Berries!

Ohhhh la laaa, I've been all over berries this summer. Aside from making delicious blueberry, strawberry and raspberry protein smoothies every other morning, I've been all over berry colored lippies. I decided to have a little fun and showcase them by categorizing the intensities: low, medium and high color concentrations.

Sound too technical? HA....well, hopefully my silly pictures make up (get it...make-up? *crickets*) for the professional word usage.

First up. let's start with the loooooow.

[LOW]
L'Oreal HIP Jelly Balm in Luscious

.....what's better than a MAC Tendertone? Nooo, I'm just kidding. I've actually never owned the Tendertones but I don't feel like I'm missing out. Especially since I got them 2 for $8.99. I find these perfect for a little color tint. Like when I'm at work and don't have time to run to a mirror.

[MEDIUM]

CoverGirl's Wetslicks AmazeMint #625

I absolutely love this lippie. This has to be one of my favorites! The color in the tube isn't as dark on my lips so it works out beautifully. The minty taste doesn't hurt either. It isn't too powerful but it is absolutely pleasant applying on the lips. This is a great "gotta run into the mall" or "out to eat with the co-workers" look.

I'm a nut for giving that lipgloss

its own photoshoot, uh? HA!

[HIGH]
NARS Afghan Red

If you are lookin' for a serious berry-licious look, I'm thinkin' that a highly pigmented lipstick is the way to go. NARS Afghan Red is seriously one of my favorite lipsticks. I know, I know. I say that about all of my products, but this baby here has me goin' around pokin' my lips out every time I wear it. It is great for ladies' night out!



How do you feel about berry lipsticks? Yay or nay?





[image source: http://www.inforochester.com]

A Tag & Port Red

Yay for taggin' games!!! Yall know I'm on it.

My Foundation: N/A…no foundation for meeee.
My Mascara: Yall know I am constantly reviewing them but the one I adore right now is….catch the review next Monday!
My Blush: Fashion Fair Warm Sand and MAC Sweet as Cocoa.
My Eye Shadow: MAC’s Vanilla pigment. I swear it looks gorgeoussss.
My Day Cream: I wear Olay Complete.
My Lipstick: MAC’s 3D and now, Port Red!
My Beauty Product Brand: MAC Cosmetics, Milani, NARS, L’Oreal, etc.
My Essential Beauty Product: I really don’t leave the house without eyeliner.
My Favorite Makeup Product: Blush, it really tuns a simple look into glam.
My Perfume: Unforgettable for Women by Sean Combs.
My Nails: China Glaze! Currently dappin' in the WOW collection.
My Feet: A Mr. Pumice Bar every night, Vaseline with socks to bed.
My Hands: Some Avon lotion.
Three Products to bring on a deserted island: MAC's lip conditioner, a good sun block (you know, SPF 70, hehe) and a blend of olive oil and rosemary---for the face & hair.
Woman I admire for their beauty: Iman, Tia Williams, Angela Bassett, my Mom, Jill Scott
Woman with the Best Sense of Style: Don’t know. Not really up on what people are wearing.
My Ultimate Dream: To help as many people as I can.
How Do I Define Womanhood: I can show you better than I can tell you.
My Favorite Fashion Publication: Some UK piece. Can’t remember the name. It’s a wonderful fashion mag for Black women.

....but that's not alllll.

I was on my way to work and was tempted to try on that new Port Red lipstick from MAC's Naughty Nauticals collection. So I dropped my lunch box and purse on the floor and ran to my bathroom where the beauty of all lipsticks lay in my traincase. I lined my lips with Nightmoth and applied Port Red. I was floored with how beautiful it looks. The subtle gold specks really bring some "umph" to the overall color of Port Red. I am in love with this. And yep, it is a TRUE red. What I love about it is how it isn't a deep red. Deep reds tend to make me really look like somebody's 40 year old Momma. And yall know what I'm talkin' about....hehehe.

So dig the little photo shoot I had in the car. I was careful about it, I promise. I also tried to show pictures in different lightning so you can really get an idea of how Port Red looks. *insert British voice* I was a bit giddy in these pics, chaps but I had a jolly good time. And you'll have to enlarge for a better view. Photbucket was on the trips today, mannnn.





My brows are really crackin' me up. Goin' to get them threaded tomorrow. I can't express how much I love this color.




What do you think?
Yay or nay to Port Red?
.....what' s your take on darker skinned ladies wearin' red lippies?

