Reviews: L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, UD Lipstick, Physicians Formula CreamLiner

It's review time! I apologize in advance for my shadowy iphone pictures. The lighting was awful but I will post links so you can get a better view if you need one.

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First up, is Urban Decay Lipstick in Rush. This is one of the things I picked up for $8 during Urban Decay's big sale that I posted about a few posts back. While they don't have this particular color in stock anymore, they do have some beautiful colors left to choose from.

Pros: It's got a creamy formula that feels very nice on. It smells nice also but not too strongly. It smells sweet, almost like a bakery/cake kind of smell. It just feels really great on your lips. I have to admit that it was the packaging of this product that drew me in. It's in a very pretty tube complete with a tiny sword on the end. I feel like I'm slaying a dragon every time I whip this bad boy out.

Cons: The longevity of this product leaves much to be desired. It does not last more than about an hour on me, if that long. The amount of actual product is also smaller than my other lipsticks. The picture above is the lipstick twisted up all the way. Finally, while the package is lovely, it is also very bulky and takes up a lot of room in my makeup case.

Verdict: I think that this product is worth the $8 price tag for sheer novelty alone. The colors are nice, the formula is nice and who doesn't need a tiny sword in your purse? At full price ($16), I probably wouldn't spend the money though.

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Next up is L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes. I picked this up at Walgreens for around $9. (Watch for BOGO 50% sales at Walgreens!) I have tried both higher end and drugstore mascaras and this is my favorite so far. I got the waterproof version because mascara tends to smudge on me and it's wonderful. It has a flexible, plastic nubby brush that they call the Millionizer brush.

Pros: This mascara does what it says it will do. It separates my lashes and gives them thickness and volume. It does not clump on my eyes and it has a wiper that cleans the brush off as it's taken out of the tube. It also does not smudge and stays on until I take it off in the evenings. My lashes do not look spidery or drowned in mascara. They are also not crunchy or stiff.

Cons: Fortunately, length is not something that I struggle with concerning my lashes. This product doesn't seem to make my lashes any longer (which I prefer). If length is your main concern, this might not be your HG mascara.

Verdict: I love it. I will most likely buy mascara again and again. For the price, you cannot beat the performance. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants super full and soft lashes.

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Last but not least is Physician's Formula Custom Eye Enhancing Gel CreamLiner in Glam Brown. Goodness, that's a mouthful. Anyway, I picked this up at CVS for around $11. It is a set of three gel/cream liners that come in a cute stackable set with liner brush. There are four "Glam" sets, one for each eye color. My brown set came with liners in Gold, Bronze and Black (with bronze glitter). They also have four original sets for each eye color. (Brown in original comes with Brown, Purple and Black).

Pros: These liners are very creamy and easy to apply. They are almost between a gel liner (such as Bobbi Brown) and a cream eyeshadow in terms of consistency. They took longer than my Bobbi Brown to set but when they did, they were good and on there. It took some scrubbing with a makeup remover wipe to get these swatches off my arm. These are brand new so I have not gotten a chance to put them to a day test yet but if my swatching exercise is any indication, then they should be great. The colors are also very nice and will look great with my brown eyes. The black is the most pigmented color, while the gold is very subtle. My swatch is about 3 strokes of the gold , 2 of the bronze and 1 of the black.

Cons: I could do without the glitter added to the black liner. It is not ridiculously glittery, thankfully. The brush that comes with the set is going promptly into the trash can. It would work better if you were going to use these liners as an eyeshadow base but for a liner brush it just doesn't work very well. The amount of product you get in each color is rather small so I will have to report back on how long the product lasts.

Verdict: I like it. These are great because they come in so many different colors. I also like the fact that you get three colors in each package that was specifically put together to compliment your eye color. I think it's a good deal, all things considered. Physician's Formula makes some really great products and this is no exception.

