Girl, Uninterrupted

Etude House Dear My Enamel Lips-Talk REVIEW

2016-12-10T06:20:00.001-05:00

Korean beauty is all the rage lately and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere or slowing down any time soon, so I figured what better way to make a come back to blogging by jumping on that bandwagon! I picked up two of these lipsticks in Chinatown in Chicago, and of course they're old, discontinued shades BUT the formulas are the same, so I'm running under the assumption that the new and current formulas and shades are pretty much the same product as well. I will try to locate bother of these lip colors on the internet for purchase but I can't guarantee that I will be able to find any legit sellers or whatnot. If you live in the Chicago area, I would suggest just going straight to Chinatown and if you do not, I suggest looking up reviews of the sites and whatnot. I didn't order these online, and I don't necessarily know how legitimate any of the sellers I might find are, nor do I want anyone getting scammed!!

Etude House is, from what I can determine, a pretty popular and relatively affordably priced (in Korea!) trendy makeup line. I am Korean, but I don't speak or read a lick of the language so I'm really not sure what exactly the packaging says, but luckily they have a English site now! I paid $16 per lipstick in person, which is much more expensive than it is on their site so go me. :( Anyway, if you want to learn more about these particular lippies, click the jump.

Product Rundown

What is is || Etude House Dear My Enamel Lips-Talk lipstick.
Description || With the hybrid of moisturizing effects and beautiful vivid colors, the Enamel Lips Talk will leave your lips dead-skin-free and smooth for a long time.
Price || I paid $16 in a beauty shop, but these retail online for $11.34 on Etude House and $11.97 on Amazon.
Size || 3.4 g/0.11 oz.
Where to buy || Amazon and Etude House (they don't have a great shade range; it looks like this line is being phased out).
Initial thoughts || I'm normally a SUPER MATTE LIP girl; anything glossy usually freaks me out because it WILL end up on my teeth, no matter how careful I am or if I pair it with a lipliner or primer but I actually really liked this formula. It wears decently well, maintains its shine, and stays put. It's also hydrating and comfortable.
Would I repurchase? || Yes.
Who this is good for? || If you have drier lips or like a little shine with your lip products but still want decent payoff and wear time, this is a good lipstick. Even if you have issues with lipsticks and glosses travelling around your lip line, you might still really enjoy this particular product.
Ingredients || Diisostearyl Malate, Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Vp/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Hydroxyapatite, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Red 6 (Ci 15850), Fragrance, Red 7 (Ci 15850), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Honey Extract. (Exact ingredients will vary slight from shade to shade!)

"BE101".

"PK007".
As you can tell, the packaging is slightly different with these two lipsticks. I'm guessing that the cute pink packaging with the little bow is older, since the sleeker one is the one pictured on the site. I have two shades; BE101, which is more of a light nude pink as opposed to a true beige, and PK007, which is a brighter, deeper blue fuchsia pink color. The beige color is the first one that I picked up and I fell in love with both the color and the lipstick itself. Also, this is such a little thing, but I love the shape of the bullet and the metal tube. If this were housed and cut like a traditional lipstick, it's so soft that it would grind against the tube until all of the product was wasted, so this was super smart on their part.

I get the usual amount of wear time from these, and they fade gracefully and don't get weird or patchy looking. They stay super comfortable the entire time and glide on the lips. The brighter shade feels a tiny bit more sticky and less slick than the beige color, so I'm not sure if there's a slight ingredient difference or what. There is a faint fruity smell, but no taste, and the scent doesn't linger long. The pink shade stains my lips a little and also seems to have slightly less pigmentation than the pinky nude, which is super creamy and a little slippery, but which is also super opaque in one application.

Overall I quite enjoy these and I didn't think I would. Typically lipsticks that feel a little slippery and have a lot of shine are not my cup of tea, but the staying power of these is actually quite impressive. I'm a bit disappointed that it appears this particular formula is being discontinued because I quite like these and would definitely pick up more!

I will say that as far as the, uh, dead skin claim goes, these are not exfoliating and while they feel hydrating, they don't replace a good lip oil or balm for me! :D

Bare lips.

"BE101."

"PK007."

With flash. L-R: "BE101" and "PK007".

No flash, natural daylight. L-R: "BE101" and "PK007".

NEW AT THE DRUGSTORE - Wet N Wild Highlighters and Metallic Liquid Lipsticks!

2016-04-20T15:00:00.000-04:00

I'm so bad at keeping up with Wet N Wild lately...and so of course they've been killing it. Part of their limited edition Summer 2016 collection consists of metallic liquid lipsticks (you had me at "metallic" tbh) and HIGHLIGHTERS. Okay, ya know this girl is all about the glow. I want my highlight to be visible from the moon and I'm always on the hunt for cheap highlighters that don't break the bank the way the beautiful Becca highlights do. I actually had no clue about this release until a coworker wore one of the lippies to work and spilled the beans. She saved me my usual WNW questing trip (I probably went to twenty different Walgreens to find the spring collection) and picked up everything for me! Anyway, this is pretty much just a first impressions/swatching post because I haven't played with these products long enough to feel comfortable giving a full on review but so far I'm quite pleased; spoiler alert!

Wet N Wild is so affordable that I never even bat a lash at purchasing entire collections; I don't know the individual prices but I do know that I owed her about $25 for six lip products and two highlighters. So, yeah, the entire collection (mind you, I don't have everything - there are cream highlighting sticks and also nail polishes in this collection) is super affordable. In retrospect, do you need everything? Nah, there are two nude lipsticks and two pink ones, and you can skip one and just pick up the tone you like best. Wet N Wild also has some of the best shade names in the makeup game...and they killed it this time. The comicbook and music nerd in me would have bought two of these simply for the names. But we'll get into that later. Here's a link to the Nouveau Cheap post about this collection if you want any more info!

FTC Disclaimer I purchased these items with my own money. I'm not affiliated with Wet N Wild, nor do they even know who I am. I'm receiving no compensation for this post, and, as always, all of my opinions are my own.

Now I cannot give you any actual product descriptions in this post; WNW doesn't even have these products up on their website yet. Hopefully by the time I post a review they will. But right now, all I can tell you is that there are liquid lipsticks with a metallic finish and powder highlighters.

"Precious Petals".

"Crown of My Canopy".

These powders are soft and smooth; there's no scratchy glittery particles like with some cheaper highlighters. I really like these. They're pretty metallic but they sheer out with brush application (although you can pack it on to get a stark highlight). I typically prefer a brighter and lighter highlight color (Becca "Pearl" is my JAM) but both of these shades are workable for me. The lighter one is a sort of champagne-y beige and the slightly deeper one leans more of a coppery rose gold. I think they'd work for a decent range of skintones, but if you're super fair you might find that these are a bit too dark for you to be a good strobing shade.

-

From L-R: "Peony Express", "Coming Up Roses", "My Tulips Are Sealed", "Chrysanthemum's the Word", "Days of Fuchsia Passed", and "Indigo Your Own Way".
Okay, I frickin' LOVE the names of "Coming Up Roses" and "Days of Fuchsia Passed". Elliott Smith is one of my favorite musicians ever in life, and Coming Up Roses is one of my favorite Elliott songs and I LOVE X-Men. Days of Future Past is my favorite X-Men movie, so these names really pleased me. I have a love-hate relationship with the applicator. I like the shape; it's not a slanted doe foot as much as it's a cupped one. It reminds me of a tiny lipstick throne and it holds enough color to coat your entire mouth in one dip...hypothetically. However, for lack of a better description, it's so...fuzzy. Like a long haired cat, the fuzz is longer in some areas and it's just...fuzzy. Because of that, it's kind of like a dry erase marker; it removes as much product as it applies and, especially with the lighter colors, makes for a streaky, patchy application. I find that dabbing the color on works much better than swiping it on.

Also DO NOT expect these to be like a liquid to matte liquid lipstick. If you're looking for a product that will dry down and be long wearing and transfer resistant, you should back away from these right now. They're literally what they claim to be - a metallic cream lipstick with a slightly liquid-esque texture in a tube. They don't set. They won't be smudge proof and budge proof. They're not insanely long wearing. They're pigmented like a lipstick and they feel really good on the lips, so if you're tired of the all of the drying matte formulas over-saturating the makeup market, these are going to be quite refreshing. I don't want to say that these are hydrating, but they're not lip murder in a tube either.

Finally, the metallic finish is beautiful on the darker and brighter shades but I gotta say that the two lighter nude-y shades are not my cup of tea. They're super frosty looking and remind me of bad 80's makeup that just doesn't look flattering on me. Frosty lipsticks will never be my thing. It's not apparent and gross looking in the other four brighter shades but especially the light peachy shade...ew, no thank you.

Have you found these around you? What's your favorite product from the WNW Summer 2016 release?

Pacifica Skin Revival Micro Dermabrasion Scrub REVIEW

2016-04-10T14:05:00.000-04:00

Okay, so normally I like to test products out for a longer period of time than just one use. But this is a product that, considering the hefty price point and the tiny amount you get, I cannot stand. This review is going to go up ASAP so I can rehome this product to someone else who, hopefully, loves this product. Sadly, I did not. This is not intended to be a slight on Pacifica products as a whole. I have a handful of their products that I really enjoy (a couple of cleansers that should be getting some review love on here pretty soon!!) Plus, I love what the company stands for; it's cruelty free and all natural and also produced locally in the USA (holla at my Portland people!)

Product Rundown

What is is || Pacifica Skin Revival Micro Dermabrasion Scrub.
Description || Revive, brighten and make aging insignificant in your future as you gently scrub dullness away. Infused with natural antioxidants to fight the day's pollution and toxins. This effective yet gentle formula with natural beneficials improves the appearance of fine lines and texture. For all skin types. Formulated without animal ingredients, petroleum, parabens and phthalates, by Pacifica.
Price || $18
Size || 1.5 oz or 42.5 g.
Where to buy || Pacifica Beauty, Ulta, and any other Pacifica retailer probably.
Initial thoughts || I honestly did not feel like this scrub did anything for my skin. It didn't feel exfoliating, nor did it help renew or add a glow to my dull skin. It basically just felt like I was rubbing cold cream all over my face. I had to use quite a bit to feel any sort of scrub factor at all, and for the price I'm not into that!
Would I repurchase? || No.
Who this is good for? || I think people with really sensitive skin who still want to use a mild scrub to help remove dead skin cells would really enjoy this, especially if their skin is normal to dry. It leaves the skin feeling moisturized and is an incredibly mild scrub. The scent might be off-putting to those who are really sensitive.
Ingredients || Aqua, Jojoba Esters Wax, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed) Powder, Ozonized Orza Sativa Callus Culture Enzyme Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.

The scrubbing factor in this product is the jojoba esters wax. Now, do not mistake these for the plastic microbeads - jojoba beads are natural and biodegradable. Whether or not the biodegradable options of scrubbing beads are still harmful to the environment is a debate for another time. Rest assured, this scrub does not contain the microbeads that get consumed by sea creatures, etc. That being said, I like an exfoliating scrub. I like to feel like it's actually sloughing off dead skin cells and helping to brighten my complexion. I also have incredibly insensitive skin. I use my Clarisonic daily and I can typically use a milder scrub once a day as well, and face no bad side effects. That being said, this scrub felt like a cold cream base with a few grains dispersed throughout and, frankly, that's not good enough for me.

The texture is very creamy and a bit thicker; this is not a scrub that feels like it has a gel base to it. It doesn't leave your skin feeling too stripped and it feels decently hydrating. I think that this scrub would be great for those who have super sensitive skin and still want to have a bit of skin renewal while also not damaging their skin. It's a very, very gentle scrub, so if you're looking for a scrub like this, look no further than Pacifica. The scent is REALLY strong and smells exactly like Ponds Cold Cream to me. Some people might like the nostalgia; I do not. Sometimes I can still use products up if they weren't super great for me if they smell amazing but not only did this scrub not have the desired effect on my skin, it smells like effin' cold cream??! NO THANK YOU.

Whenever a brand specifically mentions ingredients in the description I feel required to check them out. So let's talk briefly over the three ingredients Pacifica name drops.

Jasmine Flower - contains antibacterial properties along with moisturizing properties and can help with healing scarring. Whether or not this product contains enough of the jasmine to really see those benefits, combined with the fact that this is a scrub and you will wash it off and down the drain in a minute is also a factor though.
Geranium - can be used to help reduce wrinkles, acne, and bug bites, it can also help reduce inflammation. As with the jasmine flower though, this is a scrub and not a concentrated essential oil, so whether or not the geranium will be potent enough and remain on the skin long enough is a serious question. I guess if you applied this like a mask and then used it as a scrub while removing it you might be able to see more of an effect.
Red Rice Extract - contains antioxidants that can help firm and tighten the skin while also reducing UV damage. A lot of the articles on red rice involve the actual consumption of it however, so who knows if it's still as effective when applied briefly to the skin! That being said, it sounds like red rice is a very good thing to eat and I might have to look into that more.

To conclude, I, personally, did not care for the price, size, scent, or effectiveness on my skin of this particular product. I think dry and sensitive skinned people would enjoy this far more than I did. Or anyone who wants a really super gentle hydrating scrub, give this one a go. It just wasn't for me and my combination skin!

LORAC Love, Lust & Lace PRO Matte Lip Color Set REVIEW (Holiday 2015)

2015-12-16T15:05:00.001-05:00

If you read my last post, then you know I was super disappointed by the Hard Candy lip set this holiday. This set by LORAC however...this gift set is a winner. For $24 you get three full size Pro Matte Lip Color pencils, one permanent shade and two limited edition shades. These lip colors retail for $16 each. I think this set is a wonderful gift, especially for those who like true matte lip colors without the drying discomfort that those types of products can cause. The theme this year is so pretty. I know some people aren't a fan of the blue but I dig it.

In this set you get two limited edition colors, "French Rose" and "Mulberry", and one permanent bestselling shade, "Pink Taupe". I think the color selection of this kit has been done quite well; you get a light pink and a nude and then a nice wearable holiday red color. I think a wide range of people will be able to get a lot of use and enjoyment out of the colors in this kit. That being said, they're not unique colors, so if you're looking to gift to a lip product junkie, this might end up being a bit redundant.

