How to Get Kissable Lips

I take a lot of close ups of my mouth, that's for sure. I try my best to keep it ready for a close up, because the camera can be pretty unforgiving! But it also keeps them ready for a smooch from my man ;)


 I have a few helpful steps that I follow to try and keep my lips in kissable perfection. the number one issue to avoid is cracked lips! Everyone hates dry, cracked lips! They can be quite painful, and they can also keep your lipstick from looking as good as you want. These are all pretty important, but they are pretty easy. They may seem pretty self explanatory - but it is so easy to neglect our kisser!

I usually exfoliate my lips after a hot shower, when your skin is softer and  lets loose of the rough skin more easily. I do this one of two ways:

A. Using a clean toothbrush, I lightly buff my lips using warm water. I do this one most often.

OR

B. Using a washcloth that is dipped in hot water, I gently rub it across my lips in a back and forth motion, buffing away the dead skin.

You can also use a lip scrub if you don't remember to exfoliate after the shower. I prefer Indie ones because they load it up with lip loving ingredients that are great for your lips and they aren't loaded with chemicals. I use one from Simply Sweet Skin, but unfortunately their shop is closed at the moment, and I am not sure when it will be back up and running. I would highly recomend trying one from Darling Girl Cosmetics, I love her stuff and have heard great things about this scrub!

Another alternative is to make your own! There are several recipes out there like THIS one, or you can just add some sugar to a soft balm

Mmmm... Sugar.

Secondly, I follow this step with an intense moisturizing balm, salve, or lip conditioner. This usually depends on how easily I can find one of those ;)
Here are a couple that I like:

Rosebud Salve - This stuff lasts ages!
Burts Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm - Helped heal my lips when I burned them badly, the Pomegranate Oil is very nourishing

I moisturize my lips often throughout the day and before bed, that way it has a chance to really sink in and stay.

Lastly, I try to swipe on something with an SPF factor when I head outside. SPF is important, and not just for your face, but for your body, hands, and lips as well. Oh, and the top of your feet. People forget that one a lot! EOS lip balms are really nice and they have an spf of 15. I like the lemon one a lot! And one with an SPF of 30 is by LAVANILA called The Healthy Lip Screen SPF 30


See? Really simple steps that are easy to work into your routine.  Follow these and your pout will be ready for it's close up in no time at all :)

Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon


Disclaimer: Stock photos provided by http://www.sxc.hu/

Dandy Nails: Come Out And Play

This is a gorgeous bright purple jelly with small white glitter throughout. This polish gives you a perfect jelly sandwich in a jar! I ordered it, looked at it and set it aside because in the bottle I was just not impressed. Yesterday, I decided I wanted to wear it and WOW! I was surprised with how much I love this!

Direct Sunlight

 These two following pictures are of the same shot, just my hand tilted -just- slightly and the colors changed because of how the sun was hitting it. I thought that was kind of cool, so I included both. Yay  for more pictures!

Direct Sunlight

Direct Sunlight

Indirect Sunlight

On my wishlist from Dandy Nails I want to get myself Wonderwall ( A gorgeous blue/white matter glitterl combo)  and You Set My Soul Alight. I want them so bad!! Especially Wonderwall, that is my man and I's song!

Check out Dandy Nails on facebook to be in the know of the next restock!
https://www.facebook.com/dandynailspolish
http://www.dandy-nails.com/

Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon

Disclaimer: I purchased all products and opinions are my own. I also am aware my cuticles look like poo, I apologize ;)

DarlingClandestine : Harpy & Cloudswing ( and more!)

My favorite thing when I wear my Indie scents is when someone near me stops, looks around and asks " Is that you? It smells so good!"  Oh yes, it feels nice! Then I share my secrets with them!

I got quite a handful in my order from DarlingClandestine! I ordered a couple of solids, and a handful of samples to try out. I think with DC, I love almost everything I get! The scents are wonderful and complex, playing out like a story unfolding on your skin.  Her solid scents com with stunning artwork on the labels, though not named. You use this pictures to know which scent is which! I cheat and write the name on the back with a fine point sharpie because I suck at remembering things.  The solids seem to last quite a long time on my skin, a few of the deeper scents last longer than others but I am fine with reapplying the yummy smell goods. Lets see how my new scents played out for me.

