Hey, hey!
It’s time, yet again, for beauty favorites! This time, we’re thinking early summer. Time to bust out the bold lip and flashy mani/pedis. I have a TON of lipcolor and nail polishes to share, plus my EVER-FAVE-EVAR eyeshadow palette, my skincare sitch–as requested, some other randoms, and…oh, yeah…a giveaway! I am really excited about this one as these items are all things I love and have been hoarding away for you guys. Details at the end of the post, for now…on to the make-ups!
I’ve been loving lipsticks this year…a LOT. I always wear a lot of tinted balms and such, but lately I’ve been layering on the lip color in the form of lipsticks and lipgloss. I used to wear lipgloss everyday when I was a single-lady, then I got all monogamous and dude was/is not into sticky gloss…but, I realized I don’t wear lipgloss/make-up for him (I’m pretty sure he could care less about my make-up situation), so whatev! Lip color and air kisses are back, in full force.
First up, Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Wild Rose (1.) and Shocking Coral (5.) I am loving both colors, Wild Rose is a bright and bold, medium red-toned pink. It reminds me of bougainvillea and deep pink roses. Shocking Coral is, shockingly, not very coral in my opinion, but more pink…regardless, I love it. Both colors from the Vivids line have great color pay-off. I only recently discovered Buxom glosses (by Bare Escentuals) via my BFF and I LOVE them. If you aren’t a fan of lip-plumping products, this may not be for you, but if you are…read on! These glosses have a tingle-y, cool plumping sensation, instead of the hot, burning kind. I actually like both, but if the hot/burning ones turn you away, this may be a good one to try out — it’s more of a refreshing tingle. I have two in the colors Kanani (2.) and Debbie (6.) Kanani is a sparkly, opaque pink and is a color I wasn’t sure I’d love, but I definitely do and every time I wear it I get a ton of compliments. I am wearing it in this picture. It’s pink and pigmented, but still a bit sheer. Debbie is a creamy, coral color and would look great on pretty much everyone. I keep both in my bag at all times, they are my go-to lip products of the moment. Next, is my first-ever Lipstick Queen color. I have heard only good things about Lipstick Queen and the Sinner line is their 90% pigment lipcolor (Saint is 10% pigment, like a tinted balm)…which means MAJOR color pay-off. The best thing, to me, about these lipsticks are their vintage-inspired color range and while being majorly pigmented, they aren’t drying and your lips will actually gain some moisture. This is Lipstick Queen Sinner in Sunny Rouge (3.) and it’s my new favorite red with an orange tint, it’s warm and totally day-time wearable. I’d love to snag all of the Lipstick Queen colors…one day. Next, we have MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Lady at Play (4). This color is what I think Shocking Coral should be…if we’re going on titles alone. It’s coral and playful and one of my favorite lipcolor purchases…EVER (swatch HERE, where I first saw it). It’s just so perfect for the summer season and such a hot color for right now. Finally, I have one more of the Revlon Lip Butter’s (which I have a few of and love), this one is Wild Watermelon (7.), a newer release, it leaves a wash of vibrant watermelon red…totally easy to wear and perfect for that popsicle-stained-pout look.
I have long been a fan of MAC paint pots, they set up so nicely, don’t migrate from your eyelid throughout the day, have lots of layer-able pigment, and don’t really crease at all — they remind me of those color tattoo pots, but are way better and worth the extra cash (in my opinion). I kind of hate the color tattoo’s, even though I have 3…I just wish they were better at their job. This is the color Let Me Pop! (8.), it’s a frosty, glittery, copper color. It’s warm and shimmery and the easiest way for me to get a fun eye look with minimal effort. I love to go for a super coppery/bronzed eye look in the summer, so I pair it with a smudged-out gold-flecked eyeliner (I like Pixie in Cafe Gold, mentioned here).
I have only JUST started wearing bronzer regularly, and this is by far the best one I have tried. I fear bronzer because it’s so easy to make you look like an orange monster or like there are dirt smudges in your face. This one from Tarte is called Park Ave. Princess (9.) and I love that it isn’t too dark, muddy, or orange. It’s pearly and golden and lovely. That unfocused compact up there is Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent (10.) It’s my everyday powder when I don’t feel like using my UD Razor Sharp (which I waxed poetic about here, I still use it regularly).
