, Maybelline, FOTD

I'm always in the drugstore for one thing or another and what's  the harm in adding an eyeshadow to the to-buy list?  Pack of toilet paper, light bulbs, allergy  med, a lipstick! Works right? LOL

Here's what else I was surprised to see...

Six new Milani polishes for Spring

 

Six new baked shadows.  I swear this last one (2nd pic, right, green) is a dead ringer for MAC Unsurpassable Mineralize Eyeshadow.  I don't have

Unsurpassable, but it immediately caught my attention when I saw it and thought MAC dupe!

New Maybelline Spring Collection

I try to be a modest makeup fiend and picked 1 single eye shadow out of all the offerings.  Check below!

Milani Runway Eyshadow inAntigua.  Yall know I had to swatch as soon as I could, which meant no time for pics, lol.  This appeared to be a taupe-ish shadow infused with gold shimmers.  Neutral, blingy... me likey!  The gold shimmers aren't just a layer on top.  More chunky on the overlay of course, but gold shimmer thru and thru.

On me, Antigua takes on an olive gold appearance.  Not what I was looking for, but it's cool, I used it wet.  The photos I took when I smiled, I didn't like them.  Sorry for the mugging pics,lol

No special deal about the products I used, but I do like that I used a Physician's Formula powder to set my foundation and I finally got MAC's Pink Nouveau and wore it!

Have you seen these new products?

Fragrance Survey: February 2012

Fragrance Now 2012 by yummy411 on polyvore.com

Most recent fragrance purchase: Halle Berry Reveal the Passion
I haven't tried the original Reveal. but Reveal the Passion tickled my fancy.  It's a familiar fruity floral scent.  If you like Coach Poppy, Britney Spears Fantasy and the like, you will like this.  I had sworn off anymore cavity- inducing, overly sugary  (not to be confused with sweet) fragrances, but what I like about RtP is that there is a note that brightens it up.  Not sure what it is, but it keeps it from being too heavy, warm and overbearing as the others can be.
Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift is another recent purchase (not pictured).

Fragrance on classic status: Insolence by Guerlain
This has reached classic status for me. It's sweet and elegant.  Its character is demurely defined, so you don't have to worry about your fragrance defining you before you open your mouth.  It melds with you. This is my fragrance when I can't decide on anything else. Perfect for formals and daytime wear... or anytime for sophistication ;)
Gucci Envy Me has also reached classic status for me (not pictured).

Fragrance that surprised me most: Betsey Johnson Too Too
The bottle is 'too too' cute!  LOL.  The bottle just needs a leather biker jacket to complete the look; at least that's what came to my mind.  Does this smell like a rebel rocking ballerina? Nope. Mila Kunis in Black Swan? Maybe.  It is fun and flirty, but warm, hearty and more sensuous.  Almost what I expect from the sage designer that dons heavy liner and grungy hair, but is full of life in her small packaged frame. Can I share that while I love this fragrance, there's some note in it that gives me have a hunger sensation. No bueno... but I said I love this, right?  This smells good on the young, mature and men too.
Reveal the Passion and Wonderstruck were fragrances that surprised me also.

Fragrance to be restocked: Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One
My signature. The end.
I could use a roller ball of Envy Me 2.

Fragrances that are on my 'to-investigate' list:
Jimmy Choo (not pictured)- I wasn't sure how to feel about this one, which made me even more intrigued!  Must sample again!
Mary J. Blidge My Life (not pictured)- CVS had this promoted in a circular about 3 weeks ago.  It has not surfaced at any CVS I've visited. I even asked a manager to order it for the next shipment. No luck yet. Why????? I'm still on the hunt. I could purchase from HSN, but I'd rather at CVS.

How would you answer the fragrance survey?  Share already! I'm dying to know! ;)

First Look: New Black Radiance Bronzer in Blackberry Photos and Swatches

(Swatches Blackberry bronzer l-r: blended out, single swipe)

I saw a few new items from Black Radiance in the drugstore over the weekend.  This was the most unique item.  Blackberry bronzer is a swirl of darkest grape or blackberry, lilac and caramel for a the deepest bronze glow I've ever seen.   I tried it on me with a skunk brush (MAC #187) and it appeared like smoke, sheer black with a sheen to it. I can't wait to use it on the right skin tone!

Have you seen this or tried it? 

Go Mommy Go!: Maybelline Color Tattoos

Ahh! It's been quite a while since I've done one of these posts.  Welcome back.  My Go Mommy Go! series is a series of posts showcasing products, tips, tricks, and topics of discussion to help moms on the go and busy women alike work makeup into their high speed routines to stay fabulous.

I'm sure you've heard so much about the new Maybelline Color Tattoos ($6-$8, varies by retailer).  If not, read on:  They are the drugstore version of MAC paint pots.  I'm a big paint pot fan as well as a huge fan of Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream colors.  Both of the higher end lines offer cream shadows that stay put throughout daily wear.  They can be used as a lid color or eye shadow base.  Multi-tasking products? Major bonus.  You can now get all of this is a drugstore line.  Yes, go and get these.  You need them.

Maybelline offers ten colors ranging in a few neutrals to colorful shades.  Heres's what Maybelline says:
"Dare to wear our longest-lasting shadow. Our ink technology creates super-saturated color.
Cream gel smoothes on for vibrant color that does not fade"

I picked up Tough as Taupe (cream), Painted Purple (cream), Fierce and Tangy (cream) and Edgy Emerald (cream)

Clockwise from top left: Taugh as Taupe, Painted Purple, Fierce and Tangy and Edgy Emerald

Swatched in same order as above

 

Since starting this post, I've picked up more everyday wearable colors such as Pomegranate Punk (soft cranberry color with slight shimmer) and Bad to the Bronze (soft bronze shimmer).  I'm missing the Too Cool (white), Bold Gold (soft yellow gold shimmer) and Audacious Asphalt (silver shimmer).  I use pomegranate punk and bad to the bronze often.  Move over paint pots!  These offer an easy, fool proof way to add color and the effect (when I applied with my fingers) isn't over the top, but work appropriate.