8 Brushes You Need In Your Life

I am horrified to think that only a few short months ago, I had only one sad little eyeshadow brush in my makeup bag. Now I have a bag just for my brushes because they've taken over my makeup case! Good brushes do make a difference in how your makeup looks and they don't always have to be expensive to be good. Here's my list of the 8 Brushes You Need In Your Life:

1. Foundation Brush-This was the first brush that I bought in my makeup adventures. I have never looked back and I could not live without my foundation brush now. I just put a little foundation on my hand and dip my brush in that and onto my face. My favorite foundation brush is the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. It retails for $10 and I got mine from Amazon. A lot of people also like the Real Techniques Face Brush for foundation as well.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

2. Concealer Brush-The same idea as the foundation brush applies here. If I am spot covering blemishes, I  use the pad of my ring finger. I use the concealer brush for larger areas, such as under my eyes and around my nose. I use the ELF Studio Concealer Brush and it retails for $3. Most larger Targets sell ELF products (unfortunately mine does not) but you can also find some ELF brushes at Dollar General or from the ELF site. I would not recommend getting ELF products from Amazon because you will end up paying more for them.

ELF Studio Concealer Brush

3. Blush Brush-I love love love my blush brush! It's soft and picks up color well. I hate those stiff, flat brushes that come with drugstore blush. A big, fluffy brush gives a much softer, more natural look. I have the Real Techniques Blush Brush. It retails for $9 and I got mine from Amazon.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

4. Powder Brush-You're going to get tired of me saying Real Techniques but they have the most affordable, awesome brushes. I have the Real Techniques Powder Brush. It is quite large and very soft. It feels like you are powdering your face with fluffy bunnies and cute kittens (don't worry, they are cruelty free!). It retails for $10 and, you guessed it, I got mine from Amazon.

Real Techniques Powder Brush

5. Small Angle Brush-A small angle brush can be used for a couple things. I use mine to fill in my eyebrows and to apply gel eyeliner. I also use it if I want to use eyeshadow as liner. If you are going to be using gel eyeliner with your brush, I'd recommend getting a second brush just for that purpose. You can find these anywhere and in a number of different brands. I have the Essence Gel Eyeliner Brush. I got it from Ulta.com because it was only $2 and I love it! I have found that the shorter the bristles are, the easier it is to use. That would  be my only recommendation on what to look for when looking for a small angle brush.

Essence Gel Eyeliner Brush

6. Blending Brush-Everyone loves a fluffy blending brush! You use this brush to blend your eyeshadow colors together and give it a more cohesive look. The characteristics of a blending brush are that the bristles are long and dome shaped so it lets you blend lightly. Some are fluffier than others but they all work the same. I just got the Eco Tools Blending Brush this week. It came in a five piece set that I got from Amazon for around $8. Before that I had been using the ELF Blending Brush, which was also really good and it retails for $1. I believe I got that one from Dollar General.

Eco Tools Blending Brush

7. Crease Brush-This brush is basically a larger, fluffier angled brush. In addition to the crease, you can also use it to apply shadow to your lid if you want. It does well for that because it is more densely packed than the blending brush. I use the Eco Tools Crease Brush that came from that same five piece set that the blending brush came in. These are also pretty readily available. I also have a POSH one that I picked up from K-Mart that I like a lot.

Eco Tools Crease Brush

8. Domed Shadow Brush-Last but not least is a shadow brush. I agonized over which one to pick if I could only pick one to apply shadow and I decided this one would be the most helpful. The domed shadow brush has short, densely packed bristles that are rounded at the top. This brush is particularly good for packing eyeshadow on your lid (that's what I use it for). I have the ELF Studio "C" Brush. It retails for $3. These are easy to find as well. I know ELF makes one in their essentials line for $1 that is pretty good also. I've seen those at Dollar General.

