Etude House Cosmetics is a Korean cosmetics company that has a number of lovely affordable  products. For the longest time, it was difficult to obtain Etude House products in the United States. The company did not retail in the U.S. and was limited to a few Asian markets. But now it is easy to get Etude House in the USA and other Western countries because the Korean beauty brand has their own Etude House Store on Amazon.

So, given that it is easier than ever to buy some great cheap (as in affordable) K beauty products from Etude House, what should you get? Read on! I will cover both makeup and skin care 

The Best Etude House Skin Care

The top Etude House skin care line is the Soon Jung line, formulated for sensitive skin , but good for any skin type. The SoonJung products provide vegan skincare and are cruelty free. This is a truly lovely line of products, and they are very affordable 

Soon Jung Hydro Barrier Cream and Moistfull Collagen Cream

Etude’s current top skin care items are the Soonjung Hydro Barrier Cream Moistfull Collagen Cream. The products in the line get amazing reviews and many refer to them as holy grail products that are particularly good for dry skin. 

The collagen cream is a facial moisturizer good for everyday use for all skin types, including sensitive and aging skin. 

Do you have particularly dry skin? Also avaialbe is the SoonJung 2 x Barrier Intensive Cream. This cream has hypoallergenic Shea Butte and Panthenol for damaged skin 

You can also add to your Soon Jung set things like a ph-balanced toner, soothing relief  toner, or a collagen toner. Etude also has a great foam cleanser and a number of face masks.    

Etude House Makeup

BB Cream and Primer

Back in the day, I adored Etude’s BB Magic Cream and their Blemish Balm (read Etude House BB Magic review). However those items are no more. With that said though, Etude Face Blur is a good substitute, acting as a moisturizing makeup primer, with SPF 33. So consider it a great base item for your makeup arsenal. 

Cosmetics

For makeup, Etude House has a a lot of choices. These are my favorites:

Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint

Etude house lip tint is a good dupe for Benefit Cosmetic Benetinit. I particularly like that it come is a kit of three shades, although you can also buy the lip color separately. 

Etude House Lash Serum

Etude’s Lash Serum is a standard lash growth serum with Biotin. It is an affordable option over many more expensive lash serums. 

Drawing Eye Brow

Etude House drawing eye brow is a long lasting brow color sold at an incredibly cheap price point. It gets good reviews and is more affordable than other similar drugstore products. 

Play Color Eyes Eyeshadow Palettes

I have always like Etude House eye shadow. They do not tend to offer a lot of bold colors but they do have a lovely selection of neutral and feminine shades. 

Where to Get Etude House in the USA

I used to routinely get Etude House through YesStyle.com which not only carries Etude House, but also carries a ton of other Asian cosmetics brands, along with clothing and some really great handbags at excellent prices. YesStyle often ships from Asia, but I have had no problems ordering from them and shipping was either reasonably priced or often free.  They have a free express shipping option for orders over $50.

Now, I tend to order Etude House from Amazon, where you can browse products in the Etude House Store on Amazon. 

Overall, Etude House is a great brand with super cute packaging. Go check them out!

A favorite core memory of mine was my friend’s bachelorette party last summer. We stayed at this amazing Airbnb in Stillwater, MN and celebrated hard. We had a few spa treatments and the whole place – spa and bnb – smelled like Moroccanoil Hair & Body Mist. It was literally the scent of the weekend and smelling it brings me right back to the happy memory. If you’ve ever tried any other Moroccanoil products, it’s THAT smell. I’ve used the brand for years, so it was a nice surprise to see they rolled out a mist in their signature scent.

I snapped it up right away at the spa weekend. A mini is only $18! I used the whole thing up in a matter of months. I am pretty low-maintenance with my haircare routine, but can’t stand stinky hair- campfire smell being the #1 offender, followed closely by post-workout stink. When I wanted a replenish, Sephora only carried a large size, which is still only $32. It’s a bargain for how much you get and the scent truly lingers. Don’t spray much because it’s strong. According to Sephora, the hair and body spray actually has a bit of hydration due to the argan oil and Vitamin E in their formula, PLUS it has a UV absorber that helps prevent hair damage from sun exposure.

