Beauty Moment- Almay Liquid Liner

Every summer, my makeup routine is whittled down to the bare minimum. As much as I love makeup - the application, the colors, the fun - I just don't want to deal with the whole shebang June-August. I swap out foundation for tinted moisturizer, rely on just a touch of bronzer, and forego eyeshadow almost entirely. Instead of sweeping, shading and contouring the eyes, I reach for mascara and eyeliner. And my liner of choice these days has been Almay Liquid Liner.

I've never really given Almay as a brand much thought. A few of my friends who have allergies and sensitive skin use Almay because their products are all hypoallergenic. But I kept flipping past the ad that's in every magazine right now, the one featuring Leslie Bibb looking natural and pretty, with seriously knock-out eyes. And I started thinking, "Hmmm...Almay." Score one for their marketing team. I headed to Target, on a mission to pick up the products I'd need to recreate her look: Pure Blends Eye Shadow in Petal and Lavender. On a whim, I tossed a bottle of Black Liquid Liner in my basket too.

The eye shadows were a total bust - not only do they have zero staying power, the colors weren't as dark and true as the effect pictured on Leslie. I almost didn't even bother with the liquid liner. But holy cats am I glad I did!

Liquid liner isn't easy to apply - and I'm not going to pretend like I was able to draw a perfect line the first (or fourth) time I tried. There's really nothing Almay can do about a shaky hand - but they've done what they can to help in other ways.

The applicator fits perfectly in my hand - it's not too long or short so as to be awkward. The nub that holds the color is pliant enough to give just a bit so, I never felt like I was about to stab myself in the eye. Notice I said "nub," not brush. It's kind of like a felt tip marker, but a little softer. Very easy to maneuver around the eye. And finally, the right amount of product is attached to the nub. I never got halfway across my lip only to start sputtering and run out of color. This made it easy to draw one continuous line.

The real kicker with Almay's liquid liner is that it lasts forever. I've worn it in hundred degree heat, I've worn it through sweaty workouts at the gym, I've slept in it - and the color doesn't drip away or fade. I was hugely surprised by this. Surprised enough to look at Almay a little differently...


Photo credits: Almay.com

Bombshell-worthy Workout Clothes

The gym that I go to is, conveniently enough, located at my office building. This means two things:

1. There's no real excuse for not exercising every day. And yet...I still don't do it. Every day, that is.
2. When I do get into the gym, I'm sweating and panting next to the very same people that I will later be sitting across from in a meeting.

There's nothing I can do about how red I get in the face after 25 minutes on the elliptical machine, or that sweat tends to visibly pool right underneath my sports bra. But I can make sure that my workout clothes are so adorable that no one even notices anything else.

JC Penney has a really great selection of plus size exercise gear. I can't get enough of this little outfit: The SJB Active French Terry Jacket, Tee and Bermuda Short are all available in plus sizes and come in three colors: turquoise, cafe' brown, and rouge violet. The shorts are long enough to eliminate the whole "shorts creep up, you try to discreetly yank them down without missing a beat on the treadmill." And a short-sleeved jacket is perfect for tossing on over a tank or sweaty tee before heading out to your car. I learned that lesson once when I bolted from the gym in just a tank and bumped into one of my department's directors. It was...uncomfortable. The Active Colorblock Tee, available up to size 3X, is more stylish than the typical plain old workout tee. So cute.

I played soccer back in the day, in no small part because of the cool gear. While strutting around in shin guards is no longer the height of cool for this girl, I still love (love!) an iconic soccer brand - Puma. Do not even try to tell me that Puma's Easy Rider III shoes would not make you walk faster, jump higher, and look better doing it.

And because a gym bag is the ultimate accessory, coming or going, I love the very functional Fitness Workout Bag. With enough pockets to hold all your exercise essentials (including a separate pocket for your smelly tennis shoes), this bag looks good and lends gym street-cred. If there is such a thing.

Photo credits: JCPenney.com; Puma.com

All-around Best Summer Tank

This has been a fantastic week for finding new summer go-to pieces. Last week, I found that amazing yellow sundress at Faith21. And now today - Target's Plus Pure Energy Scoopneck Pleat Front Top is that super comfortable and stylish top that you can reach for again and again all summer long. The pleat that starts at the top of your cleavage and gradually drops to the waist creates a visual focal point (ahem, your cleavage) while masking the tummy area. The shaping across the chest and under the arms is fitted enough that this tank is both swingy but fitted. I'd wear this over dark jeans with heels for a night out, over a pair of long shorts and sandals for errands on Saturday, over a swimsuit as an impromptu cover-up...the options are endless. Available up to size 4 (roughly the equivalent of a standard plus size 28) for just $16.99, I'm going to pick up two of them so I've always got a backup.

