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!

Brows!

When it comes to makeup, my brows and lips are very important. If I had to choose between eyebrows or lips, I would say brows are more relevant. In the 20+ years I have been wearing makeup daily, I have learned a great deal regarding what looks great on me and what I should avoid.

In the late 80s/early 90s, I started to wear brow products to help give my brows shape and pigment. My natural hair color is a Level 7 sandy taupe shade that leans neutral. When I was younger, my hair was a light strawberry blonde copper. I had no eyebrow color to speak of! In salon speak, my natural brows are a Level 10, white blond. Here is a picture of me in 1988. I am in 8th grade and I am 13:

In 11th grade, I found Maybelline's brow/eye pencil duo in Auburn (I think that was the shade name). Not only was the color way too orange, I applied the pencil with such a heavy hand even Joan Crawford herself would say, "whoa there, girl!"

As the years went on, I discovered brow tinting and waxing and I have never looked back. I get my brows done at my local salon every 5 weeks. I also use various products to maintain and enhance their hue and shape.

In the last few years, I come to love brow gels like Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow and MAC Fluidline Brow Gel Creme in "Deep Dark Brunette." I also use brow markers like MAC Penultimate Brow Marker and pencils, MAC Brow Crayon in "Spiked." To keep my brows' shape during the day, I "seal" them with MAC Pro Mixing Medium in Lash (yes, I know it's a base for making colored mascara but it makes a heck of a good brow set when used with a MAC 204 brush).

However, while I was at Viva this year, I visited the Pin Up Girl Booth and have a lovely chat with Micheline Pitt and I bought a bottle of an eyebrow sealing liquid called "Model in a Bottle." Let me tell you, this stuff is fabulous! I wore it over my brows and the color and shape lasted all day and night (even during the late night record hops!)

In conjunction with brow products, brow brushes are a must. I love the MAC 208, Smashbox Brow brush, and Illamasqua Brow brush. You can find the Illamasqua and Smashbox at Sephora. 

When it comes to brow shape, you have to go by the shape of your eyes and the measurements based on your nose. Holly from Temperamental Broad did an AMAZING post on her blog and believe me, she knows her stuff and just look at her! Stunning!!

Here's the post:
http://temperamentalbroad.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-perfect-vintage-eyebrow.html

Micheline Pitt also did a fantastic post on brows too. I adore her and she is not only gorgeous, she is an extremely talented makeup artist who is also very down-to-earth and so so nice!

Here is her post:
 http://www.pinupgirlstyle.com/profiles/blogs/the-perfect-pinup-eyebrows-with-micheline-pitt

So, when it comes to brows, remember to go by the measurement/distance of your eyes and nose. Also, for color: light-hair girls can go one to two shades darker and dark-haired girls (like me) need to stick to one to two shades lighter. Even though I have black hair with a cool blue toner, I use a dark cool brown with a touch of black. I once did black brows and it's too harsh. 

Besame Cosmetics Lipstick Update! -Classic Color Lipstick

(Photo courtesy of Besame Cosmetics)

Earlier today, I visited Besame Cosmetics website looking to buy a couple of remaining tubes of the Enchanting Lipstick in 'Red Hot Red.' As some of you may know, Besame Cosmetics discontinued the Enchanting Line. These lipsticks ($15.00 USD) boasted authentic vintage color cased in tiny, yet elegant gold tube adorned with a red floral motif. The packaging alone was pure retro glamour! So, it was to my surprise (and letdown) that the Enchanting Lipsticks are no longer listed on the site. Besame had a few colors still available online a couple of weeks ago but alas, they are now gone.  Nonetheless, Besame has just introduced a new line of lipstick called  "Classic Color Lipstick." It retails for $22.00 USD. You can view them here:

http://www.besamecosmetics.com/products.cfm/Classic-Color-Lipstick/pID-15

Despite the fact the Enchanting Lipstick was top-notch in texture, color, and longevity, the bullet itself was T-I-N-Y! I will never forget the first time I received my 'Red Hot Red,' 'Exotic Pink,' and 'Besame Red' tubes. I was taken aback at how little they were! I thought, "Was I sent trial sizes by mistake?" Nope.

