Revlon Lipcolor

I have long been a fan of Revlon Make-up. The hooked me with their ColorStay line of products. I've since tried other products that I've liked, and was really excited to try some of their newer lip products recently.

Thanks again to CrowdTap, I was able to try out their Lustrous Lipstick, their HD Ultra Matte Lipcolor, and their HD Ultra Metallic Matte Lipcolor, and their Kiss Lip Balm. Bonus - two of these were a bold red color! That's just an obsession of mine, though.

So the first ones I jumped on were the two Ultra HD Matte colors. One, called Infatuation, was t really dark, bold red color. LOVED the color! Also loved the matte effect. Just wished it stayed on as well as the ColorStay products. But it lasted longer than traditional lipstick... and longer than I expected it to! The Metallic I tried was more of a neutral color (Gleam). I actually liked the neutrality of it, especially with the metallic sheen it had (which was far less than expected). I think I'd like to try this in a bolder color, though the selection for their metallic is a little more limited.

I wasn't as excited about the Lustrous Lipstick, only because I really don't wear basic lipstick anymore. But I DID love the color (Black Cherry), again, because of the bold red. I think depending on circumstances, I could be convinced to wear some traditional lipstick again. Has to be the right color, and the event has to be one of little eating/drinking.

Finally, the lip balm. This one really surprised me! I've always gravitated toward traditional lip balm, thinking anything by a make-up brand would be more about the look and not the function. But this one seems to be capable of both. It felt nice going on, with an instant shot of moisture. But the added bonus was the bit of sheer color it added to my lips. I'm sure each has it's own shot of color and flavor (Strawberry, in my case), and I am curious about how the other look on. But I'd absolutely buy this in place of other lip balms I've bought in the past!

So really, a pretty good test run of some products from a brand I already love! These are some good ones, and can't really say anything negative. So rock on, Revlon!

Revlon Eyes

One of my first make-up brand loves was Revlon, when I discovered their ColorStay foundation. One of my favorite things to work with when it comes to make-up is any/all eye make-up, as I have eyes that can either pop or be non-existent, depending on my eye make-up. So when i had the opportunity to try a bundle of Revlon's eye make-up, i was all in!

The bundle included Revlon ColorStay™ 2-in-1 Angled Kajal Eyeliner, Revlon ColorStay™ Crème Eye Shadow, Revlon ColorStay™ Brow Crayon, Revlon ColorStay™ Brow Pencil, and Revlon Super Length Mascara. It was a pretty sweet score to try. Now I'll be blunt in saying I don't typically do anything to my brow. Never have. But I did like the brush on the end of the brown pencil - it help with the shaping and smoothing of those 'fresh out of bed' brows. And the crayon I found doubled as a eye shadow - perfectly neutral! And while I did momentarily try both 'as they were meant to be used', my light skin/hair combo didn't pair well with them, IMO. So that's really all I have to say on those two.

the actual eye shadow I had high hopes for, and I hate to say I was quite disappointed in. The brush was built into the lid, for use, and I found it quickly became clumped up with the crème shadow. And when putting it on, it didn't seem to blend to well. At least not for me - I will say that I feel I have oily lids and often have problems with eye shadows and liners, despite what I try to do. But some of the issues I felt I had didn't seem to come from that. One of the reasons I 'discovered' the brow crayon could be used as an eye shadow.

I wasn't to excited about the mascara, and I am a mascara freak! It's the one make-up product I don't feel like I can ever leave the house without. That said, I also always feel the need for waterproof, or at the very least, smudge-proof mascara. While the Super Length Mascara looked good for awhile on me, I don't feel like it held it own for the entire day. It wasn't bad, just didn't breach my top 5 mascaras I might grab on a regular basis.

Finally, the Angled Kajal Eyeliner. This was my favorite of the bunch. I love how easy the angle made it to apply, and the crayon like texture glided on - something I've come to love and look for with eyeliners. AS far as the staying power, it lasted as long as other 'long wear' eyeliners I've tried that, due to my oily lids, isn't all day. But it's a good portion of the day, and as it smudges away, it almost blended into a shadow onto my lid first. Weird, but it worked, and wasn't as awkward as the splotchy disappearing act some eyeliners tend to have.

