Time to Take These Beauties Off The Bench: The Starting Line Up for Fall 2017

@twist.it.tea

Black Up Matte Jumbo Lip Pencil in 21M ($22 from Sephora)- Not only am I LOVING this shade of an orangey nude matte, but I’m about to buy the entire line, tthe formula is that good.  The matte lip liner that dubs as a lipstick is my new go to. It’s easy to apply and my lips stay pigmented throughout the day.  Huge plus that it doesn’t dry out my lips all crazy.

Smith’s Menthol and Eucalyptus Balm ($6 from Sephora)- I have been using Smith’s lip balm for years.  I love everything about this little baby. A little goes a long way because of the jelly-like formula but I love the versatility of being able to wear it under lip sticks or stains when my lips are dry in need some moisture. Once the temperate starts to drop my lips are the first to get feel the weather so I keep one of these in my bag at all times because it really does the trick.  The minty freshness of the menthol is a nice touch too ;)

Makeup Forever Liquid Matte in Rosewood in 105 ($22 from Sephora): If Makeup Forever were to ever discontinue this shade I would have very, very, strong opinions about it, and also nightmares, because I genuinely love it so much.  Seriously, it is a beautiful mauve and the liquid matte lipstick formula is a solid 10/10, even when it’s been through 2 matcha lattes, an avocado toast and a spliff, my lips are still pulling through with the pigmentation all while maintaining comfort.  Shout out to the avocado oil and glycerin, and that’s what’s in the formula – not my lunch.

Black Up Lipstick in 28 ($23 from Sephora)- As much as I love a good matte … Black Up steals my heart with their Satin Finish Lipstick.  I feel so badass in this lipstick, I’m not going to lie. Pictured is shade 28 in Deep Magenta, but not only is it a killer purple but it has a beautiful sparkle to it.  It has the perfect balance of dark and mysterious but also fun and playful…it’s great for all day wear depending on your mood. This + my Milk Supernova Highlighter = perfection

Smashbox Legendary Lipstick in Inspiration ($21 from Smashbox) – I know this shade kind of looks like the odd one out but let me tell you how beautiful this lipstick is with the Black Up Lipstick in 28 + smashbox Insta-Matte over top … wow. A whole new feel to this too-bright-for-me lipstick.  Worn alone, bright fuchsia pink isn’t normally my style, but mix in a complementary color to give it some definition and I’m all game to experiment.  I’ll end up layering on lipsticks through out the night/day but this is a great base color for my ‘brighter’ fall days.

Lime Crime Diamond Crusher Review

It's very seldom that I post products with a low rating. I almost feel the need to not post the review. I am super positive and I am a firm believer if you don't have anything good to say don't say it at all. I felt the need to share this review after spending my money on this product and gifting this to several friends during holiday. My friends probably hate me now, 

Lol 

First I'd like to start off with packing, the packing is gorgeous. If I had to rate this item solely on packing it would be a 5, however we often fall in love with the package and the quality of product doesn't match. 

This product is meant to be used along side of another lipstick in order to provide dimension. Like a lipstick topper. The texture is very thin however very gritty it feels like exfoliating. NO and NO. Although the lip toppers consistency is thin it is very tacky. The smell is also weird. I am not a lime crime basher I love the products but with this product they totally dropped the ball....Sorry If purchasing I highly suggest not ordering this online go to your local urban outfitters and try this on in store before spending your cash.

Xo Pepper B 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream is the learner’s permit of liquid lipsticks. The afforable price and low maitnence is your first step toward your grown ass women liquid lipstick.

The formula is a creamy, mousse like texture that glides over your lips. While it doesn’t fully dry down on your lips, their is minimal transfer and no bleeding –with or without a lip liner. The pigmentation –eh, it depends on the shade. The nudes in this line are fan-freaking-tastic. The berries, beautiful. The deep dark shades, save your money on most of them. You can make them work with a lipliner as a base if you’re really into the color but they can still leaves streaks on your lips rather than even color

They have just your standard doe-foot applicator. Nothing fancy. There isn’t any give to the wand but you can get a nice clean lip line if that is your aesthetic. The shade I’m wearing is Abu Dhabi. It’s a brown nude and so pretty. On my lips it looks a little pink but I naturally have a lot of color to my lips. Some people have lips similar to their skin tone. I don’t. But the shade itself is more of a yellow brown.

