Thursday, May 29, 2014

Review: Brow Envy by Too Faced!

Stepping Up My Brow Game!

Too Faced Brow Envy
Brows... the feature I tend to ignore (horrible, I know! haha) All I really do is pluck them and go about my day but I've been experimenting with a few new products to try to get myself out of the rut. I came across the Too Faced Brow Envy kit during the Sephora VIB sale and decided to give it a try. It seemed reasonably priced compared to other brow products, retails for $39 plus at the time I got a discount too. It comes with a lot of great things for brow beginners, like myself, that lets you achieve the perfect brow!
The packaging is really great! It's made of a sturdy tin about the size of the Too Faced eyeshadow palettes so it stores away really well. Here's what the inside looks like:
Too Faced Brow Envy
It comes with a guide on how to do your brows and stencils for shaping which is pretty amazing! Before this palette I thought my brows were deep enough in color and thick enough too. I didn't think this kit would make a huge difference but it definitely stepped up my brow game! I feel like it completes my makeup looks and my brows look more defined. My confidence goes up a notch every time I use it!
Too Faced Brow Envy
Here's a closeup of what you're getting! First off is the setting wax, there's no color to it and it's like hair spray for you brows! It's a really great wax that doesn't flake throughout the day. Below that is the brow shade in blonde which is a light cool toned brown, really smooth and silky. I tend to use it as a mixing shade for the beginning of my brows. Next to that is the color brunette which is a medium brown, it's not too dark but it fills in the rest of my brows perfectly! Above it is the highlight which is a milky pink color with a cream to powder finish. It's an amazing color and really lifts the brows to make you seem more awake.
The mini tools that are included in this kit are pretty good as well! I love the angled brush because it s perfect to apply the powders while still achieving a natural look. The spoolie is also great to brush the hairs before applying the wax. Now... the tweezers are the only thing in this kit that I wasn't too happy with. It's really hard to pluck hairs with these, every time I try I end up getting skin which is so painful! I have my own tweezers from E.L.F (only $3) that I've used for years so I use those instead.
Here's what the colors look like swatched:
Too Faced Brow Envy
Bottom line: This kit is worth the money! I would recommend it if you're looking for guide on how to enhance your brows. I use it on a daily basis, even if its just the highlight and wax on days that I'm not wearing a full face of makeup. It makes a huge difference! It's an amazing kit with great quality products and tools, make sure to try it if you've been searching for an awesome brow kit. :-)

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Review: Milani Baked Bronzers! (Limited Edition Shades!)

New Matte Shades!

I love the Milani baked blushes so when I saw that Milani came out with two limited edition matte bronzers my heart skipped a beat! I ordered them immediately and now that I have them... I'm more in love! Milani has three bronzers that are permanent to their line but they are shimmery, these are matte which is what intrigued me. They are limited edition so if you're interested in these shades make sure to place an order on milanicosmetics.com or visit your local Kmart to see if they have them!
Alright! So here are the bronzers! Just like the other baked products from Milani these don't disappoint. They are so smooth and rich in pigment. I've tried both shades and they blend like a dream. I've used them both for contouring and to add some all around color to my face and they work amazing! My fear with bronzers is that when don't blend well they end looking muddy but with these you don't have to worry. They retail for $8.99 which is pretty affordable, the size of these are double of the blushes too. I'm always looking for a great alternative to my Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer because lets face it... I'm not going to have an extra $30 to spend every time I run out haha. Even though the undertones are not similar they are still really good!
There's a darker shade and a lighter one so Milani did an awesome job with the color selection since it would suite most people. Here are the swatches:
*Sienna- this one is the darker of the two, it has more orange tones so it would be perfect for when I get some color!
*Sunset- this is the lightest shade and my personal favorite (now at least haha) since I'm still pretty pale. This one has a golden tone so its more suitable for lighter-to-medium skin tones.
They come with these tiny brushes that people tend to throw away but these are actually pretty great! I've used them to contour and they get the job done. Give them a try before you think of tossing them! ;-)

Bottom line: I'm obsessed with these bronzers! I highly recommend them because one: they are matte and two: they have great pigmentation and those qualities are pretty rare in drugstore makeup. I love my Too Faced bronzer but these are a great alternative and much more affordable. It's a streak free product that will quickly become an essential for the summer time so make sure to pick one up before they're gone! :-)

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Review: Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint!

