Beauty Bits

I’ve slowly been introducing more color into my lip wardrobe this past year because neutral or nude lips is not as flattering on me as it once was. I still will wear neutral or nude lip colors but I find that as I am getting older, my face needs a pop of color on the lips more than it ever did before. I’ve slowly been trying out different shades in various color families and as soon as fall hit, I wanted to explore more berry toned lip colors.

Berry lip colors are not something I ever reached for in the past so this was a bit out of my comfort zone. Fast forward to the present and I now have quite a few berry lip colors in my collection that I absolutely adore! These are berry lip colors that aren’t too bold but still give me enough color and look perfect during the fall and winter season. If you have struggled to find plum or berry tones that don’t feel too intense, I have six in this blog post that are worth trying!

6 Berry Lip Colors To Try This Fall

Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in Raspberry Jelly

After falling in love with the Peptide Lip Treatment, I had to order the Peptide Lip Tints to see how they compared. It’s a sheer but slightly buildable lip color that helps to nourish and hydrate the lips. The formula is nearly identical to the Peptide Lip Treatment and makes the lips look glossy and glass-like. They are so comfortable and easy to wear throughout the day and last longer than I anticipated. Usually I don’t have to reapply until around hour 3 or 4 (which I think is pretty decent for a lip balm). At first I wasn’t in love with the two deeper shades, Espresso and Raspberry Jelly, until fall came. Ha! And now I am obsessed with wearing Raspberry Jelly alone for the best sheer berry tint.

Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm in Ruby

The Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balms are a nourishing lip balm designed to nourish the lips and leave them feeling silky, smooth and moisturized. With they can definitely be used as a treatment, Naturium launched a ton of colors that I love wearing during the day as my primary lip color. They give pigment while still keeping my lips moisturized and smooth. From the packaging to the formula, I love using these regularly and constantly recommend them to those looking for a tinted lip balm option. These aren’t necessarily very sheer nor are they intensely pigmented, they fall somewhere in between in my opinion. The bolder and brighter shades definitely give a nice punch of color without being too intense. Ruby is part of the limited edition Moody collection and is the most stunning sheer ruby red that looks great for day or night.

Saie Glossybounce High-Shine Hydrating Lip Gloss Oil in Remix

I am not sure why I have not yet tried one of these Saie lip gloss oils but after falling in love with the shade Remix, I will definitely be purchasing more colors. This does feel a bit more like a gloss than an oil but has a bit of slip to it which makes it feel quite nourishing and moisturizing. I always go straight for the pinky nudes and sheer peaches when trying out a new lip formula, but this time I wanted something that was a bit bolder and gave me more color. Remix is one of shimmer glosses and was an instant love from first swipe. It’s a mauve shimmer that is the most perfect deep rose shade which is a great fall option for those that want something a bit lighter than a berry or plum shade.

RMS Beauty Legendary Lip Oil in Alessandra (discount code: Maree-15)

The RMS Beauty Legendary Lip Oil is a nourishing lip formula designed to give shine, pigment and nourishment to the lips. This is a 97% skincare infused formula that is designed to provide 8 hr hydration and lip repair. I love the colors, the pigment, the feel and the finish of these lip oils. My only complaint is that very little product comes out so you have to dip the applicator in a few times to get enough product out to give adequate coverage. There is a stopper at the top that helps limit the amount of product that comes out but I may try and remove it to make it easier to get more product out each time. But regardless of that, the formula is too good to pass up!

Alessandra was a last minute add to cart because I wanted something for fall and this color is true fall perfection. It looks much more vibrant on the package but gives a nice sheer wash of berry to the lips.

Tower 28 LipSoftie Hydrating Tinted Lip Treatment Balm in Ube Vanilla

I’ve tried quite a few lip balm formulas and tinted lip balm formulas and didn’t have a standout favorite until I tried the Tower 28 Lip Softies. They formula is incredible and makes the lips feel incredibly nourished while still delivering a ton of pigment with the tinted versions. Ube Vanilla is a deep berry that could look a tad intimidating in the tube but when you apply a sheer layer, it tints the lips with a gorgeous plum berry shade that I adore.

