July 2018 Favorites!

Picking fresh, new favorites is tough after a month on a no buy! I do, however, love seeing repeat products on other peoples' favorite lists, so I don't feel bad doing that with mine. It's been hot and gross here all month, so my favorites include some products that compliment summer weather.

June 2018 Favorites!

It's beginning to feel a lot like summer...hot and sticky! I'm not the biggest fan of summer, but I have learned to adapt to get through it. Like many others, I switch to lighter products that don't feel heavy on the skin, and break out brighter, more fun colors. My favorites for June include a few of these summer essentials!

September 2015 Favorites

I've been MIA for a while! I'm back to pick up where I left off - I have a ton of stuff to play with and review. Here are the things I found myself reaching for the most in the month of September:

1. Kat von D Shade and Light Eye palette - When this came out, I told myself I didn't need it. I have so many neutral shadows, so many matte shadows, so many matte neutral palettes...but I caved and bought it. Since I picked it up, I've been using it near daily. The shadows are extremely blendable and smooth, and there are shadows for every occasion, whether you want dark or light eyes. I'm really happy I picked this one up!
2. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in I Heart This - A basic shimmery champagne color, I've been using this on the lid constantly with my KvD palette looks! I like applying this with the finger, and then blending out the edges with a synthetic hair brush.
3. Sixteen92 The Masquerade Party - I have a full review of this Birthday Collection scent from a few months ago. Now that the weather has cooled off, I have been reaching for this pumpkin scent at least two to three times a week. I purchased a full size, and kept my sample as well so I'll be well stocked. I'm all about pumpkin everything during autumn, and this scent fits the bill.
4. Hakuhodo J5522 - This is my new favorite crease brush. My eyes are small, so the shape of this brush is a little bit too big. I find that although it's big, the end is able to deposit color in my crease and blow it out just the right amount. It makes putting transition shades down that much faster, since I'm depositing color and blending out the edges in one fell swoop. Also, it's super soft and fluffy - what's not to love?
5. Tom Ford lipstick in Richard - This shade is a limited edition shade from the Lips and Boys collection - but it is also an exact dupe for another LE shade, Negligee. I've started wearing this more often since the collection is rumored to be making a comeback - I can pick up a backup! This shade is a great My Lips But Better shade on me, perfect to go with more bold eye looks. The formula is also extremely comfortable, another plus. Hopefully the collection is back soon, before I run out of this one!

FOTD - 6.29.15

It's been a while since I posted a FOTD! Not the best lighting, since it's my cell phone and I'm too inept at using my real camera to take pictures of my makeup in the morning.

Products Used:

Face:

• Rimmel Stay Matte primer
• Urban Decay Naked Skin liquid foundation in 1.0
• NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
• Anastasia Contour Kit
• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused
• Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer
• Hello Waffle blush in Blush Honey
• MAC Fix+

Eyes:

• Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown
• NYX Cosmetics Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown
• NYX Cosmetics brow wax
• NARS Smudgeproof eye primer
• Make Up For Ever Artist Eyeshadows in Pink Taupe and Taupe Gray
• Colourpop SuperShock eyeshadow in I Heart This
• Inglot #77 gel liner
• Inglot #353 eyeshadow
• Diorshow mascara in black
• Ri Pi lashes in RP-06

Lips:

• MAC Prep and Prime Lip
• MAC Mineralize lipstick in Be A Lady

ColourPop Lippie Stix in Topanga - Review

ColourPop recently released their summer collection entitled "ColourPop Takes It Off," meaning I recently placed a ColourPop order! They released several new lipsticks, including one called Topanga. I was never a Boy Meets World fan, but I'm assuming it's named for the Boy Meets World character.

Topanga is listed as a "mid-tone dusty coral." The coral is a pinky coral - my favorite! It is still bright, though the "dusty" quality of the shade is there with it not being blindingly bright. The listed finish is satin - though upon application it has a bit of a shiny finish, after blotting it becomes more of a satin finish. Application with smooth, with good pigmentation. There is a light vanilla scent to the lipstick, which fades after application.

