Pucker Up, Loose Lips! And The Eyes Are So Bright…

So, I got into my hands some Loose Lips NY items, perfect for fall! Being a dark brunette, I can’t help but love the way red lipstick looks! So classic. However, it’s definitely a look that requires a perfect outfit and the perfect lips...And a perfect liner, so this picture will be a bit weak on the application side. I love red…and Loose Lips NY Red Rush gives me just that…A rush! Purchase Loose Lips with vitamin E and castor oils for $12 (USD). Tres fabulous! Tres cute!

I have also tried Loose Lips NY Eye Shadow in Silver Lining. Now, I am an eyeshadow freak. I feel the texture, I appreciate the grain. I understand that the line is wet/dry, which has a lot to do with the quality of eyeshadow, because you are sacrificing the texture for it to be more flexible as part powder, part cream. However, for $12 (USD) a pod, I believe that this eyeshadow's strength is in its wet application.

Just dab your brush in some water, run it along the shadow and apply. I have an example of both the wet (left) and the dry (right) and the left is far more intense and shimmering! Not only that but the hold is pretty intense!
The colour, “Silver Lining” is a wonderful silver hue, great for Saturday night dancing.

Last but not least, I have the gloss "Fate" and I loved the texture here. Not gummy at all, it went on nice and thick, but the colour was more transparent than I had expected. I like that and since I'm not a lipstick girl, having a nice hint of hue is always great to finish my look! If you want more colour, wear it on top of a lipstick for added depth!

Have you tried Loose Lips NY products? Love them? Hate them?

www.looselipsny.com

And the Winner Is....

KAE!

Congratulations!! You have won a $50 gift certificate from Loose Lips NY! Enjoy the honey and almond scrub and the lip plumping gloss in Fairytale! We will be emailing you with details on how to redeem your gift certificate. I'd love to hear what you think of the products so be sure to write in letting us all know.

Big thank you to Sherry from Loose Lips NY for the awesome give away! Thank you to everyone who entered the contest! You guys are all amazing and like I've said before I wish I could give something to everyone. The winner was randomly chosen using the good ol' name-out-of-a-hat method (my son picked out the name hehe). But don't worry - Makeup Junkie will be doing more contests in the future! Have a beautiful weekend!

Update: Makeup Junkie Loose Lips NY Give Away!

To give more people a chance, I will be extending the contest until July 18th at 12 pm. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced July 18th at 12:30 pm. Thank you to everyone that has left a comment so far! Good luck to everyone!

For contest details click here. Visit www.looselipsny.com .

Makeup Junkie Loose Lips New York Give Away!

Makeup Junkie loves doing give aways! Loose Lips NY is teaming up with Makeup Junkie for a fantastic give away. If you're not familiar with Loose Lips NY, check out my reviews on some of my favourites from the brand including Indelible Creme Eye Shadow, Indelible Gel Eye Liner in Black Cherry, Hint of Mint Lip Gloss in Mint Cherry, and Mid Size Eye Shadow in Gold Digger.

Give Away Details:
Visit Loose Lips NY and check out all the selection. Come back and tell us 2 products you would
love to purchase by leaving a comment in the comment box with your name (doesn't have to be your full or real name) and email address. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate! The contest starts today and ends July 15th at 5 pm. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced July 16th at 12 pm.

Good luck to everyone!!

For more information visit www.looselipsny.com

Beauty 101: Makeup Junkie Springs Into Summer Part 2!

Ahh, Spring is in the air and Summer is just around the corner! Part 1 of Beauty 101: Beauty Prep For Summer, was all about keeping your skin looking flawless from head to toe. This post gives you the scoop on some hot beauty products for Spring and Summer that my makeup bag can't live without!

Three Custom products are quickly taking over my makeup stash! Is your makeup routine in need of some colour? Check out reviews from my new favourites Light Brights lipstick, Miami Glamour collection and the free mascara you receive when you purchase Poppy Lip and Cheek Stain and Peacock eye shadow! Click here for details on the promo. Ends April 30th! To read my reviews click here.

