Review! Sephora Nano Lipliner in 18 Pinup Pink

I recently purchased three Nano Lipliners by Sephora.  Today, I tried out 18, Pinup Pink.

The one thing I don't like about this lipliner is the lid.  That sucker does NOT stay on the pencil tightly.  If you put it in your bag, you will need to contain it somehow.  I have a metal lipstick case that I plan to put mine in.  That lid will come off if left loose, so you've been warned.

Otherwise, these are sweet little gems at only $5 each!

I do not use lipliner to contain my lipstick.  I use lipliner either as its own color, or as a layer to wear under lipstick.  To keep my lipstick from feathering and bleeding, I line the outside of my lip with a concealer pencil.  If I have a color that really bleeds, I follow the concealer pencil with a white eyeliner pencil (it's dryer than the concealer), and then blend that with a concealer brush.  It sounds weird, but it works, and when you have it blended well, you cannot see it.  Therefore, I cannot comment on how well this contains lipstick to the lip, because I just never wear it for that purpose.

Pinup Pink is a bright rose pink, and it certainly made me think "Pinup" as I applied it.  It is frosty, and almost too frosty.  It narrowly escapes the 80's, though, and earned a place in my lipcolor rotation.  It applies smoothly without skipping or dragging, and despite the frost load, it does not feel gritty.  I paired it with a natural eye, but I would recommend matching it up with either a cat eye or a dark smokey eye.  I particularly like how it faded; it was uniform, and it lost the frost first, so it became a gorgeous rosebud pink shade.

Bare lips:

Half lips:

Full lips:

Full face (sort of!):

This is a great lipliner!  However, if you don't like frost, I would skip this one and go with a different pink in the same line.

Review! Sephora Nano Lipliner in 17 Funky Fuchsia

Sephora makes a shorter lipliner, Nano by Sephora.  I bought three of them, and today I reviewed 17 Funky Fuchsia.

The one thing I don't like about this lipliner is the lid.  That sucker does NOT stay on the pencil tightly.  If you put it in your bag, you will need to contain it somehow.  I have a metal lipstick case that I plan to put mine in.  That lid will come off if left loose, so you've been warned.

Otherwise, these are sweet little gems at only $5 each!

I do not use lipliner to contain my lipstick.  I use lipliner either as its own color, or as a layer to wear under lipstick.  To keep my lipstick from feathering and bleeding, I line the outside of my lip with a concealer pencil.  If I have a color that really bleeds, I follow the concealer pencil with a white eyeliner pencil (it's dryer than the concealer), and then blend that with a concealer brush.  It sounds weird, but it works, and when you have it blended well, you cannot see it.  Therefore, I cannot comment on how well this contains lipstick to the lip, because I just never wear it for that purpose.

Funky Fuchsia is a matte, natural purple-pink (you know, fuchsia).  It applies very smoothly, almost like lipstick in a pencil form.  It is not dry at all, and doesn't skip or drag.  Coverage is nearly opaque with one coat, and it wears for 2-3 hours before needing a touch-up.  The color fades uniformly and does not stain.

Bare lips:

Half lips:

Full lips:

Full face:

I love these lipliners.  If I wasn't obligated to try other lipliners to review for you, I would stop right here, and just buy all the colors of Nanos to suit my needs. 

The Art of the Simple Swap

One of the first things I have my clients do is to track their calories for a few weeks.  Be as honest as you can.  Don't log "carrots" when you know you ate carrot cake. 

After those few weeks, take some time and look over what you ate.  Think about why you ate it.  These reasons why you ate what you did, when you did are the keys to your health.  Your nutrition is a direct reflection of your life as a whole. 

Was it full of planned healthy meals with the occasional treat factored in?

Was it nothing but convenience?

Was it all stress eating?

Was expense a factor?

Take a moment and, in the scope of what you are eating and why, think about those things around you that influence these patterns.  Work, kids, commute, income, health concerns... any reason is valid.  Every reason you list is "one little thing"...  but make no mistake.  These are actually big-picture items that can trickle down to your waistline.

