Wet N' Wild

Wet n' Wild Smokin' Hot Pink & Spotlight Red

For the last couple of months I've been on the hunt for the perfect lipstick.  I'm not sure what it is that I'm looking for. Is it the color, texture, staying power or price? It's actually a combo of all those things.  In a previous post I reviewed the NARS Audacious lipsticks. Those are by far my all time favorite lipsticks, but at $32 a pop and on my salary, I try to limit the NARS lipsticks I purchase.   

Right now I'm obsessed with watching beauty YouTube videos.  There are three beauty experts that I watch religiously. I'm not sure of the protocol with regards to posting their information on my blog, so I'll refrain.  One of the Vloggers reviewed the Wet n' Wild MegaLast Lip Color and that peaked my curiosity.  I haven't used a Wet n' Wild product since I was in high school.  I loved the deep vampy blue that was all the rage in the mid 90's.  For .99 cents you couldn't beat the price.

A few months ago I bought four of the MegaLast Lip Colors.  Two of the colors are posted above. I also bought Cherry Picking and Don't Blink Pink.  The lipsticks were on sale at CVS, buy one get the other 50% off.  At 1.69 regular price and the second 50% off,  I couldn't pass up the bargain, so I bought four.

According to the Wet n' Wild site the MegaLast Lip Color lasts 4 hours and feel rich and velvety on the lips. They are not supposed to bleed or feather and are a semi matte cream.  I loved the fact that they are a matte lipstick.  I know that matte lipstick are extremely popular right now.  

I was pleasantly surprised by these lipsticks.  They did feel velvety like the site said they would, and they didn't feel over drying like the MAC retro matte formula. When I would reapply my MAC Retro Matte lipstick, the color would just peal right off, I didn't notice that with these. I felt that they didn't tug my lips or accentuate any dry patches I may have had on my lips. They didn't quite last 4 hours, but they did last longer than some other lipsticks I own.  I noticed the color would start to fade in the center of my lips. Even though they don't bleed, I like to use a lip liner.  I use the MAC Candy Yum-Yum with Don't Blink Pink and an e.l.f  lip liner with Cherry Picking.  

I absolutely HATE the packaging.  The plastic lid is annoying.  It can easily crack and looks messy after a couple of uses.  Of the four colors I purchased, I only kept two, Cherry Picking and Don't Blink Pink. The two in the photo above, I gave to my mom. They looked more coral than pink against my skin tone.  I  don't like that I can't color swatch the lipsticks before purchasing them,  but at $1.69 a piece, I'm not going to complain,

A couple of months ago I went to Las Vegas with my husband and decided to only take my drugstore lipsticks, nothing "high end".  These colors worked out amazingly well.  It just goes to show you don't have to spend a million bucks to look a million bucks.

Wet n' Wild MegaLast Lipstick gets 4 out of 5 Pink Gerber Daisies 

"The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides"
Audrey Hepburn

MAC, It Was Fun While It Lasted

Oh MAC., how you've failed me!  I remember how, in the in late 90's and early 2000's, I loved MAC and being able to purchase a MAC lipstick was a big deal. They are one of the cheaper "higher end" makeup brands out there. I loved their exotic colors and artistry. I had so many of the Lip Glass-- Gloss, Oyster Girl was my favorite, and their shadows were all the rage! But in the end, the Lip Glasses would just be a big hot, sticky mess and my hair would always fly into the goo.  Flash-forward to 2015 and oh how my opinion of this brand has changed.

They still have all of the funky colors, but they just don't last.  In my search of a dupe for my favorite lipstick, I came upon a YouTube video, where the Vlogger swatched the MAC Matte Lipstick brand. I was interested in a few colors so I went to the MAC store at the mall, not the MAC counter at Nordstroms, mistake # 1. 

Every time I've walked into this store I have been completely disappointed with their inadequate service.  It doesn't matter if there's no one else in the store, or if it's filled with people, it's always so difficult to get someone to answer my questions, say hello or help me.

Since I already had a few colors I was interested in, I just started swatching on my arm. Finally a sales associate asked if I needed any help.  I whipped out my favorite NARS color, Greta, and asked if they could match it.  At MAC's $16 a tube I didn't mind buying a dupe from their store. The sales associate was showing me colors she liked, for her skin tone. I'm fair, she wasn't, get my drift? The colors that looked good on her, were not colors that looked good on me.

