* AZIERRA * Fashion, Makeup, and Beauty Blog

MAC Bare Study Paint Pot

noreply@blogger.com (Azierra) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:53:00 +0000

So,I have just bought the MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study! I'm really excited to talk about this product, and I will go ahead and say it is just a wonderful, beautiful product.

So, as far as the packaging goes, it's a nice, sturdy glass jar, with an equally sturdy plastic, screw-on cap. However, the glass makes the product a little heavy, which is a negative for portability. Glass also makes the product delicate, so be careful not to drop it or there's a good chance it will shatter. As for the color itself:

This is a beautiful neutral beige with a glowy, golden shimmer. I would describe it as having a metallic or frosty finish, and the glitter is very fine and not chunky at all. There even seems to be a slight peachy glow to it, which is subtle and I quite like it. For most, this will be considered more of a highlight shade, especially if you are darker complected. However, for my super-fair skin, this functions well as an all-over lid color. If you have fair-to-light skin, go for this as an all-over color and a highlight. If you are darker than that, it might be best to think of this as a base/ highlight, and less of an all-over color.

For the product itself, the consistency is just to die for. It's so silky and smooth, and just glides on. Now, this is a product which functions as an eyeshadow or as an eyeshadow base. I haven't noticed any creasing at all, so I think it does what it promises to, and then some! There's no fragrance or smell to speak of, and you are given 5 grams to work with total, which for a cream eye product is pretty generous! Bottom line, this is a fantastic product, and I have no negatives to speak of. Well, except for the price, perhaps. However, it is well worth the price, and I can't wait to try out other colors, such as Rubenesque! Have you tried these, and do you recommend any colors in particular?

Best wishes,
Azierra

Impress Press-on Manicure by Broadway Nail

noreply@blogger.com (Azierra) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:40:00 +0000

So I recently tried the Broadway Nail Impress Press-on Manicure! I will say right off the bat that I love these! I will also say that they are quite expensive, and thus I consider them more a product I will use for formal and special occasions. I chose the pattern Space Cadet. So, I'll just start off talking about application first, with some pictures of course!

So the packaging is pretty basic to me, although I do like the nail polish-shaped bottle the fake nails come in. More pictures of what's inside the box below:

So the nails just come with a little nail filer and a prep pad. The steps are that first you want to use the prep pad on each of your nails, making sure the nails are clean of nail polish and dry. After using the prep pad, you want to find the nails that suit each individual finger. After you've figured that out, it's time to stick those suckers on!

So, if you look closely to where the arrows are pointing, you will see that there is a clear plastic tab on the underside of the fake nail. This is simply the backing which protects the sticky glue from drying out or being contaminated. Remove this tab and simply place the nail onto your finger, with the rounded side obviously pointing toward the cuticle.

Your nails should look like this:

Now, if you like, you can leave them long, or you can file them down. Personally, I wanted to file them down, but it is up to you. Regardless, I recommend filing the nails to smooth the ends just a bit.

After filing the nails:

I don't like long nails, so I prefer them shorter. But it's up to you and what you like!

As far as longevity, they last a moderate amount of time. I tested mine, and they lasted about 4 days before the first one popped off. Keep in mind, you do get a large amount of nails in the set, so if one pops off, it's likely there will be another nail in the set which would work. Overall, these are cute, easy to use, and worth it if you are looking for something quick to make your nails look nice. I definitely recommend them, but they are expensive! I don't have the money to buy these on a weekly basis, but I will definitely repurchase for special occasions!

Tell me what you think!

Pros:
-easy to apply/ detailed instructions
-quick way to make your nails look great
-comes with a LOT of extra nails
-nice variety in sizing of nails
-super cute designs

Cons:
-expensive
-a bit long before filing for me; could be a problem with some of the other designs if you want to file them down (for this one, it was fine, but some of them look more like french manicures, etc.)
-Not as long-lasting as I wanted them to be (3-4 days)

Best,
Azierra

REVLON JUST BITTEN KISSABLE BALM STAIN REVIEW

noreply@blogger.com (Azierra) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 04:37:00 +0000

This is my personal opinion/ review of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. I thought I would do a video, because... well, why not? So, I hope you enjoy! Please feel free to leave any questions or comments! I have pictures of swatches and the products below!

Darling: Sheer lilac with a pink undertone. Lasting power is about 3-4 hours without concealer/ primer underneath. With concealer/ primer, lasting power is 6+ hours. Pigmentation is slightly sheer, but buildable to an average pigmentation.

