Month in Review | March 2017
Here’s a look at the top 25 products reviewed in the month of March, plus a summary of how many products and brands were reviewed and a break out of ratings! 🙂
I think it’d be fun to go through what we used, purchased, resisted, and so forth each month, here are some questions:
- What were your favorites from the last month?
- What didn’t impress you?
- Did you return anything you purchase?
- Or successfully resist temptation?
Candyman is a rich, deep copper with warm, reddish undertones and a golden, metallic sheen. It was intensely pigmented when applied with a fingertip...
Candyman is a rich, deep copper with warm, reddish undertones and a golden, metallic sheen. It was intensely pigmented when applied with a fingertip...
Wisp is a champagne gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had medium, buildable coverage when applied with a stippling brush and opaque...
Wisp is a champagne gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had medium, buildable coverage when applied with a stippling brush and opaque...
Platinum is a deep taupe brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. Though it is not officially listed as such, as far as I could tell by...
Platinum is a deep taupe brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. Though it is not officially listed as such, as far as I could tell by...
Cover FX Rose Gold Custom Enhancer Drops ($42.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is medium-dark golden copper with warm, reddish undertones and a metallic sheen. ...
Cover FX Rose Gold Custom Enhancer Drops ($42.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is medium-dark golden copper with warm, reddish undertones and a metallic sheen. ...
ColourPop Forget Me Not Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. ...
ColourPop Forget Me Not Super Shock Cheek ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light-medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. ...
Marc Jacobs Dew You Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter ($44.00 for 0.80 fl. oz.) is a medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a pearly sheen. The...
Marc Jacobs Dew You Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter ($44.00 for 0.80 fl. oz.) is a medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a pearly sheen. The...
ColourPop Shortcake Highlighter Trio ($22.00 for 0.45 oz.) includes three highlighters--two are totally new, one is a repromote--housed in a paper...
ColourPop Shortcake Highlighter Trio ($22.00 for 0.45 oz.) includes three highlighters--two are totally new, one is a repromote--housed in a paper...
NARS Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($27.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright, medium orange with warm, red undertones and a matte finish. It was richly...
NARS Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($27.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright, medium orange with warm, red undertones and a matte finish. It was richly...
ColourPop Waffle Highlighter Trio ($22.00 for 0.45 oz.) includes three highlighters--two are totally new, one is a repromote--housed in a paper sleeve...
ColourPop Waffle Highlighter Trio ($22.00 for 0.45 oz.) includes three highlighters--two are totally new, one is a repromote--housed in a paper sleeve...
Makeup Geek Gargoyle Pigment ($12.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark olive green with warm, brownish undertones and a frosted finish. It was...
Makeup Geek Gargoyle Pigment ($12.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark olive green with warm, brownish undertones and a frosted finish. It was...
ColourPop Cannoli Highlighter Trio ($22.00 for 0.45 oz.) includes three highlighters--two are totally new, one is a repromote--housed in a paper...
ColourPop Cannoli Highlighter Trio ($22.00 for 0.45 oz.) includes three highlighters--two are totally new, one is a repromote--housed in a paper...
Cover FX Blossom Custom Enhancer Drops ($42.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a light-medium rose gold with warm, coppery undertones and a pearly sheen. The...
Cover FX Blossom Custom Enhancer Drops ($42.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a light-medium rose gold with warm, coppery undertones and a pearly sheen. The...
NARS Impossible Red Velvet Lip Glide ($26.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a vibrant, coral-red with subtle, warm undertones and a creamy, glossy finish. It...
NARS Impossible Red Velvet Lip Glide ($26.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a vibrant, coral-red with subtle, warm undertones and a creamy, glossy finish. It...
Kat Von D K-Dub Everlasting Liquid Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a vibrant, magenta purple with subtle, warmer pink undertones and a flat,...
Kat Von D K-Dub Everlasting Liquid Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a vibrant, magenta purple with subtle, warmer pink undertones and a flat,...
NARS Famous Red Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($27.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright medium-dark coral-red with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had rich,...
NARS Famous Red Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($27.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright medium-dark coral-red with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had rich,...
Smashbox Rose B4 Bros Be Legendary Liquid Lip ($24.00 for 0.27 fl. oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish plum with warm undertones and a cream finish. It...
Smashbox Rose B4 Bros Be Legendary Liquid Lip ($24.00 for 0.27 fl. oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish plum with warm undertones and a cream finish. It...
Cle de Peau Pale Fig Cream Blush ($60.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had sheer coverage that...
Cle de Peau Pale Fig Cream Blush ($60.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had sheer coverage that...
Smashbox Crush It Be Legendary Liquid Lip ($24.00 for 0.27 fl. oz.) is a deep plum with subtle, cool undertones and a glossy, creamyt finish. It had...
