Valentine’s Day approaches, a day both loved and dreaded by millions. This February 14th, you could be…
1. sniffing the roses on your desk and chomping on candy hearts and chocolates while daydreaming about your faboo significant other (isn’t s/he the BEST?).
OR
2. alone in your living room, dressed in your rattiest plaid pajamas and drinking a bottle of Two Buck Chuck on the couch while lip syncing Celine Dion’s All By Myself.
Girl, I know how it is because I’ve played both roles before. Sometimes on the Big V you’re in lurve (how precious), but sometimes you’re not; sometimes you’re just plain bitter (it happens to the best of us).
So, to celebrate the love and the pain of Valentine’s Day, this post kicks off Paint it Pink, Paint it Black, a series featuring pink and black themed makeup and beauty products to help you make the most of this Valentine’s Day — no matter what. If you’re ready to shout your love from the rooftops, then you may opt to paint it pink! But, if you’re ready to tell your loser ex how you never needed his/her sorry ass anyway, then paint it black, sister!
Paint it pink, Vol. 1
These hot pink beauties make me feel the love…
- Lancome Color Fever Photonic Gloss in Seashell ($23). This lovely fuschia gloss applies sheer, is never sticky, and makes my lips look like they just powered through a heavy-duty hour-long makeout session. HOT!
- Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Glare. A sheer, sparkly pink gloss with lots of glitter, this lipgloss is part of the awesome Light Speed Lip Gloss Set ($29). Glare is my favorite of the six glosses in the set because the glitter hits just the right sparkle without going over the top. It’s a great first date night gloss if you want your lips looking super kissable.
- Pattern Black Pepper Body Wash ($20). Technically, I should probably list this body wash in the “Paint it Black” section because of its black pepper scent, but the cute hot pink bubble pattern on the bottle prevails. With its fresh, unisex herbal scent — a mix of black pepper, ylang-ylang and vetiver — it’s perfect for shower dates (*ahem*) with your significant other. The ingredients are all natural, and no animals were harmed in its testing, hooray!
- Philosophy Raspberry Sorbet 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath ($16). This multi-tasking gel smells exactly like a fresh scoop of raspberry sorbet. A dollop fills the bath with bubbles and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth and ready for date night.
- Lierac Hydra-Chrono Anti-aging Balm ($45). This thick, rich balm smells like fresh picked cherries, yum! When I slather just a little of this on my hands at night, I wake up the following morning with seriously silky paws.
Whether you spend this particular Valentine’s Day in agony or ecstasy, just remember that you’re not alone, girl. Good or bad, we’ve all been there before.
Check back for more “Paint it Pink, Paint it Black.” I’ll be doing a new one every few days until the Big V drops next month. Now, hand me that heart-shaped box of truffles, homie!
More Paint it Pink, Paint it Black…
Paint it Black, Vol. 1: Going Black to the Gym
Paint it Pink, Vol. 2: Prepping for Date Night
Paint it Pink and Black, Vol. 3: When Love Leaves You Twisted
One more thing…
The poem below is my favorite love poem of ALL FRICKIN’ TIME! What’s yours?
When You are Old
by William Butler Yeats
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Giiiiirrrrl! You know I love my Lancome gloss in “Seashell”! I rocked it out the other night and I love, love, love it! The sponge-tip applicator is neat!
Karen, I’m SOOO looking forward to this feature!
I’m already so excited that I’ve got that Seashell lipgloss and rocked it a couple of weeks ago during that dreary, rainy period we were having – it made me so happy to sport something so bright and springy! Looks like it’s time for me to bust that baby out again this week (grrr).
I’m also diggin’ Glare – how are the other colors in the Smashbox set?
Speaking of the dreaded V-Day, I’m going to host a giveaway that I hope you’ll check out! More details on that later this week 🙂
Aw, Kaaaareeen! I got tears in my eyes! That’s my mom’s favorite poem! It’s such a great poem isn’t it!!! Aaaaahhh…. Just so gentle and mystical. My mother just loves Yates… How can you not??
