Urban Decay F&F Haul

I had some credit at Urban Decay and wanted to make use of it during the F&F sale. I really didn't "need" but I did pick up a few things. I think I only spent like $10 for all this (I had some credit from when they messed up an order.)

24/7 "Electric" Travel Kit

Lovechild Lipstick

Sin Primer Potion

Limited Edition Lipstick Cap (free with any lipstick purchase)

Wallflower Lip Junkie (deluxe sample)

Have a fabulous Tuesday everyone. <33

4 New Glosses

THE best "pick me up" for me personally is a tube of lip gloss. You can go with the drugstore route and spend anywhere from $1-8 (sometimes there's even a BOGO deal) or you can go high end and splurge on that $30 tube of magic lip serum you've been eyeing for months. Either way, a tube of gloss does wonders when you're having a bad day or aren't in the most wonderful mood.

I picked up the (first) three above last week -the Nuance gloss has been in my "to try" pile since the collection came out but it was long forgotten. The forgotten products in your stash also work as fabulous pick me ups when you don't want to spend!

Swatches..

From top (with flash): Cargo Classic Lip Gloss in Alexandria, L'Oreal LeGloss in Peach Fuzz, L'Oreal Le Gloss in Baby Blossom, Nuance Ultra Shine Gloss in Pomegranate

• Cargo Classic Lip Gloss in Alexandria is a mauve baby pink with shimmer. When swatching at the store (Beauty 360), I thought it would be much more pigmented so I was rather disappointed that it applied sheer on my lips. For $22, it's really nothing special -just a nice every day gloss.
• L'Oreal LeGloss is flipping amazing. At around $8 (way cheaper if you go to Walmart or Target), I got two tubes of pigmented gloss that I'd never expect to come from a drugstore. Peach Fuzz is a bright almost neon tangerine out of the tube but on the lips, it applies as a nice, natural color with a tangerine orange tint. I expect Baby Blossom to be a big hint since so many girls tend to reach for the nudes and pale pinks. The color is a milky very pale pink that's super opaque with no shimmer. It's nice but it can be a bit much -you only need the teensiest amount.
• Nuance Ultra Shine Lip Gloss is the first product I've tried from Salma Hayek's new line. I bought "Pomegranate" hoping for a more subtle, very natural looking gloss and it's quite nice. Once applied, it looks very natural with a tint of raspberry pink and no shimmer.

What are some new glosses you've purchased or rediscovered in your collection?


Have a terrific Tuesday lovers. <33

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Collection: Liquid Silk Foundation & Gloss Balm

Foundation Grade: A-
Gloss Balm Grade: B-

I'm sure you've noticed loads of new CoverGirl products pouring through the cosmetics aisles of your local drugstores. Today's review is all about the Liquid Silk Foundation ($12.99 for 1 oz) and Gloss Balm ($7.49 for 0.07 oz) which are part of their new NatureLuxe Collection. To be honest, the last time I used a CoverGirl product was probably in high school. Their Lipslick (in a silvery whiteish pink) was a a staple in my makeup bag (I cringe when I look back on it!) and my first foundation was made by them as well.

However, as I learned more about makeup, I preferred other drugstore brands like Maybelline and Revlon. But after trying these two products, CoverGirl has definitely made a comeback in my book -I wouldn't be surprised if some new products showed up in my makeup drawers anytime soon.

Product Description

Ingredients

I'll start off with my favorite of the two -the Liquid Silk Foundation (with SPF 10). This stuff is amazing! I'd describe the foundation as more of a tinted moisturizer or very light foundation. It goes on smoothly and gives light coverage leaving a slightly dewy finish (but nothing over the top.) The foundation is feels so light on the skin -I forget I'm wearing it! It covers all my veins and light marks well and best of all, it doesn't make my forehead look super ashy or gray. Also, it doesn't dry out or irritate my super dry, sensitive skin which is a huge plus.

The foundation does have the standard "makeup" scent but after applying it, the scent fades. It lasts me through an average day (about 5 hours) with minor fading.

I received #350 Oak which was the darkest shade of the five or six BzzAgent offered (there are tons more shades in store). The shade is a little light for me but it works. When the weather gets warmer I'll have to mix it with some bronzing gel.

Gloss Balm in Muscat

The Gloss Balm (with SPF 15) is nice but I'm not amazed. It's nice -basically a (very) tinted lip balm with a glossy finish. The color payoff is good and leaves my lips with a tint of strawberry red with some orange (and subtle red sparkles.) It lasts about 2 hours before it starts to fade but it does leave a very light tint of color. There is a slight artificial strawberry makeup scent but the scent fades once it's applied.

Swatches..