Honey: Dusty, rosy, mid-tone pink. Lasting power is 5+ hours. Pigmentation is great!

Charm: Peachy nude. Lasting power is 3 hours. Pigmentation is quite sheer, not very buildable.

Rendezvous: Bright, tangerine orange. Lasting power is 6+ hours. Pigmentation is wonderful!

Sweetheart: Hot, bright pink with coral undertone. Lasting power is 6+ hours. Pigmentation is also wonderful!

Hope you enjoyed this review!

Best,
Azierra

LIP TINTS: Peripera Peri's Tint and Lioele Pop Tint

noreply@blogger.com (Azierra) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 19:29:00 +0000

Hello! So today I'm going to talk about two products! First is the Peripera Peri's Tint in two colors: Cherry Juice and Pink Juice. Second, I will be talking about a similar product, the Lioele Pop Tint lip tint in Orange Tint and Pinky Tint.

So first, the Peripera Peri's Tint lip tints:

These just have the cutest packaging! Just absolutely adorable, and the bottles are glass and see-through, so you can take a good look at the product's actual color. Now, right off the bat, I like the smell. I would describe it as a sweet, slightly floral scent.I wouldn't be too worried about the scent, because once the product has been on for a few minutes the scent disappears. These are quite watery in consistency, which can be a good and a bad thing. It's very easy to spread this over the lips, but they do slightly bleed into fine lines. That's the biggest negative of these. I recommend using your fingers or a q-tip to spread this over your lips after applied, rather than just using the applicator. Speaking of applicators, here are pictures:

I suppose you call these "doe foot" applicators. They pick up a lot of product though (too much), and I always sort of swirl around the wand at the opening of the bottle to get the excess off. This stuff is very pigmented, so it's best to apply as a light a layer as you can at first, and add on more to your liking. You can't take this stuff off once it's on; it's a stain, so it almost immediately sinks into your skin. The great thing about these is they are super long lasting, and they give off a really pretty color for hours. Here is a swatch on my arm:

And here are some lip swatches:

The effect is pretty on these, and although they have a few cons, overall their pros outweigh them! The color payoff is great, the staying power is excellent, and I don't find that they are drying. They aren't moisturizing, so I would put a balm over them, just to keep the lips looking smooth. But they wont make your lips look chapped or splotchy, even without a balm. You can see in the swatches on my arm the bleeding affect I was mentioning earlier. With a little patience, you can prevent that on the lips, but it's irritating you have to do that in the first place. The colors themselves are quite nice, and I really do love them. The Pink Juice is a sort of magenta color, and the Cherry Juice is exactly the color you want when you're looking for that cherry flush for your lips. Oh, and one last thing. These don't taste very good! They taste a little like rubbing alcohol when first applied to the lips. It goes away, but it isn't pleasant at all!

Now let's look at the Lioele Pop Tint lip tints:

The formula for these, in my opinion, is much nicer than the Peripera. The Lioele Pop Tints have a smooth, almost creamy or milky sort of texture, whereas the Peripera tints are just very watery (hence the name, I suppose!). Then again, the desired effect is much different. With Peripera's tints, you get a bolder lip, whereas the Lioele tints are a more natural feel. Now, there is a red Lioele Pop Tint, and I have tried it. Its consistency is much more like the Peri's Tint lip tints, only I didn't like Lioele's version as much as the Peri's Tint in Cherry Juice. I think Peripera's Cherry Juice is better than the Cherry Tint from Lioele, as Lioele's version tended to be more drying and sort of splotchy.

The application is much easier on the Lioele Pop Tints, since you use a brush. However, as you're about to see below, the product gets a little goopy at the opening of the bottle, and sometimes gets into the cap. It's easy to clean off, but just a little inconvenient.

So the Lioele tints are probably some of my favorite lip products. They are a smooth creamy texture, and the colors are soft, wearable, and actually quite moisturizing. I'll show the swatches on my arm below so you can see what I mean:

Aren't those just beautiful? These are my go-to everyday lip tints. You truly can see in the picture how different this consistency is from the Peripera lip tints (although, of course, they aren't meant to be exactly the same sort of product). I'll show you below how they look on the lips:

Orange Tint comes out a nice soft coral color when combined with your natural lip color, and can be made to look more orange if more layers of the product are applied. The Pinky Tint is a soft milky sort of pink, and I love it on days where I'm looking for a natural pink flush to my lips. The only thing is, although these are quite long-lasting, they don't compare to the length of time the Peripera tints stay on. Those suckers stay on all day, whereas the Lioele tints might have to be reapplied after about 5 or 6 hours.

