July’s beauty haul is slightly more exciting than last month’s no buy that’s for sure!
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($22 CAD)
My mission to find a matte black liquid liner in a pen-style format with a brush tip continues! So far this is the best one, but it’s still not perfect. Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner brush tip applicator is absolutely perfect at distributing product – it continually amazes me that the product is ALWAYS at the tip of the brush (which is a slight problem I’d had with the Physicians Formula eye booster in the same style). It makes for super easy application, especially when you’re used to a gel liner and brush. However, it’s still not *completely* matte black. It’s nowhere near as shiny as Make Up For Ever’s Aqualiner in Black, but it still has the very hint of a sheen, which means it can pick up lid eyeshadow to a certain degree. However, this being the best one I’ve found yet, its ease of use far outstrips any shine it may have. I picked this up primarily because I’m going on vacation in September and since I wear a lot of winged out liner, the last thing I want to do is fuss around with a pot of gel liner and a brush while trying to get out the door to go sightseeing.
Unlike every other Neutrogena makeup remover, the Hydrating version almost never goes on sale which is incredibly frustrating. I noticed they were slightly less expensive at Walmart this time round so I snapped them up while I was there.
Be A Bombshell – Last Call Girl (free)
Be A Bombshell‘s Last Call Girl lipgloss was a freebie from Ipsy. I had complained about the extremely horrible scent of the Be A Bombshell’s mascara I have been previously sent and they sent me two free products (next one follows this one) as recompense. I’m not sure when I’ll wear this, if ever. It’s not a colour I usually gravitate towards and it’s a gloss which leaves me feeling even less enthused. Ah well. Better than the mascara, that’s for sure.
Elizabeth Mott – It’s So Big mascara (free)
The other freebie I got from Ipsy was the Elizabeth MottIt’s So Big mascara. It works well on my lower lashes (where I want less product and less volume) but it doesn’t do much to boost up my upper lashes. I’ll keep using it for my lower lashes for sure though – I like how it deposits just the right amount of colour I want on them.
Time for round 19 of makeup gunk I’ve splashed on my face!
I wore this one during Toronto’s Pride Week and really liked how this came out. You can really never go wrong with Makeup Geek‘s Utopia, such a beautiful blackened gold that seems to work with every colour imaginable.
Eyes
Inglot‘s Shine 132 (silver) all over the lid. Then apply Too Faced‘s Glitter Glue on top of the silver and tap on Makeup Geek‘s Utopia pigment on top. Utopia is also applied on the inner half of the lower lash line.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee through the top of the crease.
Inglot‘s Matte 338 (turquoise) in outer corner and through the crease and blend it in to Utopia. 338 is also applied on the outer half of the lower lash line.
Urban Decay‘s Blackout in the very corner to darker up the turquoise.
MACShroom to highlight the browbone, Tarte‘s gel liner in Black to create the wing with Urban Decay‘s Black Velvet pencil liner on my inner rim. Make Up For EverSmoky Lash Extravagant on both sets of lashes with a pair of J. Cat false lashes in EL13 glued on. Instead of my usual MACOmega on my brows, I’ve switched to Anastasia‘s Dipbrow Pomade inBlonde.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Revlon Colorstay (Dry/Normal) in 220 Natural Beige
Bronze: NYCFire Island Tan
Highlighter: MACWhisper of Gilt with MACSilver Dusk on top
Blush: IllamasquaHussy
Lipstick: (not pictured) Too FacedCoral Fire
Quick and easy, no-fuss look for a weekend brunch.
Eyes
MaybellineBad to Bronze all over the lid.
SleekBark on the outer half of the lid.
MACShroom to highlight the brow bone and Sephora‘s Full Action Extreme Effect mascara in Purple on my lashes. Anastasia‘s Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde through my brows.
Rest of the Face
Bronzer: (also used as a blush) NYCFire Island Tan
MACCoppering all over the lid as a base layer. Then apply Too FacedGlitter Glue on top of Coppering, and tap on Makeup Geek‘s Vegas Lights pigment.
Combine Makeup GeekCocoa Bear, Too FacedSemi-Sweet and Too FacedCherry Cordial and blend that in the outer corner and through the crease. I also ran this combination all along the lower lash line.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee through the top of the crease.
MACShroom on my brow bone, Tarte‘s gel liner in Black to create the wing and Urban Decay‘s Black Velvet liner on my inner lower rim. Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash Extravagant on my lashes with Ardell102 Demi false lashes. Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde through my brows.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: Revlon Colorstay (Dry/Normal) in 220 Natural Beige
Bronzer: NYCFire Island Tan
Blush: TarteDollface
Highlighter: Hard CandyTiki
Lips: StarlooksNaked lip liner with NYX Butter Gloss in Maple Blondie on top
This look came about as I was doing my “Four or More: Eyes Edition” post and remembered just how much I love the sheen/duochromeness of the Color Tattoo in Waves of White.
Eyes
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Waves of White all over the lid.
From Sleek‘s Acid palette, use the darker blue shade in the outer corner and through the crease.
Makeup GeekCreme Brulee blended through the top of my crease with MACShroom on the browbone. Make Up For Ever‘s Smoky Lash Extravagant on my lashes.
