Bite Beauty The Perfect Bite Set Review and Swatches

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I've heard a lot of love for Bite Beauty over the years. I admit that I tried their lippies a few years ago, but they arrived at my home in the middle of a ton of other stuff, and while I liked them, I also wasn't in a lipstick mood that year. I think I ended up giving them away to a friend.

Fast forward a few years, and I hear about this brand all the time. All. The. Time. And guess what? I actually use actual lipstick now. Not every day (I still love tinted balm, lip stain and glosses), but I do wear it! When I spotted this set of 4 lipsticks over at Sephora, I knew it was time to try Bite Beauty again.

These lipsticks are very moisturizing, and the colors apply very smoothly. All four are pretty long lasting, about 3-4 hours or until a major meal. I can sip on coffee without an issue. Because this is a gift set, they picked pretty universally flattering lipsticks to include. They aren't full sized, closer to 60% of a full sized lipstick. This makes them great for travel, trying out something new or just carrying around in my pocket all day.

After trying out this quad, I think I likely will try out a few more shades. I've been looking for a deeper magenta, and it looks like Sangria will be my next purchase.




This set is an exclusive at Sephora

I Bought It, Affiliate Links

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Quick Day to Night Look: Loose Curls and Red Lips

Product Sent for Review, Sponsored Post



I'm not really one of those people that goes out often. I'm a bit of a homebody, and I have 2 young girls who thrive on their regular routine. But if I am going out, you bet I like to look cute! But, I need to do it on not much time.

Read on to see how I can transition my normal "day" look to a cute night time look, complete with different hair and red lips, in about 15 minutes.

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Tips for Statement Lippies You Need to Know

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This spring, more than ever before, my look is all about my lips. I'm wearing red and bright pink lip sticks and glosses more than ever before! It's a look that I've avoided in the past, opting for more subtle colors. I have thin lips, and calling too much attention to them hasn't been comfortable for me.

But, I've discovered that rocking a statement lip color really is dependent upon how you prepare your lips and then apply the lippie. Read on for some of my best tips!

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Burt's Bees New Lipsticks: My New Favorite Drugstore Lippies

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I've posted quite a bit on the blog about my love of all the Burt's Bees lippies. I've gotten all of my friends obsessed, just this morning (well, yesterday now, this was on Tuesday) at work there was an extended debate between 2 of my nurses about whether the Lip Crayon or Tinted Balm was better. Yes, my work here is done. And in case you're wondering, I'm of the opinion that there is no real correct answer there, I like both. The answer is both.

A few months ago, I found out that Burt's Bees was going to be releasing a traditional lipstick. YES! More Burt's Bees Lippies! And I have to admit that the first day I saw them in person (which was the day before they all arrived at my doorstep), I spent a good 10 minutes checking out the colors and playing with the testers.

Great Red Lippies for Valentine's Day

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If you're going to wear a great red lipstick, lip stain or lip gloss, then Valentine's Day is the best day to do it!

But, with a red lippie, the look is highly dependent upon having perfect application. Which means you can't just slick some more on while running around doing errands or at work. I actually need to use a mirror! So, I look for formulations that will last longer. While not all of these options are technically "long wearing", they all last at least 4-5 hours on me.

And yes, I do own all of these. I've picked great reds that are pretty true, with a bit of a blue in the red to help make your teeth look white and to be pretty flattering.

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Lip Savers: Products To Keep Your Pout Happy This Winter

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I can't be the only one out there that needs to dramatically up their lip product game as soon as the weather turns a bit cold! My lips seem to be pretty sensitive to the cold and low humidity of winter. If I'm not super vigilant about my lip balm, exfoliating and breaking out a heavy duty treatment as soon there's a sign of trouble... well, things can get painful quickly.

So, I've tried a huge array of lip products. Some good, some bad, and some amazing! I thought I'd share my favorites with you.

Scrubs

Not everyone needs a lip scrub, but I definitely do! When using a lip scrub, think of them as maintenance for your lips. You want the dry skin off so the hydrating lip balms and treatments can work right. You can use a lip scrub once or twice a week to do this, though you could just use your toothbrush on your lips and be done with it. (Let's face it, that second option isn't as much fun!)

Personally, I like a scrub once a week or so. I look for a scrub with either lots of small grit or a sugar scrub, those both work well for me. The goal is to wash your lips and have them feel well scrubbed, but not like you scrubbed off the entire top layer of your lips. If your lips are super chapped and peeling that is not the time to use a lip scrub, you'll only damage your lips more! So, only scrub healthy lips.

Here are the lip scrubs that I've tried and loved in the past, not all of them have made it to the blog.