Exotic beauties don't fret because there is a makeup line that was created with you in mind! Vasanti Cosmetics caters to every woman from fair to deep dark and their informative site makes picking the right colours easy. Last week I began Part 1 of my reviews and you can check out Part 2 featuring the Manhattan 24/7 Eye Colour Palette and Tinted Lip Balm in Bahamas, a natural plum brown! Pretty! Click here for more.I wasn't really a fan of plumping glosses until now. Lise Watier Plumpissimo glosses are available in 6 beautiful hues for Spring and Summer! The line also features La Base, a plumping anti-aging Lip Primer with collagen micro-spheres. Click here to read more!

Loose Lips New York features some Spring/Summer must-haves that will get you noticed in all the right ways! One of my favourite products from the line I reviewed last year was Indelible Gel Liner in Black Cherry. Since the gel liners were such a hit, Loose Lips New York has come out with Indelible Creme Eye Shadow, another new favourite! Click here to read more.

A while ago I wrote about Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes liner being just kind of "meh" for me. Well, I've given it another try and have changed my tune! Click here to read more.

What are your must-haves for Spring/Summer? Have you tried any of my must-haves from the list? Love it? Hate it? Happy shopping!

Beauty Review: Kissable Reds For Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! V-Day isn't just for lovers so give some hugs and kisses to your bestest friends and family! But if you're looking to give those smackers some serious attention here are some juicy reds I alternate between that'll make those lips look their most kissable!

M.A.C. Cremestick Liner in Red Enriched (in pic Enriched Red oops!): If you're going to do a red lip you'll want to make sure you line your lips to prevent feathering or bleeding. Start at the bow of the lip and work outwards to get the most precise shape. I love a lot of M.A.C. lip liners but this is one of my favourites. I love how creamy these liners apply to the lip - no tugging and easily applies over the entire lip. I've even used this on its own with a bit of balm. Red Enriched goes best with warmer reds but I've used it with bluer based reds. The only negative is that the retractable liners don't last as long as a pencil, but the creaminess and longevity makes it a must-have.


C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint Red: I'm addicted to lip balms and have close to 20 hanging around my house and various purses. I love tinted lip balms even more. These balms come in handy little tubes and impart sheer colour with high shine leaving your lips super moisturized and your breath smelling fresh. Perfect on its own or over your favourite red lipstick.




M.A.C. Lipgelee in Dewy Jube: I love these glosses because they are so super smooth and they give just enough colour. Dewy Jube is one of my favourites from the line (I definitely prefer these over M.A.C.'s lip glasses). It's a pretty cherry-pink that gives the lips a juicy pop of colour. This would look pretty with some shimmery shadow and soft pink blush.



M.A.C. Lustreglass in Venetian: Also another favourite of mine, Venetian is a gorgeous cherry red with gold flecks in it (I used this on-set "Where'd You Get That?" on host Ali from Chick Advisor). The difference between Lustreglass and Lipgelee is that these colours give the lips more colour and stay on a bit longer. This is one colour that looks beautiful all year round - especially looks great with bronzy skin. The only thing I hate about these glosses is that they are sticky and leave a white crust on my inner lips - yuck. But the colour gets me everytime!

Loose Lips NY Hint of Mint Lip Gloss in Mint Cherry: I received the purse size version and it has become one of my go-to glosses when I'm in a hurry for a glam night out. This gloss has some serious shine, colour and also freshens the breath (needed for those close encounters hehe)! The colour goes on like a full colour lipstick but the glossy texture doesn't overpower the lips.








Pink Beauty Luscious Lip Sheer Lipstick in Elsie: I know, I've given this rave reviews many times on my blog but I can't help it! This is one of the most wearable reds because the colour is so buildable. Elsie looks warm against my skin but looks cooler on fairer skin tones. Besides the vintage feel and adorable packaging, I just love how moisturized my lips feel. And even though it's sheer, the colour stays on a while leaving a nice stain on the lips.





M.A.C. Lipstick in M.A.C. Red: Classic. Besides other classics Ruby Woo and Russian Red, M.A.C. Red has a satin finish rather than matte. This is a great blue based red perfect for fairer or olive skin tones. The colour is intense and long-lasting.




M.A.C. Pro Longwear Lipcolour in Alta Moda: I think this colour has been discontinued which is too bad because it's a beautiful deep reddish-brown. If you hate reapplying your lip colour throughout the day, then the Pro Longwear's are perfect. These lippies will outlast any smooch and still be on the next day (this theory may have been tested ;). Also works great as a stain but if you have dry lips like me, your lips will end up getting crusty even with the gloss top coat. But if you have no lip issues then lucky you!


