National Lipstick Day 2019

July 28, 2019July 28, 2019by Red Lips & Passports1 Comment

Yea yea, I know I’ve been gone for a long time!!! I promise you I’ll be back soon and I have so much to share with you guys! But, first something more important! Tomorrow is National Lipstick Day!!!!!!

Apparently National Lipstick Day was started over a decade ago, and while its not a real holiday its definitely a fun day for myself and fellow beauty junkies!

In celebration of such a wondrous day, several cosmetic companies are offering special deals to customers for National Lipstick Day:

Mac Cosmetics

When you spend $25 at MAC, you’ll get a free lipstick!

Tatcha

For all of you rich ladies… Tatcha Cosmetics is giving customers a free Silk Mini Lipstick when you spend $100, the more you spend the more free lippies you get! I love love love Tatcha products, but they definitely do not fit my current budget.

Tarte

Tarte is being a bit more respectful of my budget and is offering 50% off of their must have lip products… I’ve never purchased any lippie from Tarte, but they had me at 50% off and I think I might have to partake.

Smashbox

Smashbox is also being respectful of my budget. They are offering 40% off of their lip products! I’ve heard great things about their lippie in the shade “Bling” so this just might be the perfect time to try it out!

Anastasia Beverly Hills

Anastasia is offering buy one get one free on their lip products. *Whispers* If you go on Nordstrom.com you may find a few of their liquid lipsticks for 50% off.

NYX

Chile I remember when NYX was only sold in the beauty supply store and nobody was really wearing it. I used to buy NYX in high school just because Lil’ Mo said she was wearing it… SO LAME but anywho… NYX is offering 30% off of their entire lip collection. I’ll probably go re-up on all of my faves from their Lingerie line. If you see me in a nude lip, chances are its NYX Lingerie.

Urban Decay

Chile, Urban Decay’s matte lipstick in the shade “Pandemonium” changed my life! I haven’t been able to find it since I first purchased it a few years ago and I’ve been holding onto the last of it for dear life. Urban Decay has several sales going on, they are offering BOGO for their LO-Fi Lip Mousse, and if you purchase a lipstick from their VICE collection, you can you use the code LIPSTICKDAY to get another free VICE lipstick… chile thank me later.

Target

Even Target is getting in on the National Lipstick Day fun! They are offering 25% off at checkout for brands like W3ll People, Honest Beauty, Pixi and more!

Huda Beauty

When you buy a full size lip product, you can get a free lip product from Huda Beauty… idk why they didn’t just say buy one get one, but yea girl go get that free lipstick.

Lime Crime

Lime Crime is definitely one of my faves when it comes to liquid matte lipstick. They are offering 50% off all of their lip products when you use the code LIPSTICK at check out.

Is your money kind of funny and you can’t really afford to get anything good for National Lipstick Day? Don’t worry! Just use the Klarna app and make payments every two weeks for all of your favorite websites! No credit checks, no interest, all you have to do is be a person of your word!

While I’m grateful for National Lisptick Day I feel we need a holiday to specifically celebrate RED LIPSTICK!!!!

Let me know if you all end up taking part in the special deals!!!!!

Beauty, Uncategorized

Skin Care While Traveling

October 7, 2018October 7, 2018by Red Lips & Passports2 Comments

We should all have some form of day and night skin care routine so that our skin always feels and look its best. It is also important to have a skin care routine when you are traveling.

I have a specific set of products I bring with me when I’m flying, especially when it is a long haul flight.

Moisture and Hydration
Due to the circulated air on planes, I tend to put a thick layer of moisturizer on my skin when I’m flying. The humidity in most air cabins is about 20%, this is less than half of what our skin is used to. Due to the lack of humidity it can cause the skin to become extremely dry, red and flaky. Products that are rich in Hyaluronic acid are perfect for cabin air because they contain a molecule that is able to bind water and keep your skin moisturized. I usually use the Osea Atmosphere Protection Cream to keep my skin moisturized and I apply it once for short flights and every few hours on long flights. It is recommended that hydration sprays not be used while flying, because the water evaporates in the dry air and can make the dryness worse.

Cleansing
As soon as I get off the plane I wipe my face down with face wipes to get all of the dirt and grime from the airport. After doing a quick cleanse, I put more of the moisturizer on. I’ve been using the baby wipes from Joonya lately to wipe of my face.

Lips
I always bring a good lip butter or chapstick with me when I fly. Your lips can become dry just like your skin, due to the lack of humidity in the air cabin. Currently I’m using the Straw-burry Lip Butter from The Butter Bar. I think this product may be out of stock but their lip balms are pretty amazing too!

