Tag Archives: Makeup

Looking for a hero? Beauty products I swear by 

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 People often ask me about my skin. Quite honestly, I’m pretty genetically blessed. One of my grandmothers had a line-free face until she died in her 70s. I’ve never smoked and refrain from drinking (except on the very rare social occasion). I also avoid the sun as much as possible because I always burn, never tan.
I started taking diligent care of my skin in my early 40s after treatment for breast cancer. Chemotherapy will do a number on your skin. I was fortunate; mine bounced back. Today, I follow strict morning and evening routines that take five minutes or less to complete. I never skip those routines, no matter how tired I am.

Although I use a number of products, I wanted to share my “hero” selections. One is Luna Night Sleeping Oil by Sunday Riley. If I could use just one product for life, Luna would my choice. The company describes it as “a next-generation retinoid oil to reduce pore size, improve appearance of damaged skin and help fight wrinkles while moisturizing and calming skin.” All I know is that I can see a difference in my skin quality when I use it.

Also, because lashes are so important and no one wants to wear falsies every day, I use a lash-growth combo: SmartLash in the morning and Revitalash at night. Oddly, they only work for me when I use them together. A lot of people swear by the prescription brand Latisse, but it doesn’t make my lashes grow. If you’re in your 30s or older and have noticed your lashes aren’t as long and full as they used to be, try the SmartLash/Revitalash combo and let me know if you experience a difference.

Feeling the blues

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imageDid you know that after long years of being out, blue eyeshadow is in? Hail to the 1970s!

If it’s your second (or third) go-’round with the joy of blue, be cautious. Keep it dusty and light and leave the brights and super-frosteds to the youngsters. And confine the shade only to your mobile lid. The 70s trend of applying color from lash line to eyebrow is over for good. We hope.

Oh–don’t forget that one good place to add a pop of blue is on your lower lash line, unless you have deep undereye wrinkles. In that event, draw attention away from your lower lids with a nice coat of mascara on your upper lashes only. Keep the attention focused upward and not on crepy undereyes!

Here’s a subtle blue look using the gorgeous blues from the Laura Geller “The Wearables” eye palette. Try pairing blue eye looks with a soft pink or pinky-lavender lipstick. Here I’m wearing Colour Pop lipstick in Pepper — a bargain at $5.

October: Beauty and skin care yays and no ways

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OctoberI never believed I suffered from seasonal affective disorder, but after more than a month of unusually gloomy and rainy weather, I’ve forgotten what a sunny day looks like. The rain even followed me to Texas last week when I traveled to visit family. At this rate, I’ll soon begin to mildew. But never mind: Let’s get to the makeup products that brought sunshine to my life in October, as well as a couple that were clouds in my coffee.

First, the good:

  • I have many eyeshadow palettes, but the one I reached for most in October was the Too Face Star Dust Palette, a collaboration with Instagram sensation Vegas Nay. The shades are extremely wearable and combine for a multitude of different looks. Even better, the palette comes with photos and step-by-step instructions that give beginners a head start. The limited edition Star Dust palette is available only at Ulta.
  • After washing my face, I always use an acid toner followed by a refreshing spritz toner. The beauty world was always abuzz about Pixi Glow Tonic, but I could never get my mitts on it (it’s sold at Target and the shelf was always bare). I finally broke down and ordered it directly from Pixi Beauty and, wow, I’m glad I did. It exfoliates, firms, tightens and smells lovely too.
  • Niod Photography Fluid is another cult product I decided to try after reading the reviews. It’s a pale yellow liquid that, when applied before makeup, promises to make users’ skin look better in photographs. It works best for me when I blend a small amount into my foundation instead of applying the two separately. The improvement to photos isn’t insanely dramatic, but there is a small difference. In my view, any improvement helps.
  • I’m a blush junkie. It’s one of the last products I apply during my makeup routine and makes a huge difference to the final results. As I age, I find that creme blushes are often smart choices because they put moisture back into the skin. Right now, I’m loving Burberry’s Lip & Cheek Bloom in Hydrangea. It provides a lovely sweep of glowing color on the cheeks.
  • I’m a big fan of masks in general, and an even bigger fan during the cold weather months. Lately, I’ve been into sleeping masks — the kind you apply just before bed and wear until morning. One of my favorites is Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm by Farmacy. It’s a little greasy, so I don’t use my best pillowcase on mask night, but the results are worth it. And, besides, what’s better than sleeping your way to better skin?

