Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick Swatches

In case you missed my first post of these swatches, I decided to put them all in one. Can you tell I'm a little obsessed with the Maybelline Vivids lipsticks? I'm trying not to convince myself that I need the entire collection but like I said I think I picked out a good mixture of different colors from pinks, reds, corals, and plums. Unless there happens to be a BOGO sale on these babies, which I know there will be one eventually, I'll try to steer clear from them for the time being! Anyway, I hope you all find this helpful.

Neon Red

Brazen Berry and Vivid Rose

Shocking Coral and Fuchsia Flash

MAC Candy Yum Yum and Maybelline Fuchsia Flash Dupe

MAC's Quite Cute collection that came out in Spring 2011 released this amazing neon, hot pink lipstick called Candy Yum Yum. I remember it being the talk of the beauty community and it was then I knew I just had to get my hands on it. Just recently they made this lipstick a permanent shade at MAC which makes me happy because I don't have to go above and beyond in case I ever run out or lose it. Even if they didn't make this lipstick permanent, I have found a really good dupe of the lipstick! Maybelline's Fuchsia Flash lipstick that came out in the Vivids collection is a great and an inexpensive alternative to MAC's Candy Yum Yum. You can't beat $7 for a lipstick compared to one that is $15!

Although the lipsticks are very similar and can very much well be a dupe of each other, they are also somewhat different. Candy Yum Yum is a matte finish, therefore it has a much drier formula, while Fuchsia Flash has a shinier finish and glides on a lot easier. Also, Candy Yum Yum is more blue-toned so it has a cooler undertone compared to Fuchsia Flash which is more pink-toned and has a warmer undertone.

Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids Lipstick Swatches & Photos Pt. 2

Here is part 2 of my Maybelline Vivids lipstick swatches. Click here to view part 1.
I can't get enough of these lipsticks. I'm in love with all the colors! Shocking Coral is a coral pink color and Fuchsia Flash is a bright hot pink color. It took me forever to find Fuchsia Flash lipstick because I know it's a perfect dupe for MAC's Candy Yum Yum lipstick. I'll do a post right after this to show you the comparison between the two. I want to get the entire collection of the Vivids line but as of right now I'm totally happy with the 5 that I have.

Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids Lipstick Photos & Swatches

During my excursion to Ulta I stumbled upon the new Maybelline Vivids lipstick line that just came out recently. All I can say is holy amaze balls these lipsticks are to die for!!! Vivid is definitely the perfect word to describe them. I only purchased a few for the meantime just to test these babies out before I make a decision to buy more, but judging by the pigmentation of these lipsticks, I'll definitely be going back! These lipsticks are not only extremely pigmented, but they go on like a dream. The consistency is creamy much like all the other Maybelline lipsticks that I have. It feels moisturizing when on and it doesn't dry out my lips. You can find these lipsticks at your local drugstore for around $7 each.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Photos & Swatches

I picked up the Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette at my nearest Ulta. For $27, you get six full-sized eyeshadows that are perfect for creating everyday natural eyes to smokey eyes. This palette comes with five matte shades and one shimmer. All the eyeshadows are silky smooth and pigmented, and true to color! I love that majority of the colors are matte which is my favorite finish to work with. I'm definitely going to consider using this palette as my new everyday eyes palette.

This palette is extremely tiny! I imagined it being a bit larger than what it actually is but it fits perfectly in the palm of my hand and is great for travel. The packaging is quite sturdy with a satin finish. If you have both the Naked palettes already, I'm not saying this palette is an absolute must-have. However, if you're fan of neutrals you'll definitely love this palette!

Venus is an off-white shimmer eyeshadow which is the only shimmer eyeshadow in this palette. This will work great as an all-over lid color or to place in the inner eye corner to highlight the eyes. A close enough shade to this color if you have the Naked palette is Bootycall eyeshadow.

Foxy is a yellow beige eyeshadow. This is more around my skin tone so I would imagine using this as a brow bone highlight on myself. Foxy is also a shade in the Naked 2 palette.

Walk of Shame is a cooler beige eyeshadow. It's another great brow bone color or a lid color if you want to go for something matte. 

Naked 2 is a soft brown color. I would use this color as a transition color from the lid to the brow bone.  Compared to Naked eyeshadow in the Naked palette, this shade is much lighter.

Faint is a medium brown eyeshadow. If I'm going for a really natural look I would use this eyeshadow on the outer corner and crease or as a transition color for smokey eyes. This is similar to Naked and Buck eyeshadow.

Crave is a matte black eyeshadow with a bit of a brown undertone. It has a bit of a drier consistency but nonetheless very smooth and pigmented. If you have the Naked 2 palette, it is similar to Blackout eyeshadow.