I cannot fix everything in one blog, but let's aim for one thing- a simple swap.

If you see from your food log that you are reaching for the crunchy at 3:30- pack in carrots instead of chips.  And no, the walk to the vending machine does not count as cardio.

If you reach for the sweet, have fresh fruit available instead of the Twix.  Alternately, if you must have the chocolate- upgrade the chocolate to dark to reap the antioxidant benefits.  And savor it.  Slowly. Really.  Eat it slow and let it melt in your mouth.  The slower you eat, the more mindfully you reach for the flavor of each bite, the less it will take for you to feel satisfied. 

If you must have The Mega Caramel Froopity-do from the coffee shop, omit the sugar syrup and try sugar free.

If you like rice with your Chinese take-out, ask them to hold it and try some quinoa instead.

What these swaps have in common is not just about a 100 calories loss and a gain of better nutrition- what they have is preparation. 

You become aware of your habits, and you can change them by having a game plan.  It's like premeditated fat murder.  There is no "100%" here, no perfect score.  There is your best effort under your day's circumstances. If you know that fast food is in your future, then arm yourself with the best options (steamed over sauteed, grilled over fried...).  If you know your paycheck is going to be short, plan your meals around sales and what you already have.

It all comes down to "default living"- not thinking, not assessing or examining.  You break that cycle by stopping, evaluating, and making a decision.  

One of the biggest changes in my life came from default-eating chips every day.  I was on my 3rd or 4th serving before I realized that I was not even tasting the chips,  I was just going for the crunch and the habit.  I stopped immediately and realized that I only ate the chips at the most stressful part of my day.  I made a point to schedule my break for the 15 minute stretch before 3:00 pm, and to use that time for walking or jogging the stairs.  I began to pack in carrots, celery, and cauliflower as an easy swap.  Now, I was still "mindlessly" munching, but I was deliberate in my approach to it.  I ate less over all, took in more nutrients, and was more calm.  It all began with stopping and examining.

What I would love for you to focus on over the next month-

1. Maximize the clean, whole foods. 
2. Minimize the processed junk.  Minimize- not eliminate.  Why?  Because life happens.  Be kind to yourself, and forgiving.
3. Plan your meals ahead of time and be creative:
   1. Take advantages of sales and seasonality
   2. Use ingredients you already have and try AllRecipes.Com.  Queue in what you have and make the healthiest option.
   3. Take a loved recipe and swap one less ideal ingredient for a healthier option.  Sour Cream or plain Greek Yogurt for that ranch dip?
4. Have a plan for life happening.  Keep clean snacks available. 
5. Repeat after me:  Pyrex is your friend.  We'll go into why later.

Review! Sephora Nano Lipliner in 16 Pure Pinky

I've been looking for some new lipliners.  I have several drugstore brands, but I wasn't overly thrilled with any of them.  I knew I wanted a natural pink shade, and I didn't want a full-size product, as I never use them up.


I was in Sephora and spotted their mini lipliners, Nanos.  I bought three of them.

You can see the one thing I don't like about this lip liner in the photo above... the lid.  That sucker does NOT stay on the pencil tightly.  If you put it in your bag, you will need to contain it somehow.  I have a metal lipstick case that I plan to put mine in.  That lid will come off if left loose, so you've been warned.

Otherwise, these are sweet little gems at only $5 each!

I do not use lipliner to contain my lipstick.  I use lipliner either as its own color, or as a layer to wear under lipstick.  To keep my lipstick from feathering and bleeding, I line the outside of my lip with a concealer pencil.  If I have a color that really bleeds, I follow the concealer pencil with a white eyeliner pencil (it's dryer than the concealer), and then blend that with a concealer brush.  It sounds weird, but it works, and when you have it blended well, you cannot see it.  Therefore, I cannot comment on how well this contains lipstick to the lip, because I just never wear it for that purpose.

First up is 16 Pure Pinky.