As you can see, I do not spend an exorbitant amount of money on brushes. Real Techniques, the ELF Studio line and Eco Tools are three awesome brands that make really good brushes. I wash my brushes weekly (at least once a week, if not more) and they have all held up really well. There is little to no shedding and they are soft (a major requirement in my opinion!). Naturally, I have a whole bag full of brushes that I love but if you are just starting out then I think this set will get you off to a good start. :)

Eyeshadow/Eyeliner Placement

I know when I first started getting into makeup, one of my main questions was how in the world to apply eye makeup. I watched a ridiculous number of YouTube tutorials and here's what I've learned. First, I'd suggest using this chart and identifying the various parts of your eye. Sounds simple, I know, but everyone's eye is different.

Now, placement will vary depending on your eye type, shape, etc but I'll try to give you a general idea. The best way to start is to pick at least three colors: a light, medium and dark shade. These can be various shades of the same color, a lighter range of colors, or all different colors. Use the medium color first and apply it on your eyelid. Then you take the dark color and apply it to the outside corner of your eye and blend it into your crease. The best way that I've found to do this is to apply the color in the corner only and then blend it out into your crease. The darkest part of your whole eye should be the outside corner. Only go about 2/3 of the way to your nose with your crease color. Finally, you take your lightest color and put a little onto your brow bone. Also take a little of the light color and put in the inner corner of your eye. This brightens up your eye and makes it look larger and more refreshed.

As far as eyeliner, if you have small eyes, you should avoid lining around your entire eye. Lining around the entire eye closes it off and makes it appear smaller. My eyes are small and what I do is line the outside 3/4 of both the bottom and top lid. This way the eye stays open at the lightest part. If you have larger eyes, this really isn't a problem for you (and I'm jealous!). You can also wing your liner out a bit to elongate your eyes or wing them upward to change the direction of down-turned eyes.

This is a very basic explanation but once you figure out what kind of eye you have, you can play with lights and darks to give your eye definition and dimension. You can even change the entire shape of your eye by just knowing a few simple tricks!

BB Cream

It seems like you can walk these days without tripping over a new BB cream. BB creams have exploded onto the Western market over the past couple of years and most major brands now carry one....but what are they? Wikipedia defines BB Cream as this:

BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm, Blemish Base or Beblesh Balm (due to an apparent copyright on the word "Blemish", is a cosmetic item sold mainly in East and Southeast Asia, although larger beauty brands are increasingly introducing BB creams to Western markets as well. Originally formulated in Germany by dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek in the 1950s, the cream was initially used to protect skin after laser procedures and surgery, while also providing light coverage. Introduced to South Korea and Japan in the 1980s, BB cream has been named "the secret of Korean actresses" and has been heavily endorsed by Korean celebrities, which gained it large exposure in these Asian markets.

BB creams claim to do it all: moisturize, prime, provide SPF, and cover. The Asian BB Creams also have whitening properties (pale skin is considered more beautiful in Asian countries).

That being said, I have tried two BB creams over the past few months. First, I tried the Garnier BB Cream in Light/Medium. It did border on being a little bit too dark for me but it blended pretty well. I liked this one. It wasn't heavy and had a nice smell. It is also very accessible and quite inexpensive at $10-$15. You can find it at any major retailer. I think it would be good for someone who hates to wear a lot of makeup or wants to cut down on steps. The coverage is more in the tinted moisturizer range so if you need a lot of coverage, this one might not be for you. The finish was a bit tacky so I did need to set this one with powder. It's a big bottle (over 2 oz) so you get a lot of product. It is also 15 SPF. I would buy this one again to wear on the weekends or on days when I don't feel like dragging my big makeup bag out.

My roommate ended up stealing the Garnier from me so I decided to try a higher end BB cream this time. I chose the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Fair. It retails for $39. Now, this one was almost too *light* for me in this shade. To be honest, I did not care for this one. It didn't sit well on my skin and almost looked cakey. That being said, the finish was not sticky and it had much more coverage than the Garnier brand. It also had 30 SPF, which I liked. The bottle is rather small (1 oz) but that seems to be comparable to most higher end products. I ended up returning this product because I was just not pleased with it enough to justify the price.