Warm Weather Essential!

Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint
Blush is one of my obsessions when it comes to makeup so I love trying different colors, formulas and finishes! I was visiting my local Kmart and came across these new Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tints and I was really intrigued.  Benefit has a similar product for lips and cheeks but its $30 each... way too overpriced! These cheek stains from Rimmel were less than $3... such an amazing deal! I've been giving these a try for some weeks now and they are worth the price and more!
The Rimmel site claims that the blush blends instantly to create a long lasting, natural-looking flush of color that lasts up to 24 hours. Now... 24 hours? haha that's a huge claim and to be honest I have no intentions in keeping my blush on for that amount of time. As far as the rest of the claims they are really accurate! Initially I thought it would be like a cream blush but It's actually a  liquid-mousse formula that blends like nothing else I've tried. It leaves a natural flush that looks amazing! There's a total of five shades available in the line but I only purchased two. Here are the colors:
Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint
*Touch of Berry- this color is more of a pink than berry but nonetheless its a beautiful color. It blends so easily and looks really natural. It's a lightweight formula that doesn't move the rest of your makeup around... which is a plus!
Rimmel Stay Blushed Liquid Cheek Tint
*Pop of Pink- this color is more of a coral-pink, my favorite of the two! Just as smooth as the other color and long lasting. Since it stains your cheeks it lasts longer than your typical cream blush. I would say the lasting power is about 4-5 hours before it starts to fade away. I've worn this on hot days and didn't notice it melting off, so overall these are great blush.
 
Bottom line: This is an essential product, specially for this time of year! I highly recommend these because they are affordable and formulated to a T! The shade range is small but they have all the basic colors that you would ever need. These are also pretty buildable! Make sure to check out your local Kmart to pick some of these up! :-)




Friday, May 23, 2014

What Have I Repurchased?! - Lip Edition!

Favorite Lippies!

Spring Lip Colors!
Hey everyone! Welcome back! I have an exciting post today that I hope will be helpful for you guys. I love trying new things, specially lip products, because there's so many different colors, finishes, formulas, etc. I normally tend to purchase 1 or 2 colors of one brand and move on to the next. But I thought it would be informative ( and fun!) to include what products I've repurchased! These are my favorite lippies at the moment. They are such great formulas that I needed to go back for more! I have full reviews on each of the original colors that got me hooked so make sure to check them out for more information.  Lets begin! :-)
 
I repurchased two more colors of the NYX Butter Lipsticks because they are amazing! The formula feels really light and hydrating on the lips + they are really pigmented. I feel like when you use these lipsticks your lips look so juicy! They are a glossy finish which is wonderful. They have a nice range of colors too! These retail for $6 each but you can often catch them on a BOGO sale at Ulta. The colors I purchased this time around were:
Spring Lip Colors!
*Fireball- a deep coral, such a gorgeous color and perfect for spring/summer!
*Pops-  a mauve color, one of my favorites lipsticks for everyday wear. It pairs well with any eye look and its so easy to just throw it in your purse and go!
 
Next up is the NYC City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color! These by far are my favorite jumbo lip pencils! Every brand known to man has come out with their version but I love these so much that I went back for more colors. They are only $2.99 each and can be found at Walmart, Kmart and on beautyjoint.com. They smell incredible too! They are really pigmented and smooth on the lips. The lasting power is awesome so these are a must have! In my original review for these I purchased more deep colors for Winter but I decided to stock up on lighter, more spring/summer appropriate colors. Here are the ones I purchased:
Spring Lip Colors!
*Park Slope Peach- a nude peach color that is really pretty on. I'm not a huge fan of lighter nudes but this one looks great on because of those peachy tones.
*Canal St Coral- a bright coral with more orange tones. This one is my favorite because the color is gorgeous! I've been wearing this one non stop.
*Brooklyn Brown Stone- a neutral mauve color, another color that is perfect for on the go. You don't have to worry about maintenance with these because they stay on really well.
The names on these are also really cute! Make sure to give these a try!
 
