L'Oreal Infallible Lip Color

I needed a new lip stain, so I picked up L'Oreal's Infallible Lip Color in "Crimson". I put it on the next day, and was not disappointed. The packaging was quite neat; one side had the stain, which was in a gloss form. I unscrewed the top, and the brush slid out. Easy enough. The balm was on the other side, which I pulled out and applied, after I put on two coats of the stain. The product wasn't highly pigmented, but it was buildable. The packaging also was reflective, so it made a great mirror. Stain, balm, and mirror: all in one. Sweet! The stain stayed on well throughout the day, and barely dried out my lips. I can't wait to try more of L'Oreal's Infallibe lip products!

L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner

I wanted to try out a new black eyeliner, so I picked up L'Oreal's Voluminous Smoldering eyeliner. It came with a pretty good sharpener, so I was pretty excited to try it. I ended up liking the liner; after a bit of trial and error, I achieved a decent smoky look, using only the liner and my finger! I liked how highly pigmented the eyeliner was, and how well it smudged. It didn't stay put terribly well; then again, I hadn't put on any primer, and the humidity was insane. I will probably try this liner in better conditions. I really like the eyeliner; I'll use it until I run out, and maybe even buy it again.

Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer

I'm still looking for the HG of lip balms, and I thought Neutrogena might have it. I picked up their lip moisturizer at Ulta the other day, and gave it a shot. I ended up liking it, but it wasn't the HG. The balm's packaging was nice; it twisted at the top, not the bottom, and was overall very functional. The product itself was okay, it moisturized my lips pretty well, and was a good basic lip product for me to have. It wasn't remarkable, though; I have other products that can moisturize better. I will probably use this product until I run out of it, but I won't buy it again.

Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam

I wanted to try out a new foundation, so I picked up Maybelline's Dream Nude Air Foam. I had been meaning to buy it for a while, but I was nervous about trying a mousse formula. As expected, the airfoam took a little getting used to. On my first try, I ended up with a lot of liquid, which I didn't like. My next attempt yielded more foundation than I wanted. I put it on, and ended up really liking it! The foundation gave me very lightweight, sheer coverage, and felt very smooth. It left my skin even in color, and with a slight glow. This is probably my new favorite foundation, and I will definitely buy it again!

Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes

I was walking through the drugstore the other day, and I saw that there was a new variety of the Falsies! Could it be? I grabbed it without hesitation, and immediately wondered if it could possibly be better than the original. I put it on the following morning, and was initially put off by the brush for the "Upper Lashes" side. It wasn't the curved brush that defined the falsies for me, but rather a corkscrew-like thing! Once I put it on, though, it looked just like the original Falsies. The "Lower Lashes" end was what really intrigued me. It sported a teeny-tiny straight brush for one to do their lower lashes with! This is a first among drugstore mascaras, and I actually really liked it; the brush let me be very precise, and it kept me from getting too much product on my lower lashes. So even though the "Upper Lashes" brush was not what I expected, I really liked this version of the Falsies, and I will definitely buy it again.

Deep Clean Your Lips

Lipstick flaking because of a scaly kisser? Then guess what; it's time to deep clean your lips! After a few simple steps, your lips will be softer, and free of dead skin. 

Here's what you need: 

Sugar scrub (don't have any? you can make your own!)

Moisturizer (can be rose salve, cocoa butter, or vaseline)

Homemade sugar scrub:

Combine sugar and honey until you get a thick, grainy paste. There's no set quantities that you need, just make sure that it's not runny at all. 

Here's what you do:

Apply sugar scrub to lips and scrub for about 30 seconds (you can either rub your lips together, or grind it in with your finger)

Wipe off sugar scrub

Put plenty of moisturizer on your lips, let soak in

Results may take a few days to show up depending on how crusty your lips are, but the treatment will ultimately smooth and moisturize your lips. I usually go through this process about once a week. 