FTC DISCLAIMER: This set was purchased by me for review purposes. I am not affiliated with LORAC, nor is this a sponsored post. I don't receive any compensation for this post and, as always, all opinions are my own.

According to Ulta's website:

Lure in your latest love interest with the Lorac Love, Lust & Lace PRO Matte Lip Color Set. This wearable, highly-pigmented set includes Lorac's best-selling PRO Matte Lip Color shade in Pink Taupe and two exclusive, limited edition PRO shades in French Rose and Mulberry. The PRO tip hugs the curves of your lips with precision and control while the weightless, PRO formula easily glides on with a long-lasting, matte finish. Fall head over heels with the Love, Lust & Lace PRO Matte Lip Color Set!

A $48 value!

Includes:

PRO Matte Lip Color in French Rose (exclusive)

PRO Matte Lip Color in Pink Taupe

PRO Matte Lip Color in Mulberry (exclusive)

(0.03 oz each)

And here's the actual product description from Ulta:

Go PRO with LORAC PRO Matte Lip Color! This velvety-smooth, matte lip color is infused with anti-aging antioxidants of acai berry, pomegranate, grape seed extract and vitamins C and E to help nourish and protect your lips. The PRO tip hugs the curves of your lips with precision and control while the weightless, PRO formula easily glides on with a long-lasting, matte finish. PRO Matte Lip Color comes in an array of highly-pigmented, buildable, rich colors from natural nudes to vibrant hues for a modern, matte lip in any shade you desire. Color, line and define, just like a PRO!

These apply smoothly and are decently pigmented. They look very matte on the lips, which I love. They're scented like vanilla and I love that they have a super lightweight feel on the lips. They're very similar to the e.l.f. Matte lip pencils, but have a more matte finish on the lips and feel a bit thinner and less drying while on. I would still recommend exfoliating your lips before any matte lip product but these won't exaggerate dry patches. Wear time is good, at least four to five hours if you're not eating or drinking and they reapply over themselves nicely. Overall I'm a huge fan of this particular formula and definitely recommend this set if you, or someone you know, would enjoy these colors and the matte finish.

"French Rose".

"Pink Taupe".

"Mulberry".

From L-R: "French Rose", "Pink Taupe", and "Mulberry".

Hard Candy Wish For A Kiss Review (HOLIDAY 2015)

2015-12-16T02:11:00.000-05:00

Spoiler alert; this set f*****g sucks. I'm actually offended that Hard Candy was able to waste my $4.88, what a joke. I know, I know, language and all that. But seriously, this gift set is literally trash, and that's where these glosses are going after this bloody review. Okay, okay, I'm never this negative about these things, ever. But this is a special occasion. So let's talk about brands cheaping the crap out on their holiday sets. Because what the actual hell is this shit, Hard Candy??

FTC DISCLAIMER: I, clearly, purchased this set with my own money. My thoughts and opinions are all my own. I'm not sponsored, nor affiliated with Hard Candy, and I receive no compensation for this review. Obviously. If I HAD gotten this for free, I would have honestly been even MORE offended that they actually wanted to waste my time.

I have a ton of the Hard Candy Fierce Effects lip glosses; out of the 12 shades, I have at least 8. And I love them. I bought this set partly to review, partly because I wanted the orange shade, and partly because three of the shades in this kit are my personal favorites. Also, the tin is super cute!

However, that's where the positives end.

This gloss formula is completely different than the original full size glosses. The full size glosses are smooth and creamy feeling and super shiny. The pigmentation is strong and most of the shades apply evenly and streak-free. They wear for a few hours and don't dry out the lips or stain or feather outside the lip lines. I've had decent luck with all but two of the colors I've purchased, and I really enjoy this gloss formula.

This kit, however, is so thick and sticky and horribly uncomfortable. I can't even comprehend what exactly happened. The two lightest shades are TERRIBLE. The orange and the red apply very streaky and feather badly. The two purple tones are nice, but the consistency is so sticky and tacky and they also feather badly. Normally sticky lip glosses will wear longer, but these fade and wear off even faster than the original full sizes. An hour or two, tops, and that's if you're not eating, drinking, talking, or pressing your lips together. Also, the full size glosses have a nice brush applicator. These minis have shitty doe-foot applicators that just push the product around and cause it to patch off like a dry erase marker. The doe-foot barely picks up any gloss, so you need to continuously dip back in, at least four times to get a remotely even color. These are stickier than the MAC Lipglass AND Stila Lip Glazes combined, good lord. And they have this weird cheap mint scent, which the original glosses don't have.

Also, these take so much more building up to get full color payoff. Honestly, this kit is a horrible disappointment and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, even my worse enemies. You'll notice with two of these swatches I just gave up trying to get the gloss to apply evenly. All of these colors are in the permanent range but there are no shade names. Basically, this is such a cheap pile of trash. I HATE when brands cheap out on things like this (Maybelline, I'm looking at YOU too..) and there are so many better quality items to purchase, especially for a gift. Luckily for all of us, this set, while still up on Walmart's website, it's no longer for purchase, which is probably a really good thing.

"Contraband".

"Plum Diva".

"Daredevil".

I don't know which color this corresponds to and, frankly, I don't want to know. I applied four flippin' coats to my bottom lip alone and that's the best I could get. DISGUSTING.

"Skyfall". HELLO this new formula FUCKING SUCKS. I gave up after three layers; the full size one does NOT apply like this. Hard Candy, y'all should be ashamed. EVEN MORE DISGUSTING.

"Knockout Punch".

What's in my overnight makeup bag! Pt. 2 - Brushes and Tools

2015-11-12T23:47:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'm on a roll right now! This post is going to be what brushes and tools I took for an overnight stay and lemme tell y'all; this is wholly unnecessary. I was just tossing stuff in a bag at this point and there's a lot of overlap.

Again, I'm blogging entirely mobile, so apologies for these posts being a little rougher than normal.

FACE BRUSHES

1.) It Brushes For Ulta (I listed the lines each brush is from as well.)

---- 211 All-Over Powder - I love this powder brush, it's a bit pricy but totally worth it honestly. (Live Beauty Fully)
---- 108 Powder Wand - I love this powder brush too but this was a bit excessive, I didn't need both, lol. (Airbrush)
---- 101 Blurring Foundation - I love this brush with the foundation I brought, it's great for really buffing in liquids streak-free! (Airbrush)
---- 113 Soft Focus Blush - Really nice blush brush, applies pigmented blushes more sheer, so I usually use it with those. (Airbrush)
---- 116 Radiance Fan - Really prefer this brush when I'm using the Becca powders because it's small enough to be targeted and also doesn't over apply the highlight. (Airbrush)
---- Contour - This brush is only sold in a contouring brush set and I like it a lot for a stronger contour. And ya girl has a big, round head so you best believe I contour heavily and also daily.
---- 103 Blurring Concealer - I love this brush for underneath the eyes and also for blending out concealer around my nose. (Airbrush)

2.) Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - I like to use this brush to blend out cream contour since it's so small and dense. I don't really use it as a foundation brush anymore because it's so small and takes a while (again, I have a big face, lol.)

3.) Bare Minerals Flawless Face & Tapered Blush - These were a bit redundant BUT I do like using both of these. I prefer the Flawless Face brush for contour over any other use and I like the blush brush for less pigmented blushes.

EYE BRUSHES

1.) Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush - Only available in the eye kit, but I love using this brush when I foil shadows. It's fluffy enough that I can blend out the edges but has a nice shape in terms of applying wet shadow exactly where I want it.

2.) Tokidoki Blending Brush - This is just a standard fluffy blending brush that I got a long time again from a Sephora set. I love it, but it's no longer available.

3.) Japonesque 836 (MAC 217 dupe) - I don’t remember the exact name, sorry, but it's like "tapered crease" or something. I love the MAC 217 more but this is still a nice brush.

4.) It Brushes For Ulta - All of these brushes are from the Airbrush line.

---- 105 Blending Crease - Similar to the Tokidoki one except a little less dense.
---- 107 Blending Shadow - I don't know why I grabbed this brush...it's not my favorite blender honestly. It's a little too floppy and basic cut. It works in a pinch, however!
---- 112 Precision Shadow - I love this brush. It's basic BUT it gets the job done.
---- 119 All-Over Shadow - I use this brush as a browbone highlight brush. It's way too big for my eye shape to use as a shader brush but it applies highlight to the browbone really nicely.
---- 124 Precision Smudger - This is pretty much a pencil style brush and I like it for drop shadow on my lower lashline. Unfortunately it's really lost its shape as I've washed it a few times, so now it flares out a lot. :/
---- 125 Smokey Liner - I've been reaching for this pencil style brush over the previous one a lot so I didn't need to bring both!

MISCELLANEOUS TOOLS

1.) Beauty Blender - I use these to blend out concealer and foundation (just not THIS foundation lol) and to also apply my loose powder to my undereye concealer when I bake it. I love the original Beauty Blenders but the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge is also nice.

2.) Revlon Tweezers - They stay pretty sharp, actually.

3.) Japonesque Brush Cleaner - It smells like citrus wood polish. Also, I don't find this to be as effective as my usual MAC brush cleaner but it does dry pretty fast.

Okay, so this post ended up hella long, props if you read this all! I'll post the makeup portions tomorrow, tbh I'm about to crash!

What's in my overnight makeup bag! Pt. 1 - Skincare

2015-11-12T23:05:00.001-05:00

Long time, no see! I'm staying overnight and I have nothing better to do, so might as well actually blog, right? This post is going to be entirely mobile (camera phone pics and Blogger app) so I apologize if it's not quite the usual quality I try to have on here.

So, let's talk about skincare. It's only overnight so I tried not to overload with the skincare (but since I *AM* working, I did not skimp on the makeup portion lol). This is going to be like mini reviews!

1.) Neutrogena Makeup Remover - I love that stuff and I decanted some into a tiny container. I just use regular cotton rounds.

2.) Simple Micellar Facial Wipes - I was so excited when I heard about these and frankly they're pretty disappointing. I love the regular micellar water from Simple but these wipes just do not remove much!

3.) Karuna Age-Defying Face Mask - I haven't actually used this one yet, it's just a sheet mask that I received as gratis (I work at Ulta) so I figured might as well try it now.

4.) Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash - This is gratis as well, I'm going to try it out in the morning!

5.) The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion - Holy grail product right here, I LOVE this moisturizer and I've been having a few mini bumps here and there.

6.) Lancôme Génefique & Rénergie Lift - Really fond of the Génefique serum, and I'm trying to finish off the sample of my Rénergie Lift!

7.) Tony Moly Panda's Dream Cool Eye Stick - Moisturizing but not super heavy and also refreshing!

Things I skimped on: I didn't bring my beloved Clarisonic because it's just an overnight stay. Nor did I bring a toner. Oh well! These are my overnight skincare necessities! I completely forgot about my hair, go figure, I'm going to have to buy a brush and some dry shampoo in the morning. Next post will probably be my brushes and tools!

Smashbox BB Water SPF 30 REVIEW

2015-08-03T23:55:00.000-04:00

I don't often do foundation and other base products reviews. It typically takes me a while to get them done, partly because I typically like to test them out with a variety of primers and powders to get a feel on how a product is going to function. But this is a foundation that I feel I have a grasp on after about a week of wear; every now and then a product is like that! For example - the Smashbox BB Cream is my HG product STILL. I purchased it way back when it first hit the market and I've repurchased several times, which, for me is INCREDIBLY RARE. I've loved that BB cream since the first use and I haven't looked back. Every now and then I feel like trying out one of those incredibly raved about Korean BB creams (especially seeing as how I, myself, am Korean) BUT then I remember that the Smashbox BB cream exists AND that I can use my discount on it, haha. So this BB Water had a lot of competition to beat out its prior incarnation.

Did it manage it? Click the jump to find out!

FTC Disclaimer: This product was received by me as gratis from my job. I am employed by Ulta BUT all opinions in this post are mine alone and do not reflect those of my employer. I am not affiliated nor sponsored by the company in question, nor have I received any monetary compensation for this post. As always my opinions are thoroughly my own.

Product Rundown

Description || "What is it? Your skin needs a drink. Meet Smashbox's first and only BB with a water-like texture that delivers multiple benefits in just one drop. Why get wet? Built-in primer water technology means a liquid silk-consistency - it literally glides onto your face, blends easily and moves with your skin. Because it's alcohol-free, there is no drying, cracking or caking during wear. The ultra-hydrating, oil-free formula also creates a sheer, radiant finish that makes you really love your skin in every conceivable light. Here come the compliments."
Colors || Eight different shades.
Price || $42.
Size || 30 mL/1 fl oz.
Where to buy || Smashbox, Sephora, and Ulta.
Initial thoughts || This blends in the best into my skin with my hands, although a Beauty Blender does leave a nice dewier finish. I notice that hand application causes this base product to have a bit better coverage. In my experience brushes took a bit more work; this has a thin, liquidy consistency and got a bit streaky with brushes. Coverage is light and is buildable but you won't get anything more than a medium from this product.
Would I repurchase? || Possibly. I think this product is better suited for those who have drier skin that I but the finish it leaves on the skin is quite nice. Plus I find it's super easy to use.
Ingredients || Active ingredients: Octinoxate 5%, Titanium Dioxide 3.1%, and Zinc Oxide 2.1%. Inactive ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau, Methyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Silica, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dimethicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Silylate, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Polysilicone-11, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium PCA, Methicone, Triethyl Citrate, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Laureth-7, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Dextrin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Sodium Lactate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Zinc Stearate, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499)]

Okay, a few more factoids from Smashbox:

WHY IT’S UNIQUE
Simply put, we have no other BB foundation with a thin, water-like veil. What makes it a technological feat is our breakthrough system that suspends pigments in H2O. The big pay-off: a BB that hydrates your skin throughout the day and a demi-matte, but never flat complexion. Just a few drops create a remarkably natural-looking canvas that still camouflages imperfections. Just build for more coverage. Plus, our exclusive Photoset Polymers—taken from medical grade liquid bandage technology—make it last from A.M. to afterhours.

