Currently in My Makeup Bag

Press Sample & Purchased (Affiliate Links)

I recently switched out my makeup bag and its contents, and thought that I would share some of my current favorites. I had forgotten about my roomy leather Rebecca Minkoff makeup bag, which was a GWP at Neiman Marcus about 11 years ago, and that I just recently rediscovered. I don't like to carry too many things because I don't like clutter in my purse, but I always have a few lip products, some sunscreen, an eyeliner and a fragrance. Here is what is in my makeup bag:

MyChelle Protect Sun Shield Liquid SPF 50 in Light: This is a really wonderful serum-like oil-free tinted mineral sunscreen that is reef safe, cruelty-free, gluten-free and vegan. It has a wonderful texture, sheer coverage and a natural matte finish. I am thrilled the it boasts an SPF 50, and it beautifully evens out skin tone. It leaves behind no white residue and it is thoroughly non-greasy. As is the case with all sunscreens, it needs to be reapplied about every 60-80 minutes to maintain sun protection, but it is very easy to reapply. 

($27.99 for 1 oz. from MyChelle and Thrive Market)

Summer Fridays Lip Balm Butter in Vanilla Beige: This is a medium weight, non-sticky and very comfortable balm on the lips. It coats the lips while nourishing and hydrating them, and the delectable vanilla flavor is comforting and delicious! It provides a very light wash of color that is a flattering neutral nude beige shade that will suit most complexions since it is barely-there. Most importantly, this lip butter is soothing, hydrating and it has done a very effective job in its ability to moisturize and heal my chapped lips. It offers sustained moisture, and it has the perfect amount of cushion for comfortable wear! 

($24.00 for 0.5 oz. from Sephora, Summer Fridays, Revolve, Amazon, Sephora at Kohl's, Space NK and Cult Beauty)

Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm in Chou Chou: is a gorgeous pale pink, and it is a translucent liquid lip balm with the consistency of a lip gloss. It is lightweight, non-sticky and it has the perfect amount of cushion for very comfortable wear. Chou Chou is a beautiful pale pink with a stunning sheer and glossy finish. The formula is nourishing, hydrating and it's filled with skin-loving ingredients. Furthermore, it has a wonderful light and refreshing citrus aroma, but it isn't long-lasting. It doesn't boast the longevity of a stickier traditional lip gloss, but it is a wonderful tinted treat for the lips. It works well alone, but is also a gorgeous topper for lipstick. I really love this formula, and I will eventually purchase another one, but I will get one of the more pigmented shades next time.

($38.00 for 0.21 oz. from Sephora, Credo Beauty, Violet Grey, Cult Beauty, Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman and Cos Bar)

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Les Nudes: is a gorgeous sheerer-leaning lip palette that is perfect for people who love customizable nude shades the provide a truly beautiful wash of color. This is a very nourishing lip palette filled with good-for-you skincare ingredients that moisturize and condition the lips. The pigments are 100% natural and range in shades from more pigmented shades such as warm rose and mulled wine to the lighter shades peony and café crème. You can easily mix the shades to customize your perfect nude shade, but the entire palette is intentionally more sheer. You can apply these shades with a brush or with your finger for sheer to light pigmentation with a beautiful sheen. As is the case with sheer to light coverage lipsticks of this sort, they lack the longevity of richly pigmented formulas that stain the lips, but I do not find the wear time lacking. This palette is very comfortable to wear and it boasts the perfect amount of cushion. In short, it feels and looks amazing on the lips, and it offers a couple of hours of wear-time on me. This cruelty-free palette is also vegan.

($85.00 for Size 0.16 oz/ 4.8 g from Sephora, Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter, Credo Beauty, Violet Grey, Bergdorf Goodman and Liberty London)

Victoria Beckham Eye Kohl in Bronze: Victoria Beckham Beauty is a cruelty-free brand, and these liners are infused with Vitamin E, hydrating pro-vitamin B5, and calming chamomile. They are quite kind and gentle to sensitive eyes like mine, and they can also be used on the waterline and for tight-lining. The colors are spectacularly beautiful independently, but they can also be blended to soften or intensify the lighter and darker shades, respectively. I like to wear several of them at the same time. Bronze is a breathtakingly beautiful shimmer shade, and there is no fallout or shimmer particles that bother my sensitive eyes.

