Mini Haul

3:44 PM


I popped on into some stores today and bought a few products I've been lusting over! The Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush is such a cool concept and I'm very impressed with it. The nib is flexible and makes for great lining. The NYX Gel Liner and Smudger is my first proper gel eyeliner and I'm really excited to test and review this. Same with the NYX Studio Liquid Eyeliner in Extreme Gold! I've been eyeing up the Pixi Flawless Vitamin Veil Foundation in Medium for a while now and finally decided to pick it up. I've used all of these and have a lot to say so look forward to reviews!

review

Sephora Cream Lip Stain | Review

4:58 PM

I accidentally went an entire week without posting anything. I took all the pictures and everything but I guess forgot to upload them to the posts and didn't queue them. Ah, sorry about that. I don't even do much during the day - I go to work for the morning and then spend the rest of the die lying in bed with my computer resting on my boobs. I like to refer to it as "the Tumblr position."


What it is: a liquid lipstick that leaves a stain
Where: Sephora stores and online
Price: $13
Sephora is not a cruelty free brand. I am disappointed.

Sephora says that "this high-coverage lip product features avocado oil for a texture that transforms as you wear it: when applied, the initial cream texture becomes a silky, lightweight stain. Lips achieve stunning color and feel soft and comfortable." There are ten shades available, and about half of them have matte finishes. The one I'm reviewing is #3, Strawberry Kisses.


This liquid lipstick is packaged in a slim tube that contains .169 oz (about 4.7 grams) of product. It has a doe foot applicator, which is on the thinner side. I've noticed that lately brands have been opting for wider, paddle shaped doe feet. This doe foot applicator is great for precise application however, and I find it really easy to work with. It does tend to pick up a bit too much product and needs to be wiped off, but I'm okay with that.


Strawberry Kisses is a beautiful pinky-red. I'd call it an electric dark pink, if that makes sense. It's a really pretty color and flatters my skin, although I thought it might be too pink for it it looks great. This is available in a great variety of shades; there are classic reds and nudes, and also purpley mauves. The cream is very creamy and soft, and sets down to a matte finish almost immediately. It is suuuuuper pigmented. The swatch was one swipe with very little product on the doe-foot. Honestly, when I wear this I usually only use the tiny drop of product that I wipe off of the applicator.

I wanted to talk about how comfortable this is to wear. Obviously, as a long-wear matte color this isn't going to be hydrating, but it doesn't make your lips look flaky and dry like the NYX ones do. It won't emphasize any dryness on the lips, nor does it hydrate. I find that this is pretty comfortable to wear on the lips, although you can definitely feel that you have lipstick on. I actually noticed towards the end that my lips feel a little tacky, but nothing some blotting can't fix. As of the lip stain claim? That's bullshit. It's simply a super pigmented liquid lipstick.


Freshly applied.


Four hours and a nap later.

This is my 4 hour wear test. On a regular day I would've worn it for longer, but I was feeling grubby and wanted to wash my face. It doesn't even look like these pictures were taken at two different times. I did notice some bleeding on the bottom lip, but this could be stopped with the use of a lip liner. I didn't eat anything during this, but I was constantly drinking water. Although I didn't leave any lipstick prints on my water bottle, I did smooch the back of my hand and saw that it left a lipstick imprint. Interesting.

Would I recommend this? Well, yes - but to be honest these aren't that much better than the $6 (and with more product) NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams. If you have a bit more cash to spend definitely consider getting these, but in all fairness they're quite similar to the drugstore brand's.

e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit | Review

6:30 AM

Hey, everyone. How are you today? I'm okay, I've been watching lots of Community lately and I'm very depressed that it's been canceled. I'm hoping Hulu will pick it up as a Hulu exclusive, but that may not happen. UPDATE: YAHOO HAS PICKED IT UP! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS


What it is: an eyebrow gel/powder duo
Where: Target stores and other places that sell e.l.f. products, and online
Price: $3
e.l.f. is proudly cruelty free!

I've actually never tried anything from this budget brand before, other than a few brushes. Not for any particular reason; just never got around to it. However, I've been itching for a new brow product and decided on this over the $32 Benefit BrowZing.

e.l.f. says you can "create brows that are fuller, thicker, and more defined! The pigmented wax defines and shapes brows and the color complementing setting powder keeps them looking arched and perfected. The doubled sided taklon brush has one side to help arch your brows while the other side aids in filling them in. This duo provides lasting color definition for a naturally beautiful look." This product comes in four shades, I'm reviewing Medium.