Estee Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Rich Red: This super creamy lipstick has long-lasting moisture and intense colour. What's more to love is the luxurious signature gold packaging it comes in perfectly worthy of a public appearance. It's a gorgeous warm red with little gold flecks.







M.A.C. Matte Lipstick in Diva: When I want all eyes on my lips, I turn to my lovely Diva lipstick from M.A.C. I love the intense burgundy red colour and the matte yet creamy texture. I also love this as a stain which I pat lightly onto my lips with my finger. My lips look like they have enjoyed a few glasses of red wine. I also love dabbing a bit of gold gloss to the center of the lips for some dimension and poutiness. I'd normally recommend a soft eye with this lippie, but don't be afraid to smudge a bit of black liner or shadow around the eye. Think 1920's Clara Bow and add lots of shimmer to the cheekbones for some serious glamour.

What are some of your favourite red lippies? What are your V-Day plans? I'd love to hear about them! Happy shopping! xoxo

Beauty Review: Loose Lips New York Look 2

Before the holidays, I reviewed some wonderful products I received from Loose Lips New York and created a look which you can view here. And since the holidays were just so busy, I am finally able to get to Look 2. On a night out, I was inspired by the movie 9 1/2 weeks oddly enough, and not for the reasons you may think (it was on one night and I caught a few scenes of it haha)! If you haven't seen the movie, it takes place in the good ol' 1980's in which I grew up in where purple smoky eyes, pink contoured cheeks, and bright lips were considered appropriate for everyday at the office. Kim Basinger looked sweaty and dishevelled in every scene and so did her makeup. You're probably wondering "What's so inspiring about that?". Well, I wanted to do something other than a traditional smoky eye with a pale lip. I wanted to use bright makeup and still make it look wearable together. Here is the products I used and how I achieved the look.

The Look:
I received Mid Size eye shadow in Fog, a muted grey with a semi-matte finish and Glitter Pencil in Plum. Both colours complimented each other so nicely. I applied Fog all over the lid and the bottom lash line.

I then applied the plum glitter liner close to the top and bottom lash line (I read later you're not supposed to line the bottom lash line because of falling sparkles! opps!).


I used a pencil brush to smudge the liner to soften the lines. I applied a few coats of mascara. Instead of using a bright pink blush, I chose a rosy-beige powder blush to my cheeks and concentrated most of the colour to the hollows of the cheeks to give it a more contoured effect.


On the lips, I used the same Hint of Mint Gloss in Mint Cherry from Look 1, but blotted it to give it a softer effect.

The Result:
I love taking looks from different era's and giving it a more modern twist. This look is definitely not for someone who is afraid of a little colour or sparkle. Of course, every look can be tweaked to suit your taste such as opting for a nude or soft pink lip rather than a brighter lip.


Fog shadow went on smoothly and blended really nicely onto the skin. I was actually surprised how light the grey applied on me. On fairer skin, it would probably apply more grey but on my skin it almost went white. This would probably not be a colour for someone with a darker complexion as it may make them look ashy.


However, mixed with the plum glitter liner, it really did make the brown in my eyes pop. The liner glided on without tugging on my skin and was very blendable.


Since I did apply it to the bottom lash line, the sparkles fell onto my cheekbone which actually acted as a nice highlight. The sparkles caught the light really nicely and didn't look over the top. Since the shadow was semi-matte, there was nothing to compete with the glitter. All in all, it was a fun look to do. Sometimes you can get in a makeup rut, so changing it up once in a while is a real treat! Don't forget, Makeup Junkie readers get 20% off your first purchase. All you have to do is visit Loose Lips New York and enter 'junkie20' at checkout! Happy shopping!

Beauty Review: Loose Lips New York Look 1

This week I received some products from Loose Lips New York, an online beauty store and makeup line, from CEO Sherry Backman, also host of Talk Blog Radio Show "Lets Talk Makeup". You may remember me mentioning a few posts back about her interviewing me on her show. I was excited to receive her package in the mail because she raved about some of her products during our interview and I couldn't wait to try them. I decided I'd do a review and do a holiday glam look. 'Tis the season! The first look I did was my fave way to get all glammed up for any occasion: shimmery skin luminous skin, rouge lips and cheeks, and my lil' black liner. Yes, you've seen this look on me before but I just love it! Here are the products I used and how I achieved the look. I took some step-by-step pictures - some turned out blurry but you get the jist ;).

