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Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts

Saturday, August 21, 2010

And Now...A Makeup Moment: Perfecting a Purple Pout

A trend I've been noticing when people-watching is a surge of women rocking plum and/or purple-hued lipsticks. I'm a huge fan of this trend, but have yet to find a color that works for me! So I took to the internet to find inspiration and possible color options.

So you know I have to start with my homegirl (in my head), Tracee Ellis Ross - Thankfully Essence Magazine online did a story on purple lips as part of their 'Go There' Wednesday feature, so I had an excellent place to start!!!



The folks at Essence suggested the following shades to D-I-Y:


Bare Escentuals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Balm in St. Barts ($15, Sephora)


Tokidoki Fantastico Lip Stain in Carnivora ($15, Sephora)


Since I'm not about completely swagger-jacking the glossies for this blog, the next few looks (with the makeup suggestions) are courtesy of yours truly! lol



I like Rihanna (Bajan Pride, I guess!), but she's never worn make up that has made me go, "Oooh... that's pretty!". Well, ooh... that's pretty!!!

I suggest the following shades to recreate Rihanna's look:



CoverGirl Queen Collection Vibrant Hue Color Lipstick, Toast Of The Town 430 ($5.99, Amazon.com)



Sephora Collection Maniac Long Wearing Lipstick #18 ($12, Sephora)



I love it when black women buck the rules and dare to rock colors "they have no business wearing".... I especially like it when the results are a fantastic as Estelle's.

To recreate Estelle's look, I found the following shades:



MAC Plushglass Oversexed ($9.99, BeFlurt)



Urban Decay Lipstick in Jilted ($22.00, Macy's)

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

And Now... A Makeup Moment: Fear of a Bright Red Lip

I've always been the type of woman who believed she couldn't wear red lipstick: it's too bright, too brazen, too too red!

Since my makeup challenge last week, I am very proud to say that I've continued to wear makeup to work each day and must say I'm really getting the routine down to almost effortless!

As I mentioned (repeatedly!) during my challenge results post, I have three lipsticks in almost the same color and I really wanted to vary my look up. Since this venture into Cosmetopia is all about pushing boundaries and breaking out of my safe zone, I decided to take the advise I've recently read in Clumps of Mascara and Jones Magazine: and ROCK A RED LIP!!

I opted to go the inexpensive route... in the not very likely case that I would chicken out and never wear these colors again, so with my trusty Mum with me... we headed over to our local Duane Reade. In the (what seemed like) HUNDREDS of red lip colors out there, I settled on two: one va-va-va voom red color and one  more subtle crimson shade.

First up is the more subtle color:


I purchased Revlon's ColorStay Glacis mineral in 555 - Overtime Wine ... Of course I took it right off to try on the next shade, so I cannot comment on its lasting ability! LOL



The next one is such a bright red, I am hesitant to even post the picture!! While I liked the color... I am so nervous about it... it's truly a fear of a bright red lip I have!!


This shade is courtesy of Black Opal's Patent Lip Liquid Lipstick. The color is Red Intensity 02


So I have in one trip to DR increased  my lip color quota and taken the first baby steps to conquering my fear of bright red lips!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

And Now... A Makeup Moment: My 1st Haul!!!!


For many ladies, make up is their friend. For me... we've been more like acquaintances. You know, we nod and chat when we see each other. We exchange updated email addresses and phone numbers and promise to keep in contact. But we never do! LOL

And I want to be friends with makeup. Makeup is a fun friend to have! I have my go-to items (pressed powder, eyeliner and clear mascara... and in the past few months, I've even ventured into bronzer territory! Ooh!) But I haven't truly experienced the artistry that can be created. I've pretty much kept it safe and simple.

With advice and encouragement from two makeup divas (Thank you Teresa and Stephanie!) in my life, I was armed with YouTube videos, blogs and magazine articles all about fun colors I can absorb. I found a constant source of inspiration and fun from one blogger in particular. Brittany over at Clumps of Mascara is amazingly knowledgeable and thankfully, she shares what she knows with her followers. As I expressed in a comment I placed on one of her posts, I've been reading through her blog like I'm studying for my S.A.T.s. (She also has natural hair, and posts frequently about hair care, which is a super double plus in my book!!)