Now last but not least is the NYC Expert Last Lipstick! I reviewed these recently and fell in love! They are only $1.99 and they glide on like a dream. I've purchased all the cream finishes they offer in the line. The rest of the colors are more of a frost finish which I stay away from. These are really pigmented and creamy. They tend to become a bit drying after a few hours but you can quickly fix that with some lip balm. Here are the colors:
Spring Lip Colors!
*Air Kiss- a deep magenta, really beautiful and right up my alley! I love these rich colors for a night out or during the day with minimal makeup.
*Smooch- a light pink, perfect pink for light-medium skin tones. It doesn't wash me out and it stays put. This reminds me of a Mac lipstick... maybe Cream Cup or Snob! So this would be an affordable alternative.
 
So there you have it! :-) These are the lippies that I've repurchased because they were overall outstanding. The formulas and color selection is great for all of these lines and I highly recommend them. While writing this post I realized that all of these products were from the drugstore and super affordable. It just played out that way which is great because it goes to show that there are some hidden gems out there. If you're loving any of these as well or have some other lippies to recommend leave a comment down below!




Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Review: LORAC Alter Ego Lipsticks!

Embrace Your Alter Ego!

LORAC Alter Ego Lipsticks
I was exploring Kohl's beauty section online and came across these brand new lipsticks by LORAC and... I immediately placed an order! haha. I thought the line had an amazing color range to suite every one's taste. They retail for $16 each so I decided to just get two to test them out. I loved the idea behind the line, each lipstick has a cute name, an alter ego, which with each color you can transform into! At first glance I loved the packaging! It's a sleek pewter color with the lipstick color on the bottom. Here's a close up of the packaging:
LORAC Alter Ego Lipsticks
I love how simple it is, less is more! I love that these lipsticks are formulated with a lot of great things from antioxidants to vitamins. But even with all those good ingredients these don't translate well on the lips. I was a little bummed because for the price I was expecting to love them. The site mentions that these are a creamy matte formula which I agree with but the problem is that they emphasize all the nooks and fine lines on your lips. I don't have extremely dry lips but when I put these on it seems like I do. Here's what one of the colors looked like after I first swatched it:
LORAC Alter Ego Lipsticks
You can tell from the picture that it's not as creamy as other lipsticks. Just like the product gathers on the top of the lipstick it also gathers on your lips and that does not look cute! haha. I feel like the magenta shade is not as bad as the pink. I wore it to work and it lasted all day. I didn't experience dry lips at all. Seems like the formula isn't consistent within the line. Here are my lip swatches:
LORAC Alter Ego Lipsticks
I wore a lip balm underneath but that didn't seem to help with the lighter pink color.
*Heiress- a light pink and my least favorite. Because it's a lighter shade you can notice how dry my lips look. It gathered in the inside of my mouth and I just had to take it off immediately.
*Jet Setter- a deep fuchsia, a color I think I can make work regardless of the formula ;-)  I love the color and being that its a darker shade it doesn't look as bad on the lips. It was comfortable on the lips.
 
Bottom line: If you'd like to try any of the shades and enjoy a matte lip I would skip the nudes-pinks and go straight to the deeper colors. Jet Setter looked beautiful on the lips! I wouldn't repurchase any more shades just because out of all the lipsticks I've tried they are not favorite. I would suggest the new Wet n Wild Fergie Limited Edition lipsticks in Swerve and Cray Cray(similar shades to these) for about $4 each as an affordable alternative! Those are amazing and if you're interested in seeing them swatched check out my previous posts. Drugstore won this battle! :-)

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Review: CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation & Powder!

Best Drugstore Combo!

CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation & Powder
On my recent trip to Walgreens I noticed a new display with Katy Perry and was super excited! I love Katy Perry and she's undeniably gorgeous! The display was full of new products from nail polishes to lip glosses but I wanted to try the foundation first. I had such great results with the CoverGirl Stay Fabulous  3-in-1 Foundation so I had high hopes for this one... and I wasn't disappointed!
Claims:
The packaging claims to leave a flawless, natural look that lasts all day. It also mentions that the formula blends easily to even the skin tone and reduces shine all day. It's an oil-free formula that doesn't clog pores that is also suitable for sensitive skin. The powder also has just about the same claims, emphasis on it being oil absorbing providing shine control.
I do agree with the claims, this foundation is amazing! It's a thinner consistency than the Stay Fabulous but still provides enough coverage without looking cakey. It's definitely a natural looking foundation which is awesome for these hot days. I use it with my Beauty Blender and the finish is beautiful! It dries to a satin finish. The powder is actually a powder foundation so it can be used alone or as a setting powder for extra coverage. I haven't tried it alone but over the foundation it works really well! It comes with a sponge that is washable and I use it to set my under eye concealer. I then use a powder brush to set the rest of my face. I love how they pair together! Normally within 3 hours or so I would have touch up with other foundations but with this combo I don't see the oils appear until 6-7 hours into the day. Here's a picture of what the foundation and powder look like before applying anything else:
CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation & Powder
This was taken with my iPhone so excuse the quality haha. But you can see that my skin looks even and youthful!
I haven't found a con with these products! They work well and the packaging is super pretty. I love the splash of pink and white. I don't mind the squeeze tube packaging for the foundation, its easier for me to get the right of amount of product out. My favorite part about this line is the number coding they have. The foundation, powder and also concealer (that I passed on) have number coding to make it easier to match the products to your correct shade. I think that's really smart and makes our lives simpler. Here's my finished face:
CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation & Powder
Bottom line: I'm loving this combo and recommend you give it a try! The color selection is wide and choosing your color is also simple. At Walgreens they each retail for $8.99 but at the time they were having a sale so it was a bargain. This will be my go to foundation for the spring and summer because of the oil control qualities. Now... stop what your doing and go get this! :-)

Friday, May 16, 2014

Spot it & Buy it: Physicians Formula Haul! (New Products!)

Great Deals!

Physicians Formula
Recently I was at Rite Aid and I came across the Physicians Formula display! Most of the products had a $5 off instant coupon so I thought it was the perfect time to try out their products. Physicians Formula is on the most expensive side of the drugstore so I've stayed away from it until now. I purchased three fairly new products to the line, mainly because the packaging was adorable haha. I'm so excited about these products and wanted to also tell you guys about a great sale: Physicians Formula is BOGO Free at Target until the 24th, so if you want to give any of their products a try this is the perfect time to do so!
So I was really excited to try out the Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush... you know me and blush haha. Here's what the packaging looks like:
Physicians Formula
I purchased the color Natural and its a really gorgeous color. What's cool about the blush is that it's made up of four colors that you can use individually or blend together. Now lets talk about the packaging: bows and rose gold, enough said! haha it's really cute and the first thing that drew my attention. This blush retails for $12.95 which is a little high but I got $5 off instantly so that was a great deal. It's a beautiful color when blended and its ideal for everyday wear. Its a really smooth powder and not the most pigmented but it leaves a pretty pink glow on the cheeks that I love! Here are the swatches:
Physicians Formula
The first swatch is the color when blended and then the individual colors. Initially there's a highlight over spray on the blush but it goes away after using it. I love the natural, glowing finish it leaves behind!
In the same line as the blush I purchased the Nude Wear Glowing Nude Powder in medium. I first thought this was a highlight but really its targeted to be more of a finishing powder/veil. I haven't worn it as an all over face powder but it does make a great subtle highlight! The packaging is just like the blush just a bit bigger.
Physicians Formula
It has a nice combination colors for those times when you're in between shades. It retails for $14.95 and for what it is I think it's a product you can skip. I love my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder for only $4 so this product isn't a must have. I'll continue to use it up but just wouldn't recommend it. Here are the swatches:
Physicians Formula
I did save the best for last in this little haul. The Shimmer Strips All-in-1 Custom Nude Palette for face and eyes is a multifaceted product and I love it! I've used it almost everyday since I purchased it and its the one product that I highly recommend! Here's what it looks like:
Physicians Formula
I purchased mine in Natural Nude and it impressed me! I love how versatile it is: it's a perfect cheek highlight and a great inner corner highlight to brighten up any eye look! This product retails for $13.95 and honestly this would be the one product of the three that I would repurchase at full price because its that amazing! All the colors are nicely pigmented and look great all over the lid. Here are the swatches individually and by row:
Physicians Formula
This palette will suite many skin tones. It's perfect for travel too. I'm pretty happy with this one and can't wait to try other colors!
 
Bottom line: I would highly recommend the shimmer strips! The blush is also really pretty but you can get the same effect with a more affordable blush like the Mineral Blushes from ELF. The powder was my least favorite, it just didn't do anything special for me. Make sure to take advantage of the Target sale going on right now so you can get a great deal. What's your favorite Physicians Formula product? Leave me a comment down below! :-)





Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Review: Kat Von D Monarch Eyeshadow Palette!

Not Your Typical Neutral Palette!

Kat Von D Monarch Eyeshadow Palette
Recently the Kat Von D Monarch Palette has been really raved about in the Youtube community so I had to give it a try myself! I own too many neutral palettes for my own good but what can I say? I love them! They are perfect for everyday and suite my brown eyes very well (gotta enhance what you have! haha) When I initially heard about it I thought it wasn't going to be anything special. But... this palette is AMAZING! It has a nice mix of cool and warm tones which makes it seem like you really have a 2-in 1 palette! Not to mention that the packaging itself is a work of art! Here's a close up of the colors:
Kat Von D Monarch Eyeshadow Palette
The color selection is perfect! You have your warm golds and browns + your cool silvers and grays that makes the palette really versatile. I love how its designed, you have the most used shades at the very top ( highlights and all over lid color) in a bigger size just so you don't run out of them too quickly. That was a huge plus because you always favor 1-2 shades in a palette and once it runs out it's a depressing day haha. I wanted to include another picture of the palette taken with flash just so you can see how vibrant these shades are!
Kat Von D Monarch Eyeshadow Palette
The texture of these shadows is incredible! They are buttery smooth, almost cream like feeling. They are easy to blend and super pigmented! I'm really impressed with this palette and just excited to come up with some looks! Here are the swatches:
Kat Von D Monarch Eyeshadow Palette
First off  I want to name the three bigger shadows on top from left to right:
*Entomology- a matte cream, perfect brow bone highlight shade! It's super smooth to the touch and decently pigmented.
*Telepathy- a metallic golden beige, a great shade for all over the lid!
*Tiny Death- a matte based cream with silver glitter, this shade was tricky because it doesn't translate too well on the lid. Once you tap your brush the glitter falls off so it's actually similar to Entomology.
Now here are the rest of the shades from left to right:
*Wrath- a burnt orange shade with a golden sheen, for the most part this shadow is matte. Its the most unique color from the palette and what sold me on getting it! It's an amazing color to warm up any look.
*Papilio- a chocolate brown pearl shade, it's a beautiful shade to smoke out a look that's still wearable during the day!
*Summerfly- a warmer golden shade with a more metallic finish. This color looks awesome all over the lid or just placed on the center of the lid for a pop of color! I love golds and this one is really great.
*Killing Jar- a light peachy shade with a pearl finish. As soon as I saw this color I knew I would love it! It looks really good wet all over the lid or even as an inner corner highlight.
*Delaney- a metallic taupe-pewter shade. I love taupes and this one has great color payoff! Just a great color that would pair very well with anything.
*Vanish- a matte light taupe with a hint of brown, great blending shade!
*Disintegration- a metallic olive toned brown with a golden shimmer. This color I love for warming up a look for a night out. It's super pigmented and beautiful!
*Shadow Box- a matte deep brown, an essential color for any palette.
*Deadhead- a matte black, another essential color but wasn't as opaque as I expected.
 
