Yeah, it's my favorite pink right now. A cute pink. A shiny pink. A tiny pink.

First, a shoutout to the best boy ever.
And then a shoutout to this color.

It's a warmish light pink that you think is gonna be kind of 'eh' when you put it on, like, yeah, it's another pink. Cool! I have lots of pinks! Pink is good for everything! You open it and the wand kind of bounces out like it's spring-loaded and you're like, okay, Tiny Pink, you're excited to get out in the world.

In short, I love it, and I highly recommend this formula and this color! I'd love to try other colors but probably won't because that priiiiiiice ($35) so I'm going to stick with loving this and those L'Oreal colors.

Tip: When you pull out the applicator, it doesn't have a ton of product on it initially so I like to dip it in another time with a kind of scooping motion to get more for a second coat. One coat is plenty, but a second with more product will really intensify the glossy effect.

I'm starting to gain confidence in my skin, because I've seen a lot of 'disasters' in the few years since I first had problems with acne. My skin still isn't great and I definitely have bad days and bad habits, but I've come to understand my face a lot better than I used to, I know that. I know moisturizer is a good thing (thanks, mom, for not believing me on that one because I had oily skin) and that sunscreen is a good thing (thanks, internet, for reminding me constantly about that one). I'm trying really hard to keep up a regimen and to stop messing around with my skin, but first I have to stop worrying about it, so here I am posting weird pictures on the Internet where you can see my acne and hyperpigmentation from old acne. There was definitely a time where I wouldn't go a day without concealer, and times where if I wasn't putting on concealer, it wasn't worth putting on anything else and I should just go bare-faced, but now I feel okay putting on just a little mascara and lip balm without a ton of concealer to cover every blemish. 

What gives you confidence in your appearance when you feel like you need it? Do you feel more confident hiding flaws you see in yourself or accepting them?

TIP: Don't worry too much about these things. I never used to think about acne, then worried about it obsessively and cried in the dermatologist's office during an appointment, and now I'm just kinda chillin and trying to keep it under control, which I think I've got figured out by now. It's been a while but my appearance isn't everything and people don't actually seem to notice the spots all that much. Life is like a dance class: everybody is too busy staring at themselves and seeing their own mistakes in the mirror to notice anybody else's.

I've never been a fan of nude lip colors. On myself. They look awesome on other people, but I can't do a true nude lip. I'VE TRIED. Neutral, sure, but a lot of nudes just look brown and gross on me, I guess.

BUT.

I got the Meet Your Match set at Sephora and the nude lip gloss, Hourglass Extreme Sheen in Child, is lovely. First of all, it's tiny and adorable. I love tiny and adorable. Secondly, it smells awesome. Like baking. Thirdly, it's BEAUTIFUL because it's a 'true nude' without looking like 'you tried to use Touche Eclat as a lip gloss' and it actually... shows up??? My problem with the idea of a nude gloss is that most of them seem so sheer. Why would you want a see-through your-lips-but-slightly-washed-out when you could just go for clear? (I'm a hoarder of flavored clear glosses... those super minty C.O. Bigelow ones, anyone?) And I LOVE glossy nude lips, don't get me wrong, it just seems like there aren't a ton of them done right out there.

So this was awesome to find, especially because I now have the Super Fun Task of finding 'office-appropriate' makeup for this internship. It's great. It stays on all day, it feels awesome, and the shine diminishes over time but the color does not! Even though it's nude! It stays! 

However, if you aren't interested in spending $25 for a tiny sample of it and some other stuff (some actually pretty COOL STUFF) and don't want the full size for $28, there is another option.

Revlon Balm Stain (the original formula, not those fancy shiny or matte ones) in Charm ($8ish, depends where you get it) with Revlon Colorburst gloss ($7ish) in Bellini makes a lovely super-nude combination. I love the balm stain formula, and the gloss adds a bit more pigment and brings it to life. These do have the fatal flaw of nude glosses-- sheerness-- so you may want to put a little concealer or foundation around the edge of your lips to block out a little of the natural color peeking through. 

Tip: since nude lips can look very, uh, dead, create a subtle gradient with a pink-nude lip color on the inside of your lips. Put a tiny bit of the pink where your lips meet and blend it by pressing your lips together, and smile because you're alive and you actually look alive. Also, put on some blush in a nude pink color, because that will also make you look alive if you are lacking in that department.

But if you're actually dead and trying to look alive, please tell me how you're reading this.

I CAVED.

It's super limited edition, I've been wanting a Chanel illuminator for years, and, well, this one is perfect.

