NYX Concealer in a Jar

I bought this a few weeks ago because I wanted something easier to use on days when I'm running late.

A little shop in the mall where I live sells NYX Cosmetics. I was going to buy online but I was there so I figured I'd buy it. The nice thing was that they had testers so I could see which would be best for me. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out my shade, and in this case I kept my reputation intact. But it was still nice to get to try it.

It's creamy, but not to much, it has coverage but not caky. I'm sure something that costs $20 would be better, but I feel like for the price this thing is really good. I have no complaints but I think when I run out I will try a more expensive one for something to really compare it to.

So, is it everything I wanted? Yes. It's so easy to use and on a low time day that's what I need. I have another concealer I usually use under my eyes, but if I'm low on time I'll use this and it works great. I find that the patting method doesn't work as well with this under the eyes. It looks better to swipe it under the eyes and then pat it in.

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Cream Foundation

I found a coupon for $2 off so I thought I'd give it a try. My first try was somewhat a disaster. I applied way to much on accident and had to wash it off. But after that I tried using my fingers for a while to get the feel for how much needed to go on. Since this foundation is a fuller coverage then what I'm used to it was a bit hard for me to get used to.

The front of the foundation.

As I said before It's a fuller coverage. I wouldn't say it's the fullest, but it's pretty great. It also lasts all day. They claim 24 hours on the lid and I've worn it 7am-2am with no wear-n-tear. It still looks great after all that time. As for the finish: it's not matte. It's not dewy. It's just right (says goldilocks.)

It does have a slight smell that I can't explain. It's not that heavy old make up smell that I'm sure we all know. It's just a somewhat chemical smell.

The best part (in my opinion) is the consistency. It really is like whipped cream, or pudding. It's light and fluffy (not like a mousse) but it keeps it's shape. If you turn it upside down for a few seconds nothing would happen. If you store it on it's side over night it would be in the side of the jar in the morning. 

I use this mostly for times I'm running late. The packaging is so easy to use. Theres to tipping and tapping and shaking to get liquid foundation out of the jar. You don't need to use the back of you're hand and somehow, no matter how careful you are, get either way to much or have it pour everywhere. If you wash you're brush often you shouldn't have to worry about bacteria. Simply dip the clean brush into the product, picking up enough to cover you're face. Dot around face, and blend.

Another reason I use it when I'm running low on time is that it's not so drying as a compact. I have a few that I've tried over time to make things quicker on those days but all of them I've tried are so drying and look awful on my normal/combination skin.

The reason I don't wear it every day? It's a fuller coverage foundation. I don't need that much coverage every day. So unless it's a special occasion or a day I need the quick and easy application I don't reach for it.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I bought this brush in september and I've used it nearly everyday since.

This is what the brush looks like. It says the name of it on the side facing up but the flash is washing that out.

The first time I tried this brush I was horrified by the results. It put on so much product and didn't blend any in. I was so confused because I had watched Pixiwoo use this brush perfectly. I somewhat cast it aside as a fail for a couple days and went back to using my sponge.

After a while, however, I tried it again using the smallest bit of foundation possible. And then I fell in love. I realized that the amount of product I was using before was because I was using a sponge and, although wet, it still absorbed a lot of the foundation. So dipping this brush just barely into the foundation worked beautifully.

The tip is rounded and pinched into an oval shape.

I find that with this brush, unlike a flat top, it's easiest to use it like a traditional foundation brush and paint on the foundation and then blend. It doesn't work as well for me if I start with swirls.

Lastly, I haven't had a single 'hair' come loose or fall out. I wash it about every two uses and it comes clean easier than a traditional foundation brush even though this brush is thicker.

Where can you get one? Well, it's a UK based item and brand so it's not extremely easy to find. Ulta and Ulta.com both have it for sale. But I got mine on Amazon.

Jordana INCOLOR Fabuliner Liquid Eyeliner

I bought this after watching a makeup review on youtube (I think it was a favorites of the month) at Walgreens for $1.99, however I've seen on the Jordana website that they list if for $2.99.

http://www.jordanacosmetics.com/p-78-incolor-fabuliner-liquid-eyeliner.aspx

Here it is unopened. The cap is very tight fitting so it's probably going to last longer and not dry out.