And now for a couple of October mistakes:

  • It got great reviews for imparting a subtle, gradual glow — and I’m all for the JLo glow — but it was an “Oh, no!” for me. I’m talking about Hylamide Glow Radiance Booster, which purports to target dullness,uneven tone and dark spots. Unfortunately, It also leaves behind a sticky residue and sweet scent I just can’t bear. Any glow I might have attained wasn’t worth attracting fruit flies.
  • I already owned two Milani blushes — Luminoso is one of my favorites — so I thought I’d add another to my drawer. Red Vino looks gorgeous in the pan. It’s a deep cranberry shot through with veins of gold. Unfortunately, none of the glow transferred to my cheeks. It just looked flat, blotchy and blah.

September beauty favorites: I liked them. I really liked them!

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September FavoritesHello, everyone, from soggy Columbia, South Carolina. The city was hit hard this week by what weather experts are calling a thousand-year storm. My home is above water, although it was touch and go there for awhile, but others haven’t been as fortunate. We’re under a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, so it’s a good time to update you on — TaDah! — my September favorites. So, without further ado, here they are:

  • Let’s start with my favorite skin-care product of the month: Clinique Turnaround Revitalizing Serum. I like it so much that I’ve just reordered because I don’t want to run out! It’s a beautiful serum that purports to promote cell renewal for a youthful-looking glow. I’m loving the effects, but I also love the ways it feels on my skin. It leaves it smooth and silky, with no stickiness at all. I have an aversion to any product that doesn’t dry completely — that “tacky” feeling isn’t for me — so this serum is perfection.
  • The foundation I’m reaching for most often right now is the Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able, which provides a matte finish, but I’m equally in love with the stick version of Make Up For Ever’s Ultra HD foundation. I’ve never used a stick foundation before, but this one provides complete, satiny coverage and is absolutely no-muss, no-fuss. It’s perfect to pop into your bag for touchups or traveling.
  • ZoevaThere are so many gorgeous eyeshadow palettes out right now, but the one I’m reaching for most often is the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette. It includes 10 gorgeous warm shadows ranging from plum to cocoa to copper. There is a nice mix of shimmery shadows and matte shades, so you can create a complete eye look. The payoff is strong and the longevity is good too. Don’t fret about the fact that you have to order from the Zoeva website and that the company is based in Germany. I paid for my palette with PayPal and received it in about a week.
  • If you’re like me, you’re always looking for makeup products that are new and better, so sometimes old favorites are forgotten. I recently received a deluxe sample or Dr. Brandt’s Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer with a Sephora order and was reminded that it’s absolutely terrific. I ordered the full-sized version and it provides a smooth, even palette for makeup while diminishing the visibility of pores and fine lines. Reunited and it feels so good!
  • Cheek PopIf you haven’t tried Clinique Cheek Pop Blush, you absolutely should. Not only is the packaging adorable, but the colors and payoff are to die for. There are 12 shades to choose from, ranging from neutrals to peaches to pinks to browns. One (or more) will surely work for you.
  • I tried Benefit’s They’re Real! Push-Up Liner when it was first introduced and didn’t like it a bit. I found it dry and its unique, slanted applicator didn’t work for me. Flash-forward a few months and Benefit released the liners in several new colors — brown, green, purple and blue, in addition to the original black. I received a sample size of the black with an Ulta purchase and gave it another try. I’m glad I did, because the formula has changed. It’s creamier and much easier to work with. I’m even able to create a respectable wing!
  • If you’re going to wear lipstick, you’d better have smooth, flake-free lips. I have a jar full of lip treatments, but my fall favorite is Tarte’s Maracuja Lip Exfoliant. The sugar sloughs away dryness and gunk, while the maracuja oil provides lasting moisture. Good stuff!
  • Amazing GraceCharlotte Tilbury’s much-heralded makeup line lives up to expectations: The Deco-style rose gold packaging is to die for and the products themselves live up to the hype. Charlotte’s “Bitch Perfect” lipstick is my perfect go-to nude, but this month I fell in love with her Matte Revolution lippie in “Amazing Grace,” a tea-rose shade inspired by actress Grace Kelly.

