Have You Seen This Yet?

Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove

Have you see this yet?  It’s the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove.  I want one of these so badly!  I don’t know about you, but I hate cleaning my brushes.  I really do.  I even buy duplicates of my most used e.l.f. brushes (since they are so cheap) so that I can extend the time between cleanings.  I really hate washing my brushes!  I first saw this handy little glove in a Youtube video by MakeupbyTiffanyD.  She collaborates with Sigma a lot, so she always has the new stuff featured.  The glove, which is about the size of an oven mitt, has nubs, bumps, and ridges of varying sizes and shapes designed to agitate your brush bristles to give your brushes a thorough deep cleaning.  I’ve see reviews now by EmilyNoel83, AlluraBeauty (I think), and a few other places, and they have all been positive.  The glove looks really interesting and innovative.

Here is the blurb on Sigma’s website:

The Sigma Spa™ Brush Cleaning Glove was specially designed as a quick, easy and effective method to deep clean your makeup brush collection. The revolutionary device offers a variety of necessary textures and surfaces for removing all makeup from brushes while using only a small amount of cleaning solution. The dual-sided glove provides a complete cleaning process for both eye and face brushes. Patent pending.

Brush Cleaning How-To:

1. WASH – Add a small amount of cleaning solution and water to glove and swirl brush on ‘Wash’ texture to begin deep cleaning the brush(es).
2. RINSE – Place brush under running water and sweep brush back and forth on the ‘Rinse’ texture of the glove to remove makeup residue & soap.
3. REFINE – Swirl brush on the ‘Refine’ texture of the glove for an added deep cleaning
4. RINSE – Place brush under running water & sweep brush back and forth on the ‘Rinse’ texture for a final rinse.
5. SHAPE – Reshape brush bristles by placing brush head on the ‘Shape’ section of the glove while squeezing with your hand to remove excess water.

I would love to give this glove a try, but the only drawback is that it is $39.00.  That’s kind of a lot.  I wonder if there are any other companies who have cheaper versions of this glove that work just as well.  Sigma’s Spa Brush Cleaning Glove is brand new, so it may take a while for the knock-offs to start showing up.  I’m very interested in the Spa Brush Cleaning Glove.  It may be well worth the investment.

What do you think?

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer

I was excited to try the L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer when I came across them.  It just looks so darned cute, like a lip pencil for your face.  I also figured that the handy shape would make touch ups on the go pretty simple.  I don’t normally use stick concealers, so I wasn’t sure if I would like the L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer, but I figured that I would give it a shot anyway.

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer comes in six shades.  There are three shades in the Warm family and three shades in the Neutral family.  The shade ranges are: fair/light (1-2-3), light/medium (4-5), and medium/deep (6-7-8).  I chose N1-2-3 for myself, and my sister (who has darker skin than I do) let me borrow her W4-5 to swatch for you so that you can see the differences.

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer in N1-2-3

Based on what I see from N1-2-3, the neutral shades have more of a peach-toned base than a yellow base.  When I used to use the L’Oreal True Match Pressed Powder I used a Warm shade (possibly W3, but I can’t remember for sure), but the W1-2-3 concealer looks too yellow for me.  N1-2-3 is a little light on my face, which is darker than my swatching hand, but not so much so that I can’t work with it.  I may consider swapping for the next shade up, but I feel like that will probably be too dark.  I wish L’Oreal had offered four shades in the range instead of three (1-2 fair, 3-4 light, etc.).  I think people would be better off finding a match if there had been eight shades in the line instead of just the six.  I’ve heard some complaints that many people are finding themselves in between shades and can’t find a good match.

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer in W4-5

W4-5 looks a bit orange on my skin, even though I do actually have some yellow undertones (which you can’t really tell because of the lighting in the swatch picture below).  It blends out to a nice shade, though.  I would say that if you definitely have warm-toned skin you can opt for the W shades, but if you are unsure about it, the N shades would be a safer bet.  Try to find swatch pictures online, and shop at a store that takes returns.

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer (Top: N1-2-3, Bottom: W4-5)

The concealer gives light coverage that can be built up to medium coverage.  The swatches above are heavy handed and obviously not blended out so that you could see the color better.  You can cover minor spots and blemishes, but serious flaws will still show through.  Though the formula is indeed creamy and blendable, I personally did not like using L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer under my eyes.  It creased up on me and settled into fine lines.  If you are young and have smooth skin you may be able to get away with it, but I couldn’t.  Also, if you have major dark circles, this won’t be enough.  I did like it as a spot concealer for scars and blemishes, though.

