October 15, 2015

Jem and the Holograms Truly Outrageous Liquid Lip Set


This month, a great makeup invention had a baby with the greatest cartoon show of all time to create the Jem and the Holograms Liquid Lip Set.  If you have no idea who Jem and the Holograms are, you can watch all of the episodes on Netflix. OR download them elsewhere or come to my house and I'll put on my Jem costume and sing only the best songs from the show for you.*
Yes, this is really me. I made the mistake of not having a bag with me that day, hence the 90 things in my hand. Photo from Comics Alliance, from San Diego Comic Con 2012. I think.
*Don't actually come to my house. Depending on when you read this, I probably don't feel like cleaning.

Fashion and Fame: Sheer glimmery opal gloss. SO PRETTY. This has a thick and sticky texture, which honestly I like.
Fashion and Fame

Like a Dream: Matte medium terracotta-pink (looks like the swatches I've seen of the original KvD Liquid Lipstick in Lolita)
Like a Dream
Music is Magic: Matte cool-toned bright pink.
Music is Magic

To the Rescue: Medium cool toned berry. I thought this was similar to KvD's Bauhau5, but it's darker.
To the Rescue

She's Got the Power: Smoky dark purple. This had a slightly more watery texture than the rest, and this was the only swatch to bleed. It was also a bit patchy.
She's Got the Power
L-R: Fashion and Fame, Like a Dream, Music is Magic, To the Rescue, She's Got the Power
PIGMENTATION: Of the four matte lipsticks, She's Got the Power was the only one with uneven pigmentation. The other three were opaque in one swipe. Fashion and Fame is supposed to be a topcoat, so it's doing its job being sheer.

PRODUCT:  So far, I've only tried To the Rescue on my lips, and it applied evenly and smoothly. I didn't have to apply multiple coats, and I was able to press my lips together after a few minutes and nothing budged.  I have a cold and can't really smell anything, but Fashion and Fame must have a super strong smell, but I was able to detect a really sweet scent from it. 

PACKAGING: For the first time, I will be keeping the outer packaging of something. The pink glitter box doesn't hold a death grip on the tubes, so they're easy to remove, and I love the big Jem logo on the outer clear sleeve.


The tubes themselves, while being mini, aren't incredibly small. The doefoot applicator is big enough to easily cover the lips, but small enough to provide some control so that the product doesn't go everywhere. The outside of the tubes have this awesome holographic lightning bolt motif that is so cool and I hope doesn't rub off with use. My camera only sort of picked up the holographic shine on the single shot of She's Got the Power.

I'm still testing these, but I'm not disappointed in this set (so far). As a Jem fan, the packaging and shade names have me excited. As a makeup fan, I like that the shades truly run the gamut and how 4/5 shades apply completely awesomely.

PRICE: $25

As always, you don't have to take my word for it! The Jem and the Holograms Truly Outrageous Liquid Lip Set is available now (for a limited time) at Sephora.

September 20, 2015

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Palette


Remember the Mi Vida Loca palette? (If not, here's my review of it.) Apparently it was a fan favorite (or maybe one that a lot of people missed out on) so Miss KvD and her beauty team created a revamped version.  Will it perform the same way as the original? Let's find out.

Warning: my camera was being fussy about photographing this palette. I'll note where things are off.


Muse: Pale lavender. Satin finish.
Echo: Medium matte violet with light magenta glitter. Worst performing of the bunch.
Dark Wave: Indigo. Satin Finish.
Synth: Bright light-medium blue. Matte finish.

L-R: Muse, Echo (definitely more violet in real life), Dark Wave, Synth. 




Hyperballad: Cool toned blue-green. Matte finish.
Lemmy: Metallic forest green.
Vinyl: Metallic acid green with pale gold shift
Misfit: Apple green with blue pearl

L-R: Hyperballad (a tiny bit more green in person), Lemmy, Vinyl, Misfit.


