Trend Alert: Purple Lipstick

Everybody who personally knows me knows I'm obsessed passionate about the color PURPLE!!! I'm not exactly sure when this infatuation began, but I believe it's safe to say my middle name should be Purple... lol

So I definitely was here to hop on the latest trend.... PURPLE LIPSTICK....

Here's what's in my collection....

Here's a few pictures of me and some of the lipsticks.....

L-R: Punk Couture paired with Visions in Violet, Inglot 281, Punk Couture, Lavender Voltage, Heroine

So which one is my favorite? Hmmm... I absolutely love them all!! But... if I had to pick one it would definitely be Mac's Heroine.  This color looks great on all skin tones... It's actually amazing how it adjust to just your perfect shade of purple... Just take a look at a few CUTIES wearing Heroine....

Update: Check out the new purple lippies Sway and Amethyst from NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Lipstick Line

 

 

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick Swatch/Review

The Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick line from NYX Cosmetics is one of the latest lines released in Fall 2015 from the company.  Now I know I'm kinda late to the party, but after hearing a lot of my friends talk about how much they loved these new lipsticks.... I just had to give it a try.  I rushed to the nearest Target to get a hold of them just to see how great these items would be.  I'm really hesitant when it it comes to buying drug store lipsticks...  While I prefer drugstore prices, I always have a hard time finding drugstore lipsticks that are able to evenly coat my naturally pigmented lips.  Most times I end up with a beautifully swatched bottom lip and then an upper lip that looks like I haven't applied any color to it... I'm pretty sure most of my melanin rich sisters can understand this dilemma when choosing the perfect lipstick.  

Watch the video below to see the lipsticks swatched on my lips.  I've also collaborated with fellow youtuber Jenni Koutur to show you how these lipsticks look on different lips.  Continue reading for a detailed review as well as information on how to find these lipsticks… ENJOY!

I went straight to the cosmetics aisle once I arrived in Target and guess what.... They were having a sale... You know the types of sales where if you buy 2 items you get a $5 gift card in return?  Now I'm truly a sucker for these types of promotions... I'd only come in to buy a few of the lipsticks, but with an offer like this I thought, what the heck... Let me try them all.  I was able to buy 10 of the 12 colors from this line all from Target.  They can be found by clicking the link here and are priced at $7.  I was able to save 5% off of my total also because I am a Target DebitCard holder.  Two of the colors I did have to purchase at Ulta.  I'm not sure if these two are exclusive to Ulta stores, but they also retail for $7.  Ulta does sell all 12 of the colors from this line.  If you sign up for their member's reward program you will be able to get $3.50 off your total of $10 or more at checkout... Yep... another deal.  

Aisle display of the lipsticks at my local Target 

The NYX website boast that the NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks will glide on and set into a striking matte finish.  It states that they are velvety soft and waterproof creating a long-lasting lippie with a positively polished look with every swipe.  The lipsticks are housed in a barrel tube with a sponge applicator.  Besides the vibrant colors, the sponge applicator would probably have to be the best part of this line.  It provided me with the ability to delicately stroke the color onto my lips.  I was also able to easily apply added color where needed... Especially my upper lip.  This lipstick does set to a matte finish... sort of.... Usually when I think about matte finish lipsticks the first thing I think about is drying.  I saw on a lot of reviews that other girls did not appreciate the drying aspect of this lipstick.  I, on the other hand, did not find these lipsticks to be that drying... Especially compared to other lines that feature matte finishes.  Out of all the matte lipsticks I've tried, this one is truly the least drying.  I have not worn the lipsticks all day to test their durability but I will definitely update this article to let you guys know if they truly are waterproof and long lasting. 

