While earning her degree at university, Amanda traveled around the world to a plethora of countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. She currently lives on New York City’s Upper East Side where is pursuing a graduate degree and working in education. Amanda has studied the histories of beauty around the world and is herself, an avid admirer and practitioner of the beauty techniques she studies.
To track her travels, thoughts, and techniques follow her at www.aklectique.com. As a world traveler (and with more travel plans on the horizon), she’ll be offering a unique perspective of the amazing local brands and products she’s discovered and still discovering.
Traveling Must-Haves by a World Traveler
I’d like to share with you what I take with me whenever I go traveling. From the High-Atlas Berber villages in Morocco, to the Pyramids in Cairo, to Red Sea just off the coast of Saudi Arabia, to Diocletian’s palace in Croatia, and through Nottingham’s rainy days, these products have proven their metaphorical “valor” for their resilient consistency and inherent capacity to work well across varying climate conditions.
I’ve found that my MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Power ($23.00) works for me in all whether conditions. Whether it be the 125 degree weather in Egypt or -30s in New Hampshire, this product provides the same consistent coverage and staying power across temperatures. I’d find that my bronzer and highlighter (listed below) are best suited for all temperatures below 85 degrees. If the temperature is higher, I risk looking shiny all day long. Finally Benefit’s One Hot Minute ($30.00) adds the perfect amount of matte color to my face to prevent me from looking washed-out in any climate.
Now, the eyes are almost a free-for-all. I tend to keep in neutral when I am traveling so as to not stand out as a foreigner too much. (Below is a more detailed list of eye products that I’ve found to last underwater in Jamaica and Croatia, as well as after a long day of work.) To the complete the visage, my must-have lip product is my Burt’s Bees Sun Protect Lip Balm ($3.99). This lip balm neutralizes the color of my lips and allows me to then apply pigmented lip product that is appropriate for the given situation. More often than not, I find myself using MAC Snob ($14.50) or Revlon’s Nude Attitude ($7.99).
Just remember: When traveling, less is more!
Check out Amanda’s list of must-have products for travel! Continue reading →
Holiday Gift Guide: Must-Have Beauty Products for Lips
One of the things I am most thankful for is that by becoming a beauty blogger and having the opportunity to try so may different products is that it’s opened up my eyes to how many fantastic brands and formulas there are. Not every brand does everything perfectly, and there are a lot of great formulas that are just varying degrees of great. Picking a favorite really comes down to a less quantifiable factor, I think. It might be the color range, packaging, scent, or the overall feel. These are all lip products I personally recommend from brands’ permanent ranges.
Lip Balms/Treatments
Kiehl’s #1 Lip Balm ($7.00) is nice for those who prefer a thinner balm with no shine. It’s very, very slick and thin on the lips, but it does a good job at moisturizing.
Jack Black Lip Therapy Lip Balm ($7.50) is my all-time favorite lip balm, and I have them all over the house–at my desk, purse, pocket, nightstand–and a stock pile of them in reserve. So, so hydrating and comfortable to wear. My favorite flavor is Lemon & Chamomile, with Original as a runner-up.
Philosophy Lip Shines ($10.00) are kind of a balm, kind of a lip balm; because they tend to run so sheer and have the thicker feel of a balm, I’m going to go with it as a lip balm! I like that they’re fragranced with Philosophy’s signature scents plus have some shimmer and shine.
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50) is a decadent balm that works well but wears away quickly–I like the product, not so much the price tag and how quickly it finishes, though! They do have tinted versions, though, and they’re some of the better lip stains because they’re more hydrating, but they are prone to uneven fading.
Sara Happ The Lip Scrub ($24.00) is my favorite lip scrub, because it holds together well, exfoliates lips, and leaves them feeling soft and moisturized.
Guerlain Terracotta Baume Au Couer Lip Balm ($30.00) is tinted and feels like butter on lips; it wears for a few hours before disappearing, but it’s moisturizing the entire time.
