Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Coral Gleam

I am a sucker for corals! I haven't tried any of the Colorsensational Lipsticks until today. I ended up purchasing 15 shades, and I trying them and letting you guys know a bit more about them.

Olive skin tones do well with corals and peaches, so I purchased a few shades for myself (Yay!) and I thoroughly enjoy the product overall.

  Coral Gleam is a nice shimmery nude peach shade with small flecks of silver glitter. The glitter is very fine and evenly dispersed. It goes on somewhat sheer, but with 3 swipes the coverage is nearly full. I like that because I honestly was looking for a coral-ish shade that could pass as an almost nude lippie for when I wanted to be subtle but still have a teensy splash of color on my face. The consistency is a nice creamy one and this lipstick has a scent that reminds me of something--but I cannot remember what it is. When it comes to longevity, this isn't the greatest. It lasts maybe a few hours tops without other products to keep it in place. I enjoy the color quite a bit so I honestly do not mind reapplying it while visiting the powder room. Right now the color is almost completely gone, but there are still tiny traces of shimmer on my lips. Instead of reapplying it, I could just layer on a thin layer of clear gloss or chapstick and due to the shimmer left behind, it would work quite nicely as it is.

On to the pics:

 Top swatch is 2 layers. Bottom swatch is 3.

What do you think of this shade? Have you tried it?

Elf High Definition Powder (New Shades!)

So, I had been wanting to update an old post of mine and add the 2 newer shades, but I just kept forgetting to do so. (Sorry about that guys, I have the attention span of a gnat)

 Top Left: Translucent, Top Right: Shimmer, Bottom: Corrective Yellow

 Translucent

 Shimmer

 Corrective Yellow

 Left To Right With Flash: Translucent, Shimmer, Corrective Yellow

(The swatch in this picture is caked on for pigmentation/shimmer purposes for the Camera Flash)

 Left To Right: Translucent, Shimmer, Corrective Yellow

(Applied normally with flash)

Let me start off with my dislikes first:

The ONLY problem I have with this product (and I'm referring to the Translucent shade) is the fact that it DOES NOT DO WELL WITH HIGH FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY. As a Makeup Artist, it kills me that it fails the "High Flash" test. It's so hard to find a great setting powder that works well for professional photography, and I wish SO HARD that this would work because it's a VERY nice setting powder and it helps achieve an "airbrushed" and "youthful" look without the editing! The flash just bounces off and reflects making the skin of the wearer white as a sheet. However, I found that the corrective Yellow works far more in the ways of professional photography than the translucent, so I'm pretty happy about that. If you have medium to dark skin, I would suggest using the Corrective Yellow shade as it gives more of a natural and warm look rather than the Translucent.

And also, this didn't really bother me because I do not use "puff" applicators, but according to a few peeps that I know, the puff sucks. I only use brushes, so like it's not really a downside for me.  Honestly, a brush is the best way to go with this product...you want an even distribution of the powder to get a nice "photoshopped" finish.


Let's break it down by Shade:

TRANSLUCENT:

This is perfect as a setting powder to help create a smooth and more finished look. I would suggest this for paler skin tones, and also to avoid High Flash Environments, unless you wanna look like a dead person. If that's what you're going for, then it's obviously not a problem, lol!

CORRECTIVE YELLOW:

This is my fave of the 3 shades. It helps to conceal skin discolorations, scars, etc. but it's not a miracle...it just helps a tad. You are still going to need regular concealer and foundation, but the very light pigmentation of this product will help to even out skin "irregularities." Like I mentioned before, this shade is perfect for everyone who isn't pale.

SHIMMER:

Oh man! This is such a fun product! First and foremost, the glitter/shimmer is evenly dispersed throughout the product, and it applies evenly as well. the sparkle particles are so tiny and fine. It makes for a beautiful eyeshadow by itself, shimmer atop your fave cheek color, wondrous highlighter for the decolette area, collar bones, legs, face, arms, and anywhere else you have the desire to put it. Seriously, try it on your brow bone AND collar bone!

Now over a year ago I decided to test out the Elf one in Translucent on one side of my face as well as the Makeup Forever version on the other half. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Makeup Forever wore off so much quicker! That's when I started researching Elf Cosmetics and vowed to try their other items, lol. I just couldn't believe that a $6.00 product trumped a more expensive one. I felt the need to start a blog to share with everyone else in the world. For lots of guys, the internet is for porn. For lots of ladies, the internet is a super highway of information that we want to suck in like a sponge...and do fabulous things such as:

• Fix a toilet when we live by ourselves
• Have online shopping sprees
• Research cosmetics, their uses etc.
• Meet guys
• Social Networking (Meet guys?)

