Review: Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners!

To Infinity & Beyond!

Milani released some cosmic awesomeness and I managed to get my hands on it! :-) I've been hearing/reading so many reviews on these Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners and they have been pretty mixed. Some love them and some feel like Milani in a way tricked us with the glitter over-spray. I decided to give them a try myself and here are my thoughts!

I give Milani props for releasing such a unique collection! The liners look gorgeous in the pan but that glitter goodness is just on the top of each liner, not throughout the product. Priced at only $5.99 I think these are pretty amazing! Unlike most people I'm not upset about the over-spray. It's a beautiful touch to the liners but honestly... would you want a disco ball on your eyes? Not me haha. I love how subtle the shimmers are, they're still noticeable and adds a cool look to your eyes! The actual gel liner is really smooth which is amazing, there's no tugging with application. Here's a closeup of the liners:

*Enchanted Lapis- a sparkling navy blue, this one has gorgeous mix of purple and teal shimmers. This is my favorite from the three! Make sure to click the image to see how stunning the colors are!

*Enchanted Opal- a sparkling black with a mix of silver and magenta shimmers, very pretty! The black base isn't too deep, more of a charcoal.

*Enchanted Emerald- a sparkling emerald with a mix of green, blue and pink shimmers, really unique! The green base is lovely in this one!

As far as wear time, I don't find that they are the most long wearing. They don't set quickly so they are prone to smudging which is a con. But... for me these would be perfect for a night out where you don't need your makeup to last more than 4 hours. These can also be used as bases which is why I think they stay so creamy. The colors are perfect for smokey eyes! They all come with a liner brush which is amazing quality so make sure to keep them.

Bottom line: If you're looking for a cool gel liner that isn't going to last you all day than this would be ideal for you! It's super affordable and perfect for those days that you want to spice up your look. The colors are amazing and like you see in the swatch the shimmer is visible but not as opaque as in the pan. Keep in mind... you're also getting a lot of product! There's 4 grams of product in each so these will last you a long time. These are limited edition so if you've been thinking about it, I'd say go for it! :-)

Review: L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara!

Volume + Length!

L'Oreal is winning if we're talking mascara game! All their new mascaras have been total hits for me and this upgrade on the Voluminous Butterfly Mascara is no exception! The packaging was what caught my attention, loved the red details and "Intenza" just sounded like something I needed to try haha. It's about $8 at your local drugstore which is pretty reasonable. Here's what the packaging looks like:

I've heard so many people switching out the wands and using them with their favorite L'Oreal formula. From the Miss Manga mascara or the original Voluminous Butterfly you can switch things out to your liking! Simple idea but brilliant. :-) 

Here's what the wand looks like! It's a rubber bristle wand with bristles on all sides, pretty unique. On two sides the bristles are shorter, great for separation and coating your lashes. The other sides has longer bristles, perfect for adding length. It's a bit tricky to get the hand of it at first but after multiple uses I was able to master it haha. It does a great job at both volume and length and the formula is wonderful for keeping a curl. I did enjoy it more after a weeks or so, once the formula became a bit drier.

Bottom line: I really like this mascara! It's not one I love but it has its perks. Compared to the Voluminous Butterfly it does add more color to your lashes but it doesn't fan them out like the original one. That's something I definitely missed. But if you're looking for good volume and great length this is one worthy of picking up! It's affordable and gets the job done. :-)

Review: Wet n Wild Halloween 2014 Eyeshadow Palettes! (Limited Edition!)

Trick or Treat?

The Wet n Wild display at my local Walgreen's was out of this world! It had everything from nail polishes, to lashes to eyeshadows and lippies. As far as eyeshadows go these two limited edition palettes caught my attention. One was out of my comfort zone and the other had colors dear to my heart and I wanted a taste of both worlds! ;-) These were less than $4, a bargain as always. They are part of the Halloween collection, different from other limited edition palettes that were released in their fall collection. The fall palettes were gorgeous, click here for more details!

The colors are so rich and pigmented, just like the older Wet n Wild palettes! I love collecting these palettes because they're so affordable and the color combos are always stunning. Here are the swatches:

*Daring Downtown-  I was most excited about this one because I don't own anything like it. I'm more of a neutrals girl but this palette looked so cool in the pan that I needed it haha. The colors look pretty similar swatched but on the eye they create the prettiest smokey eye of your choice! The best way to describe them is: blackened jewel tones with shimmer. The shimmers on certain shades don't stick which is the only con, but these shades make great one shadow looks!

*A Karat in the World- I always end up with a neutral palettes, it's just a habit haha. I must admit this one isn't my favorite but it has some great shades. The taupe shade towards the end is amazing! Now... the first shade is way too yellow for me, not the most flattering. I honestly would pass on this one because these shades are pretty common.