OMGeeez, guys. This Lorac Pro Palette (11.) is the palette of my dreams. I know everyone is crazy-nuts for the Naked palettes from Urban Decay and I agree that they are pretty damn fabulous…but this one is better. That’s just my opinion, but it totally is. The shadows are a silken dream and that whole top row is matte. It’s the only palette I have found that has colors I love and an equal amount of matte-to-shimmer. I wear the cream/taupe and light pink/mauve matte colors a lot. I also love, love, love the gold, champagne, and lt. bronze shimmers. The darker colors I mostly use to set my eyeliner, or just as a liner alone, or for some drama in the outer-v/crease for date nights and the like. Any day that I’m not wearing a MAC Paint Pot, I am wearing a combination of shades from this palette. I almost bought 2, so I’d never run out…and at $42, it’s a steal. That may not seem like a steal but for the quality of the shadow and the wearable shades, it really is. I am SUPER serious about this one, guys. SUPER CEREAL.
You know I can’t do a beauty post and not include any nail polishes. I have A LOT of favorites right now and it may be because it’s officially pedi-season…or maybe because I went a little crazy in the last few months, but regardless…these are all good ones. I don’t know if you are all familiar with the web comic, Natalie Dee (hilarious), but the creator of the same name also makes nail polishes now. Natalie creates Super Black Nail Lacquers in her home, in small batches (that means hot colors sell out…and swiftly)! I have a few of these polishes now, but my very favorites are the glitters and holos. Wishful Thinking (12.) is a holo top-coat absolutely packed with glitter. It’s AMAZING and goes nearly opaque after 3 coats. There is no way to capture how intensely holographic and sparkly this top coat is, in the sunshine it’s basically a diamond rainbow. I feel like a unicorn might leap from my fingertips whenever I wear it. Needless to say, I love it. The Bends (15.) marine-blue with white/black/holo glitters (on my nails here) and Drunk Dial (18.) magenta with red/orange/yellow glitter (a teensy glimpse here), are also great and are of the much-coveted jelly variety. The base for both are translucent and juicy with lots of different glitters that makes for a really fun jelly-look with suspended glitter between the layers. Not only are the colors theshit and like nothing you’ll see at the drug store, the formula is top-notch. No streaking, pooling, or general weirdness. The packaging is super nice on these too, with a screen printed square bottle. If you buy any sets they come is a sharp black box with silver letter pressing…class act. I want them all.
I have a Julep Maven subscription, you know…to feed my obsession…and I got this glitter Paris (13.) in last months box (I acutally ordered the ENTIRE Jazz collection b/c I’m cray like that). It’s a mix of pink/silver/yellow-toned large hex glitters with some tiny glitter sprinkled throughout. I am wearing it on my ring nail here. Another contributor to my influx of nail color was due to Zoya’s Earth Day promo — where you get 50% off and they dispose of all of your more toxic polishes. I have yet to send mine out, but they are in the box, waiting! These are 2 of the 15 (yes, FIFTEEN) polishes I ordered through the promo. FeiFei (14.) is a weird, interesting, lovely, steel blue shimmer with lots of coppery glitter (see it here). It was totally unexpected and I love how different it is. Kylie2 (17.) is a bold, bright coral-pink cream. It’s bold and pretty and the perfect shade for a bright pedi. I am wearing it here with Essie Under Where? (19.) and Floss Gloss Bikini Coral (16.) Under Wear? is my favorite light purple of forever…it’s part of the new collection and it’s so unexpected It’s pastel without being gray, it basically glows and looks good on everyone. Bikini Coral is really neon and really exciting. Without a top-coat it dries to a semi-matte finish, which is fun, but with a glossy top-coat it’s incredibly vibrant. Finally, I have a Revlon color that I picked up on a whim. This creamy, pale pink-purple is appropriately named Girly (20.) and is another jelly finish, but less juicy and more creamy, with lots of multi glitter. It’s a good time and a total bargain (see it here).
In my last beauty faves someone asked if I could share my skincare routine, so here it is! I use these two Cetaphil products (cleanser (21.) and cream (25.)) and my Clarisonic (22.), religiously. Those 3 products are my constants and everything else is basically a revolving door. I’ve been using the StriVectin (23.) fine-line reducing eye cream lately, and I like it just fine. It’s not my favorite, but I don’t have one yet…so this is it. I use the Cetaphil moisturing cream at night, as it’s thick and doesn’t have SPF, for day I’ve been using a Boot’s Botanics SPF (24.) day cream lately that is nice, not greasy, and has SPF… I don’t love the initial fragrance, but it subsides quickly. I will probably move on to whatever catches my eye next (suggestions are welcome!). I saw some mentions of L’oreal Youth Code (26.) on several blogs around the internets and gave this sample size a whirl. I think (or imagined) that it is evening out some of my skin tone and minimizing the dark spots I have from being a crazy-person-face-picker. I can’t help myself, so I love a product that evens that biz out.**
Now, FINALLY…GIVEAWAY time!
