Comfortable Walking Shoes - Summer Trip to Europe

Barcelona, June 2012

I went to Europe this June and had a hard time finding fashionable walking shoes.  Several travel blogs suggested I purchased a pair of Superga Cotu Classics so I did.  After a few wears, I didn't feel they'd be quite comfortable enough.  Plus, my feet swell a lot when I walk so I didn't want anything that covered my toes.  I considered bringing my white and hot pink trusty running shoes since they are sized for swelling (Brooks Glycerin 9) but I thought they would scream "Hi, I'm American!"  I also own a pair of black Birkenstock Gizehs but I didn't have the chance to break them in on time.  For me, it takes a while to break in my Birkenstocks.  

I ended up buying a pair of Born Saffron gladiator style sandals.  They were actually pretty comfortable for a few miles.  I also thought they were cute for a comfort shoe.  However, we walked a lot (about 3 to 5 miles a day).  The Borns didn't cut it as the soles are not very thick and there isn't much arch support.  The balls of my feet hurt and I ended up buying a pair of Clarks Active Air Sandals while I was in Madrid.  I bought the Robe Neon style.  It's a little bulkier than I would liked but it felt like I was walking on little pillows.  They are ultra-cushioned and the style makes it easy to adjust the tightness around my foot in different locations.  Now that I am back, I'm not sure how often I'll wear them (maybe to Disneyland?).  But I am so glad I had them in Spain!  Unfortunately I don't think they offer the Active Air style in the U.S. although there are a lot of other cute Clarks styles.  I ended up alternating the two sandals, using the Clarks when I knew we'd be doing a lot of walking.

Review: Revlon Lip Butters on MAC NC30 Skintone

L to R:  Cherry Tart, Red Velvet, Berry Smoothie, Pink Truffle, Peach Parfait, Creme Brulee and Brown Sugar

I have been living under a rock and recently discovered the Revlon Lip Butters.  Lucky for me, they are pretty much available everywhere now and I was able to purchase them at CVS during their "buy one get one 50% off" deal (they are usually $7.99 USD).  

Like many people have noted, they have a nice soft texture similar to a lip balm but more pigmented.  I do have to reapply often because it does not wear as long as a lipstick.  I thought they would be a little more moisturizing but they still feel comfortable on my lips.  I generally prefer a brownish pink nude lip so this review will be written from that perspective.  I didn't buy most of the pink/mauve Lip Butter tones.
 
The swatches below are in the same order as the Lip Butters pictured above.  More info below photo.

Lip Butter swatches in indoor light with no flash

In order from left to right:

1. Cherry Tart (cool sheer red with shimmer) - I love this color.  It is a bluish red with a subtle shimmer.  The color is sheer yet vibrant.  I don't normally wear red but I think this looks flattering on my skin tone.  I couldn't decide between this color and Candy Apple.  I didn't go with Candy Apple because it has more orange in it.  Some might prefer that though.
2. Red Velvet (deep sheer brownish red, no shimmer) - A very dramatic color.  Sheer but more pigmented than the others.  I can see wearing this in the fall and winter seasons.
3. Berry Smoothie (sheer berry pink with subtle shimmer) - My favorite color.  A lovely berry pink with a nice gloss.  More color than I usually wear but I like the change.
4. Pink Truffle (a nude pinky brown, no shimmer) - I like this color but it is darker than I thought it would be.  A classic color that I would wear to work (I work in a conservative environment).
5. Peach Parfait (peachy-pink with shimmer) - Some say the name of this color is misleading as some see a lot more pink than peach.  On me, it doesn't look like a true pink so I do see the peach.  This is my second favorite color.
6. Creme Brulee (nude medium beige with shimmer) - This is good for a nude lip for those with medium to fair complexions.  On me, it kind of blends in with my skin but looks very shimmery.  I can see wearing this with a dramatic eye.
7. Brown Sugar (caramel brown with shimmer) - This was the first color I purchased.  Again, I am drawn to nude pinky browns so I thought this would be great!  I found it a little too dark for my liking.  Someone described it as a caramel color and I think that is accurate.  It is still wearable though.  I lighten it up by lining my lips with MAC's lip pencil in Subculture first.

Overall I'm glad I found these.  I usually don't wear much color on my lips but because of these butters, I will start!