This is a rose pink with a subtle shimmer, with a slight lean towards towards purple.  It is not glittery, and it is not overly frosty, it just shimmers a tiny bit.  In the flash photo, above, the effect is exaggerated.  The pencil glides on smoothly, with absolutely no tugging or dryness.  It's very similar to feeling like a satin lipstick, except it is in a little pencil.

Bare lip:

Half lip:

Full lip:

I love this color.  It is a very natural color on me, and it wears for about three hours before it needs reapplication.  I will definitely re-purchase.

Review! NARS Sheer Glow in Punjab

I've been on the lookout for a new foundation.  In the winter, I like to use Asian BB creams and embrace my naturally pale complexion.  But, in the warmer months, my skin darkens a bit, and I enhance that with self-tanner just a smidge.

I've heard good things about NARS Sheer Glow, so I decided to give it a try.

I really like it.  I like the sheer-to-medium coverage that evens out my complexion and hides most of my flaws.  It feels lightweight, and doesn't cake or crease.  I could easily make this my go-to foundation.

Here I am, bare faced:

And here I am with one coat of NARS Sheer Glow.  I was matched to the shade Punjab.

And here I am with the rest of my makeup on:

And a side-by-side:

Finally, here is a list of what I used:

 

Face:

Moisturizer: Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Rejuvinating Oil-Free Moisturizer

Face: NARS Sheer Glow in Punjab

Undereye Concealer: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in shade 2

Illuminating Powder (under eye): Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight

Contouring Powder: NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna

Blush: tarte Cheek Stain in Blissful

Brows:

Pencil: Cover Girl Brow and Eye Maker in Midnight Brown

Powder: Maybelline Ultra-Brow Brush-on Color in light brown

Lips:

Outside Lips: Hard Candy Concealer Pencil in Medium

All-over: Sephora Collection Nano Lip Liner in 16 Pure Pinky

Eyes:

Lids: Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Saint

***Using the method in this tutorial***

Lashes: Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara (Walgreens)

Review! Clinique Cleansing System

I received a trial sample of (what is supposed to be) a two-day trial of Clinique's cleansing system.  This was given to me as a free toss-it-in-the-bag sample with another purchase.

The inside of the rigid cardboard envelope contains 12 blister packs, four each of "liquid facial soap", "clarifying lotion" and "dramatically different moisturizing lotion", as identified on the outside of the package.

Inside the package, the "clarifying lotion" is now called the "exfoliate" step.

Liquid Facial Soap:  I didn't like it.  It comes out of the package with a reasonable thickness, but once I started using it to clean my face, it felt like dish soap, without as much slip.  It does not feel moisturizing, and it did feel like it dried out my face a little.  During the next step, more makeup came off of my face after using this, so it did not do a good job of thoroughly cleaning my face of makeup.

Clarifying Lotion:  Holy rubbing alcohol, Batgirl!  This stuff had so much alcohol in it that the vapors made my eyes water (I did not get the product in my eyes, but applying to my cheek was close enough, apparently).  It did remove the rest of my makeup that the soap left behind, and my skin did look nice afterwards, but it was drying and OMG, the vapors!  Overall, I didn't like it.

Moisturizing Lotion:  My skin was glad for this heavy cream after the previous two steps... but then an hour later it felt like an oil slick on my face.  This lotion was too heavy for me to even think about wearing it underneath my makeup.  It is intended for combination-dry or dry-very dry skin.  This was just way too much for my current needs.

I really don't like how drying the first two steps are, and I don't recommend those products at all.  If you have really dry skin, you might like the moisturizer, but I'm going to pass on it for now.  It might make a good winter moisturizer for me.

Makeover! Ashleah

Hey ya'll!  I am so excited to present the first makeover here at Sugarpot!

Ashleah agreed to be my model.  She is a drop-dead gorgeous entrepreneur, devoted wife, and mom of 3!  She wanted to update her look to reflect who she really is in all areas of her life.  We spent a lovely afternoon talking about her goals in both business and makeup, and put together a look that will take her from business meetings to coffee dates to playgrounds.

I wanted to pull focus to her sparkling blue eyes, and then emphasize her lips just a bit for balance.  We used a large number of products, but the actual quantity of each was pretty limited.  It doesn't take a lot of makeup to look good... I find that most people look better with less.

Ashleah has natural freckles, and I didn't want to cover them all up, they are adorable!  So we used a tinted moisturizer instead of a standard foundation.

After!

We used a rose blush and a copper-rose lipstick.  For her eyes, we did a lightly smoky bronze and copper look.  We also filled in her brows and pulled them a bit closer together.  It really makes her eyes POP!

Side-by-Side:

Here is a complete list of what we used:

Face:

Moisturizer: Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Rejuvinating Oil-Free Moisturizer

Face: Garnier BB Cream in Light/Medium
Concealer: Maybelline CoverStick Correcting Concealer in Ivory  

Undereye Concealer: Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in shade 2

Illuminating Powder (under eye): Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight

Contouring Powder: NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna

Blush: tarte Cheek Stain in Full Blossom (discontinued color, you can still find it online)

Highlight on nose and inner eyes: Benefit High Beam

Brows:

Pencil (for inner part of brows to bring closer to nose): Cover Girl Perfect Blend Pencil in Mink

Powder (to fill): Maybelline Ultra-Brow Brush-on Color in light brown

Lips:

Outside Lips: Hard Candy Concealer Pencil in Medium

Outside Lips: NYC Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in White

All-over: NYC Smooch Proof Lip Stain in Champagne Stain

All-over: Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in 529B (Walgreens)

Eyes:

Lids: Stila palette In The Know (air, wind, desert, rain; in that order from browbone to lashline)

Lids: Urban Decay palette Naked (smog (lashline), sidecar (lowerlid), dark horse (v))

Waterline:  Mosha Katani Eye Pigment in Persian Queen

Lashes: Buxom Lash WaterProof Mascara in Blackest Black

Brushes:

RealTechniques Stipple brush

Sonia Kashuk Smokey Eye Brush Set
Angled brush for eyebrows 

Review! NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stain - 496 Forever Fuchsia

One product that I return to again and again is lip stains.  I've tried so many of them over the years, with the usual mixed results.  Of all the brands I've tried, both high and low end, the ones I like the most are made by NYC.  I have four of their stain markers, and I wouldn't mind having a few more.

The product is held in a marker-type tube, and it has a rigid tip that is slightly pliable.  It easily draws a very defined line for the lip line, and you can fill in the rest of your lip by using the side of the tip.

Here is one of mine, in Forever Fuchsia:

The tube looks very bright, as if this is going to be a bright pink-red. It goes on darker than I expected, and looks more like a deep but bright berry red.  I expect fuchsia to be more purple, but if you ignore the name and go more with the tube color, you will have a better idea of what to expect; although it is still not terribly accurate.

Bare Lip:

Half Lip, one coat.  Bright!!!:

Full Lip, one coat:

This color does tend to go on a bit uneven on me, where it seems like some spots stain darker than others.  However, I wear a lip balm or lipstick over the top of it, so that evens out the color perfectly.

These do not last 16 hours on me.  They do last through most drinks and snacks or light meals.  If eating something very oily, they fade faster.   They fade very uniformly from the lip, but tend to stick around on the lip line.

Overall, I really like this stain.  I will re-purchase.

Review! NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stain - 494 Smooch Proof

One product that I return to again and again is lip stains.  I've tried so many of them over the years, with the usual mixed results.  Of all the brands I've tried, both high and low end, the ones I like the most are made by NYC.  I have four of their stain markers, and I wouldn't mind having a few more.

The product is held in a marker-type tube, and it has a rigid tip that is slightly pliable.  It easily draws a very defined line for the lip line, and you can fill in the rest of your lip by using the side of the tip.

Here is one of mine, in Smooch Proof:

The tube looks very dark, as if this is going to be a super-deep maroon. Once I put it on, it settles to a gorgeous, muted berry shade.  I love it; it is my most-used lip stain color.