 Left to Right:

Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint, Crave

Lorac Pro Palette Swatches

As an early Christmas present to myself, I decided to take advantage of my Sephora VIB $20 Reward Card to receive a great deal on the Lorac Pro Palette. I'm in love with this palette as it's ideal for creating both natural and dramatic smokey eyes. This is definitely at the top of my favorite eyeshadow palettes next to Urban Decay's Naked 1 and 2 palette. All the colors are soft and blendable and extremely pigmented with very little fallout (though I've heard mixed reactions on the number of fallout from these shadows). There's also a mixture of both matte and shimmer eyeshadows that will suit the need of any look you're going for. I can't wait to do more looks with this palette and I look forward to doing more tutorials that will feature this palette. Have any of you purchased the Lorac Pro Palette yet?

First Row:

White, Cream, Taupe, Lt. Pink, Mauve, Sable, Espresso, Black

Second Row:

Nude, Champagne, Gold, Lt. Bronze, Pewter, Garnet, Deep Purple, Slate

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Swatches

I couldn't wait till Naked2 hit stores at Sephora so I decided to take advantage of my 10% off coupon plus free shipping when they stocked up on the palette. The packaging of this palette is beyond what I expected. I knew the packaging was made of tin but I wasn't expecting it to be this sturdy. I'm really impressed with this palette and I can't wait to play with it!

 Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite

Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

FOTD: Shimmering Suede Tutorial

I wanted to use one of my favorite MAC pigments and that's Blue Brown pigment. I was really hoping for the blue to show through, but because I added a bronze base it completely took that out. It's okay though because I'm really loving the warm red tones of the brown in this pigment. I think if the blue showed up, I would have loved this look a lot more. Anyway, I'm also wearing G&G circle lenses which I'll be reviewing soon along with other lenses. :)

MAC Blue Brown Pigment Swatch

Flash / No flash

Applied dry and wet

EYES:
□ Urban Decay Primer Potion
□ Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze (all over the lid)
□ MAC Blue Brown pigment (all over the lid & middle lower lash line)
□ MAC Coppering eyeshadow (above the crease)
□ Urban Decay Creep eyeshadow (outer corner & lower lash line)
□ Wet N Wild Vanity Palette - highlight color (brow bone highlight)
□ Urban Decay Sin eyeshadow (inner corner & inner lower lash line)
□ Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eyeliner in Black (lower waterline)
□ Covergirl Lashblast Mascara
□ Lashes from Kiwiberry style #11

BROWS:
□ NYC Browser Brow Kit
□ MAC Carbon eyeshadow

CHEEKS:
□ Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder

LIPS:
□ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Totally Toffee
□ Wet N Wild Glassy Gloss Lip Gel in This Too Shall Glass

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush Review and Swatches

I've been on a blush kick lately. Earlier this week I went ahead and picked up 2 of the new Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blushes because I was curious to know how these held up. I've never tried a blush quite like this. It's not a solid and it's not quite your typical cream blush either. It has a bit of give to it, hence the name "bouncy" blush. It has a almost like a marshmallowy mixed with play-doh type of texture if that makes any sense. I've never tried their mousse blush before so I can't make any comparison between the two.

 Maybelline Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin and Pink Frosting

 Peach Satin

 Pink Frosting

Peach Satin and Pink Frosting swatched heavily

AVAILABILITY: Drugstores

PRICE: $8 USD
SIZE: .19 OZ / 5.6 g
VALUE FOR PRICE: 3/5
APPLICATION: 3.5/5
PACKAGING: 5/5
MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 4/5
OVERALL PRODUCT: 3/5 

PROS:
□ Comes in a wide range of colors
□ Could be used as a base for your blush
□ Color is buildable
□ Blends easily

CONS:
□ Color payoff is very sheer
□ Wipes away easily
□ Not long lasting

FINAL THOUGHTS:
□ I find that these blushes go on a bit sheer. It's buildable but I feel like I would be wasting more product that way. I think if you're lighter than NC30 in MAC, these blushes would be more suitable for you otherwise you would just be layering on another blush right on top of it which is what I had to do. These blushes give more of a natural rosy cheek look, therefore; it shows up very faint. At first I thought it would be best to use a dense brush for application but I find that a fluffy brush works just as fine. Keep in mind the color payoff is not the most pigmented so you may be layering on the color just to get a decent amount to appear on your cheeks. Overall, I find that these are more fun to touch than their intended purpose.

