Lips -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter in Sugar Plum
2ksmom 3/21/2012 9:07:00 AM
This is a lovely, MLBB pinkish-mauve shade. Its not nearly as ‘plum’ as I’d hoped, but I do like it and wear it quite often. Its very similar to Clinique’s ‘Shy’ lipstick, only more moisturizing and longer-lasting. No shimmer or glitter, its just a creamy lipcolor that’s a shade or two deeper than my natural lip color. A swipe or two gives me a natural ‘stained’ look, or I can layer a few coats for a more glossy, fuller-coverage look. Either way, the staying power is good, 2+ hours, and it fades evenly and leaves a slight stain, so I don’t feel the need to constantly reapply. It feels comfortable on my lips, and makes a nice, non-drying lipstick, though its not nearly as hydrating as regular lip balm. This tends to get soft and lose its shape easily, which I can see being problematic as the weather gets warmer. Overall though, very few complaints for so many ‘pros’. This, Fig Jam, and Pink Truffle have become my ‘staples’ from the lip butter line, and I have already repurchased.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -New York Color - Sky Rise Lengthening Mascara
2ksmom 3/7/2012 9:34:00 AM
Performs about as well as I’d expect a $2-mascara to perform. It does on okay job of lengthening and lifting/curling my lashes. It doesn’t add a ton of length or any volume, and it doesn’t really layer well for me (it just gets clumpy the more I apply). It’s best for a natural look. The formula is a little on the dry side. At first I just thought I got an older/dried out tube, but I think this is just meant to have a drier formula. I am not a fan of the cone-shaped spiral brush (I like my brushes a little ‘fluffier’). It doesn’t flake or fade, and the smudging is minimal throughout the day. It’s only ‘okay’; I wouldn’t repurchase or recommend. For a similar price point, I’ve used mascaras from Wet n Wild that I’ve liked better, or for a few dollars more, I can get one of my favorite drugstore mascaras on sale.
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Le Gloss
2ksmom 3/5/2012 8:36:00 AM
Despite the colors I have being somewhat deceiving (as in they go on the lips different from what they appear in the tube), these glosses are starting to grow on me. I chose the 2 darkest shades, Plum Rush & Mystic Mauve, as I like deep, sheer, berry-toned lipglosses. This is a nice gloss formula, moisturizing, non-sticky, with a pleasant vanilla-caramel scent & taste. I’d compare the formula to the HIP Jelly Balms (total HG lip product), only thinner & packaged in a squeeze tube. Lasting power is decent, about 1-2 hours. Its slightly glossy, not super shiny, and seems to sink into my lips so its not drying as it wears off. You also get a generous amount (.40 oz) for the price, and the tube is slim & attractive. My only complaint, really, is the actual shades. Plum Rush appears to be a deep, warm-ish plum in the tube, but it goes on my lips a much cooler, brighter, hot pink. Its pretty, but not really what I was expecting, as I’d much prefer it to be deeper. Mystic Mauve is not mauve at all (neither in the tube nor on my lips). It appears to be a deep, creamy, brick-ish red. It goes on my lips a sheer, reddish-berry (similar to Clinique Black Honey in a gloss form). Its pretty & flattering, but I don’t get any mauve tones, at all. Bottom line, I do like these & would repurchase again, should I ever have the need, even if the shades weren’t quite what I expected. I probably won’t try any other shades from this line, as the others seem to be lighter, shimmery shades which I’m not really into. I like the formula & packaging of these glosses (though I still prefer my beloved, but discontinued HIP Jelly Balms).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Naturistics - Sweet Lips Fresh-Squeezed Lip Gloss
2ksmom 3/2/2012 11:21:00 AM
I had no idea these things were still in circulation! I came across 2-packs of these at Big Lots recently for $1, so I picked up a few packs of Raspberry/Vanilla for nostalgia’s sake. This is one of the first lip gloss products I can remember using pretty regularly (probably 15-20 years ago!) I loved the little metal tube and the fruity flavors. (Even now, I’m a sucker for anything in a metal squeeze tube). I thought at the very least, these would make a cute little treat for my daughter & her friends. I am truly surprised at how goooood this stuff is, I’m hoarding it for myself! Basically this is like flavored, tinted Vaseline, which isn’t a bad thing as far as I’m concerned. Its thick & emollient and lasts a long time on my lips. (Several hours, which is far better than many high-end balms/glosses). The Raspberry gives my lips a juicy pink tint. I keep this one in my coat pocket & use it throughout the day. I like using the Vanilla as an overnight lip treatment, and it leaves my lips soft, smooth & healthy in the morning. This has a glossy finish, but its not super shiny. Its nice on its own, or over other lip products. The metal tube gets easily dented and sometimes too much product will ooze out, but that comes with the territory with this type of packaging. I’m really enjoying this fun little moisturizing gloss. Even though its long been discontinued, the ones I got are in new, perfect, fresh condition. If you come across these, they’re definitely worth a try!
