By Request: Drugstore Taupe Eyeshadows | L'Oreal and Wet n Wild Picks

Purchased by Me (Unaffiliated Links)

A wonderful longtime reader sent me an email asking whether I had any suggestions for great quality drugstore taupe eyeshadows. Therefore, on my trip to Rite Aid I scoured the makeup aisle to see what I turned up. I came home with two L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow Crayons and one Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single. I love crayon eyeshadow sticks and figured that I would try two since Rite-Aid was having a Buy One Get One Half-Off Sale, and the already affordable Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Singles were on sale for an additional 40% Off making them about .60 each!

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow Crayons in Impressive Brown No. 702 and Forever Taupe No. 700 and Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single in Nutty.

L'Oreal describes their Infallible Eye Shadow Crayon, as an "ultra-intense smudge-proof eye crayon lasts from dawn until dusk and beyond, up to a full 24 hours. The smooth, creamy, long-wearing formula delivers easy-to-wear colour for any occasion. It’s now easy to create endless runway-inspired, colorful eye looks with just one product. Blend multiple colors together or use them individually for a monochromatic look."

They are creamy, ultra pigmented crayons that apply smoothly and evenly without skipping or pulling. This formula is long-wearing, gives you adequate time to blend out before setting, and can be used as a shadow or liner.

Impressive Brown is a rich and beautiful brown, but I selected it because it appeared to be a taupe brown in the closed tube. It wasn't until I got it home and swatches it that I saw that it wasn't so much a taupe brown, but more of a rich and beautiful brown. It has lovely multicolored shimmer that adds depth to the shadow.

Forever Taupe, on the other hand, is indeed a taupe. Any warmth in the underlying base shade is radically cooled down by the cool silvered shimmer. It is a definite stunner.

Nutty is a beautiful warm taupe with shimmer. It is surprisingly creamy, it glides across the skin effortlessly, and is long-wearing. When it does fade, it does so evenly.

According to Wet n Wild their Color Icon Eyeshadow Singles offer, "high-pigmentation and pearl-density" to create a "unique, satiny texture that lasts and lasts." They further assert that this range of eyeshadows is "a versatile collection of classic and trend shades can be easily worn alone or playfully combined for a variety of looks."

Interestingly, when I first swatches Impressive Brown and Forever Taupe they appeared to be remarkably similar, but when I moved my arm about in the natural light each revealed their true character.

Top to Bottom: L'Oreal Impressive Brown,  Forever Taupe and Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single in Nutty.

The shimmer in all three shadows is subtle enough to be daytime appropriate.

Left to Right: L'Oreal Impressive Brown (thin swatch and thick swatch) and Forever Taupe (thin swatch and thick swatch).

Varied lighting and soft-focus demonstrates the extent to which the Infallible Eye Shadow Crayons twinkle.

Below is the L'Oreal display in case you go looking for it! 

L'Oreal Infallable Eye Shadow Crayon Ingredients: Isododecane Cyclopentasiloxane Peg/Ppg-19/19 Dimethicone Synthetic Wax Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene Nylon-12 C20-40 Alcohols Perfluorononyl Dimethicone Polyethylene Terephthalate Silica Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate Calcium Sodium Borosilicate Polyethylene Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Polyurethane-11 Tin Oxide [+/- May Contain / Peut Contenir Mica Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 / Iron Oxides Ci 77007 / Ultramarines Ci 77510 / Ferric Ferrocyanide Ci 42090 / Blue 1 Lake Ci 77288 / Chromium Oxide Greens Ci 75470 / Carmine Ci 77000 / Aluminum Powder].

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single in Nutty Ingredients:

Overall Assessment: Pretty, high quality and affordable x3! Nice job.

Infallible Eye Shadow Crayons $7.99 each
Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single .99 each

Purchased by Me. All views expressed are categorically my own (Unaffiliated Links)
Copyright © 2015 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

By Request: Storing and Organizing All of Those Gift With Purchase Samples!