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner

I picked up a few new products the other day at Walgreens, and Neutrogena's Nourishing eyeliner was among them. I bought it in "Brushed Pewter," a dark shade of gray (swatched in picture below). I put it on the next morning, and ended up liking it! It took a few swipes to get on, but once I got it on, it looked really good. I liked how smooth it felt when I was applying it, and how well it blended with my eye shadow. I couldn't feel it on my eyelids, and the product stayed on all day without smudging. I was very impressed, and will be trying more Neutrogena products (hopefully) soon!

ELF 3-in-1 Mascara

 Since I really liked one of ELF's other mascara's, I decided I'd pick up their 3-in-1 mascara. Said mascara claimed to "Lengthen, define, and volumize". Surely, since it was more expensive and claimed to do more than their lengthening and volumizing mascara, then must be great. I was wrong. Even though the brush looked like it would be great, it ended up being awful. The little ball on the end actually wasn't helpful for flaring out my lashes, nor did it help me get into my inner lashes. The bristles on the applicator were way too short; it barely deposited any product onto my lashes, and the product that was applied didn't do anything in the way of lengthening, defining, or volumizing my lashes. I was very disappointed.

Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm

I picked up Neutrogena's Revitalizing lip balm the other day in "Sunny Berry" at Walgreens, and put it on soon after. The balm glided on smoothly, but I didn't like the way the balm was in an oval; it made it hard to put it on without getting it everywhere.  It ended up looking true to the way it looked in the swatch on the packaging, which is rare. The product stayed on fairly well, and conditioned my lips nicely. After repeated use, the balm really smoothed out my lips, but I don't know if I would buy it again; it's not the HG.

Build Your Makeup Kit: Misc. Products

There are a number of general products that you absolutely have to have in order to be well-equipped.
Far left: Foundation. Foundation is one of the most basics makeup products, and it is imperative that one has a good foundation that works for them. Said product has to be the right color and texture, and provide the right coverage. I use Relon's Photoready foundation.
Second to left: Tweezers. Messy eyebrows can really ruin an otherwise great smoky eye. Brows should be tweezed about three times a week, sometimes more or less, depending on the brows in question. As such, you must have a great pair of tweezers in your makeup kit. I use Revlon.
Top right: Good blush. Blush is a very important product to have, and it has to be the exact right shade. Not too bright, not too pale. This shade is different for every skin tone. Said blush should also be a texture that works for you. I use powder blush, because I've found that mousse or gel blushes are too intense for me.
Bottom right: Highlighter: Highlighter is just as important as blush. Highlighters are hard to come by, but they are of the upmost importance. Highlighters really wake up your face and give you a lovely glow. I use Maybelline's a Touch of Light.

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner

I was really excited to try Maybelline's gel liner from their Eye Studio collection; Maybelline makes such great mascaras, so I figured their liners were the same way. I was wrong. I bought it in "eggplant," a deep shade of purple. I put the liner on the morning after I bought it, and I could barely see it! The color hardly showed up on my lids, and I was forced to put on layer after layer to even make the liner visible. Even then, though, it was far too subtle, and unprecise. I ended up just taking the liner off; I really wasn't impressed.

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

I had been wanting to try Maybelline's Mega Plush mascara for a long time, so I finally bought it a few days ago, and tried it out. I hadn't seen much advertising for the product, like I had for the Rocket and the Falsies. I was still hoping for another HG of mascara, though. I put it on the next day, and was initially put off. The brush (shown in lower picture) was huge, with thick bristles. Yet it initially gave me very little volume. However, after putting on numerous coats (literally more than a dozen), I fell in love with the effect. The mascara gave me amazing definition, and
no clumps. After building it, I got great volume, and it ended up giving me a sort of doll-lash effect. The product held it's effect all day, and I might even like it more than the Falsies! If you have enough time to put on coat after coat, this is your mascara.