MAC's Dazzleglass

I don’t know ‘bout yall, but I am a serious lip gloss, girl. I don’t wear it as often as I used to (I’m trying to become a mature woman so I’m into lipsticks, ha!) but I still have some obsession with a good gloss. MAC's Dazzleglass never really intrigued me right away but being the MAC addict, that I am...I still had to check it out.

Dazzleglass…..I gotta give it props. At $16.50, MAC Cosmetics defines these babies as “High-shine + large particle quartz and opal crystal captured in a great new formula with light-reflecting, crystalline iridescence. Umm, so what does that mean in laymen (or women , ha!) terms? Just that it’s a pretty shiny gloss. Is it tacky? Yeeep. Is it lightweight? Hmmm, not quite. Does it have a better staying power than Lipglass or Lustreglass? YES!!! I absolutely love how long this gloss stays on. Longer than the average gloss I’ve worked with.

Do I think it’s necessary to haul more than one? No, but that may just me being cheap. In my eyes, a gloss is a gloss. $16.50 is already a stretch for ONE so I can’t imagine hauling more than that. To prevent myself from even being tempted to purchase more than one, I picked the one Dazzlegass that caught my eye, swatched it, purchased it and walked away.

Let me introduce you to “Get Rich”.

Pretty pretty, uh? This color almost reminds me of Squeeze It from the Fafi Collection, except a little more sheerer and glittery. Here's how it looks alone.

Just ehhh....like a really ole' gloss to me. I would still wear it by itself because of the staying power, but I wasn't too impressed.

So I decided to pair it with a lipstick. Here is MAC's 3D lipstick worn alone.

I'm tellin' you...I love me some 3D. I could wear this color everyday. It's perfect. Topping Get Rich over this gives it a nice little POP that I'm thinkin' I could incorporate everytime I wear 3D. Check it...

I can dig it. Not super impressed but again, the staying power of these babies are really what turn me on. What are your thoughts on Dazzleglass? Pass or a must have?

Let a sista know!

Lipsticks for Newbies

As promised....I've got the Lipstick for Newbies post! Everyone say, "Yaaaay!" *looks around*...ummm, okay. Clearly, I'm the only one hyped about it right now, so I digress....LOL!

I believed it was this post in which I claimed that I would focus less on eye make-up and more on lips. And since November, I have done that. I am going to showcase 6 lipsticks (from MAC Cosmetics). But before I do that, let me share with you my sentiments about lipsticks.

I got my first one when I was 14 years old. My girlfriends laughed at me so hard that I didn't purchase one again until last year. For some reason, there is a stigma with lipsticks and Black women, typically younger Black women. In the lip gloss era, I know 98% of my female friends wouldn't be caught dead in any lippy. Which is sad because I actually appreciate lipsticks more than I do lip glosses. Buuuut, like some of you I had that anti-lipstick attitude. "Nah uhhh.....only old people wear lipsticks." "They are too drying." "Glosses are better"....I dropped a ton of excuses. Here's why I love lipsticks so much more now.

• I don't know why, but I feel so much more sophisticated when applying a lipstick. Iz feel like a woman!
  
• They last longer. Especially when applied with a lip liner.
  
• You can be creative. You can instantly change the colors of lipsticks. By switching up the colors of lip liners and glosses, you can create an array of color combinations. Now that's fab!
• They are "true colors"....whereas glosses are typically opaque or full of shimmery stuffs. Sometimes I like a nice solid color.
• You get better control with application when using a lip brush. With glosses, we tend to apply, blot and go. Lipsticks require a little more work but the outcome is almost always amazing.
  

So yeah...that's why I'm diggin' lippies more and more. Now yall know my blog is called Clumps of Mascara for a reason. On some of the pics, you'll see how sloppy I've applied the lipsticks. But that's because I was in a hurry and lightning was off. And because I like to keep it real with yall. My skills are far from perfect. OH.....and all of these colors are applied on top of MAC's Lip Conditioner (get it...now!). I didn't add liners or glosses because I wanted yall to see the true colors. Now let's bring up the first lipstick.

Allow me to introduce Ultra Madame.

Can't exactly say what MAC describes this color as because it came in a holiday set from last year.I know it looks a bit frosty but when applied with Nightmoth lip liner, it is a fab spring color.

Next we have Viva Glam IV...one of my favorites!

MAC describes this color as a mid-tone rose with subtle gold shimmer. This is one color that I could wear after day. It's perfect for work, ladies' night out or even when you want to look kinda cute when cleanin' the house.

