Lani's Top 4 Perfume Picks

I remember reading an article in Nylon about whether you're a one-scent kinda gal or the kind that chooses based on mood. And I was obviously the second one-I can't get enough of perfumes! It's one of those things that you don't necessarily need to have a closet full of...but it's fun to have a nice collection, right?! There's something so satisfying about being able to choose what kind of perfume you want to wear for the day! Without further ado, here are my absolute favorites at the moment!

Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne - When I first smelled this inside of Bloomingdale's it was such a typical girly scent and I just swooned over it! It's a very light floral and smells like a more sophisticated honeysuckle. It actually reminded me of Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen's Coast to Coast perfume that I wore when I was in middle school (I know, how embarrassing). The only downside is that the scent fades pretty quick, but luckily I have this giant bottle so I'm pretty liberal with my sprays!
Diptyque Philosykos - This perfume is indescribably amazing-it's green and earthy but has a warmness to it-almost kind of milky? It's described as a fig scent, encapsulating all aspects of the fig (the tree, leaf, fruit...you get it) but it almost smells a bit like a coconut to me. It wears sooo nicely as it starts off really green and eventually wears down to warmer notes.
D&G L'Imperatrice - Believe it or not, this perfume like is actually unisex although I can't really imagine a guy wearing this! It's a very floral and fruity smell, without that overly sickening sweet part that always seems to plague most fruity perfumes. It's definitely more fresh, some even describe it as "aquatic" but I have no clue what that means. Perfume lingo is so weird.
Jo Malone Orange Blossom - Tara bought me this perfume for my birthday and it's currently a favorite of mine-I've been spritzing it on like crazy before I go to school! The scent is so citrusy, it smells exactly like an orange rind. It's summery and fresh, a definite must-have for any citrus fans out there!

I definitely have my eye on the next scents that I would love to try out-specifically Dafne by Olo Fragrance and L'Ombre Dans L'eau by Diptyque.

I'm always on the hunt for another scent so what's your favorite? And what types of scents do you usually lean towards? xx

Our Current Favorite Drugstore Lipsticks

Tara

Hail to the bright berries! The colder months can easily get your mood down, so throwing on a bright pop of color to your lips can lift your spirits- well, at least mine. I was always terrified of the more purple-tones berries like fuchsias, but when Revlon released their "shine" collection which is a sheerer, lighter version of their famous cremes, Fuchsia Shock was one that I picked up (along with 4 others) but it quickly became my favorite. It's a more balm-y lipstick that's super comfortable and hassle free! Another Revlon Creme finish lipstick I've been loving is "Sassy Mauve" a deeper MLBB (my lips but better) color that's slowly transitioning me into the fall. Last but not least my holy grail chubby lip balm from Sally Hansen in Happy Berry. I love everything about this lip product- the smell, the color, the wear... I can go on and on.

Lani

I was so stoked when drugstore brands started launching their own versions of Clinique's Chubby Sticks! For a tinted balm that would wear down pretty quick, I wasn't down to pay a hefty $16. Covergirl absolutely won the contest for me, the amount of different shades offered was overwhelming! I ended up with my two favorites being a rose and plum shade-one of them is always somewhere in my purse. For a price of about $7, I felt that it was well worth it. Another drugstore favorite is Maybelline's Color Whisper, it is so light on the lips but has such amazing color payoff. I was pleasantly surprised and ended up purchasing Made it Mauve and Berry Ready, my favorite of the two being the mauve shade. 

What's your favorite drugstore lip product? Have you tried any of the above & what is your opinion on them? xx

Nails of the Moment: Essie's Full Steam Ahead / Tara

Okay guys, so I am officially obsessed with this new nail color! Excuse me for not having a trendy bordeaux or a deep blue as my favorite color for fall- but I need to tell people about "Full Steam Ahead" by Essie.

 I believe it was from their summer collection, but I recently got my fingers on this polish, and let me tell you- it's a life-changer. I've recently been obsessed with muted purples and blues, check out our Summer Nail Picks - so when I saw this color, I thought "eh, I have something like that already..." I compared it to Revlon's Provence in Walgreens and I'm not going to lie they looked like the same polish in different bottles. Essie's Full Steam Ahead has itty bitty microshimmer, similar to the one in Essie's Bikini So Teeny, so that's definitely what sold me! It's more of a muted pinkish-purple once on the nails, it goes on sheer for the first coat, but turns into perfection once applied a second time.  I've already re-painted my nails with this color, and I think feel like there is going to be a back-up purchased in the near future (:


What's your favorite nail polish at the moment? Do you own this polish, and what do you think? Do you love it as much as me?  We would love to know !  