Smashbox Crush It Be Legendary Liquid Lip ($24.00 for 0.27 fl. oz.) is a deep plum with subtle, cool undertones and a glossy, creamyt finish. It had...
Estee Lauder Lure Me On Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich berry with cooler undertones and violet pearl. It had...
Estee Lauder Lure Me On Hi-Lustre Light Sculpting Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich berry with cooler undertones and violet pearl. It had...
OCC Bon Bon Lip Tar/RTW ($17.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy plum with subtle cooler undertones and warmer, gold pearl. It had rich,...
OCC Bon Bon Lip Tar/RTW ($17.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy plum with subtle cooler undertones and warmer, gold pearl. It had rich,...
Anastasia Poet Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.11 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium-dark mauve with neutral-to-warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. The...
Anastasia Poet Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.11 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium-dark mauve with neutral-to-warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. The...
NARS Walkyrie Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($27.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark, reddish plum with strong, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly...
NARS Walkyrie Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($27.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark, reddish plum with strong, warm undertones and a matte finish. It had nearly...
Smashbox Crimson Chrome Be Legendary Liquid Lip ($24.00 for 0.27 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium ruby red with fine, red pearl. The pearl was similar in...
Smashbox Crimson Chrome Be Legendary Liquid Lip ($24.00 for 0.27 fl. oz.) is a bright, medium ruby red with fine, red pearl. The pearl was similar in...
OCC Spike Lip Tar/RTW ($17.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a crema finish. It was richly...
OCC Spike Lip Tar/RTW ($17.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium taupe brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a crema finish. It was richly...
OCC Sybil Lip Tar/RTW ($17.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is a deep, dark brown with subtle, cool red undertones and a cream finish. It had nearly opaque color...
OCC Sybil Lip Tar/RTW ($17.00 for 0.14 fl. oz.) is a deep, dark brown with subtle, cool red undertones and a cream finish. It had nearly opaque color...
What were your favorites from the last month? The Stila Eyes are the Window Spirit palette (I had set it aside for ages and took it out last week and have been using it and enjoying it)
What didn’t impress you? A L’Oreal mask – a gel one that is, supposedly, “hydrating”
Did you return anything you purchase? I was tempted to return the above mentioned mask but I bought it during a 20X the points even so am reluctant to return it (I’ll try it one or two more times and then pass on to my daughter if she likes it)
Or successfully resist temptation? buying more Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylos. There are 2 more shades I love but I have longer wearing dupes for both of them so it seems silly (but my resolve may well fade); also the Tarte Make Believe in Yourself eye palette, simply because it’s not available in-store yet; if it continues to be unavailable, I may well get over it entirely (as happened with the Nars Give in Take palette and so many other items; by the time they hit the store, my obsession with owning them has cooled considerably! This can be a very good thing.)
Favorites from last month: I’ve been on a blush kick. I’ve purchased MAC Prism, Trace of Gold and Baby Don’t Go; Lorac’s Pink Buttercream, Too Faced Baby Love and Essence’s Satin Coral and Satin Love; and Lancome’s Blush Subtil in Miel Glace. Thanks to MAC’S 25% sale, Ulta 21 Days and Nordstrom’s price matching!
What didn’t impress: I have been impressed with my purchases. Cannot think of anything that didn’t impress…
Returns: No returns but I rarely return. I exchanged MAC’S Cosmic Force which I bought during their 25% sale but that was only bc I realized I already owned that. I returned it and got Baby Don’t Go instead. If MAC’S website had truer to color picks I would have been more hey wait I have that color but oh well…
Successfully resisted: Sometimes it feels like I resist nothing w the state of my collection but I’ve resisted a lot actually. Resisted Hourglass Lip Stylos. Many NARS blushes. Most Too Faced and Tarte palettes. I’m resisting Tarte blush w Ulta’s 21 Days but only bc I’m going the next day to pick up a ABH Brow Wiz for my daughter. The benefit of being an hour from an Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom etc and generally disliking online shopping. I cannot shop every day and I have to plan for the days bc I have to drive so far!
My favorites from March: Chanel’s eye shadow quad in Codes Elegants (breath-taking!), Chanel Codes Harmonie blush, Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 hour foundation, Jo Malone’s Basil & Neroli (to layer with Blush Peony & Suede, a heavenly spring concoction!), Pinrose’s Gilded Fox (a sexy, spiked cocoa fragrance), and Anastasia’s Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit.