Next I think I am going to try an Asian BB Cream. I'm already pale so the whitening agents shouldn't be a big deal for me. A word of warning if you are thinking about buying an Asian BB cream....there are a lot of fakes out there. From my research it looks like they are coming from China. You can tell the difference but really only after you get the bottle. The fakes can break you out and a whole host of other bad things. Most reputable brands (Missha, Skin79) have American sites and I would recommend getting them direct from the manufacturer than risk your skin for a cheap E Bay fake.

From what I've read, Western BB Creams are basically glorified tinted moisturizers, although many people love them. Asian BB Creams are said to be better but we'll have to see. There are pros and cons to both and, like anything else, it all comes down to personal preference.

Do I think BB Creams are worth trying? Yes! Now I just have to find my perfect one. :)

Look of the Day: Revlon Abstract Orange

I decided to take a pic of my new favorite lipstick for you guys. I have been lusting after a red lipstick for months but I had a hard time finding one that suited me. Red lipsticks are finicky and I'm so jealous of those girls who can rock a blood red lip. Alas, I am not one of them. However, I did find a lipstick that I really love while on vacation this past weekend. Between my coloring and my hair, I figured I needed a more orange based red.

It is called Abstract Orange by Revlon and it is from their Super Lustrous line. It retails for around $5-$8. It has a nice, comfortable texture and the color lasts pretty well. It actually looks more red on than it is swatched. I posted a swatch of it a couple posts back and it looks quite orange. For anyone else interested, this is the rest of what I'm wearing:

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation in 2
Maybelline Instant Rewind Concealer in Fair and Brightening
ELF HD Finishing Powder
Milani Brow Kit in Medium
UD Naked and Virgin (on the eyelids)
Milani Blush in Luminoso
L'oreal Voluminous Mascara in Blackest Black

I really just took the pic for the lipstick so I didn't get a good shot of anything else.

Coming up soon, I'm going to review the Smashbox BB Cream and Nars Deep Throat Blush! I also got a couple new goodies that I'd like to tell you about. Stay tuned!

Review: Cargo 7 in 7 Mini Kit

I got this Cargo 7 in 7 Mini Kit for my birthday. I was super excited to try it because I had not been able to try any of Cargo's products yet...and here were seven of their best sellers all in one! The kit comes in three shades: light, medium and dark. Upon further inspection, I noticed that I got this kit in the Dark shade by accident. The only thing this really affected was my ability to review the One Base Concealer/Foundation.

Before I review the products, I would like to say that I liked the mini-tutorial on the left hand side that comes with this kit. It does not go into great detail but it does say how to use each item and where. The more help I can get when it comes to application the better!

1. One Base Concealer and Foundation in One: I was not able to test this item out because it was much too dark for me.

2. Essential Eye Palette: These colors were nice and versatile. The eye shadow formula was also quite nice. There was nothing terribly exciting about it but it would be great for an everyday look.

3. Eye Pencil in Black: I did not like this pencil at all. It was not as black in color as I would like it and the overall feel of the pencil was cheap and hard to put on.

4. Lash Activator Mascara: I liked this mascara. It went on well and did not clump or flake. It did not do fabulous things for my lashes but it wasn't bad either. I'd give it an ok overall.

5. Beach Blush/Bronzer: A simple all over face product. Again, nothing terribly special.

6. Reverse Lip Liner: My favorite piece in the set! Although, I did not use it for purposes intended. I mostly use it as a nude eyeliner for my waterline. It stays well there and I have not been able to find that in a traditional eyeliner yet. As a lip liner, it also does well. I have to admit though that I can't really see that it made my lips look any bigger.

7. Classic Lipgloss: A nice, sheer lipgloss. It is not sticky or messy at all. It is also not very pigmented. I do find myself using it a lot though because it makes a nice finishing touch to the lips without changing the color of my lipstick.

Overall, I was quite disappointed with this set. I know Cargo to make better products than this so I'm not sure why they dropped the ball on this set. The only product that I would consider buying full size would be the Reverse Lip Liner. The rest of the items were either underwhelming or just okay. I would not recommend purchasing this item.

