Tag Archives: lips

Sometimes You Gotta Mix ‘Em Up….

24 Mar

imageIn the glamour world, very few things stand alone. Oh sure, you can have that über gorgeous red carpet dress that turns the heads of every status photographer on the runway, but the fact remains that the hair, makeup, jewels and shoes all play a part in that outfit being a front page headline.

That simple fact can also play a part in everyday looks for anyone. Whether you are a 9-5 office worker, a stay-at-home mom, an ever-scouting fad writer or an out there/have-your-own-style tattoo shop manager, layering fashions, accessories, skin care ingredients and makeup items can move a simple daytime look into the WOW! category with a couple of easy steps.

Here are a few to get you started. Following the bouncing ball:

image**Skin Care**-Washing, treating and moisturizing are, nowadays, the bare necessities. If you AT LEAST do that? You’ll hold your ground. But why not combine a few skin-loving ingredients to treat your face to an experience that will multitask with just a few natural, easy to find things. Because my face tends to be a bit dry in the winter, I tend to make my own cleanser/masks to get moisture and anti-aging properties from natural ingredients for the best results. It’s actually simple…

1. Combine 2 tbsp of a mashed overripe banana, 1 tsp raw honey (local is best), 1 tsp heavy cream, 1/2 tsp instant coffee & 1/4 tsp white sugar. (This may sound like a lot, but think ahead: you can freeze extra overripe bananas in the freezer, buy the instant coffee once to use in other things as well, and substitute powdered milk for heavy cream for longer shelf life.)

2. Mix all your ingredients EXCEPT the sugar till the consistency is a bit thick and the coffee has dissolved. Then add the sugar last.

3. Begin to rub it onto your face in small, circular motions. Go over it a few times, adding a bit more each time.

4. After about 5-10 minutes, wash off with warm water & a gentle cleanser (like Aveeno’s Foaming Face Wash)

5. Pat dry.

Whala! Instant face treatment with a combo of fresh ingredients. Your skin is clean, moist, soft and treated. Easy mixing, right? Now, let’s think about what you just did: *Bananas naturally cleanses while hydrating & adding anti-aging vitamins into your skin; *Raw honey is a natural healer and will help heal fines lines due to small skin cracks and stretching; *Heavy cream is loaded with moisturizers and antibodies to fight infection and environmental skin damage; *Instant coffee has just enough caffeine to constrict blood vessels, even your skin tone and awaken tired skin; *White sugar is a gentle exfoliant that will remove dead skin cells and allow the other ingredients to work on the next active layer.

Kind of all makes sense, huh? It’s not a lot of work and if you refrigerate the leftovers you can use what is left daily for up to a week. There are so many ingredients you can add or substitute if you want other skin problems targeted. Tip: Don’t like the way the bananas turn brown in the fridge? Use Stage 1 baby food bananas. They last longer, don’t turn brown and the little bit of lemon juice that is in them helps even out your skin tone too. Baby peaches are good to soften skin. Oatmeal powder can reduce pore size. Yogurt has natural bacteria to help fight acne and breakouts. (Click here for other ingredients and recipes that can help your skin type.)

image**Mascara**-Any YouTube video will tell you that you should wear between 8-10 coats of mascara for drop dead looking eyes. Ummmm… no offense? I don’t have time for that. And it never looks like the pictures anyways. So what’s my layering trick for great, long lashes? It’s kind of simple and doesn’t need a lot stuff. But you will need 3 different mascaras:

1. Get a good mascara that has a great comb wand. This will enable you to coat each lash for length and keep them separated. Plus you can get the little innie lashes with a pointed brush. My go to brand? Benefit Cosmetics “They’re Real!” Mascara. (Sephora, $24)

2. Next, when mascara is completely dry, curl them with a eyelash curler. None specifically, just make sure you are comfortable using it and it doesn’t pinch your eyelid or pull out any lashes.

