Product review - M.A.C. Russian Red lipstick



Well, this review is a bit off the beaten path. Russian Red is not by any means "Champagne Beauty on a Beer Budget" Its champagne beauty alright, but with a $15 price tag its not beer budget, at least not for me. 
 This lipstick costs only a buck or two less than my whole makeup regime combined. Is it worth it? Well, I would be here doing this review if it wasn't.

Russian Red is a very iconic lipstick, and for good reason. This lipstick is a beautiful true, blue based, classic, elegant red. It could work on many skin tones, as I feel it does lean  a bit torward neutral. Its not a bright red, which I do tend to prefer a bit more, but its not a deep brownish , or blood red either.

Its creamy and very pigmented. It applies like a dream, so smooth and easy. It feels very light and even though its matte its not drying. On me it last all day. If I am having a long evening I may touch up after dinner or before going out but for the most part,  for me, its really not needed. The color stays true - all day, never fading out or turning  fushia, cherry or orange. If you do need to reapply it never feels heavy.

 This is one of those red lipsticks that go with a cute little colorful sundress,  jeans and a tee, or your most elegant evening gown. It also looks good with either a cat eye, neutral eyes or even a very soft smokey eye. I do red lips every single day and I can wear Russian Red every day if I wanted.

 I have found this has a faint sweet vanilla scent but no "lipsticky" taste.


I have read many many posts about drugstore dupes for Russian red.  Sorry, the ones I have tried will NOT replace Russian Red. I will address some of them. Please note, all of these lipsticks are not bad lipsticks, I actually like, even own and wear them, but they are NOT Russian Red

N.Y.C. Retro Red  .99 cents - Much, much more orange than Russian Red, different texture- its a bit creamier. However, the color payoff just as good and it stay true. NOTE- if your willing to experiment you can mix Retro red with NYC Sheer Red and  get a damn close color match for Russian red for $2.00, of course wear time and texture will be nowhere as close.

Covergirl Hot- This has been my go to lipstick since I've been on my red kick. I really like this lipstick. However its far from perfect. Compared to Russian Red the staying power is the same, maybe even better.  ( I demand long wearing lipstick, I HATE to have to touch up all the time) The texture is close but Hot is heavier and thicker feeeling. Hot has a comparable but much stronger scent. Also my biggest problem with Hot is that it does not stay true. It goes on a poppy red and as the day wears on it turns more cherry red. If you touch up it can feel a bit heavy. In terms of actual shade Hot is still blue based but its brighter and while still fairly neutral it pulls coral/poppy red. The shade is NOT a classic red like Russian red.

Wet-n-Wild Stoplight red- Now this is always mentioned as an exact dupe for MAC Ruby Woo (Russian Reds sister which now I am itching to buy - argghhh!)). However, if I had to pick out of all of them, I think this the closest to Russian Red, its not an exact clor match (none are) but it is a blue based red,  just a brighter and truer classic red. Swatched on skin Russian red looks browner than both this and Hot. However,  Stoplight Red feels the same and stays true.  Its nowhere near as stay put as Russian Red but its only 2 dollars and its a great little lipstick.

I have to give mention to Revlon. I do not own any Revlon lipsticks so cannot make a true call but I have seen so many posts that claim Revlons matte Really Red and the super lusturous Certainly Red are good dupes for Russian Red, so they may be worth checking out.


All in all I am glad I splurged and bought Russian Red. I ordered directly from MAC and it was free shipping and I got it in 3 days. Not bad. Now $15 bucks, in my opinion, a bit overpriced, but it is a fantastic lipstick and I will reorder when I have a bit of extra money to treat myself. Its worth it to have in your red lipstick collection.

Finding the perfect red lipstick - Part 3



 Well , we have come to part three of finding the perfect red lipstick. Unfortunately , my super cheapy finds have not worked perfectly for me.

Oh, some could work, but when it comes to lipstick (especially red lipstick) I am very, very picky.

Therefore, I have moved on to more expensive, yet still reasonable drugstore lipstick finds.