The convenient self-sharpening shape allows for easy travel.  The cap even has little ridges so that it snaps into place and won’t get jostled off in your bag.  These are good things because you will probably have to re-apply after a bit.  I got about six hours of wear on my dry skin.  Those with oily skin will probably get closer to four, depending on where you apply and where your real problem oily spots are.  Re-applying is quick and easy.  You can blend with your fingers, no brush required.  The concealer dries to a somewhat powdery finish, but those with oily skin, especially, should set with powder.

All in all, I like L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer, but I don’t love it.  You get 0.1 oz of product, and it retails for around $9-$11, depending on where you shop.  If you are looking for a travel-friendly spot concealer to cover minor flaws, this is a great product for you.  Otherwise, it’s a little underwhelming.  I’d wait for a sale before purchasing, and definitely do some research on shade selection.  Swatches are your friend.  🙂

L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain in Everlasting Caramel

L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain

Today I have the L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain in Everlasting Caramel to show you.  These L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stains have been all the rage because they are supposed to be a drugstore dupe for the YSL Glossy Stains, which retail for $32.  I have not tried the YSL Glossy Stains myself, so I can’t say for sure.  Some ladies think that they are a dead-on dupe, others say that they are similar, but not exactly the same.  from what I can tell, L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stains are close enough to the much pricier YSL version that they are definitely worth a try.

Here’s what L’Oreal has to say: “Discover a stain that thinks it’s a gloss. Now hydration & shine meet lasting, lightweight color. Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain combines the power of a lip stain with lip-gloss luster. This next generation lip stain, formulated with a blend of light hydrating oils & concentrated pigments, delivers lasting color with a glossy finish. Packed with 30% water, Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain leaves lips soft, comfortable and hydrated for up to 6 hours.”

L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain

L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stains come in a long gold tube that is squared off and tapers toward the top.  There is a clear band that shows the product so that you can clearly see the shade.  The bottom part screws off and has the wand attached.  L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stains have a teardrop-shaped applicator.  I personally find the shape excellent to apply to my bottom lip, but a little finicky for my top lip.

L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain in Everlasting Caramel

I only have one L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain in Everlasting Caramel, so this review is based solely on that particular shade.  The formula of Everlasting Caramel is rather interesting.  It goes on somewhat watery and thickens up as  it dries down.  I don’t particularly love the dry-down period.  I feel that “shrink wrap” sensation that is common with lip stains and I find it drying and sort of uncomfortable.  However, what sets these Shine Stains apart is that after the initial dry-down, the formula thickens up and becomes more of a lip gloss texture.  When I first apply Everlasting Caramel, I immediately want to reach for my lip balm, but if I calm down and hold on for a couple minutes, the formula re-hydrates itself and I am okay.  It’s very strange.  Another draw back of the application and dry-down period is the horrible scent.  There is such a strong perfume like scent that I can only assume is there to cover up the alcohol.  The smell dissipates after a few minutes, so you can’t really smell it once the product has finished drying down, but good lord it’s strong.  I am not a fan.

Everlasting Caramel wears pretty well.  The color initially goes on semi-sheer, but with strong color.  What I mean is, though there is good color pay-off, it is not fully opaque on the first layer.  The swatch below shows one layer of Everlasting Caramel.  You can see that there is a certain transparency, despite the good pigmentation.

One layer of Everlasting Caramel

On the second layer, Everlasting Caramel has bold, fully opaque color.  This isn’t a high-shine gloss.  It’s more of a satin-finish.  There is definitely shine, but it gives more of a healthy, hydrated look than anything else.  Everlasting Caramel is slightly sticky, but not too bad.  I only notice it when I press my lips together.  It certainly isn’t the kind of gloss that sticks you lips together when you try to talk.  (Don’t you hate that?)

Two layers of Everlasting Caramel

I have found that I can go about two hours before I have to apply lip balm.  Granted, my lips are pretty dry and I am a lip balm addict, but still.  You are going to need some extra moisture.  The glossy shine is pretty much gone by that two hour mark and Everlasting Caramel has more of a semi-matte finish.  The color looks a little muted with more of the mauve tones showing through, but it is still opaque after two hours with no need to re-apply.  Applying lip balm over it does nothing to diminish the color.