Coming in at number 3 is.....surprise, surprise....3D!

MAC describes this color as a soft peachy brown with violet opalescent shimmer. I think it's great subtle color. It doesn't even have to be paired with a liner or gloss.

My number 4 showcased color is New York Apple

Well wellll welll....won't talk too much about this color because I just talked about it in the post or two below. Muah!

Second to last is Soft Lust.

MAC describes this color as tan with White pearl.I don't wear this color a lot but I absolutely LOVE it. I know, I know....frosty, but when topped with a fab neutral gloss, it is absolutely beautiful. I love wearing this when I'm sportin' a bold eye.

And lastly--Rapturous!

MAC defines this color a deep berry red. Black women: we can wear red lipsticks! I don't care how light or dark you are....you can rock it. I am sick of darker skinned people sayin' they can't wear red lips because of their skin color or the fullness of their lips. I don't wear red lips that often, but when I do, I feel like the sexiest thing 'roun dis piece.

Shooooo!

Seee....you can't tell me nothin'! That's the attitude, I think, we need to have when rockin' the red lips. Do yourself a favor and buy a red lippie if you don't have one. It'll liberate you, I promise.

Another fab element of lipsticks?

Sendin' your BF or hubby a love letter. How cute is that? I'm a cornball so if I had somebody I would so pull this.

Any recs of colors I should pull? Oh wait.....here's a swatches picture.

So what colors are you diggin'? And what don't you like? Are you big on lipsticks? Or not? Tell me....



Peace and muuuuuah!

[Picture Source: enviroblog.org]

Twinks oh Twinks

So I played around with Twinks eyeshadow and I love love love it! MAC Cosmetics defines Twinks as a "dirty plum with gold reflects" and it is simply fab. In fact....I'm diggin' my neutral/highlight collection.



Anyone have any ideas? I can't, I just can't leave those empty spaces like that. Grr...

Okay, so I digress. Here's my FOTD with Twinks and New York Apple lipstick. I think that this lip color is a bit much for everyday but it is fun every now and then.










I really like Twinks. And as you can see....I can't let go of that Ochre Style either. That paired with Twinks is heaven. And of course, I always do Vanilla pigment as a highlight. And....I'm still trying my hardest to do flattering pictures of my lips, but I caaaaan't. It's such a struggle for me. LOL! Mannn....and I really need to keep working on my liner because the line is so thick. I'm wonderin' if I will ever master Fluidlines and the 266? Hmmmm...





So that's that. Seriously...Twinks is a must have but I think I say that about a lot, uh? Ohhhh....and before, I forget, I think that I may do a lipstick post. I know a lot of you are saying that you can't get down with the lipsticks and I feel your sentiments. I didn't purchase my first lipstick until last year! I thought I was always going to be a lipgloss girl, but I am slowly gotten into lipsticks. Soooo, stay tuned for a Lipstick for Newbies post. I'll have swatches, techniques, alternatives and if there is something you want to see, please send me an email or comment!!

Peace and have a fab weekend!

MAC Lip Conditioner Review

Hi mijas.

I have a review for you…..MAC’s Lip Conditioner.

I know, I know. It’s not a new product, but when you are a newbie you aren’t always on time when it comes to discovering products. Ain’t no shame in my game.

Overall Rating: 5
Packing: 4
Price: 2
Would you purchase this product again?: Yeeeep!

Now, I’m gonna keep it real. $12 is a lot of money for a lipstick, chapstick, lip gloss….whatever. I come from a ’hood where we got Bon-Bon lip gloss at Wal-Mart for $.88. And if we had a little more change, we may have shelled out another dollar for the glittery lip gloss at the hair store. And that was only a few years ago. So my step into MAC Cosmetics where everything is $10 and up was a bit of struggle on my wallet and sanity. However, I have to jump on the bandwagon of the lip conditioner.

It kinda really is good stuff. Lately my lips have been super dry. Drier than usual since I’m tryna be a grown woman and wear lipstick everyday. MAC’s lip sticks and lip glasses are so drying. It really makes no sense and I was seriously about to boycott them until I discovered this stuff. I put it on after I exfoliate my lips at night (lightly with my toothbrush or my facial scrub), in the morning after washing my face and throughout the day when my lips need some extra moisture. It has a nice pina colada smell but don't it seep in your mouth. You'll be gagging for days. However, the consistency is great...feels like satin. Newbies, this is one splurge that is worth it. MAC’s Lip Conditioner seemed to do the trick and now I can happily rock my lipsticks. Speaking of lipsticks….