Build Your Makeup Kit: Lip Products

At the most basic level, you only need three lip products. While it is better to have plenty of options, these three colors will be the core of your lipstick collection. You need at least one product that fits each description.

Top: Red lip color. You must have a good shade of red lipstick. Said lipstick must go well with your skin tone, and stay on well. Red lipstick is great for dramatic makeup looks, especially for night. I use ELF's Matte Lip Color.

Middle: Peach/Pink lip color. Another necessity is a good shade of pink. Pink is great for more subtle looks, and is also quite girly. It's less dramatic than red, and thus more versatile. I use Revlon's Baby Stick in "Tahiti," which is a light peachy shade.

Bottom: Nude lip color. The third and final shade that you absolutely can't do without is nude. You need a good nude shade for your lips for a daytime sexy look, or just for days where you don't feel like wearing much makeup. I use lip gloss from Victoria's Secret, but there are plenty of options out there. 

Build Your Makeup Kit: Eye Makeup

You may not need the exact products I'm showing you in this post, but these are the products I use on my eyes almost every day. This is the bare minimum assortment of eye products that you need to have a good makeup assortment. 

Far left: Mascara. You cannot get by without a great mascara. Said "great mascara" should provide both volume and length, and it must hold it's effect for the entire day. I use Maybelline's "The Falsies".

Second to left: Primer. If you want your eye shadow to stay on for more than just a couple hours, you need a good primer. I use ELF's eyelid primer, it was just a dollar and has vastly improved the wear time of my shadow. 

Top: Smokey Eye Palette. You need a palette of dark shadows for more dramatic looks. My palette is Physicians Formula's Smoky Palette; it has plenty of silver and gray shadows.

Second to top: Nude Eye Palette. Just as important as the smokey palette, the nude palette is necessary for your makeup kit, as it provides you with a more subtle look for day. Make sure that your nude palette has at least four shades.

Second to bottom: Liquid liner. I use liquid eyeliner almost every day. It stays on great and is very precise. It gives more of a dramatic look, as opposed to kohl eyeliner. It was very hard for me to find a liquid liner that I like. I now use Rimmel's Glam Eyes, and I love it. 

Bottom: Eyeliner stick. You need a good stick of black eyeliner just as badly as you need a liquid liner. Most eyeliner sticks are fine to use; I haven't found much of a difference among the ones that I've used over he years. I use Rimmel's Special Eyes.  

Build Your Makeup Kit: Brushes You Need

Makeup is fun and all, but we can't forget our brushes! After all, they are the things that enable us to conceal, blush, and shadow. Most of my brushes are Ecotools, but there are plenty of great brushes out there to choose from. 

From bottom to top:

Bottom: Shadow brush. I use this brush almost every day to put on my base color; it covers a lot of my lid so I can put the shadow on quickly. The bristles are very dense and close together, so I can put a lot of shadow on at once.

Second to bottom: Fluffy shadow brush. This brush is great for less intense looks; it's not as dense as the brush below it, and it just sort of feathers the shadow onto my eyes; I use it for my less intense makeup days.

Third to bottom: Domed shadow brush. I use this brush every now and then, it's great for putting shadow on the inner corners of my eyes, and it fits into the crease really well.

Fourth to bottom: Slanted eye shadow brush. This brush is good for putting on gel or powder liner; the straight edge of it makes it very precise, so it's great for a cat-eye. 

Third top top: Small rounded eye shadow brush. This brush is the one brush that I simply can't live without. I use it to put my dark shadow on the outer corner of my eyes, and for sweeping on powder liner. 

Second to top: Large brush. I use this particular brush to put on my blush. When choosing a blush brush, choose one that's not as big as your foundation brush, but substantially larger than eye shadow brushes. A blush brush should be not as dense are your other brushes, so that the cheek color looks light and not overdone.

Very top: Large fluffy brush. I use this one to put on my powder, and it can also be used for blush.

