Monday, December 31, 2018

A Face Full of Stick Products

Stick products have been taking the world by storm.  I’ve owned all of these for a while, but I’m only just now sitting down to write the review.  I guess I’ve been a bit lazy this year when it comes to blogging. This review has been on my list of things to do for most of the year.

Stick Makeup from Left to Right:  L'Oreal Galaxy Stick, Maybelline 24 Hour,
Maybelline Master Blur, Jordana Triple Play, Jordana Sculpt N Glow, and Maybelline Fit Me

Primer:  Maybelline Master Blur ($7.99)
Foundation:  Maybelline Fit Me ($8.99) and Maybelline 24 Hour Foundation Stick ($11.99)
Blush:  Jordana Triple Play in Petal Pink ($4.99)
Highlighter:  L’oreal Infallible Galaxy Stick in Astro Blue ($9.99)
Contour:  Jordana Sculpt N Go in Light ($4.99)


Maybelline Master Blur


The Maybelline Master Blur is what I’ve been using as a primer lately.  I’ve got to say I really don’t like it that much. It is a nice product and I feel like it does diminish my pores, but when compared to the Maybelline Baby Skin I really don’t like it as much.  The product has a hardness to it that makes it a little difficult at times. The product also leaves a white cast on the skin. I’m extremely pale so I don’t think the whiteness is as noticeable on my skin and once I put on foundation it can’t be seen at all.  I still think this white cast might be a problem for some.

Maybelline Superstar 24 Hour Stick Foundation (Top) and
Maybelline Fit Me Stick Foundation (Bottom)

I have two foundation choices which are both from Maybelline.  I personally like the 24 Foundation Stick better. I bought the lightest color of the Fit Me and I still feel like it’s a little too dark for my skin.  I think the 24 Hour Foundation Stick has better coverage and lasts longer. I also think the 24 Hour Foundation looks better on the skin. The only drawback I see is that for $11.99 you get less product than the Fit Me foundation.  The Fit Me foundation has 9 grams of product while the 24 Hour has 7 grams. The 24 Foundation Stick comes with an attached sponge that I did try. It is terrible. I would much rather use my regular Ulta blending sponge. The attached sponge is way too small.  It is also incredibly rough and porous and I don’t see who it could be useful to anyone.


Maybelline Superstar 24 Hour Stick Foundation (Top) and
Maybelline Fit Me Stick Foundation (Bottom)

The Jordana Triple Play comes in six colors.  I bought the light pink, but there is also a much brighter pink, a darker plum, and a few shades that lean more nude.  This product is specifically advertised as a blush, but you’re also supposed to be able to use it on the eyes and lips.  This year was supposed to be big in monochromatic makeup, but I haven’t seen that catching on. I also don’t think it should.  I really like using this on the cheeks and lips. Honestly, I haven’t really tried it on the eyes. I’m not that interested in using this pink color as a lid shade.  It makes a nice lip color. It seems different on the cheeks than if you use it elsewhere. Once blended out on the cheeks, I think the color comes off as more of a true pink.  Blending it out on the cheeks might be difficult for someone without a lot of makeup skills.

L'Oreal Infallible Galaxy Stick in Astro Blue,
Jordana Triple Play in Petal Pink, and
Jordana Sculpt N Go Contouring Stick in Light

The L’oreal Infallible Stick in Astro Blue is a beautiful highlighter.  The highlight is a duochrome purple/blue. It definitely leans more blue.  It is very intense and eye catching. It is one of the most intense highlights that I’ve ever used.  It is very beautiful, though the color isn’t for everyone. The highlight can be applied directly on the skin, but I prefer to put it on my fingers and then dab it on the skin.  There are a couple more shades in the Galaxy Stick collection. Jordana also has some Jordana Strobing Sticks in more natural colors.

L'Oreal Infallible Galaxy Stick in Astro Blue (Top),
Jordana Triple Play in Petal Pink (Middle), and
Jordana Sculpt N Go Contouring Stick in Light (Bottom)

The Jordana contour is really nice.  I don’t recommend it to people who are new to contouring.  This product requires a lot of blending, much like the Jordana blush.  I wish that the Light shade was slightly lighter, but it does look nice once blended out.  I had a hard time with it when I first started, but now I really like it. This is one of my favorite contours and I use it almost every time I wear makeup.  I really like using it on my nose, but the product is so big that it’s hard to get exact detail with it.