La Mer The Lip Balm ($45.00) is probably the priciest lip balm I’ve ever used, but it really does work well. It hydrates lips while still wearing well (you won’t have to reapply every hour).
Lipsticks
CoverGirl Lip Perfection ($6.99) is really rich in color, glides on easily, and wears for hours. The downside is the scent, so if you’re super sensitive to smells, you might look elsewhere, but these perform well overall.
Maybelline ColorSensational Lipsticks ($8.29) is a good go-to for a more affordable lipstick brand, and of course, like other drugstore brands, you can catch it on sale for much less than $8 a pop. I find the creamier shades are the best!
MAC Lipsticks ($14.50) straddle that price point that doesn’t quite break the bank, feels a little more high-end than some drugstore brands, and is an all-around good formula. Their range is one of the most extensive that I know of, and with that, does come some inconsistency–not every single shade is as great as the last, but they do have several favorites. Some of these include Angel, Russian Red, Girl About Town, Crosswires, Sweetie, Cosmo, Plumful, and Media–just to scratch the surface.
Korres Mango Butter Lipsticks ($18.00) are lightweight, comfortable to wear, and come with a fairly glossy finish and semi-sheer color. Shades like Natural Pink and Natural Purple are really easy to wear.
Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colors ($23.00) are long-wearing, opaque, and comfortable to wear. For cooler skin tones, try Bare Pink, Cosmic Raspberry, and Mod Pink. For warmer skin tones, try Cosmic Raspberry, Soft Coral, and Sweet Nectar.
Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Lipsticks ($30.00) are creamy, moisturizing, and long-wearing while delivering good color coverage in over forty different shades. Shades like #400, 402, 501, and 506 are really easy to wear on most skin tones.
Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Creme Lipsticks ($30.00) are rich in color and long on wear. For cooler complexions, I think shades like Ballet, Edition, and Fresco would work. For warmer complexions, try Edition, Muse, and Whisper.
Dior Rouge Dior Lip Colors ($32.00) is long-wearing and moisturizing with a wide range of shades. For warmer complexions, I recommend shades like Pink Songe, Andalouse, and Red Muse. For cooler complexions, I recommend Pink Caprice, Devilish Pink, and Daisy Plum.
Guerlain Rouge Automatique Lipsticks ($35.00) come really close to the Rouge G formula, but they are slightly less creamy, sometimes less opaque, and a smidgen less hydrating. They are really close but there is a noticeable difference on lips. I still really love the formula, though! For cooler complexions, I recommend Samsara, Cherry Blossom, and Champs Elysees. For warmer complexions, I recommend Violette de Mad, Rouge d’Enfer, and Coque d’Or.
Guerlain Rouge G Lipsticks ($47.00) is my all-time favorite lipstick formula, because it’s long-wearing, opaque, moisturizing, and the color range is really nuanced. For cooler complexions, I like Galia, Greta, Gabrielle, and Grenade. For warmer complexions, I like Galante, Gala, Gipsy, and Ginger.
Cle de Peau Beaute Extra Silky Lipstick ($52.00) feels like glossy silk on the lips; it’s super moisturizing and has a glossy shine. It wears well on me, too, despite how creamy it is. The shade range is really wearable and mostly universal, too.
Cle de Peau Beaute Extra Rich Lipstick ($60.00) is a decadent formula that’s rich in color, comfortable to wear, long-wearing, and has a formula that helps to plump and fill lip lines giving lips a smoother look. It’s totally over the top, but it’s an excellent formula, so you’re not just paying for brand name/packaging here.
Lipglosses
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipglosses ($6.99) is a budget-friendly shimmery gloss that’s mostly sheer but delivers a fair amount of sparkle and dazzle. Like other sheer formulas, the range should work across skin tones.
