What's in my makeup bag?

Hi lovelies, I have not disappeared forever! I have been busy with school this semester but I'm back with a video for you all. I made this video a few weeks ago for the makeup board on Makeup Alley when everyone was doing the "What's in my makeup bag?" tag. It's a bit long because I have WAY too much makeup that I carry around but hopefully I don't bore you too much. :)

(although get prepared to hear "It's really pretty" and "I really love this" a lot.)

I am thinking of doing more videos with the sole purpose of teaching someone how I apply makeup. This was something that I had no idea about until I watched tons of YouTube videos on the subject. I am also planning to do a video on the rest of my makeup (aka what I don't carry around with me every day) very soon.

Enjoy! If you have any questions about any of the products that I talk about, just let me know. Thanks for watching!

New Favorite Find: Sinful Colors Lip Shine and Milani Corallina

I've recently found two drug store products that I'm pretty excited about.

First up is Sinful Colors Lip Shine. Not being into nail polish, I did not realize that Sinful Colors was a popular nail polish brand. I just happened to be wandering around Walgreens one day and spotted an awesome orange lip gloss. I've had a slight obsession with orange this summer so I bought it and I was in love. These lip shines are fantastic. They are very pigmented and thick with awesome staying power. They are a bit sticky but nothing I couldn't handle. The best part is that they are only $2.99! That being said, I've found these little suckers to be quite elusive. I've only been able to find them in one Walgreens in my area and they do not seem to be sold online anywhere. My vote is if you find them, buy them up! The two I own are Love Potion, which is a red with a slight pink undertone, and Orange You Sweet, which is a dark orange. They do seem to come in about 12 colors but again, I have only been able to track down around four of them.

 

Second is Milani Baked Blush in Corallina. This is my second Milani Baked Blush and I love them. They are very pigmented and nice. I picked this up at K-Mart for $6.99. They also sell Milani at Walgreens and CVS that I know of. Corallina is a lovely medium coral color with a little bit of glitter. I'm usually not big on glitter but when you put the blush on, you really can't see it. It didn't look like I had big chunks of glitter on my face and I was pleasantly surprised at how pretty it looked. Milani is an awesome brand and I've been very impressed with the products I've bought from that line so far. I'm sorry I do not have a swatch picture for this blush but it did not photograph well for me. If you need a reference, there are tons of swatch pics on Google. 

Next up, I'll be doing a review of the LORAC Pro Palette and the Urban Decay Skull Palette. 

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.

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.

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.

Eyeshadow Update/Review/New Finds

I finally got a chance to try Wet and Wild Eyeshadow and I have to say that I was seriously impressed! It is surprisingly creamy to the touch and wow, is it pigmented! I only got a single eyeshadow in the color Stagedive (which is kind of a shiny medium blue) to try it out. I will be buying more WnW eyeshadows in the future. I think they will be great for colors that I don't wear often. There's no point in spending a lot of money on colors you will rarely wear in my opinion! These are a great alternative to pricier brands.

Wet and Wild has some hits and misses on quality and this site tells you the 9 Best WnW Products. 

I picked up the Milani Brow Fix Kit as well. It's adorable! You open up the package and one side flips up with two little brow brushes and a mini tweezers with a mirror underneath. I love it and for $7, you can't beat it.

I also got a chance to go by Sephora and I got a few good deals there. Here's what I saw:

They had a couple of the Tokidoki Travel Palettes that I mentioned in my last post for $5. (at my local store they had the Lion Pappa and Sandy in the City.)

They had Sephora Lipsticks on sale for $3. Too many colors to mention but they go on really smoothly and I really like them.

They had the Sephora Collection Silk Shadow Quad for $7. It is a huge quad with enough color to last you forever. They had two choices, Brazilian Sea and Last Dance.

These were the products that stood out to me. They are mostly sold out online so I was glad to find them. I also picked up the mini LORAC TANalizer Baked Bronzer for $6 and I'm super excited about it. This little bronzer will last me forever and it's great even on my pale, pasty skin. :)

Also, I heard a rumor that some Big Lots stores are getting Too Faced makeup in. I checked out my local store and they didn't have any but I'll be stalking....i mean...checking them the next couple weeks to see if we get any here. Check your local store! Too Faced is one of my favorite brands!