What's New: Maybelline The Nudes Palette

Today, I'm bringing you pictures and swatches of a brand new,  12 pan palette from Maybelline! This is just starting to hit drug stores, but can be found right now at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It retails for around $10 there and they are going fast!

I picked mine up about 5 days ago and have been playing with it ever since. So, I do have an opinion about this product even though its fairly new. It comes with a variety of shades with a variety of finishes. On the back of the packaging, it outlines how the palette is divided into quads, trios, and duos. I find this to be pretty helpful when creating looks with these shades.

Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the color options in this palette. They have a great range of cool tones and warm tones, along with some wonderful matte shades. The colors are build-able and can come off quite pigmented if used with a primer. For around $10.00, I think this is well worth the investment and time trying to find it! Look for deals when you start finding it at your local drugstores. Maybelline products normally have a great sale attached to them :)

Smackdown: Nars Laguna Bronzer Vs. Elf Warm Bronzer

Welcome to this weeks smackdown, bronzer edition. Today I'm smacking down 2 bronzers that arent really compared a lot, but are very similar in my eyes. The Nars Laguna Bronzer and the Elf Warm Bronzer!

Lets start with the packaging. They are both packaged in a sleek looking black compact that opens up to reveal a mirror, and the pan of product. They are both very easy to open, and are very sturdy.

Nars Laguna Bronzer holds 8 grams of product and has a retail of $38.00.  Elf Warm Bonzer has 12.3 grams of product and retails for $3.00. So, clearly Elf is far more budget friendly here.

Elf Warm Bronzer has 4 different bronzing colors in the pan making it very versatile. You can customize for added dimension on you face and even highlight with the lightest shade. It has a satin finish, so it is great for contouring as well as generally warming up the face.  And, since it has that satin/skin-like finish, it blends very beautifully if you are using a fluffy brush and a light hand.

Nars Laguna Bronzer is also a satin finish bronzer that is ver easy to work with. It blends seamlessly into your skin and makes it look like you aren't even wearing any bronzer at all, only you have that hint of dimension that is very natural looking. This is by far the easiest bronzer I've ever worked with. It is so smooth and works with lots of different skin-tones.

When swatched, these bronzers look a tiny bit different. They have the same finish (Satiny, skin looking), but the Elf is a bit more pigmented with one swipe, and is also a bit warmer. Overall, with the price difference and the performance I don't think I even need to say it, but the Elf Warm Bronzer is the winner for me on this one! So much cheaper with such a similar effect, you cannot go wrong with this $3 gem!

Review: Stila Color Me Pretty Lip and Cheek Palette

It's no secret that my favorite high end highlighter is from Stila cosmetics. It's called "Kitten" and it's a duo shade compact with 2 highlight shades. I love it so much. So, when I spotted this Color Me Pretty Lip and Cheek Palette from Stila, it looked beautiful. But then, I noticed that it had a shade that was also called "Kitten". Just like my HG powder highlighter, only this is a cream formulation. So, basically all I'm saying, is that I had to get it.

 

This palette has a tin housing that holds 5 different cream shades that can be used for blush or lip colors. The instructions say that for blush, tap it onto cheeks, and for lips, press it on. The 5 shades are:

Kitten: A highy pigmented shimmery champagne

Peony: A dusty rose shade

Gerbera: A sweet rosy pink shade

Rose: A deep mauve shade, &

Petunia: A bright, coral pink.

 

 

All 5 shades have a somewhat dewy finish. Some more than others. And all of them are very pigmented. Peony, Gerbera, and Rose all have a staining effect on my skin and stick around a very long time. Overall this palette is a phenomenal value, and can be purchased at Ulta.com or at a discounted rate right now at beauty.com! It retails for $28 but is $12.60 at beauty.com. For $12.60, this really cannot be beat if you are into cream products. This palette is versatile, and can be used for a variety of different looks on your face as well as lips! I love the formulation and the pigmentation as well.  

My only complaint is that the packaging feels pretty cheap. The tin is somewhat flimsy, but the real problem is the part where the pans are housed. The black part inside is super flimsy and whenever you press your finger into a shade it goes down, and I feel like it's going to break. So, for this reason, I'm giving it 4/5 winks!

Now, I'm sure you are all wondering how the "kitten" shade in this palette compares to the All Over Shimmer Duo. I've done a detailed picture graph below, but as you can see the darker shade from the All Over Shimmer Duo in "kitten" is the exact same shade that is in this palette! The only thing that I can tell as far as when it's swatched, is that the cream formulation from this palette is very shiny/dewy as opposed to the pressed powder found in the All Over Shimmer Duo. I love both equally and I'm so happy with this purchase! 