These will definitely pop up in some future looks (I need some Go Mommy Go! vids on YouTube!)  For now, check out a vid from Maybelline:

Glitter Love

I thought I was sort of over my glitter phase since I have quite a few that I haven't worn, but here is more glitter love that I've acquire over the past week:

Glitters: LA Girls Nostalgic, Spoiled by Wet N Wild Jewelry Heist, Milani Hot Pink and Sephora by OPI To the Glitter End!

Swatched the same as above

Let's try descriptions: Nostalgic is a sea foam green, turquoise that  has small glitter mixed with huge hexagonal glitter of the same color.  Jewelry Heist grabbed me because it was a twist on rose pink glitters. Huge rose pink and gold hex glitters, tiny multi colored square and hex glitter. Milani Hot Pink is huge hex hot pink glitters mixed with fewer 3D silver hex glitters... silver but depending on what angle it reflects blue,green, yellow,etc. and lastly Til the Glitter End! is a dark silver, pewter glitter.  I have a black glitter and the glitters don't shine, so this for me is an alternative.

These are all better used as layering glitters.  Nostalgic is on my current mani and Hot Pink looks like a great Vday mani for the win!

Two gripes here:
1- Sephora by OPI retails for $9.50.  I can get OPI retail $8;  online for cheaper.  I'm over it already.  This may be my last polish by Sephora by OPI.  I love the collection mini sets though.
2- I think the Spoiled by Wet N Wild collection is solid.  It covers neutrals, brights, glitters, grays and blackened/deepened colors, cool names and all with an affordable price tag. BUT.. this brush for the glitter is ridic and ugly.  I don't polish my own nails often or think much about the brush, but when even trying to swatch the glitter this brush caught me by surprise.  While it's supposed to be tapered, the end of the bristles looks unruly giving the brush a thicker spread at the bottom. It was really awkward when trying to place the glitter. I seriously hope the brush in the regular colors are not like this.  Is this a problem for you guys???

See what I mean?

Are you in glitter love right now?  What are your favorite glitters?

What we are wearing on our nails

I some how captured all of our (my sisters and my) recent nail looks. Take a peak!

Toni goes short and chic for her current mani.  She's wearing a simple, traditional French with her gel manicure (no acrylic).  Very office and interview appropriate.

Kay, TeenYummy411 gets sassy with leopard nail stickers.  I scored these from Hot Topic ($10), but passed them to her.  Since I took this picture, she's mixed up her look by polishing her nails with a solid color and then using a leopard sticker to accent a nail or two. 

Jessica has her pointy nails back and true to her personality and nail tech's creative flare, she has an amazing design complete with glitter, neon, swirls and a tribal stone print.  I WANT her nails!

My tips (supposed to be pointy) are covered in Deborah Lippman's Across the Universe Lady Sings the Blues and accented with L.A. Girls Nostalgic glitter (a pretty seafoam green glitter). I saw JillianDanica with a accent stripe of glitter on her nails and wanted to try it.  I love the effect using glitter on glitter. I curved my stripe though.  I love this mani. Just when I thought I was over glitter. Glitterlicious! It has calmed my desire to want my sister's nails, for now, hehe.

What are you wearing on your nails?  What color do you want to try on your nails.

CoverGirl Lash Fanatic Mascara Review

I've been on a roll with the mascara reviews, huh? Today, I'm showing you one of the new CoverGirl Queen Collection products, the Lash Fanatic Mascara!

CoverGirl says:
"Get up to 2x* the look of more lashes rain or shine!* The mircochannels in each bristle of our Lash Surround brush smoothly and precisely deliver mascara to each and every lash - creating the look of more lashes.
*vs. bare lashes"

 

I received the Lash Fanatic mascara in very black for review.  If you are a long time reader of my blog, you know that I'm a Queen Collection fan!  I love most of the items including the bronzers, foundations and powders.  (I'm holding out hope on the concealers.)  Knowing that a new mascara would be added to the line up made me very happy. I was a fan of the LashExact and VolumeExact (VolumeExact is being discontinued. ) so I had high hopes for this mascara.

Let's see how it performed:

Met expectations: Nice black color, no flaking, held lashes in place, decent lengthening and volumizing formula; performed as CoverGirl said it would.
Nice to have: No outrageous clumps, good every day mascara.
Didn't meet expectations? I wanted a little more from this mascara in the volume department... but that's just me.  Lash Fanatic is such a great name, I wanted to believe it would have been more like "FALSE Lash Fanatic"
.

 

The brush:  This brush is a wand with rubbery bristles, which for some is love or hate.  For me I don't have much of a preference these days.  With that said, this brush's bristles are bit more tight knit than usual rubber wands.  My lashes were coated well with one to two coats.  I piled on the mascara trying to build it up and see if I could get intense volume.  I got close enough for my liking and the close knit, strong rubber bristles kept clumps at bay.  Very nice!

Overall, this is a good every day mascara that you can build the volume on from daytime pretty to going out.  Lash Fanatic struck a good balance in the lengthening and volumizing department.  This mascara also held my lashes up without being being dry and brittle.

This mascara retails for approx. $7.

Have you tried this yet?  Do you have a favorite CoverGirl mascara?