My two favorite are L'oreal's  "British Red " and Covergirls "Hot."

Now, both run about $6.00 to $8.00 at most places. Walmart is the cheapest. These lipsticks are much more expensive than what I would normally look at. I got "Hot"  for around $3.00 because its about $6.00 at Walmart and I had a  $3.00 off  coupon."British Red" still cost me $7.00 with a  $1.00 off  coupon at Rite-Aid. 

Both of these lipsticks are easily found at most mass market retailers or drugstores. Many drugstores like Rite-aid or Walgreens offer a b.o.g.o 50% off  often.   Quite often I have found Hot sold out at many places .

"British Red" from L'oreal is a gorgeous, creamy, lightweight, non-drying,  shiny, satin finish corally red.  I LOVE THIS SHADE. It makes me feel "rich" and sophisticated.  However, it can pull orangey and is not a true red (in my opinion). Also, it is not long wearing enough for me. You need to apply this multipe times and touch up often to maintain its richness. Since I am used to wearing matte lipsticks this is a bit to  "sheer" and glossy for me, even though I love the lightweight non-drying  feeling of it. If this was a .99 cent to a $2.00 lipstick I might deal with the downfalls but not for $7.00. Sorry. I am way cheap and really, really hard to please. I want RED but am not willing to be high mainteance to look high maintenace. HAA!! (and it is possible)!



Covergirl's "Hot". Well, this  baby is my (so far) all time winner for  cheap red lipsticks.  Why? well, its rich, creamy, dries to a long lo-o-ong lasting matte, yet non-drying finish. I can literally apply this in the morning an never touch up. I mean never (14 hrs). The color is great. Pat Mcgrath, the makeup artist for Covergirl, used this on 40+ different models in a spring 2013 fashion show. (sorry, I don't remember which one).  I  figured if 40+ models of all different skin tones could wear it so could I. Taylor Swift also uses this color. Plus, I have read its a close dupe to the famous MAC Russian Red.


Now, "Hot " does have a few downfalls. First, it doesn't seem true to shade all the time. Let me explain. On me it applies a vibrant poppy, yet still neutral, red. ( Its a blue red with a hint of coral).   However, sometimes it can set up as a more cherry red (more truly cool blue based). Its sort off odd, but I still think it can work for alot of skin tones. If I apply it very heavy it seems to stay true to the poppy shade (which I prefer). But, applied heavily it can bleed  (badly)and get on teeth. This lipstick is creamy but very heavy.  It also stains. I mean  it stains badly. I have to scrub, scrub , scrub my lips to remove it all and sometimes I wake up in the morning and my husband says "You forgot to take off your lipstick last night".  I love longlasting lipsticks and have gotten used to the stain other than the fact it can be drying and if you don't remove it before the next application the next application won't go on evenly or true.

All in all, Covergirl's "Hot" is my go to drugstore red lipstick. I own 3 tubes (so far), wear it every single day, and only stock up when its on sale and with coupons. Despite its downfalls it is a fix it and forget it high impact lipstick, which is what I want.


 Someday I may really splurge and buy the famous MAC Russian Red or Ruby -Woo ( That wouldn't be very beer budget of me now would it) but for now Hot is my perfect red lipstick.

Homemade deoderant!  Say what?! Give it a try!

 

 

 

 

 This is not a subject I would generally dive into. However, I really feel like I must. For most people, I would assume , applying deoderant is a daily function , just like showering, brushing your teeth, doing your makeup, etc... You don't really think about it , you just do it, its part of your daily routine. Well for me, and I don't think I am alone, deoderant is somewhat of a preoccupation. Face it, no one wants to stink, and well, some of us may feel we smell more than others.

 I,  for one, think I am one of those "smelly"  people, weather it is  actually true, or just a perception of mine, it bothers me. I, in the past 30 years,  have tried every deoderant on the grocery store shelves at one time or another and still am not happy. ( The exception is Certian Dry. It works, but its it's expensive and gives me a rash). I have resigned myself to using Suave. Now, there is nothing wrong with Suave, with coupons I get it for like 40 cents. You can't beat that. It works as good as the rest. However, I still have to apply it twice a day not to be stinky,  ( even more in the hot summer ) , and deal with the heavy scent (though Suave's scents are nice) . It's frustrating and sort of gives me a complex.