Above (with flash) from top: Liquid Silk Foundation in Oak, Gloss Balm in Muscat

Above (with flash): Gloss Balm in Muscat

I received both products from BzzAgent. Anyone can sign up with BzzAgent. Members are able to sign up for free and join campaigns and receive products to try and review.

April 2011 Favorites: Malibu Barbie Inspired

The rain's finally gone and the sun's been working overtime. Lately, I've been sporting a look that's somewhat inspired by Malibu Barbie. When I think of Malibu Barbie, I think of glowing bronzed skin, light blonde locks, bright baby blue eyeshadow, and pink lips. I'm ditched the blue eyeshadow but I've added a few products to complete my version of the Malibu Barbie look.

1. Gilette Fusion ProGlide Power Razor- This is my new favorite razor. I've been using a hot pink Venus razor for years -I stocked up on lots of cartridges when it got discontinued. However, my cartridge supply is no more and I had to look for a new razor. The Fusions ProGlide is better. I get a super close, smooth shave and I haven't gotten any cuts (even when I shave super duper fast and carelessly.)
2. NARS Illuminator in Laguna- I love this stuff. I apply it all over my face (except for my forehead) and it instantly gives my face a bronzed glow. I don't like messing with (real) tanning or self tanners so this is an easy solution. My skin tans easily but because it's just May, it's still lighter than usual and I love how this instantly perks up my skin.
3. CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara- I can't believe this is in my monthly favorites. I went to Rite Aid hoping to pick up a Prestige mascara but sadly they were out of stock. I thought I'd give Lash Blast a try, again. I tried it when it first came out and hated it -surprisingly, this time around, it was pretty good! I get good volume and decent length without too much of a clumpy mess. The only issue I have with it is that it seems to smudge a lot.
4. MAKE UP FOR EVER Eyebrow Corrector in #3- I recently dyed my hair a dark brown with a more reddish tone to it. I'm not crazy but thought it'd be a good chance to try my favorite brow product in another color. #3 matches my hair perfectly -so perfectly that I'm thinking about keeping this hair to keep using this sample! I'll have to buy the full size tube soon.
5. Lola Lip Gloss in Understated Seduction- This is super moisturizing, was super cheap, and comes in a gorgeous shade so it was a given that I'd love it. The gloss gives my lips a pretty wash of blue pink without being too over the top.
6. BITE Gloss in Pink Grapefruit- I bought this on a whim and I'm so glad I did. I love the color -it's a pigmented milky lilac pink with pink shimmer.
7. LORAC Baked Matte Satin Blush in Exposed- I've been really into coral and peachy pink blushes lately so this automatically made my list. Exposed gives off a fabulous glow of peachy pink coral.
8. Benefit Coralista Blush- Coralista, to me, is such a universal shade. It gives off the most flattering peachy coral glow and remains natural looking and not overdone.
9. CARGO Topeka Blush- This is another peachy shade that looks amazing with a tan. I break Topeka out every time the sun comes out.

Have a lovely Friday everyone.

Quickies: Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Mistress Review & Swatches

Repurchase: Yes

Price: $19 (0.2 oz)

Overall Grade: A

I just wanted to pop in today with a quick post on Illamasqua's Intense Lipgloss in Mistress. Prior to writing this review, out of curiousity, I took a peek at my old Illamasqua review from way back in 2009. YES, 2009! I didn't even realize I had this blog for that long. I discovered that my current thoughts of the Intense Lipgloss Formula are still fairly the same compared to my first impressions from Fall 2009. I feel like I did grow a bit though in terms of my writing style, photography skills, and "makeup" intelligence LOL. For instance, I wrote, that the gloss "doesn't last all day like most glosses do." I obviously have tried many more glosses since than and now know that glosses rarely last all day!

(P.S. I apologize in advance for the not-so-awesome photos today. We've had very cloudy weather lately and in order to take good photos, I need the sun.)

My quick take on Illamasqua's Intense Lipgloss:

Illamasqua produces one of the best lip glosses that I've ever tried and by now, I've tried many. In my experience, every single "Intense" Lipgloss that I've ever tried has been extremely pigmented (what you see in the tube is what you get) and you don't need a lot to fully cover your entire lips. The glosses contain a sort of thicker, creamier consistency and the color lasts for about 5 hours. While the shine will fade overtime, the color will stay. The gloss is also moisturizing and even applies fairly well to dry lips. I've heard many say that the formula is non-sticky. I don't feel that it's 100% non-sticky -I'd say it's just sticky enough to stay on the lips but not sticky to the point where it starts to be annoying and uncomfortable.

Color:

Mistress is a bright coral that's more on the orange-y side. Surprisingly, it wasn't too bright for me. I just added a few dabs of and spread out the gloss which gave me a more toned down look as opposed a bright, in-your-face coral lip (which the gloss is definitely capable of!) This shade is perfect for summer.

