Hot or Not!? L.A. Girl Matte Liquid Lipsticks

I have been using these L.A. Girl matte liquid lipsticks for a while now and thought I would go ahead and post a product review all about them! I am not a huge liquid lipstick fanatic (I prefer regular lipstick), but these are so inexpensive and the colors are so pretty!

I have three shades (bottom to top): Dreamy (pink toned nude), Backstage (deep berry), and Fleur (terracotta toned).

General info about the product:

• They retail for $4 each (can be found for cheaper depending on what store you purchase them at).
• Each tube has .17 oz. of product.
• They have a standard doe-foot applicator.
• They dry down to a completely matte finish
• Comes in 16 shades

Left to right: Fleur, Dreamy, Backstage

I will start off by saying that for the $4 price tag, these liquid lipsticks are pretty awesome and worth it (in my opinion), but I would not spend $20 on them.

They are very pigmented and I did not have any issues with streakiness with the two lighter shades (Dreamy and Fleur). Darkside on the other hand, applies very streaky and I definitely have to wear a lipliner underneath because it is nearly impossible to get it to look right (the color is beautiful though so I work with it, but it is kind of annoying).

The applicator is a flat doe-foot applicator, which is typical with liquid lipsticks. The applicator makes it really easy to apply the product and is pretty much fool-proof. So far, this product hits all the checks for me- pigmented and easy to apply, but the main reason why I typically do not go for liquid lipsticks is because they make my lips feel really dry. I was afraid that with these being so inexpensive, the formula would be really drying and chalky, but that was not the case. It is not the most moisturizing formula (this is hard for matte lipsticks in general), but it is comfortable and does not accentuate the lines in my lips too badly.

Something else about this product that I like is the wear time. Let me tell you, THESE WILL STAY PUT FOR DAYS. Once they dry, they dry completely and will not transfer. I have worn these for 8 hours straight during work and they look exactly the same as when I first apply them. I like this, because I do not have to reapply throughout the day, but you will need some kind of oil or heavy duty makeup remover to get them off. Once you get them off though, they won’t stain your lips (at least they don’t for me).

So again, would I spend $20 a piece on these- no. But for $4 each, I would definitely go back and purchase more shades because the wear time amazing and overall, it is a really great product!

200 Followers!?!? HUGE Thank You!!

Guys I just reached 200 followers on my blog!!!!! I just wanted to jump on here and give a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone and anyone who has followed/like/commented on my blog! 200 is not a huge number for most people, but I have only been blogging for a short period of time and it is a big number to me! It means so much to me that y’all like my blog and the content that I post and I will continue to consistently post about makeup and anything in the beauty world because I love it and am so passionate about it! This is so exciting for me and again, thank you so so much!

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @marinaleebeauty!!!

Pink & Violet Smokey Eye

One of my favorite eyeshadows EVER is Star Violet from MAC, so I wanted to do a look inspired by this shadow. I used Star Violet all over the lid and deepened up the outer corners and crease of my eyes using the purple shades from the Carli Bybel + BH Cosmetics palette. This eyeshadow will look absolutely gorgeous with any eye color too!

Keep scrolling to see a full list of products that I used AND follow me on Instagram @marinaleebeauty to see more pics of this look!! 🙂

Products Used

Face

• Maybelline Better Skin foundation
• Wet N Wild Celebrity concealer
• Set the under eye area using the NYX HD powder in Banana
• Set my foundation with the Maybelline Better Skin powder
• Bronzed using the Too Faced matte bronzer in Chocolate (not so much contouring).
• Also bronzed using the Milani TanTastic Face and Body baked bronzer
• For blush I used the Maybelline Master Highlight in Mauve (I think these are discontinued).
• Highlighted using the Makeup Revolution baked highlighter in shade Radiant Lights
• Set my face with my DIY Max Fix + spray (I have a post about this!).

Eyes

• Used the Carli Bybel & BH Cosmetics palette (purple shades) in the crease to add some dimension.
• Applied MAC eyeshadow in Star Violet all over my lid (applied it wet to make it pop more). I also brought this shadow down to my lower lashline as well and smoked it out.
• Deepened up the outer corners of my eyes using MAC eyeshadow in Sketch.
• Used the NYC black liquid liner to create a dramatic wing.
• Applied one coat of Jordana Best Lash mascara to my top lashes and applied a pair of the Andrea lashes.
• Used the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean on my waterline.
• I used the light pink shimmery shade from the Carli Bybel palette on my browbone and inner corners.

