lip gloss lineup

lip gloss lineup

*

for a blog called the glossarie, lip gloss sure doesn’t get much play around here. i’ve been in a longstanding lipstick / tinted lip balm phase because i had started to feel like glosses were kind of…annoying. they stick to everything (hair, wine glasses, the like) and you can’t get through a full glossy-lipped meal without smearing it all over the place. in short, they feel fussy and i was over it.

but, i’ve slowly been getting back into the lipgloss game and there have been a bunch of key players impressing me as of late. seems like with these bang-up formulas, i can have the shiny lips i like without the hassle!

physician’s formula pH matchmaker pH powered lip gloss, $9.95there’s very little this gloss can’t do. it has a mirror along the side of the tube and a lighted top for application in the dark.** the paintbrush applicator is perfect for getting the right amount of gloss on your lips and the formula reacts to your pH to create a “custom shade.” once it fades, you’re left with a light stain that i kind of like.

mark. glimmer shine lip gloss, $12these are gorgeous, and all about the shine. i love the light, hydrating formula and the sheer colors tint lips in just the right way, leaving them smooth and full with a glossy finish. the oversized tube looks ultra expensive with its shiny gold top and the flat applicator makes putting it on a piece of cake. they are easy to wear – a makeup bag must have.

miracle skin lip rewind, $24 - sometimes your lips just need a little something extra. with this click pen from miracle skin you get a beautiful jewel-tone finish and ingredients that work behind the scenes to hydrate, restore, enhance and protect. lips feel comfortable while you wear and the hydration effects really last once it fades. a definite must for those seeking a little color and a lot of nourishment!

aerin beauty limited edition lip gloss, $30 – for the girls out there who just want to feel pretty, from the time you pull the product out of your purse until you tuck it away, this gloss is for you. off the bat, it’s nothing  fancy – a medium weight, near full-coverage pink that goes on extra smooth and doesn’t settle into lines – but something about this gloss just brightens up my whole face and makes me smile. i can’t get enough! a clutch must.

nyx butter gloss, $5 – these were such a pleasant surprise! the formula is creamy and opaque with beautiful color payoff and bonne bell-like deliciousness. each shade is named after a sweet treat and the insanely moisturizing gloss is, well, just like butter. i cannot stop swiping these on my lips and i think the four shades currently knocking around in my purse says something very important about my feelings on the matter.

**it works! i tested it…but who are you people applying your lip gloss in the dark? am i too old to understand the need for this? please advise.

seeing hearts

seeing hearts

 

valentine’s day has come and gone and i can’t help but notice that the beauty brands are still feeling the love. with a prevalence of heart-bedecked blushes on the market at the moment, i just had to round them up for you:

physician’s formula happy booster illuminating bronzer veil, $13.95
stila ‘all you need is love’ blush, $14
mac ‘archie’s girls’ pearlmatte face powder, $30
smashbox love me blush, $28
too faced sweethearts perfect flush blush, $29

do you own any of these lovey dovey cheek powders? which one is your favorite?

thank you + beauty product giveaways galore!

the allure contest winner was announced yesterday and the grand prize went to shannon of gloss & dirt. i just wanted to take a minute and thank all of you for all of your time spent voting (so much voting! no more captcha codes :)), tweeting, and facebook sharing the contest over the last five weeks. i really appreciate all of the support and i truly feel the love.

i had a blast being a part of the contest and i’m still completely thrilled that allure took notice of me and the glossarie. i adore writing this blog and having you as my readers makes me feel so lucky! i wanted to do a little something for all of you, so i tapped into the glossarie archives and chose some amazing products for a crazy fun giveaway.

*

thank you giveaway on the glossarie!

*

stephanie johnson mini pouch in malibu royal
stephanie johnson mini pouch in palm springs mint
bite beauty high pigment matte pencil in bramble
trish mcevoy thickening mascara in jet black
physicians formula hydrating eye cream
super by nicholas perricone crinkle eraser firming serum
topshop lips in rio rio
cargo eyebronzer
revlon photoready airbrush mousse makeup in medium beige
revlon photoready concealer in medium
sheswai nail lacquer in babe

any and all of the above are up for grabs! to enter, just leave a comment below (please be sure to include your email address, open to u.s. residents only) with the product you would like to win. you may enter multiple times, but please only once per product. the giveaway closes next thursday, june 7th at midnight your time, and i will announce all of the winners next friday!

i hope you have a fabulous weekend. i’ll be back + blogging for birchbox all next week!

sunkissed bronzer for spring

bronzed beauty
*          *          *

i don’t know about you beauties, but my sallow complexion is screaming for some sun. some of my favorite powders and potions for warming things up:

in the center: josie maran bronzing powder, $30

clockwise from top, center: givenchy poudre croisiere, $50

benefit sunbeam, $26

smashbox fusion soft lights baked starburst, $30

sonia kashuk illumunating bronzer, $14.99

estee lauder bronze goddess luminous liquid bronzer, $28.50

lancome star bronzer magic bronzing brush, $33

physicians formula bronze booster glow-boosting season to season bronzer, $14.95

nars illuminator in orgasm, $30

physician’s formula mineral wear airbrushing kabuki is one ballin’ brush

powder foundation gals, meet your new best friend.

i’ve always invested in professional grade makeup brushes because it seems to me that the less expensive drugstore versions lose their hairs and just don’t perform as well. for years, i’ve applied my mineral makeup with bare escentuals full flawless face brush and at $28 a pop, it’s not exactly a pocket friendly purchase. the quality, however, was unmatched and so i committed to my spensy brush habit and carried on.

until i discovered this blue beauty from physician’s formula.

the mineral wear airbrushing kabuki brush is a godsend for those of us who prefer powder foundations. first off – the quality is incredible and for a budget buy, this brush has the softest bristles and applies mineral makeup like a dream. the wide and flat shape is totally revolutionary and helps to buff powder onto skin gently and evenly for amazing coverage. i am smitten!

i should warn you that it’s a bit on the chunky side and could be tricky to travel with, but it gives me the most flawless,  natural look i’ve found and is therefore highly recommended.

want one? the physician’s formula mineral wear airbrushing kabuki is available at drugstores for around $10.

physician’s formula shimmer strips candy collection

thank you, physicians formula, for presenting a more palatable approach to spring 2011′s 80′s neon makeup. your blue eye candy custom shimmer strips collection is right on trend without being scary. we get 9 shadows/liners for $11, each of which can be used wet or dry to create an endless array of pretty looks from simple stripes of shades. you allow those of us who are fair skinned and fearsome of brights to play with the current “it” colors by starting with the lighter highlighters and working our way towards the medium bases then the dark liners. your fool-proof applicator makes it easy to create sophisticated combinations without ending up like mimi from drew carey. well played!

if you dare, physicians formula eye candy collection shimmer strips custom eye enhancing shadow & liner is available at drugstores and online at ulta for $10.99.

pop quiz!

which fabulous beauty brand makes the gorgeous multi-hued compact up above?

if you guessed guerlain, you’re wrong! i mistook this pretty powder for the high-tech meteorites powder put forth by the french beauty giant. (unfortunately for me, these days, $65 is a pair of wedding-day earrings not a beauty buy.) you may jump for joy when i tell you that the pearly palette up above is by none other than the drugstore aficionado, physicians formula! it retails for a much more wallet-friendly $14 and is part of the brand’s major overhaul which has pumped out some amazingly awesome new products. this particular piece is part of the mineral wear line, but also worth a peek are the concealer trio, shimmer strips gel liners, and bamboo wear.

and probably the best news of all? physicians formula is now on twitter so you can follow their every move (squeal)!