Red lips: Wet n' Wild Stoplight Red vs. Cherry Frost

TGIF :D  Today I have for you a small comparison of Wet n' Wild brand lip colors in a perennial favorite: red!  I love a red lip, especially with a neutral or smoky eye, or pinup-styled.  I'm on a personal quest for a great red and I've purchased a couple of reds recently in my hunt.

Both are Wet n' Wild.  The top picture highlights why you should ALWAYS use lip liner, especially for reds.  I had some definite bleeding which was completely avoidable, had I but used a lip liner.

Products used:

• Wet n' Wild Mega Last in Stoplight Red
• Wet n' Wild Silk Finish lipstick in Cherry Frost

Stoplight Red is a slightly warm-toned rich red.  It took a bit of building up to get it to the color you see in the picture.  Obviously as stated I would have greatly benefited from using a lip liner.  Not only would it have stopped the bleeding I experienced but overall would have made the look more polished and longer-lasting.  With a red or dark lippie, I believe the best way to get the most lasting, best color payoff is to layer.  Apply primer (I see no reason you couldn't use the same primer you use for your lids on your lips, but there are also lip-specific primers; I plan on picking some up!) and/or lip balm (not gloss or your color will slip right off!), line your lips first, then apply one layer of color.  Blot gently, apply a layer of translucent powder if desired (this will help your lipstick last and last and last...), then apply another coat.  Repeat until you reach your preferred saturation of lip color.  Wet n' Wild are generally very pigmented so I doubt you'd need more than two coats.  Mega Last lipsticks are mattes and as such can be drying, which is the reason for applying a bit of lip balm before application.  I personally don't find them drying, however.  If you want a demi-matte or even glossy finish as in my photo, apply a bit of your favorite gloss and gently press your lips together to distribute it.  For a demi-matte look, blot after applying gloss.  Don't rub your lips vigorously together or you'll end up with a mess and undo all the work you did with layering!  Wear was very good, I did have some rub off when I was drinking but not much.  I'm sure you'd need a touch up after eating though.  My biggest peeve with the Mega Lasts is that the lipstick doesn't retract completely.  If you're careful with the cap, this isn't a problem though.

Cherry Frost is a gorgeous vivid red with shimmer.  I love this color!  For some reason, red lipsticks generally make me self-conscious (and that's why I'm on the hunt for great reds) but this one was a stunner!  Applied with a light hand, you can get a nice stained look or you can layer as described above for a more saturated red.  I have two coats of lip color applied (but not layered, I was lazy) in the above picture.  The Silk Finish line is very moisturizing and I'd describe it as a creme finish vs. the Mega Lasts, which are mattes. The shimmer is not at all like the "frosts" some of us may remember from the 80s, but a fairly subtle sparkle.  It adds a little something to what is already a gorgeous shade.  Wear wasn't spectacular and you'd definitely have to re-apply after eating or drinking so keep an extra in your purse.  The Silk Finish lipsticks are a measly $0.99 each so buy one to keep in every room, your car, your purse, next to the computer... 

Wet n' Wild has made HUGE strides from what I remember in grade/high school and are now on par with many high-end brands.  Pigmented and gorgeous.  For $1.99 (Mega Last) or a shocking $0.99 (Silk Finish), these are a budget hunter's absolute dream!

Mani Monday: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Black and Blue

I've decided Mondays will be dedicated manicure days!  I may or may not post every Monday, but when I do, it will be nothing but nails ^_^

Today I have a gorgeous little drugstore gem for you.  I saw this in the bottle when I was picking up a prescription at Walgreens (I always check out makeup while I wait for them to get it ready, natch) and fell utterly in love.  It was super-duochromey in the bottle in two of my favorite colors and I couldn't wait to get it on my nails!  Husbeast was with me and he liked it too.  It's great when I can get his seal of approval :)

Application is pretty decent considering I hate the brush in the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Line. It's wide and flattened and just drives me crazy.  It was a little bit patchy but nothing an extra coat didn't cure.  I have on 3 coats in these pictures plus Seche Vite as a topcoat (which explains the bit of shrinkage I experienced, you can see it really well on my index finger).  It applies as blackened teal with shimmer but oh boy when the sun hits it right... CRAZY purple shimmer!  I love, love, love the color(s)!  It was worth struggling a bit with application.  This shot right to being one of my favorite polishes!

Here's what it looks like in natural sunlight:

And flashing purple:

OoOoh, shiiiiiny!

Happy St. Patty's! Or, BC is always a day late and a dollar short...

I had originally intended to start this blog on St. Patty's Day because I'm Irish on my daddy's side and had this amazing makeup look planned but you know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men...  So I'm posting it today!  This was my crazy green eye look for the holiday.  Ugh, let's pretend my eyebrows are in better shape, I keep meaning to get them waxed and never have the time!

My lips were intended to be "pot of gold" inspired.