3. Another coat of mascara. This time use one that lengthens and keeps the separated but begins to add volume. Again, a good wand is important. A comb is good again but can be one whose “bristles” are tighter together. I really like Buxom Lash Mascara. It keeps them fanned with a bit of thickness. (Sephora, $19)

4. Last step? One coat of a thick foofy brushed waterproof mascara. Lock in that look and keep your butterfly eyes looking smudge-proof all day. There are always new ones on the market and I try them before mine dry out and get old, but I’ve always had great success with Lancôme’s Waterproof Hypnose Drama Mascara.

Don’t get scared away by my suggestions of department store brands. I have had great success as well with drugstore brands such as Rimmel’s Scandal’Eyes Show Off Mascara, Lash Sensational Mascara from Maybelline, and L’Oreal Power Voluminous 24hr Mascara. Each is easy on the wallet but still layer-able to get the look you want.

image**Lips**-Maintaining a good, even lip tone with color, gloss, or both will take a little getting used to. The fact is, I don’t have time all day to constantly reapply an entire color routine on my lips. And between chatting all day and drinking coffee, it stays everywhere but on my lips. It has taken some time to get a good routine down, to maintain a lip look that will only need a touch up now and then. But you’ve got to trust me to play with this till you get the look/color you want. Ready?:

1. Exfoliate your lips with 2-3 drops of olive oil and a pinch of white sugar. Dab it on your lips then roll them back and forth so the oil penetrates and the sugar takes off any dry skin. Wipe off excess sugar with a tissue and blot excess oil.

2. Outline your lips with a neutral lip pencil. A great find is Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lasting Finish Pencil Lip Liner in Nude or Avon’s Glimmersticks Lip Liners in Simply Spice or Pink Cashmere.

3. Next time you are shopping, hunt and find a packet of unsweetened Pink Lemonade Kool-Aid and/or Cherry Kool-Aid (if you find other flavors, grab them. They are pennies and can be combined for great shades.) Using a Q-tip, dot a little bit of the powders on your lips, combining to achieve the color you want. If you have to add a drop of water to the other end of the Q-tip to help blend, that’s fine. Just add evenly so you don’t have one lip one color, one lip another. When done, let sit & dry for about 5 min. (If you prefer to just use one flavor, that’s fine too.)

4. Using a lip brush, apply a small amount of a good balm or gloss to keep lips soft. I prefer a balm, as glosses can get oily and transfer more easily giving your color less stay power. My fave right now? Chapstick’s Cake Batter formula. Yum! If you like a bit of frost to your shade, Nivea has a “Kiss of Shimmer Radiant Lip Care” which tops off for a nice, long-lasting sexy frosty shade while keeping lips soft & smooth.

5. Carry a gloss with you that matches today’s Kool-Aid shade in case of early fading or blotchiness or for an extra hint of colored shine.

If a stain isn’t your thing, try to find a ONE STEP lipstick with mega-stay power to keep your lips bright & soft. It won’t last as long but will buy you time in between lip breaks. A good find for me? New York Color Expert Last Lipstick. I find it lasts longer than any tube lipstick I own and the price is a steal.

So there you have it. Layering to get the look you love and the stopping the clock of aging. (Okay, not really but we can sure try to slow it down!) Good luck with these suggestions and please–PLEASE!–share if you have any of your own!

Next time? I think we will tackle eye liners, sweaters and….let me think on it.

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Soothing Somethings When Your Sick….

26 Feb

imageYup, it’s been forever since I’ve been on my blog. I’m such a slug lately. Oh I have a ton of reasons (err….excuses) on what’s kept me away, all of which seem legit. Living in Upstate NY, I can easily say I’ve been trying not too freeze to death, I can’t type with gloves on inside, I shiver so much my spell check gave up on me. I honestly have been fighting the flu for 2 weeks now. Not a cold with the sniffles-flu. The full-blown 102 fever, body aches, hacking cough, runny nose flu. The kind that only responds to one medicine, and it costs $125. With how horrible I felt?…I would have sold my car for the right medicine, I was so sick. I’m finally back on my feet, just in time to deal with another week of below zero windchills. Not to be a stick in the mud, but the this weather SUCKS and I’m sick of it. I won’t complain too much though because I would never leave. I love the other three seasons too much.

