Review | Maybelline Color Tattoo Pure Pigments in Downtown Brown and Buff & Tuff

Now that I have hauled enough throughout the summer and had enough time to try all of my new products out,  it's time to get into loads of review!

I am an avid collector of Maybelline Color Tattoos because of their easygoing nature and creamy multidimensional texture. Now with the release of the Pure Pigments  in ten lovely metallic neutral ( as well as very shocking) shades, I have been wearing these loose shadows for a while and really enjoy them. They are a great drugstore alternative to MAC's loose pigments (which offers way too much, no way would I ever use any bottle up in my lifetime) and are a joy to use.

These pigments come in a little jar similar to their older sister but with a sifter for ease of application. You simply unscrew the top, dip your brush in, and apply straight onto the lids with or without a primer. Although they are loose powders, they are not prone to fallouts, to my surprise. They adhere very well onto any brush, be it fluffy or dense, and blend seamlessly wet or dry.

My eyelids are not oily and usually don't require primer, and these hold up without creasing for a full day. However, I would suggest an eye primer for most ladies regardless of which eyeshadow you're using.  Of course, they are not going to last a full 24 hour like Maybelline claims, but really? One must look past advertising falsehoods in any case.

Many other online reviewers have said that these are not ground breaking or amazing by any means, but I have to disagree. I haven't seen a product like this in the drugstore with this kind of quality before for less than ten dollars. Plus, the small amount of product means that you never have to worry about letting it go to waste. I think that applied on top of a good primer, these perform just as well as any mid range eyeshadow. Though the two shades I picked up are easily dupe-able, they are very pretty in their own way. If you're like me and just like a simple wash of color over the lid to pair with a winged liner, these are the way to go. I can dip my finger into the pot, smudge onto my lids, and go on with my day sans brush or mirror.

Now, on to swatches!

 

As you can see, they are pretty messy! It takes a lot of patience to work with loose powder, similar to wrestling small microscopic toddlers away from their toys. On the left is Downtown Brown, a lovely brown with gold shimmers. The right is Buff & Tuff, a sort of warm taupe. I am horrible with color description, but as you can tell they are neutrals that work with any and every skin tone.

Again, you can see on my swatches that they are pretty pigmented after two layers.  At the right angle, Downtown Brown is also much more opaque. I think both are great colors for makeup newbies or those who want to add an extra pop in their school or work routine. Note how the colors change with different lighting and angles.

My final verdict is that you can definitely do without these, but they are fun to use, especially for a loose pigment. Downtown Brown and Buff & Tuff  are a great dupes for single eyeshadows from the Urban Decay's Naked and Naked 2 pallettes, if you think you only need a few colors rather than the whole range. I still prefer pressed eyeshadow since they aren't too messy, but you won't have to worry about powder fairies dancing on your cheeks with these.

Do you like loose powders or would consider them in any case? Let me know! Hope you're having a great weekend.

Be

Review | Bourjois Bronzing Primer

Even though summer is technically over in a week or so, I can't help but want to stay tan year round. I think the LA weather is spoiling me. No, literally. I feel like a plate of food sitting out in the hot sun. The weather here is insane! I think someone needs to invent a portable AC unit that hooks up to your brain a la Matrix.

I'm constantly on the lookout for both bronzers and contour shades, and I'm happy to say that the Bourjois Bronzing Primer is an excellent multipurpose product. It was on sale on Asos.com for 11.00 US dineros, and I'm guessing it would be hard to find in an American drugstore. According to many UK bloggers it's also on short supply in their high street shops.

The product itself is a mousse like foam that looks like chocolate or dog poop, depending on your spiritual interpretation. It didn't smell like chocolate as others have suggested. I was hesitant to try because I could not get over the cloyingly sweet scent of Too Faced's Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer. The Bourjois primer doesn't smell too strongly at all, but it is sweet. It comes in a little pot that was bigger than I thought. Some may say that this is unhygienic, but unless you've been dipping your fingers into mud prior to makeup application, it shouldn't be an issue. Plus, the pot is big enough to only last a month or two and you won't be letting bacteria fester for ever.

I have some suggestions on usage:

1. Use it as a primer, as the name suggests. If my skin is a little too light for a foundation around NC35, I use it to warm up my complexion without looking orange. I like using my fingers to apply it all over.


2. Use it to bronze! I apply the product with a stippling brush to high points of my face. You have to be sure not to blend too well with this product, as it is very natural and tends to fade out easily if you use too heavy of a hand.


