Make A Customized Lip Palette With Your Favorite Lipsticks!

The finished product - 5 shades

        I'm a lipstick type of girl. I love the variety of colors, the different kinds of finishes (matte, shiny, shimmer, etc.), and just the feel of it on my lips. Hey, I'll even admit to being a hoarder when it comes to lip products. What I hate to admit is the fact that I usually have no choice but to throw away the lipstick that's stuck in the tube when I've used it down to the nub. Sure, you can take your lip brush and try to scrape as much of it out as you can, but it takes more time and effort than is actually necessary. Plus, with that technique, it's pretty flippin' hard to get a lot out. Another issue with the tubes is space (or maybe the issue is with my hoarding...). Whatever the issue is, you can completely rid yourself of the problem by removing the bulky packaging from the picture. Instead of cramming 15 lipsticks into your purse, wouldn't you rather have a handy palette that not only saves waste, but room as well?





Materials: 

• Palette with pans (Z palettes with metal pans are the best type) -- I used stackable makeup jars + one separate jar
• Lipstick (any type - I used 5, plus 2 to mix) 
• Candle
• Matches/fire starter
• Metal spoon/ladle
• Something to scrape the lipstick out -- I used the back of a cuticle pusher stick
• Protective mat (optional)

*all materials, including palettes can be bought online - my jars were from my local beauty store for $1.75

All of the materials I used.

My Lipsticks: 

My 5 lipsticks with my stackable jars

1. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 616 Wink For Pink
2. L.A. Colors Professional Lipstick in BLC258 Hint
3. L.A. Colors Professional Lipstick in BLC248 Cherry Red
4. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 425 Plum Paradise
5. L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick in 746 Pure Burgundy

• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 20 Pink & Proper + Flirt! Chickstick in 19 Sangria 

Instructions: 

1. First, lay out all of your materials on your mat (if you have one). Have your palette/pans ready or your jars open. Make sure they're clean and then light your candle. 

2. Next, using your scraper stick, break off your lipstick onto your metal spoon. Scoop the rest of it out and put it on your metal spoon with the rest of your lipstick. 

3. Hold your spoon over the flame, careful not to spill the melting lipstick or let it boil. If it gets too hot, but is not fully melted (small bubbles forming), then let it cool  and do it again. The best technique is to not let the spoon touch the flame and constantly move it around for even melting. 

4. Immediately pour into your pan or jar (it cools very quickly). Pour into two pans if it seems like it might overflow in one. Don't worry if it's not perfect, you can wipe off the sides later. If, for some reason, you want to redo it, just scrape it out when it's slightly cooler and repeat. 

5. Let the lipstick cool completely. Wipe your spoon and scraper stick before repeating with a different colored lipstick. 

From left to right: Wink For Pink, Hint, Cherry Red, Plum Paradise, Pure Burgundy (not yet cooled)

• Don't be afraid to mix colors. In a separate jar, I melted a Maybelline and Flirt! lipstick together to create a beautiful and unique shade. 

      I find that with palettes, you have more control over the color. You can apply a soft layer or lay it on thick and bright as if it were in a tube. Now, you can mix and match your perfect shade and give yourself a pat on the back for putting out time to do such a beneficial little project. Plus, with this trick, you'll never have to waste your favorite lipstick and you get more room for your other beauty needs! 

xoxo,

TrinaD. <3

Review: Color Sensational High Shine Gloss

Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Gloss ad (Captivating Coral)

             There's a point in every girl's life where she graduates from using plain old lip balm to the ultimate shiny lip gloss. It was exciting and as a kid, it was definitely a big deal. I used to sneak in uses of my older sister's lip gloss whenever I could, because of course, lip balm was soo boring! When I was finally able to put on my big girl pants and elevate myself to the liquid gold itself, I was struck with another problem. Which  lip gloss do I use? Do I go with clear or is that too normal? Can I pull of color? Would it be too much? But nowadays, there's no such thing as too much color, ladies. Searching for the perfect shade of lip gloss is frustrating and when you happen to find it, the feeling rivals that of a breath of fresh air. You go home and you slick it on your lips to admire the perfection...and wait, what?! It's sheer. The color completely just disappears on your lips and now? Now you're more than frustrated. Enter Maybelline's Color Sensational High Shine Gloss. A wax free gloss with "pure liquid pigments." "Have the beauty gods finally granted our wishes?" you ask. Well, I would sure say so.

