Monday, April 2nd, 2012
Spoiled by Wet ‘n’ Wild Designated Driver Nail Lacquer
Spoiled by Wet ‘n’ Wild Designated Driver Nail Lacquer
Spoiled by Wet ‘n’ Wild Designated Driver Nail Lacquer ($1.99 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a bright sunshine yellow with slight orange tones and a cream finish. I think the color is so appropriate for the upcoming summer season, but you will need to be a little patient. The polish has a tendency to pull if you do not wait for each coat to completely dry before putting on another coat. Some polishes are more forgiving in this aspect, but with this one, you’ll be waiting about five to ten minutes between coats before you can go for the second. The color coverage is nearly opaque in two coats, but you can see a hint of visible nail line. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, so I think you should be able to do a third coat to get totally opaque color and help hide any application issues.
Yellows are known for being notoriously difficult to apply–it’s hard to find a really excellent yellow that doesn’t suffer from at least some streaking or lack of pigmentation. For instance, MAC Al Fredo and Deborah Lippmann Yellow Brick Road are both sheerer, more jelly-like yellows (and both are less orange-based compared to this shade). The best yellow I’ve come across has been Rescue Beauty Lounge Yellow Fever, which is just a little streaky on the initial coat, but the second coat goes on beautifully–it is very similar in color to Designated Driver except it does have subtle shimmer.
I actually used Designated Driver as one of the shades to test from this formula for wear, since I have never used this brand before. I can’t really think of a formula that does chip on me, with the exception of matte polishes without a top coat, and Spoiled’s formula held up for a week with minor tip wear but no chipping. Despite using a base coat, there was some very subtle staining after those seven days (not totally unexpected for a yellow hue).
Where to Buy: CVS, $1.99
Yellows are known for being notoriously difficult to apply--it's hard to find a really excellent yellow that doesn't suffer from at least some streaking or lack of pigmentation. With a little patience, this one is definitely workable and one of the more pigmented yellows I've come across.
Saturday, March 24th, 2012
Revlon Strawberry Shortcake ColorBurst Lip Butter
Revlon Strawberry Shortcake ColorBurst Lip Butter
Revlon Strawberry Shortcake ColorBurst Lip Butter ($7.49 for 0.09 oz.) is a blue-based cotton candy pink with silvery-white shimmer. MAC Enchantee is lighter and less blue-based. MAC Dress It Up is slightly less blue-based. MAC Behave Yourself is just a tinge pinker. MAC All Styled Up is similar but doesn’t have shimmer.
It has a slightly milky/creamy texture so you may see lines if you press your lips together. The color is rather opaque, even though it’s supposed to be sheer to medium in regards to color coverage. For those who were interested in the Lip Butter range for sheerer color, this shade may not be the right pick for you. If you very lightly tap it on and add a little balm, you may be able to get the sheer color you’re looking for. The formula is unscented.
It has a very creamy consistency that makes it easy to apply, because it glides right on, but there’s a fair amount of slip. The biggest downside to having as much slip as this product is that it does have a tendency to wear off easily (this shade lasted two and a half hours on me), but it is a more moisturizing formula. With lighter colors like this, the added slip can make it more difficult to get an even layer of color, because it tends to bunch up on itself or streak, which is why you’ll see a point deduction in the texture category.
Where to Buy: Drugstore.com, $7.49
This lip color would be lovely on cooler skin tones or paired with a really warm eye and cheek combination. It's more opaque than Revlon describes, which may be a good or bad thing, depending on what you're looking for. As with other shades in the Lip Butter range, wear time can be an issue.
Friday, March 23rd, 2012
Revlon Cotton Candy ColorBurst Lip Butter
Revlon Cotton Candy ColorBurst Lip Butter
Revlon Cotton Candy ColorBurst Lip Butter ($7.49 for 0.09 oz.) is soft, light-medium pink with subtle cool undertones and golden shimmer. The golden shimmer warms it up, which minimizes the cool tones of the blue-based pink base. Chanel Charme has a similar pink color but doesn’t have the golden shimmer. Guerlain Rose Innocent is a bit lighter, more opaque, and doesn’t have any gold shimmer. MAC Fabby has more mauve in its base color. MAC Behave Yourself has a similar base color, perhaps a little more lilac.
This color is semi-sheer with the color giving lips a slightly pink tint with a healthy dose of golden shimmer and sheen. This is the kind of coverage I would expect based on how Revlon described the Lip Butter formula. The consistency is creamy with a fair amount of slip, so it glides onto lips easily but will move around a bit–with a lighter shade like this, you may see lines if you press your lips together. It also contributes to a shorter wear time of under two hours. It is a more moisturizing formula, and it is nicely hydrating for a lipstick formula–it just doesn’t replace lip balm!
Where to Buy: Drugstore.com, $7.49.