Covergirl Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss Plumper in Encourage-Mint

These are absolutely stunning and this particular color is so glassy and gorgeous. They are a plumping formula though and use a cooling sensation instead of those that feel hot on the lips. The feeling is quite intense which does not bother me but it is worth mentioning to those that may be sensitive to this. They also have a strong mint scent which I personally love but as with the plumping effect, it is very noticeable and could irritate those who are sensitive to that. If you are not and want a great lip gloss formula that gives the most glassy and gorgeous finish to the lips and feels quite nourishing, this formula is it! And the color Encourage-mint is a soft berry color that gives just enough color.

It’s the holiday season and time to bring out all the sparkle and shine! There are tons of gatherings, parties and time with friends and loved ones. I love how this time of year is a time to get dressed up and be more fancy. It’s a great time to play around with fun makeup looks, wear shades or colors you wouldn’t normally wear and go for some glam. Personally I  am still a subtle and polished makeup lover so most of my holiday makeup looks are turned up a notch but still super wearable. You don’t need to be a professional makeup artist to recreate these!

The right makeup can complete your holiday look and is often one of the best accessories you can add to your outfit. Experiment with a bold lip, a sparkly shadow or a smokey eye. It’s fun to showcase your creativity and personality with your makeup. In today’s post I will be sharing a round-up of holiday party makeup ideas and looks to complete your holiday outfits.

3 Holiday Makeup Looks

Sparkly Eyeshadow + Glossy Lip

I always love a sparkly shadow and glossy lip, but if this is not something you regularly wear then a holiday party is the perfect time to experiment with this kind of look. As you can see, I didn’t take it too over the top and left the look still polished and wearable but I chose products that could easily give you a gorgeous holiday glow. Since this look is mostly neutral, it would look great with a ton of outfits and is a fun makeup look for New Year’s Eve too! Here’s a breakdown of how I got this look:

Start with a Natural Finish Foundation

Since your eyes are going to be so sparkly and your lips will be quite glossy, it’s good to balance that with a foundation that isn’t too glowy or dewy. This Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation (I am wearing shade 1N2) is a long wearing foundation, waterproof and buildable. I like to apply it with the BK Beauty 101 Foundation brush (discount code: MAREE10) and then use a damp makeup sponge as the end to just blend it out a bit more.

Conceal Only Where You Need It

I only use a touch of concealer under the eyes to diminish dark circles and a touch of it around my nose where I can still have a bit of redness even after foundation. I am wearing the Natasha Denona Hyglam Concealer in N1. Additionally, I added a dab of the Tarte Shape Tape Glow Wand in Sunbeam in the inner part of the eye and mix it with my concealer. This is a glowy complexion product that makes my under eye area look radiant and a bit glowy. For a holiday look, this is perfect.

Choose a Neutral Sparkly Eyeshadow

You could definitely go for a jewel toned or bold color with this look, but I am a neutral gal through and through so I will always opt for that over something very colorful. I am wearing Jones Road Beauty eyeshadow in So Pretty and love how it makes the eyelids GLOW! Make sure you use an eyeshadow primer before and press the color onto the lid instead of swiping it. The color will show up better and you will have less fall out on the face.

You could also add a touch of the shadow to the lower lash lines for a subtle smokey eye. I also like to add a touch of my bronzer into the crease to bring some warmth to my eye makeup. Add a few coats of your favorite mascara (mine is the Tarte Tubing Mascara) and define your brows (I am using Jones Road Beauty Brow Gel in Light Brunette) and your eye look is finished!

Pink Cheeks

A pink cheek gives a nice healthy flush to the face and looks like you have been out in the cold a bit. I am wearing Jones Road Beauty Blush in POP and it truly is the best pop of color. I always start with a tad bit of bronzer on my cheeks first to warm them up a bit and for this look I went with the Jones Road Beauty Bronzer in Light Tan. Because I am using all powder products on the cheeks, I need to add some glow (and moisture frankly) back onto the skin so I just tap a bit of the L’Oreal Lumi Glotion in Fair Glow OVER the entire cheek for a subtle yet radiant glow.

Glossy Lips

With the sparkly lids, I love the look of a super glossy lip. I recently tried these Rhode Peptide Lip Tints and frankly they are some of the best lip products I have ever tried!! They are even more glossy in person and make the lips look amazing while still being really nourishing. I am wearing shade Ribbon and it is the perfect petal pink.

Golden Eyes and Red Lipstick

The number one question I get when I share a red lip is “what should I wear on my eyes?” and frankly I always keep the same eye look every time I wear a bold lip. It’s simple, easy to do and always allows the red lip to stand out. And wearing a red lip during the holidays is so fun and can be an added accessory to your outfit.

