Recent Purchases & Acquisitions!

April means lots of spring sales (because it's also tax season! Gotta spend that refund!) (I did not spend my refund on this stuff.) so I was able to get some new goodies. I had posted earlier about what I was planning to buy with my various coupon codes, and here are all the shiny new things! I also included some new items purchased not from Sephora/Ulta, and some PR goodies.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Shameless Foundation - Review

I love when I get stuff in the mail, especially unexpected goodies! I got the new Marc Jacobs Shameless foundation in the mail right before I left for Las Vegas, so it became my travel foundation for that trip. (I was originally going to bring the Fenty foundation but was meh on the matte finish for my going out looks.) It was risky, bringing a brand new, untested product with me, but life is about adventure, right? Before we get started, I received this product for free from Influenster (my referral link, fyi) in exchange for an honest review.

Recent Purchases, Repurchases, and Acquisitions

I think it's a good sign for my low buy that I don't have enough stuff for a purchase post AND a repurchase post. It's my birthday month and I was pretty restrained, as you can see. (Unlike last year...) Two of these products were sent to me for review, so I didn't even buy everything here! I'm super excited about everything, though.

The Face Shop Black Label Lipstick in Lady Wine (437) - Review

I was contacted by the lovely people over at q-depot with the opportunity to review one of the lipsticks from The Face Shop. I chose the shade Lady Wine to try and get out of my comfort zone a little. (I passed up corals and pinky nudes!) This is my first time trying a lipstick from a Korean brand, but I have used skincare products from The Face Shop in the past.

Lady Wine is a deepened berry red, with a warm undertone and hints of pink. There is a decent amount of silver shimmer, enough for a hint of pearly sheen but not enough for a metallic finish. The lipstick has a fruity scent which disappears quickly after applying. Application is smooth with no tugging or skipping. On the lips, the lipstick feels slightly gritty, most likely due to the shimmer. The formula is light with some slip, and it did not feel drying during wear. I had no issues with bleeding or feathering.

I experienced a lot of transfer during wear, especially while eating or drinking. Reapplying was easy enough, adding another layer of lipstick did not disturb the layer underneath. I did experience some fading on the inside of the lip, bad enough that it was noticeable and I needed to reapply. This shade did not leave a stain. Overall, this lipstick was easy to apply and wear, but isn't really good for situations where you need a lipstick to hold fast all day.

Pros:

• No bleeding or feathering
• Non drying
• Smooth application

Cons:

• Prone to transfer
• Slightly gritty feeling
• Fades on inner lip

The Face Shop Black Label Lipstick in Lady Wine (437)
Review - 3/5

This product was sent to me for free for review purposes. I was not paid for my review, and all thoughts are my own.

Kismet Cosmetics Liquid Lipsticks in Elope and On Point - Review

I'm happy to be reviewing a new product, and from a new company (to me, at least!) The team at Kismet Cosmetics were super kind and provided me with two of their new liquid lipsticks to review!

I received two liquid lipstick shades - Elope and On Point. Liquid lipsticks are the "in" item right now in terms of lip products, but you normally find liquid to matte formulas. Kismet's formula is different - the finish isn't matte, but ends up as a regular lipstick finish. It can be glossy or more satin, depending on how you blot it. 

Elope is described as a "nude." The shade is a pink leaning nude, somewhat tawny. It wasn't the type of nude that washes you out, and on the lips it definitely looked more pink (on me, at least.)

On Point is a "classic pink shade with hints of orchid and nude undertones." It is a creamy, bright pink with hints of coral. 

The applicator for these lipsticks is an elongated, slim doe foot, with a rounded end. The doe foot is much bigger than what I'm used to (think the doe foot on Kat von D's liquid lipsticks.) However, the larger doe foot did not create issues with application. The texture of these lipsticks surprised me - it was more like a thick gloss than a lipstick. Unlike Fyrinnae's Lip Lustres, which are definitely like a mushed up "regular" lipstick in a tube with a doe foot, these have the creaminess of a lipstick with the feel of a gloss. 

I didn't notice any difference in texture or formula between the two shades. There was no added scent that I could detect. Pigmentation was good for each - one swipe covered the lips well, but the formula can be built up for more intensity if you so desired. Because they are not a liquid to matte formula, they never really "set," meaning you can touch up without issue, or add another layer and not have to rush. Application was smooth due to the gloss-like texture. The formula was non sticky, which was nice considering its consistency. I usually wore two layers and then blotted the product for a less shiny, more satin finish.

Since these don't dry, there was some transfer when it came to cups and eating. I experienced no bleeding or feathering. They did not stand up to a full meal, and needed reapplication. Reapplication was smooth due to the non matte formula. I wore these with a lip primer, as always, and they did not dry out my lips. As the day wore on, the lipstick faded evenly.

I wanted to note that these lipsticks are both vegan and cruelty free, as well as gluten free. (I'm not a connoisseur of items with those qualities, but it's always good to note. I'm also hunting for GF items for a friend, and it's great that it's clearly listed!)

Pros:

• Non drying
• No bleeding or feathering
• No scent
• Non sticky
• Pigmented

Cons:

• Prone to transfer
• Larger doe foot may be tricky for some
• Needs to be reapplied due to no "dry down" of the formula

Kismet Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick - $22.00 each
Review - 4/5

These products were provided as press samples for review. Reviews on these items are honest opinions, and were not solicited.