The product lasts well through drinking and talking for a good four hours.  By that time, Everlasting Caramel is pretty much gone, and what’s left is a deep caramel stain on the lips that sticks around for the rest of the day.  Even with frequent lip balm application, I can still get hours and hours out of the stain.  If you are looking for long-wearing color that doesn’t flake or leave your lips parched like normal stains, then this is a great option.  It takes makeup remover to completely get rid of Everlasting Caramel.

Overall, I’m going to say that I like L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stain in Everlasting Caramel.  There are definite issues during the application and dry-down period that keeps me from really loving the product, but I do like its longevity and the color is gorgeous.  I am not going to rush out and get every shade available, but I will probably pick up at least one more out of the line of 12 shades.  When it comes to lips, I am a moisture junkie, so I am way more of a fan of products like Maybelline Color Whispers or Revlon Lip Butters.  However, for those of you who are not so neurotic about lip balm and don’t like having to frequently re-apply your lip color, you may really enjoy the new L’Oreal Color Caresse Shine Stains.  They are certainly worth a try, especially if on sale.  Prices will vary by location, but they retail somewhere in the $8-$11 range.

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty is Back for Spring

This time Ulta is giving us plenty of notice to make our plans for their 21 Days of Beauty.  The goodness starts on March 10th, and runs through March 30th.  If you are unfamiliar with Ulta 21 Days of Beauty, let me enlighten you.  Ulta 21 Days of Beauty is a 21-day long event that Ulta occasionally puts on where they have special Daily Events and Beauty Steals.  Their Beauty Steals always sell out super fast, so it’s best to get in the store or log on to the website as soon as possible.

There are fun and exciting deals from all of our favorite brands like Urban Decay, Tarte, Too Faced, Butter London, etc.  Be sure to check out this page to see the calendar of events and deals.  All Beauty Steals are one day only, and quantity will vary by area.  I know some stores completely sell out before noon, while other will have a few left later in the day.  Some of my favorites are:

• 3/10 All Bare Minerals 100% Natural Lipsticks and Lipglosses 40% off (reg. $9 each)
• 3/12 Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes for $10 (reg. $19)
• 3/22 Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed $10 (50% off)
• 3/28 Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil $25 (reg. $48)
• 3/29 Too Faced Natural Face palette $22 (reg. $39)

There are many more deals than what I’ve listed here, so be sure to check ahead and make your battle plan.   What days are you most looking forward to?  let me know what you hope to snag in the comments below.  Happy shopping!

 

 

Sale Alert and a Haul

small Rite-Aid haul

I just wanted to pop in and let you know about a couple sales going on and show you my small haul.  Right now Revlon, Wet n Wild, and Almay are all 40% off at Rite-Aid.  Of course there are also the usual BOGO 1/2 off sales on L’Oreal, Jesse’s Girl, and other brands, but the 40% off sale is what really stands out.  Also, Rite Aid 50th Anniversary Promotion is back: Spend $100 on participating products and get $20+UP rewards. You do not need to spend $100 in one purchase.  Your purchases will accrue on your receipt, and you have until March 2nd, 2013 to hit $100.

I chose to take advantage of the sale by picking up a few things.  I really want to try the new Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation, so I was sure to grab a bottle.  I loved the colors of the Revlon Photoready eyeshadow palette in Bohemian, and I’m curious about the powder primer and sparkle top coat.  Both were regularly $9.99, and I got them for $5.99.  Wet n Wild is already a very inexpensive brand, but at 40% off, it’s almost free.  For under $3.00 total, I picked up two ColorIcon lip liners in Brandywine and Chestnut, and a ColorIcon blush in Pearlescent Pink.  These blushes are really fabulous, so I’m glad to have another.  This is an excellent time to pick up some of those ColorIcon eyeshadow palettes or trios, if you still haven’t given them a try.  My entire haul of a foundation, eyeshadow palette, blush, and two lip liners came to just under $15.00.  That, my friends, is what drugstore makeup should cost.  I believe that Rite-Aid resets its sales on Sunday, so be sure to stop by before closing on Saturday.

Also happening this week is another Urban Decay Friends and Family Sale.  Use code FFSPRING13 at urbandecay.com for 20% off.  There is a five item limit to this sale, and it runs through 11:59pm PST 2/16.  If you’ve been lusting over the new Naked Basics Palette, now you can snatch it up for 20% off.

