Oh, Darling!

Hi, guys! I've got a review for you all today. I'm pretty excited with this review. Today, I'll be talking about Darling Girl Cosmetics. It's an indie makeup company from Texas. I learned about it from Beauty Bloggers Puerto Rico, one of the blogger groups I'm part of. A fellow member of the group had shared with us about the brand and of course, I had to check it out because by the preview she gave us things looked amazing. In fact, they were!

Image via darlinggirlcosmetics.com

Honestly, I couldn't control my excitement. All the colors were AMAZING. If you're into experimenting with color or simply a little touch of magic here or there, I think there's something for everyone here. One thing I instantly loved were the names of the products. All of them had some sort of pop reference to them, or paid homage to some kick-ass bands (those form part of the Darling Grrl! collection). What a way to win a girl's heart! So, I mad up my mind and the owner, Susan, sent me over some samples to review (samples come in little baggies with 1/8 of a teaspoon of product). In my sample package, I got five eyeshadows, one bronzer/blush and a lipgloss. Susan also included the cutest details in the packaging as well. She threw in a Darling Girl Sticker, her business card and some Hello Kitty confetti!

Clockwise: Roots Radical, Midnight Sea, London Calling, My Little Pony, Bronze Goddess Blush and Curious.

Liquid Kiss luxe in Breathe

You can pick between 5oz. or 3oz. of product. For the price, you can't go wrong. The small sizes go for $2.90 and the larger ones for $5.90. The blushes go for 10oz. and 3oz jars and priced equally. The glosses come in 3ml click pens for $5.25. Since Susan is the only one packaging the products, the shipping time goes from two weeks to sixteen days, but that's mostly because most orders are custom and she churns out those orders on her own but I think it was worth the wait. Now, on to the swatches and reviews!

Curious

In the packaging, this has got to be one of the most basic looking colors ever... that is until you open it up! I am definitely getting myself a regular sized portion of this once I move to NY and finish up my sample. Why? It is probably the color I would get most use out of. It is GORGEOUS! It's a tan-ish taupe color with gold and pink shimmer. The application is smooth and longevity is fantastic. I tested it out for the first time for about 5 hours with a shadow base and it looked just as good as it did when I first applied it. Minimum creasing occurred. I also like it for an inner corner highlight. Being as sometimes we might use shadows for other makeup art around our face, it is important to note that this color is not lip safe.

Midnight Sea

Midnight Sea is a lovely purple with blue and turquoise shimmers like a duo chrome. With a good base and primer, it should be able to stick. I don't have the best primer on hand at the moment (Benefit's Stay Don't Stray), but the color was a bit of a hassle to get to properly stick.  As a light wash it can work beautifully but if you want it to really show up, I recommend foiling it. I also used it with NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk and it showed up a bit better but not as much as I was expecting. I'm crazy about the color though. Not lip safe.

London Calling

What a brilliant name. You've got to give it to the Clash! When I saw London Calling on Darling Girl's website, I was blown away. It's a navy-ish gray base with red and violet shimmers. When I got it, it reminded me of MAC's Beauty Marked only with a lot more red shift. Once I swatched it I was a bit underwhelmed. When I blended it, I lost much of the shimmer that makes this color so amazing. I'm thinking this color was intended to be used wet as it worked much better when applied as a foil color. It did stain a bit but with eye makeup remover, it was gone completely. This color is not lip safe.

My Little Pony

Come on! How can you not like an eyeshadow named My Little Pony? The name alone got me to picking this one and I'm glad I did. This is one of my favorite ones of the bunch mostly because it is just so darn pretty. I'm not a girl that gravitates towards pink, but when you've got a duo chrome pink that works well anyway you apply it, I'm sold! The shimmer in this shadow leans towards gold, green and pink and it blends beautifully. Loved using this on my inner corners for highlight and against a dark base, it totally transforms any color. This is not a lip safe color.

Roots Radical

When you've got a name that references Rancid, you kind of expect to get something well, rancid looking. This color is far from that. This color is sweet! I usually don't go for greens but I've been experimenting with color lately and gave it a shot. Also, mint is the way to go this summer. I'm thinking this could work well as an eyeliner accent color. The shimmers in this are insane! It has gold and pink shimmers. I had a little trouble getting it to stick but with a better primer it should work nicely. I'm excited to keep playing around with this color!

