And the winner is...

Not BlogSpot! It signed me out in the middle of posting and I lost everything I had written.

Anyway, on to choosing the winner! I used the old names-in-a-hat routine, so the winner would be totally random. The winner is... Isabel over at I Fly A Starship!!!

She will be enjoying this lovely little Blog Birthday Prize


Hope everyone had a lovely weekend :)

And the winner is...

The winner of my little Blog Birthday Prize is Isabel Spectre!!! Thanks to the old hat routine, I was able to pick a winner at random. Congrats random winner!!

#4 orange/coral

Orange/Coral by catiebeatty featuring retro shades

Orange & Coral lips were seen on many of the runways this spring, including Marc Jacobs and Nanette Lepore.

This shade is great because it works on a lot of skin tones. Warm oranges and corals bring out warm tones in anyone's skin! Also, similarly to the bright pink, it stands out so much that a lot coloring rules don't count anymore.

Try MAC's Morange or Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren. Pair with liquid liner and mascara for a bold & bright vintage look.

Reviews and Favorites

And now for installment #2 of my reviews. In this post, I'll focus on beauty products.

I was hoping to cover beauty and services in one post, but it got too long. Actually, it got so long that I'm going to have to split my beauty reviews into two separate posts, and then I will have a final post covering service reviews.

An important note: I have moderately sensitive skin, but I always have such a hard time figuring out what product caused which rash, that it makes it hard to know which product to stop using. None of the products in this review have been connected with rashes (for me personally), and I will try my best to properly warn you if I have experienced any reactions to any products I ever review. (Ex. One time I made this linen spray with a perfum oil I had, and ohmigod, I thought I had the measles, but it was just the worst rash ever.)


My favorite products of the moment:

Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Ravish Me Red" ($4.99 to $7.99)
Personally, I think I look awful in "purple" or cool reds, and most classic red lip colors are just that. They look heavy and awkward; I end up looking pasty and puffy. I need warmer colors and I've finally found a red that leans more towards orange-red, but isn't quite as bright as the MAC lipstick I have. I nearly bought a very similar version at the Estee Lauder counter, but everyone else had had the same idea and so all the Washington Nordstroms were sold out. I'm happy it worked out that way, because I ended up finding this Revlon color and saving $15! Another good option is MAC Lustre Lipstick in Lady Bug, which costs around $14.


Clinique Redness Solution Powder ($33)
What do you get when you combine Dutch, German, Scottish, and Scandinavian genes? One very red-faced offspring. I've had random people ask me "Were you just running? Your cheeks are so rosy!" "No, ma'am, just cursed." On top of that, I have very spacious cheeks (They are like the Great Plains), so downplaying at least one of these things is always a goal. Reducing redness is easier and cheaper than reducing size, especially thanks to this loose powder from Clinique. It's one of the few products that is marketed as having instant effects AND actually delivers said effects. Another plus: it didn't make me break out in a rash.




All-Time Favorites and Standbys:

Essie Nail Polish ($8)
Essie always has the best colors. For those of you who are very particular about your french manicure, they have about a zillion different pale pink and beige shades made just for french manicures. I find that Essie lasts longer than OPI, as well (But only about 10 seconds longer. I chip my nail polish almost instantly). The color shown here is the newest shade in my collection. It's a lovely rusty, brick red by the name of Alligator Purse.


L'Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer ($10-$12)

I can't tell you how much I love this stuff. It's a great primer, but also works wonders when worn alone. It's mattifying, but not so much that your skin looks like a piece of copy paper (I've experienced this with other products). It also magically perfects you skin! It evens the tone, minimizes pores, and can even erase fine lines. At around $12, this product can't be beat. Like with the Clinique product above, I was super thrilled when I didn't break out in a horrible rash.

Work with what you got

I'm gonna totally nerd-out here and say: Did J.Crew go inside my brain and choose all their colors from what was stored up there??? All of the color schemes and combinations they feature are all my favorite colors, schemes, combos, etc. They are the correct shades too, seriously to the tee. Anyway, I am a huge dork. I like to collect paint color chips.


I tore this page directly from the catalog because I loved the make-up and accessories so much. The model wears A. R. Trapp Quadra Sunglasses that cost more than my Chloes, so I will have to be satisfied with my American Apparel frames. They're a great color, but I really wish I could magic them into tortoise shell.

Now for an unintended magazine-style product plug. When it comes to lip products and nail polishes, I buy Revlon pretty regularly. Why? Because they are affordable and come in great shades. Also, the lip products don't contain that noxious perfume that most L'Oreal lipsticks do. Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stains have a Raspberry fragrance/taste, but it doesn't assualt your nose the entire time you are wearing the product. Be careful with the color you choose though. The first one I bought was suppose to be a scarlet color(it's called 'Flame')but turned out to be a bright fuchsia. I've replaced it with 'Forbidden' that looks like it might be a nude stain judging by the outside, but is actually a ruddy Merlot. Since I have very generous lips, I wear it as a stain on the inner portions of my lips rather then as a solid color. The nail polish is one of my favorites; I've had it forever. It's a bright coral color, appropriately named 'Craving Coral' #902.

Prices:
-A.R. Trapp sunglasses: $450

-American Apparel sunglasses range from $25 to $55 and there are two vintage pairs that go for $350 but they are stupid looking.

-Revlon Nail Enamel about $4

-Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain $8.99