Shoot, I use mine all the time to soften hard eyeliners, eyeshadow pencils and lip liners. I’ll set the dryer on its lowest setting, aim it right up close at the tip of the pencil, and hold it there about 30 seconds…
BAM! Smooth, creamy (melted) liner that applies like pastel paint.
It’s pretty hard to over-melt most makeup products, but you do have to be a little cautious about the temperature of the products you use this trick with before they touch the sensitive skin on your face. I always temp test them first on the back of my hand, just a tiny amount, to make sure they’re not too hot!
Welcome to another fact- and fun-filled installment of Share a Tip Tuesdays! 🙂 Thanks for the fabulous money-saving eye makeup tips you left in the comments on last week’s edition. Here are/were some of my favorites from last week…
I love Wet N Wild shadows and the little Sally Girl ones from Sally Beauty. They’re both super cheap but still good quality, so they’re a great way to test out a color that you may or may not like before dropping the big bucks on a high end brand.
–ESTHERI love the MAC 239, Sigma E25, and my Sonika Kashuk bent eyeliner brush — can’t live without ‘em! As far as shadows, I think I take my Naked (or Naked 2!) palette every time I travel somewhere — can cover anything from day to night! As far as cost friendly shadows I love WnW’s Comfort Zone Palette and Maybelline’s color tattoos.
–MELISSAI just tried Rimmel London’s Glam Eyes HD eyeshadow palette — the one that looks like the Union Jack — in English Rose. I haven’t tried any other Glam Eyes color combos and I’ve never tried any of Rimmel’s eyeshadow quads or singles so I can’t speak for their eye shadows in general, but the Glam Eyes HD is like BUTTER! I mean, it’s got a texture like Shu’s ME-silver — fantastic. The color payoff is great and the staying power is all day with a good primer, with no “muddying” of the colors. Definitely worth a try.
–JCZI mostly use synthetic brushes because animal fur ones make my skin itch. I love the CVS Essence of Beauty crease brushes (I own a couple sets). My favorite blending brush is an ELF brush I got on clearance at Target, and it’s covered in purple plastic gems, lol.
–CHELSEAAbsolute favorite eyeshadow: wet n wild 8 pan palette in comfort zone. no matter what the occasion is, these dont disappoint. can go from day to night. can be subtle or bold, wether you have a zillion fancy brushes to apply or just use their applicator — it turns out beautifully!
–YELENAMy fav shadow is Maybelline Color Tattoo. I only have one (Tough as taupe) but I WILL have these jewel toned LE colors: “Fuchsia Fever” (deep fuchsia), “Ready, Set, Green” (medium jade green), “Blue on By” (bright royal blue), and “Test my Teal” (darkened blue-green). I swear they look like the powder shadows MAC did with Eve. I mean a cream version of Bang on Blue? Gimme!
–TANIA
Merci beaucoup! 🙂
Now, since eyes got our love last week, let’s see what we can come up with for lips! Here are a few topical ideas, but feel free to improvise (with beauty tips, one can never have too many)…
- Do you know of any drugstore or otherwise bargain lip products that look more expensive than they are?
- What are your everyday lipstick, gloss and/or liner workhorses (the products you turn to the most)?
- What’s the one lip product you’ve recommended more than any other in your life?
- Your top five lip products of all time?
- Do you have any unorthodox application tips or techniques (things that most people may not know about or do)?
You can either leave your tips/tricks/suggestions here in the comments, or tweet ’em to me on Twitter @karenmbb using the hashtag #shareatiptuesday.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
firstly, I’m reading MBB in class and nearly squealed when I saw my tip in this post 😀
I really like New York Color lipsticks, and a lot of it is the same reason I recommended WNW and SG eyeshadows: they’re a few bucks or less and good quality. I remember falling in love with a higher end (read: expensive) lip color once and was able to find a 99 cent NYC one in a similar color! the formula might not be exactly the same, but it’s not a color I wear often so a dollar is a much better price point 😛
I’ve always had trouble with staying power, so I LOVE lip primer. I use MAC’s prep + prime, and it works really well for me. or if I don’t feel like using my primer or if I’m trying to beef up the color, I’ll put a lip liner (I like Essence. again, cheap and good quality (it’s pretty much my mantra hahaha)) over my whole lip and put the color over top. and my favorite lip color, that’s actually a rather new find for me, is my Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lip Color. I put on a layer, blot on a tissue, apply a thin layer of loose powder, and put on another layer. it can last the whole day!
oof, I got a nice length comment here, don’t I? lol
Hi Esther,
LOL! GURL…what class are you in? I hope it’s Makeup, Cats and Tomfoolery 101.