BRAGGING RIGHTS

• PRIMES:
Blurs out imperfections like fine lines, pores and blemishes
• PROTECTS:
SPF 30 helps shield skin from environmental damage
• PERFECTS:
Sheer-to-medium coverage comes easy with its buildable, liquid-silk consistency. Plus, 8 forgiving shades means one for every skin tone. Guaranteed.
•HYDRATES:
A revolutionary formula infused with elements of Primer Water quenches skin
• OIL & ALCOHOL FREE:
Expect a gorgeous sheen. No shine.

ONE-TWO PUNCH
Want that all natural off-duty model look? Done. After applying BB Water, add a healthy flush or subtle, sun-kissed sheen to your flawless skin with our new L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Color.

THE PHOTO FACTOR
“It all starts with skin in the studio. A sheer finish on the face reflects natural light better and highlights contours like cheekbones.” – Davis Factor, Founder and Photographer

ARTIST HOW-TO: KEEP IT SHEER
“Remember, it’s all about perfecting—not masking your skin. You only need to apply foundation on places that need coverage.” – Lori Taylor Davis, Global Pro Lead Artist

Claim #1: Primes

I'm going to say that this claim is pretty accurate, just owing to the sheer number of forms that dimethicone appears in this product. A common emollient found in many primers, the different forms of silicones in this base are going to make the skin appear smoother and feel softer. However, if you're similar to me and dislike the feeling of slick, silicone-heavy primers, then this is probably not a great thing to read. Another skin conditioner found in this is butyloctyl salicylate, along with ethylhexyl palmitate.

Claim #2: Protects

The original Smashbox BB is SPF 35 and contains four different sunscreen ingredients: oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, and titanium dioxide. The BB Water is SPF 30 and contains three; titanium dioxide and octinoxate are still in here, but zinc oxide has been added. This is a great thing; titanium dioxide alone can help block ultraviolet-B and short-wave ultraviolet-A rays BUT it is not as effective as zinc oxide at blocking long-wave UVA rays. Octinoxate bumps up the UVB protection and is the most commonly used chemical additive in SPF.

The issue is not whether or not the sunscreen is effective...it's just that, like all sunscreens, this product SHOULD be reapplied every two hours or so for maximum effect...and who is going to remove and reapply their face makeup that often? So, while the SPF ingredients are nice, they're kind of useless after the first two hours, ya know?

Claim #3: Perfects

Here's where it gets murky. Smashbox base products tend to pull pretty golden, for the most part. There are eight shades available in this range and it might be challenging to find a shade that matches well for fair, cool-toned skin. While the coverage is pretty sheer, it can definitely be built up and when it is the match, or lack thereof, is going to be apparent. The shade I have, "Light/Medium", is a touch too dark. Not to the point where it looks super noticeable or orange, but if I didn't have super yellow skin to begin with it might be more apparent that this doesn't quite match me.

This has a nice finish on the skin; it looks very natural. I wouldn't say the finish is dewy nor is it completely matte. I get about 12 hours of wear with this, with one or two blotting sessions. It fades after the 12 hour marker, but I've been informed by my coworkers that it does not make me LOOK overly shiny; I felt as though I was, but apparently I wasn't, ha.

I like to bump up the coverage a bit more by setting this with the Halo powder; even though this is buildable to a medium coverage, I still like a little bit more. I would say this does a nice job of evening out my skintone but it won't help to mask super noticeable imperfections like my insanely dark undereye circles. It does help to reduce my redness though!

Claim #4: Hydrates

The first ingredient of note is the glycerin. This is a humectant and it is extremely hydroscopic, meaning it freely attracts water from the dermis and the environment to the epidermis. The BB water also contains tocopheryl acetate; more commonly known as vitamin e. Finally, the last ingredient I want to mention is sodium hyaluronate, which can hold up to 1000 its weight in water. Basically, I definitely agree with the "hydrates" claim; I suspect this product will be highly loved by those with drier skin than I. I have extreme combo skin; I get super oily in the t-zone...and super dry and scaly along my jawline, and this BB water feels great along my dry patches!

Claim #5: Oil and alcohol-free

Can't really refute this claim, ha. Either it is or it isn't.

Overall I don't mind this BB water BUT it's not the type of base product that I would reach for frequently NOR does it beat out the BB Cream for me; if you have oilier skin and like a bit more coverage I suspect the original BB cream is going to be more up your alley.

Bare skin.

Blended in.

Bare skin.

Applied to the left side of my face (your right) only.

Applied to the left side of my face (your right) only.

Halo powder.

No flash; natural light.

Pores closeup!
One last thing to note is that this product contains lecithin! But I'm not sure if it's animal or plant based. If you're vegan, I suggest avoiding this product anyway. I emailed customer service to inquire about which type of lecithin is used and I'll edit this post when I get a response.

Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector; the best sunscreen I've ever tried (REVIEW)

2015-07-29T20:12:00.001-04:00

Let's talk about skincare today. I don't often do this because I consider myself to be a skincare n00b. In fact, I admit; I was TERRIBLE at taking care of my skin when I was a teenager. I broke every skincare rule in the books; I slept in my makeup, I didn't moisturize, and I never wore sunscreen. Now that I'm 27, skincare suddenly seems crucially important. I invested in a Clarisonic. I'm diligent about cleaning my makeup off. And I wear a daily SPF. Exuviance is a brand that I never had access to until working at Ulta. I'd heard of some of the bigger brands, such as Mario Badescu, Dermalogica, Philosophy, and Murad, but this was a new line to me.

Exuviance is a skincare line created by two doctors who are widely considered to be leaders in the field of cosmetic dermatology and who also patented the first glycolic peel. This sounds like the type of line for me! One of my biggest issues, and the main reason why I never wore sunscreen much as a teen, is the feel of sunscreen. It's usually that thick, white goop that has a strong smell and leaves that grayish cast on your skin and takes forever to sink into your skin. The other thing is that sunscreen should be reapplied every few hours...and let's be real here - who is going to do their makeup and then rub sunscreen all over their face in a couple of hours?

No one. That's who. Enter the Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++! (Speaking of "enter", if this is the type of product you think you'd be interested in trying out and you live in the US, definitely enter the Exuviance GIVEAWAY! 25 lucky people will win one of these babies...and this sunscreen retails for $42!)

FTC Disclaimer: I purchased this product from Ulta with my own money. My opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer. I am not receiving monetary or physical compensation for this post. It IS in conjunction with Brandbacker, which anyone can sign up for and take part in. My integrity is very important to me - I would not have chosen to make this post if I did not enjoy this product.

Product Rundown

Description || This Triple Antiaging fluid provides sheer mineral UVA/UVB protection against photodamage and Multi-Antioxidants to help neutralize environmental damage.

Sheer mineral UVA/UVB protection enhances natural skin tone
Broad spectrum SPF 50 protects against photodamage, the primary cause of signs of aging
PA++++ highest level of UVA protection
Multi-Antioxidants help neutralize environmental damage
Green Tea Extract helps protect cellular DNA for healthy skin
Virtually invisible universal tint smoothes imperfections and helps even tone

Colors || One sheer tint.
Price || $42.
Size || 50 mL/1.7 fl oz.
Where to buy || NeoStrata and Ulta.
Initial thoughts || The best thing about this product is the sheer texture and easy blendability. This sunscreen sinks in rather quickly and the sheer tint helps even out my skintone and allows me to skip the base products...which means that I do actually reapply this sunscreen periodically, without fear of disturbing previous makeup application. This makes the Sheer Daily Protector the perfect product for my beach bag!
Would I repurchase? || Definitely, especially during the summer months.
Ingredients || Active ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 7.0%, Zinc Oxide 6.0%. Inactive ingredients: Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Isododecane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Gluconolactone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Alumina, Ammonium Hydroxide, Lactobionic Acid, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Phenethyl Benzoate, Nylon-12, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Polyhydroxystearic Acid, thylhexylglycerin, Isohexadecane, Tocopherol, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Magnesium Sulfate, Methicone, Propylene Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Sodium Bisulfite, Phenoxyethanol, CI 77491 (Iron Oxide Red), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide Yellow), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide Black).

Some more quick hits from Exuviance:

This weightless fluid blends effortlessly on clean skin, or layered under makeup in a daily skincare routine. Broad spectrum SPF 50 protects against photodamage, the primary cause of signs of aging. An ultra-fine transparent mineral sunscreen in a virtually invisible universal tint smoothes imperfections and helps natural skin tone appear more even. Multi-Antioxidants Vitamin E and Lactobionic Acid fortify skin’s natural defense, scavenging free radicals brought on by daily environmental aggressors before they can cause premature aging. A PHA/Bionic complex helps prevent collagen breakdown to maintain a healthy skin matrix and firmness, and helps prevent signs of photoaging such as lines and wrinkles. A highly purified and concentrated form of Green Tea Extract reduces cell breakdown and helps protect cellular DNA for healthy skin. PA++++ highest level of UVA protection. Suitable for all skin types. Product is fragrance-free, paraben-free and oil-free as well as non-acnegenic, non-comedogenic.
Did you know? Sunscreens provide protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a measurement of how much protection the sunscreen offers from the UVB rays that cause sunburn. The Protection Grade of UVA (PA) ranking refers to the amount of protection the sunscreen offers from the UVA rays that cause skin aging and other skin damage. PA rankings are listed from a ‘+’ signifying low protection to ‘++++’ for the highest protection. It is important to protect the skin across the UVA and UVB spectrum to help prevent sunburn and decrease the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays with the highest protection grade of PA ++++ and an SPF 50.

This sunscreen contains a mix of mineral based sunscreens; titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the active ingredients. This is great news for those who have a sensitivity to chemical sunscreens such as octinoxate and oxybenzone and are generally quite mild and unlikely to cause skin irritation. Despite the high levels of titanium and zinc (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide work primarily by reflecting and scattering UV rays), this sunscreen has relatively little flashback in camera.

The tint is one of those universal ones; sheer enough to blend in and work with all, but I would say you'll see the most skintone evening effects if you fall in the light to medium range. This wouldn't even be considered light coverage by any means but for summer time use, this sunscreen provides just enough for me to throw on some concealer and hop out the door. I've been using this plus my BM Well-Rested powder and transparent mineral veil alone on repeat, even to work, and I like the way it appears and the way it wears. I've had no issues reapplying more sunscreen over the powders either; I think this is too sheer and fluid to get cakey.

This sunscreen will need to be shaken up; it is quite fluid and feels invisible on the skin. It sinks in rapidly and doesn't feel greasy or look dewy. You can use this alone like I do, or you can use it under makeup, which I have also done - it doesn't feel like you're wearing a ton of base products when you layer this.

Even though I was incredibly lackadaisical with my skin as a teen, this product has quickly become an important step in protecting my skin and helping me to cling to my nearly lost youth for as long as possible. Also, you know, I don't want skin cancer or premature wrinkles either.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with this sunscreen. It's one of my favorite lazy day products to wear when I'm out and about and even though it's pricy (I work at Ulta so my discount reduces the OUCH factor a teeny bit) I've liked this sunscreen the best out of the many that I've tried, both for appearance and also consistency. I definitely recommend this sunscreen if you're looking for a decent facial sunscreen, especially one that is fragrance, oil, paraben, and cruelty free! And do check out the contest NeoStrata has right now!

Natural lighting and no flash!

Circa Beauty First Impressions - Eyeshadow Trio & Lipsticks!

2015-07-12T03:25:00.001-04:00

I have another Walgreens exclusive first impressions post for y'all! Circa Beauty is another "masstige" brand, sold only at Walgreens, similar to the Colour Prevails range (I posted about a couple nail polishes here). It's a pretty complete range for being so new; consisting of a decent selection of face, eyes, and lip products.

I opted to pick up three things because this brand is on the pricier side of drugstore; the shadow trio is $12 and the lipsticks are $10 each. This is not a full review; I've only had these for about three day now, but I will be posting an update and more comprehensive review after I've had a chance to fully play with these products!

FTC Disclaimer: I purchased these products with my own money. I am not affiliated with this company, nor am I being sponsored or compensated for this post. My opinions are, as always, my own.

The Color Focus Eyeshadow Palettes retail for $12 each, at Walgreens.
All of the color options are natural in appearance.
The packaging is rather nice and weighty and reminds me of art deco or The Great Gatsby.
Comes with a double ended sponge tip/brush applicator.
Shadows don't seem to be overly soft or powdery.
The texture is more on the dry side. The shimmery shades in the trio apply okay on bare skin but the matte brown has sketchy pigmentation and is a bit patchy. These shadows DEFINITELY benefit from a primer or base.
Over a primer these shadows were decently pigmented and blended easily.

Quick eye look, over primer. I did throw a tiny bit of black shadow in my outer corners to deepen it up a bit. Please ignore that annoying blob of mascara on my left eye, ugh.

Top: "Audrey" and Bottom: "Elizabeth"

The Color Absolute Velvet Luxe retail for $10 each, at Walgreens.
The packaging is rather nice and weighty and reminds me of art deco or The Great Gatsby.
Applies creamy and smooth.
Dries down to a demi-matte, velvety finish that starts to feel a tiny bit uncomfortable after about an hour.
Pigmentation is rich and the two colors I picked up are cream finishes with no shimmer.
The color swatch on the bottom of the tube accurately represents the color in the tube which is AWESOME.
There is a scent to the lipsticks; it reminds me of the L’Oréal Colour Riche® Extraordinaire glosses; kind of fruity and floral all at once. I don't mind it personally, but I can see how it would bother others. I recommend smelling the testers before purchasing.

Lipstick in "Audrey", in natural light. Lipstick in "Elizabeth", in natural light.
Have you tried any Circa Beauty products? Any recommendations for me?

Colour Prevails First Impressions - Nail Polish!