Review: New York Color IndividualEyes Palette 938 Union Square

Today's review is on a drugstore eye shadow palette that is super budget-friendly, and has everything you need.  The New York Color IndividualEyes Palette in "Union Square" contains 4 eye shadow colors, a primer, and an illuminator.

The eye shadow shades are...

Highlighter: A pale matte yellow
All Over Lid: A matte medium brown
Crease/Contour: A satin finish medium brown
Crease/Contour: A matte plum

Then, there are two creams in this palette...

Primer: A light flesh tone shade that is used for a base under the shadows
Illuminator: A shimmery white shade for use in the inner corner or under browbone

This palette retails for $4.99 and can be found at numerous drugstores. I think this is a bargain for what you get, and the shades are very nicely pigmented and feel smooth. I love how it comes with the primer and the illuminator, and I think this would be a great product to travel with since it has everything you need for an eye look, and the compact is very sturdy.

Overall I don't have many horrible things to say about this palette. It's a great value, and the shades are pretty and pigmented enough for drugstore eye shadows. They last a good while and the cream products are great! This gets a 5/5!

5/5 Winks!

What's New: Butter London Wink Cream Eye Shadow in “Treacle”

Today I wanted to review a product that I got for free with a purchase at beauty.com. I honestly would have never giving this a second glance had I not gotten an email from beauty.com to get this full size product for free with any $10 purchase. So, I took the plunge. I mean, with free shipping (shop runner) I couldn't go wrong, right? So, I put a Zpalette in my cart, and checked out.

This Butter London Wink Cream Eye Shadow in “Treacle” retails for $18, and you can find it at beauty.com and Utla stores. It comes in a tube that resembles a lip gloss, and the application wand has a doe foot tip for controlled and easy application, just like lip gloss as well.

The formula of this eye shadow is a very thin cream texture. It isn't thick and it sheers out well, leaving a thin layer of extreme, opaque pigment. Once applied, it feels a bit tacky for about 20-30 seconds, but once it dries, it stays put ALL day long! Literally, I think if I slept in this eye shadow, it would still look flawless in the morning when I woke up!

I'm a huge fan of this color, as well. It is a shimmery, golden champagne shade that flatters every skin tone. The line includes 12 different shades, and I'm thinking about picking another 1 (or 3) up! They are sturdy, long-wearing eye shadows, and I'm in love! 

The only thing that I find to be bothersome is the fact that it takes a while to dry for me. I wish it would set a bit faster, and while it's tacky, you can't really move your eyelids around, or it will crease. For this reason, I'm giving it a 4.5 out of 5...

4.5/5 Winks!

What's New: Physicians Formula Natural Nude Shimmer Strips All-in-one Palette for Face and Eyes

Hey everyone, and happy Wednesday. Today I'll be reviewing a new product from Physicians Formula. This is their Natural Nude Shimmer Strips All-in-one Palette for Face and Eyes. They also have a warm version of this palette. This one is more fair-skin friendly, so I like it better than the warm.

The packaging of this compact is rather bulky, but adorable. It has a fishnet design with a little bow where you open it. The flip side of the compact,  holds a mirror with a face brush, and sponge-tip applicator, and a guide for you to use this product. Note: The design on this compact is printed on rather than being an actual fabric material, unlike the "nude" eye shadow line from Physicians Formula.

This product has 12 different shades in one pan, that can be used individually or together to create unique colors. As you can see from the name of this product, it is intended for use on your face as well as your eyes. The guide in the back explains which shades are intended for use on your face and where they should go.  The top row is very light and can be used as a highlight on your brow bone, tops of your cheekbones, cupids bow etc. The middle row is intended for use as a light, shimmery blush and the bottom 2 rows are bronzy shades that can be used to warm the face or contour (if you like shimmery contour shades). All 12 shades can be used as eye shadows, and are certainly pigmented enough to do so.

Below are swatches of all 12 shades for you to get an idea of color payoff and pigmentation. As you can see all 12 shades have shimmer, but none of them are a chunky or glittery. They are very flattering shimmers. And, even on my pale skin, the lighter shades show up very well!

I've also swatched all shades together so you can see what a swirl of your brush could get. I think it's a lovely pink/bronze shade that is very subtle and pretty!

For a drugstore product that had a lot of different uses, I think this is stellar! The pigmentation, and shimmer in this palette rival that of high end brands for sure. So, I give it a 5/5!

5/5 Winks!

Review: Revlon Cream Blushes; Flushed, Pinched

When I find a formula that I like in a particular cosmetic item, I go crazy and think in my head that I have to have every single shade. Which is how I feel about the Revlon cream blushes! They are the perfect face product if you are starting, or wanting to start using cream products.

