Makeup, Skincare, etc.

E.L.F. $1 Essential lipstick in Flirtatious + More Revlon Lip Butters

2012-02-24T14:03:00.000-08:00

Flirtatious (bright almost-neon pink)
Sorry the lipstick bullet isn't as true to color in the photo, but the swatch is close

Unfortunately, this also looked less bright on someone else's blog, so I ordered it... Not a fan at all. I can't see myself wearing this anywhere. Maybe when my skin is clear I'll be able to pull this off with confidence.

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters in:
(L to R)
Peach Parfait (peachy almost-red with gold shimmer)
Sweet Tart (bright pink creme)
Strawberry Shortcake (light pink with sheen)
My local Walgreens had these on sale and I finally found Strawberry Shortcake at Target when they restocked it

Sinful Colors nail polish in 322 Let Me Go
I thought this is a neat duo-chrome color

Jewelry Organizer

2012-02-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

Excuse the snippet of me, I don't really look like much at home

From JCPenney's

I got it on sale for $49.99, not sure what price it is now... But I love it! It has a lot of compartments for my jewelry. One of the flaws I'd say is it doesn't have a good place for earrings (or maybe it does and I just can't tell o.O)

E.L.F. $1 lipstick in Charming

2012-02-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I am actually procrastinating on my accounting homework... But here's a swatch I did the other day.

Charming (red with slight pink tone)

I ordered these thinking they were wearable shades, but I was disappointed that these are much darker than I had seen on someone else's blog. Surprisingly though, Charming is a very wearable red, almost a strawberry pink-ish red; I can actually see myself wearing this some time.

The texture is creamy, but if your lips aren't properly moisturized, the lipstick can exaggerate any flakes or fine lines you have, as it kind of did to my lips

As with the other 2 I have, this had an artificial grape scent, which I like.

To see my full review, click here

Tag: 7 Deadly Sins of Beauty

2012-02-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

I saw Amarixe on Youtube doing this video, and I really wanted to do it.

As usual, no one tagged me (or at least that I know of) but I thought this is a neat tag :)

1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?

I assume this means retail price... I think I have quite a few $0.99 products, but my favorite is the Wet n Wild brow/eyeliner pencil in Charcoal for filling in my brows
Most expensive: Like amarixe, I am not including perfume b/c that's not fair to the makeup items ;)
But I think it is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, $45 (actually I guess the UD Naked palette was $48, but it's 12 shadows and an eyeshadow brush so it's not technically one item)

2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?
Waterproof mascara. I love that it holds a curl and makes my lashes look good, but a lot of them make my lashes feel brittle and take forever to remove.

Hardest item to get... I honestly just give up when something's out of stock, but for a while it was the most recently it was the Revlon Lip Butters (granted, I only checked Target... But I check every time I've been there and they still don't have the colors I want!).

3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?

I don't have one off the top of my head, but the ones I've been using most recently are the Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch, it has a very nice fruity scent that's not too artificial or strong.

4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

Mascara. I loathe taking waterproof mascara off every night and washable mascaras don't hold a curl quite as well, so now I just curl my lashes and put on eyeliner

5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?
Foundation definitely, I feel insecure with all my acne and acne scars and nicer skin just gives me a lot of confidence.

6. LUST: What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Nice eyes for a physical attribute, and probably humor as a personality attribute

7. ENVY: What items would you most like to receive as a gift?
Make Up Forever makeup products, I don't have any of their beauty items because it's just so expensive, but I keep hearing people talk about it.

I tag:
Maggie
Citrine
Ashley

Review & Swatches: E.L.F. Studio Glossy Gloss in Sweet Salmon + Mini E.L.F. Haul

2012-02-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

Description on packaging:

A high shine gloss for a beautiful sheen and a rich tint of color that has no sparkle

Great for wearing alone or over lipstick, lip pencil, or any lip color

Provides intense hydration and moisture with Vitamin E formula

Sweet Salmon (light salmon peach)

One coat

Compared to Revlon Super Lustrous lip glosses in:

Nude Lustre (left) and Life's a Peach (right)

As you can tell, all 3 are very glossy, which I like depending on how my skin is doing. Excuse the uneven swatches, I am not pro like Citrine is :(

Pros

- Glossy

- Not drying

- Decent pigment

- Brush applicator

Cons

- Not sold in stores (yet?)