There you have it, friends. I hope your October has gotten off to a good start. Mine’s been a bit soggy but there’s sunshine in the forecast!

Beauty busts: Products I regret buying

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Sometimes even high-end makeup products don’t work out as anticipated.

Everyone has beauty favorites — products they purchase again and again because they deliver everything promised. We all have beauty busts too. Some are impulse buys, while others are selected with care based on reviews or brand reputation.

I’m here to share some of my recent not-so-great product experiences. Be warned, though, that the old “one person’s trash is another’s treasure” adage applies to cosmetics: What doesn’t work for me may work quite well for you. Without further ado, here are some high-end items I regret buying:

  • The Balm’s Cindy-Lou Manizer — I’m a big fan of The Balm’s products, including their cleverly named eyeshadow palettes and blushes. Their “Manizer” luminizers — Betty-Lou, Mary-Lou and Cindy-Lou — are wildly popular and receive incredible reviews. I chose the Cindy-Lou version because I’m quite fair and it’s described as a “soft peachy-pink highlighter.” Perhaps the shade was too close to my skin color, because it didn’t show up on me at all. Zilch, zero, nada. I’ll pass it on to a friend who may have better luck.
  • Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield — I’m a huge fan of Murad and of their Essential-C cleanser in particular. I purchased the Invisiblur product because it promised to be the ultimate multitasker: A primer with an SPF of 30 that blurred fine lines and other minor skin imperfections. It went on smoothly but any blurring effect was imperceptible. Even worse, makeup applied on top had a tendency to pill and it gave off a strange, strong scent. Thanks, but no thanks.
  • Coola Makeup Setting Spray — I routinely use a setting spray after applying makeup and have had good luck with Urban Decay and Skindinavia. (No surprise, really, as they’re made by the same company.) I decided to try the new Coola spray when I ran low on my usual go-tos. What a mistake. It didn’t have any effect on my makeup’s longevity and it had a strange chemical smell. While my other setting sprays feel like nothing on my skin once they’ve dried, Coola’s version seemed to sit on top of my skin. Not a good feeling. I’m going back to my favorite: Skindinavia’s Ten Years Younger.
  • Benefit Air Patrol — This new product is an eyelid primer that promises to combine SPF protection with moisturization while making eye makeup crease-resistant. While it lived up to the promise of crease-resistance, I didn’t notice an increase in moisture and I didn’t like the product’s thin consistency. I prefer a primer that evens the tone of my eyelids and this one just didn’t offer that type of coverage. I’m sticking with my tried and true MAC paint pot in Painterly.
  • Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer — I love Sunday Riley’s skin care line and am devoted to the Luna sleeping oil, Ceramic Slip cleanser and Good Genes serum. Those products are of such quality that I had high hopes for the primer. While some reviewers have said they’re able to wear the primer alone without benefit of foundation, I found the tint and coverage so light as to be negligible. It also made my makeup sit oddly on my skin. I don’t usually have markedly visible pores, but I did when I used this primer. No, thank you.
  • Ciate Liquid Velvet Matte Lip Slick — Ciate is a familiar name to nail polish lovers and the company is branching out with other types of cosmetics. I’m a big fan of matte liquid lipsticks, so I thought I’d give Ciate’s a try. While the colors are lovely, I found that the formula never “set” on my lips. As a result, it was prone to smearing and not very long-lasting.
  • Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation — Don’t get me wrong: I love Tom Ford. He’s an amazing designer and his makeup line is top notch. The lipsticks and eye palettes are to die for: Spanish Pink is my ultimate go-to lippie. I’m always looking for my holy grail foundation and good experiences with Tom Ford combined with positive reviews convinced me to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, I found the formula quite sticky, as if it never fully dried, and it broke down after just a few hours, primarily on and around my nose. Although it’s supposed to provide medium to full, buildable coverage, I would say the coverage was medium at best.