1. Lush Bubble Gum Lip Scrub

2. Bite Beauty Whipped Cherry Lip Scrub

3. Bliss Fabulips 'Pout'-o-matic Spa Powered Lip-Perfecting System (my review)

4. e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator (mentioned here)

5. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish

6. Sara Happ The Lip Scrub Brown Sugar Lip Exfoliator (my review)

7. Mally Beauty Perfect Prep Lip Scrub

Hydrators

These are my daily go-to products for hydration. I leave them on my nightstand, always have one in my purse and usually will apply one of these products at the beginning of my makeup routine. By the time my mascara is on, my lips are perfectly prepped for a lippie!

8. Kiehl's Since 1851 Lip Balm #1

9. Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment

10. MAC Lip Conditioner

11. Nivea Lip Butter Raspberry Rose Kiss

12. Eve Lom 'Kiss Mix' Lip Treatment

Intensive Treatments

When your lips are acting up, you need to turn to a more intensive treatment. While I still use my hydrating products during the day, I'll turn to one of these super hydrators a few times a day as well. They also offer ingredients that will help my lips recover quickly, and they can take the place of my regular hydrating balm or they're an extra treatment.

14. Jouer Lip Enhancer Conditioning Lip Treatment

15. Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment

16. Hourglass N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil

17. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy

18. AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment

19. Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair

20. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

21. Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm

Anti-Aging Products

Yes, even your lips age. Because most of us don't remember to apply sunscreen to them, along with the extra thin skin in this area, it can be one of the earliest areas to age. Luckily there are quite a few lip products that have ingredients specially formulated for reversing, or at least fighting, this process.

22. StriVectin Clinical Corrector Anti-Aging Lip Tint SPF 20

23. Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Lip Treatment

24. La Mer 'The Lip Balm'

25. Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Eye & Lip Cream

26. Clinique All About Lips

27. Your Best Face Define


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Too Faced's Melted Lipsticks: Is Super Pigmented For You?

Product Sent for Review



I'm a huge Too Faced fan. In my mind, they pretty much can do no wrong. Ever. If they make it, it will be amazing. Which is why it has taken me so long to write about their new Melted Lipsticks. I have had them for a while, and all of my blogging friends have been raving about them, but they weren't working for me.

I have finally come to the conclusion that it's just me, I'm not a fan of super pigmented lipsticks on my lips. I think they look a bit funny on me. On other people, they look amazing! I just need to work on getting used to them on myself.

I've "forced" friends to try these lippies too (ok, let's face it, there wasn't much forcing. Also, there were q-tips and sanitizing involved, so don't worry about cooties) and I thought they looked amazing in them and they loved them. I've convinced a few friends to go buy the shades (Melted Coral seems to be the favorite). I just think they look funny on my lips.



There are 8 shades of Melted Lipstick: Melted Nude, Melted Peony, Melted Coral, Melted Fuchsia, Melted Ruby and Melted Violet. The packaging is kind of perfect, you can squeeze the tube to get the liquid lipstick to come out of a felt tip top. I feel like this gives me a lot of control over how much product comes out. Definitely better than twisting or clicking!




You can see that the shades are all very, very pigmented. They are between a similar thickness to other liquid lipsticks, I don't really notice any flavor and they aren't sticky at all. They're super easy to apply, I just use the applicator directly. One of my favorite things about these lipsticks is that they can act like a stain as well, so I'll apply, leave it be for a few minutes, then wipe it off. I follow up with a light gloss, so I get the color and a bit of the translucency that I like. My favorite so far has been Melted Peony, but I'm looking for a good excuse to wear Melted Ruby. I might not need an excuse now that I think about it!

Are you like me, do you need a little translucency in your lippie? Or are you a super pigmented girl?

Too Faced
Product Sent for Review

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e.l.f. Mineral Moisturizing Lip Tint SPF 8

I Bought It



I think if you've been reading my blog for a while, you've noticed I have a bit of a lippie obsession. Especially for products that I can swipe on while on the go, without a mirror. Low maintenance lippies are my fave, so tinted balms are constantly in my pocket.



This tinted balm from ELF is probably the cheapest tinted balm I own at just $3. It's definitely hydrating, the formula contains ingredients like shea butter, Jojoba oil, Coconut Oil and Vitamin E. There is some modest (but not full spectrum) UV coverage. If I was heading to the beach I'd definitely grab something else as my lip sunscreen, but it's a nice bonus for every day wear.

I love that there is just the lightest hint of color. It's enough to show up on my lips, but it is sheer and flattering (and yes, it is a bit darker than it shows up in this swatch picture). There's a faint taste, I really can not describe it any better than as faintly sweet.

What lippie are you carrying around in your pocket lately?




e.l.f. Mineral Moisturizing Lip Tint SPF 8

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Currently Loving: Avene Cold Cream Lip Cream

Product Sent for Review

Recently I held a contest with Avene (which I'm not even going to link to because it's long over), and as a surprise Avene sent me the prize as well! Usually you wouldn't think that the summer is when you need soothing and super hydrating skin products, but it is the perfect time for a little extra pampering!

