Product Love: It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush

I am the kind of girl who loves to spend time doing my makeup in the morning. It's a hobby for me so I enjoy being able to spend time doing it. With that being said, I am not the kind of girl who carries 40 billion (hyperbole) makeup products in my purse and I will almost never touch up my makeup throughout the day. Ain't no body got time fo' that.

So I have been on a hunt for a lip stain that will last all day so I don't have to reapply it. I've tried the Benefit and Revlon stains and they work just fine, but I didn't really find a color option that worked for me as an everyday shade.

After doing some research, I decided that I wanted to try the It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush and when Ulta sent out a 20% off coupon, I went and snagged it up. I picked out the shade "Je ne sais quoi".

image via

  I absolutely fell in love with this lipstick the second I applied it. At first, I was turned off by the shade because it looked almost clear. Not to worry though, once applied it turns to a gorgeous pale pink shade. It goes with any look and really does feel like a moisturizing lip balm on your lips. The color lasted me all day long, through three meals and lots of talking, without having to reapply once. I can honestly agree with it's claims of being a 4-in-1 product (your lipstick, anti-aging conditioning lip balm, ultra-hydrating lip gloss, and your lip stain)  and I completely think that it is worth the investment, as I've been using it everyday since I got it!

I can't say enough good things about this lipstick. If you're looking for a go-to shade that will never fail you, this is it. I can't wait to try some other shades!

Sometimes in life you just need a little luxury.

My mom asked what my final requests were as far as using her discount at Neiman Marcus. It was her last week there, so I needed to buy whatever I wanted now, with her discount, instead of paying full price later (Like I even would). That was basically my only chance to really be able to afford luxury. 

I thought about it, and thought about it. 

"What is one luxurious item you've been lusting after?"

Well, a Chanel bag. But even with her discount, I'd never be able to afford it. 

So I scratched that. 

So, my next thought was Yves Saint Laurent. 

Yes. YSL.

but not just anything...

a Yves Saint Laurent lipstick.

(You have to say that with a french accent. have to. )

The creme de la creme of all lipsticks. 

and at $34 for a tube of lipstick, they better be. 

The packaging itself is to die for. I mean, this thing is heavy. 

It just screams luxury to me. 

I tried on a bunch of shades and finally got sick of staring at my lips so I randomly picked a shade I liked. 

When I got home and looked at it more closely, I giggled.

 Of course I'd pick the shade called "Pink in Paris"

and 13 happens to be my favorite number. 

Hmm... Was it made for me?

It made me smile because I swear I didn't do that on purpose. 

But it's the perfect shade of pink. 

It's subtle, but you can tell it's there, you know?

 I really like it and I feel like it's my perfect 'everyday' shade. 

Because sometimes in life

you just need a little luxury.

~~Update~~

A few people asked to see the lipstick on, so I took this rather embarrassing photo to show you.

*sigh* 

I'm such a dork. 

The Flawless Red Lip: An Easy How-To

"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or kick-ass red lipstick."

-Gwyneth Paltrow

                                                           Source: drugstoreprincess.com via Amber on Pinterest

Red Lips. 

A timeless look that looks wonderful on any woman.

any age, any size.

It shows class, elegance, style.

However, it also can be one of the hardest makeup looks to achieve.

Let's be honest, it's not the color you can apply while one hand's holding the steering wheel and you're looking through the mirror on your car's visor. 

It's bold and has to be precise.

So, I am going to show you a step-by-step process on how to I achieve a perfect, flawless red lip.

Here is what I use:
Lush: Sweet Lips
Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion
Covergirl Lip Perfection Lip Liner-In color Passion
Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color: In color Very Cherry


Now, the tricky part is finding the right shade of red for your skin tone.
I'm very pale, so I find that blue-tone reds look better on me than more orangey-tone reds.
Here is a great guide:

After you find your perfect shade,
your first step is to exfoliate your lips. You want to remove all the dead skin off your lips, so there is a smooth surface for your lipstick.

I use Lush's Sweet Lips. It works great, although I hear there are some homemade versions of this.

Next, prime your lips. Like I said, I use Urban Decay's primer and I like it. It is pricey though.
This step isn't necessary, but it really helps.

I have very pigmented lips on their own, so I use this to neutralize the color so I get the true shade of red I'm going for. It also helps the lipstick to stay on a lot longer. If you don't want to fork over $20, you can use your concealer to do the same job.

Then, I line my lips. This step is crucial.

please ignore this extremely awkward and cheesy facial expression.

This is very important because it helps your lipstick to 'stay in the lines' in a sense. 

It also helps so your lipstick wont bleed all over the place. This the key to make your lipstick look flawless.
Go from the very inner corner on each side. Make sure you line your cupid's bow!

After, you can either use your liner to fill in your lips, or you can use a lipstick.

I chose to use a lipstick. (Maybelline Very Cherry)

You'll notice that my lipstick and lip liner aren't the exact same shade.

It really doesn't matter because you can't tell a difference,

 and it may even add some 'demension' to your lips.

Finally, the secret every woman should know:

how to prevent lipstick from getting on your teeth

There is nothing worse than flaunting your gorgeous lipstick all day only to realize you had some on your teeth. 

Yeah. it stinks.

but...

all you have to do is this:

and you'll never have any on your teeth again. 

I know it looks awkward, but trust me it works!

Just stick your finger in your mouth, and pull it out.

It grabs all that lipstick that's inside your mouth,

so it doesn't end up on your teeth. 

and that's it!

You'll never have to feel this way again:

Source: younggandbeautifulandfree.tumblr.com via Jenna on Pinterest

So, try the red lip, even if you think it won't flatter you!
I can guarantee you it will.
I dare ya...

Two girls, one lipstick.

Recently, when my grandparents came to visit, my grandma (whom I call 'Nana') and I were cleaning out my bathroom.

While we were going through some of my drawers, she pulled out my most beloved tube of lipstick.

The conversation went something like this:

~"Amber, Do you use this lipstick?"

~"Yes, that's my favorite. I use it everyday."

~"I have that exact same shade. That's my favorite! I use it everyday, too!"

and we both erupt in laughter.

 Unbeknownst to us, we had been wearing the exact same lipstick.

It was like this one lipstick had united us.

It made me feel like no matter how far we are from each other, 

I will always be able to share this simple fact with her.

Not only that, but I think knowing this made us both realize how much we are alike.

We both need organization to thrive.

We both love to please others.

We both are generous with our time and love, even though sometimes we shouldn't.

We both are sensitive at heart, even though we put on a tough shield on the outside.

So no matter where life takes us, and how far apart we are,

I know that somewhere out there, my Nana is wearing Revlon's Berry Smoothie

and so am I.