What about you? Have you had disappointing experiences with makeup products? Please share your regrets in the comments section!

Falling in love with autumn beauty trends

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fall-makeup (2)Sorry for the delay between posts: I’m just recovering from a terrible, lingering end-of-summer cold. Don’t you hate those? Anyway, now that my nasal passages are clearing and I can begin to breathe (and think) more clearly, let’s talk about my favorite beauty season: fall.

I live in Columbia, S.C., a city in the southeastern United States that’s famously hot. Seriously, “famously hot” is the city’s official motto. It remains sultry here until mid-October or later: It’s not unusual for trick or treaters to head out on Halloween without jackets.

When it comes to fall beauty, sometimes you just have to ignore the temperature and go by the date. Mid-September means college football is underway (though let’s not dwell on that because my beloved USC Gamecocks are having yet another rebuilding year). It also means it’s time to shake off the pastels and tropical shades of summer in favor of the deeper, darker — and, in my view, sexier — colors of fall. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the beauty trends in store for autumn.

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Colorful liner along the lower lashline gives eyes a boost.

Bold eyes: There’s good news and bad news for those with shaky hands — dramatic eyes are the thing for fall. Intense, geometric eyeliner is one of the season’s most popular trends, and we all know getting sharp, even wings is one of the trickiest makeup tasks. (Tip: If you just can’t seem to pull off a respectable wing, try using clear tape, angled from oustide of your lower lid to the end of your eyebrow, as a guideline. Better yet, use a stencil like the one from Beth Blender Beauty.)

If wings are just not going to happen for you, another option is the smokey, smudgy, kohl-lined look. The key is imprecision. Pick up a soft, malleable kohl liner in black, brown — or even dark blue or purple — and smudge away. Kohl-rimmed eyes look better as the night goes on, because they become even smudgier and sexier as the minutes tick by.

While dark, kohl-rimmed eyes probably aren’t the best choice for work, another fall look most certainly is: a pop of color along the lower lash line. Amethysts, blues, golds … almost any shade will work.

Lip service: It’s time to put away the Barbie pinks and sweet-girl peaches in favor of  darker hues. One of the hottest trends is vampy lips, or lips so dark they’re verging on black. I may be showing my age, but I think those extreme shades are best left to the young ‘uns. Women, and especially working women, would be better off sticking with deep berry and plum shades (and, of course, classic reds that never go out of style).  On the other end of the spectrum are the nudes: Heavily lined or kohled eyes combined with intense lips can be too much. When that’s the case, opt for a classic nude or one of the “new nudes” — gray-beige lip shades, such as Truffle by Dose of Colors and Bow and Arrow by Kat von D, are making a stand.

Strobing

Give yourself a lit from within look by brushing luminizer on the cheekbones, chin, nose and browbone.