2015-07-12T02:52:00.002-04:00

I want to start out this post by stating that I am a total nail polish amateur; I love the stuff and I buy it frequently BUT I am horrible at upkeep and application. So apologies in advance for my sloppy swatches! That being said I love trying out new lines, especially at drugstores. This range is upper level drugstore or masstige; prices are on the higher end of affordable. These polishes are $8 per bottle, which puts them at an Essie or OPI level, when you consider these bottles hold less product.

I always feel guilty when I buy brands that aren't sold at Ulta; I can justify my makeup hoarding by saying it's "product education" but I can't do that when we don't sell the brand!! :D That being said, my curiosity got the better of me and I splurged. I actually intended on only purchasing the cream polish in "All Nighter" but I love glitters and I loved the name of the second one; "Mr. Wrong", and I couldn't hold myself back! The Colour Prevails range is pretty substantial, featuring face, eyes, and lip products, along with the nail polishes, but as of right now I've only tried the polishes.

FTC Disclaimer: I purchased these products myself. I'm not affiliated with this company, nor am I sponsored nor being compensated in any form for this post. My opinions are, as always, my own.

These polishes are available only at Walgreens.
They are $8 for 0.32 fl oz/9.5 ml; a bottle of OPI polish is about $9.50 for 15 ml.
The handles on the bottles were specially designed to be ergonomic and easy to use by the creator, Nonie Cream (high fashion manicurist and creative mind behind butter London). You can read more about that here!
The polishes are five-free (no DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin or Camphor.)
This polish evens out nicely (I didn't have patchiness or streaking) and it dries pretty fast.
I needed three coats for maximum opacity.
This particular glitter was much less textured than I thought it would be; I only needed two coats of top coat to make my nails completely smooth.
Even without top coat the polish dried shiny.

I literally purchased these polishes yesterday so this is DEFINITELY not a review. I don't often do nail polish reviews, but I'll post an update review once I've had a chance to wear these for a while! So far I've been impressed by the finish and dry time.

Have you tried these polishes? How do you like them?

bareMinerals The Color Compatibles REVIEW & FOTD

2015-07-12T01:48:00.001-04:00

I am incredibly tardy to the party; this palette came out in May or June, and it's taken me a while, clearly, to post a review or anything about this palette. So why the hell am I even bothering to post a review now, you might be asking? Well, right now this palette is FIFTY PERCENT OFF. Yeah, you read that right; this palette, which normally retails for $39, is currently $19.50, exclusively at Ulta. Now, I'm not sure if this price is for in-store also, nor am I sure how long this sale will be going on for. But this palette is completely worth your money, especially for THIS price so do it up my friends.

(This post is photo-heavy and I will be using page anchors to make it easier to maneuver. The list of ingredients is quite long and I've placed it at the very end of the post for ease of reading.)

FTC Disclaimer: This palette was purchased by me for blogging purposes with my own money. I am not affiliated with Bare Escentuals, nor sponsored, and I am not receiving any type of compensation for this post. All opinions are, as always my own, and also do not reflect those of my employer.

Product Rundown || Review || Photos & Swatches || FOTD || Ingredients

Main Menu

Product Rundown

Description || Only at ULTA!

It's true, these shades were made for each other, and they never want to be apart. This palette features 9 harmonious hues for eyes & cheeks - expertly paired so you'll never wonder which shades wear well together - in 3 stunning color combinations to get you ready for any occasion. From dreamy peaches to sultry metallics, this palette may just be your style soul mate. Included Mini Double-Ended Blush & Shadow Brush.
Colors || One palette option. Shadows included: "Empress" (creamy peach), "Bragging Rights" (shimmering rose gold), "Shiver" (iced lilac), "Priceless" (heathered smoke), "Hoopla" (glowing copper), and "Ritzy" (shimmering cocoa). Cheek Products: Blush in "The Spring Fling" (creamy peach), Luminizer in "The Five Star Treatment" (pink champagne), and Bronzer in "The High Dive" (tan).
Price || Normally $39 but currently $19.50! ($97 value).
Size || Each shadow contains 0.04 oz and each cheek product contains 0.09 oz.
Where to buy || Available at Ulta and Ulta.com in a limited fashion.
Initial thoughts || If you like metallics, this is DEFINITELY the palette for you. The shadows are fun for summer and the peachy highlight and blush are quite summery as well. "The High Dive" is the medium bronzer option and my personal favorite but if you have fairer skin you'll want to use a light hand because it is substantially deeper than "The Skinny Dip". Those with deeper, richer skintones will probably find that the blush will appear a bit chalky and powdery on them but this palette is still worth it just for the shadows alone, honestly.
Would I repurchase? || Yes. I'm considering picking up a backup while it's half off just because I do really like these shadows and the palette IS limited edition.
Ingredients || Ingredients.

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Review

It's no secret that I really enjoy bareMinerals READY® shadows; I just finished up a review on the new Work, Wow, Weekend palette here. But THESE shadows are something else, honestly. The BM pressed shadows are one of my favorites to work with; they're creamy and smooth and easy to blend, but they're not overly powdery or chalky and they don't flake on me or produce a ton of fall out. When I first got this home and took the initial pics, I was immediately drawn to the three super metallic shadows in the palette ("Bragging Rights" (copper), "Hoopla" (gold), and "Ritzy" (brown); I'm not sure if these shadows are repromotes.) They did not disappoint. They're soft to the touch and crazy intense (I actually like to apply these with my fingertips) and appear highly metallic without the use of bases or primers.

The way BM has been setting up their palettes lately seems to be in duos; I used every single shadow in one look for the sake of this post, but they're laid out in duos with the cheek product corresponding to each duo. Obviously the palette name implies that you can combine any combination together but initially you might be thrown off by the middle duo, which contains the light lilac shimmer and the matte gray shadow. None of these shadows are super dark, which makes sense for spring/summer but I did throw a black into the mix.

The first duo is called Love & Luster and consists of "Empress" and "Bragging Rights", and the blush in "The Spring Fling". "Empress" is a satiny peach and is probably one of the more subtle shadows in this palette. I like to use it as a brow bone highlight but if you're fairer than me this shadow will probably be too deep for you to use it as such. "Bragging Rights" is described as a rose-gold but it honestly just looks straight up copper to me, like a new penny. The blush is a subtle one; I personally really enjoy it but it's more of a satiny matte and, while it can be layered to pump up the color, it will probably look a bit powdery and ashy on deeper skintones.

The middle duo is called Lilac & Lace and consists of "Shiver" and "Priceless", and the luminizer in "The Five Star Treatment". "Shiver" is described as an icy lilac and that is pretty accurate. It's a bit gray in tone and is also more subtle. It's almost duo-chrome-esque; it has a slight pinky-purple flash to it. I don't find I have much use for this type of shadow honestly, but it actually does make a nice highlight, even though I normally don't use frosty highlights. "Priceless" is a matte gray with slight purpley undertones and it does mix well with "Shiver". It's more of a medium shade but it's not powdery or dusty and I'm sure I can find a use for it. BM pressed highlighters always seem deeper than I'm generally used to using and rather subtle, even though they're shimmery. The shimmer isn't chunky nor does it stick in pores or really...appear on the skin at all, which a lot of people will probably appreciate. This particular shade appears more peachy than pink on my skintone but it meshes really well with the blush. This won't be one of those crazy highlights, like the Becca ones, for example, but it will still work well for most skintones besides the most fair.

The last duo is called Gilded & Gorgeous and is my personal favorite out of the three duos. The shadows are "Hoopla" and "Ritzy", and it comes paired with "The High Dive" bronzer. BM makes three pressed bronzers and "The High Dive" is the middle color. "Hoopla" is described as a copper but I personally think it's more of a bright yellowy gold. It's super metallic and rather flashy and I like to apply this one with my fingertips as well. "Ritzy" is a really nice frosty brown. "The High Dive" is my favorite bronzer; it's deeper and slightly less orange than BM "Warmth" but still has a warm undertone to it. I've used it as a slight contour shade and it suffices, although I personally prefer more ashy contour shades. "The Skinny Dip" is too light for me but this bronzer is perfect. I own a mini one and also the full size but I always welcome more because I go through bronzers like crazy.

Overall this palette is a winner for me. I feel as though all of the shadows can work together, even though the middle duo might feel mismatched at first, and the cheek products are nicely selected and will work with a decent range of coloring as well. I'm not sure how travel friendly this palette is, considering it is in a bulky cardboard package. My cat stepped on it and actually shattered the mirror so...yeah. But let's move onto the brush.

The brush included is a mini double ended brush. I'm not sure why they went with a mini other than wanting it to fit in the palette. The shadow brush side is fine, it packs on pigment nicely and is on the fluffier side so you can do some simple blending but the cheek side is quite small and, frankly, kind of useless to me. I have big, fat cheeks and applying blush with this brush is just not happening. It can make a nice highlight brush in a pinch but that's about it. I actually use it as an eye brush; it's the perfect size for me to apply a wash of color with.

If you like the pressed BM formulas, you will probably love this palette as much as I do, especially if you lean towards warmer tones in both shadows and face!

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Photos & Swatches

From L-R, flash: "Empress", "Bragging Rights", "Shiver", "Priceless", "Hoopla", and "Ritzy".

From L-R, natural light: "Empress", "Bragging Rights", "Shiver", "Priceless", "Hoopla", and "Ritzy".

From L-R, flash: "The Summer Fling", "The Five Star Treatment", and "The High Dive".

From L-R, natural light: "The Summer Fling", "The Five Star Treatment", and "The High Dive".
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#FOTD

I used the blush, bronzer, and highlighter as my face color products, along with a couple of non-BM face products. For the eyes I used every single color in this palette, just for the sake of the look. "Empress" as an all over base shade, "Bragging Rights" as the lid shade, with "Hoopla" in the center. "Ritzy" in the eye socket (crease), "Priceless" in the outer corner and along lower lash line, and "Shiver" in the inner corner and as a brow highlight.

Other products used: Ulta Matte Prime, Smashbox Studio Skin in "2.1 Light Beige" and HD Liquid Concealer in "Light", Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder in "Naked Light", and bareMinerals Well Rested.

You'll notice that I didn't list an eyeliner or mascara...this is because I'm an idiot and actually just forgot to use one. Yeah, I know. I did use the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Lid Lines eye primer though.

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Ingredients

READY Eye Shadow:

"Empress": Boron Nitride, Lauroyl Lysine, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Magnesium Myristate, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain: Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007).

"Bragging Rights": Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Boron Nitride, Magnesium Myristate, Lauroyl Lysine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Silica, Tin Oxide, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain: Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007).

"Shiver": Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Boron Nitride, Lauroyl Lysine, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Magnesium Myristate, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Tin Oxide, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain: Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007).

"Priceless": Boron Nitride, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain: Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007).

"Hoopla" & "Ritzy": Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Boron Nitride, Magnesium Myristate, Lauroyl Lysine, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain: Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Bronze Powder (CI 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Copper Powder (CI 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007).

READY Blush in "The Summer Fling": Lauroyl Lysine, Boron Nitride, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Algae Extract, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Calcium Ketogluconate, Tocopherol, Silica, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain: Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007).

READY Bronzer in "The High Dive": Lauroyl Lysine, Boron Nitride, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Algae Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Silica, Calcium Ketogluconate, Tocopherol, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Conatin: Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163).

Ready Luminizer in The Five Star Treatment": Lauroyl Lysine, Boron Nitride, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Algae Extract, Silica, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Calcium Ketogluconate, Tocopherol, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain : Mica, Carmine (CI 75470), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007).

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Lipstick Queen Frog Prince First Impressions/Review

2015-07-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

Lipstick Queen is a brand that I haven't delved too deeply in. I was so excited when my Ulta store first got it in store, bought six or seven things, and then promptly forgot about it for over a year. Which, in retrospect, is crazy because Medieval is one of my favorite casual red lippies ever. Sure, I joked about buying the $50 Velvet Rope lipsticks, but I've never bit the bullet.

However, when we got the Frog Prince display in, I was intrigued. Then my GM was telling about how, when she received it as gratis, it stained for 48 hours and didn't budge. Okay. I was sold. I am going to be typing this up in review format even though it is a first impressions post because if I continue to like it over the next couple of weeks I don't intend on editing this post. If, however, something crazy happens and I actually end up disliking this product, I will edit this post, add an ETA to the title, and update you. As of right now I really like this product.

FTC Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with this company, nor am I being sponsored nor compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.

Product Rundown

Description || Get heads turning with Frog Prince, a remarkable emerald green lipstick that transforms into magical rosebud upon contact with the lips. Don't be fooled by the deep green hue of this semi-sheer lipstick - the green reacts with the warmth of your lips turning them an intense, fairy tale rose. No two pairs of lips will look the same as it adapts according to your pH and natural coloring, appearing entirely different yet beautifully flattering on everyone. Vitamin E and Shea Butter keep lips soft, hydrated and deliciously kissable. And just like true love itself, this enchanting shade was made to last. Lips remain their blissful pink all day long from just one lingering, magical Frog Prince kiss.

Moisturizing Shea Butter and anti-oxidant VItamin E soothe and protect

Glossy, wet formula wears into a gentle, flattering and long-lasting pink tint

Unique to you – Frog Prince adapts according to your pH and skin tone to create your most flattering shade of pink

Colors || One color option.
Price || $25.
Size || 0.07 oz.
Where to buy || Lipstick Queen, Ulta, Bloomingdale's, and any other Lipstick Queen retailer probably.
Initial thoughts || This is less of a lipstick and more highly pigmented lip balm on me. It feels comfortable and soothing on the lips. The color does change to become a rather intense yet still translucent, glossy pink on me, but since it's supposed to be "your perfect shade of pink", it's hard for me to speak for anyone else. (Honestly, I feel as though these products tend to be a bit gimmicky and would probably look similar on everyone, BUT that is not always the case, so I would have to test this on a variety of skintones to determine.)
Would I repurchase? || Yes yes yes!
Ingredients || Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vegetable Oil (Olus / Huile Vegetale), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax (Candelilla Cera / Cire De Candelilla), Beeswax (Cera Alba / Cire D¿Abeille), Ozokerite, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Red 21 (CI 45380), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090).