Makeup or Nah
Please please please, skip the makeup when flying! The dry cabin air, plus layers of heavy makeup can lead to breakouts, rashes and other skin conditions like black heads. Makeup holds on to dirt and can create free radicals. Free radicals can lead to the breakdown of collagen and lead to pre-mature fine lines and wrinkles. I’m not even going to give you an alternative for how to wear makeup while flying, because I want you to have beautiful skin forever!

Do you have any skin care tips and tricks for traveling? Post them below!

Beauty, Uncategorized

Wearing Makeup to the Gym?

July 1, 2018October 3, 2018by Red Lips & Passports3 Comments

A few weeks ago I was at a get together and each woman had to share a tip. The tip could be a beauty tip, health tip, career tip or just a tip about life. One of the woman shared a tip “Look your best at all times… even when you go to the gym, you should have on a full face of makeup.” I promise you I CRINGED when I heard this… Queen, friend… sisssssssssss, noooooooo! If you love your skin, you won’t abide by this rule.

So listen, its really not a good idea to wear a full face of makeup to the gym. This is mainly because sweating in the gym while wearing makeup can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. It’s also a great way for bacteria to thrive… GROSS! Also, who wants to run around the gym with smeared mascara? As an advocate for beautiful skin, I personally don’t believe in wearing makeup to the gym. However, I do understand that some people feel it is necessary. Wearing makeup to the gym is doable as long as you abide by a few rules:

Say No to Foundation

If you feel like you need a little powder on your face, be sure to use a loose powder. It’s lightweight and won’t give you the heavy feeling of a full face of foundation. Loose powder is less likely to clog your pores than a heavy foundation. Plus, its less likely to ruin your cute workout top as you sweat. I really love the Lasting Matte Pressed Powder from Cover Girl’s Queen Collection.

Just a Hint of Color

Try using a tinted lip balm when working out. This way you don’t have to worry about your lipstick rubbing off when you sweat. And your lips will also stay moisturized, as sometimes when sweating your skin tends to feel a bit dry after the sweat has absorbed into your skin. I keep the Pacifica Color Quench Lip Tint in my bag at all times.

Keep Your Brows Together

A good brow gel is a great way to keep yourself looking polished. One of my favorite brow gels is by The Brow Gal it literally holds your brows together like glue.

Wear a Waterproof Mascara

I’m not sure about everyone else, but I know I rub my eyes a lot during a workout. So, its important to wear a waterproof mascara to prevent smudging. Also, if your mascara is old, you run the risk of getting an infection if it enters your eye while sweating. I’ve been using the Dior Show Waterproof Mascara for years!

Now, as I’ve stated previously I’m not a fan of wearing makeup to the gym and I would like to encourage women not to do it, especially if they have acne prone skin. However it is my hope that you would abide by these simple rules to keep your blackheads and breakouts at bay while working out with makeup on.

Beauty, Uncategorized

Natural Deodorants… Do They Work?

June 10, 2018June 9, 2018by Red Lips & Passports6 Comments

I do my best to use all plant-based and organic products in my everyday life. I’ve found plant-based organic replacements for just about everything: toothpaste, laundry detergent, cleaning products, and air fresheners. One of the hardest things for me to find has been a replacement for deodorant. There are so many products on the market that claim to be all natural deodorants that really work… LIES!!! ALL LIES!!!

I’ve tried numerous products and I’ve only found a few that actually worked for me. I’m going to share the ones I’ve tried that work, and the ones that don’t.

Purpl Goat Earth Deo

I purchased this deodorant after seeing Sweet Potato Soul post about a package she had received from Purpl Goat. I’m always on the hunt for new natural beauty alternatives so I decided to give this one a try. With this one, you first have to detox your under arms using Aztec Healing Clay. This rids your body of all the toxins that have entered from using toxic deodorants.

Final Thought: It definitely keeps the stench of sweat away but I had to apply it multiple times throughout the day.

Piperwai

Price: $11.99

A woman in my office told me about Piperwai a few years ago, so I decided to try it out. Piperwai worked really well for me, it kept me from sweating and also blocked odor. The only thing is, during the summer months it required frequent application (about twice a day).

Final Thought: It really works! Just be prepared for frequent application during the warmer months.

Botanical MD

Price: $4.99

I purchased this deodorant from TJ Maxx. This one quickly turned into an epic fail… About 30 minutes after trying it I began to smell like a wild animal… no really it was bad! I quickly had to run to the GNC near my office to purchase Piperwai because I could NOT go through the entire day at work smelling like wilderness.

