Beauty Product Reviews | Page 14

closest I've gotten to "nude" lips- my new HG product!

After searching high and low for a product that would help me achieve the perfect nude lip look, I decided to give this a shot. I was skeptical this would work for me, although I am satisfied with my other Revlon lip butters. After scouring the reviews here on BL, I went for it, with the highest of hopes. And I wasn't let down. The shade is a sheer champagne/tan and doesn't look too warm on me- it mutes my lip color but enough of my natural color melds with the subtle warmness of the product to create an almost perfect nude lip! Its not super opaque but doesn't appear super sheer either. I was soooo happy this worked for me, cannot even tell you! Since I hit gold on this, thanks to Beautylish, my nude lip luck skyrocketed. I love layering Rimmel London's Stay Glossy lipgloss in 050 Unlimited Gold over to give my lips a slick nude lip look, and Milani's Crystal Gloss in Secret looks great over Creme Brulee- Creme Brulee acting as the most supporting nude lip base! After obsessively stalking the reviews and pics of Revlon's Colorburst Lipstick in 070 Soft Nude I decided to get that, and was more than pleased with its performance, albeit a few issues. All in all these four products seem to work interchangeably and look great layered, in any combo, and are great used for any look- be it balancing out a smokey eye- or adding a visual break from a bright, neon eye look. After waiting for years to find the best nude lip products (for me) I finally found them- and apparently all at the same time. I guess patience is a virtue!

Great Staple Mascara

I got this in an Estee Lauder holiday 2012 limited edition makeup kit, in a mini sample size. I hadn't gotten around to using it until this past summer, when I really started to enjoy it. The mini size is super cute and elegant. My brush is longer with medium thickness and the formula is not super wet, something I really have come to enjoy in a mascara. Really wet formulas seem to irritate my eyes. This gives great length, definition and some volume, with barely any clumps. It looks great with uncurled lashes, but with curled its optimal effects will last quite awhile. Its one of my fave mascaras and I rotate it with my Benefit Badgal and Rimmel Volume Flash Scandaleyes. The mini is perfect for travel, and for those who love touch ups, the mini is perfect to slip in your bag. I wouldn't say it gives out of this world volume, but it does pump up your lashes, especially when curled! :D

Wanted a drugstore alternative to a pricier powder highlight

I'm super glad I found this product- I think through Beautylish. I wanted to find a drugstore alternative to a pricier powder highlight. I also wanted to try a PF product because I've never used any of their products. I was so desperate to snag it, I ignored the fact there would be an upcoming sale (or something to that effect) so I bought it full price. I like the packaging. Its sturdy and very elegant- from the pearl embossed on the top, to the silver compact the product is encased within. There's a secret compartment under the powder where a brush is stored, but because they usually suck, I haven't used it. The compact is a little clunky, so its a tad annoying for storage, however. The color is a multicolored pink/pearl mosaic. When swatched, you only have to layer it on a few times to see the peach/pink, but it has sufficient shimmer and shine in its own right, and the pink does appear in only a few coats, if that. This might wear better when applied by finger, because it picks up a bit irregularly on the brush, and swatches so well with a finger. While its nice to pick up a little dusting from the compact onto the brush, for its semi-steep price (for the drugstore) I would like the powder to be a little lusher and softer, evenly distributing the particles on the brush, as opposed to picking up particles and having them be widely dispersed on the brush. That's probably really unrealistic as a view on my part, but still. So in addition to using my finger to apply I plan on using this an inner corner highlight, tear duct highlight, brow bone highlight and all over lid color wash. I have used a fan brush to apply which makes for precise application, and my contour brush and powder brush, which picks up more product (albeit, light digging involved). This also looks great over Benefit's High Beam, to punch up the High Beam and set, it, although the HB sets/dries quite fast. All in all, this is a great multi-use product but its cons lie in its higher price and not so creamy texture/finish. (Silky on finger however.)

from the Full Glam Ahead kit

I had wanted to get something from Benefit for eons, once my makeup obsession was in full swing. So on my second (I know, only second) Sephora trip, I had scouted out on online beforehand, some things from Benefit that were the most bang for my buck. After much agonizing I decided to get something from the 12 buck sale bins in the front of the store. I had previously decided to get the Full Glam Ahead set because I wanted to get a little sampler of some of their cult products.