Strobe light: Heavy contouring a la Kim and the other Kardashians has take the nation by storm, but the message for fall is, “Go toward the light.” Heavy contouring is being replaced by strobing, which involves using liquid, cream or powder luminizers to brighten the high planes of the face, such as cheekbones, browbones and noses. The goal is to create an angelic, lit-from-within glow. I most often reach for Kevin Aucoin’s Celestial Powder or Champagne Pop, which is a collaboration between Becca Beauty and Jaclyn Hill, a YouTuber who’s deservedly made it big. By the way, Champagne Pop is a limited edition luminizer, so don’t wait too long if you want to add it to your makeup bag.

Getting cheeky: The key for fall is flushed cheeks that look like you’ve just returned from a brisk walk in the chilly autumn air. Plums are a great choice and one of my favorites is Marc Jacobs’ Shameless Bold Blush in Tantalizing, which is a deep magenta. Another nice pick is Cabana Boy by the Balm. Other great options for fall — especially if you are fond of the earthy bronze, gold and orange eye shades that are all the rage — are Warm Soul and Love Joy from MAC Cosmetics.

As fall rushes in and ushers in cooler temperatures, don’t forget that no makeup looks its best without the foundation of good skin. Remember to exfoliate, tone, correct and moisturize every day, morning and night, to give your color products the right palette to work from.

Finally, if the weather has already turned chillier where you live, enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of fall. If not, light a Pumpkin Apple, Fall Leaves or Sweater Weather candle and pretend!

From sample to shelf: Beauty PR that worked

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unnamed (8)My makeup and skin care addiction results in lots of beauty samples. They’re the mini packets and whatnots that come in paid beauty-box subscriptions and with orders from Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom and the like — not the full-size products and nifty gifts sent to top beauty gurus. I can’t imagine reaching that kind of nirvana because at my age I’m pretty much outside of the desired demographic.

In many ways, marketers for beauty companies have it easy. Their products are easily sampled, unlike the products of most major corporations. For example, I’m a senior writer for a large, well-known U.S. insurer — perhaps even the best known (think “lovable duck”). Insurance companies can’t send out sample coverage for potential buyers to try. Instead, they have to prove they’re the best the old-fashioned way: with good customer service and by paying claims quickly. That said, not every beauty product is an easy sell. Sometimes sample packets are too small to have meaning. For example, skin care products generally don’t produce overnight results, so one- or two-use samples must be stellar to be convincing (although they’re useful when packing for vacations).

By my estimation, I make one full-size purchase for every 25 products I sample. Here are some recent products that went from sample to makeup shelf:

  • Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Cleanser and Creme Rinse Conditioner. I received three samples of this cleanser/creme rinse combo and the third was the charm. I had good hair days each time I tried the samples — my hair seemed to have more volume, bounce and shine. That was enough to convince me to pull the purchase trigger.
  • Benefit They’re Real! Mascara. I’ve mentioned before that my lashes seem to “eat” mascara. I don’t know where the mascara goes; it just seems to disappear from my lashes as if it was never there. They’re Real! gives me both volume and length, plus it stays in place until I take it off.
  • Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes. This mascara sat in my sample drawer for months until I decided to give it a try based on YouTube recommendations. The reviewers were right: It makes my lashes look long, fluffy and flirty — and even the non-waterproof version stays put.
  • Too Faced Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer: Too Faced is one of those companies that offers generous, frequent samples. I tried this primer after a sleepless night. (I’m somewhat of an insomniac.) The primer lived up to its promise to leave my complexion brighter, more moisturized and “awake.” I don’t use Hangover Rx every day, but I reach for it if I’m tired, dehydrated or wearing a foundation that’s somewhat drying.
  • Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation. I wouldn’t have tried this foundation without the benefit of a sample. Truth be told, I loathed the original formula. I even purchased it twice because people raved so much I thought I’d missed something. When the reformulated version was released, I shrugged because I figured it would be much of the same. But no! After trying a generous sample — enough for about four days of wear — I realized the new version was the bomb. In fact, I liked the liquid version so much I also purchased the stick version for travel.
  • Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick. I received substantial samples of Kat von D’s signature lipstick in two shades, Bachelorette and Underage Red. I’m one of those women who doesn’t like to reapply lipstick often, and I found the samples long-wearing and comfortable. As an added bonus, I received favorable comments from strangers when I wore them. I now have about eight shades in my collection and couldn’t be happier with their performance.
  • Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Creme. I received a sample of Le Marc Lip Creme in So Iconic as part of Sephora’s loyalty program. I loved the formulation: It was rich, creamy, long-lasting and made my lips appear pouty and plump. I purchased full sizes in three other shades and they’ve become my favorite lipsticks.
  • Beach Walk perfume by Replica and Orange Sanguine from Atelier Cologne. Tiny one- or two-use spritzers of these scents were included in separate Sephora orders. Beach Walk has a clean, fresh fragrance that does, indeed, smell like the seashore. Orange Sanguine is a close-but-not-quite-there approximation of heady orange blossoms. I purchased travel sizes of each and discovered they smell wonderful both separately and together.