When cpl100, a lovely Lola's Secret Beauty Blog reader, made the request that I reveal my method for storing all of those gift with purchase samples that I have-- I knew that I needed to clean up the disastrous mess that had accumulated before my reveal! While this area of my collection had been quite well organized-- it recently descended into pure unmitigated chaos. The problem seems to be that while I sleep the samples breed and multiply-- I therefore had to empty out my large sample drawer and reorganize it before taking any pictures and describing what I do.

I have a large original built-in cabinet with a bank of very large and deep drawers in my master bathroom that I use to store many of my products. The bottom drawer is where I store many of my skincare samples, but in the spirit of full disclosure I would be remiss if I told you that was the extent of what I have accumulated! Yes, there are other piles of skincare products that need to be organized and stored properly as well, and this is to say nothing of my makeup samples that are stored elsewhere.

My method of storage is a pretty simple one, really. I tend to organize products by their brands rather than by the type of product (with a few deviations). My rationale for this choice is twofold: first, it allows me to see precisely what I have from a particular line; and second, it enables me to try out several pieces from a given line at the same time. I tend to use plastic bags or whatever see-through drawstring bags that I have on hand from bag events. This allows me to see what I have at a glance without too much fumbling about.

Samples, particularly those generous deluxe versions, are such a wonderful way to test out products to determine whether you like them enough to purchase the full size versions, and they are absolutely perfect for traveling. As you can tell from my monthly Empties posts, I tend to use a fair amount of samples, and when it comes to traveling I use skincare samples exclusively with few exceptions. They save so much space in my travel bag-- plus they comply with the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) stringent regulations if you are flying.

While there are probably more efficient ways to store skincare samples-- I find that this method works for me provided that I keep it organized.

How do you store your samples? Do you store them by brand or type? Do you intermingle your skincare with makeup samples?

Copyright © 2014 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

By Request: My Current Favorite Pink Blushes!

When wefadetogray asked me to create a post of my favorite pink blushes, I really had my work cut out for me. I have a scary penchant for pink blushes, and as frightening as it may be- this represents a small portion of my blush stash! 

Top Row Left to Right: 
1) Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel Tweed Pink (reviewed here)
2) Chanel Joues Contraste Narcisse No. 44 (unbaked US version)
3) Burberry Light Glow Blush in Misty No. 08 (reviewed here)
4) Burberry Light Glow Blush in Peony No. 04 (reviewed here)
5) Edward Bess Blush Extraordinaire Filled With Desire No. 02 (reviewed here)

Middle Row Left to Right:
1) Rouge Bunny Rouge Original Skin Blush in Gracilis (reviewed here)
2) NARS Gaiety Blush (reviewed here)
3) Tom Ford Cheek Color in Wicked No. 06 (reviewed here)
4) Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 02 (reviewed here)

Bottom Row Left to Right:
1) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Liquid Blush in Mim's the Word (reviewed here)
2) Chanel Le Blush Crème de Chanel in Inspiration No. 64 (overview here)
3) Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Beauty's Touch No. 03 (reviewed here)
4) Prestige Cosmetics Flawless Touch Blush in Pink Sorbet (reviewed here)

Tweed Pink is a gorgeous two-toned light blue-based pink. Half of it is a very light pink while the remainder is a bubble gum pink, but the mixture of the two is perfection. 

Chanel Narcisse (U.S. unbaked version) is a very lovely pale pink that is a touch more neutral and less cool than Tweed Pink and Burberry Misty. 

Burberry Misty is a lovely light pink that is a touch muted in the pan, but is more vibrant on the skin. It is one of my favorite and most wearable pink blushes.

Burberry Peony, on the other hand, is a richer, darker and more vibrant cool-toned.pink. Burberry blushes are so finely milled and luxurious, but they do have a pronounced floral scent that bothers many people sensitive to fragrance in makeup. 

Edward Bess Filled With Desire is a more clear and complex light cool-leaning pink with an unbelievably gorgeous sheen (the shimmer itself is pink). 

These five blushes are within the shade range that I reach for all of the time because they impart a natural healthy glow, and because the colors are subtle (but buildable). 

Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis is a stunning medium tone rose with a touch of mauve- RBR makes amazing finely milled blushes that are among the best on the market. 