The lettering is silver, so I had to sacrifice read-ability for accurate color portrayal. Sorry!
Anthem: Medium red-violet. Matte finish2nd worst performing.
Löve: Metallic bubblegum pink.
Swoon: Slightly muted hot pink. Matte finish.
Destroyer: Muted red. Matte finish.
Rewind: Burgundy pearl

L-R: Anthem, Love, Swoon, Destroyer, Rewind

Rewind is at the top.
Harpsichord: Muted metallic copper. Best performing :)
Analogue: Matte orange.
Fran: True yellow. Pearl finish.
Legend: Pale white gold. Metallic finish

L-R: Harpsichord, Analogue, Fran, Legend.


Strutter: Cool-toned matte beige.
Lyric: Translucent pale pearly pink. SUPER gorgeous.
Black Metal: Matte black. This leans warm.
Skulls: Metallic cool toned white.


L-R: Strutter, Lyric (pic does NOT do this justice), Black Metal, Skulls


Noble:  Warm peach beige
Moulder: Matte warm cream.
Vox: Dark chocolate brown. Matte.


L-R: Noble, Moulder, Vox

PIGMENTATION: Generally the pigmentation was great in this palette. The most pigmented shadows were Harpsichord, Synth, Lemmy, and Rewind. The least pigmented was Echo, with Anthem coming in at a close second.

PRODUCT: Most were buttery and not too dry. I didn't have any problem building up Echo or Anthem without a base, but a base would definitely help.




PACKAGING: The palette is housed in a cardboard sleeve, like a record. Being the "remix" of Mi Vida Loca, I thought this was an awesome idea. The palette isn't exactly secure in it, as if it's turned over a little, it will slide out on its own. If you're klutz like me, there is an outer clear plastic box to keep everything together.  I really like how the shade names are printed on the front, and I hope future KvD palettes will have that too. This also comes with an instruction sheet for three different makeup looks you can achieve with the palette.

PRICE: $59

All in all, I'm thrilled to say this is SO much better than the OG Mi Vida Loca palette.  I love that there are neutrals to pair these crazy colors with, and for me, the color-wheel layout makes it visually easier to figure out what to pair with what. If you want ALL the colors in a variety of finishes in one place, you may want to check out Mi Vida Loca Remix.

Of course you don't have to take my word for it! The Mi Vida Loca Remix palette is available now at Sephora.




September 3, 2015

Formula X To Go System

Thank you to Sephora for sending this to me!


Nail Cleanser- Alcohol based with a tiny bit of oil in it (I guess to prevent your nails from drying out).
Base- This is a sheer pink sticky basecoat. I've never used a sticky base before, and I'm definitely into it.
Pyrotechnics- Lovely balanced red. There are two other versions with different colors if you're not a fan of red.
Top Coat- Leaves my nails glossy for DAYS. I've never had a gel manicure, but I feel like this gives the look of one. Not sure why, but this has deposited air bubbles on my manicure.


The first time I used the set, my manicure lasted 14 days without chipping. Yes, 14 days. I've used the nail cleanser, base, and top coat with other nail polishes, and it's worked just as good. This system is phenomenal and I have purchased full-sized versions of the system.


This was on day 14!
As always, you don't have to take my word for it. The Formula X To Go system (as well as a full-sized and individual versions) are available now at Sephora.

July 29, 2015

Bite Beauty Maple Agave Lip Mask (Canadian Exclusive)


First it was Socialized Healthcare. Now it's this. For fall, Bite Beauty released a Canadian-exclusive tinted version of their Lip Mask in a maple scent/flavor. I'm not sure if it's LE or if Bite will ever share it with us Yanks, but Canada did share Kids in the Hall with us, so there is a sliver of hope. I procured mine via a friend from Sephora's message board (Thank you Heartsmyface!) and I wanted to write a quick review in case you were curious to see if it was worth going through the trouble of getting it.



Maple: Ultra sheer warm rosy bronze with a subtle bronze sparkle.



PRODUCT: It's much thinner than my original lip mask, which I think makes it much better for wear during the day. Because of the thinner texture, it doesn't last very long. I've had it on for about an hour and am already feeling the need to re-apply. It smells and tastes like pure maple syrup, but it's not noticeable after a few minutes.