Photo credit: Target.com

4th of July Sale @ Misikko

If you've been putting off the replacement of a flat iron that's conked out, or have been wanting to upgrade to a higher quality flat iron - but haven't wanted to shell out major cash for the good stuff - you need to check out Misikko's online sale. Now through July 7th, you can snap up top of the line flat irons from Farouk and FHI for cheap. And by cheap, I mean craziness like a Farouk CHI Pink Dazzle 1" flat iron (pictured left), regularly priced $199 - on sale for $99. Seriously?? (Yes!)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - flat irons are one beauty tool where quality makes a huge difference in the health and condition of your hair. If your hair feels dry or crunchy after straightening it, chances are you need a better quality flat iron. And I've always had really good experiences with Misikko. They have lots of customer reviews and product information to help you make a good decision, and their return policy means you won't get stuck with something that doesn't end up working for you.

I'm good for flat irons but have been seriously contemplating a new hair dryer - the X5 Superlite Tourmaline Travel Hair Dryer is very tempting at the sale price of $69.99...

Photo Credit: Misikko.com

I spotted a really cute girl at work today, sporting a fantastic outfit. She strutted the office hallways in a crisp cotton, black dress cinched at the waist with a thick black belt. One minor (ok, not so minor) problem - her belt loops.

You know how belted dresses and tops always come with flimsy belt loops that don't actually add anything the outfit,but just hold the belt on in the store? You cut those belt loops off, right? Right - I figured that you all do that. But because I didn't know this girl well enough to go up and say, "Excuse me. You look pretty good. The only thing standing between you and "amazing" are those silly belt loops" - I'm trying to make up for it by getting the message out to you.

Are you reading Young, Fat and Fabulous?
If you are indeed any of those three things, you should be. Gabi has a really fun point of view on how plus size women can source their own style. She's young (duh) and so are her outfits - but no matter how old you are, you can't help by feel inspired by her spunkiness and willingness to adopt mainstream trends with the plus-size clothes on hand. Check it out!

Want. So Bad.

This is, quite possibly, the sundress I've been looking for. The Crepe Cotton Drawstring Dress is part of Forever 21's plus size line, Faith 21. Available up to size 2X, I'm a fan because of the bright sunny color and all the little details - scalloped hem, 70's-inspired applique, light cotton lining. I also like the placement of the drawstring - so often that design element hits plus-size women at a weird place, like across the waist. This one creates a really flattering empire silhouette.

I would style this with either barely-there metallic flats or super-chunky leather sandals. Bustier Bombshells could add a simple cotton cami underneath, if the dress were too bare. Delicate silver or gold jewelry would pair nicely with one pop of contrasting color- maybe a coral colored bracelet.

Like Forever 21, Faith 21's clothes cheap - this sundress is less than $25. Not great for wardrobe staples, perfect for trendy seasonal pieces.

Photo credit: Forever21.com

Note

Hey Bombshells-
A reader question about whether or not I was paid for posting about Chapstick (see previous post if your lips are as air-conditioned dry as mine!) prompted me to let you all know my policy for product reviews.

Although I'm occasionally sent products from PR companies for review, I buy and try the majority of what's reviewed here. I have no obligation to any of the companies who send products (monetary or otherwise) to post a positive review. If I don't like a product, I just don't say anything - who wants to read a blog made up of reviews for products that are terrible? The exception to that rule of thumb is when a product's getting a lot of buzz in magazines or on other blogs; in that case I'll weigh in with my opposing opinion.

The FTC is considering the implementation of laws around bloggers disclosing whether or not they're paid to review products. I'm not opposed to this at all; I think it would be great to extend these laws to print magazines, too. Transparency is good.

Bombshell Beauty was created out a passion I have for plus- size fashion and beauty products. I want to connect other plus-size women with resources for great clothes, and inspiration to develop their own individual style. And, while I appreciate the opportunity to work with PR agencies to receive up-to-date information about brands and products, those relationships are not the foundation of this blog. The real foundation is the shared love of plus-size fashion and beauty between myself and all of you.


Sara

Beauty Moment- Chapstick True Shimmer

I always expect dry lips in the wintertime, but am completely caught off guard by the condition come summertime. I sat at my desk all day today, licking my lips, wondering what the heck was going on when it hit me like a lightening bolt - air conditioning. Duh. (I swear, I'm usually a smart girl). Obviously the air conditioning is drying me out.

I raced home to apply copious amounts of Chapstick; I'm partial to their new True Shimmer line. Available in four flavors - Tropical, Botanical Berry, Peppermint Rush and Blended Fruit Sherbet - this glitzier version of the tried and true Chapstick formula is good stuff. Super hydrating, melts into lips quickly, tastes great and leaves a light shimmer on your mouth. No color, really, just a hint of gleam. I love Tropical, which tastes like a pina colada, and Peppermint Rush, which tingles in the most refreshing way. Peppermint Rush and Blended Fruit Sherbet aren't available in stores until August, but you can snap up the other two flavors today wherever Chapstick is sold.