And that black pepper body sounds great!!! I don’t like mucky, unisex scents, so peppery is right up my alley. I think Aveda used to make some products that were peppery back when I was a teenager. I wonder if they still do…
I actually like that red Tarte lip gloss that you showed me…and I’m not a gloss girl. The tint darkens the lips just a bit, and the shimmer matches the tint, and so isn’t so ‘flash in your eyes’ looking 🙂 What are you DOING to me?!?!?
Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday next to Mother’s Day. And the Black Pepper Body Wash sounds intriguing. Wouldn’t mind getting getting clean with that!
Ok so here’s probably my favoritest poem since my BF wrote it for me,- everyone in unison awwwww ;P
You mean wanting to wake up in the morning, to replace dreams of you with sights and sounds of you.
You mean more smiles and laughter then I’ve ever known.
You mean a break in my heart for every ache in yours.
You mean wanting to always be more than I am, because you deserve the best.
You mean sweet dreams and sleepless nights, both filled with visions of you.
You mean facing my fears so I can see you smile a smile so beautiful it makes me weak.
You mean seeing life in a whole new way, though it’s not always easy.
You mean realizing that being second can be more than enough, as long as you’re first.
You mean love stonger than I’ve imagined
hopes higher than thought possible
and dreams beyond tomorrow.
You mean…….everything to me.
heehee… you made a funny in #2.
i think i’m going to check out that lancome l/s. looks pretty.
you should’ve included philosophy’s amazing grace. it’s pink and it smells sweet!
I so want the Lancome lipgloss, so purdy ^_^;; And also the Lancome lipstick in pixel pink 🙂 Are you getting it?? 🙂
My favourite love poem, also by Yeats:
He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Anyway – Valentines is such a waste of time, the trees wasted on cards, the weight piled on due to excessive binging, flowers that die in a day or so.
Actually, I can say that cos I actually get treated very nicely on Valentine’s day…ahem. But I just want to reiterate to anyone who is on the bitter side, that technically, it ain’t that!
Lancome gloss looks goood!
…on the black side listening to “Private Party” by India Arie..
aww don’t make me break out this fav lil poem of mine! it was a sweet “i notice you” poem by a guy i had come to know one summer. when i left for my travel abroad he sent an email with the poem.. perfect timing (maybe not quite, but…), saying all the right things =) He was a high school English teacher so he eloquently stated the precious subtleties (sp?) of our new found friendship and his little puppy love! i was touched!
I’m so down with this series for two big reasons:
1) My b-day is V-day woot! Probably the best holiday to have a b-day on! Sucky part is my whole life was pretty much themed. Oh well!
2) Pink and black are my two fav colors! That smashbox lippy looks kinda like my MAC Lusterglass in Flashmode.
I’m gonna have to try some of that Lierac balm. Cherries…delish!!
This post makes me feel lonely…the EngMuff is flying out the day before V-day. How painful it will be to be in solitude on Heart’s Day. How dare him leave me, that stingy SOB! jk. I’ve been trying to set my mind (and my poor delicate little heart) to be ready for V-day. I’m a hopeless romantic and I need luuuuuv =(
Hu hu hu. Somebody please pass the box of Kleenex (stuck on that box of truffles and bottle of wine). *sob*
*ding* On second thought, I might just visit the mall try all the pinks and reds on Karen’s list!
Hi Vanessa,
Yeah, the applicator for that Lancome lippie is pretty cool. I love looking at the hot pink color! It makes me so happy. I hope your week is off to a good start 🙂
Hi Lilan,
They’re all very pretty and natural looking. Glare is my fave, though!
Can beauty bloggers enter your giveaway? 😉
Awwww, Saltie! You’re so cute with your misty eyes. That poem’s been my favorite for over ten years. Every time I read it I get a lil’ teary, too. When I meet people who have a special place in their heart for this poem it’s one of my “indicators” that lets me know that we’re going to get along.
