Review: Lip and cheek in a stick – Laura Mercier Audrey and Lancome Pink Preview

Your mothers sometimes have the best beauty tips. My mother used to double her lipsticks as blushes, a great way of fast application and cut down the budget. I can’t remember we had multiples, pot rouge or lip and cheek stain three decades ago. So before I found other alternatives, I used lipsticks as a blush.

My mother often complained how her creamy lipsticks didn’t stay on or the colors were just too clown-like. The lipstick we need should behave like a cream blush. Finally, I discovered Laura Mercier Cream lipstick in Audrey and Lancome Matte lipstick in Pink Preview.

First of all, both are wonderful lipsticks on their own. Laura Mercier Audrey ($22 for 0.14 oz) is the most universal shade of lipcolor I’ve ever encountered. It is a beautiful warm rose that flatters all skintones and types. It shows up differently on people but all are very wearble and classy. If I can nominate for a typical French’s lipcolor, Audrey would win my vote. The texture is creamy and nourishing. It doesn’t peel my lips at all. Lancome Pink Preview ($22) is a youthful cool pale pink that wouldn’t wash out any skintone if used with a light hand. Despite its matte texture, Pink Preview feels moisturized and comfortable on my lips. It stays on well too.

Both work flawlessly as blushes. They glide on smoothly on my cheeks and at the same time stay put for more than 3 hours. If you wish to extend the wearing, you might want to apply them BEFORE setting powder. I apply Audrey and Pink Preview with my clean fingers then blend on the apples of my cheeks.

Recommendation: You can reduce the amount of makeup while traveling with these lipsticks.

Review: Wearable bright pink lips - Nars Easy Lover & Chanel Pink Teaser

I've always found hot pink picky to wear. Since I want the a more natural take on the intentive pink, I opt for lipglosses instead of lipstick. Nars Easy Lover (2010 summer collection) and Chanel Pink Teaser (2010 fall collection) can do the trick for me. While they still maintain the bright spirit of the pink, they are much wearable and soft. You can create many versions of neutral eye and bright pink lips.

Nars Easy Lover ($24 for 0.28 oz) works perfectly for the daytime. It's my lipcolor when I bite my lips several time. Easy Lover is a sheer hot pink that coats my lips with a natural but more lively color. Nars lipglosses smell little odd when first applied though it fades quickly. It's comfortable to wear and non-sticky. However, it took me several attempts to keep the gloss within my liplines, probably due to it's jelly-like texture.

Chanel Pink Teaser ($28.5 for 0.19) is gorgeous for both day and night looks. It’s an opaque hot pink with exquisite golden shimmer. It glides on so smoothly, creating neat liplines. I wear it for good 4 hours with slight drinking. Chanel Glossimers are phenomenal and ultimately luxurious. I've tried other high-end shimmer lipglosses and Chanel wins me over.

I imagine myself to wear these two lippies for a years to come. They're absolutely stunning. 

Current favorite look: Youthful and natural chic

While many of my friends venture into dramatic looks after getting used to with natural makeup, I am going to the opposite direction. This year’s spring and summer collections of my favorite brands like Dior and Guerlain really inspires me to incorporate more bright colors with neutral eyes. For the first time, I fell in love with a bronzer – Dior Aurora, though I use it more like a blush. I went a little bit crazy with not one but two quints of Dior Rosy Nude. 

1 - Dior Rosy Nude 5-color eyeshadow quint (LE - 2011 Summer Collection)

2 - Urban Decay 24/7 Whishkey/Zero

3 - Dior Iconic Mascara

4 - Dior Aurora Healthy Glow Powder (LE - 2011 Summer collection)

5 - Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer

6 - Chanel Pink Teaser (2010 Fall collection)

7 - NARS Easy Lover (2010 Summer collection)

I know I left out Dior Amber Diamond - it's my staple highlighter, which I'd like to address it in a series posts on my favorite highlighters. 
I will share more thoughts on these amazingly beautiful summer items (Aurora and Rosy Nude) next month. 

Review: Multiple – Eyeshadow turns contour palette – Smashbox Trio Eyeshadow Headshot

Smashbox Headshot ($28 for 0.079 oz) is one of the brand’s classic eyeshadow trios. It contains a shimmery dusty pink, a satin soft ivory and a satin soft brown. The trio works perfectly for natural everyday look.

Until one day, I forgot to bring my NARS Laguna bronzer, I had to use the soft brown to contour my nose. It was surprisingly soft and natural. Then I went further by applying the other two shadows as highlighter for my mother and mother in laws. I was truly impressed how this trio was so versatile on variety of skintone. Since the dusty pink and soft ivory don’t maximize the pores, they especially flatter mature complexion.

