Lip-rageous Haul - Maybelline Baby Lips!

Hi everyone! I've been sick for about a week now and haven't felt like doing anything, but I do have a few videos saved up.  If you follow me on YouTube, you'll notice I just uploaded a couple.  I'm using ones I previously filmed so I don't have to do any filming right now.  It's been miserable being sick, but I wanted to keep you updated on new products I've been trying.  My last post was all about the Revlon lip butters, and this one will focus on Maybelline's new lip products.
I first saw the Baby Lips balms in my local Bed, Bath, and Beyond and although I was intrigued, I didn't know anything about them.  They were just kind of sitting in a jar on a shelf in the cosmetics section with no explaation about what they were.  I was curious, but felt no need to buy another lip balm that I didn't need (none of my rare moments of self-control).  THEN I saw them featured in a video by EleventhGorgeous...and had to have them.  They are basically a tinted lip balm, but they are soo pretty.  They are the kind of product you can carry around in your pocket or your purse and aply without a mirror while still achieving a fresh and polished look.  What I especially love about these balms is that they are scented (yay!), but they are not flavored (boo!).  There are about 4 tinted shades, and 2 that are colorless.  I have 3 of the tinted balms: Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, and Grape Vine.  Here's what they look like:

From left to right: Peack Kiss, Pink Punch, Grape Vine

Here they are swatched on my lips (in the same order):

Peach Kiss: shimmery peach color (peach scent)

Pink Punch: bright, true pink (fruit punch scent)

Grape Vine: sheer berry (sugary grape scent...I would describe it as what grape Sweet Tarts smell like)

For a better idea of the colors, here are some swatches on my arm:

The first swatch on the left is from Carmex, which I will talk about in my next post.  Then from left to right are Peach Kiss, Pink Punch, and Grape Vine. 

As you can see from the swatches, Peach Kiss is the only shimmery color, and because of this it is my favorite of the three.  It gives off a glossy shine that the others don't have.  Peach is also a nice color for many different skin tones, so I think it would be the most universally flattering color.  I really like the pink color as well, but it's not a unique color that you would not be able to find elsewhere.  Grape Vine is a nice sheer berry color, but you need several layers to make the color show up well.  Because of this, it may be extremely difficult to get it to show up on darker skin tones.

Overall, they are pretty moisturizing and I really enjoy the color they give to my lips.  I would definitely purchase them again.  They sell for around $5 and I think they are now available at pretty much any drugstore or Target. 

Have you tried Baby Lips, or other tinted balms? Which ones are your favorites?



Lip-rageous Haul! - Revlon Lip Butters!

Okay, so we can all agree that I am obsessive when it comes to lip products.  But I think it's justified considering all of the new products coming out right now.  This post is going to be featuring 3 of such new lip products including (drum roll please)....Revlon lip butters, Maybelline's Baby Lips, and Moisture Plus by Carmex!

In case you have been living under a rock and have not heard of the Revlon lip butters, they are basically a cross between a lip balm and a lipstick.  A couple posts ago I mentioned I could not find them anywhere, but I am now seeing them in the drugstore section of my Bed, Bath, and Beyond as well as my local Target.  Most people are saying they've seen them in Rite Aid or Walgreens for a little over $7, but mine were between 5.49 and 6.49 (Bed Bath and Beyond had the cheapest prices!).  Now, from what I had heard the butters were supposed to be fairly sheer, but I have found them to be pretty well pigmented.  What makes them different from regular lipsticks is the amount of hydration they offer.  They give off a moderately glossy appearance, and most people would probably choose to even wear them without a gloss.

 I have 4 colors so far, and I will undoubtedly be going back for even more!  They're really easy to just slide on before you go out the door without having to make sure you apply them perfectly.  There are TONS of colors to choose from (I think 26?), and it would make it very hard to choose except for the fact that there are hardly ever any left!  So I usually pick my 2 favorite colors out of the 5 or 6 that are still available at the store.  The colors I currently own are Sugar Frosting, Peach Parfait, Pink Truffle, and Berry Smoothie.  Don't let these scrumptious names fool you, however.  They are not flavored OR scented!  That was the biggest disappointment, because with all the yummy names, it makes you want to be able to taste them.  Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

I really love the packaging on these.  They have the same lids as the Colorburst lip sticks with the quilted pattern, but they are translucent and colored the same shade as the actual product. 

Another feature of the packaging I really enjoy is the see-through top, which allows you to see the actual color of the lip butter inside. This shade is Peach Parfait.

Now for some swatches:

Sugar Frosting: a champagne-y pink with a "frosting" of shimmer

Peach Parfait: shimmery peachy pink

Pink Truffle: creamy, pinkish nude (no shimmer)

Berry Smoothie: pinkish berry with a hint of shimmer

Now, you'll notice that the shimmery shades show up MUCH glossier than the cream shade.  And from the photos, the colors don't look very pigmented, but that's just my lighting.  I tried to show you a little better with some swatches on my arm:

This gives you a little better idea of how the colors come off.  Overall, my favorites are Peach Parfait and Berry Smoothie.  Sugar Frosting is a nice shimmery color, but there's not much color payoff.  Pink Truffle is okay, but a little brown for my skin tone.  I'll defintely have to pair that one with a gloss to make it work for me. 

Have you tried these lip butters yet?  What colors do you love?  Which ones do you hate?

Since this post has gotten LONG, I will include my thoughts on the Maybelline Baby Lips and Carmex's Moisture Plus in my next post.

Let me know if there's other products I should be keeping my eye on!

Anniversary!

So Saturday wmarked my anniversary with my boyfriend and we had an amazing dinner at a restaurant we visit every year: Melting Pot.  It's a fantastic fondue place with lots of yummy (yet expensive!) food. 

For the appetizer, you get cheese fondue with apple slices, baby carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and 3 types of bread.  They then offer a salad course, which my boyfriend always declines, but I think their salads are really good (they put bacon and sliced egg in them!).  Then comes the main course, which you cook yourself at the table in a cooking liquid of your choice (we choose coq au vin).  You also gets to choose your meats.  We chose pork, chicken breast, angus beef, shrimp, and lobster tail.  They also give you a bowl of potatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli to cook as well.  Everything is AMAZING! Then comes my favorite part: the chocolate! You get to choose the type of chocolate you want (chocolate and peanut butter, chocolate and marshmallow, dark chocolate, white chocolate, etc.) and you get lots of tiny desserts to dip into them: bananas, strawberries, pound cake, cheesecake, brownies, marshmallows, and rice krispie treats!

Overall, it's a great place to go where you can enjoy a good meal but also have an activity to focus on as well.  It's perfect for special occasions.  They also have really great drinks! Here's some pictures I took at the restaurant:

Me and the boyfriend!

My toasted marshmallow martini!

This shot shows the chocolate sauce they pour on the bottom...yummmm!!!

All in all, it was a great night and if you live in the Delaware or Pennsylvania area you should definitely go if you get the chance, but you have to make reservations ahead of time!