DON’T use enough of this to count on it for sun protection. You’ll choke. It’s strong. It’s good, but potent. After discovering it, I started spraying one quick spray on my kids’ scalps in the morning if they didn’t have a hair shower the night before and had been playing hard. Stinky kid scalps are totally a thing, but I don’t feel comfortable using dry shampoo on my little girls’s heads. One spritz on the crown of the head is where it’s at if you’re spraying a child. I spray three when it’s myself: on the crown, and one spritz down each side of my hair.

I stopped using dry shampoo years ago because I didn’t like how it made my scalp itch and caused product buildup. But, our family photographer introduced me to Bumble and bumble Prêt-à-Powder Dry Shampoo Powder which is about a million times better. When I’m introduced to a product I love, I often check the displays in-store or look online to see what they come out with next. I noticed last winter Bumble and bumble came out with Pret-a-Powder Post Workout Dry Shampoo Mist and I had to try it.

You guys!

It’s my favorite hair product I own now. Unlike a typical dry shampoo, it doesn’t leave the hair white, there is no residue, and it doesn’t make the scalp itchy whatsoever. It’s in a squirt bottle rather than an aerosol, and there’s a slight fresh scent that’s not at all off-putting. You have to give it a good shake before you use it because the liquid is dual-phase. I bought a bottle for myself to try it out, and once I fell in love I bought a bottle for my girls to share. They love it so much they use it without me prompting them.

I’ve mostly switched over the the Pret-a-Powder Post Workout Dry Shampoo Mist for my hair refreshing needs and use the Moroccanoil Hair & Body Mist for a perfume these days. It’s also the #1 thing I make sure makes it into my bag if I’ll be camping because I can’t handle the stench of campfire in my hair when I’m trying to sleep!

So, here’s the thing. My kids and I wash our hair twice a week. I work out 5 days a week and they play hard every single day. There is no substitute for washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner if you’re trying to get it squeaky clean and fabulous. Both over-washing and using too many products can be hard on the hair. I’m typically just looking for a little refresh without adding product buildup. If you are looking for the same you’ll love these two products!

Have you tried anything awesome for your hair lately? Tell me about it!

]]> https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/19/smelly-post-workout-hair-fix/feed/ 0 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/19/im-obsessed-with-hydrocolloid-patches/ https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/19/im-obsessed-with-hydrocolloid-patches/#respond Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:45:36 +0000 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/19/im-obsessed-with-hydrocolloid-patches/

I feel like brands have really upped their game in the acne breakout arena. Back in the 90s, Biore Pore Strips were all the rage for an emergency zit. Did they even work? I never had any luck. Teens now will never know the agony of a horrible breakout with no easy and overnight solution. And the rest of us who had to suffer through those awkward years, pimples on full display, know exactly how lucky we are for the invention of hydrocolloid patches. Have you discovered them yet?

These patches are clear and practically invisible. It’s intended that you put them on clean, makeup-free skin and they basically siphon the yuck out of the spot. I typically wear one on the spot overnight and sometimes I go a second round. It’s some kind of sorcery how quickly it seems to dissolve whatever pimple it touches.

There are all different brands and I’ve tried a few with no discernable difference. Some are meant to be worn under makeup, so they’re thinner and a bit more subtle. I’ve been grabbing whatever they have within easy reach at Ulta. I’m sure you could find them on Amazon or Target as well!

Right now, I’m using the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch. They almost completely blend into my skin! I’m working on a few stubborn pimples right now, one of which I’m pointing to that is covered by a hydrocolloid patch. I bet you can’t even see it! I also have one above my lip and two on the side of my nose. When I wake up in the morning, the clear patch will be tinted white and the pimple will either be completely dissolved and flattened, or darn near.

Do you need more convincing? My kids put them on mosquito bites that are itching them like crazy. It seems to take the itch away as well! How cool! If you’ve tried it let me know what you think in the comments. Don’t you wish this was around when you were a teen?!

]]> https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/19/im-obsessed-with-hydrocolloid-patches/feed/ 0 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/03/serenity-scott-makeup-look/ https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/03/serenity-scott-makeup-look/#respond Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:00:59 +0000 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/07/03/serenity-scott-makeup-look/

The biggest find for me a few years back at The Makeup Show Chicago were items from Serenity + Scott. The company puts out quality shadows and has some prepacked very attractive palettes. I also had a chance to meet the owners, who not surprisingly are named Serenity and Scott. It was a joy talking with them and learning about their brand, which they obviously put a lot of care and thought into.