DISCLAIMER: THE PRODUCTS REVIEWED ON THIS BLOG ARE BASED ON THE OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF THE AUTHOR. THIS PRODUCT WAS PURCHASED BY THE AUTHOR AND IN NO WAY WAS THIS REVIEW INFLUENCED BY THE COMPANY OF THE PRODUCT.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow Swatches & Review

When I initially saw these I automatically thought of MAC Paint Pots. I thought these would be a great alternative to use as an eyeshadow base and the whole "24hr" pretty much sold me. The first time I swatched these on the back of my hand, I automatically noticed how creamy they were (almost buttery!). Just a tiny bit of this stuff goes a long way because the color pay off is amazing! I decided to pick up more neutral shades rather than the vibrant colors so I can opt out of using my more high end eyeshadow bases and use these instead.

 Tough as Taupe, Too Cool

Bad to the Bronze

 Bad to the Bronze

 Tough as Taupe

Too Cool

Bad to the Bronze, Tough as Taupe, Too Cool swatched

AVAILABILITY: Drugstores (Walmart, Rite Aid, Walgreen, etc.)
PRICE: $5-$7 USD
SIZE: .14 OZ. 4g
VALUE FOR PRICE: 5/5
APPLICATION: 4.5/5
PACKAGING: 5/5
MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 4.5/5
OVERALL PRODUCT: 5/5 

PROS:

□ Doesn't crease
□ Once it's on, it's on. It won't smudge or wear off
□ More affordable than MAC Paint Pots or other high end eyeshadow bases
□ Makes eyeshadows vibrant

CONS:
□ Not enough neutral or matte shades


FINAL THOUGHTS:
□ I definitely recommend these for everyone. Whether you're on a budget or not, it's always nice to have a good eyeshadow base on hand and these are definitely worth having. Since I have oily eyelids I usually start off with UDPP (even when using MAC Paint Pots) because my eyeshadow will crease. But these do not budge or crease and they definitely make your shadows last longer. I only hope that in the future Maybelline will come out with more matte and neutral shades that will cater to people who aren't into shimmers or bright colors.

DISCLAIMER: The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. This product was purchased by the author and in no way was this review influenced by the company of the product.

GloProfessional Alloy Eyes Collection Review

 Top Row: Silver Streak, Universe, Storm, Jet
Bottom Row: Buff, Cappuccino, Enigma, Tuxedo

 Top Row: Silver Streak, Universe, Storm, Jet

Bottom Row: Bottom Row: Buff, Cappuccino, Enigma, Tuxedo

Jet all over the lid and outer lower lash line

Universe in the crease

Cappuccino as a transition color

Buff as a brow bone highlight

Silver Streak in the inner tear duct and inner lower lash line
Lash Lengthening Mascara in Black

A palette of shimmery hues with complimentary matte shades that can be used to create limitless looks for day and night that flatter all eyes.

AVAILABILITY:  GloProfessionals
PRICE: $44 USD
SIZE: .25 oz. / 7.2 g
VALUE FOR PRICE: 4/5
APPLICATION: 4/5
PACKAGING: 5/5
MEETS EXPECTATIONS: 4/5
OVERALL PRODUCT: 4/5 

PROS:
□ Includes a mix of different eyeshadow finishes (frosts and mattes)
□ Great for creating subtle everyday eyes to dramatic smokey eyes
□ Eyeshadows are smooth in texture
□ Eyeshadows are vibrant when packed on

CONS:
□ Some eyeshadows were too powdery
□ Matte colors were streaky if not applied evenly
□ Excess blending would make the shadows look muddy
□ Not the most pigmented, depending on the type of primer/base used
□ Pricey

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
□ For someone like myself who has tried all types of eyeshadows from drugstore to high end, I'm pretty particular about what I consider quality made products. This palette was just okay for me. It took me several tries to get the most out of it because I tried different primers and bases to find what worked best. I found that creamier bases work better for these shadows because it has something "sticky" to adhere to. So a base is a must in order for these shadows to show up because using them alone probably won't show up as much as one would like it to.

□ These shadows work better when they are packed on rather than swiped especially for building up intensity. That's why in the swatches they look really vibrant because I packed on a lot of eyeshadow to show you how intense it can be. But for someone who prefers subtle smokey eyes or a wash of color, then a quick swipe with a blending brush would justify. I think both who prefer simplicity or boldness could both benefit from this palette but I do prefer it more for people who are more into subtle looks. Nonetheless I think the color choices in this palette are spot on. I do love the neutral shades, plus the different finishes, and it would be great for bringing with me for travel as my all-in-one makeup palette.

DISCLAIMER: In no way is this blog accepting any form of payment for products received by companies. The products reviewed on this blog are based on the opinions and experiences of the author. The products in this review were provided by the company.