Fuchsia Lips for Summer Guide

It was only right that I posted a lip guide for fuchsia lips for the summer since I did one for orange lips. Who can resist a beautiful bright bold lip to go clubbing with over the summer? I know I can't! These are a few of my favorite lip products that I have definitely used up this summer. Happy shopping! All of these products can be found and purchased on my Luvocracy page.

                      

1. Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color Pink Rave-  This is one of Milani's new lip products and I love it. This color is bright, bold, and beautiful just like me! This is a fun color to start your summer with and bring on the heat.
   
                          
2. Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Fuchsia Flash- If you haven't heard of the Maybelline's Vivid lipsticks you're missing out. The vivid line is exceptional and is my favorite brand of lipstick from the drugstore. I have every color and love them all. The Fuchsia Flash is so pigmented and creamy and it gives you a new look whenever worn. It's fun and beautiful.
   
          
3. Maybelline The Elixer Color Sensational Fuchsia Flourish 075- The Elixir Color Sensational's by Maybelline are so pigmented and long lasting. Not sticky at all and is very creamy. They come in a range of colors from nudes to bold. Its a little bright for everyday but I make it work. I'm not a fan of the smell or taste but the performance of the product makes up for that.
   
                                          
4.  MAC Candy Yum Yum- This is the most amazing hot fuchsia bright pink lipstick from M·A·C and I love it. Its a bit drying but applies nicely. I do recommend exfoliating and moisturizing your lips prior to application. They do well with the formulation of most of their lipsticks and this one is a keeper.
               
5. Lime Crime Pink Velvet- If you want opaque, long lasting lip color you need to have a Lime Crime Velvetines. They're fun, vibrant, and in your face colors are all the hype now in the beauty world. Love this color in pink velvet.

I hope you enjoyed my Fuchsia Lip Summer Guide for this summer and I hope that you remember to be your own kind of beautiful!

(If you’re interested in purchasing any of these items please click on this Luvocracy link. You will be directed to my Luvocracy page where all of the products can be found. Luvrocacy will find the least expensive price available online and sell it at that price on their website.  

*Note: I do receive a credit when products are purchased from my Luvocracy page. All of these items were purchased with my own money. This post has not been sponsored by any company. Check them out!) 

Orange Lips for Summer Guide

I have been obsessing over the fact that the lip color for the summer season is orange that I've gone out and purchased every orange product out there that I've been attracted to. So, I've decided to pick out my top favorites to share in hopes that it will help you find the perfect lip color for you. Happy shopping! All of these products can be found and purchased on my Luvocracy page.

                    

1. Lime Crime Suedeberry Velvetine- is a bright orange red. I wore this past Easter and I received so many compliments on how beautiful it looked against my skin tone. I love the way it feels and looks on my lips. It is a little drying but nothing that's unbearable.                                     
2. Milani Sweet Nectar- is a yellow-toned orange that glides on like a dream. It's not matte but not too glossy either. It smells delicious and fits right in with the color theme for the summer season.
      
3. NYX Morocco-is a bold, orange-red lip stain. Since orange is in this summer I have been stocking up on all things orange for my lips. It is beautiful against my dark complexion but this is just an overall great product. NYX has some of the best drugstore products out there and this is one of them.
   
                           
4. Wet N Wild 24 Carrot Gold-This is an affordable orange lip for the summer. It's inexpensive and great on the lips. Soft, creamy, and smooth to apply. It lasts for a couple of hours before needing to re-apply. Its not too bright and it is wearable for an everyday daytime look. And of course we all love how affordable Wet N' Wild products are especially because of how great the product quality is.
   
                 
5. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick 15 SPF 15-  I feel like having a YSL lipstick or lip stain is a right of passage as a makeup artist and/or a makeup lover. Its expensive but you won't regret it. The quality is there, and when you're done with the lipstick the logo band makes a beautiful ring. This lipstick is perfect for summer. Creamy glides on easy and looks beautiful. And who wouldn't want that beautiful lipstick as an accessory with that beautiful packaging. 