The packaging is whimsical and cute. This lipstick is probably going to become my new favorite, honestly. I love the bright warm pink it turns on me and my manager was not joking when she said this product stains! The consistency is smooth and moisturizing, a bit on the thinner side but it doesn't feel straight up greasy like a chapstick or Carmex does on my lips. The glossy shine wears down in about two to three hours (depending on how much talking, eating, and drinking you do; two to three hours when my mouth is shut but I also wore this while filming and got about a solid hour before the shine wore off) and then you're left with a slightly lighter and brighter pink stain.

Sometimes when tinted balms wear off on my lips, they leave my lips feeling parched after the initial balmy glossiness is gone. This one still leaves my lips feeling soft, which is impressive considering I have the most persistently dry and peeling lips known to man.

As far as first impressions go, color me impressed! If my opinions change within the next few weeks, I will edit this post and update y'all.

Honestly, hand swatches of products like this tend to be pretty useless. The stain never develops quite as well on my hand as it tends to do on my lips. But here ya go, this is when it's first applied and still just clear.

The color after sitting for a couple of minutes.

Bare lips for color comparison.

Freshly applied.

An hour after wearing.

No flash, natural lighting.

27 hours later; the leftover staining. You can see that this lippy will definitely catch on dry patches, so be warned.

Full face shot 27 hours later. Sorry for my face, yikes!

As far as first impressions and initial thoughts go, this product is a win in my book thus far. Have you tried it? Do you like it?

bareMinerals Work, Weekend, Wow Eyeshadow Palette REVIEW

2015-07-11T00:12:00.000-04:00

I've been debating on picking up this particular palette for a while and finally bit the bullet! I accidentally sold myself on it while selling it to a customer, no joke. Considering the READY® eyeshadow 8.0 palettes are $40 for eight shadows and the duos are $20, getting seven shadows for $26 seems like a great deal. I always love the READY® shadows, I have amassed a decent chunk of them at this point, and I reach for them frequently. I just wasn't sure if I would actually use this, mostly because at this point I have so many eyeshadow palettes. Obviously, this didn't stop me!

FTC Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me with my own money. I am not affiliated with Bare Escentuals, nor am I sponsored, nor compensated in any form. All of the opinions in this post are, as always, my own, and do not reflect that of my employer.

Product Rundown

Description || With seven ultra-silky, long-wearing eye shadows, this palette's expertly coordinated shades create gorgeous eye looks for work, weekend, and wow in three easy steps. Sweep on the universal base shade, then get business chic in classic neutrals, rock the weekend in soft plums or turn heads in smoky hues. With steps for each look included inside, on-the-go glam just got effortless.
Colors || One palette option. Shadows included: 500 Thread Count (airy pink), Fuze (cinder smoke), Trench Coat (matte camel), Rowdy (heathered plum), Custom Made (pink quartz pearl), Starstruck (brushed metal), and Nightfall (brilliant cobalt).
Price || $26 ($50 value).
Size || 5g/0.17 oz.
Where to buy || Bare Escentuals, Ulta, and other Bare Escentuals retailers.
Initial thoughts || This palette is super streamlined and compact. However, it comes in a magnetized cardboard container, without a mirror, so it might not be the most travel-able even though it is incredibly lightweight. The colors are coordinated in duos in an vertical fashion and there is a look guide so it is user friendly.
Would I repurchase? || Yes!
Ingredients || 500 Thread Count, Trench Coat & Rowdy: Boron Nitride, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Carmine (Ci 75470), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499),Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide(Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007).

Custom Made & Nightfall: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Boron Nitride, Magnesium Myristate, Lauroyl Lysine, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Carmine (Ci 75470), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007).

Starstruck: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Boron Nitride, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Carmine (Ci 75470), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007).

Fuze: Boron Nitride, Magnesium Myristate, Lauroyl Lysine, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Silica, Mannitol, Diatomaceous Earth, Zinc Sulfate, Chlorphenesin. May Contain (+/-): Mica, Carmine (Ci 75470), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Bronze Powder (Ci 77400), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288), Copper Powder (Ci 77400), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Ultramarines (Ci 77007).

I'm a fan of the READY® color product formula, both the cheek products and also the eyeshadows. They're blendable, not overly powdery, and decently pigmented. They claim to wear for up to 12 hours and I feel as though they do wear well, although they will wear longer over a primer or base. This palette has a nice mix of good neutral basics, a couple of rosy tones, and a bright pop of color that doesn't come off garish or too overwhelming so this will be a good palette for those who like to dabble in a variety of more natural looks. None of the shadows are too dark or intense which means that I would still mix in other shadows, but not everyone feels the need to smoke out their eye looks on the daily!

L-R, clockwise: 1 "500 Thread Count", 2 "Trench Coat", and 3 "Fuse".

4 "Custom Made" (upper left), 5 "Rowdy" (lower left), 6 "Starstruck" (upper right), and 7 "Nightfall" (lower right).

Flash, swatched on bare skin; from L-R: 1 "500 Thread Count", 2 "Trench Coat", 3 "Fuse", 4 "Custom Made", 5 "Rowdy", 6 "Starstruck", and 7 "Nightfall".

No flash, swatched on bare skin; from L-R: 1 "500 Thread Count", 2 "Trench Coat", 3 "Fuse", 4 "Custom Made", 5 "Rowdy", 6 "Starstruck", and 7 "Nightfall".

Have you purchased this palette? What are your thoughts?

J.Cat Beauty First Impressions - Eyeshadow & Liner

2015-07-10T02:32:00.000-04:00

Recently, while processing shipment, we found an exciting endcap display - looks like Ulta is going to start carrying J.Cat Beauty. You might know them as the brand that does the cheaper OCC Lip Tar dupes; I've heard of this brand for a while on YT and I was super excited to find out we would be carrying at least a few pieces from the line.

Hopefully we can expand the product range in the future because there are some other products that I plan on picking up (like the blushes...hello, I'm a crazy cat lady and those blush/bronzers are cute as hell) and it's definitely convenient to pick them up while at work.

This is not a full-on review. I've only had these products in my possession for around a week and I do plan on picking up more products from this brand.

FTC Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with this brand, nor am I being sponsored nor compensated for this post. My opinions are entirely my own and also do not reflect my employer. This post is entirely mine.

I went a bit conservative with the eye products; I only picked up two things, an eyeshadow trio and one eyeliner. I only use pencil eyeliners to tightline and I almost always use black, so I don't intend on purchasing any more liners from this particular range but I do want to pick up a couple more duos. My Ulta store has three of the 12 total shades of the #MOTD (Makeup of the Day) eyeliners ($2.49) and six of the 12 total shades of the Triple Crown Baked Eyeshadow trios ($5.99). I picked up a liner in the shade "Jet Black" and the trio in "Dulce De Leche".

Swatch is over bare skin; dry and no primer!!

Typically I tend to not be a huge fan of baked shadows, especially baked shadows in this format where the colors are all right against each other, but this trio made me eat my words. They're pigmented, blendable, soft, and creamy in feel, which was a total shock because I'm so used to flaky, dry baked shadows that need primer and moisture to show up on the lids. This little trio packs quite an impressive punch and I plan on picking up a few more just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Overall, super impressed by this shadow trio!

The liner, on the other hand, is a love/hate product. It's quite dry, I don't recommend trying this along the lashlines because it will tug quite a bit. It's a nice matte black, no glossiness at all, which I DO appreciate, but the texture leaves a bit to be desired. HOWEVER, this isn't actually a total bummer for me - this is the longest wearing liner I have ever experienced in my waterline and tightline. I get a solid eight hours of wear from this, which blows me away. When it fades, it starts to go in the inner and outer corners for me. Yes, you have to go over it quite a big in order to get the pigmentation to be rich and black because the liner is so dry, but WOW does this liner stick in my waterlines!

I used these products in a quick look and I'm pleased with how it turned out. (I used the lightest shadow on my browbone, the darkest on the lid, and the golden middle one in the inner corners.) I also applied eye primer (It Cosmetics Bye Bye Lid Lines) on one lid and applied the shadows on bare skin on the other eye and this shadow powered through a 12 hour day so my first impression was a definite thumbs up. I'll be doing full reviews within the next few weeks.

Primer side.

Bare skin side.

Have you tried anything from this brand? Any eye products I definitely need to check out? Let me know! :)

NYC Satin Matte Lipsticks - FAIL

2015-03-23T16:10:00.000-04:00

I got SO EXCITED when I saw these in Meijer. I have five of the original Expert Last lipsticks and I really love them! But I'm a matte lippy kinda gal, and when I saw the "satin matte" label, I freaked out because these are so cheap ($1.99 at most stores) and easier to find than the Jordana ones. This post isn't going to have a jump, sorry for the potential inconvenience! THIS IS NOT A REVIEW. It's more of a mini rant!

From L-R: "448 Smooth Beige", "449 Creamy Mauve", "450 Pure Coral", "451 Velvety Fuchsia", and "452 Red Suede".
The original lipsticks are creamy and smooth and comfortable, which is rare for a long-wearing product. Personally, I don't find them to last the full six hours as NYC claims, but they wear for about four hours if you're not drinking, eating, or chatting a lot. They wear off nice and evenly and don't leave that dreaded outer ring of color that some lip products can do. Overall, I really like everything about this formula except for the scent and taste (it's REALLY strong and the taste is...not good) and I was so excited to see a matte offering, plus the colors all looked great!

So, why the fail? These aren't effin' matte. Not even close. Newsflash N.Y.C., I know most of your lip products contain that frosty shimmer that I'm not into, but taking out the shimmer and having a cream formula does not equal matte. Basically, I almost want my ten bucks back, I feel cheated! I even let them dry down for twenty minutes to see if they'd mattify. Nope. And I know I should have expected this from the name "satin matte", right? Because the definition of "satin" is of or like satin; smooth; glossy. Here's the definition of "matte": having a dull or lusterless surface. What a bloody oxymoron, right? I was expecting the matte, all they provided was the satin. Bummer! Don't call something matte if it's not, basically.

From L-R: "448 Smooth Beige", "449 Creamy Mauve", "450 Pure Coral", "451 Velvety Fuchsia", and "452 Red Suede".
Beautifully pigmented colors. Beautiful color selection. They wear the same as the original lipsticks. I still recommend these shades, don't get me wrong! They're great and this lipstick formula is quite enjoyable and they're so cheap that...how can ya not, right? But don't buy them because you're expecting a shine-free, comfortable matte finish. These are basically an extended color selection of their original lipsticks, nothing new or matte to be found here at all. If you would like a full review with lip swatches and the whole production, let me know because I have the pics edited and saved. I would like to reiterate - These are not poor quality lipsticks; they're actually quite nice! But I bought these under the assumption that they would be matte, and not an extended color range of the original formula, which they are. So, yeah, I'm kinda bummed out. Buy these if you like the shades or the Expert Last formula, don't buy if you're wanting a nice matte finish!

From L-R: "418 Sugar Plum", "440 Creamy Caramel", "445 Coralista", "446 Smooch", "447 Forever Fuchsia", "448 Smooth Beige", "449 Creamy Mauve", "450 Pure Coral", "451 Velvety Fuchsia", and "452 Red Suede".

From L-R: "446 Smooch", "449 Creamy Mauve", Jordana Matte Lipstick in "Pink Passion", Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in "Elusive", Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte lipstick in "Matte Blissful", and Jordana Modern Matte lipstick in "Matte Tease". The last four are way more matte, whereas the first two look like the same exact finish.

Best of BECCA Kit - FIRST IMPRESSIONS

2015-03-23T00:15:00.002-04:00

Okay, so this post should have been up on Friday when I first got this kit but I was slacking. This kit is, sadly, no longer available on Ulta's website, but I'm still going to post this first impressions because all of the products in this kit are permanent products, first off, and secondly, this kit might still be available in stores and if you see it, I highly suggest that you snatch it up, if blush and highlight products are your jam. BECCA is a brand that I've wanted to try since we first got it, but I just couldn't convince myself to take the plunge, since a lot of their best selling products are rather expensive.

This set is a great value; for $34.50, you get to try four best selling products from the BECCA line, all of which are well-coordinated and work well together. You also get two full size products, both of which add up to a $52 value. The two highlighting products are minis but they're so frosty and potent that I can't imagine blowing through them too fast. Combined, it's about another $16 value. For $68 you can try out four products, two of which are full size! Also, there is a free GWP right now; a deluxe sample Ever-Matte Primer with any $30 Becca purchase (offer valid 3/15/15-4/4/15 or while supplies last), which is a ten dollar value!

FTC Disclaimer: All of the products mentioned in this post were purchased by me, with my own money. I am not affiliated with BECCA and all opinions are my own, as always! I am not being sponsored nor compensated for this post.

Okay, I have no direct link to this product on Ulta's site, but hopefully you can still find this in your local store!:

Achieve an effortlessly perfected BECCA lookwith this collection of best selling and iconic products.

Shimmering Skin Perfector™ Pressed in "Rose Gold" (mini); A creamy luminizing powder that veils skin in a soft pearlized flow with a lustrous velvet finish. Sweep across face or apply to targeted areas for refined luminosity in any light.

Shimmering Skin Perfector™ Spotlight in "Opal" (mini); This portable liquid highlighter features ultra-fine, light-reflecting pearls that melt into your skin for polished, natural-looking radiance. Using the wand, dab a small amount on the high points of your face. Can also be mixed with moisturizer or foundation for an all-over glow.

Beach Tint in "Guava" (full size); A water-resistant crème stain that tints lips and cheeks with a natural wash of colour. Layer under powder blushes, Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflé, bronzer, or lip products for added intensity.

Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflé in "Watermelon/Moonstone" (full size); A pop of luminescent colour in an air-whipped cheek soufflé. This water-resistant formula provides effortlessly buildable colour with a soft, lustrous finish. Apply with BECCA's The One Perfecting Brush for a wash of colour, or your fingers for a more intense pop of colour."