Mouche de Beauté was too frosty, the Spring 2014 zen/camellia/whatever was too white and matte, never got a chance to look at any others... This one, though, has a lovely color and a healthy glowy satin sheen rather than being outright sparkly, and the touch of gold is flattering especially for summer- almost like a very subtle bronze glow. On the face, it's a radiant goddess's light shining gently upon you wherever you place it, whether with the included brush (a little flat angled brush, not super soft but I like the shape and size for applying this powder, I just wish it was softer because it would be gentler on the pretty lace design!) or with your own. It's subtle enough to apply all over the face, and would look pretty and polished as just a highlighter on the high points of the face because it really does bring light to wherever you put it, not just add sparkle. It's also beautiful as an eyeshadow. It's soft to the point of being creamy when you swatch it with a fingertip, and buffs on unbelievably smoothly over a bare face or your preferred base product.

Seriously, if you have the savings, this is worth it. If it's too much, don't feel bummed out because it really is only a luxury product, nothing necessary by any means (ha, like any makeup is necessary). There are plenty of other options at all price points!

TIP: Put it all over your face. Just go nuts. It's awesome. 
Just kidding. The real tip is to invest in something you'll use a lot (but that will last a long time, not like 'invest in really expensive mascara' because it gets thrown out) and that makes you really happy. Powders are good because they don't go bad that easily, and you can use em all over or just for highlighting or used as an eyeshadow, so you can get lots and lots of use. Maybe a super fancy nail polish isn't going to get used a lot, and a super fancy lip balm isn't worth it, but a blush or a lipstick in a color you really love? Go for it. I like luxuries. I like fancy things. I don't think it's bad because, hey, my money and my life. Small things like this may be expensive, but the happiness they bring me is gonna last a long time, making me smile every morning when I open the compact. 
LIFE IS SHORT WHATEVER

I'm obsessed with rose gold anything. If you put the name rose gold on it and it's even vaguely pink or gold or copper and shimmery, I'm in love.

Here's a rosy gold look I did today.

Eyes:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Naked 3 palette- Dust on inner corners, Trick on inner lid, Buzz on center lid, Limit and Nooner in crease and Mugshot on outer corner/wing

Milani liquid liner

MUFE Smoky Extravagant mascara

Face:

Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer

Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette- Dim all over, Radiant to bronze and Incandescent to highlight

Benefit Rockateur

Lips:

Benefit Sugarbomb gloss

I see a lot of people hating on Dust from Naked 3 but it's great when applied in small areas with a fingertip or sponge applicator, probably even better when wet. It's all in the application, people. It has a flaky texture so it doesn't play well with brushes and needs to be packed on and patted down, and of course applied over primer so it stays where you put it. I love it for center lid or inner corner highlighting.

And, yes, I am lusting after butter London Rosie Lee polish.

TIP: All rose gold errything. Mixing metals is great, but I like mixing shades and finishes of just one color throughout a look. Obviously Naked 3 and Rockateur are not the exact same color, but they are both 'rose gold.' Try a brownish blush or bronzer with a golden sheen paired with a look from the original Naked palette, or a taupe contour with the Naked 2 to match without monotone.

I always thought I was a lipstick girl, or a lip stain girl or a tinted lip balm girl, but these days I've been very very convinced by the lip glosses out there. I've almost-bought the Desconstructed Rose set by Bite so many times before reminding myself it's really not all that practical.

Favorite for shine: C.O. Bigelow Mentha Ultra Lip Shine. The best clear gloss ever. Never sticky and super super minty, which I love.
Favorite for color: I hate to be that girl, but Chanel Glossimer in Savage Grace. Got it for my birthday and it's breathtaking.
Favorite for texture: Dior Addict Lip Maximizer. It's basically clear but feels sooooo nice, like a lip balm or treatment more than a gloss. Perfect for layering, adding moisture to a matte lip or for a little shine on a bare face. It's fancy, and the quality is totally there, but it's not out-of-reach special-days-only fancy.
Favorite every day gloss: Benefit Sugarbomb. I have minis of Dandelion and Coralista and just purchased Sugarbomb, which is lovely and shimmery, which I don't normally go for. They smell like peach gummies and are super cushy and soft.
Favorite special occasion gloss: I have a purply black sparkly Urban Decay Lip Junkie which is pretty awesome for layering, but I also like the Chanel Glossimer. I think special occasions usually merit a pretty lipstick more than a lip gloss, though.

Umm... yes. I have a big purse now, okay?