The packaging for this is quite NARS-esque. The e.l.f. studio line seems to copy the NARSpackaging, expect instead of the grippy material NARS compacts are made of, these are made of a matte plastic. There's a little window to let you see the product shade, which would be handy if you have multiple. The top flips over 180 degrees, which makes me very happy. There is a small but usable mirror included, and a little double sided applicator that is usable but pretty flimsy and crappy. I quite like the packaging; it's very sleek. The gel contains .0042 oz (1.2 grams) of product while the powder contains .0081 (2.3 grams). I'm a bit afraid I'll go through the gel very quickly; dipping the brush in for the very first swatch already left a pretty sizable dent. However I find that the gel isn't a very soft gel; it's a denser gel and I have to work my brush in a bit to get some product.



Let's talk shades. The gel is a darker shade than the powder, which is the case will all the shades available. The idea is that the brow gel is the one that shapes your brows and the powder just sets the gel and gives it a natural look. I get that reasoning, but the colors don't quite correspond with this one. The gel is a nice cool toned dark brown; the color is pretty much spot on with the powder that I currently use for my brows. The included powder, however, is a smiiiidge too warm. I feel that this powder would be better in a shade made for people with red hair. It doesn't go well with the gel. I have what I like to call soft black hair, which is really just black hair that looks brown in certain lights. Because of this, I don't like to use gray eyebrow products or brown ones, but rather cool-toned browns are my favorite. I think the gel in Medium would be good for people with similar hair colors; as you can see from the picture it's a pretty good color match.

I with that the gel would last a little bit longer. Alone, it lasts perhaps 6-7 hours, but when powdered/penciled and set with gel, it will last all day. It's not a big problem for me personally since I always set my brows with gel before leaving the house, but I'd imagine this to be a nuisance for others.

Overall? I'm pleasantly surprised. I know e.l.f. can be a huge hit or miss brand, and while this product isn't ahmaaaaaazing it's enjoyable to use and is pretty much a hit (:

makeup

What's in my Makeup Bag? | Everyday Makeup #3

12:46 PM

Taking this picture took nine years. After I got all my products all sorted out neatly, I put my foot on the table (I was standing on a chair) for stability and all the round products rolled out off place. It was irritating.


Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer | NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator in Gleam | NYX HD Photogenic Concealer in Medium | Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Pressed Powder | e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit in Medium | Sonia Kashuk Brow Definer in Haze | No7 Lash & Brow Perfector | Pixi Extra Eye Bright Liner | Sonia Kashuk Pearlescence Cream Shadow in Moonstone | Boots Botanics Eyeshadow Quad in 30 Golden Brown | NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skintone | NYX Slide On Liner in Brown Perfection | Sonia Kashuk Chic Luminosity Highlighting Stick in Shimmering Sands | Sonia Kashuk Creme Blush in Blossom | NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo | Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Strawberry Kisses | NYX Butter Lipstick in Little Suzie

I'm not the biggest fan of wearing bases. I have a fear of transferring products, and in my mind foundations are always associated with transferring. However, I do like to go through all my products and since I work in an air conditioned building, I'm okay with wearing a base product. Right now I'm mixing a tinted moisturizer and a liquid highlighter together to create a lit-from-within glow. I like the naturally radiant finish that these two products give together. Since there's barely any coverage, I also like to go in with concealer around my nose, chin, and undereyes. I then set everything with a weightless powder.

I always try to get my brows done as quickly as possible, so if I'm not wearing any foundation or TM I go straight to brows. I always fear I'm running out of time and brows are most important to me. Anyways, using an angled liner brush I'll sculpt out the arch and underside with a tinted brow gel and then fill in the rest with a pencil. Before applying brow gel to set them in I will highlight with a pinky-nude shade, right under the arch, and then gel them in. 

Now that my eyebrows are sorted out, I can relax and move onto the eyes. These days I either do nothing or do it all. When I'm doing it all I prep by putting an eye base on the corners of my eyes, as the NYX one tends to crease with oil but prevents product from settling into corners. Then I like to pop Moonstone, which is an icy taupe, all over the lids. Then I like to run the shimmery brown from the quad on my lashlines. Then, I like to highlight the inner corners with the  bottom left shade. I then draw on a kitten eye (baby cat eye liner, get it?)  with a brown eyeliner. And there are eyes finished.

We're almost at the end. Stick with me! I like to highlight first; I'm not sure why. But I swipe onto the high points of my cheekbones, a little bit on the nose bridge, and a dab on the Cupid's Bow and blend out with my finger. After that I like to pop on a bit of blush just for a little bit of color. 