Bottom line: I would recommend the Daring Downtown palette because it's really different! I love the shades and the quality is really great. It is limited edition so make sure to stop by you're local Walgreens before it's sold out! I can't wait for the Holiday palettes to release, those are next on the list! :-)

Review: Walmart Beauty Box! (Fall 2014!)

More Bang For Your Buck!

I had no idea that Walmart had a  beauty subscription service until I saw my friend Christina make a video about it! Here's the link to the video and make sure to subscribe to her for more awesome reviews! I decided to subscribe myself for two reasons: it's only $5 and it happens quarterly! That's only $20 a year, such a great deal! I love how unique this service is, being that it's seasonal your going to get products that are appropriate for that season. Plus if you happen to love a product you can go to your local Walmart and repurchase! You only pay for shipping which is $5, there's no additional fees and once the season changes you'll be notified when the new box will ship. At the moment the fall box is completely sold out which is the one I'm reviewing today but if you're interested in the winter box make sure sign up now because they sell out quick! Here's the link: https://beautybox.walmart.com/.

Let's start with packaging!

I love how everything comes nicely packed in a box that's sturdy enough to reuse for storage organization!

I received such a nice range of products! From hair care, to nail polish and even deodorant, I was super impressed! The price on just one item alone surpassed the price of the box which is awesome! Just like other subscription services they ask you a few questions to determine what items to send to you so people in a certain age group may get something different from others. I love that aspect because it's catering to your needs and likes.

Here's what I received:

and here's a better look:

I was pleasantly surprised by how many things were in the box! I've tested out a few things already and some of them have made their way onto my repurchase list haha. The L'Oreal Glossy Balm and the Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant are full sizes, a value of  $15 total between the two. The dove shampoo/conditioner samples were pretty decent, I was able to get about 3 washes with them. The Covergirl nail polish was the only thing that I wasn't crazy about because of the color but I appreciate that they included one. The rest were smaller one time use samples, still a great way to try new products and determine if they're worth purchasing!

Bottom line: I'm pretty obsessed with this box! I truly believe its a great deal and being that its quarterly you're not going to have an overload of products that go unused. This is my first box so I hope it stays consistent in quality throughout the seasons. I just can't wait for the next one! :-)

Review: NYX Simply Vamp Lip Creams!

Vampires Beware!

It seems like I just can't get enough of the jumbo lip pencils! Every time I see new ones being released I just gravitate towards them because of how convenient they are. Not every brand can perfect the jumbo lip pencil formula, I've tried some great ones and some that I wish I would've returned. But that's the beauty of makeup, it's all trial and error! ;-) 

NYX released four intriguing lines of color families with a wide range of shades in each line that would suite so many skin tones! Being that we're in fall it was only right to try out the Simply Vamp Lip Creams first. There's a total of six shades in the line, I purchased two and here are the lip swatches:

*Temptress- a deep royal purple, such a gorgeous shade! Lives up to the "vampy" name! It's nicely pigmented and that color is very unique.

*Aphrodisiac- a light brown plum, another different color, really pretty! This one needed to be layered to get the full effect, but beautiful nonetheless!

These are only $6.50 which is a great price! I previously reviewed the NYX Chunky Dunk Hydrating Lippies which were good but not my favorite chubby pencil. Rest assure that these are a step up from those! The formula is amazing, more on the matte side but not drying! They kinda remind me of the Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipsticks but with longer lasting power and... cooler shades!

Bottom line: These are pretty cool lip products! The formula is amazing, you just need to make sure that your lips are dry so it adheres better. I'd say the lasting power is about 4-5 hours which is pretty good. Count on NYX to make some out of the box colors and formulas! Winged liner and these colors will make the perfect fall combo! :-)

Must Haves: Top 5 Wearable Orange Makeup Products! (Fall Edition!)

Orange is the New Berry!

Orange can be a difficult color to wear but today I wanted to share with you my favorite orange products that can be worn without hesitation! :-) I love to be daring with my makeup , whether it be a bolder eye or a bright lip and Orange is the way to go. It's definitely a color that many stray away from in the fall but that's when I love to integrate it! It makes you look full of life and brings some interest back to the face. Let's start off with some lip products shall we!

Just like their shown in the picture they go from sheer to BOOM! haha. These are all great formulas that I've raved about in previous posts and the best part? They are super affordable! Here are the lip swatches:

*Covergirl Colorlicious Lip gloss in Succulent Citrus- a light wash of tangerine, great for keeping your lips moisturized! The formula isn't sticky so you do need to reapply often but they smell great and feel amazing on. This will run you about $7 at your local drugstore.