The Enchanting Lipstick was indeed small but the what it lacked in size, it certainly made up for color intensity and quality!  This lipstick felt like pure silk on my lips and it lasted all day with very few touch-ups. I still have a smidgen of 'Red Hot Red' in the tube. I use a lipbrush to carve out what's left and when the tube is empty, I will display it on my vanity.

A while back, Besame introduced the Voluptuous Lipstick Set (35.00 USD). This set includes a full-size lipstick, matching lip liner, and a chic lip brush. I read reviews stating that even though the colors were the same as the Enchanting line, the formula as thinner and not as pigmented.

Although, the Voluptous set looks promising, I still long for the original Enchanting formula. In my opinion, no other lipstick I have tried comes even close its color palette and creamy, matte texture!

After considering several online reviews and my own experience, I decided to contact Besame directly and my call was immediately answered by a lovely, kind, and informative gentleman by the name of Fergus. He graciously answered all my questions and even offered me a chance to speak with Besame founder, Gabriela Hernandez! I wanted to talk to her so badly but I was at work and had a meeting in 5 minutes. Rats! However, Fergus told me that if I wanted to e-mail a request to talk to Gabriela, I could. Awesome!

Nevertheless, Fergus gave me a wealth of information regarding the new Classic Color lipstick! The lipsticks will debut in the first or second week of December 2010. (They are only available for pre-order right now) The Classic Color lipstick bullet will be 3.5 grams and therefore larger than the original. Fergus stated, "They will be only slightly smaller than standard lipsticks." The Classic lipstick colors will be the same as the Enchanting colors. However, I do not see Exotic Pink listed on their website. I had Exotic Pink and I loved it when I had black hair!

Not only will these new lipsticks be bigger, they will also be paraben-free. I learned that due to the demand from US customers, the lipsticks were made larger. Fergus stated that many people thought the tubes were like "minis or sample sizes." As I mentioned previously, I ,too, thought the same thing. But the lipstick was vintage-fabulous and color was perfection.

I cannot wait for the Classic Colors to come out! I will buy my two tubes of 'Red Hot Red' as soon as they are available! I look forward to the bigger size and putting that luscious color on my lips once again!

Poll of the Day- What Is The One Makeup Item You CANNOT Live Without?

So, I have a question for you gals! Of all the makeup you have, what is the ONE item you cannot be without?

I, for one, cannot live without vintage red lipstick! I have to have my brows tinted and mascara on at all times but if I had to pick one thing, I would be lipstick hands-down.

I would love to hear your thoughts!

MAC Glitter Eye Look Tutorial

This is a tutorial for creating sparkly eye looks for a special event, a night on the town, or anytime you want! The mediums I use are MAC Pro Eyeliner Mixing Medium and MAC Pro Glitter. In order to purchase Pro products from MAC, one has to have an account. If you are a model, makeup artist, or photographer; you can get an application either online at www.macpro.com or at any MAC free-standing store. It costs $35.00 to first join the program and then you need to pay the same amount only once a year to renew. You will not only get access to Pro products, you will get 30% off most MAC items (not including Viva Glam products or special, promotional products).

If you do not have access to MAC Pro products, you can purchase glitters from LA Splash (available at most Ulta locations and cost $6.99 USD) or glitters from Make Up For Ever (available at Sephora for $13.00 USD). Also, you are going to need a gel formula mixing medium intended for eyes like Illamasqua's Sealing Gel (available at Sephora online for $15.00 USD).

Now, you can also buy 'pre-mixed' eye glitter gel if you are new to the world of makeup and glitter use. Urban Decay makes a glitter eyeliner that comes in a tube with a brush wand attached. This product has glitter suspended in a gel formula that can be applied as a liner or on the eyelid. The Urban Decay product costs $18.00 USD and comes in 11 glitter shades ranging from hot pink, silver, black iridescent, purple, lime green, gold, beige, to aqua blue. Remember, if you want to stick to a vintage, 40s look, select glitters in the gold, beige, opal, or light pink range. If you want to do a 50s/early 60s look, lighter shades or green and blue are fantastic.