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - HiP Metallic Duo - Electrified
2ksmom 2/29/2012 9:31:00 AM
Words cannot express how much I LOVE the lighter shade in this duo! It’s a stunning, shimmery, silvery-taupe. Applied lightly, it makes a lovely, shimmery base shade (that looks beautiful with deeper taupes & purples). Applied more heavily, it’s a rich metallic that makes a great base for a smokey eye. Its so versatile and flattering, I just love it. It applies smoothly, with little to no fallout, and it wears all day over a primer. The darker purple, on the other hand, was just a bit too dark for me as a lid/crease color. While it seems to have a touch of shimmer in the pan, it mostly looked matte on me and just looked ‘dirty’. I found this worked better, for a while at least, when applied wet as eyeliner. Unfortunately, applying wet completely ruined the texture of the shadow, and hardened it so much over time that I can’t use it at all now. I got this for $1.20 at Big Lots when they were having an awesome closeout on HIP products, and its worth 10x that for the lighter shade alone! I’d recommend this duo if you like cool-toned metallics. Even the purple is a nice shade, the texture just wasn’t well suited for me as an eyeshadow. I’d repurchase, should I ever have the need.
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Foundations -Garnier - BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One
2ksmom 2/29/2012 8:57:00 AM
I wanted to love this- I’ve been curious to see what all the hype is surrounding BB creams, the price was right ($10), and any way I can streamline my makeup/skin care routines is good by me. Unfortunately, though, even the ‘light to medium’ shade of this is way too dark/orangey for my pale skin. I hope that it will be a better match for my skin tone in the summer when I’m a bit tanned. Other than the color being a poor match for me, I kind of like this. The texture is kind of ‘mousse-like’; thicker than a tinted moisturizer, but less dense than most foundations. I apply a small-pea-sized amount with my fingers and blend into my skin. It blends easily. It provides enough moisture for my normal-to-slightly-dry skin. It evens out my skin tone. I’d say the coverage is right between TM and foundation. I don’t notice any shimmer, and it doesn’t make my face look greasy. I even like the smell of this (reminds me fondly of the old Revlon Skinlights line). I haven’t used this consistently enough to notice if there are any long term benefits. As it stands now, I wouldn’t repurchase because the color is just wrong for me. If you are a true ‘light-to-medium’ and warm-toned, you may find this more suitable. If Garnier came out with a ‘light’ version of this, I’d snatch it up in a heartbeat, because it seems to be a nice, multitasking, face makeup with skin care benefits.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon #252B Nutty
2ksmom 2/28/2012 8:36:00 AM
It’s hard to find fault with this, for $2! I love this shade- a shimmery, silvery-brown taupe. It applies smooth and velvety, with minimal fallout. I love taupe shadows in general (and have lots to choose from) and this has made its way into my regular rotation. It’s just a touch deeper than my skin tone, so it works well as a base/lid color for a minimal look. It pairs beautifully with black, dark brown, navy, teal, and purple shadow/liner shades. The staying power is excellent over a primer; it lasts all day on me without fading/creasing. It’s about the size of the postage stamp (no excessive or unnecessary packaging here). A minor complaint would be that it’s a little hard to open, I find myself having to pry the lid open with my fingernail. I’ve already repurchased (a backup when these were BOGO). I highly recommend Nutty- its an excellent basic taupe that would make a nice addition to any makeup collection
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Polishes -Sally Hansen - Insta-Dri - Uptempo Plum
2ksmom 2/27/2012 2:11:00 PM
Love this color~deep, dark plum/purple, with a hint of dark pink glitter. I agree with the others that the glitter is barely noticeable, but every once in a while I catch a glimpse of it in certain types of lighting. I love dark, vampy purples, and this is no exception. The formula is quite thick, and that combined with the wide brush, makes the application a little ‘sloppy’ on my shorter nails and small/narrow nail beds. But…applied with care, I really like the results. This does dry quickly, not ‘insta-dry’, but dry to the touch in 2-3 minutes. I apply 2 coats for even results, along with base/top coat. The wear time is pretty decent for a quick-dry. I get 2 days before any noticeable tip wear, and 3-4 days before any chips. It lasts about week on me, with a mid-week touch up. (I’m eager to try this with my Revlon Facets of Fuchsia as a top coat). I got this on clearance at Rite Aid, so perhaps this shade is being discontinued. I already bought a back up (for $1.24, why not!) especially since the bottle is a little smaller than standard size, though I’ve got so many nail polishes I doubt I’d ever even use one of these up.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter in Fig Jam