So, while I was battling the flu, I bundled up and tried to find things to do. In bed. Without moving. Other than sipping tea and watching endless daytime repeats of Law and Order: SVU it was hard to find things to keep me occupied. Shopping on EBay is always a good time killer, but it can get expensive. I think I even read magazines older than my cat. What other things did I find to humor me, keep busy but still rest? Here are a select few:

image1. LA Girl Luxury Creme Lip Color in Romance–Thanks to the social media Pinterest (which in all reality is just online hounding) I found an epic lipstick that someone had posted. This color was WAY out of my comfort zone. It was a dark, creamy shade without a frost or high gloss finish. I have never seen this brand in any of my local stores, so I took a chance and ordered a new one from Ebay. It came fine without any problems. And the color? AWESOME!! Definitely looks bold against my pale skin and goes great with my auburn hair. The color went on in the same shade as the picture and I was thrilled. Not necessarily and everyday color, but definitely a color for a special event or night on the town! eBay, from $4.75

image2. Style & Co. Stripe Lace Pointelle Tunic— After being stuck in bed for five days hearing the wind howl outside my window, I realized I’d never leave the house unless I knew I had a few extra sweaters to keep me warm. This one sweater really caught my eye. It was long and flowy which I like. It did have a loose knit pattern to it, but with a long or short tee under it, it would be toasty warm. Then, come spring, it could be worn alone or with just a cami for a lighter feel. This sweater was also a big deal because it had dark blue stripes. I NEVER wear blue! I don’t think it looks good on me, but with the white against it, it actually looks nice. A great investment piece on clearance! Macy’s, $38.99 (discount coupon codes available)

image3. Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel Polish in “Too Haute”–Nothing can lift a mood like a new manicure with a jazzy color. Where I work, it’s easy to blow a new mani in 2-3 days with all the picking, scraping, bumping and cleaning I do with my nails. I don’t want to weaken my nails with a salon gel color so I want the longest lasting nail polish I can get with a good formula, a brush & a topcoat. I have used the Miracle Gel Polish before and although it still chips after a while, I probably get twice as long with my manicures using this formula than any other. And the Too Haute color? A bright, bold raspberry purple that can’t be overlooked! CVS, $9.99

image4. Jamberry Nails in Leopard–Sometimes your datebook doesn’t even allow you to do your nails nice twice a week. Because time is of the essence and healthy nails are a must, some people are stepping away from salon gel colors and doing funky manicures at home. “Jamicures” are a big deal right now. They are kind of like a stick-on adhesive manicure, but I find that they stay on much longer than regular stick ons. I think this has to do with the fact you need to warm them a bit to make them stick better. Stuck in bed, I found it easy to have a good pair of cuticle scissors, a tea light candle, and a pair of tweezers. With clean nails, free from lingering polish, lotion or lint, I take the size I need and hold it with my tweezers. I hold the Jamberry nail cover about 4″ above the tea light’s flame. When the Jam begins to “curl” slightly from the heat, I press it on to the bare nail and hold. When it cools and is stuck on, I trim it around my own nail so it looks even and pretty. When a busy week is ahead of me where doing a manicure 2-3 times is too time consuming, a Jamicure is a great solution to having jazzy nails with stay-power! Jamberry designs are often purchased through home parties or independent consultants. I get mine from my fave Jam Family member Jessica. www.facebook.com/jamcapades, $15 for 4+ full manicures

image5. ForGoodnessGrape Lip Balm in Chocolate Ice Cream Soda–Fact: when you are sick, you blow your nose about every 10 minutes, coughing in between. You try to drink frequently to stay hydrated. That does help on the inside but the fact remains that your lips will feel like potato chips by about day two. I’ve always been a big fan of FGG lip balms, scrubs & tints. But when the body is calling in sick, I call in the big guns to keep my lips moist. Their formula is based with different butters and oils to help rehydrate and lock in moisture. Then they create unique flavors you could probably never imagine! And their prices are so reasonable, it gives you a chance to get a few to try. Oh, and if that’s not enough… rubbing a little bit on your finger to moisten that sore, flaky nose helps big time too… with no burning! It doesn’t matter how sick you are, we all know we are a sucker for an ice cold chocolate soda whenever possible. Okay, well I am. Even if my stomach is flippy, a little bit of chocolate that I can at least smell can bring a smile to even a sick girl’s face! ForGoodnessGrape.com, $4.00