Here's a look I did using all of the colors. I used Curious as a brow highlight, Midnight Sea on the lid, London Calling in the crease, Roots Radical on the lower eyelid and My Little Pony as the inner corner highlight. For my waterline, I used MAC's Sea and Sky Mineralize Eyeshadow and for liquid liner I used Wet n' Wild's Mega Liner in Black.

Look at all the shimmer! Now, on to the blush and gloss.

Bronze Goddess Blush

I think this one was added as a bonus for my order but one can never refuse a pretty blush. This peachy-tan blush works as a bronzer too. It's an easy application because you've got a two in one product. It wasn't as long lasting as some of the eyeshadows but that varies from formula to formula. I haven't been using a face primer for a while (tsk, tsk, tsk), so maybe with a primer it will work best. The color did show up nicely and gave my face a warm touch.

Liquid Kiss Luxe in Breathe

I was expecting this color to be a bit more opaque than what it really is, but I'm happy with what I got. This is actually a color I'd use everyday because it makes my pale lips look normal, but better at the same time. Breathe is a beautiful berry color with blue and gold shimmers. What really amazed me about this is how long lasting and hydrating it is! I mean, I applied this in the morning and I still feel it on my lips, eight hours later. I'M NOT KIDDING. The color wears off beautifully. I had absolutely no bleeding and the formula is thick but non-sticky. The texture reminds me of Korres' Lip butter and we all know how I love that thing. I think we might have found a very nice alternative. 

All in all, I am incredibly amazed at the quality of these products, the prices and the huge range of colors, especially rare colors, duo chromes and colors with beautiful shifts. Once I get through my samples and move to NY, I will be ordering more colors from Darling Girl Cosmetics. Don't forget to swing by their webpage and "Ooooh!" and "Aaaah!" at all of the goodies! Also, like their Facebook  page  and blogger too! Thanks to Susan at DGC for being such a doll! Anyways, see you guys soon.  I've got lots of packing and organizing to do before I move to NY next week! I'll keep you guys updated!

Here's the Skitch: FAQ

Hey, guys! As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I was suggested by a reader I do a FAQ and I think it's quite a good idea as I've been getting quite a few questions that have been repeating themselves among you guys so I thought it would be nice to hear back from you and let you all know what's up. I want to thank all of you who submitted your questions. You guys know who you are! ;) Also, I'll be putting up a FAQ tab on my blog menu. 

Here go the questions: 

Favorite fashion blogs?

Monoxious, The Glamourai, Indecorous Taste, Love Aesthetics, Chalkboard Nails, I Spy DIY, The Nailasaurus, The Man Repeller, Cami Loves Kiwi, Artworks by Lena Ker

What make-up/brushes/starter kits/etc do you recommend for beginners? 

For makeup I highly recommend you stick to basics. A good primer, a foundation that works for your skin type, a concealer, a versatile eyeshadow palette, a peachy/pink blush, eye liner, mascara and a few varied tones of lipsticks and glosses ranging from nude to light pink to red. I can't develop on foundations and concealers because that varies from person to person, but I can recommend some very good eyeshadow palettes that work for any occasion and you get your money's worth. The Urban Decay Naked palette is fantastic. Personally, I'm more partial to the Naked 2. I also have a little Naked Eye palette from Too Faced Cosmetics which is one of the pillars in my eye routine almost every day. For primers, I recommend Makeup Forever's HD Primer. Once you've got those basics covered, I think you're set to play around with the rest.

As for brushes, I have a mélange of different types and I've still to get myself a professional kit but I really don't worry about that because I'm confident I can make it work with any tool just as long as I practice. What good does it do having an expensive kit when your blending sucks, right? For beginners, it's good to experiment and work your way up. I'm about to receive my first Real Techniques brushes in a few days. They're from Pixiwoo's Samantha Chapman. I haven't tried them yet personally but I do have makeup artist friends who do have the range and love them. They're really well priced for your pocket and they're made with synthetic bristles so you can experiment with any sort of pigment, albeit powder or cream. Also, if that's still a bit out of your range I've used E.L.F. brushes and I quite like them for experimenting. They might shed a bit but at that price, it's to be expected. Also, Crown brushes are pretty good!

