Jan 28, 2013

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Duo 2 in 1 Glossy Liquid Liner

On my quest for the Maybelline Color Whispers (which I went to 4 different CVS, Walmart and Target to find) I chanced upon this new Maybelline eyeliner which has a strikingly different kind of tip. Now I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for something that'll make my liquid liner application easier. This one claims to make it easy to do thick and thin lines with the one liner, using this new dual tip.





From the Maybelline website:
Maybelline Eye Studio Master Duo Thin or Thick Glossy Liquid Liner
IN BLACK LACQUER
  • Dual tip to create thin precise lines with one side, bold thick lines with the other
  • 2-in-1 dual tip
  • Glossy formula for bold lines
Why You'll Love It
Experience the revolution in liquid liner: *2-in-1 tip *Glossy formula for bold lines

For Best Results
  1. use flat disk side of tip for a thick dramatic line
  2. turn 90 degrees and use for a thinner sophisticated line.
I bought this for $7.99 at CVS.
Round, flat side for thick lines

Thin side for thin lines

L: Thick line using round flat side of tip R: Thin line using thin side of tip
Now this seems like a great concept, and the round flat side works great for making thicker lines... but creating the thinner line takes a light hand, it actually took me 3 tries to get it this thin. The liner tip seems to get saturated with a lot of color, so I had to wipe it on the edge of the tube and then use a very light hand to draw the line. If you press too much, the line ends up being thick.

Formula-wise, the liner is a bit runny, but very opaque and goes on easily with no tugging. It is smudgeproof but not waterproof and removes easily with a makeup wipe. It dries to a shiny vinyl black, which would look great for dramatic makeup.

Overall, I will definitely use the Maybelline Master Duo eyeliner again for easy thick lines, but for thinner lines, I'll probably stick to my Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner.

Jan 27, 2013

Rant: Textured Polish, or 'WTF... is that concrete on your nails?'

Ok, I'm all for new and different nail polish innovations, but sometimes a brand brings out something that has me scratching my head and wondering "Are they serious?".

The past few years have been a big one for textured nail polish. We've been through the crackle phase, the matte phase, the caviar phase, the velvet phase, and now we're seeing other kinds of textures popping up from some of the big brands. The most exciting right now IMO is the 'liquid sand' textured glitter polishes. I think these look pretty cool, but they are definitely a 'love it or hate it' type of polish. Nails Inc has brought out a few different kinds of textures, the Leather Effect, the Feather polishes and now this:

Source: Nails Inc

CONCRETE EFFECT POLISH. Yes, I said concrete. People actually want to put something that looks like concrete on their nails.

From the Nails Inc website:

Texture is set to be a big nail trend for 2013. Nail this look with our ground breaking Concrete nail polish range. The innovative formulation creates a unique concrete style texture that will give you a bold, rugged finish.
Concrete is available in four electric colours, each packaged in a limited edition bottle with unique textured cap.
ROFL, 'bold, rugged finish' though? I'm sorry, I'm sure there are plenty of you that love this kind of textured polish, but I just can't jump on the bandwagon. I LOVE Nails Inc and they are definitely an innovator, but sometimes I feel like polish companies come out with these new textures just as a gimmick. It's like they'll just make anything into a textured polish. What's next? Dirt polish? I'm interested to see how popular these Concrete polishes are and how many different polish brands will come out with their own versions.






If you want to see some close up swatches of these Concrete effect polishes, check this post out. Honestly, I think it looks like you pressed your wet nail polish into a fluffy towel or something O_O I really can't understand how anyone could find this look appealing at all. I thought the Leather effect polish was kinda cool, but this one seriously looks like that ugly popcorn ceiling you get in 70s housing designs. You know, the kind they always scrape off when renovating because it's SO DAMN UGLY. Not super flattering in my opinion, but to each their own I guess!

What do you think? Are you loving the Concrete or not so much?