Lesson learned: Shop your sample drawer! You won’t love every product, but if you’re like me you’ll find some hidden gems.

Cancer upped my beauty game — and what I learned can improve yours

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unnamed (7)Having breast cancer at a relatively young age changed me in many ways. Some were large: It helped me to recognize my strength, better appreciate the people and places I love, and taught me to live more in the present. It also changed me in smaller ways: I’m more patient, more at peace with myself and much more relaxed about “the small stuff.”

Another thing that changed after cancer and chemo was the way I look after myself on a daily basis. Before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I kept my skin clean and marginally moisturized and that was about it. But six months of chemo left me looking older, tired, gray and determined to do something about it. In some ways, having cancer at 40 helped me look better at 56. Here are some things I should have been doing before cancer that I now do religiously — and they’re things you can easily do to look younger and healthier, no matter what your age:

  • Exfoliate: Keeping your skin clean is one thing; bringing new life to your complexion is another. Exfoliating does the job by removing layers of dead skin cells that accumulate over time. It can help with acne, speed up the skin’s renewal process, reduce the appearance of pores, and even lighten age and sun spots. It also allows you to get your money’s worth from serums, moisturizers and other skin products by removing debris on the skin’s surface, ensuring products penetrate more deeply. Products to try: Clinique Exfoliating Scrub, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate, Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub
  • Tone: Many people skip the toning process because they believe it’s simply not necessary. I use not one, but two, toners as part of my morning and evening skin-care routines. After washing my face, I use an acid toner to aid in the exfoliating process, followed by a moisturizing toner that rehydrates my skin. Products to try: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Glow Pads, Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Pads, First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (acid toners); Josie Maran Nirvana Hydrating Mist, Caudalie Grape Water, Murad Resurgence Hydrating Toner (moisturizing toners)
  • Mask: I’m a great believer in skin-care masks and try to have one or two “beauty nights” per week. Masks do everything from smooth and brighten to moisturize and exfoliate. Whether you’re using a peel-off mask, a traditional wash-off mask or an all-in-one sheet mask, the process is quick and easy. You can multi-task by making mask time work with your television viewing: In most cases, you can apply a mask during one commercial break and remove it during the next. I’m also a fan of “sleeping” masks — the kind you apply at bedtime and wash off the next morning. Products to try: Ole Henriksen Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask, Tony Moly I’m Real Rice Sheet Mask for Clear Skin, Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cel Bio-Repair Mask, Freeman Feeling Beautiful Tea & Lemon Clay Mask, Formula Get Your Glow On Brightening Peel-Off Mask
  • Scrub and moisturize: I’m talking about lips. Crusty, chapped and dry lips are simply unattractive, and trying to cover the problem with lipstick or gloss just makes it worse. Your lips deserve just as much attention as the rest of your face: Smooth, plump, moisturized lips are younger-looking lips. Products to try: Lush Lip Scrub, Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, Tarte Maracuja Lip Exfoliant (scrubs); Kaplan MD Lip Mask, Dior Creme de Rose, Tony Moly Lip Balm (moisturizers)
  • Curl: Your lashes, that is. I didn’t appreciate my full, long lashes until I lost them during chemo. They grew back after my treatment ended, but never regained their previous lushness. In addition to using an eyelash-growth serum, I curl my lashes. Doing so makes the lashes appear longer while giving my eyes a more wide-awake and lifted appearance. Products to try: Shue Uemura Eyelash Curler, Shiseido Eyelash Curler, Kevin Aucoin Eyelash Curler, Sephora Show Curl XL Lash Curler for Round Eyes (my favorite)