Bottom line: This palette is a must have if you're looking for one that would be wearable for the daytime but can also transition into the night! It's a Sephora exclusive which retails for $46 (less than the Naked Palettes!) and well worth it! The shadows are amazing and the colors pair together like a dream. The packaging is also a work of art and would look awesome on your vanity! I would recommend to order it online from the Sephora site via Ebates so you can get some cash back. I tend to justify my more expensive purchases that way haha. :-)



Monday, May 12, 2014

Need it Or Leave it: Wet n Wild Fergie Center Stage Limited Edition Collection!

What's Worth Purchasing?

Wet n Wild Fergie Center Stage Limited Edition Collection
Wet n Wild has a new limited edition extension to their Fergie Center Stage line and I managed to pick up three of the items! The display was a bit confusing because there was a mix of the limited edition items with permanent ones...so you have to look really closely to determine which were which. I purchased the items at Walgreens which at the time was having 25% off the entire line (Wohoo!). Wet n Wild is inexpensive to begin with so when I noticed the sale I was like YES! haha.
They had a few LE eyeshadow palettes but I decided to give Mixing Metals a try. I instantly fell in love with the shimmering rose-gold shade on the top right corner! But, after giving it a full go I wasn't too impressed. Here's a close up of the colors:
Wet n Wild Fergie Center Stage Limited Edition Collection
Mixing Metals is just like the name says: metallic eye shadows. This palette isn't a stand alone type palette since they are all shimmery colors and there's not a matte shadow in sight. All the colors swatch amazingly on the skin with primer but on the eyes I was having issues with the color not showing up, only the glitter did. It had fallout because of that so overall it wasn't my favorite item I picked up. You definitely need to wear a base under these colors to have them show up on the eye and for the most part they would  work better wet. The colors are beautiful which is why I didn't return it and I figured I could make it work. Here are the swatches:
Wet n Wild Fergie Center Stage Limited Edition Collection
I know there's a limited edition neutral palette that was out of stock when I was purchasing these so I would recommend giving that one a try rather than this one. I heard great things about the neutral one! I might go back to see if I can find it but... let's be honest I don't need another neutral palette haha. I picked up another palette from the permanent line that I will include in a post later on. :-)
So the most exciting part of this mini haul were the lipsticks! These were amazing and such saturated colors! I guess you can tell that I love them huh? Here are the colors/packaging:
Wet n Wild Fergie Center Stage Limited Edition Collection
The packaging is just like the Fergie lipsticks from the permanent line, super sleek and beautiful. The colors I chose have the cutest names! haha. Here are the swatches on my hand and the names:
Wet n Wild Fergie Center Stage Limited Edition Collection
*Cray Cray- a bright magenta/ hot pink... LOVE IT! This has to be my favorite from the entire Fergie lipstick line thus far. It's super creamy and vibrant! I wore it to work and got so many compliments. It's a color that would work with so many different skin tones too!
*Swerve- a bright pink-coral that looks amazing on as well. It's the perfect spring shade and with a pop of orange in your blush this would pair perfectly!
I just can't get enough of those names haha. I love this formula a lot more than the megalast line from Wet n Wild. It's just so buttery and never drying! And for less than $4? These go above and beyond! Here's what they look like on the lips:
Wet n Wild Fergie Center Stage Limited Edition Collection
 
Bottom line: From what I tried I would skip on the eyeshadow palette and go for the lipsticks! The palette wasn't anything special but it doesn't discourage me to try some other colors to see if there's any fabulous ones from the line. The lipsticks are truly amazing. I have no complaints! These can easily be Mac Dupes at a much affordable price. Make sure to check them out if you like these bold colors before they're gone! :-)

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Review: Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick!

Newest Lip Product From Too Faced!

Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick
Too Faced is quickly becoming one of my favorite high-end makeup brands! I've been giving many of their products a try lately and haven't been disappointed thus far! Even though they are on the high end spectrum their prices aren't too unreasonable. So on my most recent stroll through Sephora I noticed the display they had of all the beautiful "melted" shades but this one in Melted Fuchsia spoke to me! They retail for $21 each so I'm sure you'll understand why I only chose one haha. But I'm super happy for this purchase because it's a great product!
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick
The packaging is really pretty and convenient as well! It's a squeeze tube but what sets it apart is the sponge tip applicator that doesn't let all the product gush out at once. I've reviewed the L.A Girl Glazed Lip Paints recently which were said to be comparable to the Too Faced ones. Make sure to check out that review and swatches of the colors that I chose! The packaging was practically identical to this one but sadly its not an exact dupe. They are both outstanding lip products but just not the same formula. Although the Too Faced site claims that these have the high shine of a gloss I don't agree with that. When you first apply it you notice a nice glossy finish that fades throughout the day. So it leaves a beautifully matte stain on the lips without being drying which is why I give this product an A+! Here's a swatch compared to one of the similar colors in the L.A Girl line:
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick
On the left is the Too Faced lippie and on the right the one from L.A Girl. The Too Faced one is definitely opaque in one stroke and initially has the glossy finish. The title "melted lipstick" is spot on because it applies like a creamy lipstick. The L.A Girl one is more of a gloss formula so it provides high shine but more of a slippery feeling so it lacks in the longevity department. Here's what Melted Fuchsia looks like on the lips:
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick
It's a gorgeous true hot pink color that would look amazing on anyone! I knew that I wanted to invest on a color that was wearable yet bold so this one is perfect! It's long lasting and even though the gloss fades your lips are surprisingly still moisturized.

Bottom line: For the price I think you should give the Too Faced Melted Lipstick a try because the formulation is amazing! If you can splurge I would because with Too Faced you don't have to worry about the fuss of constantly reapplying since it leaves a beautiful stain behind. L.A Girl has the similar product but it is more of a gloss so it depends on what you prefer. Just for reference the L.A Girl glosses retail for only $4 so if your wanting vibrant color but not a hefty price tag give those a try! For a full review on those click here! :-)

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Spot it & Buy it: Maybelline Bleached Neons Summer 2014 Collection!

Limited Edition Shades!

Maybelline Bleached Neons Summer 2014 Collection
Limited Edition collections are quickly becoming an obsession for me! As soon as I see those two words my mind automatically thinks "I NEED IT!" haha. But I've learned to be selective and to only purchase products that I know I will use. This time around I was more than excited to give these a try because out of all the products I've only tried the nail polishes before. The Elixirs and Glazes are completely new to me but I must say... I love them!
Let's start off with the nail polishes!
Maybelline Bleached Neons Summer 2014 Collection
All of these products were purchased at Walgreens. They had a BOGO deal going on when I purchased them so check out your local store to see if you can catch them on sale! Ok... back to the polishes. These retailed for about $4 each. They had a lot of shades too choose from but out of the bunch these three stood out to me the most. The formula is good, not the most long wearing but many of the shades are opaque in one coat! These chipped within 2-3 days but what I do enjoy is that it's easy to remove. They tend to chip in one piece so that's a plus = there's no fuss involved. The colors I purchased are:
*Ultra Violet- it's really bright lilac shade, super beautiful! It's opaque in one coat but out of habit I use two. I love how Maybelline incorporated pastel-like shades but made them into bold and vivid colors!
*Day Glow Teal- its a true bright teal blue shade. This color is also opaque in one coat and makes your hands look extra tan haha. So... I can see how it's perfect for the summer! ;-)
*Lime Accent- a bright yellow-green shade. I was disappointed with this shade because it was very sheer. Even with 3 coats it looked streaky so I don't recommend this one at all. I really loved the color but the formula wasn't comparable to the others.
Next up is the Maybelline Color Elixirs! (click on the image to enlarge!)
Maybelline Bleached Neons Summer 2014 Collection
OMG... I don't know why it took me so long to give these a try! These glosses are amazing! It's like a balm, lipstick and gloss all in one! These retailed for about $7 each and well worth it. They are smooth and moisturizing. They look amazing alone or as lipstick toppers. I'm completely in love! For being a gloss formula they are really long wearing. They last about 5 hours without having to touch up. Here are the two colors I chose:
Maybelline Bleached Neons Summer 2014 Collection
*Orange Aglow-  a true bright orange, looks amazing over coral lipsticks!
*Luxe in Lilac- a bright lilac, really beautiful!
The packaging is so petite and adorable, I really think that it contributes to my love for these haha. I heard that people had complaints about the scent, they smell sweet with a faint floral scent but nothing overpowering.
Last but not least is the Maybelline Face Studio Master Glaze in Enchanting Apricot!
Maybelline Bleached Neons Summer 2014 Collection
I believe there were four limited edition shades from this line but this one was the only blush shade out of the bunch. The others were more of highlighters and bronzers but I didn't care for them so I skipped on those. Now... this blush retails for $8, the price is a little hefty for the amount of product you get but overall the shade is gorgeous! It's a highly pigmented coral-pink shade with a gold sheen that sorta reminds me of Nars Orgasm blush! So this would be an affordable alternative!
 
