Aug 30, 2012

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipsticks

Don't you hate it when you discover an amazing product that fits all of your needs... and then find out that it gets discontinued? This has happened to me three times now, and each time with Maybelline! Is it just me, or does Maybelline discontinue products frequently? Anyhow, these lipsticks were a dream come true...until Maybelline had to take them away from me. I try not to use these too often, because I think I might cry when they're all gone. Haha


From left to right: Royal Red, Plum Wine, Wine on Ice, and Berry Sorbet. 

I love everything about these lipsticks! They smell like watermelon jolly ranchers and glide on effortlessly. The texture is perfect, it's seriously unlike any other lipstick I've tried. It almost feels like a lip butter, but it isn't quite as creamy, so it doesn't cake up or make a mess on the lips. Only one swipe is needed for maximum coverage and color payoff. 

It's so sad they discontinued these! I remember seeing them in the corner of the Maybelline display at Target, thinking "Hey, these look nice". So I bought all of the pinks and the reds that I saw, went home tried them on, and instantly fell in love. The next day I went back and they were all gone. I searched every Target, wal-mart, Walgreens, CVS, and Rite-Aid in my area. They disappeared before I could even go back and buy more. It was a sad day, but I'm happy that I at  least have a few of them. 

Has this ever happened to you? Because I feel like it happens to me all the time. Like when Maybelline changed the formula of Lash Stilletto, or when Maybelline discontinued the Dream Mousse blush and concealer line.. UGH. 

Aug 25, 2012

The Scottish Fine Soap Company "Soap in a Tin"

This is my first soap from the Scottish Fine Soap Company! I'm so happy that I finally bought one. I was immediately drawn to the display of  "Soap in a Tin" as soon as I saw them at my local Marshall's. 


Each Soap in a tin has a different scent, and it's own unique tin. Out of the scents that were available, I decided to pick vanilla! 


I love that the ingredients are printed onto the tin itself, because labels always peel off. The soap itself is 3.5 grams and is made in Scotland, of course! 


Each "Soap in a Tin" is individually wrapped in tissue paper. I love the little detail of the company name on the paper as well. Little touches are always nice! 


Here it is! This soap feels so smooth to the touch, I can't wait to start using it! Although the scent says vanilla, it reminds me of apple cinnamon oatmeal. 

Overall: 
I can't wait to start using this soap. I'll be posting a follow up review about what it does for my skin. This soap smells delicious, and feels so smooth, that it's almost creamy. The fact that it comes in a tin is so cute and can be handy for traveling, or even make a cute party favor! I'm really happy with the details that were put into this soap, and I hope that I can find more soon! 

If you don't have a Marshall's near you, I believe you can order these soaps on their website, www.scottishfinesoaps.com.  Let me know if you have tried any Scottish Fine Soap Company  products before!

Aug 15, 2012

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss

I've had these glosses for a while now, but they got pushed to the back of my lipgloss drawer, and I completely forgot about them! (Don't you hate it when that happens) I've been wearing lip gloss a ton lately, and I decided to pull these out and try them out again. 



I really appreciate the fact that these lipglosses are true to the color shown in the tube. The bright ones really are that bright, it's amazing. But, there's one serious downside to these glosses that makes me never want to use them. Ever. 

Claims: Our signature Mega Shine Lip Gloss delivers shine, moisture and softness and envelops lips with glistening color. The finish is both creamy and steamy and ensures knockout glamour. A blend of mineral and lanolin oils helps protect the pout. Available in 64 almost sinful lip gloss shades.

Ingredients: 
Polybutene, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil,Microcrystalline wax, Lanolin oil, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, IsopropylPalmitate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Perfume,Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Propylene Carbonate,Butylparaben, and B.H.T. MAY CONTAIN: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Iron Oxide Yellow (CI 77492), Iron Oxide Black (CI 77499),Iron Oxide Red (CI 77491), FD&C Yellow 5 (CI 19140) , D&C RedNo.6 (CI 15850), D&C Red No. 7 (CI 15850), D&C Red No.17 (CI26100) , D&C Red No.28 (CI 45410), D&C Red No.34 (CI 15880),D&C Red No. 36 (CI 12085), or Ultramarine Blue (CI 77007).