 I did a makeup look using the Serenity+Scott Smoky palette, Serenity+Scott Mascara (gifted to me by the company, the rest I purchased), Serenity+Scott tinted brow gel, Serenity+Scott lipstick, and Make Up For Ever HD blush in number 315.

The star of this show really is the palette. Serenity + Scott nine pan palettes are $80, but you get a full size shadow in each pan that is ultra pigmented. There is no particular need for primer with this shadow, although I tend to use primer all the time anyway.  The Smoky palette is gorgeous. Every shade is very wearable for just about any skin tone and the matte black is one of the best I have seen in awhile. [Update: this specific palette is no longer available, but you can make your own, choosing your own shades, on the site for the same cost]

See how pretty it is? I could have taken photos of it all day. I just love looking at it! Serenity + Scott are known in particular for creating makeup for bridal looks, and this palette would be great for that. They also have a separate bridal palette and you can order pans individually from the company to create your own palettes. Individual pans are $8 and an empty palette is also $8, which is quite reasonable, especially given the quality. They are not limited to bridal by any means though and also have some bright colors in their runway palette.

Here are swatches of the palette shown in sunlight.

Paired with the palette, I used a tinted brow gel in Copper Auburn and Serenity + Scott Mascara. The brow gel is a nice product that comes in four shades.  The mascara comes in a clear container and you can see that it is full without any sort of false bottom, something that Serenity made clear was important to her. So no shortage of product on that! I liked it just fine and it is quite buildable.

While I liked the brow gel and mascara just fine, what I really loved aside from the shadow was the lipstick. This is the shade My Favorite ($16), which Scott told me really is his favorite, hence the name! I applied it over a tinted lip pencil and do not remember the brand or shade now, but it was a fairly neutral rose shade and it ever so slightly darkened it in my look, which I liked. This shade is one of those that I think just about anyone could wear.

 I also bought a Make Up Forever HD blush in shade 315 at the show. Here is a swatch.

Here is my finished look. I used a combo of the taupe and mauve type shades on my eyes with a bit of white underneath on the brow bone. I tend to squint when I smile, so it makes showing shadow looks difficult for me, but I also got a couple of  photos looking down to show the shadow a bit better. The photos are done with my iphone, which is not my preference, but hopefully it gets the general look across!

I often have an assistant end up in my photos.

So, there is my Serenity + Scott makeup look. I really can’t recommend them enough. The brand is also cruelty free. You can buy them at the Serenity + Scott website. 

In an effort to love my hair more, I’m trying to find easy ways to style it and make it cute. By easy, I mean literal wash-and-go styles. I typically heat style it straight or curly, but lately I don’t want to deal with it! I’ve been in the mood for beach waves, the kind where I just braid my hair while it’s wet and take the braids out once it’s dry. I went into Ulta the other day and asked the sweet girl working what she would use if that was her goal.

She instantly pointed me in the direction of Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream. I really don’t think I would ever have tried this on my own because the brand features super coily hair on their signage in Ulta, and mine is just wavy. But I’m so glad I picked it up! My method has been to use this on hair that’s still wet from the shower. I’ll squeeze out a bunch of the water with my hands and apply a dime-sized amount of this product all over. Then, I’ll braid two braids in my hair and wait til it’s nearly dry and take the braids out.

My hair ends up being kind of messy-wavy using this method. And I wouldn’t have thought twice about it but people have come up to me and told me my hair looks “cute” and “what did you do with your hair, I love it!” which is not exactly the response I thought I’d get from something that took me under one minute total. Because of this, I knew I had to take to the blogosphere and fill y’all in in case anyone else out there was searching for a similar product.

Why does it work so well? I don’t know! There are a few oils on the label: babassu, jojoba, and castor, along with murumuru and shea butter. I have a ton of hair and only use a dime-sized amount, and because all of these ingredients are so hydrating I don’t think I’d use more than that unless I wanted to risk greasy hair.

One of my lazy-girl hair secrets that has always worked in my favor is using minimal, if any styling products. That tends to reduce the product buildup in my hair, and make it so I can get away with washing it less often. After every hair shower, I tend to reach for Moroccanoil or Invisible Oil, but when I do the easy beach waves with this product, THIS is all I am putting in my hair. I skip all other oils. This is plenty nourishing all by itself. And despite Wisconsin being very humid, I am not noticing any frizz when using this in my hair. Amazing!

