30 Day Lipstick Challenge: Week 1

Hi friends! Week One has been such a blast digging into the Lipstick Vault. Take a look at what we've rocked so far and tell us what you're wearing this season.



Day 1: mark. Total Kiss Up Hook Up Plumping Gloss Great feel, great scent. Can't go wrong.
Day 2: MAC lipliner in Whirl #kyliejenner status
Day 3:  Benefit Cha Cha Tint in Sheer Mango Just set it and forget it! Great for long (holi)days into nights.
Day 4: Maybelline Colorsensational in Beige Bombshell (Color may be discontinued already) Tough for winter. Not great on chapped lips. I'd say not the best finisher of the week. Maybe that's why it's discontinued...
Day 5: MAC in Faux It's Faux real!
Day 6: YSL Golden Gloss #39 - Glitter Ball anyone?
Day 7: Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Natural in N9 Copper Pink Full of moisture and never makes my lips all chappy after. Also has a very neutral scent and (lack of) taste which is a huge plus in my books.

Get ready! Week Two is about to get saucy!!

Happy Hols, my pretties!

xoxo, 

Y. and K.

30 Day Lipstick Challenge

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes ugly sweaters, egg nog, and of course, great lipstick.

What better a time to start our 30 Day Lipstick Challenge!

Interested in joining us? Don't be afraid to snag some color this season! Tag us in your favorite lippy looks on Instragram @yonandkat

We'll start with the basics and post daily shades or glosses on the Insta.

To kick us off, here is our lovely Yonce wearing mark's Total Kiss Up Hook Up Plumping Gloss (what a mouth full!) in Femme:

The gloss is very creamy and does not feel gluey at all. I love the rich chocolate scent (but Kathleen is not a huge fan). It's also the perfect shade for work and werk (with an intense smokey eye).

Happy Holidays!

xoxo

-Y&K

What's in My Make Up Bag: Part Deux

And this is how the other half lives! These are the items that live in my bag to work and what I use as a base to any night look.

 

1. Urban Decay Naked2 palette: This isn't my favorite of the three, but the one I use most for work life (Bootycall, Tease, and Pistol all day long).

2. Mally Evercolor Poreless Face Defender: This is one of the most amazing make up products I have been introduced to in years. It is a great way to set a finished face OR remove shine from undone skin. It's perfect for my combination skin/perpetually shiny forehead.

3. MAC Mineralize SkinFinish in Cheeky Bronze: I'm hanging on to this wonderful peachy summer bronzer for dear life, but I may need to let go soon as my tan fades :(
4. Make Up Forever Aqua Liner in Mat Black (#13)
5. Julep Gel Eye Glider in Smokey Plum: Amazing application, amazing staying power. Definitely recommend for anyone who has an especially "wet" wet line. Wish I could be so excited about their nail polishes though :/
6. Maybelline Lash Stiletto: Favorite drugstore mascara, hands down. Love the sturdy plastic bristles and the thickening/lengthening formula.
7. Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant
8. Smashbox Photo Finish foundation primer: Got a few samples and it fits nicely in my everyday make up bag. Works.
9. Lancome Star Bronzer Natural Glow in Lumiere (#01): Great for everyday wear because the shimmer is very subtle. It aslo builds slowly so you won't end up like Bridget Jones from the opening scene of The Edge of Reason.

10. Shiseido Eyebrow and Eyeliner Compact in Light Brown (#BL3): comes with a great angle brush applicator and blends well. Doesn't last as well as the Gimme Brow (see #14 on this list) but it's great for a subtle brow boost for an everyday "natural" look. Packaging has since changed but applicator still the same.

11. Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked: It's been repackaged but I loved the sample that came with the Naked2 palette so much, I bought the full-size.
12. LOOKny blush brush (#3): I can't find a link for it, but super-inexpensive at Duane Reade and it is super-soft and high quality.
13. Julep Plush Pout Lip Crayon in Magenta: It's got a moisturizing section in the middle and applies nicely with a lot of pigment.
14: Benefit gimmeBROW in Medium/Deep: This is my favorite brow product that I've tried so far. Applies and builds seemlessly and works for everyday and dramatic looks.

[Getting ready for head shots at work today!]

Happy Monday! xx-YL

The Nightmare before (a) Halloween (Party)

Happy Halloween everyone!

While the rest of the village is slapping on their spanx and/or reciting that line from Mean Girls...

We have been brewing something especially grusome. Check out the makeup we did for our model, Dom. We used a combination of Halloween face makeup, liquid liner, blood, sweat, and tears.

[Halloween store buys, plus some cheap drugstore liquid eyeliner: Prestige in Black (not pictured)]

Our model put some serious fright into trick-or-treaters this year!

Note that we did not put the white makeup on his lips until later that evening. This is the finished product: hair, makeup, and costume.

What did you guys dress up as this year? Comment below to share!

Boo!

xx

-K

What's in my make-up bag?

 As an NYC commuter, it's important to carry around the tried and true staple goods while still having some bonus glam items to take a look from work to 'werk'. Here's a glance of what I carry around day to day:

1. Shiseido eyelash curler- My favorite curler for my eyeshape, next to the Shu Uemura eyelash curler.
2. Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara- This mascara does not budge! Great for weddings.
3. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara- Disclaimer: I don't know if it's better than sex, but DOES deliver great lash volume.
4. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep Matte Bronzer- Yes, it smells like chocolate.
5. David Yurman Delicate Essence
6. Makeup Forever Full Cover Waterproof Concealer
7. Lancome Artliner in Noir- I actually love this eyeliner in EVERY color: Aubergine, Navy, and I'm going for Azure next...