I hope that you have a great Valentine’s Day, whether you are in a couple, or if you are single and celebrating with friends.  Eat, drink, and be merry.  Be sure to consume copious amounts of chocolate.

Pink and Gray Valentine’s Day Tutorial

Pink and Gray Look with Coastal Scents

You may remember this Coastal Scents quad that I featured in my January favorites.  I had received this sample on my last Coastal Scents order.  I got a couple of requests to do a tutorial using these shades, and I thought that this would make a good look for Valentine’s Day.  The shades that I am using are: Light Pink (TL), Elven Silver (TR), Gunmetal (BL), and Rosy Pink (BR).  You do not have to have these exact shadows to accomplish this look.  Just grab something similar from your stash and use your best judgment.  Your end result may not look exactly like mine, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t still look great.  I ran out of natural light, so I used a diffused flash for the tutorial which means that my shimmer shades look a bit more shimmery than they do in real life.  Otherwise, the tutorial came out pretty close to accurate.  So let’s get started.  🙂

Before you get too excited with the shadows, it is important to prime your lids.  Coastal Scents shadows are pretty solid without a primer, but for date night or special occasions you should use a primer just for added insurance.  You don’t want to have to worry about creasing or fading while you are kissing your sweetie or dancing the night away.  For this look, I primed my lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Step 1

Step 1: I started by applying Rosy Pink to my lid with a flat shader brush.  Stay on the lid and don’t pull it up to the crease.  This look is more of a gray look with just a pop of color.

Steps 2 and 3

Steps 2-3:  Because of my flash situation, the pictures for step 2 and step 3 looked almost identical, so I’m combining them here.  For step 2 I applied Elven Silver to my crease with a windshield wiper motion.  Bring the color down a bit onto the edge of the pink so that there are no harsh edges.  In this look, Elven Silver is meant to be a transition shade, so don’t worry about the outer corner just yet.  For step 3, I applied Light Pink to highlight my browbone with a loose, fluffy brush and also to the inner corners with a small detail brush.

Step 4

Step 4:  Next I applied Gunmetal in a high V-shape in the outer corner.  The point of the V is higher here than I normally go, but I wanted a more dramatic look.  You can use a smaller V, if you prefer.  Don’t worry that things are looking a little crazy.  You are now going to blend, blend, blend.  I used my e.l.f. Studio Angled Contour brush, but you can use a standard crease brush if that’s what you have.

Step 5

Step 5:  Once I had Gunmetal blended out, I added another light layer of Elven Silver for a flawlessly smooth transition.  I used that loose, fluffy brush so that I wouldn’t over blend and erase what I did with Gunmetal.  Once you have everything blended out the way you like it, it’s time to move on to liner and mascara (and in my case, eyebrows).

Step 6

Step 6:  To start with, I lined under my eye with NYX Slide-On Pencil in Jewel.  I could have simply used Rosy Pink again under the eye, and feel free to use your pink shadow, but my eyes were already irritated (as you could probably tell), so I figured that a pencil liner was the best bet.  Besides, I really like Jewel, and don’t find occasion to wear it nearly enough.  The point is, continue the pink look under the eye.

Step 7

Step 7:  For the rest of my eye liner I used NYX Slide-On Pencil in Jet Black.  I lined my upper lash line, and my waterline all the way to the inner tear duct.  Again, that’s not something I do every day, but I wanted a more dramatic look.  A winged liner would look great with this, but I find that winging my liner looks very strange on my eye.  I think I have a weird eye shape.  Or maybe I just need to practice more.  I’m definitely not a makeup artist.  Either way, I never wing my liner because it doesn’t work for me, but that shouldn’t discourage you from winging to your hearts content.  To finish the look, curl your lashes and apply mascara.  False lashes might be a fun addition, but I just stuck with my wimpy little natural lashes.

I hope that you liked the look, and that you found the tutorial easy to follow.  One of my goals this year is to do more tutorials and EOTD looks on this blog.  I also need to get over my fear of false lashes.  I’ve never used them, and have this ridiculous fear that I am going to glue my eye shut or something.  I know, I’m a big dork.  Anyway, let me know what you think of the look and how successful you think the tutorial was in the comments below.  I am really trying to improve, and your comments help me to be a better blogger.  I hope that some of you will give this look a try (not necessarily for Valentine’s Day).