Pick a medium coverage foundation

While you can definitely wear something more sheer, I find that a more polished and complete makeup look is best for wearing a red lip. If my foundation is too sheer, it can look mix matched because a red lip is so glam and bold. However, my trick for making my medium coverage foundation have a more fresh face look (in this case it’s the Hourglass Soft Glow Foundation is to mix it with a hydrating serum to thin out the formula. This makes it a touch more sheer and moisturizing yet still evens out the complexion. I add a touch of Natasha Denona Hyglam concealer under my eyes and the complexion part is complete.

Keep the Eyes Neutral and Slightly Shimmery

The red lip is going to be the focal point of this makeup so I just want something on the eyes that looks pretty but not too noticeable. My go-to for years has always been a shimmery champagne eye shadow with some black mascara and defined brows. I love the Jones Road Beauty Just a Sec shadow in Linen because it is sheer and gives just a wash of shimmer on the lids. I threw on a few coats of Tarte’s Tubing Mascara and used the Jones Road Beauty Brow Gel in Light Brunette. You could also add a few false lashes or a winged eyeliner to a look like this to really add some more glam to the eyes.

Choose a Neutral Blush

Like I did with the eyes, I want something subtle and neutral on my cheeks so as not to compete with the red lip. I started first with a bit of the Jones Road Beauty Bronzer in Light Tan and then dusted Pat McGrath Blush in Nude Venus on the apples of my cheeks. I finished off with by dabbing a bit of the L’oreal Lumi Glotion in Fair Glow on top to take down the powdered look of the cheeks and add some radiance.

Pick a Creamy Medium Coverage Red Lip

I find that choosing red lips with a slightly creamy and satin finish looks classic and often has a lot of staying power. You could also go with a red liquid lipstick if you prefer that type of formula. I am wearing Bobbi Brown Luxe Defining Lipstick in Redefined and it is the most gorgeous vibrant red that skews a tad bit warm which I prefer. Sadly the Bobbi Brown Lipstick has been discontinued but a really good similar red that I love just as much is Laura Mercier Scarlet Velvet (discount code: MAREE20). This eye and cheek look would also work with a vibrant berry lip if you would prefer that over red.

Rose Gold Radiance

The holidays is the best time to wear gold (and all the metallics) but when it comes to my makeup, I prefer to choose rose gold. It’s a bit warmer, less yellow and looks so good on tons of various skin tones.

Start with a slightly glowy foundation

Since the look is overall quite radiant, I chose to keep my skin a touch more glowy. I still used my Hourglass Soft Glow Foundation but layered the RMS Beauty Supernatural Radiance Serum (code: Maree-15) underneath. I added a bit of the Natasha Denona Hyglam concealer under my eyes to combat any darkness and that was it for the complexion.

Choose a sparkly rose gold eyeshadow

I LOVE this Jones Road Beauty eyeshadow in Rose Gold as it is a very pigmented glitter eyeshadow. A great choice for a holiday makeup look. Another gorgeous option would be the Hourglass Scattered Light eyeshadow in Reflect. I love a solo eyeshadow versus an eyeshadow palette because it can keep the look so simple. And I don’t add any additional eye liner or any darker shade to the outer corner because my preference is to keep the eye look radiant and bright. I add a few coats of my favorite Tarte Tubing Mascara and define my brows with the Jones Road Beauty Brow Gel in Light Brunette.

Pink Glowy Cheeks

This look is somewhat monochromatic so I used the Jones Road Beauty Bronzer in Light Tan on the cheeks first to add some warmth. I dabbed on the Tarte Maneater Blush in Pink which is a liquid formula that is super hydrating and makes the skin look gorgeous. I added on a bit of the Flyte.70 highlighter in Just Like Heaven (code: Maree15) for even more glow. This highlighter specifically is designed for textured or mature skin so it’s incredibly moisturizing and lightweight but doesn’t bring attention to any fine lines.

Add a sparkly/metallic lip

I went with the Chantecaille lipstick in Aventurine from their Holiday collection but you could easily just wear a rosy lip liner and add a shimmery lipstick on top.

These are three of my regular go-to holiday or fancy makeup looks that I always go back to because they are simple yet still polished and appropriate for a festive occasion. For more holiday inspo, check out this post on holiday shoes and this one on what to wear to a holiday party!