All of these tints are great products, however in this instance I think the Lioele Pop Tints are more worth investing in. The Peripera Peri's Tint lip tints are great for if you want a bolder, longer lasting look, however, and even through their cons, I still recommend them! So here's a list of pros and cons:

Peripera Peri's Tint

Pros

-Bright and pigmented

-Overall non-drying

-Longlasting

-Adorable packaging

-True to color

Cons

-Colors bleed into fine lines; can be remedied, but takes a little extra effort than it should, in my opinion

-Too much product on the brush makes for difficult application

-Bad taste when first applied

Lioele Pop Tint

Pros

-Natural flush to the lips

-Buildable color

-Creamy texture and feel moisturizing

-Easy application

-No bad taste

-Cute packaging

Cons

-Not as long lasting

-Product gets goopy on the brush wand, cap, and bottle opening.

With love and peace to all,

Azierra

LANEIGE WATER BANK EYE GEL

noreply@blogger.com (Azierra) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:24:00 +0000

Hey there! So today I am talking about an eye care product. It is an intense, overnight moisturizer by a Korean brand called Laneige. The Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel promises to provide a refreshing and lightweight hydration for up to 12 hours. It uses various natural ingredients to improve elasticity and circulation, reduce puffiness and under eye circles, and to promote a more radiant eye zone. That's a paraphrase from the website Yesstyle.com. I will put a link at the end of this post if you are interested in ordering or looking at the product. The size of this product is 25 ml, and it costs about $30.

I don't often advocate spending too much on products which can possibly be found for cheaper, but in this case, the price tag truly is worth it. Before I go too much into the product, though, I'll briefly touch on the packaging.

I quite like the packaging, myself, and I find it sleek and expensive looking, which I suppose is a plus! The pot is made of a durable glass, and the cap is plastic (and quite durable itself!). The cap is a twist-off, and it's very easy to unscrew, although secure so that it won't fall off or anything. When you open the cap, you then have a sanitary little seal.

It has a little tab on the top for easy removal. I recommend keeping this seal, as it is more sanitary, and prevents the gel from getting outside of the pot and into the cap; this could cause leaking and loss or contamination of product. There is a little spatula that comes with this gel to prevent you from having to stick your finger into the product. Unfortunately, I lost the spatula, and so I just make sure that I always have CLEAN hands before using this. Which, really, I would be doing anyway if I'm touching my face. Still, it is a shame I don't have the spatula, and I would recommend trying to hold onto it.

So the packaging is very nice. Sleek, expensive-looking, and the crystal blue color is quite pretty to me. I like the little sanitary seal, and I like that the cap screws on tightly, but is still easy to remove. Moving on to the actual product:

As you can see, it's a clear, gel-like consistency. The texture is difficult to describe. I would certainly agree with the product's name "watery," however, it isn't runny and will not slide at all on your face. At the touch, it seems to instantly somewhat dissolve into your skin, and when you rub it in, it feels cool and "watery" (again, not runny). It's a bit hard to pinpoint exactly what this consistency is, but it has a slightly cool touch and is a little bit sticky. Some may not like the stickiness of this product, but do keep in mind this is a night gel. Also, it has a little bit of a scent to it. Personally I think it is quite nice. It's a light, fresh scent, which is completely inoffensive. However, I suppose if you are not into any scented products on your face, you may not like it. It doesn't seem to be very strong though, and I don't notice it once I've got it on my face.

As far as how it works, I have to say this is my HOLY GRAIL of eye moisturizers. No kidding, this stuff works. I put this on and instantly my eyes look moisturized and refreshed, and in the morning they look bright and dewy. I have normal to dry skin, my undereyes being a problem dry area, and this stuff completely and totally alleviates the dryness I have. Although it is sticky at application, when it has sunk in over night, the skin under and around my eyes is super soft and supple looking. Also, the tiniest bit of this product will cover my entire eye. I have used this for a good six months now, every day, and I'm not even halfway done.I can just tell that this product promotes healthiness in my skin, and it is literally one of the best products I have ever discovered.

