Review: MAC Lustreglass in Pinkarat

*I received this product for free through the Back to MAC program*

Looking a little worse for wear

With flash

This product has a brush applicator which is my favourite type for a lip gloss. This gloss is a lovely pink shade with gold glitter. The glitter can be quite gritty but since this is a lustreglass formula that is understandable.

Left: sunlight     Right: shade

Bottom of tube

Lips.

As with all MAC lipglasses, Pinkarat is very sticky and thick. Because of that, this product wears for several hours. Pinkarat is quite sheer but it looks wonderful layered over a lipstick.

Overall: I would not repurchase this product. It is nice and I do use it but it's not unique enough to pay full price.

This product can be purchased at MAC stores, counters, and online.

Review: Benefit Blush in Dandelion

*I purchased this product with my own money*

Photo from www.benefitcosmetics.com

The packaging is beautiful but it is quite bulky. After having it for a few years I finally decided to depot it.

Dandelion

Left: one swipe and multiple swipes (flash)     Right: one swipe and multiple swipes (no flash)

Dandelion is a lovely pale peachy pink with a hint of gold shimmer. The shimmer is subtle and doesn't settle into pores. It is decently pigmented so I don't have to worry about using a light or heavy hand to apply it.

Left: flash     Right: no flash

This blush lasts me throughout the day without having to reapply or touch it up. When I first got Dandelion it had a faint rose scent only in the package which faded away eventually. While this product isn't on the cheap side, its subtlety and radiance make up for it.

Overall: A great blush that brightens up the complexion and lasts all day. I will be repurchasing this whenever mine runs out (which won't be any time soon).

This product can be purchased at the Benefit Website, Benefit Cosmetics counters, Sephora, and some Shopper Drug Mart locations for $36.

Review: L'Oréal La Couleur Infallible Eyeshadow in Sahara Treasure

*I purchased this product with my own money*

Sahara Treasure

The packaging is a bit finicky, it comes with a black stopper to keep the pigment pressed. However, I do like that I can see the colour without having to open the package.

Left: on bare skin     Right: on top of Urban Decay Primer Potion

This eyeshadow has amazing pigmentation and is very long lasting. These swatches stayed on my arm for at least 12 hours without any significant wear. The UDPP made the eyeshadow last until the next morning. I found that Sahara Treasure applies best with a clean finger. 

Eye half-closed

Eye open!

The only other eyeshadow I'm wearing is Urban Decay's Foxy to hide any veins. What I love most about Sahara Treasure is that I can get away without using a crease colour because it is so dimensional. I usually use this eyeshadow when I'm in a rush since it is easy to work with.

Overall: I recommend this product and I will repurchase it. Everyone needs a nicely pigmented metallic eyeshadow that doesn't look powdery and can be worn alone.

This product can be purchased at drugstores and some supermarkets for varying prices (I paid around $8 at Rexall)

What I'm Wearing: OPI Nail Polish in "Sheer" Your Toys!

*I purchased this product with my own money*

"Sheer" Your Toys! (shade)

Indirect sunlight

Direct sunlight

This shade was released in the Holiday 2008 Collection. I picked it up at Winners a few years ago because it's such a nice lilac-grey colour. "Sheer" Your Toys! isn't sheer at all as I only needed two coats to achieve full opacity. This is one of my favourite nail polishes for the end of winter and beginning of spring.

Review: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rosé

*I received this product for free as my Sephora birthday gift in 2012*

This is the mini version.

SPF 15

The packaging is unlike that of any lip balm I've ever used. It feels like such a treat every time I take this product out of my bag to use it.

Left: one swipe     Right: several swipes

This balm has amazing staying power because it is a thick consistency. It definitely sits on top of my lips. The pigmentation is quite build-able but I prefer the look of one swipe on my lips. All of the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments have a lemony scent/taste (not reminiscent of cleaning products, I swear) that doesn't really fade. 

Lips.