This is definitely a first impressions post; unlike my previous Tarte one, I've never had any experience with this makeup line whatsoever. I've used each of these products twice. I can do a comprehensive full review if anyone is interested, since these products are available permanently, so let me know in a comment if you would be interested!

As far as the highlighters go, they are INTENSE. They're very metallic and borderline glittery. Both formulas blend and melt into the skin quite easily but if I had to pick a formula, I think I prefer the liquid Spotlight version. It could also be the color I have in the pressed version; "Rose Gold" is a beautiful shade but it's too dark to be used as a highlighter. I did also wear it as an eyeshadow and it was absolutely stunning, so I'll still get use out of it! The "Opal" was a much better highlighter shade and the formula was a lot less intense. The liquid was less metallic and closer to a natural sheen. I don't know how great these products would be on problematic skin like large pores or aging skin, but I liked them. I don't think I'd repurchase the pressed version in the full size; I doubt I'll ever use up this mini version. I would consider buying the Spotlight version but I actually like this mini with the sponge-tip better than the pump!

The blushes were the hits for me; they're both in great colors, bright fun corals and the soufflé formula has a great golden shimmer set through it. I tried the regular Beach Tint on my lips and you'll definitely want to throw on a balm underneath or a gloss on top for added moisture if you have dry lips; mine were rough looking. I also added some of the soufflé on my lips, which made them MORE dry, but the pigmentation of the soufflé was actually more intense on my lips than the formula that is actually made to be used on both cheeks and lips. I loved the color on my cheeks, not sure how I feel about it on my lips yet.

Overall, if you can find this kit and you like cheek products, you NEED to buy this kit and check it out.

Okay, now onto pics and swatches. Sorry in advance about my brows!

Left - flash, right - no flash.

Left - flash, right - no flash.

Eye Heart Tarte Eye Essentials - FIRST IMPRESSIONS

2015-03-20T19:18:00.002-04:00

The 21 Days of Beauty is going on at Ulta right now, and they always bring out some great kits from a lot of the prestige brands. I don't know if I plan on picking any more up, but I did get my hands on the two I had really wanted (this Tarte one being one of them!) and I wanted to get this post up ASAP! This is not an in-depth review. If you're interested in a full review on these products (the liners and mascara; this quad is only available in this kit I believe) then let me know! I've tried Tarte shadows and the Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara before, but the liners are new to me.

This kit retails for $34 through Ulta. It should also be available in stores! The total value is $71, so you save $37! Plus, through April 4th (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST AT YOUR ULTA LOCATION), there is a GWP going on with Tarte; spend $30 and receive a free deluxe Brazilliance Face Towelette and deluxe Lipsurgence Lip Gloss in Flush, which is a $20 value, which means you can potentially get $91 worth of Tarte products for $34+ tax!

FTC Disclaimer: All of the products mentioned in this post were purchased by me, with my own money. I am not affiliated with Tarte and all opinions are my own, as always! I am not being sponsored nor compensated for this post.

According to Ulta's site:

Need 4 more reasons to "heart Tarte"? Introducing an exclusive discovery set of 4 must-have eye-essentials, including a brand-new Amazonian Clay Eye Shadow Quad inspired by Tarte's love for its loyal fans. With this exclusive color collection, you'll have everything you need to create natural, everyday eye looks or transition to a smoldering nighttime stare - whatever your heart desires!

Key ingredients:

Amazonian clay: Nature's most perfect ingredient for better, longer, truer wear
Olive esters: Help condition, treat and protect lashes
Provitamin B5: Vitamin B derivative that helps treat and thicken lashes
Mineral pigments: Soothe and soften lashes

A $71 value!

Includes:

Full size Lights, Camera, Lashes Waterproof 12-Hour Inner Rim Liner in black (0.009 oz.)
Full size Lights, Camera, Lashes Precision Longwear Eye Liner in Black (0.034 fl. oz.)
Deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-In-1 Mascara (0.13 fl. oz.)
Amazonian Clay Eye Shadow Quad in Ivory Little Thing (ivory), Heart Of Gold (gold), On Copper The World (dark copper) and Love Runs Deep (dark brown) (0.056 oz. each)"

Overall, I think this kit is a GREAT VALUE. I have a hard time buying Tarte products on their own, it just doesn't catch me, ya feel? I'll be a grandmother and I'll still be rockin' neon and glitter and false lashes, if that helps to explain it. That being said, I really like this kit. The liners are nicely pigmented. This IS a first impressions, not a review, so I can't tell you how the liners function over time, but I've had them on since 10 AM, and it's now 7 PM, and my liner is STILL on my tightline! It has faded a bit in my waterline, but the liquid liner hasn't faded and is still going strong, without smudging or flaking, so as far as the liners go, they get my tentative thumbs up! If you want a full review on the liquid liner, leave me a comment, because my opinions might change, since I usually hate this style of felt tips.

I've used Lights, Camera, Lashes several times before and it's a good, standard mascara. It adds a bit of length and volume, helps darken the lashes, doesn't flake or smudge on me, and also doesn't become hard or crunchy. I like this mascara. I prefer tons of volume and this mascara doesn't give me that BUT it's also a great layering mascara, especially when I use it with Benefit They're Real. Tarte shadows are always good, they remind me a bit of the Wet N Wild Color Icon shadows, except a bit easier to blend and apply. They're smooth and buttery and have great pigmentation. They're a bit more powdery than I, personally, like, but they're still great shadows. This quad is a great, every day quad. The highlight shadow is amazing, I love that it's not super frosty or glittery! The matte brown is also quite nice. The lid shadow tends to not show up that well on my skintone, but it's still a nice shimmery shade. The coppery color is probably my favorite.

If you like Tarte or want to try out the brand, or just like eye products, I highly recommend checking out this set. And now onto product pictures and swatches; warning, there are some close ups of my eye, if that kind of thing creeps you out. Also, ignore my brows please, they're a total work-in-progress! I'm going to show the swatches twice; at the end and also right here, in case you just want to see swatches and don't care about the product pics because it's a lot of scrolling!

Taken with flash.

Taken without flash.

On the left: "Ivory Little Thing" and on the right: "Heart Of Gold".

On the left: "On Copper The World" and on the right: "Love Runs Deep".

Now, some pics of this stuff actually on my face. Again, sorry about my brows, they're a total WIP!

Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara - REVIEW (Influenster)

2015-03-18T01:41:00.000-04:00

It has been a long time since I've gotten an Influenster box and BOY AM I EXCITED that it was this particular box. I've tried the YSL Faux Cils mascara before and it was a beautiful mascara...or it would have been if it didn't flake like crazy on me. That being said, this is a reformulated version and I was excited to be able to try it! Mascara is a tricky thing, and it's not my favorite product to review because it's so personal; even if you have the EXACT SAME LASH TYPE as me, you can still end up hating a mascara I absolutely love. It's actually ten times more difficult when you consider that this is a $32 mascara...and that's hella expensive. Add in the fact that I got it for testing purposes and this post is pretty challenging.

I've done many posts involving Influenster before, and I will link to them below. Basically, when you sign up, you can pick badges of interest and do activities within those badges. When Influenster has a program relating to your interests, you can receive products free of charge to test and review. It's social media based, so you will have the best luck if you have the full spectrum of social media (FB, Twitter, IG, Vine, YT, a blog, etc.) I've done a mini intro post here.

FTC DISCLAIMER: I received this product through the Influenster program for testing and reviewing purposes. I am not affiliated with Yves Saint Laurent and this post is unsponsored, nor am I receiving compensation, beyond the product to try. All opinions are, as always, honest and my own.

Also, before you click the jump, this post does contain wonky close-ups of my eye, so if those kinds of things make you uncomfortable, don't proceed!

According to YSL's website:

NEW improved formula does not dry out. The best gets even better, the original false lash effect mascara, now with an all new Lash Care formula. Achieve absolute dramatic lashes in a single stroke for eyes that instantly pop. Its secret is the Triple-Intensity Formula: intense volume, intense color and now intense care. The nylon fiber brush coats each lash in deep color and maximum volume from root to tip, while B5 Pro-Vitamin strengthens and protects lashes. Available in 6 signature YSL shades to compliment eye color or to create a customized look."

Ingredients

AQUA (WATER) . PARAFFIN . STEARIC ACID . CERA CARNAUBA . TRIETHANOLAMINE . CERA ALBA (BEESWAX) . C10-30 CHOLESTEROL/LANOSTEROL ESTERS . NYLON-12 . STEARYL STEARATE . PHENOXYETHANOL . HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE . EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX . DIMETHICONE . PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) . TITANIUM DIOXIDE . TOCOPHERYL ACETATE . METHYLPARABEN . ADIPIC ACID/DIETHYLENE GLYCOL/GLYCERIN CROSSPOLYMER . PANTHENOL . VP/ EICOSENE COPOLYMER . BEHENIC ACID . SORBITAN STEARATE . PEG-40 STEARATE . ALGAE EXTRACT . ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE . BUTYLPARABEN . ETHYLPARABEN . ISOBUTYLPARABEN . PROPYLPARABEN . [+/- MAY CONTAIN : CI 77007 (ULTRAMARINES) . CI 77499 (IRON OXIDE) . CI 75470 (CARMINE) . CI 77491 (IRON OXIDE) . CI 77019 (MICA) . CI 77742 (MANGANESE VIOLET) . CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE) . CI 77492 (IRON OXIDE) . CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE . CI 19140 (YELLOW 5 LAKE) . CI 42090 (BLUE 1 LAKE) . CI 77000 (ALUMINUM POWDER) . CI 77163 (BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE) . CI 77289 (CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN) . CI 77510 (FERRIC FERROCYANIDE) . CI 77288 (CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS) . SILICA . “3YY07-1“ . ]
Before I actually talk about this mascara, let's chat about my lash type and what I look for in a mascara. I have those typical short, stick-straight Asian lashes. My lashes don't hold a curl, even with waterproof mascara, and frankly, I don't bother with curling my lashes anymore because they will always fall. I'm greedy; I like volume AND length. I want it all, basically.

This formula HAS been improved. Faux Cils used to smudge like crazy on me and flake underneath my eyes but this formula doesn't do that at all. It wears until I take it off (the longest I've had it on for is about 28 hours) and it comes off easily, which is always appreciated. It's a standard black, it's not going to look insanely midnight black but it also doesn't look gray. It adds a bit of length and a bit of volume, which I like. After three coats, it will start to clump, but I feel like the majority of mascaras will do that. Personally, I quite enjoy this mascara. It actually helps to lift my lashes and provides a bit of curling action! It has a slightly drier formula, which is the kind that I, personally, prefer. The brush head is pretty standard, which I actually ALSO like. It's normal bristles and easy to work with, not too large or small and it doesn't have a crazy shape.

That being said, is it worth the $32 and would I repurchase? Yes and no. Is it worth the money? I can't really say because it depends on the individual's budget and the amount they're willing to pay. I like this product. I think it works well and I enjoy using it. That being said, I wouldn't pay this much for this particular product. But if you have the budget and you like YSL or want a bit of glamour, GO FOR IT! The tube is weighty and luxe while being simplistic. Even though I personally would not purchase this mascara, it is not a bad mascara; it's quite good actually.

There are a few drugstore mascaras that perform similarly on my lashes. L'Oreal Voluminous, once the formula dries down a bit, is pretty spot-on, and the Carbon Black shade is crazy dark. The Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow is also similar in effect, while being a third of the price. This mascara gets two thumbs up from me, in terms of the product, but I think the price tag is steep if you're just in the market for a workable mascara and not in the market for a luxury product.

My right eye (your left) has mascara on; my left eye (your right) is product-free.

Mascara-ed lashes.

Bare lashes.

January-March Empties!

2015-03-18T00:28:00.000-04:00

Okay, okay, so that title is a lie; some of these empties are from as long ago as last July. I'm always torn between wanting to do a substantial empties post...and not wanting it to be ridiculous. This post is going to be ridiculous, sorry to say, because I really want to through out my trash, haha. So, basically, this is about four months worth of empties, give or take a bunch of things that I forgot about and just tossed.

I'm doing this in blog format because it will be way easier to scroll to relevant parts than in a long-ass video. I hope to never acquire this much trash again. I'm hoping to do one of these every other month, if it's interesting. (If all I have is a bunch of cotton and products that I've shown before, don't expect an empties post - I enjoy these types of things...but not when they're redundant.)

Food Stuff

That gum was the weirdest thing...it was definitely birthday cake flavored but it had a minty aftertaste? Weird. I, obviously, chewed all of it. Those peppermint jumbo marshmallows are LIFE and five thousand times better in hot chocolate mmmm! And those are a few Nature Box snacks. I know, I know, Nature Box is everywhere and it's way overdone. Well, I pay for my monthly subscription myself and I must say; those lemon tea biscuits are amazing and I had to restrain myself to not eat the entire pouch in one sitting. The pistachio clusters were equally good. I have already gotten both at least two more times!

Randoms

This is the dye I use to get my red hair. I've gone through over thirty tubes of this stuff, and I will continue to use it. I use it with 40 cream developer and I get both from Sally's. Also, a random bottle of Airborne. Okay, that stuff may be a total gimmick and completely placebo effect BUT I haven't had a cold in four years since using various forms of that stuff.

Hair Products

I love the Batiste Wild scent. I want a perfume of it. I want to drench my entire bo-okay, anyway, I really like that stuff and I have about fifty backups! That TRESemme heat protectant smells good and I like it but I HATE the nozzle. I have average sized hands, they're not small and delicate, and that dang nozzle is too small and uncomfortable for me to use. I have a different heat protectant I'm using now, but I would repurchase this one and pour it into a better spray bottle! The Pureology product is one of my favorite things; I got that little body in a Glossybox and I freakin' love it. Pureology products are vegan and it does smell a little ehhhh but it was one of my favorite things; better than the It's A 10, and I've already repurchased the jumbo bottle from Ulta. I'm including the link so that everyone can read about the ridiculous claims. I can tell you right now that I didn't pay attention to see if it really did those 21 things BUT my hair was soft and silky and, more importantly, my color lasted significantly longer. That last product was a hair oil that I got from Birchbox. It was a tiny, dinky little thing but it seriously lasted for three months (mind you, I don't regularly wash my hair sooo...) It smells beyond amazing (like Pink Sugar) and made my hair feel so nice. It's an exclusive Birchbox product and I'm saving my points for it.

