“His life was a constant war with insensate objects that fell apart, or attacked him, or refused to function, or viciously got themselves lost as soon as they entered the sphere of his existence.” This is Vladimir Nabokov’s description of Professor Timofey Pnin, the hapless protagonist of Pnin (1957), but it is also a perfect… Read More Noteworthy Neutrals: Revlon Sultry Matte Balm and Pink Truffle Lip Butter
Name: Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Peony Date of Purchase: Fall 2012 Grade: B+ Notes: This blog has taken a turn for the glossy, hasn’t it? I swear it’s just a coincidence that my current Gloss Period (cf. here, here, here) intersects with the part of my lipstick chronology that comprises my first Gloss Period,… Read More Lipstick Chronology #18: Revlon Peony
I hesitated for a while before writing this post, because I’ve had a skincare routine for only two years, which makes me an utter amateur compared to my favorite beauty bloggers. Before the age of twenty-four, I did almost nothing to my skin. I never moisturized, because I didn’t know that women under forty used… Read More Skincare Routine, April 2014
It’s hard to resist a $4 nail polish when you’re armed with a $4 CVS coupon. I’d been wanting a black-glitter topcoat for some time, and was drawn yesterday to Maybelline’s Street Art polishes, which feature matte colored glitter in addition to black: there’s a very pale pink, a neon pinky red, a yellow-green, and… Read More Review: Maybelline Nighttime Noise
I seriously restricted my beauty spending in March; my only new acquisitions were a Milani liquid lipstick and nail polish (the latter of which set me back a mere $.55); an assortment of NYX products, three of which I’m going to return; and a replacement travel bottle of my favorite moisturizer, First Aid Beauty Ultra… Read More April Wishlist
After the earlier, sadder installment of my NYX review, let’s have a family portrait of the purchases I actually like. Left to right: Jumbo Eye Pencil in Knight; Slide On Eye Pencil in Jewel; HD Eye Shadow Base; Butter Glosses in Raspberry Tart and Peach Cobbler. First, the two eyeliners, Knight and Jewel. Left, in… Read More NYX Reviews, Part II: The Good
Internet has been restored to my apartment, light to my darkness, warmth to my frostbitten soul. No, forget that last one; it’s still below freezing in late March. But I do have a wireless connection again, and that means swatches and reviews. First, though, a rant. I ordered from NYX’s website, which promises that “orders… Read More NYX Reviews, Part I: The Bad
I hate the word “haul.” Hate it with a passion. And yet: Yesterday my long-awaited NYX package arrived: two Butter Glosses, two eyeliners, three eyeshadow singles, and an eyeshadow primer. I’m writing this from the train to Washington, so reviews will have to wait a few days, but I can give you some spoilers: I’m… Read More Preview: NYX Haul (For Lack of a Synonym)
Name: Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Fire Date Purchased: Fall 2012 Grade: A- Notes: If you’re my friend for any length of time, you’ll eventually have to watch one of three films: The Draughtsman’s Contract, Revengers Tragedy, or Velvet Goldmine. If I really like you, I might make you watch all three. And since I’ve… Read More Lipstick Chronology #17: Revlon Fire (and a Tribute to Velvet Goldmine)
Name: YSL Rouge Pur Couture #8 (Belle de Rose) Date of Purchase: Fall 2012 Grade: A Notes: Of all the YSL lip colors in existence, Belle de Rose must be one of the least swatched and blogged about, despite its starring role in a Lisa Eldridge video. I suspect that YSL’s flurry of new releases–Rouge… Read More Lipstick Chronology #16: YSL Belle de Rose
Auxiliary Beauty 