L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow

I bought L'Oreal's Infallible eye shadow in "Smoldering Plum" at Walgreens the other day, as I had been wanting to try the product for quite some time. I put the shadow on the next day, and was quite freaked out; it was really, really dark. The shadow ended up being more brown than plum, as well. The shadow felt really silky and had a nice shimmery effect, but it still wasn't what I expected. Despite how much I liked the formula of the shadow, I was annoyed at the color. That is not plum. I might buy more shades of L'Oreal's Infallible eye shadow, but I will remain wary.

Here's how the shadow looked in the pot: a dark brown shade with a hint of brown.

Here's how the shadow looked on: brown, and nothing but.

Thanks, Guys!

This blog has been getting way more views than I ever thought it would, and that's because of you, so THANKS. LIKE, A LOT. But what does this mean? It means I'll be including more of my own photos and start swatching the products for you guys, and I'll be doing many, many more reviews. I also might move to my very own website. What else do you guys want? Tell me in the comments!

L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick

I've been meaning to try L'Oreal's Color Riche lipstick; surely out of all of those colors, I can find a winner. I bought the lipstick in "Blazing Lava," a shimmery scarlet shade. I put it on the next morning, and ended up really liking it. The lipstick took a few swipes to get on, but once I had it on the way I wanted it, the lipstick had a creamy feel to it, and the color looked just like it did it the tube. The product smeared a little throughout the day, but I forgave it as it didn't dry out my lips. I might buy more Color Riche lipsticks, mostly because of how many colors there are.

Almay Intense I-Color Eye Shadow Palette for Brown Eyes

I've always been wary of Almay, mostly because of their advertising. They seem to admire a more natural-looking makeup look, and that's not exactly my thing. Regardless, I tried out their Intense I-Color eye shadow palette for brown eyes. Big mistake. The shadow was quite chalky, and not as pigmented as I would have liked. Despite repeatedly swiping it on, the shadow looked like it was barely there. The product smeared throughout the day, and creased quite badly. I doubt I'll buy Almay makeup again.

NYX Loose Pearl Eyeshadow

I have finally found the HG of loose shadows, and it comes in the form of NYX's Loose Pearl eye shadows, which I procured at Ulta. I put two of the shades on the next morning, and loved how highly pigmented they were, and how pearly looking and smooth the shadows were. The product stayed on all day without smearing or creasing at all. I plan on buying many more shades!

The Body Shop Lip Butter

I bought a few of the Body Shop's lip butters at Ulta the other day, and it ended up being a good decision. They were 6 dollars apiece, which I thought was a little steep for such a small amount (10 ml), but I bought them anyways. They ended up being worth the price; I love them. The balms made my lips feel silky smooth but not weighed down. The product soaked in after about an hour, and my lips felt great even after the lip butter was long gone from my lips. I'll most likely pick up more of the Body Shop's lip butters in the near future!

Hard Candy Eye Candy Sparkle Creme Eye Shadow

I wanted to see what I could do in the way of semi-trashy sparkly eye shadow (every girl should have a trashy makeup look on hand), so I picked up Hard Candy's Eye Candy Sparkle Creme Eye Shadow. I put it on a few days later for a party, and I ended up achieving my goal. I layered on the sparkly eye shadow until my lids were nearly all glitter, and then I traced the liner on my lower lid. Ta-da! The look was the perfect mix between gnarly and sexy. The shadow felt heavy on my lids (I put on a ton, though), smeared a good amount, but that only contributed to the effect. I'll probably buy this eye shadow again, should I run out.

Physicians Formula Baked Collection Eye Shadow Palette

I bought Physicians Formula's Baked Collection eye shadow palette in "Baked Oatmeal" the other day, still looking for the perfect brown eye shadow palette. The packaging said that the shadows could be worn wet or dry, so I dampened the applicator before putting the shadows on. The product showed up really well on my eyelids, and the blended together nicely. I liked how smooth the shadows looked and felt, and they stayed on all day. I don't know if this is the HG of eye shadow palettes though; it only had three shades. Regardless, I really like the product, and I might buy it again when I run out.