I wore this shade with a lip primer, but with no lip liner. I experienced no bleeding or feathering throughout the day. I did notice the color gathering into lip lines throughout the day, and the color fading from the inside of my lips. I had to reapply after about four hours. My lips did get a little dried out as well. Usually ColourPop releases a matching lip liner for all of their lipsticks, but Topanga was not released with a match, which I am a bit sad about.

Packaging is the same as all ColourPop lipsticks - white plastic tube with matching color button on the bottom and the twisting mechanism. There is a label on the bottom with the shade and the finish. The holo print on the tube rubs off easily. The packaging is cheap and light, but not much is expected for this price point. I've banged these around in my purse a bunch and have yet to have one break on me. ColourPop is stated to be a cruelty free company, and this product is vegan.

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Nicely pigmented
• Vegan and cruelty free

Cons:

• Discernable scent (though it does fade)
• Color gathers into lip lines
• Fades
• Somewhat drying
• No matching liner :(

ColourPop Lippie Stix in Topanga - $5.00 for 0.0352 oz

Review - 3/5

Fyrinnae Kitten vs. Colourpop Tootsi - Comparison Post

If you haven't noticed, I am all about the "butthole lip" trend, aka "griege" lip colors. Every company and their mother have jumped to create a griege lip shade, especially since Lime Crime decided to crash and burn hardcore with their credit card debacle earlier this year. On top of, you know, their general shady history. However, Lime Crime Cashmere is the end all be all of butthole lip, and I am on a quest to find an amazing dupe so I don't have to sell my soul or even worse, set aside my morals for a tube of most likely questionable butthole goodness.

Today I'm taking a look at one of my favorite indie companies, Fyrinnae, and their recent addition to their liquid matte line, Kitten. Next to it we are putting ColourPop Tootsi, which I have previously reviewed. (And since picked up the matching lip liner.) Fyrinnae Kitten has been selling like hot cakes since it went up on the site (and every time it is restocked!), and I managed to finally snag it a few weeks ago and I am SO HAPPY. Tootsi is a hot item as well, since it's basically butthole for $5 - can't say no to that!

Before we begin, when I compare two products like this, I am comparing for shade purposes only. Kitten is a liquid matte, with the formula being like an ink for your lips, you can see it in the swatch that it has sunk into my skin, almost. Tootsi is a regular lipstick with a "matte" finish. I say "matte" because ColourPop doesn't know what matte means and from my experience, when they say "matte lipstick" they mean demi-matte.

Kitten is definitely the more gray of the two, with a beautiful grayish lavender shade. Greige is supposed to be a mix of beige and grey, so I'd say Kitten doesn't really fall into that category due to the amount of purple that it's in the mix here. Tootsi has a hint of pink to it as well, but definitely more beige, and a lot less gray. In the quest for butthole, I'd say Tootsi is more the color of the classic butthole lip, and Kitten is more of a fabulous garden fairy lip color. Neither, though, are a true griege in my opinion.

I'm still on my quest for the great Cashmere griege dupe. But I'm glad I have both of these shades!

Review - ColourPop Highlighter in Wisp

ColourPop has just released their new highlighters, so I figured now is the best time to share my thoughts on the one that was included with my latest order! I was able to choose a mini size (which is pretty substantial!) highlighter out of three shades with an order over $40 a few weeks back, and I chose the shade Wisp.

ColourPop highlighter in Wisp

Wisp swatch

Wisp is listed as a "golden champagne with highly reflective hues of gold duo chrome finishes." ColourPop recommends using your fingers for the highest coverage, and a synthetic or duo fiber brush for a more air brushed look. I tried using a Real Techniques Setting Brush, my go to brush for cream highlighters, which barely picked up any product. When I used my fingers, I was able to get much better payoff. The formula is much softer and more spongy than other ColourPop formulas I've tried so far.

When applying, the highlighter spread nicely and I was able to blend easily. I kept it to the top of my cheekbones and my cupid's bow, so I did not see it really emphasizes any of my pores, since I kept it away from my larger pores on my cheeks. It gave a soft champagne gold glow since I blended it out with my finger, though unblended it can be quite bold.