Value

$3 for 0.24 oz / 6.8 g

Verdict

Overall: A

This is one of the newer products from the E.L.F. Studio line, and I am definitely impressed. These compare to the Revlon Super Lustrous glosses (see my review & swatches here) but are a fraction of the price. The packaging is kind of similar too except E.L.F. has a matte black packaging. I actually used a 50% off code and got this for $1.50.

This doesn't provide "intense hydration" as they claim, but it is definitely more moisturizing than any other lip glosses I've tried that are actually glossy. It also has a very faint sweet fragrance and tastes kind of sweet.

Would I recommend this?

Definitely.

Repurchase?

Yes.

Along with this, I also purchased some more E.L.F. stuff

L to R
E.L.F. Smudge brush ($1)
E.L.F. lip brush ($1)
I heard from xteeener looong ago that this is terrible as a lip brush but great for inner corner highlights, let's see if that still holds true
E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Treat and Tame ($3)
I got these the last time I ordered from E.L.F., I found that the treat part actually works a little, and got my mom into it. (see my full review here)
E.L.F. Butternut quad ($1)
Also a relatively old product of theirs, I just never got to trying it because I don't wear eyeshadow on the daily.
E.L.F. Waterproof eyeliner pen in Black ($1)
A little scared that this is already dried out (since I've seen that happen w/ someone on YT), but will review soon if it hasn't
E.L.F. lipstick in Flirtatious & Charming ($1 each)
Swatches soon!

And of course what I just reviewed.

This isn't the most exciting haul, but I've learned to only buy items I would actually use.

If you ever want to order from E.L.F. online, be sure to check Retail Me Not for a coupon code before ordering. I got my items 50% off :)

Review & Application: Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream in Light/Medium

2012-02-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

Finally, an affordable American version of BB cream.

As some of you might have noticed, a few brands have released BB creams in America (namely Clinique, MAC, Dr. Jart, and Boscia) but they are all over $30, which is more expensive than just ordering an Asian BB cream on Ebay or Asian beauty websites.

I was very excited to see this for $10.99 at Target, and gave no second thought before snatching it up.

Click to enlarge

Left: Before; Right: After

I don't know if you see a difference... But I don't. It slightly diminished the redness just a teensy bit, and if my skin was yellow toned I wouldn't have to blend it out so much, but such is the life when they only have 2 shades.

Pros

- Good value (compared to Asian BB creams)

- Natural looking

- Easy to blend

- Hydrating

- Easily accessible

Cons

- Very minimal coverage
- Yellow-toned

- Only two shades available

Value

$11-14 for 2.5 oz / 75 ml

Verdict

Overall: C+
Right off the bat, I saw that this BB cream is very yellow-toned, which is good and bad depending on your skin's undertone. On my NC20 skin, the yellow-tone is easily blended away, and looks very natural on the skin... Although once blended in to fit my skintone it doesn't give enough coverage. This is also advertised as somewhat of a skincare product, but if you use it without a moisturizer beforehand, the yellow undertone might be a little hard to blend away.

If you don't have much discoloration and spots on your face, you can easily use this and get out the door. On my acne prone skin, however, it only minimizes a little bit of redness and I need to go over with a lot of concealer to conceal my active acne and acne scars.

For the price, I think it's better to just go with a drugstore foundation. I'd rather spend the $20+ on a real BB cream, like my L'egere White Multi BB cream (review here) for better coverage and lasting power.

Repurchase?

No.

Jewelmint Cupid Kit (expired moisturizer)

2012-02-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

What it comes with:

- Pink "one-size fits all" camisole

- Weleda Wild Rose moisturizer, 1 oz / 30 ml (they say "top selling beauty product from luxury brands like Weleda and Laura Mercier"); I have been eyeing this at Target though so no complaints that I got it here

- A candy necklace

- A best selling Jewelmint piece

The one I happened to get are these Wonderland Earrings, which, surprisingly, I like better than the other two pieces I bought recently, the Diving Belle earrings (pictures here) and the Starlet Set (to be posted).

L: Back of earring, R: Front

Don't know about you guys, but when I saw these on the website I was kind of ehh they're nice but not worth $29.99. Along with this kit it's not too too bad,and they actually look nice on.

The clasp is a bit different from the typical dangling earrings I've seen, and it could hurt a little bit when you close the clasp if you aren't careful.

If you're interested, Jewelmint has this offer here for $29.99

I think this would be a great gift, assuming the person likes jewelry... Although the exterior packaging isn't the prettiest (it came in a plain, white cardboard box)

Wanna see something I found?

Yeah. It's about to expire. Or maybe it already did.
I wonder why Jewelmint did this... Or why the company did this...

