Guest Post

Oh, Baby! Welcome the Benefit Dandelion and Hoola Minis to the Family

March 31st, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 19 Comments

Babies are so wonderful.

They’re the reason I’m here writing this post for you (thank you, Connor Claire!), and they’re the reason that my house is an insane but joyful mess.

Also, when you’re a makeup lover, they’re often the reason you might have yourself a little splurge from time to time, or, seize the opportunity to try a mini version of a normally expensive product at a fraction of full price!

Of course, now I’m not talking about the same kind of babies. Now I’m talking about baby-sized makeup, in all its glorious adorableness, and I know I can’t be the only one inexplicably drawn to “mini” makeup.

If you, like me, can’t get enough of terrific things that are tiny, the new spring 2016 Benefit Hoola and Benefit Dandelion minis are for you (and me!).

Benefit’s much-loved regular-sized 0.28 oz. $29 Hoola and Dandelion boxed powders have been around as long as I’ve loved makeup (years), and now these new smaller 0.12 oz. minis, which sell for $15, make it even easier to get to know this classic bronzer and rosy pink powder without committing to the full size. Or, if you already have a full-size Hoola or Dandelion, now you can add smaller emergency sizes too.

Benefit Hoola and Dandelion Minis ($15 and 0.12 ounces each)

Favorite thing about these is that Benefit didn’t change a thing about them other than their size, because a lot of the time with mini products, there’s something important missing, like a mirror that comes with the full-size version or a magnetized closure, but Benefit must have just pulled out their shrink ray. These have a mirror, a sturdy box, and they snap shut. The brand even went so far as to include teeny, tiny applicator brushes (not shown).

Benefit Hoola Mini, Benefit Dandelion Mini — Benefit Hoola and Dandelion Minis (0.12 ounces each)

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The Best in Beauty From the Boot, Vol. 3: Deborah Milano

March 31st, 2016 by Carolina Braina 16 Comments

Deborah Milano Atomic Red Mat Lipstick 01 — Wearing Deborah Atomic Red Mat Lipstick in shade 01 on my lips and Deborah 24ORE Waterproof Eyeliner in Black on my eyes

Deborah Milano is an Italian drugstore makeup brand, but today I’ll pretend she’s just a friend, because I’m pretty exhausted from working long hours at Cosmoprof, which is a huge beauty expo here in Bologna, for the past four days, and I could really use a friendly face.

Or a masseuse!

But anyways, let’s talk about Deborah. Born in Milan in 1962, she’s since made good friends with hundreds of thousands of Italian women by making beauty accessible to all of them, rather than just the élite, as it had been before.

Deborah is a really great girl. If you give her a chance, she’ll bring out and highlight your best qualities. She may embarrass you and make you blush sometimes…but I’m sure you’ll forgive her because of how she colors your life. Not to mention that you can count on her 24/7.

Today, I’m letting you in on a few of her secret weapons!

Deborah Milano Natural Effect Blush in 06 (€11.50/$12.90)

Deborah Natural Effect Blush in 06 — You thought sponge-tip applicators were useless…?

Don’t be fooled by the cheap-looking plastic packaging. This blush is a real gem. The mauvy pink shade here, 06, is one of those that looks much better applied than it does in the pan. I think it looks really natural on my complexion, and it blends effortlessly and lasts a pretty long time for a powder blush. What more could you want?

Deborah Milano Radiance Creator Highlighting Concealer in 01 Light (€12.50/$14)

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Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color: Review & Swatches, Part 2

March 30th, 2016 by Adia Goss 16 Comments

Here are swatches of the second group of $6.99 Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors. (Click here to see pics and swatches of the first batch.)

Just as a recap, here are my thoughts on the formula overall…

First, these are incredibly vibrant, and almost all of the 10 available colors are completely opaque, even after a single layer. Unlike the name suggests, though, I didn’t find them to be particularly matte. I’d describe them more as satin, with some appearing a bit glossy. Also, they don’t ever completely dry down, and they aren’t nearly as transfer resistant as the liquid lipsticks by Kat Von D, ColourPop or Sephora, for example.

That being said, they aren’t as drying either, so there’s the big trade-off with this formula.

I love the color range and how comfortable these are. But, I don’t love the incredibly strong scent or how easily they smudge and transfer.

If you’re sensitive to fragrances, be very careful about these. Upon application, there’s a strong floral/powder scent (maybe freesia?) that I can still notice after 20 minutes (though it’s weakened by then).

I also feel a bit of a tingle on my lips after I apply them. I’m not sure if it’s a reaction to the scent or an ingredient in the lipsticks, but it isn’t painful and doesn’t make my lips red or swollen or anything like that. Just something I thought I should note.