Thanks for the lip recommendations. It’s always nice to get bargain ideas! Is there are particular NYC color that you like?
oh how I wish my university offered that class! I’d ace it 😉 it was Psychology of Aging.
my favorite is Sheer Red. it shows up almost like a blood red, very flattering! I also like their pinks like Blossom and English Rose. ER is from the $2 range, and the others are from the 99 cent range. I’m not sure of the exact range names.
I’d get an A+ in Cat Lady 101! Or PMS 101. Hahaha…
Thank you for the color recs. I gotta go by Target later on today, so I’ll see if they have the shades there.
LOL! Same here Esther! I’m at work, catching up on MBB and there it is! my beauty tip with my fave eye palette and my name on my absolute favorite blog in the world!! eeeek!!!! 😀
Oh wow, that’s a great tip, I never thought about that 😀
Let’s see… a tip… I sometimes use sticky tape to get rid of stubborn fall out. It picks up the powder without smudging the color.
Great tip! 🙂
I’m a lip product junkie! Let’s see… I really love Revlon’s Colorburst glosses. I just bought Bordeaux yesterday, perfect fall color!! Also, the Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmers, they have a minty fresh tingle and excellent pigmentation.
Hi Tiffany,
Thank you for these recs! A lot of gals seem to love the Colourburst glosses! Bordeaux sounds like something I’d really like. What are your other drugstore makeup faves?
This isn’t a tip but a question about lips!
Karen what’s your favorite lip stain that you’ve tried? I can’t seem to find any that last very long.
Hi Megan,
Mine is probably Becca Watermelon Lip and Cheek Tint. I talk about it in this post:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/just-for-fun/kauai-day-2-snorkeling-sweet-treats-and-a-savory-pie/
I also like the YSL Pure Coutures; they start off as a gloss and then mellow out into a stain:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/is-it-a-gloss-or-a-stain-actually-its-both-the-new-yves-saint-laurent-rouge-pur-couture-vernis-a-levres-glossy-stains/
Let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂
Thank you Karen! I might have to try them both!
RIMMEL Lip Glosses… the stay put ones… well they don’t really stay put – but they are super moisturizing and the colors rock! I have a few and I truly love them!
Hi Jennifer,
I like those too! What colors are your go-tos?
I’m falling in love with drugstore brands all over again. If only my DS makeup felt this good in high school! But lip focus, right? Okay you’re the boss-lady.
L’Oreal Infallible two step lipstick. It’s very comparable to the Make Up Forever Aqua Rouge two step lipstick, right down to the two minute drying time when you initially put the color on your lips. I’ve gotten tons of compliments from staff at Sephora and Ulta whenever I wear it. I giggle and thank them a lot. Little do they know I bought a drugstore brand lipstick and not a fancypants brand.
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stain. A hint of color lip balm. The size (.095oz) for the price ($9) is hard to beat. The Crayola market shape makes application easy. I use Honey because it does the whole ‘your lips but better’ thing on me. Downside is the fading. But since I’m doing the ‘your lips but better’ look no one notices =p
And one more thing. I accidentally used an eyeshadow brush (similar to MAC242 for those at home) as a lip brush while experimenting with my latest Ulta lipstick haul. I found it saved me so much time. About 5 larger strokes rather than 10-15 little ones. You might want to keep your actual lip brush handy for lip lining and more precision application.
I’m with you on using unconventional brushes for different tasks. I used my MAC 239 to apply my brow powder today and loved the soft look.
Oooh gonna have to try that next time. I get heavy handed on my eyebrow color fills because I have these giant gaps on my eyebrows. Ugh Karen my makeup brush collection has exploded thanks to this blog. My wallet hates me but my makeup has looked tons better because of it.
Another lipstick side story: For years I was afraid of red lipstick. My lips are very full and there was no point in making things worse. I settled for nude lipsticks and glosses. As a dare from a friend I put on swatched a NARS lipstick (I think it was Dragon Girl). Her face changed when she saw me. “Tennyoceres you look goooooood.” I looked in the mirror and dear God she’s right! Bright red lipstick and I don’t look like a clown or a scary lola with ‘vintage’ lipstick. Moral of the story is to take the plunge. Makeup wipes off.
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY DRUGSTORE OR OTHERWISE BARGAIN LIP PRODUCTS THAT LOOK MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY ARE?
~I don’t wear lipstick much (still getting used to how the more bold colors look on my lips!) but I do love Burt’s Bees tinted lip balms, especially in Rose or Pink Blossom. They add a touch of color while hydrating my lips and go with any eye look I choose to do.