And finally, lipstick. Depending on what I'm doing and how long I'll be doing it, I'll pick a shade from one of the lovely three colors I use. 

Thanks for sticking with it, that was quite a bit haha. Have a good day!

Winged Liner Tips

10:43 AM

I don't know what happened. One day I was almost an expert at winger liner, and the next that expertise was just... gone. I'm relearning the do's and don'ts of winged liner and I thought I'd share some tips that I've picked up both times around.

  • Practice makes perfect. Seriously. No videos or blogposts or tutorials can be perfectly tailored to you, as your eyes won't be the same shape and dimension as the person making the video. You could even get a cheap liner (maybe the $1 e.l.f. one) just for practicing with!
  • Variance helps. You might think winger liner looks terrible on you, but trust me - winged liner looks great on everybody. You just have to get your shape right. Do you want a sharper angle? A longer wing? Thicker? Thinner? Try out a bunch of shapes, angles, thicknesses, etc. You won't know what looks great until you try it.
  • Powder beforehand - if you want. I find that it really helps to take some eyeshadow and an angled brush and stamp out the shape of the wing before you fill it in. It's not only significantly easier, but much more forgiving because you can go and redo the stamped shape easily.
  • Try different liner types. Winged liner can be done with pencil, powder, and gel along with liquid, don't forget that. Not to mention the different types of liquid - felt tip, brush tip, etc. Give them all a try and see what you're most comfortable with!
  • Winged liner can be a statement or a staple, depending on how you do the rest of your makeup. 
  • Keep some eye cream and cotton swabs around. If you make a mistake, dab a bit of eye cream onto the sore spot and gently rub away with a cotton swab. This is much gentler than a makeup remover and don't disturb the rest of your makeup.

review

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Pressed Powder | Review

11:02 AM

I write too many reviews on Sonia Kashuk products. What can I say? I just adore the line. I'm not sponsored by the brand in any way; the company probably isn't even aware of my existence. This product came out in the Spring 2014 line (which was launched fairly recently actually, in early May if my memory renders me correct).


What it is: pressed powder
Where: Target stores and the Target website
Price: $9.99
This brand is cruelty free!

I have dry skin that gets shiny. It's not oil, it's just shine. Sometimes I get confused and annoyed at this because without a powder there's no real way to get rid of this, as I can't blot it away because there's no oil. Because my skin is on the drier side, I'd never really felt the need to powder. But now that it's summer and I'm sweating all over the place the shine is more and more apparent, so I picked up this powder.

Sonia Kashuk says that "this weightless formula glides on effortlessly; delivering even coverage while a soft focus complex reflects light to minimize skin imperfections. This formula also contains a natural polymer that helps to regulate sebum production for a shine free, flawless complexion. Powder puff included for on the go application." This product contains .17 oz (5 g) of product and only comes in one translucent shade.




The packaging is nice and sleek. It comes in a matte black flip-top compact that has a magnetic closure and two levels, one for the product and one for the included brush. There is a decent sized mirror inside. The included brush? Thin. Flimsy. Weak. Very soft. Much like my biceps, or lack thereof. It's much too flimsy to be of much use. I don't think the mirror flips out far enough, but to be honest this is because the mirror I use for my makeup application used to be a powder compact and the mirror flips out to 180 degrees. This one flips out to maybe 150. Totally eyeballing it, but you can tell from the picture that it doesn't go out entirely.



In the pan, this powder appears a little peachy. This initial color sheers out to translucence when it is applied and blended out, so this powder would be suitable for all skintones. While it doesn't cover shininess entirely, it takes out enough to make your skin look semi-matte, and rather natural. I find that some powders are so mattifying that your skin doesn't look like skin. This matteness doesn't stay all day, but it lasts for a good three/four hours. I would recommend carrying it around to touch up with if you usually do something like that.


As you can see from my powder, it looks a little worse for the wear. I have like, a film over the product. Sometimes powder products (eyeshadows, face powders, etc) can tend to have some sort of film over the product, and that film prevents you from getting annnyyyyyy product. I scratched it off. As you can see, where the product isn't scratched there's no product on my finger but where it is there is. However, the film seems to refilm over the scratched off product after a few days and I have to scratch off another layer. I'm very annoyed by this. I might just crush it into a loose powder. When it works, this powder claims to be weightless and weightless it is. There's zero cakiness, no powdery face, nothing. It just seems like skin.

