Month in Review | April 2017
NARS x Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection
Here’s a look at the top 25 products reviewed in the month of April, plus a summary of how many products and brands were reviewed and a break out of ratings! 🙂 Some of my favorites from the month were definitely the new MAC Extra Dimension Blush shades and Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Lipsticks.
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?
ColourPop Super Hard Core Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a light, buttery yellow with warm undertones and a sparkling, pearly sheen. It...
ColourPop Super Hard Core Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a light, buttery yellow with warm undertones and a sparkling, pearly sheen. It...
ColourPop One by One Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium orange with warm undertones and a frosted shimmer-sheen finish. It was...
ColourPop One by One Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium orange with warm undertones and a frosted shimmer-sheen finish. It was...
ColourPop Going Rogue Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a soft, golden beige with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had opaque color...
ColourPop Going Rogue Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a soft, golden beige with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had opaque color...
MAC Wrapped Candy Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is rich, medium-dark berry with subtle, cool undertones and cooler, violet and pink...
MAC Wrapped Candy Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is rich, medium-dark berry with subtle, cool undertones and cooler, violet and pink...
Tarte 5 O'Clock Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had...
Tarte 5 O'Clock Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish. It had...
Urban Decay Epigram Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, coppery brown with warm, red undertones and a cream finish. It was richly...
Urban Decay Epigram Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a medium-dark, coppery brown with warm, red undertones and a cream finish. It was richly...
Tarte Island Life Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish plum with warm undertones and a cream finish. It...
Tarte Island Life Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddish plum with warm undertones and a cream finish. It...
MAC Hard to Get Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a deep brown with warm, reddish undertones and a pink sheen. I was nervous about this...
MAC Hard to Get Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a deep brown with warm, reddish undertones and a pink sheen. I was nervous about this...
MAC Into the Pink Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light-medium pink with very subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. At first,...
MAC Into the Pink Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a light-medium pink with very subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. At first,...
Tarte Surf's Up Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium, reddish plum with warm undertones and a cream finish. It was...
Tarte Surf's Up Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium, reddish plum with warm undertones and a cream finish. It was...
Estee Lauder Saffron Sun Victoria Beckham Bronzer ($65.00 for 0.42 oz.) is light-medium, golden brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had...
Estee Lauder Saffron Sun Victoria Beckham Bronzer ($65.00 for 0.42 oz.) is light-medium, golden brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had...
Urban Decay Anatomy 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil ($20.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark, reddish copper with warm undertones and a matte finish. It...
Urban Decay Anatomy 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil ($20.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark, reddish copper with warm undertones and a matte finish. It...
ColourPop Flipper Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a bright pop of orange with warm undertones and flecks of sparkle. It had excellent...
ColourPop Flipper Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a bright pop of orange with warm undertones and flecks of sparkle. It had excellent...
Anastasia Currant Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.11 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium-dark red with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had rich,...
Anastasia Currant Liquid Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.11 fl. oz.) is a muted, medium-dark red with subtle, cool undertones and a matte finish. It had rich,...
On the Fence is a light pink with subtle, warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had rich, opaque color payoff paired with a smooth, almost...
On the Fence is a light pink with subtle, warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had rich, opaque color payoff paired with a smooth, almost...
MAC Rosy Cheeks Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark fuchsia pink with cool, fuchsia pearl. It had nearly opaque...
MAC Rosy Cheeks Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark fuchsia pink with cool, fuchsia pearl. It had nearly opaque...
Becca Ipanema Sun Sunlit Bronzer ($38.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with warm, reddish undertones and a natural sheen. It was richly...
Becca Ipanema Sun Sunlit Bronzer ($38.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a medium-dark brown with warm, reddish undertones and a natural sheen. It was richly...
Urban Decay Exhibition Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark magenta-purple with warm, pink undertones and a semi-matte...
Urban Decay Exhibition Vice Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.11 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark magenta-purple with warm, pink undertones and a semi-matte...
MAC Fairly Precious Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium, peachy orange with warm undertones and an iridescent pink sheen. This...
MAC Fairly Precious Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium, peachy orange with warm undertones and an iridescent pink sheen. This...
MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark rosy brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color...
MAC Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish ($33.00 for 0.31 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark rosy brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The color...
MAC Sweets for My Sweet Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a muted, medium pink with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. The blush had...
MAC Sweets for My Sweet Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a muted, medium pink with warm undertones and a luminous sheen. The blush had...
MAC Hushed Tone Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium-dark reddish copper with warm undertones and soft pink and...