Bottom line: Overall this collection is a must have! It's up to you to determine the colors or products that intrigue you the most but I'm super ecstatic about the ones that I chose! I've worn the polishes many times already and the Elixirs are in rotation on a daily basis since I purchased them. The blush is also amazing and would look great on tan skin in the summer time. So make sure to visit your local drugstore while the line is available. It's limited edition so hunt it down! :-) 



Monday, May 5, 2014

Review: L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints! + Swatches!

A Little Goes A Long Way!

L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints
Recently Too Faced launched their Melted Liquid Lipsticks and I was super intrigued! I only purchased one because they were so pricey at $21 a pop so I began to hunt for something similar. I came across these L.A Girl Glazed Lip Paints online and thought they looked like twins! The packaging was almost identical and the best part was...these were only $4 each! I'll be reviewing the Too Faced liquid lipstick really soon so stay tuned for that! :-)
So here's what the packaging looks like compared to the Too Faced one:
L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints
The font is really similar, the tube, the cap... everything! But after giving both of them a try I must say that they are different products. So...if you were hoping for a dupe I can't really say it is. Each product is amazing in its own way but just wanted to point out that the formulas are opposites.
Here are the swatches of the L.A Girl Lip Paints:
L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints
The pigmentation is outstanding! You just need the tiniest bit to get the impact you want! There's six shades total, I decided not to purchase the red one because I prefer matte reds instead of glossy ones. But the colors I did get didn't disappoint. These feel really nice on the lips, they have vitamin E and peppermint oil that leaves a soothing feeling on your lips! The Too Faced ones have a sponge tip applicator and this one doesn't, it's just your typical squeeze tube gloss. That actually would be my only con about these. I wish it had a better applicator because with something so pigmented you need precision. But overall, I really like them!
Here are the lip swatches:
L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints
From left to right (click to enlarge!):
*Babydoll- a Barbie baby pink, really pretty but not something I would wear everyday.
*Blushing- a medium mauve, the most neutral shade of the bunch and one of my favorites!
*Bombshell- a bright fuchsia pink, gorgeous color and will be perfect for a night out!
*Hot Mess- a bright orange, online it looked more coral but its a true orange. It's different but I think I can make it work! ;-)
*Coy- a bright purple, this color is becoming really popular this year so it was a must have!
 
Bottom line: If compared to the Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipsticks these won't be a dupe but as a stand alone product they are really good! I like the fact that you don't need too much to get the color you want. The price point is also amazing! They feel and look nice on the lips so L.A Girl did a great job with these. The applicator is my only con. You have to be super careful when applying these. Since it doesn't have a sponge to soak up the product once you squeeze, it gushes out and it can get messy. I'm not sure if these are in store at your local Rite Aid yet but if you're wanting to try them out check out www.lagirlusa.com ! :-)