Price: $5.50 for 0.53 fluid ounces 



Here are the swatches from left to right: Dolly Pink, LALA, and Pink Frost 


Finishes: They all have different finishes. Dolly Pink is a cream, LALA is a sparkle, and Pink frost is obviously a frost, haha. My favorite lipgloss finish is the cream. I just love how bright the creams can be, and I feel like you only need the tiniest amount for nice color payoff. The sparkles are pretty, and the glitter doesn't feel gritty. The frosts, however, sit into every little line of the lips, and make your mouth look gross. Maybe it's just me being picky, but I really dislike frosts in general. 

Scent: Okay, these have the nastiest smell, and that's why I never use them. Even though the colors are pretty, I just can't do it. It's almost like how cherry cough syrup smells, it's seriously overpowering. I wish I would've known that before buying these, because I would've never bought them. I hate hate hate super scented lipgloss! Especially when it doesn't even smell yummy.. 

Likes:
  • over 64 different shades/finishes
  • isn't too sticky/has good staying power
  • cute packaging

Dislikes:
  • kind of pricey for a lipgloss..
  • smells like cherry cough syrup (ew)
  • tastes like cherry cough syrup (double ew) 
Overall:
I really want to like these lipglosses, but I don't. (If that makes sense). What I mean is, overall they are good quality, but I just can't tolerate the horrible overpowering cherry cough syrup smell. If that doesn't bother you, I think that you would like these. They have nice color payoff, feel smooth on the lips, and have good staying power. If it wasn't for that one little problem I would recommend these. I think that when it comes to NYX, I'll be sticking with the Round Lipsticks and Jumbo Lip Pencils. 

Has anybody else tried these? 

Aug 13, 2012

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick

I remember when this line of lipsticks first came out. I only bought one, just to try it out. Now I own six. I guess that's what happens when you really love a lipstick! 



Claims: "This moisture-infused lip essential reduces lip dryness by up to 65% for smoother lips and better colour. Developed with SPF 18 and a cutting edge Self Adapting Moisture Complex that features Hylaronic Acid, Collagen and Vitamins A, C and E to nourish lips, leaving them with a smoother surface for better colour application and wear."

Ingredients: The ingredients weren't listed on the packaging, but I did find them on the website cosdna.com.

There are 24 shades in the entire collection. I know that some shades have been discontinued, and have been replaced with new shades. I'm not sure if all of the colors I have are still available or not, but you can check on the Rimmel website. 


From left to right: Pink Chic, Rouge, Fancy, Berry Rose, Violet Pop, and Vintage Pink

I absolutely love the way these feel. They're so moisturizing, and the best part is that they don't bleed! Sometimes moisturizing lipsticks tend to slip all over the place, but these stay put. I think that's why I love them so much. It doesn't feel like you're actually wearing a lipstick. 

Pink Chic
Pink Chic is a medium toned, opaque pink. It has a semi-matte finish, but is still very hydrating. It isn't shimmery at all, the perfect "Barbie pink".

Rouge
Rouge is my favorite of the bunch. It's a blue based red with a semi matte finish. It doesn't slip at all, and for a hydrating lipstick, that's impressive. It's a great red for cool skin tones. 

Fancy
Fancy is possibly the ugliest color I've ever tried. It looks so pretty in the packaging, but once it's on.. it's a disaster. It has a nice peach tint to it, but overall it's a frosty nightmare! 

Berry Rose
Berry Rose is a pretty hot pink with subtle purple shimmer. I'm not usually a fan of shimmer lipsticks, but this one is nice and wearable. I think it would work for pretty much everyone. 

Violet Pop
Violet pop is a hot pink cream finish lipstick. This is also one of my favorites! It has a nice sheen to it, and still manages to stay in place. I love how bright and opaque this lipstick is. 

Vintage Pink
Vintage pink is a cool toned mauve-pink. It looks a bit bright in natural sunlight, but it really is more of a muted pink. This is the perfect lipstick for anyone who wants a light mauve lip. 

