I have dry skin, so I am always looking for a way to make my skin look healthy and glowy by any means necessary. I've highlighted, I've strobed, I've all-over glowed and I've contoured to make those glowier bits stand out even more. But now a new trend has emerged and, boy, is it a doozy. It's called chroming and it basically requires you to use a metallic or frosted lipstick in place of a highlighter.

No, really. That's pretty much it.

If you read Pixiwoo's post on the subject, you'll realize that even though the chroming trend is interesting... It is also a bit silly. I mean, it's so rare to wear these shades as an actual lipstick anymore so it is genius of cosmetics companies like MAC to market those shades in a new way. One of the main selling points of chroming is that the product will do double duty as a lipstick and a highlighter. But, because it is so rare to wear these shades as a lipstick, will it really pull double duty in your handbag? (Answer: hopefully not.)

If you do wear these shades on your lips, I can see how this trend would be useful. Alternatively, if you are trying to save space in your makeup bag, this may be something for you to try as well. My main concern lies in the fact that this is a product make for your lips and not your skin. And while higher end products may be able to perform well on the cheeks without doing any harm to your skin, some lipsticks may clog your pores and lead to breakouts-- or worse. Also, in doing research for this post, I've found that many people have trouble blending the product and getting rid of harsh lines. There are multiple woes, here.

If you already have some of these shades, test them out. Literally, test them before applying to a large area of your face to make sure they won't cause a reaction. You may find a new use for some of your least used shades. But if you don't already own a shade like that-- a light frosty or metallic color-- I wouldn't rush out to buy one. Highlighting with a cream highlighter will give you similar, if not identical, results.

I, personally, will be giving the chroming trend a pass. What about you?

While I was out searching for the new limited edition Maybelline Color Tattoos (which still haven't hit my area-- sad face), I ran into these little beauties. I'm a sucker for jumbo lip pencils and matte lip color, so I was all over this. I've been purchasing a lot of darker colors lately, so I decided to go in the opposite direction and buy two of the lighter colors in this range: 230 Complex and 235 Mischievous.


Complex is a gorgeous nude shade. It looks a little on the brown side in the tube but when swatched you see a pretty pink undertone. I would say this color is that perfect ballet slippers type of color, if you get what I'm saying. It is just the right neutral shade for those with light to medium complexions.


Mischievous is an orange-pink shade, almost a coral but not quite. I would liken it to sherbet. Even though this would have been a perfect summer color, it will be a great choice to liven up an outfit in the fall and winter. I'm trying to get into orange shades-- I felt that this would be an interesting choice to start out with. I will probably apply and rub it into my lips to lessen the pigmentation some.

Not a very catchy title, I'll admit.

Like I said, I have been super busy with school and work since everything started up at the end of August. So when I have the chance to relax or do something a little fun-- bonus points if I can write about it for work!-- I jump on the opportunity. So here is a little bit of what I did during the month of September:

 For the longest time, I have been afraid to wear red lipstick. I've had mild rosacea since I was a young girl, leaving me with eternally rosy cheeks... and, sometimes, chin, forehead, and nose. Because of those other rosy features, I always wanted my lips nude, nude, nude. Lately, though, my skin has been behaving and I have been brave enough to try out a few new shades that I would have never dreamed-- like the Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquer in Apocaliptic. I loved the way it made my lips look and how bold it made me feel. So, I've been on the hunt for the perfect red lip ever since!

These are the three I decided on:





The first color, British Red (L'Oreal), is a bright red with an orange undertone that I think will be great for summer-- or to liven things up in autumn. The second color, Cherry Tulle (L'Oreal), is what I would describe as a black cherry color. It is a darker red that I'm super excited to try out. The last shade, Really Red (Revlon), is a matte lipstick. In the picture it appears to be orange-y, but in the tube appears to have a cooler undertone. It is a true red and I think it will be gorgeous year round.

What are your favorite red lip products?

Until next time!

Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquer in Luna

Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquer in Apocaliptic

Six months after receiving my first (awesome) Voxbox from Influenster, I was informed I would be receiving the new Mary Kay Voxbox. This box provides five products to help you create a glamorous look. I've already tried and tested them, so I'll be reviewing each product as I go along. Let's get started!

The photo above shows the products still in their packaging, as well some little paper extras that came along with the box, including a catalog advertising some of their other products. I'm not sure if this was a full catalog or one made especially for the box, as it didn't seem to have a wide range of products like I would have expected. The products included in the box, as listed on the Influenster website, were: