What’s the Best Concealer for Covering Acne that you’ve tried?

Share your pick!  And don’t forget to share why

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “vivid violet.” It’s a rich, violet purple with pink undertones and a matte finish. Nothing that I could think of seemed to come very close–this is very purple; not pink, not fuchsia, and then not ultra dark/vampy. OCC Belladonna was the closest, but it’s lighter. MAC Potent Fig and MAC Fervent are much darker, less violet. MAC Violetta and MAC Heroine are both much pinker. Illamasqua Kontrol is purpler, grayer, and quite a bit darker. See swatch comparisons here.

Though it’s a more unique color, and anyone who’s been on the hunt for a brightened purple will be tempted by ESP, the texture is very, very unforgiving. It’s incredibly dry, which made application problematic, wear uncomfortable, and the color looked dry and patchy applied. I would highly recommend laying down a smidgen of balm first–just enough to make everything smooth over better–and applying the color with a lip brush.It’s very easy to break the bullet because of how much pressure you exert just to swipe the lipstick across the lips (it tugs, drags, and pulls). It will come as no surprise but this is uncomfortable to wear, because it feels like it is clinging to the lips and is somewhat drying (but not as drying as it looks). The upside, I guess, is because it is clingy, whatever you do apply will last quite awhile (six hours for me).

The Glossover

P	ESP D+
	This was one of the driest, stiffest lipsticks I've used not -- not just drying or clingy but the consistency of the lipstick was hard to work with and apply.
	Product 5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 4/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 3/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Sephora Sweet Dreams (17) Colorful Eyeshadow

Sephora Sweet Dreams (17) Colorful Eyeshadow ($13.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “blue shimmer.” It’s a pale, cool-toned bluish-white with a pearly sheen. Maybelline Icy Mint is a cream product is less cool-toned. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is slightly darker and a cream pencil. Urban Decay Strip is several shades darker. MAC Water & Ice #1 is less blue. MAC Dimensional Blue is bluer. Lancome Style Section is grayer. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is lighter, less blue. See comparison swatches here.

Sephora Pool Party (18) Colorful Eyeshadow ($13.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “bright blue glitter.” It’s a periwinkle blue with silver glitter. Sugarpill Velocity is darker, matte. Urban Decay Chaos is several shades darker, slightly purpler, matte. NARS Rated R #2 is very similar. MAC Winkle is bluer. bareMinerals On the Rocks is similar, slightly purpler. Inglot #429 is much lighter and frosted. Inglot #369 is bluer and matte. See comparison swatches here.

Sephora My Boyfriend’s Jeans (19) Colorful Eyeshadow ($13.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “deep blue shimmer.” It’s a dark, purpled navy blue with a pearly finish and cool undertones. Tom Ford Cobalt Rush #3 is bluer. Chanel Metamorphose #4 is darker. NARS Outremer is bluer, matte. Milany Primary #6 is lighter. MAC Love Cycle #2 is bluer. MAC Royale is lighter and purpler. OCC Technoir is lighter. Inglot #388 is purpler matte. See comparison swatches here.

Sweet Dreams was soft but powdery, and it applied best dry, as it crumbled on itself and created an uneven application applied damp, even though it seems smoother. It was noticeably faded after eight hours of wear (no primer).

Pool Party had so-so color payoff applied dry but amped up a lot when applied damp. The glitter did fall out during application and later on during wear, but it is not jam-packed with glitter, so the fall out isn’t as noticeable as it can be with other glittery eyeshadows. The underlying color lasted well for eight hours and was slightly faded after nine hours (no primer).

My Boyfriend’s Jeans had the same color payoff both wet and dry, and the finish seemed to stay the same, too–the damp application was slightly smoother but the difference was quite minimal between the two applications. I didn’t have any trouble with this shade’s wear, even after nine hours–no fading or creasing.

Fixed images!