Well ladies, I hope you enjoyed my top 5 favorite orange lip colors for this season. Please stay tuned for my favorite fuschia lippies coming up in my next blog post.

-Be your own kind of beautiful

(If you’re interested in purchasing any of these items please click on this Luvocracy link. You will be directed to my Luvocracy page where all of the products can be found. Luvrocacy will find the least expensive price available online and sell it at that price on their website.  

*Note: I do receive a credit when products are purchased from my Luvocracy page. All of these items were purchased with my own money. This post has not been sponsored by any company. Check them out!)

Gotta Have It/Can Live Without It:

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

                    

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask is one of the most talked about lip masks on the market right now so you know I had to try it. I have really crazy lips that react to anything and everything including products that I use, the weather, and my health. I find them to be mostly dry and scaly which doesn't work for someone like me who is obsessed with matte lip products. It is described as being a “soothing, leave-on lip mask that replenishes moisture in lips,” so it became number one on my shopping list to try this month and I have to admit I don't regret purchasing it. The ingredients include lanolin base along with castor seed oil, shea butter, agave nectar, and jojoba oil and triple the amount of antioxidant trans-resveratrol found in red wine is listed in the description.


I’ve been interested in trying some of Bite Beauty’s other products, so I thought this would be a great place to start. This lip mask is not in actual mask that you have on for 15 minutes and then remove with water. It's more of a hydrating balm. For the past couple of weeks I've been applying a very small amount to my lips right before bed sometimes even right after exfoliating with my Fabulips 'Pout'-o-Matic by Bliss. When I wake up in the morning, there is still a sheer layer still on my lips, which is leaves my lips really hydrated, soft, and smooth to the touch. The mask is very thick, which makes it hard to squeeze out of the tube and the packaging isn't a picnic either. I don't find the product at all difficult to apply to the lips though it is tacky. It smells sweet and is a little glossy but nothing too shiny.


The Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask helps to maintain the smooth texture of my lips. This small tube will last a very long time since a little goes a long way.This product gets a grade of A- because I am not a fan of the packing and I wish the price was much lower but I do love the product and will be repurchasing it in the future. The Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask  0.52 tube retails for $26.00. This product is available for purchase on my Luvocray page.

Grade A-

 

(If you’re interested in purchasing any of these items please click on this Luvocracy link. You will be directed to my Luvocracy page where all of the products can be found. Luvrocacy will find the least expensive price available online and sell it at that price on their website.  

*Note: I do receive a credit when products are purchased from my Luvocracy page. All of these items were purchased with my own money. This post has not been sponsored by any company. Check them out!)

Gotta Have It/Can Live Without It:

MAC Tan & Melon Pigments

 

I have a small collection of pigments that I own because I’ve never been too interested in them. I find them to be very messy when opening, since most pigments that I’ve tried have no sifters and if they do have sifters you get very little product for what you pay for. They also have a lot of fall out if not used wet and sometimes I just don’t want a very dramatic shimmery look. The whole idea of pigments just seemed like too much work for me but I have been trying a few of them out just to see what they’re about and I’m very happy I did. I’m so excited about MAC’s pigments in Melon and Tan. If I had to pick a favorite it would have to be Tan but I just can’t seem to stop loving them both equally. 

As you can see from the photos, pigments and shadows are two different types of products. They aren’t pressed like a regular shadow so they need to be applied more carefully so not to have too much fall out. If not applied wet it is best that you apply it to your skin with a pressing motion as opposed to a sweeping across your eye as you would do with a pressed eyeshadow. Pigments are more pigmented and last longer on the skin. They tend to be a lot of shimmer factor to them than most shadows but there are matte pigments as well. The best part about pigments and especially MAC ones is that unless you knock it over or drop it they last FOREVER!!!!

 

Melon pigments swatches dry and wet

Melon pigment is a peach gold toned pigment with lots of shimmer. I love using this pigment in the spring. I like applying it wet with different shades of brown to compliment the pigment. It has a lot more yellow gold flecks in it the the Tan pigment does. Sometimes even applying this shadow on top of another right in the center of the lid can give any look the pop it needs for that wow factor to the eye look.

