Ask Nubby #7: Beauty Products Edition
Recently, I’ve received a handful of questions regarding the hair dye, lipstick, perfume and other products I use so I’ve decided to answer them all at once!
Lipstick, Fragrace and Hair Dye, Oh My!
1. Red Lipstick: The question I get asked most is what red lipstick I use and how I get it to stay put. I rotate between two reds; MAC Red and L’oreal Colour Riche in British Red.
Before applying lipstick, I start with a coat of Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment. I tend to have very dry skin and this immediately evens out my lips. Allergy tested and fragrance free, it clears up even the worst chapped lips and makes lipstick go on perfectly smooth. Next, I apply lipstick straight from the tube and use a generic red lip pencil to lightly even out my lip line. If I’m feeling fancy, I add some MAC Lipglass in Russian Red to the top (see above).
2. Hair Dye: Years ago, I was a die-hard bright colored hair person. I did stints of black hair with Barbie pink roots, bright red hair with black tips and a six month run of blue hair. Special Effects dye was my best friend throughout those years!
While it was always an adventure, I finally gave up my unnatural hair color addiction in 2002. I was staining everything in sight an intense blue including phone earpieces, shirt collars, the bath tub and my pillows. By the time I stayed with a friend in New York for a week and accidentally stained all of his yellow towels with blue dye (he was subletting and had to replace them) I was done. I still miss it sometimes though because it’s pretty amazing how much of a transformation a new hair color can make.
Three years ago, I found a basic black dye that works exceptionally well and costs about $3.00 at Target. It’s Color Silk by Revlon and I love it! I dye my hair every three months or so and I like the way this dye fades over time into a softer, more natural black.
3. Fragrance: I’m not big on fragrance but there’s one that I use fairly regularly. It’s MAC Creations MV1 and is fusion of bergamot, lilies, white jasmine, vanilla, milk cream musk and sandalwood.
Though intense when first applied, it softens up fast and smells clean and inviting. One spray lingers all day. I tend to like fragrances that have strong vanilla overtones. Any recommendations?!
Honorable Mentions
1. Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara is the best drugstore mascara I’ve ever used. I was going to buy something fancy, but in a pinch I picked up a tube of this at Walgreen’s and I’m hooked. No clumping or flaking, really! You can keep building, layer after layer with ease. Scroll down to read the rave reviews!
2. Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme smells like the filling of almond croissants and immediately soaks into the most chapped skin. This 100% natural mixture of sweet almond oil, aloe and vitamin E will get you hooked immediately based on the smell alone!
What beauty products do you swear by?
Share your secrets with us so we can become converts, too!
Get in touch: 
38 People have left comments on this post
I think I have a very similar style to you, although the products are different because we live on different continents.
For blacker than black hair I use Schwarzkopf Live Color XXL in Deep Black
For red lips I use Max Factor Lipfinity in Magenta
For blue hair I used Crazy Colours, and for bright, post box red hair I used Directions in Fire. SFX will be my next port of call as I’m still in my myriad-of-hair-colours phase! Pink and purple next!
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Wow! You look so different with blue hair. It looks lovely, although I feel the silky black look is more you & fits in with your black/white/red/green life! Do you have any photos of you with Barbie pink roots?
+ I love DKNY’s Red Delicious and Be Delicious perfumes. My colleagues actually stop & ask what perfume it is I’m wearing!
+ MAC Fluidline (in Blitz & Glitz!). Easily the best liquid eyeliner, ever!
+ YSL Touch Eclat. A girls best friend!
+ Johnsons Baby Shampoo to clean make-up brushes!
+ Olay’s Beauty Fluid is a fantastic light, non-greasy moisturiser.
+ Matrix Protective Dry Mist (http://www.matrixbeautiful.com/products/vavoom/ironControl.aspx) for heat protection.
+ The Body Shop Lip butter (coconut) so smooth & lovely smelling!
I could list a million more.
Aimee Marie
http://www.aimeemarie.com
http://www.missaimeemarie.blogspot.com
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Extra Super Last IS the best! I swear by that stuff.
I am pretty much obsessed with anything vanilla-scented, and have found that the
Comptoir Sud Pacifique line (Sephora carries it) has some of the best vanilla-based scents. Vanilla Apricot is SO GOOD…
Loved this post!
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okay, sorry for that freaking huge link. just noticed that. =/
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Aimee Marie: So, is Touch Eclat really as great as everyone says it is? I’ve been curious to try it for quite some time. And, I want to try MAC Fluidline also! Thanks for all the recommendations!
Morgan: No worries! I’ll have to check out that line next time I’m at Sephora- vanilla apricot sounds oddly enticing!
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+ My very favorite fragrance is Calvin Klein’s Euphoria. But I also use Chance by Chanel, & Desire from Victoria’s Secret (which is very versatile).