$34.00 each from Victoria Beckham Beauty, Nordstrom, bluemercury, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman)

Kai Perfume Oil: is a fresh, clean, and delectable smelling floral. The blend of gardenias and white exotic flowers strikes the perfect balance, and the white flowers offset any sharpness that gardenia can have on its own. The scent lingers throughout the day and is so lovely that I can't stop smelling my wrist all of the time while wearing it. It is unquestionably one of my very scent to wear in the warmer weather, and I have worn it for many years now!

($52.00 for 1/8 oz. from Nordstrom)

Overall Assessment: All of these products are covet-worthy, and such a pleasure to use. I reach for them all of the time, and love having them with me when I am on the go!

Purchased and Press Samples (Affiliate Links). All views expressed are categorically my own. Copyright © 2023 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

What's in Lola's Secret Beauty Bag: October 2, 2013 Edition

It has been quite a while since I last did a "What's in Lola's Secret Beauty Bag" post- so I thought the that the beginning of October was a great time to do it. 

The makeup bag itself is a lovely black leather Rebecca Minkoff cosmetic bag that I received as a GWP from the recent Neiman Marcus Bag Event, and it is huge measuring in at 6 3/4"H X 9 1/3"W! Of course this generously sized bag is perfect for a lipstick/lip gloss hoarder such as myself! I tried not to carry quite as many lip products as usual, but let's face it- I'm still carrying 9-- which is still excessive! (All links lead to my in-depth reviews).

1) Tom Ford Lip Color in Nude Vanilla: Full review forthcoming, but let's just say that I am completely smitten. I would never have chosen this light warm nude peachy pink color for myself because it swatches too warm for my cool-toned skin. However, it was Michelle- my Tom Ford MUA extraordinaire who told me to try it on my lips and wait a minute for the color melt in to my lips, and that the color would be absolutely perfect on me. I don't understand how it was possible, but she was absolutely right. This is now one of my all-time favorite lipsticks, and I wear it nearly every single day. It looks amazing with a cat eye!! 

2) Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick in Gabrielle: What is inside the over-the-top sculptural bullet is as delightful as the exterior. This is a succulent pearly pale pink that is truly swoon-worthy.

3) Rouge D'Armani Pink No. 501: I remain obsessed with the Rouge D'Armani formula, and Pink No. 501 is the perfect mid-tone muted neutral pink. It is infinitely wearable and the formula is just luscious and moisturizing. 

4) Burberry Lip Cover Nude Beige No. 01: Burberry really knows how to make amazing lipsticks, and their Lip Cover formula is one of my favorites. Nude Beige No. 01 just might be the perfect peachy nude that I have found to date. While it leans a touch warm- it is neutral enough that it doesn't make my cool-toned skin appear sallow. It feels so lovely on the lips too!

5) Le Métier de Beauté Color Core Lipstick in Palm Springs: If I was only allowed to choose one lipstick from LMdB it would be this one! Palm Springs is a complex light blue-based pink with the faintest tinge of mauvey purple, and it has a stunning subtle golden shimmer. LOVE!

6) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Creamy Matte Lipstick in Lola's Secret: I know that you might think that I feel obligated to say that Lola's Secret is my favorite lipstick because it was made for me, and named after my blog by one of my very close friends, but it really is the perfect pink! It is a perfectly balanced pink: it's not too light, it's not too dark-- instead it is utter perfection. I love it, and I love Suzi! 

7) Tom Ford Lip Lacquer in Pink Lust: I have been nursing this baby for fear of using it up-- I love it that much! I really regret that I didn't get a backup (a practice that I seldom do)! It's a really beautiful peachy pink that is pearl-rich (on the verge of frost). It is moisturizing, and feels spectacularly good on the lips!

8) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Pout Poppers in Peace: This is a stunningly beautiful complex glistening peachy nude. It doesn't get better than this.

9) Tweezerman Tweezers: Never leave home without them! 

10) Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lip Balm (review forthcoming): This is a really really lovely lip balm. So much so- that I broke my own rule and started using it before photographing it! There's simply no telling how much I will have used before I actually review it! 

11) Susan Thompson Crest Mirror Compact: This is luxurious and gorgeous, and It is always with me- no matter what.

