Quantcast
Channel: The Budget Beauty Blog
Viewing all 1741 articles
Browse latest View live

Colourpop Super Shock Cheek Review and Swatches- Between the Sheets

$
0
0
If you follow a lot of beauty blogs or are on Instagram, you've likely heard about (or already tried) Colourpop, a newer makeup line based in Los Angeles.  Their Super Shock eyeshadows and Lippie Stix and Pencils have been getting rave reviews from just about everyone so I finally decided to place my first order when they released their new Super Shock Cheek ($8). 
I've been testing the Colourpop products I purchased recently, I just can't say enough good things about everything I've tried so far.  For starters, they're inexpensive - all products are $5 except for the Super Shock Cheeks which are $8 (they're double the amount of the eyeshadows), yet the quality is amazing. They've really proven that high end-quality makeup doesn't have to cost a lot. The color range is also fantastic, and I had such a hard time choosing what to buy because I wanted them all! I also love that they're made in the USA and the majority of their products are vegan. 

I only purchased one shade of the Super Shock Cheek to start, but I'm definitely going back for more! I chose the shade Between the Sheets, which is described as a mid-tone beige pink in a matte finish. Colourpop offers swatches of each shade on their website to make choosing easier, and it's always swatched on three different skintones and next to a few other colors for comparison. 

The packaging is really simple and pretty...I love that they have a see-though lid for easy identification. The first time I opened the jar, I had a hard time unscrewing the lid- it was on there really tight! But after the first time, it was easier to open.



This is a cream-to-powder formula so there's instructions on the box to make sure you keep the jar closed tightly so they don't dry out.
Here are the ingredients:

The formula is super hard to describe. It has a springy, almost playdough-like feel to it, so it's not as wet as a typical cream blush would be...it's more firm.  Yet it feels so soft and velvety, and you're able to pick up a lot of product on your finger in one swipe. Colourpop recommends applying these with your fingers for the highest amount of coverage, but you can also use a flat synthetic cheek/foundation brush for good coverage, or a short duo fiber brush for a more sheer, airbrushed look.
Here's the shade Between the Sheets up close...I absolutely love it for my fair skin, it's the perfect flush of color!
Here's a swatch at full strength and then blended.  This shade is meant to be very soft and light...that's why I chose it.  But if you're looking for a brighter, bolder shade, they have so many to choose from!

One thing it doesn't mention on their website that I have to bring up is the fact that these are super long wearing! I always have problems with blushes disappearing from my face in a few hours, even so-called long wearing formulas. This was literally still on my face at night when I went to take my makeup off and it looked just as good as when I applied it!  When I put the above swatches on my arm, I wasn't able to wash them off completely with warm water and dish soap...I had to go upstairs and get my makeup remover! So if you've been looking for a blush that won't budge all day, this is IT!
Overall, I'm obsessed with this blush and can't wait to try it in more shades.  They have some really pretty brights that I think would be beautiful for summer.
Have you tried Colourpop yet? If so, what are your favorite products/shades?


Maybelline Baby Lips Buds Review and Swatches

$
0
0
I couldn't resist picking up the new Maybelline Baby Lips Buds yesterday while I was at CVS since they were on sale for only $2.50 each! These are two limited edition shades for Spring 2015 and they look so pretty, don't they? Let's take a closer look...
The two new shades are Petal Rebel (soft sheer pink) and Oh! Orchid (sheer pinky lavender).
These are just like the other Baby Lips in terms of formula and contain no shimmer at all. They look really bright in the tube, but they're actually quite sheer.
Oh! Orchid is slightly more pigmented than Petal Rebel but it's still very sheer on my lips, leaving just a wash of color.
Oh! Orchid, Petal Rebel

Oh! Orchid

Petal Rebel
Overall, these are a fun addition to the line and they put me in the mood for Spring! They're perfect to slick on anytime and since they're so sheer they don't really require a mirror. Have you seen or tried the Baby Lips Buds yet?

Colourpop Super Shock Eyeshadows Review and Swatches

$
0
0
Yesterday, I posted Part 1 of my recent Colourpop haul, and talked about their newest product Super Shock Cheek ($8). Needless to say, I was in love with the super long wearing powder-cream formula so I couldn't wait to share my review of their Super Shock Eyeshadows ($5) with you! Let's take a look...
If you missed yesterday's post, I gave a little overview of the brand Colourpop and all the reasons I am just crazy about them.  Here's a quick recap:

Made in the USA
Inexpensive
Amazing quality

I ended up choosing 3 matte eyeshadows and 1 satin, because that's what I use on an everyday basis. But I have to say, they have some gorgeous looking metallic and glitter shades on their website, and I have already placed an order for some of those to try next.

Like the Super Shock Cheeks, these are a cream to powder formula, but they are unlike anything you've ever tried! They're not as wet as your typical cream eyeshadow...they feel soft and spongy when you touch them with your finger and you pick up super pigmented color.
They apply best with your finger, but you can actually use brushes to apply these! In my experience using a brush gave me a softer, more muted, diffused finish. I typically use my finger to apply them and sometimes a brush to blend in my crease.
Also, these last all day without budging, creasing, or fading. I'm used to cream eyeshadows sliding off my eyes (or settling into my crease) but these didn't do that.  When I went to take off my makeup at night, they looked like I had just applied them. Absolutely amazing.
Just look at these gorgeous, soft shades...aren't they so pretty?
Top Row: Girl Crush, Bill
Bottom Row: Desert, Hanky Panky
Girl Crush is described as a mid-tone true gray with a matte finish.  I have worn this as a crease color and also on the lid...it works either way and it pairs really well with Bill (the next shade below). On my fair, pink toned skin it looks like a soft dove gray with a hint of lilac.