Overall, if you’re looking for intense pigmentation in a comfortable and affordable liquid lipstick, these are worth checking out; however, if you’re looking for long-lasting lipsticks, you may be disappointed. And be careful if you’re sensitive to fragrances!

Here are swatches and details of the last five shades (the reds and purples) — Fuschia Ecstacy, Orange Shot, Rebel Red, Vivid Violet and Possessed Plum.

maybelline color sensational vivid matte liquid lip color — L to R: Fuschia Ecstasy, Orange Shot, Rebel Red, Vivid Violet and Possessed Plum

Fuschia Ecstacy.

Swatched on my arm, this looks like a pink/red, but on my lips it looks much redder.

I really like this color.

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Sweet Scrubs: Clinique Sweet Pots and the Pixi Nourishing Lip Polish

March 30th, 2016 by Anna Oh 17 Comments

anna oh illustration beauty clinique pixi — A beauty illustration of a pamper session, by Anna Oh

Pixi Nourishing Lip Polish Clinique Sweet Pots — Pamper time with Pixi Nourishing Lip Polish and the Clinique Sweet Pots

Hi everyone!

This has been a crazy month, and I haven’t really taken care of myself (there is such a thing as too much pizza) or addressed that pile of laundry that somehow doubles in size every night.

Whenever I feel like this, like I’m always behind, I look forward to treating myself with an extra-long nighttime beauty routine, and one product I’ve recently added to my regimen is a moisturizing lip scrub.

In fact, here’s a look at two new lip scrubs I’ve recently tried.

Pixi Nourishing Lip Polish ($12)

The first new one I tried was Pixi Nourishing Lip Polish ($12, available at Pixi and Target stores), which is new for spring.

OK…this one is great, and I’ve never really tried anything like it! The plastic tip, which feels like a firm-but-squishy silicone, feels AMAZING when I scrub my lips with it, and since I’m able to control the pressure and placement, I feel like I’m massaging areas of my lips that I’ve never massaged before!

The moisturizing oils feel luxurious, too, although I do wipe them off after I’m done exfoliating. The instructions recommend keeping the formula on after the scrub, but it feels really weird with dead skin sitting there… I love how mess-free this product is as an exfoliator, but only as an exfoliator.

Ingredients
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Shorea Robusta Resin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Silica, Octyldodecanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Yellow Beeswax, Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Xylitol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol.

Clinique Sweet Pots Sugar Scrub & Lip Balm ($19.50)

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My LoTD With the Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Crayon in Rosey Nude and Twist Up Longwear Liner in Black Diamond

March 30th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 16 Comments

sonia-kashuk-velvety-matte-lip-crayon-top — Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Crayon in Rosey Nude ($7.99) and Twist Up Longwear Liner in Black Diamond ($7.99)

Do ya’ll ever just try a product, no matter what kind of product it is, and realize…

“How did I live my life before this? How could I possibly have functioned as a human being before I had this [wonderful thing] in my life?”

That’s how I felt when I discovered the Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Crayons.

I recently got my first Sonia Kashuk products, her Velvety Matte Lip Crayon in Rosey Nude and Twist Up Longwear Gel Eyeliner in Black Diamond, and I haven’t been disappointed.

I’ve always been curious about the line, eyeing it every time I’m at my local Target store, but nothing had ever pushed me toward one thing or another (with the exception of this brush cup).

Then this happened.

Sonia’s Velvety Matte Lip Crayons have completely changed my faith in the entire lip crayon philosophy and model.

I’ve always found other lip crayons to be so hit or miss. If they’re too big, they can feather easily, and if they’re too skinny, they feel very dry, but to me the Velvety Matte Lip Crayons are comparable to, if not better than, the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils.

I’ve been using and loving them in one of my favorite looks, which is a simple cat eye with a bold lip. Even when I’m just going to a coffee shop to write or get some other work done, I try to put a little makeup on because it makes me feel good, and since this look was so easy to create in a matter of minutes with these lip crayons, I thought I’d share my quick LoTD (Lips of The Day).

sonia-kashuk-velvety-matte-lip-crayon-face — Rosey? Yes. Nude? Not a chance.

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Tarte Drench Lip Splash Lipstick and Sea Quench Lip Rescue Treatments From the Rainforest of the Sea Collection

March 30th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 13 Comments

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drench Lip Splash Lipstick

My first Tarte product ever was a twist-up lipstick in pencil form. Lipsticks like it weren’t widely available at the time, and it was so convenient to just pop the twist-up color in my messenger bag before running off to class.

Several years later I discovered Tarte pure performance glamazon 12-hour lipstick, and it remains my favorite lipstick formula to this day.

