Makeup Hoarding: Revlon Colorbursts Lipglosses

I had a bit of free time today so I'm attempting to clean up my vanity and reorganize my storage a little.  I seem to be prone to creating clutter so I'm not sure this attempt will be fruitful.  I did come across something quite terrifying though.

Lo and behold, 11 brand new Revlon Colorburst Lipglosses.

Ever since I tasted my first rancid lipgloss Halloween of 2010 and threw out my first batch of nasty lipglosses, I vowed never to buy lipglosses again until I used up the ones I had.  I didn't think I was buying that many, but I purchased a few here, a few there.  Glosses I liked and some where I thought the colors were very unique.  Not all of them by Revlon, but showing you just the glosses I accumulated from one line of one brand alone terrifies me.  

I haven't quite decided what to do with these glosses yet.  I don't like to open new lipglosses until I have finished some up (WHICH HAS NEVER BEFORE HAPPENED).  I do like the colors obviously.  But I don't know what to do!

As I continue cleaning, I am completely overwhelmed at the amount of makeup I own.  Even as a makeup artist, there is only so much I can use on clients.  If I were doing makeup on other people all day, everyday that would be another story.  I think I may have finally convinced myself that I can start and complete a Project 10 Pan.  

But then I think about limited edition collections out there and my trip coming up....oh boy.

Tell me I'm not crazy.  Am I the only one freaking out about how much makeup I possess?!

FOTD: Meet Me At The Deep End

Hello lovelies!

I really love it when I have time to do my makeup at my leisure.  What I love most about doing makeup is being able to play around with different colors, rather than wear makeup for functional purposes.  Of course I do both but it is a lot more fun to get creative!

As usual, I find that my everyday looks are too neutral and subdued.  I wanted to bump it up a bit for work today without going over the top.  Almost every time I say this, my look never really turns out as exciting as I want it to.  Haha.

No flash

I also do realize that my face seems a bit pale.  I'm trying out a BB Cream I recently acquired.

Face:

-Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer

-Missha M Perfect BB Cream #23

-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light

-NARS Laguna Bronzer

-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused

-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Eyes:

-UDPP

-Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette: Vanilla, Deep End, M.I.A.

-Too Faced eyeshadow in Heaven

-Inglot AMC Gel Liner in 77

-Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Oil Slick

-Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume Mascara (Waterproof)

Lips:

-Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

THERE'S LEAD IN MY LIPSTICK (and yours too)!!!

I found this out not long ago but I wanted to get the word out as soon as possible.  33 popular lipstick brands were tested in 2009 by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the results have finally been published.  It is absolutely ASTOUNDING because so many of the popular lipsticks we rant and rave about are on this list.

L'oreal is the producer of the top 10 most lead-contaminated brands of lipsticks.  Brands that are contaminated include:

1. Estee Lauder
2. MAC
3. Clinique
4. Wet n Wild
5. Dior
6. Benefit
7. Maybelline
8. Cover Girl
9. Revlon
10. Mary Kay
11. Bobbi Brown
12. NARS
13. Avon
14. Shiseido
15. Clarins
16. Chanel
17. Rimmel
18. Burt's Bees
19. Elizabeth Arden
20. Almay
 ...and many many more

With that said, I don't think ALL lipsticks from each of these brands are contaminated with lead.  In this list, you can check for the specific shade(s) that are contaminated.

Just to throw a few out there, some of the lipsticks on the very very extensive list include MAC Angel, Clinique Black Honey, MAC Lady Danger, MAC Red, MAC Viva Glam I, MAC Show Orchid, Maybelline Nearly There.  I'm listing a lot of MAC lippies not because I'm picking on them, but because MAC is probably the most talked about brand in the blogging world.

So what does this all mean?  Research shows that there is no safe level of lead, and yet the FDA claims that there is no concern for the level of lead in lipsticks.  In fact, the FDA does not have a limit on lead in cosmetics and have never been very restrictive on beauty products in general.  At the very least, however, cosmetic companies should be REQUIRED to list ALL their ingredients on he label, which they currently are not.

Here are the lead-contaminated lippies (that I know of) that I dug out of my own personal collection:

Wet n Wild Red Velvet, L'oreal Undeniably Mauve, Maybelline Madison Mauve, and Maybelline Mauve Me.