Gimme some lip: Five top lipstick shades

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Back row, left to right: Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, MAC, Smashbox Front: NYX

I was a rather late arrival to the lipstick game. When I was in high school and college, the natural look was in and — thanks to the hereditary benefit of a naturally pink pout — I rarely wore lip products at all. I never got into lip glosses (too thick and gooey) and lipstick required touch-ups throughout the day, which was something I just couldn’t be bothered with.

As I got older, however, two things happened: First, I discovered that the right lip shade can work wonders, particularly in terms of brightening an aging face. Second, lipstick formulas changed. Today’s lippies don’t feel nearly as heavy and waxy as the old formulas that made my lips feel like they were suffocating beneath a heavy, uncomfortable film. What’s more, the latest formulations are longer-lasting, reducing the frequency of touch-ups.

Today, I have a rather large collection of lipsticks, ranging from nuder-than-nude to fiery reds. Here are a few of my current favorites:

  • Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink: This is my favorite pink nude. It’s also my most spendy lipstick, purchased at the crazy price of $50 for the tube. It’s a good thing this was a “Sorry, not sorry” selection. It’s creamy, has the perfect amount of sheen and is a lovely beige-pink shade worthy of a classic Hitchcock blonde.
  • Marc Jacobs Le Marc in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: First, let’s talk about the case: It’s sleek, curved, sexy and magnetized. The lipstick inside is sexy too — it’s a deep rosy shade with beige undertones that promises 10 hours of velvety, hydrating wear. Ten hour is stretching it (in my experience, no lipstick holds on for that long), but I love the way it makes my lips look smooth and full with a slight sheen.
  • MAC Red — MAC makes a wide array of gorgeous reds. While Russian Red and Ruby Woo get the lion’s share of raves, I’m partial to the simply named “MAC Red.” It’s a vivid, bright, blue-red with a satin finish that makes my teeth look several shades whiter. Simply named … simply gorgeous.
  • Smashbox Be Legendary Long-Wear Lip Lacquer in Fuchsia — Generally, the glossier the lipstick the shorter the wear. The Smashbox Be Legendary formula is different in that it goes on like a lacquer but turns into a glossy, long-lasting stain. When I think of fuchsia, I think of a punchy, in-your-face reddish pink. This is a kinder, gentler, muted fuchsia — a shade so pretty that strangers stop me to ask what I’m wearing on my lips.
  • NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick — Anyone who knows me knows that I’m partial to matte, liquid lipsticks because they’re so long-wearing and never need a lip liner. My favorite from among the new, very affordable NYX entry into long-wearing matte brigade is Tea & Cookies. Pinky browns are all the rage, but sometimes they’re too brown on me. This shade has just the right combination of pink and brown and the color doesn’t budge, even during a meal.

A+ in August: 9 beauty favorites and a big ol’ flop

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It’s time to say goodbye to the summer but not to the heat in the southern United States. It’s hard to think about fall when the thermometer is hovering near 95 and the humidity makes the air feel like a thick, steamy wool blanket. Still, this is my favorite time of year because it means football season has finally arrived. I can’t wait to be in the stands Thursday night when my University of South Carolina Gamecocks kick off against the University of North Carolina (known around these parts as the “other” Carolina).