 After reading hundreds of posts and articles I have come to realize that baking soda and cornstarch deoderant has a huge following. It has almost a 100% satisfaction rate. Honestly,  I thought it was unbelievable and just  for those "crazy green, modern day hippies", until I tried it myself.


 I mixed 1 teaspoon of baking soda to 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. This should last me least a week ( I am way-y-y heavy handed), and I did it at such a small amount as a trial basis because I honestly didn't think it would work.


 I mixed it well and put in in a ornate antique ceramic makeup jar  that was my grandmothers because, A. I wanted to disguise it and, B. It looked pretty on my vanity. You can put it in anything you want , a jar, a tupperware container, as long as its sealed.

 After showering and while I was in my towel and my armpits were damp, but not soaking wet, I dusted quite a large amount on using an old fluffy makeup brush.  I applied it just like I was powdering my face. You could use your fingers to apply if you don't have a brush, I just thought the brush was quicker, more sanitary, and more uniform in application.

 Now, this IS messy. Its like any other powder, it kind of goes everywhere if your not slow and presise in application (which I am not).  Being skeptical I put a ton on and had   quite a bit of transfer on my shirt when I got dressed. (Again, apply it directly after showering, before you get dressed).
  I was shocked that I could remove the residue  on my shirt with a damp cloth. Normally, if I would have gotten regular deoderant stains on my clothes I would have had to change.

 I AM AMAZED.  Its 10+ hours and I have zero sweat and ZERO odor. I am 100% "stink" free. I smell NOTHING.  And I mean 100% NOTHING. When I use traditional deoderant I smell something at at least hour 4 (if I am lucky- most of the time its hour 2). Usually its a combination of the deoderant and "stink".  Never, ever, ever have I been able to go this long an smell nothing. Truly, my mind is blown, and that is the only reason I am doing this post.


 I have found most comercial deoderants are heavily scented to mask the "stink" smell. The unscented versions, even those for men, simply don't mask  b.o. . I don't want to smell -period and I really don't want to smell my deodrant. If I  want to smell I use my perfume, (thats why I have perfume ) not  my deoderant.


The only draw back to this deoderant recipe  is that the baking soda may cause a rash on some people. That is why I made such a small batch. Most posts I have read that complain of a rash is after a week or so. If you try this and experience any rash, itchyness or discomfort, up the cornstarch by one, whatever- your- equal -measurement, is to the baking soda,  until you find the perfect recipe for you.



I personally do not see myself going back to commercial deoderant - ever, and this is only after one day.  Trust me I am such a skeptic! This cost me pennies, does not stain my clothes, leaves me 100% dry, and is truly unscented. What is not to like ? If you don't like it no harm, no foul - go to the store and buy a stick of Secret or Suave or Dove or whatever.

            HOMEMADE  RED LIP  TINT

  I happen to love red lips, however, red lipstick can be high maintenance and look, well, high maintenance and made up . I have been on a homemade kick lately. With that said, I have been researching online for homemade makeup alternatives and have seen plenty of posts about using kool-aid as a lip stain.  Honestly, I was like "What, no way! A perfect red lip for less than 25 cents that lasts all day!  Your crazy!"  It's to good to be true. Well, sort of . Let me explain.

 Most posts call for you to simply open a pack of red kool-aid (I use the Tropical Punch flavor as it gives me the best red color), wet a q-tip or your finger (beware it will stain your finger if you do this) and rub  it on your lips, let dry, dust off leftover crystals and go. Simple, right.  Well,  yes, but there is a terrible downside.

First, unsweetened kool-aid in the little packs taste not so good, its bitter, and it BURNS, yes, it burns your lips.  Well, at least it burns mine, and it burns something awful. Sorry, I don't like burning lips. On top of that, its so messy.