NARS Gaiety is a decidedly cool-toned light-medium toned pink that remains one of my favorite shades. 

Tom Ford Wicked is a gorgeous mid-toned cool-leaning raspberry pink with multicolor pearl. It is very pigmented, and therefore requires a light-hand, but it is a stunning blush. 

Giorgio Armani No. 02 Pink hardly seems pink at all next to these other pinks. It is more of subtle light peach with a touch of pink. I love it and reach for it often, but really do wish that Armani would make a truly pink blush because their formula is simply outstanding. In fact, their formula is one of my very favorites.

Susan Thompson Cosmetics Liquid Blush in Mim's the Word remains one of my very favorite pink blushes of all time. It is a gorgeous cool-toned ballerina pink, and the formula is outstanding. In fact, I have never ever tried a liquid or cream blush that can hold a candle to this beauty. 

Chanel Le Blush Crème de Chanel in Inspiration is a beautiful light cool-toned pink, but seen next to Mim's the Word, Inspiration appears to include a touch of mauve. 

Milani Beauty's Touch is not just one of my most beloved blushes, but it is also one of the most affordable! This melange of different colored roses becomes a luminous cool-toned light pink that is very finely milled. In fact, the quality is so high that it rivals the quality of my luxury blushes at a fraction of the price. However, it does lack luxe packaging, but I don't care-- it is an amazing blush! 

Prestige Cosmetics Pink Sorbet, like Milani, is a high quality drugstore brand. It is a finely milled light peachy pink blush that is so beautiful and natural on the skin. I am constantly stunned by the high quality and affordability of Prestige Cosmetics.

One would think that these pretty shades would satisfy my pink blush craving, but I have a wondering eye and am always on the hunt for other beauties to join the clan. 

What are your favorite pink blushes? Do tell!

Copyright © 2013 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

By Request: Gorgeous Golden Bronzy Green Eyeshadows & Pencils that are Swoon-Worthy!

When I received the request to post swatches of golden bronzy green eyeshadows and eye pencils I wasn't sure that I had enough in my stash to fulfill the request, but as it turns out I did!

1) MAC Powersurge Eye Kohl ($16.00) (reviewed here): A stunning "bronzed-brown with golden shimmer." Powersurge, which is part of MAC's permanent range, is glorious in all of her bronzy goodness. MAC describes Powersurge as a "bronzed-brown with golden shimmer"- which I think is an accurate description minus any effusive embellishments of speech. Powersurge is a bit of a chameleon in that the color modulates depending on the light that captures it. This is a creamy pencil that can easily be smudged, but it also makes a lovely base as well. 

2) Painted Earth SuperWear Gel Liner in Baroque No. 04 ($18.50) (reviewed here): A gorgeous rich golden bronze with a slight olive green undercurrent.The texture of this gel liner is amazingly smooth, and it effortlessly glides on without any pulling or tugging whatsoever. The color payoff is very impressive in this richly pigmented opaque hue. I have experienced no migration or smudging, and once it sets it stays put until you remove it. It has the ease of application associated with gel products, but with the convenience of a pencil. It is easy to create the most beautiful cat eye with no effort. It can easily deliver the precise line and flick associated with liquid eyeliners without the same need for that level skill, or a super steady hand. In that way this is a perfect product for those making their first forays into looks that require greater skill without the fear of making a mess. This is truly one of the very best eyeliner pencils that I have used, and I have used many!

3) Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Silk Eye Shadow in Khaki Pulse No. 06 ($33.00): A gorgeous rich golden bronze. A small sample pot that has lasted a long time! This product is a creamy loose powder shadow that almost applies like a cream shadow. It is very finely milled, and offers unbelievable opaque coverage, but it can likewise be sheered out for a simple wash of color. There is no fall-out whatsoever, and the lasting power is impressive. I will definitely buy this once I finish my sample because the quality is simply superb.