The cold and flu season is not fun for anyone. We can follow the doctor’s orders, take our meds, get a lot of rest, and drink endless fluids. Although these things might be good to feel better faster, it’s hard not to get bored in the process. Getting ideas from magazines for the new season is always a good call. Trying new makeup styles can be fun too. Just remember to keep the germs away and you will be back into fashionista mode in no time!

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‘Tis The Season… For Giveaways!!

11 Dec

imageEveryone is out and about doing holiday shopping, enjoying the pretty lights, or home wrapping gifts, making cookies, and–of course–getting stressed! Ugh. But have no fear… Sassy is here! I am going to calm your season’s stresses by giving you a chance to win goodies for your friends or family. Or–EVEN BETTER!–a giveaway to snag a goodie for yourself just because you are awesome and deserve it! So what is Sassy giving away this season? Three EPIC gift packs that any glamour guru would love to have! Three winners will be chosen (out of minimum of 25 entries) by random.org. You must complete the requirements to have your name entered. Once verified, you will be notified that you are in the running. If you want to be entered and cannot meet a requirement please contact me here and we will discuss it.

Ready to see the prizes? Here we go:

imageThe Art Of Color Gift Set from Paul Mitchell: If you or your bestie use color to enhance your hair’s natural shade, then this is a great holiday gift set! You will get: Color Protect® Daily Shampoo, 10.14 oz. and Color Protect® Daily Conditioner, 10.14 oz. Packaged in a cute box, this is a great gift for any diva who wants to have great products to take care of and extend the color in their hair!

imageForGoodnessGrape Strawberry Kisses Set: These are three of my favorite products from one of my favorite indie companies. Known for their unique balms, glosses, tints, scrubs and fabulously scented products, ForGoodnessGrape is my go-to lip company to keep my lips soft, conditioned, slick and colored. In this special set, I have included a Strawberry Sugar Lip Tint (a gentle strawberry scented & flavored frosted tint in a light pink shade), a Queen of Hearts Sugar Scrub that will gently exfoliate your lips during this rough weather, and a Strawberry Shortcake Lip Balm to keep them soft and healthy. Natural, organic and earth friendly ingredients are used in these American made goodies that are fun and healthy to use!

imageThe Art of Rejuvenation Gift Set from Paul Mitchell: Ahh! Tea Tree’s natural extracts and rejuvenating scents will turn your hair care routine into a sensory experience. It cleans your hair gently without heavy chemicals while stimulating your scalp to keep it healthy in any weather or season. The winner will receive Tea Tree Special Shampoo®, 10.14 oz., Tea Tree Special Conditioner®, 10.14 oz., and Tea Tree Firm Hold Gel®, 2.5 oz. This limited edition holiday set is a fabulous little extra for anyone special!

Okay, how do you get entered? You need to do a few things:

  1. Follow me, SassyAuburn, on Twitter by clicking here: SassyAuburn on Twitter
  2. Follow ForGoodnessGrape on Twitter by clicking here: 4GoodnessGrape on Twitter
  3. Follow Paul Mitchell on Twitter by clicking here: Paul Mitchell on Twitter
  4. Follow “ItsSassyAuburn” on Facebook by clicking here: SassyAuburn’s Facebook Page
  5. Comment on the Facebook “ItsSassyAuburn” post for this contest with your @Twitter name, a flavor lip balm you’d create if you could, and what you need to keep your hair healthy!

(If you do not have a Twitter account, email me for an alternate entry method)

Winners will be selected at random at 12:01am on 12/19 from the total entry collection. Make sure you share this contest with your friends and followers because there must be at least 25 entries. The more people we have participating, the more giveaways we can do in the future! I will confirm your entry on my Facebook page under this posting, so look for your name there as being entered.