Bill is described as a muted plum beige with a matte finish. I wear this in my crease a lot and although it's a neutral, it's not boring at all.  It's the perfect dusty mauve shade...I feel like I've been looking for this shade for a long time!

Desert is described as warm saddle brown with a taupe satin finish. It's the perfect crease/transition shade if you're doing a brown or bronze eyeshadow look. I also use it all over my lid by itself when I want a "no makeup" look.  

Hanky Panky is a soft, cool-toned taupe with a matte finish. This is a super subtle shade as you'll see in the swatches below, and it works well on my skin because I'm fair and cool-toned.  However this may not show up well on medium-darker skintones.

Look at how soft and pretty these colors are...this is one swipe with my finger! They're not intense shades, but the pigmentation is amazing.

One thing I wanted to talk about is Colourpop's shipping times.  I've seen a lot of comments on Instagram from people who have placed orders and it takes a while to get to them.  This also happened to me...I placed my order on February 16th, and I got the email that it had shipped on the 23rd, 5 business days later (not counting the weekend so 7 days total).  I received my order on the 28th, so it took an additional 5 days to travel from Los Angeles to CT.  If you live closer to California, I'm guessing it won't take as long for you.  
So basically, I waited 12 days for my order (10 business days) which felt like forever, but I totally understand that this brand has exploded in popularity during the last several months, so I'm sure they're just swamped with orders right now. The bottom line is...they are totally worth the wait (so don't let that stop you)!

Overall, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite makeup brands.  With Colourpop, I feel like I'm getting high end makeup that I just dropped a fortune on...then I remember I paid $5 bucks for these eyeshadows and that makes it just that much sweeter. So head on over to the Colourpop website and pick up some of the Super Shock Eyeshadows (and Cheeks!).  
Stay tuned for Part 3 of my Colourpop haul when I review Lippie Stix and Pencils! 

Nail-Aid Pedi Express Review

$
0
0
This is time of year when I start thinking about getting my skin ready for Summer.  I tend to slack off on certain routines during the Winter when I'm not showing a lot of skin and then I usually have to work overtime to get them back into shape...especially my feet. You would think it'd just be easier for me to maintain them all Winter long, but nope, when the cold weather hits, I get lazy.
I own several electric foot filing devices...the Amope Pedi Perfect, Emjoi Micro Pedi, Ped Egg Power, and even have the foot filing brush for my Clarisonic. They all do their part to help shave off calluses and dead, dry skin but they don't always get it all, especially the rough skin on the tops of my feet which are too sensitive to use those devices on. 
I've used foot peels in the past, such as Philosophy's Soul Owner ($16) and Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Heel Of Appproval ($15) but I've struggled with finding a less expensive drugstore version that contains a high amount of glycolic acid...most drugstore foot creams I see are hydrating but don't exfoliate those dead skin cells away. 
Last week, I was in Walmart checking out the new Hard Candy Spring 2015 products and stumbled upon some new products from Nail-Aid, including this Pedi Express 3-Minute Pedi Peel. I can't remember the exact price, but I believe it was $4-something...definitely under $5.
This stood out to me because it says it has 12% glycolic acid and that it dissolves and softens dry, callused skin without the need for filing.  So I grabbed one...and apparently everyone else did too.  I went back a few days later and these were all gone from the shelf already!
Glycolic acid is an Alpha Hydroxy acid that comes from sugar cane and the molecules are the smallest of all the AHA's so it can penetrate further into the skin than fruit or milk acids. It basically acts as tiny Pac-Men eating away and dissolving the sebum and other substances that make cells clump together on the surface and build up. It's relatively gentle...I've never had any irritation from using it but it can make your skin more sun sensitive since it's removing the top layer, so please keep that in mind.



This is such an easy product to use, because you just apply it every night and wake up with smoother, softer feet in the morning.  The effects of glycolic acid are cumulative, so the more you use it, the better your skin will get!
This is a thick, white cream with a mild citrus-mint scent. It feels very soothing and my feet felt softer immediately after applying.  I like to wear a pair of socks over this treatment to keep in on my feet so it doesn't rub off on my sheets.

Overall, I'm so happy I found this...my feet were such a mess and now after only a few uses, they're smoother, softer and less callused on the bottoms and the rough dry skin on the top of my foot is already completely gone, leaving smoother brighter skin underneath. Unfortunately, my feet were such a disaster, I don't think this cream alone will help them...I still need to use my foot files. But if yours aren't too bad, maybe just dry with some rough patches, this cream is strong enough to do the trick!  Either way, I think you'll be amazed at the results.

Tarte Haute Look Sale Starts Today Plus Sneak Peek!

$
0
0
Tarte will be on Haute Look today starting at 11:00am Eastern (8am Pacific), so now's your chance to score some major bargains!
Normally, you're not able to see what will be included in the sale or the prices, but somehow I was able to see them on the site this morning and I thought I'd post them for you so you can start to figure out what you want to buy.  Because once these sales go live, products sell out within minutes!

So here's what's going to be included...sorry for the darkened photos, but that's how they appeared on the site since the sale isn't live yet.



















This isn't quite everything...but it's most of it.  I omitted some additional shades of certain products so that this post didn't get too long.
So don't forget to visit Haute Look in a couple of hours before this is all gone!  See you there...