P.S: I’m really loving Nars Light Reflecting Foundation in Deauville right now. I couldn’t get it out of my head after the makeup artist at my friend’s wedding used it on all of us. I just turned 37 and I think it looks like real skin on me without being cakey. Have you tried it?

If you’re looking to create easy beach waves on yourself while air-drying your hair, give this a try! I hope it works for you as well as it has worked for me! As always, leave me a comment if you give it a try and let me know how it went.

]]> https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/06/21/easy-beach-waves/feed/ 0 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/06/19/summer-makeup-bag-must-haves-basics-and-why-you-need-them/ https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/06/19/summer-makeup-bag-must-haves-basics-and-why-you-need-them/#respond Mon, 19 Jun 2023 13:11:09 +0000 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2023/06/19/summer-makeup-bag-must-haves-basics-and-why-you-need-them/

Summertime is for spending as few precious free hours at home as possible. You will be out on dates, going to theme parks or fairs with friends and family, checking out the hottest new restaurants and bars, and spending time in nature. Since you will not be home often, you must ensure that your handbag is stocked with all the essentials: gum, hand wipes, your phone and wallet, and your makeup bag. Picking the essentials that go into your makeup bag is an art form. You need to have enough products to touch up any sweaty and shiny areas and any fading or smudged products without feeling like you’re carrying the kitchen sink! If you want to keep your face fresh and flawless all summer long, these are the makeup products you should always have in your bag of tricks.

23 Summer Makeup Bag Essentials

If you are a “full face” person

 Silky Foundation

If you like full makeup for face at all times, something you can’t be without is an excellent foundation. While you want full coverage, you still want a foundation that treats your skin and allows it to breathe simultaneously. Choose one packed with great ingredients, like niacinamide, to help reduce wrinkles and even your skin tone. Lotus extract will help minimize sebum production (skin oils) so your pores will remain clear, and you will avoid a shiny face. 

Illuminating Concealer

To help highlight the higher areas of your face, choose an illumination concealer. Not only will a concealer like this cover up imperfections and help shape your face, but it will also leave you glowing skin.

Lip Cream and Treatment

Though the summer air is usually a lot kinder to our sensitive lips, taking care of this delicate skin all year round is essential.

Instead of choosing any plain old lipstick, choose a double whammy color and treatment combo. Since this one will live in your handbag, we recommend getting either one color that’s neutral or neutral and one that’s a little more of a statement, like a nice bright red, so that you cover all your bases. Never forget to put the treatment on and let it soak in before you apply the color.

If you’re a “less is more” person

Mineral primer

It is important to use a primer with an SPF before you apply your foundation, so this applies to both kinds of makeup users. That said, applying a primer to your face when you are not planning on wearing full-coverage face makeup is still a helpful way to shield your skin from environmental pollution and the sun’s harsh rays. A primer is there to hold your makeup in place all day. SPF is essential no matter how much makeup you like to wear. Wearing SPF daily helps protect your skin from sun damage and early signs of aging.

Powder foundation

Powder foundation is an excellent makeup bag product because it is easy to apply and touch up throughout the day. It also neutralizes any shine that might grace your skin on a hot summer day. Apply the powder foundation once your mineral primer has settled for a few minutes. Tap it on lightly all over your face, building layers over areas requiring more coverage.

Cheek color

Even if you prefer a light hand when it comes to makeup, a little cheek color will go a long way to completing your look. Pick a color that will go with most of your makeup looks, and choose an easy-application product. A compact, solid gel color and a mirror will be a perfect choice. Several cheek products can double as lip color these days, so you will get more bang for your buck if you choose carefully.

Lip oil

Remember what we said about looking after your lips? Well, that goes for you too. If you do not like the color as solid as lipstick on your lips all day, choose a tinted lip oil. This has the benefit of a light sheen of color finishing off your look, but it also allows a deliciously rich oil to spend the whole day soaking in and treating your lips. Tap onto your lips gently and evenly, and then rub your lips together to spread the color all over.

Extras

Apart from makeup, you should always have a few other things in your makeup bag. Keep a book of oil-blotting leaves on hand. The summer sun is hot and, try as we might, we will probably sweat more than we would like. These leaves will absorb excess oil without dislodging your makeup and keep you looking fresh. You could also keep a pack of deodorant wipes on hand to freshen up if you’re out and about for long periods.

Wrap-up

With all these goodies, your makeup bag is good to go. It will take you from day to night if need be; impress your dates with your magical ability to look flawless and keep you looking and feeling fresh-faced all summer long.