Brows & Lips

• For brows, I filled them in using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown. I wanted my brows to look a little messier than usual- this is kind of trending now.
• For lips I used the Revlon lipstick in the shade Mauvy Night and dabbed a little bit of Maybelline’s Blushing Beige in the center of my lips to create a soft ombre effect.

 

Gunmetal Smokey Eye + Navy Blue Lips

This is probably my favorite makeup look that I have done so far on my blog! I love how the silver tones go so well with the navy blue lip color, I am just obsessed!

 Urban Decay Naked 2 palette only on my eyes

Maybelline lipstick in “Midnight Blue” from the Bolds collection

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @marinaleebeauty for more pics!!

Metallic Aqua Smokey Eye: Mermaid Glam

I am so in love with this makeup look! The metallic aqua shadow is from the L’Oreal Infallible line in the shade Endless Sea. I paired it with Maybelline’s famous lipstick in the shade Blushing Beige to keep the focus on the eyes.

Keep reading to see product details AND as always, be sure to follow me on Instagram @marinaleebeauty (I post stuff on there that I don’t always post on my blog)!

Products Used:

Eyes

• L’Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Endless Sea
• The dark blue shades from the Wet N Wild Poster Child eyeshadow palette
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in the shade Purple Velvet (waterline)
• MAC eyeshadow in Nylon (inner corner and brown bone)
• One coat of L’Oreal Carbon Black Voluminous mascara
• Andrea false lashes

Face

• Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation in Creamwhip
• L.A. Girl Pro Concealer in shade Creamy Beige
• L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte powder
• NYX HD pressed banana powder
• Makeup Revolution matte blush in Fusion (draping technique- I have a post all about this!)
• Becca + Jaclyn Hill highlighter in Chanpagne Pop

Brows & Lips

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brow
• Wet N Wild clear brow gel
• Maybelline lipstick in Blushing Beige
• NYX Mega Shine lipgloss in Frosted Beige

5 Tips For Better Skin

I have been really into skincare recently and making sure that I am taking good care of it. I believe that taking good care of your skin at a younger age will prove to be extremely beneficial in the future. In this post, I am going to list out some of the skincare tips/hacks that I use on a daily basis to keep my skin as clear and even as possible! Most of these you probably already know of, but these are just the little steps I take everyday to take care of my skin.

I am by no means a dermatologist, but these are the steps I take everyday and they have worked really well for me, so I thought I would share!

Tip #1: Always wear a sunscreen. I use to never wear sunscreen, especially on my face, because I was so focused on getting a nice tan. But now, I never walk out of the house without wearing an SPF, whether it be in my foundation already, applied before I put on makeup, or on no makeup days. My favorite facial sunscreen is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 45. This one is very lightweight and does not feel greasy at all. I am in college, so I am constantly outside during the day walking around campus to my classes. If you take away one tip from today’s post, definitely wear a facial sunscreen everyday if you do not already. It will help maintain the youthful appearance of your skin as well as protect it against skin cancer and discoloration.

Tip #2: Never sleep in your makeup. No matter how tired I am I always always make sure to take off my makeup before I go to sleep. I stopped using makeup wipes on a normal basis, but if I am that tired, I will use one to take off my makeup because it is better than just going to sleep with it on. Sleeping in makeup regularly can clog your pores very easily because it keeps your skin from renewing itself at night. Also, there is just so much bacteria that sticks to your makeup during the day that it is just nasty anyway! The best way to eliminate having an excuse to not take off your makeup at the end of the day is to keep a pack of makeup wipes or even a micellar water by your bed.

Tip #3: Prime your skin for skincare like you do your makeup. My favorite product to use for this is the Mario Badescu Rosewater facial spray, but any primer spray will work (I have a DIY recipe for a primer water on my blog!). After I have cleansed and toned my skin, I press warm water into my skin to open up my pores a little, then spritz my face with the facial spray and just let it air dry for a couple of minutes. The spray will help your moisturizer/ beauty oils soak into your skin better and stay in place, this way you can get the full benefit from your moisturizers.