Ipsy, February 2013 Edition

February 2013 Ipsy Bag

It’s Ipsy time!  I was happy to receive my Ipsy bag last night, and I have it here to show you today.  Ipsy’s theme for February is “Get Red Carpet Ready!”  Glitz and glam! It’s all about the glorious red carpet with ipsy this month. February’s “Red Carpet Ready” Glam Bag has nothing but winners! Whether you have your “thank you” speech prepared or not, we are here to help you get ready for all the lights, camera, and action.

POP Beauty Mascara

POP Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara:  “This lash-POP-ing mascara makes lashes plump, long and lusciously flirty! Smudge proof formula adds volume while curling lashes up and out for a look that truly POPs your peepers!”  Full size retails at $18.50 for 0.25 oz/7 g at popbeauty.co.uk.  Sample size of 0.17 oz/4.8 g is worth $12.58.

The Lash Card

The Lash Card:  “Apply your mascara perfectly with the Lash Card! Say goodbye to smudging, clumping, and messy mascara application. The Lash Card has two curves on each side that fit a variety of eye shapes, making it easy to get those hard-to-reach lashes. Each Lash Card is individually wrapped for on-the-go application.”  Full pack of 10 retails for $6.99 at lashcard.com.  Sample size is 4 cards, worth $2.80.

Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer

Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer:  “The Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer creates a beautiful no-shine finish for flawless, long-lasting makeup application. This shine controlling, oil-free primer smooths out fine lines and hydrates while making pores instantly disappear. It is the perfect skin primer for all complexions and all skin types.”  Full size is $29 for 30ml at pixibeauty.com.  Sample size is 15 ml worth $14.50.

MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner

MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner:  “Define eyes and apply eyeliner like a pro with the MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner! This smooth, highly pigmented gel eyeliner glides over the lid evenly and dries quickly for a long-wearing, smudge-proof finish. Comes in 5 other highly pigmented shades.”  There was no label on this liner to say what size it is, but the general consensus on the web is that it is a full size sample.  Yay!  The gel liner is listed at .18 oz/5g  for $35 at micabeauty.com.

Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Sample Quad

Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Sample Quad:  “Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Samples are an ideal way to try these highly pigmented, stunning shadows. These miniature-sized samples contain four hand-selected shades by ipsy, making it easy to create a variety of looks. Wear these pressed powders dry or wet for a more intense, dramatic look.”  I received one of these back in October and decided that since Coastal Scents adds them into orders as free samples, I’m going to count this as an extra and not include it in my total.  I freaking love the shades, though.  Here’s a swatch over bare skin, no primer:

Dark Goldenrod, Sunbeam, Golden Globe, and Dark Golden Olive

The grand total worth of my February Ispy bag is $64.88, plus the Coastal Scents quad and the bag itself (which is, admittedly, pretty plain and boring).  Not bad for a $10 subscription fee.  I already know that I love Coastal Scents shadows, and I am thrilled with the golden shades that came in my quad.  That first shade, Dark Goldenrod, has a green duochrome flip to it that is gorgeous.  I also know that I like the Pixi primer because it was featured in my October monthly favorites.  I don’t really care about the Lash Cards, but I can’t expect to love everything that comes in my bag.  I am curious about the Pop Beauty mascara because I have heard really good things about Pop Beauty.  I’m also really curious about the MicaBeauty liner.  I first heard about MicaBeauty around Christmas time because they had a kiosk set up in my local mall.  I didn’t have time for a demo due to the hectic season, but I was interested in what they had to offer.  I can’t wait to play with my new liner.

Ipsy Red Carpet Ready

All in all, another great month from Ipsy.  I have no regrets about canceling my Birchbox and sticking to Ipsy.  For me and my needs, Ipsy is doing a great job.

Spotted: New in Skincare

I was at Walgreens over the weekend, and while I didn’t see any new makeup displays, I did spot a couple skincare displays that you may be interested in.  So I snapped some pics with my phone, and here we are.

Maybelline Clean Express Makeup Remover Collection

Maybelline has a new Clean Express line of makeup removers.  Included in the line are the Clean Express Flash Clean Makeup Removing Lotion, the Clean Express Facial Towelettes, and the Clean Express Eye Makeup Remover in both Classic and Waterproof formulas.  I forgot to grab the price on these, but I believe that they retail for $4.99-$5.99, depending on where you buy them.  I have already heard some good things about the eye makeup removers, and am wondering about the rest of the line.  Kudos to Maybelline for branching out into skincare as well as makeup.