Here is something very important you need to know: Glitters MUST be applied properly and with the proper mixing mediums! If you try to apply glitter on your eyes without an eye-safe gel, you can cause SERIOUS eye irritation! Also, if you use the method below, you will reduce the risk of glitter getting into your eyes.

Here is what you are going to need:

Fine Glitter like MAC, LA Splash, Make Up For Ever or Urban Decay Glitter liner
Mixing medium like MAC Mixing medium for Eyeliner or Illamasqua Sealing Gel
A small, flat eyebrush like MAC's 242
Makeup cleasing wipes
A hairdryer

The glitter I am using is MAC Pro's Reflects Transparent Pink:

I open my mixing medium eyeliner gel and I squeeze out a half of a pea-size dot on the back of my clean hand:

Using my MAC 242 brush, I dip my brush into the glitter and pick up a small amount. Then, I mix this glitter with the gel on the back of my hand:

I then swipe a small amount of the glitter-gel mixture with my brush:

And, then I apply to my lower lid using a gentle pat-motion. The result should look something like this:

I repeat this process on my other eye and then I close my eyes and dry using a back and forth motion with my hair dryer on a low, cool setting.
When I am done, this is how it looks:

If you prefer to use the Urban Decay glitter eyeliner, simply apply on your lids using a flat brush like the 242. You will need to dry with the hair dryer to help prevent any transfer to the upper lid area.

When the time comes to take your glitter eye makeup off, I find that Pond's Cold Cream or MAC's Cleanse Off Oil are both good. Simply close your eye and apply the cream or oil in a downward motion. Use a warm, damp washcloth to remove any traces of glitter, eye makeup, and cream/oil. Again do this in a downward motion.

Retro Red Lipstick Feature- Make Up For Ever

Red lipstick has been one of my makeup must-haves since I was in high school. I have tried many brands from Revlon to MAC and this is my very first lipstick by Make Up For Ever. I bought shade #205 (a true, blue-based red) at my local Sephora for $19.00 USD before tax. Color 205 is not only a cherry red with blue-pink undertones, it has a brightness that is better than MAC's Ruby Woo! I used to prefer true, slightly darker reds like MAC Russian Red or Nars' Red Lizard, but in the past year, I find myself gravitating towards brighter reds like #205, MAC's Lady Danger, and Nars' Heat Wave. Whenever I see vintage ads for red lipstick, the shades look brighter, more vibrant than most reds available today. Therefore, I have been on a lipstick quest to seek out more vintage-inspired colors and Make Up For Ever #205 totally "fits the bill."

When I brought my lipstick home, I promptly put it in my freezer for about an hour. After waiting, I put on a pair of rubber gloves and gently wiggled the frozen lipstick out of its modern, black plastic tube and then I popped the it into a clean, sterilized vintage metal tube:

Here is a swatch on the back of my hand. Notice the brightness and intense color!:

This is how #205 looks on my lips and face overall:

Not only is this lipstick beautiful, it feels very silky and smooth upon application. The color just glides on! After swiping my lips with this lipstick, I blot once with tissue, and apply MAC's lip pencil in Cherry or NYX's lip pencil in Hot Red. The lipstick stays 'true' and lasts for about a couple of hours. Also, the color did not turn pink or fuchsia at all. It just stayed a nice, cherry red!

So, if you are on the hunt for a bright red with vintage flair, give Make Up For Ever #205 lipstick a try!

MAC Blushes!

This is my current collection of MAC Cosmetics blushes. The one square blush is NYX. Here are the shades going from left to right: First Row- Pink Swoon, NYX Pinky, Peaches. Second Row- Well Dressed, Fleur Power, and Springsheen.

In this collection, the best vintage-esque shades are Pink Swoon and Well Dressed. Both are very sheer and the color can be built up without looking heavy or powdery. Another great vintage pink is Pinky. It has a little more pigmentation, but it applies well and can be put on more sheer, especially if you use a fibre brush like MAC's 188. These pink-toned blushes go well with true red lipsticks like MAC's Russian Red or Nars' Red Lizard. They also go well with pink-based lipsticks like Make up For Ever #205, Revlon's Cherries in the Snow, and Julie Hewett's shade in Femme Noir.