I kid, I kid. But seriously, we enjoy lots of shit that's informational. And stuff...


Would I repurchase these items again? Yes. Well, maybe not the Translucent one. If you want something similar that's better with a camera flash, you should try Elf's Mineral Booster. It does the trick.

ELF Jumbo Lip Gloss Review and Swatches!

It's time to RAVE yet again! Recently I purchased a few Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. I payed $8.00 a pop for those. Well, Elf just released the Jumbo Lip Gloss Sticks, and these are a far better deal! Elf sells these for $2.00 a pop, and these are FLIPPING FANTASTIC! They weigh lighter on the lips than the Revlon Balm Stains, however these are glossier than the Balm Stains as well. I only purchased 3 of them, but I am placing an order right now for all of the shades. These feel light and smooth on my lips and have a sheer tint that you can build to your liking. They make my lips feel soft and the smell reminds me of the Minty Lip Glosses that are now discontinued. I honestly cannot decide which one is going to be in my purse, but I have to have one on me at all times now! Elf has done it again! You gotta try these! Here are the 3 shades I own. from Left to Right: Pink Umbrellas, Summer Nights(shimmer), In the Nude With Flash

Without Flash

Elf Essential Luscious Liquid Lipstick Review and Swatches!

These are ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! The applicator is a fuzzy tip, and it's so easy to control the amount of product! The colors are so neutral and very pretty. :) The best part about these little lip pens are the fact that they ONLY cost $1.00 a piece! All of these shades are beautiful, and will be used by me quite frequently! The colors From Left to right: Pink Lemonade, Ruby Slipper, Nude Pink, Bark, Maple Sugar, Brownie Points, Baby Lips With Flash

Without Flash

Elf Mineral Face Cleanser Review!

I'm about to go on raving like a mad woman over how nice this stuff is! I love it. I. LOVE. IT. Let me start with the ONLY downfall of this product: We all know that feel when you are washing your face and you have been scrubbing for a bit only to find out that you look like a raccoon and there is black all up around your eye sockets. You've been scrubbing your face RAW and there is still some stubborn makeup all up in your business, trying to make you wish that you were born without a face. You were there once! Well, this facial cleanser is NOT a makeup remover. The trick to taking off your makeup is using an Oil cleanser OR using makeup remover wipes BEFORE using this product. I always remove my makeup with Elf's Makeup remover Cleansing Cloths, and then I follow up with this little gem. :) It leaves my face feeling soft and clean but not the stingy/tingly/astringent clean. It's a fresh clean. it feels FRESH and NICE and like you have just woken up in a field full of poppies...or roses. (Or whatever your location's climate naturally grows) It has so many ingredients that LOVE your skin, such as: Aloe, Green Tea, Jojoba, Avocado, & Vitamin E. At first glance, I was thrown off by it being a powder cleanser instead of a liquid or a cream. It made me remember that powder soap from Elementary School in art class. That soap was gross and grimy, and weird...and it would be absurd to put that crap on one's face. I tried it out, and it left my skin feeling happy which meant I was happy! I forgot all about those bad childhood memories of the "weird" soap. I have VERY sensitive skin, and although I was bracing for a rash/dry flaky skin/etc. Absolutely nothing happened. which is a WIN in my book! You only need a small amount in your palm, and you just mix a small amount of water into the powder in your hand then apply directly to a wet face. Lather, and rinse. You can do it again for good measure if you'd like, but seriously, a little really does go a long way! I have been using the same bottle for 2 months, and I STILL have quite a bit left. :) I have 2 backups of this product. Yep, i love it so much, I had to buy 2 when they had a sale.