Likes: 
  • wide range of colors (there are currently 24)
  • gives me about 5 hours of wear (through eating, drinking, etc)
  • only $5 and available at drugstores
  • wide range of finishes
  • lightweight
  • very hydrating
  • spf 18
Dislikes:
  • has a weird taste and smell (it smells and tastes like sunblock)
Overall:
The formula of these lipsticks is so smooth, it feels like you are wearing a lip balm.  I enjoy them because they can last for hours and still feel comfortable.  I have yet to see such opaque lipsticks that feel so lightweight! Rimmel Moisture Renew lipsticks offer lasting color and hydration all in one, and at five dollars a piece, I think these are worth checking out at the drugstore. 

Aug 10, 2012

Fyrinnae Eyeshadows!

My Fyrinnae eye shadows arrived in the mail today! Shipping was incredibly fast, I only had to wait three days. I'm so excited at how beautiful these shadows are in person! Seriously, the swatches online don't compare to how pretty they really are in person! 

What is Fyrinnae? Fyrinnae is an independent cosmetics company that manufactures vegan cosmetics. They are not a mineral makeup company. Most of their cosmetics can be purchased in a sample sizes, which is what I did since this is my first time trying them!


What I Ordered: 
  • Mini Pumpkinfire Loose Eye Shadow -$2 (1/3 tsp in jar) 
  • Mini Immortality  Loose Eye Shadow- $2 (1/3 tsp in jar) 
  • Mini Knickers in a Twist Loose Eye Shadow- $2  (1/3 tsp in jar) 
  • Mini Arcane Magic Eye Shadow: Steampunk-$2 (1/4 tsp in jar)
  • Mini Arcane Magic Eye Shadow : Raven's Prophecy-$2  (1/4 tsp in jar)
  • Free Sample: Gilded Wings Loose Eye Shadow
I think it's great that Fyrinnae has the option to buy sample sizes, especially for newcomers that aren't going to know what they like. It's just an awesome option for people who want to try something, without having to totally commit. More cosmetics companies should do this! 

Packaging: The packaging was very secure. I didn't receive any open jars, and there was no fallout at all. I was pleased that it came in a bubble wrap envelope, and inside it were the jars wrapped in a black plastic bag. When I opened the black bag, I was surprised to see the little jars wrapped in cute rainbow cellophane. It was the perfect touch! Plus, the copy of my receipt had a hand-written "thank you" on it. It's always nice to know that a company cares about their customers. 


Top Row from left to right: Gilded Wings, Steampunk, and Knickers in a Twist
Bottom Row from left to right: Immortality, Pumpkinfire, and  Raven's Prophecy

Gilded Wings

This was the free sample that I received with my order. Described as an "intense bronze-gold". It's unlike any gold I've ever seen! It's not your typical yellow gold, which is why it's so unique. I can see this as a universal shade that can flatter any eye color, and skin tone. 

Steampunk
This is an "Arcane Magic" shadow, which means that at different angles the shade will change colors. It's described on their website as an "antiqued deep copper on black, with a touch of gold sparkle and hues of pink. Move it toward light or change the angle, and it becomes gold to chartreuse".  I can't wait to see if it really does change colors! So excited! 

Knickers in a Twist
This shade is described as a "deep taupe with subtle bronze shimmer". That's the perfect way to describe it. Looks like it would be a perfect crease shade! 

Immortality
Described as a "rainbow of sparkle in soft black", this shadow really does have specks of every color. It's hard to capture what it really looks like in a photo, because it's so multi-faceted. 

Pumpkinfire
Pumpkinfire is described as a "brilliant coppery-orange sparkle and shimmer in opaque, yet blendable black." This shadow is gorgeous. The copper and orange sparkles gleam so much more in person! It's a really pretty color, I've never seen anything like it before. 

Raven's Prophecy 
I think this one is my favorite. It's described as a "deep black that glitters with lime and pale blue. Closer to light or at different angles, and the sparkle takes on a pink and turquoise appearance." It's so awesome, the picture doesn't even begin to cover how intense it is! 

Overall:
I'm really happy with my order! Fyrinnae offers a variety of colors and finishes of shadows that are reasonably priced and fairly unique. I know that I will be ordering again in the future. I can't wait to try these out! 

