My Favorites: Chapstick Lip Balm

I have tried a lot of different lip balms. And when I say a lot, I mean a whole lot. The prices have ranged from free (promotional gifts at the mall, job fairs, etc.) to upwards of $30.

I would never buy an expensive lip balm, but my mom swears by Clarins lip moisturizer. Before that, she loved Fashion Fair's lip moisturizer. Other ones I have tried are Walgreen's "chapstick", Bath and Body Work's lip balms, Smuckers soda-flavored lip balms, Carmex, Nivea's Kiss of Moisture, Nivea's Kiss of Protection, Philosophy's Kiss Me and countless others. They all suck. To me, at least. Well, Philosophy's Kiss Me is good as a lip gloss, however it tastes disgusting so only use a little at a time. I just love trying new things, perhaps it's a grass is greener type of thing. But truthfully, cherry chapstick has never let me down.

Why I love cherry chapstick: like Katy Perry, I love the way it tastes :). I hate the taste of those weird oils and medications that can be lip balms / moisturizers. I like the matte finish. You should always use a balm as a base to protect your lips, and this is something I can use with matte lipsticks or shiny glosses. Similarly, it's hard to line your lip with a shiny, slippery balm. Sometimes I even apply lipliner before applying chapstick. However, if my lips are dry, it's still easier apply lipliner after using chapstick than other balms. In addition, I like the pink tint, it looks very girly and sweet just by itself. You also get a little sunscreen, and that never hurts!

Last but not least, it's never more than $2.00! At that price, you can keep one in your bathroom, your purse makeup bag, your desk, your backpack, and your car, etc. Plus, you don't have to worry if you lose one.

What's your favorite balm?

My Favorites: Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara

This is the best mascara I have ever used. I love to shop at Sephora for things such as high-quality pressed powders and high pigment eyeshadows, and of course MAC for lip glosses. However, there are quality beauty basics to be found at drugstores as well, and Maybelline Lash Stiletto is one of them.

I used to hate to wear mascara because, especially as the day went by, the product would start to bleed all around and even into my eyes, making them sting and become irritated. Within a few hours, especially if I rubbed with a Kleenex when the product was irritating my eyes, I would end up with "raccoon eyes". Horrible, horrible, and horrible.

Other problems I have had with mascaras: voluminizing mascaras tend to make my lashes stick together; some lengthening ones take forever to dry, so I get little black spots on my lid if I blink while it's drying; and most mascaras go on black, but dry into a really dull color, almost gray.

Lash Stiletto does none of this - it dries quickly, dries shiny, really lengthens, and gives subtle, natural-looking volume. Best of all - it doesn't bleed! It's a really great product, especially for the price.

My Favorites: Perfumes

Even though they can be incredibly expensive, I don't ever feel like I've finished getting ready without it. While you can express yourself through your clothes, I think the primary way I do so is through the scent I'm wearing.

I don't like to wear the same scent too often, because I don't want to get tired of it. I use different ones in colder weather and in the summertime, during the day and at night. I pick a scent that reflect how I feel in the morning. Eau de toilettes (EDT) and eau de parfums (EDP) of the same scent can smell really different.

Here are some of my current favorites, along with the first three words to come to mind when I spray it on paper testers:


My Current Favorites

• Benefit My Place or Yours Gina EDT
  (nighttime scent)
  Fruity, Sexy, Alluring
  




• Shiseido Zen
  (daytime scent)
  Fresh, Corporate, Citrus-y
  




• Burberry London EDP
  (daytime, colder weather)
  Sophiscated, Boardroom, Classic
  
  



• Johan B EDP
  Attention-Getting, Deep, Sweet





• Juicy Couture EDP
  (colder weather)
  Alluring, Classic, Nutty
  
  



• Bvlgari Petits and Mamans EDT
  (daytime)
  Clean, Innocent, Powdery Fresh
  Petits and Mamans means Little ones and Moms in French. Obviously this is marketed to them, but it's nice because it doesn't have any alcohol in it, if you're sensitive to that
  
  



• Intimately Beckham for Women EDT
  Clean, Innocent, Light
  
  



• Ralph Lauren Romance Always Yours EDP
  Light, Refreshing, Classic
  
  



• DKNY Delicious Night
  (nighttime - surprise surprise :)
  Spicy, Flirty, Aromatherapy
  
  



• Christian Dior J'Adore EDP
  (nighttime)
  Sensual, Alluring, Sexy
  My nighttime classic. I was introduced to this by my college roommate, and have never looked back. I'm slowly getting tired of this, but I love the compliments I get when I wear it.
  