Tan pigment swatches dry and wet.

Tan pigment is a shimmery tan rose gold shadow. It has more of a pink undertone and definitely reminds me of the shadows from the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette but has so much more color. I didn't know what I was missing until I purchased this pigment. I don't know what it is but I am obsessed with everything rose gold. From makeup, jewelry, to even my choice in makeup brushes I just love rode gold things and this pigment is a testament to that fact. It looks beautiful against my dark skin and is so appropriate for spring.

These products get a grade of A+ and is a Gotta Have It. As you can see from the swatches the pigments are beautiful when applied dry but when applied wet they have a foiling effect that amplifies the pigmentation and just makes the color shine. To sum it up I do believe that these products are worth having no matter who you are. They are beautiful colors and are must have MAC pigments in my collection. These product can be purchased for $21.00 on my Luvocracy page.

Grade A+

(If you’re interested in purchasing any of these items please click on this Luvocracy link. You will be directed to my Luvocracy page where all of the products can be found. Luvrocacy will find the least expensive price available online and sell it at that price on their website.  

*Note: I do receive a credit when products are purchased from my Luvocracy page. All of these items were purchased with my own money. This post has not been sponsored by any company. Check them out!)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Catwalk Palette & Lavish Kit for Brows and Eyes Review

This past fall Anastasia Beverly Hills outdid themselves with the release of their new Catwalk palette and Lavish Kit for Brows and Eyes. Of course, both palettes were sold on the Anastasia website but each palette could only be purchased at specific beauty vendors.

The two palettes have similar shadows that have very warm colors but they do need a little work and a good base to get that color payoff. I personally love both of the palettes and kit and recommend both of them as good fall palettes but it’s not necessary to have both of them. One palette works just fine.

The $29 Catwalk palette can be purchased in stores or online at Ulta. The Lavish Brow and Eye Kit is no longer available at Sephora or Nordstrom but can be found on various biding sites for purchase.The Lavish palette is sold separately online.

Catwalk Palette

This fall Anastasia Beverly Hill’s new products were all the buzz online for must have fall palettes. Of course I had to get my hands on them to see what all the fuss was all about. They had released a couple of palettes and one of them was the Catwalk palette. This palette consists of shadows that vary in texture and finishes and come in a variation of 10 shades that fall in the warm tones and a double ended brush that has a paddle shaped brush and a pencil brush on opposite sides.

                 

The actual palette itself is cat themed. It has a yellow base and a black felt leopard pattern on the cover. The pattern is also printed onto the flat surfaces of the inside of the palette and is shaded a cool blue and green. It has a reasonable sized mirror for the size of the palette but isn’t very convenient when doing a full face of makeup.

                  

This palette is loveable because it is full of warm neutrals that are easily transition from a day to night look. I think this palette is reasonably priced and worth the price if you want a little sparkle in your usual neutral looks.

Lavish Kit for Brows and Eyes

This The Lavish Kit for Brows and Eyes does not only include a set of shadows but it also has a bonus kit of items that hidden beneath the 10 shade removable eyeshadow palette. These items are all placed in a beautifully made box with a built-in mirror, that also holds a booklet that demonstrates step-by-step instructions on looks that can easily be recreated. The items include a full-sized tweezers, a miniature Perfect Eyebrow Pencil in 'Dark Brown', a Covet Waterproof Eyeliner in 'Noir' and a double ended lining and blending eyeshadow brush. 

              

                  

                  

If you don’t already own one you need to get your hands on a set of Anastasia tweezers. I must say that theses tweezers perform very well. I was thrilled to be able to try them and I was not disappointed. I’m a sucker for waxed eyeliner pencils and am not too crazy about the crayons but it did the job and I can’t complain. The Covet Waterproof Eyeliner is easily smudged before setting for a smoky look and it glides on with ease and is dark with great pigmentation.

                                        

The removable palette contains an array of shadows from glitters to shimmer and even a couple of mattes to even out the palette. These shadows are nicely paired together and definitely remind me of the color of fall. They can be worn toned down for an everyday look, or glam your look up for a fancy date or a night out on the town.