2ksmom 2/27/2012 9:44:00 AM
I agree with all the rave reviews~I find this to be sheer, comfortable to wear, with decent staying power. I was really, really reluctant to try this shade (I thought it would be waaaaaay too brown), but I am so glad I did. It’s a really nice, sheer reddish-brown. Its just a ‘bit’ too warm for me, so I make it more wearable by wearing a bit of a shimmery red-plum gloss overtop. It makes a great base for the gloss, and I get glossy, tinted lips that last a good 2-3 hrs. This even leaves a bit of a stain as the gloss wears away. I like that there is no smell or taste to this. It isn’t as moisturizing as regular lip balm, but I don’t find it drying, either. The packaging is not the greatest (I find after time the ‘stick’ swivels down crooked into the tube, which is just a little annoying). It like that this is effortless to apply and lasts a decent length of time, and goes with lots of other lip products I already own. This is my go-to lip-look when I’m wearing neutral- or warm-toned makeup shades. This (and ‘Sugar Plum’) are the only shades from the Lip Butters that appealed to me (the others being too bright and/or shimmery). I would definitely repurchase, should I ever have the need.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Different Lipstick - Shy
2ksmom 2/24/2012 8:23:00 AM
This is a pretty sheer pinkish-plum color, a bit brighter and ‘pinker’ than descriptions and online swatches led me to believe. I am not sure if it’s the holy grail MLBB lip color I’ve been searching for (for the last 10 years!), but it has the potential to be. I like the formula; its sheer enough to apply without a mirror, but buildable if I apply, blot, and reapply. The staying power is average, about 2 hrs, and it feels comfortable on my lips. Its creamy (no shimmer) with a moist (not glossy) finish. It does seem to whiten my teeth and brighten my face, and while I’d classify it as a ‘cooler’ shade, it seems to go well with any makeup tones I’m wearing. Its an easy to wear color, in an easy to wear formula. I am fickle with lip products, but this one’s a ‘keeper’!
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Lip Treatments -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Hydrating Balm Rose Petal
2ksmom 2/23/2012 9:04:00 AM
I’m sort of split on the other ‘rose’ lip balm items I’ve used (I like C.O. Bigelow Rose salve; I dislike Rosebud lip salve), but I thought I’d give this a try when the Nuance products were BOGO at CVS. I like it, but I don’t love it, and I’m glad I didn’t pay full price. This is a nice, thick, rose-scented balm (true rose, not the odd rose-and-baby-powder scent of Rosebud Lip Salve) that’s ideal for an overnight lip treatment. It stays put and I can still feel it on my lips in the morning. I use this as sort of a ‘maintenance’ product, since my lips are not particularly dry or chapped, and it works to leave my lips plump, smooth, and healthy. The texture is a bit thick/greasy, and not particularly fast-absorbing, and the packaging is kind of annoying (I don’t really care for the locking-feature of the cap, either) so for those reasons I don’t find it ideal for day wear. I actually find it makes a good cuticle moisturizer, as well, so I’ll keep using it nightly to use it up. This isn’t some kind of magical balm (though I don’t know why I thought it would be!) If you like a thick, emollient balm & rose scents, you would probably like this as well. I would repurchase if I ever had the need, but only on sale.
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Polishes -Revlon - nail enamel in naughty
2ksmom 2/21/2012 9:05:00 AM
Ooooh, I like this! I was so excited to spot this in a display at CVS. It seems to be a re-release of Revlon’s Perplex (which was a supposed ‘dupe’ of Chanel’s ‘Paradoxal’), which I never did get my hands on a few seasons back. I love purple shades for my nails, and this is a unique addition to my collection. It’s a mid-toned, dusty brownish-purple shade. No shimmer or glitter, but there is a slight, slight metallic sheen to it. Its surprisingly neutral & wearable, yet still edgy without being too dark or ‘goth’. This applies a little on the thin side, 2 coats still looked a bit streaky, so I added a third coat the next day to get true bottle-color. Drying time is pretty average, and (as with all Revlon nail enamels) the wear time is pretty good for me. I get about 3 days before any real noticeable tip wear, with a little chipping by about day 4-5. With a mid-week touch up, I can get this to last a whole week (with base & topcoat). I’ve seen this in end-cap displays at CVS & RiteAid (not with the regular Revlon nail enamels), so I don’t know if this will wind up part of Revlon’s regular lineup, or if its LE as well. I would repurchase, and am considering buying a backup, ‘just in case’.