  



• Bvlgari Rose Essential EDP
  (daytime)
  Floral, Innocent, Intriguing
  
  



• Harajuku Lovers Baby EDT
  (daytime)
  Innocent, Fresh, Clean
  The bottle is too cute! Great gift for a preteen / teenager. The price for the small ones have been reduced nationally to $15.
  
  



• Lolita Lempicka Fleur de Corail
  Tropical, Beachy, Summery
  
  



• Anna Sui Secret Wish Magic Romance
  (daytime)
  Sweet, Light, Floral
  
  



• DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom
  Fruity, Floral, Citrus-y
  
  



• Bobbi Brown No. IV EDT (Also called Bath)
  Clean, Shower Fresh, Light
  
  



• Tocca Bridgette EDP
  
  



• Narciso Rodriguez EDP
  Attention-getting, Deep, Sexy
  
  

Old Favorites, not so much anymore:

• Clinique Happy Perfume Spray
  Fruity, Fresh, Energetic
  The first real perfume I ever bought. I used to get a lot of compliments when I wore it. I really used to love this, but for some reason I don't really like it anymore.
  
  



• Hugo Boss Woman
  I found this in my Mom's beauty cabinet and took it with me when I went to college. It was my first perfume and what started my love of perfumes. I don't wear it anymore, but when I heard it was being discontinued I went any bought a bottle of it. I'm scared to open though, because when the scent deterioates with its shelf life.
  

New ones I want to try

• Michael Kors Very Hollwood
• Queen by Queen Latifah
  

It's weird, a lot of times I'll want a perfume because of the paper sample mailers that come in the mail and in magazines, but when I sniff the actual perfume at the store it smells very different and I don't like it anymore. And sometimes vis versa, I think I won't like a scent from the mailer and end up loving it at the store. It might be because of a reaction with the glue. I wonder how many scents I'm missed out on because I hated the mailer. I find that the ones that that include a fragrance soaked cottom pad sealed in plastic, so it's still wet when you open it give a more authentic idea of what the fragrance smell likes.

One word of advice, you might want to think twice before buying the big bottle of perfume. It can be tempting to buy the bigger bottle, especially since sometimes it is only around $10 - 15 dollars for twice the amount. However, keep in mind that the scent deterioates with its shelf life. Plus, you might get tired of it. Therefore, unless it is something I wear all the time, I always get the smallest size, to give it a trial run. Kinda like buying the family size of cereal when you live by yourself.

Another thing to keep in mind, the perfume will smell very different on you than on the tester paper. It will also smell very different on you than on other people. I learned this through experience. I asked one of my classmates what she was wearing because it smell so fresh and nice. She told her it was DKNY Be Delicious, so I went out and tested it at the perfume counter. Didn't smell so good on me. Perfume reacts different with everyone's unique body oil and chemistry.

Best and Worst Mattifiers

Best

1. Skinn Orchid Gel Mattefying Treatment

http://www.skinn.com/Orchid_Gel_Mattefying_Treatment_p/fg-ogm.htm

Mattified my oil well skin for a long time. And for that I give it mad props.

2. Runner Up: Philosophy The Present Clear Makeup

Works well, especially if you only use a little bit.

3. Keeps Makeup Intact: Model in a Bottle

http://http//www.modelinabottle.com

I am listing this here because it is marketed as a mattifier. It did not mattify my skin, however it is wonderful at perserving makeup, especially eyeshadow. It worked much better at that than Urban Decay Priming Potion. My complaint is that after the first use it tipped over and the top some how got unscrewed, and 7/8 of the bottle ended up being spilled into my beauty basket. I think this is a design flaw in the bottle, and I was very upset that all my product got wasted because of it.

Worst

1. Benefit Dr. FeelGood Primer

Garbage. FAIL. I got this as a Sephora deluxe sample with my Beauty Insider points. This is the kind of product that makes me what to return it and ask for my points back. The fact that it was a balm should have been a heads up for me. Do better Benefit.

Actually I've never gotten something I actually really liked with my points. Hmm. Maybe it's the allure of a "free" gift which makes redeeming points exciting. But when I walk out, I stop to think, what that means I've actually spent another $100 here. Sigh.

2. Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel

People rave about this brand. I don't care about the brand name. All I care about is that the product works. This doesn't. And for that it get a FAIL.

Which ones have you used and which did you like and dislike?

What beauty service makes you feel fab?

1. Getting my hair did!

For me, the number one thing is getting my hair done! I feel oh-so-fabulous, like I can conquer the entire world. I love the smell the iron and the salon leaves in my hair. As soon as I walk out, I just love to flip my hair from side to side, tellipathically telling everyone: "You know you like it huh. I just got it done! I already know it looks great, but thank you!"