This wasn't my favorite highlighter in the world, I'll be honest. I much prefer my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors for cream highlighters as they can be applied with a brush and I don't have to go and stick my finger into a little pot. The mini I got is a good size, but I don't see myself collecting all of the highlighter shades from ColourPop. I could definitely see packing this as an "all over" color for a trip though - can slap it on lids, cheekbones, whatever in a pinch and be good to go.

As I've noted previously, ColourPop is a cruelty free brand. Wisp is a vegan shade as well, which is great!

Pros:

• Blendable
• Pigmented

Cons:

• HAVE to use your fingers, brushes basically don't work
• Very, very spongy/soft formula
• Packaging sucks for digging your finger around in

ColourPop Highlighter in Wisp - $8.00 for 0.15 oz*

Review - 2.5/5

* I listed the full size and price of the product, instead of the small size I received as a gift with purchase.

Review - ColourPop Super Shock Eyehadows in Flux and Snap Dragon

One of my more recent ColourPop orders had some items from the Spring Collection (let's not talk about how many orders I've had, okay?) I finally got around to using two of the new eyeshadows, Flux and Snap Dragon, so I'm happy I can get to review them here!

ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadows in Flux (left) and
Snap Dragon (right)

Swatches of Flux (top left) and Snap Dragon (bottom right)

Flux is a "light mint green in a matte finish." The shade looks gorgeous in the pan, the perfect springy mint that I've been searching for. However, swatching it doesn't look nearly as lovely. Flux swatches out more of a chalky whitish green shade. It feels more dry in the pan than some of the other ColourPop shadows I have, not as moussy and spongy. I tried to work with it using a synthetic brush and it fared better than using a natural brush. Even after building up the shadow over a primer, the color was just not true to pan - I was pretty disappointed.

Snap Dragon is a "mid-tone sea foam green in a matte finish." Again, the color in the pan is fantastic, and thankfully, it performs on the skin as well. The color was able to be built up to a vibrant shade, and looked great! The texture was that of the usual spongy cream to powder I've come to expect from ColourPop, and it definitely performed better with a synthetic brush. It blended out nicely as well.

I somehow have forgotten to note that ColourPop is a cruelty free brand, as stated on their site. These two shades are also vegan shades, since they are not listed on the FAQ list of non-vegan shades. Pretty cool that these are cruelty free for $5 each!

Pros:

• Dat price tag!
• Cream to powder formula
• Blends nicely
• Pigmented (Snap Dragon)

Cons:

• Dry texture (Flux)
• Not true to pan color (Flux)
• Needs to be applied with a synthetic brush for best performance (or a finger, you know.)

ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadows in Flux and Snap Dragon - $5.00 for 0.07 oz (each)

Review:

Flux - 1/5

Snap Dragon - 4/5

Review - ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in I Heart This

If you're getting tired of seeing ColourPop on my blog...sorry not sorry, I have a bunch more items to go through! This time it's an eyeshadow single, though.

ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in I Heart This 

Wrist swatch of I Heart This

I Heart This is listed as a "cool toned silvery taupe with multi colored glitter," with a metallic finish. I am a sucker for any and all taupes, so I immediately added this to my cart. Glitter is one word that aptly describes this shadow - there is definite fallout if you apply this with a brush. I even broke out the synthetic brushes I bought specifically for working with these shadows and I wound up with sparkly cheeks. I had much less fallout using my finger. The application with a brush allows for a sheerer wash of the shadow, but using a finger really builds up the metallic application. But I digress - back to the formula.

The texture a spongy cream, which makes picking it up with a brush difficult. The shadow itself is somewhat sheer, but can be built up As you can see in the swatch, the taupe color is there, but the sparkles really take over and add to the sheerness of the shadow, and the metallic finish doesn't help build up a solid color, so to speak. Blending out the edges of the shadow was easy once applied. I wore this over a primer, and experienced a little bit of fading over the course of eight hours - the metallic finish lost some of its luster.

Although the shadow has fallout and the color itself is a bit sheer, I've reached for this shadow a few times to punch up a boring neutral eye. It's sheerness allows itself to add a bit of glitter or sheen to an otherwise matte look, or be built up on the lid into something more intense. It isn't the world's best eyeshadow by any means, but it has found a place in my rotation!