Fleur Power, Peaches, and Springsheen are all in the coral/peach group. I have found that these shades go well with orange-based, coral-based, tomato-based, and warm red lipsticks. The lipsticks that come to mind are MAC's Lady Danger, Julie Hewett's Belle Noir, Nars' Jungle Red, and Nars' Heat Wave.

Here is a quick blush tutorial:

You will need:

A blush of your choice
A blush brush like MAC's 129 or 116
A fibre brush like MAC's 188 or 130
A makeup setting spray like MAC Fix+ or a spray bottle filled with fresh water

It is best to apply blush after foundation and before applying setting powder. After selecting the blush you want to wear, gently tap your blush brush onto the blush surface. Pick up a small amount of blush and smile big. Notice the contour of your cheeks. See how they 'puff up' from your face. Swirl on blush on the high parts of the cheeks and swirl color going from cheek towards the temples. The purpose of blush is to enhance the natural pinkness/hue of your skin. Blush adds dimension to your face and gives it a 'pop' of color.

Once blush has been applied and you are satisfied with how it looks (depth of color, evenness, etc), apply loose powder with a big fluff brush like MAC's 150, and you are done. Now, if you have applied too much product and/or it looks too powdery, you can tone it down.

Either using a makeup setting spray or plain water, hold your brush about 8 inches away from the nozzle. Spray the head of the brush with a light mist and then wave in the air for about a second. Moving from the sides of the nose towards the temples, *gently" swirl the tops of cheeks and blend. Now, you can set with loose powder.

Here is me, last Wednesday. I am wearing MAC's blush in Pink Swoon and lipstick in Make Up For Ever #205.

Blush can be tricky at first if you are not accustomed to wearing it. But, with practice and some experimentation with color, you will get the hang of it for sure!

MAC Paint Pots in Neutrals

Here are swatches of 6 neutral shades of MAC Paint Pots. Paint Pots retail for $16.50 USD and they contain 0.17 ounces of product. They are cream eyeshadow bases that can be used alone or with eyeshadow. Paint Pots help shadow last longer and also make the color stand out. When trying to select colors to buy, you cannot go wrong with these great neutrals! And as we all know, neutrals are a must when creating the quintessential 1940s eye!

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right, the shades are:

1. Bare Study (a pale champagne shimmer with a gold undertone)
2. Painterly (a soft pinkish-beige nude cream with no shimmer)
3. Perky (a light pink-based creamy peach with a slight pearl effect)
4. Rubenesque (a peach gold shimmer)
5. Fresco Rose (a mid-tone light pink cream with a hint of pearl)
6. Groundwork (a light toast beige cream with a hint of pearl).

How to use:

Using fingers or a MAC 152 brush, apply onto the lower lid of the eyes, just before the crease. If using Painterly, you can apply to the entire eye, from lashes to brow bone. I usually just apply paint pots to my lids and this is a look I do often:

I first put on an eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion or Too Faced Shadow Insurance all over my eyelid. I then apply Perky Paint Pot on my lower lid using a MAC 152 brush. Afterwards, I apply MAC Pen N Pink eyeshadow (a pale pink, non shimmer color) to my lower lid. On my crease, I apply MAC shadow in Copperplate with a MAC 217 brush. (Your crease color can be a light beige or soft toast shade). To finish, I put on a light eggshell shadow like MAC's Mylar on my browbone and then coat top and lower lashes with MAC Opulash Mascara in black.

And this is how it looks:

Authentic Vintage Red Lipstick (and on a budget!)

(Revlon's "Fire and Ice" lipstick advertisement, circa 1952)

In all the years I have been a red-lipstick wearer, I have bought everything from the average-priced MAC, the crazy expensive Cle de Peau to the cheap Milani and Revlon. I have tried many colors and formulas and in the last couple of months, I rediscovered the world of Revlon lipstick. I still love my MAC Lady Danger but Revlon's Super Lustrous Fire and Ice, Cherries in the Snow, and Love That Red are quickly becoming my new favorites. Even though most modern red shades 'come close' to vintage colors, there is nothing like the real thing! Revlon's shades are not only authentic 1950s reds, they are cheaper too! I seen prices range from $5.49 to $8.99. (Revlon currently costs $8.99 at my local Giant grocery store but I have paid less at CVS and Wal-Mart).