I have been collecting and selecting these items for months…but, I am finally pleased with what treasures I’ve hoarded away for you and now it’s time to share! Included are my favorite candle mini, a roll of golden glitter tape, strawberry grocery bag, tinted Burt’s Bees Balm, Color Whisper in Pin-Up Peach, mini Band.Do heart, chevron striped paper straws, a fresh pack of notebooks, nail polish and nail apps, and my favorite tea towel! These are all things that I have/use and love.*
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*This giveaway is open to all! I will try my best to get everything to you in the case that you live outside of North America. I’m not sure what kind of special voodoo I will have to do to get the nail lacquers out, but I will do my best!
**Just a note on the links and products, the companies mentioned do not know or work with me. I was not paid for my opinion — links are provided for reference. All items were purchased by me and are on this list because I have used them on my own face/nails, etc, and loved ’em. As always, all opinions are my own.
Whoa! What a fun post and now I want to order all this stuff from amazon! I mean I NEED these products for summer!
What an amazing giveaway! My summer picks…well, I love picking out new summer/seasonal body sprays at the start of the season!
I’m crazy about coral lipstick this summer, fo realz.
That strawberry grocery bag..I need that in my life.
What a great giveaway! Those OPI nail strips are calling my name! Honestly… I can hear them.
I love beauty favorites blog posts! I actually love the Fresh Sugar Treatments. So expensive but so worth it. (I only splurge occasionally on these though)
I love a good bronzed skin and highlighted cheek bones look. Nothing is hotter in summer than a little glow!
Cutest giveaway ever, Cindy! My favorite part was, “But this one is better, in my opinion, but it totally is!” 🙂 The Bends is a pretty sweet nail polish name!
I love all of your summer beauty picks! I’m obsessed with nail polishes, and I think I’ll have to check out some of the ones you listed so I can add more to my collection. 🙂
As for summer beauty favorites of my own… well, I’m a minimalist when it comes to makeup to begin with, but especially in the summer. I don’t wear any kind of liquid foundation – just a light pressed powder is my preference. Right now I’m using the “Physician’s Formula Matchmaker pH Powered Powder” in Light. It does actually blend in with my skin like it says, which has always been a challenge for me because my complexion is very fair. I feel like I could find the lightest foundation in any given brand and it still wouldn’t be right for my skin. But I think this stuff works. Plus, it’s lightweight so I don’t feel like there’s anything on my face. 🙂
Love this! Your beauty posts are always so thorough, it’s great. I think I may have completed my quest for summer lip gloss/stick!
I really need to invest in a new daytime cream. And hello, the clarisonic is AMAZEBALLS! I used it religiously for months and now I’ve been slacking. I need to get back on that.
Great round up and thanks for the opportunity to win all the goodies! I am addicted to jumbo lip crayons. I’m trying to stay away from the Lip Butters but I may have to cave . . .
And nail polishes! I have spent more on nail polishes in the last month than in my entire lifetime.
I love summer nails!
I’ve been falling in love with Sugar Lip Treatment – it’s SPF 15, and the sheer colors are so pretty. I really like the berry rose one, and also just the plain lip gloss (no color) one – awesome!
My summer essentials is the Hawaiian Topic sunscreen and some bright coloured nail polish.
Sunscreen, elf red lipstick pen/gloss, smudgy black eyeliner, two coats of masacara. 🙂
I too am a Julep Maven, loving the greens and reds they have!
Awesome giveaway! My favorite is the Colorscience Sunforgettable mineral powder brush!! Love it and all their products for that matter!
good sunscreen, and pretty nailpolish, that is all i need in the summer. 😉 thanks for the giveaway!
Bright nail polish, especially on the toes!
Those all look like great products!
I’m loving the Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizer with SPF 40 for the summer. It’s super light and soaks right in unlike my old summer SPF moisturizers.
I’m loving the tinted burt’s bees balm this summer!
I love Clarisonic too!
I love Aveda sunscreen, nude nails with neon pops, and beachy sea salt hair!
I’m so with you! I love an easy metallic eye and tinted lip gloss for summer!
Because my skin is so fair, I’m big on beauty products with a good spf content for my skin. Gotta be careful!
I’m loving Arbonne’s facial wash and toner/moisterizer combination. With the humidity it doesn’t leave my face slimy!
ooooo nails! i’m looking for a good coral colour for this summer and also a good minty green.
