Product Reviews: Make-Up Archives | Page 4 of 7

March Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

March 22, 2016

Hi everyone! I’m back from my short blogging break and it’s just in time to bring you my March Birchbox review. Let’s hop to it! 🙂

Cargo Land Down Under Eye Shadow Palette

These smooth eyeshadows are said to be highly pigmented and easy to blend to create a variety of looks. Most likely I will not try these as I have something similar already, however if they’re anything like their blushes, you can bet these claims are true.

Number 4 Hydrating Shampoo

This sulfate-free, vitamin-rich cleanser claims to repair and protect dry and brittle hair. I have curly hair which can definitely benefit from extra hydration. This shampoo lathered nicely despite it being sulfate-free, and left my hair feeling smoother and clean. In my opinion, the scent is a little more on the masculine side but not overpowering.

Number 4 Hydrating Condition (Bonus)

Oddly enough, I have yet to try this one but once I do, I will try to update it on here.

Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm

This “100% natural formula,” rehydrates skin, soothes sunburns, tames unruly brows and nourishes thirsty cuticles. I’ve only tried this as a lip balm and I quite like it. It has a very thick consistency, much like the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, which intensely moisturizes lips but makes the product hard to squeeze out of the tube.

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac Beauty Queen

I’m a fan of Benefit’s Benetint, so I was curious as how this would compare. Stainiac is theBalm cosmetics’ best-selling stain that gives cheeks and lips a sheer and rosy tint. Unlike Benetint, the consistency on this is a little bit tackier instead of watery. It leaves behind a nice rosy color that has good lasting power but comes off while eating and drinking. I like it for a sheer wash of color and it’s as good as Benetint to me.

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum

This 5-in-1 eye serum, “lifts, firms, smooths, hydrates and restores the sensitive skin around the eye for a more youthful look.” I’m fond of a couple of Kiehl’s products and I was glad to see another sample from them. I didn’t see a huge improvement with this eye serum, perhaps because I don’t have major issues with my eye area, but it is lightweight and didn’t migrate into my eyes which I love.

A swatch of theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac.

Overall, I thought this box was well rounded and I’m happy with it. 🙂

Have you tried any of these brands? What’s your favorite product from them?

Stephanie

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette Review!

March 14, 2016

Hi everyone! As I mentioned last week, I will be taking a spring blog break but before I do, I have a review of the new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow palette! It’s available online and in-stores and yes you guys, it’s beautiful.

Here is what the case looks like when it’s closed-very fun and pretty.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

Described to, “define and defend lids from everyday aggressors with this eye shadow palette. Introducing plush shades in a velvety formula, they’re powered by tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea™ complex, formulated to hydrate and balance lids with a creamy powder is that is never drying or chalky.”

Pros

Creamy and easy to blend

Great pigmentation on darker shades

Little to zero fallout

Variety of looks can be created from natural to smokey

Long-lasting (with primer)

Cons

No true matte shades

Didn’t experience the hydrating aspect

A bit pricey $34

Lighter shades take a bit to build up color

Overall: I really love this palette! It’s a bit smaller than I initially thought but the shadows are a good size so no problem there. The shades are creamy, easy to blend and the fallout is little to none. These are definitely smoother than my Urban Decay Naked 3 shadows. They last all day on me but I always use a primer. I will say that I didn’t find any true matte shades as Sand and Cove still have a bit of a sheen to them but nothing overly shimmery. The lighter shades, like Seashell and Mermaid take about 2-3 passes to build up a discernible color while the darker shades have opaque coverage in about 1 pass. These don’t have any pop of colors which I don’t mind since I love neutral/bronze shades and this is right up my alley.

Here are some swatches

Sand- Ivory (this shade blends in with my skin, lol)

Mermaid- Gold

Seashell- Pink

Wave- Slate

Cove- Tan

Starfish- Bronze

Reef- Copper (my favorite shade!)