L to R:  Stone Fox, Life's A Beach, Cherry Skies, Soft-Spoken, Orange County, Sway, Sandstrom, Pink Lust, Tea & Cookies, Amethyst, Kitten Heels and Vintage

Overall I would give this line 4 out of 5 stars.  It provides radiant colors at an affordable price.  And though light colors did take a couple of applications, I do believe that the colors provide an even finish on my pigmented lips.  I would definitely suggest buying these lippies.  I would have to say Amethyst is my favorite color.  Have you tried these lippies? Let me know which one if your favorite… 

Jenni Koutour is a fellow youtuber who also happens to be my cousin.... Her youtube channel is filled with all things hair, fashion and beauty...  She also swatched 5 of the lipsticks from this line... I absolutely adore Cherry Skies and Soft Spoken on her... Head over to her channel to check it out!!!! 

L to R:  Stone Fox, Life's A Beach, Cherry Skies, Soft-Spoken, Orange County, Sway, Sandstrom, Pink Lust, Tea & Cookies, Amethyst, Kitten Heels and Vintage 

Jessica Simpson Floral Printed Dress

Hey ladies! How y'all feeling? Today I want to talk about something that I'm pretty sure we've all experienced... Buyer's Remorse... Remember that time you just had to get that outfit even though the price wasn't too hot... Well that happened to me not too long ago... Luckily with a little bit of patience I was able to turn this shopping tragedy into a shopping treasure...





I first saw this dress Fall 2015 while shopping in Dillard's. I can't remember the exact month (September or October), but I remember I was looking for a dress to wear to my friend's wedding in October. When I saw this dress, I knew it would be the perfect dress for the occasion. The only thing I did not like was the price tag. At this time the dress was listed at regular price around $99. Feeling that I would not find something to wear before I left for the wedding, I made the rash decision and bought the dress. After my purchase I felt really good... I could check this off of my list of things to do in preparation for my trip... but then something happened... Buyer's Remorse. Now I know to most $99 may not seem a lot, but for a graduate student whose loans continue to stack up year by year this was a very large coin to lose... Every time I would see this dress hanging in my closet all I could think about was the amount of groceries I could've gotten with that much money or how many times I could have filled up my gas tank... I just couldn't get over spending that much money on a dress I would probably wear once... and maybe a few times to church once the spring time hits. So my conscious got the best of me and I returned the dress maybe a week after it's purchase. Surprisingly, I ended up wearing something out of my closet to wedding. The older I get the more I realize that you don't have to buy a new item for every event. Now that probably was the first time in many years that I didn't buy something new for an event, but lets just say I'm still a work in progress.

Now being an avid window shopper, I probably visit Dillard's maybe once a month. I rarely buy something on these trips... Shopping just happens to be something I enjoy to past time. In the months to follow I continued to see this dress on display. The wedding had passed, but I was still in love with the dress. The price tag on the other hand, had yet to budge. Fast forward 5 months and I'm in Dillard's doing some window shopping and guess what I see... a sign that reads "Clearance 65% off." Usually I avoid this section... By the time clothes hit clearance in Dillard's it's usually something that I don't want or something that is not in my size... Nevertheless, I decided to check the rack out. To my surprise I see the dress hanging with a price tag that reads $34... and guess what??? It was just my size!! Yep thats right... 65% off the original price... I'm pretty sure you guys know I did not hesitate to make this purchase.

This floral printed dress from Jessica Simpson features a beaded neckline and side slit. It is the perfect combination of feminine and ultra chic. Though there's no weddings coming up any time soon and nearly half a year has passed, I do think this purchase was right on time as the weather heats up. To finish off the look I paired it with some Vince Camuto criss cross strap platform sandals that I also purchased during the Dillard's Clearance Sale. These were a whopping $24!!!!! Macy's is still selling this exact same shoe for $90... Talk about a STEAL!!! If you're trying to get my look for the same price I suggest visiting your local Dillard's or Macy's... I've searched everywhere but unfortunately the dress seems to be sold out everywhere online...

In an effort to avoid experiencing buyer's remorse I want to leave you with a few little tips.... Count to three. 1.... 2.... 3.... Let's stop buying things because we want it... First let's think if we really need it... In the event that you absolutely need to purchase an outfit for a special occasion, lets try not waiting to the last minute to buy it... In the situation above I made a rash decision in purchasing the dress because I felt like I would not have enough time to find another dress.... All it took was a little delayed gratification… Hope you guys enjoyed reading the blog today… See you next time!!