ChristmasLights

Happy holidays and GOOD LUCK!!!

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*POOF*–Quick Fall Lip Balm!

25 Oct

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Okay no huge, long, wordy post. This is direct and to-the-point so follow along and don’t fall behind. I’m going to quickly tell you how to make a simple, moisturizing lip balm to keep you pucker happy as the seasons change. Ready?

You will need the following items:

* 1/2 tsp. raw honey STILL IN THE WAX comb (see photo)
* 1/2 tsp. organic cold pressed coconut oil
* 1/2 tsp. raw honey WAX ONLY. (You can get this by scooping out 1 teaspoon of honey from the comb, eat it, and continue to chew it till all that is left is the wax.) (see photo)
* Sprinkle of organic cinnamon

Honey
Coconut oil
Cinnamon

 

 

 

 

If you read my posts on a regular basis, you should have everything you need already because they are all items that are in my bathroom or kitchen right now. If you WANT to buy them, feel free… but don’t just use them for this balm. They are a few of nature’s precious commodities that can be used in soooo many beauty products as well as in cooking & baking.

Now, take a shot glass and scoop out the waxed honey–scrape it in. Scoop out the coconut out–scrape it in. Drop in the chewed piece of wax (flatten it out as best you can)–add that in. Add the dash of cinnamon. Put the shot glass in the microwave on MEDIUM for 15 seconds. Check it. See if anything is melting/bubbling. If yes, STOP! If not, put it in again for 10 seconds more. Now you should see the coconut oil has melted and the honey is bubbling. BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE GLASS IS HOT AS HELL! Remove with a hotmit and set on counter. With a Popsicle stick, a narrow butter knife or tiny spoon, begin stirring.(Don’t touch the glass!!!) It should blend easily and begin firming up the more you stir. Make sure it is completely blended and lump free.

Before it gets too firm, scrape all contents into a CLEAN left over eye shadow container, tiny makeup jar or even an empty sample holder that has been thoroughly cleaned & dried. Put the balm in the container, scooping it in after if has cooled a bit. Smooth out the top and refrigerate for an hour.

My balm

Bam. Done. Awesome, easy balm! Once you get it mastered, you’ll be able to put them in swivel Chapstick-like tubes for easier application and storage. Sure, you could get funky with flavors, but for fall, stick with cinnamon. The balm works fab, lasts for hours & hours and well, hell….you made it. Au Naturale! All the ingredients are helpful for protecting you from the nasty germs flying around since all are anti-viral and anti-bacterial.

See? Easy peasy, puddin’ and pie. A nice, tasty, easy DIY lip balm for fall that you can be proud to make & call your own!!

Anim kiss
Questions? Feel free to email me and I’ll see if I can help!

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Congrats To Our “Grape” Contest Winner!!

2 Aug

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First, let me say “thank you” to all my fans and followers who entered our “Grape Contest” for the ForGoodnessGrape lip care package. The flavors everyone came up with were so unique and awesome. I’d use them all if they were available!

I am so happy to announce that the winner of our contest is Denise Lopez! Denise said she would create the flavor “Pumpkin Marshmallow” for her lip balm. What a tasty combo, especially with fall on its way. Hmmm…. I wonder if we can get Lisa to make that one special for the season?

As soon as I hear from Denise, I will be sending out her ForGoodnessGrape goodie bag: A lip set containing a lip candy lip balm and sugary lip scrub in Lemon Cupcake; plus, since those lips will be looking and feeling fabulous, I am also adding a “Kate” Lip Tintx–a peachy-pink moisturizing lip tint with a hint of golden royalty!
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Again, congratulations to Denise! Please share your experience with ForGoodnessGrape’s products after you have had a chance to enjoy them!!

(Below you will find the entry names and the random selector’s pick.)

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Free, Contest, Win, Goodies…. What Else Do You Need To Know?