Abyss- Dark brown

That’s it for this week readers. I’ll be back March 21 with new posts so please stay tuned for that. 🙂

Will you be adding this palette to your collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Stephanie

February Favorites 2016!

March 1, 2016

Happy first day of March everyone! Another month has zoomed by and of course, as one month ends, my monthly favorites are bound to ensue. Let’s get to it! 🙂

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream

One of my all time favorite hand-creams, this grape-seed oil cream that is rich in antioxidants and smells like oranges. It moisturizes and absorbs quickly into the skin which is great when you’re in a hurry and don’t want to transfer the lotion onto surfaces.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon

I’ve used this glimmering dark brown eyeliner practically everyday this month and it gives definition to your eyes without it looking to harsh. Perfect for work and it lasts all day on me.

Bobbi Brown Blush in Pretty Coral

Sorting through my blush stash, I rediscovered this gem which is a great everyday shade that gives the ‘pretty in pink’ phrase a run for its money. Used this look as part of my Valentine’s Day makeup look.

(Malin + Goetz) Grapefruit Face Cleanser

I received this sample in my November Birchbox and I just got around to trying it. This cleanser really surprised me to be honest. It feels refreshing but gentle and that has a subtle citrus scent. Left my skin clean without feeling stripped.

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps

After buying a gift at Kiehl’s, I was given samples of this body cream and I loved it so much that I went out to purchase a bottle. It’s a very creamy and rich and while it absorbs nicely into the skin, I do find that it is a bit greasy. I prefer to use this at night after I take a shower to deeply moisturize my skin and the scent is neutral so it’s not overpowering at all. The only two issues are a) it’s pricey and b) it’s sometimes difficult to get the product out.

Tell me, what were your favorites this month?

Stephanie

Besame Cosmetics Red Velvet 1946 Lipstick Review!

February 16, 2016

Happy Tuesday readers! How was your Valentine’s Day weekend? I didn’t have anything planned really but at the last minute I went out with my family/friends to a lake where we celebrated an Un-Valentine’s day, haha.

Late last year, I picked up this cute set while I was waiting in line to purchase some items at Sephora. I had heard about Besame Cosmetics and instantly fell in love with this unique vintage packaging. Later, I read that this lipstick, Red Velevet 1946, is the lipstick that Hayley Atwell wears on the show Marvel’s Agent Carter so of course I had to try it.

Let’s take a look!

The matchbook has this quote written on the inside:

“Life without lipstick is like cake without frosting.”

I couldn’t agree more. 🙂

Besame Cosmetics Lipstick and Matchbook Set

Described as, “a set of five rich, highly pigment lipsticks housed in a portable matchbook, plus a full-size lipstick with a satin, matte finish that delivers full coverage in one coat.”

Pros

Highly pigmented

Good value ($23 for the lipstick and matchbook-lipstick alone is $22 and the matchbook alone is $6)

Long-wearing

Leaves behind a stain

Cons

Difficult to apply

Doesn’t glide on as smoothly as I would like

Drying

Can accentuate fine lines/imperfections

Overall: I really like this lipstick as the shade is gorgeous and it’s what I used in my Valentine’s Day look (check it out here). If you’re looking for lipstick shades that are true an era (i.e. 1940s, etc) then Besame Cosmetics is your brand. I did have trouble applying this straight out from the tube so a lip brush comes a bit handy. The formula is a satin matte, which kind of tugged on my lips a bit when I was applying; however, prepping your lips beforehand-exfoliating and a little bit of lip balm-helps the appearance and and application process. The lasting-power is great, however with eating and drinking, this will come off although it leaves behind a stain.

The lipstick matches are a cute addition and you’ll get about 1 use out of them. Word of caution: make sure you close the matchbook well if you’re going to be carrying this in your purse.

Here’s a swatch of Red Velvet 1946.

Have you tried Besame Cosmetics?

Stephanie

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color Review!

February 4, 2016

Happy Thursday everyone! I was at Target the other day and was thrilled to find the new Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors on the shelves. Here’s my review on it.

Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color in Nude Flush

Described as, “bold, vivid color [that] glides easily onto lips for a velvety matte finish. Formula is comfortable and creamy with a smooth feel upon application.”

Pros

Budget friendly

Good pigmentation

Good color selection

Glossy

Cons

Made my lips feel numb

Not matte

Fragrance might be bothersome to some

Easily transfers/comes off when eating

Overall: Unfortunately, this didn’t work at all for me as I think I had an allergic reaction to it. As soon as I applied it, my lips felt very numb. At first I thought my reaction was similar to what I get when I apply lip plumping glosses but the numbness never faded away. The second day I tried it, again my lips felt numb and this time they really started to hurt so I immediately wiped it off. This applied like a gloss and isn’t really sticky but it never dried down to a matte finish. About 2 hours into wearing them, I could still rub my lips together and get a glossy feel. Upon drinking and eating, the lipstick wore off completely, so this product doesn’t last long. Even if I didn’t have a reaction to this, I would still return this as the name is misleading, and, in my opinion, you’re better off sticking to the Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Colors.

Maybelline Nude Flush

A swatch of the shade Nude Flush. These are nicely pigmented as I only swiped it once across my arm to get this color.

Have you tried these ones? What’s your opinion on them?

Stephanie

January 2016 Favorites!

February 2, 2016

Happy Tuesday everyone! How was your weekend? It’s been super windy over here but other than that, everything is good. It’s time again for my monthly favorites so let’s get started!

Renee Rouleau AHA Smoothing Serum 17%

I have a very textured forehead and even though I exfoliate on a regular basis, it doesn’t help much. I’ve found that exfoliating serums though make a major difference in the appearance of my skin and this glycolic acid based one works great. After cleansing and toning my skin, I pat on a thin layer before applying my moisturizer on top. It tingles a little but isn’t uncomfortable. I use it for three nights straight and then discontinue it for three nights straight and I’m mindful of not spending too much time in the sun when using this.

Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer in Chocolate

I have a sample of this bronzer and I’ve been reaching for this pretty much everyday. As the name implies, there is no shimmer here which is great and it blends in effortlessly while looking natural. There is a slight chocolate scent but it quickly dissipates once you apply it.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Athens

I’ve reviewed this lip cream here so I won’t say much other than the scent to this one is addicting and the color is natural and gorgeous.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Peanut Brittle

I’ve been stalking the NYX store to purchase the shade Tres Leches and since they are always out of stock, I picked up the shade Peanut Brittle. Peanut Brittle is part of the NYX Spring 2016 collection and believe me when I saw this lipgloss is highly pigmented. The swatch below was just one swipe. I wear this alone and I get a glossy nude lip that’s divine.

Top to Bottom: NYX Athens and Peanut Brittle

Chloe Love Story

Jen from In the Beauty Box (give her a follow!) sent me a bag filled with gifts and this one was one of them. With notes of Neroli (Orange Blossom Oil), Stephanotis Jasmine, Physalis and Cedarwood, I’m really liking this scent. It’s not overly overpowering and somehow I get a whiff of rose which is nice. It doesn’t last long though which is about the only downside I see.

What were your January favorites?

Stephanie

January Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

January 28, 2016

Hi everyone! I’m back with another subscription box post which finally arrived this week. I will say I am disappointed this month with the shipping of my Birchbox. It was shipped out on the 8 and I had no information as to where it was until a week later and then it took another week and a few days to be delivered. :/

Anywho, I choose the curated box this month which was Korean Beauty as it’s generating a lot of buzz lately. Here’s what the box included.

RE:P Bio Fresh Mask with Real Calming Herb

This mask uses, “organic herbs and kaolin clay to reduce redness and deeply cleanse pores.” I managed to use this once and the first thing I noticed was the scent which is very herbally and tea-like. Surprisingly, I didn’t find this too drying although I noticed a few bumps on my forehead after I used it. I’ll need to use this more to determine how well it works.

IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer

This primer contains SPF 15, is rich in fruit extracts and is said to create a “smooth, luminous canvas for makeup.” I tried it under my foundation and it gave a very subtle sheen to the skin. It’s a nice product though it is not my favorite and has a rather strong perfume scent. I will use it up but won’t purchase a full size.

TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint in Red

So I’ve always been curious to try TONYMOLY products, mainly because of the cute packaging- Panda’s Dream anyone? Although the packaging on this tint is simple, it smells like strawberries, yum. The color dries to a matte finish that is supposed to last all day and although it did last an impressive amount of time through eating and drinking, it will start to fade unevenly throughout the day.

Manefit Beauty Planner Cucumber Soothing + Moisturizing Mask

Sheet masks are all the craze now and this one is supposed to soothe, tone and restore moisture to dry skin. I haven’t tried this out yet but I’ll wait until it’s not too cold at night so my skin can have a nice, refreshing treatment.

Goodal Waterest First Essence

This product includes, “hyaluronic acid and fermented lotus flower to help skin retain moisture.” I’ve tried this once in the morning and I do like it. However, like most products included in here, it does have a strong scent.

Goodal Yerba Mate Bubble Peeling & Yerba Mate Cleansing Foam Packettes

Considered a bonus, the Bubble Peeling, “removes dead skin for a brighter complexion,” and the Cleansing Foam, “balances oils and detoxifies the skin.” I haven’t had an opportunity to test these out yet but the Bubble Peeling has definitely piqued my interest with the name alone.

Overall, I do like the box and think it’s a good assortment of products to try. Sometimes I wish they weren’t so scented though.

Have you tried Korean skincare/beauty products? Which ones do you recommend?

Stephanie

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review!

January 19, 2016

Happy Tuesday readers! Hope your weekend was great. 🙂

After much debate, I finally caved in and purchased two NYX Soft Matt Lip Cream products. I’m currently obsessed with nude/pink shades so I picked up the shades Athens (peach/pink nude) and London (peach/beige nude). Let’s get to the review!

Soft Matte Lip Cream

Described as a “velvety smooth Soft Matte Lip Cream delivers a burst of creamy color and sets to a stunning matte finish. Surprisingly durable, lightweight and delightfully creamy, it’s no wonder this sweetly scented formula is a NYX fan favorite.”

Pros

Creamy on initial application

Nicely pigmented/opaque coverage

Amazing scent

Decent lasting power

Budget friendly at $6/ea

Great array of colors

Cons

Slow dry down time

Feels drying once it sets

Color of bottle doesn’t match the actual shade

Needs to be reapplied after drinking/eating

Overall: Aside from the amazing cake scent once you open these, I noticed that the shades don’t necessarily match the bottle so I highly recommend swatching these in store beforehand. They feel very creamy when you first apply them and stay that way for about 10-20 minutes-the dry down time on these is fairly long. Once dry, this is a true matte finish so it will feel dry unless you apply a little bit of lip balm underneath. Exfoliating lips prior comes in handy so that the color doesn’t cling to dry patches. These have decent lasting power, however, they do come off if you are eating or drinking and you’ll need to reapply. I’m happy with these though as they provide good pigmentation and are inexpensive.

Here’s some swatches.

Top-Bottom: Athens and London

I hope you found this review helpful. 🙂

Have you tried these? What shades do you recommend?

Stephanie

KIKO Milano Rebel Bouncy Blush Review!

January 14, 2016

Hi readers! I have a review today on this blush I picked up awhile back so if you’re interested, keep reading. 🙂

KIKO Milano Rebel Bouncy Blush in Velvety Peach

Described as a “blush with a new sensory aspect and a satin matte finish.”