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Makeup and Book Tag 2018

I made this blog all about makeup, but I actually really enjoy reading too.  I’d heard about this makeup/book tag a while back and put it on my list of things to do.  Since I’m on break from school right now, I suddenly have a ton of time to update my blog.  Perhaps I will continue to find time to do this going forward.

The way I’m going to do this is recommend a makeup item and book for each question in this tag.  I’m not sure how others have been doing it, so maybe I’m doing it wrong. YOLO.

Primer
Pick a book that left a lasting impression on you.

My favorite primer is Maybelline Baby Skin.  I love the way it feels and the way it smooths out the skin.  I think it’s a beautiful product and it doesn’t break the bank.  It’s comparable to the Benefit Porefessional, but honestly I like the Maybelline better.

The book I’m choosing is Look for Me by Moonlight by Mary Downing Hahn.

It’s an old book and one I haven’t read in years, but it sparked in my a fascination with vampires.  I spent obsessed with and reading every vampire book I could get my hands on. It all started with this one.  I don’t even really remember the story that well. Something about a girl who moves in with her divorced dad, step-mom, and half... sister?  (P.S. I hope I have the right book because honestly I had to google it). The girl is introduced to a guy who happens to be a vampire. The guy was new to town and I think he was her next door neighbor.

The other book I considered listing here is ironically by the same author.  The Doll in the Garden is a lovely children’s ghost story. It’s a book I read when I was in elementary school, but I remember the story even today.  It’s stuck with me over the years. The story is about a girl who can time travel and becomes friends with a girl who has been dead for decades. I recommend this book, especially if you are a child (at heart) and like historical/urban-type fantasy.

Foundation
Favorite first book in a series.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless is my favorite foundation.  When I first picked it up, I didn’t really like it, but I gave it a second chance.  Honestly, I really haven’t tried that many foundations so I don’t really feel like I can give a good suggestion.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber is my favorite first book.  I adore this book. It’s probably one of my favorites. The book is so fantastic and fun.  I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover and the second book is just as good. I also liked the second book just as much as the first, which almost never happens with me and series.

The book follows two sisters who are invited to participate in an exclusive game.  One sister disappears and the other desperately tries to find her before time runs out.  She doesn’t know who or what she can trust. The book takes an interesting ride. There is a blurring between the lines of what’s real and what isn’t.

Concealer
Pick some characters you wish didn’t exist.

My favorite concealer is the Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer.  This is supposed to be a good dupe to a high-end concealer, but I honestly don’t remember which one.  The exact color I use has been discontinued and I haven’t tried any of the new colors yet. Sorry about that.

There aren’t any characters that I can think of off the tops of my head that I would erase.  I didn’t really like the Mortal Instruments series. I didn’t get very far into the series because all of the characters annoyed me.  I also didn’t really like Schuyler from Blue Bloods or Mia from Princess Diaries.

I kept giving Blue Bloods a chance, mostly because vampires, but I didn’t make it to the end of that too long series.  And I’ve read maybe two books in the Princess Diaries series, but it’s more Meg Cabot’s writing style, and her overuse of interrupters, that I don’t like.  So, those are the things I didn’t really care for.

If I could erase anything though, I’d erase Finnick’s death in Hunger Games.  I started off not really liking Finnick. I found him annoying and overly flirty.  In real life he’s the kind of guy I’d hope just goes away, but I actually warmed up to him.  He’s a loyal friend and he deeply cares about the people around him. He didn’t have a great lot in life and I hate that he ended up dying so young.  I think, if he had gotten to live, he would’ve enjoyed a great life after the war.

Powder
Pick your favorite last book in a series.

I’ve honestly never found a particularly bad setting powder before.  They all just seem the same to me. I really like the Revlon Photoready Translucent Finisher.  I haven’t seen a lot of setting powders that come in a pan and that’s what sets this one apart for me.

I also think the Physicians Formula Mineral Correcting Powder in Creamy Natural is a must have if you have pale skin.  I use this to set my under eye concealer. It’s the only powder I’ve ever found that’s actually lighter than my skin.

My favorite last book in a series is A Million Worlds with You by Claudia Gray.  This entire series is amazing. I’ve rarely found a series that hooks me from the beginning.  The transition between books is so seamless it’s like you’re reading one long story instead of three separate books.  I loved the series and thought it was great.

Marguerite is the daughter of two scientists who invent a device that allows someone to travel between realities.  When Marguerite’s father is killed, by her father’s trusted assistant, she goes on a journey to try and avenge his death.