In the past, the NYX cream blushes have been my favorite, and I still love them, but you need to be very careful with them. I've completely messed up my look using them since they are really dewy and pigmented.

The Revlon cream blushes, are dense and silky, and blend so well! They aren't opaque, but you don't want your blush to be opaque. They seriously are so pretty and well formulated. I got 2 shades from the 40% off sale at Rite Aid last week, and have used them every day since I got them, and I really want to get more of the shades! Flushed is, of course my favorite color. But, pinched is so stinking pretty, and would look STELLAR on bronzed/tan skin for a natural summer look!

Revlon Cream Blush in "Pinched"

 Revlon Cream Blush in "Flushed"

These blushes are perfectly pigmented, and sheer out beautifully. They have a very skin-like texture when blended. The packaging is great and isn't big or bulky. It has a black screw-top lid and the product sits in a clear jar. 

These have a retail of $12.99 and are sold wherever Revlon cosmetics are sold. They come in 3 shades, "Pinched", "Flushed" & "Coral Reef". I highly recommend them if you like cream blushes. The colors are perfect for summer and the formulation gets it done so well.  

Review: Maybelline Color Whisper in "Lust For Blush"

I found the most perfect nude pink lip color in the world! I absolutely love a nude lip. It's hard for many to achieve since having a nude lip can sometimes make you look dead. So, a lot of us look to nude pink shades to counter that balance of a nude lip and a dead face. However, pinks are hard, too. Some are too bright, some are too brown etc.

I'm so happy to have found this lip color. It's the perfect balance of it all and it look so pretty with my fair skin tone. The Maybelline Color Whisper in "Lust For Blush" is now in the archives as my favorite drugstore lipstick! It's so beyond perfect for a variety of shin tones, and it feels like a chap-stick. It's very hydrating, and not too heavy, like some lipsticks.

I find pictures of lips a little creepy and weird, but I thought it would be helpful for you to see what it looks like on my lips in natural light.

This lipcolor retails for $7.50 at most drugstores or wherever Maybelline is sold near you. I definitely recommend it if you love the idea of a nude lip, but can't seem to find one that looks good on you. This is such a nice color, and the price is budget friendly!

Smackdown: Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronze Light vs. Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium

I'm finally doing another Smackdown! Today I'm comparing Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronzed Light vs. Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium. Sheesh, what is it with these long names of products? Anyway, starting off I'm going to tell you what the company's of each of these products have to say about them.


About Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronze Light:
With Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator its easy to get a healthy glow in any light. Brighten and illuminate skin for a radiant complexion. Wear alone to highlight and brighten. Wear with foundation to banish dullness and even out skin tone.

About Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium:

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant, natural and lasting bronzed glow! 1st ever BB cream bronzer. Bronzer + BB cream benefits. Replaces Moisturizer, foundation, SPF, bronzer. Mistake proof formula. Stain-free, streak-free, orange-free. Glow activator technology.

So, on to my opinions. These are both the same type of product to me. I don't care if one is labeled "BB" and the other one is "PhotoReady". They are both liquid bronzers that are supposed to give you a healthy/tan complexion. I realize that most of my smackdowns involve a high end brand and a drugstore brand, and I'm sorry but these are very similar in price. I wanted to compare them for myself, and I thought someone else would like the info. Revlon retails for $12.99 and Physicians Formula is $14.99. I have seen the Revlon everywhere, Target, Walmart, CVS etc. And, I have seen the Physicians Formula only at Ulta. So, Revlon is much easier to obtain.

These are both Silicone based, and feel the same on my face. The Physicians Formula does have SPF where Revlon does not. When heavily swatched, the Physicians Formula is clearly lighter in color. But when blended out, they have a very similar tone. On me, the Physicians Formula is a tiny bit more orangey, but is completely a matte finish. Revlon has a very slight shimmer to it, which when photographed I cannot detect.

 Swatched heavily

Blended swatch

So, my final verdict on these 2 products are that they are basically pretty similar. I think I'm going to lean slightly toward the Physicians Formula BB Bronzer more, just because I like how it has an SPF, and that it also is completely matte. That's not to say that I'm going to give up on the Revlon, though. There are days that a slight shimmer is great, and I think that this one blended in with your foundation is a superb idea!

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Review: Too Faced The Secret To No Makeup Makeup

Guess what? Summer is just around the corner (thank goodness!), and I'm not sure about you, but for me, that equals less time for my makeup routine. Plus, with swimming, sports, camping and playing outside, I feel like even if I do my makeup, it just melts off anyway. I wasn't necessarily searching for an all-in-one palette that can do my whole face with ease, but when I saw this Too Faced The Secret To No Makeup Makeup palette I thought this would be an awesome basic summertime healthy looking face kit.