Product Description

Ingredients

Swatches..

 Above (no flash): Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Mistress

Above (no flash): Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Mistress

(Note: Again, my lips were pretty chapped. The gloss applies a lot smoother than this.)

Disclosure: This post contains products sent by PR.

LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss Duo in 4D, 3D Review & Swatches

Repurchase: Maybe
Price: $28.00 (0.17 oz x 2)
Product: 22.5/25
Packaging: 4/5
Value: 10/10
Overall Grade: A-

As you all probably know by now, LORAC's Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss is one of my favorites. It gives me everything I need for the perfect shimmery lip and the shades can vary from bold and dramatic (extra sparkly and pigmented) or toned down and natural (shimmery and sheer.) 4D and 3D go in the more natural category so if you're more of a low maintinence gal when it comes to your lips, read on.

The Packaging: LORAC tubes are pretty neat -they don't look round (but they are) and give off the affect that they're some type of hexagon shape instead. The brush applicator is also idea for lip gloss application and evenly distributes the gloss and shimmers.

The mirrored, silvery onyx cap is prone to fingerprints. Also, the pretty holographic rings and lettering rub off over time but that's expected from most lip gloss tubes.

Product Description

Ingredients

The Product: This is a great value for anyone who enjoys glittery glosses. One tube usually retails for $22 so two for $28 is very reasonable.

Most of the shades from the Multiplex 3D line are very pigmented with the exception of these two shades which are more on the semi-sheer side. Unlike most of my reviews, I'm going to summarize the qualities of the gloss in bullets since there are too many things to mention:

• Glitter is fine.
• Extremely moisturizing while gloss is applied and after it wears off.
• Doesn't sink into lip lines.
• Never looks dry or flaky -even with the lighter shades.
• Makes lips look full and pillowy even though it's not a plumper.
• Not sticky.
• Not gritty (even with the heavy dose of glitter).
• Long lasting. The more pigmented shades last up to around 6 hours while the sheerer shades (3D and 4D) last about 4.
• Smells like tropical fruit.
• No nasty taste. No taste at all really.
• Makes lips look 3D!
• Awesome brush applicator.
• Cute packaging.

In addition the those qualities, the other shades  in the line are:

• Very pigmented.
• Leave behind a light "stain" after the gloss wears off.

Honestly, the only cons that I can find are that unlike their sister shades, 3D and 4D are, again, on the sheer side. I generally prefer glosses with better color payoff but these two shades are nice for low key looks. These shades are perfect for making your lips stand out without going overboard or drawing too much attention to them.

3D, 4D

The Color:

1. 3D- Bronzey nude with bronze and vibrant pink glitter
2. 4D- Light but not necessarily bright bubblegum pink with fuchsia shimmer (Limited Edition)

Swatches..

Above (no flash) from left: LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in 4D, 3D

Above (no flash): LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in 4D

Above (no flash): LORAC Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in 3D

Overall: I initially thought that 4D would have better color payoff but its being sheer doesn't turn me away. As for 3D, I already owned it so I knew what to expect. These are my go-to glosses when my lips are chapped and dry because I know they'll feel good on my lips -not make them worse. I also love how full they make my lips look without the burning sensation of a lip plumper. LORAC's Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss is my HG gloss and if you're interested in adorning your pucker with a nice dusting of shimmer, you need to give these a try!

Where To Buy: Sephora, LORAC

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss Quick Review & Swatches

I've had the new Revlon ColorBurst Lip Glosses for months now but haven't gotten around to reviewing them. Honestly, I'm just not really excited about them (which is the reason I haven't reviewed them!)

My quick take on them: Revlon's Color Burst Lip Glosses are decent but to me, they're only average and honestly, I don't pay attention to average when I have so many other glosses to choose from. To sum it up, they are sheer, moisturizing glosses that last for about 2-3 hours. They are very moisturizing -more than the Super Lustrous glosses. The majority of these glosses are NOT pigmented and if you're looking for something sheer and shimmery, these will be perfect for you but if not, keep on walking.

I'd recommend picking up 1 or 2 but don't go rushing to buy every shade -they're really no different from the other sheer glosses on the market and they're a bit expensive at full price.

The packaging is cute -clear tubes with black, quilted lids (similar to the ColorBurst Lipstick tubes.) The applicator is thinner and straighter than the usual doe foot with an oval edge.

I'm sorry I don't remember the price but I got them on sale at CVS for $6.49 -they should be around $8-9 retail price. (I'll update when I find out for sure.) Contains 0.20 oz.