I love how Revlon has continued to make Fire and Ice (a bright coral-based red with a slight pink undertone), Cherries in the Snow (a fuchsia-based red with vivid blue undertones), and Love That Red (a true red with a slight tomato undertone). I also like the smooth, creamy Super Lustrous formula. However, I did find the texture a bit "slidey" at first. To remedy this, I apply and just blot with standard, non-lotion type Kleenex.

In the 1940s and 50s, lipstick was creamier because they were made with mineral oils. Today's "matte" lipstick is a relatively new concept in cosmetics. MAC's red shades in Lady Danger, Russian Red, So Chaud, etc are all matte shades which have a dry feel and flat, non-shiny texture. In my opinion, I think Revlon's Super Lustrous lipstick captures this vintage element well.

I also like how vintage shades were bright-based red shades. I recently purchased a few vintage lipstick tubes from Etsy.com and some of the tubes had remnants of lipstick inside and some even had full, untouched color. Despite being tempted to swipe on 60-55 year old lipstick, I just froze the tube in my freezer and then when it was cold enough, I scraped out the old product and cleaned with rubbing alcohol. (By the way, the amazing and gorgeous Brittany of Va-Voom Vintage Blog has a fabulous tutorial detailing how to properly refill vintage lipstick tubes with modern lipstick bullets! You have to check it out!)

http://vavoomvintage.blogspot.com/2010/04/tutorial-how-to-refill-vintage-lipstick.html

So, for those vintage girls looking for authentic vintage red lisptick, give these Revlon colors a try! Not only will you look amazing, you will be saving money (more to spend on vintage goodies!)

MAC Neutral Eyeshadows

Eyeshadows from Left To Right:

Row 1: Vanilla, Motif, Crystal Avalanche, Pen n' Pink (discontinued), Yogurt
Row 2: Orb, Honesty, Copperplate, Phloof, Omega
Row 3: Kid (dupe for MAC Pro Sculpting Powder), Patina, Vex, Urban Decay Baked, Gorgeous Gold

As the title of this post indicates, all of the shadows here are MAC except for the Urban Decay shadow in Baked.

You can purchase this 15 eyeshadow pan palette at most MAC stores and online. It retails for $14.00 USD. This palette uses the corresponding pro palette refills version ($11.00 USD) of MAC's usual, single-packaged eyeshadow ($14.00 USD). Each refill has a little magnet on the back. Simply place the shadow into the space and it will stay put. Also, when your individual shadow is empty, just pop it out.

Anyway, this neutral collection of shadows is what I use to create various 1940s eye looks. The MAC shadow in Kid a fantastic dupe for MAC Pro's bone sculpting powder. I use this along with MAC's angled fluff brush in 168 to bring out the contour of my cheek bones. I do this before I apply my blush. (I am going to do a full tutorial on this later this week).

My favorites from this palette are Vex, Motif, Yogurt, Vanilla, Kid, and Copperplate, and Orb,

MAC Opulash Review

Last week, I finally ran out of my beloved Cover Girl Marathon Mascara. I had been using this product since high school. It was my never-fail, go-to mascara that defied my oily skin, outlasted trips to the beach, survived snow-packed ski days, and stood up to tearful showings of Strictly Ballroom and The Notebook. Now that Cover Girl has discontinued Marathon, I found myself needing to find another 'holy grail' of mascara. Enter MAC Opulash! This product debuted exclusively at MAC counters in Nordstrom and is now available in all free-standing MAC stores and online. Opulash retails for $14.00 USD and only comes in one shade: black. This mascara claims it will give lashes curl, tons of volume and last all day without flaking, smudging or clumping.

Due to my oily skin, most mascara, even so-called waterproof, tends to fail on me. I have tried everything from DiorShow, DiorShow Waterproof, Tarte, Lancome, Revlon, ELF, Maybelline to Yves Saint Laurent and beyond. Whether I paid $30 or $1 (ELF), mascara usually ends up being a major disappointment. I have experienced flaking, smudging, and even out-right disappearing. It is like my lashes are protesting or simply that my oily skin is hell-bent on destroying it.