The Glossover

P	Sweet Dreams (17) C-
	Sweet Dreams was soft but powdery, and it applied best dry, as it crumbled on itself and created an uneven application applied damp, even though it seems smoother.
	Product 7/10 Pigmentation 7/10 Texture 7/10 Longevity 7.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

P	Pool Party (18) B+
	Pool Party had so-so color payoff applied dry but amped up a lot when applied damp. The glitter did fall out during application and later on during wear, but it is not jam-packed with glitter, so the fall out isn't as noticeable as it can be with other glittery eyeshadows.
	Product 9/10 Pigmentation 9/10 Texture 9/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy

P	My Boyfriend's Jeans (19) A
	My Boyfriend's Jeans had the same color payoff both wet and dry, and the finish seemed to stay the same, too--the damp application was slightly smoother but the difference was quite minimal between the two applications.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Color Club Eternal Beauty Nail Lacquer

Color Club Eternal Beauty Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is cool-toned, violet purple with holographic shimmer. I don’t have anything like this that I can think of–not even this type of purple.  Angel Kiss Nail Lacquer ($10.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a lightened, medium-blue with a hint of green and holographic shimmer.  I wish I could tell you dupes, but I couldn’t think of anything for either of these two shades, both because of the holographic shimmer but also the color itself because of the high shimmer content, it gives it a very different finish than other potential dupes.

Both shades applied beautifully–absolutely no issues with application.  In fact, Color Club’s holographic formula applies incredibly well in my experience.  They’re not too thick or too thin in consistency, and they go on fluidly, evenly, and streak-free.  The color payoff was fully opaque in two coats for both colors.  I’ve been getting a week of wear with minor tip wear but no chipping with Color Club’s formula.

The Glossover

P	Eternal Beauty A
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

P	Angel Kiss A
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Once I’ve photographed and swatched products, I put them in clear containers to test. So, I go to those containers and pick out what I hope will work somewhat well together or will reach for items that are more time-sensitive and need to be reviewed right away.

Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.

Maybelline Cool Crush 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

Maybelline Cool Crush 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow ($5.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a shimmering, bluish-silver with a frosted, metallic finish. It had semi-sheer to semi-opaque color payoff. Because it’s on the sheerer side, it may be better as a base underneath your favorite powder eyeshadows than as a standalone color. The consistency is thinner and has more slip than the permanent range of Color Tattoos. The lasting power on me wasn’t as good as the permanent range; there was some faint creasing after ten hours (no primer). Sephora Sweet Dreams is bluer, powder. Maybelline Icy Mint is bluer, not as cool-toned. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is slightly bluer. Urban Decay Strip is darker, bluer, and a powder. MAC Water & Ice #1 is more silvered and a powder. MAC Free as Air is darker, bluer. Giorgio Armani #12 is more silver and a powder. Benefit Blue My Mind isn’t as cool-toned. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is lighter, less blue, and a powder. See comparison swatches here.

Maybelline Seashore Frosts 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow ($5.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a muted, grayish-blue with gold and pink shimmer–it is a very interesting and complex shade. It applies with semi-opaque color in a single layer, and for me, it does best with one layer–more than one, and it just clumps up and becomes uneven. The texture was thin and slippery, so it was easy to apply and blends out best with fingertips. I saw light creasing after ten hours (no primer) with this shade. Clinique Big Blue is a bit darker, not as nuanced. Make Up For Ever #940 isn’t blue, but it has a very similar duochrome/sheen to it (so you could use it layered over a blue for a similar effect). L’Oreal Infinite Sky is bluer, not as muted, no sheen/shimmer like Seashore Frosts. Chanel Destination lacks the golden shimmer/sheen. See comparison swatches here.

I feel like Maybelline should have branded these differently, like they did with the Metals. Maybe Iridescent Color Tattoo or Luminous Color Tattoo, and then gone with a different description of the formula, like “to be used layered with your favorite Color Tattoo” or “for a sheer wash of shimmering color.”  They share little in common with the original formula (described as ”longest-lasting,” “super-saturated color, “vibrant color that does not fade”), but the shades I’ve tried from the latest limited edition set have all been similar in texture, payoff, and wear.

The Glossover

LE	Cool Crush C+
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

LE	Seashore Frosts B-
	Seashore Frosts is one that is unique enough to still be worth considering, despite the wear and pigmentation.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →