Month in Review | August 2016
Here’s a look at the top 25 products reviewed in the month of August, 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?
Smith Cosmetics 202 Microliner Brush ($16.00) is an ultra-fine pointed liner brush. It's made out of synthetic sable bristles, and it's firm brush...
Smith Cosmetics 202 Microliner Brush ($16.00) is an ultra-fine pointed liner brush. It's made out of synthetic sable bristles, and it's firm brush...
Smith Cosmetics 203 Micro Angled Liner Brush ($23.00) is a very short, thin angled eyeliner brush. It is made out of synthetic sable hair and can be...
Smith Cosmetics 203 Micro Angled Liner Brush ($23.00) is a very short, thin angled eyeliner brush. It is made out of synthetic sable hair and can be...
Smith Cosmetics 205 Angled Liner Brush ($20.00) is a firm, medium-sized angled eyeliner brush. It is similar in the overall feel, application, and...
Smith Cosmetics 205 Angled Liner Brush ($20.00) is a firm, medium-sized angled eyeliner brush. It is similar in the overall feel, application, and...
Smith Cosmetics 212 Tightliner Brush ($18.00) is a firm, rectangular brush with a flat edge that is designed for applying product to the inner rim of...
Smith Cosmetics 212 Tightliner Brush ($18.00) is a firm, rectangular brush with a flat edge that is designed for applying product to the inner rim of...
Smith Cosmetics 214 Spoolie Brush ($16.00) is a large, bent spoolie brush. It's longer (almost double the length) of most spoolie brushes, and the...
Smith Cosmetics 214 Spoolie Brush ($16.00) is a large, bent spoolie brush. It's longer (almost double the length) of most spoolie brushes, and the...
Smith Cosmetics 302 Lip Brush ($20.00) is a slim, angled lip brush that's firm with slight flex at the rounded edge. It is made out of synthetic...
Smith Cosmetics 302 Lip Brush ($20.00) is a slim, angled lip brush that's firm with slight flex at the rounded edge. It is made out of synthetic...
Smith Cosmetics 304 Detailed Lip Brush ($18.00) is a small, dome-shaped, flat lip brush. It is made out of synthetic sable hair and can be used with...
Smith Cosmetics 304 Detailed Lip Brush ($18.00) is a small, dome-shaped, flat lip brush. It is made out of synthetic sable hair and can be used with...
NARS Mona Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium-dark brick red with warm undertones and a creamy finish. The texture was smooth,...
NARS Mona Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium-dark brick red with warm undertones and a creamy finish. The texture was smooth,...
Make Up For Ever C208 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bold, bright, medium-dark fuchsia pink with...
Make Up For Ever C208 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a bold, bright, medium-dark fuchsia pink with...
Shiseido Bloodstone (RD503) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, warm undertones and fine, ruby red pearl. It had...
Shiseido Bloodstone (RD503) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, warm undertones and fine, ruby red pearl. It had...
IT Cosmetics No. 322 Velvet Luxe Plush All-Over Shadow Brush ($26.00) is touted as an eye brush for sweeping eyeshadow all over the lid. It's a...
IT Cosmetics No. 322 Velvet Luxe Plush All-Over Shadow Brush ($26.00) is touted as an eye brush for sweeping eyeshadow all over the lid. It's a...
Chanel Rouge Vie (58) Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick ($37.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark reddened plum with warm undertones and a satin...
Chanel Rouge Vie (58) Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick ($37.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark reddened plum with warm undertones and a satin...
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, warm undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. It was richly...
NARS Shirley Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep red with subtle, warm undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. It was richly...
Shiseido Rose Crush (RD715) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark rosy plum with warm undertones and a creamy, lightly...
Shiseido Rose Crush (RD715) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark rosy plum with warm undertones and a creamy, lightly...
Make Up For Ever C108 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy brown with warm...
Make Up For Ever C108 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, rosy brown with warm...