I’ve found myself reaching for a lot of the same things time and time again over the last couple months. A lot of these things are new to me and a couple have been in my life long term. All are worth sharing! I might review a few of these things separately as well because just a simple write-up doesn’t quite do justice how important to my daily routine they have become!

READING: It’s always on trend. Being smart is cool. Reading for pleasure, reading to learn, reading for escapism, reading reading reading…do it! During the height of COVID I started reading more than I ever have in my life, and haven’t stopped my pace. I was reading a lot of self-improvement but have tried to shake it up and start reading a few books “for fun” in between books “for self-help” to keep a positive, and not so serious spin on my habit. I’ve really enjoyed Sasha Sagan’s For Small Creatures Such As We, which was my first read of 2023! I am drawn to books on spirituality and find her viewpoints fascinating. People of all cultures around the world, all religions, and no religions have much more in common than we could ever think! Pick this book up and expand your world view. I loved it! I’ve highlighted my copy, dog-eared it, and have plans to purchase a few to keep on hand to give for gifts. That’s how you know a book really moved you.

I’m starting to keep track of what I read on Goodreads. Feel free to follow/friend me there!

ALL THINGS HAIR: I don’t like to keep my hair in a messy bun all the time. I’m trying to put in some effort, and three awesome additions to my beauty routine have been making that effort easier AND striking interest in my kiddos. The first genius tool of mention is the CHI Lava Ceramic 1.5″ Hairstyling Iron. We all know that CHI products are the gold standard in heat tools…it’s just a fact that nothing comes close for quality. I have thick hair and a lot of it, so the 1.5″ wide Volcanic Lava Ceramic plates on the CHI Lava are next level. The wider width of the plates allow me to straighten larger sections of hair at once which significantly speeds up hair styling time. This one has just been a no brainer for me. Even if you don’t have a ton of hair, don’t you just want to speed up your styling time anyway? It just makes sense. Grab one on the CHI website or at Ulta.

And while you’re online shopping for all things hair…pick up this adorable no-heat styling tool, the Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set. I find this thing so adorable and fun to use. My kids are obsessed with it and my nieces loved receiving it for a gift recently. It takes a few times to get the hang of it but the curls are amazing with practice!

Headbands have also been my favorite thing in recent months. Wearing one is a super easy way to look put together in a flash. Some of my favorites are random ones I find at TJMax, but I’ve also bought numerous wrap headbands from EcoShag on Etsy.

BATH AND BODY: In 2020, I discovered the Rio Deo from Sol De Janeiro and bought 6 tubes! I gifted a few to friends because I like to spread the “favorite things” love, and kept the rest. I recently, finally, ran out. My local Sephora recently stopped carrying it, and though it’s still available online, I have two new ones in my rotation now: Megababe and Truly. I have loved the Rio Deo, so if those other two don’t work out, I know what I’ll be going back to!

I discovered Vicks VapoBath Crystals about a year ago, and I’ve become obsessed with taking baths ever since. I love the menthol eucalyptus vapors from these ones, but I also have a soft spot for all things Dr. Teals.

For some reason, I’ve always associated white strips for teeth with the OG brand that sold them- Crest. However, when I wanted to buy some a while back, I noticed they were hella expensive! I tried the off-brand version from Target and they worked great for a fraction of the price. They were around $15 vs. two or three times that price for a name brand. I’ve also tried Lumineux from Amazon with success, but it looks like they’ve raised their prices recently!

Moroccanoil Hair & Body Fragrance Mist was a fun discovery over the summer. I went on a girls trip to Stillwater for my friend’s bachelorette party, and bought one of these fragrance sprays for only $18 at the spa! The whole spa and our retreat house smelled like this while we were there, and I decided to gift myself one as a souvenir. I’ve gotten so much joy out of this little spray perfume, because it links me to happy memories. And honestly just the little $18 size has lasted forever and has been great for travel. To boot, it’s way cheaper than other fragrances that I love and smells high end to me.

MAKEUP: I caved and tried the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Oyster Pearl, which was a long time coming for me. I tend to have a wish-list cart at Sephora all the time and pull the trigger only when I feel like I deserve something really special. I can’t recall what I did to “earn” this one but I love it! The texture is whipped and it goes on creamy and somewhat sheer but you can build it up with a few layers. I’m so glad I found a cream shadow formula I like, so if/when CT comes out with more shades I like, I’ll know they’re a go for me!

