90's Brown Lips: Three modern takes

In a recent post I talked about the mauve lip trend that's been all the rage this season. Today we're talking about another lip look that is growing in popularity for fall, 90's Brown lips.

The inspiration:

90's fashion and beauty trends are popping up all over the place lately. What better way to compliment your flannel shirt than with some brown lipstick? Here are three ways to recreate this totally 90's look with a modern twist:

Gerard Cosmetics Lipstick in 1995

  

This is the most matte and the most brown of the bunch. This color was created in collaboration with Jaclyn Hill for Gerard Cosmetics. She totes it as a Kylie Jenner dupe but I think its darker than Kylie's Mauve lips look. The formula is supposed to be a creamy matte. I wouldn't say that it was creamy but it wasn't totally drying on the lips either. I'd say the formula is that of a typical matte.

Milani Lipstick in Naturally Chic

  

This lipstick is a neutral brown with a bit of red. This is one of their cream formulas which is hydrating and provides a hint of shine. Its a great natural color that is really comfortable to wear.

Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick in Touch of Spice

  

This is part of the new Maybelline Creamy Matte collection that has come out for fall. This isn't the usual matte lipstick you're used to. The formula is matte in finish but the texture you feel on your lips is buttery smooth and glides on your lips with ease. This particular color is the darkest and most dramatic of the three. It is a darker brown with a hint of pink. Its a beautiful color that is noticeable without being too loud.

MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl

Of course we can't talk about 90's lipstick without lip liner! Lately I am a lip liner convert. It really helps define my lips while also extending the staying power of my lipstick. In the 90's lip liner was all the rage but it got a bad rap due to people wearing a liner that was about 5 times darker than their chosen lipstick, for example:

Today we're back to using lip liner in the more traditional sense of matching it with our lipstick. I choose MAC Whirl to pair with each of the three lipstick shades. MAC describes the color as "Dirty Rose", its a matte brown pencil that has a hint of pink.

I get so excited about 90's trends. It is really the first beauty/fashion revival that I've experienced the first time around! I've been rocking these three lip combos for a few weeks now and I'm really loving the look. Its a step outside my normal lipstick realm of nudes and pinks, but in a good way. If you're a fan of darker lips this time of year than I'd say this 90's trend is for you!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette Review

My love for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders runs deep. I have two of the blushes that came out in the spring so when I heard that they were coming out with a Holiday blush palette, I knew I had to try it! 

If you aren't familiar with the Ambient Blushes, they are a hybrid product in that they mix a cheek color with the soft-focus lighting effects of one of their Ambient Lighting Powders. The result is a natural finish that refines your complexion while also adding color to your cheeks. To read more on their blush concept check out this post I did on the colors: Dim Infusion and Radiant Magenta.

The blush palette contains three blush shades, one of which is new and exclusive to the palette, the other two can be found in the regular line. These are only slightly smaller than the regular sized blushes. Regular blushes contain 0.15 oz of product. Each blush in the palette contains 0.11 oz. Like the other two shades I own, these three have the same great texture and wear I have come to expect from Hourglass.

Luminous Flush: Hourglass describes this shade as "champagne rose." It is mixed with the Luminous Light Ambient Powder which is "A champagne pearl that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow." I think the Flush name is appropriate, it gives your cheeks that pinched-pink look, like you've just come back from a brisk walk.

Incandescent Electra: This shade is described as "cool peach." It is mixed with the Incandescent Light Ambient Powder which was exclusive to the Ambient Lighting Powder Palette, which provides a "celestial glow." This is a pretty baby pink. At first I was thinking this would be more of a spring shade but I've worn it a few times recently and I'm really loving the subtle glow it adds to my cheeks. I think this color is actually showing up on my cheeks better this time of year since I'm fairer than it would during the spring or summer.

Mood Exposure: This shade is described as "soft plum." It is mixed with the Mood Light Ambient Powder which is "A soft, sheer lavender pink that mimics the softest, most forgiving light and brightens the complexion." It is coming off more brown than plum in the picture, but in person it is a beautiful soft plumy-pink color. I've been loving these colors for fall so this one is my favorite shade from the palette of the moment. 

My only gripe with this palette is that since the powders are so soft and finely milled, they are delicate and tend to kick up some excess powder when you dip your brush into them. I don't think I'd pack this for travel. Overall, I'm happy with this purchase and would recommend this palette if you're looking to add color that provides a natural, lit from within glow to your cheeks.