Memebox Soothing Sista Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatches

$
0
0
PR Sample

I was recently given the opportunity to test out the new Soothing Sista (AKA Stephanie Villa) Eyeshadow Quad ($17) from Memebox and I was really excited because I've been watching her tutorials on her You Tube Channel for a while now and I think she's awesome.  So...let's take a look!

The box the palette comes in has a photo of Stephanie on the front, standing outside her old apartment in San Francisco. The palette itself is black with her logo on the front. It feels super solid and not cheap or lightweight at all.  I love the sleekness of it...it's pretty thin and would be easy to travel with.

This palette is paraben free, cruelty-free and made in the USA!

The rosy brown shades are right up my alley...I love rose-toned shades. Each one is named after her favorite places in San Francisco:


Sutro is a light, dusty rose matte.
Valencia is a medium pinky-brown matte.
Candy Rain is a metallic rose shimmer with silver micro-glitter
Bae Area is a metallic pink shimmer with iridescent glitter.

Top: Sutro, Valencia
Bottom: Candy Rain, Bae Area
These shades swatch beautifully overall and they were soft and pigmented for the most part, with one exception... Bae Area didn't have a ton of pigmentation, but I can see using it over another shade rather than using it alone anyway.
Overall, this a beautiful palette and I'm happy to add it to my collection.  I've been playing around with it and getting some really soft, pretty looks that are neutral, but with a twist.

Here's a short video of Stephanie showing a look you can create with her palette:



If you're interested in purchasing this palette, please visit Memebox here.

**Disclosure- This product was sent to me for review by Memebox, but in no way influences my opinions of the product. I was not paid to write this review.**

icon

The L'Oreal La Palette Nude 1 is Now Available on Walmart.com

$
0
0
Finally...the L'oreal La Palette Nude is available for purchase!  Some of you have told me that you've seen this at your local Walmart stores, but for those who haven't (or who just don't want to go to Walmart, haha), it's available on their website now!


Will you be picking one up?  Or have you seen it in other stores yet?  My Walgreens and CVS stores still have their "coming soon" displays up. :(

The ELF Elsa Collection is Now at Walgreens

$
0
0
I've been seeing reports and photos of the new ELF Elsa line at Walgreens, but my local store didn't carry it...until today!
There are so many cute products and this is the first time I've wanted almost everything in a Disney Princess collection!
The Beauty Book ($12.99) contains 8 eyeshadows named after characters in the movie, a highlighter, 2 eye pencils, and a lip color.

There's also an eyeshadow palette ($6.99) with beautiful shades in it, and a bronzer/blush/highlighter palette ($6.99) that reminds me of Urban Decay's Flushed palettes!
There are also three lip gloss shades ($2.99 each).
Finally, there's an eyeshadow/liner pot in a champagne shade called "Let it Go ($4.99)".  It looks so beautiful!
Have you spotted this collection at your local Walgreens yet?  Or have you tried any of these new products?

Hard Candy Glow All The Way Ombre Baked Blush Review and Swatches

$
0
0
Hard Candy Glow All The Way Ombre Baked Blush ($7) is a new edition to the line for Spring 2015 and I was really excited to get my hands on these ever since I saw a sneak peek on Hard Candy's Instagram page last month. It comes in 2 shades...Punch and Sunburst (which is the one I bought).  Let's take a look!

This blush comes in a round silver and white compact with no mirror and a see-through lid.  The product itself is so pretty, why hide it?  I love that it's on display.




This shade is so gorgeous...it fades from a dark fuchsia pink all the way down to a cream colored shade and has a frosty sheen to it.


Since this is a baked blush, I assumed it would be really pigmented and it is! I picked up quite a bit of color with just one swipe of my finger. I actually had a hard time deciding which direction to swipe...from light to dark or dark to light.  In the end, I started on the cream colored side and went toward the darker side.

When I swatched it, I knew I was going to love this shade...I was worried it would look too disco-ball glittery but it actually gives a frosty effect.  Normally I don't like frosty makeup...at least on my eyes and my lips, but on your cheeks, it can actually look pretty and eliminate the need for highlighter if you blend it up to your cheekbones.

Overall, this blush has everything going for it in the sense that it's pretty to look at and the color and effect this gives is beautiful. My only complaint is that it doesn't seem to be super long-lasting.  It might work best over a cream blush to give it something to adhere to and it would add a glowy, ethereal effect.
Have you seen these blushes at Walmart yet?  Have you tried them?

Stitch Fix Maternity Is Here!

$
0
0
If you're pregnant or thinking about having a baby, you'll be excited to know that Stitch Fix is now offering maternity clothing as part of their personal styling service!
When I was pregnant with my son, it was so difficult to stay looking stylish and put together.  There are only two maternity stores in my town, so I had a really hard time finding nice clothes and ended up in the mall trying on non-maternity clothing that I thought might work (think flowy, empire tops, sweater dresses and leggings).  Where was Stitch Fix when I needed it? 


If you're new to Stitch Fix, it's kind of like a subscription box, but with clothing! And the best part is, the styles they send you aren't the same for everyone.  When you sign up, you take a style quiz and give them all of your sizes, measurements, and preferences...for example if you don't like showing your arms or you only like short skirts and dresses. You can even create a Pinterest board with outfit ideas to send your stylist so you can be sure they understand your tastes. 
It costs $20 and you'll get 5 pieces (clothing and/or accessories) and styling cards with ideas on how to wear them and pair them with other things from your closet.  Whatever you don't want, just send back in the prepaid envelope, and whatever you do keep, the $20 styling fee will be deducted from the price. For more info, check out my Stitch Fix review here.

