About

Heeeello to anyone that has magically, by magically I mean through the power that is the internet, come across this blog.
I'm starting this with the intention to provide product reviews and swatches to anyone looking for them. Nothing irritates me more when there aren't swatches of some product I'm looking into and I have to go in and buy it with the hope that it's not complete rubbish. Hopefully I can alleviate some of that stress for you people. Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

NYX: Round Lipstick in Frappacino (632)

The Breakdown
Brand-NYX

Color- Frappacino (632)

Thoughts- This lipstick is the epitome of opaque. One swipe and your natural lip color is annihilated. This is due largely to the creamy consistency of the lipstick and the high pigmentation of the lipstick itself.

Unfortunately, since the lipstick is so creamy, the staying power isn't the best. I can go about 3 hours without having to reapply, but if you are eating or drinking you can kiss the lipstick goodbye. 


Overall- The color definitely doesn't suit me nor does the lipstick last long enough so it's a miss for me.


Star Rating- 1.5/5
Swatches








NYX: Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie (630)

The Breakdown
Brand-NYX

Color- Pumpkin Pie (630)

Thoughts- Pumpkin Pie has a light creamy consistency. When swatched on the arm/hand it is very opaque and nicely pigmented. However, when applied on the lips it swatches very sheer and unevenly and tends to highlight the imperfections. Also, the wear time is only about 2 hours w/o eating or drinking so it's definitely one that needs to be reapplied constantly.

Overall- As nice as it is in the tube, the color show more creamy orange than anything else in real life and I find that unless I pair it with a peach-pink gloss I won't wear it.

Star Rating- 2.5/5
Swatches









Revlon: Moon Drops Lipstick in Peach Silk (704)

The Breakdown
Brand- Revlon

Color-  Peach Silk (704)

Packaging- Shiny green tube that is sure to catch your eye

Thoughts- Peach Silk is a creme lipstick that feels very moisturizing and comfortable to wear for hours on end. It truly does moisturize your lips and glides on like a dream. Though a creme color, it doesn't settle as a milky creme, rather it has a lovely brightness that is a pleasant departure from other creme lipsticks.

I can squeeze about 4-5 hours out of this lipstick even with the addition of lunch and a few drinks, which is surprising since other lip products that are as moisturizing rarely last as long. This is likely due to the fact that you can turn it into a slight lipstain by massaging it into your lips.

Overall- I love this lipstick and tend to wear it in the Spring/Summer when I feel like being bright. It feels amazingly comfortable and I love the way it looks against my skin tone.

Star Rating- 4.5/5
Swatches








Revlon: Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick in Smoked Peach (07)

The Breakdown
Brand-Revlon


Color- Smoked Peach (07)

Packaging- Matte lipstick tube with a silver label

Thoughts- Smoke Peach has a very small peach-pink micro-shimmer running through, so small that it's almost invisible. I've found that of all the Revlon Matte lipstick I own, this is my least favorite. The color itself is very milky and the finish when swatched is very chalky in appearance. The chalkiness highlights the imperfections in the lip and prevent it from applying evenly. However, this is wearable when paired with any gloss as the chalkiness then disappears.

Overall- I find that it's a little too chalky for the natural texture of my lips but I love the staying power and the combination of it with Revlon's Superlustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef.

Star Rating- 3/5
Swatches






With Revlon Coral Reef Lipgloss over

Lypsyl Intense Protection Lip Moisturizer

The Breakdown
Brand- Lypsyl

Color- Colorless

Packaging- Instead of the traditional twist up packaging, because of it's shape there is a sweet little bee that you slide up/down to move up some product.

Thoughts- The Lypsyl lip balm has a nice minty scent and flavor, similar to Burt's Bees but slightly more intense. Though slightly yellow in color, the balm itself does not impart any color onto the lips.

I found Lypsyl to be extremely moisturizing and I that could go up to 4 hours between reapplication. The oblong oval shape of the balm made it perfect for one-swipe applications without the need for a mirror. The motion sliding mechanism is smooth and what I liked best is the secure "click" you feel when you retract the balm all the way.

Overall- I like how moisturizing this is and how easy the balm is to apply to the lips. I found that it works better on my lips that Burt's Bees Wax or Carmex, especially when my lips are dry/cracked. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but it's a bit on the pricey side.


Star Rating- 4/5
Swatches





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Sunday, June 26, 2011

My Travel Bag

So I'm went out of town for four days to watch my best friend graduate and I thought I might share what I brought in my makeup bag and for my skincare. Enjoy!

Makeup Bag

~Face~
Rimmel Fix & Perfect primer
Clinique Almost Makeup in 04 Deep
MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed in Medium Plus
Maybelling Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfecter in Medium
e.l.f Blush in Tickled Pink
MAC Powder Blush in Prim & Proper (LE)

~Eyes~
e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
BareMinerals i.d Weather Everything
e.l.f. Lash Curler
Personalized MAC Quad w/ Satellite Dreams, Brule, Amber Lights & Sable
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Waterproof

~Lips~
Jack Black Lip Balm in Lemon & Chamomile
Revlon Colorstay Liner in Blush
Revlon Colorstay Liner in Clear
Wet n Wild Creme Liner in Berry Red
MAC l/s in Viva Glam V
MAC l/s in Bust Out (LE)
MAC l/s in Impassioned
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Lilac Pastel
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef


Skincare/Misc
Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer in Normal/Dry
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Baby Oil for Makeup Removal
Contact Lens Solution
Eye Drops
Cotton Squares
Dove Ultimate for Sensitive Skin



Friday, June 3, 2011

Cetaphil- Moisturizing Lotion for All Skin Tyes

The Breakdown
Brand- Cetaphil

Oil Free- No, contains Macadamia oil (who knew?)

SPF- None 


Packaging- A large bottle with a standard (non-airless) pump.


Thoughts- This is a lotion meant for the entire body so it is definitely thicker in consistency that a standard daily facial moisturizer. It starts out opaque, as all lotions do, but blends in to a nice non-colored surface.

This is meant to be a body lotion, but I find that it works great as a facial moisturizer as well. I have a "strawberry nose" despite my skins lack of acne based problems, meaning that I have a plethora of blackheads that stubbornly reside on my nose. I was using an Aveeno body lotion, convinced that it did the same thing as the facial moisturizers, only to find that the Aveeno was a major cause of my issue. I have very dry skin and I didn't trust a daily facial moisturizers to get the job done, so I went on the hunt for an all over lotion. Since using this, my strawberry nose situation has decreased about 80% and I'm liking the results.

Despite the fact that it does contain oil, it works great under ALL liquids foundations both water and oil based. It absorbs so quickly and thoroughly into the skin that I haven't had any issues with my foundation separating or the wear time being affected. 


Overall- I love that this stuff has a pump almost as much as I love how quickly it absorbs into the skin. It's a bit on the thicker side of facial moisturizers so I wouldn't go mixing it with my foundation, but this is awesome as a prep step under foundation. Also, I find that I have to put this on once after I leave the shower (I'm a morning shower person since I gym it up at around 5am) and then once again 5 minutes before I put on foundation to keep my skin moisturized the entire day.


Star Rating- 4.5/5...It's almost perfect, if only I needed just a single layer of product.

Swatches