Jan 26, 2013

Flower Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color: LS10 Nude Narcissus

As well as the Flower BB Cream, I also purchased the Flower Kiss Stick High-Shine Lip Color in Nude Narcissus. I saw this brand new lipstick on the Walmart website and immediately fell in love with the name. I imagined a slick, shiny looking full coverage nude that would look high fashion and pretty.... In the tube and swatched on my arm, I had high hopes for this creamy, glossy lip color - it didn't quite translate that way on my lips however!

From Walmart.com:
Flower Kiss Stick High-Shine Lip Color - $6.98:
  • Emollient oil to improve shine for a rich, creamy application
  • Pure, intense color payoff
  • Ultra-smooth finish
  • Volumizing effect on lips
  • Extreme shine

Flower Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color Nude Narcissus

Flower Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color Nude Narcissus

Flower Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color Nude Narcissus swatch

Flower Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color Nude Narcissus on my lips

Nude Narcissus looks like a beautiful, glossy nude pink swatched on my arm, but somehow it turned into a way too light corpse-like flesh colour on my lips O_O WAY too light for my skintone, settled into my liplines and didn't apply evenly. I think on someone with much fairer skin and less pigmented lips, it might be a nice colour... on me? Not so much.

Let's talk about the formula, though. I am LOVING the formula on the Kiss Stick High Shine Lip Color. It feels very creamy and hydrating and gives a good amount of shine. It lasted a long time and felt hydrating the whole time, no dryness at all. And the packaging, ohhh the packaging. Definitely does NOT look like a Walmart exclusive line. This beautiful tube feels and looks a lot more expensive than it is and I am loving the gold accents. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have the name of the shade on the tube, only a sticker with the shade number LS10.

As disappointing as the shade is on me, I am definitely going to be picking up a few of these in different shades, especially at $6.98 a pop.


Jan 25, 2013

Flower BB Cream Shade BB3 - Swatches and First Impressions

Recently I purchased the Flower Cosmetics by Drew Barrymore BB Cream from Walmart.com. As I was buying it from a website and it's pretty brand new, I didn't have any swatches to go off, so I just bought the shade I thought would be closest to my skintone. Most BB Creams are on the light side, so I thought Shade 3 would be ok, unfortunately I was wrong! Keep scrolling for product pictures and swatches.

From Walmart.com:

Flower Beauty Balm BB Cream can be used daily to eliminate skin dullness. It covers imperfections, pores and discolorations.
Flower Beauty Balm BB Cream - $12.98:
  • Smoothes and softens skin
  • Helps eliminate unwanted shine
  • Primer, foundation, and concealer in 1
  • Fragrance free
  • Paraben free
  • Talc free
Flower BB Cream Shade BB3
Flower BB Cream Shade BB3
L: BB Cream not blended, R: BB Cream partially blended
 As you can see, it's way too dark for me. Maybe I would use this shade in Summer if I had a tan, but right now I'd look like an extra from Jersey Shore if I tried to rock it on my face. As a result, I can't really review it properly, but I will give you my first impressions:

  • Dries soft and matte, like a velvety powder.
  • Very slight shimmer, but not overwhelming or glittery looking.
  • Feels creamy, but not super moisturising. Very dry skin might need moisturiser underneath.
  • Quite long lasting and transfer resistant. This BB Cream wont rub off easily.
  • No greyish cast or oxidization - this is probably because it lacks SPF protection :(
  • No strong scent. Very light powder smell, totally non-irritating.
  • Very pigmented, this is not just a tinted moisturiser like most Western 'BB Creams', it's a foundation.
One great thing about my mistake on the shade is that I now know they do have shades for darker skinned ladies! I am close to NC35 usually, and this one is definitely too dark for me. There is also a shade darker than this one, BB4, so they've done a better job of providing some options for darker skin than a lot of the other Western companies. I will be purchasing BB2 and trying that one out to see if it is closer to my skintone :)

Jan 23, 2013

Maybelline Vivids lipstick! Electric Orange and Shocking Coral.