I settled on a matte color called All Fired Up, which the MAC site describes as a "bright fuchsia matte". I don't know, maybe I bought the wrong All Fired Up, because in the tube it looks like a brick red, on my arm it looks like a brick red, and on my lips it looks like a brick red. Oh and swatched next to Greta, it looks like a brick red. 

Now the formula. I know that they are matte, so I didn't expect a shiny or creamy finish. This lipstick felt chappy, easily rubbed off (and I applied a liner) and was one of the most drying matte lipsticks I've used this summer.  You can't just reapply if it wears off because then it gets cakey. The second time I applied this lipstick, I could see it settle in the lines of my lips. It's not advertised as a long lasting lipstick, so I expected that.  I had to take it off the second time I applied it because it was just too drying. 

One swipe of Greta, takes 10 swipes of All Fired Up to get a similar look. 

Below is a color swatch of Greta and All Fired Up.  You can see that this is definitely not a bright fuchsia. 

The matte color is All Fired Up (bright fuchsia), from MAC and the creamy finish is Greta

I don't know about you, but to me that's not a bright fuchsia. That is only one swipe of Greta and four swipes of All Fired Up.

Another thing I hated was that when I opened my MAC package, I had the wrong color and had to go back to the store to exchange it, that made me a sad monkey.  They couldn't even grab the correct color.  When I swatched these side by side in the store, the color was almost the same.When I got home  and in the natural light, it looked orange. 

When the sales girl asked me what color I brought in to swatch,  I simply replied, "Only the best color and lipstick on the planet." 

Because of all the mishaps and mislabeled colors I give MAC's matte lipstick, in All Fired Up, 2 Gerber Daisies out of 5.

“Nobody looks good with brown lipstick on.” 
― Frank Zappa

No Frank Zappa, they do not!!

NARS Audacious: Daring Colors Finding the Perfect Lipstick

I'm obsessed with makeup. What can I say, except that I feel better when my face is "done up". I have fair skin, dark eyes and dark hair, so a little bit goes a very long way.

I am so behind on this review. The NARS Audacious lipsticks have

NARS Audacious in Greta

been out for over a year, but I never got around to writing a review.

I love NARS makeup.  I always have. The Audacious line is my absolute favorite brand of lipstick.  I wish I could purchase all the colors that I love, but at $32 a tube, I have to control my urges.

The lipstick itself comes in a sleek, all black tube and has a magnetic lid. Surprisingly though, in my purse, the lid stays on better than other lipsticks I've owned. The NARS label is stamped right on the lipstick. When these lipsticks were launched back in September 2014, there were (and I'm assuming still are) 40 shades. Some were exclusive to NARS Boutique Stores and Barney's, while the others could be found in Nordstroms and Sephora.

I originally read a review of these lipsticks in Elle Magazine and instantly fell in love with the colors Fanny and Greta.They're described on the NARS site as a  "Rich Berry" (Fanny) and "Wild Azalea" (Greta). I went to Sephora first, hoping that both colors would be in stock. While there, I only found Fanny and was so disappointed to learn that at that time, they didn't sell Greta. Fanny ended up being way too dark for my skin tone. The salesgirl recommended that I try Janet, described on the NARS site as being a "Deep Magenta". The color looked good on me, but my heart was still set on Greta. So with that, I was out the door without my lipstick (sad panda).

I decided to try Nordstroms next. I was so happy to discover that Nordy's did carry Greta. The color was so amazing on my skin tone, my mother even encouraged me to buy the lipstick and that's a rarity! I still regret that I didn't pick up Janet because that was a beautiful color too. **Now, Greta can also be found at Sephora, which makes me a happy panda.

The range of colors for this brand is absolutely stunning. There's a perfect color for every girl, or boy. They range from barely there nudes to deep vampy. I would have loved Liv, a "Deep Aubergine" during my 90's "Goth" phase.  Everybody on YouTube seems to love Dominique, a "Pink Lilac", but I just can't seem to like the color.  First off it would make me look dead and completely washed out. But Dominique seems to be the color that sells out the fastest and I think that's a color that can only be found at the NARS Boutique Stores and Barney's. They can keep that color because I hate it.  I am curious about Michiyo, a "Vivid Pink" because that color looks beautiful as well.