*Jordana Lipstick in Pumpkin- a true orange color, perfect for this month, even the name is awesome! haha. The formula is very smooth and opaque in just one swipe, love it! These lipsticks can be found at Walgreens, Kmart or jordanacosmetics.com for less than $2!

*NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Morocco- an orange-red, such a stunning and bold color! I love this formula because it's not drying at all but it looks so daring once it settles! This is the brightest of the bunch but it can be applied lightly or full on for a pop of color! These are only $6!

Next up we have eye shadow and blush!

Orange makes a beautiful transition/crease shade! In the fall, brands release palettes with warmer tones. This Milani Bella Eyes gel Powder Eye shadow in Bella Mandarin is the perfect orange shade that you can buy in single form and just incorporate it with other colors you already own! It's only $3.99 and the pigmentation is amazing. I love these Milani shadows, they are smooth and don't fade one bit! Plus, the packaging is so adorable too! ;-)

Here is a swatch, it so subtle but the ideal fall shade to blend your eye makeup. Right next to it we have one of my favorite fall blushes, NYX Powder blush in Cinnamon. In the pan it looks like a crazy bright color, like two pumpkins on your cheeks haha. But, when applied lightly it gives such a beautiful flush to your cheeks and it brightens up your face instantly. I adore this blush and the NYX powder blush line in general because they are amazing quality for just $5! I have so many that I managed to get on sale and they don't disappoint. They last a long while and the color selection is just like higher end brands, think of a color and they have it!

These are my top 5 wearable orange makeup products! If you have any orange favorites leave me a comment down below, I would love to hear about it and maybe add it to my wish list! If you have any other colors in mind that you would like to see a Top 5 with leave me a comment as well and I will get to it! :-)

Review: NEW Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes Lipsticks!

Creamiest Matte Lipsticks!

Maybelline has my favorite lipstick formula from the drugstore! When I heard about the release of this Matte line I was really excited. Matte lips in the fall is a great trend but matte formulas can be tricky to perfect. I wanted to give these a shot and I must report that I really like them! There's 10 shades in the line and I ended up with five. I highly suggest to pick them up at Target or Walmart because they have the best prices, just $5.50 each!

This is the packaging they come in, cute matte purple! They have the same scent as the rest of the Color Sensational line which I don't mind. The shade range in the line covers all the basics from nudes to pinks to corals and berries, I was very impressed by that! The formula is so different from any other matte lipstick; it's irresistibly creamy but that can be a good thing and a bad thing. They glide on so smoothly on the lips but they don't set fully like other matte lipsticks. They are ridiculously comfortable to wear which is my major plus! They don't have any drying factor whatsoever but since they stay so creamy they tend to transfer easily. So make sure the check your teeth throughout the day because chances are lipstick will be there haha. Here are some swatches:

The colors are stunning! They are very flattering and that first one is on trend with that 90's lip that's going around! :-) Here are the lip swatches:

*Touch of Spice- a pink-brown, one of my favorite colors from the bunch! Perfect nude for the fall and very on trend!

*Lust For Blush-  a mauve-pink, great everyday color and very wearable.

*Ravishing Rose- a more blue toned pink, it's not super bright which makes it a bit more wearable but not the most flattering on me.

*Mesmerizing Magenta- a creamy magenta- pink, very beautiful! This one has some dimension to it compared to the rest, very unique!

*Divine Wine- a deep burgundy, the ideal fall shade! This one makes your teeth look pearly white, love it!

Bottom line: This matte line is pretty good! I love that they don't dry out your lips at all. The color remains on your lips for a good 2-3 hours but not as intense compared to when you first apply. Maintenance is key to keep the color looking great throughout the day. I don't mind reapplying but if that is tedious for you than you might not like these. They do get the award for being the creamiest matte lipsticks I've tried so far! :-)

Review: Tarte Pin Up Girl Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Palette! (Holiday 2014!)

#Blush-hoarder ;-)

Last Holiday season I completely missed out on the Tarte blush palette so when it launched this year I didn't hesitate to order it haha. I was pretty excited once it released on sephora.com plus... I didn't spend a dime on it! I used my card rewards for the purchase and decided to give myself an early Christmas gift ;-) The Tarte Pin Up Girl Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Palette retails for $42 which is a bit pricey but it's a great value! Tarte blushes retail for $26 each while this palette comes with five brand new shades for $42 (less than two Tarte blushes purchased separately!) I highly recommend you get this palette if you love Tarte blushes (like I do!) because you're getting more bang for your buck! Lets start off with packaging:

The packaging is gorgeous! It's a clutch style palette which makes it perfect for travel. It also comes with two hair pins which are super pretty, definitely stands out on my brown hair. It feels nice and looks more expensive than what it is!