4) Rouge Bunny Rouge Loose Glitter Pigment Fire Drops Caress of Mink ($23.00) (reviewed here): "A scintillating medium taupe brown with pewter-plum highlights." Added to the line up because it really lets you see the true bronze and green character of the other shades. Caress of Mink is an an incredibly complex shade that certainly is a "scintillating medium taupe brown with pewter-plum highlights" as Rouge Bunny Rouge suggests. However, even their description fails to reveal the complexity of this otherworldly shade. There is no question that this lovely hue is in the taupe family of colors, but the true character of this color is unleashed when the sun dances on the surface of the skin revealing the ethereal character of this shade as it modulates from one color to the next. This is makeup magic of the highest order. It is nearly impossible to capture the essence of Caress of Mink with a camera- it really needs to be experienced first hand. Every taupe lover out there needs this in their stash, period! This product in very very finely milled, and of the highest quality imaginable. 

5) Rouge Bunny Rouge Abyssinian Catbird Long Lasting Eye Shadow ($25.00) (reviewed here): An out-of -this-world stunning "metallic bronze with golden highlights." Abyssinian Catbird, like all of the Rouge Bunny Rouge eye shadows, is ultra finely milled, buttery soft, intensely pigmented, highly buildable, and simply extraordinary to use. The quality really is as good as it gets! Simply put, I covet my RBR eye shadows and they are my most beloved eye shadows. While I have a cool leaning skin tone, Abyssinian Catbird makes my Hazel eyes sing!

6) By Terry Silky Eye Shadow Dapple Bronze No. 5 ($40.00) (featured here): A beautiful golden green that is silky smooth! This powder eyeshadow is so finely milled that it nearly feels like a cream when applied. The color and pigmentation are so rich that a single pass will deliver opaque coverage. This is a lovely eyeshadow indeed!

7) NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Paramaribo ($34.00) (reviewed here): The stunning rich golden bronze shade on the left side of the compact. This gorgeous Duo Eyeshadow is described as Metallic Brass/ Metallic Bronze, and it is crazy beautiful, velvety smooth with super-saturated pigmentation. 

The quality of each of these pencils and eyeshadows is very high, and all of them are a pleasure to use. Clearly the only one that I don't own in the full size is the Armani Eyes to Kill in Khaki Pulse, but it is so stunning, and the quality is so amazing that I will definitely purchase it once I finish the sample.

What are your favorite eyeshadows and pencils in the golden bronzy green range?

By Request: My Stash of Facial Cleansers

I received a request to reveal my entire skincare stash, but that would make for one mighty overwhelming post to contemplate. Therefore, I decided the only sane way to tackle this task was to break it into types of products. As a result of this choice, logic dictated that I do so in the order that I would use the products- thus I began with my cleansers. 

I tend to rotate cleansers based upon the needs of my skin at any given moment. The exception is when I am testing out new products because one has to use them for an uninterrupted and sustained period of time in order to determine their efficacy.

1) Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (review forthcoming). Best cleansing oil that I have tried!

2) *Relogy Dual Action Treatment Foam (reviewed here). Very effective and gentle!

3) *Coral Actives Retinol Exfoliating Cleanser (reviewed here). You had me at Retinol! Wonderful!

4) Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser (reviewed here). Nice creamy lather!

5) Sponge- Gel Katharistiko (reviewed here). One of the best cleansers I have ever used!

6) *vbeauté Evidence Eraser (reviewed here). Wonderfully effective and so gentle.

7) Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser (review forthcoming). I really like this cleanser. 

8) *Gold Sakura Facial Cleansing Foam Shirasu Line (reviewed here). Leaves you squeaky clean!

9) *Gold Sakura Hinoki Deitanseki Facial Cleansing Foam with Charcoal and Hinoki Oil (reviewed here). A lovely deep cleaning cleanser.

10) Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder (review forthcoming). Unquestionably the best of the best!

11) *Gold Sakura Beauty Bar Soap from the Hinoki Kurocha Line (reviewed here). Unique and lovely cleansing experience.

12) Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Soap (reviewed here). Tried and true. It has fine exfoliating granules that leaves your skin silky smooth!

While cleansing waters aren't cleansers in the traditional sense, they are nonetheless cleansers of sorts- and thus warranted inclusion.

13) Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water (reviewed here). An absolute staple, and my very favorite cleansing water of all time!

14) La Roche-Posay Solution Micellaire Physiologique (reviewed here). A very nice cleansing water.

*Denotes Press Samples

By Request: Pink Blush Comparison! Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink as it Compares to Burberry Peony & Misty, Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis, Tom Ford Frantic Pink and Milani Beauty's Touch- Swatches Galore!

All purchased by me

After reading my post entitled, "Tom Ford Beauty Cheek Color in Frantic Pink & Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink Side by Side- Swatches," Naomi asked me to expand the field a touch and include a few other blushes for comparison. She specifically wanted to see how Armani No. 2 compared to Burberry Misty, Burberry Peony, and Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis. Then Gummy wondered how the Armani & Ford blushes compared to her most coveted Burberry blushes. Therefore, I decided to oblige my two friends and engage in a veritable swatchfest for them. I decided to include Tom Ford Frantic Pink and a budget friendly drugstore blush by choosing Milani Beauty's Choice. Be aware that I limited the scope considerably since I have far more pink blushes than what you see here.

1) Tom Ford Frantic Pink

2) Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink 

3) Burberry Misty

4) Burberry Peony

 5) Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis 

6) Milani Beauty's Touch

1) Tom Ford Frantic Pink

2) Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink 

3) Burberry Misty

4) Burberry Peony

 5) Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis 

6) Milani Beauty's Touch

While Burberry Misty, Burberry Peony, Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis, and Milani Beauty's Touch are decidedly blue-based cool leaning pinks- the same can hardly be said for Tom Ford Frantic Pink and Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush No. 2 Pink. Instead, they appear to be warmer- at least comparatively speaking. While Armani No. 2 is quite light it remains more neutral than Frantic Pink-which is warmer and richer in hue. If you have a penchant for cool blue-based pinks, neither Frantic Pink nor Armani No. 2 will really comport to your taste, while the remaining 4 shades most assuredly will. 

I would say that the smooth buttery soft and finely milled texture of the Armani blush is consistent with that of the coveted Burberry formula. In fact, all of the blushes are soft and silky- but I would characterize the Armani and Burberry blushes as more so than the others. Milani Beauty's Touch is surprisingly finely milled and silky smooth for a drugstore brand, and quite frankly does an astounding job keeping up with these luxury blushes.

I am a blush fiend, and I am dazzled by all six of these beauties. I do wish that Tom Ford and Giorgio Armani would expand their color selections as the former has far too many warm toned shades for my cool skin-tone (notwithstanding Wicked- which beckons me) , and the latter has too many muted muddy colors that really don't do a thing for my complexion. That said, the Armani blush is a real treat to use, and you can rest assured that any blue-based pinks that make it into their upcoming collections (permanent or limited edition) will make it into my coveted stash!

By Request: How I Currently Store My Makeup Brushes

Each time that I publish a By Request post I seem to receive yet another request. Thank you for indulging me- I am having fun working on this series. This time Rachel asked that I reveal how I store by brushes- so here goes!

I have gone through numerous ways of storing my brushes, but I am pretty content with my current method. I quickly dismissed a brush roll because I have accumulated too many brushes. I also stopped storing them in glass, ceramic, or metal containers because they often cause the brushes to get dinged and damaged. Therefore, I opted to find something made out of wood. I thought that I should try somewhere like Bed, Bath & Beyond, but ended up finding vertical bamboo cutlery boxes in the kitchen section at Ross for about $9.00 a piece. I bought two: one for faces brushes, and another for eye makeup brushes.

My primary reason for wanting wood was that many of my brushes are Hakuhodos, and since I spent an arm and two legs on them I wanted to keep them in good shape.

I organized all of the eyebrow and eye makeup brushes in one of the 4 compartment bamboo cutlery boxes. On the far left I keep all eyebrow and eyelash brushes, and since I don't have many of them it has lots of space available. The second compartment is filled with eyeshadow brushes, crease brushes and anything else that needs a home. The following compartment is basically various eye lining brushes (though it appears that eyebrow/eyelash spool brush migrated to this compartment). The far right compartment is largely filled with blending brushes- though two of them are actually small Hakuhodo Highlighter brushes that I most often use on the eyes, or even for concealer.