NARS Audacious in Greta

The formula of the lipsticks can only be described as perfection.  Whatever NARS did, they did right.  They glide on so smoothly and they don't bleed or feather. Most dark, vibrant colors in other brands feather on me. I really hate the extra step of a lip liner, so if I can do without, I'm a happy girl.  I really don't need a liner with these lipsticks. One or two swipes is good enough, because they are so pigmented. I really can't rave enough about them.  I use a brush to scoop out all of it so that it doesn't go to waste.  I did try on Michiyo and that formula felt a little different.  It didn't seem to be as creamy. I wore it around for a bit, but Greta is by far my favorite and I haven't been able to find a dupe for it. 

All in all, I can't rave enough about this line of cosmetics.  I'm always looking for amazing bargains, however I will fork out my $32 for my Greta and maybe one day I'll buy another.

**Updates

The NARS Audacious lipsticks get 5 out of 5 bright pink, Gerber Daisies!   

To quote the very beautiful and very stylish Audrey Hepburn, "I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick."  

Goodbye Summer, Goodbye Friends

I tried writing this on my tablet a few weeks ago, but the app wouldn't let me type for some reason, so here I am using my giant laptop. In just 24 short hours, my summer will be over and work will start up again.  I'm a teacher and therefore am no longer unemployed like the title of my blog implies.  I don't want to come up with a new name, I like this one.  I haven't written a blog in a long while, I've had quite a few personal things to deal with.

To mark the beginning of the summer I have a "Friends-a-thon" where I watch every Friends season, 1-10, episode by episode, in order. This is typically the highlight of my vacation, well this and the fact that I don't have any essays to grade, oh and the Fair, I love "Fair Time". Friends is by far, the best written sitcom of all time but, have you ever noticed the repeated storylines?  Airport romances, torn between two lovers. Season 1 Rachel goes to the airport to tell Ross she loves him, season 4 Ross tell Emily he loves her, at the airport, season 10 Ross confesses his love to Rachel at the airport. This last airport scene really brings their story full circle.

What about that difficult task of having to choose a love? Most humans are lucky to find one soul mate, but not these Friends. You have Julie-Ross-Rachel, Rachel-Ross-Emily (who, by the way, wasn't that horrible of a character, I wouldn't want my husband to be best Friends with his ex-girlfriend either), Chandler-Kathy-Joey, Joey-Charlie-Ross, Ross-Rachel-Joey, Janice-Chandler-Janice's ex-husband, David-Phoebe-Mike.

All of these stories have similar themes. Don't get me wrong, I love this show and 20 years later I still laugh or cry at every episode, even if I've seen it 100 times. It stands the test of time.  My husband doesn't understand the draw this show has on me. I don't know either, maybe it reminds me of  happier times with friends who I miss.

Sam and Mia BFFs for life!

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The entire series of Friends gets 5 out of 5 Pink Gerber Daisies. 

"True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable."-- David Tyson Gentry

A Tribute to My Dad

My dad passed away this past February.  I haven't written on my blog because I had far to many things to do.  I have 2 upcoming posts that I'm working on.  I just finished this video as a tribute to my dad.  My mother's favorite song is playing in the background.  

I'm Confused, People Actually Watch Duck Dynasty, Why??

So there's been a lot of controversy regarding the people on that horrid show Duck Dynasty.  My brothers, being the conservatives that they are, love the show. I, on the other hand, have more important things to do than watch a bunch of rednecks out in the bayou.

Here's the thing that I do want to express. Everyone has an opinion, living in this country we have the freedom to express that opinion. We can rant and rave and call people rednecks and not worry about getting shot in the street. I worked in the media, I write a blog and I teach American History and Government.  I wouldn't want someone to censor me and my comments. While I do not have the same views as the man from Duck Dynasty and as wrong as I feel his comments are, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. It's our first amendment right, although I don't think hurting someone or a group of people is OK.

My cousins and I were discussing his ignorant comments. He says that he's a Christian and was quoting from the bible, but doesn't being Christian mean to "love thy neighbor?"  I'm not the most religious person in the world, and I'm extremely judgmental, but I know how to treat others. What bothers me so much is that people go off and thump their bibles and yet they only interpret the parts that suit them.

If you've gotten a divorce, said an unkind thing about another person, treated someone like dirt or can't forgive or turn the other cheek or have lied, you better never thump your bible in my direction or talk to me about religion. If you're going to thump your bible, you better be prepared to follow it entirely, word for word, not just the selections you deem suitable for your lifestyle. But guess what, some of the things in the Old Testament are illegal here in the United States (Abraham was married to multiple women, not just Sarah).