UD Sale and L'oreal Project Runway News

So if you haven't checked out the Urban Decay sale by now, shame on you! Here's what they have:

Vintage Eyeshadows $9
Matte Eyeshadows $9
Lipsticks $8
Skull Shadow Box $12
Feminine Palette $16
Vintage Big Fatty Mascara $5
Pocket Rocket Lip gloss $6
Lip Love Lip gloss $4
Midnight Emergency Kit $22
Black Palette $16
Vegan Palette $13
24/7 Vintage Concealer Pencil $5

I picked up the Skull Palette, a lipstick, the Big Fatty Mascara and a Pocket Rocket Lipgloss. Those really are amazing prices, especially on those palettes. This is a chance to try UD without spending a fortune! Urban Decay shadows are hands down my favorite. BUY ALL THE THINGS.

Could L'oreal be more evil than to combine my favorite show with my favorite thing....makeup?! L'oreal is launching a new Project Runway line this fall! There are going to be four different sets, each consisting of an eyeshadow palette, a blush, lip gloss, lip stick and nail polish. I think it looks promising!

Urban Decay offers free shipping over $50 or if you buy a Naked line product. The shipping (for me) usually runs around $6.

Review: Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation

I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to buy this foundation. The reviews were mixed, if you could find them, and I was happy with my current foundation (Clinque Even Better). I decided to splurge for my birthday and I'm so glad I did! I love this foundation!

It does just what it says...it's very lightweight and it feels like you are wearing nothing. I was initially worried about how well it would cover because the consistency is thin but it covers quite well. I'd say medium coverage. The lasting power was great, I got 8+ hours of wear out of it. It did a great job at controlling the oil in my T-zone, which I haven't found in any other foundation I have tried. I do not know how this foundation does with dry skin. There is a possibility it may be too matte for dry skin, but that is only a guess on my part. They do have a wide range of shades to choose from (18!). From what I've read and my personal experience, the colors seem to run light. I am NC15 (cool/pink toned and quite pale) and I took a 2, which is the 3rd color.

There are only two cons that I have found for this foundation. The first is that it does not have SPF. This is a minor con because you can always apply sunscreen beforehand or get a moisturizer with SPF protection. The biggest con is the price. It retails for $38. For me, this seems like a lot for a foundation. I am hoping that it will last me a good long time to justify the price tag. If I have to replace it in three months, I will not be buying it again.

The Urban Decay website is offering free shipping with any Naked purchase and also has a neat interactive system to help you find your right shade. Also, starting at midnight tonight, 8/6, Urban Decay has teased that there is going to be a big sale on their site. It is speculated that they will be putting old eyeshadow on sale since they have changed their formula (for the better I hear). I love UD, as you all well know, so I am excited to see what they will have!

Honestly, I love this foundation and if you can, I say try it! You can go to any Sephora and get a free sample. Also, the Sephora site is offering it as a free sample with any online order. Sephora is awesome at taking back products that you do not like so you have nothing to lose...well, except $38 when you inevitably love it.

Birthday Haul #2 plus swatches!

I finally got to visit an Ulta and it was wonderful! I bought almost all NYX because I've been dying to try the brand and this was the only place relatively close that I could get it (it was also BOGO!). I decided to make swatches because they have been greatly beneficial to me on my makeup adventures so I hope to help someone else. I plan on swatching all my makeup for you guys so watch out for that!

So first, here is my haul: 

There are, from left to right: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Abstract Orange, NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Buttery Nude, NYX Nude Matte Shadows in Betrayal, Craving and Covet, NYX Shadows in Autumn Sky and Highlight, NYX Blush in Terracotta, NYX Lipliner Pencil in Beige, ELF Studio Angled Eyeliner Brush, ELF Shimmering Facial Whip, ELF Studio Blush Brush and ELF Eyelid Primer.

Onto the swatches!

*Remember that I am around NC15 (which is pretty pale with cool/pink undertones) so these may look slightly different on everyone.