Trends: Matte Lips

Matte lips are such an amazing statement to any outfit and In Style magazine couldn't have made a more gorgeous editorial to showcase the latest must-have beauty item! Here's our personal take on matte lips, how we like to wear it, and our current favorite product!

Tara

Summer is more easy breezy sheer lipsticks or tinted balms, but for fall/winter, you'll see us sporting matte lips. There's nothing more chic than bold liner, tons of mascara and a matte lip. Sure matte lipcolors have their ups and downs, but the impact makes it all worth it. I personally dread the look of a ultra nude matte lip (makes people look ill) so bring in the reds and berries for this season! The trick to keep matte lips look and apply flawlessly is to exfoliate! Unfortunately matte lips will exentuate any dryness or flakey spots, but keeping your lips exfoliated as well as moisturized is the key to success! P.s. look for more tips for wearing matte lips at the bottom of this post (; 

Lani

Matte lips have always been a favorite of mine since I usually avoid anything too glossy as it reminds me of being in middle school and applying layers upon layers of grape-flavored lip gloss. (Insert shudder going through spine.) I definitely love a natural lip and matte red lipstick gives a great flush of color when you apply it first on your finger and dab it into the center of your lip (after having applied chapstick), then gently dab it everywhere else to avoid any harsh lines. Bold, matte lips also tend to be my favorite accessory when I'm dressed down a bit more. Red is such a classic and looks good with virtually any outfit and hairdo! It's like the perfect trying-without-trying accessory.

Lipsticks pictured from top left to right: MAC in Diva, Tarte in Hope, MAC in Ruby Woo, Sonia Kashuk in Berry Natural, Tarte in Fiery, Rimmel's Kate Moss in 101

Tips for Wearing Matte Lips

To make it last: There's only one word you'll need to remember-BLOT! After applying a first layer of lipstick, blot away the excess to create a stain. Repeat this step 3 times and your matte lips won't budge! Another good way to make them stay is to create a stain using lip liner, except remember to fill in the lips too so in the case that they do fade, it won't create an outline.

Keeping dryness at bay: Lip balm is always key to matte lips. It helps to apply a good balm (we like using Burt's Bees, Vaseline's Balm, and CO Bigelow) first thing in the makeup process. When it comes time to apply the lipstick, gently wipe off any excess.

Current Most Used Products / Early Fall 2013

Tara

Who says you can't have pink lips in the fall? I am adoring the rosy flush of Benefit Pillow Talk lipstick and Maybelline Baby Lips in Strike a Rose! Maybelline surprised me with this product (Baby Lips are usually pretty sheer or non-existent) but I love the vibrancy of Strike a Rose- it even has some staying power! Obviously I need to give my lashes a little love with my holy grail Buxom Mascara. I will continue to repurchase this forever......and ever. On my last trip to Sephora, I was looking at their eyeliners and and I usually don't buy Sephora brand products, but their Waterproof eye pencil in Cocoa caught my eye- I am absolutely in love. I wear it everyday smudged on my lower lash line and it gives the perfect amount of smokiness to any eye look! So, I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bummed about summer coming to a close, but once I roll on my Pacifica Blood Orange perfume- it's like summer never ended. Who doesn't want to smell like a succulent orange?! (; Unfortunately my skin stays oily no matter what time of the year it is, so to set my foundation, I powder with Make Up For Ever Super Matte Powder- it's amazing! And since I'm currently almost out of mine- and Sephora is sold out- I'm having withdrawals. 

Lani

The summer heat is still going on strong, as well as my laziness when it comes to getting ready. I'm still sticking to simple dab-and-go products, my latest favorite being Rimmel's Scandaleye! I apply it in the outer corners of my eyes and gently dab it inwards so that it gives my eyes a bit more dimension. I then blend out any harsh corners or shoddy dabbing job with Sigma's Blending Brush (E25) that Tara generously gave me-it's my new love! I usually follow up with a heaping load of mascara, my favorite being a sample of Chanel's Inimitable Intense. Ugh, I can rave about this product forever and how it puts all of my other mascaras to shame but it's Chanel, so what else should I expect? As for lips, I stick with either a simple balm like C.O. Bigelow's Rose Salve or Nars' Pure Sheer Lipstick in Paloma, which gives off a playful wash of coral. And then voila! Effortless, quick, but still looks pretty decent. It almost feels like I'm cheating Mother Nature.

What are you guys' fall favorites? Have you tried any of ours?