I also fell in love with the ABH Rose Metals Palette, and it was a total impulse buy. These shades are perfection and embody everything I love about makeup. The shimmer, the shades of gold- rose, platinum, light gold, etc. Ahhhh I honestly bought this palette to fall in love with makeup again because I just wanted to play. I do something similar with my eye makeup almost every day, but I just love to play with it anyway. I rarely buy a new eyeshadow palette because I only have two eyes and so much makeup (!) but I couldn’t resist this one.

On the topic of eyes, I chucked a bunch of old eyeliners in the trash several months ago and went on a mission to find a formula I loved that would be budge-proof during the day but easy to remove at night, could be worn smudgy and not too precise, and something that came in the perfect, *chef’s kiss* shades. I am one to go around Ulta or Sephora and swatch every single matte brown eyeliner they have, compare the nuances of the shades, and then rub my hand and see which of them smear too easily. I think Lancome Drama Liqui-Pencil wins all the prizes for best formula and shades. I have at least a few of their pencils since this discovery, but I am missing *gasp* the purple. Purple is my lifelong favorite color so at some point I’ll have to nab that one. I exercised self-control and decided to wait until my Benefit Dark Purple is completely spent. That’s a great one too!

Maybelline Vinyl Ink lipsticks have stolen my heart this year, and I’m slowly collecting the shades that I like. Moody and Witty are my favorites at the moment. I saw the shade Awestruck (which I want!) on Allie Gline’s YouTube, where she claimed it as her favorite of the bunch, but the ONLY place I’ve been able to find that particular shade is at Ulta online. One of these days I’ll grab one for myself when I go to place an online order. In the meantime, I have plenty to play with and everyone I’ve told about them has grabbed a few shades and loved them as much as I do! People love their regular Matte Ink formula and the vinyl is a slightly glossy version of this which still stays bulletproof for the day yet somehow maintains a bit of shine? It’s amazing.

Phytosurgence is a new-to-me brand this year and I discovered them on some binge down the YouTube rabbit hole. As a high five to myself from myself for getting through summer college courses, I ordered myself some of their Skin Spark Toasted Blushes and they are SO GOOD. If you want to know more, you should honestly just go to Phytosurgence’s Instagram because the owners of this indie brand do such a nice job showing how these work on all skin tones and they only show unfiltered skin. I don’t think these shades are dupable by anything else out there, and they’re honestly just so nice. I’m really enjoying them and have an ever increasing wish-list of other items I’d love to try from their brand at some point.

Lastly, Laura Mercier Ultra-Blur Powder was brought to my attention at a bachelorette party this summer when another girl was using it, and I HAD to have it. It’s some sort of magic and I think a light coverage foundation topped with THIS is where it’s at for skin like mine – normal to dry-ish, aging, and just in kind of a weird place where makeup from my “youth” isn’t quite working for me anymore. This won’t crack or look cakey or anything like that on the skin…promise!

Welp, that’s all I’ve got. I wish people on the blogosphere, the ‘gram and YouTube would show more of what they use continuously over time…the oldies but goodies and some new things from time to time. But stuff they are really digging for daily and repurchasing with their own money over and over again. That’s the stuff I want to see! I can honestly say if anything of these things went missing or got used up, I would have to repurchase a new one right away.

If you have discovered something wonderful or share one of my favorites, leave a comment and tell me more! I always love connecting over cool things that like-minded people are into!

I was wandering around the mall today looking for some cropped jean jackets and other odds and ends to help complete a few of my summer outfits. I was also hoping to buy a new headband and thought I would have good luck at Ulta! Oh man, that place is my weakness. Before I knew it, I had two of the new shades of Nars Powermatte Lip Pigments in my hand, and one of the new Stila Dual Ended Liners. It was a good shopping day!

I wasn’t sure I was going to get all of these items, but I ended up having some points to spend. I got the Dyson Airwrap a couple months ago ($$$) and had 1,000 points stored up! I got to save $50 on my purchase which took a sizeable chunk off of it.

I love buying new makeup. It gives me a little pep in my step to wear something pretty, and I love to collect new shades in my favorite formulas. I owned Nars Powermatte Lip Pigments many years ago when they launched the line of them, but gave them away. Every several months I try to purge my beauty stash of stuff I know I’m not going to get through. At the time, I can’t remember why I wasn’t as interested in these. Maybe I was going through a clean beauty phase? Part of me remembers not liking the potential aftertaste of the formula (even though it dries down to nothing), and I think I was pregnant at the time so it just disagreed with me. Years later, I know people love them, and I am ready to give them another try!