Dior Tiny Pink, CK one mascara, Bite Beauty Strangefruit, Benefit Benebalm, Tarte Elite, Benefit Benetint, Dior Lip Maximizer, Benefit Sugarbomb, Revlon Romantic, Wet'n'Wild Stoplight Red, Eyeko Black Magic, eos Sweet Mint.

This is my collection of minis.

Well, most of it.

This is going to be a superpost.

I LOVE MINIS. It's how I got into makeup. Tiny morsels of things to try, and with so many, you never really need the full size of anything.

So here's a brief breakdown. (Well, a long post, but brief on each topic.)

FACE PRODUCTS:
Benefit Dandelion: awesome. Really cute soft pink color, a bit sheer but I like subtle blushes. It's not matte, it just has the right amount of sheen to wake you up.
Benefit Watt's Up: Killer champagne stick highlighter. From the Sephora birthday gift. I used to use only a tiny bit because it seemed so sparkly, but I saw one of my roommates use it very liberally and it looked great so I tried it and I have seen the light.
Benefit Girl Meets Pearl: I LOVE IT this is super great for mixing in with foundations, actually, since I'm not a huge primer person. It's a pearly pink-toned highlighter/primer.
Urban Decay All-Nighter: This stuff is awesome because, well, Texas weather. I really recommend it, especially to anyone that touches their face a lot because it keeps your makeup on, and keeps oil at bay so if you do touch your face, your hands come off clean.
Benefit The Porefessional (yeah, there's two, anyone want one?): Meh. I'm not a primer person but this does feel super luxe and velvety from the silicone, and is nice for pore filling and face smoothing, but I'm not really concerned with that so I don't feel like it's a life-changing product for me.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Opal: This is a life-changing product for me. You can mix as much of this as you want into your foundation or tinted moisturizer and you will never look overdone. Looks especially lovely topped with mattifying powder to give a lit-from-within glow. This is a peachy liquid highlighter, which works better for me than Girl Meets Pearl.
NARS Laguna: I'm still learning how to use bronzer but I can recognize that this is a beautiful one. Gorgeous texture and not too shimmery for contouring, not too matte for bronzing. It also makes a beautiful eyeshadow! It's a light sheer brown with gold sparkles that you shouldn't be scared of.
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer: Meh. I haven't used it much so I can't say either way whether I like it or not.
Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous: This one is tricky. I want to love it but it's too dark and orange for me. Other than that, I do like the texture and coverage, so there's that. Lightweight and pretty sheer but nice for when you just need a little something to go out. It's like... kind of a concealer, kind of a cream foundation, but sheer. They put the Medium shade in all their kits, which is cool if you're that shade, but if you're not I'd give it to a friend.

EYE PRODUCTS:
Benefit BADgal lash: I love this mascara and the 'cute lashes' it gives- very dark, defined, a little volumized and feathery. However, it smudges, so I don't reeeeeally love it. With a setting spray though it's awesome.
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liners in Whiskey, Woodstock, Junkie, Radium: These are my favorite of all time probably. I've only bought one full-size but it was totally worth it. They're super smooth and creamy and easy to sharpen, plus they come in an insane amount of colors, so if you can grab a kit like the Electric pencil set they had a while back at Nordstrom Rack, do it. I do have a lot of transfer from the liner to my upper lid because I have hooded eyes, so a primer underneath going all the way up and some translucent powder or neutral eyeshadow helps a ton. Whiskey is a red-toned brown, Woodstock is bright shimmery pink, Junkie is mermaid teal with mermaid gold sparkles, and Radium is bright shimmery blue.
Stila Magnificent Metals eyeshadow in Kitten: Okay, I know this was from the Summerstash kit, and it's summer, but I haven't tried this yet. I'll do a post on it when I do, though, because it intrigues me so much. It's beautiful. A champagney sparkly shadow with tiny silver glitter, it looks like.

