Bite Beauty Best Bite Rewind | Holiday 2015

Happy November everyone! Holiday makeup season is in full swing and while there aren't too many things out this year that I felt I had to have, I did pick up the Bite Beauty Best Bite Rewind set and I couldn't be happier with it. The set comes with four deluxe sized Mini Matte Crème Lip Crayons perfect for gifting. 

The packaging is totally cute. The lip crayons come in a pretty red holiday tin that is then encased in a red cardboard sleeve with gold details. Inside of the tin is a crystal clear mirror that makes application on the go quick and easy. 

As I mentioned, it comes with four different lip crayons, with a nice range of shades. There is a nice pink-beige nude (Cafe), a neutral Dusty Rose (Torte), a deeper blue based red (Coulis) and a pretty raspberry purple (Aubergine). For a little set, the range of colors is really nice with each color being suitable for many other skin tones. I literally love every shade which is not usually the case with sets like these.

The crayons are thinner than an actual lipstick and easy to use with twist up packaging. When you open the tube, the plastic of the tip matches the actual shade of lipstick, which is nice since there is no external indicator of what shade you are getting. The pointed tip of the crayon also makes application a breeze. It's especially easy to use to get a nice crisp line around your lips without fussing with a lip liner. The actual formula is amazing too. One swipe and you get full pigmentation, though I did find Aubergine to be a bit streaky, but that's common with darker shades sometimes. They aren't a true matte formula either, more of a satin, but they are super comfortable to wear and the color last for hours without touch ups. 

These are deluxe sample sizes but the actual size of the product is pretty good for the price. I mean who actually goes through a whole tube of lipstick that often? Did any of you grab the Bite Beauty Best Bite Rewind holiday set? This set was only $25 at Sephora so if you have gotten it yet, pick yours up before they're all gone! Thanks for reading and have a fabulous day everyone. 

xoxo,

LivforLashes 

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

Find me on Instagram @livforlashes

Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

Affordable Dupes for High-End Favorites!

The Internet is full of dupe lists of our favorite makeup products, and thanks to Temptalia, you can find a dupe for almost anything. Well, I wanted to share a little list of some of my own personal favorite products and some affordable options as alternatives to their high end counterparts. 

1. Revlon Colorstay ($8.99) vs. Este Lauder Doublewear ($38)

Both of these foundations boast a full coverage and both are long wearing. The Revlon foundation is slightly less coverage with a not quite as matte finish, but for a fraction of the cost, it's super comparable to Doublewear. 

2. L'oreal True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in Neutral  ($11.99) vs. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade ($32)

When the four powders in the L'oreal neutral highlighter are swirled together, it creates a glow almost exactly it like Lightscapade. It is slightly less fine milled, and takes a little more blending, but the outcome is identical. 

3. Essence Metallic Effect Eyeshadow in Sandy Says Hello ($2.99) vs. Stila Kitten single eyeshadow ($18)

Kitten is my all time favorite eyeshadow, so when I found SSH by Essence, I immediately snagged a few up. Kitten is slightly more glittery, and SSH slightly more beige, but on the lid and blended out, they both give a gorgeous champagne shimmer.

 

4. Elf Blush in Gotta Glow ($3) vs. Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Illuminizer in Star Dust ($14)

Both of these are great products for that light golden highlight. The Elf one is a little more powdery, but a little extra blending helps that. Plus these are both great dupes for NARS Albatross!

5. Revlon blush in Mauvelous ($8.49) vs. Kat Von D Everlasting Face Shaper Blush in Truth ($25)

These blushes are seriously identical on the skin. The KVD one is slightly creamier and more pigmented, but for a drugstore blush, this Revlon one is a good pick. 

6. L'oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer ($9.79) vs. MAC Strobe Cream ($33)

Both of these lotions give your face a luminous glow underneath foundation. The L'oreal one feels slightly thicker with more of a silver glow while Strobe Cream is a little more pink, but these are pretty darn good matches for each other. 

7. Elf Mineral Infused Face Primer ($6) vs. Bare Minerals Prime Time ($24) vs. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer ($36)

These three are literally identical. They are all a slippery silicone base that helps fill pores and smooth out your foundation. They glide on smooth and dry fast too. The elf one feels slightly thicker, but I kind of prefer that. 

8. Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in St. Lucia ($6) vs. NARS Orgasm blush ($30) and Laguna Bronzer ($39)

While the Elf duo is a lower quality than the NARS Powders, it's a great alternative for only a few bucks. The elf blush is a little chunkier with bigger shimmer particles, but with a few extra swipes of your brush, it gives that same peachy golden glow as Orgasm. Laguna is slightly lighter than the Elf bronzer, but again, once blended out, the bronzers are identical on the skin.

 

9. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($5.99) vs. Beauty Blender ($20)

If you can't quite bring yourself to spend $20 on a makeup sponge, the Real Techniques sponge is an awesome alternative. I even prefer it to my Beauty Blenders. Both are a super dense but smooth sponge that applies foundation and blends concealer flawlessly. I like how the Real Techniques one has that flat side though, making it a little more versatile for using different products than the Beauty Blender. 

What are some of your favorite dupes? I would love to hear and find some newer alternatives to other products. I hope you found this post helpful and let me know if you enjoyed it! 

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

Find me on Instagram @livforlashes

Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

Pinterest DIY | Mirror Perfume Stand

I was browsing Pinterest the other night and came across something I'd seen a million times before: DIY cupcake/cosmetic stands. I've always thought they look pretty cool but never really thought about making one until now. It looked simple enough with minimal supplies needed so I decided to give it a go. After a quick trip to Hobby Lobby with supplies in hand I got to work.