Hard Candy Glossaholic Chill Out Lip Gloss

I bought Hard Candy's Glossaholic lip gloss in "Chill Out," wondering if a lip gloss could actually help one relax. I liked how big the applicator for the gloss was, and how smoothly it went onto my lips. The formula was clear with a good amount of shimmer, and it didn't smear. It didn't stay on very long (about 45 minutes before it soaked in), but it looked good while it lasted. I don't feel like the gloss really relaxed me, but I liked it nonetheless.

Hard Candy All Glossed Up Hydrating Lip Stain

I bought Hard Candy's All Glossed Up Hydrating Lip Stain the other day, as it reminded me of Revlon's Just Bitten balm stain. I bought it in "Mauveous"; the name was a bit misleading: the stain turned out to be coral. Other than that obvious flaw, I had no issues with it. I loved how easily the stain went on, and how it lent my lips a bit of gloss and a ton of color. The product really made my lips pop. I also liked how the stain didn't smear or dry out my lips. Also, it actually did hydrate my lips. I might buy more of these lip stains; I'll just be mindful of what color I'm actually getting.

Hard Candy Glossaholic Rise and Shine Lip Gloss

I ventured into Walmart a few days ago, wanting to check out Hard Candy's lip glosses. I picked up a few, one of which was "Rise and Shine," a gloss that claimed to wake one up using caffeine; I was skeptical. I put it on when I got home, and ended up liking it. The applicator was huge, and I was able to put it all over my lips in one swipe. The gloss smelled like black coffee, and tasted like bitter espresso. I liked how it was clear with a fair amount of shimmer. It stayed on for about an hour, and didn't dry out my lips at all. I don't know if it really energized me, but I enjoyed wearing it nonetheless.

Maybelline Eyestudio Eye Shadow Palette

I bought one of Maybelline's Eyestudio eye shadow palettes the other day in "Caffeine Rush," hoping to find a really good brown palette. I ended up liking it; the shadows complimented each other very well, and blended nicely. I liked how smooth they felt as I applied them, and how lightweight the shadows were; I couldn't even feel them on my eyelids. The eye shadows stayed on really well, too. I will probably check out more of Maybelline's Eyestudio products in the near future.

Maybelline Super Stay 10 Stain Gloss

I bought Maybelline's Super Stay 10 Stain Gloss the other day, hoping to find a good new lip product; I was bored of everything I had. I bought it in "Ruby Indulgence," and put it on right away. I was initially alarmed by the uniquely shaped brush and the highly pigmented stain, but I ended up having no grounds for my fear. The stain swept on easily, and dried after about 20 seconds. True to it's name, it turned my lips a deep ruby shade, and stayed on very well throughout the rest of the day, and even over night! The product didn't dry out my lips; I was very impressed. I will probably be trying more of Maybelline's Super Stay lip stains.

L.A. Colors Moisturizing Glossy Lips Lip Gloss

I bought L.A. Colors Moisturizing Glossy Lips lip gloss a few days ago, wondering if it could be the HG in disguise as a cheap gloss. I put it on later that day, and it was definitely not the HG. It felt really thick on my lips, like my mouth had been coated in saran wrap. It looked really good; it gave me a lot of color and gloss, and it didn't smudge or settle into the lines of my lips. But I just couldn't get over how heavy it felt. And, unlike it's name, the gloss wasn't moisturizing. The product didn't dry out my lips, but it definitely didn't help. I doubt I'll buy this gloss again, it's like a glam straitjacket for my lips.

Covergirl Wetslicks Lip Gloss

I picked up CoverGirl's Wetslicks lip gloss the other day, out of morbid curiosity. Could there be a good Covergirl product out there? I bought it in "Lemon Splash" a citrus gloss. I put it on when I got home and actually liked it! It had a light lemon scent, and gave my lips a good amount of shine. It stayed on pretty well, and didn't dry out my lips. It wasn't amazing, but I was very surprised that I liked it.