3. Use it as a contour. Because it is a little warm but not orange, it also works as a contour shade. I use a flat foundation brush to lightly contour my nose and cheeks. Because it is a cream product, the results are much more natural looking than a powder!

Overall, it's a very interesting product that's a great dupe alternative to Chanel's Bronze Universal, or as I see it, tub o' pumpkin pie. This little pot of sun doesn't streak or slide on the face and costs much less than some bronzers currently on the market. The only problem is, you may have to resort to Ebay to find it.

So, will you be rocking the bronzer year round or putting it away for high pigmentation blush instead? I don't think the baby doll porcelain skin look can even be done in this part of the state...

Be

Beauty Blab | Making Room for New Makeup

This past weekend has been moving hell. I won't get into details, but now I am finally settled into my new home in LA. My new room is loads bigger, but I hate how much clutter has built up over the past two years, especially when it comes to makeup. I've tossed out a bunch of things:

• Lip glosses. They've oozed out of their containers, gotten sticky and dated, or just have gone past their expiration date. I have at least four that may have reached radioactive radiation status.


• Old foundations. I have a bunch that don't match, aren't the right formulation, or is just plain OLD. Toss!


• Powders and blushers that I've outgrown. I'm talking sparkly disco balls, powders that I've had for over three years, and a drugstore mattifier that just doesn't work!

A few things I'm looking forward to trying this fall:

• NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation. I recently picked up NARS Sheer Glow in Stromboli and fell in love, and I want to know how this new compact measures up! The shade range is phenomenal, but I may have to wait until the season gets colder/drier before I test it out.  I also have to use up a few compact foundations I already have lying around! ($48 retail)


• Jouer's Creme Eyeshadow Crayon in Rococo and Baroque. As reviewed by Essiebutton and Rae from Raeviewer, these eyeshadow crayons seem to be a hyper pigmented and longer wearing version of Maybelline's Color Tattoo. Must try. ($24 retail)


• Pixi Glow Tonic. This is more for my mom than me. She has hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture, and acne scarring issues to address. I've heard nothing but massively positive reviews about this. Now....where to find it...($ mystery price)


• Tom Ford's eyeshadow trio in She Wolf. Absolutely beautiful and overpriced. I feel like the $60 price tag can only be justified by how much use I can get out of it. I still have so many palettes that have not even been scratched at the surface, let alone hit pan!

My main goal, however, is to go on a no-buy for the rest of the month until I can find new employment in this strange and crazy new city. You can't ball with no budget after all. After seeing how much makeup I currently own cram into three plastic bins, I think my makeup binge is done for now. However, I won't say no to anything ground breaking. Fall 2013 collections have already started rolling out on department store shelves and I still have yet to visit the many malls currently surrounding my new home!

That's it for now. Let me know how often you go on a no-buy, or whether you use most of your makeup up before buying new products!

Be

Review | Urban Decay's Revolution Lipsticks

This seriously sounds like a recipe for love. Twenty two shades, 22 dollars, 22 reasons why I will be broke very very soon. I've seen beauty bloggers rave and obsess over this for the past month, and for some reason, I just wasn't that interested. Bright shades? Pass, I've seen brighter. Creamy and moisturizing? Lies, no such thing. In all honesty, I don't need another lipstick, even if it blows everything I own out of the water. Even if it cooks breakfast every morning, or does my laundry, or please me better than ice cream.

I resisted, I really did try.

Then I went to Sephora and the display case captured and enraptured me. "Swatch F-bomb, doooo it!" a voice whispered. I shivered with hesitation. Oh, it was the makeup consultant. Yes, yes, I swatched quite a few until my hands were crazy with colors. How creamy it is indeed, I thought. Look at all of these beautiful nudes and brights, I thought. Slowly, against my very will, I picked out Anarchy and made my way to the checkout. Then the rest happened in due time.

Sigh.

I've always been a fan of UD's makeup, from their primer to eyeliners and eyeshadow palettes, but I never knew they even had a lipstick line to revamp. Apparently, the Revolution lipsticks are part of their Fall 2013 collection and will be a permanent addition. Let's get right into the review!

Color: With such a great range, you are sure to find a couple shades to love and covet. Check out Phyrra's swatches here. Even before hitting the store, I was eyeing most of them with the dedication of a sex offender. Pigmentation is opaque and strong. I picked out four colors:

• Anarchy, a hot pink/true fuchsia


• Streak, a slight coral pink (it's a pity that there were no other true corals in the line)


• F-Bomb, a true classic red with no discernible undertones


• Shame, a deep berry (looks disgusting in the picture right? It's actually the shade on the UD's model's lips...perfect for fall!)