Harpy :"is a sailor's delight, with notes of sea salt and dark bay rum, milk and coconut and a twist of lime."

The first notes the reach me are the salt and the lime, such a great combination. As it sat on my skin, the rum and milk came forwards, mingling with the salted limes, slightly being sprinkled with coconut shavings. The dry down on this is the sweet, delicious scent of all the notes blended together. It is marvelous! It is soft, sweet, and it reminds me of something long ago that I can't quite put my finger on it. All in all, this is a winner!

Cloudswing: "is a bright, crisp, golden-green scent with notes of warm hay and vanilla and mowed clover and marigolds and intense lemongrass.".
As I apply it, I am hit with a wave of freshly broken greens, giving the image of rolling in a wild green field as the leaves are crushed underneath you. As it warms on the skin the lemon notes play up a little and  linger, brightening an already fresh green scent. The hay and vanilla kick in a little bit,  sweetening the perfume just a tad. In the dry down,the clover and lemon linger sweetened and soft. This is an intriguing scent that makes you feel like your slipping out through the field, heading to meet that special boy at the creek to escape the midday sun. Perfect for people who love fresh scents!

Samples:  I purchased a sample set to try out a few scents I don't have already, and Evonne was sweet enough to include samples of two brand new scents! They come with tickets as the labels, which are very cute! Though I did run into a problem with the label slipping off and getting them mized up. I rather wish they had a sticker label instead, but this goes with the

Rivet: "Leather and raw beeswax with an ethereal floral note that suggests a bit of honey and clover still in the comb"
The fresh scent of buttery smooth leather! Its sweet, strong, and very different from anything else I own! Not sure if this will be one of my favorites as my poor nose was a little overcome with the scent. I liked it much, much better after it lost some of its power, but even then this one started to give me a headache and I had to take it off. Which sucked, because I was really excited to get to try this one out :-/ Darn body chemistry!

Aragon "is really a delight. It opens crisp and fresh with intense lavender essential oil, mellowed and deepened by sea salt, red wine, a bit of leather, and a touch of caramel and chocolate."
My nose picked up on the leather scent first thing, but quickly moved on to the sweeter chocolate and caramel notes. The lavender seems to float in the midst of it all, noticeable but letting the other scents play on my skin. The leather fades slightly as it sits on my skin, and it balances quite nicely. I love the sweet and mellow dry down that this one has. All in all, I think me and the leather notes just don't get along, I think I would love this one more without it.

Maudlin & Bedlam "is beautifully complex—dark, warm honey and herbals and wood frosted unsettlingly with weeping green leaves."
This scent had an instant calming effect on me, such a deep scent that is sweet and warm. The herbs are mysterious and delicious. The green leaves and honey started to come out and mix after sitting on my skin. Oh, I am in love with this scent! I love how the herbs are there, but they sit in the back of all the notes and don't overwhelm me. A perfect balance!

Morderteile Kelah : "Amber, hyacinth, milk and strawberry jam are just a few of the elements that capture Kelah"   
The first note to push its way to the front of the pack was the amber, giving a slightly spicyish scent... second is drifted into a soft, sweetened smell that had to be the jam and flowers coming forward, mingling with that milk. The dry down is exquisite! I love it so much, the amber was a bit much at first but after it calmed down, I just wanted to snuggle up in the smell. This is a gorgeous, cozy scent.

Remember! As with all perfumes, particularly Indie ones, they react differently to everyones body chemistry! What works for me may not work exactly the same for you, and vice-versa! If something reacts badly on my skin, it may not be the same story for you!! These are just MY experiences and MY findings :) This is why I love samples, you get just enough to test them on your skin to see how it will turn out!