If you're already a member, just update your profile with your due date and let your stylist know what you're looking for and they'll take it from there and make sure you look great!

To join Stitch Fix (it's free to join and take the quiz...you only pay the $20 when you schedule your first fix), please click on my affiliate link below: 

It Cosmetics Hello Lashes Extensions Review

$
0
0
Hello Lashes Extensions ($24, Ulta) is It Cosmetics' newest mascara. They took their original, award winning 5-in-1 Hello Lashes and added another amazing ingredient...melted fibers infused right into the formula that give you the results of a 2-step fiber mascara in only one step. Let's take a look...
First, the packaging is seriously sleek...I love the silvery tube and how the cap fits flush with the bottom half, making it one continuous line. It has a high end feel and looks totally different than the black tube the original formula is in.

The brush looks very similar, if not the same as the original with the ball tip...perfect for separating your lashes and preventing clumps. It's like a built-in lash comb!
This formula has all of the benefits of Hello Lashes...it adds volume, acts as a lash primer, contains peptide lash growth serum, tints your lashes, and has a built-in eyelash comb/curler. But it also contains melted fibers right inside the formula! When I heard that, I had to try this because I'm not a fan of those 2-step fiber mascaras. They give great results, but they make a mess (remember my Physicians Formula review a while back?). I wear contacts so all those stray fibers get trapped underneath them and cause major issues.
With Hello Lashes Extensions, the fibers are melted into the formula so you get the same effect without the extra step or mess.


I've been using this for a few weeks now and I'm so impressed by this formula! Check out my before and afters:
Before Hello Lashes Extensions

After Hello Lashes Extensions
Hello Lashes Extensions gave my lashes lots of extra volume and length with clump-free, fanned out separation thanks to the ball-tipped brush. I just placed the wand horizontally against the base of my lashes and wiggled it back and forth as I combed it through. Then I held it vertically and used the tip to comb through and separate my lashes, as well as add a little more length. It gives me a more wide-eyed look and my lashes even look curled (fyi, I didn't use a lash curler!).
If I had to complain about anything with this mascara, I would say that it does smudge a little under my eyes.  I'm not sure if this would happen to everyone, but I noticed a little bit of smudging after about 5 hours of wear.  It wasn't a lot by any means, and honestly, I'm used to my mascaras smudging because I tend to stay away from long-wearing formulas due to the fact that they make my lashes hard and crunchy and they're difficult to remove. Hello Lashes Extensions kept my lashes soft and came off easily with my Philosophy Purity cleanser, so I'll deal with a little bit of smudging in exchange for that!

Overall, I'm really happy with the results I was able to achieve with Hello Lashes Extensions. I've only tried a few products from It Cosmetics so far, but it's been my experience that their products live up to their claims and really do what they say they will. I highly recommend checking them out next time they're on QVC (you can see the schedule on their website)...you can really learn a lot about the brand and their products through the demos (Yeah, I'm a bit of a makeup nerd, not to mention I'm kind of a QVC addict these days!).
You can purchase Hello Lashes Extensions on Ulta.com, Ulta stores, and QVC.

Milani Fierce Foil Lip Gloss Review and Swatches

$
0
0
Last week, I spotted the new Milani Fierce Foil Lip Glosses at CVS ($6.49) and they were BOGO 50% off...so I picked up a few to try.  I'm sad to say I wasn't a fan of their Fierce Foil Eyeshine palettes, but these lip glosses looked too pretty to pass up! 
They come in 6 shades, all named after places in Italy. Here's the photo I took at CVS and shared on Instagram last week...right away, I noticed that the burgundy shade the model is wearing (03 Florence) is much less glittery than the rest of the shades. Still, I'm not really a fan of dark lip colors on me, so I chose Rome, a light pink and Capri, a gorgeous violet mauve.


I really like the clear packaging because you can see exactly what the shades look like, plus I don't know why, but I love square lip gloss tubes...they seem more high-end than round ones.  Maybe they remind me of Chanel's Glossimers?  I don't know, haha.
They come with a flat doe foot applicator which is a little larger than average...I absolutely love these because they give really great coverage in one swipe, rather than having to dip the wand back into the product multiple times.

These swatches are one swipe of the applicator, so you can see how intense these are! They have brilliant shine, tons of glitter and great pigmentation. The feel super soft and buttery while applying, almost like a lip oil...they don't have the thick, sticky texture of a gloss.  They're just super smooth and soft.
milani fierce foil rome capri
Rome, Capri

milani fierce foil lip gloss swatch
Rome

Capri
One thing I should mention is that these are pretty heavily scented with a vanilla cake batter-type scent that almost has a little fruity-ness behind it. It doesn't bother me, but if you're sensitive to fragrance in lip products, I wanted to put that out there.

Wear time isn't the best...but it's average for a lip gloss. As these wear away, they leave glitter behind on your lips which I'm not crazy about, but I don't plan on wearing these during the day either.  I think for me, they'd best be suited to wear out at night for a few hours, and if there's some stray glitter on my lips when I get home, who cares?  Overall, these are a super fun lip product to wear.  They're glittery, but it's a grown-up kind of glitter with brilliant foil shine. If you're looking for some beautiful shades to liven up your lip collection, definitely pick a few of these up!