                   
Top row shades names from left to right: cream, antique, rum cake, moss, and truffle

               
 Bottom row shades from left to right: balette, orange soda, sienna, pink sapphire, and black diamond.

To sum it up, this kit is a staple in my collection and I've already had a lot of use out of it! It may seem a little pricey but for the amount of items you receive in this kit, it is well worth the price, especially if you’re just starting out and are looking to try new things by different companies to see what you like. It's definitely convenient for traveling as it has all of the basic essentials a makeup obsessed person as myself could possibly need on the road. The Lavish Brow and Eye Kit is no longer available at Sephora or Nordstrom but can be found on various biding sites for purchase online The Lavish palette is sold separately from the kit and can be found online.

(If you’re interested in purchasing any of these items please click on this Luvocracy link. You will be directed to my Luvocracy page where all of the products can be found. Luvrocacy will find the least expensive price available online and sell it at that price on their website.  

*Note: I do receive a credit when products are purchased from my Luvocracy page. All of these items were purchased with my own money. This post has not been sponsored by any company. Check them out!)

Julie G Limited Edition Cruise Collection Nail Polish

Julie G Nails Cruise Collection Nail-Polish 6-Pack http://gr.pn/1lRt2Mx for $12.99 as opposed to the full price of $23.98 ($3.99 each) Get the now! They're limited edition and don't last long. They can only be found online on groupon or jessiesgirl.com or at your local Rite Aid. Groupon is cheaper! Only four days left until the sale is over! And no those are not my hands lmao😂

Get them while you still can and stay tuned for a review on Julie G's nail polishes. 

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things....March

I feel like March went by so fast. Luckily, I've been able to take advantage of  some of the new products that came out recently and some I love more than others. I'm so excited for spring that I couldn't help wearing bright colors and pigmented products this past moth, even with the cold weather and occasional snow that just seemed to never go away in New York. But fortunately, the weather seems to be warming up and the sun is shining much brighter. So in honor of the  new life and beginnings that occur in Spring, I have also added a few token items that I am currently obsessed with from this seasons fashion trends. Take a look!

(If you’re interested in purchasing any of these items please click on the bold product names. You will be directed to my Luvocracy page where all of the products can be found. Luvrocacy will find the least expensive price available online and sell it at that price on their website.  
 *Note: I do receive a credit when products are purchased from my Luvocracy page. All of these items were purchased with my own money. This post has not been sponsored by any company. Check them out!)











                                     
Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz in Ebony is definitely a product that had to grow on me. I am a creature of habit sometimes but I do try to venture off and try new things. I was a loyal MAC eyebrow crayon in Stud user but everyone was raving about Anastasia's eyebrow products. So once my MAC crayon was done I decided to give it a try. It took me over a week to get the hang of this crayon and to actually start loving it but I'm glad I've given it chance. I can't say that I have completely abandoned my MAC crayon but I can honestly say that this product is a new favorite of mine and is now a staple in my collection. 

                                     
Anastasia Beverley Hills  Clear Brow Gel is my new favorite brow gel. I have tried the MAC Brow Set in Clear, the ELF Wet Gloss and Brow Clear Mascara, Milani's Brow Shaping Clear Gel, and the Essence Lash and Brow Gel and I can honestly say this one has to be the top brow gel on the market from what I've tried. I've used MAC's Brow Set for years but it was a little pricey for me so I looked into purchasing drug store products that would be of equal quality but boy did I get duped. This product does exactly what it claims to. It sets your brows in place for the day and I love it. Don't get me wrong nothing was wrong with the MAC Brow Set and if I hadn't found this product I probably would've went back to it but for now I'm happy with it. This product is a little pricey but so worth it!

                                  

Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base is a great product but there was an adjustment period. Unfortunately, I am allergic to most eyeshadow primers and bases, from MAC paint pots, Maybelline Color Tattoo eye shadows, to Urban Decays Primer Potion. Yes I know, it's very sad for me but on the bright side I have found a couple of products that work for me and this is one of them and its great as a primer. It cancels out vanes and any hyper pigmentation and gives me a smooth even surface to work on and it's very inexpensive.