There are a bunch of shades to choose from. Here are my favorites:
Prague – darkened raspberry shade - whenever I wear it, people ask me what I have on my lips and are always surprised it’s NYX and not something super fancy. (fancy means expensive)
Addis Ababa- hot pink- I. Love. Hot. Pink. Lipstick.
Cannes- peachy nude- Something I could wear everyday!

Which would you like to try?

Product Rating: 5 Stars
Available at Ulta, Target, CVS ; $5.99
Product Photo from Ulta.com
Photo taken with iPhone 7

Bobbi Brown Product Review

Written by Deanna P

Most of my friends swear by Bobbi Brown make up.   I have had make up artists use it on me, but I have never tried it on myself, until recently.  I received 4 items to try & I was very excited about each and every one of them.  I have known about Bobbi Brown for decades as she is in every fine department store & makeup specialty store in the country & in the world.  She started her career as a make up artist working with the best to achieve fame in her field.  Her dream was simple, “Natural looking makeup & a lipstick that looked like lips.” Her claim to fame is she is able to enhance the beauty that someone has with a natural makeup look.  She wants the person using her makeup to look real.  Hence she has said, “The secret to beauty is simple: be who you are.”

In 1991, she launched her lipstick line at Bergdorf Goodman.  Although she planned to sell 1000 lipsticks in her first month, she sold the 1000 in the first day.   Four years later, she was bought by Estee Lauder, but always retained full creative control. She lives a normal life in Montclair, NJ & I have always heard of her & been impressed by her generosity throughout the years. The four product I tried are below.

Bobbi Brown Luxe lip color in Pink Guava. 

This lipstick comes in a gorgeous gold tube.  The size is .13 oz./3.8 g and the price is $35.00. It comes in 30 different shades.   The shades are more vibrant & work to cover the whole lip with one swipe.   The benefits of the lip color are ithelps to stop lips from flaking along with helping to reduce the appearance of lip lines.  It helps also to keep lips feeling moisturized even after it is removed.  The shade I tried was pink guava & I liked the color, feel & the way it looked very much,  It made my lips feel soft & I was pleased with the color & appearance of it in in my lips.  I thought the price was fair as the lipstick is very nice & has an expensive feel to it.  

Bobbi Brown Art Stick

This is a lip liner & a lipstick all in one stick.   It comes in 13 different shades & a sharpener is included so you always have a nice point on it.  The point is to line your lips with& then angle it to fill the color.  It is made to last for hours & it’s main ingredient is shea butter.  This makes it have it’s creamy texture & feel very light on your lips.   It is .2 oz/6 g & retails for $28.00.I tried the Cherrywood shade which is a deep wine color.I liked the art stick better the the lip color as it was so easy to line my lips then easily fill them in with color with this easy to use stick.  The color perfectly suited my skin tone & the formula felt great on my lips as well.  This was priced less then the lip color so I was very happy & definitely felt it was a great value as you did not have to buy your lip color & lip liner separately.

Bobbi Brown Retouching Face Pencil

Illuminate comes in .084 oz./2.4 g & retails for $32.00

A creamy matte pencil that comes in 10 shades.  It is used to cover imperfections such as red spots, dark spots, etc.  It can be used on all skin types & is a natural cream that covers all of the spots that you wish to correct. I tried the Illuminate pencil which works to highlight areas to make them look brighter & better.  It can be applied on the cheekbones, inner corners of the eyes, & on brow bones.I especially liked this product as I felt it brightened my face.  This is something I will use to make my makeup look a little bit more perfect & make my face and eye area look brighter.  I thought it was a little pricey for the illuminate shade. Itmight be a better investment in a shade that  matched my skin color& I could use to hide spots on my face.

Last, but certainly not least I experimented with Bobbi Brown Cool Nudes Eye Palette 

It comes with 6 shades that include:

-Cream eye shadow

-Pebble Metallic eye shadow

-Dove Grey eye shadow

-Chiffon Sparkle eye shadow

-Quarry Shimmer Wash eye shadow

-Smokey eye shadow

It also came with Dual ended Eye shadow eye liner brush for application.

The Net wt. .25 OZ./79 g each & itretails for $50.00

This great 6 piece eye shadow kit has a great variety of colors that you can bring your look from day to night.  The brush allows you to use the eye shadow & line your eyes as well.  Beautiful textures & neutral shades that will make any eye color stand out & look beautiful. This was a nice choice of colors for my eye color which is greenSince I have never mastered the applying of eye shadow, I am not a huge fan of it.  I did like the colors in this kit very much & thought for 6 colors, this was a very good deal.   I will definitely keep practicing with this kit & hopefully I will be able to do it the justice it deserves. I liked all theBobbi Brown products very much that I tried.  I will definitely look for & use her products in the future.   I am a big fan, like her, in looking natural, & her makeup products did help me to achieve this.