So being as stubborn as I am, I was determined to make this work, and save me a small fortune in red lipstick (although I do love my red lipstick and have no problem spending a few dollars on it).

There are plenty other posts online about making a  kool-aid lip balm by using a pack of kool-aid added to a tub of  melted vaseline and viola!  Lip balm. Hmmmm, I'm thinking about combining this idea, Ohhhh yeah, this may  just work.


Here we go,

1  tablespoon of vaseline  (petroleum jelly)

I get the generic at the dollar store for a dollar, its all the same for this.


1 full  packet of tropical punch kool-aid

 ( I use tropical punch because it gives me the best true red, you can try whatever you like. Mind you, the finished product is not the same shade as what it turns out as on your lips. To know the true color of the kool-aid "lipstick" , add a drop of water to a bit of the plain kool-aid. When the kool-aid meshes with the water, that gives you the true shade.)


 ( 1 packet of unsweetened kool-aid equals 1 1/4 teaspoons just in case you were wondering. Yes, I  actually measured. Sorry , I am kind of  O.C.D.)

1/2 teaspoon of sugar (this is optional but trust me, kool-aid unsweetened tastes awful and again, it BURNS! The bit of sugar is more than worth it)

tooth picks

small glass bowl

little container for finished tint-

 I used old Smiths Rosebud Salve tin I had saved because I liked the tin, but any old lipgloss pot, lipstick tube, chapstick tube, or old eye cream pot would work. If you don't have one of these go to the dollar store, any tiny container would work. Fact is, I may make lip balm for my nieces next Christmas and the dollar store has a 10 pack of small "tupperware" containers for a dollar. They have both round and square.  They are slightly bigger than a standard lipgloss pot but for the price I don't care.
 
Lets get to it!


Melt vaseline in a glass container, in the microwave, for 2 minutes. It will not look melted. Stir with a toothpick (trust me, tooth picks make much eaiser clean up because you just throw the tooth pick away) the vaseline will melt when stirred.


Next, add the sugar  slowly and stir, stir, stir. Again, optional, but I won't make it without it.


Then, VERY SLOWY add the kool-aid and stir, stir, stir. If you add the kool-aid too quickly you will get "clumps" that WILL NOT MELT  and you have to throw it all away. Slow is the key.

If the vaseline starts to set back up, put back in microwave for 20 seconds. Pull out and stir, stir, stir. Put back in for another 20 seconds if needed and-----

Stir, stir, stir. Then stir some more and more and more.

Pour into your container of choice and put in fridge  for about an hour or let set up at room temp. over night.

 

To use- apply to DAMP lips with a BRUSH.  If your lips are bone dry you won't get any color (the kool-aid needs "water" to form color) and if you use your fingers it will stain- badly, again, this is a stain.

I actually use a $1 E.L.F. essentials concealer brush, that I got at Kmart as my lipbrush.
 

 I was shocked by the color I got. It was a bright, yet natural red, but still red, realy red shade that actually looked as good as my red lipstick,  just more "real".


I am trying to perfect this recipe because it came out  very, very  gritty. (that is why I am enforcing the whole stir, stir, stir thing.)  I have to  lick and rub my lips together to melt the grit and give it full color.   However, it is much, much more gentle and user friendly than using straight kool-aid as a stain. I don't think I stirred enough during my " I-got-it- almost-right" batch because I got impatient. I wasted 7 packs of kool-aid and a half a tub of vaseline trying to get this recipe down. Its still not perfect but if you want a cheap,  yet, better alternative to the plain kool-aid lip tint seen on Pinterest or other posts try this.

I will  use this daily all summer long. ( I wear red lipstick every single day) Its great for my less formal functions , like B-B-Q's, boating or motorcyle rides, when my full on red lipstick looks a little out of place.