What do you recommend for people who want to experiment beyond their "safety zone" in Fashion/Make-up?

Go for it! Experimenting is the only way to see what can work for you and what doesn't. It's the best way to find out if your comfort zone has limits or not. If you're afraid of what others will think, well hun... those people might consider going outside of the box once in a while too. Wear what feels comfortable for YOU. If what you wear makes you feel confident, radiant and excited, you're doing it right. You might be surprised how many compliments you may get when you wear something unexpected! It really is a breath of fresh air! Try out new pieces, prints and color combinations.

How do you think your mayor has helped you so far?

For those of you that don't know, I have a bachelors in Fine Arts and my studies were focused in Drawing and Printmaking. My major was just that... MAJOR! The amount of skills, techniques and knowledge I gained from my education is far beyond greater than anything I could have imagined. I've been able to use those techniques to develop and create my own. They've helped me land job opportunities that are actually fun and interesting. It's also helped me be kind of the "problem solver" girl at work.  Aside from the practicality it offers, it's also helped me see things with a more critical eye and open mind. I've developed a great sense of care for detail and I've learned to appreciate things from a different perspective. It definitely was the formation I needed to get on to my next professional step.

Who are your favorite Make Up Artist/Fashionistas/Artist?

Makeup Artist: Pat McGrath, Lisa Eldridge, Megan Martinez, Nikkie de Jager

Fashionista: Daphne Guinness, Prabal Gurung, McQueen, Debbie Harry, Alison Mosshart (she's not a fashionista, but her style has been a beacon for my taste for years), Rick Owens, Lauren Tennenbaum, Carine Roitfeld, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Arissa and Dawn of Monoxious, and Kate Lanphear. 

Artist: David Downton, Garance Doré, Rubén Toledo, Zoe Bradley, Jenn Stark, Amanda Wachob (tattoo artist)

What inspires you?

Wow! That's kind of a general question I think. I can be inspired by anything at any given moment but I've always had a knack for beautiful lines and hard contrasts. Anything that has a soft, poetic movement or a rigid, structured flow is sure enough to catch my interest. The contrasting preference comes from my very graphic taste. I like things that resemble printmaking very much. 

Do you have a bad make-up day(Days you can't seem to get anything right)?

UGH. I suffer from atopic dermatitis and EXTREMELY dry/combination skin. It literally chaps open when it's bad and on those days it is nearly impossible to get a good foundation/concealer routine going since I have to treat my skin with specialized creams. I think I've had like one or two good skin days since I hit puberty. My skin just reacts to anything at any given point so I have to be very careful with what I use. I've been able to calm it quite some bit but some days, it's just a beeotch to work with!

What do you do when you have artblocks?

I walk away. It's the best advice I ever got from a mentor. When you get artblocks, it could be because you've been working for so long on that one project that your mind is just tired of looking at it. I just put it away for a while, maybe a few days, and when I come back I see it with fresh eyes. It gives me space to think about other things that might actually spark a solution. Also, I like to read. Anything, really. May it be a novel, scientific facts, or just randomly scrolling through the internet, it helps.

What got you into makeup and what products did you start with?

Well, I've always been quite into makeup. In school I was the girl that always wore eyeliner even though it was against my school's rules. If we have to go way, way back I'd say I started out with my mom's cosmetics. She's a die hard Estée Lauder woman so when I got really into makeup when I was about twelve, she'd hand me down whatever product she didn't like and could live without whenever I raided her stash of makeup. I was a bit apprehensive about lipsticks up until the other day so I was always smudging my eyes with colors as bold as red on my eyes and my black eyeliner.

What are your do's and dont's in fashion/make-up?

Fashion do: Do wear according to your body. Be bold enough to play around with shapes and proportions.

Fashion don't: Don't wear five sizes smaller than you really are. Don't overly show skin. Keep some for the imagination.

Makeup do: Do play around with colors you don't usually go for. You might be surprised and it might just turn out to be your new favorite shade.

Makeup don't: Don't over do it. Remember to keep a balanced face. You want to enhance your looks, not make them worse!