+ When dying my hair black I used to swear by Clairol’s Nice n Easy Blue black, which they don’t make anymore. Now it’s just black. =(
+ I use pure shea butter from head to to. Seriously. And it’s cheap.
+ I recently discovered Mary Kay’s Signature Lash Lengthening mascara. It’s perfect.
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Yay! A rec. for Russian Red lipglass. I have a very soft lipline, so regular lipsticks aren’t for me; glosses tend to be better, but there are so few red glosses! I love the lipglass I got from the Heatherette line.
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windstruck: I used to use that Nice n Easy Blue Black dye, also! It was pretty dramatic, which I liked at the time.
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I remember when I saw you at Convergence you had black hair with bright red roots
I swear by MAC Studiofix…I have used it for years, and I will use it until it is discontinued or I become an old bitty who needs creamier makeup. Heheh.
My lipstick of choice is MAC Russian Red. Will probably always be my favourite…it is that perfect red I always wanted.
I use Nice and Easy Blue Black hair dye (however I am going to stop dying my hair for a while to see if I can get it a bit healthier).
For blush I use Avon…some pink one, I forget the name. Comes in a tube. It’s great. Either that or MAC paint, the red one. Soo awesome.
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Oh, and pure virgin coconut oil – better than any other body moisturizer, and doesn’t make me break out.
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MAC red lipstick is my colour of choice, too. i also like smashbox’s lipglosses for when i’m feeling more low-key.
my skin is super, super pale and very sensitive. my favourite foundation is by fresh. it’s got a really unique texture and feels light and beautiful all day. it’s a little pricier than MAC but it beats every foundation they have, hands down.
i get my hairdresser to mix black and brown dyes together to create a black that doesn’t make me look vampiric. flat black looks silly when my blonde roots grow in, and the “half and half” fades out really nicely and naturally.
for liquid eyeliner, i LOVE prestige. it’s about six bucks and it’s got the best applicator ever.
i like any perfume that’s kind of a green-smelling floral. chanel gardenia is my favourite, but it’s tough to come by.
i want to try touch elcat! glad to hear that it lives up to the hype!
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Thanks for the recommendations, Nubby! I love you with red lips- it’s very Snow White sexy. As a blue-eye blonde red lips look too cliche on me, I think.
This might be a bit too girly, but I adore Stila’s Creme Bouquet. It’s vanilla and floral- guys always complement me on it. For just plain vanilla scent I loves Henri Bendel’s Vanilla Flower “Body Veil”- a fancy name for spritzable lotion that it very subtle but yummy. I think they still sell it at Bath & Body Works…
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!!! I love beauty products!
for perfume, some of my favorite scents are Moschino Couture and Moschino L’EAU CHEAP & CHIC.
But the perfumes I use on a daily basis are oil perfumes made by ebay sellers! They’re so cheap, they last, and they smell great! here is one of my favorite sellers-
http://stores.ebay.com/Valeries-Uncommon-Scents_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
For mineral makeup (including those amazing pigment samples) I use MAD minerals…they’re cheap, pigmented, beautiful..and ship fast! I love them so much!
and I have to add, that I love all nail polish, all the time.
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try hanae mori ! (perfume)
delicious!
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Oh! For vanilla based scents, I’d try Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s “Dorian.” It’s absolutely delicious, and unisex. However, I find their scents do not last very long at all as they’re pure oil. You’d have to mix it with vodka or perfumer’s alcohol for a long lasting perfume.
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Red lipstick: MAC Rocker. I always have a tube on hand. It has little sparkles, and I think it’s the perfect shade of red. RAWR!!!!!
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….and if you ever want to see an amazing movie, watch Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. You’ll never experience perfume in the same way again.
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I’ve been looking for a good red lipstick, so I will definitely trying out the L’oreal.
I always use Benefit Benetint for rosy cheeks and Benefit Bad Gal Lash for really thick, full lashes that don’t clump. I’m also really enjoying Maybelline Pure Makeup foundation to cover up my redness. As for perfume, I love Demeter’s Gin & Tonic.
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ooh i’ve had a sniff of the MAC perfumes and they are all so nice. i can’t remember which one was my favourite but it could’ve been MV1!
i really love MAC for things like foundation, bronzer and tinted moisturiser.
i try to get ‘natural’ products where i can. Living Nature is a nice brand from NZ; i use their mascara.
http://www.livingnature.com/
and i like A’kin and Alchemy for shampoo and nice gentle moisturisers:
http://www.purist.com.au/
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I just love Vivienne Westwood’s Boudoir (viburnum, marigold, rose & orange blossom with cinnamon, sandalwood & vanilla)
It too has a stong vanilla overtones and lasts for AGES!