I have so many red lipsticks, and my favorite matte lip formula is currently Pat McGrath LiquiLUST, their reds being Elson 4, and Flesh 3. I also enjoy Fenty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored. Maybelline has a good one too for much cheaper. I’m trying to think if I have anything in a matte liquid formula that is a brighter red. I didn’t before today! I ended up with Dragon Girl, a candy apple red. I am so pleased with it!

Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment in Dragon Girl

If you’re not familiar with this formula, it’s really nice. The shades are very high in pigment, opaque in one swipe, and dry down quickly. They are comfortable to wear. They are semi-smudge resistant. I wore Dragon Girl while drinking a glass of water, and I did get some smudges on the glass. However, it didn’t leave a mess of my mouth. Whenever I wear lipstick out of the house, of any formula, I always bring a concealer with me in my purse in case I have to do some cleaning up around the edges! This one is no exception. It’s so worth it though! The color wakes up my face completely and I feel so pretty wearing it. I bet it will look even nicer with a spray tan. It’s the hot girl shade of summer, in my opinion!

I love juicy, moisturizing lipsticks like the ones from Merit Signature Lipsticks lately, and have been dabbling into the Benefit California Kissin’ Colorbalms I picked up last summer too. But sometimes a bright candy apple matte is just speaking to me, you know? I had to have it.

What’s your favorite summer shade? Do you have the Dragon Girl shade in any other Nars formulas? Let me know!

]]> https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/05/14/hot-girl-summer-staple-red-lip-you-need/feed/ 0 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/05/10/mac-glow-play-blush/ https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/05/10/mac-glow-play-blush/#respond Tue, 10 May 2022 03:20:00 +0000 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/05/10/mac-glow-play-blush/

My latest beauty obsession is this beautiful, putty-like cream blush that MAC came out with recently. I was visiting a friend in Madison, WI and when we went into the department store nearby, I saw a gorgeous display at the MAC counter. I bought Blush, Please that day. After I tried it and loved it, I went on to buy Cheer Up and Heat Index online.

What I love about these blushes is the texture both in the pan and on the cheeks. Since it’s a cream product that I am dipping into the compact to apply, I always make sure to wash my hands before applying makeup (a good practice to adopt anyway). A small dip into the cushiony blush goes a long way on the cheeks. I’ve noticed I could build these colors forever if I wanted to since they are mostly sheer.

You really couldn’t go wrong with Blush, Please. It’s a neutral light mauve. It is a perfect every day color and I think every skin tone besides super dark would love this for a grab and go shade. I wear this alone or layer it with other shades of powder or cream. I’ve been watercoloring my blush lately to find the perfect hue for me and this is often the base when I decide to play that day.

Cheer Up is a peachy pink. It is a neutral-esque shade with a pinch of color. This is the “it girl” shade. This is what you would wear on the first day of school, or to a job interview. It is versatile enough to pair with a smoky eye or a bright lip without overpowering the rest of the face. Wear it if you want to look magazine beautiful.

Heat Index is a bright holy-shit pink. It’s the first day of summer and you have been playing beach volleyball and have the slightest bit of a sunburn on top of your base tan. You’re driving home with the windows down in your Buick and the radio on. When you get a peek of yourself in the rearview mirror, you’ve got a sprinkling of freckles across your nose and Heat Index on your cheeks. You’re channeling Beyonce, Barbie, and Marilyn Monroe at the same time. Sizzle.

(Swatches on the left are of Heat Index, Cheer Up & Blush Please. Would you believe I LOST Cheer Up? I went back and forth about repurchasing it and decided I must, and while I was at it I grabbed three more.)

Honestly, I’m so glad I grabbed all three of these shades. They’re each perfect in their own right. The Glow Play blush launch is definitely my favorite beauty find in months. Somehow they’re innovative and a throwback to early 2000s makeup for me at the same time. I’ve been going back to finger application makeup a lot recently like I would commonly do in high school. Back then I didn’t own any makeup brushes unless they came with the product purchase. I would use my fingers because it’s what I had available. I would just keep blending over and over until the heat of my fingers smoothed everything and melded it to perfection. Instead of razor sharp liner around my eyes or lips everything was smudgy or smoky due to my lack of skill. I’m enjoying revisiting this style of makeup application lately and the Glow Play blushes are perfectly high school-gorgeous to me. Try them and see what I mean.

