Review: Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge #16

My love affair with the brand Make Up For Ever has just begun.  I have tried a handful of products from this line and have not been disappointed.  Recently during one of my shopping trips to Sephora I decided to browse the MUFE display and try something new. The color of the Aqua Rouge shown below screamed "pick me, pick me" - so I did.

The Aqua Rouge is a liquid lip color that offers long lasting power and intense color.  The packaging is dual ended with the color on one end which will act like a lip stain and the clear gloss on the other to give your lips a luscious shine effect and help lock the color in.

Shown:  MUFE Aqua Rouge #16 - Fuschia


How to use it:  The best way to use this is to make sure your lips are well exfoliated.  Next apply the lip color with NO balm underneath and be sure not to smack or rub your lips together, simply apply and let it sit for a couple of minutes.  Lastly apply the clear gloss on top for shine.

My experience with this:  I applied this during early afternoon.  
4 hrs after application - I ate nachos and drank water sipping through a straw.  I checked in the mirror and my lips looked exactly the same - gloss and all.  
5 1/2 hrs. in - I noticed the gloss fading so I applied a lip balm. 
6 1/2 hrs. in - I ate dinner about an hour after that and the shine was gone, there was some transfer of color onto the straw and onto the chin a bit BUT the color was STILL there. 
8 1/2 hrs. in - I went home, applied more balm and and the end of the night, the color was lighter but still there.  

This is the first application with no gloss on top - matte finish (indoor lighting)

 First application with gloss (indoor lighting)

 Approximately 4 1/2 hrs. later (outdoor / natural lighting) 

 The end of the day - not as vibrant but still very nice.

 Other notes: 
The finish of this lip stain without a gloss is matte and leaves a very dry, tacky feeling.  This is definitely better using the clear gloss that comes with it. The gloss itself has a brush tip, gives a very high shine finish and make the lip stain color much more vibrant.  It's not a sticky gloss but it is definitely a bit more on the thicker side.

Overall, I would highly recommend this product and will be picking up more. I love how long lasting the color was with very minimal maintenance.  It will definitely hold up during an average 8 hr workday and all you need is a balm or continue to touch up using the clear gloss that comes with it.

Have you tried any of these and if not do you think you'll be interested in trying one out?  Do you have any other brands of lip stains you love? Let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for spending time with me today!

XX, P

5 Summer Beauty Items On My Wishlist

When I watch You Tube beauty videos most of the time I have a pen and one notepad (out of the millions I have laying around the house) to take down notes of products I lust over and want to check out.  I've decided to make a top 5 list of items I really want to spend my money on this summer.  I'm not sure if I will go through with all of them - but that's why it's called a wishlist.  :)  Here they are:

1)  Guerlain Meteorites Perles' Light Diffusing Primer - $71 (EEK!) 

I have a couple of friends who use and swear by the Guerlain primer.  It's sooo expensive which is why I haven't purchased it but this new color with the bronze beads just seems like the perfect summer primer.  It's water based and has three different colored pearls that add glow and shimmer.  *sigh*

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2)  Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Sweet Nectar and/or Bronze - $42

As much as I love my Bobbi Brown, I do not own a Shimmer Brick. There are 6 shades to choose from on the BB website but the two that I am lusting over are Sweet Nectar which has shades of pink and coral and Bronze which has....bronze shades. ;) These are meant to be placed on the cheekbones, after blush for more of a highlighting effect. Each color can also individually be used as an eye shadow.  

3) Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy - $34

I only own one of these beauties but I definitely want more.  These are so beautiful! From the packaging to the mere feeling of knowing you are putting a Chanel product on.  Now wait, don't get me wrong, there are lipsticks, balms, etc. that are better quality than these and less expensive-that is true BUT I can't help it, I love the one I have (in Monte Carlo) and I want a few more.  That's about as good as my justification gets. :/ :)  These are sheer but a bit build-able and have a nice shine finish to them, plus they smell really good.  

4)  LORAC Blush/Bronzer Duo in Hot & Spicy - $30

I will be completely honest here.  I am a fan of Guiliana Rancic for many reasons that I won't go into here.  I have read blog posts and interviews where she mentioned that this is a go to blush and bronzer for her. And while we may not share the same skin tone, my mind believes that if I buy this and wear it, I will look as beautiful in it as she does. :D  Okay but on a more serious level, you get a blush and bronzer in one compact which is great for traveling or keeping in your purse for touch ups. The blush is a peach shimmer and the bronze is a light bronze shimmer.  

5)  Tom Ford Beauty Eye Color Quad - $75 (EEK again!!)

I didn't name a color above because there's a few I wouldn't mind owning.  I know - crazy right?!?  The quad below is in Burnished Amber.  I have seen and swatched these in person and they are to die for.  They are so smooth and pigmented--beautiful quality of shadows. There are four finishes to each shadow: sheer sparkle, satin, shimmer and matte.  I personally like that they offer that variety. I'm afraid that once I buy one, it will all be over and I will be hooked. 

So have you tried any of the above and if so what do you think?  What's on your wishlist, summer or year round?  Let me know, I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for spending time with me today!

XX, P

Smoothie Recipe: Berry Banana

This recipe stems from a whole other topic that I want to share with you but not on today's post, that will come soon. I found this recipe somewhere online..I thought I knew where but as I went to check one website I thought it came from, it's not there.  Hmm...if I find it again, I will link the website down below for you.  Anyway, I tried this recipe this morning using my own substitutions and oh my goodness is it good!  I just had to share it with you. What I did is instead of individual berries, I bought a bag of frozen mixed berries that contained strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries and I just used a full cup of that to replace the 1/2 c. raspberries & 1/4 c. blueberries that are listed in the original recipe. You can try either one. Here it is:

Berry Banana Smoothie - My version:
1 ripe banana, sliced
1 c. frozed mixed berries, thawed
1.5 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 c. unsweetened apple juice
1/2 c. ice

Original Recipe:
1 ripe banana, sliced
1/2 c. raspberries
1/4 c. blueberries
1.5 tsp. honey
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 c. unsweetened apple juice
1/2 c. ice

Instructions:  Place all ingredients in order in your blender.  Pulse twice, stir and blend.  Enjoy!

Let me know if you try this and what you think.

Thanks for spending time with me today!

XX, P

Update / Additions To My Blog

I feel that if I can be completely honest with my viewers / friends on You Tube then I can certainly be honest here.

Recently, I've struggled with whether or not to write about topics other than beauty related - EVEN THOUGH my blog description is about beauty, brains, fitness and fun.  At one point, I wanted to dedicated this blog primarily for beauty discussion such as skincare, makeup, nail polish, etc.  However there's SO much more I want to share with you, and more so on a personal level. After many weeks of debate, this morning I made my decision.  There are so many things I have learned so far in my life (I know there's way more coming) whether it's about relationships with friends, family, marriage as well as finances, food, recipes, not taking life for granted, etc. that I just need to share with you.  I've always thought that if I can help one person then my my goal was accomplished.  So that's what we're going to do - dive in on a little bit of more personal, real life topics.  NOW WAIT...that does NOT mean that I'm no longer going to be posting beauty topics but I want sprinkles of other conversations as well.  I hope that this is okay with you.

With that said, I am really excited about these changes and I hope you are too! I feel like this is the consistency boost I need on my blog instead of always debating as to what to post on here versus on my You Tube channel! What a struggle that can be!

I think I've rambled enough so that will be all for this post but look out because I will have another coming either later today or tomorrow.

Have a great day and thanks for spending time with me today!

XX, P