Needless to say, I bought Opulash with huge doubts. I even kept the box, MAC bag, and receipt in case I needed to bring it back to the store for a refund. And you know what, despite a few flaws, I am keeping this mascara. I do think there is much better formulas out there but until I find them, I am going to keep it and here's why:

1. The color is a rich, deep black that pigments my pale lashes well.
2. It holds a curl nicely.
3. I can apply two coats and there is no clumping.
4. Unless I get my eyes wet, I cry, or as I discovered the other day, put my contacts in AFTER my mascara, the formula stays put until I wash it off.

Here are some factors that make this product fall a bit short:

1. Look at the size of this brush! It is huge! I have no idea why MAC decided to make the wand this big. Due to its size, I find that I need to be extra careful during application because the large brush tends to bump my eyelids, causing product to transfer onto my eyeshadow.

2. In addition to the large brush, the mascara dries very quickly so if you tend to do multiple coats, it can clump.
3. My lashes feel a little stiff but nothing really to complain too much over.

Overall, I say this mascara is average. It is not horrible like Maybelline Great Lash and it is not amazing like Cover Girl Marathon or Yves Saint Laurent Faux Cils, but for the price and the results, it is pretty decent. Like I said, I am going to keep looking for that perfect formula, but until then, I am sticking with Opulash.

Good Vintage Red Lip Shades

Here is a pic I took last night featuring five swatches of red that are vintage must-haves. Left to Right the shades are:

Nars Jungle Red

Revlon's Love That Red

MAC Russian Red

MAC Lady Danger

Julie Hewett's Belle Noir

Nars can be purchased in-store and online at Sephora. Nars also has a website where you can buy direct. You can find Nars at most higher end department stores. This lipstick retails for $24.00 USD and is the most expensive of the bunch. Second place for higher price is the Julie Hewett lipstick which retails for $22.50 USD. Julie Hewett has her own website where you can shop and find local retailers that carry the line.

Unlike the other four shades, Revlon's Love That Red is not matte. As stated in a previous post, 1940s/1950s lipsticks were not matte because they were made with oils. Therefore, the lipsticks had a very emollient feel on the lips. Women achieved the matte look by blotting the lips with tissue. Like true vintage lipsticks, the Revlon formula has a very creamy and somewhat shiny texture and it has been around since 1951. This product can be found at most drug stores and grocery stores.

Of the lipsticks seen here, my favorites are the MAC. The Belle Noir comes in next for me. I love the gold, vintage like tube and the formula is great but the price is kind of high. However, I am willing to buy more of these lipsticks because the packaging is a huge winner for me. I just wish manufacturers would bring back the vintage style.

So, what lippies are your must-haves?

How to Refill a Vintage compact

I actually have a copy of this 1940s advertisement on my fridge. I love it! I also like how we get to see how much makeup cost and how small the lipsticks were! Even though today's cosmetics are much bigger and the quality is great, the packaging is often too boring for my taste. Sure, I am a MAC Cosmetics fanatic, but their slick, black compacts and black plastic bullet tubes are ho-hum in my book.

I realize that not many people care about what their lipstick tube looks like but I do. I prefer the older styles of most things and makeup is of course one of them. I have been searching for vintage makeup tubes on eBay and Etsy. I bought two vintage Revlon tubes yesterday. I plan on refilling the tubes with two different shades of MAC lipstick; Lady Danger and Russian Red. I also found a great, I mean GREAT tutorial on Va-Voom Vintage's blog last week detailing how to properly clean the tube and refill it with modern lipstick. I am excited!

Not only am I interested in vintage tubes, but also vintage compacts as well. I could sit in front of my laptop all day and search Etsy for compacts! There are so many pretty designs. It is a shame no one makes packaging like they used to anymore. I have seen compacts in shapes ranging from fan shapes, squares, rounds, ovals to rectangles. They are often adorned with lace, gilded lines, florals, and birds. But, here is a question: say I get a compact off Etsy and I want to refill it will modern blot/face pressed powder. How do I do it?