  Products used:

• Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream with SPF 15 in Fair/Light
• Revlon Colorstay Mineral Foundation 
• ELF eyelid primer ($1!  Works amazingly to even out your lids, brighten your eyes, and keep your colors in place)
• ELF liquid eyeliner in Black
• Wet n' Wild Mega Plump mascara in Black
• Wet n' Wild Color Icon trio in I Dream of Greenie plus dark green shade from Color Icon trio Cool as a Cucumber to line outer edge of eyes
• ELF blush in Pink Passion (use a very light hand with this, as it's VERY pigmented!)
• Wet n' Wild Mega Last lipcolor in Bare It All with Mega Slicks lip gloss in In a Tutu layered on top and Mega Brilliance lip gloss in Blushing (a great glitterbomb gloss) in the center of my lower lip and my cupid's bow

I'm a big fan of both ELF and Wet n' Wild, both for their prices (generally between $1 and $5 max) and for the great quality of their products.  As I mentioned, I have sensitive skin/eyes and I have never had a problem with any of their products causing irritation.  Both are also cruelty-free, which is very important to me.  These two brands are my picks for anyone wanting a great makeup collection on the cheap but also values quality.  Very pigmented, buttery eyeshadows from Wet n' Wild and highly pigmented, beautiful blush from ELF.  And ELF's primer is a must-have.  I saw Wet n' Wild's Bare it All lipcolor touted as the "best nude" and I have to agree, it's amazing!  And so versatile, I layer it with glosses and other lipsticks to get all sorts of looks.

Of course, I also did my nails ;)

This is Wet n' Wild fastdry in SaGreena the Teenage Witch.  Dreamy, easy application.  I use various Sally Hansen basecoats and Seche Vite as my topcoat.  Seche Vite is the ultimate topcoat, your nails have a glassy shine and it dries in what seems like seconds!  I pick mine up at Sally Beauty Supply for around $5 and it lasts a long time.  It does tend to get a bit goopy after you've used up 1/3 or so of the bottle, so just add a drop or two of nail polish thinner (NOT nail polish remover!) and you're good to go.

What did you wear to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Happy first post and a bit of an introduction!

Happy inaugural post!  I'm brilliantcat but you can call me Cat, or BC :)  I've been inspired by my blogging friends to start my own blog.  Mine is a little different as my focus will be all things beauty at bargain prices.  I'll be trying out and using all those "cheapie" brands that some folk steer clear of.  In these economic times, it just makes sense to seek out less expensive alternatives that still give beautiful results.   Not all of us have the same amount of disposable income and I want to emphasize that you can look gorgeous at any price range!

From time to time, and on certain key products, I will splurge either just because, or because the products are worth it.  I have sensitive skin and eyes so some of these "splurges" are necessary to keep my body happy.  Some are just for fun, because I can and I deserve it!

For reference, I'm a natural auburn (though I generally dye my hair a more vibrant red because that's my preference) with green/hazel eyes and very fair skin.  Obviously YMMV with some of these looks depending on your own hair/skin/eye combo but there should be looks that work on everyone.  I don't subscribe to the notion that only certain colors work on certain skin tones or with certain eye colors and I veer off the beaten track to try colors that I may have been hesitant about.  It turns out some of those color combinations can be absolutely stunning even if they break with traditional makeup rules.

In addition to makeup, skin care, nail polish, and beauty implements like brushes I will also be blogging my experiences in saving money on all types of beauty treatments such as haircuts and waxing services.  There are all sorts of deals and ways to save money without having to go to Great Clips or the like for a standard haircut.  Not that you can't get a great cut at those type of hair-cutting places, but often they are only able to do simple haircuts with any kind of reliability.  I've gotten great styles from them and... not-so-great.  One memorable cut had me crying in the bathroom at home while my husband fixed it (and did a better job than the stylist!).  Don't discount (pun intended) these money-saving places, but you should always demand a quality cut/style and don't leave until you're happy!  Even though they're inexpensive, they still have the obligation to send you home with a cut you love.

As if all that weren't enough, I also plan to throw in some fashion posts as well!  Between my daughter and seven cats, most of our money goes to dressing her and providing her school supplies, and feeding our herd.  Mama's wardrobe tends to fall by the wayside and as a consequence, I have mostly t-shirts and jeans.  I aim to change that through judicious purchases that can be mixed and matched to create a ton of different looks with just a few pieces.  And shoes, oh shoes!  How I love shoes!  I'm going to be bargain-hunting all kinds of shoes and boots and sandals :D

One last note: I'm not a professional photographer and it's hard to take "selfies" and get the lighting just right to show off the products.  I am also not a professional makeup artist or stylist.  In fact, I'm a registered nurse!  But I love playing with new things and I do my best and will hopefully improve.  That's the great part of blogging, besides sharing what you enjoy with other people: the ability to learn and get better with every post!

Comments and suggestions are always welcome :)