I haven't decided what to do with these lipsticks yet.  I originally wanted to throw them out immediately, but I wonder what good it would actually do me.  All cosmetics that are not organic and natural are probably bad for us in one way or another, and all the food we eat is also processed and contaminated to some point as well.  With that said, I don't think that this makes it okay for there to be lead in our lipsticks in the first place.  You see how I'm bouncing back and forth here?

In any case, I wanted to put the facts out there and let you all decide for yourself what to do about the lipsticks.  I think one thing we can all agree on is that there should not be lead in our lipsticks to begin with, so we can email or facebook message many of the companies listed about lowering or eliminated the lead in lipsticks.

If you would like to read more about lead in lipsticks and see the extended list of lipsticks tested, please check out these very helpful and informational sites:

http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=223

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm137224.htm#expanalyses 

NOTD: Partial Crackle

I never have the chance to do my nails anymore because I'm back to working in food service.  But I'm on vacation and I finally had a chance to do my nails a couple days ago.  Nothing too fancy but it's something :)

All I've got on is 2 coats of Revlon polish in Shrinking Violet, and OPI Black Crackle.  No matter what I do I can't seem to get rid of those damn bubbles in the nail polish.  Rawrrr.

When I get back from my vacation, I think I'll force myself to do my nails on my days off so I can learn to get better.  I really am a noobasaur when it comes to nails.  Any of you guys have some nail product/supply must-haves?  If so, please feel free to share!

FOTD: Kelly Green Hysteria

Last night, I was desperately in need of a pick-me-up.  I was so stressed out from school and more school and finals and graduation and everything seemed to be going wrong.  I had an 8 page paper due pretty damn soon, but I was just so burnt out...I NEEDED something else.  So I spent a good hour experimenting, and then another hour and a half taking pictures, cropping, etc.  My mood was considerably better afterwards; it was like night and day.  Makeup really is an art, and for me, it can even be therapy.

So again, I thirsted for color and tried to put something wild together.  Although the look is more colorful than usual, they're actually quite tame, almost pastel colors.  There is no defined crease, so the look is actually quite light despite the presence of bright colors.  I think this is something I would wear out for fun.  To school?  I'd like to but I don't think I have the confidence for it.

I purposely took the picture at this angle so you can see how I deliberately made the
gold in the inner corner a bit messy.  

Hair fluffing fail.  Ended up looking like bedhead instead.

There's a funny story behind this one.  Keep reading down below.

So I was webcamming with my boyfriend while I was doing my makeup and taking pictures afterwards.  Here is the conversation that we had:

Me: *taking pictures of makeup*
Frank: Maybe you should do a wild one.
Me: *makes this face*
Frank: That's one possibility. But if this is for your blog, I would not recommend it.
Me: *laughs*
Frank: I was thinking more like "femme fatale in a jungle of men, tracking her prey". Not "angry dog at neighbors."
Me: *laughs hysterically*
Frank: Please, Janny, stay with me. I don't know what your chances are at a bar.

I seriously almost died laughing.  On a more serious note, I really would not be this far in pursuing my passion if not for his love and support.  So merci, mon François.

This was my best attempt at "femme fatale" after the laughing fest.
I was still on the verge of laughter.

STUFF I YOOZED:

Face:

-Smashbox Foundation in Light 3

-L'oreal TruMatch Foundation in N6

-Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

-NARS Laguna Bronzer

-Dior NudeGlow in Aurora

-NARS Blush in Deep Throat

Eyes:

-UDPP

-MAC paintpot in Painterly

-NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pure Gold

-Sugarpill Loose e/s in Hysteria

-MicaBella e/s in Kelly Green

-Naked e/s in Mother Nature #2

-L'oreal Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner

-UD 24/7 Liner in Zero

-L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

-Korres e/s in 11M Base

Lips:

-Inglot l/s in 150 (applied and blotted)

-Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Iced Amethyst (on top)

I'm trying a new thing where I actually take a picture of the products I used, so you guys can see if you have something similar in your collection in case you wanted to recreate these looks.  I actually got this idea from Vulcan Butterfly who always takes pics of the equipment.  I hope you guys find this helpful!

Okay, back to slaving away.  My work is never done.  I'm pretty sick of school at this point.  Why do I want to be a teacher again?  I'm not sure.

Lotsa love,

Janny

[I have nothing to disclose.]