Smorgasbord of New Faves

I have so many great products going right now, and it's been ages since my last update. Right now I'm in LA for work. I could use a good break and I can't think of any better use of it than a juicy product review session! So here I go!


My new powder is Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Makeup, Shade 114 (N). Oil FREE! I think it's great. It randomly streaks a little bit sometimes, but maybe that's because my moisturizer hasn't dried yet when I apply it (?). The coverage is superior to the Super Powder Double Face Makeup powder, which is my previous fave. The reason I made the switch is twofold: 1) the shade is much more "summer" -- the Double one didn't come in an intermediate shade that would have been appropriate for me, and 2) the saleswoman at the counter talked a lot about it being oil free, which is always appealing. I'm not opposed to going back to Double in the winter. Or maybe I'll just deplete my supply and start to cultivate a summer/winter collection of THIS one! Clearly my current trend is to use powder instead of liquid foundation, and I think it makes a difference in terms of clear pores.


I have a new fave shade of my new fave nail polish. I came to LA with only ONE polish, but the red I brought wasn't doing it for me, so I bought a bottle of Pinkest Pink in the Milani Nail Lacquer that I described below. I think it's a special edition because it was out on a display instead of included with the rest of the Milani polishes. This is a fantastic color. I used to have an almost identical color made by Naturistics, which no longer exists, much to my immense disappointment. It has been my subconscious quest ever since to find a replacement pink. It's a perfect bubble gum bright light pink with slight purple undertones, which flatters my skin nicely and will look INCREDIBLE with a tan. I didn't feel at all guilty about buying it because I'm in LA and I'm here for a trial and we flew here first class and all of my expenses are taken care of, so I feel like I have endless extra money to throw around on fun stuff like CVS cosmetics. Plus, I was away from home with only ONE nail polish color, which wasn't appealing to me at the moment, so my purchase was completely justified and satisfying and not accompanied by any of the slight twinge of buyer's remorse I usually get when I know I'm buying something I practically already own. And it's true, I own a LOT of fabulous pink nail polishes, but NONE have been a near-perfect replacement for my Naturistics one of yore! Until now!

I wish I'd done my toes too but I did those Toe-Mato Red, the one color I brought with me, which is pleasing too and happens to be the SAME BRAND! Incidentally, I bought Toe-Mato Red with Maybelline's Juicy Tomato color in mind, which I still own but which is sticky and unusable. I've been unable to throw it away because it's a perfect summer red-with-a-hint-of-orange, but now that I've found a replacement, I'm extremely happy. I guess I could have just re-purchased the ACTUAL Maybelline one, but since Maybelline is a little tacky and cheap-o, I kind of shied away from re-buying it. Problem solved once again by Milani Nail Lacquer!! You can see I've found a TRUE new favorite.


As a base and top coat, I've begun using Nailtiques Protein Formula 1 (for maintenance of healthy nails) or 2 (for treatment of soft, weak nails). REALLY incredible! It's also great by itself. I don't have the energy to outline the pros and cons right now, but I'm happy with it and you should try it if you have problem nails of any type. Just make sure you match your formula to your nail type! The only tip is that you should take it off and reapply after a few days/coats, because it peels off easily with wear.


Last, I'll touch on a newish (past 6 or so months) fave lip product. Neutrogena MoistureShine Soothing LipSheers. A) Moisture, B) Color, and C) SPF is a hard combo to come across but Neutrogena has hit the nail on the head TWICE now; the first such product is Neutrogena MoistureShine Tinted Lip Balm, which I've used since the day it was unveiled in Glow -- a perfect nude. The LipSheers, being new, of course had to be sampled immediately as well, and temporarily eclipsed the tinted balm in my repertoire, but both are fabulous and it's mostly a matter of color preference that dictates which I gravitate towards. It's such a simple choice for daily wear because it has EVERYTHING in one tube! No need to reach for a separate moisturizer to go with a sticky color, or to sacrifice color for moisture. I have the LipSheers in Pink Splash and Sparkling Nude, and each is perfect for a different look. The Nude gives a very pulled-together finish to a minimal-makeup look, and the Pink is smashing for work or even no-fuss nighttime wear.

So there you have it. Enjoy, sample, give me feedback!

Lipstick. Yes, lipstick.

I am not a fan of Cover Girl. It's true that I enjoy their tinted moisturizer from time to time, but as a general principle, I think they are one of the worst brands, along with Maybelline.* I even got so worked up once that I emailed them to tell them that their packaging was tacky and that for that reason alone, they had lost my business. You will therefore be SHOCKED to discover that my two favorite LIPSTICKS are from Cover Girl and Maybelline! LIPSTICKS!

Okay not true really. My favorite is Dior Addict. But we're talking drugstore brands here, for the masses, lipsticks I don't feel (very) guilty buying in bulk. Dior Addict might be discussed another day.



If you know me, you know I'm a lipgloss kind of girl, not lipstick. I could give you a list of 10 amazing glosses that I have within reach at all times. But again, that will be for another day. The issue at hand is the revival of lipstick! A veritable renaissance. About a year ago, I started using this Maybelline lipstick that was pretty moisturizing. It's great! I think I will bring it back into the rotation. Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipcolor. Don't use the color shown except under extreme circumstances, but you get the idea. It's really a very nice texture, and you don't need a balm underneath it. Smooth and silky! I have it in a neutral color which has served me extremely well. It is one of the very few lipsticks that I've ever taken to, so it's worth a try, but unfortunately, like most pigmented lip products, it doesn't really stay in my rotation for long, which is somewhat of a shame. In fact, I think when I go home tonight I'll dig some out and put it in my purse for use in the near future! The last thing I will say about this lipstick is that it was recommended to me by my granny's friend June, so I attribute this amazing discovery to her.



Okay enough about Maybelline. This is the real reason I'm posting. I've recently found ANOTHER lipstick from ... Cover Girl! that I feel like I can REALLY use constantly throughout the day! Back story: I realized that in the morning before leaving for work, I do an amazing makeup application and feel very put together, then I look at myself when I arrive at work and wonder WHY I don't look as amazing as I did at home. And I realized -- it's the LIPS. Gloss in the AM just doesn't cut it. I need a LIPSTICK to get me through the walk to the Metro, Metro ride, and walk to work. AND THIS IS IT. I bought it in Baby Girl (shimmery -- shown here) and Pillow Pink (matte) -- both light pink -- and I've used it EVERY DAY SINCE. Seriously! There are very few pigmented lip products that I use religiously (balms are a different story) ... so you know it's a keeper when I use it constantly over an extended period. It moisturizes so well in kind of a gel-ish way that I don't need an additional lip balm, which is pretty much essential with most lipsticks (except Dior Addict). Cover Girl IncrediFull Lipcolor ... go buy some.

PLEASE don't forget the balm though. You need to apply it daily, multiple times and especially before bed, to achieve lips onto which you can apply this lipcolor directly. If you don't keep up a regimen of balm applications, you will NOT be able to use a moisturizing lipstick by itself!


*Footnote: Maybelline does have one of the best brow powders ever, and a great coverup stick. So see? Every makeup brand has some good products. You can't rule ANYTHING out these days!