The Look:
1. I evened out my skin tone with foundation and concealer using it only where needed which is usually the cheeks and the t-zone. I then set my foundation and concealer with a translucent powder.

2. I prepped my eyes with a base then added a shimmery metallic shadow in a taupe all over the lid. I then added a shimmery gold loose pigment to the center of the lid, inner corner of the eye, brow bone, and lower lash line using Loose Lips NY's Mini Delux Fluff, a dual ended brush that has an all over shadow brush on one side and liner on the other side.


3. I then lined my eyes with Loose Lips NY's Indelible Gel Eyeliner in Black Cherry, a gorgeous black liner with flecks of red sparkle to the entire top lash line using the same Mini Deluxe Fluff brush. As I got closer to the outer part of the eye, I made the liner thicker and winged it out.

4. I curled my lashes and added a few coats of black mascara to top and bottom.

5. I contoured my cheekbones with a bronzer and added a touch of shimmery powder blush to the apples of the cheeks in a pinky-red tone to give me that "I've-been-blushing" look.


6. To add more of a glow to the skin, I made 3 dots with a gel highlighter to my cheekbones and blended it out to my under eye and temple with my ring finger.


7. To bring the look together, I swiped on Loose Lips NY's Hint of Mint Lip Gloss in Minty Cherry for a sophisticated soft red lip.


The Result:
I really loved the Indelible Gel Eyeliner in Black Cherry. I listed this on my Best of Beauty 2007 post because it is probably the most stand out colour I've tried this year. It's a really fun alternative to the original black liquid liner. The metallic finish and red flecks of sparkle really make the eyes dazzle and stand out. It's perfect for those holiday parties coming up because it dresses up the eyes without having to add a lot. The gel glides on so smoothly and doesn't smear or fade all day!

The Mini Deluxe Fluff brush is great to throw in your makeup bag because it is a liner and shadow brush in one. I really liked how the shadow brush applied the eye shadow. It feels synthetic and is a nice firm brush so the colour goes on stronger. The liner brush is a medium thin pointy brush and the liner applied nicely, however, I do prefer an angled brush for more precision. My hand had to be a lot steadier when winging the liner out. But overall, it did the job.


The Hint of Mint Lip Gloss in Mint Cherry made my breath seem like it was minty fresh. The cherry colour is really pretty and the gloss goes on sheer. The texture is smooth and not sticky. The shine was the perfect amount - not too goopy or shiny. Even when the gloss wipes off, it leaves a nice stain on the lips. I received the mini version of the gloss which is perfect fit for any clutch purse. If you're scared of a fully defined red lip, go for a sheer gloss like this one that will give you a nice pop of colour without feeling or looking heavy on the lips. If you're still not into the red lips, you could do this look with a nice nude lip like the picture under step #5. This look with a nude lip is a great choice if you're wearing a shiny metallic silver dress. It'll still look polished and glamourous but the focus will be on the dress.


The product that stood out the most for this look is definitely the Black Cherry liner so if you get a chance visit the site. This colour added a whole new feel to the traditional Old Hollywood look. As I mentioned a few posts back, Makeup Junkie readers get 20% discount on your first purchase by entering discount code 'junkie20' at checkout! You can buy samples before you commit to a full size. It's the best way to try out a new makeup line! Stay tuned for Look 2! Happy shopping!

Makeup Junkie Readers Get More Holiday Deals!

I just love my Makeup Junkie readers and I'm excited to tell you about another Holiday deal from Sherry Backman's cosmetic line Loose Lips New York! You will receive 20 % off your first purchase (free shipping for orders over $75)! All you have to do is visit www.looselipsny.com and enter discount code 'junkie20' at checkout. A few weeks ago, Sherry interviewed me on her Talk Blog Radio Show 'Lets Talk Makeup' which was a fun chat about makeup! If you're not familiar with her cosmetic line, check out the site for some fab products including bath and body and skin care! I received some wonderful products and I can't wait to tell you about them. I'll be doing 2 looks for the Holidays (or any other time) with the products so stay tuned for that! Happy Holiday Shopping! Thanks Sherry!