16 Jul

imageSo… You’re entered into my fab contest to win a Sassy Set of goodies from ForGoodnessGrape, right? This is the last week to enter! Winner is picked next Monday….

….what? You haven’t entered yet? You’re not serious.

LET’S GET MOVING PEOPLE!

Let me remind you of the fabulous prize that is up for grabs on “The Sassy Is Right”:
You have a chance to win – FREE – a set of FGG‘s top products. ONE lucky winner will receive FGG’s most popular flavor–Lemon Cupcake–in a lip candy lip balm and sugary lip scrub. And…AND… because I am such a cool blogger and you luuuuuuuuuv me, I am also adding a “Kate” Lip Tintx–a peachy-pink moisturizing lip tint with a hint of golden sparkle. Face it…. you know you want this! “Oh Sassy, this is soooo cool! And you are so awesome! How do I enter?” Well you can check out my last blogpost for details OR follow the instructions below. It’s easy-peasy:

1. FOLLOW SassyAuburn on Twitter here: https://mobile.twitter.com/sassyauburn (@sassyauburn)
2. FOLLOW ForGoodnessGrape on Twitter here: https://mobile.twitter.com/4goodnessgrape (@4GoodnessGrape)
3. LEAVE A COMMENT HERE (go ahead, click it!) answering this question: If you could create your own lip balm flavor, what would it be??

(If you DON’T have a Twitter account, you can “Contact Sassy” above and I will let you know what you can substitute that with.)

Now, maybe you already are a fan of FGG products. Maybe you already entered and just can’t wait to see if you won. You need a balm fix NOW! I feel ya. Okay, let me sweeten the tea just a little bit more:

Thanks to the fabalicious Lisa from ForGoodnessGrape, you can order your fave lip balms, scrubs, tints and then-some and get 15% OFF…. let me spell that out… FIFTEEN PERCENT OFF!…. just by using the coupon code “SASSY” at checkout. No, I’m not kidding. But I’m telling ya, you gotta get moving!

You now have less than a week. Let’s get entered in the contest then jump over to FGG’s website and use that discount code before your lips start to cry. Oh they will. Trust me. And it won’t be pretty–but they can be if you treat them right with some goodies!

If you have any problem getting entered, please “Contact Sassy” with the homepage link.

The clock is ticking….. GO!

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Sassy’s Product of the Day….

17 May


I can’t hide the fact that I am a lip-product junkie. Lipstick, gloss, stains, balms, you name it…. I’ve probably tried it and/or owned it. When I finally embraced the fact that I had been blessed with full, luscious lips–Anjolina Jo-lips lips–I became a fanatic about lip products. Honestly, I’ll try just about anything. Shiny, sparkly, bright, matte, frosted, glittery, you name it. I’ll either love it or hate it (there really is no in between) and will make my thoughts known. Like right now.

I discovered Maybelline’s SuperStay 24 Color for lips close to a year ago when it first came out. Although I like my glamour to have a pop of color on my lips, I’m not too fond of having to check it or touch it up every 2-3 hours. That’s why I’ve been a fan of GOOD long-wearing lip colors. Many of them make the claim to last for hours and keep your lips healthy, but most don’t live up to the hype. Some even dry my lips out to the point where potato chips have more moisture. I saw the ads for SuperStay 24 Color in almost every magazine on the market when it first came out. I tried it, and loved it immediately. There are MANY (30) shades to choose from, and the color and moisturizer are conveniently packaged in one slim tube. I’m sure if you are looking for a specific shade, you will find one on the shade list which can be found here.

Even though I already own about seven shades of this great product, I felt the need for another color–something more vibrant, more bold, more spring. And I found it. Maybelline’s SuperStay 24 Color in “Lasting Lilac” is not a shade for the faint of heart. It is a bright lilac combined with a touch of light pink with an iridescent shimmer to it. I have to say, alone it has a MAJOR “wow” factor. And that is not a bad thing! But what is even better? It blends well with any of the other SuperStay 24 colors to create something totally different and unique! It’s great for day and night wear and will last and last. For example, I put it on today at 1pm and it’s still on even now…at 11pm! (FYI? Eye makeup remover takes it off at night with no problems.) If you feel your lips getting a little dry during the day, just pop off the end that contains the built-in moisturizer and give your lips a little hydration and love.