Pricing: At 22 per lipstick, this is definitely smack dab in the mid-range of lip products. Now, if only they were a little cheaper to facilitate my hoarding obsession....I wouldn't say this is a strange price point, especially for UD products. There isn't too much product for the price but this is never a problem as I've never been able to finish any lipstick. I got mine at Sephora and Ulta.

Packaging: A lovely silver bullet, big enough to kill vampire-werewolf mutants with style. The inside is UD's iconic purple, and the tube slides shut with no click but a tight feeling. I'm a huge fan of how the lipstick bullet itself is a little more slender than others with no pointed tip. It makes application a breeze! A clear label adorns the bottom for you to identify.

Wear: It is indeed creamy without having too much slip to bleed. Wear time is about 4 hours, typical of most lipsticks. However, the best part of this lipstick is how it doesn't flake! It almost feels like YSL's Rouge Voluptes without the pricepoint. For the most part, many of my fuchsias and hot pinks tend to dry out my lips no matter how much I scrub my lips raw or layer lip balm. These wear comfortably for about 4 hours and start to stain/fade after that time mark. There is no ugly ring around your lips even after a meal. My favorite thing about these is that they do not crack or chap your lips! I have encountered many a high end lipstick that do so (ahem, NARS...)

Swatches: Now for the good part. These are all two coats, with Anarchy being one single swipe, and indoors.

This is in natural but dim lighting.

This is under yellow lighting from a fluorescent light. Sorry for the carpet, seems like I love hoarding dog hair more than I think. Gross.

And these are in direct natural sunlight from the window. You can see that Anarchy has very intense pigmentation, and Streak is much more pink than online pictures suggest.

Overall, I am really pleasantly surprised by the quality of these newly launched lipsticks and would love to collect a few more. I'm eyeing 69, Bang, Liar, and Naked 2. Forgot to tell you they have rather naughty names!

Are you thinking of trying out a few? I've seen quite a few bloggers hoard up on these, and I mean HOARD. As in, 10 shades and counting sort of irresponsible. UD is doing another thing right.

Be

Quick Blab | Burgundy Lip Trend for Fall 2013

It seems like the trend for fall and winter of 2013 is once again dark red and wine stained lips. Aka oxblood. Aka Burgundy. Aka Goth red. I just wanted to hear from all of my subbies/stalkers/readers/flagrant strangers:

[polldaddy poll=7318183]

Please leave a comment with a suggestion if you could. I am currently in possession of a few dark reds and wines but don't know whether to try Revlon Wine Not, MAC's Diva, or YSL's Forbidden Burgundy next. I am also thinking of cheating and layering a dark plum over a magenta lip liner. But, if you know of any other colors or lipstick collections out there that would have the perfect burgundy for fall, let me know too!

 

How To | Bronze and Glow

I think there's a cult out there that has successfully convinced many that using bronzer with glitter is on the same level as consorting with the devil.
Seriously.

Here's the thing, a contouring shade should NEVER have glitter, no matter how finely milled or microscopic. Contouring is the same as creating an illusion of deeper set shadows on the face, and shadows never sparkle. On the other hand, a bronzer with glitter does its job beautifully. Have you ever noticed how Victoria's Secret Angels all look like they practically live on a co-op lesbian yacht in the South of France? They always have an angelic glow/tan that is healthy rather than fake bake, and their skin is always on point even before Photoshop. (Btw, bless Photoshop for their wonky crease-less knees and elbow joints, too.) For the most part, this is due to the witchcraft of bronzers with a hint of shimmer. When shopping for a bronzer, I usually gravitate to VS sales to stock up for the year. Their bronzers are always surprisingly top notch since makeup is not their specialty.

My go-to bronzer at the moment is Victoria's Secret's GLOW Pressed Mineral Bronzing Powder, available in 3 shades and retails for 16 dollars. My shade is Riviera, which accompanies light-medium to medium skin tones very well. They all have a yellow undertone and some warmth, rather than straying to an ash or cool tone. The quad has four shades that can be used separately (as highlighter) or together for an awesome glow (hur hur, hence the name.) The best part is, this product is so subtle that it's hard to over-do and can be built up. There is also another bronzer line that VS does, but it contains too much shimmer for my taste and would best be used as a straight highlighter, similar to MAC's Soft and Gentle.