Final Thought: Epic Fail

Primal Pit Paste

Price: $8.95

I found this Primal Pit Paste at Whole Foods one day and decided to give it a whirl. It is a little cheaper than Piper Wai, but promises the same results. I tried the Lavender scent. So, it worked… but it turned my under arms extremely dark and left me with a really bad rash. I contacted the company immediately and they sent me a sample pack of the lavender scent in various strengths. I ended up being able to use the Level 1 strength and it held all day.

My Thoughts: It really works! (just make sure you get the right strength)

Native

Price: $12

Earlier this year one of my friends gave me a sample of Native Deodorant. Initially, I was in love because it smelled great and it lasted all day. After about a month I decided to buy the full size. Shortly after buying the full size I noticed that I kept smelling the scent of pesticides. One day at church… we were singing on of my favorite songs and I raised my arms… I quickly put them down when I realized the pesticide smell was coming from me!! Yea Native failed me… BIG TIME!

My Thoughts: FAIL FAIL FAIL!!! Unless you like smelling like Raid.

I have to say that the main thing I’ve learned during my quest to find the perfect natural deodorant is that most products are only deodorants and are not antiperspirants. I plan to try other deodorants to see whether or not they work and I’ll be sure to let you guys know which products work and which don’t.

Which natural deodorants have you tried? Which ones should I stay away from?

Beauty, Uncategorized

Wands for Wildlife

March 21, 2018May 6, 2018by Red Lips & PassportsLeave a Comment

How many of you are just throwing away your mascara tubes when you’re done with them? I know for me, unless the mascara is from MAC, I’m definitely throwing mine away. Public Service Announcement: STOP THROWING THEM AWAY!!! Recently I was trolling the internet and stumbled across a video on Dearly.com about Wands for Wildlife.

Wands for Wildlife is an initiative started by the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge where they collect old mascara wands and use them to remove fly eggs and larva from the fur of animals. Mascara wands are the perfect tool to use on animals because the bristles are close together and easily collect the fly eggs and larva from animal fur.

A Fawn having it’s fur cleaned with a mascara wand

Veganism has given me such a compassion for animals, so when I heard about the Wands for Wildlife initiative my heart melted and I knew I wanted to get involved.

Getting involved is super simple. All you have to do is collect your old mascara wands, clean then with soapy water to remove all mascara residue and then mail them to the Appalachian Wild Life Refuge.

Please send all wands to:

Appalacian Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 1211
Skyland, NC 28776

If you’re in the Washington, DC area, I’ll be collecting wands to send to the refuge as well. Please e-mail me at myproductaddiction@gmail.com if you’re interested in donating!

In addition to mascara wands, donations are needed to fund the Wildlife Urgent Care facility. For more information, please visit www.appalachianwild.org

Beauty, Uncategorized

Keeping Your Lips Hydrated During the Winter

December 19, 2017May 7, 2018by Red Lips & Passports3 Comments

Its so cold outside… I say that like I haven’t lived in the Washington, DC area all of my life and like its not this cold EVERY YEAR!!! With cold weather comes dry lips… but it doesn’t have to be that way! The other day I stopped to get breakfast and the servers’s lips were so dry… I wanted to grab her and say “Boo, give me a hug and take this lip butter too!!!”

Here are a few ways to make sure your lips stay soft and moisturized this winter!

Keep Lip Balm Everywhere

I have some form of lip balm just about every where. In my purse, at my desk at work, in my car, and my bathroom at home. I do my best to make sure my lip balms have some form of SPF in them, are long lasting and contain natural ingredients. When purchasing your lip balm, make sure they contain the following ingredients:

Jojoba Oil
Vitamin A, D, and E
Coconut Oil
Shea Butter
Almond Oil
Aloe Vera

Currently I’m using the Straw-burry Lip Butter from The Butter Bar

Scrub Your Lips Weekly

Exfoliating is always a great way to remove the dead and chapped skin cells from our lips. My lips always look 100% better after scrubbing. You can make your own scrub using coconut oil and sugar (I like to use coconut palm sugar).

It’s been a while since I’ve made my own lip scrub, currently i’m using the Leanne Grace Face & Body Polish. The ground walnuts are too harsh for my face, but its perfect for my lips.

Watch your Caffeine Intake

During the cold months grabbing a cup of coffee is a quick way to warm your body up, but beverages that are high in caffeine can dehydrate the skin on the lips. Instead of grabbing that highly caffeinated beverage try getting a decaf version or an herbal tea.