Judging by what foundation I used, I think this look is from a month or more ago. I was going through a pink crease phase and this was one of the looks I came up with.
Eyes
MACShroom all over the lid.
MACCopperplate on the outer half of the lid.
Makeup GeekSimply Marlena through the crease.
MACShroom to highlight my brow bone. Tarte‘s gel liner in Black to create the wing and L’OrealVoluminous Carbon Black mascara on my lashes.
Rest of the Face
Foundation: CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory mixed with Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 51 Light Vanilla
Bronzer: Joe FreshSand Bronzer
Blush: Joe FreshApricot cream blush with Be A Bombshell‘s Beach Please powder blush on top
This month’s bag had its ups and downs for me. Let’s dig in and see what I got sent in my bag this month.
Laneige – BB Cushion SPF in three foundation shades
This was a really interesting product. I’ve never heard of anything like Laneige‘s BB Cushion. The package itself comes with three shades of foundation (Light, Medium and Dark) as well as a sponge pad (that I only realized was a puff after I had applied this stuff to my face with one of my brushes). The product is essentially a bb foundation with SPF pre-soaked into a sponge. I wasn’t really sure how to use it, so I ended up stabbing my brush into the sponge to pick up the product. This worked, but it also pushed a lot of the product to the bottom of the little sample. (Which isn’t a problem, I just pulled the sponge out and swiped at the bottom to get more product.) I got two uses out of this sample (I used the Light shade, which was a hair or two too pale for me right now but it wasn’t super obvious). I used it, and it was pleasant to apply, but I don’t really feel like it did a whole heck of a lot. It seems to have evened out my freckles a bit, but the coverage isn’t spectacular so I’d honestly just prefer no foundation to wearing something so light. Worth noting though… this stuff smells really, really good!
Left – no foundation. Right – Laneige BB Cushion in LightMarc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray
So this is basically a salt spray for your hair to encourage beachy waves/curls to stay in your hair. My hair has a bit of body to it if it’s left to air dry, so I had hoped this would hold some of the waves in place. Marc Anthony‘s Dream Waves Beach Spray smells like coconuts, so basically it smells like every other beach-y hair product out there. It sort of worked to make my hair piece-y (see below), but despite my hand scrunching while my hair dried, it really never held in full on waves. In fact, the ends of my hair look especially ratty and when my hair had dried, the ends felt completely crunchy and stiff. Not a huge fan of that. It might be fine to actually use on the beach after getting out of the water (or at the pool), but for someone who had just gotten out of the shower, this was a very quick way to make my hair feel dirty again. So I wasn’t overly pleased about that!
Left – Damp hair with the spray in. Right – air dried hair with the spray in.Nicka K Shimmer Eyeliner in Green
This product is amazing! Nicka K is a brand I’m completely unfamiliar with, but this liquid eyeliner was simply stunning. I received their shimmer eyeliner in Green and this was budge proof and waterproof. Even moreso than the MUFEAqualiner I have. I couldn’t believe how much I had to rub at this to even remove any kind of colour off my hand. It also held up all throughout a workday. Highly, HIGHLY recommend this liner.
Be a Bombshell – Last Out mascara
I have nothing good to say about this one so I’ll just be specific with my negativity. Be A Bombshell’s mascara is garbage. I hate the brush – it makes it hard to deposit product onto my lashes. My brush was bent oddly which didn’t help either. It clumped up awkwardly on my lashes, particularly in the outer corners making it look patchy. And the products actually smells really, really bad. This is going straight in the garbage.
NYX Butter Gloss – Apple Strudel
NYX‘s butter glosses are my absolute favourite glosses, so I love that they sent these out in the bags. They’re creamy, non-tacky, and come in some absolutely wonderful colours. Unfortunately, I already own this particular shade (Apple Strudel) so I’ve really got no use for this one. So for that reason I’m giving this one away! It’s completely unused and unopened (the shots above were done using my own one) and I will mail it to you anywhere in the world if you win. Contest open till June 30th @ 8:00 a.m..
Ipsy June 2014 Breakdown (all prices in USD)
Laneige BB Cushion SPF 50 (full size is $34 for 0.5 oz, it was really hard to judge the size of this product, but I got two uses out of the one small packet and there are two additional shades, so I’m going to go with $5 overall value since I have no real idea as to how long a full size of this product would last)
Marc AnthonyDream Waves Beach Spray (1.52 oz @ $3.18, full size is $8.79 for 4.2 oz)
Nicka K Shimmer Eyeliner in Green ($4.99, full size)
Be A Bombshell Lash Out mascara in Intense Black ($15, full size)
NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel ($5, full size)
BAG TOTAL = $33.17
My Thoughts
This bag was kind of a bust for me. The BB Cushion product was interesting, but in the end kind of useless. The Beach Spray really didn’t do much other than make my hair kind of crunchy, although I’ve only tried it once and will definitely try using it in different ways. The mascara is just flat out awful and going straight into the garbage (I can’t even begin to believe that it’s worth the $15 full price they charge on their site). The NYX butter gloss is excellent, but of course I already own it. The real winner out of this group is the shimmery green eyeliner. For such an inexpensive product I cannot believe how well this one works.
