Autumn Makeup: The Berry Lip

As you may have read in my Favorite MLBB Lip Products post, I usually don't really go for bold lips.  However I do love a good berry lip, especially in the fall.  Fall/autumn is one of my favorite times of year not only because of the clothes, weather, and traditions (pumpkin picking, anyone?) but because the typical fall makeup is so pretty.  I tend to step more out of my comfort zone in the lipstick area, so I thought I'd share my berry-toned lip products with you -- Be warned, there are quite a few because I think that purple-y shades look best on my cool-toned skin.

The first is the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in the shade Berry Allure.  This is one of the sheerest of the bunch, but perfect if you're wary of berry (see what I did there) lips. It offers a very flattering sheer wash of color to slightly deepen your natural lip color and make teeth look whiter. Bonus!

Next is the still-sheer-but-slightly-more-opaque than the lipgloss, the Revlon Lip Butter in the shade Berry Smoothie.  I went a bit crazy for these when they first came out, but this is pretty much the only one I wear anymore.  This one is less purple and more pink than most of the other products in this post, so another easy one to wear.

Getting a little more bright and opaque is the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Roundest Raspberry*.  I love the formula of the chubby sticks as they are very moisturizing but with good color payoff.  As the name suggests, this is a typical raspberry color.

Next is a classic, the Kate Moss for Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in the shade 107.  This is slightly more red-toned than the previous products, so definitely leaning into the wine-colored territory as well as classifying as a berry.  The formula of this is great as well - an almost matte finish, but still very creamy and never drying.

Another one I have (I'm almost done, I swear) is the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Hyde Park*.  This is similar to the Kate Moss lipstick but with even more red in it.  If you typically wear red lipstick and are having a hard time transitioning to berry tones, I'd try this one.  These lip pencils are just beautiful, and every time I wear this I feel the need to buy every color.

Coming into brighter territory we have the Bite Matte Creme Lip Crayon in the shade Framboise.  This is a beautiful formula, incredibly creamy and moisturizing while also being matte (hence the name, I guess).  This is a much brighter shade than the rest and almost looks more like a bright, cool-toned pink.

Similar to the Bite Lip Crayon is Rebel by MAC.  This was probably the one I was most excited about when I bought it.  It's the most purple and one of the most opaque of the bunch, but it's incredibly versatile.  You can apply it straight from the tube for a full-on berry look, or you can tap it into your lips with your finger and apply it as a stain (this is how I get away with wearing this to work).  It is definitely one of my favorites, and one to try if you're in the market for a MAC lipstick.

Last I thought I'd mention a lipstick that's not technically a berry, but still leaves a berry tone on the lips.  Hello Sailor by Lipstick Queen is definitely a fun lipstick to put on in public and watch people stare.  It looks blue in the tube, but the formula is so sheer that it melds with the pink of your lips and becomes a customized-for-you slight berry shade.  This is the most sheer and subtle of them all, so if you're too scared to try a bolder berry lip you should try this.  I've gotten a lot more wear out of this one than I thought I would.

Thanks for sticking around if you're still here - I told you I love me some berry lips.
What are your favorite autumn lip products?

*I noticed while linking some of the products that the colors mentioned are not currently available. For the Chubby Stick Intense, a similar color would be Grandest Grape, and for the Satin Lip Pencil, Mandore would be similar.

Skincare Add-ons

I've done posts on both my morning and evening skincare routines here and here, but I didn't talk about things I add into my routines here and there as I feel my skin needs them.

If my skin starts feeling so congested that even my Pixi Glow Tonic doesn't seem to fix it, I like to use a gentle manual exfoliator rather than a chemical one.  For this I use the Ole Henriksen Walnut Complexion Scrub.  It's a lovely creamy cleanser with small, smooth scrubbing beads suspended in it. Manual exfoliators tend to make my skin red and inflamed, but this one is gentle enough that I stay out of lobster territory.  If my skin is feeling like it's in dire conditions I may use the Lush Ocean Salt Face & Body Scrub, but I usually reserve this to use as a body scrub.  This is a lot more abrasive so I have to be very gentle with it, but it leaves my skin feeling very clean and refreshed after use. I really like using this on days when it feels like I have blemishes just brewing beneath the surface of my skin, and I feel like it helps get rid of them before they do surface.

If I don't feel like using a scrub, I'll use a purifying mask.  I love the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. I've had the small size for about two months and it doesn't even look like I've made a dent in it.  A thin layer over the skin is still very effective.  The active charcoal draws out impurities and leaves skin feeling thoroughly cleansed.  To avoid stripping my skin, I tend to only use this on my T-zone and chin, as my cheeks are usually a bit drier and don't need the effects of the mask.  A cheaper alternative that I also really like is The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask.  This one is cooling as well as purifying so it feels very refreshing.