Korres Cherry Oil Lipglosses ($17.00) are hydrating and comfortable tow ear, and about half the range delivers richer color, while others are sheerer (and are described as such). My favorites are #52, #52, and #22.
Make Up For Ever Lab Shine Lipglosses ($18.00) is a really wide range of glosses with three different finishes. I really like how Make Up For Ever has expansive color options for most of their products, and the lipgloss range is no exception.
Illamasqua Intense Lipglosses ($20.00) are a total must if you or someone you know loves opaque lipglosses–these are really rich in pigment, comfortable wear, long-wearing, and have a beautiful glossy shine. I recommend virtually all of them, but a few of my favorites are Belladonna, Hermetic, and Move.
Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lipglosses ($23.00) are a new favorite for me; they’re very reminiscent of Chanel Glossimers but more affordable. Sheerer color with lots of dazzling sparkle! Because they’re on the sheerer side, the shade range is fairly universal.
Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lipglosses ($28.00) are super slick, comfortable to wear, and moisturizing. Some shades are sheer, some are more pigmented. Shades like Siren are beautiful and opaque with a really interesting metallic finish. Fortune is a great shade for everyone because it’s sheer and peachy-pink.
Giorgio Armani Gloss d’Armanis ($28.00) may not be as long-wearing as the brand claims, but a gloss that wears six hours without drying lips out while delivering good color coverage is rare. I really love this formula, despite the shortfall in wear (relative to their claim). I love shades like #401, 402, 404, and 505.
Chanel Glossimers ($28.50) are a classic gloss for someone who loves lots of shimmer and glossiness. These took me awhile to appreciate, but they really do shine and sparkle. These days, most shades are sheer, so they should flatter the full spectrum of skin tones. I really like shades such as Aurore, Coral Love, Futile, Meteore, Spark, and Sundress.
Le Metier de Beaute Lip Cremes ($36.00) are extremely creamy, non-sticky, and hydrating. It was one of my first high-end glosses (and probably high-end purchases in general)–who knew that $36 would become “normal” to me one day–and I absolutely love shades like Fraise Creme, Framboise Creme, and Papaye Creme.
Cle de Peau Beaute Lipglosses ($48.00) wear longer than the average gloss, have a great shimmer and shine, and are moisturizing. May I recommend #2? It’s a total staple for me.
Revlon’s Global Artistic Director, Gucci Westman, paired an angelic eye with a strong lip for the Luca Luca Spring 2012 collection, which was inspired by the sensuality and femininity of a strong woman. Westman used hues of purples and browns to highlight the designer’s fresh and edgy collection comprised of a sherbet palette of periwinkle, teal and shades of berry juxtaposed against graphic black and white.
I was inspired by the designer’s color palette and chose shades and textures that would bring out the essence of the entire collection,” says Westman. “It reminded me of the sophistication of an Italian Vogue story I’d seen with girls that looked very luxurious, young and polished. The slightly transparent yet glossy purple eye works beautifully with the lip. It’s glamorous yet approachable.”
Beauty Breakdown
Lips: Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fuchsia Fusion, Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Haute, Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Lilac Pastelle, Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Shine City
Face: Illuminance Crème Shadow in Not Just Nudes, Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in Pink Light
Eye: Matte Eye Shadow in Rich Sable, NEW Diamond Lust Eye Shadow in Plum Galaxy, Luxurious Color Eye Liner in Black, Luxurious Color Eye Liner in Brown, Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara in Black, NEW Expressionists Limited-Edition Multi-Use Palette in Bordeaux in the Snow (using the clear gloss)
The first shade is a pale, gray-blue with a satin sheen, which suffers from sheerer color and a slightly drier texture. Inglot #324 is similar but has a matte finish and comes off bluer.
Next, there is a blackened green base with green and gold shimmer, which ends up looking less blackened when applied. Like the first shade, the texture was a bit dry and stiff. The green shade is similar to MAC Humid.
