Lipstick Review: Lipstick Queen Lipsticks in Red Sinner and Scarlet Sinner

Yesterday, I met my sister and niece for a day of shopping at Tyson's Corner Center, located in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. Tyson's is part of the Northern Virginia/DC Metro area.

During our fun day out, I went to MAC Cosmetics for a few basics and we browsed the stores and had a lovely lunch at La Sandia (a new, upscale take on classic Tex-Mex cuisine). We ordered table-side guacamole and dined on enchiladas, black beans, and tortilla soup.

After lunch, we made our way to the makeup counters in Bloomingdale's. I saw a few things that peaked my interest but I decided I didn't need anything. As we were leaving, I spotted something that caught my eye and lo and behold, there it was! Lipstick Queen!!!!

I have wanted to try Lipstick Queen lipsticks for a long time but no store carried them in the DC area. I have read countless online reviews that detail the quality, pigment, and color. One review said Lipstick Queen "Sinner" lipsticks are "not for the faint of heart" or the "shy." Well, you got my attention!

Nevertheless, you can imagine my joy and excitement when I saw the pretty colors just packed with pigment. According to the sales associate and Lipstick Queen packaging, these lipsticks boast 90% pigment and after trying on "Red Sinner," they were not foolin' around! These lipsticks mean business!

After swatching a few colors, I decided to buy "Red Sinner" and "Scarlet Red Sinner." (Lipsticks retail for 20.00 USD each).

Red Sinner is on the left and Scarlet Red Sinner is on the right. Red Sinner is a neutral bright red that leans slightly cool. The color is similar to Besame Cosmetics, "Besame Red" lipstick. The lipstick goes on opaque with one swipe. The texture is very smooth and rich. These are touted as matte but they have a little creaminess and feel very soft. Moreover, despite the matte description, they are not drying at all. Not one iota.

Here is me wearing Red Sinner:

The other color I purchased, Scarlet Red Sinner, is a berry red. It has a little bit of a claret undertone. The shade reminds me of a lighter, brighter version of Besame lipstick in "Cherry." MAC lip pencil in "Beet" pairs well. Beet is a touch darker than Scarlet Red Sinner.

Me wearing Scarlet Red Sinner:

Another thing I want to mention is how Lipstick Queen classifies their lipsticks. The full pigmented version is called "Sinner" and the more sheer, less pigmented formula is called "Saint." Many of the shades have a light and full-bodied version of each other.

So, how do these lipsticks compare with Julie Hewett? Besame? MAC? I think these lipsticks have more pigment than both Besame and Julie Hewett but only slightly more. The texture is heavier than Julie Hewett and Besame and as a result, the lipstick lasts much longer throughout the day and survives eating and drinking better.

However, when I compare Lipstick Queen to MAC, Lipstick Queen wins out hands down. I am usually a MAC girl but in the last few years, small companies like Julie Hewett, Besame, and Lipstick Queen are out-pacing MAC in spades. For example, I recently purchased RiRi Woo (a retro matte) from the "Rihanna loves MAC" Collection and as much as I love the color, the formula is so dry. It literally tugs at my lips when I apply it. In addition, the texture dries my lips out. I find that I can only wear MAC's Retro Matte lipsticks (ie Ruby Woo and RiRi Woo) for a few hours at a time (ie date night).

Overall, I am pleased as punch with my two Lipstick Queen purchases! If I didn't already have a huge cache of lipsticks on my vanity, I would go out right now and buy more shades. I cannot rave enough about them!

Antique Shopping in South Florida

As some of you know, I was recently visiting South Florida (Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale to be exact). While I was there spending time with my in-laws and participating in the Hukilau, I also had the opportunity to visit two of my favorite antique malls, Sugar Chest and Hillsboro Antique Mall.  Both malls are located in Pomano, Florida.

http://thesugarchestantiquemall.com/

http://www.hillsboroantiquemall.com/

Of the two malls, I have to admit that I prefer Sugar Chest. The layout is easier to walk and browse through and the bakelite selection is fantastic. Hillsboro has a cool vintage post card section (it's huge!), furniture, a great number of vintage housewares and kitchenware, and loads of costume jewelry. The only drawbacks are the small amounts of bakelite (and what you do find is so overpriced) and the layout is a bit chaotic. If there is such a thing, I feel like there is too much to see. I call it "sensory overload."

Nevertheless, I bought some post cards from Hawaii to frame for my tiki bar, three thin red bakelite spacers, a pumpkin-colored carved bakelite bangle, and a Hobnail dish for my mother-in-law.

(The pumpkin, carved bangle is on the far left. One of the new red spacers is second to the far left and the other new red spacer is second to the far right.)


During my trip to South Florida, I also visited Sugar Chest Antique Mall in Pomano, located on Federal Highway. This mall is about 15 minutes south of my mother-in-law's house. Every time I visit, I always make a stop at Sugar Chest! I call it my "bakelite haven."

On my recent visit, I bought three carved bakelite bangles. Each one was listed as 65 USD and there was a sale going on and as a result, my bangles were 40% off! I also scored a pristine opalescent, glittery lucite bag. I was floored when I spotted it glowing from within its display case! The seller originally wanted 400 USD but I felt that was way too high. Between my mother-in-law and the lovely attendant, Joey, who always helps us when we visit, I managed to get the bag for 200 USD.