Review: Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Renew Gel Cream

2012-01-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

Enlarge to read

Pros

- Fast absorbing

- Moisturizing for a gel

- Good base for makeup

Cons

- Contains silicone-based ingredients and alcohol

Value

$6-7 for 1.7 oz / 50 g

Verdict

Overall: A-

I am very pleased with this as a day moisturizer, since it seems to moisturize and smooth out my sometimes flaky cheeks and make my concealer and BB cream look nice. I also use this for my t-zone at night, but I use a thicker cream for my cheeks. For reference, I have combination skin.

I think the reason this absorbs or dries so quickly on the skin is because it has alcohol as its 3rd most abundant ingredient, which could be drying on some people.

If you find that your makeup doesn't seem to look great on top of your current day moisturizer, I definitely recommend giving this a try.

Repurchase?
Yes, assuming it's still available by the time I use it up.

Jewelmint Diving Belle Earrings

2012-01-30T15:31:00.000-08:00

These earrings are quite heavy, but at least the backing is sturdy.

Forgot to take pictures of its little info card, but here's the description by Jewelmint:

Full speed ahead! Dive into fashion's deep end with these naval-inspired earrings. Our 1 1/4" pair boasts Montana-blue round crystals for a new glam take on military style. Featuring an edgy hematite finish, these sleek gems are the perfect addition to any voyager's collection.

I am mildly disappointed by this piece considering its weight, I will try to wear these with some outfits though.
If you're interested, you can purchase it here after you register for Jewelmint here, if you're already registered, you have to sign in to see these now, some annoying setting they got going on.

I didn't actually choose this piece, I got it as a "freebie" on an offer they had, which ended 1/23/12 7am, when Jewelmint was doing a buy one get one out of the four pieces they say are popular, which I tweeted about on Twitter here.

I was hoping for the Easy Rider Necklace, but of course I didn't get it. It'd be nice if they let you list the pieces you'd like in the order you would prefer next time, hmmm...

Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch Swatches + Mini Haul

2012-01-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

This is the 3rd Baby Lips I purchased, and I might get the peach one if it's in stock the next time I visit Target. While I don't think these are amazing, I do like the sheer pigmentation (very easy to apply w/o a mirror) and SPF 20. This pink is a tad bit bright for my everyday natural makeup, but it's nice for people who are a bit scared to wear hot pinks (like myself).
The scent is also very pleasant, just slightly sweet, not overly strong or artificial at all.

See my full review and swatches of Grapevine here.

On a side note, since I don't think this really garners its own post, I purchased some stuff lately.

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream - been using this as a day moisturizer, will review soon but in short, I like it very much
Garnier Skin Renew BB cream - used this a couple of times, will review soon as well
Clean & Clear Advantage Popped Pimple Relief Drying Paste - my acne's been acting up because of my diet lately, so I was hoping for some quite remedies, this isn't quite it... But it's an interesting product

Necklace from American Eagle
I don't really have anything like this that's shorter with a thick chain. It was on clearance for $4.99 so I snatched it up :)

Cute Blog Award

2012-01-25T18:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks Maggie for tagging me! :)

For this award you:
1. Link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the award questions.
3. Tell something about yourself you haven't told anyone on your blog yet.
4. Award as many blogs as you think are worthy of this award.
5. Make sure you let those you gave this award to know that you awarded them.

Award Questions:
1. What is your go-to makeup product?
Currently, my skin is terrible, so I would say BB cream or concealer.
On a good skin day, I'd say eyeliner

2. What was your favorite fashion trend of 2011?
I'm not sure if this was a fashion trend in 2011, but I really got into black leggings. I wore them with a lot of tunic sweaters this past fall/winter.

3. What is your favorite desert?
Mango pudding! The type I have is basically chopped mango on top of vanilla or something pudding.

4. Favorite color?
White, it's such a clean, pure, versatile color (although, is it actually considered a color?)

5. What is your middle name?
My Chinese middle name is 晓 (xiao), I don't have a middle name in English.

6. What is the last song you listened to?
Solo by Jason Chen on Youtube, definitely check it out here if you don't know who he is!

Something you don't know about me yet:
I came to the US when I was eight years old, although at 19 years old right now, I still identify more with my Chinese heritage.