Olay Fresh Effects Collection

Fresh Effects is a huge new collection from Olay, focusing on getting the younger generation hooked on the brand.  Olay is targeting Millennials, giving them “Unstoppable freshness that lasts all day”.  There are seven products available in this display; the Olay Fresh Effects: Bead Me Up! Exfoliating Cleanser ($7.99), Shine, Shine Go Away! Shine Minimizing Cleanser ($7.99), S’Wipe Out! Refreshing Makeup Removal Cloths ($5.49), Va-Va-Vivid! Powered Contour Cleansing System ($14.99), Olay Fresh Effects, BB Cream! Skin Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer SPF15 in Fair to Light and Light To Medium  ($14.99), and the Long Live Moisture! Moisturizer for Happy, Healthy-Looking Skin ($14.99).  Some of these items do look very interesting, I have to say.

Revlon Magnetic Style Nail Polish

And last up, not skin care and not exactly new, I finally spotted the Revlon magnetic Style nail polish.  This collection came out months ago, but I hadn’t seen it until now.  Revlon Magnetic Style has five shades in the line, and a starburst shaped magnet in the cap.  They retail at my Walgreens for $9.99.

I hope that you saw something that you like.  I am very tempted to try out some of the Olay Fresh Effects line, since I already use Olay products.  Have you tried any of the Fresh Effects line?  What about Maybelline Clean Express?  Let me know in the comments below what your experience was.

e.l.f. Studio Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow

e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow

This review is long overdue.  I meant to review the e.l.f. Studio Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow months ago, but life happened, so here it is finally.  I’m going to say it outright here in the beginning, I love these shadows!  E.l.f. did a fantastic job with the formula.  If you haven’t tried the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows yet, you really must.

E.l.f. says of their Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows: “Soft and fluffy, these vibrant, shimmering Long Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow colors can be used as eyeshadow or a bold liner. The whipped gel texture is easy to blend and lightweight for lasting comfort and wear. Perfect for highlighting the brow bone and adding extra shimmer for a truly glam look.”

E.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows have a very interesting an unique texture.  They are similar to a cream shadow, but they truly do have a gel formula.  The product with the closets texture that I am familiar with would be the Maybelline Bouncy Blushes.  But the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows aren’t a mousse.  They are squishy like the Bouncy Blushes, but the formula feels cool going on and much more lightweight.

e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow squished to show texture

The Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows feel great on the eye.  The formula is smooth, and despite how shimmery they are, they don’t feel gritty.  I was worried at first that the gel formula would make my eyes feel suffocated or sticky, but I thought the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows were so lightweight that they were hardly noticeable at all.  They blend very easily on the eye, both with each other and with powder shadows.

Of the four shades that I chose, three were richly pigmented, but can easily be sheered out.  The fourth shade was just as easily built up for better intensity.  I found that it was best to apply the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows with my fingers for intense, concentrated pigmentation, and use a brush to blend and sheer out the edges.  For a light wash of color over the lids, I’d use a brush.  Keep in mind, however, that the more sheer the color pay-off, the more apparent the shimmer will be.  That’s why I really do prefer my fingers with these.

I found the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows to indeed be very long-lasting.  The formula performed perfectly for me.  Keeping in mind that I have dry lids, I have been able to wear the shadows without a primer underneath for at least eight or nine hours without any fading or creasing.  In fact, I wonder if e.l.f. built some primer into the formula, because they do not budge on me until I choose to take them off.

The only drawback to the e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows is how sparkly they are.  The “lustrous” part of their name is meant to indicate how packed with shimmer these shadows are.  I, for one, have no issue with shimmer shades.  I welcome them, even in the day time.  But I know that some of you are not as big a fan of shimmer, so that would be a huge deterrent for you.  I have found that pairing them with matte shadows cuts down on the impact of the shimmer to make them more appropriate for day time, but it really is a matter of personal taste.