Especially when I get a weave or braids! I totally see why they say donning a wig can help you create a new personna and ignite sparks in the bedroom (tmi?). When I get some new style, I also get a new attitude! With bold color, I feel so fun, current, and adventurous. Seriously I begin to do this I wouldn't otherwise (Another day, another post). With a sleek, clean, jet black weave that looks realistic, I feel professional and confident. With a long, flowing weave, I ooze sensuality. With individual braids, I feel like goody-two shoes girl I was growing up, when I always had braids. When hair is simply flat ironed, I feel so proud of myself for wearing my "real" hair, lol. Cornrows make me feel like I am getting back in touch with my roots.

However, when it goes wrong I can be the biggest drama queen, calling whoever picks up first with a barriage of tears and anger. Honestly, I would be less upset if a cougar scratched my face and left a long scar than if someone pressured me into cutting off 2 inches. Maybe I should just start wearing a tshirt into hair appointments that says "I DON'T DO TRIMS. THANKS". I should look into that.

2. Getting my nails did

This can be a rush too. I especially like to get french painted nails. This is probably because I could never have the patience to do it myself. I love certain types of pampering but I do not have patience for a number of things. ESPECIALLY nail filing. I would rather watch paint dry (pun intended)! So my nails are usually natural.

However, I must qualify this. While it is fun to get the whole manicure thing, as a grad student on a budget I feel much better about just getting my nails painted once in a while. At your average nail salon this is about $10 cheaper. Especially since my nails alwys start to chip on the second or third day, sometimes even the same day! The nail painting service might not be on your salon's price list. Just ask them how much it would be to have your nail just polished, not a manicure. In my experience, the nail painting service has consisted of removing the previous polish, if any; cuticle oil being applied to cuticles, nail filing and cutting, and base coat, polish, top coat. I never get my cuticles cut anyway, and I've stopped getting them pushed back. One time I got this parrafin wax thing and it was so ridiculous I almost started laughing. I got it because my skin hadn't adjusted to the Michigan cold and was as dry as who knows what, but it nothing. Plus it ruined one of my favorite sweaters!

I think french nails are the sexiest. But I love to experiment with funky, bright and trendy colors. However, if my nails aren't natural or french, they are usually pink, followed by red. I don't like matchy matchy nails. Usually my fingernails are a lighter version of whatever is on my toes.

Never again will I get tips put on. I thought they were fun and sexy the one time I did them. Boy did I have fun hearing them tap on my keyboard when I typed! However, I got tired of having to fill them in and I was anxious to see how my own nails were doing under there, so I had them taken off. At first I was happy because they were really long, and my nails never grow out long. However, they were so thin and weak from the stuff they used to dissolve off the tips! They hurt and made this dreadful noise whenever something touched them the wrong way. And they were a weird yellow color, if I remember correctly. My whole nail had to grow out, all the way from the cuticle, before they were normal again! You can imagine how long that took. After that I decided, whether this side effect is rare or not I am never doing this again. No mam! Never again.

Things I don't like / Get

1. Facials

I can wash my own face, thanks. Why would a pay you a fat stack of cash to do it? Same reason which I tend to skip the stuff that takes a nail paint to a manicure. I can soak my own hands in soapy water, wash it off, and then rub them with lotion. It called doing the dishes.

2. Massages

Wait, I have to pay for you to beat me up? What about if I tell you your spouse just cheated on you with me? Then will you do it for free? Wait, never mind, I still don't want it. I am extremely sensitive and ticklish. I can never relax, I can never take me mind elsewhere. Everytime I get one for free I regret it. Never would I ever pay even one cent for one. I have gone over this with many people. I am supposed to like them, they are supposed to be good for you. Maybe I have been getting the wrong type for me. However, I am not willing to risk more pain, tickles, and random person touches to find out for sure.

So, that's me! What makes you feel fab, divas?

My Favorites: Lip Glosses

I have a love / hate relationship with MAC, but they sure know how to make a lip gloss!

My ultimate favorite: MAC Clear LipGlass

This is the thickest, shiniest clear lipgloss I have ever used. It's wonderful. The clear is a lot thicker and shinier than their other lipglosses, so I use it as a topcoat to give color gloss pop. It also looks fabulous on its own. My only complaint is that the top always seems to loosen in my purse / makeup bag, getting sticky gop everywhere. I sometimes wonder if this is a conspiracy to get to buy a new bottle sooner.

Runner up: MAC Revealing Tinted LipGlass

Revealing is a rich caramel color. My favorite lip look is a nude lip made up of MAC Chestnut Lipliner, Revealing Lipglass, and Clear Lipglass. I never thought I could pull off a nude lip look before I tried this. Try it, you will love it.