Beauty Products Reviews: makeup

Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts

Thursday, June 27, 2013

L’Oreal Mint Ice Colour Riche Le Gloss Review, Photos, Swatches

L’Oreal Mint Ice Colour Riche Le Gloss

L’Oreal Mint Ice Colour Riche Le Gloss ($7.95 for 0.40 fl. oz.) is a subtly gold-shimmered mint green. I couldn’t think of any dupes from products I’ve reviewed, and the only sheer, green-tinged gloss that came to mind was MAC’s Spring Bean, which I believe is a little yellower (I haven’t had it in sometime, but I do remember it looking kind of yellow-y applied, plus shimmery). When I saw this at Walgreens, I had to pick it up; green gloss? C’mon, so fun! Alone, it’s a sheer dusting of gold and green micro-shimmer that give lips a glossy shine, but there’s no real green coloring of the lips.

Though the Colour Riche Le Gloss formula tends to be more pigmented than it is sheer, Mint Ice is incredibly sheer, so there’s no need to fear the color in the tube if it was worrisome. Of course, if you wanted a real pop of green you’re going to have to look elsewhere. My guess is L’Oreal made this deliberately sheer, though it’s still very, very sheer–it really doesn’t even change my natural lip color at all, just adds shimmer and shine–and given the permanent’s range opacity, it should be more pigmented.

The texture is slightly thick, kind of like jelly, non-sticky, and this shade lasts an hour and a half, tops, on me, which was disappointing. It feels nice on, but it just doesn’t last (good thing there’s a lot of it in the tube). It had a sweet vanilla-like scent but no discernible taste. I wore it a few times back-to-back to get a better feel of how well it hydrated, and it was nicely moisturizing overall.

The Glossover

	Mint Ice
	It doesn't feel like a C- gloss on the lips, but it's very, very sheer and wears away quickly. If you like the idea of seeing a green gloss in your stash, but are just in the market for a shimmery, mostly clear gloss--and don't mind frequent application--it's still a nice formula in terms of how it feels on the lips.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 5/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 4/10 Application 5/5

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L’Oreal Mint Ice Colour Riche Le Gloss

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Bobbi Brown Lilac Rose Collection for Spring 2013

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Fresh from the runway, Bobbi Brown introduces the Lilac Rose Collection. She’s taken this season’s prettiest trend and added her own modern and super fresh twist.

Lilac Rose Eye Palette ($60.00) (Limited Edition)

The star of the collection, the Lilac Rose Eye Palette features eight eye shadows in wearable and flattering dusty pinks, heather greys and lily shades that effortlessly complement all skin tones.

Ivory Eye Shadow
Heather Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow
Pale Rose Eye Shadow
Dusty Lilac Eye Shadow
Barely There Eye Shadow
Black Chocolate Eye Shadow
Stormy Grey Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow
Pink Lily Metallic Eye Shadow

Shimmer Brick ($42.00) (Limited Edition)

Lilac Rose Bright pink, golden pink, icy pink pearl

Lip Gloss ($24.00) (Limited Edition)

Lilac Rose
Pink Lily
Pink Lilac

Sparkle Eyeshadow ($28.00) (Limited Edition)

Lilac Soft lilac

Blush ($25.00) (Limited Edition)

Pastel Pink Pop of blush

Nail Polish ($18.00) (Limited Edition)

Roza Pale heather pink

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Benefit Gilt-y Pleasure Longwear Powder Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches

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Benefit Gilt-y Pleasure Eyeshadow

Benefit Gilt-y Pleasure Eyeshadow is described as a “golden sand.” It’s a warm-toned, orange-gold with a metallic finish. Tarte Canary Diamond is a bit more orange and darker. Chanel Vision is more metallic and sparkly but similar in color. L’Oreal Eternal Sunshine is yellower. Dior Night Golds #4 is less metallic. Milani Drenched in Gold is very similar in color but more frosted in finish.

It had good color payoff (but was just short of perfection), but the real wonder was the texture: so soft and smooth. It really applied well and went on smoothly and adhered to the lid for a whopping ten hours without fading or creasing. Gilt-y Pleasure blended out easily when I worked with it. The brighter, warmer coloring paired with the high-shine finish makes it work well to brighten and open up the eyes (particularly on warmer skin tones).

For reference, it also appears in Benefit’s Most Glamorous Nudes Ever Palette–I make a point to mention that, because the palette itself is $30 but contains three other eyeshadows along with two Creaseless Cream Eyeshadows; more or less, unless you really hate the other products, it’s hard to justify $20 for one eyeshadow when you could be paying $30 and receiving six different products.