NYX Lingerie Lip Review

Written By Christine Q

A few weeks ago, I received the NYX Lingerie liquid lipstick in the mail from none other, Ms. Pepper. B herself! I'll admit, I left it on my make-up table for a hot minute. It's summer, right now with the crazy humidity and heat in NYC, the only thing I care for is a good lip balm with SPF. 

Last night, I had the perfect opportunity to get all dolled up with a smokey eye. For reference, I used a blend of gray, black, and brown eyeshadow with a heavy dose of mascara. The finishing touch was a good soft neutral lip so I reached for the liquid lipstick in the the color Bedtime Flirt. It was the perfect neutral lip color. It was the color of my lips, pinky brown, but punched up and pouty. To boot, it's soft creamy, and non-drying. If you're a fan of MAC's Velvet Teddy, you'll love this. 

I loved it so much that I brought it back out today for a brunch date with some girlfriends. My friend commented that there something about me that looked a little different. She couldn't figure out what it was at first and then pointed out that my lips looked plumper than usual. The color was so neutral she couldn't even tell that it was a lipstick. 

I highly recommend this for everyday or or a night out. It really is the perfect finish to any look. 

Lancome Red Stiletto Lipstick Review

Written by Deanna .P

PhotoVia: www.makeupandbeautyblog.com

Nothing says sexy like red lipstick,  & black heels.  I recently tried Lancome Color design cream red stiletto lipstick & I have to say I felt sexier than ever, even without donning my heels. It went on very easily & I think the color definitely suited me.  I am a believer that red lipstick suits everyone.  You have not lived until you go out on the town with a splash of red on your lips.  

Lancome’s mission is to provide women with superior products and services that fulfill their quest and enthusiasm for beauty. For over 80 years, Lancome has stood for beauty & glamour & has done so with a French flair.  It is currently one of world’s leading luxury beauty brands.    Woman in over 160 countries depend on the brand & look to it to define what they should use in the beauty world to make them feel & look beautiful.  Stars like Julia Roberts, Penelope Cruz & Kate Winslet have all been spokesmodels for Lancome.  The lipstick retails for $23.00.  It provides long lasting color & has a wonderful non drying formula.  It really felt great on my lips, making them feel soft & pretty all day.  Also, you can try it in 5 fabulous finishes.  Cream, sheen shimmer, metallic, & matte.

Be Sexy & try Lancome Red Stiletto.

The Maracuja Kiss Stick by Ruby Kisses Review

This is the only lip product you will need for Summer Sixteen.  Whether your summer plans are hanging out at the beach, or you just need one dance, got a Hennessy in your hand while practicing Drake’s dance moves, or even if you’re stuck at a desk wishing you could do both, this Rare Amazonian Soft Matte Lipstick should be in your makeup bag. It comes in a lightweight plastic, twist up tube with a gold cap that clicks into place giving you the satisfaction that the cap won’t pop off while in your bag. I also really appreciate that Ruby Kiss made the tube match the color of the lipstick so you will never have to guess what shade you’re picking up. 

The Maracuja Kiss Stick is available in 12 shades that include nudes, a deep red and a bright orchid color. Best part? It is so affordable! It’s just under $3, so no matter your style you will find a shade you like or can even experiment with a color you wouldn’t typically go for. I picked up the shade “Tango With Me,” which is a bright, bold orange shade because with such a low price, why play it safe! I never thought I would wear a shade like this. I have a medium dark, olive skin tone and strawberry blonde hair so I didn’t think orange tones would be flattering on me but it compliments my coloring very well. And it isn’t one of those warm shades that makes your teeth look yellow. I paired this bold lip with bronzed skin and a subtle brown smokey eye. Tango With Me brightened my smile, my face, my hair and my mood!

Available at HairToBeauty.com

Application Tip: As with any matte lipstick, be sure to exfoliate and hydrate your lips before application.

Product Photo from  http://hairtobeauty.com/cosmetics/lip/lipsticks/ruby-kisses-maracuja-kiss-stick-rlc/

Beauty photos taken with iPhone 5S