Despite slathering on lip balm, my lips take a beating when I spend a lot of time outside, and my normal go-to balms don't seem to be cutting it. I've started adding in extra moisture with a little bit of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery on my lips, but I need a balm to add over the top.

I've been really loving the extra hydration offered by Avene's Cold Cream Lip Cream. It's a white balm that comes in an angled tip tube. It has a little bit of a cold creme scent but really no flavor. It isn't greasy at all and while I can feel it on my lips I don't think it is at all sticky or oily. Since using it I've noticed that my lips are softer and have been less chapped, definitely a bonus!

Avene
Product Sent for Review

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Ask a Beauty Blogger: Stop Feathering Lippies!

Fortunately, this is a problem I only seem to have with a few red lipsticks. No matter how young you are, or how perfectly you line your lips, there is always a lipstick that will bleed on to your skin. Luckily there are a few reverse lip liners to prevent this from happening. While concealer will sometimes help, what you really need is a product that basically creates a barrier around your lips to prevent your lippie from bleeding out all over your skin.
My favorite is the Soothing Lip Primer from Simply Vera Wang. Some reverse lip liners are just that: a lip liner. A waxy pencil you line carefully around your lip, honestly that's kind of annoying.

The Soothing Lip Primer is a lotion (that does have a very slightly waxy feel) that goes on with a fingertip on the skin around your lips, this makes it much easier and faster to apply. I use it over makeup, and you really only need the very smallest of amounts. A pea sized amount is about 8 or 10 applications for me. So, yes, very little! Smooth it around and you're done.

1 little tube is $32.50, but will last for pretty much forever. You can only get it at Kohl's.

Soothing Lip Primer from Simply Vera Wang

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A Month of Red Lips: MAC Eden Rouge Lipstick

The MAC Mattenes are usually very pigmented, last for about 5-6 hours (at least for me) and are... well... dry. On me they often look like I could use a good balm. This one really shocked me, it somehow wasn't super matte? It felt a tad hydrating? Definitely a good thing!

MAC

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A Month of Red Lips: TIGI Luxury Lipstick

Luxury is a little bit lighter and pinker than what I expected based on how the lipstick looked in the tube. But, it is very pigmented, pretty hydrating for a lipstick and it lasted for about 3 hours without needing to be retouched.

TIGI Cosmetics

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A Month of Red Lips: L'Oreal Refined Ruby

So, my tube of Refined Ruby was a little worse for wear after the cap fell off while it was coming to my house. Luckily most of it was intact, because this is a beautiful color! Well pigmented and like other L'Oreal lipsticks, it is hydrating and lasts for hours.

L'Oreal

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A Month of Red Lips: Sonia Kashuk Classic Red

Sonia Kashuk's Classic Red lipstick really is just that- a classic red that you can't go wrong with. It applies very smoothly, though I did think it was a tad dry (easily overcome by applying some balm first).

Sonia Kashuk

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A Month of Red Lips: Revlon True Red

Super pigmented, very smooth and a bit hydrating. Lasts for hours. Pretty amazing.

Revlon

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A Month of Red Lips: Essence Red Carpet Lipstick

With a name like Red Carpet I had expected a true red lipstick. But it wasn't quite red in the tube, and once applied I'd definitely say there's a bit of... what looks like coral? In this red? And some pink?

It isn't red, but it is definitely pretty! It can be a bit translucent, so I have more applied here, but I think it makes it pretty wearable for those afraid of red lips.

Essence

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Makeup Wars: Battle of the Red Lip

For this week's Makeup Wars post we're taking a look at one of beauty's classics: the red lip. It is always a big trend in the fall, and I have to admit that this year I really love the red lip!

This gloss is the one I recommend to anyone wanting to try a red lip, it's the one I wear frequently and if you saw my Google Plus Beauty Hangout with The Blush and My Beauty Bunny on Friday, it is the lippie I was wearing that day. (In case you missed it, you can watch the beauty hangout over on YouTube. Also, I pop in and out a few times... my ISP was a bit spotty and Safari kept reloading? So annoying! Next time I'm just going to use Firefox.)

This gloss is very pigmented and I actually use it as a stain a lot! I apply it once, let it sit for about 5 minutes, and then wipe it off. I then reapply a second time, and that's the gloss I'll wear. Applying the first layer and wiping off really does a great job of staining my lips, and makes it a lot less obvious when the lipgloss is wearing off.

The gloss is a little thicker than most glosses, really more of a lacquer. I don't think that it's sticky, and it doesn't really have any flavor. Even with drinking, it lasts for a good 4-5 hours. It's not quite a true red, I think it has a very tiny amount of blue in it, which makes it a little easier to wear. For some reason the fact that it is a gloss makes it look much more polished on me than a lipstick.

I've been loving red lips so much that starting today I'll be featuring an entire month of red lippies! Now I'm off to start snapping lippie pics...In the meantime, check out the favorite red lippies of my blogging friends!











L'Oreal Paris USA

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