I think the mini size of this is soo adorable. It looks like a little nail polish bottle, and the top screws tight very well, so as to insure the product stays moist and safe. I love its mini size, in that it fits perfectly in my MU train case and is perfect for travel. For being a sample size, this bottle hold a lot of product, so I won't be running out anytime soon. What I do to use this product is I dab a little product on the brush on the back of my hand, using it as a palette, and then apply from there. The liquid is a creamy light pink with a silver/bluish/white frost shimmer suspended throughout. When you unscrew the cap there is plenty of product on the brush and the stem, so when you run low, just check there. Despite the creamy texture, you might need to layer this on in little layers to build up the shimmer effect. However, if you're looking for a very faint shimmer in one coat, this is ideal- the shimmer is so finely milled, the product really imparts a lovely glow, but still fairly subtle. However, I find this product to be a touch overrated. Its a little misleading in that as thick and potent as the product feels- you still need to layer a lot on to get a sufficient glow. For a buck, ELF'S Shimmering Facial Whips, in this case, Lilac Petal, the same amount bestows a TON more shimmer. However, this might seem too frosty and not subtle enough for everyday use, so what is deemed an appropriate high light is very subjective. Its clear the facial whip uses a lot more mica, so keep that in mind. I do really like the High Beam, I just find the hype to be a little....well, a hype! I'm really glad I snagged it though, because its great to be able to layer the product bit by bit to find the best level of glow for you. I also love using this as a base for my Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls in Translucent Pearl. The powder really punches up the High Beam, and they match perfectly with their opalescent light pink sheen. Overall, I'm glad this in in my kit, but for those pressed for money- a cheaper alternative is Elf's Shimmering Facial Whips.

EDIT* The more you use, the better it looks! Don't be afraid to add more if the shimmer is too subtle. Dabbing it directly to the face, then blending looks better than using the back of my hand as a palette, then applying.

from the Full Glam Ahead kit

I had wanted to get something from Benefit for eons, once my makeup obsession was in full swing. So on my second (I know, only second) Sephora trip, I had scouted out on online beforehand, some things from Benefit that were the most bang for my buck. After much agonizing I decided to get something from the 12 buck sale bins in the front of the store. I had previously decided to get the Full Glam Ahead set because I wanted to get a little sampler of some of their cult products.

The mini size of this is really cute- adorable packaging, as to be expected from Benefit, and its the perfect size for travel and storing comfortably in my MU train case. I love the rich, black pigment of the mascara, and the thick, very full/large brush. I love large mascara brushes, personally. The formula is what makes this product so unique however. Its tacky and thick, not wet and liquid-y. Wetter mascara formulas seem to aggravate my eyes, so this relatively dry formula is great for me. I don't necessarily prefer it to my other two fave mascaras- my mini Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara and my Rimmel London Volume Flash ScandalEyes mascara- which are both wetter formulas. (The EL mascara is wetter than the Rimmel, however.) This mascara performs well without curling the lashes, but now that I've gotten over (mostly) my long-time aversion to eye lash curlers, this formula performs best with curled lashes. It is not heavy, but has great hold and is very firm, maybe a tad bit sticky, on the lashes. I wouldn't say its the best I've ever tried, but its one of the best so far, and earns major bonus points because of its unique formula. I love having it in my mascara rotation, and its the one I reach for when I want to feel a little special. I don't reach for it all the time because its more special to me. However, I have a hunch this will last me a long time, even though its a sampler size. I would recommend getting the mini size before getting the full size, if anyone is curious- that way if you don't like it you'll have not wasted the money on the full size.

from the Full Glam Ahead kit

I had wanted to get something from Benefit for eons, once my makeup obsession was in full swing. So on my second (I know, only second) Sephora trip, I had scouted out on online beforehand, some things from Benefit that were the most bang for my buck. After much agonizing I decided to get something from the 12 buck sale bins in the front of the store. I had previously decided to get the Full Glam Ahead set because I wanted to get a little sampler of some of their cult products.