Look how stunning that clasp is?! Love it!

My only con is that the blush names are not engraved in the actual palette. Tarte included a clear slip with the names which we all know I will probably lose it by next week haha. Other than that this palette is amazing! 

All the blush colors would be suitable for a variety of skin tones which is awesome. The formula is just as great as their single blushes and... when they say 12-hour wear it's no joke! They last all day and blend like a dream. Here are the swatches:

*Breathless- a pink beige, great neutral color and perfect for everyday wear.

*Embraced- a plumy rose... gorgeous! This is my favorite color. It leaves a beautiful sheen to your cheeks, just perfect for that flushed look that we all look for this time of year.

*Whimsy- a light pink, nice color for that "doll-face" look!

*Bashful- a rosy peach, great spring-summer color.

*Irreplaceable- a mauve rose, another great fall color.

Bottom line: This palette is worth every penny! It's a great way to try out more colors if you're a fan of their blushes. Tarte Exposed is my most worn blush so I knew the formula was great to begin with. The palette is consistent across the board and these colors are perfect to wear year round. Let's not forget about how convenient it is to have all these colors in one cute palette. I love it and would recommend it in a heartbeat! :-)

Review: bh Cosmetics Wild & Free Baked Eyeshadow Palette!

Amazing Metallic Shades!

I'm really excited about today's post because it's full of unique colors that are... baked! An all baked eyeshadow palette? Awesome! I've been testing it out for a few weeks now and I can truly say its a great asset to my makeup collection. I have two of the palettes and there's three in total in this collection,,. I'm actually debating if I should order the third one haha, it's that good! These shadows feel like silk on your fingers and with just one swipe you have BAM! pigmentation. The packaging is also adorable!

The packaging is a thick cardboard with a magnetic closure, pretty sturdy! All of the palettes come with nine gorgeous shades to fit a theme. This palette is the Wild & Free one, full of blues and greens and bits of neutrals that pair so well together! You get so much product in this palette, that's something I definitely want to point out! Each eyeshadow is about the size of  a quarter.

I was a firm believer that these types of palettes don't work without a matte shade to create depth. But... this palette kinda changed my mind. I created an all shimmer/metallic look and it turned out really great! Over primer all the colors looked very bold and stunning. These can be used wet or dry depending on your preference, I really enjoy how versatile this palette is!

 

All of the swatches glided on so smooth and nicely pigmented. I'm very impressed with this palette!

Bottom line: I left the price for last; it retails for $19.95 but I purchased mine on sale for only $8.95! It's such a bargain for the amount of product that you get plus they perform so well! Other baked shadows have lots of fall out but that's something I didn't experience with this palette which is a plus. Can you imagine how many exotic looks you can come up with?... I can't wait to play around with it some more! Always check bhcosmetics.com because they are notorious for having great sales! ;-) 

Review: Wet n Wild Halloween 2014 Limited Edition Megaslicks Balm Stains!

Great Fall Shades!

You might have seen a review on the the Wet n Wild Megaslicks Balm Stains back in the day but it wasn't the best review. I saw these gorgeous new shades on the New Halloween display and thought it was worth another try! These were only $2.99 at Walgreens, amazing price! They had a few other Limited Edition shades but these two were the ones that stood out the most. 

The packaging is the same as the permanent line but this time around the cap actually stays on haha. That was one major issue when I first tried them so I'm very happy that the packaging is functional. Another thing that surprised me was the formula! The ones I first tried left my lips feeling so dry within an hour but it seems like they've been reformulated. Now, its the complete opposite! They go on so smooth and the formula is a lot creamier than before. It's actually in a sense too creamy to the point that one of the tips broke off .That was a sad moment! haha but I got over it. The colors are very beautiful and flattering + perfect for the fall. Here are some swatches:

Because they are so creamy they tend to transfer to everything which would be my only con. It's not the most long wearing lip product out there. They feel really nice on the lips and you only need one swipe to get the color intensity you see. So overall, they're great for days when you want some color but don't mind touching up every so often. Here are the lip swatches:

*2AM Call Time- a deep purple, gorgeous color! Wore it to work and had to reapply every 2 hours just to have the color show up as bright as you see in the picture. The stain it left was very faint.

*Senorita- a bright cherry red, another great color! Makes your lips look so juicy!