A Weekend in the Mountains

Last weekend was our annual family camping trip to Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, NH. This was our second time camping here for Columbus Day Weekend. We stayed with my parents on their RV and were joined by my sister as well as some of my aunts and uncles. Here's a peek inside our holiday weekend in the mountains.

The campground is located in the NH Lakes Region, right around the corner from Lake Winnipesaukee. Its no secret that I love NH in the summer but I also really love it in the fall. The foliage around the Lakes Region and in the White Mountains cannot be beat! It really looks like a postcard.

We camped in the safari field area which is located at the bottom of a former Ski Jump. I love camping in this area. Its so cool to be staying at the actual foot of a mountain.

On Fright night when we arrived we were greeted with some homemade Apple Cider Moonshine. Not a bad way to kick off the weekend!

One thing to keep in mind about mountainside camping this time of year, as soon as the sun leaves the campsite it is COLD! I need to remember to bring warmer clothes next year. I was layering two sweatshirts and a scarf and was still cold. We worked hard to keep the campfire roaring to stay warm. Don't mind my socks with sandals or "Scandals" as we so fondly call them. They are perfectly acceptable when Camping or at Abakee.

There were a few intense games of Jumbo Jenga. At one point an actual ladder was brought out because the tower was getting so high.

On Saturday morning we took Dale for a walk and checked out the Wetlands Boardwalk. It is a 1/4 mile raised boardwalk around the wetlands area of the mountain. It was a nice quiet and peaceful walk with lots to look at. Keep an eye out for the Beaver dams.

That night my aunt and uncle put together an awesome fall beer tasting. We blind taste tested nine different beers and rated them. The beer with the highest rating turned out to be UFO Pumpkin.

To keep with the Pumpkin/Fall theme, you guessed it, we carved Pumpkins. You're never to old to enjoy a nice Jack-O-Lantern! We lit them every night and they were a nice festive addition to our camp.

There are several different hiking trails at Gunstock. Since I'm a beginner we didn't hike up to the top of the mountain but we did take a nice hike on the Quarry trails on Sunday morning.

If you are a lover of Fall Foliage the best way to take it all in is to ride the Panorama chairlift up to the mountain summit. Its a truly breathtaking ride with awesome views of the lake. 

Kylie Jenner Lip Trend: Three takes on Mauve Lips

Fall is one of my favorite seasons for beauty! The colder weather and changing leaves inspire me to switch gears and try new out looks. One change I've made lately is switching out brighter lips for more rich and neutral hues.

The inspiration:

c/o twitter @kyliejenner

Pinterest has been going crazy lately over Kylie Jenner's makeup. She has been rocking beautiful neutral makeup with a rich mauve lip. Here are three ways to recreate her look:

MAC Lipstick in Faux

This is one of the lipstick colors Kylie is rumored to wear for this look. It is a beautiful mauve with a satin finish. It feels velvety when you run it across your lips. MAC describes this color as "muted mauve-pink". It is long-wearing and leaves a slight stain behind.

Tarte Glamazon Lipstick in Inspired

This is more of a rosy mauve. I'd say that this is a satin finish as well. It feels buttery smooth when applied. I think this lipstick line may be being discontinued by Tarte as I can only find a few colors that are on sale on their website and Sephora. Side note, I freaking hate the packaging of these. Its huge and bulky and it only has a standard size lipstick inside that giant tube. Packaging aside, the formula of this lipstick is nice and it is long-wearing (claims to be 12-hours) so hopefully Tarte is just revamping the packing and not discontinuing this line.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up

This color is very comparable to the first two lipsticks but the finish is shiner and slightly glossy. This is a nice option if you aren't into the completely matte look but dig the color. It is also a nice affordable option from the drugstore.

MAC Lip Pencil in Dervish

An important part of this look is the use of a lip liner. It is said that Kylie uses MAC Whirl lip pencil for her matte mauve look. I actually own Whirl but to me it leans more brown and I thought Dervish was more appropriate. MAC describes the color as "pinky-mauve". This lip pencil was actually one of the first products I ever bought from MAC. It is the most universal pink color that can work with just about any nude or pink lipstick. Kylie uses lip liner in her look to overdraw her lips slightly above her lip line to make them appear fuller. I don't particularly like that look on me but I still use a liner to outline my natural lip line and fill them in at the corners to achieve crisp edges and also extend the wear of my lipstick.

All trends aside I really love the mauve lips look. Its daytime appropriate and is great for school, work and transitioning into the colder months.