So all in all, wasn't the best experience for me this go around. On the one hand, these are easy to find items that, for the price, could be an easy go to. But there's definitely better out there - you might have to pay for it, though. Personally, I might buy the eyeliner and mascara again. The eye shadow was a big 'no' for me, and both brow items are, as well, simply because I don't do my brows. But they might be awesome for someone who does, because they did work well for the initial testing I did, just to see how it worked. And they, at least, seemed to have alternative uses.

Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow

In the last year or so, I've become a fan of 'shading' with eye shadows. In other words, different shades or colors on the lids (not necessarily a smoky eye, though). So I was quite excited to get the opportunity to try out Neutrogena's Nourishing Long Wear Eye Shadow.

When I first received it, I got a little scared of the colors... grays. I LOVE the color gray, in general (for clothes, decorating, etc), but I've never tried it in make-up form (except for liner and mascara, which looks almost black, anyway). Without any special events coming up made me even more nervous to try it out at work... didn't want to get all crazy with eye make-up! But I figured one day, no matter how it looks, wouldn't be a big deal.

Well, my first surprise about it was how you can truly go as light or dark as you want with it, even following the suggested layering on the back of the compact. Which I followed. But I kept the strokes light, and made it a point not to 'dig in' to the color. I was actually quite pleased with how it turned out (though the picture gives it no justice). So that alone really sold me on it, as if the Neutrogena name wasn't already helping matters.

Unfortunately, with the term 'Long Wear' in the description, I assumed it would wear long (crazy, right??). I admit, I have a bad habit of rubbing my eyes when I'm stressing, which I did during my trial day. Which really made it NOT 'Long Wear'. There were still some remnants in the creases, but for the most part, it was gone (as seen in the before vs. after photo).

That said, I still loved the color palate, and if the other selections are similar in shading opportunities, I'm all for buying it. And maybe if I DID put more on (or if it was just not at work, where I stress-rub), it might last longer. Regardless, it goes back to being a complete shadow palate for your eyes, and that makes it way easier to coordinate a final look. I say Neutrogena has another winner.

Boscia BB Cream

BB creams see to be the latest rage in beauty. In general, they've been out there for awhile, seemingly becoming popular in Asia before hitting it big in the US. Their popularity has soared because, lets face it, we love products that do more than one thing!

Boscia BB Cream touts that it has a botanical, more natural formula. Which is good, right? Like many BB Creams, it creates a lustrous, flawless finish as it hydrates, firms and soothes the skin. It also helps diminish the appearance of pores, fine lines and uneven skin tone while providing long-wearing, natural coverage that conceals imperfections. That last part is key... this one actually DOES conceal. It's a self adjusting shade that is *supposedly* good for all skin tones... I can't make the call on that, but this is what I can tell you... it does work.

The one oddity I found about this was that it's almost too thick - it doesn't spread easily, at least initially. It stays think, i n patches, until you rub over it a few more time than you'd expect you'd have to. It does cover great, though! But since it covers, it feel like it covers. It doesn't feel as lightweight as I'd like. So I guess what it comes down to is whether or not you need the full coverage. If so, this is a good BB Cream for you. If you don't have any flaws to hide, something with less coverage might need to be found elsewhere for you.

Stila One Step Bronze

There are so many primers and creams and tinted moisturizers and such on the market that it can get confusing on what to put on your face first. It can also be intimidating to try something new, especially if it strays much from your normal routine.

Stila has become a brand I like to try new things from (at least to me). There stuff seems to be innovative without being too crazy and intimidating. This latest find, however, was one of the more 'edgy' ones, at least for me. Stila One Step Bronze just looks intimidating, to start. All sorts of bronze colors swirled in a clear liquid. What is this stuff??