PACKAGING: The lip mask is housed in a plastic/flexible metal tube (like a toothpaste tube). The label is a matte ink, and there is a metallic ring printed at the top that shows the color. If this is anything like my regular lip mask, I am predicting the label will flake off on my fingers when I start using it a lot.

PRICE: C$30

If you live in the magic land of Canada, it is available on Sephora. If you don't, then you must seek out a kind Canadian.

June 19, 2015

Colourpop Super Shock Eyeshadow: Hustle

New to my makeup arsenal is Colourpop's Super Shock Eyeshadow.  Although it's a cream, it's definitely different than any cream product I have. 

Hustle: Cool-toned burgundy with tiny tonal sparkles.


L-R: Applied with It Cosmetics Large Crease Brush, Swatched with finger, Blended with finger
PIGMENTATION: There is a slight translucency, but it's buildable to full opacity.

PRODUCT: Super Shock is a super squishy cream formula. Admittedly, it feels very strange. When I dip my finger in, it feels very smooth, but then it squishes like it's a cushion.  It blends very easily.  Once dried, it didn't budge when rubbed.  I forgot to do the water test (where I run the swatches under water), but it did wash off pretty easily.

As application goes, I recommend first applying with your finger, then blending out the edges with a synthetic brush. I also built the color up by lightly buffing more product over where I applied it with my finger.


PACKAGING: The packaging is pretty unfussy-- sleek white plastic with a screw-on cap. It feels pretty sturdy.


PRICE: $5

If you like cream eyeshadows, check out the Super Shock formula.  If you don't like cream eyeshadows, check out Super Shock shadows. I feel like they're a good medium between cream shadows (like Mac's painpots) and regular ol' powder eyeshadows due to how blendable they are. 

Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. Colourpop's Super Shock Eyeshadows are available in Hustle and a TON of other colors here: https://colourpop.com/

June 18, 2015

Kat Von D Ink Liner : Neruda, Woolf

Kat Von D's Ink Liner is a felt-tipped liquid liner that claims a 24-hour wear time. I've never been a fan of felt-tipped eyeliners, but I was extremely intrigued by some of the colors that were released.  In case you were too, read on!

L-R: Neruda stamped, Neruda stroke, Woolf  stroke, Woolf stamped

Neruda: Matte balanced white.
Woolf: Cool-toned matte grey

PIGMENTATION: Both colors are semi-opaque in one swipe and are buildable.

PRODUCT: It is a waterproof, flake-proof, and thin formula. I didn't have any fading after 10+ hours either.



PACKAGING: The felt tip is very, very firm.  I found that the best way to use it was to lay it length-wise against your eye to "stamp" the product onto your eye, as opposed to using the tip like a brush tipped liner. The handle was very lightweight, and there is a shaker inside to mix up the product.

PRICE: $19 for .19 oz

Even though I have to change my method of application, I definitely recommend Kat Von D's Ink Liners.  If you're not a fan of grey or white, there are eight other colors to check out!

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. Kat Von D's Ink Liners are available now at Sephora.


June 4, 2015

Colourpop Lippie Pencil: Ellarie, Lumière, Tootsi




Ellarie: Deep cool-toned berry
Ellarie
Lumière: Nudey-Rose
Lumiere

Tootsi: Cool-toned greyish pinky beige
Tootsi
Just for comparison, top: Lumiere bottom: Tootsi

PIGMENTATION: Excellent! One swipe provides full coverage.

PRODUCT: Creamy, but not waxy. I broke the tip of Lumière by pressing too hard! Lumière and Ellarie left a slight stain behind. 

PACKAGING: The product is housed in white plastic. I used my Nars sharpener on Lumiere and didn't have any issues.

PRICE: $5 for 1 oz (each!!!)

All in all, I am digging the Colourpop Lippie Pencils. They glide on SO easily! 

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. Colourpop Lippie Pencils are available now at colourpop.com.




May 2, 2015

Morphe Brushes Jaclyn Hill Favorites

OK so I know this palette was limited edition and will not be restocked, BUT all of the shades are available individually, so you can still snag any colors you're really into.  Because of this, I wanted to review these as single shadows. Just one sad note: some of the colors didn't photograph 100% accurately.  I noted which ones were off.