Overall, totally conflicted. I would be in love with this if there wasn't the issue of the film. That pisses me off to no end. This is the first SK product I've had any sort of beef with, and honestly I wasn't expecting to ever encounter this magic crappy SK product.

Please, please, please wash your brushes

10:53 AM


A blogger once posted that she didn't wash her brushes. When they got too grubby to use she just tossed them and bought some more. That makes me cringe to my very soul. The price of the brush is irrelevant; if it's a good quality brush and you take care of it, that brush can last you many many years. Using dirty brushes can make you makeup look runny and awkward, can make you break out, and is just plain nasty. When you wash your brushes you're removing old dirty makeup, skin cells that have settled, and bacteria that can grow on your brush. Robyn posted a study of what grows on unwashed makeup brushes here, if you don't believe that bacteria shit.

I wash my brushes once a week. It's important that you do the same, even if you use it once during the week and it's barely dirty. After every use I run the brush over a baby wipe to get off any of the gunk that I can. 

Please, for the love of god, wash your brushes. You can save money and your skin. 

On a much lighter note, if you've ever heard the song December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) by Frankie Valiie and the Four Seasons, my middle school band teacher is the guy playing drums and singing main vocals. I work with him at a music camp. We tease him endlessly about it, although it's pretty awesome. He's a fantastic drummer. You can watch him singing here.

Out With The Old | #4

7:12 PM

I'm back today with another OWTO/Empties post! I finished my last exam on Thursday so I should have a lot more time open to relaxing, watching tv, and blogging (:


Bath & Body Works Volumizing Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner in the Warm Vanilla Sugar scent
Neither of these did anything except smell good. Oh my god, they smelled fantastic. However, they just weren't good as hair products and it's no use keeping them around, as I don't even use them.

Bio-Oil
After faithfully using an entire big bottle of this through and through, I have deemed this... useless. On me. I think this, while also claims to be good for scars and dark spots, is mainly targeted for developing stretch marks. Mine have been in place for years, as have my dark spots, so this might not be the thing for me. I wasn't a big fan of the scent and it was a very oily oil, if you catch my drift. I will not be repurchasing.

Nivea Soft
I'm sad to see this go. I actually really enjoyed this product, despite all the nasties and animal testing involved. This is a lightweight moisturizer that is great for the body and the face, but it contains a lot of mineral oil and alcohol denat, along with petrolatum. I would recommend for those who don't mind these things, but I will not be repurchasing.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Facial Mask
Nope. Nope nope nope nope nope. This stuff? Sensitive, my ass. It burned my skin and did nothing. It smelled waaaay too strongly of cucumber. The product hardened and dried up in the pot a few months after its first use. A lot of other people are reporting the same issues. I do not recommend and will not be repurchasing.

No7 Rapid Spot Rescue
At first I really liked this product and while it is good at reducing whiteheads and spots that have risen to the surface of the skin super fast, it's no good for blackhead and deep under-the-skin spots, which are what I suffer from. It's good for a pinch, but not for the long run. If that's what you're looking for, definitely look into this. I, however, will not be repurchasing.

Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender Age Defying Hand Remedy
This is a lovely hand cream with a lovely scent and a nice formula. However, the packaging leaked and I just couldn't bring myself to keep it around when every time I used it it oozed out way too much product. I could've just squeezed it out into a tub, but there's not much left and I've got a billion other creams to work through. Will not be repurchasing, although there's absolutely nothing wrong.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Moisturizing Stick
Blech. I got this after seeing how much the potted and famous Reve De Miel Lip Balm costs, expecting it to be good. Eh, that's all I have to say. This doesn't moisturize at all. I think it's good as a protective layer over a moisturizing balm, like for those who like to run in the winter. However, as a lip balm on its own (which is the intended purpose), it's next to useless. The balmy feeling leaves the lips after just moments and I don't like the lemony/honey scent. Will not be repurchasing.

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips for Green Eyes
These are wonderful eyeshadows, pigmented and soft, but they just don't compliment my eye color and I've had this around for several years and have never worn it out. I recommend and will probably repurchase eventually in a shade that's good for me.

Bath & Body Works Sea Island Cotton Hand Cream
I loved this hand cream, sigh. It smelled so damn good! It sunk in super fast and was deeply moisturizing and especially good for elbows. While this is an excellent hand cream, I will not be repurchasing purely because there are plenty others.

3!!! Eyelash curlers (one NYC, one F21, one generic)
None of these were good for my eye shape. Just no use keeping them around.