With a few exceptions, nearly all of the face brushes are Hakuhodos.

The far left contains finishing, blending, powder, and highlighter brushes. The next compartment is an assortment non-Hakuhodo finishing, blending, and miscellaneous brushes. The third compartment is duo fiber brushes for foundation and/or blush. The far right compartment is a combination of Hakuhodo and Rouge Bunny Rouge blush brushes.

I placed a thick cotton pad in the bottom of the far left compartment because that is where I store my Hakuhodo S100 Series brushes that feature the gorgeous vermilion wooden handles and 24K clear coated brass/gold ferrules- therefore I wanted added protection from dinging up these gorgeous handcrafted works of art.

This ceramic claw foot tub was a party favor filled with mini bath products, and I thought that it was cute and would come in handy for something in my stash. It turned out to be the perfect size and depth to house my shorter brushes that would get lost in the bamboo boxes.

What is less than ideal is how all of my brushes are stored in my deep built-in cabinet in my master bathroom. They share space with piles of skincare products, and the whole space is in great need of an overhaul because it lacks efficiency. Call it a work in progress. To see my makeup storage click on the following links: blush storage, eyeshadow storage & lip product storage).

How do you store your brushes?

By Request: How I Currently Store My Eyeshadows

After having received requests to post pictures of my lip products & storage, and then my blushes & storage- I suspected that it was just a matter of time before someone asked to see how I store my stash of eyeshadows. Well, that day came sooner than I suspected- so here you are! As was the case for both my lip product and cheek product stashes- this does not reflect the entirety of my collection. I have a bin and two drawers filled with products that need to be photographed, swatched, and reviewed- therefore those eyeshadows have yet to land in this drawer.

The top picture differs from the bottom in that I left the three palettes stacked where I normally store them (a MAC Pro Palette, a Trish McEvoy Palette [contains Chantecaille, MUFE, RBR & Trish Mc Evoy eyeshadows], and an Anastasia Beverly Hills Palette).

The back right compartment contains MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Creams. Next to it you will find a few MAC Quads and a Maybelline Color Tattoo. The far right compartment is solely MAC Paint Pots, and beneath that are Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliners. To the right in the gap between the wooden box and the side of the drawer I have MAC Pigment samples and a Prestige Cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow Trio.

The bamboo box on the left side contains Burberry Eyeshadow singles, Chanel Quads, NARS duos and singles, a Le Métier de Beauté eyeshadow palette, a Mia BelleZZa duo, and a Giorgio Armani single.

The bamboo box on the right is the special land of Rouge Bunny Rouge and as such it gets a separate zip code altogether!

In the front, where there is a gap between the drawer and the bamboo storage boxes I have a mish-mash   of single eyeshadows from: Bobbi Brown, Kevyn Aucoin, Laura Mercier, Hourglass, Prestige Cosmetics, MAC, La Prairie, and a few other strays. I also keep my eye/lip pencil sharpener there since it is easy to find.

I actually purged a good number of eyeshadows that I simply wasn't using- therefore what you are seeing is actually a more sensible stash compared to what I once had. I also reduced some of the clutter by depotting a lot of singles, and I buy refill pans whenever possible.

Truth be told, I could live without most of what is in this drawer, but the contents of the two bamboo boxes definitely make my heart go pitter-patter!

How do you store your eyeshadows?

By Request: How I Currently Store My Blushes

When I published my By Request: How I Currently Store My Lip Product Stash, my friend Gummy asked for me to reveal my blush stash- and I cannot deny her- so here it is. This top photo is meant to contextualize my storage system- it is an original 1920s built-in cabinet with drawers in my master bathroom. I had two black wooden boxes with dividers, and they fit in the drawer side by side with a little bit of space to spare, but with plenty of space left in the back of the drawer. There are a few other blushes floating around, and my Le Métier de Beauté Créme Fresh Tints for Lip & Cheek are stored with my lip products.