Bare Lip:

Half Lip, one coat:

Full Lip, one coat:

Close up:

I really like to wear this color with Wet N Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in Breeze.  Like so:

These do not last 16 hours on me.  They do last through most drinks and snacks or light meals.  If eating something very oily, they fade faster.   They fade very uniformly from the lip, but tend to stick around on the lip line.

Overall, I really like this stain.  I will re-purchase.

The Unsung Cardio

You didn't think that I would leave you hanging on the workouts, did you? 

I call it the Unsexy, Unsung Cardio.  It's what you do when no one is looking that keeps the heads turning.  The trick to the Ten-Minute* workouts and their related health benefits is simple- do the workouts.  The key here is intensity, not duration.   At a Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) of 7-8 on a scale of 10, you can burn through about 100 Calories in about ten minutes. 

*...But dont let the "Ten Minute" line throw you.  Go longer if you can.  Do shorter bursts if so inclined.  Just don't make an excuse.  Did you know that the average hour long TV show has 20 minutes of commercials?  Think of each commercial break as a chance for a High Intensity Interval.  Jussayin'….

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Ten Minutes in the Stairwell:

• Two Minutes:  Walking the stairs
• One Minute: Running the Stairs
• One Minute:  Walking up the stairs 2-3 steps at a time
• One Minute: Squats or Running
• Repeat

Ten Minutes With a Chair or a Park Bench:

• Two Minutes: Step-Ups- Start steadily and build speed as your comfort level increases
• One Minute: Triceps Dips
• One Minute: Step-Ups or Box Jumps
• One Minute:  Decline Wide-Grip Push-Ups
• One Minute: Incline Mountain Climbers (Hands on the chair seat)
• One Minute:  Incline triceps Push-Ups
• One Minute:  Step-Ups
• One Minute:  Incline Pylo-Push-Ups (Jump from a wide grip to a narrow grip)
• One Minute:  Step-Ups

Ten Minute Abs:

• One Minute:  Mountain Climbers
• One Minute:  Old School Sit-Ups
• One Minute:  Plank
• One Minute:  Bicycle Crunches
• One Minute:  Plank with Hip Twist
• One Minute:  V- Ups
• One Minute:  Reverse Crunches
• One Minute:  Banana Pose to Superman (No Cheating)
• One Minute:  Hold Superman/Bow Pose
• One Minute:  Mountain Climbers

Ten Minutes to Kill or be Killed:

• One Minute:  Jogging
• One Minute:  Burpees
• One Minute:  Squats
• One Minute:  5 Mountain-Climbers to 5 High-Knees
• One Minute:  Sumo Squats
• One Minute:  Jumping Jacks
• One Minute:  Plie Squats
• One Minute:  Walking Lunges or Jumping Alternating Lunges
• One Minute:  Stagger Push-Ups
• One Minute:  Tuck-Jumps

Winning it in Ten

When it comes to excuses, I have heard them all.  From a beginner's lack of self confidence to the gym rat's creativity ("… my religion shuns burpees"), I can say that there is one excuse that trumps them all.

I don't have time.

The reason that time is the number one excuse to not exercise is because of the formidable grain of truth upon which it is based.  Between real obligations to work and family and the modern day glorification of "Busy-ness", the idea of carving anything out seems impossible.    

I heed the advice of St. Francis de Sale here- "Half an hour's meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy.  Then a full hour is needed."  

De Sale said a lot there- but he didn't say jack about one full, complete, uninterrupted hour.   

The effect of exercise is cumulative.  Think about exercise like you think about eating: one bad meal won't make you fat and one healthy meal won't make you skinny.  Consistent, incremental behavior breeds the changes in your health and body.  

One ten minute work out may not make an immediate difference- but two, three or four of them a day can make a whole new body.  In fact, splitting the recommended 30 minutes of moderate daily cardio into two or three shorter, but more intense, sessions can be of a greater metabolic benefit than the steady-state doldrums.  