Pros

Budget friendly

Sturdy packaging and comes with a mirror

Excellent color payoff/pigmentation

Looks natural

Cons

Hard to apply at times

Not long-lasting

Overall: As soon as I swatched this shade in store, I knew I had to buy it. The color is such a gorgeous peach shade that has great pigmentation. It’s similar to the Colour Pop ones in that it has the same mousse-like consistency and is best applied with my fingertips to achieve a natural look. The two issues I have with this one is that a) the color does fade considerably after a few hours, especially when my skin is oily and b) sometimes it’s a bit hard to apply and blend out. Initially, the texture did feel bouncy when you applied it but now consistency has hardened a bit, which is what makes it difficult to apply sometimes in my opinion. However, once you blend it out it looks natural which is always a plus in my book. Definitely worth checking out. 🙂

A swatch of this lovely blush.

I hope you found this review helpful.

Have you tried any of their blushes? What was your experience with them?

Stephanie

Best of Beauty 2015 Part I: Makeup!

January 5, 2016

Hello readers and Happy New Year! Hopefully this year has been off to a great start for you. 🙂

I’m rounding up my standout makeup products for 2015, so let’s get started.

Lipstick

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick

Housed in gorgeous, vintage rose-gold packaging this lipstick will change the way you view matte lipsticks.

Kiko Milano Cosmetics Smart Lipstick

Priced under $10, you’ll be able to stock up on a few without breaking the bank and they wear incredibly well.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick

With a magnetic cap to keep the lining of your purse safe, these lipsticks have all you can ask for: creamy application and highly pigmented color.

Lipgloss

e.l.f. Cosmetics EX-tra Lipgloss

At $2, you’ll get smooth application and impressive pigmentation with these glosses.

NYX Butter Gloss

Another great and affordable line , these glosses come in a beautiful range of non-sticky colors and smell so sweet.

Dior Addict Lip Maximizer

Higher on the price point but definitely worth it, this tingly pale pink lipgloss leaves lips with a smooth and fuller pout that isn’t sticky.

Foundation

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

With the portable, sleek packaging, this foundation stick is perfect to carry on the go and allows for buildable coverage while letting your skin shine through.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation

Giving high end foundations a run for their money, this drugstore gem offers full and light-weight coverage with a satin finish.

Highlight

The Beauty Crop Lighting Crew Highlighting Cream

One of my Birchbox samples, this highlighting cream smells amazing and provides a nice glow for the face or body.

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow

I received a sample of this product and it provides a lovely lit from within sheen that doesn’t scream heavy shimmer or glitter.

Mascara

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling and Lifting Mascara

A great mascara that lengthens and curls my lashes with no irritation.

Eyeliner

MAC Fluidline

One of my favorite gel liners, this is easy to apply and control with lasting power.

Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

A staple in my beauty arsenal, once you apply this, it will not budge and it will last you a long time.

Bronzer

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour

My first cream contour product, this is easy to carry with you, blends easily and gives a natural but defined finish.

Concealer

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

The wand in this concealer allows for precise application and the shade Vanilla provides great coverage without it feeling heavy.

TreSiQue Correct and Cover Concealer Crayon

Another Birchbox sample, I like to use this when I need a tad more coverage and blends out nicely.

Brows

Too Faced Brow Envy Kit

This kit almost has everything you basically need for grooming and touching up your eyebrows including tweezers, setting wax and customizable brow powders.

Blush

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush

A smooth blush that gives a beautiful glow and comes in a great range of colors for any skin tone.

Burberry Beauty Light Glow Natural Blush

My holy grail blush, this feels and blend like butter and the shade Earthy Glow can be used as a blush or slight contour.

Colourpop Super Shock Cheek

These wallet friendly blushes have a unique mousse-like texture that is nicely pigmented and comes in a variety of shades and finishes.

Eyeshadows

Tarte Cosmetics Beauty and the Box Eyeshadow in Apple of My Eye

Included in a PopSugar Must Have Box, these shadows are can be worn any season as it includes gold, bronze and brown shades.

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick

Eyeshadows in a stick form that take a little bit of blending but provide long wearing color that doesn’t easily crease.

That’s it for today. Stay tuned Thursday for my picks on skincare and hair products.

What were your favorites in 2015?

Stephanie