Bottom line: I really like these but I feel like the reapplying and maintenance might get annoying. The colors can be found within the same brand in a different formula like the new matte lipsticks I recently reviewed. If a matte lip isn't your thing than definitely pick these up because the colors are really gorgeous. I enjoy how this time around they feel really comfortable on the lips so they would also be great for the colder months so you can keep your lips hydrated in style! :-)

Review: Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette! (Limited Edition!)

All-in-One Palette!

The words "Limited Edition"got me again! haha. I wasn't planning on purchasing this Rainforest After Dark Palette but I just had to after seeing so many positive reviews in the YouTube world. I'm very glad I did because It's a really nice palette! It retails for $38 and can be purchased at Sephora, Ulta or on the Tarte website. I tried to hunt it down locally but it was sold out everywhere so I decided to order mine from Sephora. It's definitely worth the price, you get everything you need in one palette and the colors mesh so well together!

I really love the packaging on this palette! It's a very durable plastic and so unique since its round and not rectangular like most palettes! The mirror is a great size and the amount of each product you get is perfect. I find that it will last you a long time!

Here's a close up of what you get! BTW, it comes with a clear film with the names of the each of the elements of the palette but it's not attached to the palette which kinda sucks. I wish it were written on the back of the palette or something just for reference. I do really love the combination of the face products and the eye shadows. The highlight alone is gorgeous! I'm not a "highlighter" person but this one just gives the most beautiful glowing from within look that I love! The bronzer is also a nice neutral tone, great for adding warmth to the face. The blush... amazing! Perfect year round shade and would suite so many skin tones!

Here are the swatches of the face products:

*Champagne- a glowy white gold highlight, just stunning!

*Park Avenue Princess- a medium neutral toned bronzer, its matte and a great contour shade!

*Unleashed- a nude rose blush, really smooth and very long lasting!

Here are the eye shadows swatched (over primer, no flash):

*Bare To Explore- a matte pink beige, a nice crease/blending shade.

*Make a Mauve- a satin plum-mauve shade with shimmer, its a nice color but nothing too special.

*Plum Away With Me- a dark metallic plum with shimmers, really gorgeous when worn on the outer third of the lid or even blending up in the crease! Pairs perfectly with the next shade!

*Up To No Gold- a metallic gold color, nicely pigmented and looks amazing all over the lid!

*Tan-gled Up in You- a matte tan color, another great crease or blending color. Blends like a dream!

*Don't Turn A-Brown- a dark matte brown, haven't used this one too much but its an ideal shade for deepening up any look.

Here are the shades taken with flash so you can see more of the color payoff:

Bottom line:  I'm really enjoying this palette! I'm still debating if it's a must have because honestly the shadows are great but not anything mind-blowing. I really love the face products in this palette, specially that highlight which is why I'm keeping it. The shadows are very similar to colors in the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (which I love!) so I think that's why I'm not super blown away by them. But... the convenience of having both eye and face products in just one palette makes the price seem like a steal! I guess it depends on what your wanting and what you already have. Decide quickly because it is limited edition! :-)

Swatches: L.A Girl Glazed Lip Paints! (New Shades!)

Swatch Party!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to my sanctuary ;-) Today I have a swatch fest for you on the NEW shades of the L.A Girl Glazed Lip Paints! They released a bunch of new colors and today I have a total of eight to share with you. I really enjoy this formula! It's a super opaque gloss that's not sticky whatsoever. It feels amazing on the lips and the new color selection is amazing! I have a review on the original colors that were released prior, make sure to check out by clicking here! You'll also find pricing information and where to purchase :-)

Here are all the swatches together:

I wanted to choose variety of colors from the new shades just to test them out. The first batch that was released was full of bright colors. This time around they added some nudes, pinks and berries( my fav!) Here are the lip swatches:

*Elude- a nude-peach color, great spring/summer shade, not the most flattering on me but would make a great mixing shade!

*Whimsical- a pink with a hint of lilac, really pretty! Not a shade I would gravitate towards for everyday but perfect for when I want something different!

*Tango- a hot coral- pink, another amazing spring/summer shade. Looks great with a tan!

*Peony- a nude-pink, beautiful and wearable pink!

*Feisty- a bright orange, now we're getting into fall shades! I love this one, perfect orange for the season.

*Seduce- a magenta- purple shade, gorgeous! One of my favorites!

*Daring- a deeper plum, another awesome fall shade! This one needed some building up to avoid streaks.

*Tempt- a deep wine shade, another one of my favorites! Makes your lips look plump and juicy. I love the shade but this one also applied a bit patchy.

I'm truly loving these new shades, specially the deeper tones! The formula is amazing and comfortable on the lips. The deeper tones require more maintenance to make sure it looks great throughout the day, other than that I highly recommend them! :-)