So, a perceived lack of time is not a reason to not work out.  It is, however, a reason to get creative in how your get your work-out into your day.  No 25th hour required, I promise.

• First things first:  Clear up your priorities.  Do you really not have time or have you not made physical exercise a priority.  Your health needs to be right up there.  Your health is what keeps you alive and alert.  It affects everything from your face, to your social interactions, to your fiscal bottom line.  It is the foundation upon which everything else in your life is built. Your health is your future and your quality of life.  Do not under-sell your health and the impact your health has on those around you.    

• Second things second:  REALLY take a look at your time.  Look at your breaks at work, when the kids nap, television, time spent waiting, waiting, waiting….  Cut the crap.  Look at how you spend your time and start thinking of each action in binary.  No explanations- just "yes" or "no":  

• Is it necessary?  
• Is it relevant to your priorities?  
• Is it something that just makes you happy?  
• Is it benefiting your health?  
• ...Or is it something you defaulted to?

Begin phasing out the "no's" and emphasizing the "yes's".  See what happens when you become mindful of your priorities.  See what happens when you begin cutting out those things that do not benefit you, and begin to deliberately seek out those things that do.  

Look at your time again with a critical eye to time and location and possibilities for your ten minutes of exercise. 

• Third Things Third:  Then set yourself up for success.  Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail. 

1. Eyeball those moments when you anticipate the time to do a workout and make it a date in your calendar.  If your phone has the option, set it to alert/message you to work out.
2. Have a few "go-to" workouts at the ready.  Pinterest and fitness magazines can be great sources for inspiration.
3. Have those workouts loaded into your phone (there's an App for that), in a notebook, or memorized
4. Have a workout bag ready and in the car, at work, wherever you know you will need it.
1. Work-out clothes, socks, shoes,
2. A towel,
3. Ponytail holders,
4. Face/body wipes (I prefer Alba's Hawaiian 3-in-1 Towelettes), deodorant,
5. Don't break the date with yourself.  Heck, add a workout buddy to the date.  A co-worker, friend, your kid or a friendly stranger can be a great accountability buddy.

What you will keep in mind is that the key here is "intensity", not "duration".  

I used to believe that unless I could carve out a three hour stretch to hit the gym, I may as well not even bother.  I now see that by using my two work breaks and part of my lunch to jog some stairs or do some High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), that I actually feel better physically as well as mentally.  Periodic exercise breaks are not only amazing for your bum, but also for your brain.  The endorphin release throughout the day is a great stress reliever- so is getting away from your desk and getting outside for a breath.

And the best thing is that by the end of my work day, my cardio and body-weight work for the day is also in the books.  No gym needed.  I can get back to my Designing Women marathon sooner.

So, no one will see you rocking your Lululemons at the gym.  It's OK.

We call it the Unsexy, Unsung Cardio.  It's what you do when no one is looking that keeps the heads turning. 

Review! NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stain - 492 Never Ending Nude

One product that I return to again and again is lip stains.  I've tried so many of them over the years, with the usual mixed results.  Of all the brands I've tried, both high and low end, the ones I like the most are made by NYC.  I have four of their stain markers, and I wouldn't mind having a few more.

The product is held in a marker-type tube, and it has a rigid tip that is slightly pliable.  It easily draws a very defined line for the lip line, and you can fill in the rest of your lip by using the side of the tip.

Here is one of mine, in Never Ending Nude:

The tube looks brown.  I almost didn't buy it, because it looks SO brown.  However, once you remove the lid, you can see that the product is more of a mauve-brown.  Once on the lip, the pink is more pronounced.  It is too dark on me to really consider it nude, but it is a muted shade.

Bare Lip:

Half Lip, one coat:

Full Lip, one coat:

I really like to wear these with clear glosses or lip balm.  I also wear them underneath lipsticks to have a better base for lipstick fade.

These do not last 16 hours on me.  They do last through most drinks and snacks or light meals.  If eating something very oily, they fade faster.   They fade very uniformly from the lip, but tend to stick around on the lip line.

Overall, I really like this stain.  I will re-purchase.