Some of my favorite nude (and brown) lipsticks...for all skin tones!!

Check out the pics below.  From left to right: (keep in mind I have tan skin, NC 42-44)

1.  MAC Ruffian Naked (matte)-Limited Edition, but I picked mine up at a CCO
2.  MAC Altered Beige (lustre)-Limited Edition, part of the Temperature Rising collection
3. MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 (amplified)-Limited Edition, but again, picked mine up at a CCO
4. MAC Myth (satin)
5. MAC Pure Zen (cremesheen)-Limited Edition, picked up from a CCO
6. MAC Peachstock (satin)-Pro only color, but available to all on MAC's website (under pro)
7. The Balm's Mai Billsbepaid
8. MAC Mocha (satin)-Limited Edition
9. Wet N Wild 902C-Bare it All

I forgot to include Viva Glam II (Satin) in the original pictures, but I've got a separate picture of it below.

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Some of my favorite pink lipsticks...not too boring and not too bright!

See the pics below.  In order from left to right:

• Mac Creme Cup (cremesheen)
• Wet N Wild 901 B-Think Pink
• Revlon Creme 668-Primrose
• The Balm's Ima Goodkisser
• Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede 025-Socialite
• Rimmel's Kate Lasting Finish 104-Rosetto
• Mac Please Me (matte)
• Mac Lovelorn (lustre)
• Mac Creme de la Femme (frost)

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RiRi Boy and Heaux...Swatches.

Beautiful colors! Check out the pics below.

RiRi Hearts MAC...DUPES and SWATCHES

So there's been a lot of talk about how "unoriginal" the RiRi Hearts MAC lipsticks have been.  Instead of them (seemingly) being new shades, some believe they are just remakes of old MAC classics.  

Ruby Woo=RiRi Woo

Up The Amp=RiRi Boy

Rebel=Heaux

I think you can see the similarities, but they are different lipsticks.  Ultimately you might prefer the RiRi Hearts MAC lipsticks because they all have a retro matte finish, while Ruby Woo is matte, Up The Amp is an amplified, and Rebel is a satin.   I think the most noticeable difference is between Rebel and Heaux...Heaux is less purple...a really really pretty color in my opinion.

Either way, these are some beauties.  Check out the pics below!!

Left to Right: Ruby Woo, Up the Amp, Rebel

Left to Right: RiRi Woo, RiRi Boy, Heaux

New MAC Goodies + Feel My Pulse v Heroine

I got my Ripe for Love blush and Feel My Pulse lipstick in the mail yesterday (from Nordstrom).  These are the final two items I picked out from the Temperature Rising collection. This blush was insanely popular and now I can totally see why.  It is absolutely gorgeous!!!! Gorgeous!   Pics will not do it justice. It's a gorgeous coral peach like color. So pretty and great for summer!  I can't wait to play with it on vacation. 

Also, peep those free samples Nordstrom set.  I've never seen anyone bag the samples separately but it's a great idea especially for super strong fragrances that can overcome the rest of your package.  Again, I'm super excited for these free samples!!! I rarely purchase perfume nowadays because I don't wear it too often, and I'm usually able to find a sample of a scent that I know I like.

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Swatches of the blush and lipstick.

I also compared feel my pulse lipstick to heroine to compare. Honestly in my opinion nothing compares to heroine! It's a gorgeous deep matte purple, true purple. Feel my pulse is a cremesheen finish, so it's got a nice shine to it. It's a pretty color, sort of like a pinky purple. 

MAC's Temperature Rising Mini-Haul

Today I received the lipstick and lipglass I ordered from MAC that were part of the Temperature Rising collection.  I also ordered another lipstick and blush from Nordstrom (that were sold out at MAC) that should be delivered Friday and I will update this post.  

I received the Altered Beige lipstick (a Lustre finish) and the Liquid Passion lipglass.  They are nudeish neutral colors, very pretty and soft.  Lustre finish lipsticks aren't my favorite...for me they don't apply the best.  They look "wet" sometimes, so the good thing is that you don't need a lipgloss if you're one of those people who always likes a shiny/shimmery lip. Sometime the lustre finish lipsticks settle in the lines of my lips, which makes application look uneven.  Either way, the color is pretty and sheer, I'm sure it would flatter many skin tones.  I actually think I'll discuss my skin tone in a separate post.

Below are a couple of pics, I will update once I get the other lipstick and blush! 

Lipglass: liquid passion.  Lipstick: altered beige.

Lipglass on the left , lipstick on the right.