MAC Hushed Tone Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium-dark reddish copper with warm undertones and soft pink and...
MAC Gabriel Zamora Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a muted, medium brown with warm, rosy undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque...
MAC Gabriel Zamora Lipstick ($17.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a muted, medium brown with warm, rosy undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque...
MAC Telling Glow Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium orange-coral with warm, red undertones and gold shimmer. It had good...
MAC Telling Glow Extra Dimension Blush ($28.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a bright, medium orange-coral with warm, red undertones and gold shimmer. It had good...
Tarte Siesta Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium plummy brown with warmer undertones and a cream finish. It had...
Tarte Siesta Color Splash Hydrating Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium plummy brown with warmer undertones and a cream finish. It had...
My surprise April favorite was the Lorac Pirates of the Caribbean eyeshadow palette. I was completely unimpressed by the first online photos, but I read one good review with swatches that pushed me to give it a try with the tester in Ulta and I loved it. The shadows were soft, buttery, and much more pigmented than some other reviews I read. Also, I didn’t think the colors were that cohesive, but if I think of them as various trios, they work great for me.
Conversely, a new release I thought for sure that I’d get a few items out of was the UD Basquiat set, but nope, not a thing. I saw all the products in person and didn’t want any of them.
I think it’s so cool how we don’t love the things we are most anticipating, and the things we don’t expect to love at all become our favorites. It’s great to hear someone give a good report on the Pirates of the Caribbean palette.
1.What were your favorites from the last month? My Mary-Lou Manizer, my Wet ‘n Wild MegaLiner (black), and Make Up For Ever Cream Artist Rouge lipstick in C104.
2.What didn’t impress you? My NYX HD Photo Concealer (a little too light for my skin, but also isn’t easy to blend out on my skin) & Covergirl SuperSizer (this flakes off so much).
3.Did you return anything you purchase? Nope!
4.Or successfully resist temptation? Still haven’t bought a Modern Renaissance palette! It was hard because of the Sephora sale, but I resisted that temptation 🙂
Hey, Courtney…. I read an interesting set of comments on Musings of a Muse about use of/maximizing Ulta points. I decided to save Ulta points and get a Mod Ren, when I have enough Ulta bucks. The trendsetter for free? bring it on. That set of comments is an interesting one to read…and with all the new brands, you could make out like crazy during platinum 5X all products days!
1. What were your favorites from the last month? Real technique brushes. I’m not a huge MUST HAVE brush person but I’d heard about this particular Real Technique all over face brush and it was perfect. I ended up picking up another set at Kohls; I had a $10 kohls cash so I only paid $10 for the 4 brush set. I got a clinque foundation which is like a second skin! I want the Lancôme foundation but not in the budget so to not have to use the Dior skin foundation I have left the Clinique is working great until I am able to splurge on the Lancôme.
2.What didn’t impress you? Kat Von D lip pencils were disappointing. Although I love Smashbox, the new liquid lipstick is just a bit too slippery for my taste. I tried the red deluxe sample and it moved so much on my lips that I had a extra lined lip look by the end of the day lol. Honestly no new lipsticks impressed me lately which has been a bummer.
3.Did you return anything you purchase? I returned the ABH Modern Renaissance Palette. Talk about fallout central!! It was just too much to put up with and the colors were quite boring on my skin tone; yes they looked good but nothing I couldn’t achieve with other palettes and singles.
4.Or successfully resist temptation? I resisted temptation on the Lancôme foundation and ABH highlight palette
Favorites of the month have to be my Cle de Peau foundation and concealer. I promise I will stop beating this dead horse but just so happy with it, well, except for the price. I have also been enjoying my Sugarpill Feline Fancy palette again. Such versatile shades.
I didn’t enjoy the Pur concealer. It was just too thick and trying to get it out of the squeezy tube resulted in the whole tip part blowing off and sending a blob of concealer onto my carpet. Not good.
I didn’t return anything this month.
I have been saying the same thing for a month or two now and that is regardless of the quality, I just love everything about the Two Faced Natural Love palette. I love the packaging and the colors however, I know there were a lot of hits and misses so that is one reason to resist and another is that I have made a conscious decision not to buy Two Faced just given their issues lately. So, I am still resisting.
April favorites: I decided that I was not going to include my recent Sephora haul, which did occur in April, because I did not start using the products until yesterday. My hands-down favorite purchase of April was my Tom Ford Bronzer brush, followed very closely by Chanel’s quads in Codes Elegants and Codes Subtils, and Chanel blush in Coco code Harmony. The Tom Ford brush is so amazing that I placed another order for more brushes yesterday.