I normally start with the packaging, so let me explain that first. It comes in a tin housing with a magnetic closure. When you open it, there are 6 products with labels for you to know what is what. The top has an insert/guide and when you remove it, there is a very small mirror behind it.

Here is what Too Faced has to say about this palette:
This multitasking face palette is your answer to creating the illusion of flawlessness. The collection is dedicated to complexion perfection—for a flawless “I was born perfect” look—any time of the day. With Too Faced’s signature how-to Glamour Guide included with three looks to get you started, the kit has everything you need to create a complete makeover, so it’s great for traveling or overnight stays.

This palette includes:

Bronzing Veil (Powder)
Creme Blush (Cream)
Blush (Powder)
Concealer (Cream)
Luminizer (Cream)
Brightener (Cream)

The Bronzing veil in this kit is nothing short of stunning. However, I personally wouldn't classify it as a bronzer. It isn't terribly dark, and even on my fair skin tone, it doesn't really "Bronze" my skin. It does illuminate and blur imperfections beautifully.

The Creme Blush is another stunner! This is a beautiful classic pink. A little goes a long way with this blush. It has a matte, yet dewy finish and it also has a slight staining effect, making it super long wearing.

The Blush in this palette is a light baby doll pink. This is the product in this kit that is just okay to me. It's decently pigmented, and it has a lot of sparkle, but it doesn't stick around that long. I would suggest using this over the Creme Blush for a longer lasting effect.

The Concealer is pretty good. It's a tad dark for me, so I can't use it under my eyes. It's great for minor imperfections and for canceling out slight pigmentation problems.

The Luminize is a peachy highlight that can be used for emphasizing the cheekbones, browbones, and down the bridge of the nose. I really like this product, and my only complaint is that it's not big enough.

The Brighten is a matte, peachy-yellow under toned correcter product. This is great for concealing dark circles, and to contour your face. I was very surprised how dark this looked in the pan vs. how light it was on my skin.

The insert that tucks inside this kit has three different looks that you can create using this palette, giving you a step-by-step color coded guide, and then on the flip-side there is a model demonstrating each look. I found this guide to be very helpful and a great resource.

This palette retails for $39.00, and is available wherever Too Faced cosmetics are sold. I think this is a great value for 6 products, being that they are pretty and pigmented. It's also very flattering on a lot of different sin tones. Overall I'm in love with this purchase, and can't wait for summer so that I can practice my "no makeup" look!

Review: theBalm Smoke Balm Smokey Eye Palette

Hey everyone! I have an exciting review for you today. theBalm Smoke Balm Smokey Eye Palette! This is a 3 shade palette that I found at Kohls this week. I got a GREAT deal on it (come back for more about that tomorrow). This is the first time I have played with theBalm shadows, and I gotta say, I'm impressed!

Can we start with how cute the packaging is? These shadows come in a cardboard housing with cute and fun graphics. The side has a picture of what looks like a matchbox striking strip (because this is a "smokey" palette ;) And the back of the package has a guide for how to apply these to make your eyes look smokey. Of course though, you can do whatever you want with these shades!

The three shades that come in this palette are:
Kindle, a dark green with a charcoal undertone that has a slight shimmer.
Glow, a matte medium brown shade &
Combust, a golden champagne shade with lots of sparkle.

All three shades feel velvety and smooth and are very decently pigmented. I never build up my swatches to give you a false hope of what cosmetics look like. One swipe and that's all they get. If you can see it then great, if not maybe it's not a good choice.

 I think these colors work together very well, and are a great addition to your collection! It retails for $12 at Kohls, and I'm pretty sure it's exclusively there. I could be wrong on that. What do you think of this palette? Worth $12 or is it a pass for you?

Whats New: elf Blush Palette

I decided to go back to a little whats new today. I've told you about this product in one of my hauls in the past, but I decided to take some more in-depth photos and swatches for you.

There are 4 shades in this palette. There are two different palette options on the elf website, light and dark. I only purchased the light one, and I'm liking it so far. Three of the shades are pink, with one being a bronze color. So, this would be a great item to take traveling with you if you like options when you travel. The only shade that has any sort of sparkle is the bottom right shade. The other three are matte. These are decently pigmented, but not overly or surprisingly so.

One of the features of this palette that suprized me, was the fact that you can pop each shade out from the palette housing. Making me wonder, if elf is going to do something like sell the shades or new/other shades individually in the future.

 

Overall at $6, I think this is a great buy. You get four shades and they are all very pretty and blend-able. It's also a decent size, yet compact enough that I don't think it would be hard to travel with.