I tried quite a few beauty products this month and for the most part my luck was good. Let’s get down to business and talk about what I liked best and what luxury product just didn’t cut it for me. First, the good:

  • Josie Maran Nirvana Hydrating Treatment Mist — Did I mention that it’s hot outside? This Josie Maran spritz features both Argan oil and coconut water, two products that nourish and brighten the skin. I use it multiple ways: after toning and before applying my serum to help my skin better absorb the product, at the end of my makeup routine to keep my skin from looking too powdery, and throughout the day to renew my complexion. It’s cooling and refreshing and the pump is perfect for spraying a fine mist.
  • Sephora Show Curl Eyelash Curler for Deep-Set Eyes — My eyes are steeply curved and I’d never found a curler that was able to capture the lashes around the bend (at the outer corner of my eye). What’s more, the shape of most curlers didn’t track my eyelids, resulting in lots of pinching. This curler is just perfect: It captures all of my lashes and gives them the perfect curl with no pain.
  • Dr Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiller Primer — This is a rediscovery for me. I’d moved on to other primers, thinking that newer was better. But after revisiting the Dr. Brandt version, I remembered why I thought it was so great. I alternate this with the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer. The Dr. Brandt contains silicone, so it hides pores and makes foundation glide on smoothly. The Too Faced product is more nourishing; I use it when my skin feels dry and dull.
  • Lorac Pro Metal Palette — Tiny but mighty! I love discreet lid glimmer and this palette does the trick. From bright gold to copper to rose gold, green and navy, it gives a bit of sheen to every eye look.
  • Dior Addict Fluid Shadow — This mirror-shine liquid can be used as a shadow or as an eyeliner. It’s super long-lasting and luxurious. For maximum shine, simply paint it on your lids and let it dry. For a less glossy look, blend it into your lids with a firm brush.
  • Glam Glow Thirsty Cleanse Daily Treatment Cleanser — This product goes onto the face like mud, then turns into a lightly foaming cleanser when water is added. It’s great for dry skin; it leaves it clean but not stripped. Ingredients include yellow clay and coconut water. (Again with the coconut water!) It has a pleasant smell that I can’t quite identify. Honey buns? Cinnamon toast? Something yummy from the bakery, for sure.
  • Sephora Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color — Liquid lipsticks are all the rage and I have quite the collection. I like them because they’re long-wearing, color-drenched and don’t require a lip liner. Some of them, though, can be quite drying. This product from Sephora is long-lasting and color-saturated, but there’s moisture there too. It’s great for those days when you want matte but not too matte.
  • Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand — This blush is rich, long-wearing and the perfect shade of pink with peachy undertones. It provides a healthy, hydrated glow that looks like it comes from within. It’s from Ford’s limited-edition summer collection, so if you’re interested you should buy before it’s gone.
  • Quay Australia Fleur sunglasses — Quite a few of the top beauty bloggers have been sporting Quay (pronounced “key”) sunglasses, so I assume Quay’s PR department is working overtime. Nevertheless, I saw this model on the adorable YouTuber Kathleen Lights and had to have them. They’re affordable, well-crafted and unique. I really like them!

And now for the big flop: I want my skin to look brightened and slightly dewy on occasion. I sometimes have problems reaching that ideal without crossing over into greasy. I heard great things about Le Blanc De Chanel Multi-Use Illuminating Base (that’s a mouthful). However, this is simply one of those products that doesn’t work for me. Instead of illuminating, it leaves me looking dry and more wrinkly than I actually am. Darn it.

Bonus favorite: Summer is a slow time for television, so I often use it to catch up on shows I missed. Right now I’m completely hooked on “Hell on Wheels.” It’s about westward expansion in the U.S. shortly after the Civil War and centers around the lives of the men and women building the cross-country railroad. From Indian Wars to illness to debauchery and skullduggery (plus a hot, conflicted hero in Anson Mount), it’s got it all. I’m binge-watching on Netflix.