Today, Headshot is in my purse when I really need to minimized my traveling makeup.

Recommendation: Use a lighter hand when contouring your face with the soft brown. The dusty pink flatters medium skin tone better, IMO, while the ivory looks natural on lighter skin.

Review: All face highlighter in one stick – Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eyepencil Yeyo

Traveling with tons of makeup makes me tired. Besides, I love to fake the natural healthy glow we usually have after exercising. So I always bring an on-the-go highlighter. When I discovered Urban Decay Yeyo, it was really a “wow” moment. The texture is very creamy that as it’s named glides on effortlessly. The color is very natural though described as shimmery white. It’s not chalky white rather semi-opaque when layering. I applied it directly from the pencil then blend it with my ring finger. That way the product melts evenly on your skin.

I apply Yeyo on my brown bones, the middle of my eyelids and near the tear ducts for everyday simple look. It’s also so lovely on the cupid’s bow and bridge of the nose. Even though I don’t often apply it on my cheekbones (I prefer more neutral tone there), it does a great job highlighting that area too. You can fit it anywhere in your makeup back, so handy for travel. Because it’s a pencil, I found it saves me more time on application.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eyepencil Yeyo is retailed for $18 (0.04 oz).

Recommendation: UD Yeyo is perfect for traveling or when you’re in a rush of looking fresh and glowy.

My favorite lipsticks for spring/summer

Spring and summer are the time of the year I love to wear warm fun colors on lips. I think it’s nice to have a memoir of my all time favorite lipsticks for the seasons.

Guerlain Rouge G Serie Noir Orange Euphorique ($47) has recently became my all time favorite lipstick. It is truly the best for color payoff, creamy texture and longwearing. Its muted orange color flatters warm stkin tone very well and at the same time  . It feels very comfy on lips. Too bad it’s a limited edition for Spring 2011. So I purchased a backup!

Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle ($32) is a classic medium pink with brown undertone. It’s just so easy to work with, almost fool-proof. I found it opaque but wearable even with two thick coats. The texture is creamy and long wearing. I will just purchase it again and again.

Laura Mercier Audrey ($22) is my staple lipstick year round, all ocassions. This is the most versatile lippie I own. It can go sheer, a natural bright pink, or opaque, a warm rather deep rose. I also use it as a blush under my setting power. The review of Audrey as multiple product will be up soon.

Chanel Rouge Allure Exquisite ($32) offers a quite unique color – a warm pink with fine golden shimmer. It’s also truly versatile. I always find warm pink lipsticks are less common eventhough pink is arguably the most common lipcolor. That’s why warm skin tone would all thank Exquisite.

Dior Addict Pink Embroidrey ($26) looks quite normal in the tube. But wait until you dress it on your lips. It’s wearable mauve pink that feels soft and springy.  While Pink Embroidrey can go both semi-sheer and opaque, I prefer a sheerer application just enough to light up my natural lips colors.

What are your favorite spring/summer lipsticks?

Review: Sultry wearable smokey eye – Dior 5- color Designer All-in-one Artistry Smokey Design Palette

Wearable smokey eyes has always been a challenge for me. I want to look like myself but sultry and mysterious. So when I found Dior Smokey Design Palette I was thrilled (I’m still thrilled actually). I have a thing for grey/taupe color family. This palette is right up my alley. 

The colors are opaque and true to the pan with excellent texture. This is the main advantage of Dior 5-color quints.  You have a creamy base, very similar to Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil in Yeyo both in color and texture. It can also be used as a highlighter. There are two eyeshadows, silver grey and dark grey. The kicker of the palette, in my opinion, is the creamy glitter in crystal that stays put very well for a glitter. The only downgraded eyecolor is the gel eyeliner that doesn’t stay on for more than 1 hour if not set by powder eyeshadow. It is truly an all-in-one palette.

More swatches

Dior makeup artist created such a gorgeous look using this palette.

I can create smokey look at ease. The eyeshadows glide on smoothly, stay fresh more 5 hours. I travel with it all the time! The packaging is sleek (a plus for traveling) and sturdy. It also includes a large-enough mirror for your convenience. The two applicators definitely help although I prefer my own brushes. Dior Smokey Design Palette is priced at $58 for 0.15 oz or 0.03 oz/color. 

Dior Smokey Design is definitely beautiful and easy-to-use for both wearable and dramatic smokey looks.