If you haven’t heard of the online comedy series SRSLY (pronounced “seriously”) yet, let us be the proud first folks to introduce you. If you have heard of it, then you’ll know why we love the two brilliant NYU and Upright Citizen Brigade alumnae behind it. Alexandra Fiber and Danielle Gibson’s short, snappy videos are loosely based on their 20-something lives in New York. The hilarious moments adeptly touch on experiences that many of us have every day. All this week, they’re sharing their beauty inspirations in their typical witty style.
Emma Stone pulls off a gorgeous watermelon lip stain at the 2012 MTV movie awards. (Photo: zimbio.com)
If you ask us to pick our single favorite beauty product, it has to be lip stain. It’s the quickest way to look chic and pulled together, it lasts all day so you get major bang for your buck, and it’s consistently theone thing people compliment us on. We wear lip stain to every meeting, on every video shoot and when we want to confidently flirt with the cashier at Trader Joe’s. We’ve tried a lot, so here are our picks for the best lip stains on the market:
Some girls’ beauty routines are intensive labors of love, while others adhere to a minimalist philosophy. I definitely fall into the latter category. My AM routine usually involves hitting the snooze button to steal a few more minutes of beauty sleep, so I don’t have tons of time to apply makeup.
But even though I have a lackadaisical beauty style, you would never know it. Why? I’ve mastered a way to rock bold red lips in just three steps.
We’re crazy for multitasking products, especially in the summer. Who wants to spend hours applying makeup when you could be outside enjoying the weather? That’s why we’re so obsessed with theBalm’s super-efficient lip and cheek stain, Stainiac. Watch our video to learn how to use a stain to get a long-lasting rosy lip and cheek.
We’re big fans of this week’s guest blogger, Natalie Higdon. Not only is she a Tennessee resident and a connoisseur of all things Memphis; she’s also a contributor to the Birchbox magazine! (Don’t miss her stellar article on 5 Surprising Facts About SPF). This week, she interviews a hot new singer, reveals her favorite two-in-one products, and schools us on how to trim our own bangs.
I love DIY and looking at pictures of dessert, so naturally, I love Pinterest. My latest obsession is finding ways to create my own beauty products. Here are a few of my favorite finds:
DIY Lip Stain by The Beauty Department I have a confession to make: I’m not really a lip gloss or lipstick girl. Getting your hair stuck in your super sticky gloss on a windy day? The worst. That’s why I love lip stains. This homemade version is super easy; plus you can totally play around with the recipe and use different fruit combinations to get different shades.
The idea of painting my face has always fazed me. Until now, I steered clear of lip and cheek stains because I didn’t want to look like Bozo the Clown. So when I first came across Benefit’s Posietint, an updated version of the bestselling Benetint, I was a little skeptical. The creamy gel is bubblegum pink and totally opaque in the bottle. But to my delight, it goes on sheer and leaves my lips and cheeks with a natural flush. After wearing this stain day in and day out for the past week, I now know how to make the most out of my Posietint.
Don’t:
Wear a full face of foundation with a lip and cheek stain. Instead, aim for a fresh-faced look by dabbing concealer on your trouble spots beforehand.
Use sparingly. Paint three small stripes on each cheek and dot on your lips. Blend like crazy.
Layer your stain under a few swipes of liquid highlighter. Both Benefit’s High Beam and Girl Meets Pearl add a luminescent glow. After your stain has set, apply highlighter to your cheekbones, brow bones, and jawline. I also like painting a thin stripe down the bridge of my nose to add definition.
The result is very English rose meets runway model.
-Mai
Learn how to prevent breakouts and keep your skin looking great with our Acne 101 guide.
