Before I get started with my May Fave Five, I wanted to link quickly to my blog sale that I have just posted. Is is on a separate blog, so go here for lots of makeup items for sale!


My favorites for the month are all things I've been using a while and have been reaching for a lot in the last month.

1 - Boscia No Pores No Shine T-Zone Treatment - I've been using this in place of a primer when it's warm out so I don't get too shiny and it works really well. I don't notice too much about it shrinking pores, but my pores aren't a big issue for me. I will be buying the full size of this once I use up this deluxe sample.

2 - Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in 16 Pink Beige - This is a nice neutral pink shadow that really brightens up my eyes. I can wear it just as a wash of color or sometimes I put some Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk in the crease with this and it makes a really pretty combo. I don't notice any creasing and it stays put. I need to get this in more colors.

3 - YSL Rouge Volupté in 17 Red Muse - I've talked about this a lot before, but it really is my go-to for a bright red lip. I had to deal with finals in May and used this a lot to distract from my exhausted face. A bright red lip can really just brighten your face easy!

4 - Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Taupe - I picked this up a while back kind of unsure what I'd do with it. It was a little dark to use in my waterline as an eye brightener and a little too light to make a big impact as a normal top lid liner. However, this has been perfect for lining my lower lid. I don't care for how a dark liner looks on my lower lid, so I've usually just not put anything there. But this taupe just darkens it enough to add dimension and shadow without making it obvious. I don't think I've went more than a day without doing this since I got this liner! It doesn't budge either!

5 - Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil - A year or so ago I received a sample of this stuff and quite liked it. Then during a sale on the Tarte site I picked up the full size bottle. If I notice my skin is really dry or flaky (which happens a good bit during the winter) I use 4-5 drops straight on my face. Normally though, I put a bit of whatever moisturizer I am using that day/night in the palm of my hand and then add 1-2 drops of maracuja oil to it. I'll just mix it up a bit with my finger and apply that to my face. I feel like it has kept my skin clear more often and with less flaky bits. It doesn't clog my pores like some heavy moisturizers do, so that helps in cold/dry months for sure.




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Twitter: @RecordsRedLips
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Disclaimer: This post contains my own opinion. I have not been sent these items for consideration and/or review. 

One of my all time favorite lipsticks is my Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté lipstick in Red Muse. It's creamy and smooth and the perfect bright true red. However, it is $34. So, I found a couple other things at different price points that might fill the void if you are looking for something like this but don't want that high of a price tag.



First, is Ronnie Red from MAC for a midpoint of $15. I hesitate to include this since it was limited edition, but it can still be found on ebay sometimes and CCOs. Ronnie Red is listed as a matte shade, but it is the least matte shade I've ever had from MAC. It isn't drying and it doesn't dry down matte like, say, Ruby Woo. You can even see the slight sheen in the swatch photo. It is also a touch more pinkish than Red Muse.

Finally, Milani Color Statement lipstick in Red Label is a really, really close dupe. It feels slightly more heavy on the lips and is a touch more drying, but the difference in price is drastic (Red Label is just $5.49 compared to Red Muse at $34). The color is pretty spot on, as is the finish. I really like this lipstick, though I feel like it needs a primer or lipliner to be sure it stays in place.


Currently Wearing: 

Currently Listening To: 

Twitter: @RecordsRedLips
Instagram: RecordsRedLips
Pinterest: Records & Red Lipstick
Vine: RecordsAndRedLipstick

Disclaimer: This post contains my own opinion. I have not been sent these items for consideration and/or review. 

I have. It wasn't cheap either. At least it turned out to be a lipstick with an amazing feel and that looks very pretty!

L'Oreal has recently put out what has long been called a probable dupe for the expensive Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Vernis a Levres Glossy Stain called L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain. Apparently a requirement for naming of these lipstick/glosses are that they are a mouthful. Henceforth I will refer to them as YSL Glossy Stain and L'Oreal Wet Shine Stain. I will try to go over the pro's and cons on each of these and then give an overall opinion. This is based on my experience of having the YSL for months and the L'Oreal for a few weeks.

I obviously love red lipstick, so I tend to gravitate toward them when I shop. I guess this explains why I have over 30 red lipsticks right now. I love to try out new brands and formulas and see what works best. Here is my current collection with a mini review of each along with my favorites of the bunch.

• MAC - Marilyn Monroe Collection in Deeply Adored (Matte) - I haven't used this one yet. I'm not 100% sure I'll keep it since it looks darker than my normal reds.
• MAC - Racy (Frost) - Not digging the frost so much on this one.
• MAC - Adore It (Glaze) - LOVE this. It's a bright pinky red. It's not super opaque, which makes it a perfect easy lipstick to take with if you aren't going to be able to apply using a mirror.
• MAC - MAC Red (Satin) - LOVE this too. It's a really perfect true red. It is pretty long lasting and has a nice balance of matte/shine.
• MAC - Lady Bug (Luster) - I was really excited to get this since I had heard it was a great red from MAC, but eh. I think because I already had Adore It to fill my easy red lip look, I didn't need this one. Don't get me wrong though, it's pretty and is a nice medium opacity red lipstick.
• MAC - Ruby Woo (Matte) - I heard so much about this lipstick and when I started getting into reds, I had to pick it up. It is a perfect matte red. I generally only like a super matte lip in the winter, which is odd since that's when I'm most dry, but I actually don't find Ruby Woo to be so drying. But it looks dry, so you sort of have to offset the matte by not having your face makeup be so matte.
• MAC - Marilyn Monroe Collection in Charmed I'm Sure (Matte) - I haven't used this one either. It's too pretty to use or something!

• Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture in Rouge Roxane - This leans orange and has a bit of frostiness to it, but it isn't too much and it comes off a little younger than a lot of frosty lips.
• Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain in #9 - Super beautiful warm red with no shimmer. Plus, I love these glossy stains.
• Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain in #11 - This is a really pinky red. Looks great layered up to a deep pinky red.
• Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain in #20 - This was a Sephora exclusive color and I'm glad I picked it up. It's similar to #9, but this has a really nice gold shimmer in it. 
• Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Volupté in Red Muse - I can't get over how much I love this lipstick. It feels like silk going on and has a great color payoff. 

I was recently asked if I collect anything. Without much thought I responded "Records and red lipstick," thus the blog name was born.

Red lipstick was something I was frightened of for a very long time. Actually I really didn't wear lipstick at all for many years. I had memories of trying to wear moms lipstick to my high school dances in the mid-90s. The colors were never right for me and after applying whatever tips I had read about in Seventeen magazine (like blot, reapply, blot and powder over), lipstick never felt very comfortable on. In the late 2000s I worked for an Estée Lauder brand for over six years and spent most of that time spending my gratis and discounts on eye shadows and gifts instead of lipsticks, but in my last year working for the company, and about two years ago now, I decided to go bold and try a red lipstick. What was funny was that I didn't use gratis to get the lipstick. Instead I ordered it off Sephora.com without even swatching to see the color (I'm a terrible impulse buyer). It is Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Flirt Alert and it is still one of my favorite colors and formulas. I don't hear much said about this brand's lipstick, but it's creamy and beautiful!