Eyebrows
Pick a book you think everyone should read.

For eyebrows, I use a cheap powder from Broadway.  I’m not really into doing my eyebrows, though they definitely need it.

The book I think everyone should read is Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  I have a feeling most people have read this book by now, but it’s definitely one of my all time favorite books.

The book tells of a random group of people coming together and starting up a circus.  You get to follow the circus from the very beginning and watch these people come together to form a family.  There’s magic and beauty. It’s a fantasy book set throughout history and it’s a fun read.

Eye Shadow
Pick a book with your favorite colors on the cover.

The Maybelline Eyestudio Quads have been a longtime favorite of mine.  They are beautiful and in my opinion beat out some high end stuff. Kat Von D makes my favorite mattes (though she’s usually off my buy list with her stance on vaccines) and I really like the Buxom shimmers.

I pretty much like all the colors, but my favorite are powder blue, light mint, and light teal color ranges.  I decided to go with Hollow City for my favorite color. I know the cover is black and white, but when you take off the dust jacket the cover is a lovely gray blue.  At least, that’s how I remember it. Sanctum by Madeleine Roux also has a lovely cover. The cover is mostly black and white with just a touch of teal.

These are also two books that I also really like by the way.

Eyeliner
Pick a dark and mysterious book.

My favorite eyeliner is the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in black, of course.  I am planning on switching to the Stila liquid liner when I run out of Kat Von D.

The Asylum book series by Madeleine Roux.  I picked up the first book as halloween was approaching.  I really enjoyed this book and it had some creepy stuff in it.  It seems like I remember one being especially creepy. I believe it was the second one, but it’s been a while since I’ve read them.

The book follows a young, adopted teenager who gets into a summer college program for high schoolers.  He doesn’t tell his parents, but his biological family had something to do with this college and he hopes to find information on them.  However, there is something nefarious going on there and he might end up having to pay for his family’s sins.

Mascara
Pick a long book.

I use the Maybelline Stiletto Mascara and have for years.  The black mascara has been my long time favorite.

The longest book I’ve ever read is Paris by Edward Rutherfurd.  This is a historical fiction book that takes place in various time periods in the city of Paris.  The book is basically made up of a series of short stories following a group of families throughout the history of Paris.  The stories jump back and forth between different time periods. Most of the families in the book eventually merge together, but the book mostly showcases what it might have been like to live in Paris in various different centuries.  The book is about 800 pages long.

Blush
Pick a book with a cringe worthy romance.

I mostly use the BH cosmetics Glamorous palette, but sometimes I use the Tarte Dollface blush.  Those are the blushes that I go too.

I think the most cringey thing is when a girl falls in love with her brother.  Believe me, this is far more common than it needs to be. Let me give some examples, in The Mortal Instruments there is an entire plot that revolves around the main character Clary being in love with Jace.  They have been lead to believe they are siblings. In Vampire Knight, Yuki is torn between her love for Kaname and Zero. Kaname is Yuki’s brother and Zero is basically Yuki’s brother.

You can make arguments to excuse these romances like Clary and Jace don’t know at the beginning and you eventually find out...  well you know, but it’s still creepy when you think about it. I feel like this cliche, yes it’s become a cliche, is actually more common in manga and might be one of the reasons I don’t really read manga anymore.

What writer sits around going, I know...  The brother! Yes, the brother would be perfect.  Her and her brother. Excellent. No one will see it coming.

No one wants to see it coming.

Highlighter
Pick a book that brightens your day.

I love my highlighters, how do I pick just one.  The ones I’ve used the most are Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Moonchild and Aurora.  I think Moonchild is the one that I’ve used the most.

A book that brightens my day is Twilight.  I know people tend to have a love/hate relationship with this series.  I think of these books as potato chips. They aren’t great but there’s something addictive about the story.  I enjoy reading the books and they put me in a good mood. I don’t think these books are meant to be funny, but I find them hilarious.  I can’t help but laugh. They are lighthearted and interesting.

Lipstick
You favorite book kiss.

Maybelline has my favorite lipstick formula.  My favorite shades include Pink Pop and basically all of the Rebel Bloom collection.

I don’t really think that I have a favorite kiss in a book.  Oddly enough, not the biggest fan of kissing. So, I thought I’d reveal my favorite romance.  I decided to go with Gwyneth and Gideon from the Ruby Red Trilogy. This is the last of my absolute favorite books that hasn’t yet been including on this list.  Still I really like Gwyneth and Gideon as a couple. Their romance felt well built in the book and wasn’t so over the top that it took away from the rest of the story.