I have tried many brands of red lipstick and every single one of them fades away really quick! Which one do you recommend? I have not tried MAC yet. Do you think I should?

MAC Ruby Woo is one of my all time favorite red lipsticks. It's Matte so it's a little hard to apply but I used to wear it for work because it was fade proof and absolutely no bleeding! Although, I would recommend you use MAC's Russian Red or MAC Red instead if that's too cool for your skin tone. You could also check out NYX's Matte lipsticks. They're not as matte as MAC's, a fraction of the price and also keep your lips moisturized. My favorite is Merlot.

What have been your worst "don'ts" as you started in fashion/Make-up/art and your "do's"?

My personal Do's: I've accepted a bit more color into my closet and my makeup stash. I've discovered shades of color I never thought I'd love! Also, I learned from my mother to dress accordingly to my body and to wear what feels good. It's helped me build my sense of confidence in how I portray myself.

My personal Dont's: There was a period in my life when everything was better if it was grungier. I used to walk around with the most torn up jeans possible. Looking back, I looked pretty awful. In terms of makeup I think it comes down to having a few mishaps with color balance but nothing too bad.

Do you think knowing how to apply Fashion and Make-up helps you with your artistic sense?

Well of course! Due to my agenda, my hours to work on my art have decreased much so every morning when I do my makeup and pick out my outfit, it's my personal break to indulge in color coordination. Everyday I think up of new ways to do this look or that look. I've also taken those ideas and transfered them onto my work so, definitely!

What do you plan to do in the future?

P-P-P-Parsons! I don't plan on coming back to Puerto Rico so my plans for the moment are to finish my Fashion Design degree and move forward into fashion. I want to incorporate my printmaking into my designs but in the meantime, take over NY. In the nearest future after moving to NY is to land my dream internship, Prabal Gurung.

Do you plan on making a art portfolio?
I actually do have a portfolio. It's not online but it's a small thesis I worked on in order to be able to graduate. I have been meaning to post it online, but I've been so busy that it comes secondary when I have so many things going on! But I do have to get that in order sooner or later so I will let you guys know as soon as I do!

What are your favorite go-to outfits and make up? Picture/illustration, please?

I have these cigarette black pants that I wear at least once a week. I've done so for about two years now (yikes!). I've re-dyed them a couple of times too. I can wear them with flats,  heels, sneakers, and adapt them to practically any look. Lately I've really been into chiffon button downs and very flowy dresses and tops. I wear a lot of gold accessories too. I did a Polyvore not long ago that I think fits that description best. It was similar to an outfit I wore a few weeks back and it pretty much resembles that go-to outfit. You must be warned, I wear a lot of black. It's not until recently that I've started to wear bright colors! 

The gold lining by desiree-velazquez-rodriguez featuring a cuff bangle

The Big 100 Giveaway Winner!

After two long weeks of waiting, I finally have a winner to announce! I want to thank you all for entering the giveaway and being part of this journey. So, lets not wait any longer! The winner is...

Marie-Ève O.!!!

Congratulations Marie-Ève! I will be contacting you via e-mail to request your shipping information and I will be sending out your prize as soon as possible! I'll also work on a custom illustration for you and send it along with all the other goodies.

Thank you all so much for being a part of The Fashion Skitch. Stay posted because, who knows? I had so much fun working with this giveaway. I'm definitely going to do more!

Skitch-I-Y: 4 Different Ways to Wear Blue

If you've ever found the most beautiful blue eye product, bought it and got frustrated because it seems that whichever way you apply it makes you look like a clown, don't feel bad. It's happened to all of us. Although blue seems like an easy color to pull off, it's very hard to do sometimes because overdoing it or choosing the wrong blue may go from spectacular in the package to clown-tastic on your face! Alike lots of colors, it's all about what tone of blue you chose and how you wear it. It all comes down to balance.

photo via style.com

I must admit I wasn't too keen on wearing blues because somehow I always ended up looking kind of sick because I've got deep set eyes and quite a bit of dark circles under them, so I used to stray a bit from blue and shun it with fear and you all know that I do not fret when it comes to wearing bold colors with my makeup. It's a little strange because blue is actually the color that best suits my eyes. Well, lately I've been kind of obsessed with the color and I've recently gotten some super sweet blue hues for my lids. I decided to give blue a try and boy, I'm not going back! I've gone from hesitant to bold! Also, I'm really excited because it's a color that was featured on many runways for fall.  Prabal Gurung had his heaven and hell models with bold cobalt smokey eyes. So believe me when I say, I'm VERY excited for fall makeup trends.