12) Lollia in Love Petite Treat Handcreme: This smells and feels so good that I will most assuredly replace it once I use up the remainder of this tube!

What's in your makeup bag? Do you have tendency to carry more than you "need"? What items are always with you wherever you go?

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

What's Inside Lola's Secret Beauty Bag? May 2013 Edition

I love seeing what people carry in their makeup bags, and nothing really satisfies the curiosity of voyeuristic makeup magpies (a club to which I clearly belong) than seeing what people love enough to actually carry with them. For me, anything that makes it into my makeup bag is a real keeper, and here is a glimpse at my latest round of keepers!

While I tend to carry far more lip products than any sensible person would need, I did pack more than usual since I was heading out of town for work. These are a few of the things about which I am currently obsessed, but this is hardly a comprehensive list. There are numerous lip products that I have yet to photograph and review that would have been added were it not for the fact that I cannot yet use them.

Here's the breakdown of the things that I am currently carrying in my purse:

1) First I want to give you a sneak preview of my new makeup bag that I am completely in love with. It is the PurseN Classic Make-Up Case in the Versie Pattern. It comes in numerous different patterns, is very affordable at $18.00, and it measures 7-1/2"L x 4"H x 1"W. I will review it soon so that you can see it close up, but it is a joy to use. The large clear window is very convenient in helping you spot what you are looking for- especially when you pack it to the brim as I did!

2) Maybelline Colorsensational Lipcolor in Born With It No. 015: This is such a delightful Pinky Nude lipstick, and with a drugstore price tag! What's not to love?!

3) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Pout Poppers in Peace (review forthcoming): This is a gorgeous golden nude that is about as stunning as it gets. Nobody knows how to make lip plumpers as well as Susan Thompson Cosmetics- they are definitely the best on the market!

4) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Pout Poppers in Mother Nature: I'm so in love with this gorgeous  "angelic pink with gold flecks" that I have been using it everyday! 

5) Le Métier de Beauté Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick in Palm Springs: This is a gorgeous complex light blue-based pink with the faintest tinge of a mauvey-purple kissed by subtle golden pearl. It's a unique shade, and infinitely wearable. It's just stunning!

6) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Lola's Secret Creamy Lipstick: BEST. PINK. LIPSTICK. EVER! I love Lola's Secret- it is without question the pink lipstick that I have searched for my whole life! The fact that my close friend created it just for me makes it all the more special. Lola's Secret creates the perfect pink pout, and it can be sheered out or built up to maximum vibrancy and opacity. It's amazingly gorgeous.

7) Rouge D'Armani Lipstick No. 501: A succulent beautiful rich pink that continues to charm me. Armani makes amazing lipsticks, and they are undoubtedly among the very best on the market. The Rouge D'Armani formula is simply extraordinary.

8) Tom Ford Lip Lacquer in Pink Lust (LE): I love this formula- it is so moisturizing and comfortable on the lips. That is to say nothing of the fact that this is a gorgeous pearl-rich twinkling pink!

9) Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector No. 04 Petal Shimmer: I am so taken by this lip product that I may just have to add a few more colors to my stash!

10) Burberry Lip Cover in Nude Beige No. 01: The Lip Cover formula is simply amazing, and Nude Beige is an infinitely wearable nude that never makes you look like a corpse! This is definitely one of the prettiest nudes in my collection.

11) Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair: Lip balm aficionados listen up: you need this lip balm because it is nothing short of amazing! It is the best friend to lips, and the mortal enemy of chapped lips.

12) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Crest Compact: I never leave home without it!

13) Rouge Bunny Rouge Forever Yours...Long-Lasting Lip Pencil in Roald: This has been my favorite lip pencil for quite some time. RBR has an amazingly creamy formula that stays put and never migrates.  Roald is a gorgeous mauve/pink and I reach for it more than any other shade in my stash!

14) Lollia In Love Petite Treat Handcreme: My friend Nicolle gave me this lovely hand cream as a part of my birthday gift this year, and I love it so much that I will most definitely buy a replacement when I finish it. It smells and feels heavenly!

What's in your makeup bag these days?