What didn’t impress me: Initially my MAC lipsticks were a real let down. Velvet Teddy does not show up on my lips at all and the texture is dry (I know, I know, it’s a matte, what did I expect?), Brave was just meh (again, hardly any noticeable color on my lips), and Myth is lighter than my lips, so it does that natural lip line thing where my lip color peeks out around the edges after about an hour of wear, looking like I lined my lips in a darker pencil when in fact I did not. I am also struggling with Indigo-go and Matter Royal. I did have some success with Velvet Teddy: I lined with Lancome’s nude lip liner, filled in with Velvet Teddy, and then topped with NAR’s lipgloss in Aragon. I will continue to work with the others to see what I can do with them, and am always open to suggestions.
Returns: I ended up having to return Marc Jacob’s Le Marc Liquid Lip Cream in Fawn Over Me and Burberry’s Velvet Liquid Lip in Fawn. I ended up not liking the texture of these products, and the Burberry color looked like I rubbed grey-tinged mud on my lips (yuck). I could have kept both and altered them by topping with them with glosses, but I can already do that with my regular lipsticks and bypass the liquid lip texture completely.
Resisted temptation: I was very Tempted by the new Tarte Make Believe in Yourself Palette!
I absolutely love Velvet Teddy and it’s not too drying for me. Funny how it’s dark on me but barely shows up on another. I’m not a big fan of Brave. I like it sometimes but sometimes it’s a bit flat on my lips. I gave never heard of anyone wearing Myth without a liner and most simply use it to lighten up a lip color rather than wear it by itself bc it’s far too nude and gives most that concealer lip. But it seems you know how to work it out!
Tammy, MAC Velvet Teddy and most of their like nudes do the same thing on my lips, too. I’m super envious of those who can pul these shades off without liner and gloss!
Sorry the Burberry didn’t work out for you. I had similar feelings on the Marc Jacobs color-wise, so I sympathize.
What were your favorites from the last month? Rimmel Spice lip liner, Wet n Wild Precious Petals highlighter, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer, Tarte Double Duty powder foundation
What didn’t impress you? Physicians Formula InstaReady concealer, Revlon Perfecting primer
Did you return anything you purchased? I don’t think so!
Or successfully resist temptation? Laura Gellar Pink Buttercream. I really feel like I should’ve grabbed it with my It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty palette, but my budget only allowed for one of them!
Favourite items from March: I bought my first Hourglass Lip Stylo and I love it. I also ended up wearing a lot of glosses this month, and was reminded of how lovely the Armani and (earlier glossimer) Chanel formulas are.
Disappointing items: I managed to get TWO eye primers- one from Cover FX and one from Art Deco- that gave me allergic reactions. And, although I absolutely love the two Bite glosses I bought… I’m afraid I might be allergic to those as well, because my lips got very cracked and chafed after wearing them for a couple of days. In twenty years, I’ve maybe found six makeup products I’m allergic to…
Returned items: nada
Resisted temptation: the Burberry Silk & Bloom palette has been in stock for more than a week and I haven’t succumbed. I don’t know how long that will last, though.
My favorites: Lancome glowing lights highlighter and Cle de Peau Pale fig cream blush & I purchased both. Also yesterday was an April review but I liked the review on By Terry Designer Palette and the formula I picked number one up Tan & Flash from space.nk.apothecary it was on sale. The other one that I love is number 2 Light and Tan Vibes. The designer palettes in 3 & 4 I am not too crazy about. I like that with one and two if you mix the colors together with your brush it won’t really matter it actually might be very pretty mixing the shades. On palettes 3 & 4 the bronzers are way too dark.
I took advantage of the same SpaceNK sale and got Tan & Flash vibes as well. I had hopes for Savannah Love, but I don’t think it’ll work well for my skin tone. Maybe if I get to see it in person; the reviews on the darkest bronze being to dark for folks darker than me raised too many concerns.
Lea The Beauty Look Book has some beautiful swatches of Savannah Love & there is only one shade that appears to be very dark. Most reviewers are saying that their favorite out of all four palettes is #2 Light & Tan Vibes. I personally like # 1 & 2 the best but I don’t think I would get that much use out of two of these palettes. If #2 goes on sale in the future I might consider picking it up.
1.) What were your favorites from this past month? All the more metallic and shimmery lip products and liquid highlighters that I can be mixed into foundation! Oh, and that beautiful Tarte Make Believe In Yourself palette!
2.) What didn’t impress you? Sadly, even though I do still order from CP, I am beginning to get bored with their samey-same offerings. I mean seriously, just how many orangey, pink/red and brown eyeshadow shades does one need?!? I’d love to see a return to their more unique shades, as I love their quality!