Here are the 4 different way's I've used to solve my blue-eyed dilemma:

 Cobalt Waterline

This is the look I wear the most being as I'm a sucker for cat eyes. The easiest way to play up a simple look is with bold colored eyeliner. This is the most moderate way to add a touch of color that impacts enough to make a statement. You can actually play with any tone of blue here since the rest of the look is so toned down. Same goes for the rest of the face. Since this eye look is demure but just the right amount of bright, you can play up your lips. 

For this look I used Wet n' Wild's Mega Liner in Black, NYX's Retractable Eye Liner in Deep Blue, MAC's Sea and Sky and on my lips I went with Lanvin x H&M's Red. On my cheeks I went with Gosh's Cheeks and Lips in Back to Nature. 

            Blue Wing

This one basically keeps the same principle as the Cobalt Waterline look: simple but bright. Instead of doing a typical black wing, turn it blue! But be warned, if the tone is too light, well... it might look just plain bad. You want to keep it classy. Go for a deep navy for a classic look or a cerulean for a playful look. Anything lighter and you've eliminated any tastefulness for this look. With this eye, you've got space to play around with the rest of the face since it's quite toned down. Add a bright pink lip or a beautiful coral for summer. For more formal affairs, go with a blush lip tone.

I kept mine playful because I wanted something suitable for the bright summer trend so I went with NYX's R.E.Y. in Deep Blue with a light dusting of Warpaint's Totes Turq over it and MAC's Pfloof! for inner eye highlighting. For cheeks I used Gosh's Cheeks and Lips Back to Nature with a little bit of Nars' Sin and for lips I went with Sephora's Hot Hues Lipbalm in Paradisso Purple with Covergirl's Eternal layered over it.

                      Blue Slate

This is probably the hardest one to pull off since the color borders on what could go right or wrong, but done right and it can play up any eye color (at least in my opinion it can!). Go for a more silvery blue and a soft navy crease with a simple liner for better eye definition. Apply some of that navy underneath you bottom lash line and keep the waterline either dark for a look that smolders or light for a bigger looking eye. A tip I learned from Marlena of Makeup Geek: if your eyes are cool, keep the rest warm to balance out the look and vice versa.

For this look, I used MAC's Sea and Sky, the blue shadow in Mark.'s On the Dot compact, and MAC's Pfloof! I also used my NYX Deep blue liner. For cheeks I went with Nars' Orgasm and on my lips, some NYX Matte Lip Creme in Stockholm and Hot Topic's Foil Lip Gloss in Batch #F1711.

       Smokey Jewels

Save this look for the extra special events, although if it were me I'd use it for everyday. To get extra pay-off always start off with a dark base color. Any cream shadows (in moderation to prevent creasing!!!!) should do the trick. Layer over it a deep blue and take it all the way up to the crease. You can choose to use a lighter blue to blend it out or neutralize the brightness like I did with a orangey-brown color. Highlight the brow bone and inner eye corners. Take a bit if that dark color to the outer corner of your lower lid. Remember to keep the rest of the face soft as this eye look is very strong. Balance, my loves, is key.

For this look I used Tarina Tarantino's Creme Shadow in Meteor Night, MAC's Sea and Sky (you can tell I love it), both MAC's Blue Brown and Saffron on the crease and MAC's Amber lights for a jewel toned effect and contrast on the inner corner highlight. On the rest of the face, I stuck to Gosh Cheeks and Lips in Back to Nature and NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm and Hot Topic's Foil Lip Gloss in Batch #F1711.

I invite you all to give blue a shot and be wise on your color selection and balance. Blue is a challenging color for eyes, but nothing anyone can't master. 

Also...

... if you're wondering about my jewelry, I want to thank the amazing Miss Erika Peña for creating such AMAZING pieces. I am literally obsessed with these earrings! These are hot off the oven and they've just arrived to the boutique!  Love the geometrical shapes and structure! They go perfectly with the kasar finish of my Ulan ring. Shop 'til you drop for more of her amazing accessories at www.erikapenashop.com or stop by her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/erikapenaboutique for more details.