 

On the top is the lipstick with the lipglass on top, the middle is the lipstick, and the bottom is the lipglass.

 

Nordstrom Mini Haul (with FREE samples!)

Last week when I was doing some Mother's Day shopping I stopped at the MAC counter and was informed that the following weekend (today) they were having an event.  With the event they were giving away gift bags/boxes with free samples with a purchase.  For MAC I don't think there was a minimum purchase amount, so I just got 2 lipsticks and a lipglass I had been eyeing.  I prepaid and all I had to do was pick it up today.  Glad I did because it was a zoo.  Makeup chairs everywhere in the beauty department, so many people. Ugh.  I like to shop in peace and quiet, when I can have an associate's undivided attention.  

So the box the samples came in is pretty cool, a super sturdy matte black box.  I'm actually glad I got this over a bag because for my trip to Cali, I could put my travel makeup in the box and not be super worried that it will be damaged at the airport.  It is really really tough. I listed the samples below, and I got a few Gucci Guilty because they know it's my current fave and I'm not ready to shell out a ton of money on perfume when I don't wear it too often.  

The items I picked up were MAC lipstick in Viva Glam II (satin finish-a light brownish purplish color) and Creme Cup (a cremesheen finish--a soft, light pink) and a lipglass in Viva Glam V.  There are sample pics below.

Free samples from my gift box:

• Thierry Mugler Alien eau de parfum
• Gucci Guilty eau de toilette
• Diptyque Eau Rose eau de toilette
• MAC Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator (super excited to try this--heard good things)
• MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara
• MAC Tan and Rose Pigment

Russian Red vs. Ruby Woo vs. Riri Woo

So i've tried all three lipsticks back to back and here are my thoughts.  Russian Red is still my absolute favorite.  I know it does not flatter all skin types as well as Riri Woo or Ruby Woo, but it looks great on me and is truly a deep, blood red.  Although Russian Red is also a matte lipstick, is still has a slight sheen when it dries.  I like Riri Woo better than Ruby Woo because it is slightly darker and applies with more ease than Ruby Woo, which tends to pull across the lip (because it is a drying matte lipstick). Also, Riri Woo applies more evenly than Ruby Woo, so after one swipe you have opague pigmentation. Riri Woo also seems less drying than Ruby Woo, but has the same staying power!  However, if you already have Ruby Woo, you may just pass on Riri Woo because they are very very close.  Not exactly the same, but very similar.

If you plan on wearing any of these reds, a lip scrub is in order! I used my Fresh Sugar Lip Scrub prior to trying on these lippies and followed up with a little Vaseline to moisturize. 

Color swatches (Don't judge me if my lips are colored outside the line.  I used the camera on my iPhone as a mirror lol):

Left to Right: Russian Red, Ruby Woo, RiRi Woo

Finally, here's a pic of me last week wearing Russian Red (didn't feel the need to reswatch, my lips are not having it tonight). 

My RiRi Woo Arrived Today

Today in the mail I received my signature MAC black box which contained my limited edition RiRi Woo lipstick.  For those of you who don't know what RiRi Woo is, see this previous post.  There are some pics below, and as soon as I get home and put baby girl to bed, I will post some lip swatches and compare it to Russian Red, my all time favorite MAC red lippie (which I prefer over Ruby Woo, personally). 

The perfect nude lip...so hard to find!

There are a ton of nude lipstick's on the market nowadays, a ton! From high end to drugstore brand, every company makes at least one "nude" shade.  The only problem is that each color looks different on every person's skin.  For me personally, I've been trying to find the perfect nude lip.  I've tried lipsticks from Revlon, MAC, YSL, Maybelline, and NYX, to no avail.  Finally one day I wandered into the "PRO" section of MAC Online and came across "Peachstock".  It seemed like a nice color so I ordered it.  Once I got it, I still wasn't convinced.  It didn't really flatter me, or give me the look I desired.  Then, the Balm had a half off sale to celebrate their new website, and I ordered their Coca my Coconut lip gloss.  This lip gloss when paired with the Peachstock lipstick gives me the perfect nude lip (for me!). Because of my skin tone, a lot of the nude lipsticks look horrible on me and wash me out.  So glad I stumbled across this combination.  Def my new fave!

In the photo I'm wearing Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra 24H foundation, NYX's terra cotta blush, all eyeshadows are from Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette, Dior Iconic Overcurl mascara, and Urban Decay's pencil eyeliner in Perversion (best black black eyeliner ever!).