This isn't meant to be a post about religion, it is a post about how we should treat others. I know I'm judgmental, sometimes too much so, but I try not to be so closed minded and ignorant.  I'm not posting any photos today. For my next blog I will.  I just needed to get this off my chest.  I get so frustrated when I see my own family and friends post ignorant, hateful things about others on Facebook.  My solution, I hide their posts, because it's up to me to read what I want to read.  It's up to us to teach future generations how to be loving, tolerant and respectful of all people, gay, straight, fat, thin, tall, short, black or white.

I am going to end with a quote from the Bible itself, from Matthew 7:1-29 "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

Marinello School of What?

It's 1:00 a.m., I'm still up, watching reruns of Beverly Hills, 90210.  I really shouldn't have had that second Starbucks Venti Cap.  

All of this information is irrelevant for my post.  Companies have been challenging the validity of the website Yelp, a site I've used a lot and have written about before.  I love the site, as a matter of fact, I'm trying to become an elite member.  

I recently wrote a negative review about Marinello School of Beauty in Anaheim, and one of the bigwigs contacted me regarding my negative review.  For the record, I went there to get my nails done ONLY!  

Tim getting a facial at "Jonelle's School of Beauty"

If a journalist gives a negative review about a company, movie, book or restaurant, do the companies respond to the journalist?  Are their reviews more important than mine?  In this day & age, I don't think so. 

Back in the day

I'm going to copy and paste my original Yelp review and responses from the school director.

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE DO NOT EVER COME HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVER

This can't even get a star.  Worst place ever.  I was even told by the student who did my work.  

Let's begin:

My cousin and I walked by.  A Marinello girl was outside on her phone while I mentioned, "We should go get a manicure."  My cousin agreed.  I asked the girl outside if they do gel nails.  I had already painted my nails at home and they looked pretty good but I like the gel nails and for only $14, why not?

For me, they called about 3 girls to ask if they can do gel before someone said they could.  I've had gel nails done before, and I've NEVER seen them do it this way before.  I don't know how long I sat under the light and the gel NEVER set.  Let's just say, by the time I left, my nails were already peeling.

Now my cousin's experience.  She wanted gel nails too.  The girl had no experience with gel AT ALL.  After 2 applications, the gel wouldn't set.  My cousin wanted to leave.  They spent at least the good part of 45 minutes trying to remove the gel they tried to apply. My cousin didn't want to pay for a "non service".  They still wanted to charge her.  Her nails were NEVER finished and they were bare.  There was absolutely NO supervision by a teacher.  The girl even told my cousin she had never done a gel set.  My husband and cousin's kids were waiting outside for us.  After 4 hours, my cousin called the police, who came and said she didn't have to pay for a service that was not done correctly.  

The staff was extremely unprofessional, trying to charge for a service they were unable to provide.  I've never been so disgusted by a place in all my life.

STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS!!  You get what you pay for.  The customer service was so beyond poor.  There has to be a number to call to recommend shutting down this school.Tabatha Coffey, please take over!!

Their response:

Marinello of Anaheim provides services to the public and all services are rendered by students and supervised by licensed Cosmetologists. Students are supervised throughout their time on campus and all services are crosschecked by the instructor prior to guest checkout. Guest are charged based on services received, nothing more. Our team does the best we can to provide the good customer service to each guest. We have many loyal and returning guest who are happy with the services provided. - Priscilla Villatoro, Anaheim School Director

My response:

Thank you for your comment, but I will have you know, that not once during our services did an instructor come to speak with us and nothing was crosschecked, as no one once spoke with me.  There was absolutely no supervision. Your customer service was nonexistent and the lady at the front didn't even know the company policy.  When your students are even complaining about your school, there is a serious issue.  I've worked in both education and public relations and I'm sure you know that the best PR is through word of mouth. Enjoy the customers that you do retain, as this was my very first and last visit. One last thing, when 6 out of 7 reviews are a 1 star, you many need to re-evaluate something within your company.

Their response: 

I appreciate your concern; however the six poor reviews do not equate to the thousands of satisfied clients which do not post to Yelp and many students, which we helped start new careers.

My response:  

Again, thank you so much for your response.  Instead of trying to justify your bad quality of service, why don't you just accept the faults and fix them.  It seems as though one of the reviewers is a former student and the students who I spoke to, said that had they known what they were getting into, they would have decided to find another beauty school.   My lord, acknowledge the issue, accept the criticism, fix it and move on.


For some reason when I copy and paste, the background comes out white.  

Marinello School of Beauty gets 0 out of 5 Gerber Daisies  

I have no quote for today.  It's 1:25 a.m. and I'm now tired.