To be honest, I don't know yet if this is going to be  a permanent  replacement for my regular red lipstick and some of you may say "Oh girl, your nuts!!  I'm just gonna spend the $ for my lipstick  cuz' this ain't worth the trouble". But, if you want something long lasting,  a bit more natural, and dirt cheap (com'on its pennies compared to at least $2.00- $5.00 for a decent cheap drugstore red lipstick), it may be worth the try. It can be a bit messy and the kool aid can stain everything. I recomend putting newspaper or a plastic bag down on your work area. Plus to wash the vaseline out of your glass container is  a greasy mess. Nevertheless,  I am very pleased with the finished product when it 's  all said and done.

Finding the perfect red lipstick- part two



Well, since I can't find a .99 cent lipstick to suit my needs (damn) I am moving on to a slightly more expensive , yet still dirt cheap drugstore brand.


Today we are looking at Wet - n- wild matte lipsticks. A mere $1.99 at most Rite aids, Giant grocery stores, Walgreens and some Cvs's and Walmarts. ( I live in southeastern Pennsylvania so I am basing this on my availibility, I apologize if these brands aren't in your local area)

The two true reds in this line, that I have found so far, are Stoplight red and Red Velvet

Both are matte, yet non-drying and fairly longwearing. You can apply, blot, apply,  fix with a lip brush, and are good to go. However, if you eat something greasy (ie. pizza or in my case I love pasta with an olive oil/ garlic based sauce) they will smear- badly.  If you do not mind touching up occasionally these may be perfect for you.

Stoplight Red- Ahh, my favorite- A true, slightly blue-based, bright red. This is bright ( but not too in your face so) and red. I mean RED, No pink or orange just plain red. I have even read this is a dupe for the famous MAC Ruby Woo, which is 14 bucks or so. This is really a must try if you want a true red without breaking the bank.

Red Velvet- Its red, and bright, but this one has a certain warmth to it that is hard to describe. I almost want to say it pulls orangey, although it doesn't have any orange undertones. In the tube, compared to Stoplight Red, it looks more pink, and bright but shows up warm. Odd, yes. Still very pretty but not a true, true red.

The winner of these is Stoplight Red, however, since I am so "fix it and forget it" with makeup these still are not perfect for me. So, next time its onto a higher price range (still drug store range) but more expensive.
 

Still. don't overlook these little $2.00 lipstick gems. Again one of these may be perfect for you and if not, like me, your quest continues.

Finding the perfect red lipstick - part one



I happen to love red lipstick. I wear it every day weather I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt or a fancy going out dress. I know there seems to be some kind of "fear" of red lipstick, with the majority of  women  and girls (in my humble opinion, and at least in my area) tending to lean torward nude lips and more smokey eyes, if they even wear makeup at all.

They say there is a red lipstick for everyone, that is true, however I think it is really hard to the perfect red (oh, I have bought quite a few) so here I am documenting the ones I have tried in an effort to help to make it easier.  Ladies, the perfect red will make you look fresh and alive even if you don't have a stitch of makeup on! Trust me, once you go red nude makes you look dead!!!



 First off let me start with the cheapest of all cheap reds, which, honestly is where you should start to if you are experimenting with red. Why waste money.

( For reference- I know everyones coloring is different therefore what looks good on me may look awful on you. I think I am very hard to match. I have black hair but very, very warm brown eyes and my skin has neutral undertones but rosy blotches - I do tend to lean torward warm, ie yellow based foundations and cooler or neutral make up shades but can pull of some warmer tones. I just give my honest opinion of what the colors look like to me.)

  Onto the  reds--

 N.Y.C.   (New York Color) .99 cents at Rite aid, Target, and some CVS's and Walmarts 

Plus if you buy any of these at the major drugstores they have a money back guarantee policy so if it doesn't look good, take it back. Rite aid is really good with this.

Sheer Red-  This is a very "safe"  or starter red, its not a bright red at all its more of a deep berryish/brown red, fairly neutral. Very creamy and sheer. Takes multiple applications and blotting to get it built up to any depth. One coat is more like a heavily tinted balm.  Pretty color though and goes with everything.