Avoid Ingredients

If you are struggling with dry lips this season, be sure to avoid using products with these specific ingredients:

Camphor
Flavoring Agents
Dyes
Eucalyptus
Cinnamte
Menthol
Oxybenzone

These products are known to cause skin to become dry and will only make your dry chapped lips worse. You may find these ingredients in your toothpaste, lipstick, mouthwash, lip balm and other products you use frequently.

Protect Your Lips From the Elements

Whenever you go outside, try covering your lips with your scarf. This keeps the harsh air from hitting your lips and hold the moisture inside.

Drink Plenty of Water and Watch What You Eat

Drinking a lot of water hydrates and protects the skin from the inside, this includes your lips! I find that most times when my lips are dry its because I haven’t been drinking enough water.

Certain foods are help retain moisture in our skin. Try eating foods that are rich in Vitamin B. Sweet potatoes, walnuts, figs, avocados and tomatoes are rich in Vitamin B and aid our skin in retaining moisture.

Vitamin A helps maintain and repair the skin tissue. Spinach, Broccoli, Kale and Carrots are rich in Vitamin A and will help repair dry lips

Avoid spicy and salty food! Spicy foods are my weakness… the hotter the better! But, these foods cause our tongue to frequently touch our lips which can cause irritation.

What products are you currently using to keep your lips moisturized?

until next time…
@myproductaddiction

Beauty, Uncategorized

Current Favorites for Dry Skin

November 26, 2017May 7, 2018by Red Lips & Passports3 Comments

Baby it’s cold outside…. and for many cold weather means super dry skin! My skin is so scaly and dry in the winter time, so its important for me to use products that will keep my skin moisturized during the cold and dry months. Here are some of my new and longtime favorites.

The Butter Bar’s Royal Oil $24

On Instagram I frequently post about my love for The Butter Bar. One of the things I love about their products is that I know exactly what I’m putting on my skin, there are no added hard to pronounce ingredients. I also love how moisturizing their Royal Oil is, I’ve tried several scents but my favorite is the original. It reminds me of a Good Humor Toasted Almond Bar. I love using this as an after shower oil in the morning.

Leanne Grace Body Butters $28

I also post frequently about the body butters from Leanne Grace. They are sooooo rich and thick and give my skin the moisture that it needs in the winter time. One of the things I love most about this body butter is that a little bit goes a long way. Almost a year ago I purchased four jars… now, I’m on my last jar and I’m really sad. They have a whole new line of holiday scented butters and I’m trying my best not to order it until I use up everything I have in my stash… (that’s a whole different post).

Oyin Hand Made No Ash At All $10

Listeennnnnn this lotion is EVERYTHING!!! I’m not even sure why I’m just now getting hip to Oyin Handmade but I’m definitley glad that I did. I purchased this at the Ubiquitous Expo in August and I just recently opened it. Immediately I loved the scent, and how well it moisturized my skin. I’ve never used a lotion so thick that comes in a pump. I like to keep it at my desk because the water in my office is very hard and makes my skin dry, especially in the winter.

Honey Baby Naturals Honey Nectar Body Jelly $13

My friend Krystle swears by Honey Baby Naturals, so I was excited to try out a few of their products. This body jelly is really good, this is a favorite of mine at night time. One of my favorite things to do is to use this on my feet and wrap them in thick socks. My feet get very dry in the winter and this body jelly gets them smooth as a baby’s bottom! I looooove the light scent, and I love that a little bit goes a long way.

What are your favorite lotions and body butters for the winter?

until next time…
@myproductaddiction

Beauty, Uncategorized

My Favorite Foundations

November 21, 2017May 7, 2018by Red Lips & PassportsLeave a Comment

One of the hardest things about having oily skin is that it’s been hard to find a foundation that works for me. I feel like with oily skin its like a vacuum that sucks up foundation. Sometimes I even feel like the foundations I’ve used end up just sitting on top of the oil on my skin and rub off on anything it touches.

It took years for me to find foundations that actually work well for me and last all day long.