So are you looking for a great makeup item to really give your Spring look a pop? I seriously suggest you pick up Maybelline’s SuperStay 24 Color in “Lasting Lilac” for something bright, fun and long-lasting! It’s a color that does not run with the norm, and blends easily to create fun, fancy shades all your own!

(Available at most drug and department stores, approximately $6-8)

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Sassy’s Quick Beauty Tip Of The Day….

13 Apr

Right now, my lips are a chapped mess. I think part of it has to do with it being so dry around here where I live (we haven’t seen a good soaking rain in over a month!) and allergy season is already going into full swing. Any balms or oils get absorbed in seconds, and lipstick looks blotchy and flaky seconds after I put it on. So, rather than covering the problem, or attempting to pick it off, I had to conquer it. How do we do that? EXFOLIATE! Believe it or not, fashionistas, the cure is as easy as 1-2-3 !!

 

  1. In a small dish, mix 1/4 tsp. brown sugar, 1/4 tsp. honey and 1/4 tsp. of olive oil. Combine into a gritty paste. (The mixture fits perfect in a 5 gram makeup jar.)
  2. Using your finger tips, gently rub the mixture into your lips. Do this for about one minute.
  3. Using a soft towel or tissue, lightly wipe off any sugar that didn’t fall off or dissolve. Rub lips together to make sure all the grit is gone and the oil is getting absorbed.)

 
Once you’ve exfoliated all the dead skin cells off your lips, put on a rich balm to keep them soft. My favorites?


 
eos Lip Balm with SPF 15 in Lemon Drop
 
 

 
 
Maybelline Baby Lips in Peppermint
 
 
 
 
 

 
Korres Lip Butter in Guava
 
 

The gritties will remove the dead flaky skin from your lips, the honey will naturally remove the dead layers underneath that don’t flake off, and the olive oil will moisturize your lips while infusing antioxidants to keep them soft and safe from the elements. If you do this quick, easy exfoliating every night for one week, you’ll notice your lips will be looking and feeling better in no time. Then, once they are feeling back to normal, you only have to do this little exfoliating trick 1-2x a week.

Don’t spend a ton to look like million bucks! Just a few simple things around the house can keep you looking sexy chic without breaking the bank!!

(HINTS: Don’t have brown sugar?…White table sugar will work fine. Don’t have honey?…. Molasses or corn syrup will do the job. Don’t have any olive oil? Sweet almond oil, organic coconut oil or grapeseed oil are perfect alternatives too!!!)

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“When In Doubt, Wear Red”

3 Apr

I get up with my daughter in the morning to make sure she gets off to school okay. While she’s in the bathroom straightening her hair, curling her lashes, or body spritzing from head to toe, I am in the living room checking all of my social networking sites for any news or updates that happened overnight. Today while checking Twitter, someone who I follow typed this simple statement: “Good morning everyone! Make it a great day by wearing red lipstick!” Seemed simple enough but it stuck with me. Especially since red isn’t one of the popular colors in my wardrobe and makeup ensemble. Love it on my nails, but for clothes and lips? I always question if it the best color for me.

But I wanted to make it a great day, so when I got up after dozing back up off for a few hours, I grabbed myself a pair of jazzy jeans, a lightweight red top and a pair of black flats. Now, I had the right colors with my clothes, the next was the makeup! When I usually wear red, its a very NEUTRAL red. Not a cool red with blue hues, not a warm red with yellow/orange/brown hues. Straight up neutral red. I tend to wear very neutral makeup. Fair ivory foundation, a neutral peachy-pink blush, and a light silver shadow on the eye with deep black liner and mascara. Oh, but how about those lips? What do I pick when I want a good, long lasting, not too bold red lip? Let’s see:

L’Oreal Infallible Plumping Lip Gloss in Plumped Red – I love L’Oreal’s Infallible lip glosses. They have a great applicator, the scent/taste is actually nice, and the color is long wearing… up to 6 hours! It’s almost more like a liquid lip color than a sticky gloss. The plumping part for me is just an extra since I have full, pouty lips to begin with. It was more the color I liked about this gloss than anything else. It’s a true, bright, red gloss that moisturizes while it colors. And it DOES color… hour after hour, keeping my lips soft, tasty, and sexy with this shiny shade. Taking a chance with a red lip color is a gutsy move… and this is the one that definitely works for me!