Retro Red-  Perfect name.  Very 40's kind of red. Creamy but much "heavier" than sheer red. ( apply, blot, apply and your done ) Very pretty bright red, however, leans torward the corally/orange spectrum. I want this one to work on me and while I can pull it off its not perfect.


Ruby- This is a very unique red in my opinion. It has a beautiful gold shimmer in a pink/cherry-ish lipstick. Fairly neutral (due to the gold shimmer ) leaning torward cool since the actual color is pinky red. I feel this is better for a party or special occasion red. I would like to but really can't use this as an every day red.

NYC lasting finish lipstick $1.99

Red Flame- Pretty much identical to Ruby yet slightly more neutral  and wearable longer lasting

Wet - n - Wild   the Silk Finish  .99 cent line at Walgreens, some CVS, Giant grocery store, Rite Aid

The only real red line is this is Cherry Frost (which also has a number code 514A on the bottom but the name is printed on the plastic covering on the side)

 This is  exactly as its named, a very cool, deep, yet bright cherry red with a lot of shimmer. Again I love this color but its not an everyday red. The finish and wear is nice, apply blot apply and go. Full coverage.


 If one of these can work for you fantastic! You can get yourself a fabulous red lip color for virtually no money. For me we need to spend a bit more in the search for the perfect red. That will be "Finding the Perfect red  part 2"

Best conditioners for co-washing


I have posted before about co-washing, and have debated whether it really worked for me.

 After two years of off and on and several months of  serious trial I believe co washing is the way to go. Fact is I have been co-washing faithfully for 4 months now (with an occasional shampoo to clarify) and when I recently tried to go back to a traditional shampoo and then condition my hair was awful.

There any many, many post on co-washing on "curly- girl" and ethnic hair care sites but I have found that many  of those recommended conditioners do not work well for straighter, less dry hair and scalp types.

 I have found the key to a good cowash conditioner is one that has little to no silicones or heavy conditioning agents. Avoid ones with any silicones high on the ingredient list and avoid dimethicone completely, as it tends to the the "strongest" silicone and can cause buildup quicker, requiring some form of surfactant to remove.  Silicones aren't bad but if you want to co -wash a conditioner with alot of silicones will not leave your hair feeling clean. It will be greasy and heavy feeling.


Look for conditoners that contain one or more the following :

    cetrimonium chloride
    stearyalkonium chloride
    stearamidopropyl dimethylamine
    dicetyldimonium chloride
    behentrimonium methosulfate

These are what cleanses your hair .

 Go cheap!! Really, hit the dollar store. Some of the no name $1.00 conditioners are great options for co -washing.

If you want a bit more moisture in your cleansing conditioner look for ones that have glycerin or even oils lower on the ingredient list. Oils are what I consider a natural alternative to silicones.


 After testing lots of conditoners (All the vo5's, White Rain and Suave Naturals plus a handful of no name brands) here is what I have found from my experience.

 The best conditioners for co- washing are-

Suave Daily Clarifying conditioner- best overall performance period.

Suave Everlasting Sunshine conditioner - best scent.  Most of the Suave naturals have almost identical  ingredients just different scents so if you prefer a different scent go for it. However, I say avoid the insanely popular Suave Coconut it contains ammonium xylenesulfonate which can dry out hair.

Silkience spa haus salon conditoner- only sold at Dollar Tree- best for moisturizing without being heavy

  Vo5 and White rain are also really popular,  but didn't make my best of list simply because I really think these others out perform them. I did review Vo5 conditioners in the past but again I feel the ones listed above are better. However, I will give Vo5 Chamomile Tea Therapy honorable mention.  White Rain is good, its just getting harder to find.

  I tend to alternate my conditioners, mostly out of bordom and the fact that I am a product junkie and like to try new things. Then once every two weeks or so I shampoo with a non conditioning shampoo- such as Suave Daily Clarifying or even a cheap generic baby shampoo. ( I prefer shampoos that only contain sodium laureth sulfate- not LAURYL its to strong) My hair has never felt softer or been more manageable. Now if it would just grow super long, but thats another story.