Needless to say, I have fond memories and high expectations for Tarte lip products.

The new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea collection has something special for Tarte lippie lovers in the form of two new formulas — the Drench Lip Splash Lipsticks and Quench Lip Rescue lip balms — both of which are incredible.

I mean, now I know what the sirens must have been applying to their lips in those famous Greek myths to lure in the sailors…

Each of the $22 Tarte Drench Lip Splash Lipsticks is housed in a beautiful purple and golden reminiscent of the other metallic packaging in the range. The packaging sizzles with style and practically exudes summer “cool.” Right now I’m fanning myself and dreaming of hot summer nights, but I digress… 🙂

On the other hand, the $19 Tarte Quench Lip Rescue lip balms take a more whimsical approach to the collection’s aquatic, summery theme. Colorful tubes in marine teal, pink and violet are embossed with sea life, and since I’m a sucker for packaging and these are too cute, I’m all aboard.

Equally adorable, Tarte’s $19 multitasking primer/moisturizer, Lipsaver Treatment Primer, features life preservers. Of course.

Like the packaging for all of these, the formulas could not be more different.

Tarte Drench Lip Splash Lipstick is 100% pigmented and matte (although I’d describe the texture as something akin to a suede, rather than the dried down velvet of so many liquid lipstick formulas that are popular now). Promising to protect your lips while delivering intense hues from nude to neon pink and blackened purples, it can be a challenge to apply (more on that later).

Incredibly hydrating Tarte Quench Lip Rescue lip balm is like a cousin to Drench…only it likes to swim a lot more. It leaves lips looking wet while moisturizing them with essential oils to keep them plump and healthy. Only slightly tinted, Quench would be an ideal lippie for on-the-go application without a mirror.

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One Wash Wonders: 4 Eyeshadows You’ll Love if You’re Lazy or Busy

March 29th, 2016 by Carolina Braina 14 Comments

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow 06 Golden Brown — KIKO Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 Golden Brown on my eyes and MAC Velvetease Lip Pencil in Lover’s Lane on my lips

One Wash Wonder Eyeshadows — My favorite One Wash Wonders. Clockwise, from top left corner: Burberry Eye Colour Wet & Dry Glow Shadow in 002 Nude, Essence I Love Nude Eyeshadow in 04 Sweet Like Chocolate, Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Leather 24hr in Creamy Beige, KIKO Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 Golden Brown

Can we all please take a moment to thank the Beauty Gods profusely for creating One Wash Wonders?

Those magical neutrals that look amazing on their own, don’t require any makeup skills, and cut down the time you spend on your eyes to a handful of seconds are definitely the types of shadows I’m most grateful for.

In case you need a little inspiration for your first (or tenth) OWW purchase, here are my all-time favorites!

The Budget Buy: Essence I Love Nude Eyeshadow in 04 Sweet Like Chocolate (€3.19/$3.56)

Essence I Love Nude Eyeshadow 04 Sweet Like Chocolate — Wearing Essence I Love Nude Eyeshadow in 04 Sweet Like Chocolate last summer…

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Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color: Review & Swatches, Part 1

March 29th, 2016 by Adia Goss 27 Comments

The $6.99 Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Colors are, in a word, VIBRANT, and almost all of the colors go on fully opaque with a single layer, but despite what their name suggests, I didn’t find them to be particularly matte. I’d describe them as more satin, with some of them even appearing a bit glossy.

Also, they never quite completely dry down, and they aren’t nearly as transfer resistant as the liquid lipsticks by Kat Von D, ColourPop or Sephora.

That being said, they aren’t as drying either, so that’s a tradeoff.

I do love the color range and how comfortable they are, but I don’t love the incredibly strong scent or how easily they smudge and transfer. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, be very careful about these. Upon application, there’s a strong powdery floral scent (possibly freesia?) that’s still noticeable after 20 minutes (though less so). I also feel a bit of a tingle on my lips right after I apply them, but I’m not sure if it’s just a reaction to the scent or due to an actual ingredient.

It’s not painful, and it doesn’t make my lips red or swollen or anything like that, but it’s something I feel I should note.

Overall, if you’re looking for intense pigmentation in a comfortable, affordable liquid lipstick, these are worth checking out; however, if you’re looking for something long lasting (or you’re sensitive to fragrances!), you may be disappointed.

Here are first impressions and swatches of the first five shades (the nudes and pinks) — Nude Thrill, Nude Flesh, Pink Charge, Electric Pink and Berry Boost.

Nude Thrill.

This one is very much my kind of nude lipstick. It goes on smoothly and opaque, even with one layer. The color really reminds me of Maybelline’s Truffle Tease.