The Black Pepper shower gel is totally yummy. Doesn’t dry my skin out, too!
Hi Cindy,
Did you end up with that tarte gloss? I thought it was Jen. I can’t keep up with all the makeup adoption happening…
Hi Mrs. Lynne,
I love Valentine’s Day too – but I have had a few where I was HELLA BITTER, lol. My fave holiday of all time though is Halloween!
Breezy … AWWWWW!
You are so lucky that your boy wrote this for you! It’s so thoughtful and loving. He sounds like a keeper 🙂
Hi Anne,
If you like pinks you’ll love that Lancome lipgloss. It’s totally not sticky and doesn’t dry out my lips, too, which is nice.
I love Philosophy’s Amazing Grace, too. Hmmm, maybe it just might make an appearance in the Paint it Pink Vol. 2! Who knows?
Hi Sandy,
Yep yep! Pixel pink seems to be the quite that talk of the town! How was your weekend?
Hi Rowena,
That’s a good one! I haven’t read that one in years so thank you for sharing.
That Lancome gloss is awesome. Maybe your SO will give the gift of lipgloss. You never know!
Hi Kia,
What a bitter sweet story. It’s amazing how timing can play a major role in our paths. Did you see him again when you got back from your trip?
Ahhh, e-mail flirting is fun. The first contact I ever had with El Hub was through e-mail, and one thing that I noticed was that he had exceptional grammar and punctuation talents. And he was funny in print, LOL.
Tania,
Happy early birthday! How fun that your b-day is on Valentines day! Does that mean your cake is pink?!?!
I’m going to try and take a peak at the Smashbox set next time I’m over there. I’m really getting into the bubblegum pink – in fact I just saw a posting on a Dior pink gloss that looks very similar. So many beauty products, so little time (sigh)
And YES, anyone (in the U.S.) can enter the giveaway, even you if you choose 🙂
I hope it’s there still! My set was from the Holiday releases. They are still available on line tho, in case you can’t find it in person (the link in the post above should take you directly to the site).
Bubblegum pink is fun. My fave pink of all time is MAC Nymphette. She never lets me down!
Oh cool. I’m gonna win! (Gotta think positive.)
Ooo, I think I’ll need to get Nymphette and Utter Pervette. Between those two, the BF will probably think I’m crazy for wearing such random-named colors 🙂
Oh yeah, Nymphette rules. I’ve been through SIX TUBES of it. Yes, I’m keeping count.
Spite is a keeper too. Have you tried that one?
Oh my, six tubes!!
I’ve only been able to repeat purchase lippies at least one more time – Nico was the last one.
I’m putting Nymphette on my list – if you’re in love with it, it can’t be that bad 😉
I have two poems…one for the black side…and the other for the pink side…:-) I love lit/poetry etc.
Black:
Broken Vase (even prettier in the original French)
The vase where this verbena is dying
was cracked by a blow from a fan.
It must have barely brushed it,
for it made no sound.
But the slight wound,
biting into the crystal day by day,
surely, invisibly crept
slowly all around it.
The clear water leaked out drop by drop.
The flowers’ sap was exhausted.
Still no one suspected anything.
Don’t touch! It’s broken.
Thus often does the hand we love,
barely touching the heart, wound it.
Then the heart cracks by itself
and the flower of its love dies.
Still intact in the eyes of the world,
it feels its wound, narrow and deep,
grow and softly cry.
It’s broken. Don’t touch!
Rene Francois Armand Prudhomme
Pink: (This is one of my all time favorite Poets)
Sonnet XVII
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
Pablo Neruda
Hi Karen.. avid reader here, but first time commenting on your site. Love your site, lots of great info on here, but i just thought to share with you a poem that my husband found on the net, i don’t know the author and since he’s not too great with the words, he likes to find poems on the net that express the way he feels about me. here it is:
As we grow older together,
As we continue to change with age,
There is one thing that will never change
I will always keep falling in love with you.