Have you seen these out at CVS yet, or tried any of the shades?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Foundation Review

$
0
0
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Foundation ($7, Walmart) is a brand new release for Spring 2015 and when I saw it, I was so excited because it's something I've been hoping they would create for a long time!  You've no doubt heard about their Glamoflauge Concealer...it has a cult following and many people feel that it's a dupe for Kat Von D's Tattoo Concealer, so I can imagine that a lot of people are going to be psyched about this new foundation.  Let's take a look! 
The Claims:
"Invisible Camouflage Foundation. A transforming liquid to powder foundation that absorbs oil, camouflages imperfections, and delivers a long lasting velvet finish. This skin perfecting fluid contains superfine pigments for seamless full coverage without looking caked on. Infused with kaolin clay for exceptional wear and oil absorption. Skin retains natural moisture for 12 hours of flawless perfection and transfer resistance. Pairs perfectly with our Glamoflauge concealers for extra covering power."


It comes in a lightweight plastic bottle with a pump (yay!) and comes in 8 shades- Porcelain, Ivory, Fair, Light, Light Medium, Medium, Medium Tan, and Tan.  Porcelain and Ivory looked too light for me, and I wanted to try the third lightest shade, Fair, but it was sold out, so I went a shade darker and got Light.  I figured that since we're heading into warmer weather, I might as well go up a foundation shade, since I normally do in the summer anyway. 
I don't notice too much of a scent with this...maybe just a hint of a chemical smell, but it disappears very quickly. 

This foundation feels super lightweight, yet velvety when you apply it.  I've honestly never felt anything like it before...as soon as I started blending it into my skin, I was like, "oh my God, this is amazing!" The first time I tried it, I applied it with my fingers, and as I went along my face, it reminded me of using one of those flaw-eraser tools in photo editing software. It just glides across the skin, softening and perfecting as it goes.
It has similar qualities to L'oreal's Magic Nude or Maybelline's Dream Wonder, in that it's lightweight and sinks into the skin quickly, except it's not as thin and oily as they are...it's somewhere in-between them and a mousse.
It actually dries to a powdery finish, which is something I thought wouldn't work with my dry skin...but somehow, it doesn't cake or settle into fine lines or dry patches. It just gives my skin a flawless, satin finish.
Glamoflauge Foundation in Light
I would say that this is a medium coverage foundation...but can be built up to full.  I was expecting a thick, totally full coverage foundation based on the Glamoflauge Concealer, but this isn't that heavy-duty at all.  You may still need concealer on darker spots but this covers most things really well and feels so light with a super soft, velvet finish.
Overall, I'm crazy about Glamoflauge Foundation! It has a totally unique, soft and fluffy texture that just melts into your skin and erases the majority of your flaws with ease.  Plus, it's mattifying properties are going to be great going into the summer months.  I highly recommend picking this up...no matter what your skin type.  I think you'll love it!


L'Oreal La Palette Nude 1 Review and Swatches

$
0
0
The L'oreal La Palette Nude 1 and 2 ($15.84, Walmart) are brand new for Spring 2015, and you have no idea how relieved I am that I finally found them...that means I can stop looking at the empty displays in every drugstore I go in! They've been teasing us for a few months with "coming soon" displays in CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, but I actually spotted it first on Walmart.com.  I went to the two Walmart stores nearest my house and it wasn't there, so I used the tool on their website to find out which Walmart stores were carrying this and I found a store about 35 minutes away that had both Nude 1 and Nude 2.  So exciting!! 
Anyway, I had very high hopes for this palette because L'oreal owns Urban Decay, and of course it's easy to compare these to the Naked palettes.  I'll compare this palette to the Naked 2 a little further down in this post, but first I wanted to talk about this palette on it's own.
loreal la palette nude 1 swatches

Nude 1 is a collection of warm bronze and taupe-based nudes while Nude 2 (which I'll cover in a separate post) features cooler gray, rose and purple-based nudes.
The palette itself is larger than I thought it was going to be...it's very substantial and a little on the heavy side...so it's likely not going to be great for travel.
It features 10 shades and a double sided applicator with a sponge on one end and brush on the other.  I really didn't like the brush...it's a really small flat brush, almost like a mini concealer brush, that I didn't find very useful in applying shadows. A bit disappointing since I actually like the double-ended brush that's in my Naked 2 and use it all the time, but not a deal-breaker since most palettes don't have useable applicators.
It has a mirror that covers half of the lid, while the other half is a window so you can view the colors from the outside.

On the back of the palette, they show you 4 looks with instructions on how to achieve them with the shades inside.

Ok, I'm sure you're curious to see swatches and hear about the formula, so enough about the packaging!
If you were disappointed in the Maybelline Nudes palette like I was, you'll really be happy with this one! The pigmentation is so much better in this palette.  There's a combination of matte and satin shades here  (no glitter) and they both have different textures.  The matte shades feel powdery, similar to Tarte's Amazonian Clay formula, while the satin shades are really buttery and rival the feel of Urban Decay's formula. I would say that the satin shades go on smoother and slightly more pigmented than the matte shades, which go on a little bit streaky as you can kind of see in the swatches below.  But overall, the pigmentation for both is really good and is way better than the Maybelline Nudes palette (see my swatches of that here).

Here are the first 5 shades...there's a matte cream colored shade, a shimmery peachy bronze, a matte rust brown, a satiny bronzed gold, and a matte medium brown.
loreal la palette nude 1

The last 5 shades are all satin/shimmers except for the first one which is a matte taupe brown.  Then there's a bronze, chocolate brown, silvery taupe, and shimmer pink-toned beige that's absolutely stunning (and doesn't show up well on camera, unfortunately).
loreal la palette nude 1

Compared to the Naked 2, the La Palette Nude 1 has 10 shades, while Naked 2 has 12. The palette itself is about the same width, but slightly shorter lengthwise.