Stay, Don't Stray was a catch for me, because I'm an eye primer addict (not as much now) and love trying them out. I've been using this primer more exclusively now, when I do my makeup, and there's definitely pros and cons. When I first opened the box it came in, I realized the sample/mini size was REALLY small. It had the doe foot applicator that I like, so that was a plus, and I've eventually realized that a little goes A LONG way, despite the fact the mini size looks so puny. This munchkin will last a long time, so looks can be deceiving. The small size is a definite pro- I can comfortably fit this baby in my MU train case, and its perfect for travel. Obviously the packaging is cute (it wouldn't be a Benefit product if it wasn't) with a screw on cap that is easily tightened. The product is beige, wet, and very creamy. Even if you were at your last drop there would still be many more uses, just scraping off product from the stem of the cap. I usually dab a dot on my lids and blend out, but I think its better to use the back of your hand as a palette, then apply. I've found that even if you think you're using the "right" amount, it still can be too much. I think I've experienced creasing with this because its so liquid-y and using just too much can upset that perfect primer balance. I liked using this as an under eye primer before my concealer, and on blemishes before concealer (and it does make for a regular concealer in itself, because of its nice texture alone), but in hindsight I might have experienced creasing under the eyes, which rarely, if ever happens with my preferred concealer alone. I do powder my whole face after face products- primed lids and all, so at least my lids were "dry". Of course there are always other determinants of how well a product delivers- outside circumstances. I probably should have used way less primer, used my hand as a palette, and a dozen other things.

To compare with my UDPP, even using "too much" of the UDPP rarely ever lead to creasing. The UDPP is much tackier than the ultra lush and creamy SDS, so that may explain why even in the most rushed mornings too much primer never becomes a concern. All in all, I'm glad I got this product, but it does take time to feel it out and make it work for you. I'm not sure I would recommend this over UDPP or some other cult eye primer/base because of its few drawbacks, but it would be fun to try in a sampler, like I did.

Love the pinks!

Love the pinks!

I got this in Pink Pout and Sky Pink after weeks of trolling reviews to see if these two pink shades were worth getting. I got Nude Attitude a year or so ago and hated it, but felt like the these two pink shades held more promise. I'm so glad I didn't write this line off, just because i got the wrong nude shade so long ago!

Pink Pout (002) is a blue/purple based pink in a white milky base. Its darker in value and more purpley blue than Sky Pink. I had been on the hunt for ages for that perfect blue based baby pink/Nicky Minaj/Barbie doll pink, and I think this one pretty much fits the bill. For a matte lippie, its super thick and creamy, and glides onto the lips effortlessly. Since its so milky and light, you don't have to worry about glaring mistakes once applying, plus its so easy to just wipe any blip away because of its smooth texture.

Sky Pink (012) is another Barbie pink color, but more yellow based, another bright pink I was hunting for for what seems like eons. This and Pink Pout look so good with a black smokey eye or crazy big cat eye wing, not to mention neon colors. This also has a smooth texture and milky white base with the light pink pigment swirled though out. Again, since its so light, its easy to swipe on without taking forever because of mistakes, but I've found the intensity of the pink color will fade after a bit. I think the pink just looks lighter and lighter as the color fades, so reapplication is a must. But since they slide and glide on so well, reapplying is a cinch! Sky Pink also looks great as a base for Maybelline Baby Lips Pink Punch. I can't wait to play with these more and add super shiny glosses over for some pop!

