Tag: brows

Colourpoppin’ Into Spring: Brows and Ultra Satin Lip Review

.Reading time 6 minutes.

 

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Happy Spring everyone! Sorry I’ve been a little makeup-post MIA, but my skin was freaking out over the past month and I finally got it to behave. Listen to your Momma when she tells you less is more; I swear with all the skincare obsession you see on Youtube and social media you want to just pile it on. That’s not to say skincare isn’t important, but just remember if a simple routine works for you don’t feel the need to add this oil and that cleanser and a toner to the mix, but do always add a sunscreen for daytime. I’m loving the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel in SPF 15; it’s light, doesn’t smell like sunscreen, hydrating and doesn’t break me out! Anyway, on to this post which is all about my favorite affordable brand, Colourpop. I swear each season they kill it even more. Read on to hear my stance on their new brow and Ultra Satin lip products!

Review and Swatches

 

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Colors from left to right: Petit Four, Marshmallow, Lost, Cozy, Lyin’ King, Tansy, Frick ‘n’ Frack, Echo Park, Magic Wand

Colourpop’s Ultra Satin Lips retail for $6 and hit the market right as many bloggers and makeup lovers started to lose faith they’d get a long-wearing lipstick that didn’t dry the shit out of their lips. Well welcome the best formula I have ever worn, and I mean ever. I purchased nine shades in a variety of colors, and not one color wears any less than the others, which can often happen with darker colors that aren’t a matte. Speaking of, these lipsticks are not transfer-proof, but they do stay put on your lips for about 6 hours with eating and drinking. They are honestly the perfect lipstick. You get that longevity you love from a matte without the crusting and drying of a matte liquid lipstick. Seriously, I would hitch these things if I could. All the shades are great, but particular standouts for me are Frick ‘n’ Frack (I wear this almost daily), Cozy (the perfect spring coral with a hint of spice), Magic Wand and Lyin’ King (best name ever). 10/10

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Brow pencils in: Black N’ Brown and Bangin’. Brunette Bangin’ Brunette brow color.

So for the brows, the pencils retail for $5 each and the brow color retails for $6, I still am working with these to see how much I really like them. The pencils are much creamier than say the NYX Microbrow Pencil, and if you’re not careful you can get really heavy-handed. I personally use Bangin’ Brunette (the lighter pencil) in light strokes in the beginning of my brow through the arch. Than I use Black N’ Brown towards the tail, and brush through it all with the spoolie. I like to use the brow color if I’m going out, I think it’s  a bit intense for everyday. The one thing I don’t love about these is how long the handle/twist up is, it makes it really awkward to hold and you can only get a little product out. Overall, for the price I think these are a win, but if you don’t mind spending the extra $5, I still prefer my NYX microbrow pencils. 7.5/10

Makeup Look and Products

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Moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Foundation: Fiona Stiles Luminous Concrete Foundation in 01 Porcelain 

Concealer: NYX HD Concealer in CW01 Porcelain

Powder: Maybelline Masterfix Powder

Brows: Colourpop Brow Pencils in Bangin’ Brunette and Black N’ Brown with NYX Espresso Brow Mascara

Eyeshadows: 

Mascara: L’Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic

Liner: Jordana Cat Eye Liner in Black Leather and L’Oreal Silkissime in Black

Lashes: Ardell Demi Wispies (remember to cut your lashes to fit your eye shape)!

Blush: Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette– Hush

Highlighter: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone

Lips: NYX lipliner in Ever and Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip in Frick ‘n’ Frack

Top: Express

Nameplate necklace: Baublebar

 

Dreaming in the Drugstore: New Maybelline Product Reviews

.Reading time 9 minutes.

 

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Hi loves! Sorry I haven’t gotten a Best of 2015 up yet, I was away last week and had a ton to catch up on, but you will know my must-haves very soon! Today I’m reviewing some new Maybelline drugstore products I’ve been testing for about 3 weeks. January brought a slew of new products, I’m also on the hunt for the new L’Oreal Cushion foundation in my shade, but today I have Maybelline’s new Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation, the Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color, Brow Define and Fill Duo and FaceStudio Master Fix and Setting Powder. Boy, was that a mouthful. I also have a full drugstore glam makeup look below. Read on makeup mavens!