Well, it does a lot, it seems. Get this... this revolutionary new formula contains three illuminating bronzers: Matte bronze with copper undertone - to bronze, Bronze with pink undertone - to enhance skin tone and illuminate, and Kitten - to brighten, illuminate and help diminish the appearance of sun spots. But even further along, this primer, illuminating, bronzing, color-correcting skincare serum contains Stila's Youth Revival Bio-Available Mineral Complex that instantly: Reduces imperfections, Improves skin texture, Diminishes the look of fine lines & wrinkles, Minimizes pores, Hydrates, balances and nourishes the skin, and Controls oil production.

Wow... that's a mouthful! In short, though, it's almost like a BB Cream. But not quite. There's something slightly lighter about it. The first time I used it, I used too much and quickly learned that one quick pump is plenty! It give that dewy, sun-kissed look without covering up your skin with a layer of color. In other words, it doesn't conceal. But it doesn't claim to, either.

This is one of those products that grew on me. The first time I used it (too much of it), I shook my head and put it on the shelf for a bit before using it again. But once I figured out how much to use and how to make it work with my make-up routine, I became sold on the little extras it did. This is worth it if you have the space in your routing for it, even if it's not everyday.

Dior Diorshow Extase

I tend to think my eyes are my best feature, but with my blonde hair, even though my lashes have decent length, disappear if I have nothing on them. So mascara is one of my most important daily beauty needs.

Enter Dior Diorshow Extase. I usually can tell you almost instantly if a mascara will work for me or not. While I'm not extremely picky, I know what I like and expect from mascara. First and foremost, it has to make my eyes pop without any other eye make-up. I will typically go with no other eye make-up, so if the mascara doesn't pop, then it's worthless to me. But this Dior mascara makes my eyes pop! It give a volume to lashes without overdoing it.

My mascara better stay put, too. I love going to waterproof mascaras, since they're designed to not move, no matter what. But so long as we have a smudge proof, relatively flake-free mascara, I'm good. Again, this Dior mascara has that.

Now the bonus... Dior took its classic volume-boosting formula and added a patented ceramide complex to help your lashes grow thicker and stronger over time. While I didn't see this in the small sample I had, this could be a nice added bonus if you're looking for a lash treatment.

The only downfall I see to this is the price. While I'm not against paying for something good, the nearly $30 price tag for this even stops me and makes me think. But you are getting a 2 in 1 product - mascara and treatment.

So bottom line, good stuff, but you pay for it. Depending on my need will determine if I actually buy it. In the meantime, there's so many mascara out there that come close to this, at least in daily use and look. The treatment part may be the determining factor for someone, and then it may be well worth it.

Eye Rock Designer Liner

In this day and age, we seem to be rushed with everything, so we're always looking for a shortcut. I reviewed some nail appliques in an earlier blog, which I really loved (though I did find a downside later - it weakens your nails!) which is a good case in point of this trend. More recently, I've discovered there's a whole array of 'stick on' make up you can use, including lipstick (which is sometimes referred to as lip tattoos).

While I haven't done the lip art, I did try something I thought would be a little more conventional in the wisdom of stick on make-up, Eye Rock Designer Liner, which as you can probably tell from the title, is stick-on eyeliner.

At first, I thought this was a great idea! Who hasn't had problems putting on eyeliner, especially in on of the trendy ways of the moment. So I decided to try it out during a night out with the girls. I followed the instructions, including making sure your eyelid is clean, dry, and free of oil... which is harder than it sounds, believe it or not. I pulled off one of the stickers and... uh oh... I couldn't get it to stick down all the way. Wait... now it's stuck to my finger! Do I even have them on right??

So aside from the cleanliness of your eyelid, the instructions aren't very clear on the best way to apply them. On top of that, just looking at them alone (unless it's one of the funky styles - this wasn't), you can't tell which is for the left eye, and which is for the right eye... or which way is up, for that matter! Some labeling on by the stickers would be nice.

Finally, after getting them on (correctly, I think), I took a look. Interesting, but I could definitely tell I had something stuck on my eye! And I had a narrow 'normal' looking liner one. What if you go for one of the bigger, funkier ones?? Then I noticed the ends still weren't staying stuck down.