Left column (top to bottom): Pearl, Petals, Wink for Pink, Mysterious
Center column: Glisten, Deep Skin, Dancing Queen, Rosewood
Right column: Lustrous, Toasted Hazelnut, Bridesmaid, Sassy
Left to right: Pearl, Petals, Wink for Pink, Mysterious
Morphe's website lists the shades with color numbers and names, so I listed both.

ES4/Pearl: Metallic palest beigey-pink. This is very cool-toned.
ES67/Petals: Satin warm peach with a strong pink flash.
ES33/Wink for Pink: Shimmery pale melon-pink.
ES11/Mysterious: Metallic coppery red. (looks similar to the swatches I've seen of "Venus" from the Venus Palette)

L-R: Glisten, Deep Skin, Dancing Queen, Rosewood
ES54/Glisten: Shimmery palest white gold.
ES13/Deep Skin: Matte medium-dark tan with a warm undertone.
ES68/Dancing Queen: Metallic magenta. Slightly warm shift.
ES59/Rosewood: Matte cool-toned magenta. This was a tiny bit sheer.

L-R: Lustrous, Toasted Hazelnut, Bridesmaid, Sassy
ES6/Lustrous: Shimmery palest peach
ES62/Toasted Hazelnut: Matte medium dusty brown. (Photo didn't quite capture the color accurately- IRL it's a bit cooler-toned) This was a bit dry.
ES16/Bridesmaid: Matte muted burgundy. This was also a bit dry.
ES38/Sassy: Orchid with a faint blue shimmer.

Left column (top to bottom): Pink Moscato, Creme Brulee, Carmelized, Radiance
Second column: Caffe Mocchiato, Marbelized, Nuts for You, Midnight Kiss
Third column: Spice, Dazzling, Deep Cocoa, Secretive
Right column: Golden Glory, Fiesta (my camera couldn't handle its brightness!), Burlesque, Dirty Martini
L-R: Pink Moscato, Creme Brulee, Carmelized, Radiance
ES76/Pink Moscato: Metallic champagne.
ES63/Creme Brulee: Matte neutral medium-dark brown
ES15/Carmelized: Matte medium brown with warm undertone
ES53/Radiance: Satin medium purple with light purple shimmer. 


L-R: Caffe Mocchiato, Marbelized, Nuts for You, Midnight Kiss
ES64/Caffe Mocchiato: Satin orange-tan
ES20/Marbelized: Metallic pinky bronze. This was a tad powdery. (My camera didn't quite capture this color accurately:-/)
ES61/Nuts for You: Matte taupe
ES48/Midnight Kiss: Metallic eggplant with copper sparkle. This was quite powdery.


L-R: Spice, Dazzling, Deep Cocoa, Secretive
ES14/Spice: Matte burnt orange
ES47/Dazzling: Shimmery tangerine
ES24/Deep Cocoa: Matte cool-toned purplish brown
ES71/Secretive: Matte red grape. This was a tad sheer.

L-R: Golden Glory, Fiesta, Burlesque, Dirty Martini
ES75/Golden Glory: Metallic golden
ES66/Fiesta: Matte melon. This was dry, sheer, and difficult to get an even swatch.
ES74/Burlesque: Metallic burgundy
ES19/Dirty Martini: Shimmery medium muted green. Cool-toned.

PIGMENTATION: There were so, so many hits pigmentation-wise. Some of the best are: Burlesque, Spice, Dazzling, Marbelized, Pink Moscato, and Wink for Pink. The only truly disappointing one was Fiesta.

PRODUCT: The matte shades didn't perform as well as the other textures, but, with the exception of Fiesta, they weren't horrible by any means. Some of the shimmery and metallic shades were buttery and glided on my skin.

PRICE: $2 for 1.5g

All in all, the quality of Morphe's eyeshadows (except for Fiesta) far surpasses their tiny pricetag. If you're on a budget or are looking to build your collection/kit, you may want to check these out.

Of course you don't have to take my word for it, you can purchase all of these colors (and more!) on Morphe's website.