Not impressed: I have to set the record straight on the Chanel Rouge Coco glosses I purchased in April. I initially reported that I did not like these glosses because they have a tendency to feather, which is true. I cannot wear these glosses on top of other lipsticks or lip liners, as they are guaranteed to feather on my 51-year-old lips. However, I have found myself reaching for these glosses every weekend, and sometimes even during the work week, especially noce moscota. So now I can’t say I wasn’t impressed, because I like these and I am using them consistently.
Returns: My February disappointment of MAC lipsticks in Indigo-go, Matte Royal, and Brave.
Temptations resisted: I have been trying to prevent myself from purchasing Chanel quads in Jardin de Lumieres and Jardins Eclatants from the Energies et Puretes collection, as well as the blush in Tweed Coralline. I am also itching to get NARS lip tint in Double Decker and kohl liners in Cours du Soir and Zinc, but I am waiting until I can purchase them from Sephora or Nordstroms.
Favorites from the last month: NARS Loaded Eye Shadow palette. I had sworn off the brand’s eye shadows after always being disappointed, but I caved in and got this and it’s a great (albeit another neutral) palette. Very pleasantly surprised by this one.
What didn’t impress you: Too Faced Natural Love palette. I didn’t hate it, and given how crappy TF has been as of late, it wasn’t disappointing, but I was not impressed. Also hate to admit that I wasn’t thrilled with the Viseart S/S collection BUT Viseart’s worst is still better than most everyone else’s best IMO.
Did you return anything you purchased: No, but I did purge some items (sold, gave away, tossed) and the items I sold are kind of like returning (at a loss of course).
Or successfully resist temptation: I was so very tempted to buy the Natasha Denona Star palette during the Sephora VIB Rouge sale…but I stayed strong. Even with the discount, it is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on one item. I’m all about quality over quantity, but the reviews weren’t exactly stellar and for the price point, the palette should be darn near perfection.
I want the NAR’S Loaded palette so badly, but I am trying to resist this one. Unlike you, I love NAR’S shadows and have been consistently purchasing the LE shadow collections for the at least the past year, and probably longer. I just don’t need another palette!
What were your favorites from the last month?
I still adore my Bite Agave Lip Mask, and had to grab a back up! I have a sample of the mask Champagne and love that as well, though l don’t know if it’s worth getting a third tube when I can tap a little shimmer over the regular one for a similar effect.
I’ve also been loving my new Makeup Geek eyeshadows! I did a look with Beaches and Cream, Peach Smoothie, Chickadee, Morocco, Bitten, and Lethal from the UD Basics palette, and I was really happy with how it turned out.
I also tried Kat von D’s everlasting lipstick in Lovesick (deluxe sample) and was far more impressed with the formula than the previous time I had tested one (Requiem) in store. (Side note, I don’t know that I’ll test any products on my lips again in the store…I always assume people do a single dip with their tester wands, but I see some people certainly do not!)
Oh, and Urban Decay’s Perversion black liner pencil that cake with the Smoked palette–WOW. I lined my inner rim, then a few minutes later thought maybe I wanted to go less dramatic, and it wouldn’t budge without makeup remover!
What didn’t impress you?
Bite Prismatic Lipgloss in Rose Pearl (maybe just a bad tube?)
A few lip products I tried in the Sephora Hollywood left me underwhelmed
Did you return anything you purchase?
I returned the Bite Prismatic Lip Gloss in Rose Pearl. I tried it in the store, loved it, then found it completely unimpressive the two times I wore it…the glitter barely sparkled, and the green/gold shift wasn’t translating on the lips. It felt like a less sparkly version of UD’s Big Bang, but with the added discomfort of being a Gloss that started to feel a bit sticky/heavy on my lips over time.
Or successfully resist temptation?
I resist temptation to buy makeup all the time!! My biggest achievement was walking into the huge Sephora in Hollywood during my west coast visit (about four times the size of the small mall one here!) and leaving with nothing except samples and a small thing of hair oil for my husband. That’s willpower!!