The real downside to products with as much slip and creaminess as the Lip Butters is the wear time--and while some of the shades have been better than others, this shade really wore off quickly. If you don't mind reapplying often, it's worth checking out!
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
Maybelline Very Cherry Color Sensational Lipcolor
Maybelline Very Cherry Color Sensational Lipcolor
Maybelline Very Cherry Color Sensational Lipcolor ($7.49 for 0.15 oz.) is is a brightened blue-based red with a subtle sheen. When I saw Maybelline use this during Fashion Week in February, it looked like it might be a dupe for Chanel Dragon. It’s not a dupe, though they’re both blue-based reds with deeper ruby tones, so there are definitely similarities worth noting. MAC Runaway Red is a touch brighter and less blue-based. MAC Ruby Woo is cooler toned. Guerlain Garconne is more of a neutral red in comparison.
The Color Sensational range is supposed to deliver rich color with a creamy consistency. While their frostier finishes have a tendency to cling, the subtler finish of Very Cherry allows the formula to shine–it’s much creamier, so it applies evenly, easily, and doesn’t cling. It’s creamy but overly so, which means it doesn’t feel thick or heavy on the lips, and it won’t slip around while you wear it–this leads to excellent wear of six hours that can be stretched to eight hours as the red does stain the lips slightly. The scent of this range is rather synthetic and syrup-y sweet, which is the quality I like least about the formula, but the scent seems to disappear after six months of opening (without having to do anything).
Where to Buy: ULTA, $7.49
For a really beautiful, long-wearing blue-based red, consider Maybelline's Very Cherry. The bluer undertones should make this a standout shade on both warm and cool complexions, from fair to deeper skin tones.
Monday, March 12th, 2012
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover ($5.79 for 3.8 fl. oz.) is a dual-phase remover, which means there are two layers of product and once the bottle is shaken, it can be used. You can put a little bit on a cotton pad or cotton cloth, then press against the eye area, and gently swipe away the makeup. Whenever I use a product like this, I like to press against the lid, wait a couple of seconds (not long at all, just not instantly attempting to remove), and then proceed to remove. This remover nearly removes all traces of eye makeup for me, but it does struggle a bit against waterproof mascara.
I found that it can and will remove waterproof and long-wearing products, but if you’re wearing a full eye of makeup, you’re going to need to go back a second time and focus on removing the waterproof mascara. It seems to take a little longer for the remover to breakdown waterproof mascara, and I’ve been able to eliminate the second step if I press the cotton pad against the lashes for about 5-10 seconds and then move to the eyelid. I also like dipping a cotton swab in this formula and rolling it along the lash line to get every last trace of eyeliner off (it’s more effective than rubbing a cotton pad against the lash line, which often causes excess remover to get into the eye). This can also work to remove lipstick and lipgloss (if I have bolder lip color or thick lipgloss on, I always remove lip products separate!).
Despite the claim “no oily residue,” there is a definite oily film left behind. It’s not a full-on oiliness, akin to that of using jojoba or olive oil as a remover, but there’s something there. On the flip side, it is better than a tight post-cleanse feeling that can often leave skin feeling stretched and dry. I’m not bothered enough by it that I feel a second cleanse is necessary, but I suspect that some will. I would recommend this product as an eye or lip makeup remover followed by a facial cleanser.
Sunday, March 11th, 2012
Wet ‘n’ Wild Olive Color Icon Eyeliner Pencil
Wet ‘n’ Wild Olive Color Icon Eyeliner Pencil
Wet ‘n’ Wild Olive Color Icon Eyeliner Pencil ($0.99 for 0.04 oz.) is a dark olive green with olive, gold, and forest green micro-shimmer finished with a satiny sheen. It’s a little greener than Urban Decay Stash, but not as green as Stila Moray.
The coverage and pigmentation is good; it doesn’t quite deliver fully opaque coverage in a single pass, but it’s close. I recommend dulling the point of the pencil by swatching it on the back of your hand, because how it arrives is very, very sharp and uncomfortable to use on the lash line! It’s creamy enough to glide with very minimal tugging on the lash line, and it takes awhile to set, so it can be smudged if you so desire.
It lasts about six hours on the lash line, and it’s mostly faded by the eighth hour. It’s not a particularly long-wearing eyeliner on me, and it will smudge if the weather is warmer or if you accidentally rub your eye–it’s not forgiving at all, because it never completely sets in place. If you have watery eyes or live in a humid climate, this isn’t a go-to for all-day eyeliner. At this price point, you may find it’s worth experimenting with or picking up a color you know you would rarely wear.
Where to Buy: Walgreens, $0.99.
If you have watery eyes or live in a humid climate, this isn't a go-to for all-day eyeliner. At this price point, you may find it's worth experimenting with or picking up a color you know you would rarely wear.