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Lip Treatments -Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream lip protectant stick Sheer Tint SPF 15- Plum
2ksmom 2/17/2012 9:47:00 AM
This is one of those products I have mixed feelings on, but I’ve used up ¾ of a tube, so it must be pretty good! I love the texture & color of this, its like a tinted lip balm (in a lipstick tube). It’s a neutral, natural, reddish berry shade (similar to Clinique Black Honey). Its sheer enough to swipe on without a mirror, and it just gives my lips a natural tint of color without looking like I’m wearing lipstick. It goes on really smoothly, and feels good as long as its on my lips, but it wears off quickly and feels a touch drying as it wears off. As a result, I have to reapply frequently. It also has a very strong herbal scent & taste. I found it very off-putting at first, but I’ve gotten used to and (and actually kind of like it now). Its 19.50 on the Elizabeth Arden website (yikes!) but I got mine from a discount site for 5.99 and it was well worth the price I paid. I would repurchase again, but only on sale.
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Polishes -Hard Candy - Beetle
2ksmom 2/17/2012 9:29:00 AM
This is an interesting polish, just not really my cup of tea. It’s a pink/green duochrome with pink microglitter. I found it at Walmart with the Hard Candy cosmetics for $4. I was shocked at how sheer this is; I needed 3 coats to get bottle color. On the plus side, though, it dries very quickly (I was able to do base coat, 3 coats of ‘Beetle’, and a top coat in under an hour). It applies easily, not thick or gloppy as sometimes glittery polishes can be. Wear time is decent, I had some tip wear by day 3 and chipping by day 4. I’ve gotten compliments on this shade. I’ll use it time to time, perhaps more in the spring/summer. I just prefer darker shades (reds, purples, browns, greys) with a crème (or the occasional shimmer) finish. This is just a little out of my comfort zone, so for that reason I wouldn’t purchase again. Probably better suited for the ‘younger’ crowd, anyways!
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Blush -MAC - Cheekhue
2ksmom 2/15/2012 9:49:00 AM
I am waaaaay late to the party on these Cheekhues. It figures I totally fall in love with something after its long been discontinued. I have these in Velvet Elvis, Rhythmic, and Get Surreal (all purchased recently online through various discount sites). I’ve been using Cheekhues exclusively since I got them, which is saying a LOT since I love blush and I have tons to choose from! Cheekhues are concentrated cream blushes that come in a metal squeeze tube. The shades I have are as follows: Velvet Elvis (deep plum-berry); Rhythmic (berry-pink); and Get Surreal (purple). All shades have a bit of a ‘sheen’ to them which make my skin look naturally glow-y, but there is no obvious shimmer or glitter. All shades blend out ‘slightly’ more sheer than they look in the tube, but they are still very pigmented. I love deep berry and plum blush shades (even though I’m pale, I like a strong blush), so it was a given that I would like Velvet Elvis & Rhythmic. But the real surprise of the bunch was Get Surreal. I thought there was no way I’d have a need for a purple blush, but it goes on as a very cool-toned violet-pink flush. Super pretty for a romantic, naturally blushed look. I actually like the little metal artists-paint tubes these come in. Initially the product may squirt out excessively from the tube, but after the first 2-3 uses, as long as I squeeze up gently from the bottom of the tube, I don’t have any problems. The tubes seem to keep the product fresh & sanitary, and since such a small amount is needed, a tube should last a long time. I just apply a tiny bit to my bare cheeks and blend with my finger tip. It blends easily, but after it dries (after about 30 seconds) it stays put. I put my foundation over top, and then either a bit of powder blush, or little bit more Cheekhue overtop, and the color lasts all day (8-12 hrs) with only slight fading. These even work nicely as lip stains, with a little balm or gloss over/under, lasting a few hours on my lips. Bottom line, I love these Cheekhues & highly recommend them. I know they’ve been discontinued for a long time, but I did just get mine recently online, and they are in perfect, new, fresh condition. Hopefully MAC will re-release these, even if limited edition. (One can hope, at least! I’ll keep an eye out, just in case).
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