Essie All in One 3-Way Glaze, Sephora Nail Polish in Teeny Bikini, Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Rosy Pink
These nail polishes are all almost empty and goopy and gross now. There's just no reason for keeping them.

Thanks for reading! What have you finished up recently?

[My] Summer Red

1:21 PM



Last week Alix put up a post on the perfect summer red lip color. It's been on my mind literally day and night since then, and today I made a quick stop to Sephora and picked up one of their Cream Lip Stains, available in 9 colors and retail for $13. The shade the immediately caught my eye was 03, Strawberry Kisses, a "matte bright pinky red." My boyfriend thought it was a really nice shade as well. This is a lovely pop of a summer filled shade of red that wears well and comfortably. I highly recommend you pop into your local Sephora and pick up this shade. 

(A proper review of this product will be up after I test it thoroughly. Stay tuned!)

By the way, have you been watching the World Cup? Who are you rooting for? I originally thought Croatia was going to beat Brazil out, but that didn't turn out....

Influenster

Influenster Vow BoxBox | 2014

6:27 PM

I don't know why I got this particular box. I signed up for the graduation box, but all's well (: This is the first one of these boxes I have ever gotten and I was so excited that I cheated and looked at the products right when I found out I'd be receiving this box. This one is designed for those who are going to be at a wedding soon, but I think these products are pretty versatile, haha. Terribly sorry for the crap phone photo - y'all know I usually only stand for high quality shots.








Olay Regenerist Tone Perfect Cream | EcoTools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge Sensitive Version | Pure Silk Shave Cream | Tide-To-Go | Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda | Riley and Grey Coupon

Olay Regenerist Tone Perfect Cream
I would've been so excited to receive this had Olay not tested on animals. I don't use any products that are, so I'll probably pass this onto my mom or a friend.
"Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream is a lightly-scented, fast-absorbing moisturizer that hydrates your skin. Over 8 weeks, its formula with a brightening complex fades the look of dark spots, age spots, sun spots and discoloration – evening your overall skin tone. Simply massage the moisturizing cream into your skin each morning before applying make-up and at night after cleansing.Experience bright, beautiful, healthy-looking skin every day with Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream. 
  • Hydrates skin quickly and, over time, evens overall skin tone appearance as a part of your daily routine. 
  • Reveals bright, beautiful and healthy-looking skin. 
  • Fades the look of dark spots, age spots, sun spots and discoloration in just 8 weeks. 
  • Lightly-scented, fast-absorbing and non-greasy. 
  • Formulated with advanced ingredients that penetrate deep into your skin's surface to help re-energize skin’s appearance." 

EcoTools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge Sensitive
I've actually been thinking about getting this for a while now. Right now I'm using a cream and oil cleanser, and I have a feeling this is targeted for foaming cleansers, so I'll save this until I can get a foaming one. Until then, I look forward to this product!

"The new, unique Pure Complexion Facial Sponge is handmade with 100 percent natural ingredients, including Konjac vegetable fiber, for a better clean that reveals smooth, refreshed skin. It is dermatologist tested for use both morning and night to wash away dirt, oil and makeup, leaving skin glowing without over-drying or causing redness."

Pure Silk Shave Cream
I usually use coconut oil to shave my legs but it's quite a hassle so I'll try this out and see how it is! 
"Pure Silk moisturizing Shave Cream is available in a variety of deliciously scented fragrances. It's rich lather contains added aloe and moisturizers that help give you the smoothest most touchable legs without irritation. Pure Silk Shave cream, for legs like Pure Silk."

Tide-To-Go
I mess things up. I spill things. I ruin my clothes in the laundry with mysterious stains. This will be helpful.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda
I actually have a couple of these and while the colors are incredible, they never really dry to a hard finish and are easy to dent and ruin. I'll try this one out and see if I like it but if I don't I'll pass it on.

"Skip the salon, get the results. Don't settle for just color when you can get a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, salon-inspired color, top coat, chip-resistance and a gel finish all in 1 bottle. Featuring the unique precision brush for a flawless finish and patented Vita Care technology for advanced 10 day wear, more shine and nourishing care. Choose from 56 gorgeous shades."

Overall, this box was not for me, but not because there was anything wrong with it, I just wasn't excited to receive these products. I think lots would definitely enjoy it, but not I. I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

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Hi there, I'm Emily. It's nice to meet you. I'm a beauty blogger who also happens to be very interested in photography/film. Chat with me, let's be friends!