One of the many charms of shopping in antique malls is finding hilarious items! You never know what you are going to find!

Let me show you what I discovered:

This reminds me of David Bowie in his "Blue Jean" video!

The King, complete with "sneer detailing."

A very macho cowboy Ken doll!

A sequin nightgown? Dress? Robe? I am not sure. So shiny.

A velvet poker hat. Do you think I should go back and get it?

A Ken Doll from the 80s. Kind of reminds of "Jersey Shore" Ken. GTL!

And as we were leaving, I saw this book. Pose! Werk that camera, honey!

At the end of my Florida visit, I had some great new bakelite scores, a pretty lucite bag, some fabulous vintage post cards, and I got a gift for my MIL. Overall, it was a fun time! I cannot wait to go back when I return to Florida in August!

A Preview of Things to Come (To Florida, the Hukilau, and Beyond!)

Wow! How time flies when you are traveling, having fun, getting your tiki on, and just being alive! I hope all is well with everyone! It is June, summer is pretty much here, and oh gurl, we have a LOT to catch up on!

In my little absence, I visited family in South Florida, participated in the Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale, scored some great vintage finds, and spent Father's Day weekend with my lovely dad.

My husband (aka Big Daddy) left the DC area on the afternoon of 1st of June for Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Big Daddy was born and raised in South Florida and his parents live in Boca Raton.  After an uneventful, yet calm flight, we arrived in Fort Lauderdale and upon claiming our luggage, my in-laws picked us up and all four of us went out for dinner at JB's on the Beach in Deerfield.

The next few days, we went out on my in-laws boat:

We toured the Intracoastal and swam in the open ocean. We also docked to eat lunch in Lighthouse Point and saw the historic "Cap's Place" as we cruised around:

http://www.capsplace.com/

During our stay, we ate out, cooked out on the grill at my in-law's house, had cocktails on the back patio in the evening, and simply took in all the wonders South Florida had to offer.

On a couple of mornings, my mother-in-law and I visited two antique malls, Hillsboro Antique Mall in Pomano and Sugar Chest Antique Mall on Federal Highway, just south of Boca Raton. At both locations, I scored bakelite bangles, vintage Hawaiian postcards, and I bought an amazing opalescent glitter lucite purse. (My next post will feature my goodies!)

But I have to share with you one of the 'hidden gems' you can find at Sugar Chest:

This is "Earring Magic Barbie." This doll came out in the 80s. It features a very "Jersey Shore-looking" Ken, complete with mesh shirt, gold chain, and vest. GTL, BABY! Um, no thanks. But, I know you want it! Just kidding! In my next post, I will show your more "treasures" I discovered.

One morning, my mother-in-law and I went to Boca Town Center to get makeup and to check out the sales at Macy's. My intent that day was to go to MAC Cosmetics for my goodies but as we went down the escalator to the first floor, I spotted this beacon of hope, light, and simply jaw-dropping makeup freak HEAVEN!

I wanted to die. I really did. Die from the sheer insanity and glory of all those pretty colors! I first found out about Inglot from my friends, Erin C. and Inky W. When I first saw a free-standing Inglot store, it was the Las Vegas location in the Caesars Forum Shops during VLV 15. I wanted to go in there so bad but I knew Big Daddy had been tortured enough. It was dinner time and I had already spent an hour in Sephora. Nevertheless, when I saw this counter in Macy's, there was NO way ANYONE was going to pull me away! Let me just say this: I. Wanted. EVERYTHING. In the end, I was "good." I only bought four shadows, a palette for the shadows, a brow pencil, two lipsticks, a loose copper pigment, and a glitter/loose shadow adhesive from Too Faced. I will post pictures/reviews of my haul soon! I promise!

By the end of the first week, it was Friday night and time to head to the Sheraton Yankee Clipper Hotel in Fort Lauderdale for the Main Event of the Hukilau 2013!

The weather was really bad for most of that week due to Tropical Storm Andrea brushing by and moving north over the Gulf of Mexico. The drive from Boca to Fort Lauderdale was terrible due to heavy rain. As a result, all the of the events for the Hukilau were moved inside. Despite this, Big Daddy and I were determined to have fun! We got drinks, had some dinner at the Mexican restaurant at the hotel, and made our way upstairs to see the bands and to enjoy the crowd. I met a few lovely people who knew other friends I had. You know, the whole "friends of friends" who know "this friend of that friend" thing.

Everyone was so kind and dressed so well! One gal I met from North Carolina had on this KILLER Whirling Turban dress that was to die for! She and her friend were dolls! So nice!! After the bands finished upstairs, we went downstairs to the vendor room to watch the Disasternauts play. I also did some shopping. I got a great hot pink and white lace nightie/robe set from the 50s/60s that was only 20 bucks and Big Daddy bought a real puffer fish light for our tiki bar at home!! I have photos I will share soon.

The next night of the Hukilau was the dinner at the Mai Kai. I will post on that event in its own post. It is quite a story (both good and not so good).

On the afternoon of Sunday, June the 9th, Big Daddy left to return home to DC for a business trip. I stayed in Florida until the evening of the 12th. During the remainder of my stay, the in-laws and I relaxed, visited other family members, and swam in the pool at my in-laws house. Let me just say, I did NOT want to come back home! Florida is just my cup of tea!