Well, sadly, I have come to the realization that most vintage compacts cannot be refilled with modern powder pans. The contemporary ones are too big. Period. Also, if a compact is oval or fan-shaped, then there is NO way I can refill it, or can I?

I have found a couple of sites detailing how to refill a vintage compact with modern powder. At first I was majorly skeptical. But you know what? This method I am about to share with you actually works! I can say that this 'recipe' is amazing and so easy. I did this last night with an older gold-toned Guerlain meteorites compact I had stashed away in a drawer.

So, here is what you are going to need:

Rubbing alcohol

loose powder or pressed powder

vintage compact (preferably with a metal pan still inside)

cheesecloth or linen cut into a hand-held size

small bowl

butter knife

small condiment spoon

Before you even think about refilling your vintage compact, you need to clean it. If there is any old makeup present, it can harbor dust, bacteria, and potential irritants. Soak a cotton ball or cotton round with rubbing alcohol and clean compact out. Set aside to dry.

In a small, clean bowl, spoon in some loose powder or you can use a butter knife to scrape out your pressed powder from a modern compact.

Using a small spoon, slowly mix in a little rubbing alcohol with the powder until you form a creamy paste. Be sure to smooth out any lumps! Gently mix and scoop into vintage compact pan. Smooth out any irregularities and be sure not to overfill!

Take a cheesecloth or piece of linen and gently press over the compact. Remove. The cloth will create a nice surface look and help smooth powder.

Keep the compact open and allow to dry overnight. Before attempting to use your revamped, vintage compact, make sure the surface is dry by wiping a finger across it. When the compact is ready to use it should feel 'powdery' and smooth.

When carrying your compact in your purse, be careful not to let it bang around. The powder can shatter. If this happens, you have to start all over again and will a fresh batch of powder.

A 1940s Makeup Tutorial

Getting the 40s look is really not that difficult! Go back 70 years and study the advertisements and color photos from the era. Makeup was clean and simple and the focus was on pink cheeks, red lips, lush black lashes, and well-shaped brows.

I have done some of my own research and found that not only was there no such thing as 'matte lipstick,' but also how eyeshadow was not really used for daytime looks. However, when it came to evening and/or special occasion makeup, eyeshadows in shades of grey and violet were used. As for the lipstick not being what know today as 'matte,' lipstick in the 1940s was oil-based and therefore, it had a sheen once applied. In order to make the lips look matte, ladies would blot their lips with tissue.

So, history lesson done! Now, here is how I achieve my 40s face each day:

After making coffee and breakfast for me and the husband, I take my shower. I cleanse my skin with a gel-based cleanser and after I out of the bath, I use a non-alcoholic toner with a cotton round.

I apply my lifting moisturizer and acne gel. I use La Therapie Skincare and Murad's acne gel.

After tending to my hair, I start my makeup. I start with eyes by applying Too Faced's Shadow Insurance from lids to brow bone. This creamy, beige-toned primer helps shadow last longer, makes it crease-proof, and helps it look more vibrant. I squeeze just under and 1/8 of an inch onto my right index finger and then gently rub my two index fingers together. With my left index finger, I apply primer to my left eye and using my right, I apply to the other eye. I have discovered that a little goes a long way and using too much makes the crease effect worse. Using a MAC 252 brush, I apply MAC's Paint Pot in Painterly (a light beige cream with a slight pink undertone). Soft Ochre is another great neutral-toned Paint pot that is a yellow-based nude.

Using a MAC 213 brush I apply a light, neutral shadow to the lids (MAC shades like Bamboo, Era, Orb, or Yogurt are good). On the crease of my eyes, I apply a light taupe, light brown-based nude shade, or darker beige shadow with a MAC 239 brush (MAC shadows in Wedge, Kid, Soba, Omega, and Soft Brown are excellent choices). They thing to remember is that you are mimicking the natural shadow and light of the eye and therefore, try to use colors that look like your skin tones. For the highlight/brow bone shade, apply MAC's Mylar or Vanilla eyeshadow with a MAC 217 brush.