Tip #4: Douse your face in oils before you go to sleep (any skin type). This might sound gross, but this tip is truly a miracle worker. Instead of using a typical moisturizer before going to sleep, I apply a bunch of oils to my skin. I like to use rose hip oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil, and jojoba oil. I do not use all of these at the same time, but I do alternate between them. I like these because they soak into the skin really well and will do wonders for your skin. Using oils as moisturizers are not only a more natural way of adding moisture, but all contain anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and brightening properties. This tip also works on all skin types. I know everyone with oily skin has heard that you fight oil with more oil, and yes it does sound ridiculous but it is so true! I have noticed that my skin does not get nearly as oily during the day as it used to. Push aside the expensive moisturizers and use a natural oil instead. My skin looks better every morning just by committing to this one step!

Tip #5: Don’t pick at your skin. I am so guilty of this, but recently I have been really good about staying away from the closeup mirror and leaving my skin alone. Constantly picking at your skin makes it heal much slower and causes acne scars to appear or existing ones to get worse. I tried so many products and hacks to try to reduce my acne scars and while they did help, the best and fastest way for them to fade is to just quit picking at your skin!

Simple MOTD: Lashes & Lips

Today I did a very simple eye look paired with a brighter berry lip color. All I did for the eyes was put some bronzer in the crease, apply some falsies, and cover the band with a little black liquid liner. I also only bronzed my skin with a big fluffy brush and skipped out on contouring.

Also, follow me on Instagram! @marinaleebeauty

I’m not going to list out ALL of the products I used just because it really isn’t anything different than how I typically do my makeup in previous posts, but here are just a few of the main products I used.

Lashes: Andrea lashes

Foundation: Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer

Bronzer: Milani Baked Bronzer in Soleil and Rimmel Natural Bronzer

Highlighter: Wet N Wild highlighter in Boozy Brunch

Lips: Maybelline lipstick in Blissful Berry

My “Ride or Die” Makeup Products!

This was a tag/challenge created by Beauty Vlogger/ YouTuber Jaclyn Hill! I have seen so many people do this tag and I wanted to just list out my hands down, ride or die makeup products that I cannot live without!

Primer-The Murad Oil Control Mattifier. I think this is meant to be used as a moisturizer, but I love to use it as a primer! It keeps my makeup in place for such a long time, helps control my oily skin, AND has SPF 15.

Foundation-Too Faced Born This Way. I absolutely love this foundation! I can always rely on this product to make my skin look perfect. The coverage and finish is amazing, but it feels lightweight at the same time. A very close second is the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer, I have just had the Too Faced one for longer.

Concealer-Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer (shades Medium and Neutralizer). Everyone raves about this concealer and it is 100% worth the hype. Plus, it is a drugstore product! It was between this one and the Better Skin concealer from Maybelline as well, but this one is not as thick and I just reach for it more.

Pressed Powder-Rimmel Stay Matte powder (translucent shade). Another cult favorite, I just love this powder. It is great for setting the entire face and for touching up throughout the day. I have repurchased this product so many times, it is without a doubt a ride or die product for me!

Loose Powder-NYC Loose Powder (translucent shade). This was really hard for me to decide because I have so many loose powders that I love, but the NYC one gives my skin such a flawless finish. I only really use loose powders to set the areas that I apply concealer and this one has to be my favorite. Side note: this powder is also a really good dupe for the Laura Mercier translucent powder.

Eyeshadow Primer-MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. This is obviously not supposed to be used as an eyeshadow primer, but it works so well as one! It keeps my eyeshadow in place all day and keeps it from creasing.

Eyeshadow Palette-Morphe 35O palette. This one was really easy for me because I dip into this palette almost every time I do my makeup. I use it to fill in my brows too sometimes, it is just a great palette to have.

Single Eyeshadows-MAC eyeshadows. I am not saying that ALL MAC eyeshadows are my favorite, but I do have a sentimental connection to them (I know that sounds odd). The first MAC eyeshadow I ever used was Bronze and I still use it today. Ever since, I have gone back to purchasing the single MAC shadows and putting them in my Pro Palette. I love my collection, and use at least one of them every time I do my makeup.

Liquid Eyeliner-NYC Black Liquid Eyeliner. Another cult favorite, this eyeliner is about $2 and is the best liquid liner that I have ever used.

Gel Eyeliner-Maybelline Gel Liner. I have been using this product since I started even using makeup and I have repurchased it time and time again. It stays in place ALL DAY and is just a great product.