Prepare to feel like you've been punched in the eye by some shockingly bright, super opaque lipsticks! When I first saw press pictures and the first swatches of these lipsticks floating around, I knew I had to get my hands on some. I love bright lipstick and these are such fun, Spring and Summer-like hues. I give you the crazy gorgeous Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids lipstick in Electric Orange and Shocking Coral..

Even the packaging is ridiculously bright.
Electric Orange and Shocking Coral
Electric Orange and Shocking Coral

Ok, let me summarise. They're creamy, they're pigmented, they have a satiny finish and they don't feel drying at all - you might wear lip balm underneath if you have very dry lips, but it's not a must. I actually wiped my lips with a dry tissue (couldn't find my makeup wipes) in between swatches and then applied the lipstick, and it didn't give me any issues with dryness at all. They have a light, creamy sweet scent which isn't strong enough to be irritating. They don't really stain, but wear very well, I had mine on for a good 5 hours and then took it off because I was going to bed and it had basically no wear. I'm sure it could have lasted for much longer! I'm in love with the shades I got and you can apply them lightly for a nice pop of colour or put on a few more layers for an insane bright almost neon look. The swatches below are 2-3 swipes of the lipsticks.
L: Electric Orange, R: Shocking Coral

Electric Orange

Electric Orange is a bright, juicy OJ type of shade, a true orange, which was hard for my camera to capture. I love how vibrant and ORANGE this looks, some oranges can be dull and reddish, which looks a bit dated. This one is fresh and delicious!

Shocking Coral

 Shocking Coral is a yellowy bright pink, definitely a pinker coral rather than peach or orange. I am obsessed with pink of all shades, and this one can still be feminine and girly while bringing a bit of a modern edgy feel to your look.

Electric Orange
Shocking Coral
My camera spazzed a bit trying to capture the awesomeness, so I had to colour correct a bit to get closer the true shade. That's why my hair randomly looks two different colours in the pictures above =_=
I really LOOOOVE these lipsticks and I am planning to pick up a few more soon. I already got Hot Plum, after seeing a picture Maybelline retweeted of a girl around my skintone wearing it. I will definitely be posting a FOTD with it soon! If you aren't afraid of colour, these are some absolutely gorgeous lipsticks in a wide range of shades that definitely has something for every skintone. If you prefer something more subtle, I will have a few swatches and comparisons of the Maybelline Color Whisper lip colors soon, so keep an eye out!

Have you tried any of the Maybelline VIvids? Are you a bright and punchy, or a soft and subtle type?

Jan 20, 2013

Blogazons Roundup 1/20



Blogger collaboration nail polish, Nail art stamping over holographics, new Julep mascara review,a Spring inspired makeup look.... Check out all these and more in our roundup!



Jan 18, 2013

New Hair! Garnier Nutrisse Foam Dye in Iced Mahogany

If you've been following my blog for a while, one thing you'll know about me is that when it comes to hair, I get bored very easily. My DIY ombre was getting a little dull, yellow and passe, so I decided to use this Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Foam in Iced Mahogany. The shade is supposed to be a cool dark brown and I try to stay with cool shades, as my hair gets brassy/warm tones very easily.




I found the foam to be quite .. er.. foamy. It was easy to distribute throughout my hair and seemed to cover well without dripping.It did make my hair feel a little squeaky, and I mean actually squeaky. While I was rubbing it into the ends, my hair was squeaking like nails on a chalkboard. Definitely set my teeth on edge!

Here are the before and after pictures:

Before

After
The after photo is partially in sunlight, so you can see that it's a bit warmer looking in the sun. Overall it was a little patchy, I probably should have done my lighter ends first and then my roots, in order to make sure it coloured evenly. My hair still feels a bit dry at the ends. I usually use L'Oreal Feria dye and I think it leaves my hair feeling a tad bit more moisturised than this one does. Honestly though, drugstore box dyes are pretty crappy, but I usually go with them since they're cheap, quick and easier to do at home than going to a salon when you have 3 kids. I might look into picking up some better quality dye from the beauty/hair supply store.