When I first looked at it, I could definitely see some similar shades, but as a whole, Naked 2 is mostly cool, taupe-based shades, while the La Palette Nude 1 has a mix of warm bronze based shades (like the Naked 1) and some cooler taupes (like the Naked 2).  So I would say that it's probably a mix of the Naked 1 and Naked 2, but I don't own the Naked 1, so I won't be able to do any swatch comparisons with that.

I decided to swatch a few shades that looked similar in the pans to see how they are alike (or different). The L'oreal shades don't have names, so I've numbered them in order from left to right.

First, I compared Shade #1 in the L'oreal palette with Foxy in the Naked 2.  They're both off-white matte shades, but you can see that the L'oreal one leans more toward white, while Foxy is decidedly more yellow next to it.
#1(left), Foxy (right)
#2 and Chopper are very similar...Chopper is a little darker but otherwise they're very close.
#2 (left), Chopper (right)

#4 and Half Baked are also very close, but Half Baked is a little lighter and more of a shimmery gold while #4 is a satiny gold-bronze.
#4 (left), Half Baked (right)
I thought that #7 and Snakebite were also pretty close dupes, but #7 is a bit warmer with some copper in it, while Snakebite is a cooler, chocolate brown.
#7 (left), Snakebite (right)
#8 and Busted actually look closer swatched than they do in the pan, but again, the L'oreal version is a bit warmer, while the Naked 2 version is cooler.
#8 (left) and Busted (right)
#9 and Suspect look similar, but in this case, the L'oreal version leans cool toward a grayish-taupe, while Suspect is a bronzy-taupe.
#9 (left), Suspect (right)
Finally, #10 and Bootycall look similar in the pan but when swatched, #10 is more pink, while Bootycall is a white-ish pink.

#10 (left) and Bootycall (right)
Overall, the L'oreal La Palette Nude 1 is a drugstore palette that can hold it's own with it's higher-end counterparts.  As you can see in the comparison swatches, there's little difference in pigmentation between this and Urban Decay, so while it's not an exact dupe, it's an amazing alternative for under $16.  In a way, since I own the Naked 2 palette, I'm glad it's a little different, because now I have new colors to play with!  But if you don't own the Naked palettes, there are some very similar shades to the Naked 2 in here (and I'm assuming some of the warmer shades will be similar to Naked 1).
I can't wait to review La Palette Nude 2, so stay tuned for that coming soon!

Elf Elsa Snow and Ice Glow Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatches

$
0
0
Earlier this week, I spotted the newest Elf Disney collection at Walgreens and it's Frozen themed! I posted photos here of the entire collection, but today I wanted to review and swatch the Elsa Snow and Ice Eyeshadow Palette ($6.99).  Let's take a look...

This palette has 9 shades, and most of them are anything but neutral! There's a little bit of everything in here, from blue and turquoise to orange-red, plum, purple and yellow, along with a silvery gray and white.


The packaging feels kind of flimsy, but it looks really pretty with the photo of Elsa on the front and all the silver snowflakes around the outside. There's no mirror or applicators, but that's ok because I rarely use either one when it comes to palettes anyway.
I'll get right into the swatches...the first shade, which is a dark brown-black with glitter was super dry and patchy and since it was the first shade I swatched, I was worried that the entire palette was going to be a bust.  Thankfully, every other shade from the blue all the way down is super soft and pigmented! You can see by the swatches below that these apply beautifully and the colors are brilliant and intense. I was surprised and really impressed by them!

Overall, if you've been thinking about getting this, I say go for it! It may look like kiddie packaging on the outside but inside are some absolutely gorgeous eyeshadows that are definitely suitable for all ages. You can create quite a range of looks with this palette as well.  I was wearing a neutral taupe/lavender  eye look today and while I was swatching this palette, I applied a little of that 5th shade (the reddish purple) on the outer corners of my eyes and it looked stunning...it added just the pop of color I needed.
So if you're interested, I highly recommend getting to your local Walgreens sooner rather than later, because these are limited editions and once they're gone, that's it!

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Eye Brightening Concealer Review

$
0
0
Hard Candy Sheer Envy Brightening Concealer ($6, Walmart) is a new product for Spring 2015 (see my post of all the new Hard Candy products here) and it claims to have 10 beauty benefits in 1. Let's take a look! 
This concealer pen claims to:

  • Reduce Puffiness
  • Diffuse Shadows
  • Soften Wrinkles
  • Even Skintone
  • Eliminate Dark Circles
  • Blur Lines
  • Brighten
  • Conceal
  • Correct
  • Lift
It comes in three shades...Radiance, Light, and Medium.  I chose the Radiance shade, because based on the claims, this sounded like it could be a dupe for YSL Touche Eclat which also has a shade called Radiance (which I've owned in the past).  Radiance has pink undertones, and I also have pink-toned skin so I thought this would be the best match for me.  The light and medium shades looked more yellow, at least in the packaging. 


This comes in a sleek, slim pen with a brush applicator. You have to twist the bottom of the pen to dispense the formula so be careful not to twist it too many times or you'll get more than you need.  I like to stop twisting once I can just barely see product start to come through the brush.

The formula of this concealer is soft and smoothing...it feels almost like you're putting on a lightweight eye cream.  I sweep the brush underneath my eyes and then blend with my finger and it just glides easily across the skin and feels velvety soft.