What's Inside Lola's Secret Beauty Bag January 2013

I haven't indulged you makeup bag voyeurs in quite a while- so I thought that it was about time to post another peek into my makeup bag. This time, however, I decided to be a little inventive by repurposing my sister's hand-me-down D&G sunglass case. I can't remember whether she lost the glasses, or whether they were a casualty of one of her dogs. Nonetheless, the cute glass case was headed for the trash when I rescued it from its fate in the landfill. I decided to try it out as a makeup bag- until I break down and treat myself to the Clare Vivier bag I'm going to indulge in for my birthday next month!

1) Fresh Sugar Lip Balm (reviewed here): Sephora Birthday Gift last year. I like this product a good deal, and had actually forgotten about it. So I popped it into my "makeup bag" as an alternative to dipping potentially dirty fingers into my beloved Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Balm.

2) Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Lip Balm (reviewed here): To date this is my Holy Grail Lip Balm. I love everything about this, and will without question replace it once I have used this one up. I also will keep the gorgeous compact and reuse it for nearly finished lipsticks or something.

3) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Double Mirror Compact (Reviewed here): I love this and never leave home without it!

4) Burberry Lip Mist Field Rose No. 213 (review forthcoming): This is a gorgeous pink, and the formula is one of my very favorites. And just in case you were wondering, I am completely smitten with Burberry!

5) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Creamy Lipstick in Cleo (reviewed here): This is hands down my very favorite vampy lipstick, and in my opinion the best one ever to have been made in human history!!!!!

6) Rouge Bunny Rouge Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings (review forthcoming): Such a gorgeous sheer, but buildable vampy plum that is described by Rouge Bunny Rouge as "Wet effect, sheer, cool damson - Like having just eaten a bowl of cherries."

7) Le Métier de Beauté Ken Downing Bodacious Bordeaux Lip Gloss in Purple Haze (reviewed here): I almost want to purchase a backup of this (they are still available on the Neiman Marcus website- so I had better mind my wallet when late night internet shopping adventures beckon me) despite the fact that I am trying to avoid the backup paradigm. This is a gorgeous light mauve with pink and plummy shimmer- it's just breathtaking as far as I am concerned!

8) Burberry Lip Glow in Pink Sweet Pea- (Review forthcoming, but swatched here). Really lovely beautifully pigmented lip gloss that is nothing short of gorgeous! It isn't to be feared- despite the fact that it is generously pigmented- it really can be sheered out enough to make it infinitely wearable for those who shudder at the thought of sporting bright fuchsia lips!

I have no idea how well this case will last as a makeup bag, but I am really going to give it a try. Additionally it has forced me to edit what I carry since it will not expand to accommodate the ridiculous number of lip products that I generally cram into my makeup bag-- so it will be interesting to see how long this will last! Plus I am so excited that my sister and I are going to go to the Clare Vivier flagship store in Silver Lake to see what strikes our fancy!

What's currently in your makeup bag?

What's in My Makeup Bag? Volume III

The problem with switching to a bigger makeup bag is that I end up carrying far too many lip products (click to enlarge). Here's the rundown of what I'm really loving right now:

1) Glee Gum in Tangerine (I buy several boxes at a time when shopping at Whole Foods).
2) Chanel Glossimer in Star (from the Soho Collection 2010). I love this shade so much I bought several backups- I really wish that it hadn't been limited edition).
3) Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Royallieu (reviewed here, and still available at Chanel.com).
4) Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting (005) (reviewed here).
5) Kai Eau de Parfum sample from Barneys. I'm insanely in love with this scent!
6) MAC Tendertone Lip Balm in Hush (MAC Shop, MAC Cook LE 2012) (reviewed here).
7) Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint. One of my favorite lip balms (reviewed here).
8) Rouge Bunny Rouge Succulence of Dew Sheer Lipstick in Murmurings (review forthcoming).
9) Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet Excesses Glassy Gloss in Fleur Parfait (reviewed here).
10) Rouge Bunny Rouge Hues of Enchantment Color Burst Lipstick in Nothing Unknown (reviewed here).
11) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Pout Poppers in Evelyn's Journey (swatches here, review forthcoming). Simply one of the most amazing lip plumpers ever invented!
12) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Creamy Lipstick in Cleo. One of the sexiest vampy colors to date! (swatches here, review forthcoming)
13) Cover Girl Lipslicks Lip Gloss in Daring (review forthcoming).
14) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Liquid Blush in Mim's the Word (swatches here, full review here). My favorite pink blush, and I use it on my lips too!
15) Susan Thompson Cosmetics Crest Compact Mirror (reviewed here).
16) Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers (GWP from Barneys Bag Event).
17) Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter (reviewed here). Pure love!!
18) MAC Double Spin Cremesheen Lipstick (Glitter & Ice Collection LE Holiday 2011).
19) MAC Kissable Lipcolour- Flaunting It (MAC Shop, MAC Cook LE 2012).
20) Sunday Riley Juno Transformative Lipid Serum. I don't leave home without it! (reviewed here).
21) Sunday Riley Crème Gloss Sheer Impact Lip Color in Vacay (overview here, review forthcoming).
22) Sunday Riley Modern Lip Color in Shakespeare (swatches here, review forthcoming). Marcia- you need this color after all!! Note the color on the Barneys website looks nothing like it!
23) Rouge Bunny Rouge Forever Yours...Long-lasting Lip Pencil in Vasco (reviewed here).
24) Rouge Bunny Rouge Feline Gaze Eye Khol in Vera (reviewed here).
25) Barneys makeup bag from a Bag Event from 2011.