 

Reviews

Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation: I found this foundation in the drugstore about 3 weeks ago, and as I mentioned in a post in December I’ve been on the hunt for a new drugstore foundation. I used to use Maybelline’s Dream Mousse and Fit Me Dewy and Smooth foundations, but while I loved the coverage, I always got dry patches on my nose. Anyway, I decided to give this a go. At first it was difficult for me to pick a shade: the two lightest are Warm Porcelain and Porcelain Ivory. I went with Warm Porcelain as it didn’t look as pink on the packaging. I will say putting this on my hand it looked way too warm at first, but it blends right into my skin color once it dries down. The consistency of this is thick and very much like a squeezed mousse, and unlike any foundation I’ve ever tried. It truly is what the name says though: it’s a hydrating matte foundation. I’ve had no issues with this drying my skin out and the coverage is medium to full and it last about 8 hours without a primer. I think I’ve found my new favorite drugstore foundation! 9.5/10

  • Best tool for this foundation: It Brushes for Ulta Airbrush Buffing Foundation Brush #110  (I definitely prefer a buffing brush to a Beauty Blender with this product)
  • Price: $10.99
  • Ounces: 1 oz
  • Okay to set with powder: Yes
  • Staying powder: 8-10 hours
  • Coverage: Medium to full
  • Color selection: 12 colors (only one truly dark shade though)

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors: So like many other makeup lovers who see this, you probably think these are Maybelline’s versions of liquid lipsticks, like Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks or Anastasia Liquid Lipsticks, they are not a true liquid lipstick. These lipsticks are a creamy consistency hat have a satin-matte finish. They never dry down, so they do transfer. I bought the colors 5 Nude Thrill and 50 Possessed Plum. I have to say I love love love Nude Thrill. I think the color is stunning, and I personally like the creaminess, it’s like a matte lipgloss. The coverage for Nude Thrill is medium-full and it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to build. Possessed Plum on the other hand is a different story. This colors moves on your lips as you swipe so you can never get a full coverage without seeing your lip color come through. It takes about 4-5 swipes to get a mostly opaque color but as this product transfers it’s hard to wear. It may be okay if you wear it over a lipstick.These are also extremely perfumey. I am curious to try another deeper shade, just to see if the Possessed Plum is an exception, but overall I’d give these a 6.5/10.

  • Shades: 10
  • Price: $7.99
  • Coverage: Medium
  • Size: .26 oz
  • Perfumey scent
  • Cream consistency

Maybelline Brow and Fill Duo: This product is a hybrid of a brow pencil similar to Anastasia’s Brow Wiz and a powder. This is the only product I’ve ever found like it on the market. At first, I didn’t love the powder, as it seems like it doesn’t really come out, and I also don’t love this doesn’t have a spooley but really they have no where to put one. The pencil end runs out pretty quick and starts out longer than it should meaning it will probably break off. The thing is, I love the actually product. I think the powder gives my brows a natural finish unlike any other powder. It’s probably because of the domed end it comes out of, it’s not as harsh as using a angled brush. I also really like the pencil end, it defines nicely and creates natural strokes. So I’m torn, I really like this product but the pencil end mechanically causes a lot of problems that may make this a product that’s frustrating and you’ll have to replace often. 7/10

  • Shades: 4
  • Price: $7.99
  • Pencil and domed end which distributes powder

Maybelline FaceStudio Master Fix Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder: I haven’t used this product too long, and as you have probably realized I’m pretty married to Revlon’s Aqua Ready translucent powder, but this is a close second. I think this powder is very similar to more high-end powders like the Make Up Forever Translucent powder. It’s very finely milled and doesn’t leave a white residue. I think this powder is perfect for all skin types but especially someone with oily/combo skin. If you have been on the hunt for a good drugstore translucent powder, I think this is it! 9.5/10

  • Shades: 1 (Translucent)
  • Price: $9.99
  • Size: .21 oz

Makeup Look

  • Primer: I ran out of my usual drugstore primer, but would use Loreal Magic Lumi Primer normally
  • Foundation: Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation in 05 Warm Porcelain
  • Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair (I also love NYX HD concealer but I ran out of that too)
  • Powder: Maybelline FaceStudio Powder
  • Brows: Maybelline Brow and Fill Duo in Deep Brown with NYX Brow Mascara in Brunette to set
  • Eyeshadows:  
    • Crease- NYX Matte Shadow in Maybe Later.
    • Lid- L’Oreal Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Sunset Seine (this look a lot more orange online, it’s like a golden color in person)
    • Outer Lid- Colourpop Supershock shadow in Lectra, which I also used on the lower lashline and outer crease. (It looks like this is sold out but you can use Porter or Leopard for a similar effect).
    • Browbone and inner corner: Morphe 35O shimmer beige shade. You can use any shimmering highlight shade for the same effect.
  • Eyeliners:
    • Liquid liner: Jordana Cat Eye Liner in Black Leather (I buy mine at Walgreens)
    • Waterline liner: L’Oreal Silkissime in Black
  • Lashes: Ardell Wispies (I believe these are a new style, they’re not the Natural or Glamour, the packaging says Wispies in red. Got at Walgreens)
  • Mascara: L’Oreal Carbon Black Telescopic
  • Blush: Mixed Milani Baked Blushes in Berry Amore and Dolce Pink
  • Highlighter: BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette second highlight in. I also love Phyiscians Formula highlighters and Maybelline MasterStudio highlighters.
  • Lips: 

Bold Brows: Anastasia Brow Wiz vs NYX Micro Brow

.Reading time 6 minutes.