Maybelline FIT

Screen Shot 2017-11-12 at 7.30.59 PM.png — Maybelline FIT shades Coconut and Mocha

After spending hundreds of dollars on different foundations I was really shocked that one of the best foundations I’ve tried was only $6. This foundations is BAE when it comes to my oily skin and it gives me the matte tint I desire. I like to get two shades of this foundation, one for summer and one for the winter months. This can be

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint

Screen Shot 2017-11-12 at 7.31.49 PM.png — NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Martinique

I know this isn’t an actual foundation, but I really do love it. My good girlfriend over at The Narrow Way put me onto it earlier this year. I absolutely love how it looks on my skin and that it lasts all day. While the $45 price tag is a little bit pricey, I’ve had the bottle since March and I’m still not even half way done with it. That’s because a little goes a long way. My friend Keisha told me that the trick to making it last is to wet your beauty blender before dipping it in the skin tint! Works like a charm!!! This can be purchased at Ulta, Sephora and many other beauty counters at department stores.

Milk Makeup*

Screen Shot 2017-11-12 at 7.29.42 PM.png — Milk Matte Foundation in Toffee

I only recently got hipped to Milk Makeup. I really really like it and just like the NARS Skin Tint a little bit goes a long way. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it takes a little longer for me to blend it into my skin and I have to mix two shades in order to get it just right. This one runs about $40 and can be purchased at JC Penney and Sephora.

*Product received free for testing purposes

If you have a recommendation for a foundation that works well for oily skin, please let me know!

Until next time…
@myproductaddiction

Beauty, Uncategorized

Leanne Grace Skin Care Review

November 3, 2017May 7, 2018by Red Lips & PassportsLeave a Comment

For those that don’t know who Jacklyn Hill is, she’s the MUVAH of makeup videos on YouTube and she’s one of my best friends (in my head). So when Jacklyn says a product is good, chances are its probably BAE!

Months ago Jacklyn Hill mentioned Leanne Grace products on one of her monthly favorites videos. I’m a sucker for cute packaging, so when I saw the thick base jars the products came in was sold. It didn’t matter what was on the inside, I just knew I wanted to try whatever it was because of how it looked.

When I made my Leanne Grace purchase I got the Lemon Buttercream Body Lotion, the Sweet Cream Body Butter, the Peppermint Body Butter and the Face & Body Polish.

I immediately fell in love with the Lemon Buttercream Lotion ($18) and took it to work before I could even snap a pic of it.

I have to admit it took a minute for me to fall in love with the Face & Body Polish ($27). The walnut shells make the scrub extremely coarse. I definitly DO NOT reccomend that you use this product if you have sensitive skin. Due to the coarseness of the product, I avoided using it on my face and mainly used it on my feet, knees and elbows. My elbows

IMG_7852leanne_grace1 copy — Leanne Grace Blissful Body Butters ($28)

The body butters are a little slice of heaven. They are thick, but not so thick that its hard to rub in. My favorite would have to be the Peppermint Body Butter ($28). I love the way it feels on my skin after I’ve used my favorite Peppermint Oil Soap and love to use it at night right before bed, the peppermint scent is really soothing. The Sweet Cream Body Butter is delightful too. I find that I like to use it most when its morning, the scent leaves me feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. If you’re a fan of Shea butter, these body butters will definitely hydrate and nourish your skin… especially during the upcoming winter months.

Leanne Grace recently introduced their Beauty Boosters and I’m really excited to try them out… but only when my budget allows!

If you get a chance to try out the Leanne Grace Blissful Body Butters, let me know what you think!

Until Next Time…
@myproductaddiction

Beauty, Uncategorized

No MAC Lipstick Challenge…

October 29, 2017May 7, 2018by Red Lips & Passports2 Comments

If you follow me on Instagram you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been posting the various lipstick shades I’ve been wearing. I started this because I noticed that when women ask me what shade of lipstick I’m wearing they always ask if its MAC. I’ll wear a deep blue red and someone will say “Oh is that Ruby Woo?” or I’ll wear a dark purple and they’ll ask “Is that Cyber?”. When did MAC become the end all be all of makeup? I remember one of my friends was complaining about how her makeup looked in pictures… so I asked her if the product she used had a specific ingredient in it. Her response: “It’s MAC” but she said it in the most pretentious way and as if MAC was the holy grail of makeup and wouldn’t dare have any ingredient in it other than unicorns, glitter, and bouginess.

Typically when I wear lipstick or any other kind of makeup for that matter its not from MAC. Not that I don’t like MAC, but most of their lipstick shades aren’t matte enough for me, and its no secret that I live for a good liquid matte lippie. So, I decided to showcase brands of lipstick that I love, that aren’t MAC. This challenge is also a way for me to wear all of the lipstick in my collection without repeating… a challenge I graciously accepted from of my followers!

So make sure you’re following me on Instagram so that you can learn about your future favorite lipstick shades and see what else I’m up to.

Until next time…
@myproductaddiction