Hair Care

I finally used up the AG shampoo and conditioner! I purchased those liters OVER A YEAR AGO during the Ulta liter sale and I love them. AG is another vegan hair product line and this stuff smells so good (like orange creamsicles and candy) but it can be a bit much for a lot of people. I had the moisturizing line (not the Fast Food though) and I LOVED it. Made my hair feel so good. However, it stripped the color out of my hair! Boooo! So even though everything else about this stuff was amazing, I won't be repurchasing. :( The Clean dandruff shampoo also took me forever to use. It stripped the color out, for one, but also I discovered I don't have dandruff, I actually have a dry scalp! I use a bit of argan or jojoba oil on my scalp and problem solved! I used this as a clarifying shampoo when my dye was already faded as hell, hence why it took over a year to finish it off. The last thing is the Hair One for color treated hair. It's the WEN knock-off from Sally's and I use about one bottle every three months.

Cotton

I use a lot of cotton. I use it with makeup remover, with my micellar water, with my toner. I don't have a specific brand, just a specific type - I LOVE the exfoliating cotton rounds. I go through packages of those like crazy. They have these little plastic nubby things on them and they work magic with my toner. I've heard that the Shiseido cotton pads are magical, albeit more pricy, and I'm going to try them soon now that I'm working at Macy's too.

Makeup Wipes

I really liked these Yes To Grapefruit wipes for a really long while, but I probably won't repurchase unless they go on sale because they were pretty standard wipes, they didn't really brighten too much, just made my face feel clean.

I, obviously, love the Neutrogena wipes and I use a lot of them. I know a lot of people like the knockoffs, but I don't, I'm not a fan of the Kirkland ones, or the Up & Up brand, or the Walmart versions...they don't clean AS well and they sting my eyes. I buy these when they're on sale at Ulta because I can get them for pretty cheap.

Now, I just said that I didn't like any of the knockoff Neutrogena wipes but these Meijer ones are GREAT. That being said, they're nearly as expensive as the Neutrogena ones and if those are on sale at Ulta I can get them for way cheaper than the Meijer ones. They clean well and they don't sting. If you live in the midwest, I definitely recommend checking out the Meijer wipes. The green package I didn't like as much though. It's supposed to be like the Simple wipes and those DID sting. Finally the Dr. Lin wipes are a newish skincare brand we have at Ulta. They have salicylic acid in them and I use them in the morning sometimes.

Skincare

Two makeup removers; the Maybelline one (which is being discontinued I believe, or at least being pulled from most of the stores near me) which wasn't that good. I don't like duo-phase removers anyway, but this one claimed to remove waterproof mascara and it struggled to remove my non-waterproof mascara. The Lumene one is better, but again, I don't like the duo-phase ones. I liked the acne foaming Aveeno cleanser a lot and I'd rebuy it if I wasn't using The Body Shop tea tree products. The Clarisonic cleanser is very average and REALLY fragranced; I wouldn't repurchase. Boscia is no longer sold at Ulta, so I wouldn't purchase the toner again. I liked the Garnier moisturizer a lot and have repurchased in the past but I'm using some anti-aging products now. The Clean & Clear product was, sadly, discontinued! I loved it and I still have a few left in my backups. I have just repurchased the Acne Free mask and I really like using it. It has sulfur as its active ingredient and it works to dry up bumps. The Queen Helene scrub was a surprise find at Sally's, I only knew about their face masks! I love the way it smells, and if you like the St. Ives scrubs, then you'll like this. However, I'm obsessed with the Dark Angels scrub from Lush, so I will not be repurchasing this.

Body Care

I go through a lot of those Clinical Strength antiperspirants, as you can probably tell. I've tried other brands of "clinical strength" products and they're just not as good as the Secret brand. For whatever reason, the sporty scent is my favorite. I finally used up some witch hazel. I used to use this as my toner for at least a year but I'm really enjoying The Body Shop's tea tree toner so I don't plan on repurchasing this but it is really good and pretty cheap, so if you're looking for a cheaper toner for oily/acne-prone skin, this is still a good option. The Crest Radiant Mint is my current favorite toothpaste and it works really well with the mouthwash and the whitening strips. Finally, that's the Up & Up brand knock-off of the Jergens daily tanning stuff. I liked it about as well as the Jergens but I found an even cheaper alternative at Walmart (which is also a knockoff of the Hempz products) so I probably won't repurchase this one either, but it worked fine.

Makeup Pt. 1

I'm beyond shocked that I was able to use up an entire Wet N Wild highlighter because those things are dang huge. That being said, I was slightly aided by gravity, since a third of it shattered on my bathroom floor. That being said, I really like it and I've already repurchased it. I'm trying to use up a different highlighter right now, but I'll go back to this one soon. The NYC Sunny bronzer was probably one of my favorite bronzers back in the day but the drugstore has definitely improved with its offerings of matte bronzers and this one is a bit too light and too orange for my liking now. That is old Revlon Color Stay packaging and I wasn't too fond of this particular formulation. I haven't tried it since it got repackaged, but the color on the older powder was a bit too peachy for me. The Nearly Naked powder is probably the best drugstore powder I've ever used. I've already repurchased, already using it.

I blew through some eye products; the Hard Candy liner was shit but it has been redone so I'm not sure if the new one is any better. The Flower liner is actually one of the best felt tip liners I've used, considering I tend to not like felt tips. Physicians Formula liners are my go-to, but it's not super black, so if anyone knows of a good brush tip liner, let me know. I've heard good things about the Kat Von D one! The Hard Candy pencil liner wasn't so hot, the Flower pencil liner was surprisingly long wearing. I really enjoyed the Essence liquid liner but the felt tip frayed super fast on me so that is a no go. I liked the NYX eye primer but I have so many eye primers to go through that this is rather low on my list of repurchases. I SO dislike those Maybelline lipsticks and the color was just not my style. The Out The Door top coat is good, but it wasn't as thick looking and glossy and I would have liked.

Makeup Pt. 2 - Mascaras

Benefit They're Real: I liked this but I didn't love it. I know it's a fan favorite but this formula was interesting. It made my lashes look really textured. I did like it better as a layering mascara.
Rimmel Sexy Curves Full Volume: I've used the Rimmel Sexy Curves in the purple tube before and I did like it. The brush head was plastic and it worked well with the formula. This brush however, was normal bristles and they just didn't work well with this wetter formula. It was the most natural looking mascara and if you already have lovely lashes, this will probably work for you.
Covergirl Clump Crusher: This mascara was amazing...up until it dried out on me after three weeks. I can't bring myself to repurchase, even though I really enjoyed the look, because I have other mascaras that I love which DON'T dry out that fast.
NYX Doll Eyes: This mascara was really nice, perfect formula, nice brush. The only thing is, I prefer a drier formula and this mascara got sticky after a couple of months. Mascara has a short shelf-life as it is, so this wasn't exactly a deal-breaker but I would probably not repurchase right away.
Maybelline The Falsies/Falsies Flared/Big Eyes: I love The Falsies, I've repurchased several times. I didn't like the flared version as much, it didn't do anything for me. It didn't flake, clump, or smudge either, but it didn't add any length or any volume. I loved the Big Eyes but I just never repurchased although I would in a pinch.
Bare Minerals Flawless Definition: This mascara was GREAT for definition and length. Not so great for volume. I liked layering it with the Benefit They're Real, because using this as the second coat cut down on the textured scaly look the Benefit one had.
Revlon Colorstay: I don't get this mascara. What was its purpose? What was it supposed to do? Because on me it did absolutely nothing. I could apply fifty coats and it was like applying air.
Essence I Heart Extreme: It's okay. The formula was actually a bit too dry for me. This isn't necessarily a bashing on this mascara though, because the tube has no safety seal and I'm sure people were opening all of the tubes. Normally I'm careful and only buy makeup on truck days when I know it's new, because I'm the one putting it away, but this time I wasn't careful. Also, this mascara is $5 and I can get stuff like The Falsies for cheaper so...
Almay Get Up & Grow: Pretty sure this was a emilynoel83 purchase and I love this mascara. I'm not sure if it REALLY helps your lashes grow, but the formula is perfect and it doesn't feel crunchy or hard. I've already repurchased several times. The brush is huge, but it's normal bristles and doesn't poke or scratch. Overall I really like it!

Okay, bonus points if you've made it through this whole post. I am DEFINITELY going to be consistent with these types of posts, because no one needs this much trash lying around for months on end. I have A LOT of fun posts in the works, here's hoping I can keep the blogging going!

bareMinerals Prime Time BB Primer-Cream Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 REVIEW

2014-12-20T17:38:00.000-05:00

So, initially this post was supposed to be a first impressions post. But because I'm so bad at blogging lately, I've actually used this product long enough to do a full review on it! Oh man...Anyway, this product has a SUPER LONG name, so instead of always typing Prime Time BB Primer-Cream Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 30 every time, we're just going to stick with "BB primer"! This came out a while back (as usual I am tardy to the party) and I had wanted it then but I have a lot of primers. Recently I just used up a couple and finally took the plunge (I've been on a bareMinerals kick lately) and finally purchased it. I also picked up the Bare Skin foundation, the brush that accompanies the Bare Skin, and the Ready Touch Up Veil along with this primer, but those are separate posts! The foundation used in these blog photos will be the Bare Skin foundation.

This product retails for $26 (I work at Ulta, so I purchased mine for a bit less) and it should be available at any BM retailer (Ulta, Sephora, etc) as well as online. When it was originally released, it came in two shade options but now there are four (Fair, Light, Medium, and Tan) and I have the Light. It contains 1 fl. oz. of product (30 mL), which is a standard size for a face primer. It comes in the same type of pump packaging that the original Prime Time comes in, but I wish that it came in a squeeze tube!

FTC Disclaimer: I purchased this product myself. I am not affiliated with Bare Escentuals nor is this a sponsored post. I am not receiving any compensation for this post and all opinions and thoughts are entirely my own.

According to bareMinerals' website:

Perfect, protect and prime—at the same time. With a hint of skin-perfecting coverage, this multi-tasking BB primer-cream immediately diminishes the appearance of discoloration, uneven skin tone and imperfections while providing broad spectrum SPF 30 protection and defense against environmental stressors. Plus the silky, smooth formula combats flaky dryness, excess oil and the appearance of pores to perfectly prep skin for a flawless foundation application."

Ingredients

Active ingredients: Titanium dioxide 2.6% and Zinc oxide 6.2%. Inactive ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Hexyl Laurate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Silica, Tocopherol, Magnesium Silicate, Panthenol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Stearyl Triethoxysilane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Retinyl Retinoate, Cyclodextrin. May Contain : Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, 77492, 77499).
You need to clear your mind of the preconceived notion of a bb cream. This is not going to be similar to an Asian bb cream in the slightest. This isn't even going to be close to a Western style tinted moisturizer type bb cream. This is a foundation primer that has a teeny tiny bit of a tint. It's going to slightly reduce things like discoloration and redness and even out your skin tone by a small amount. It is not going to be like applying a tinted moisturizer. It doesn't really have too much coverage on its own. It's a silicone based foundation primer that does all of the same things as a primer typically does (smoothes fine lines and wrinkles, fills in pores, helps foundation adhere and blend out evenly on the skin, and helps the staying power of your base product) with a tiny bit of a tint.

If you have pretty decent skin, you could just smooth this on and you might be set to go. If you're like me, in the midrange as far as skin issues and discoloration go, this primer will help even you out, allowing you to use a bit less foundation, while still prepping your skin for your base. Once applied, this primer has that typical velvety, silky silicone feeling to it. I allow the product to sit for a minute or two before I apply my base product over it.

I've used this under all sorts of products; Bare Skin, Ready, and the original and matte loose powder foundations from BM, several bb creams (both Maybelline, Flower, and NYX), powder compacts like the Laura Geller, and liquid foundations ranging from higher priced (Naked from Urban Decay and NARS Sheer Glow) to drugstore (the new Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless and the Revlon Photo Ready Airbrush Effect) and it works just like any other primer. BUT it DOES add a little extra in the coverage department. Nothing much, nothing super noticeable to outsiders maybe, But I notice!

Bare skin.

Face with primer on.
As you can tell, it doesn't do much but it does add a little something!

Full face of makeup!
Overall, I really do enjoy this product. For someone like me, who has oily-combination skin and a decent amount of discoloration and redness to cover up, this primer does help. As far as its priming properties, it works the same as every other primer I've tried and enjoyed. It lengthens the wear-time of my foundation and allows my foundations and bb creams to blend onto my skin a lot more smoothly. I don't think this is a must-have product though. And I'm not sure how well it would really help if you have a large amount of skin issues to help subdue. But I do like it and I will be repurchasing this primer!

Extras!

Some notable ingredients in here would be Glycyrrhiza Glabra (licorice root; the molecole licochalcone can help control oil production and sooth acne-prone skin), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (two different stable and non-irritating vitamin c derivatives), Retinyl Retinoate (a vitamin a derivative that is milder on the skin and also reported to be more resilient to sunlight), Cyclodextrin (works as stabilizing host for other chemicals such as retinols that releases them over a period of time), and, finally, Tocopherol, which is vitamin e!

L’Oréal Infallible® Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray REVIEW

2014-12-11T12:53:00.001-05:00

Let's talk about a most exciting release! I'm sure everyone has heard of the UD All Nighter setting spray by now, and certainly the Skindinavia sprays! But here's a setting spray from the drugstore that is actually effective! From the Infallible line by L’Oréal, this spray contains 3.4 oz and retails for $16.99, but if you live in the midwest near a Meijer, I found mine at Meijer for $13.99 AND on a BOGO50% sale! Definitely check places like grocery stores such as Meijer or Walmart instead of Walgreens or CVS because you will probably find it for a bit cheaper! Also, this is a fairly new release, which means the price will probably drop as the product is out on the shelves for longer.

e.l.f. Cosmetics makes a Studio product called Mist and Set, and if this product works for you, that's AWESOME because this particular spray is only $3 and you can frequently get e.l.f. products for 50% off! Unfortunately, this spray doesn't prolong the wear of my makeup, plus it contains parabens (Methylparaben，Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Butylparaben, to be exact) so this isn't an option for me.