WHAT ARE YOUR EVERYDAY LIPSTICK, GLOSS AND/OR LINER WORKHORSES (THE PRODUCTS YOU TURN TO THE MOST)?
~Burt’s Bees tinted balms as mentioned above, if I do any lip liner it’s NYX in Vanilla Sky (a great neutral that happens to be waterproof and match most natural lip colors), and any lip colors so far it’s been NYX in Femme (an orange-red) or Rose Bud (a shimmery soft pink).
WHAT’S THE ONE LIP PRODUCT YOU’VE RECOMMENDED MORE THAN ANY OTHER IN YOUR LIFE?
~Anything Burt’s Bees – I swear by their replenishing lip balm with kokum butter, the original honey lip balm, and their tinted ones. They really do wonders for chapped lips in the fall and winter, and stay put for a few hours or more before reapplication is needed. They also make great bases for lipstick.
YOUR TOP FIVE LIP PRODUCTS OF ALL TIME?
~Cover Girl LipBlast stick (the one with lip color at either end) in red and gold.
~NYX lipstick in Rose Bud (not sure of the exact lipstick used, it’s in a small, round, cylindrical container).
~NYX lipstick in Femme (an orange-red that looks great with a tan).
~Burt’s Bees tinted lip balms in Rose and Pink Blossom (may have to pick up Tiger Lily).
~Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Kokum Butter/Original Lip Balm with Honey.
DO YOU HAVE ANY UNORTHODOX APPLICATION TIPS OR TECHNIQUES (THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT OR DO)?
~Not so much with lips, with eyes that is where I am weird (remember how I mentioned before that I hold my eyelashes down to apply eyeliner? Hey it works…). I am careful to blot, and I’m getting used to how red lipstick works. I’ve heard setting with powder and blotting is one way to make lipstick last. I’ve also heard you can use foundation or concealer as a base. If my lips are really chapped, I will exfoliate using a homemade sugar scrub (really it’s just wet sugar that you either use a finger or a toothbrush to apply over your lips). You can also buy exfoliating lip balms…but this is the el cheapo method.
Hi Katherine,
There are great recommendations! Thank you for all the color suggestions…it helps a ton.
BTW, for a homemade sugar scrub another way to do it is with olive oil and sugar. 🙂
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY DRUGSTORE OR OTHERWISE BARGAIN LIP PRODUCTS THAT LOOK MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY ARE? YES – Revlon Colorburst and Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks! I love these so much and they’re just as good as some High End if not better.
WHAT ARE YOUR EVERYDAY LIPSTICK, GLOSS AND/OR LINER WORKHORSES (THE PRODUCTS YOU TURN TO THE MOST)? Revlon Soft Rose Colorburst – this is the most backed up lipstick I own – three in my veggie crisper in the fridge.
WHAT’S THE ONE LIP PRODUCT YOU’VE RECOMMENDED MORE THAN ANY OTHER IN YOUR LIFE? Same as above.
YOUR TOP FIVE LIP PRODUCTS OF ALL TIME? MAC Ladybug, Revlon Soft Rose, MAC P*P Lip, NYX Soft Matte Cream in San Paulo, I actually can’t think of #5.
DO YOU HAVE ANY UNORTHODOX APPLICATION TIPS OR TECHNIQUES (THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT OR DO)? I use a nude lipstick to cover my pigmentation when using a bright or deep l/s. It also mutes the color, makes it last longer, etc.
Hi Becca,
Thanks for all these great recommendations. What nude lipstick do you usually use to blank out your lips?
1.Do you know of any drugstore or otherwise bargain lip products that look more expensive than they are? Those Wet n Wild matte lipsticks are gorgeous, feel luxurious on the lips and have color that cant be beat.
2.What are your everyday lipstick, gloss and/or liner workhorses (the products you turn to the most)? Pure Zen by MAC and Roman Holiday by NARS.
3.What’s the one lip product you’ve recommended more than any other in your life? Carmex. Slathered on the lips before bed gives you soft and kissable lips. And I do mean SLATHERED.
4.Your top five lip products of all time? MAC Impassioned, NARS Roman Holiday, MAC Pure Zen, Carmex and ALL my NARS Velvet Matte lip pencils.
5.Do you have any unorthodox application tips or techniques (things that most people may not know about or do)? I use the ELF Lip Lock pencil before and after I apply lipstick. I also line my lips after lipstick. 🙂
SWEET! Thanks Nina, for all these great recs. How’s work going for you today? Hope it isn’t too rough!
Work is still a tad rough. 🙂 But the weekend is in sight!
EEE, I’m quoted!
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY DRUGSTORE OR OTHERWISE BARGAIN LIP PRODUCTS THAT LOOK MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY ARE?