So today... I ventured into the Sephora near my job (In the nine months I've worked there, today marked the fifth time I even went into the store and the first time I've ever made a purchase - a special thank you to Lauren who works there - she's fantastic!!). And because I realize it doesn't always have to be super-pricey, I also went to Duane Reade a picked up a few goodies there.


Here's what I got from Sephora :

After reading about it on Clumps of Mascara, (and because there's a 3 ounce size for $10.00), I bought Philosophy's Purity Made Simple. A Best of Sephora winner in 2008, the reviews I've read all rave about its soothing and moisturizing properties, and all remark on its ability to remove makeup without drying your skin.

Next I selected Urban Decay's Summer of Love Eyeshadow Palette, which includes four eyeshadows [Colors: Flash (bright iridescent purple sheen), Maui Wowie (sandy colored sheen), Chopper (shimmering fawn with sparkles), and Smog (deep coppery bronze)], a travel-sized Sin Eyeshadow Primer Potion (shimmering champagne), and a 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon (glimmering dark brown). I bought this primarily because I wanted to buy a palette and I liked the colors! LOL

I also grabbed Smashbox's Cream Eye Liner Palette because I've been wanting to try cream eye liner and I figured the colors Smashbox offered would be a great place to start. This mirrored palette holds 10 cream eye liner shades in metallic hues and a mini liner brush.

The last item from Sephora is their Professionnel Platinum Natural Medium Eyeshadow Brush #14, which I must admit to sampling already and I LOVE IT (For some reason, I didn't think to take a picture! LOL)

At the suggestion from Stephanie, I trekked from Sephora over to Duane Reade (where I must admit is my usually makeup store!) and picked up Ecotool's 5-piece Bamboo Brush Set, which includes a Mineral Powder Brush, Concealer Brush, Eye Shading Brush, Baby Kabuki and a cotton/hemp linen cosmetic bag. What I like about this set (aside from the price!!!) is that the bristles are cruelty-free, and the brushes are a convenient travel size!!!

The last product in my very first makeup haul is also my very first blush!! I purchased Cover Girl Cheekers Blush in Iced Cappuccino!! I like it because its a real simple color and since I've new to blush, I figured I couldn't possibly mess it up too much! LOL

All-in-all, I think that I managed to get some great products my first time around. I am looking forward to sampling and putting them to good use. To motivate myself, I have given myself a little challenge. I call it Miss Moon's Monday to Friday Make Up Challenge: I plan on wearing makeup everyday next week, a different look each day!! Next Friday, I plan on posting pictures of my results! "...A Makeup Moment" will also become a new feature in the blog, so any suggestions and tips you have to offer, bring 'em on!!!



Completely off topic: But I've been rocking my hair in twists for the past five days, and I took a picture to illustrate how they've held up (despite using that product I'm "Not so much...." about!).

Monday, August 10, 2009

:::drools::: Beautiful Blackberry Lip Colors

"Cypress has, to her mind, dressed for the occasion. Her shoulders lay bare under the thinnest of satin straps; the blouse fell over her bosom, sensually peach. Huge lime flowers that had never been seen on earth spread over the deep blue of her crepe skirt. Her eyes were shaded in greens, her lashes aqua. Lips, blackberry and ripe. Her hair flew about her head in wafts held with ebony combs."

Ntozake Shange - Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo

Ever since I read read Ntozake Shange's amazing novel and read this description of Cypress, I wanted to duplicate it. Especially her eyes and lips. And I've spent the better part of a decade looking for a lipstick shade that really evoked Cypress. With no success.

So, I have taken to the web to complete my quest. Haven't made any purchases yet, but I think that I've come pretty close. What do you ladies think?


Christian Dior Diorific Lipstick - No. 016 Blackberry Flash - $28.00


Wet 'n' Wild MegaColors Lipstick, Blackberry - $1.99


Bobbi Brown Lip Sheer - Black Raspberry - $22


CoverGirl Continuous Color Lipstick, Iced Plum 59 - $5.99


MAC Lipstick Ever Embellish - $14

So, I am going to leave it to you all. Which one should I venture out to get?