Left Box Top to Bottom:

Top: Mia BelleZZa & Prestige Blushes

Center: Chanel Joues Contraste Blushes

Bottom: Milani, MAC & Burberry Blushes

Right Box Top to Bottom:

Top: Trish Mc Evoy & Bobbi Brown Mini Palettes

Center: Rouge Bunny Rouge, NARS & Sunday Riley

Bottom: Susan Thompson Liquid Blushes & Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blushes

How do you store your blush collection?

By Request: How I Currently Store My Lip Product Stash!

After having written a post on my Makeup Storage Conundrum, I received an email asking how I was storing my stash of lip products. I therefore thought that I should make a visual response. Here goes....

The drawer itself is part of an original 1920s built-in cabinet in my master bathroom, and it is quite deep and not necessarily terribly efficient. That said, what it lacks in efficient use of space, it makes up for with 1920s architectural charm. I created makeshift dividers with all sorts of repurposed crates, boxes, and the like. My real challenge was how to store a ridiculous number of lip glosses and lip balms so that I could easily see them and access them, and then return them to their proper places after use.

My greatest find was a pile of little plastic baskets that house the lip glosses. I found them for .99 each at Walgreens, and decided that I needed to somehow contain them- so I used an old Melissa & Doug wooden crate that once housed wooden toys. Nine of the little baskets fit perfectly leaving enough space so that I can easily remove the individual baskets to view the contents. The baskets themselves are perforated which is helpful in identifying the lip colors.

The three baskets on the left side (vertically oriented) largely house drugstore lip products. The top is filled with Covergirl Lipslicks and Maybelline Baby Lips (though I did place my three OCC Lip Tars in that basket because there was space for them). The middle and bottom rows are exclusively Revlon Lip Butters.

The center column features mid to high- end lip glosses. The top basket contains MAC Kissable Lipcolours, Lip Gelees, and a few Lipglasses. The center basket is filled with glosses by Rouge Bunny Rouge, Susan Thompson Cosmetics, La Prairie, Bobbi Brown, and Armani. The bottom basket is a mishmash of glosses that includes Lipstick Queen, NARS, and whatever else needed a home.

The right side features yet more glosses!! The top basket is filled with glosses by Anastasia Beverly Hills, LORAC, and a couple of strays. The center basket is all about Chanel-- while it is nearly all Glossimers, it is the Extrait de Gloss that are my most beloved from Chanel. The bottom basket is exclusively Le Métier de Beauté and Burberry. Beneath the bottom basket I managed to squeeze in a little demitasse for lip liners.

The pink zip pouch on the far right is something that I found at Ross for only $2.00!! The moment I saw it, I envisioned using it to store lipsticks upside down so that I could see the labels, and the clear plastic lid makes identifying my lipsticks very easy. Yes, I realize that I have a disproportionate number of lip glosses to lipsticks, but you already knew that I was a lip gloss kind of girl.

Left to Right Compartments: Chanel, Le Métier de Beauté and odds and ends; Burberry; Susan Thompson Cosmetics Creamy Lipsticks and Rouge Bunny Rouge; and finally a huge mishmash of brands.

Beneath the lipsticks I have a rectangular glass container that used to contain a triple wick candle, and the moment I saw it I imagined its use in my makeup drawer. I use it to keep my lip balms easy to find. Below the lip balms on the left is where I keep lip compacts from Chanel, a Susan Thompson Cosmetics Pro Lip Palette, a few Bobbi Brown Lip Glosses, and other odds and ends. The container on the right houses my Le Métier de Beauté Lip Kaleidoscopes, and Le Métier de Beauté Créme Fresh Tints for Lip & Cheek, and a sample lip palette of Chanel Rouge Coco Shines.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I feel morally obligated to tell you that this does not represent all of my lip products! Hangs head in shame while simultaneously and obsessively plotting the next lip product purchase! I have a pile in my desk drawer that I need to photograph and swatch, and piles in my purse, and piles in my travel computer bag-- but you probably already knew that, didn't you?!

How do you store your lip products?