Revlon PHOTOREADY in Pop Art Review

I am kind of disappointed in this product. I enjoy a few of the Revlon lippies I have purchased recently, but this product was a complete MISS with me. Green is my favorite color, and I love wearing it having red hair. (Yeah, I know...It makes me look like a walking Christmas decoration, ha ha!) But some of the colors felt grainy...wtf. And the ONE shade in this palette that caught my eye wasn't worth the price. :( The "Primer" shade in this palette is just a lightly iridescent white eyeshadow...and it doesn't work as a "Primer" at all.(You will still need a primer, PERIOD...and I would suggest using a white primer so these colors can have a bit more payoff.) The gold shade barely shows up unless you use a good amount of product, The brown shade is just alright, and the main eyelid shade of green is okay as well. Not great, just okay. You need a lot of product for it to show up bright and pigmented, and it REALLY loses what pigmentation it has when blended. The "Sparkle Top Coat" is pretty enough to redeem this palette...BUT there isn't much of it, and it has a grainy texture. Bought it thinking, "Awesome!" Put it down, thinking "Meh." There are plenty of decent palettes out there with nice green shades, and I would suggest skipping this one. If the price was a tad cheaper, I wouldn't have felt so bad buying it...but yeah. you get the picture. If you have tried these palettes and have enjoyed your purchase, I am glad that you do! These aren't for me though, so I will be putting it in the pile of "DO NOT WANTS" and maybe I'll trade someone for something else I'd like to try. Anywhoo, on to the swatches!

Have you tried any of these PhotoReady palettes? What shades were they, and what did you think of them? I wouldn't mind trying another at some point, to see if the quality is the same!

Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer

I am not really a huge Covergirl fan, but I was very interested in the Simply Ageless serum Primer. It's not too bad! The texture is creamy, and not as smooth-like as Elf's Mineral Infused Face Primer. It's a bit more expensive, but you do get 30 ml of product. I found it to have a shiny finish, so I take a sponge and dab my face afterwards so that it has more of a matte finish. I did not notice a difference the 4 times I have used this product, but I will try for a week or so to see if I can eventually tell a difference. It has a light ointment kind of smell...like a medical cream. The scent does fade away after a few minutes however, so it honestly doesn't bother me. I will say that this product does what it says in the way of priming, but I can't say so for firming my skin. But like I stated before, I'll keep using the product, and I will update if I notice any changes. Will I repurchase? No, unless I notice firmness of my skin. My makeup doesn't "glide" on with this primer, and it makes it a bit hard to blend where the primer is on my skin. It does hold products in place, but the feel of it is only so-so. Everyone is different, and I prefer a silicone base so that my foundation and concealer go on nice and easy, but this may work well for you. (Especially if you didn't like Elf's Mineral Infused face Primer because of the texture) I want to love this product, as I had been eyeing it for a while and it seemed hopeful. Like I said, I will update if I notice a difference.

Have any of you tried this yet? If so, what are your thoughts on this Serum Primer?

Elf Studio Eyebrow Kits in Ash, Light and Medium!

So, you have been wanting a brow kit, but it's hard to tell from the pics what color would work better for you. I was in your situation and I have (hopefully) a solution! I no longer have the Dark kit, so if your eyebrows are almost black, that would be the one I'd go for if I were you. I personally use the Medium kit. The gel is somewhat transparent, so you don't have to worry about it looking silly. It won't look like they've been penciled in. The powder sets on the gel, and gives your brows a nice filled in full effect.Iwould suggest a clear mascara or a brow comb to use apply a few minutes of application, just to hold the hairs. Even the pros can tell you that well-groomed eyebrows can make or break a look. They frame your face and make your features pop! So let's get down to business. The Kits: ash is a universal color. If you feel the other colors are too "brown, red" whatever, it would be a better guess to try the Ash kit. The pics show the gel by itself on the left, the powder by itself in the middle, and both combined on the right: ASH

Light

Medium

Have any of you tried these yet? What do you like/dislike about them?

Elf's NEW Contouring Blush & Bronzing Cream

Let me start this with this: I personally LOVE the powder duo. I truly duly do. But this stuff kicks so much ass! (pardon my language peoples) This duo is silky and creamy and lovely and wonderful. It's pigmented, and lightweight...you really do not need much at all. It's worthy of 5 stars, and my money! I am so hoping that they will add new colors! I cannot find anything negative to say about this duo. It's easy to blend and is now my Holy Grail blush. It looks pretty nice on my skin, it's so natural looking and it's easy to control the amount of coverage you want. It's never going to leave my purse. (Unless I'm pulling it out to either put some on or show my lady-friends) I need to stop raving about this product, because I'm going to sound like a damn crazy person. It's nice...seriously. It's THAT kind of nice. here are some pics of my new fave blush.