 

8. Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil, 19L
9. MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl- Kylie Jenner's go-to lip color these days. Go crazy overlining your lips with this; you can't go wrong.
10. YSL mirror (500 point gift from Sephora! Rack up those points, ladies and gentlemen...)
11. Kiehl's Lip Balm #1
12. YSL Rouge Pur Couture Mat in Grenat Satisfaction- Perfect lippy for insta-glam. I suggest using a lip brush to apply this, since the color is SO intense.
13. MAC Satin Lipstick in Brave- Great every day lip color, and a great alternative to nude; it's totally a "My Lips But Better" color.
14. Tweezerman slant point tweezers- Because you never know when you need a good tweeze.
15. Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Happy Thursday! xx K

The Closet Intervention

We all know the struggle is real: It's time to get ready and there is literally NOTHING TO WEAR. Except that you have a closet bursting with shreds of cloth. None are acceptable to wear, but they exist. So the natural inclination is to go shopping as soon as possible or resort to the same old rotation of 6 or 7 outfits you always wear. #blegh. 

This fall, I decided to break the cycle. It's time for a clothing intervention! 

The set up is a bit tedious but once that's done, all you have to do it wear all of your clothes ::rolls eyes at self::!

[This is my closet]

Step 1: Turn all of your hangers to hook from the inside out. 

Step 2: Once you wear something, simply hang it back up the standard direction.  This way, you'll know exactly what you haven't worn yet!

 

[This is what your rack should look like at the start of the year]

Now, I know what you're thinking: What about all of the folded clothes. I thought about a couple of options, but nothing made sense with the amount of room I had in my apartment. So... 

Step 3: Make sure all of the items in all of your drawers are in the appropriate drawer. ie The tank top drawer only has tank tops; The dress and skirt drawer only has dresses and skirts. 

[I felt like Cher from Clueless]

Step 4: I refolded everything inside out. Yes, this will take FOREVER. I told you this set up process was going to be tedious. But you only have to do it once! Everything you get back from the wash will be right side out. And I personally find inside out clothes easier to put on (Especially when I'm trying to avoid getting deodorant on black clothes). 

AND you'll likely find some items at the bottom of the drawer you never want to wear again and immediately eliminate it. 

Step 5: Put the date, one year from today's date in your calendar. Any clothes that haven't been rehung or refolded, donate. OR host a Clothing Swap party with your friends. 

Step 6 (optional): I chose this time to also go through my shoe collection. I store all of my seasonal shoes in boxes so they're out of the way, but I have noticed that some shoes just move from box to rack year after year. 

I tried on all of the shoes and made cuts. I only have one friend who is my size (so that's depressing) so she got first dibs before that pile went to charity. 

[Some of the shoes that didn't make it]

<3 Good luck in rehab! xx

 

Birthday Weekend: A Fall Fashion Photo Diary

Basic bitches unite! Fall is here, which means plenty of PSLs, booties, and #changingleaves. It also means that awkward period where your wardrobe is in limbo just like your summer fling.

Here are just some of my favorites from the first official weekend of Fall:

[Hat: Anthropologie, Jacket: Free People, Dress: Banana Republic, Shoes: Seychelles, Tote: R&J]

No worries about a watch tan anymore! I broke out my new watch to add some simple bling to my casual fall look. 

[Citizen Eco-Drive Solar Powered Watch!]

After work, the ladies painted the town red... Fall red that is. We're in love with smoldering eyes with a subtle fall red lip. 

[Yon's Lip gloss: Julep in Splendid, Kat: Whirl Lipliner by MAC]

Look! We found a wall in Tribeca that matches our lips. 

[My Shoes: Brian Atwood, Jacket: Free people, Clutch: Francesca's]

[A silly favorite from Weather Up, Tribeca. Dress: Aqua]

This is how cool we look at brunch every weekend. Just joshin ya. Our sunnies are hiding our hangover faces. Mimosas anyone?

[My Shirt: Anthropologie, Bag: Henri Bendel]

Sisters who brunch together, stay together. Toni's rockin the perfect brunch outfit: Yon's Marc Jacob's neck tie floral dress. 

[Hair: Babyliss Wand]

Fall has just begun and so have our adventures. Don't mourn the end of summer. Celebrate apple cider and Wild Turkey. xx

Hello Friends!

Hi everyone. This is Yon. And Kat! And this is our lipstick selfie.

Yon (left):Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Plumper in Madrid, Kat (right): Mac Girl About Town

It all started around the tenth grade. Kat and I met and it was instant best friend tier kinda love. We've shared everything from bras to secret society status "Bang Lists" (the sexy celebrity crush"bang", not the expulsion kind) to 60-second lunches. But I think the most important thing, the thing that really defines our friendship and our future, is the notebook. We've had a few in the last decade (that's right; it'll be our twelfth year as friends this month!).

In them, we've daydreamed about our lives and our future. We've commiserated and celebrated. And we've made many many lists. And on our way to growing up and growing fabulous, we've crossed off so many wonderful goals and added so many adventures to our lists. Today, a few months after we began a new chapter (FINALLY) as co-workers at a fashion start up together, we will share our new notebook with you.

Before memes (and Facebook!) were a thing, Kathleen and I were best friends.

So sit back and enjoy what's next to come!