                      
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette is my favorite palette in my collection right now and I almost didn't get it. Can you believe that? Now, I can definitely be the first to admit that I have more then enough neutral warm palettes that include all three of the Urban Decay Naked palettes, the LORAC Pro Palette, theBalm Nude Tude palette, and so many others. I can go on and on but we're not hear for that now. But this palette is really beautiful. If you have any doubts about whether or not you want to purchase this product just find the nearest retailer that sells Too Faced products and swatch it. The shadows are so smooth, creamy, and smell amazing. They preform perfectly, whether applied with your finger or a brush and have little to no fall out for most of the shadows.

 

Sigma Warm Neutrals Palette is yet another palette I didn't need but I had to have. It has very soft, nice, and pigmented colors. I have found myself gravitating towards certain colors more then others but this is still a really great practical palette for traveling or on the go.


                                     
E.L.F. Day 2 Night Palette is my favorite E.L.F. quad and it's only one dollar. Isn't that crazy? This quad has some of the most pigmented shadows that I own and they're beautiful. This is definitely my go to look when I have no idea what look I want to go for but don't have the time to be creative. If you ever have the chance to purchase any E.L.F. products, make sure you add this quad to your shopping cart.




                                     

Wet N Wild Walking the Red Carpet Palette is the newest limited palette that I think is meant for their spring release. There is no way anyone can get away with not having this palette in their lives. There are no excuses! Who doesn't love a good pigmented Wet N Wild palette? This palette is perfect for night out on the town and I'm obsessed with it. I use the left neutral side to create a look for the day which is great for work and the right side for a look for a night out with my girls.

                                  
Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector must be used sparingly and can not be massaged into the skin like most primers. It took me a while to get the hang of this primer but when I finally did, it was like the heavens opened up and the angels sang praise. To sum it up, I LOVE this primer. It not only mattify's my face but also my foundation. Of course, I will always have to touch up throughout the day with blotting sheets and powders but its no where near as much as I've had to in the past. Shall I dare say that this is my holy grail primer?
                                               
CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Bronzer in Ebony  is beuatiful and is one of the only bronzers that actual work and appear on my skin tone when I use it to contour. I have so much trouble finding things in my shade that sometimes it discourages me but boy was I happy when I heard about this bronzer and of course its only sold in select stores and none of them were by me. But, I finally got my hands on one and I must say, it's a keeper! This bronzer is beautiful, rich in color, and warm. It does contain a little shimmer in it but I don't find it to be distracting or annoying in anyway. And it doesn't give off a grey muddy color, and it's everything a woman of color could ask for!

                                      

TheBalm Cindy-Lou Minizer is so beautiful but so pigmented that if you're not careful you'll end up looking like a disco ball and not in a good way. I am loving all of theBalm's highlighters. They just look and feel so beautiful on the skin. This Cindy-Lou Minizer is a nice shimmer pink highlighter that makes the cheekbones glow and is perfect for this coming spring.

                                                        
MAC Private Party Lipstick is my favorite lipstick that I own right now but give it a little time. I am bound to purchase something in the next couple of weeks to make that a false statement. The sad thing about this lipstick is that it's one of the limited edition lipsticks from MAC's holiday 2013 Divine collection, so once it's gone it's gone. I featured this lipstick on my Instagram page as one of my LOTD (Lip of the Day) so check it out to see the true color of this lipstick. It's a beautiful everyday color. Unfortunately, this lipstick is no longer available for purchase online but I would definitely try finding it at a CCO (Cosmetic Company Outlet) that are usually at Tanger outlets.

 (All lip swatches can be see on my Instagram page at MelindMeliana)

                                                    
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sorbet 053 is a beautiful pigmented buttery lip balm that looks beautiful on the lips. I have pulled this baby out of the vault in preparation for spring. It's cute and I love it.  

(All lip swatches can be see on my Instagram page at MelindMeliana)


                                      

Milani's Baked Blush in Bella Rosa is one of the new matte blushes from Milani that everyone should own. It looks beautiful on darker skin tones but with a light hand can be worn well on lighter skin tones without looking like a clown. I love bright colors on the lips and cheek for the spring  and Milani definitely did a great job with their new products.