Here it is with the tip out. It's just like any other felt tip pen eyeliner.

Here are swatches on my hand. As you can see you can get a thin line or a think line. Both were one stroke with the 'pen'.

Now that you have the details, heres my opinion. It's very black, the photo is slightly washed out because of flash but it's a true black and very pigmented. It goes on and stays on great. My only complaint is that they don't have waterproof. It doesn't really smudge if you rub you're eyes (which you shouldn't do anyway) but it runs at the sight of water. So if you don't have very watery eyes or don't expect to cry this is a great liquid liner especally if you're not good with regular liquid liner (not pen) because the pen design is so easy and fast. I prefer cream/gel liner for the waterproof aspect but if I'm running late on time I'll use this because it is an intense black and easy to use. No brush to dip and what not.

Bottom line: I would offer this as a choice to a friend but it would have a higher review if it were a little more water proof.

Maybelline The Falsies

Of course I had to try it. Everyone has tried it. But my experience is one of the bad ones.

Here it is without the packaging (which I threw away).

I found this mascara to be very clumpy, very flakey, and very smudgy. The stopper was very loose and that caused way to much product to come out on the wand (including that big glob of product at the tip). Another problem I had with it is that it's a regular bristle brush. I prefer the plastic (rubber?) bristle mascaras.

Here you can see the wand has that big glob of extra product at the end.

Maybe if I had gotten the waterproof version it would have been better. But in my opinion that's just a crutch. I've tried One By One and Mega Plush in the regular formula and neither were as awful as this one was. The Mega Plush one did come with a regular bristle brush but I was able to switch it out with the One By One brush that is plastic and I loved that combination. However this tube looks the same size but it's not compatible. If you look at the width of the wand it's much smaller than the One By One and Mega Plush.

However I did try using the One By One wand by rubbing the two together and transfering the product to the other wand but the formula is just so bad that it didn't help. I did give this one a fare trial of 2 weeks using it every day.

I will give it one thing though: A few days ago I was wearing it and my husband asked if I was wearing falsies (which I only wear on special occasions). So I guess they do that job well.

Bottom line is that I would not suggest this to a friend.

Clump Crusher by Lash Blast (CoverGirl)

So I'll be the first to admit it. When I saw the P!nk ad in a magazine I was sold. I love her style, her music, her music videos, all things P!nk I'm in love with. So when I seen that she's a CoverGirl I was super excited. To be honest I've never really liked CoverGirl in the past. I've kind of felt like they just didn't have as much to offer as say Revlon. Although all I've heard is rave reviews on Lash Blast so I had been thinking about trying it since my current mascara wasn't working for me. But when I seen the ad for Clump Crusher I decided I would try it instead. Lucky for me the magazine ad came with a $4 off when you buy two CoverGirl eye products so I bought both. I opened and tried Clump Crusher today and I really like it.

Here is a picture I took of it before I took it out of the packaging.

I don't know if you can tell but the wand if slightly curved which I like. It's not as thick as the orignal Lash Blast which I like. The plastic (rubber?) bristles are very short and slightly curved into each other to it grabs the lashes nicely.

And the million dollar question: Does it clump? The answer is NO! I tried it on both eyes seperately, the first one I applied about 4 coats of it directly after the last, the second eye I let it dry between the coats. For me I've found that mascaras clump one way or the other and this one didn't clump either way. I also haven't experienced any flaking or smudging. I did NOT buy the waterproof version (if available) because I just don't like them. And although i may have applied more coats than another person I only did so to see how it would react to the added layers. I only needed the first one or two for the level of volume I like.

The lashes don't feel weighed down and they also don't feel crisp to the touch. It holds my curl nicely (although My lashes aren't very straight to begin with). And when you pull the wand out it doesn't have that big glob of product on the tip.

the one draw back I've found is that the stopper is somewhat tight. It takes a little effort to get the wand in and out of the tube. It's nothing that would turn me off from it, just a caution.

Bottom line is that I like it and I would suggest it to a friend.

Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

A long time ago I bought a Maybelline version with the stain on one end and the balm on the other. I love it still even though it's gone. After that I seen the ads for Covergirl's outlast marker stain. I wanted it but it was expansive so I got the cheaper NYC version. It lasts and looks great but you still have to put a balm over it or your lips feel like sand paper. Then, I discovered the Revlon balm and stain duo and I wanted it but I couldn't decide on a color, so I sat on it for a while. When I finally decided on a color I went back to get it at Walmart and they were gone. In their place were the new jumbo pencil version that combined the two. I didn't have trouble picking a color this time because two of them stood out to me more than the rest. So I bought them both.

Now when I first got them I swatched Sweetheart Valentine on the back of my hand in the car and promptly put on Honey. When I got home I washed dishes, took a shower that night, washed my face in the morning, and did more dishes. The swatch lasted through all of that. I was so surprised. On the lips they feel moisturizing and last a long time.

(top) Sweetheart Valentine, (bottom) Honey

The bottom part with the silver is a twister that brings more product up, like a chapstick tube.

Here they are again without the caps. They look like giant crayons.

And heres my swatches that will probably last for a couple days.

(Top) Sweetheart Valentine, (bottom) Honey.

Review: Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Obviously anything from Too Faced isn't going to be cheap. I got this for $18 plus tax at Ulta in another state because Montana doesn't have an Ulta... Or anything really.

Either way, I wanted to talk about it because for one thing since it came out so long ago no one is reviewing it anymore assuming that everyone knows about it and has other things to do with their time. But I didn't. I've been watching beauty guru's on youtube for almost a year now and other than some people using it no one mentioned it. So here's my review.

First of all, what is a primer and why do you need it? A primer creates a smooth canvas for your shadows to go on. It combats greasy eyelids that can break the shadows down and cause them to move, smudge, and fade. It keeps the shadows from creasing and gathering in your crease. And lastly it helps pump up the color so you get more out of your shadows.

So heres what the tube looks like. It does come in a box with the same design on it when you buy it.

Heres a picture of the tube in relation to my hand.

Heres a picture with swatches. The ones on the left (closest to my wrist) are with the primer. the ones on the right (closest to my fingers) are without the primer.

Review: BH Cosmetics Customizable Pallets

BH Cosmetics offers 3 options for their customizable pallets. You can order the 15 pallet, the 6 pallet, or single colors. There's 120 colors to choose from that includes 6 finishes. They offer warm in matte or shimmer, cool in matte or shimmer, and metallic in matte or shimmer. I feel like there's a good color selection that covers most people's needs for eye shadow. The thing I love most about this set up is that when you go to select the colors you want it takes you to a pop up in screen that has all the colors laid out with tabs to go to the different finishes I mentioned so you know for sure what you're getting. It also shows a little version of your pallet in the top right corner so you can see when you select your colors how it will look in the pallet and how it will go with the colors you choose to go with it.

I ordered the 15 pallet for roughly $22 dollars. They have individual shadow prices between $0.97-$3.47 depending on sales and for the two pallets it's a set price per pallet.

It came in a very durable matte black case that displays the name if the pallet and brand

(WM12, WS4, WM7, CS13, CS14)

(CS5, WS13,MS11, CS8, MM15, CS10)

(MM17, MS10, CS8, MS14, MM4)

WM12, WS4, WM7, CS13, CS14)

(CS5, WS13,MS11, CS8, MM15, CS10)

(MM17, MS10, CS8, MS14, MM4)

As you can tell CS5 has absolutely no color, which is the only one I'm disappointed with.

WM12, WS4, WM7, CS13, CS14)

(CS5, WS13,MS11, CS8, MM15, CS10)

(MM17, MS10, CS8, MS14, MM4)

I also swatched them on a napkin because I didn't use a primer or base on my hand so the colors weren't as vibrent as they would be with a white base.

Over all I love the pallet and colors I selected. Some of them I will be ordering a replacement for such as the CS5 and either the WS13 or MS10 which ended up looking pretty much the same. Otherwise I'm very happy with the pigmentation and staying power.

Review: Loreal Paris Magic Smooth Souffle Blush

I love these blushes. They last all day, have great color pay off, and the texture is so great. They blend easily and look amazing.

(842 Cherubic, 840 Celestial, 844 Angelic, 846, Plume)

(846 Plume, 844 Angelic, 840 Celestial, 842 Cherubic)

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(842 Cherubic, 840 Celestial, 844 Angelic, 846, Plume)