Manolo for the Beauty

OH IS IT NOW??

Well, to be honest, I’m not sure.

I mean, I think it is kind of cool how the applicator works by pushing limited (and retractable) amounts of product onto a pre-formed mold.  That way, you never have to deal with the weird way you wear lipsticks down, which is pretty much different for everyone.

What I can’t get past right now is the price, which with shipping off the website,  is something like forty bucks a tube.  Ouch.

And, after watching the video above, I am once again reminded of how ridiculous people look when other people apply their lipstick.

If you are a lip gloss fan, then you are sure to find something you like in The Body Shop’s new collection.  Eleven, count them, eleven(!) different super shiny and fruity glosses to choose from!

So you’ve got an especially well-endowed set of lips?  Most women would be panting with jealousy, as there are bajillions (seriously, bajillions) of products designed to make your lips appear larger than they really are.

However, let’s say that you aren’t comfortable with your lip size, and possibly for certain occasions, would like to minimize their appearance rather than highlight them.

Glinda is here for you.

I’ve done a bit of research for you so that you don’t have to wade through articles that tell you to commit to an exercise routine for your lips so that you can get rid of their extra fat.  Yes, someone actually DID write that.

Anyhoo, for those times when you would rather your lips not take so much of the spotlight, here are some tips:

1) Use matte colors, no shine.

2) Try applying foundation on your lips before lip color application.  This can help reduce their outline a little bit.

3) Soft neutral colors rather than dark or intense ones.

5) Highlight another part of your face to draw some attention away from the lips, but don’t overdo it.  It’s a fine line, to be sure.

There seems to be some disagreement about the use of a lip liner, and I myself am torn.  Usually a lip liner is used to make lips larger, but I could see that it could help define a smaller lip when using the foundation trick.

Good luck!

All right, I’ve got some issues with this guide.

I’m not sure I agree with the “sheer serious wine shades” for an important meeting.  What if your important meeting is in the middle of August?  And sometimes wine shades can come off as dark and almost too serious.   Like, “Look at me in my dark lipstick, I am a very intense person!” instead of one that flatters and you feel comfortable in.  Or maybe I’m just projecting because I personally wouldn’t wear a wine shade for a meeting of any kind.

Well I take that back, I might wear a sheer flippant wine shade.

I also take issue with the nude pink shades for the grocery store.  Why, because I’m not supposed to look like I’m wearing makeup to the grocery store?  A red color will clash with the produce department?

I guess, though, it is a good basic primer for those who are uncomfortable/new with lip color.

Inspired by the aurora borealis, this collection is full of color and shimmer.  I am especially liking that blue lip gloss, for some reason.  I have been dying to see what the blue/green lip glosses that are out actually look like on your lips.  Anybody?

I have to admit it has been a long time since Estee Lauder made me excited about any of their products, but this collection is the exception.

Out for Fall of 2012, Violet Underground features a palette, lipstick, lip gloss and nail polish in varying shades of purple.

Have I mentioned that I adore purple?

Many people think they can’t wear purple eyeshadow because they feel like they end up looking like they have a black eye.  But I am of the personal opinion that it all comes down to proper primer around the eyes, making sure your eyelids and the skin around your eyes matches the rest of your skin as closely as possible.  Heck, maybe even a shade lighter.  I wear Three Custom Color’s Eyeshadow Trio for Green Eyes which is comprised of various shades of purple, and I have yet to have anyone mistake me for an incompetent boxer.

Someone who knows me well gifted me with a three-month Birchbox subscription, and I just received my first box two days ago.   I’m a little too new to the whole Birchbox thing to pronounce judgement upon it yet, but I’ll be sure to do so when my subscription is up.

One of the products inside was Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss  in a bright fuchsia.   Not my normal go-to color, but I know that what the product looks like in the packaging doesn’t necessarily translate to what it looks like on your skin.  This would be one of those times.

It went on without any real tackiness (which I LOATHE in a lip gloss) but not in a way that I would call slick, either.  It was surprisingly thick in texture.  It had a fair amount of shine, and not a whole lot of color.   Even with the brightness, it barely made a color impact on my lips.   It was impressively shiny, so I suppose if you wanted a medium amount of color and a lot of shine, two coats might do the trick.

The size of the gloss was actually minuscule, almost like it belonged on a charm bracelet, which is fairly insulting because it isn’t like I was getting the product for free.  I’ve been given much bigger samples at the beauty counter and not had to pay a cent.

So, given the lack of color and the decision to provide such a small sample, I don’t think I will be purchasing this gloss any time soon.

I must be totally out of touch, because I had no idea True Blood was popular enough to inspire an entire collection.

Deborah Lippmann created polishes inspired by different characters and her first ever lipstick in, of course, red.

There are also body creams, a perfume, home fragrance candles, and diffusers as well.

The blood starts dripping on August 9th on hsn.com.

Is it just me or does it seem like this should come out closer to Halloween?

Bad computer! Bad, bad, computer, breaking down and not allowing mama to post!

But I’m back, and crankier than ever, thanks to four days without a computer.

54% of you think that perfume that smells like a new book is ridiculous, and 45% you think it is wonderful, which isn’t really that big of a spread.  I wouldn’t buy it, but I think it’s an interesting concept.

Today, I want to know how you feel about Amanda Seyfried’s lipstick at the Tony Awards.

Having heard the hype about this lip balm, I was excited to receive it as a “birthday gift” from Sephora.  Of course I had to buy something to get my gift, but whatever.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t quite live up.

It does go on nicely, I will give it that.  It also has a screw-on cap that makes it perfect for purses.

But that’s about all.

I’m not a fan of lemon scents, so it immediately gets a minus from me on that, although some of you may love it.

I don’t find this product to be long-lasting in any way.  If there is one thing I look for in a lip balm, it is that I don’t have to keep reapplying it.  For me, this stuff lasts for about a half hour, and then my lips feel as dry as if I’d never put anything on at all.  BIG minus.

Chapstick will save you a bunch of money and works better.

Or, if you prefer pricey balms, I highly recommend this one.