Colors:

• Crystal Lilac (002)- Light almost grapefruit pink with pink and blue violet shimmer. On the lips, this gives a light wash of lilac (because of the shimmer) pink. I like the color of the shimmer in this.
• Strawberry (006)- Bright strawberry red with silver shimmer. On the lips, this gives a nice tint of bright, strawberry red.
• Hot Pink (010)- Bright fuchsia with silver shimmer. Finally! A shade that’s pigmented. This is a nice shade of deep fuchsia on the lips –it’s really not like flashy and bright.
• Orchid (012)- Medium orchid pink with shimmer. This is one of the more pigmented shades although it still goes on semi-sheer and gives a tint of medium orchid-lilac to my lips.
• Sunset Peach (022)- Golden peach with gold shimmer. This goes on very sheer on the lips and looks more like a MLBB shade with a hint of golden shimmer.

Swatches..

Above (with flash) from left: Crystal Lilac, Strawberry, Hot Pink, Orchid, Sunset Peach

Above (no flash) from left: Crystal Lilac, Strawberry, Hot Pink, Orchid, Sunset Peach

Lip Swatches..

Above (with flash): Crystal Lilac

 Above (with flash): Strawberry

Above (with flash): Hot Pink

Above (with flash): Orchid

Above (with flash): Sunset Peach

Have a marvelous Friday everyone! <33

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Stila's Make Me Blush Set (Review & Swatches)

Repurchase: Yes (but just the blush)

Price: $20.00 (blush 0.34 oz, lip gloss 2 x 0.05 oz)

Product: 22/25

Packaging: 4/5

Value: 10/10

Overall Grade: A-

I immediately put limited edition Stila's Make Me Blush Set on my wish list when I saw it on Sephora.com. I am so happy that I scooped it up before it sold out. The set includes the Make Me Blush blush and 2 lip glazes in Hugs and Kisses.

The Packaging: The blush and glosses come in a simple cardboard box. The blush too is housed in a simple compact -black with a clear plastic lid. The blush itself is beautiful. It consists of bright coral, pink, peach, and bronzed gold hearts. I love the imprinted messages in the hearts reminiscent to the classic conversation hearts.

The glosses are popular among Stila fans. Unlike standard lip gloss tubes that come with a brush or doe foot applicator, these apply with a built in brush. You simply twist the bottom and gloss oozes out into the brush. I'm not a fan of these applicators because it's difficult to control the amount of gloss that comes out. This can be wasteful and messy. I also don't like how the gloss stays clumped up in between the brush hairs.

 Ingredients

The Product: The blush is very pigmented -all I needed was a very light dab and I had enough for a full application. The quality is nice too and applies smoothly and evenly. It's not patchy which I love -it blends easily and gives cheeks a nice punch of pink. As for the wear time, the blush lasts for just under 3 hours which is OK with me since it's already such a great value.

If you're curious about the overspray, it wipes off. Once removed, the shimmer remains but the blush gives off more of a beautiful glow as opposed to over the top shimmer.

I was weary when I read over the ingredients and saw that the blush may contain mica since I'm sensitive to the ingredient. However, I did not break out nor did the blush make my face itch. =)
As for the wear time, the blush lasted for just under 3 hours which is OK with me since it's already such a great value.

The lip gloss isn't my favorite but it's decent. It's a bit too sticky for my taste (not as bad as MAC Lipglass) but it's fairly moisturizing which I do like. Kisses (the pink) is very sheer and lasts for about 1.5 hours while Hugs (the red) has good color payoff and lasts for about 2 hours.

 Above: Overspray rubbed off

The Color:

• Make Me Blush- Bright golden coral with a punch of pink
• Make Me Blush (with overspray)- Golden bronzed coral with a touch of pink and lots of golden shimmer
• Hugs- Toned down candy apple red with multicolor shimmer
• Kisses- Sheer pink guava (very similar to NARS Chihuahua)

Swatches..

Above (with flash): Overspray

 Above (with flash) from left: Make Me Blush (with overspray), Make Me Blush (without overspray)

 Above (no flash) from left: Stila Lip Glazes in Kisses, Hugs, NARS Chihuahua

Above (no flash): Hugs Lip Glaze

Above (no flash): Kisses Lip Glaze

Overall: I really like the blush from the set and for just $20, it was well worth it. However, if I could go back, I would've purchased the blush separately for just $14 at Stila instead. The glosses are OK -Kisses is nice for every day use. I wish I would've just saved them to give away though because these don't stand out among the other beauties in my lip gloss collection (which means they won't get much use.) Overall, the set is nice. If you like Stila's Lip Glazes, get the set (if you can.) If you don't, buy the blush separately.

Where To Buy: Sephora (online exclusive)

P.S. I'm not sure if the Lip Glaze stickers containing the shade names were stuck on the wrong tubes but on Sephora's descripton page, Hugs is supposed to be pink and Kisses is supposed to be red.