Now, either using MAC's 217 or 227 brush, softly blend the crease shade to make it look seamless.

Apply foundation primer to the face. I use Lorac's Aquaprime. This primer is oil-free, silicone free, and does not cause any breakouts nor any irritation on my oily, sensitive skin. Other good primers to try are MAC's Prep and Prime Skin Visage in SPF 50 and Smashbox's Photo Finish.

Apply concealer under the eyes and apply foundation. I use MAC's Studio Fix in shade N3 and I put it on with MAC's 109 brush. Now, if you should have any blemishes, apply concealer using a MAC 194 or 195 brush. Be sure to blend and unlike the eyes, try to use a concealer that MATCHES skintone. If you go too light, you can actually highlight problem areas! If using a powder or mineral foundation, apply loose powder on top of concealer under eyes. If using liquid, wait until applying loose powder all over face to set makeup.

Using a brow brush, comb brows and apply pencil to define and enhance brow shape. According to my beloved esthetician, Gina, a good rule of thumb for choosing pencil should be this: if your hair is light, pick pencil shades that are one to two shades darker. If your hair is dark, go for shades that are one to two shades lighter. Going too light or too dark can throw off the balance of your face. 1940s brows had well-defined arches and the shape was not thin (20s/30s) nor big (50s). The shape was balanced with lovely arches.


I use MAC's brow pencil in Strut and I also use MAC's Penultimate brow marker. This brow marker came out after Christmas in their All ages All races All sexes Collection. The general color is a medium-toned, warm-based brown that can be kept light or built up. When I had black hair earlier this year, I found this product to be too warm for my brows but now that I am a redhead again, the shade is perfect. The felt-tipped marker applies very light and you can create the look of natural fibers in the brow. The marker lasts a long time and once applied, it is not going anywhere until you take it off. If you make a mistake, you can remove it using MAC's individually wrapped moistened q-tips. This product was limited edition but some MAC locations may have some in stock. If not, Anatasia Beverly Hills has a brow pen that is similar to MAC's but unlike the MAC marker, it comes in three shades, Universal, Universal Light, and Universal Deep. You can find it online and in-store at Sephora and also at Ulta.

Apply blush to apples of cheeks using a MAC 116 or 129 brush. To find the 'apples,' smile big and apply blush to the 'puffy' parts of the cheeks. Taper the shape as you blend toward the temples/sides of the face. Some good shades are MAC's Pink Swoon, Fleur Power, and Well-dressed. The colors of the 40s cheek were tones of soft pink and lighter shades of bright pink. Caramel, brown, and coral shades were not really used. Depending on your skintone, you can choose a cool-based pink or warm-based. If you are not sure if you are cool or warm, look at the veins on your inner arms. If you see more blue, then you are a cool. If you see green, then you are a warm. If you think you can see both shades, then you may be a neutral. Neutral tones can get away with both colors but we tend to lean either cool or warm.

Apply loose powder to set face makeup and apply black mascara to top and bottom lashes.

Now, there is my favorite part! Lipstick! Unlike the dark wine/burgundy shades of the 1920s, the 1940s colors of choice were bright and vibrant, creamy reds. Depending on skintone, pick a red (no shimmer or glitter) that suits you. I am a neutral that leans cool. I can wear most pink-based and coral-based reds. Yet, tawny reds and brown-based shades look terrible on me. Nevertheless, MAC's Russian Red and Julie Hewett's Rouge Noir are great, neutral reds. MAC's Lady Danger and Julie Hewett's Belle Noir are wonderful orange-based/coral-based reds. Julie Hewett's Femme Noir and Besame Cosmetics' Cherry Red are amazing blue-based reds. For less expensive reds, Revlon's "Love that Red" is a bright, classic red that leans warm. This particular shade was introduced in 1951 and is still going strong. Milani's Velvet Lipstick in Red Carpet is perfectly vintage and the price ($5.29 USD) is good for those on a budget.

Apply lipstick and corresponding lip liner. The liner should blend into the lipstick. It should not look darker. If you want, you can blot lipstick with clean tissue. This will also help lipstick from getting on your teeth.

Now, your makeup is done! Enjoy the day and just be gorgeous!