Overall: The standouts for me in this group were Harpy, Maudlin & Bedlam, and Morderteile Kelah. They are just such great perfumes, and I love them! I wish that Rivet and my nose had gotten along :-|
I highly recommend trying a few samples out if you get the chance, and remember to follow DarlingClandestine on Facebook so you can be ready when a sale hits! And then it can be YOU who gets asked if that intoxicating scent if you!

https://www.facebook.com/DarlingClandestine
http://www.etsy.com/shop/darlingclandestine

Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon

Shiro Cosmetics: Leeroy Jenkins, Yo Dawg, Three Wolf Moon

Hello everyone! Here are the last three of the Shiro Intertubes that I have for you until I get some from her new collection! Plus most likely a few of the others. I have my eye on Sad Keanu still! But these are just in time for the launch of 8 more colors, which I am drooling over! Here are swatches of Leeroy Jenkins, Yo Dawg, and Three Wolf Moon.

 Leeroy Jenkins
Color: Pale pinky-lavender (similar to the text color used for the Paladin class) with subtle blue interference and gold sparks.
I am a big fan of this one, but then again I am a Pally girl at heart. Leeroy Jenkins is a great color, I love purpley pinks so this was win! Plus, it was an awesome meme :)

Yo Dawg

Color: Bright but wearable magenta.

 This color is sheer but buildable, it reminds me of grape jelly! This one has the tendency to get away from me if I don't go slowly and use a little at a time - but maybe that is just me and I like to use lots of product lol.

Three Wolf Moon
Color: Dark, bold red.
Such a gorgeous red! I think this is one of the best reds that I have come across in an indie gloss! This one could also be worn sheered out for a touch of color, and leaves a nice stain behind.

It was weird, I had an issue come up with my intertubes that I was not expecting! It seemed the first layer of product was a little gritty, but I am not sure if they were just cold or if it was the product itself. The gritty texture went away after the product warmed on my lips so I am not entirely sure.

Will that keep me away from them? No, I love them still! And I have plans to buy more!!

Swatches of Team Buffy, Numa Numa, Nyan Cat, Over 9000
Links:
http://www.shirocosmetics.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ShiroCosmetics

Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon

All products were purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Influenster : Spring Beauty VoxBox.

"What is an Influenster?
Community of trendsetters invited to share their lifestyles and show off their influence to qualify for personalized product shipments, special rewards and exclusive deals from the brands they love. Members love testing the latest products, giving insightful feedback, and spreading the word on their favorite finds!" ~ Influenster.com



When I got an email letting me know that I had been selected to receive the Spring Beauty VoxBox, I was pretty excited! And when I did finally get it, I was completely blown away! I got a full sized body mist, a great concealer, soap, nail polish - great stuff! Here are my thoughts!


365 chapstick - silky, bad taste, strong off putting scent. I'm sure it would be really great for outside in the sun, but other than that I wont be using it. Really, the only good thing is the SPF factor. However, I have other lip products that have protection and they don't have the offensive taste and smell.
Would I buy this on my own? No, it was disgusting.


Bath and Body Works Fragrance Mist - I recieved the scent "Paris Amour." The packaging for the new mists are great, i think they look so much better! Very sleek. However, I don't care for the fragrance either! However, the mist didn't overwhelm me and was very fine.
Would I buy this on my own? Not the scent, but yes.


Sheer Cover Duo Concealer: I was surprised at how much I liked it! It is creamy and blends well, I like how you get two shades to blend together! I use a brush to apply and blend it out and it works very well for me, though I do recommend a skin primer underneath it to keep it from melting off.  It is sheer, but can be built up. Also, it has lots of skin loving ingredients which is nice!
Would I buy this on my own? No, too expensive for me. If it was cheaper I would.


Sally Hansen Salon Effects: the design I recieved was "Kitty Kitty" and while I do like the design, I have worn it before and wasn't thrilled about getting it again. However, they are easy to apply and do last a long time. They are sticky and stretchy, making the perfect fit for your nails! I love how many designs that are offered! In fact, my sister bought another design and traded me for the "Kitty Kitty" ones because she didn't like the ones she got after all. I do wish there was a way to save the excess polish. There is almost enough for two applications, in fact if you could get two out of it that would be amazing!
Would I buy this on my own? Yes!


Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash: I loved how this smelled and felt on my skin. I haven't used body soaps from the store in quite some time ( I am partial to supporting handmade when it comes to soap) It is gentle on the skin and lathers great! I love how soft my skin is after, and the size of the sample was generous! I am impressed and will definitely consider this in the future.
Would I buy this on my own? Yes


SOYJOY: These have such a weird consistency, however it did not taste terrible. I have had these before, and I got the blueberry flavor in this pack. It is a decent flavor. Real fruit, Gluten free, and free of lots of bad things, just watch out for the saturated fats. Great for in a pinch!
Would I buy this on my own? Possibly


Dr. Scholl's For Her: These were included as a bonus because the boxes were late going out. These are fantastic for slipping into your heels to keep your feet comfortable, in not so comfortable shoes. Came in handy when I went out on the town with the husband! Made my slightly uncomfy shoes much more bearable!
Would I buy this on my own? Yes


I love receiving the VoxBox, it makes me happy to get lots of new things to try out! The box is a fantastic way to do that, and I am so appreciative of the people at Influenster for sending me one.

http://www.influenster.com/


Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon

All products were provided by Influenster for review

One Hand Washes The Other : I smell like a witch at the carnivale

One Hand Washes The Other , or "OHWTO", is a great place to get your smelly on. I ordered just a handful or solid scents and I love all of them! The solid scents are convenient and long lasting, plus they are a great way to test out a scent in the shop without committing to a  full sized oil.  Sure, the samples are only a couple of bucks, but these are only a tad more and you get more product. I like that I can throw them in my purse and reapply if I need a little boost in the scent, as it does fade slightly from morning to evening. I purchased four scents: Bitten, I Smell Like A Witch, Carnivale, and The Cake Is A Lie

I Smell Like A Witch: I Smell Like A Witch: A special request for Luna of Toxid-Lotus.net, I smell like a Witch came about when a little boy told her that the combination of scents she was wearing made her smell "like a witch". Heh. Red & White Roses, Cotton Candy, Bubble Gum, Smoke, Sandalwood, Patchouli & Vanilla Bean  The story behind this scent is quite charming, and the scent is very nice! The herbal, incense scents are very loud in this one and are the ones that linger on my skin the most. I only wish the sweeter scents came out to play a little more on my skin.
Carnivale: Cotton candy, orange soda, lemon snow cones and vanilla ice cream all come together to evoke memories of the sweetest part of childhood summer nights. A fantastically delicious scent, that hits all the notes right on the head! I could eat this one right up, no fake scents here!
The Cake Is A Lie: But it smells so REAL! Lemon-filled butter cake with thick, fluffy frosting. Lemon, Sugar, Cake batter & Frosting. This is a winter fragrance, but it is DIVINE! This smells so delicious! Love! If you love lemons and sugar, this is a great scent for you!
Bitten: The scent of an apple orchard after a spring rain, key notes are green apple, honey, rain, and just a nip of black pepper to shake things up.  When I am in doubt of what to wear, or don't want too heavy of a fragrance, this is a go-to scent! It's light and juicy! Perfect apple scent that isn't too strong, and is perfect all year round.

I received two solid samples with my order and they were "Toxid Lotus" and "Oceanside".

Oceanside: "Oh, if I could only coax you overboard, to leave these lulling shores, to get you Oceanside"... Inspired by everything ocean-y, most especially my little home by the seaside salt marsh. A cool Ocean breeze, Monoi de Tahiti, Beach grass, Sea moss, Tuberose, an oversized white Linen shirt, and Rockrose and Mimosa blossoms. Gorgeous. This scent takes you to to the shore, it is refreshing and very much an aquatic scent! Very fresh and summery, for those hot days when you want to smell clean - here in Texas that is always a good smell to have.                    

Toxid Lotus: *Toxid Lotus: Everyone has a darker side. Another scent created for Manda of Toxid-Lotus.net, this one is like I Smell Like A Witch's older sister, you know, the one always in trouble for doing something devious. Blackened dark Musk, Red Wine, Damask Rose Absolute, Frankincense, Baby Roses, Myrrh, and a hint of White Amber. I found this one to be a little -brighter- scent wise, but I loved how it smelled when paired with its cohort "I Smell Like A Witch". Wearing one on each wrist was divine, they were so made for one another! Where the little sister had more of an incense dry down, this one was more floral and a little fruity, though the fruits mellowed out.