Long story short, these are awesome! So girly and fun! <3

UPDATE/EDIT**

Pink Pout broke off! So be careful with these, they are soft! I actually like Sky Pink better, but I would have gotten into this more if it had not broken! Oh well- I'll need to expand my lipbrush/depotting skills.

Copper and Topaz

I got these sooo long ago. I think I picked them up at a Dollar General or something for cheap, and I liked the expensive look of the packaging/bottle. This was way before I knew much about L.A. Colors in general, as well. I would say these two colors are relatively unique but very pretty. Copper is a burnt sienna/red/golden brown- very pretty. With two swipes its totally opaque. I really like Topaz- its a golden shimmer beige that's more translucent- so it takes 2 to 3 coats to build in opacity. The nice thing about Topaz is that even with one coat it leaves such a pretty shimmer- almost like clear polish adds shine and a clean look to nails, one coat of Topaz on my toes gave them a pretty, natural vibe. Both have great shine and last maybe a week or so, I presume, without chipping. I haven't worn these two shades with top or base coats though, but without, they're still quite lovely. I like the little ball that shakes up the polish too! The smell is pretty strong, and brush wise the brush is shorter and fans out at the bottom. It compliments the short, squat bottle it fits within. These two shades aren't on the BL database, so I don't know if these shades are existent. Either way, they are both earthy but pretty colors- and great staples to own in your polish collection!

Like this line- not sure about the menthol in this one

I got this product thinking it would be just like the other products in this line- particularly the facial scrub (of course without the exfoliant) and I really wanna get the body scrub, as it seems like a larger size of the facial scrub. However, I didn't check the ingredients, which I usually make a point of doing. When I cracked it open in the shower the first time, I smelled Menthol. It kinda makes me think of menthol ciggies (don't smoke), and it doesn't have that Blistex/Vick's Vaporub camphor/menthol smell either, which I like. It kinda stumps me that they added menthol in, albeit, there is not a ton since its on the bottom of the ingredients list. I have nothing against menthol, I just think its laughably random as to why its an added fragrance. I kind of would have preferred the plain old grapefruit scent, but I guess they wanted to add a pinch of something different- and I appreciate their creativity. But why menthol and not peppermint or something of that sort? I don't know if it bugs me that much, but I figure it would be worth mentioning. The scent is noticeable when you open it, but on the face, you'll only feel the cooling menthol if you use a lot of product. It has a nice creamy texture and feel, and lathers up nicely on the skin. My skin feels super soft, smooth and oil free, post cleanse, but a little teeny weensy bit tight- nothing my myriad/hoard of moisturizers can't fix. The packaging is cute as usual, with the typical flip top and squeezey hole, although the plastic feels thinner and more pliable/bendable, which is great seeing as how my shower rack is filled to the brim with my girly toiletries. There is a ton of product in here, so this one is great for sharing. I'm not sure I would repurchase, but am definitely considering the body scrub.

Great garnet red!

I've had this for quite some time but its held up great! I think the packaging is cute- but the color is even better. I love muted and weird colors. Don't get me wrong- as an artist I love them all, especially bright red, but this red is deep, dark and awesome. Its super vampy but not too much. I think every one needs a dark, blood red. Its more serious and moody then straight red- but is still sophisticated and classic. I wore this on my toes paired with Sally Hansen's Laquer Shine polish in 08 Glossy on the nails. The color has held up great, and has barely even chipped, a week or more since application. The consistency is thick but spreadable and the brush is pretty good- thin at the top and slightly fans out at the bottom. The color provides great shine (although its a little on the matte side), even without a top coat, and its performed so well without a base coat either. I'm not sure this dries in exactly 60 secs, but I don't mind anyway- this color is such a must in any polish wardrobe. It does have a strong polish smell, but that's no biggie. Now that I think of it, I wouldn't mind snagging a few more of these since Rapid Ruby is so lovely. All in all Rapid Ruby is a beautiful shade- catch it while you still can!