This balm gives my lips a slight rose tint which looks natural. The colour in this picture looks similar to the Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush but is completely different in person (more pink and less shiny).

Overall: I love this product! It's very expensive so I don't think I'd be able to justify purchasing it even though I don't need a lot of product to achieve the look I want. If you don't like thick lip products or a lemon scent this just isn't for you.

This product can be purchased at Sephora for $26.

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush

*I purchased this product with my own money*

Limited edition shade for spring

The packaging feels cheap but it closes and turns easily. The colours stand out which I don't like because orange and yellow aren't my favourites.

Left: one swipe     Right: several swipes

The staying power is typical of a lip balm. However, it doesn't feel like the product wears off. Instead it feels like it's absorbed by my lips. I wore Baby Lips a lot this winter because of that. This balm has an orangey scent/taste which doesn't really fade.

Lips

This was the best picture I could get. The balm doesn't come off as overly orange which is nice. This is actually my first coral lip product and I'm glad it is bold. A sheer balm is a great way to introduce yourself to a new colour.

Overall: I really like this product for its colour and moisturizing properties. I will continue to purchase Baby Lips.

This product can be purchased at drugstores and some supermarkets for varying prices (I paid around $4 at Wal-Mart)

What I'm Wearing: Essie Nail Polish in A Crewed Interest

*I purchased this product with my own money*

A Crewed Interest (shade)

Indirect sunlight

Direct sunlight

This colour gets me excited for summer. Since this is a creme formula it took me 3 coats to get an even look. I have a hard time finding peachy shades that look good on me and A Crewed Interest isn't too warm for my skin tone. 

Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

*I purchased this product with my own money*

Currently available in 12 shades. 

The packaging isn't terribly exciting. It's exactly the same as other chubby lip crayons. That being said, the packaging is practical. I own a few of these and I appreciate not having to look at the label to know which colour I'm grabbing. It's fully retractable so you won't ever have to worry about sharpening it.

Left: one swipe and multiple swipes     Right: one swipe and multiple swipes  with balm rubbed off after 10 minutes

Bottom of the packaging

The staining power isn't as good as the deeper shades but the balm itself is quite pigmented. It's not as moisturizing as a lip butter but it's better than the average lipstick. This stain balm has a mint scent and taste that wears off after a while. It's reminiscent of toothpaste which I don't mind but it's something that some people might have a problem with.

Right after application.

Left: 4 hours after application     Right: lips before application

Since this is a staining product it would be wise to exfoliate prior to application. Sadly, exfoliating right before doesn't guarantee an even stain. This colour isn't very deep so it's harder to notice that the stain isn't even. The more you apply the product the more intense the stain becomes. 

Overall: I love this colour. It's a nice bright pink that isn't overly bold. If you're looking for a great staining lip product I wouldn't recommend this. It's unlikely that I'll repurchase.

This product can be purchased at drugstores and some supermarkets for varying prices (I paid around $8 at Shoppers Drug Mart)

Review: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Crème Brulee

*I bought this product with my own money*

The entire line of lip butters has lids that match the colour of the actual product.

The packaging feels sturdy and doesn't look cheap. I like that the lid matches the product, this makes it especially easy to find when you own more than one lip butter.

Left: one swipe and multiple swipes in sunlight     Right: one swipe and multiple swipes with flash

The swatch with flash looks kind of glittery but it's not a glittery product. The lip butter is just really moisturizing.

Bottom of the packaging

I really like the pigmentation of this product. It's not overly pigmented which is something I don't want in a nude lip product. I only need to do a few swipes on my lips to achieve my desired look. I was not able to detect a scent or taste with this product.

Lips.

This lip butter feels amazing on my lips. It's so buttery and smooth. It catches on dry patches of skin so exfoliation is necessary. The wear time isn't very long even without eating or drinking. 

Overall: I love this product and will repurchase it when I run out. The formula is so wonderful that I will likely buy some of the other shades.

This product can be purchased at drugstores and some supermarkets for varying prices (I paid around $7-8 at Wal-Mart).