Overall: I love the scents that I received! And the two samples are ones that enjoy just as much as the  ones I picked out, which is a pleasant surprise! Maybe Becca is psychic or something?  I think so. I love the feel and theme of the whole store, and the little details on the labels are just too cute! Cogs! My plans for my next order will include some of the black magic scrub, I hear good things! The bar didn't like my skin to much, but hopefully the scrub will be just the ticket! I also have more scents on the way to me, I will make a post when they get here! Summer scents! I'm excited! Exclamation marks!

Solid perfumes are only $4.00 a piece and can be found at the OHWTO website

Links:
http://www.ohwto.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OHWTO

Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon


All products (except the included free samples) were purchased be me and all opinions are my own.

I like Doritos in my PB&J Sandwich. With True Blood.

So I admit it, I am an oddball. I like Doritos in my peanut butter sandwiches, I hate sugar in my tea, and I wont read hardback books in a series I am reading because I wait for the paperback to be released so I can buy it. Yup, I am a whole year behind when new books are released. Weird? I think so, but I don't have a problem with it. If by some miracle I can avoid spoilers for a year, I still have a new story to buy. I hate buying books I have already read, and I wont buy hardback because I have -so- many books that I try to make them as light and compact as possible, for the sake of space and ease of moving them. If I read the hardback it usually ends with me never buying the book in paperback. I just recently bought the "Dead Reckoning" book 11 in the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I already am yearning for the next one. Ah, the torture of it being so close yet so far at the same time!

I also bought the True Blood season 4 on the day it dropped, and yes it is still new to me too! I don't have cable and I am such a weenie that I haven't tried to watch it any other way. But I got a good deal and got it for $20 off of the selling price, and I am so lucky that my husband really likes it as well. I get to enjoy the story with him and indulge in the lady porn that is True Blood - with him! Pretty awesome :) 

Now with this series and the books, I often find myself not minding that they change it so drastically from the books, however there are some things that are important in the books that they just completely  do away with! It will be interesting to see where this goes. Oh, and if you haven't read the books, what are you waiting for? READ THEM! I'm a big believer in books first, movies/shows later.

I'm just wondering though, am I the only one who does this to themselves? Does anyone else torment themselves with denying the new release just because it's in the wrong format?  I hope I'm not a lone oddball on this one! Though on the Doritos in the sandwich thing I might be. Though, Cheetos are an acceptable substitute to have with peanut butter - just not in the sandwich!

Oh, and a picture of my blonde baby being photogenic.

*You want to give me all the cookies!*

Shiro Cosmetics : Team Buffy, Numa Numa, Over 9000, and Nyan Cat!

Image property of Shiro Cosmetics

Shiro Cosmetics is an indie company who makes beauty products  with names that are a part of geek culture and Internet trends. The products I have for you today are a few of the intertubes that she offers.
Shiro's intertubes are a lipstick type of product, with a creamy finish. They have the same kind of slip as a lipgloss when applying, but the opacity you look for in lipsticks! They have a great choice of colors, and offer samples as well as the full sizes, to give those colors you aren't to sure about a test run. Some come flavored, some unflavored. I believe if you want to email her, you can get them all flavored/unflavored - whichever. I personally am a fan of the unflavored ones!

Numa Numa in a clamshell

I bought samples to try, and they arrived in almost filled clamshells. That's a huge amount of product for you to do a test run on!


On the lips!

 Team Buffy
Color: Vampy plum/raisin
So I mainly got this one for the name, I am a HUGE Buffy fangirl! I was surprised how much I liked the color on me though, just goes to show you that even though you don't think you will like something initially that you can still be taken by surprise sometimes! This is a perfect vampy shade for a sexy night out on the town, looking for your next victim ;)

Numa Numa

Color: Orange-gold base with golden sparks.

This is a perfect summer shade, especially considering how HOT oranges are right now! The color is flattering on the skin, and the gold sparkles catch the light just right. Plus it leaves behind a sexy stain that makes you look as though you've just eaten an orange Popsicle! 