In the middle, we have a soft, paled orange with yellow gold shimmer and sheen, and it was the sheerest shade of the bunch with a powdery texture. It was difficult to apply it evenly. MAC Goldmine is very similar but higher quality (better payoff, texture, etc.). Make Up For Ever #10 is yellower.
The fourth shade is a coppery brown with a champagne sheen. It was powdery, but not too sheer. It is more muted than MAC Antiqued and MAC Faux Gold. Milani Fusion Gold is also similar.
The final shade in this palette is a soft, gray-black that is a bit chalky, slightly sheer, and stiff to work with. It compares well with MAC Double Feature #7, which isn’t a compliment, given that had similar issues!
Overall, this palette was disappointing–I had much better luck with Rich Temptations. It’s amazing how drastically different the textures are between these two palettes! I was impressed by Rich Temptations, but this one was a miss based on my experience working with it.
The best shades in this palette are the green and copper, but the palette--overall--has issues with color payoff, evenness, and texture. They're a bit stiff and difficult to work with, and a few shades require quite a bit of product to get an even layer.
Product
6.5/10
Pigmentation
6.5/10
Texture
6/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Revlon Rich Temptations CustomEyes Shadow & Liner Duo
Revlon Rich Temptations CustomEyes Shadow & Liner Duo
Revlon Rich Temptations (030) Custom Eyes Shadow & Liner Duo ($8.99 for 0.20 oz.) is a palette that contains four eyeshadows and one eyeliner, though they’re all essentially eyeshadows, with one shade being particularly dark. It’s housed in a pretty sleek black compact that flips open. The palette is very slim, which makes it great as a space-saver in makeup bags, and it should be sturdy enough to tag along with you.
Inside, there is a deep, dark purpled plum with a satin sheen; muted grayish green with a soft, satin sheen; pale, warm beige with a soft, frost finish; medium-dark red-toned plum with a satin sheen; and a pale, dusty pink with a soft, satin sheen. The green shade was a bit soft and would fade when applied, so the color payoff could have been marginally better there, but it was buildable. The other three shades were nicely pigmented, though. The light pink shade was really sheer when applied, but I wasn’t able to build up the intensity at all. The texture of these was lovely, though; really silky smooth with a softness that enabled the powder to apply well to the eye and blend effortlessly with each other.
I think the combination of colors here works well together, and it's not a color scheme I've seen often. It should work well on cooler skin tones, but I think the mix of shades should still work on warmer skin tones!
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
8.5/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Revlon Strawberry ColorBurst Lipgloss ($7.49 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “weightless gloss [that] makes lips pop with 5x more shine than patent leather.” It’s supposed to yield mirror-like shine with “rich color” and a “weightless feel.” It also includes “moisturizers and anti-oxidants such as sweet almond oil and vitamin E.” The range includes fifteen shades.
Strawberry is a softened pink-red with subtle, warm yellow undertones and flecks of silver and pink micro-glitter. The formula is soft and smooth, and while it’s a little thick and nearly non-sticky, it’s comfortable to wear. I was able to get semi-opaque color with ltitle effort, and there was definitely a high-shine finish. This gloss wore about three hours on me, which is particularly noteworthy given that it isn’t a sticky gloss. I wouldn’t call it a moisturizing lipgloss, but it didn’t dry out my lips either.
I detected a subtle scent of sweet vanilla initially, but the scent seems to disappear in the tube and when worn on lips quickly–the two tubes I bought two or three months ago no longer have any scent to them. The packaging is slim and functional, with a semi-matte black cap and clear tube. The applicator is interesting, as it is an indented doe-foot (best understood by a visual, as included below).
Revlon's ColorBurst Lipglosses are one of the best drugstore lipglosses I've come across, and it would hold its own against some high-end lipglosses, too. The pigmentation is on point with formula that doesn't dry out lips, wears well, and looks as shiny as advertised.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
By Amanda, Traveling Contributor