E.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows come in seven shades, and I have four of them.

e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Party

Party is a shimmery asphalt gray shade.  It appears darker in the pan than it applies.  Party was the least pigmented shade of the four that I have, and definitely takes two layers for full opacity.  You can build it up for very nice color pay-off, and I thought it was an easier to work with than a true black.  The sparkle in Party is more of a micro glitter than a shimmer, and is pretty high-sparkle.

e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Gala

Gala is the most pigmented of the four shades that I have.  One swipe delivers intense opaque color.  Gala is a warm, coppery brown with plum undertones.  The plum becomes more apparent when you sheer it out.  The sparkle in Gala is more subtle than some of the others, making at a much more wearable shade in the day time.  They are more like subtle shimmer particles that full-on sparkle.

e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Soiree

Soiree, like Gala, is extremely pigmented.  It is a lovely iced pink and looks beautiful paired with a variety of shades.  I really love Soiree.  There is a lot of shimmer, more so than Gala, but I feel it is less noticeable than what’s in Party.  Soiree is gorgeous, and really versatile in my opinion.

e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Festivity

Festivity is the final shadow I have in this line.  It is not as pigmented as Gala or Soiree, but more so than Party.  Festivity is a brown based Plum shade.  It looks  more purple in the pan, but the brown comes out during application.  The shimmer falls somewhere between Gala and Soiree.

Here is a swatch of the four shades, one in indoor light and one in sunlight.  In the pictures Festivity is looking pretty brown, but in real life it looks a little more plum.  Also, the sparkle was hard to capture in the photographs, but you can get the general idea.

(L-R) Party, Gala, Soiree, and Festivity (Indoor Light)

(L-R) Party, Gala, Soiree, and Festivity (Sunlight)

All in all, if you like sparkle, the e.l.f. Studio Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows are awesome.  If you are more of a matte eye girl, so are going to want to skip these entirely, but otherwise, give them a try.  At $3.00 each, what do you have to lose?  The three remaining shades in the line are a gold, a white, and an ice blue.  I have heard that the lighter shades are less pigmented, but remember that these shadows are quite buildable.  Aslo, I have had them since November, and there is no sign of them drying out at all, so no worries there.  I do not believe that the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadows are at Target yet, so be sure to check them out at eyeslipsface.com to order.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation

Today I am going to review the new Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation.  I have the accompanying Perfector Powder as well, but I am only going to focus on the foundation for this review.  The idea behind The Lifter is that is is a Dual action formula with a “smoothing primer plus a lifting foundation”.  I have a lot to say about this foundation.  I’ve seen a few reviews of the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation, and it seems that people are having widely varied and unique experiences with this product.  The Lifter seems to either work wonders, or not at all, and the results that people are getting are so different that it is confounding.  Let me break down my experience with Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation

Maybelline claims that this “Lifting foundation with peptides firms skin and covers instantly, while primer smooths lines and rough texture”.  I don’t think I can say that I noticed any special firming action happening when I wore The Lifter, but perhaps the lifting and firming only happens after weeks of daily use.  Let’s, for now, forget about the lifting and firming part, and focus on how The Lifter performs as a foundation.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation

Let’s start with packaging.  Unlike the original Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Foundation, The Lifter comes with a pump dispenser instead of that awful sponge tip that I hated.  It’s an airless pump, so instead of having a tube that runs down the center, the whole product shifts up as you use it, keeping that nifty spiral design in tact.  Also unlike the original, The Lifter comes with a full standard 1 fl oz of product.  The plastic packaging is functional, but not very attractive.  The suspended spiral design of the product is really cool, and very enticing.  It certainly caught my attention.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation

One pump of The Lifter delivers quite a bit of product.  It’s tough to make out, but if you look closely, you can see the primer swirled into the foundation when you dispense it.  As that spiral indicates, the foundation and primer are  not fully incorporated until you blend them out on your face.  I also thought that my shade (Nude Beige) looked much darker and more orange when it was pumped out of the tube than it did in the bottle.  I was a little nervous when I first saw it, but when I blended it out, the color returned to the shade I was expecting it to be and looked fine on the skin.  I don’t know if that issue is specific to this one shade or what, but I had a moment of panic, wondering if I’d end up looking like an Oompa Loompa.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation looks really thick when first dispensed.  You can see how the creamy formula leaves peaks.  What’s really strange, is that The Lifter feels thick and creamy while applying, but then it leaves such a lightweight feel on the skin.  It’s because of this creamy formula, however, that I strongly recommend using your fingers to apply.  A sponge or a brush end up soaking up way too much of the product, and they don’t give you very good coverage.  Maybelline recommends you use your fingers as well.  I believe that the glycerin based primer needs that circular motion to really work into the skin.  I found that my best method was to apply most of the way with my fingers, and then use a brush to just smooth out the finish.