-Oh, definitely. The L’Oreal Colour Caresse lipsticks look good on the lips, and the packaging is chic too. The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains are similar to the Tarte lip stains too (even with a mint taste!)
WHAT ARE YOUR EVERYDAY LIPSTICK, GLOSS AND/OR LINER WORKHORSES (THE PRODUCTS YOU TURN TO THE MOST)?
-My go-to everyday color is the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita. Perfect MLBB color for me. I also always have the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Black Tea & Blackberry with me. For a more natural look, I like the Burt’s Bee’s tinted lip balms in Hibiscus and Rose.
WHAT’S THE ONE LIP PRODUCT YOU’VE RECOMMENDED MORE THAN ANY OTHER IN YOUR LIFE?
-Probably the ones I got paid to promote, LOL! Otherwise, Revlon Super Lustrous lipsticks are great as a general rule.
YOUR TOP FIVE LIP PRODUCTS OF ALL TIME?
-Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita
-Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Black Tea and Blackberry
-Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Candy Apple (my perfect warm red)
-Burt’s Bee’s Tinted Lip Balms
-L’Oreal Colour Riche Tinted Lip Balm in Caring Coral
DO YOU HAVE ANY UNORTHODOX APPLICATION TIPS OR TECHNIQUES (THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT OR DO)?
-Putting liner on after lipstick is what I was taught when I worked at a cosmetics counter! Also, putting my Dolce Vita on when my lip balm is still moist gives a nice, sheer look!
As a lip junkie, I feel home here!
1- One of the best drugstore value IMO is the Wet n’ Wild Megalast lipstick: they are opaque, vibrant, and last forever! And they don’t even dry out my sensitive lips. I just wish they had more shades!
2- I have so many lippies that I rarely wear the same twice in a month… but I do love MAC Cremesheen Glass, they’re very comfortable and look pretty. I also wear a lot of Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter, and Clinique Chubby Stick.
3- Clinique Chubby Stick!
4- MAC Dubonnet, Kiko Velvet Matte Satin in Strawberry Pink, Thierry Mugler Rouge Unique in Metallic Red, Clinique Chubby Stick in Fuller Fig, Paul & Joe lipsticks (but they just changed their formula and I haven’t tested the new ones).
5- It’s not a secret, but not very many people seem to do it: when you have a very bright color you’re afraid to wear or want to tone down, apply it with your finger. It’s gonna look like a sheer stain on you lips, a lot more natural than the full version, so you can experiment with bold colors. Just rub the lipstick on your finger, and then gently tap your lips. Even out the color by swiping your finger a few times.
Best high performance drugstore lippie in my bathroom is Cover Girl Lip Perfection in Delish. It’s a great warm peachy nude shade and if you prime and line your lips, it looks just as good as my $60 Cle de Peau lipstick. Add a little nude gloss and it will stay put for 3-4 hours before you need to touch up.
Hmm.. not sure if this is a tip exactly, but as someone with acne prone skin and thus needing a fair bit of coverage, a MAC artist once told me to ditch all the concealers, etc.. and just carefully layer my foundation to get the coverage I needed. She said that cakey, too-much-make-up look came from laying products that had different formulas and thus didn’t mesh well, where as layering one product over and over would look smoother in the end. So far, so good!
I don’t usually buy drugstore lip products, but I repeatedly go back to my favourite pinkish-purpley-mauve lipstick from Rimmel called “Vintage Pink”. I absolutely love it. It’s got a creamy, opaque finish, none of that annoying drugstore shimmer, and it’s a unique color without screaming “look at me!” love it.
When it comes to less expensive lip glosses, I love the Nyx Megashine, Rimmel Stay Glossy, Elf Luscious Liquid Lipstick, Loreal Legloss, and Avon Glazeware lipglosses (What I prefer are glosses with color tints).
When it comes to less expensive lipsticks, I’ve liked Revlon Superlustrous (a favorite, unique shade is Berry Haute, which is a wearable medium purple color), the Ulta brand lipsticks (better formulation that it used to be, good pigmentation), Essence, Wet N Wild, Nyx Round Lipsticks, and Avon Moisture Seduction. All of these glide on well, and have opaque colors, which I love.
A completely unrelated tip, if you curl your lashes often (& curl them after mascara application) take a paper towel to clean up the black goo, so you have a clean go for next time. If you have a lip color that you love but fear it’s too bold you can always sheer it out with balm. I use Mac’s lip conditioner on lips first, and an example is Mac hang up lipstick on top, really sheer. I love the color but I can’t possibly wear that to work, so in the end I get a strawberry stain. It’s autumnal and quite pretty 🙂