It is pricy, however, and may not be easy to obtain on a budget. Firstly, it is a Korean brand, so unless you are near Korea, you will have to pay a pretty penny to get it shipped, on top of the roughly $30 pricetag. This product is worth it if you can afford it, and your eye area will immediately be brighter, softer, and healthier after using this product.

Pros
-Super, super moisturizing, revitalizing, and softening
- Lightweight
-Nice, fresh, subtle scent (scent could be a negative for some; it is a positive for me)
-Very pretty packaging
-Sanitary
-Works well even for very dry skin
-Durable packaging
-A little goes a loooooooong way

Cons
-Expensive
-Difficult to obtain (unless you live in Korea, or perhaps another Asian country, you will have to order this online)
-Sticky
-Leaves a bit of a shine where applied; however, this is not meant for during the day use

If you would like to check out this product, please follow the link below! This is, I'm sure, only one of many sites that sells this product. I buy it on Yesstyle, but I'm sure you can also find it elsewhere... Yesstyle is really an amazing place to find a lot of great and unique Asian products and fashion, so I recommend you check the site out!

Yesstyle Website Link to the Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel:
http://www.yesstyle.com/en/laneige-water-bank-eye-gel-new-25ml/info.html/pid.1023934742

Yesstyle Website Link to the Main Page (US):
http://www.yesstyle.com/en/home.html

Love and peace to all,

Azierra

REVLON LIP BUTTERS: REVIEW AND SWATCHES

noreply@blogger.com (Azierra) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 05:56:00 +0000

So today I'm talking about the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters!

Although I know everyone under the sun has talked about these, I still wanted to share my swatches and opinion. So, these are known for their smooth, hydrating texture/ properties, and for being quite pigmented for a "lip balm"-ish sort of product. I would describe them as having the hydrating properties and smooth texture of a tinted lip balm, but the color payoff of a lipstick. The color selection is to die for, and you will DEFINITELY find a shade for you. I have the six you see above, and will talk about each individual shade below.

So the first one is Peach Parfait:

This is a popular one. It's a natural peachy, coral sort of color, flattering on a wide variety of skin tones. It's quite shimmery, but not gritty feeling on the lips. Just a pretty, soft way to get a coral wash on your lips. It's kind of sheer, but you can build it up a little.

Second is a color called Strawberry Shortcake:

I quite like this color! It's a great girly, milky sort of pink and it's a creamy finish with no glitter or shimmer. It's slightly blue-toned, and I find it an everyday, wearable sort of shade. This is something I would wear out casually, or maybe just if I'm feeling especially girly or something. It is one of the sheerer shades, so you might have to do a few swipes to get the color you want. Great for spring I think!

Next, we have Sweet Tart:

This is a bright pink shade, with the slightest bit of coral-y undertone. This is actually just slightly brighter, I think, in person than it is showing up on the picture. It's certainly a fun, bright color, and in no way is the color payoff disappointing here! This is also creamy with no glitter or shimmer. This is another universally flattering shade, one that is quite popular.

Moving on, we have Berry Smoothie:

This color is just great! It's a natural-looking, shimmery berry color, which I think would be, again, universally flattering. It's such a wearable, everyday sort of color. This is something I see myself wearing to a job interview, in the workplace, or at a family event, since it's a natural, but slightly more "mature" color. And I don't mean that it makes you look old or anything. It's a color that is very appropriate for all occasions, I suppose I should say. I would wear this any day, but it's particularly appropriate when you are trying to look put together.I also just think this one would be great in autumn.

Next is Cherry Tart:

WOW! Favorite color in this collection that I have tried, hands down. This is a shimmery, slightly blue-toned red. It's a little sheer, so it isn't overpowering. It's VERY wearable, something that would be great if you've never tried red before and you are looking for something to ease yourself into red lipsticks.

Finally, Red Velvet:

This is my least favorite of what I have tried in these lip butters. However, I don't think it is really the color's fault, but more the fact that I am so fair. It looks like a true, deep red in the picture above, but it's actually slightly browner in person, and it's a bit vampy for my taste. It actually is a nice, creamy, dark red, which would definitely flatter those of you with medium to dark skin tones. And the color payoff is the best of all the colors I own. However, if you are fair, I would use this with caution. Not that you CAN'T pull it off, but it is not an easy color to adjust to if you, like me, are used to using light shades. Perhaps I will change my mind on this one, but for now it's not quite the right color for me. Please check it out though if you like the vampy or deeper reds!