Here's one last pic, indoors, indirect sunlight:


Please excuse my messy fringe. Also, I had had my hair in plaits the night before to keep it from tangling, but I think they may have been a bit too tight... Commence poodle hair. It's been sooooo long since I've had hair this dark!! This is actually close to my natural hair colour. I've been dying my hair light brown for so long that I haven't really seen my natural colour in years. We'll see how long it lasts lol. I actually have a box of the new Revlon Luxurious Colorsilk Buttercream hair color in Burgundy on the way to me, courtesy of Klout, so you may see me with burgundy hair in the near future!

Do you use box dyes, or do you prefer to colour at a salon?

Jan 12, 2013

UPDATE: Flower BB Cream is on Walmart.com!

EDIT: Check out my swatches here

Yesterday I posted about the new Flower cosmetics line by Drew Barrymore and the exciting news that they have a BB Cream that is supposed to be a true BB Cream, more like the Asian counterparts. Well today I discovered that Walmart.com has the BB Cream up right now!


Flower Beauty Balm BB Cream, BB2 Shade 2, 1 oz


Flower Beauty Balm BB Cream can be used daily to eliminate skin dullness. It covers imperfections, pores and discolorations.
Flower Beauty Balm BB Cream:
  • Smoothes and softens skin
  • Helps eliminate unwanted shine
  • Primer, foundation, and concealer in 1
  • Fragrance free
  • Paraben free
  • Talc free


The BB Cream comes in 4 shades and is $12.98 online. I still haven't seen it in store, but apparently some of the Flower cosmetics products have been popping up in small displays at a few stores.

I'm going to check again tomorrow at a couple of different Walmarts, and if that fails I'll just order it from the website. I'm really excited to see if this BB Cream performs as an actual BB Cream.

Have you seen any Flower Cosmetics displays in your local Walmart?

The YSL Glossy Stain dupe: L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain.


I had heard a lot of great things about the YSL Glossy Stain, but you know me.. if there's a cheaper drugstore alternative then so much the better. As much as I'd love to buy high end makeup all the time, sometimes the budget just doesn't allow for it! Although, sometimes I think even if I had a lot of money it'd be hard for me to use something expensive.. I'd want to hoard it lol (I'm cheap at heart). The L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain has been touted as an almost exact dupe for YSL's Glossy Stain, so I decided to scoop up two of the shades and try it out. The shades I got are Stubborn Plum and Rose On and On. I have sooooo many pinks, so I thought I'd try something different for once lol.

The packaging of the L'Oreal Shine Stain is gold like YSL's and looks nice, but feels a little plastic-y and retains fingerprint smudges like a b*^&! The applicator looks very similar to the YSL one and feels very plush. 


Stubborn Plum
Rose On and On
L: Stubborn Plum, R: Rose On and On

They go on a little sheer, but a couple of swipes produced a nice amount of colour. The staining property of the gloss is pretty great, this photo below is after I had rubbed it repeatedly with a makeup remover wipe.

L: Stubborn Plum, R: Rose On and On
Stubborn Plum
Rose On and On
Stubborn Plum
Rose On and On
The Shine Stain goes on as a gloss and dries to a satiny finish, still somewhat glossy but not super shiny. It has a strong floral sweet scent that fades after application, but may bother you at first if you're sensitive to strong scents. The glossy feel lasted a good 5 hours and through drinking, but not through eating. The colour from the stain lasted well, through eating, although it did fade a little. It wears evenly though, so you aren't left with a weird lipliner look after a few hours. I have heard some of the shades are more pigmented than others, these two went on somewhat sheer, but I was able to build up the colour just using one coat from the applicator, no need to dip into the gloss a second time. I have quite pigmented lips, so I was worried that the colour wouldn't be opaque enough, but both shades showed up quite nicely.

I think I will enjoy using the L'Oreal Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain quite often, as I love lipglosses and I love lip stains and this little amalgamation is a great product for the price. I got mine for $7.99 at Target, although prices vary.

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