Pros:

• Buildable
• Blendable
• True metallic finish

Cons:

• Glitterbomb
• Prone to fading
• Color needs to be built up

ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in I Heart This - $5.00 for 0.07 oz

Review - 3/5

Review - ColourPop Lippie Stix in LBB

Here we are again, with another review of another ColourPop product! If you can't tell I am all aboard the hype train for ColourPop - and why not, for $5! I picked up the shade LBB after reading it was a shade dupe for Melt Cosmetics' Dark Room, since I was not about to pay the shipping for one lipstick.

ColorPop Lippie Pencil and Lippie Stix in LBB

LBB pencil (left) and lipstick (right) swatches

The shade LBB is described as a "rich plum wine with a matte finish." I find that this is more of a raspberry plum shade. Although the finish is described as matte, it actually is more of a demi matte finish, which is nice for those who don't like the super harsh liquid lipstick matte look.

I love buying the matching lipstick and lip liner when I purchase from ColourPop, because they're each $5 and I love having matching sets. The liner goes on smoothly with no skipping, and is decently pigmented. It has no discernible scent. However, it does not have the twist up packaging that the lipstick has, meaning you'll need to sharpen it. A bit disappointing, but at the price point, I can't complain too much. The lipstick itself has the twist up packaging, as well as a color matching button on the bottom with a sticker labeling the shade, and the applicator with color matching plastic. There is a slight vanilla buttercream frosting scent to the product, which fades quickly after application. The application is nice, but the color goes on a little patchy.

During the course of wear, I found that the lipstick begun to highlight any imperfections or flakes in my lips, even with the use of a lip primer beforehand. I did not find the formula to be excessively drying, however. I experienced no bleeding or feathering, but I did use the matching lip liner. There was some transfer to my cup throughout the day, as well as fading on the inside of the lips. Reapplication resulted in more patchiness, especially over the highlighted flakes. The matte formula shows its true colors here - although the finish isn't matte, the formula itself behaves like a matte. I'd suggest a thorough lip scrub before wearing, and thinking about if your lips are ready for a matte lipstick that day. The lipstick did leave a wonderful pinky berry stain on the lips.

Pros:

• Non drying
• Scent fades quickly
• Demi matte finish
• Leaves a stain
• No feathering/bleeding
• Twist up packaging

Cons:

• Highlights flakes
• Some patchiness
• Fading on inside of lips
• Product name (ugh.)

ColourPop Lippie Stix in LBB - $5.00 for 0.0352 oz

Review - 3/5

Review - ColourPop Lippie Stix in Tootsi

I am all about the lovingly named "butthole lip" trend, and have been trying to find something close to the end all butthole color of Lime Crime Cashmere, which I refuse to buy for what should be obvious reasons. When ColourPop came out with their new spring shade Tootsi, you bet I immediately dropped what I was doing and added it to my order!

ColourPop Tootsi

Tootsi wrist swatch

Tootsi is described as a "cool toned grey beige with a matte finish." There is definitely a mauve undertone to this greige, but there is definitely the greige tone I was looking for when I purchased this shade. As for matte finish, ColourPop has yet to really figure out what "matte" means to them. There is matte and then there is what ColourPop calls matte, which is more of a very light natural finish that is achieved after blotting off excess product. Definitely more matte than your average satin or natural finish lipstick, but in no way as matte as say, a MAC matte finish lipstick.

Tootsi applies nicely from the tube, very smooth. The product is pigmented, and the color builds nicely. I only needed about two coats, but one will suffice. There is a slight vanilla scent to the lipstick that fades after application. To get a more matte look, blot the lipstick after application as mentioned earlier, or you will be left with a more satin finish. There was transfer onto my coffee cup, but the lipstick did not look bad on the lips after transfer. No super noticeable staining, but the mauve undertones matched my lips slightly. I did not notice any feathering or bleeding, or gathering into the lip lines. I wore this with no lip liner (though I did order the matching one!) and with a lip primer. I did not find this to be drying, but instead to be moderately hydrating, especially for something "matte." (Again, take that with a grain of salt.)

The packaging is a slim plastic tube, with a colored button on the end that coordinates with the color of the lipstick. The plastic applicator is also the same shade as the lipstick as well. The label on the bottom is a sticker, and the labelling on the side of the tube is silver holo. The side labelling rubs off very easily, which is a big negative. The packaging feels pretty cheap, but you're only paying $5 so I'm not too disappointed in that.