Also, don't forget to enter my Big 100 Giveaway if you haven't for your chance at some sweet swag! Stop by my Facebook page and follow me on Tumblr and Instagram. I'm LilaLane! See you guys next time! 

The Big 100 Giveaway! CLOSED

There are absolutely no words to describe how excited I am that The Fashion Skitch has reached the 100 Likes on Facebook! I am extremely grateful that you have all given my blog a chance being as this is a project I've been carrying out for a while now as a way to keep me constantly illustrating. Let me tell you, it works! Also, I was always creating things here and there so I thought that putting up this blog would be a great way to archive all my ideas and share them with my friends. I never imagined it would be the success it has been! It only makes me want to create more posts and keep you guys entertained, even if it's just for a quick read.

I was anxiously waiting for the moment that Like counter hit 100 so I thought up of the best way to say thanks and that's with a giveaway! It wasn't easy picking out the prizes but I thought that it would be cool if I chose a prize that would reflect the three most important factors of my blog: DIY, fashion and beauty. So here's what's up for grabs:

Anna Sui's "Live Your Dream" 

"Live Your Dream by Anna Sui is a floral woody musk fragrance for women, introduced in 2009. Top notes are floral notes, white pepper and lily-of-the-valley; middle notes are jasmine and Bulgarian rose; while base notes are sandalwood, tonka beans, musk, cedar and teak wood."

I had been meaning to get this for a while and I thought it was a fantastic prize as I've featured Anna Sui in my blog before. I think it's quite a summery perfume and it could suit anybody. Rose scented perfumes have been present in my perfume stash since I could remember and it's a scent dear to my heart. I love the rosy notes in it (you all know I love rose scented things!) and how sweet it is. In my opinion, it's a very nice every day perfume. I even got one for myself! 

Hard Candy's Naturally Naughty Mini Must Haves

Absolutely love this kit! Hard Candy products are super cool and when I saw this, I thought it was a fantastic treat! The shadows suit every skin tone and don't even get me started on that gold glitter mascara. What a way to play up any eye look! The kit also includes an eye liner, a volumizing mascara and an eyeshadow primer.

Dream Away!

I've been making these ever since I needed some extra cash during my first year of college. I've had one over my bed ever since my mom gave me my first one when I was seven. A dreamcatcher like this one I'd sell at around $60. This is a one of a kind piece because I really don't like to repeat my dreamcatchers. After all, it's your dreams it will catch so that's why I prefer to make only one of each. Hang it over your bed and dream away!

Some Sweet Neon Arm Candy!

Friendship bracelets and neon: two of summer hottest trends summed up in one. Get that arm candy going with a bright fella like this one made by yours truly!

I'll also be adding to the package a little personalized illustration but I will sketch it out once I know the winner.

OK! So now that you know what's up for grabs, here's what you've got to do:

• You must be subscribed to this blog. You can subscribe via Google Friend Connect. You don't have to have a Blogger account for that. You could do it via Twitter or even Yahoo! The link is on the right bar of my blog. 
• You must be liking my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheFashionSkitch
• Leave a comment below with your e-mail and any suggestions, requests, or simply any thoughts on my blog. If you leave any critiques, make sure they're constructive!
• Tweet about it! Use the Rafflecopter to link it directly to your Twitter.

The giveaway will be closed June 28, 2012 at 12:01 am.

To make sure you've followed all the steps listed, fill out the Rafflecopter to enter. After the 28th I will close the giveaway and choose a winner. I will post the winner and be in contact via e-mail. I wish you all good luck but most of all, I want to once again thank you for all of your support! I genuinely appreciate it!

And the winner is....

Marie-Ève!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's the Skitch: Rose pout

Scold me again as I fell for the Photoshop crash fandango again. This time my computer battery died on me while I walked away from my computer for a few minutes while I was sketching a Zoe Bradley illustration for tonight's post. Guess who hadn't saved her work. So...