These got a big FAIL in my book! I didn't even make it out the door with them to get any outside opinions on how they looked. They were too difficult to work with and even weirder feeling one they were on. Not worth it, no matter ow cheap! I'll stick with my non-perfect hand drawn eye liner.

stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner

My eyes are one of my favorite features and if I was to accentuate them, eyeliner is a must! But I don't do it too often because it's such a pain and the eyeliner is the first thing to smudge and get all nasty looking on my eyes. The last time I did my eyes up, I even wondered why they couldn't get eyeliner to the level of mascara when it came to stay-ability? Was that too much to ask?

Enter stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner to the line-up! This eyeliner is easy to apply (it's a twist up), long lasting (think 'needing spacial eye make-up remover' long lasting!) and waterproof! Tis stuff does not budge!! Ad they have all sorts of colors, to boot! THIS STUFF ROCKS! It might even make me want to wear eyeliner more often!

So yes... this product get a standing ovation from me. Bravo! If there's other out there like this, I haven't seen them. This going on my 'to buy' list!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Shimmer

Sometimes, I just get a little something fun in my Birchbox that you just have to love. Or at least have a little fun with.

Recently, I received a sample of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse® OR Multi-Usage Dry Oil Shimmer in my box. Initially, i thought is was just your typical shimmer gel to slather on before heading out at night. But then I learned that it was much more!

This is from a French skincare company and it has six essential oils, plus Vitamin E, to leave face, body, and even hair soft and silky. Better yet, microscopic flecks of golden shimmer deliver a subtle glow to where ever you put it! And it's not that obvious "I have shimmer gel on" look... it truly is subtle! It even smells good!

So this was definitely a fun surprise for me! I want to learn more about the company as a whole before I run out and get something so specific, but it seems they have a lot going on in the skincare world, so I don't think it's a fly by the night type of company. But this will stay on my radar!

Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer

I'm still new to the primer trend in make-up. But from what I can tell, I like the idea. The first time I tried any sort of primer, I was quite impressed with the texture (or lack there of) it left on my face. So along come this tinted primer in my Birchbox - of course I was excited to try another one!

So the Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Primer would seemingly have the advantage of a tint with it. Sometimes these 'tinted products' leave nothing but a fake color behind. So I did have that concern. But I wouldn't know until I tried it. So I did. At first, I thought it seems a little harsh in color. But by the time I put my powder base on, it look liked a sunkissed tan. I was even asked, at one point, if I had be on vacation. I would call that a good result!

Though I haven't bought the primer outright (or any other for that matter), I'd put this on my list to come back to if/when I decide to buy. They only have a few tint shades, currently, and maybe it they came out with a few additional shades, it may help. But regardless, what they have does give good results.

Blinc Mascara

There are so many mascaras out there claiming they can do this, and they don't do that and may or may not do those things... so you never know what you're going to get.  So when the sample of Blinc Mascara showed up in my Birchbox, I didn't expect much.

The big difference about Blinc is how it goes on.  Not how you apply it, but how it actually takes to your lashes.  Most mascaras just layer on coats of whatever it actually is, but doesn't bond to yourself, nor does it bond to your lashes (which is why you will get flaking, smudging, and running on typical mascaras).  My biggest problem with mascara has always been the flaking... I'd always buy waterproof just in hopes it'd stay on my lashes.  But it'd still flake.

So what does Blinc do differently?  It actually bonds to itself and forms a tube around each lash.  At first glance, it looks like every other mascara out there.  But then you look closer, and it just looks cleaner.  And it stays put - WIN!  

It doesn't do all the fancy volumizing and lengthening and 'doll lashes' that you see now... but since this bonds to itself, if you could do a couple of layers, it will volumize and lengthen based on pure physics of additional volume of mascara.  But I'm not big on all that...

Be warned, though... it's freaky the first time you take it off!!  It comes off all connected and string like (they say it's the 'tubes' coming off) - your lashes aren't in this mess!  That's just shows how well it bonds to itself. LOL

So... for your everyday mascara, this is a great deal.  And unless your deal is to look like you have fake lashes on your big nights out (face it, girls... they do look fake after a certain point of 'mascara tricks' are hit), it works then, too.  They have your basic colors, and some fun ones, too.  So buy it - it works!