Saturday, May 18th, 2013

YSL Vert d'Orient (36) La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer
YSL Vert d’Orient (36) La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer

YSL Vert d’Orient (36) La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer ($25.00 for 0.33 fl. oz.) is a green-leaning teal with a cream finish. Illamasqua Venuous is very similar–slightly lighter. China Glaze Exotic Encounters is darker. MAC Ocean Dip is greener, brighter. MAC Salad Dressed is lighter. MAC Screening Room is bluer.

Vert d’Orient was fully opaque after two coats of polish. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and the polish flowed fluidly across the nail without bubbling, streaking, or pooling along the edges. It dried down to a naturally shiny finish (but a top coat would really perfect the finish). I tested this particular shade during the past month, and it lasted seven days with very minor tip wear and no chipping.

The Glossover

product

Vert d'Orient (36)

A+

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

9.5/10

Application

5/5

Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Hourglass Mood Light Ambient Lighting Powder
Hourglass Mood Light Ambient Lighting Powder

Hourglass Mood Light Ambient Lighting Powder ($45.00 for 0.35 oz.) is described as a “soft, sheer lavender pink powder.” It’s a nearly-matte, pale pink with neutral undertones. The aim of this powder is to imitate the “softest, most forgiving light and [to brighten] the complexion.” Like the other Ambient Lighting Powders, the effect is subtle, natural, and it is the, “Did you change your skincare regimen?” kind of product. Mood Light has a softening, lightly luminous effect that’s hard to really pin down. I can see this particular shade working well on all skin types, because it’s subtle and won’t make oilier skin appear oilier.

The texture of the powder is very, very soft and silky, but it can be a little powdery–which does work well for minimizing or absorbing oil for those who have normal to oilier skin. Even though my skin can be dry, I didn’t notice this powder emphasizing dryness either. The powder is very soft, so a soft brush and light hand will be key to minimizing excess product getting dislodged from the pan. It’s designed to work as a finishing powder, but I’ve found it helps just as well to set and prolong my base makeup (by about two hours) as it does to finish it, so I usually use this as my setting and finishing powder.

The Glossover

product

Mood Light

A+
Mood Light softens the appearance of the skin's natural texture, giving it a smoother, refined appearance with a lightly luminous quality. It worked well to both set and finish my base makeup, as it prolonged the wear of my foundation by almost two hours, and it helped to minimize oiliness that can sometimes occur (on my skin) after a full day of wearing makeup.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

9.5/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Cult Nails Faded Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Faded Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Faded Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.50 fl. 0z.) is described as a “light grey with subtle blue undertones.” It’s a pale, cement gray with a subtle cool undertone (read more neutral on me, but it looked more cool-toned in the bottle) and a cream finish. MAC Inert is warmer, more taupe-like. Nubar Earthen is very comparable (but needs a top coat to have similar shine). China Glaze Pelican Grey is darker and has shimmer.

Faded was fully opaque after two coats of polish.  It had a fantastic formula that flowed fluidly across the nail without streaking, bubbling, or pooling along the edges of the nail.  It dried down to a glossy finish (you could skip a top coat).  I liked that it didn’t get too dark or cool-toned, so it appeared as a lighter, airy kind of gray, rather than a stormy color.  I typically get a week of wear out of Cult Nails’ formula with very minor tip wear but no chipping.

The Glossover

product

Faded

A+
I liked that it didn't get too dark or cool-toned, so it appeared as a lighter, airy kind of gray, rather than a stormy color.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Cult Nails Love at First Sight Nail Lacquer
Cult Nails Love at First Sight Nail Lacquer

Cult Nails Love at First Sight Nail Lacquer ($12.00 for 0.50 fl. 0z.) is described as a “bright pastel influenced purple.” It’s a light-medium lavender-pink with a warmer undertone and a cream finish. OCC Pansy is pinker. Essie Nice is Nice is lighter and less pink. NARS Pokerface has shimmer and is purpler. Zoya Perrie is a touch darker but is quite close.

Love at First Sight was opaque after I applied two coats of polish. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, and it was easy to apply–I didn’t have any issues with the polish bubbling, streaking, or pooling along the edges of the nail. It even dried a bit faster than the average polish, and the final dry down is shiny and glossy. I think you could skip the top coat if you only add it for shine, but it will still look lovely (and just a bit glossier, depending on the top coat) if a top coat is added. I typically get a week of wear out of Cult Nails’ formula with very minor tip wear but no chipping.

The Glossover

product

Love at First Sight

A+
This shade was perfection! Great color payoff, fabulous consistency and formula, and was incredibly easy to apply.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Burberry Peony Rose (302) Lip Velvet
Burberry Peony Rose (302) Lip Velvet

Burberry Peony Rose (302) Lip Velvet ($30.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a softened, rosy pink with a matte finish and warm undertones. NARS Tolede is warmer. Tom Ford Indian Rose is pinker. Revlon Pink Truffle is glossier and slightly darker. Bobbi Brown Nude Rose is darker. NARS Montego Bay is very similar but a touch pinker.

Burberry’s Lip Velvet is one of my favorite matte lipstick formulas, because it’s rich in color payoff, long-wearing, and comfortable to wear. The consistency is creamy enough that it glides on easily without tugging or pulling on the lip, but it stays put and doesn’t slide around. This also helps it stay on better and for longer–Peony Rose lasted nearly six hours on me and was somewhat hydrating while worn. It doesn’t feel heavy or thick, but it has full color coverage.

The Glossover

product

Peony Rose (302)

A+
The formula is excellent and delivers on every aspect Burberry promised: long-wearing, rich color, hydrating and has a comfortable-to-wear formula.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →

Saturday, May 11th, 2013

Urban Decay Peace Eyeshadow
Urban Decay Peace Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Peace Eyeshadow ($18.00 for 0.05 oz.) is described as a “bright turquoise shimmer.” It’s a brightened, medium sky blue with a pearly sheen. This kind of blue makes me think of a “warm” blue but it’s still not warm-toned–but it’s almost as if this is the closest blue can be to being warm. Sugarpill Afterparty is darker and less shimmery. UIrban Decay Unhinged is darker, cooler-toned. Make Up For Ever #25 is lighter, more silver-ish. Maybelline Tenacious Teal is slightly darker. MAC Blue Candy is bluer and more matte. Urban Decay Clash is brighter and has slight sparkle. theBalm Great Gonzo is very similar.

Peace is fantastic!  It’s richly pigmented with true-to-pan color.  The texture is soft, buttery, and dense, so it feels like silk and glides on like butter.  The color is easy to blend and apply, and there were no issues with fall out or fading during wear.  It lasted a full nine hours when I tested it without fading or creasing.   It’s been really fun discovering more of Urban Decay’s permanent range, because it reminds me of why Urban Decay eyeshadows are so popular.

I really wish Urban Decay sold just pans of their eyeshadows. As I was getting the official color description to write the review, I kept thinking, “People would own so many more of these if they were sold as pans for like $13.” I also think more brands need to discount if you buy in bulk; like if you bought five or ten at once!

The Glossover

product

Peace

A+
Peace is a great blue with excellent color payoff, a fantastic texture, and long-wear. It's a perfect shade for summer!

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches! Continue reading →