LIP PRODUCTS:
OCC Stained Gloss in New Wave: Super cute summer color and SUPER bright. I haven't tried a lot of OCC but this one I really love, I'm going to be sad when it runs out but I have enough bright pinks that I don't need to buy it full-size.
Fresh Sugar lip balm in Rose (and the original, at the bottom): I love this stuff so much and I'm almost done with the tube that I've been carefully saving. It's the most beautiful color with just the right amount of pigment, but the packaging doesn't work for how soft this balm's texture is. Lovely, but impractical. This is, though, the balm that changed it all. I find it to be extremely hydrating and the original is my go-to for an overnight treatment of super chapped lips. (It's okay, though, I found a much better replacement. Post coming soon.)
Buxom Full-Bodied lipstick in Menace: This color is to die for and the formula is lovely. Perhaps a bit too dark for my tastes in vampy shades but wonderful nonetheless. A dark purpley red.
Some random gloss that came with a Juicy Couture bracelet: Actually really nice, bought with a dear friend and it's a nice memory. Cute, juicy looking pink.
Kat Von D Foiled Love in Adora: I really wanted to love this one but it's too orange for me. I wanted it to be a bright metallic red but it's more of a rusty, coppery orange color, but if that's what you want it's good. I'm not a fan of the texture, but that's what lip balm is for.
Benefit gloss in Dandelion: Can I mention that this smells like peach gummies?! It's also a lovely nudeish color, which I was really glad to see because all the reviews I had read said this line of gloss was super sheer. However, it still gives a noticeable cute pink tint with a tiny amount of shimmer.
Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian: Probably the prettiest pale nude pink ever. I love the tingly effect but it might be a bit much for some people. Also since seeing Helena offer someone a White Russian drink on Orphan Black, I love it even more.
Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate: Another one I wanted to love. It's a beautiful red, extremely pigmented, but just had too much slip for me to wear it much. I adore a good red, but since I wear it so often I don't like it to be high-maintenance, and this one definitely is.
Hourglass Opaque Rouge liquid lipstick in Icon: Beautiful. I think this is a red that will look lovely in its own way on everyone, even though it's darker and bold. On me, it looks dramatic and classy without the need for any other makeup. Also, it stays on FOREVER, so be prepared to wear it for, like, three days.
MUFE Rouge Natural in N45: Cute cute cute. A super natural-looking sheer flush of color, not a bold red at all but an upgrade from a pigmented tinted balm. A very 'wintery' color to me, as it looks great with the flush you get from a chilly walk outside!
Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo in Neutral (Retsina/Shiraz): This is a pretty lipstick duo, great for having just one or creating a subtle ombre look with Shiraz to brighten up the pale Retsina. However, it also melted in the car, so I'm thinking Bite Beauty is not a brand meant for hot weather or people who like their lipstick to stay on their lips, because it has a lot of slip and doesn't stick around very long. I also have this somewhere in a bright red and pink, which also melted. THANKS.
Urban Decay Lip Junkie gloss in Naked and Crush: I love this formula but Naked doesn't show up very well because it's hecka sheer shimmery nude. Crush, though, was the first actually pigmented gloss I ever owned, so it has a special place in my heart and is a beautiful bright pink, even with the thinnest layer.
Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker: Ha, ha, dirty names. I like this but I don't notice any real plumping effect, as this is what it says it does... also another sheer shimmery nude gloss.
Stila Stay All Day liquid lipstick in Dolce: I absolutely like this. It's totally the wrong color. Do I care? A little. But topped with a lighter gloss, the terra-cotta tones are drowned out by how long it wears and how comfortable it feels. I can't heeeeear yoooouuuu, brown colors!
C.O. Bigelow whatever super awesome minty gloss in Vanilla Mint: I LOVE IT that's all. I love vanilla and minty things.
Tarte Glamazon lipstick in Inspired: Meh. It's alright but I think the formula is pretty dry-- also I don't usually complain about the sizes of minis and samples, but this one is TINY and the issue is that it's like trying to put on doll lipstick. The tube looks like a normal size but the bullet is super thin, which doesn't help the dryness during application. The color is kind of a mauvey neutraly color, I don't particularly care for it but that's just me.
Stila Color Balm in Sonya: It's minty. It's vampy. It's comfy. It also extends past the top of the tube, so I've messed it up a lot trying to open it. This is a very highly recommended color for when you want to look vampy but you don't actually feel like messing around with that, it's sheer plummy-red.
Kat Von D Painted Love liquid lipstick: Okay, I also don't like this. Liquid lipsticks in general I'm curious about but don't love a ton. This one has an okay formula, but is so shockingly PINK! and MATTE! and COOL TONED! that it just doesn't agree with me, but it does get points for lasting through meals.

And, yeah, I've gotten more minis since I've taken this photo, and I forgot to include some of the ones I owned at the time. Oops.

Tip: Buy Benefit sets. Can you tell that I live for Benefit minis? I think they're the best in the sample-size game, they have a ton of sets with 'em and you can even buy just the samples on their website! Or use a code online at Sephora! Also, I got a free sample of Lollitint at the mall last week, they're generous. Can't wait to use it.

I'm super excited to start this blog, to join the makeup blogosphere and to have an outlet for my passion for makeup, instead of finding my makeup friends and talking to them for hours while everyone else looks on, bored as hell.