Avon Shine Attract Lipstick in Passionate Red – This is a new item to Avon’s makeup line, and I think they might have hit a home run with it. The concept is unique: take a great shade of lipstick and surround it in a clear, moisture-infused gloss for one great tube of color with ton of shine and conditioners. When I ordered this, I have NO IDEA what possessed me to order it in red. But now? I’m so glad I did. The shade is very neutral, and with the high shine, it keeps it looking more like a light lip tint than a heavy, thick lipstick. It is a great balance between hydrators, gloss and color. It is easy to put on, lasts a good amount of time, and keeps my lips feeling silky smooth. The color isn’t over powering, and the taste/scent is tolerable. If I wanted something light and silky for everyday wear? This is a great red lip color to turn to!

So today was red day for me. I’m glad I stuck to my Twitter’s suggestion and wore a color that lifted my spirits and made me step outside of my comfort zone. Red is definitely a color to reach for on days that you need a boost. I guess I should listen to the famous Bill Blass when it comes to days such as these:


“When in doubt, wear red.”

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Shopping Steal: Better Than Average Balm!

27 Mar

I am the first to admit it: I love lip products. Lipsticks, glosses, stains, balms, scrubs, you name it. I think nicely tended-to lips are sexy on a woman and should be paid attention to as much as your regular skin care. They need moisturizer, they need exfoliating, they need shine, they need color, and a nice flavor doesn’t hurt either. Finding the right products for your lips isn’t always easy either, and I think that’s why many of us end up with the bottomless pit of lip products in our cosmetic drawer at home–with more items we dislike than love. We’re always looking for THE one. I have finally reached the conclusion there is no “THE” one product. But there are a lot of good ones, and you have to find the one that is right for you.

Each day, the products I use on my lips vary. Sometimes it depends on what I’m wearing, where I am going, whether I need something super long lasting, whether I need something super moisturizing, it’s always different. At night, however, I want one thing: I want a rich, emollient lip balm with a nice light taste that will stay on from the time I go to bed till I get up in the morning. Simple, right? Wrong. I can’t find anything. I’ve tried $10 products, I’ve tried $1 products. I’ve tried simple Chapsticks. I’ve tried glossy balms. I’ve tried bags and bags of different things. They work, for a little bit, but then after a while the glory wears off and I’ll eventually wake up with dry chapped lips one morning.

…. till now.

The other day while at Walmart I saw a small display at the check out with little Mountain Dew cards all over it. On the cards was a soda bottle-shaped lip balm in Mountain Dew flavor.Okay, I’m not a HUGE soda lover, but oh I do love my Dew. It was soooo cute! Hmmm. Another balm to try and add to the collection? What the hell. I picked up the original flavored (they also had Mountain Dew Red, but I’m not that familiar with that), took it home and put it in my nightstand for my bedtime beauty routine. Well, I’ll be damned…. this is THE most moisturizing lip balm I think I’ve ever used. It’s not sticky, tastes uber fab, lasts all night, and keeps my lips super moisturized right up till morning! Oh.. and get this: it was on clearance. FOR 75 CENTS!

The closest thing I’ve used that has moisturized my lips this good was the EOS Egg which I really liked (and got at Walmart’s check out as well.) But… um… this was about $2.00 cheaper, tastes sweeter and works better! I don’t want to be a hoarder, but I will be picking up a few more of these and stashing them away because at 75 cents? You can’t beat that.

So there’s a shopping tip for the day: If you see the Mountain Dew Lip Balm while you are out and about? Keep in mind that Sassy thinks it is dew-tabulous!!!

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