I tag:
Citrine
Ashley

School started today for me, hope you all are having fun going back... I am not :P

Review & Swatches: Stila Lip Glaze Sticks

2012-01-22T18:55:00.000-08:00

Vanilla (top) Apricot (bottom)

Pros

- Moisturizing

- Lightly scented
- Not sticky
- Gives a nice shine

Cons

- Glitters stay on lips after wiped away
- Very sheer (pro for some)

Verdict

Overall: B+

I purchased these at Costco in one of their Stila packages a while back, and although these aren't my favorites, they're nice for days that I don't want too much color or shine. I enjoy the light scents these give off but it'll be a pain to sharpen them if I use them too frequently.

I have long heard about the Stila Lip Glaze lip glosses, and these would probably be a nice non-sticky alternative.

Where to buy?
These have been discontinued from the permanent Stila line, but you can find them here at Beauty Crunch, $6 each as of January 2012

Repurchase?
Probably not.

Review & Application: Almay Clear Complexion concealer

2012-01-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

Shown in 01 Light

For reference I am about an NC20 in MAC, typically the 2nd lightest shade in a foundation, possibly the lightest depending on the shade range.

As you can tell, it definitely accentuates any dryness/flakes on your skin, like most base makeup.

Excuse the grossness of my acne-prone cheek, I still haven't figured out a solution for acne... Let me know if you have any tips!

Pros

- Medium to full coverage

- Contains salicylic acid
- Wears well throughout the day
- Doesn't oxidize (on its own)

Cons

- Only 3 shades available
- Stopper very loose for the wand
- Doesn't really cover acne scars

Value

$5-8 for 0.18 oz / 5.3 ml

Verdict

Overall: B+

This doesn't cover my acne scars that well (I think because it doesn't grab onto the uneven surface of the scars very well) but it covers redness and active acne spots, and when worn on top of the L'egere BB cream (review here), which I've been using whenever I wear face makeup, the coverage is very nice.

I don't often set the concealer with powder because this one time I used the E.L.F. Studio HD powder (review here) to set and it oxidized to an orange-toned shade later on in the day. I think it's probably fine when set with a skin-tone powder, but I often don't have time in the morning anyway.
I also hate looking like I have makeup on, so I overblend concealers and foundations, to a point where the coverage is half-gone. This one can be blended to a natural look, but as you can see in the photos the coverage is sheerer.

As I wrote in the cons, the stopper in the tube is not really tight enough, I suspect this dries out faster than other liquid concealers out there, but I haven't had it long enough to see. Plus the sides of the wand get a lot of concealer on it over time.

Repurchase?
Probably.

Review & Swatches: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe

2012-01-18T14:46:00.000-08:00

35 Tough as Taupe (grey-ish taupe)

As you might be able to tell from the picture, when swatched it looks a little more gray.

Pros

- Thick, creamy texture
- Creates nice base for powder eyeshadow
- Easily blended
- Buildable color

Cons

- Sheer color payoff

Value

$6-8 for 0.14 oz / 4 g

Verdict

Overall: B+
Unfortunately, this cream shadow started creasing on my oily eyelids after about 5-6 hours, which is really good for a drugstore cream eyeshadow. Over the Urban Decay Primer Potion, it lasted 8 hours, which isn't too bad.
The color is buildable, but with most cream products, it will crease more easily the more you put on.

If you have normal or dry lids, this may not crease on you at all.

Repurchase?
Maybe if I start wearing eyeshadow daily.

Review & Swatches: Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipstick

2012-01-15T15:50:00.001-08:00

Petal: Fuchsia pink (cream)

Cool Watermelon: Bright coral red (cream)

Sugar Plum Ice: frosty pink nude (shimmer)

Nude Blush: medium nude (cream)

Born with It: Pink with golden sheen and purple undertone (sheen)

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Born with It

vs Maybelline Color Sensational Born with It

The Color Sensational one looks much more wearable, but on the lips it's very gritty, see my review & lip swatches here

Pros

- Moisturizing

- Smooth texture

- SPF 15

- Decent pigmentation

- Good color selection

Cons

- Not long wearing

Verdict

Overall: A

This is one of the few products I own that I can give a solid A, although if it was long-wearing it would get an A+. I feel that it was very underrated, which is probably why Maybelline discontinued it -_-

It has an HG (holy grail) lipstick texture, like a thin lip balm but with a ton of pigment. Unfortunately the color selection wasn't amazing, although Sugar Plum Ice is definitely my favorite. If they had more colors on the lighter end of the spectrum, like light pinks or skin tone nude with a cream finish, it would definitely have been more popular.

If you can find this in a color you like, definitely give it a try! I think Maybelline will bring this line of lipsticks back under a different name... As they have done in the past decade according to some reviews I've seen.

Repurchase?