Edit: I totally DID go back and order the spring releases. No regrets. I use one or a combination of these blushes daily.

Do you own any of these yet? I’d really like to buy the three new shades that are limited edition spring releases and I’m trying to talk myself down. They’ve been in my online shopping cart three different times now. The only thing that has kept me from the purchase is that the coupons on MAC’s site don’t work with the “new” releases. Alas, they’re still waiting in my shopping cart online. Your guess is as good as mine if I end up grabbing them after all! It’s one of those launches that I’m truly afraid of missing out on though, because I love the original shades I purchased so much! So, we’ll see.

Did you grab any shades of these yet? I’d love to hear what you thought.

]]> https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/05/10/mac-glow-play-blush/feed/ 0 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/03/15/benefit-brow-styler-pencil-powder-duo-vs-powmade/ https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/03/15/benefit-brow-styler-pencil-powder-duo-vs-powmade/#respond Tue, 15 Mar 2022 20:25:34 +0000 https://www.mylifestylestip.com/main/2022/03/15/benefit-brow-styler-pencil-powder-duo-vs-powmade/

Even though a more natural brow is “in” right now, I am still living in the 2016 trend of a completely filled in brow a la Anastasia Dip Brow. That tub of pomade lasted me years, and when I moved on from it, I swapped it out for Benefit Brow Zings (original no longer available). My favorite way to use Brow Zings was to tap into the wax and the powder sides interchangeably with a slanted brush, then paint it through my eyebrows to give them a bit more shape and fullness. For some reason they discontinued the formula and replaced it with a huge pro palette full of options for powders and pomades that is more in line with what a makeup artist needs than what an everyday consumer wants. For me, that was a pass because there are way too many color options and it’s too complicated.

Fast forward to the last year or so, and Benefit has two new brow products out:

Brow Styler Eyebrow Pencil & Powder Duo

AND

POWMADE Waterproof Brow Pomade

I have been using these two products pretty much interchangeably and I wanted to share my opinions.

First of all- Brow Styler. This one is a love/hate relationship. Mostly hate TBH, because the product application sucks and I know it will eventually get discontinued. Let me explain. This product is actually perfect and it’s basically the discontinued Brow Zings in a pencil/powder form. I have shade 3.5, which is a neutral medium brown, and the perfect shade for me.

This product is a two-in-one wax-pencil and powder duo. The wax pencil can be used just like a regular eyebrow pencil. The powder side is loose powder that you shove the felt tip applicator in before applying. Benefit claims this is mess-free which is honestly BULLSHIT. Prepare to make a big mess all over your cheeks and face. If you can avoid this (you probably can’t) you will probably love the way your brows fill in with a soft and natural look. I love the way the Brow Styler makes my brows look, and I do take the time to futz with it and get rid of the fallout. But, the packaging on the filling powder is TERRIBLE and I guarantee they will eventually yank this from the shelves. My hope is that they hear my whining and just give us back the original damn Brow Zings. It’s the same thing, basically, but it’s way more efficient and no mess at all!

Ok- now for the POWMADE! This is easily my favorite eyebrow product. Again, I wear 3.5 and it’s a perfect match. But what’s the best part? Honestly…it’s the rim around the edge that allows you to brush off excess product. How has this only just become a thing with the advent of this product? It’s seriously the addition to the pomade pot that nobody knew we needed until it was here. It works exactly like Anastasia Dip Brow in every way, with the only discernible difference being the lip on the edge that I can’t live without.

Is it waterproof like it claims to be? I don’t know, and I also didn’t test it for that, but I can attest that it’s sweat proof. I have been to the gym while wearing it and it looks just as good before as it does after. To apply this to my brows, I usually use the Anastasia angled brow brush. It’s my favorite for brows! The Benefit angled brow brush looks exactly the same.

Wearing POWMADE in shade 3.5

When I am looking to do a full brow, I’m always reaching for one of these products. If I’m in a huge rush, I’ll often reach for the Kosas Air Brow (I wear Medium Brown) and/or the Kosas Brow Pop in the same shade.

Do you have any of these brow products? Do you like them? Share with me if I missed talking about your favorite!

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