MAC Little Darlings Lip Gloss Set

Little Darlings, the final release in MAC'S Holiday 2008 Collection, is now available online and at a counter near you. The gift sets feature 5 miniature products, including lipglass and lustreglass, pigments and eyeliners.

I have been eagerly anticipating this release because I have an obsession with lip products and you can't get a better variety of the best colors at any other time of year for only $29.50.

The Little Darlings lip set choices are:

Coral Lips featuring Underage, Ola Mango and Pink Grapefruit Lipglass, and Wonderstruck and Budding Lustreglass.

Pink Lips features Fleur Delight, Song and Dance, and Magnetique Lipglass, and Flashmode and Little Vi Lustreglass.

Neutral Lips features C-Thru, Mouthwatering, and Languish Lipglass, and Love Nectar and Beaux Lustreglass.

I reallllyyyy want 2 sets, but I feel like that might be overkill. I can't choose between Neutral or Coral.

Neutral lips can go with look you choose to put together, but there is nothing hotter than a coral lip, especially in the summer. Oh... decisions, decisions.

Check out some great Little Darlings swatches from Temptalia.com!

[Product Junkie]: Beauty 911 Kit

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! Take this time to have fun with your family and friends, relax or do whatever makes you happiest.

In a previous post, I mentioned the importance of looking presentable at all times. One of the easiest ways to do this is by always having a "Beauty 911 Kit" that you can transfer from your school bag to your handbag and more. Here are my picks for the essential products that can fit in every purse you own!




The "Beauty 911 Kit" gives you a sense of empowerment and versatility. Even if you decide to leave the house without makeup, if you get invited to dinner or have to run to a last-minute meeting, you can quickly give yourself a boost with these items, or similar products of your choosing.

[Product Junkie]: Coral Craze

Coral has been one of my favorite colors forever and I'm so elated to see that it is one of the hottest beauty trends for the summer. Coral was dubbed "Every woman's prettiest lip color" in the July issue of Glamour Magazine. I can assure you that it is. There are several different shades and textures out on the market - from glossy to matte. Wear it for a fun daytime look or a sassy night-on-the-town. No matter what, this shade will set you apart from the crowd.


Celebrities wearing the look:

Rihanna

Rachel Bilson

Here are some coral-toned beauty products that have the Truly Beautiful stamp of approval:

L'Oreal Pro Manicure Nail Polish in 'Salmon Sarong', $4.99, is a beautiful orange-y coral shade that is great for the summer. It is universally flattering on any skin tone. At $4.99, you can afford to take a risk on such a bright color!

MAC Lipstick (Amplified Creme) in 'Vegas Volt', $14, is described on maccosmetics.com as "full power coral." It definitely is! It is a high-charged shot of semi-matte coral pink for the lips. It goes on smoothly, and can be applied lightly for daytime or more intensely for a night-time look. It should be worn with very simple eye-makeup because the color is bright. This is not for the faint at heart or for shrinking daisies.

MAC Lipgelee in 'Glosspitality', $14, is one of my favorite lip glosses! This is my #1 pick for a summer lip gloss. MAC has Lipgelee available in several shades, so there is a one for everyone's taste. This color, a lovely peachy-coral, is a nice way to ease into the bright lip trend.

Other recommendations:

MAC Tinted Lipglass in Lychee Luxe is a "bright pinky-coral with golden shimmer"

MAC Lipstick in Ramblin' Rose (Frost) is a "floralesque, pinky-coral rose"

[Cheap & Chic]: Napoleon Perdis Makeup on SALE

You know when there is this one beauty product that you desperately want to try but it's waaaay beyond your budget? Well, you can stop living off of free samples (I do it too...) and buy the real thing!

The entire Napoleon Perdis make-up line is on clearance at Sephora! You might be wondering: 'Who the heck is Napoleon Perdis?' I did too, but it barely matters who he is because his products are so amazing.

"Napoleon Perdis, Australia's leading makeup artist, created his line of products back in 1993 to explore and experiment his way to new beauty heights. Today, he has a cult following that's as illustrious as his can't-live-without face and body collections. Perdis' line of simple yet luxurious makeup celebrates and empowers natural beauty, and allows you to easily turn the latest runway trends into your own reality. Epitomized by the brand's butterfly emblem, Perdis encourages women to experience a beauty metamorphosis." - Sephora.com

I reviewed his Lip Lacquer, which I find to be his best product, in a previous article. Normally retailing for $20, this lacquer is on sale for $10! 50% off. However, colors extremely limited. Sephora.com only has one shade left called 'Baby Lips' which is a pinkish-reddish-mauve color with a slight gold shimmer.

It looks like this against my skin tone, but I think it is universally flattering.

"Ultimate lip service. Create a chandelier shine for your lips. Conjure up the perfect pout with this lush lip nectar. Double beauty duty, drenching lips in a sparkling too-good-to-be-true shine, while providing real treatment benefits. Protects, conditions, and locks in moisture with an extensive blend of Avocado, Jojoba, Chamomile, and Hazelnut oils. Healing benefits come courtesy of Vitamin E and the exotic Kukui Nut to protect lips from sun, surf, and neglect. Size: 0.75 oz" - Sephora.com

Get the lip lacquer and some of his other products on the cheap while you still can, before they are discontinued in U.S. retailers! It's horrib of me to say this, but we are definitely benefiting from poor Napoleon's misfortune in this case.