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I want to shake up my look a little bit, I’ve been doing the dark smoky eyes for years now. I tend to like Max Factor, their kohl pencil is one of the best I’ve used. Maybe I’ll try playing up the lips instead of the eyes for a while…
I was given a fantastic oil free moisturiser by Nutrimetics that is good to use before applying foundation, and smells deliciously apricotty as a bonus!
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Opium: Yay, another Studiofix fan! I probably should have included that in my list, too since I’ve been using it for the last 10 years! Nothing comes close.
Alle Malice: You’re right on about the Prestige liquid liner applicator- it’s so sharp and perfect and the liner always seems to last forever…
Auntie Nubs: I’m sure you know your MAC lipstick too, since you work right around the corner from their shop!! We should go makeup shopping together sometime soon. It’s so much more fun with an accomplice!
Kristen: Is the Benetint fairly easy to apply? It seems to be one of those cult classic beauty products that I have yet to try!
Monica: YUM! Sounds amazing.
Lisa: Smoky eyes are great! I tend to go that route for day and onky do red lips at night since they can get messy when working + eating.
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Lisa,
Is the Max Factor pencil actually called Kohl? I’ve been looking for a good smoky eye pencil.
And Nubby: I think I have an illness. You have no idea how many lipsticks I have! Almost all of them are MAC. It just seems to stay on better than anything else.
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• one beauty product i swear by is KissMe mascara:
http://www.kissmemascara.com/
it’s a bit on the expensive side, but it creates a coat on your eyelashes and if you live in places with extreme weather (super super cold or super super humid), the mascara never melts or falls off due to extreme temperatures.
i would often look like a raccoon by the end of the day, but after using kissme my mascara stays where i intended!!
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MAC’s MV2 used to be my biiiitch. & MV3 are great too. Both have a strong vanilla base. Yum!
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Auntie: I find that the really cheap kohl pencils work really well- I just grabbed an N.Y.C. one from Walgreen’s and it’s my favorite! Almost of the MAC lipsticks I have now are free from recycling all my empty containers!
Gala: Ha, we’re always onto the same things! And your blue hair looks amazing and oddly natural- I think I was too ahead of the curve because back in 2002, I was constantly told that I looked like an alien or a smurf and it got old! Maybe I’ll have to give colored hair a shot again.
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Fragrance-wise, I have to say I love banana republic’s rosewood, but that might be because I got it for free (oh how I love working there!). I’m going to try that MAC red lipstick when my next paycheck comes around…it’s a gorgeous color!
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Benetint’s so easy to apply! You actually use something similar to a nail polish brush to dot the color on your cheeks, then blend. Unfortunately it stains your fingers just like it stains your cheeks, so I use a makeup sponge to blend.
I think it’s amazing. Benefit’s actually releasing something called Posietint, which is just Benetint in a paler pink. I can’t wait to try it!
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As for the perfume with strong vanilla overtones, Coco Mademoiselle would work wonderfully for you – it’s all I ever use besides Marc Jacobs Daisy and I love it.
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Nubby you have such a lovely nose!!! (no creepiness intended!)
If you ever want to give another mascara a go, Maybelline Sky High Curves in Very Black is fantastic…. I have tried SO MANY different mascara’s (sooo many!) & it is hands-down the best i have ever used!
xx
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Marie: Free is very, very good!
Kristen: I just heard of Posietint and I might give that a try since it seems to be more subtle overall. Must add to my list!
Kate: You can never go wrong with a classic!
Rach: Thanks and thanks.
It’s always good to have a backup!
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For fragrances, my absolute favorite is Anna Sui’s Dolly Girl Bonjour L’Amour: http://uk.strawberrynet.com/productDetail.aspx?ProdId=71531&CurrId=GBP®ion=UK&src_affiliate=4460&goChar=A
Not very vanilla-y, but I adore it. And men love the smell
Another favorite of mine is I Love Love by Moschino:
http://www.strawberrynet.com/productDetail.aspx?ProdId=46024&goChar=I
I also like Marc Jacobs’s Violet splash: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2909854/0~2377897~2377898~2379066?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=2379066&P=1
I found a huuuuge bottle at TJ Maxx
For nights out, I like Baby Doll by YSL: http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P6287
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And my three favorite red lipsticks are MAC Rocker, MAC Red and MAC Dubonnet
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Karina: Hooray for another MAC Red fan! And my aunt swears by MAC Rocker.
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the way you apply your lipstick is amazing!:)
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hi
I really like your hair color..is that picture photoshoped? and..what black hair dye did you use, you said colorsilk, but you didn’t specify which one exactly..
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Shamsa: My hair really is dyed that black. It’s not the blue black, but the natural black Colorsilk.
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does hair dye have any effect to loss in vision?
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