Aug 7, 2012

L'Oreal Magic Smooth Souffle Foundation

There aren't many drugstore foundations on the market that claim a souffle-like texture. That's why I was so excited to finally try this foundation! It claims to give a smooth, poreless appearance. Unfortunately, this did not happen for me.


I usually shy away from jar foundations, because I really hate how bulky they are. As you can see, about half of the jar is extra packaging. The lid twists off, revealing the foundation. 


This is the lightest shade that they offer. It was hard for me to tell at the store if it would match or not, but as soon as I opened it, I knew it wouldn't. It looks like an orange marshmallow in the jar!

Ingredients:


This foundation felt like marshmallow fluff. It had an amazing texture, but the color was just way too warm for me. It's quite a thick foundation, so it does feel and look like you're wearing makeup. It makes the skin look dull in my opinion. Not what I'm looking for in a foundation. 

Likes:
  • feels soft and smooth to the touch
Dislikes:
  • not enough shades
  • all of the shades look warm toned 
  • changed texture when blended out/doesn't blend well
  • bulky packaging
  • messy application
  • makes skin look dull
  • feels heavy/looks cakey with powder
  • poor value (I paid $16.50 at CVS, ridiculous!) 
  • doesn't cover redness well
Overall: 
This foundation didn't work for me at all. I feel like the shade selection is a joke, everything is like a beige color. There were no cool toned shades at all, and no dark shades either! That's one of my biggest annoyances when it comes to foundation. The texture felt nice, but it didn't blend out properly, and changed to a clumpy texture. It was really heavy looking, and also made my skin look flat, lifeless, and orange. It was an all-around horrible foundation for me. I wouldn't recommend this to anybody, ever! 

Aug 1, 2012

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara

When I'm shopping for a new mascara at the drugstore, Revlon isn't the brand that usually comes to mind. I've never liked any of their mascaras in the past, but I decided to try this one anyway! 


I always like it when mascaras are packaged like this, so I can see the actual brush. Sometimes the illustrations on the packages aren't accurate. 


As you can see, the end of this wand is rounded, which is great for the inner lashes. I even like to use it for the bottom lashes. 

Claims:
" The exclusive reflective formula magnifies and multiples the look of your lashes, easily creating the appearance of bigger, bolder volume. The brush has a special lash-accentuating tip that reaches every last lash to provide dimension to the extreme."


Ingredients:

Price:
I bought mine for $8 at Target.

Formula: 
Not too dry, not too wet. It does get a little thick the longer you keep it. There is no separator in the tube, so sometimes the end gets excess mascara. There is no strong scent 

Wand Type: 
This is a long wand with extra long plastic bristles. I usually don't like plastic wands, but this one is amazing at coating each lash.


Here's a view from far away. You can see that the bristles are extra long, especially for a plastic-bristle wand. The ends do tend to get gooey, but I just wipe it away with a clean tissue. 


Here's a close-up of the wand. These bristles grab every lash, especially with the little ball at the end of the wand. That's what allows you to really get into the smaller hard-to get lashes. 


Before the mascara...


and after..!
I'm quite pleased with the length that this mascara gives. It did a great job at really coating every last lash, even the ones in the inner corner! I suggest only doing one to two coats, any more than that and it starts getting clumpy (as you can see from the outer corner of my lashes). 

Likes:
  • separates each lash
  • lengthens 
  • separates (as long as you only do a light coat)
  • the wand is perfect to reach every lash
  • makes lashes appear thicker 
Dislikes:
  • dries quickly
  • lashes feel super crunchy 
Overall:
This mascara is awesome for lengthening and separation! I've never seen a mascara at the drugstore with this type of wand before. The bristles on the wand allow you to reach and coat every lash, even the smaller, inner-corner lashes. It does make the lashes feel really crunchy once they dry, but It isn't a problem for me. It also makes the lashes thicker, which I like. I didn't get any volume or curl, but that's not what this mascara claims, so I wasn't expecting it.

Overall, this mascara is perfect for length, thickness, and separation. I would definitely repurchase this in the future! I've been using it every day since I bought it. I'm addicted!