THE GLOSSOVER

The brighter, warmer coloring paired with the high-shine finish makes it work well to brighten and open up the eyes (particularly on warmer skin tones).

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Benefit Gilt-y Pleasure Eyeshadow

Benefit Gilty Pleasure Longwear Powder Shadow (middle of lid)
(also using Benefit Kiss Me, I’m Tipsy, Gilty Pleasure, It’s Complicated, and Call My Bluff)

Friday, February 8, 2013

Make Up For Ever Technicolor Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

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Make Up For Ever Technicolor Eyeshadow Palette

Make Up For Ever Technicolor Eyeshadow Palette includes eight eyeshadows: #04 (matte black), Jaune (yellow), #91 (apple green), #72 (matte vibrant turquoise), #116 (lilac), #00 (matte white), #17 (matte chocolate brown), and#126 (tan beige shimmer). With the exception of Jaune, the other seven shades are part of the permanent range.

#04 is a rich black with a matte finish and subtle warm undertones. It was soft, applied smoothly, and had good color payoff. It’s similar to other black eyeshadows such asUrban Decay Crave, Le Metier de Beaute Fin, and Urban Decay Blackout.

Jaune is a warm, sunshine yellow with a subtle satiny sheen. It had good color payoff, but it was powdery. NARS Flowers #5 is more pearly. Illamasqua Hype is matte. MAC Goldenrod is darker and matte. Inglot #323 is matte.

#91 is a brightened green with soft, yellow undertones and a matte finish. It was powdery and had so-so color payoff–and my individual version was much smoother and more pigmented. I had a lot of trouble getting this shade to look vibrant on the lid and blend with the other shades. Illamasqua Fledgling is much darker, whereas Illamasqua Pivot is much lighter. MAC Wondergrass a touch darker and shimmery.

#72 is a medium blue with a matte finish. It had so-so color payoff and was a bit powdery. The color stained a little bit when I swatched it, but wearing it over a primer to test wear (because it didn’t work well at all on its own), it didn’t. The original that I have is more intense–so much more pigmented. NARS Mad Mad World is richer. Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine #3 is darker, less cyan. Inglot #371 is a bit darker and more opaque.

#116 is a darkened lavender with a matte finish. This shade was very powdery and rather sheer; I could not build up color at all.NARS High Society #1 is grayer. Illamasqua Can Can is brighter. Urban Decay Tainted has shimmer.

#00 is a pure white with a matte finish. It had good color payoff and was soft, smooth, and applied well. It is similar to shades like Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine #1,Bobbi Brown White, and Inglot #373.

#17 is a medium-dark brown with warm, tan undertones and a matte finish. This was the best performing shade in the palette–nicely pigmented, smooth, and soft. Dolce & Gabbana Cocoa #3 is lighter and pearly. theBalm Tres Moi is redder and frosted. Inglot #357 is lighter.

#126 is a light beige with warm, peachy undertones and a soft, frosted shimmer-sheen finish. It had good color payoff and applied smoothly, but it was a tiny bit powdery.Urban Decay Broken is similar but less shimmery. Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone #1 is less shimmery, more frosted. MAC Ricepaper is more satiny.

I used four of the eight shades in a look, and I opted to go for the brighter shades since I figured those would be the shades that were most eye-catching within the palette. I expected a quick, easy, and overall fuss-free application, but I had a very opposite experience: the powderiness present across many of the shades made it difficult to get rich, opaque color payoff and blend the colors at the same time. I would apply #91 and pack it on, then I’d go to blend it, and half of it would disappear into the ether. I’ve never had this problem with Make Up For Ever’s eyeshadows. They’re one of my favorite brands for matte eyeshadows, because they aren’t dry and powdery and prone to sheerness.

#116 was the worst offender, followed by #91. #04 and #17 were the easiest to use out of the eight. I’m surprised and shocked at the way these applied. I tried using the same eyeshadows on two separate days, in case maybe my lids just weren’t right for them. I had to use the eyeshadows over primer to see any color really stick to the lid, and still, I couldn’t get full color payoff on #91. After the tenth time packing on the color, I threw in the towel (err, brush?). I think you need to use a creamier, whiter base underneath these to really get them to work well. Over Make Up For Ever Prime, the eyeshadows lasted eight hours but did look faded, though no creasing.

I have to admit–I’m a bit heartbroken over the outcome.

I've never had this problem with Make Up For Ever's eyeshadows. They're one of my favorite brands for matte eyeshadows, because they aren't dry and powdery and prone to sheerness. I have to admit--I'm a bit heartbroken over the outcome.