Bold brows

Bold brows have taken over for good, which for some blessed specimens (Care Delevingne I’m looking at you!) they are fortunate to have hairs that need no fillers; for the rest of us we need products to get that beautiful and bold brow look. Over the past few years I’ve used everything from the Maybelline Quad Natural Smokes darkest shadow, not one of my best makeup moments, to Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyebrow Mousse, which I still love. But like most brow lovers, I’ve relied heavily on brow pencils. At first, we had the infamous and lovely Anastasia Brow Wiz, but at $21 it’s not always the most affordable tool. But once you go all bold brow gal there isn’t any going back. So like many others every three months I’d suck it up and buy my Brow Wiz for $21. But recently more affordable brands have stepped-up their brow game. The drugstore brand that intrigued me most was NYX. I love their products and think their quality is great, so I was super happy to find their Micro Brow Pencils featured similar shades to Anastasia’s Brow Wiz’s. But did NYX’s pencil give me those bold, shapely brows I was used to? Read below for my Brow Showdown.

brow wiz vs microbrow

Showdown

A little comparison: NYX and Anastasia Beverly Hills Pencils feature the same amount of product, each has 0.003 oz. Both are cruelty free, side note: if you want to save the fur babies use the app Cruelty Cutter, you can scan products and see if they test on animals.  Another similarity, both feature spoolies, or those little brushes to put those brows in place. So really the only major difference is price and performance. As I mentioned above, Anastasia’s Brow Wiz is $21, whereas NYX’s Micro Brow is $9.99. Also Anastasia offers 9 shades, where NYX offers 8. But I believe that all the core shades are in both collections. An in-depth review is below.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: The shade I wear is Medium Brown, and I’ve also used Brunette which is now called Dark Brown. I love this pencil to really shape the brows and carve them out, but I don’t love this to fill in my brows. The product is a bit hard, which is great for shaping, not so much filling in. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve filled in my brows with this, but usually just to get a defined tail. Also, the last Brow Wiz I received the product would not twist up right and would fall out. I’ve had about three Brow Wiz’s so I think my last one was just a bad egg. Overall this is a great brow product with many colors and is definitely a staple.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil: Similarly to Anastasia’s shade, I wear Ash Brown in the NYX pencil. For NYX this product is a little pricey at almost $10, but considering the alternatives all hit the $20 mark range, this is a steal. Micro Brow is much creamier than the Brow Wiz. That’s not to say it’s so creamy you’ve got product everywhere, it’s just easier to use. I love this pencil for both carving out my brows and filling in. The spoolie is a bit rougher than the Brow Wiz, but it’s not a huge deal to me.

Verdict

You can’t go wrong with either the Brow Wiz or the Micro Brow pencil. But personally I like the NYX Micro Brow a bit better. Even if the price was the same, I’d go with Micro Brow. I find it to be easier to use and I can use it to fill in my brows, and I’m also able to blend without tugging like with the Brow Wiz. Whichever weapon you choose though bold brows never lose.

Extras:

Bold brow and red lips

Makeup: 

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Dewy and Smooth Foundation in Porcelain

Concealer: NYX HD Photoready Concealer in Porcelain

Powder: Makeup Forever Transluscent Powder

Brows: NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown, Brow Bar to Go to fill in, NYX Brow Mascara in Brunette. Carved out with lightest shade in NYX Correct and Conceal palette.

Eyeshadows: NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow in Maybe Later and Espresso for the LORAC 1 palette in the crease, LORAC 1 Palette White and Cream on the lid. White on the brow bone.  Espresso on the lower lashine. Nude on the inner corner.

Eyeliner: Top liquid liner is Jordana Cat Eye liner in Black Leather. Bottom liner is L’Oreal Silkissime in Charcoal.

Lashes: Ardell Glamour Demi’s.

Contour: Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette, mixed Sombre and Shadowplay

Blush: Milani Powder Blush in Romantic Rose

Highlight: Colourpop Cosmetics Butterfly Beach

Lips: Colourpop Lippie Stix in Fighter with Fighter lipliner

Top: Missguided Jersey Wrap Over Bralette in Black  (from first photo) Missguided Halle Crepe Dress (second photo)

Confessions of a freelancer: An Audio Interview with Maria Gatto

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Photo of Maria Gatto, right doing a clients makeup for a wedding. Photo taken by the wedding photographer, Ms. Gatto do not recall his name.
Photo of Maria Gatto, right, doing a clients makeup for a wedding.
Photo taken by the wedding photographer, Ms. Gatto do not recall his name.

Hi all, once again I am digging deep to find out what the girls who love makeup have to say about beauty. This week I interviewed freelance makeup artist, Maria Gatto. Her Instagram makeup_bymaria,  shows the beautiful looks she’s created and below is an audio interview I did with her. Maria and I met at a Starbucks, in between her busy schedule this was the most convenient place to meet, so sorry for the Madonna music in the back (well of course unless you love to get down to some Holiday!) Maria discusses everything from the 3 items she recommends any makeup lover has, what her favorite kind of freelance work is and who’s her favorite makeup artist, click here or listen below to find out!