Dig the newest color to the collection thanks to B2M (please tell me you knew that bringing in 6 empty MAC containers can get you a new lipstick or eye shadow, giiiiiirl!)

New York Apple

MAC defines this color as a muted red with pinky-red shimmer. And again, I am NW45. I'll feature some looks with this color. And remember newbies, you can change the color of any lipstick or lipgloss by pairing it with a lip liner. I’ve been eyeing this one for awhile and glad that I finally got it. And it feels divine with my lip conditioner. I also copped Twinks….another brown-girl friendly color. I’ll provide ya with some swatches and looks with that one. It is such a nice neutral crease and lid color. Stay tuned for that.

Peace and love.


[Picture Source: www.maccosmetics.com]

Lining Larger Lips

I love my lips. I really do. But seriously....you really give a girl some issues when it comes to lining. The lack of definition is soooo frustrating. It is hard to achieve the perfect pout with larger lips. You want to make sure that your liner and lip colors compliment your lips and not make them look too crazy. So I attempted to a do a video that would help my girl and other ladies with beautifully full lips.

Muah!

Squeeze It Lipglass

Greetings lovelies!

I decided to dedicate an entire post full of pictures and review to MAC's Squeeze It Lipglass from the Fafi collection. A lot of folx have been saying they like it and passed on it when they initially checked out the Fafi goodies.

MAC describes Squeeze It (frost) as a Brassy Plum. But don't go lookin' at this color online because MAC's uploads certainly does not do it much justice. I think it is a beautiful color for us brown skinned ladies and really for ALL ladies. I have the hardest time taking pictures of my lips because I feel like they are so big and look unflattering. But whatev. I love my full lips, I just don't know how to do that sexy pout. LOL, so don't laugh at me.



Here are my lips with MAC's Chestnut lip liner. I also used Milani's Cocomo.


Viloa. Squeeze It is ultra glossy and appears to be full of glitter but for an anti-glitter queen like myself, it isn't too bad. Now for bigger pics to see the whole face. Which is make-up less and a mess, by the way. My skin is smooth but when I'm not battling pimples, I'm trying to get rid of the scarring previous pimples have left. This adult acne crap is crampin' my style, yo. But then again, I could be exaggerating...AGAIN!

So there is Squeeze It. A color that I really like but I know a drugstore dupe like it exists. Any other Fafi colors that I should take a look at that are brown skinned friendly? Drop ya recs and help a newbie out.

Peace & have a fab weekend!

The Originals and then some...

I'm so behind on updating so I may be rushing things but I think yall can keep up.

One of my blog sisters, Yummy discussed Google Reader in her most recent blog. Do yourself a favor and check it out! It's amaaaazing. I can now know when each and every one of you lovely ladies makes an update without spending 30 years going to each blog space. I just go to my Google Reader and BAM....I can see who made updates. It even works fab on my Sidekick (which will hopefully turn into a Blackberry Curve on Christmas Day). Good lookin' out, Yums!

Here are what those pretty lip sticks look like. [ahem and how do yall get the titles and words on your pictures? Lemme guess....Photoshop, uh? I'll invest in that when I get on that steady salary. Hehe.]

*left to right* [Milani's Sumptuous and MAC's 3D and Viva Glam IV]

And then here's the bitty haul I got from The Originals Collection. Ochre Style on the left, A Little Folie on the right.

I was NOT a fan of that Parrot. I can't believe people were goin' crazy over a color that looks so close to MAC's Shimmermoss and Waternymph (from the Lure collection). It's so not worth the hype.

I like A Little Folie for a crease color. And even for a lid color if I can get it to work right. I have issues with some mattes. I like Ochre Style because it is a muted gold and isn't as loud as that damn Amberlights. However, it's color payoff isn't too hot so I have to get a super good base for this to pop. But if they don't work out, I will not hesitate to return them. HA!

Don't understand that hype over C-Thru either because it looked a hot mess on me. Hmmm...this collection was just "Eh" for me. The last collection that seriously wow-ed me all over was Smoke Signals and that was in August, I believe. But I do believe that the Fafi collection will have me jumpin' for joy!!!!!!! Who else is excited about this beauuuutiful collection?

Here is how I'm lookin' these days. Face is looking a little better but I'm getting insecure with the dark spots. I only wear eye liner, mascara and a lip color everyday. Tis all. And heyyyy....look who got a new scarf! Have I mentioned how much I love scarves?