The Radiance shade is a soft pinky peach, which is normally the perfect shade to cover up dark circles.  However, this really doesn't provide much coverage at all, so I'm surprised it's labeled as a concealer...it's more of a radiance pen, like Touche Eclat or L'oreal's Magic Lumi.  It's something I would use on top of concealer to brighten the skin and help hide fine lines.
I've used this by itself without a concealer and it does definitely brighten, correct, and diffuse imperfections in my skin, but it just doesn't cover even my minor dark circles.  I'm not sure if the Light and Medium shades provide more coverage, so if you've tried one of those, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Overall, I love using this as a compliment to my concealer because it adds that radiant touch and is a great alternative to Touche Eclat, which is $42.  I actually use it all over my face on areas where I want to brighten and add light.  This doesn't contain any shimmer or sparkle, so I don't know how it works to diffuse light and brighten, but it does!
Also, I absolutely love the formula...it's so soft, silky and hydrating and it just makes your skin look better.  However, if you're looking for a concealer, this won't give you much coverage at all, so I don't really recommend it for that purpose.
What do you think?  Have you tried this, or are you planning on purchasing it?

The Circa by Eva Mendes Line has Landed at Walgreens!

$
0
0
A while back, I posted about a new makeup line created by Eva Mendes called Circa that was going to be rolling out to Walgreens stores. Last month, it showed up online at Walgreens.com and Drugstore.com but I held off on ordering because I really wanted to see it in person...especially since the products aren't exactly cheap. The price points are higher than L'oreal, which was previously the priciest brand at the drugstore, so that makes it somewhere in between drugstore brands and ones you'd find at Sephora, such as Urban Decay or Too Faced. The good news is, most items have a tester, so at least its not a blind purchase. Let's take a look!

First, there's Color Balance Liquid Foundation. It comes in 10 shades and costs $15. It claims to have a soft-focus finish, Medium to full coverage, and suitable for all undertones.
Color Balance Liquid Foundation
Next is Color Balance BB Cream ($15). It claims to hydrate, prime, and camouflage the skin with lightweight full coverage. It's interesting that the BB claims more coverage than the foundation!
Magic Hour Illuminating Concealer ($12) brightens the eye area, reflects light, and creates a soft focus effect.
Studio Edit Full Coverage Concealer ($12) claims full coverage with a smooth, even finish and comes in a crayon format.
Color Balance BB Cream, Magic Hour Illuminating Concealer and Studio Edit Full Coverage Concealer. 
Picture Perfect Bronzer and Blush ($13) are powder formulas that claim to be smooth, silky and high intensity.
Ultrasuede Cream Blush ($13) gives a luminous wash of color, is velvety and smooth and blends seamlessly and effortlessly.
Color Exposure Sheer Lip and Cheek Stain ($13) gives a fresh, natural looking wash of color and is smudge-proof.
Picture Perfect Bronzer, Blush, Ultrasuede Cream Blush, and Color Exposure Sheer Lip and Cheek Stain. 
Color Exposure Eyeshadow Palettes ($12) and Singles ($8) claim to be highly pigmented, soft and smooth.
High Definition Eye Lining Pencil ($9) claims to be intense, vibrant and long-lasting and is in an automatic (twist-up) form.
Color Saturated Eye Crayon ($10) is a base and shadow in one, richly pigmented, and crease resistant.
High Definition Lining Pencil (top left), Color Saturated Eye Crayon, Color Exposure Singles (top right), Color Exposure palettes (bottom row).
Dual Focus Mascara ($12) is a volumizing formula with a shimmering top coat included.
Absolute Lash Icon ($12) claims to give that false lash effect.
Optical Illusion Lash Lengthening Mascara ($11) is a lengthening and separating formula.
Fade to Black Eye Ink ($9) is an ultra-fine felt tip marker eyeliner.
Vivid Vinyl Eyelining Fluid ($10) is a liquid eyeliner that contains micro-glitter.
Dual Focus Mascara, Absolute Lash Mascara, Optical Illusion Mascara, Fade to Black Eye Ink (top right) and Vivid Vinyl Eyelining Fluid  (bottom right).

Color Saturated Lip Crayon ($10) comes in 8 shades with a high shine finish.
Color Absolute Velvet Luxe Lipstick ($10) is pigment rich, feather light, velvety, semi- matte finish.
High Definition Lip Contouring Pencil ($10) is smooth and creamy and long-wearing.
Top: Color Saturated Lip Crayon
Bottom: Velvet Luxe Lipstick
Right: High Def Lip Contouring Pencil
Color Treatment Tinted Lip Butter ($10) is hydrating and nourishing, a sheer pop of color with a glossy finish.
Lustrous Shine Lip Polish ($10) is a creamy, shiny gloss with a non sticky finish.
Color Treatment Tinted Lip Butter, Lustrous Shine Lip Polish 
So, are you excited for this new line? Do any of the products catch your eye? Do you think the price point is too expensive or are you OK with it?

Makeup Revolution Radiance Radiant Lights Palette Review and Swatches

$
0
0
I've been wanting to try the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette ($58, Sephora) for quite a while now, but the price...ouch! But then I saw the Makeup Revolution Radiance Radiant Lights Palette ($11.99) and it looked like a potential dupe, so I put one in my cart during a recent haul. Let's take a closer look...
The palette comes in a bronze colored box and the palette itself looks very much like the Golden Sugar Blush palette I reviewed a while back (see my review here).
Makeup Revolution sells their Radiant Lights powders individually ($7.49 each) but this palette puts all three together, which is great because I've been wanting to try them for a while now.