Beauty News: Sherry From Loose Lips NY's Interview with Makeup Junkie!

You can now listen in on Sherry's interview with me by clicking on this link Blog Talk Radio - Lets Talk Makeup entitled 'Are You A Makeup Junkie?'. Sherry is the co-owner of the beauty web store Loose Lips NY which is also her makeup line and started her fantastic blog radio show this past summer. Check out her other interviews with people in the beauty industry for some great beauty tips. It was fun doing the show because it's like chatting with a girlfriend about your fave beauty products and trends. Have a listen - I'd love to hear any feedback!

Beauty Review: Loose Lips New York

For a smaller brand that is quickly gaining popularity, Loose Lips New York is right on the heels of some of the world's biggest cosmetic brands. I've been pleasantly surprised by the great quality and lovely selection of colours.

Lip Plumping Gloss in Oxygen ($15 USD): I've been lucky to come across some great lip plumpers lately since plumpers really aren't my thing. Loose Lips NY's newest line of plumping glosses is enriched with Vo-Lip-Tuous lip serum giving fuller lips with sheer colour. Oxygen is a sheer pretty apricot shade with gold shimmer. There's no tingling sensation and the texture is very moisturizing and not sticky. I love wearing it on its own but Oxygen can be worn over top of other lip products. I can tell my lips are plumper right away - without that annoying tingling sensation sometimes it's hard to tell if the product is working. This shade is perfect for any time of the day or any occasion.

Indelible Creme Eye Shadow in Apricot Frost ($16 USD): I was really excited to try this product since Loose Lips NY's Indelible Eye Liner in Black Cherry became a favourite of mine last Fall. I love this shadow and it has been one of my go-to's in my cycle of shadows. The texture is creamy but it dries to a crease and water-proof powder finish. Applying the shadow takes seconds with your finger or a flat brush. The colour payoff is wonderful and it has a high frost finish so use a light hand and layer. Looks great as a base or on its own with a bit of liner. I wore it yesterday on a 2 hr bike ride and it didn't budge or crease. It also lasted into the wee hours of the night. This is a definite must-have especially for you glamorous women on-the-go!

Midsize Eye Shadow in Gold Digger ($12 USD): Don't you just love the name? This true yellow gold shadow has also become a favourite of mine this season. I forgot how beautiful this shade looks against bronze skin! Gold Digger reminds me very much of my once favourite M.A.C. eye shadow in Goldmine - same frost texture and colour but it's $2 cheaper than M.A.C.'s. I ran out of Goldmine long ago so I'm happy Gold Digger is similar. Gold looks great on everyone and is the perfect shade to get your eyes noticed this season!

Lumi-Shine Gloss in Cheer ($15 USD): Want shiny lips with full colour? Lumi-Shine gloss has a non-sticky texture and delivers full colour like a lipstick but with shine. Cheer is a pretty shade of mauvish-pink with silver shimmer. Lovely colour but not for me. I like pinks to either be soft and pale or bright and shocking without any berry or mauve tones in it. Pink is one of the hottest colours of the season so be sure to have one (or two or three) in your beauty stash!

Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 in Touch of Radiance ($22 USD): Tinted moisturizers were a staple in my makeup bag but when my skin started breaking out I needed more coverage. Now that my skin is getting better, I think I'll start using a tinted moisturizer again. I've been weary of products with an SPF since my skin has become so sensitive to it. I really wanted to love this one but my skin broke out into a slight rash around my cheeks, upper lip, and nose. Touch of Radiance is for darker/tan skin tones and blended in exactly with my skin! It had a luminous finish and offered pretty good coverage. The formula is nice and light and didn't feel like I was wearing any product on my skin. It's non-oily and packed full of vitamins. You can wear alone or under mineral foundation/concealer for more coverage. If it weren't for an allergic reaction this would definitely be a must-have for me!

Sherry, CEO of Loose Lips NY, was kind of enough to give Makeup Junkie readers 15% off your first purchase! When checking out, use code 'springjunkie' for the discount. Thanks Sherry! Happy shopping!

For more information on Loose Lips NY products click here.