3.) Return anything? No, but I’m about to. After an in depth consult with a Sephora SA, I came to find out I could return my Tarte Amazonian Clay foundation as I still have a mostly full tube. It is such a pain with the pore and crack pooling! She gave me 2 samples of Lancôme Teint Idole. What an enormous difference!!! Zero pooling, great shade match, and lasted ALL day long without parching my skin!
4.) Resist temptation? Not very successfully this past month, I’m afraid! (That MAC sale got me…?)
What were your favorites from the last month? Chanel quads, Tom Ford blushes
What didn’t impress you? I like everything I’ve bought thus far
Did you return anything you purchased? No
Or successfully resist temptation? Definitely not!
What were your favorites from the last month?: Essence Pure Nude Highlighter, MUFE Artist shadows, ABH’s Stick foundation, and their Modern Renaissance palette. And Origins Original Skin Retexturizing mask!
What didn’t impress you?: Covergirl Full Lash Bloom mascara sucked. It did nothing to my short, curly lashes! Dr Jart’s Water Drop moisturizer, I have oily skin, and tried using this light moisturizer in the morning, and my skin felt so dry and tight!!
Did you return anything you purchase?: I’ll be exchanging my one MUFE artist shadow. I got it home, and while taking it out of the box, it fell and SHATTERED on my hardwood floor 🙁 🙁 And at $24 per shadow, they are EXPENSIVE!
Or successfully resist temptation?: I was 20 cents short in the cash I had in my wallet when I tried to buy the Jouer Anti Blemish and Shine Primer!! So I guess I “resisted” it 😛
What were your favorites from the last month? NARS tinted moisturizer, their soft matte concealer, and the Velvet Lip in Impossible Red, Hourglass Lip Stylos (Liberator and Activist)
What didn’t impress you? I finally swatches the Clarins lip oils, and ew, waaaay too tacky for me
Did you return anything you purchase? Nope
Or successfully resist temptation? Resisted on a bunch, but that doesn’t mean I won’t fit them into my budget later on. I tend to resist until I can test things in person.
Wow, ColourPop did really did great this month.
What were your favorites from the last month? From what I bought: Tarte Make Believe In Yourself Eye & Cheek Palette is probably my #1 favorite. I got lots of great lippies this month: Nyx Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks (especially French Maid and Cabaret Show); OCC RTW Lip Tar in St. Sebastian; MAC Colour Rocker Lipstick in Night Mint and Metallic Lips in Zerocool; Bite Beauty Creme Lipgloss in Peacock Pearl; Medusa’s Make-Up Lip Stick in Lydia.
Also, I’m very happy with e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Light Ivory. It’s an even better color match for me than Natural (formerly Porcelain). Kudos to e.l.f. for expanding the line’s color range, as well.
What didn’t impress you? Of what I got: Medusa’s Make-Up Stick It glitter eye primer. I wasn’t expecting it to work with my oily, hooded eyes, and it didn’t. It creased. I got it in a sub box, so I’ll just pass it on to a friend.
Other: The UD Vice Special Effects Topcoats; most of the MAC Metallic Lips and new Lipglasses; Stellar Beauty Cosmic Blushes; Makeup Geek Showstopper Creme Stains; Too Faced Natural Love Ultimate Neutral Eyeshadow Palette.
Did you return anything you purchase? No. I didn’t buy much, but I love everything I bought. If the Stick It eye primer had not come in a sub box, I would have returned it.
Or successfully resist temptation? Tarte’s unicorn horn brushes, more MAC Colour Rockers, a couple more MAC Metallic Lips.
What I am loving from last month is the Chanel Codes Subtil quad, Chantecaille Gardenia palette and the Nars lip pencil in Dolce Vita.
What didn’t impress me was the Stila highlighters, just too glittery. I also purchased the Pur concealer and it was terrible. It was even thicker and pastier than It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye concealer and that is saying something. It was so thick that when I tried to dispense it from the squeeze tube, the tube actually blew the end off and shot the concealer across the room.
What I have successfully resisted is the Too Faced Natural Love Palette. I hate to admit it because I have sworn off Too Faced products for life and it isn’t that the shadows are so out of this world but I have to admit, I love the packaging. I was interested before I saw it in the store and then after touching the embossing and looking at the pretty pastel colors of the packaging I almost walked out with it but I have so far resisted.
Favourites from last month: The Marisposa palette – it covers all the basics, but I only wish that the lid was easier to open… Red Revival lipstick from Maybelline – a really sturdy red shade that I used with all my black and white summer clothes.
Not impressed with: the Maybelline brow kit – nope – like the NYX one – no longevity
Return anything? – No – returns not welcome here.
Resisted temptation: Yes – I had a good look at the Tartelette in Bloom palette, came home and checked out your review of it Christine and found that I had dupes for all the shades I liked….