FACE atelier Lets You Release Your Inner Beauty Maven

FACE atelier is a cosmetic company that strives to uphold the idea that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Instead of illustrating how women should look, they emphasize the importance of women finding their own cosmetic perfection. A quick visit to their website will not yield the typical photos of models demonstrating the makeup, but features the products themselves, allowing women to find the perfect shade for themselves.

I tried out three lip products by FACE atelier and want to share my findings with all of you.

I always have a slew of lip-glosses in my bag at any given moment and love when I can grab a gloss and get great coverage in one quick swipe. FACE atelier’s Lip Glaze is a smooth gloss that goes on so easily and stays put without being too sticky or messy. The color, ‘Flamingo’, was a bit too frosty for my taste, but there are many color choices to suit everyone’s tastes.

Lipsticks add a level of sophistication that lip glosses can’t quite achieve, and FACE atelier’s collection gives great coverage and come in a variety of colors and finishes, from plum to pink, matte to frost. I sampled ‘Candy Floss’ and found the light, frosted pink color washed out my pale complexion.

FACE atelier also makes ‘Lip Putty,’ a great product that can be used under your lipstick to smooth out fine lines that can become exaggerated by lip color. In addition, ‘Lip Putty’ is packed with vitamins and essential oils to add moisture and hydration to your lips, making this dual action product a wise investment. My lips felt smoother and softer and I’ll never apply lipstick without it again!

Each tube is $20.00 and is available on their website, www.faceatelier.com.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Erin Simpson

Beauty Solutions: Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector by Clarins

Does the very mention of a lipgloss capable of enhancing you lips’ natural color and fullness make you feel like you’re in a dream world? If so, then behold this Clarins lipgloss.

The Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is a gel form lipgloss, so it’s not sticky at all. However, the formula is very moisturizing and works wonders for the softness of your lips even on top of your favorite lipstick. Even if you don’t have chapped or sensitive lips, you can use this lipgloss as a protective barrier from the environment.

As for color, it has infused 3D shimmer pigments that will make your lips super shiny and luminous. All of the shades available are sheer so they won’t interfere much with your chosen lipcolor if you use any – it will only enhance it.

As an added bonus, this lipgloss tastes sweet. Lips were made for kissin’ and who doesn’t love sweet kisses?

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration "
Micky

Product Review: Illamasqua Lips

I promised to continue my review on Illamasqua's cosmetics so here I am once again; this time their lip products. I sampled two lipsticks (in Sonnet and Scandal) and a Sheer lip gloss in Enchant.

Let's begin with Sonnet; a peachy beige color - exactly what people refer to as a nude. Ideal to wear with dramatic eye makeup, an awesome black or gunmetal smoky eye look. The finished result is between matte and satin. I’m guessing that Illamasqua wanted to make a matte lipstick; however, since matte lipsticks are so dry on your lips they decided to add more moisturizing ingredients. That, of course, results in a “hybrid” finish, not that its really noticeable once applied. This particular formula glides well over the lips and works nicely with lipgloss. Its not drying and bears a good staying power. Many of you may be asking how comparable is it to MAC and if you’re speaking quality; I’d say that they are pretty much close, except Illamasqua’s lipsticks don’t have that strong vanilla cookie smell.

Scandal is a true in-your-face hot pink. Even a more sheer application of it will result in an undeniable hot pink shade. I can’t see any undertones to it, neither cool or warm so I say that it would go well with most skin tones. Sometimes lipsticks that are super pigmented (such as this one) tend to be a bit difficult to apply and feel dry because, after all, the pigment itself is a powder. This doesn’t happen, what so ever, with this lipstick as the pigmentation is great but the overall feel is exactly that of a good lip balm. The finish is satin and the staying power is as good as Sonnet’s.

The reason I don't feature high-end lipglosses often is because they are just… lipglosses. Lipglosses are one of those things that you can get pretty much everywhere and they are all pretty much the same; however, I really have to rave about the Sheer Lipgloss Enchant. Although Enchant may be just another lipgloss, it smells sweet and what’s more, it tastes sweet. I have a ton of lipglosses that smell really good but don’t really taste like they smell. This one does and if you happen to kiss someone who has a sweet tooth while wearing it, that person will most likely be hooked. The color is a sheer peachy brick with a lot of shine minus the stickiness that bothers us all. The packaging is really awesome and original. You can carry it around in your purse and even if you happen to squeeze it accidentally, it won’t ooze out like common tube lipglosses do. Though I keep saying lipglosses are just lipglosses, I love Illamasqua’s Enchant and may purchase more colors.

I rated Illamasqua’s blush an outstanding 10 out of 10 and I will do the same regarding their lipglosses. As for the lipsticks, I’ll be giving them a 9.95 out of 10, so just that they don’t compete with the lipglosses!

