January 2011 Giveaway: Add Some Color To Your Life

January has flown by, but before February comes through, I'd like to give my fabulous readers a chance to win some free products!

This year (well... every year...), I encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

For a lot of people, one way of stepping out and experimenting is with color. 

So, here are 3 new products that will add some color and sparkle to your life!

All you have to do is become a subscriber (it's really easy! just click on the FOLLOW box at the right!) and answer 1 question! (Yes, this time, you have to comment, because I want to hear from you!)

* What are your 3 must-have beauty products? *
It can be anything beauty related: makeup, hair, skin, etc. 

If you subscribe and comment to this post by 11:59 pm  PST on 2/2/11 , you could win:

In My Makeup Bag

I'm always curious to see what products people use: I love seeing what my friends and makeup mentors use in their makeup bags and kits.
So in case you were interested in seeing what goodies I carry around with me, I am about to unveil my own bag of tricks   ;)

Currently, I'm using a silver Bobbi Brown makeup bag that was a gift with purchase.
I usually use my makeup bags for months- a year until it starts falling apart.
Sometimes I change the products, but I usually carry around these items (or ones that are similar in quality/convenience)

Here are the products that I feel are worthy of carrying around with me wherever I go (at least for now):

What Your Lipstick Says About You

I love taking "personality tests". 
A fun one is the Lipstick Personality Test.

I don't even really wear lipstick, but I'm a perfectionist and I like keeping my lipstick the way it comes (aka the "Slant").  I don't think that I fit completely into the personality type (especially the abiding by the rules part!), but I guess I can see the other aspects being true...
I think I'm more of a "Sharp-Angled Tip" or "Concave" " girl ... but who knows~
 
Either way, it's a fun little test. Read on to find out what your lipstick can say about you!
 

Make Up For Ever Flash Palette/ 12 Flash Color Case

When I was in Beauty School, my teacher Orlando Santiago told me if there's one thing I need in my kit, it is the Make Up For Ever Flash Palette.  Since then, I have heard this from many different amazing makeup artists.

Pucker Up- Lip Balms To Keep Your Lips Kissably Soft

With Valentines Day right around the corner, I'm prepared to write a week's worth of "love" related topics. I may be single... but I LOVE Love.

Who doesn't love a good smooch or a snog?
If you don't.... I would practice kissing more... because either the person you're kissing is a bad kisser.... or perhaps you are not the good kisser.  O_O

Don't worry... with practice, I believe everyone (or at least 80% of people) can be a good kisser.






Before kissing another person...there's a few things you want to think about:
1. Make sure you don't have bad breath- Watch what you're eating and pop a breath mint/gum into your mouth.  It's just common courtesy  ;)
2. Make sure your lips aren't dry, flaky, chapped.
3. Have fun!

If you have dry flaky lips, you want to make sure to exfoliate them.
- A quick easy tip to keep them soft and smooth is to brush them with a dry toothbrush.
- A Medium or Hard-Bristled brush probably works best to exfoliate (Don't use these for your teeth... a Soft Brush is best), but a soft brush will also work.

Lip Balms come in soooo many forms and varieties.  Here are my favorites:

Burt's Beeswax - I've used these probably since High School.  They are much more readily available now (they sell them at most drugstores now) than when I started using it. They come in stick and jar form. I prefer the stick.  This is basic standard of lip balms.  Like chapstick... but not as waxy.
I even got my ex to use this (and he never used anything!)



Soft Lips- I've used this since they first came out.  It's a good basic lip balm that comes in a variety of flavors (although it doesn't really have a taste).  It has a bit of a tingly feel to it and has SPF 20.  The thing I like best about this is the packaging. It comes in a small thin tube (about the size of your middle finger).


Rosebud Salve (C.O. Bigelow, Smith's)-  I always used to use the C.O. Bigelow for years, but since they changed the packaging, I decided to try out the Smith's when it came out with the "Three Lavish Layers" set at Sephora (Strawberry, Rosebud, Minted Rose).  I like both, but I do like how there are different flavors of the Smith's. I like the Strawberry best.

Blistex Silk and Shine-  This is a great lip balm. I've used this for years. It has a nice soft scent, it leaves your lips soft, and it lasts forever.  It also has SPF 15 which is a plus.




C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine:  I carry this in my purse.  It's great when my lips are extra dry and I want a glossy look. It contains menthol, so it gives a tingly feeling (which I love). They come in a lot of varieties- I have the original and Cinnamint.

Carmex- I don't use this, but I have tried it and a lot of people get addicted to it. It's a mentholated lip balm and will leave your lips tingly.  I think it's good for people that have extremely dry lips. It's also said to help relieve cold sores. You can find at drugstores for pretty cheap.

     I hope you find these lip balms as useful as I do~*

So Find a cute boy/girl to kiss, Keep your lips soft, and Stay away from the Garlic Bread  ;)

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve

I love love love my C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve.  It comes in a small tin that I carry everywhere with me.  You can use this baby everywhere... I use it on my lips, under my eyes and on my skin, as a hand lotion, as a makeshift hair gel, on my cuticles... on random dry spots (like elbows and ankles)...

C.O. Bigelow's famous Rose Salve has been a favorite since the early days, due to its ability to care for lips and beautify skin. Emulsified with extra-soothing rose extract, which helps ease irritation and condition the skin.