"Electric Shock"

Pros: great pigmentation, definitely affordable, glossy as promised, didn't dry lips, not sticky, available in 12 shades

Cons: didn't soften lips as promised, didn't last that long, brush is adequate

There are other lip glosses out there that promise rich color (like L'Oreal Color Riche), but many sorely disappoint. When L'Oreal Color Riche gloss came out, I loved the Watermelon Crush shade, but it was too sheer to even show up. Ever since then, I had been looking for a working alternative with a good price tag to boot. I got the Color Sensational gloss in Electric Shock and it was the exact same shade, except it was actually pigmented. I was ecstatic, absolutely thrilled. And, I bought it at my local CVS for only $6. Its shine can be seen a mile away and its color range isn't that bad either. Not the widest selection, but in a good variety of color so that everyone can find a pretty shade. It apparently has honey nectar that softens lips, but I didn't really notice a difference. However, it did not dry out my lips either. For me, the gloss only lasted a few hours, definitely not the best performance when talking endurance, but I can put up with that in return for the other advantages, including the fact that it's not sticky. The brush is okay...it does what it's supposed to do, but it could be more precise (teardrop shaped brushes are best for a precise application).

Electric Shock swatch

My Final Verdict: The pros beat the cons by a mile, in my opinion. It's one of the best lip glosses I've used in a while and it's cheap! So far, I only have one shade, but you can bet that I'll get more soon. So yes, I really do recommend, my friends.

xoxo,
TrinaD. <3

How to Flawlessly Apply Lipstick or Lipgloss

Everyone knows that "practice makes perfect" but what if there were shortcuts? Chances are, your lipstick or gloss isn't always going to look photoshoot ready, but taking care of your lips and learning the best type of application for lip products can dramatically improve your results. With a swipe of pretty pink or fierce red, you can alter your whole persona...so why mess it up with feathering lipstick and uneven gloss? These tips and tricks will ensure you an impeccable pout, so purse your lips, my lovelies!

• Smooth your lips. Take a spoonful of sugar and add a couple sprinkles of water until it becomes a thick paste. Apply it to your lips generously and softly brush with your toothbrush for 30 seconds on each lip. Rinse off. Apply lip balm.
• Protect your lips. Apply lip balm (I prefer Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning) a couple minutes before you do your makeup. This gives your lips time to absorb the moisture and soften. Blot off before you apply any other lip products.
• Line around your lips with concealer. This not only helps you reshape your lips how you want them, but also protects your lip line and keeps your lip products in line. Be sure to blend it in with your skin so that it isn't noticable.
• Line and fill in your lips. Line your lips with lip liner and fill your whole lip in with the same shade lip liner. This not only helps against feathering and smudging, but gives your lipstick/lipgloss something to hold onto.
• Apply your lipstick/lipgloss with a brush. Using a brush gives you more control over the product itself and where it is applied. You can reach the small corners and paint over each curve with ease.
• Blot and reapply. Give it a minute or two and blot (gently) before applying another layer of lipstick or gloss (you don't have to use a brush this time). Taking the time to blot and reapply really helps the product stay on longer and look even more vibrant.

Perfect lips don't have to take an insane amount of skill or time. These steps may seem like a lot, but when you actually do it, it's much quicker and gives you the results you want every single time. Follow these steps and I promise, you'll have no problem looking your best at any given moment.

xoxo,
TrinaD. <3

Review: Maybelline Volum' Express the Mega Plush gel/mousse Mascara

"The Mega Plush" - Maybelline

        Whether you're strolling through Sephora or Walgreens, there never seems to be a shortage of mascara. Some, promising longer, doll-eyed lashes, others...thick, lush lashes that frame your eyes like a curtain. While "break-through" advances in the beauty world are constantly popping up and on the shelves, many disappoint. I, myself, have had my fair share of broken promises and when I saw the new ad for this "amazing new gel/mousse mascara", I forgot all my past failures and decided to give it a chance, despite the obviously fake lashes in the photo. In other words, I couldn't resist. Oh, beauty products have always been my weakness, and in this case, how glad am I that it is...

Pros: the "flexor-brush", no clumps, brush size, soft lashes, longer lashes

Cons: not much volume, semi-long dry time

Sure, there are other mascaras that you can angle the brush/head with, however, this was built to be angled and stays in that position until you move it. This not only makes my life slightly easier but also helps reach the small corner lashes too. Along with the new gel/mousse formula, comes the disappearance of clumps. You might get one clump once in a while, but significantly less than with other brands of mascara. I also like the brush size, a lot. It's not too big, but just the right size for me to quickly apply mascara without having it stab my poor eye. (Never a dull day with me, my friends...) The new formula also gives you great, soft supple lashes that aren't flaky or brittle, as promised. While it does make my lashes look longer, I don't really notice a difference in volume and compared to some other brands/types of mascara, the drying time seems a tad bit longer.

My Final Decision: Overall, it's a good mascara. Clump free, long, and soft lashes that will surely make your eyes the focal point. While the volume was a bust, the product itself is not. Yes, my lovelies...I recommend.

xoxo,
TrinaD. <3