While I mostly find pros for these lipsticks, such as their smooth and effortless texture, their hydrating properties, the color selection, and their wearability, there are a few cons. First, these don't last very long. That's to be expected however, since they are so moisturizing and give such a glossy finish. Also, the lighter shades can be a bit sheer, and you might have to put on several coats of the lipstick for the color to show up exactly how you want it to. Fortunately, they are all relatively buildable. For the most part, one swipe of the darker shades is sufficient enough for the color to show up nicely on the lips. Finally, I have had some issues with these melting and/or sticking to the inside of the tube. It has resulted in me having to push down some of the lipsticks with my finger after applying them to my lips when I want to put the cap back on. I suppose it's to be expected out of a lipstick that is so soft, but do be careful! They are very easy to squish. Also, because of their soft texture, they often leave residue on the top part of the lipstick tube, which isn't a big deal, but can be a little irritating.

Overall:

Pros
-Wide range of colors
- SUPER moisturizing
-Glossy finish
-Easy to apply; very smooth
-Many shades are universally flattering for different skin tones
-Cute packaging

Cons
-Easily melt or dent due to soft texture
-Leave residue on the lipstick tube
-Not long-wearing
-Some lighter shades are a bit sheer

With love and peace to all,

Azierra

CANMAKE CREAMY TOUCH ROUGE

noreply@blogger.com (Azierra) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:20:00 +0000

So I'm reviewing a product by Canmake, the Creamy Touch Rouge lipsticks. On the website, Canmake promises that these lipsticks will provide a "semi-matte" finish, which is non-drying. They go on to promise a creamy texture and an opaque color, appearing the same way on your lips as in the tube. They also contain hyaluronic acid, collogen, avocado oil, and raspberry extract. These are supposed to help keep lips soft and moisturized.

So, I just received both of these today! I was excited to receive them, because I had read online some pretty good things. So first of all, the packaging:

How CUTE is that packaging? Asian brands always produce the most amazing and adorable packaging. Although packaging itself does not decide the overall product's worth and quality to me, it is certainly a nice bonus! It definitely makes me feel happier about my purchase when I can enjoy the appearance of the product as much as the product itself.

Now onto the colors. Here are swatches on my arm first:

Left: Marshmallow Pink 01. Right: Misty Orange 02.

The first one is "Marshmallow Pink" (Number 01):

As you can see, it's a soft, sort of milky/ baby pink. It's a very girly color, and would be nice for the spring, especially! I would say this is a color that's great if you are fair, like me, or light. I would be apprehensive to buy this were I someone who was of a darker shade of skin tone. Some with medium skin tones may be able to pull this off, but I would be careful, because it will remove the color of your lips, and may wash you out. Here is a lip swatch below, taken in natural light:

The other color is "Misty Orange" (Number 02):

This orange certainly delivers a wonderful color, and it is exactly what I wanted out of an orange lipstick like this. It reminds me of what orange sorbet would look like in a lip color! Again, I would recommend this more for lighter or fairer skin tones. On top of that, I think this is a color a bit harder to pull off than Marshmallow Pink. Don't be intimidated by orange, but do be mindful it may be a different sort of experience for you if you are new to lipstick! It's kind of a great alternative to a nude lipstick, if you ask me. This shade is great for the spring and summer, and since it's orange, I might even carry it right on into the fall!

Overall I really love these! The texture is smooth and glides on very easily. As advertised, these are creamy, and they even feel moisturizing on the lips. I suppose I will just go ahead and note there is no glitter or shimmer at all; these truly are just creamy lipsticks. The longevity of these is pretty average; they lasted for about 4 hours, overall, before I felt I really wanted to reapply. Color payoff is pretty wonderful, and they are exactly the colors I expected them to be from looking at pictures online, as well as from looking at the lipstick bullet. Basically all of the promises made by Canmake are fulfilled, in my opinion. I just love these! I really recommend trying these out! There is one additional color, a red ("Sweet Cherry"), but I decided not to buy it because I already have the red lipsticks that I need for now. However, this formula is just excellent, so I would recommend you trying out any of the three colors!

Pros

-Creamy, smooth texture

-Quite opaque color

-Yields advertised color, texture, etc.

-Non-drying (moisturizing, even)

-Cute, fun packaging

-Travel friendly (durable tube)

Cons

-Colors are very pastel, and thus may not be for everyone of every skin tone

-Hard to find

-Expensive

Much love,

Azierra