I'm hoping that, as this product is out on the shelves longer, they begin to bring out different formulations of this setting spray because, REVIEW SPOILER, I am in love with this product! BUT I have dry, flaky skin in the winter and insanely greasy and sweaty skin in the summer months and the All Nighter doesn't work so hot for me during that period so I'm not positive as to how well this spray will fare in those conditions. I HAVE worn it during hot and sweaty truck unloading shifts and it has held up beautifully during those, so fingers crossed. I would love if they came out with an oil control formula though!

According to L'Oréal's website:

Locks in makeup for a “just applied” makeup look all day.
Lightweight mist, barely there feel.
Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic.

Keep your makeup looking fresh hours after application: no melting, fading or touch-ups necessary. This lightweight, oil free setting spray locks in your total makeup look, Face, Eyes, and Lips, preventing color from smudging or settling into fine lines for all-day staying power."

Ingredients List

Aqua/Water/Eau, Alcohol Denat., PVP, Dimethicone PEG-7 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Isononyl Isononanoate, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Poloxamer 407, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Aloe Barbadensis/Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Limonene, Parfum/Fragrance.

I have worn this spray for varying times; as short as five hours and as long as 30 hours. This spray lasted brilliantly for about 26 hours before I started looking a bit rough around the edges. My eye makeup (which I didn't set) was one of the first things to head south. The skin around my nose and between my eyebrows (the two spots I seem to touch the most) started to get patchy and dry looking at the 26 hour marker but my cheeks and forehead were still going strong! This spray doesn't give a time length, so that doesn't really matter but my makeup stayed fresh throughout two complete Black Friday shifts at both Macy's AND Ulta and I was definitely sweating!

I've used this makeup extender with many different types of base products, from the Bare Minerals Original foundation, the new Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation, the Flower BB Cream, Bare Skin, the L'Oréal BB Cream from their skincare range, and others. It held up fantastic each time. I also tried using this without a primer and it still seemed to lengthen the wear time I could achieve with products that would normally fade much faster.

This is not a refresher spray, nor does it have any hydrating properties, at least not on my skin. When I spray this over my makeup, if my face is looking powdery, it STILL looks powdery post-spray (to reduce the powdery look, I use something like MAC Fix + or the Mario Badescu rose facial spray to refresh and add a bit of hydration). I don't feel it on my skin once it dries. It doesn't really leave a film or a sticky feeling on the skin, which is definitely nice. The spray is average. It's not as fine of a mist as the UD spray. It's not the worst spray, however. You won't get actually droplets of liquid on your face and it is still an even mist. I find more than two sprays does make my face feel wet.

Overall, if you're looking for a decent setting spray that's a bit cheaper and easy to get ahold of, I think this is a fantastic option. (Maybelline is owned by L'Oréal, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a spray from them, since that line tends to be more inexpensive than its parent company.)

This is the beginning of my day, using the new Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation and pressed powder, complete with mascara smudges on my glasses, wow.

This is nine hours later, after working a six hour shift and going grocery shopping. And those mascara smudges on my glasses still, I'm clearly on top of things. No touch-ups with blotting sheets or powder!

EXTRAS!

That being said, if you have super oily or super dry skin, it might be worth it to invest in the Urban Decay/Skindinavia sprays, which come in different formulations specifically targeted towards those types of skin. From UD, you can get the De-Slick spray, which I LOVE and recommend for summer or super oily skin. They also have the Chill spray, which is hydrating and has a cooling sensation to it.

Also, the Skindinavia sprays come in two sizes; 4 oz for $29 and 8 oz for $39, which is about 0.21 oz per dollar if you purchase the 8 oz size. (The 4 oz size equals about 0.14 oz per dollar.) The L'Oréal one, if you can only find it for $16.99, is about 0.20 oz per dollar. Yes, the initial cost is, obviously, more. But if you feel like you might need more than a good basic setting spray and need it to have additional functions for your skin, this might be something to look into. The larger size will last forever (I have the large oil control spray from Urban Decay and the large size of the Bridal spray from Skindinavia (which is sweat-proof and tear-proof...this is GOOD, hardcore stuff!) Skindinavia says you can get about 180 days out of a large bottle but I can get about eight months out of it. As far as the L'Oréal one goes, I've used it daily (one or two sprays per use) for a month now and it's about 1/4 gone.

Another thing to note is that UD specifically mentions that their spray is vegan, so this is probably a better choice for those who prefer cruelty-free products. I'm not sure whether the L'Oréal spray is vegan, but they're not a cruelty-free company.

The ingredients of the L'Oréal spray and the Urban Decay All Nighter spray are nearly identical. L'Oréal added limonene, which is derived from citrus peels (it causes this spray to smell like the citrus flavor of NOS energy drink, at least to me...it's a bit strange but not offensive.) Urban Decay/Skindinavia (the UD ones are manufactured by Skindinavia) add additional ingredients such as caprylyl glycol (humectant and stabilizer), sodium hydroxide (pH adjuster; helps to stabilize the product), methyl methacrylate crosspolymer (film former and absorbs excess sebum), n, 2, 3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide (cooling agent), and glycereth-5 lactate (emulsifier).

NEW AT THE DRUGSTORE - Maybelline Edition

2014-12-08T01:16:00.002-05:00

So, I'm not even going to try to give some kind of lame ass sob story. Basically, I've been a terrible blogger, but I just bought a Macbook Pro AND a new DSLR so I'm planning on coming back with a vengeance. ANYWAY, have a new at the drugstore type of post! I knew about the new lipsticks from Maybelline, but I had NO CLUE about these products! Also found but not featured are several new shades of the Brow Drama brow gel, including a transparent shade, but I didn't pick any of those up. I purchased all of these things from my local Meijer, and I found them on an endcap display!

Note: this is not a review, this is basically a haul post. I haven't put any of these on my face yet!

The Maybelline Fit Me line has two new additions to the family...and these are pretty exciting!

They're a matte + poreless foundation and powder! I did a review on the original foundation and powder a long time ago here, if you're curious, but that foundation has a more glowy dewy finish on the skin. I haven't heard anything much about these products, but they claim to be for normal to oily skin, and to have a matte and poreless finish on the face. I purchased both in the shade "220 Natural Beige" (for reference the Fit Me products used to use a number system; numbers ending with 5s were cool-toned, numbers with 0s were warm...I'm not sure if they still follow that, but 220 is a pretty decent match for me.) I played around with the foundation on my hand and it does appear to have a matte finish. I liked the way it set as well, it feels like a natural, almost powdery finish. I will, obviously, have to wear it on my face to tell you more. Maybe a first impressions post is in order!

If you live near a Meijer, Maybelline face products are BOGO50%! Both of these were $6.19 + tax.

They also had new eyeshadow duos called Color Molten. I picked up two of the eight color choices. I haven't used these on my eyes yet, but they have a weird, slightly squishy texture! They feel like a super creamy powder. After I got them home I actually Googled them and I guess they're supposed to be similar to the Almay Shadow Softies, which I'm not really that fond of. But I'm going to give them a good go anyway, maybe they'll be closer to the Milani shadows and not the Almay ones (fingers crossed)! These were $6.99 a piece at that same Meijer.

"300 Nude Rush"

"302 Endless Mocha"

Finally, there's a new liquid liner called Master Graphic. It has a super interesting felt tip, similar to a Sharpie marker, and I doubt I'll like it. It swatches black but it's not waterproof (came off super easy with water; I didn't even need to use soap) and the felt tip was already frayed before I even used it. BUT I might just be a Negative Nancy about this, so I will definitely still try this liner out. I got mine for $6.99, so it's pretty affordable!

Have you tried any of these products yet? What do you think!?

Also not pictured, I did pick up the new mascara, Lash Sensational or something like that, and I REALLY like that mascara so far!

Hard Candy All Glossed Up Metallics REVIEW

2014-10-02T23:55:00.000-04:00

Hard Candy has been on the ball with some great new product releases, such as their new eyeshadow palettes and their first brow product EVER (!!) but they've also expanded some of their permanent ranges, and the All Glossed Up Hydrating Balm Stains are one of those lines.

I LOVE chubby lip pencils, okay. I own a ton, from almost every brand. I've tried the regular All Glossed Up pencils before and they're okay. They weren't horrible, they weren't the best. They were just...middle of the road. When I saw they had some new shades, at first I was going to completely pass, because these are a "metallic" finish, and normally I'm not into that. However, I'm a sucker.

According to Hard Candy's website:

Get glossy with ALL GLOSSED UP lip crayon! An amazingly shiny, cushiony lip gloss infused with the long lasting stay power of stain. Pigments and stain are bathed in a silky-smooth, non-drying silicone base that leave lips feeling soft and supple all day."

First off, these chubby lip pencils will run you about $5 at Walmart. I'm going to be talking specifically about the metallic finish pencils, not the regular line ones, which have been out for a while. I picked up two out of the four new shades.

These feel nice on the lips and when they dry down a bit, they don't leave your lips feeling drier than before, which I have experienced with lip balms many times (EOS I'm looking at YOU). I found that the lighter shades, whether in the original lineup, or in this new metallic collections, do not really stain. It's not going to be like, say, Benefit's Benetint. The color will eventually wear away.

I don't notice a scent with these, which is actually nice because the original pencils smell like melted plastic and mint. There's that definite mint underlying everything, but the overwhelmingly noticeable scent was always a super plastic-y smell that just was not appealing. So while I might wish they smelled like mint or vanilla, maybe no smell is better!

These aren't thick or waxy on the lips and they have a lightness and glossiness to them, which makes it so that they're actually not the most long lasting product out there, even though they claim to be a stain. I did notice some slight color transfer with the red one I picked up, although it stained a light, barely noticeable pink shade on me. I get about three hours of glossiness out of these, after that I feel the need the reapply.

Just like the originals, the pigmentation is a bit more sheer and light than I would expect. Both shades seem to pull a bit pink on me, which is something I've noticed happens with the non-metallic shades as well. They're probably average pigmentation for me, but a little more color accuracy would be stellar. The lilac shade in "Mystic" looks a lot more pink on my lips than it does in the tube!

By "metallic", Hard Candy means "frosty and/or glittery". If you don't like obvious glitter in your lip products, you will want to run the other way. Both shades I picked up have glitter in them, although the lighter one is more frosty than just glittery. I will be 65 and still wearing glitter, but I can see how that look is not for everyone. As far as the texture, the feel of the balm part is the same in both, but in the red "Pulse" shade, the glitter is actually gritty on the lips.

Overall, I think these are pretty much the same as the originals for me. Not horrible. Not amazing. I like the sparkly look of "Pulse" but that won't be everyone's cup of tea. If you like glittery lips, it wouldn't hurt to check these out! I will be doing single color reviews on my Tumblr and I will link in this post when I get those up!

From L-R: "Pulse" and "Mystic".

"Pulse".

"Mystic".

Maybelline Color Sensational ® Creamy Mattes REVIEW

2014-10-01T16:24:00.003-04:00

I have a pretty exciting post, or at least I was pretty excited. This is going to be a review on the new Creamy Matte lipsticks from Maybelline...and yes, I bought all ten, haha. I had no intention on doing so, and I rarely buy every single shade in a collection or release, but I realized that I had purchased eight of the ten and I scored my lipsticks on sale so...what the heck, right?

To limit the length of this review, I've posted individual color reviews on my Tumblr and will be doing this for future products where I purchase multiple shades because let's be real; ain't no one got time to read an absurdly long post with page anchors. Plus, the Tumblr app has a really friendly mobile interface and I don't have regular computer access so I can pump out posts on there easily. Feel free to follow! That's a sideblog, so I can't follow you back via that blog, but I can follow you on my main blog if you'd like!

I will have links to each individual color post in this post. Anyway, onward with the review!

According to Maybelline's website:

Now, lips slip into our creamiest matte
New mattifying cream pure pigments. Three precious oils
In 10 make-a-statement shades

Why You'll Love It

Only from Maybelline: The Creamy Mattes by Color Sensational deliver a red burst of bold lip color and a surge of creamy texture in 10 make-a-statement shades, for mattes your lips will love to wear!"

From L-R: "650 Nude Embrace", "655 Daringly Nude", "660 Touch of Spice", "665 Lust For Blush", and "670 Ravishing Rose".

From L-R: "675 Faint For Fuchsia", "680 Mesmerizing Magenta", "685 Craving Coral", "690 Siren In Scarlet", and "695 Divine Wine".

I love these lipsticks, overall. They're all smooth and creamy and super pigmented. They're a bit thinner in texture, but they're not as thin and slippery as Vaseline. I didn't find any staining with colors, even the darkest or brightest ones. Because they have a bit of a thinner feel, they aren't the most long-wearing; I get about 2 to 3 hours of wear out of these and less if I plan on eating or drinking anything.

I really love the feel; if you've tried MAC mattes, particularly "Ruby Woo", then you know about the thick, dry, almost cakey feeling that lipstick has. I love that lipstick, but it is sooooo uncomfortable to wear, very drying and it almost has that puckering feel that some long-wear lip products can have.

These lipsticks apply nicely and feel creamy. They don't get funky feeling when you reapply them. I am pretty much in love with these!

Links to the individual color reviews:
Nude Embrace - Daringly Nude - Touch of Spice - Lust For Blush - Ravishing Rose - Faint For Fuchsia - Mesmerizing Magenta - Craving Coral - Siren In Scarlet - Divine Wine

From L-R: "650 Nude Embrace", "655 Daringly Nude", "660 Touch of Spice", "665 Lust For Blush", and "670 Ravishing Rose".

From L-R: "675 Faint For Fuchsia", "680 Mesmerizing Magenta", "685 Craving Coral", "690 Siren In Scarlet", and "695 Divine Wine".