Pencil Eyeliner-Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl liner. The Rimmel kohl liners are some of the best not just for drugstore, but of all time. They are waterproof so they stay in place and are extremely inexpensive. Eyeliner is something I prefer to buy at the drugstore because there are so many great options that won’t hurt your wallet and the Rimmel ones are my favorite!

Mascara-Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara (waterproof, rose gold tube). No other mascara makes my lashes look as good as this one! Whenever I use it, it looks as though I am wearing falsies. It keeps the curl all day, lengthens, adds volume, it just does it all!

Blush-Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso. This blush is another product that gets a lot of hype and before I tried it for myself, I figured it couldn’t be THAT amazing- but it is. If you have not used this blush GO BUY IT. It will change your life, I swear. It is such a gorgeous color for any skin tone and gives a beautiful sheen. So pretty!

Bronzer-NYC Sunny and Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer. I just could not decide between these two-they are both my absolute favorites! The NYC bronzer is completely matte and is the perfect bronze shade for me and the Butter Bronzer has a very slight sheen to it and is more on the cool toned side. I use them both equally and have to have them both!

Contour-The Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour palette. I cannot go anywhere without this palette! I use it every time I do my makeup, it is just an amazing product!

Highlighter-Becca & Jaclyn Hill’s Champagne Pop. This is probably the prettiest makeup product that I own, there is no other highlighter like this one. I love it so much that I only wear it occasionally because I do not want to over-use it, plus it is INTENSE. This is another makeup product that is life changing and something that I think every makeup lover needs in their life.

Lip Liner-MAC Spice lip liner. I love this lip liner so so much! I just love the color and yes, there are a bunch of cheaper alternatives to this shade, but the formula also wins me over. A lot of people do not like the MAC lip liner formula because it is kind of drying, but I look past this because it stays in place all day and will not budge!

Lipstick-Nars Pure Matte lipstick in Tonkin. I love this lipstick so much! It is the perfect brown/nude shade for me. This and the MAC Spice lip liner are a match made in Heaven. The formula is a little on the dry side, but again, it will stay in place for such a long time! Whenever I can’t decide what color lipstick to wear, I always go back to this one.

Lipgloss-NYX Butter Glosses. The scent alone of these glosses wins me over, but nothing beats the formula. The shades are gorgeous and I love to add one of these overtop of whatever lipstick I am wearing. For a gloss, they also last a really long time.

Lashes-Ardell Demi Wispies. I do not wear false lashes typically, but when I do I love to wear these! They are not too dramatic, but they just add a little something to your look at the same time.

Setting Spray-Mario Badescu Rosewater facial spray. This is not necessarily supposed to be a makeup setting spray, but it can be used as one. I love how it refreshes the look of my makeup and takes away any powdery-ness. I find that it also keeps my makeup from getting super greasy throughout the day and just keeps everything in place for the time that I need it to.

Brow Pencil-Anastasia Beveryl Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown. I also love the L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer, but the Brow Wiz has my heart. I can always rely on this product to make my brows look amazing and the formula is amazing. Definitely worth every penny.

Brow Gel-Milani Brow Gel. I feel like it does what it is supposed to do and I am happy with the way it sets my brows in place. Plus, it is super cheap.

I’m pretty sure I hit every makeup category that I could think of! I have been loving every one of these products for such a long time and mention them quite a bit throughout my other blog posts! Thanks for reading!

Find me on other social media!

Instagram: @marinaleebeauty

Twitter: @marinaleebeauty

Greensmoke: Fall Makeup Look

I have another Fall inspired makeup look for y’all today! Typically Fall makeup consists of a warm eyeshadow looks and deep vampy lips, but I wanted to mix it up and add a subtle hint of color. The focus of this makeup look revolves around the MAC eyeshadow in the shade Greensmoke. It is a gorgeous mossy green shade with gold reflects that I think goes perfectly with a mauve lip color.

Keep scrolling to see more pics and a full list of the products that I used!

Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram @marinaleebeauty!!