Another kind of mask I love using is a hydrating mask.  Again, my favorite is from Origins.  The Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask is just amazing.  It smells great, like peaches, and it sinks in beautifully to plump and nourish the skin.  I actually had a reaction to a purifying mask that had expired, and layering this mask over my irritated cheeks really helped get my skin back to normal.  Again, there is a cheaper alternative I love from The Body Shop - the Vitamin E Sink-in Moisture Mask.  It does almost as good of a job as the Origins, but I prefer the smell of the Origins mask.

I love adding in these extra steps to my routine to make it a little more luxurious and relaxing.  What are your favorite skincare "extras?"

September Favorites

Another month has gone by, so that means it's favorites time. It also means that Beauty by Kelsey is one month old! The time has gone by so fast.

Last month I said my favorite mascara was the L'Oreal Telecopic mascara, but this month I've been cheating on it quite a bit. I picked up the L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Waterproof Mascara on a whim and I haven't looked back. Whereas the Telescopic mostly only lengthened, the Miss Manga lengthens, volumizes, AND holds the curl. It's an absolute win for me. I still go back to the Telescopic if I'm having a more minimal makeup day, but I think the Miss Manga will continue to be an everyday grab for me, especially as I'm beginning to wear darker chocolate brown eye looks as we go into the fall and want my lashes to stand out even more.

A few weeks ago my aunt sent me the cutest card filled with makeup coupons because she had been reading this blog (thank you, Didane!). One of the things I decided to pick up with the coupons was the Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in the shade Ivory 110. I've said in my Everyday Makeup Routine that I don't like wearing anything more than a tinted moisturizer, but this foundation feels so incredibly light that I've made an exception. It gives light coverage, and I have to use a concealer on blemishes, but I don't mind that. I like that it lets my skin show through - it makes it look like I'm wearing nothing at all, but still evens out my skin. If I have a little extra time in the mornings I've been slapping this on rather than a tinted moisturizer or BB cream, and it's been a welcome addition to my routine.

I've never been much of a lipliner girl, or a huge Kylie Jenner fan, but once I heard that the lipliner Kylie Jenner's makeup artist uses on her is supposedly MAC Whirl, I had to run out the next day and buy it. I don't know why I felt like I needed it, but I'm glad I did. I had only ever used drugstore lipliners when I would have to wear stage makeup for performances of the Nutcracker, but the MAC offering has converted me into a daily wearer. I'm already looking into getting a lighter, pinker version of Whirl (any suggestions?). The color of the pencil is a brown-toned nude (quite a dark nude for me). It adds the perfect amount of color and definition for every day, and since it is brown-toned, it goes with everything and is also good for the fall. This lasts so well on me, too, so I've been wearing it almost every day since I got it.

The cooler weather is not only making me lean towards brown-toned lips, but also deeper brown eye looks. I picked up one of the new Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo Leathers in the shade Chocolate Suede (95).  This is deeper and warmer than my usual pick of Bad to the Bronze or Nude Compliment, so it's perfect for fall. I like applying this smudged over my eyelid, blended into the crease and paired with a lighter bronze-y eyeliner (I like the Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Topaz) and lots and lots of mascara for the perfect fall eye.

My last favorite of the month is rosehip oil - specifically this offering from Eve Hansen Beauty. I was searching Amazon for a facial oil a couple months ago (thinking ahead for when my face inevitably dries out in the winter) when I found this (link here).  The reviews were good, and the bottle was huge for a good price - 4 fl oz for $25! I only use three or four drops at a time for my whole face and neck, so this will last such a long time. I was extremely impressed with the customer service as well - I not only got the typical Amazon confirmation email, but a personal email from the company itself, and a followup email a week after it was delivered to see if I was getting on with it. It was a nice personal touch. Rosehip oil is said to be good to correct hyperpigmentation and scarring because it contains provitamin A and a Vitamin A acid that retinol converts to and also has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 acids. Since I have a fair few acne scars, I knew rosehip oil would be the one for me.  I've been using this every night and have noticed a difference in my skin. It is now very rarely dehydrated, existing acne scars have begun to fade, and new blemishes don't leave lasting scars anymore. It sinks in pretty quickly and does not leave me feeling greasy. It doesn't break me out either, but that could partly be because I am always careful to wash my face every morning.

Next month I foresee myself getting even more into the fall makeup trends, and I am really looking forward to another month of blogging!
What products have you been loving this month?