Bath and Body Works Lip Gloss

Due to the cute packaging and scents, I recently bought a few Bath and Body Works lip glosses. Huge mistake; my lips are peeling. They looked really cute on, and they were a little shimmery and smelled nice, but they dried my lips so bad. Like, I put them on yesterday, and today my lips are too dry to even put lipstick on; I'll have to wear rose salve all day to remoisturize them! What a waste of money.

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain

I bought Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stain a while ago, and ended up hating it. The product had a lot of hype and awards; I figured it would be great. Not so. The product went on really patchily, and settled into the lines of my lips. The were bare patches on my lips are parts where the color looked really good. The attractive patches got my hopes up, so I kept applying the stain. I figured that if I kept putting the stain on, it would get better. It didn't. Then, when I tried to take the stain off, it wouldn't budge. What a disaster; I totally regret buying this product.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Since it's such a cult classic, I decided to buy Maybelline's Great Lash mascara. Could it be the HG? Apparently it's "America's Favorite Mascara," and has been for 40 years. I put it on the next morning, and was a little let down. No HG here. The mascara had a good wand; it was uncomplicated and easy to use. The product gave me good definition, and decent length and volume. Sadly, there was nothing remarkable about it. There wasn't anything blatantly wrong with Great Lash, but it didn't have anything special about it. I don't get why it's America's favorite mascara; I still prefer the Falsies.

Maybelline Oil-Free Expert Eyes Makeup Remover

I needed a good makeup remover, so I immediately went to the Maybelline section at Walgreens. I bought their Expert Eyes Oil-Free makeup remover and tried it out that night. I put some on a washcloth and rubbed it on my eyelids and lashes, and was moderately impressed. The remover did a good job getting my eye shadow off, but it didn't do so well on my mascara; it left some behind. The product did well on my foundation and blush, as well as my lipstick. I wish that it had done better taking my mascara off, though; the remaining mascara was still there in the morning, and made my lashes look clumpy. I might buy this product again, I might not.

Maybelline Shinylicious Lip Gloss

I bought Maybelline's Shinylicious lip gloss in "Tulip Bloom," after decidedly passing on the shade "Crushed Candy", due to the fact that I hated one of their glosses in that shade. Anyways, I put the Shinylicious gloss on when I got home, and was okay with it. I didn't really like how chunky the glitter looked, but, true to it's name, the gloss was very shiny. The lip gloss was a sassy shade of pink, which I appreciated; it stayed on okay, except for when I was eating. The product dried out my lips, though. Overall, I didn't hate the gloss, but I didn't like it, either. This has been another failed attempt at finding a good lip gloss.

L'Oreal Color Caress Wet Shine Stain

I've really been infatuated with L'Oreal's lip products lately, so I picked up their Color Caress Wet Shine Stain. I put it on soon after, and was alarmed. It went on very unevenly, and it looked more like I had just put on a fuchsia lip liner. Yikes! More coats didn't help, either. I couldn't get it to budge; it had already dried. I ended up dabbing on a little bit of cream makeup remover in order to make the stain liquify, and I rubbed this around, and let it dry. That fixed the problem, and once that was taken care of, the stain looked really good. It didn't flake throughout the day, nor did I settle into the lines of my lips. The product didn't dry out my lips, but I don't know how practical the product is, given how much effort it took to make it look good.

ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

After being disappointed by previous eyeliner pens, especiallyHard Candy's , I decided to try ELF's Waterproof Eyeliner Pen. I bought it at Target, and put it on the next day. It ended up being just as bad as other eyeliner pens. Despite putting on coat after coat, the liner was still translucent. The eyeliner settled into my eyelids, and did not blend well with my eye shadow. I was really disappointed by this product; I would have expected ELF to do a little better job on it.