• May be used on lips, face, cuticles, elbows, knees, chapped or very dry skin patches
• Developed by Bigelow Chemists
• Not tested on animals

 It smells great, it's not too greasy or too thick (like chapstick), it's cheap, and you can use it EVERYWHERE!  This is similar to the Smith's Rosebud Salve, but I use the C.O. Bigelow because I like the packaging better (although... they changed it... the new one stinks cause they're copying the Smith's... tsk tsk.. better to be original~)



Retail Price: $5.50

Red Lips and OCC Lip Tar

Are you afraid of wearing red lipstick?  Join the club.  I never wore red lipstick because I didn't think it looked good on me... and it takes a lot to pull off a red lipstick.. or so I thought.

When I was at Empire Beauty School, my sensei Orlando Santiago had come back from the Makeup Show in L.A.  There he was introduced to a new line called OCC Cosmetics.  Created by the awesome David Klasfeld, OCC Lip Tar was a new lip color line that Orlando brought back to the Empire Beauties.  He explained that there was this crazy new red color that he loved that we all had to try. 

Say Hello to OCC Lip Tar in NSFW.  This is the ultimate red that looks good on everyone.  If you have tried reds that you never felt looked right... you have found the right one in NSFW.  This is a bright red that is just as beautiful and glamorous as you can get.

OCC Lip Tar-A stunning new innovation in lip color, OCC Lip Tar combines the longevity of a lipstick, with the ease of application of a gloss. Goes on slick and moist, and dries down to a satin finish. Ultra-saturated in color, OCC Lip Tar contains an unprecedented amount of pigment, so a little goes a very, very long way. An intense yet featherweight layer of color that stands up to the scrutiny of Hi-Def Video and Digital Photography, without ever looking (or feeling!) heavy. Meant to be mixed, OCC Lip Tars come in concise range of colors (and black and white!) for a limitless selection of shades made by you!

Like all of our products, OCC Lip Tar is 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free, and is also free of parabens and other harsh preservatives. A simple, elegant formula that contains Hemp Oil, Peppermint Oil and Vitamin E, OCC Lip Tar feels as good on the lips as it looks!
Retail Price: $12.50

I love products that not only look great, but don't contain harsh chemicals.

When using the OCC Lip Tar, use VERY sparingly!!!  The pigment is very intense, so you only need the slightest amount. Better to layer if necessary.  Be very careful when putting this on because it takes a little bit to dry, but once it's set... it stays on. and on. and on.  I do recommend a lip brush do get the most precise look.. or else you can look like Courtney Love circa the 90's.  Not too flattering.  Pop on some gloss after wards to really stand out and you are set to rule the world!

Another red I recommend is M.A.C.'s Russian Red

Retail Price: $14
 
 
 
 
 
Everyone can use a little bit of glamour in their life.  Swipe on some red lipstick, and you'll look and feel fabulous.  Think of all the beautiful women that rock the red~ Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Gwen Stefani.  It's definitely a bold look, but you can pull it off.  Don't be afraid ~ Come to the... ROSY side! 

MAC LIPGLASS

I have had MAC LIPGLASS in my makeup bag since I was in High School.

* They come in many colors, but I like the standard clear one.

* It is one of the thickest lip glosses out there. Some people may find it to be too sticky, but this baby makes your lips SHINE! You probably don't want to wear this on a really windy day since your hair will be sticking to your lips~

* It's great to use over your natural lips for a beautiful glossy look, or layered over lipstick to make your lips really stand out

* You can use a dab of this gloss to tame unruly brows

* It contains Jojoba Oil and can be used anywhere
(I've actually used this on the eyes for a photo shoot- Beautiful.. but can be really messy and lots of touch ups...)

This is one of my favorite glosses and I use it on all my makeovers. If you haven't tried it yet (HELLO... Have you been living under a rock???), go out and see what you think!

Retail Price: $14

Benefit Benetint

This is a product that has been around forever, but I've never gotten around to trying until a few months ago. Benefit Benetint is a waterproof liquid stain that can be used on lips and cheeks. It comes in a bottle similar to a bottle of nail polish. The liquid is a dark red, but looks much lighter when actually put on the skin.

The product dries VERY quickly, so make sure to blend right away.
There are many stain products out there, but this is the original.


The great thing about this product is that it's a stain, so it doesn't smear, run, or fade like other products can.


* I love to put this on the apple of the cheeks to give a glow that looks like it's coming from within. ( I usually use 3 stripes on the apple, and layer to add more color)

* On the lips, the stain gives a "just ate a cherry popsicle" look

* Another way I like to use this product is by putting a Neutral/Light Colored lipstick (or a dab of foundation in my case) and to put a spot of the Benetint on the middle of the lips and blend out. It looks natural, but very pretty.

* I've decided to put away my self-tanner and go au-natural for fall/winter. I'm gonna rock the pale skin/rosy cheeked "Snow White" look. This product is perfect for that look. And it'll still look great even if you're not into looking like a Disney princess~* =)

Retail Price: $28



Benetint Pocket Pal
This glossy color wand is your best beauty pal. A mini Benetint-the original and still the best rosy lip and cheek stain- is paired with a shiny clear gloss on the other end. Carry it in the handy pocket protector and you'll have kiss-proof, smudge-proof color with you wherever you go.

Retail Price: $20




Tinted Love
It's love at first tint! Get a full-size Benetint Rose-Tinted Lip and Cheek Stain and Pocket Pal Double-Ended Benetint and Gloss Duo packed in a chic ruby red clutch.

Retail Price: $38