Coral lipstick!
I always look forward to your beauty posts, and have actually bought some Lip Butter and nail polish (I never know what color to wear in the winter, and your autumn/winter post gave great ideas) upon your recommendation!
Right now I am ob-sessed with pastel nail polish. I wear a lot of bright colored clothing, so it’s nice to have a different pop of color without looking like I just graduated from clown college 🙂
Right now I’m loving a nice coral lip and a good spf face product!
I’m currently loving lipstick, lipgloss and nail polish!
I love clinique’s tinted moisturizer bwcause it also has spf in it.
I am also all about the bright lips and nails this summer! I am loving the bright corals and pinks, with a gold shimmery eye.
I love these posts, girl! Keep ’em up!
PS. I have been lusting after a Clarisonic forever…I might have to bite the bullet soon and get my hands on one!
Nails, for sure!! I have been trying to be more thrifty lately, and that includes doing my own nails, so I am trying to build a little nail polish collection!
I’ve never seen paper straw in chevron — they look so cute!
Right now, I’m digging L’oreal Sublime SPF50 for the face. I have dry/sensitive skin and this is absorbed easily and so far, no breakouts. For my lips, Blistex Deep Renew with SPF15 and CoQ10 glides on so smoothly and tastes great. As I near 40, I’ve become more conscious of sun damage and have been trying to be more diligent with applying sunscreen-containing products.
that Lorac palette looks divine! i’m pretty boring as far as beauty products but this summer i’m loving some new nail colors — bright coral, mint, and a raspberry shade…fun!
I love your lipstick picks! I have just started wearing lipstick every day and am loving it!
A Bb cream with SPF (we have Carroten Divine Care here in Greece), a bright lipstick, orange/coral preferably)) and bright nails!!
My pick for summer is any nail polish that GLITTERS! I know it’s a pain to remove, but my choice would be any colour from the Sally Hansen ‘Gem Crush’ line.
I am always crazy for lip color 🙂 I love the eye shadow you have shown here. I have the naked 2 from urban decay but you’re right I think I’d like that one better!
I am OB-sessed with Smashbox BB Cream. I use it as a foundation, primer, the whole bit. Its a miracle product. I also just bought Coral Incandescent lipstick by YSL (splurge!) and have dreams about it. It’s bonkers.
I’ve been loving the really light, even white nails trend this summer! Makes me look a little more tan! I’ll take all the help I can get.
I love perfumes and body sprays, typically jsut from bath and body works 🙂
My Favorite nail polish is a blue one from Essie! It is fun a bright for the season!, My favorite lipstick is from Nars in Cruising color… My hair I normally leave it curly because it is so hot that I don’t really feel like straightening it, but I use Paul Mitchel’s Shampoo! 🙂
I purchased a Revlon Lip Butter (in Candy Apple) based on your previous beauty round up and totally fell in love! Can’t wait to try some of the other products you mention here. I am seriously eye-ing that Lorac palette. Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions!
OMG…all those lipsticks. I just watched a Youtube video raving about the Vivids, and I’m seriously about to get in the car to go pick them up! I neeed them. Besides that, I’m loving Essie nail polish in First Time (bright, creamy green) and my Color Whispers. I’ve been loving bright pink lips too, but been searching for the perfect shade. Hopefully the Vivids will do the trick!
bright, turquoise nail polish! my favorite is “Artful Dodger” by Butter London.
I love Mac’s Impassioned – perfect shade of pink.
I can’t live without a shimmery bronzer in the summer and some moisturizing lip gloss
my fave is MAC lipstick “morange”
Great giveaway!
I love bright nail varnish these days. Orange, yellow, candy pink. My favourites are Mavala!
My favorite summer beauty picks are mostly skin-related — moisturizer, sunblock and lip gloss.
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I love new finds! Thanks for the post. Fresh, light colors and textures and scents are my favorites for the summer
great giveaway, i love everything but mostly nails and lip color..anything bright!
I’m loving the Mac paint pots in Let it Pop!
I can’t live without my bright polish for
my toes sunblock of course
Lush ocean salt!
i LOVE the nailpolish colors! they look REALLY GOOD! 🙂
My favorite summer beauty picks are mascara by Covergirl in Lashblast volume, and Revlon Lip butter in Peach Parfait!
Sugar Lip by Fresh
obsessed with bright coral nail polish (essie – enuf is enuf) and light turquoise (essie – turquoise & caicos)!
cindy – would you consider posting pics next time of how you wear your faves? especially would love to see examples of how you wear the lorac eye shadows! (i.e. as liner, in the outer-v/crease, etc)
Moisturizer with SPF!