And I played around with Sushi Flower (I'm sorry but I hate HATE this color, I can't ever get it to work), Humid and Shimmermoss. Something didn't come out right because the color payoff so didn't last. But then again, I was just playin' around.

And ohhh, I got my nails done and isn't this color pretty?

I'm happy happy. Why can't my nails look this good when I do it? Ugghhh.. Yall like my faux wedding hand picture, uh? I even got the wedding ring. LOL, I'm a mess.

Peace and Louis Vuitton (I just found my first one!)

Lippy Wippy!

I'm in Florida!! Back on the East Coast and I couldn't be happier. It was worth the jet lagged red eye trip from Cali at 1am. That was a rough day but I am so happy to see familiar faces, places and MY CAR! I haven't driven in 3 months. That's just insane.

I actually have a TON of updates but I gotta do some backtracking, so first things first.

I hauled MAC's clear brow gel and I love love love it. It really aids in smoothing out my naturally thick and curly brows. Since the waxing accident, they have grown in nicely. I don't need to pencil in anything. My roomie helps with the arch so I'm estatic that SOMETHING is going right in the beauty department.

I also hauled more lip colors.....
MAC's 3D and Viva Glam IV.

Here are some FOTDs...ignore the eye make-up. I was messin' around in pigments.

[3D]

[Viva Glam IV ]

I like them both. And I'm really liking my collection. I also copped a Milani color that I don't have any pictures of. I'll do some swatches of ALL of my newest lip colors just in case other brown ladies are lookin' for something that works nicely for us.

And I will also post pictures of my skin later. It's actually getting A LOT better. I have been walking around here without the face make-up and surprisingly, I'm fine. I don't think I look THAT bad. Some of yall are saying my skin ain't THAT bad and maybe you're right....my dramatic self. Still. I would like to try another foundation just for kicks. But to not wear it is just.....amazing.

And I checked out The Originals collection (that one snuck up on me) today and only purchased 2 things. That's coming in the next post. 5 days until Christmas and I have still puchased zero gifts. It feels great.

I'm rockin' out on Jaheim's newest album. For a sultry singer with REAL talent, check out his "The Makings of a Man" album. Simply fab. I shall return, lovelies!

Peace and sexy Black men.

Lip stuffs

I've never been too fascinated with lip colors. I've always worn the same soft colors. And cheap brands too...NYC has always been one of my favs. But now I am slowly getting into creating a more diverse lip color collection. Similar to how I have a diverse eyeshadow collection.

And today I woke up and was realllly craving a "different" color. I viewed my lippies only to see that I didn't have anything fun, yet subtle yet noticing yet business-like. So I pulled out my Pink Mauved pigment. This is actually a really pretty pigment color that I hadn't used since doing my Halloween Mask. In fact, I very rarely play with pigments....a bit too messy for a klutz like myself. But I do enjoy collecting them.

So I figured I would play around with Pink Mauved on the lips and this is what I came up with.

Sooooo....it pretty much looks like Barbie Doll pink but I kinda like it. That is until I went outside and later checked myself in the mirror. I wiped it off with the quickness. Has anyone else ever had a case of "Oh....but it looked good at home"? This happens to me allll the time. I think I need to invest in better lighting. A mirror that lights up, perhaps?

So that little fluke has inspired me to cop some new lip stuffs. I know I'm on make-up probation from MAC (which now I'm thinking is crazy with the Stylistics out and all) but I'm really diggin' Finery's plum lips.

Maybe I should just buy it and get it over with. And maybe I'll only purchase 1-2 items from Stylistics. Yeah....that should work. Right? Right? Bills first. I gotta stop this buying thing because it's not like I have the extra money to spend on make-up. I really don't. So yeah....I'm goin' to the PRO store on Saturday and only spending under $50. And that should last me until Christmas.



Okay....there. Glad I settled that. And glad I'm not into Metal X. I got oily lids and ain't tryna experiment with bases to figure out what works. Plus I have good purples, greens and blues. But 6th Sin is pretty. Uggghhh, help!!



Let's digress.


I like Pink Mauved despite the fact it didn't work well on the lips. But did it and Ruby Red really have to commit suicide?

Yall know that just ain't right. I'm upset. Ohhh wellll...guess I gotta order more pigment samples from my girl, Cheryl. *siiiiigh* Anyone wanna suggest some MAC and non-MAC lip colors? And I suppose I need to get hip to lip pencils too.

Probation? What probation?

Peace and Finery