Products Used:

Eyes

• Primed my eyes using the Elf eyeshadow primer and set the crease with a translucent powder.
• I used MAC Soft Brown as my transition shade and deepened up the crease with MAC Swiss Chocolate.
• I used MAC eyeshadow in Greensmoke all over the lid, then deepened up the     outter-V of my eye with a dark brown shade from my Morphe 35O palette.
• I applied Soft Brown and Greensmoke to my bottom lashline as well.
• I used the NYC black liquid liner to create a somewhat dramatic wing.
• I applied one coat of the Maybelline Falsies mascara to my top and bottom lashes, then applied a pair of Andrea falsies to my top lashes (these and the Ardell Demi Wispies are my faves!).
• I applied MAC Nylon to the inner corners of my eyes and my browbone.

Face

• I primed my face using my DIY Primer Water (I have a post all about this, it’s amazing!).
• I applied the Milani Coneal + Perfect foundation with my Real Techniques beauty sponge.
• For concealer, I used the L.A. Girl Pro Concealer in shade Creamy Beige under my eyes and on the other high points of my face.
• I set my undereyes with the RCMA no color powder.
• I set the rest of my face with the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in translucent.
• I did not bronze my skin, but I did contour using the Wet N Wild contour palette in the shade Dulce De Leche.
• For blush I used a mixture of Wet N Wild’s Rose Champagne and Apricot In the Middle.
• For highlighter, I used a mixture of Wet N Wild highlight Reserve Your Cabana and MAC Nylon. I applied this using my Elf highlighting brush (such a great brush!).
• I set my makeup using the Mario Badescu Rosewater facial spray.

Brows & Lips

• For brows, I just filled them in using a couple of dark brown shades from my Morphe 35O palette and the Essence eyeliner brush (awesome for filling in brows). I set them with the Wet N Wild clear brow gel.
• I lined my lips using the Jordana lip liner in the shade Rock ‘N Rose.
• I used the Maybelline lipstick in the shade Mauve It (satin matte finish).

Product Review: Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer

 

I have heard nothing but good things about this foundation, so I really wanted to try it out for myself! Keep reading to see my initial first thoughts when applying the foundation, as well as my final review.

This foundation claims to…

• $27 for 1 fluid ounce of product (standard amount).
• Moisturizing, lightweight formula that is suited for ALL skin types.
• Will not oxidize.
• Will not clog pores.
• All-day wear that lasts through sweat and humidity.
• Very pigmented and might appear darker when first applied, but will adjust to skin tone when blended it.
• Full/ moderate to full coverage with a natural- matte finish.
• Comes in 20 different shades ranging from cool to neutral to warm undertones.

I have the shade Creamwhip and I dabbed the product onto my skin using my finger because I did not want to use the applicator straight on my skin for sanitary purposes. I blended it out with a Real Techniques beauty sponge (this is how I have been blending out my foundations lately) and it blended out beautifully. The first time I used the foundation, I definitely underestimated the coverage and applied a little too much, but the sponge soaked up any extra product and gave a beautiful finish. The second time I applied the foundation, I used way less and it looked even better. I 100% agree with the claim of it being full coverage and having a natural matte finish. When I read that this was a moisturizing formula, I was a little concerned because I do have oily skin. However, I did not have any issues with my skin being super greasy and having to blot/powder throughout the day. In fact, I feel like this foundation does a great job of controlling my oily skin and staying put. No, it does not keep me looking really matte, but the slight shine was nothing that bothered me. This being said, I definitely agree with the claim that this is suited for all skin types. It is matte enough for oilier skin types, yet moisturizing enough for dryer skin. It gives moderate to full coverage, but does not look cakey at all and makes your skin look really healthy.

The only thing that I do not like about this foundation is not with the formula or anything, but with the shades. I was matched at the Clinique counter and the shade Creamwhip is a PERFECT match for me and stays true to color. The only thing that confuses me is that Creamwhip is considered to be a “fair” shade in the range. I have olive toned skin and am not fair by any means, so I feel like if you have very fair skin, the lighter shades might not be light enough. This is nothing huge, it just makes it difficult to find your shade if you were to purchase this online. If I had not have gone to a counter to get color matched, I probably would have gotten a shade that was way too dark for me.

Overall, I am OBSESSED with this foundation (it might even beat my #1 Too Faced Born This Way)! It has great coverage (and I actually do not need to use extra concealer to cover up any blemishes) and feels so lightweight that I could easily wear it everyday. The fact that this is also only $27 is great because most foundations from department store/ Sephora brands are in the $40 range. Bottom line- I can see why everyone raves about this product and I definitely recommend trying it out!