Ruby Red is about a girl named Gwyneth who discovers she is one of twelve time travels to have been born.  Six were born in her family (the female line) and six were born in Gideon’s family (the male line). Gwyneth is suddenly thrust into a complex world of the secret society that has long protected the time travellers and ends up having to time travel herself.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

2018 Christmas Haul

This year my family opened our gifts a little early.  We arrange our celebrations around everyone’s busy schedules.  This means, I got to open my presents. I’ll get to enjoy use some of this makeup and wear it to the Christmas Eve party I’m going to tomorrow.  I’m going to go through everything I’ve gotten and I want to hopefully talk more about these products after I’ve gotten a chance to use them.

I got these two off amazon.  The blue palette is a dupe for the Kara Beauty Smokey Blue palette.

All Blue Palette "Smokey Blue"

Phoera Glitters
I got a bunch of stuff in a bh cosmetics haul.  I’ve ordered from bh cosmetics before and I’ve had a list of things I’ve wanted from them for a while now.  I got almost everything I wanted.

BH Cosmetics Galaxy Chic Palette

BH Cosmetics Take Me Back to Brazil Palette

BH Cosmetics Take Me Back to Brazil: Rio Edition Palette

BH Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Candy and Eyelights

BH Cosmetics Eyelights Eye Topper in BFF

Lime Crime Diamond Crushers





Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Nyx Brights Palette

Nyx Ultimate Shadow Palette in Brights

I recently picked up the Nyx Brights Palette.  This has been on my wishlist on a while, so I’m glad I finally got my hands on it.  I’ve been basically using this palette nonstop since I picked it up. I haven’t gotten to use every single shadow in this palette, but I’ve had nothing but positive experiences so far.
Nyx Brights Eyeshadow Palette

GREEN & YELLOW ROW
This row consists of two green shades and two yellow shades.  The shade on the far left is a dark matte green, the next is a shimmery lime green, a matte mustard yellow, and a more pastel yellow that is shimmery.  These shades all performed well. The only downside is I hardly ever wear yellow or green, so these shadows are wasted on me.
Nyx Brights Eyeshadow Palette

BLUE ROW
This row consists of bluer shades.  There is a true blue shimmer shade, a lighter matte blue, a shimmery teal, and a matte pastel mint shade.  These are my favorite types of colors and as a result this row is also my favorite. The matte shades in this palette have really impressed me, especially the mint shade.  I’ve rarely seen, even more expensive palettes, do pastels this well. All these shades performed very well.
Nyx Brights Eyeshadow Palette

PURPLE ROW
This row is all about the purple, even though a couple of the shades may look more pink when they’re hanging out in the palette.  I found this row hard to swatch, but I haven’t had any problems when using them. The dark purple shade on the far left was definitely the hardest to build up, but that seems like a pattern in these darker purple shades anyway.  The next shade is a beautiful electric violet shade. The third shade is a matte pinkish purple and was a lot more purple than I expected just looking at in the palette. The last shade is a shimmery pastel lilac that can lean pink in certain lights.  The pastel shade didn’t show up well in swatching, but it performed well enough on the lid. It isn’t the most pigmented simply because of the nature of this type of shade.
Nyx Brights Eyeshadow Palette

RED & ORANGE ROW
This row has a red, a pink, and a couple of oranges.  The far left shade is red with flakes of gold glitter.  The glitter is so insubstantial that it barely showed up.  I couldn’t see it in the swatch, but I did notice it in the photo.  The next shade was a hot pink. Then, was a shade that looked surprisingly pink when swatched.  This shade, like the one directly beneath it, didn’t look the same in the palette as it does in the swatch.  The last shade was a darker, more true orange.

Overall, I’ve been satisfied with this palette.  The Nyx products I’ve used in the past haven’t been fantastic, but this impressed me.  I’ve really liked this palette so far and I love the amount of shades. This really gives a wide range of shades in a compact little palette.  I think the only shade that might have disappointed me was the dark purple, but like I said earlier I would have expected it from this type of shade.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Nyx Christmas 2018

For Nyx fans, this is the Christmas to be alive.  Nyx has released a variety of makeup choices to the delight of the world.  Right now their Christmas collection is 30 percent off on their website. The collection is also on sale at places like Ulta.