Definitely. This is one of the few lipsticks I might actually use up in this lifetime.

Review & Swatches: Revlon ColorStay Overtime Sheer lipcolor in Sheer Blossom

2012-01-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

Gloss: brush, Lipcolor: doe-foot

Lipcolor

With gloss

Few hours later (after eating)

Pros

- Long wearing
- Light-medium coverage on lips (con for some)

Cons

- Settles fine lines of the lips
- Hard to remove (see verdict)
- Strange fragrance
- Slightly drying

Value

$6-9 for two 0.07 oz / 2 ml tubes

0.14 oz / 4 ml total

Verdict

Overall: B
This is the first time I've tried a long-wearing double-ended lipcolor, and I'm glad I got this on clearance.When first applied, sets into the lips and turns into almost a film on your lips, which would feel kind of dry without the gloss on top. I know this is a long-wearing lipcolor, but I couldn't remove it without rubbing at my lips several times with jojoba oil, and it also came off in little specks of pink, which I think is a little strange for a lip product.
It also has a strange fragrance, and although it's not strong, the pink side reminds me of paint, while the gloss side reminds me of metal spoons (if that makes sense to anyone).
Sheer blossom is a nice pink with more shimmer than the tube reveals, and is also not as sheer as I thought it would be, which is nice. I probably will only use the gloss from now on though because of the strange texture.

I think I will steer clear of these double-ended lipcolors and just stick with lipsticks, which have more creamy textures.

Repurchase?
No.

Review: Boots Botanics Rosewater Toner

2012-01-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

As you can tell, it has only 5 ingredients, one of the most minimalist skincare products I've used.

Pros

- Not drying

- Refreshing

- Lightly scented (of roses)

- Minimalist ingredients

Cons

- Not readily available in drugstores (yet?)

Value

$6 for 5 oz / 150 ml

Available at Target, possibly Ulta

Verdict

Overall: A

I am pleased to say this is one of the best toners I've tried. Before, I've tried three Neutrogena toners (reviews here: Deep Clean, Alcohol Free [not reviewed yet], Pore Refining), all of which are okay, but nothing to rave about. This toner feels refreshing, doesn't dry my combination skin out, and smells very lightly of roses, as opposed to a heavy fragrance or chemical scent. The main reason I like it is it has only 5 ingredients yet still works well.

Repurchase?

Definitely.

Review: Boots Expert Shine Control Lotion

2012-01-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

Gel-like formula

Ingredients list

Pros

- Not drying

- Helps with oil (a little)

Cons

- Pump can't dispense a very small amount

Value

$6 for 3.3 oz / 100 ml
Available at Target, possibly Ulta

Verdict

Overall: B+
After trying a few oil control moisturizers, I realized that there's nothing that could control the oil entirely. This is one of the better ones, since it doesn't feel drying. And even when it is absorbed into the skin, it gives a natural matte finish, rather than a really matte finish like the Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying moisturizer (review here).
I put this mostly on my t-zone, and although my skin is still oily at the end of the day, it isn't as bad as if I just used a normal moisturizer, and the oil doesn't seem like it's "seeping out," it looks more contained (sorry if this is kind of gross). As far as the "healthy and clear" claim goes, I haven't noticed a dramatic difference in my skin for acne because I haven't broken out much around my t-zone these days. And although it doesn't dry my skin out, I wouldn't put it on my combination/dry cheeks, esp in the dead of winter.

Repurchase?
Maybe.

Review & Swatches: L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hr eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe

2012-01-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Bronzed Taupe

One swipe

Left: Swatched with eyeshadow brush

Right: Swatched with finger

Swatch in a different angle

With UDPP pic was on another day

The color is a bit darker than it looks in the picture, I haven't figured out the best lighting for eyeshadow colors yet

Size comparison with L'Oreal HiP eyeshadow duo

What it is:

A long-wearing, pressed pigment

Color Selection: 12 shades

Excuse the blurry-ness, this is a crop of the display picture I posted

Pros

- Very pigmented (when applied with finger)

- Easy to blend

- Long-wearing for a powder eyeshadow

Cons

- Will crease without a base

Value

$7-9 for 0.12 oz / 3.5 g

I purchased mine at Target for $6.99

Verdict

Overall: A-

I've heard a lot of people say that this is a dupe of the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill, which came out earlier this year. I don't own that product, but I've seen swatches and can see why this would be a drugstore equivalent.

The color I purchased is true to its name, a taupe with a lot of brown/bronze in it, very warm-toned. I actually like this color a lot, although I do think the metallic finish could sometimes be too much for day-time.