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Fits into the butthole category if you're into that
• Non drying
• No feathering or bleeding

Cons:

• Transfers
• Not actually matte
• Product name is "Lippie Stix"
• Holo labelling rubs off very easily

ColourPop Lippie Stix in Tootsi - $5.00 for 0.0352 oz

Review - 4/5

Review - ColourPop Rebound Eyeshadow Foursome

ColourPop isn't really new anymore, they've been around for a little bit and have become quite popular. With $5 lipsticks and eyeshadows and $8 blushes that get the job done, who can say no? I picked up their spring release eyeshadow quad, the Rebound set, and am happy to review it!

ColourPop Rebound

ColourPop Rebound

Review - ColourPop Lippie Stix and Pencil in Bull Chic

I have been lusting after black lipstick for a while. I have no idea why, as I'm not likely to wear it to work, or even out of the house. Even so, I've been keeping an eye out on any and all black lipsticks. My friend Anna knew this, and got me ColourPop's Bull Chic lipstick (I am sorry, I refuse to say "lippie stix") and liner as a gift!

ColourPop Lippie Stix and Liner in Bull Chic

Bull Chic Lippie Stix (left) and liner (right)

Bull Chic lip swatch

I really do like the twist up packaging of the lipstick. The liner, however, appears that it will need to be sharpened, but you can't really complain at the price point of $5. The lipstick had a pretty heavy vanilla cake scent that faded after application. Application of both liner and lipstick were smooth. However, both were not as pigmented as I was hoping, as evidenced in the swatches. The lipstick has quite a bit of slip, even after blotting. ColourPop claims that the lipstick is matte, but it is far from matte. not even a demi matte or satin matte. It's just not matte, at all. I'd go with more of a creme formula than matte.

The formula isn't drying from what I found. It does, however, transfer very easily, even after blotting. The liner doesn't seem to do too much in giving the lipstick something to "stick" to. I did not eat with this lipstick on, but I can see it smearing easily. I was able to remove the lipstick easily, and it did not leave much of a stain.

Unfortunately, I like how the other ColourPop lipsticks and liners in my collection wear. Fortunately, black is a shade that is going to be used sparingly, so a perfect formula isn't exactly necessary. The Bull Chic lipstick and liner get the job done.

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Non drying

Cons:

• Lacking pigmentation
• Transfers easily
• Heavy scent
• Not matte in the least.

ColourPop Lippie Stix in Bull Chic - $5.00 for 0.0352 oz

ColourPop Pencil in Bull Chick - $5.00 for 0.0352 oz

Review - 2.5/5

Review - ColourPop Lippie to Go set

ColourPop products have been popping up (I hate myself) everywhere! Some think they are run by the Illuminati, or at the very least, they are paying a ton of shills to push the product everywhere. I believe the explanation is much more simple - they sent promo items to a few YouTube personalities, and then sales picked up because all products are $5. You heard right - five freaking dollars! So it's easy to see why sales are up and people are picking up ColourPop!

I was super fortunate enough to receive a cute set of ColourPop lipsticks and lip liners for Christmas from Bisous Darling! The set is limited edition, but the colors are all available individually. The set is perfect - each lipstick comes paired with a lip liner on the other end. The set has five colors that span a nice range of wearable shades (ColourPop also offers some non-traditional shades as well.)

ColourPop Lippie to Go set

Lippies to go!

Top to bottom - Brink, Grind,
I Heart This, Frenchie, Bichette

In the swatch photo, the lipstick is on the left, and the liner is on the right. All swatches are one swipe! I've worn the shade Brink, and it wore well. I paired it with a lip primer, and I did not experience any bleeding or feathering (thanks lip liner side!) Application was smooth, and the product wasn't drying to my lips. I really think the formula for these is a pretty good deal for $5 a pop (ha! I still hate myself.) especially if you'd like to try a color you may not wear too often.

Pros:

• Two in one product
• Smooth application
• Pigmented

Cons

• Limited edition set

ColourPop Lippie to Go set (limited edition) - $20 for 5x 0.014 oz

Review - 4/5