Nyx Sugar Trip Glitter Vault
If you’re a lip lover, you can pick up special Christmas editions of the lip lingerie, soft matte lip cream, and some glossy lip tints.
Nyx Sugar Trip Squad Shadow Palette

There is a variety of eyeshadow palettes that have been released specially for this Christmas season.  This includes the Sugar Trip Squad Shadow Palette that interests me. This palette includes a rainbow of shades that stretch from a brownish red to a pastel purple.  The palette is on sale for only $11.
Nyx Licorice Lane Shadow Palette

Everything comes in cool special edition packaging that ties into the central theme of sweets.
Nyx Sprinkle Town Cream Glitter Palette in Strawberry Whip

The thing that interested me the most was the glitter palette.  My favorite quad was the Peppermint quad. It was hard to find, but I’m so glad I picked it up.  These quads are currently on sale on the Nyx website for $7. Note: They are sold out of Peppermint.

I was a little hesitant to pick up cream glitter products because I’ve gotten burned in the past.  There was a time when these type of products had no staying power and would end up badly creased in a matter of minutes.  Even one that came highly recommended by a trusted source turned out to be nothing but bad news. This is a new day. There are a great many cream glitter products flooding the market that are truly excellent.

Nyx Sprinkle Town Cream Glitter Palette in Peppermint

The Peppermint palette features four beautiful shades that include an iridescent white glitter, a teal, a navy, and a steely gray.  According the back, no shade is approved for lip use and the gray isn’t approved for eye use. I don’t know if it’s truly unsafe or if this is just an FDA guideline.  The products all contain the same ingredients, though the gray shade has slightly different amounts. I’ve used them all on my eyes and will continue to do so... I guess I’m a rebel like that.

Nyx Sprinkle Town Cream Glitter Palette in Peppermint

I really do like these glitters.  The only downside is that I seem to have to use a lot of product to cover the surface of my eye.  It seems very wasteful and I hate that. I’ve only used the quad about three times, but it looks like I’ve used it a lot more than that.  The product also has a shelf life of 6 months. Overall, I really like this product and think that it’s worth it.

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Lime Crime, Too Faced, and Kat Von D: Problems with Cosmetic Companies

For a long time now people have been hesitant to buy from Lime Crime.  There is a long list of shady things the founder of Lime Crime has gotten involved in.  There have been allegations of awful stuff tarnishing the name of Lime Crime. I’m not here to talk about the past, so I’m not rehashing old information.

The way people regard Lime Crime, as a scummy makeup company, is how I think of Too Faced.  For years I’ve refused to give Too Faced any of my money. I saw an interview several years ago with the founder of Too Faced.  The interview involved him insulting anyone who would dare to buy things from him. Lately, he’s drummed up some scandal.

I’m kind of over it though.  I’m done with trying to keep up with which makeup companies are good vs. bad in the court of public opinion.  I’ve decided that going forward, I want to try and judge companies on the merit of their products and not trying to make sure the CEO’s check all the right boxes.

If you’re wondering what’s changed my mind, it’s the fact that there has been a change at both Too Faced and Lime Crime.  It’s also that they’ve released products that I’m extremely interested in. Too Faced with their Life’s a Festival collection.  Lime Crime with their glittery lips and eyes. I love color and glitter, so these products are right up my alley.

I think it’s important to remember that there has been a regime change at both of these companies.  I think their founders are both still involved with these companies, but they no longer command the ship.  I hope this means that people will be more willing to give Lime Crime a chance. I hope they are able to put their previous devious behavior behind them for good.  I hope both companies live up to the chance I’m willing to give them.

I say this because I’ve already written about Too Faced this year and I’m about to talk about Lime Crime’s Diamond Crushers.  Please stay tuned for that.

However, there is one beauty company I’m not planning on buying from and that’s Kat Von D.  Kat Von D has an amazing eyeshadow formula, the best liquid eyeliner I’ve ever tried and she has some lipsticks that are... okay.  I don’t like that she’s jumped on the anti-vaccine train. This is a dangerous philosophy to have. This puts people at risk and I just can’t be okay with that.

I hate this because Kat Von D has my favorite eyeshadows.  They are so creamy, buttery, and beautiful. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love the Tattoo Liner.  I’ve heard that Stila has a fantastic liquid liner, so I plan on switching to that. As for the lipsticks, I can totally live without them.  I honestly don’t think her lipsticks are worth the high end price that people have to pay. You can buy just about any other lipstick on the market (Except Covergirl!!!  Whatever you do in life don’t buy Covergirl lipstick.) and it will be so much better.