What were your favorites from the last month? It’s not new but the L’Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe and also Sephora’s Cappucino eyeliner
What didn’t impress you? I like it well enough but I’m not madly impressed or in love with the Tarte Make Believe In Yourself palette
Did you return anything you purchase? Nope – I rarely, rarely return anything (though I have briefly considered it with regard to the Tarte palette; it’s really such an unnecessary purchase….but some of the shadows are SOOO pretty)
Or successfully resist temptation? Well, I’ve had an enforced resistance with regard to the 3 MAC Extra Dimension blushes I so badly want. They are sold out so I’ve no choice but to resist. I’ve also made the effort to resist buying more Hourglass GIRL Lip Stylos. I do love them but they’re ridiculously expensive for lipsticks that really don’t last all that long (though I much prefer them to Guerlain’s La Petite Robe Noire lipsticks which are also pricey and practically disappear before I even put the cap back on the tube).
This month has been all about brushes for me! I’m really digging the wet n wild brushes I picked up in the states! And I started using the real techniques buffing brush for face primer and I think it’s really awesome for it! As I use way less primer, and this really minimizes the pores on my cheeks!
Iv also been really into shimmery coral/orange blushes in April!
What were your favourites from the last month? Getting back into my Naked 2
What didn’t impress you? Nothing to report here.
Did you return anything you purchase? No
Or successfully resist temptation? Yes, I saw the Clarins Natural Brown 5 pan palette on sale and resisted it because I have enough neutral palettes. But it was so pretty.
What were your favorites from the last month? Similar last month:
– Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer
– Wet n Wild Photo Focus pressed powder
– TheBalm Manizer Sisters palette
– Revlon Desert lipstick
What didn’t impress you? Wet n Wild Photo Focus liquid foundation. It’s okay but it’s getting rave reviews, and I’m just not seeing it. I have no qualms with using it but like I said: I don’t get it.
Did you return anything you purchase? PUR Epic Illusion face palette. Big old thumbs down for me. Pretty chalky and tiny little pans with somewhat bulky packaging.
Or successfully resist temptation? I’ve been passing up a lot of Physicians Formula sales: I want the Butter Bronzer & new Butter Blushes, but I have enough products to work through for now!
Favorite product from last month : MAC Extra Dimension blush in Sweets from my Sweet, Benefit Hoola Lite, and Hourglass Lip Stylo in Believer
What didn’t impress : I bought Laura Gellar Pink Buttercream baked blush from Ulta 21 Days. It was my first blush from her and I’m sort of meh about it. I just haven’t reached for it like I have the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes I bought in that same sale!
Did I return anything : Nope. Only if it is defected or if I grabbed the wrong color do I return. It’s rare I do!
Resist temptation : The Too Faced Peanut Butter & Honey palette. That yellow color is tempting. I’ve resisted any Colourpop or Makeup Geek. I think about trying but I am just too overwhelmed when I give them a look!
April was my first month off no buy this year, but a lot of research, a lot of ruling out, so most was great. Basically got things that were on the wishlist for > 1 year. Tops would have to be the KGD foundation. Also liking Nars Banc, mood alp, NEEDED Cosrx aha/bha toner. the Ordinary Buffet(ooh, got a ‘lish box today with every constantly out of stock ordinary I had wanted.). Lots of other goodies from virtually everyone.
Not impressed: the Basquiat lip in Epigram looks zero like the C look or dupes on me. Warmer/yellower and significantly lighter. It’s just disappointing for color. Formula and tube design are fine. A real WTF moment, but keeping it.
Return: This is a computer platform match thing that has happened before w/MUG, with zero response. If you have to sign off your device (iPad) in the middle of an order (or switch to the computer, bec the fields won’t fill on iPad, you get duplicates on their end, while your end reads one only. Ulta took back the duplicate (plus it was BAD) Nubian Heritage Vetiver Body Butter. Sephora took back the dupes of Besame blood red and Shiseido bloodstone, no problem. This is an invisible problem that you don’t know you are having. I guess I have to order without revisions or shut offs, bec it has now happened with 3 diff sites. At least instore Ulta and a Sephora are easy.
Resisted: MAC, Blackbird, Lunatick, and Zoeva, that month. Probably not this. But caught up on S and U.
What were your favorites from the last month? That I bought: Tarte Make Believe In Yourself Palette; UD Basquiat Collection.
I was really impressed with the MAC Extra Dimension Blushes, but I haven’t bought any yet. Also, I think MAC’s Fruity Juicy collection is beautiful, and I’m trying to resist wanting to buy anything from it. I’m lusting over the Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in ways I can’t describe.
What didn’t impress you? KVD lip pencils; a lot of the MAC lipglasses; Tarte Fairytale lip paint
Did you return anything you purchased? No
Or successfully resist temptation? UD x Basquiat cosmetic bags; Laura Geller Diamond Dust Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator. Lorac Pirates of the Caribbean eye and cheek palettes.