Sephora's Hot Hues Lip Balm in Crazy Coral
Instagram: LilaLane

It's time for another beauty post!!! *cheers*

For this occasion, I wanted to share with you guys my favorite picks for lip tints, balms and glosses. With the exception of one, I've been using these products for at least six months or more so you know firsthand that they're way more than tested, approved and loved. I have been sporting some vibrant lip colors lately but if there's something I always have on hand, it's a rose tinted lip color. Well, not exactly rose but something that looks natural and gives my pale lips a bit of umph~. Also, since my skin is extra dry I always want extra nourishment. 

Here's the roster of swatches: 

                       warm-------------------------------------neutral-----------------------------------cool

From left to right we have Urban Decay's Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss in Jesse, Clinique Almost Lipstick in Chic Honey, Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, Avène Cold Cream Lip Balm, Korres Wild Rose Lip Butter , Sephora Hot Hues Lip Balm in Crazy Coral.

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss in Jesse

Price: $19.00 on the Urban Decay site

 $13.00 on Amazon

Amount of product: .27 oz. (8 ml)

Tint: Sheer burgundy with light sparkle

Definitely wanted to start off with this one! Well, these glosses have a long list of atributes. First of all, they're very lasting, they blend extremely well, they're not goopy and they have a fantastic scent (each Pocket Rocket has a different pheromone scent). They also wear out nicely and very little bleeding occurs (at least in my case). Since this goes on quite sheer, it looks pretty nice over any kind of nude lip color so it turns into a pretty pinkish tone. I absolutely love it over my go to lipstick, Clinique's Blushing Nude. Jesse in particular smells of crème brulée, which so happens to be my favorite dessert. In terms of price, I think $19 is kinda steep for a lip gloss, but we are talking of UD and I have to say, these things really are top notch quality. If you are lucky like me, you can get you own Pocket Rocket like I did. Five dollars, Haute Look. Yes, $5. Seeing as I found it for that price and I don't see it anywhere in the UD website, I believe it is discontinued but I did find it at Amazon so there must be a few lying around. 

These glosses have a quite humorous concept to them. The "pheromones" in them entice you to them, just as it happens when you're attracted to someone else. Of course, the holographic guy posing in the brush holder is sexy enough and then realize what a Pocket Rocket really is... don't get any ideas, ladies! This is a clean blog. *wink, wink*. That might explain the packaging! Just have fun swishing the tube around and seeing him undress. Each Pocket Rocket has its own backstory. Jesse Just so happens to own a dead-end bar and has many, many tattoos. Mmmm, sexy. 

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Chic Honey and Black Honey

Price: $15.00

Amount of Product: .07 oz

Color: Sheer auburn and burgundy

Black Honey

If there's any makeup product I've been die-hard loyal to, it's Clinique's Almost Lipstick. Have you ever experienced that moment when you try a beauty product for the first time and your life was completely changed, that you literally walked out of the door all giggly and starry eyed, that four years later you still feel the same way every day when you chuck it into your makeup bag? When I first tried on Black Honey it was the beginning of a deep relationship. I'd finally found the tint my pale lips craved with the longevity I needed without being overpowered and obvious. These "almost lipsticks" are nicely pigmented but the cool thing about these is that they let your natural lip color show through by adjusting to it so they kind of make your own personalized lip color. When these first appeared on the market back in the 90's, only Black Honey was available and it was a sensation.

Chic Honey

When you use a product by Clinique, you know it is dermatologist tested and recommended and it is 100% allergy free. These lip colors glide on easily, they're very emollient, comfortable, non-scented and non-sticky. They're so smooth, they're a blend between a lipstick, a lip balm and a lip gloss because they do give your lips a bit of shine. They've been recently re-launched so there's a wider range of color selection that varies from pinks to peaches. Black Honey is the brightest of the range being a deep burgundy color. Chic Honey is more opaque, auburn-ish tan and it has a bit of sparkle to it. The packaging is sleek and durable in the trademark metal tube Clinique is known for. Since this product is a "little goes a long way" type, that tube will last you forever. I know I've been using my Chic honey for ages and I still have plenty left. As far as the success of Black Honey, you can also get it in combo with a lip gloss of the same shade but I personally don't think that's necessary.

Avène Cold Cream Lip Balm

Price: $9.00

Amount of product: 0.14 oz.