For, you see, each day I love you more,
Today more than yesterday
And less than tomorrow
I wrote your name in the sand
But the waves washed it away,
Then I wrote it in the sky
But the wind blew it away,
So I wrote it in my heart and that’s
Where it will stay.
Hi Lilan,
Yeah, it’s awesome. I think Nymphette totally kicks Purrs arse. I hope you like it and that it works for ya.
Hi Megan,
Broken Vase is beautiful – I’m sure there’s lots that gets lost in translation though, so I wish I could read and understand French.
And dag-nabbit, Pablo Neruda! I wish I wrote these lines of yours:
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I majored in English (along with the bio degree) so I read a TON of poetry. Who are your fave poets besides Pablo Neruda?
Hi Jaclyn,
It’s good to meet you! Thank you for dropping a note and saying hello. 🙂
The poem you posted is beautiful and so thoughtful. You’re so lucky to have a hubby that does romantic things like finding poetry for you. Hold on to him tight!
BTW, how long have you guys been married? El Hub and I just celebrated are one year wedding anniversary in July.
my hub and I have been married 6 years this May, we’re actually celebrating our 8th year anniversary of the day we met this Sunday. he’s taking me to dinner. =) he never really asked me to be his girlfriend so we celebrate the day we met as one of the anniversaries we celebrate every year. ohh and let me tell you, we met because of the good ole world wide web. crazy, huh?
and that brings me to this question. i’m actually heading to MAC on Sunday morning and I’m planning on getting a red lippie. natural eye/red lip look. i would say my skin tone is about the same as yours, is there one you would suggest from MAC? i usually like to wear matte lipsticks, but i want to have some shimmer/glossy look. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Jaclyn,
Cute! I know a lot of couples who met each other online. Did you guys have a common interest or meet through a site?
Okay, MAC reds. I love Russian Red Lipglass. Seriously hot, especially with a neutral eye with thick black winged liquid or gel liner. I find it easier to apply than red lipsticks, which take me forever to put on. I don’t have a swatch of Russian Red Lipglass (note to self: do post with Russian Red lipglass!), but there is a lipstick version, which you can see here:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/makeup-tutorial-russian-red-an-ode-to-madge/
I also like Classic Dame, from the Mattene collection:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/product-reviews-mac-makeup-mac-mattene-lipsticks/
Also, one of my favorite reds of all time is Dolce Vida. If you’re going to a Sephora check it out!
Happy Anniversary!
Oooh… favorite poets…so many to consider…Well Contemporary I have to go with Maya Angelou. Some of her work is amazing. Admittedly one of my all time favorite poets since I was a kid…and to this day…is Shel Silverstein. Yes, I’m 27, and I still pick up my copy of where the sidewalk ends or a light in the attic and read them from time to time.
Some other favorites are Pablo Neruda, Sara Teasdale, Rabindranath Tagore, T.S. Eliot, ee cummings to name a few.
In French my favorites are probably Charles Baudelaire, Paul Éluard, and Arthur Rimbaud.
I also like a lot of others too Shakespeare, Byron, Keats, Shelley, Longfellow, Tennyson, Dickinson, Frost, Thomas, Pound. 🙂
I could go on forever. 🙂
Hi Megan,
A lot of your favorites are my favorites too. 🙂
Shel Silverstein is fantastic. I gotta dig out my copy of “The Giving Tree” today. That one always makes me a little teary eyed.
Hey Karen,
Thanks for the suggestion on Russian Red. I posted a thread on Specktra with my natural eye/red lip combo, here’s the link to check it out. once again.. thx!
http://specktra.net/f166/8th-year-anniversary-fotd-w-russian-red-89677/
Hi Jaclyn,
Gorgeous! You look so pretty! I liked how you darkened it a bit with a pencil. I’ll try that one two, with Nars Amazon.
And you two are so cute together. Happy anniversary!
I love this look. Have you tried makeup from http://www.MelliesMakeup.com? They look pretty similar to name brand colors. I love them, use them as much as possible and can definitely afford to try out all kinds of colors.