What's in My Makeup Bag? Volume II

I am always so curious about what beauty bloggers are carrying around in their makeup bags at any given time. There is something so delightful and satisfying about seeing which items that get reviewed make the cut into the personal makeup bag. However, my curiosity is far from limited to beauty bloggers- I am curious about what all of you out there have stashed in your makeup bags! A little peek allows you to be a beauty voyeur, and perhaps a bit of a lemming as well! So just in case you were wondering what I am carrying around this week here's a look! 

Most of the time I only tend to carry lip products and hand lotion- the only time you will find any eye makeup in my makeup bag is when I am getting a facial. Even then I only carry an eye crayon. Once I put on my eye makeup in the morning I seldom retouch unless there is a good reason to do so.

The makeup bag itself is a GWP from Chanel, but eventually I will have to buy myself a proper makeup bag from Clare Vivier. 

So here's what's inside starting left to right, top to bottom:

Top row: 80 Acres of McEvoy Ranch Verde Hand & Body Lotion (reviewed here); Sunday Riley Juno Transformative Lipid Serum (reviewed here); NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 (reviewed here).

Second row: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting (#005) (reviewed and swatched here & here); Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Royallieu (#58) (reviewed here); Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Paper (not reviewed, but these are fabulous); and an Erno Laszlo Makeup Compact (circa 1990?) filled with Erno Laszlo Controlling Face Powder (reviewed here).

Last convoluted row (from bottom left up, then down): Coastal Classic Creations Ida's Rose Lipstick (reviewed here); Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Narcissus (reviewed here); MAC Tendertone Lip Balm in Hot 'N' Saucy (reviewed here); MAC Viva Glam Ricky's Lip Conditioner (reviewed here); Bonne Bell Lip Smacker in Strawberry (reviewed here); and Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Lipstick & Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Lip Gloss ( both reviewed here).

What's in your makeup bag right now? Do tell!

What's in My Makeup Bag? Volume I

I tend to carry far too many lip products with me in my purse stash (and little else)- so I decided to take a peek at what I've been toting around since I tend to grab a lip product without looking.

Top row from left to right:
*MAKE UP FOR EVER Lab Shine Diamond Collection D16 (shimmering beige)
*Sunday Riley Lipgloss (this is a gorgeous mid-tone pink. It was a gift with purchase during the Barneys Bag Event, the makeup line is set to launch next week and is an exclusive to Barneys)
*MAC Wonder Woman Lipglass in Athena's Kiss (a semi-opaque cool-tones fuchsia pink)
*MAKE UP FOR EVER Glossy Full Couleur (a orange coral shade that is quite sheer)
*Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint
*Chanel Glossimer #85 (Muscat)(a pinky beige) Discontinued color

Bottom row from left to right:
*Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! Eau de Parfum spray sample
*Frédéric Malle OUTRAGEOUS! Fragrance spray sample
*Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass (light sandy neutral)
*Viva Glam Gaga 2 (light neutral beige)

The makeup bag is a GWP from Chanel from a few years ago.