The Lifter applies with a silky, cool feel that my dry skin just soaked up.  It easily absorbed into my skin and blended like a dream.  The lightweight formula can absolutely stand to be built up with more than one layer without getting heavy or cakey.  In fact, even with two layers, I hardly felt like I was wearing makeup.  Now, like I said in the first paragraph of this post, people are having wildly different experiences with this foundation.  I’ve heard everything from the foundation leaves a dewy finish that is too shiny for oily skin, to the foundation leaves a matte finish.  I’ve heard that It has no coverage to it has full coverage.  I don’t know why there is such a big disparity, but I can tell you how The Lifter worked for me, and you can do with it what you will.

My experience was the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation gave me buildable light to medium coverage, with a semi-matte, almost powder finish.  I haven’t heard anyone else say that they experienced a powder finish when using The Lifter, but I swear that’s what it looked like to me, but better.  What I mean is, despite a somewhat powder finish, my skin still had a natural glow and didn’t leave me looking too matte or fake in any way.  I chose not to top it with powder because I simply didn’t feel like I needed to.  Perhaps the finish varies based on how oily or dry your skin is.  Coverage seems to be the biggest bone of contention and area of complaint.  I don’t often wear tinted moisturizers or light coverage foundations because I have skin problems.  I have mild rosacea that makes me red and blotchy, large pores (thanks dad), freckles, and general unevenness.  That’s why I wear makeup in the first place.  I was really pleased with the coverage that Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation gave me.  A lot of people are complaining that it has no coverage and some of that is probably based on skin type, but I really think it has more to do with application method.  I’m telling you, use your fingers.

To show you how Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation worked for me, I’m doing the unthinkable.  I’m showing you my naked face with no makeup on at all.  I still can’t believe that I am doing this.  Here I am with all of the skin issues that I talked about above, not to mention my complete lack of eyebrows (thanks mom).  This is the before and after.

Before and after Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation

You can see by this picture why I say that I need foundation with good coverage because my skin needs help.  I used one layer over my whole face, and then built up with a second layer over my real problem areas (nose, apples of my cheeks, and break out area on my chin).  As you can see, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation did a great job covering my rosacea redness, and even that angry red zit on my chin (with an extra spot of foundation).  My freckles still show through, but not as dark, and you can still see a flush of pink on my nose and cheeks, but it’s way more even.  I think it looks very natural.  I say this is medium coverage.  My Revlon Whipped Creme Foundation covers more, but that is a full coverage foundation in my  mind, and much heavier on the skin than The Lifter.

When applying the rest of my makeup that day, I still needed to use concealer to make sure that zit stayed covered all day.  I did not top the foundation with a powder, and just added a little Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer under my eyes.  Here are some photos of how it wore throughout the day:

The Lifter foundation after one hour, three hours and six hours.

The first picture was about an hour or so after application.  I ate lunch and then applied the rest of my makeup before snapping the pic.  The middle picture was about three hours into wear.  The Lifter is holding up and not oxidizing.  I think it still looks freshly applied.  The third picture is after six hours or so of wear.  Sorry the lighting is so yellow.  The sun had set, so I snapped a pic with indoor lighting.  I think that The Lifter wore really well.  The only place that I saw an issue was my nose.  The Lifter still covered my redness and freckles (with very little fading) but I felt my pores were more noticeable than I would have liked.  Though the built-in primer worked well for the rest of my face, my gigantic pores need a little extra help.  I may end up only applying primer to my nose when I wear this foundation in the future.

So that’s it.  I actually really love the way Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation looks on me.  I think it’s probably best for normal to dry skin, but frankly, it’s hard to tell.  After wearing it a few times, I found that the coverage starts to fade after hour six, specifically on my nose.  By hour eight, I can definitely see some redness breaking through, but again, that is without a setting powder.  I’m sure that if I put a different primer on my nose and then finished with a setting powder I could get a few more hours out of The Lifter.  That sort of defeats the purpose, though.  The whole point is that this one product does the job of two (or in my case three) other products.  Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation can be found priced anywhere from $11.99 to $14.99, depending where you shop.  Personally, I love it.  I will definitely be using Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation when I want a lighter foundation than my Revlon Whipped Creme.

Let me know if you have used Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Lifter Foundation and how it worked for you.  I am really curious about the wide mix of reviews it has gotten.  What do you think?