 

 

You can see that the colors lean a little cool-toned or warm under direct sunlight. You also can't see the shimmers unless you look very, very closely.

My husband noticed that my skin looked "radiant." Little did he know...

Before bronzer, I always like to have the rest of my face, eye, and lip makeup on first. This way, it's easier to gauge how much product is needed. I often pair a bronzed face with minimal or neutral eye makeup and a soft nudey pink lip so that my complexion takes the spotlight.

When applying a powder bronzer, I use a denser but fluffy face brush, like Sigma's F40 or powder brush and swirl in into the product. I then focus the product on the highest point of my cheeks, across the bridge of my nose, and straight onto my forehead. I also apply any left over product onto my chin and down the sides of my vocal cords (LOL, this sounds awful but it does slenderize your neck.) The effect you're going for is how your face would look on a print ad of glamorous women on boats. Please note that this procedure is completely different for applying contouring products. You could possibly take it on the edges of your hairline or under your cheekbones, but I'm not a fan of the look. Sparkling hairlines are so not vogue.

After the initial application, I like to take a clean face brush and blend/buff everything out so that there are no noticeable lines or demarcations. That's it!

I love using bronzers to warm up a foundation shade that's a tad too light, or just to warm up my complexion in the wintertime. While I adore a porcelain skin look in the winter, the dry air often sucks up the hydration on my skin and makes it look dull and flat. Bronzer often takes this away, and if done right, shouldn't be obvious in the least bit.

For a matte bronzer that also works as a natural contour, I recommend Urban Decay's Naked Flushed palette. Another great bronzer is any from the Physician's Formula line. For a high end pick, I would go with NARS Laguna. The most important part isn't the price point, but how finely milled their shimmer particles are. We don't want obvious chunks of glitter now do we?

That's all for today. I hope you guys found it helpful!

Be

First Look | Drugstore for Fall

Let's get right into this one!



From left to right: Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation in 35 Sand, L'Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner, Color Tattoo Pure Pigments in Buff & Tuff and Downtown Brown, and L'oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup in W4.

Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation in 35 Sand

I am really looking forward to see how the Dermablend will work as a tattoo cover up and concealer. I've seen how this works wonders on facial scarring and acne spots in Lisa Eldridge's tutorials, but wasn't sure I needed it until now since I may be starting work at a conservative company.

I was pretty surprised that the original price of the product was a whopping 30 dollars for 1 fl. oz. Thankfully, I got it on discount for 22 dollars. Still rather expensive for something that's "drugstore", eh?

The formula is thick, but runny enough to spread. Too bad the color selection is awful and hard to gauge in store. I figured Sand would be an alright match for a tan skintone, but I'm really using this for my inner forearm tattoo. I couldn't tell if Nude was yellow enough, and Gold looked way too dark.

L'Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner

This seems like a great dupe for WEN cleansing conditioners. I am halfway through my WEN trial bottle in Almond Mint, and so far I am loving the results. Too bad the price point is too much to repurchase. I figured since Essie from essiebutton was raving so hard about the Evercreme line I might as well give this a shot. My ends are very dry and could use some TLC.

Color Tattoo Pure Pigments in Buff & Tuff and Downtown Brown

I'm usually not a fan of loose pigments in general, since they get very messy and don't have great color payoff, but I had to get some to try for myself. I think these would look really great over their color tattoos or a white base (NYX Milk, duh herro!) I will have to wait until I get my hands on an eyeshadow brush before I can demo these for you.

and finally...

L'oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup in W4.

I had good results with the original formula, but haven't revisited the line in quite a while. For some reason, I freaked out in the dead of winter and denied all possibility that I could get as tan as W4. (Yeah, it looked ORANGE on my NC20 tone at the time.) I threw it away and never looked back. Now, with a month of summer left and a move to SoCal, I figure reinvesting in a new bottle wouldn't be so bad. In all honesty, this is one of the best drugstore foundations I've tried in a while. I'll be doing a review for you within the week.

That's it for my brief drugstore haul. I'm very curious about how these will turn out and have high expectations for all of them. I am really hoping that the cleansing conditioner will do the same job as my WEN, fingers crossed. I know I only have a month left of summer, but hopefully the LA heat will keep me tan and NC30 throughout the fall, too.  Have you guys gotten your hands on the Pure Pigments yet? What do you think?

Be