Over 9000

Color: Bold pink, a shade or two darker than bubblegum.

A very pretty pink, it's just so opaque! I love how creamy this one looks on the lips, it was flawless! A gorgeous pink for pink lovers, and for people who are a little pink shy. I am not a big pink lipstick kind of person, but this one is amazing! Nothing but good things to say about it, and I love that it doesn't have sparkles in it :) Refreshing!

Nyan Cat

Color: Pink rose with gold shimmer.

 Another flattering pink, this one also applied great! It has a different finish from Over 9000. this one is more shimmery and quite flirty! Plus you cannot go wrong with poptart cats. NYAN NYAN NYAN NYAN NYAN!

 I love these, They felt great on the lips and leave them moisturized! Also, some of them leave a nice stain behind on your lips giving you hours of color! Something to note is that you should probably be careful with fabrics or upholstery, as it -may- cause staining for them as well. The color range on the Intertubes is nice, though I think there is definitely room for more! I personally want more purples!!

Overall: I highly recommend these! At least pick up a few samples to try, I think they are a great product and worth a try! And while you're at it, pick out a few shades that are outside your comfort zone, just to try! It's always good to push your own boundaries! I love all four of these, but I've been wearing the crap out of Numa Numa - it's a perfect summer orange!

Swatches of Leeroy jenkins. Yo Dawg, and Three Wolf Moon

Intertubes retail for $6.50 for a fullsize, and can be purchased at the Shiro website.
Links:
http://www.shirocosmetics.com
https://www.facebook.com/ShiroCosmetics

Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon


All products were purchased by me and all opinions are my own

MAC Lipstick & Lipglass in Snob

*Note: This post had been written right after my purchase, however as I am known to do, I lost something I bought right away. I found it so I returned to this post to add the pictures to it! So, yes, I'm a little late with it, but better late than never.


So right on the heels of my getting my first MAC lipstick, I went back again ( I'm a glutton for punishment ) to look at the newest collection to be released, the Fashion Sets. These are 3-piece collections that consist of matching lipstick, lipglass, and a nail lacquer, seven collections in total.
I went in to check out the Rebel Trio, but was very drawn to the nudes in the collection. I tried a few on, and fell in love with Snob. Even my husband really liked it! Snob is a nude pink, leaning slightly mauve, that looked better with my complexion. It didn't quite scream or shout like some of the other, brighter pinks, but it was definitely there. I then tried the cordinating lipglass on top of the lipstick, and I had to have it. Right then, right there. I practically threw my money on the counter! The sales woman said that I got the last set of Snob, and they had just put them out this morning :)
Those kinds of comments make me feel like I won some prize, is that sad? I'm pretty excited to own them already, but the fact that I scored the very last pair made it even better! Though, I bet they say that to all the girls who come in :P

 Snob is a Satin texture,and Satins are long-wear, semi-matte, medium-to-full pigment. These have great coverage and stay put! The only time any of mine came off was when I was drinking, or accidentally wiped it off with my napkin. Though Im sure kissing would move it a little too *wink wink*

The Snob lipglass is thick and creamy, but it stays put. I loved this because it looked great over the lipstick, but then it looked awesome on its own.  I like when you get a product that stands on its own two feet. The feel is nice and lush on the lips, it doesn't slide around. Definitely not a slippery gloss. But this does keep it in place and it lasts a very, very long time.
On the lips!

Snob Lipstick

Snob Lipglass

Snob Lipglass over Snob Lipstick

I did not purchase the nail lacquer, and that is because I have several nude polishes that I already own.

Overall: I really like this one combo. Snob lipstick is similar to lipsticks I own, but not quite. It is also a little bit drying, but applying the lipglass helps take care of that. And I use the lipglass almost daily, I really am happy I picked it up!  It gives my lips that little pop of color without being overwhelming. And since I wear my eye makeup more dramatic, it goes with a lot more looks than my bright colors! And together?  Such a great pair, especially it you like nudey pinks.

Thanks for reading!
xoxo -Sharon

All products were purchased by me, and all opinions are my own