The palette includes Breathe, Exhale, and Glow.  Breathe is a gorgeous champagne shade that I use all over my face...it's probably my favorite of the three.  It's not too dark for my pale skin and it gives me a lit from within glow and makes my skin look absolutely flawless and airbrushed.  Having dry skin, I'm not usually a fan of powder, but this is soft and silky and doesn't make my skin look dry...just the opposite!  It gives me the glow my dull skin has been lacking without being shimmery or fake looking. 
Exhale is the second shade in the palette and is a perfect highlight color. I use it on my cheekbones and it makes them stand out without being glittery or too shimmery.
Glow is a bronzy shade that I'm a little afraid to use on it's own right now, since I'm so pale.  But in the summer, I might mix a little with Breathe and and use it all over when my skin has a little more color to it. 

Here they are swatched on my skin...they're so soft and pigmented!
Breathe, Exhale, Glow

I really wanted to compare this to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette, but since I don't own it, I decided to go to Sephora and swatch it.  So I brought my Radiant Lights palette to the mall with me and swatched it next to the Hourglass shades once I left the store. I was really impressed by how close the shades are!



Overall, this is definitely a dupe for the Hourglass Ambient Lights palette! The colors are so similar and they both offer a soft texture with highly pigmented powders. Not to mention that this palette is a great buy on it's own because the shades are beautiful, especially Breathe.  I think I'll probably order the full size single of it next because it really makes my skin look amazing and now I don't want to be without it! This is a must-buy in my book, so head on over to Makeup Revolution and check this out.

Nonie Creme Colour Prevails Launches at Walgreens!

$
0
0
Back in early February, I posted about a new makeup line coming to Walgreens called Nonie Creme Colour Prevails (Nonie Creme is formerly of Butter London).  It's one of two new brands I spotted at my local Walgreens over the weekend, the other being Eva Mendes' new line Circa (see my post about that here). Both brands are at a higher price point than your normal drugstore lines, but are still less expensive than brands like Urban Decay or Benefit.  So let's have a look!

The Colour Prevails display is one one side of the beauty department's checkout counter, while the new Circa display is on the other.  It's in the spot where Jordana used to be and for a second, I was panicking that they got rid of Jordana...they didn't, it was just moved to another area, whew! 
In the Face section, there's Blank Canvas Foundation ($15) and Blurred Lines CC Cream ($16).

Then we have the Sculpture and Contour Highlight Duo ($14), Bashful Beauty Multi Stick Cheek and Lip ($13) and Bashful Biscuit Blush/Bronzer Duo ($13).

In the Eye section, we have three different Watercolor Eye Shadow Palettes ($19), Lash Ombre Mascara ($13) and Eye Calligraphy Liquid Liner ($9).
There's also Eye Shimmer Powders ($12) and Eye Design Shadow Liner Duos ($12).

For lips, there's the Classic Lip Duo Lipstick/Lip Gloss ($14) and the Colourwash Comfort Balm ($9).
Then there's the Lip Design Sheer Colour/Liner Duo ($12) and the Paint and Varnish Matte Lip Colour and Top Coat ($12).
Finally, it's all about the nails on the bottom row ($8)! I love Butter London's polishes, so I'm definitely excited to try these...especially since they have a patent-pending precision painter that claims to "improve your painting results beyond belief!".  I do a lot of at-home mani's so anything that will make my paint jobs look neater is something I need in my life.

So what do you think of the prices?  I'm curious to see how these two new brands will sell in the drugstores due to the higher pricepoint.  Although, I will say that a lot of these products are double-ended and are like two products in one, so that could offset the prices a bit.

If you'd like to try Colour Prevails but don't have it at your local Walgreens yet, you can purchase it on drugstore.com.

L'oreal La Palette Nude 2 Review and Swatches

$
0
0
Last week, I posted a review and swatches of the new L'Oreal La Palette Nude 1 (see my review here) and I loved it so much, I couldn't wait to show you guys La Palette Nude 2!  It has much cooler shades than Nude 1, which was mostly warmer bronze-based nudes. Let's take a look...

Just like Nude 1, this has a guide on the back of the palette with four different looks you can create.

I was surprised that this palette has mostly matte shades in it, because Nude 1 had 5 shimmer and 5 matte.  Nude 2 has 3 satiny shades and 7 matte.  At first glance, I was thinking that these cooler, rosy-toned nudes could make this a dupe for the Naked 3, but that has a lot of shimmer and glitter going on...and then I realized that this palette really reminds me of the Tartelette palette.  More on that below...



There are 10 shades total and #1, #2, and #6 are satin/shimmers while the rest are matte.

Here are the close-ups and swatches:
loreal la palette nude 2 review



Here it is next to the Naked 3...I didn't really see any dupes here.  I even swatched several of the shades next to each other and a few were similar, but I didn't find any exact dupes.

Then I decided to try it next to the Tartelette palette and I could see quite a few shades that looked like dupes, especially those purple shades!

So I swatched both palettes...this is L'oreal Nude 2 in the top row and the Tartelette palette on the bottom.  There were a few shades that were very close, but no exact dupes, not even the purples!

Like the Nude 1 palette, these shades are very pigmented and soft and rival any high-end palette.  I'm actually glad that it's not a dupe for anything that I already have because that means I have 10 new shades to play with! This is totally worth the $15.84 I paid, so definitely check your local Walmart store (or find this on their website and use the store locator to find out which ones are carrying it). If you love cooler eyeshadow shades, especially mattes, you'll love this one! If you're into warmer shades, I recommend checking out the Nude 1!
Viewing all 1741 articles
Browse latest View live