I love the China Glaze shade in Tiffany blue!
i love hot pink nail polish!!
nothing different in the summer compared to the other times of the year – moisturizer and lip balm as needed.
I just discovered Bare minerals purifying facial cleanser—love it!
I’m into corals… nail polish especially.
For me it’s definitely skin! I recently started using some of the Nuxe products and they are incredible…
i love essie
I love your picks. Wild Watermelon lip butter <3
I love, love, love Lipstick Queen. I just bought Sinner Sunny Rouge and am anxiously awaiting it in the mail. Her stuff is so great and I can’t wait to get more.
I love Burt’s Bee’s lip balm and bright polishes! =)
BB cream on my face, sheer lip gloss, and jelly nail polishes!
For summer there’s always a special attention for the lips and skin for sure! Not any favorite product yet but something that keeps them healthy!
I love this bronzer I have from clinique!
I typically wear a lot of red nail polish but this year, I’m loving hot pink nails for summer.
Lips and nails!! i love bright colors
Most definitely nails! 🙂
Right now I am loving China Glaze I’m not Lion. Perfect for a pedicure!
Thank you for the giveaway!
I love bright nail polishes. Essie Mini Shorts is my favourite.
Nails! I love all thing polish! Especially green stuff!
I love bright polish for summer!
Right now, I’m loving two specific polish shades. Butter London – Queen Vic and Priti NYC – Hula Girl Rose. They have been my go-to shades since the weather has gotten warmer!
Tresemme Heat Protectant! 🙂
Stila eyeshadow in “kitten:
🙂 xoxo
in summer i love all kinds of lipglosses and self tanners.
I love Essie polish =D
thanks!!
My fav is Color Club Holiday Splendor.
nails 😀
I’m loving the recent upswing in brightly colored nail polish – I love my latest find – a bright, lemony yellow – “Butter-fly Stroke” from Sally Hansen.
I love pink nail polish 🙂
nails and lips 😀
Mine’s definitely nails! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂 x
I love to wear bright lipsticks and even brighter polish. Sometimes I’m like a rainbow of color.
I really love bright nail polish for the summer!
My favorite polish to wear right now is Essie In the Cab-Ana, so bright and beautiful!
Thanks to you, I’ve found my new favorite summer lipstick. After you posted about Color Whisper in Pin-up peach a few months ago, I had to have it. My new fave, along with nail polish with shimmer/glitter in any color and size. The more sparkle the better!
Nails of course!:)
Nails! I’ve been obsessed with Zoya lately!
Nails! I love the bright colors and the glitters, especially in summer!
I’ve recently been on a glitter nail kick–they are so fun, and it’s hard to tell if you made a mistake putting on the polish!
Nails!
I love bright neons for summer!
My favorite beauty staple is Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. It’s so great when you don’t want to cake on a lot of makeup. It feels really light and gives you lots of coverage. I can’t live without it!
I’m loving all the bright colors! Nails are my huge thing right now and playing around with eyeshadows
I really want to get into the summer neon trend! The nail art has been awesome so far 🙂
I’m really loving the summer neon trend 🙂
Nails and make up!!!
I’ve been loving peachy glowing cheeks! I’ve been using my NARS Multiple Stick in Orgasm nonstop!!
I love hot pink, sparkly nails for summer.
My favorite thing to put on my nails in the summer is super bright (preferably neon!) colors! Thanks for the giveaway!
Right now, I’m loving Boots Coconut Oil for my whole body. I picked some up in the UK, and I’m hoping to some in the US
Nails!!
Totally into the summery bright neon nails and shimmery sun-kissed skin :)(no self-tanner, just sunscreen,body lotion & Sun:))
It’s all about the nails for me -currently daffodil yellow with a confetti top coat on the thumbs -I can’t resist a glitter top coat! Makes me smile even when the sun doesn’t shine (I’m in the UK -sun is never a sure thing!)
I like the new Essie nail polish in Naughty Nautical 🙂
nails!!!
dollish polish expecto patronum
Hawaiian Tropic Sunblock, NYX Snow White Lipstick and Orly Orange Punch Nail Polish.
The Lorac Pro Palette looks amazing. They are the best colors for someone with my skin complexion. AND I’m a sucker for nail polish always. SO glad it’s summer. Love this post.
I love neon polishes and bright colors for summer! My absolute favorite is China Glaze Flip-flop Fantasy!