Color: Sheer with slight shimmer

I stumbled upon Avène products in a freezing Paris (during the summer!) of 2007. By then my dermatitis was starting to manifest itself on my skin for the first time and my entire body was just literally cracking open with the coldest weather I've ever endured. My mother and I rushed into a local pharmacie for the first time in search of soothing products for my skin and lips. The look on the gentleman's face at the counter was priceless when he saw our lost and astonished faces as french pharmacies are quite different from what we know here in America. After the pharmacist reviewed my condition he gifted us tons of mini samples from companies like La Roche-Posay, Vichy and of course Avène. He recommended this lip balm above anything else. I've tried decent lip balms after this one, but this one still tops my list.

This is absolutely the longest lasting product I've ever tried. The company promises up to 8 hours of wear. I wouldn't exactly say 8, but it's damn close. This product is formulated for dry and very dry skin types (right up my alley) so it's a given that this will be extremely hydrating. The extra rich formula takes care of that. It's hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (doesn't block your pores), it provides anti-oxidant protection and it's made with Avène's eau thermale for insured hydration. It has a slight scent but it's nothing too strong. It's pleasant. I use this balm as a base for my lips when I do my priming process before makeup. It sets a soft tone to my lips. The thing with these is that they have an expiration date. Well, mine is long since passed but it still works as fine as it did on day 1 and I STILL have plenty left. The good thing is that the Avène range is now at my local Walgreens so I can go get another whenever I want. 

Korres Wild Rose Lip Butter

Price: $12.00

Amount of product: 0.21 oz.

Color: Sheer deep alizarin crimson

I can't say my experience with the Korres was the same as it was with the Clinique Almost Lipstick but it was similar. I was looking for something similar to the CAL but a little bit more bright and colorful. Also, I was on a very tight student budget. Venturing into my local Sephora and running around forever, I found this! Korres products are known for the use of natural ingredients. This one is made up of natural oils that soothe the driest lips. The formula is incredibly creamy, hydrating, glossy and the wear is just lovely. After the balm has worn off, it leaves a nice pink tone behind until it completely vanishes from your lips. Since the color on this one is quite strong, you only need a bit to make your pucker pop. It has a soft scent of wild rose (my fave!). I personally am not a huge fan of the packaging as mine did break with a bit of use but it's still all in there. This product is petrolatum free and it comes in a very wide variety of colors ranging from Guava creme to Plum dark. 

Sephora's Hot Hues Lip Balm in Crazy Coral

Price: $10.00 (on sale for $3.00 *limited edition*)

Amount of product: 0.1 oz.

Color: Sheer neon coral-pink

This one is the only one I haven't really used for that long, about a week maybe. But I just had to include it! This is way too exciting not to post and rave about! I went the other day to my local Sephora and I always love to check out the sales bins. There were so many pretty lipsticks on sale and waaaaay at the bottom of the bin were three of these lip balms but just one coral colored. I've been meaning to try out corals on my lips for summer so I gave it a shot and since it was a balm and it said neon, even better. The price tag was a definite winner too. Little did I know the surprise I was going to get when I purchased it and opened the tube...

*gasp!!!*

Another one!

THIS THING IS ACTUALLY NEON! It was crazy! What a lovely product! I couldn't wait to get home and take pictures to actually swatch it. The surprises didn't end when the color payoff wasn't actually coral but more like a hot pink. Really hot pink! I didn't mind it because the color was just so cool. It's quite natural looking instead of the expected neon. It looks so pretty over pale lips. I can't really say much about this product other than the basics: it's got a tangerine-like smell to it, the packaging is sleek, the color payoff is nice and it moisturizes OK. It has a few set backs like it does have kind of a strange taste to it. I wish it went away but it does linger. It also isn't long lasting. More like 1 hour... tops. Also, it does stain a bit. Not bothersome on the lips but getting the swatch off was a bugger. Anyways, I only paid $3 for it so I don't really mind. This was kind of an impulsive buy. I'm really glad I got it though because it really is fun to wear. 

What are your favorite lip products? I'd love to hear your opinions and your favorites to try out new things. Leave a comment below. Don't forget to Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter, Tumblr and on Instagram. I'm LilaLane.