 

What you'll need:

Mirrors (one for as many levels as you want your stand)

A ruler

E6000 glue (perfect for binding glass) 

Candle holders 

Lip liner 

1. Use your ruler to measure the backs of the mirrors to find the center and mark it with the lip liner. I chose to use a liner since it washes off. 

2. Do the same thing to measure the bases of the candle holders to mark where they would be centered on the back of the mirrors. REMEMBER: Mark the wider end of the candle holder to be glued to the back of the mirror for your bottom tier for better stability of your stand. Mark the smaller end to be glued to the backs of your other tiers. 

3. Apply a generous amount of the E6000 along the edge of the candle holder. This dries clear so don't worry too much about making a little mess with the glue. NOTE: this glue has a very strong smell so be sure to use it in a well ventilated area and avoid inhaling it. 

4. Press the candle holders carefully to the back of the mirrors, holding firm pressure for a minute or two. Now let each tier dry before trying to stack them. The glue takes a minimum of 24 hours to cure, so some patience is needed :)

5. With your cured tiers, mark the top side of the mirrors the same as steps 1 and 2. 

6. Again, apply the glue to the edge of the candle holder to adhere the tiers together. Be more careful with the glue this time to avoid smearing it on the mirrors. If you do make a mess, you can dissolve the glue (before it's cured) with some acetone on a q-tip or cotton ball. 

7. Allow it to cure completely before use. I let mine set for a good two days before setting up my perfumes. 

And voila! A cute perfume stand perfect for displaying your favorite scents! I can't believe how simple it was to make this and how cheap too! So easy and I think it turned out pretty well. The mirrors and crystal candle holders are so chic yet its understated and simple. 

What do you think? Is this something that you'd want to try? Let me know! And let me know if you enjoyed this post or if you'd like to see more DIY posts. Have an amazing day and thank you for reading!

xoxo

LivforLashes

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

Find me on Instagram @livforlashes

Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

August Favorites | Anastasia Beverly Hills, NYX, Urban Decay + More!

What happened to summer? Summer flew by and we're fast approaching fall. I can't believe its already mid-September, but better late than never i have today my August favorites! I had a few new things last month that I was using pretty much daily so please keep reading and enjoy! 

It was hotter than heck last month here in San Diego, so for foundation I've been using the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous foundation. It's a natural medium coverage and it sets really nice without feeling greasy. It lasts on me all day without getting patchy or streaky, even in the heat so this has been a must have. 

For brows I've set aside the NYX Brow Gel and went back to my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Taupe. It lasts in the heat and I find it's a little easier to work with to get more natural looking brows, which I've really been digging again lately. 

Another ABH product I've been loving is the Shadow Couture World Traveler palette. I wrote a review on it here, but in short, it's amazing. It has a nice blend of neutrals and pops of colors, and Morocco and Soft Peach are the perfect matte transition shades for everyday wear. I haven't set this down since I got it and I'm still not tired of it.

 

For my lips, I've been wearing traditional lipsticks instead of liquid lipsticks lately and two that I've been obsessed with is MAC Tropic Tonic and Urban Decay Native. Tropic Tonic is a fun orange while native is a nude, but I've really been liking them these last few weeks. Native is just a good everyday nude so I've had it in my purse when I need something throw on. 

I've also fallen back in love with my Smashbox Be Legendary lip lacquers. I wrote a post on a few of the shades ages ago, and I'd just kind of forgotten about them in my drawer. The two I've been wearing are Keepsake and Coral. They're super long wearing and leave a pretty "Popsicle lips" stain as they fade off and I can't get enough on days that I've been doing lighter makeup. 

Last month I needed a new mascara so I picked up the Rimmel Lift Me Up Wonder Lash mascara and it just might be my new HG drugstore mascara. It has a nice full wand and gives me long fluffy lashes. Plus it has vitamins and Moroccan Argan oil in so it conditions your lashes while you wear it. My lashes don't feel dry and clumpy with it on and it washes off pretty easily too.

 

For my highlight, I've been going more toned down and MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Lightscapade has been my go-to. It's so subtle and leaves a soft glow without being too much. I picked this up on a recent trip to my local Cosmetic Company Outlet and it's been well-loved since I purchased it. 

I also picked up the NYX HD blush in the shade Intuition last month and it's literally been the only blush I've worn all month. It's a pretty Dusty Rose shade with subtle shimmer and though it's a little more fall appropriate, a light dusting gives my cheeks a nice natural flush. It lasted all day without wearing off so I'm definitely impressed since many drugstore blushes tend to fall flat after a few hours.  

Recently while digging around in my drawers I came across my NARS Kuala Lampur eyeshadow duo and fell back in love with this baby. This has been a favorite of mine for years and this is actually my second one. The two shades go so well together with the plum blended with the more gold shade, and it's been perfect for days when I just want a little eyeshadow in without putting a whole lot of time or effort into my makeup.

 

Last up is a perfume. I bought this Giorgio Armani Sí perfume about a month or so ago and omg you guys... It smells sooo good. It's deeper and more sultry than I would normally prefer but it's the perfect scent for going out or when I want to feel a little more chic and sophisticated. It's such a good fall scent and I know I'll be wearing this a ton in the coming months. 

Well that does it for my August favorites! Not a whole lot of new products but definitely some good ones in the bunch. What were some of your favorite or most used beauty products last month? 

xoxo

LivforLashes

Products:

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation

ABH Dipbrow Pomade

ABH Shadow Couture palette

MAC Tropic Tonic lipstick

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick

Smashbox Be Lengendary Lip Lacquers

Rimmel Wonderful Wonderlash Lift Me Up mascara

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skin Finish

NYX HD Powder Blush

NARS Eyeshadow Duo

Giorgio Armani Si Perfume

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

Find me on Instagram @livforlashes

Email: liv_2008@icloud.com