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Micky

Beauty Solutions: Lipstick, Lip Liner & Treatment

To give your lipstick stay-put power, the best trick I have is to apply a thin film of Studio Gear's Lip Primer. This moisture rich primer creates the perfect surface for lipstick and stain to bind to. However, you may find that it is hard to remove your lipstick without Benefit's Gee... That Was Quick! - Makeup Remover!

If you do not need such staying power, use a lip liner in a great color, line and fill in the entire lip, then apply an SPF lip balm, like Neutrogena's Moisture Shine Lip Soother SPF 20, or Lorac's Vitamin E Stick for lips, sheer shimmer gloss, or lipstick. The dryness of the liner "stains" the lip, while whatever you put on top of it will add moisture.

Does your lipstick bleed into vertical lines around the mouth? Typically caused by smoking or excessive sun damage, these lines are difficult to eradicate with simple topical products alone. Exfoliation and AHA (and/or topical retinoid) use, microdermabrasion or filler agents are the best way to help these. However, bleeding lipstick will significantly emphasize these ugly lines. MD Skincare's Serious Lip Treatment can help soften the lips and the appearance. This two-step process draws moisture into the lips from the surrounding tissue, resulting in intensely plump and full lips within minutes that can last 4-6 hours. With continued use, long-term benefits are sustained. Gentle exfoliating properties leave a satin finish, which allows for lipstick application immediately following the two-step treatment. If you are still experiencing wandering lip color, you can apply a Borderline Anti-Feathering Lip Pencil to the outside of your lip line.

If lipsticks tend to turn ultra-pink or unsightly orange on you, like they do me, I suggest finding a neutral lip liner somewhat on the brown side, (like Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil), and apply it to the entire lip before applying your lipstick. The color of the liner will neutralize your natural lip color and allow for the true lipstick shade to show.

To make lips appear fuller, use a lighter color, or gloss in the center of the bottom lip. Also make sure you line your lips with a product like Fusion Beauty's Lip Fusion/Lip Fusion XL Duo before applying your lip color. Make the most of light and color for creating the illusion of fullness. Using light colors on the mid section of the lower lip helps bring the lip forward. Dark colors on the other hand, give the appearance of making things recede. If you have large lips, and would like to make them less apparent, stay away from light, frosty lipsticks and glosses.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

- Suzanna

Beauty Solutions - Anna Sui Collection AN I Lip Palette

When I’m shopping for makeup, there’s always a little voice inside of me saying “Micky, you don’t need another palette. Do not buy this one!” but I’m not obedient enough to do what that voice tells me to. On the plus side of that, lays the fact that I’m able to present my nice finds here on FWF.

This Anna Sui Collection AN I (5 Color Lip Color Palette) for example, is exactly what a girl needs. It has five awesome lipstick shades that are longwearing and glossy, comes with a lip brush and is by Anna Sui. That, of course, means that the packaging is awesome and tasteful. The shades range from a very pale pink to a bright reddish pink.

This palette is perfect for you if your lips aren’t very full. Take one of the darkest shades and apply it inwards, starting from the corners of your mouth. Blend well and then, with either a lighter shade or a shade that is similar to the one you used before but has sparkle or shimmer, fill in the central portion of your lips. Do this on both top and bottom lip and the result will be an irresistable pouty lip look , without the need to over line.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Micky

MAC’s Brave New Bronze Lipstick Review

I went to MAC to check out their collection called “Style Warriors” that you’ve probably heard about by now. I went there to buy one, and only one lipstick. That one was the one with leopard print on the inner shell (Yes I’m a print freak, what can I do?). It really doesn't matter sometimes if I like the lipstick or not. I just have to have it for the packaging. And so I got "Brave New Bronze", a satin finish that MAC describes as a “Creamy mid-tone pink nude”. I’d definitely say it has some bronzy orange undertones to it, but it is one of the most perfect nude colors I’ve ever seen. Studio pictures just don't do it justice. I am positive that it’ll look good on just about any skin tone and I’m not even one for nude lips. Today I wore it paired with a glittery pink lipgloss and I can assure you it was one of the most flattering summer lipstick-lipgloss combos I have ever found. Because the finish is satin, it is an opaque lipstick with some shine to it but because the colour itself is so creamy, it can appear a little muddy if you happen to apply too much of it or apply it without a nice lip balm underneath. However, that is the case for most satin, matte and amplified cream finishes, so no big news here. It turns out that I’m practically in love with this shade so I’m really glad I got it. Expect to see me using it in tutorials to come. Let me know if you've checked out MAC’s Style Warriors collection? If so, what did you get? Do you like what you got?

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Micky-