                                                 

CVS Cleansing and Makeup Remover Towelettes is my favorite makeup remover towelettes. It takes off all of my makeup, doesn't irritate or burn my eyes, has a nice but not too strong clean scent, and is gentle on the skin. I use these towelettes on the nights that I get home really late and just don't have the energy or desire to wash my face and do my whole skin care night time routine but don't want to go to sleep with a full face of makeup on. This works perfect for me because it's a great product that I can purchase in a value pack so I can get more for my buck, are on sale often and I can usually purchase it while using a coupon. Who doesn't love coupons?
                                      

Michael Todd True Organics Organic Lemon Toner is the best toner for uneven and hyper pigmented skin. I find that since I've been using this toner, my skin has been much brighter and even and that is a blessing for the kind of acne prone, oily, and hyper pigmented skin that I have and this has worked like magic for me.
                                     
GlamGlow Super-Clearing Mud Mask Treatment is the best mask I have ever used! It definitely clears up any breakouts that I may be having and helps to brighten my skin and bring out my natural glow. My only problem with this product is the price. Sixty nine dollars is a lot of money for a jar that only holds 1.2 oz of product in it. I have been using this only when and it's absolutely necessary but at least twice a month. Lately, I have seen GlamGlow's Youthmud Tingle Exfoliate Treatment in a small 0.5 jar at Sephora for $19 and that I can handle. I wish they would do the same with this one.
                                       
Essie First Timer is one of those colors that I thought would make my hands look like they were glowing in the dark. I must say that I love this color. It's perfect for spring, bright creamy, non-streaky, opaque, and is perfect with just two coats. (All nail polish swatches can be see on my Instagram page at MelindMeliana)
                                       
Freeman Feeling Beautiful Mint and Lemon Facial Clay Mask is one of my most recent obsessions. I have a thing for masks and Freeman masks are at the top of my list. They are very inexpensive and they give your skin so many positive benefits. Lemon is a natural lightener and is perfect for uneven skin. This mask smells great and makes my skin feel amazingly soft.
                                                
Bath and Body Works Peach Bellini Antibacterial Hand Soup is a must have in my bathroom. It makes my hands super soft and it smells amazing. I am just obsessed with this scent. It has exfoliating beads and just make my hands smell so good.
                                            
Bath and Body Works Peach Bellini 3 Wick Candle is my favorite scent from Bath and Body Works. Can you tell? Now, I didn't actually light this candle. Unfortunately, the candle fell on the floor and the glass shattered but I was able to salvage the entire candle and wicks. I didn't have a jar to replace the candle so for a couple of weeks the candle just sat on my dresses and it made my entire bedroom smell amazing! I could've never placed that candle in a jar and I still would've gotten good use out of it.I didn't want to discard the candle but I needed a jar to replace the broken one. I was able to remove left over wax from another candle that I had purchased from Bath and Body Works that had burned out and was able to place the candle in that jar. My candle has been saved and it was so worth it!

                                     
Marc Jacobs Fragrance in Honey smells amazing. I haven't been able to bring myself to purchase yet another Marc Jacobs perfume for about a hundred dollars. Who can afford that? But it's so worth it. I have been using up all of my little samples of this perfume and I haven't been able to get enough. Once I can get the courage to spend that much money on a fragrance I will be purchasing this scent because I can't live without it.

                                      
Payless, Women's Selina Rhinestone Caged Sling Is so cute! I love these sandals. Can you tell that I am over winter and the snow. My obsession last year was royal blue and teal. I was leaning more towards orange as my color but who knows with these shoes. They could be the color for me again this season.



                                             

Studded Open-Back Dress Well as you can tell I'm really getting into orange this season. I'm pretty sure I'm wearing this for Easter but I haven't decided yet but I definitely have a beautiful pair of of blue sandals to wear with this dress that I love! Yay spring!


(*Note: I do receive a credit when products are purchased from my Luvocracy page. All of these items were purchased with my own money. This post has not been sponsored by any company.)