As far as application goes, this color definitely is more vibrant when applied with your finger, which warms it up. And although it did crease on my eye, it lasted longer (about 4-5 hrs) than any other powder eyeshadow I've tried without a primer on my oily eyelids. With the Urban Decay Primer Potion, it lasted a bit longer without creasing, but still creased after about 7-8 hours. If I didn't have such oily lids, I'd probably give it an A+.

Repurchase?

Definitely. If I actually wore eyeshadow on a daily basis I'd definitely get more colors.

Review: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

2012-01-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

Pros

- Absorbs quickly

- Pump dispenser easy to control

Cons

- Dimethicone is 2nd ingredient (silicone-based)

Value

$24 for 4.2 oz / 125 ml

Verdict

Overall: B+

Unfortunately, this is not moisturizing enough for my cheeks, which are more combination dry. I have just been using this on my t-zone at night and sometimes in the morning.
I purchased this because it seemed really popular on Youtube for a while, but I'd say only oily skin people would find this moisturizing enough. Not sure if this is really good as a makeup primer since my cheeks are too dry to use just this.

Repurchase?
Maybe.

New L'Oreal displays + Color Riche Balm swatches

2011-12-31T10:32:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! I swear this year has flown by.

I wish you all a great 2012 :)

Anyone making new year's resolutions? I'm not since mine are rarely carried out.

New L'Oreal:

Nail polishes

Infallible 24 hr eyeshadows

Illuminating primer

Color Riche Balm

Voluminous False Fiber lashes mascara

I swatched some open & used Colour Riche Balms in the store, and boy am I glad I did... These are so incredibly sheer, I'd much rather get the Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters if they're ever in stock.

I did get a few things though :) can't wait to try them out some more and write a review!

Review & Swatches: Maybelline SuperStay 14 Hr Lipstick in Perpetual Peony

2011-12-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

The following day

Pros

- Long-wearing

- Pigmented
- Doesn't transfer

Cons

- Strong plasticky fruit scent

- Limited color selection

- Slightly drying

Value

$7-9 for 0.12 / 3.3 g

Verdict

Overall: B

The shape of these lipsticks remind me of the L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge lipsticks, which I've still yet to try, but both lines don't have colors that attract me that much. Sadly Perpetual Peony turned out too cool-toned for me once again, very unnatural against my skintone. The lipstick itself is very long wearing, but it made my lips look dry, and the stain doesn't look attractive after a while when it's concentrated in certain areas. I thought it was ridiculous that I still had a slightly stain a day later, on my lips and my hand.

Repurchase?

Probably not.

Review & Application: Shiseido Perfect mascara

2011-12-27T16:36:00.000-08:00

Claims:

Pros

- Holds curl

- Defining

- Gives some volume
- Water resistant

Cons

- Can look spidery

- Not much length

- Hard to remove

Value

$23 for 0.29 oz

Verdict

Overall: B

I like how this defines my lashes and holds a curl, but I don't like mascaras that take forever to take off (I had to go over it 2-3 times each eye for it to come off completely) and it looks a little spidery after 2 coats. I also didn't get much length, and it smudges a little at the end of the day

Luckily this was a sample so I didn't spend any money on it

Repurchase?

No.

Jewelmint Blanc Bomb ring

2011-12-25T15:48:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope you all had a good holiday break :)

For some reason they didn't include an info card, hmm

This is basically a gold-white version of their Aqua Bomb ring (which is silver-aqua) linked here

I don't know if you can tell, but the ring actually puts space between my fingers, which can be uncomfortable until you get used to it

http://www.jewelmint.com/jewelry/blanc-bomb-ring

Price: $29.99

As usual, I recommend checking Retail Me Not for coupon codes if you're a first-time purchaser, or if you're buying several pieces at once

New Drugstore Products: Maybelline, CoverGirl, Revlon

2011-12-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

Target - Maybelline

I had to keep telling myself to get what I actually would use, which are the 24 hr cream shadows and the 24 hr lipsticks. Maybe I'll try the concealer and foundation some time? Hmmm...

Target - CoverGirl
Very disappointed in the Flipsticks, the color combinations are terrible...

They also repackaged their LashBlast mascaras and came out with a 24hr one, I think they're all pretty much the same... The cream shadows aren't anything new, but I've yet to try them after seeing bad reviews on makeupalley

CVS - Revlon

Excuse the slightly blurry pic, I'm excited for the foundations, eyeshadow and liner... Sales here we come?

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

Let me know in the comments :)