Chanel Rouge Tentation (169) Rouge Allure Lipstick ($37.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep red with cool, blue undertones and a natural sheen from fine pearl....
Chanel Rouge Tentation (169) Rouge Allure Lipstick ($37.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep red with cool, blue undertones and a natural sheen from fine pearl....
Make Up For Ever M102 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich, plum-berry with subtle, warm...
Make Up For Ever M102 Artist Rouge Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich, plum-berry with subtle, warm...
NARS Kate Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium purple with warm, pink undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. ...
NARS Kate Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium purple with warm, pink undertones and a creamy, lightly glossy finish. ...
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep, magenta fuchsia with subtle, cool undertones and a cream finish. The texture was...
NARS Stefania Audacious Lipstick ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep, magenta fuchsia with subtle, cool undertones and a cream finish. The texture was...
Shiseido Ruby Copper (RD501) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark ruby red with cool, blue undertones and a natural...
Shiseido Ruby Copper (RD501) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark ruby red with cool, blue undertones and a natural...
Shiseido Poppy (RD312) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a natural sheen. ...
Shiseido Poppy (RD312) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a natural sheen. ...
Shiseido Real Ruby (RD502) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark red with warm, brownish undertones and a fine pearl. ...
Shiseido Real Ruby (RD502) Rouge Rouge Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark red with warm, brownish undertones and a fine pearl. ...
I really like these questions. I think a month is a really good amount of time to assess recent attitudes towards different products and launches. 🙂
What were your favorites from the last month? Nothing launched recently because I was on a no buy until yesterday! I picked up MUFE HD loose powder and Bite Lavender Jam Lipstick. Very impressed by the l/s-it’s so emollient, and I can’t believe the color doesn’t make my teeth look super yellow.
What didn’t impress you? MUFE HD. I actually grabbed the Sephora travel one by mistake, I meant to get Laura Mercier mini sized loose powder. I tried it after I realized my mistake to see if maybe I wanted it anyway, but the flashback in pictures is as bad as the reputation. 🙁
Did you return anything you purchased? Yep.
Or successfully resist temptation? I resisted Anastasia Craft liquid lipstick and the Renaissance palette, both of which I really want and might get in September or October. For new stuff that caught my eye but I might not get: Anastasia Moon Child and NARS Kate. I probably have a color comparable to Kate, that whole family of pink-purples is really hard for me to say no to. 😉
Oh no! Flashback is no good 🙁 Hopefully, that’s what you returned!
So many gorgeous lipsticks this month! The Makeup Forever C108 made my wish list
SOO many lipsticks this YEAR, I tell you!
What were your favorites from the last month? –>Hmm…Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation: pleasantly surprised how much I like this one despite having more oily/combo skin. Really like how it looks natural on my skin. There’s a Japanese mascara called Heroine Make (black tube goldish cap?) that was impressively waterproof and make the lashes voluminous.
What didn’t impress you? –> Marc Jacob’s fineliner in black. I remember being impressed with it swatched but on my oily lids (even with Nar’s eye primer) it smudged all over my lower lash line. :/
Did you return anything you purchase? –>Nothing comes to mine but I did donate quite a few things to Goodwill that no longer worked for me
Or successfully resist temptation? –>uh…no. I bought the Sakura brush set from beautylish but otherwise pretty good in terms of makeup
What do you use to apply the Luminous Silk foundation, Vi?
I think my favorite would have to be Wayne Goss’s #13 brush. Real techniques sponge is also lovely and its sculpting brush is nice. I personally like to buff my foundation in. Setting it with LM translucent powder is also a nice touch. Not an oil slick at the end of the day.
I think this is a great questionary!! (Can I steal it? Lol)
1) What were your favorites from the last month?
From what I personally tested in August my favorite are Wayne Goss brushes ( I got “the air brush”), Vichy slow age new cream and Benton snail face mask, which knocked me off my socks.
What didn’t impress you?
Korean brand Tony Molly Lemon face mask. It did nothing for me.
Did you return anything you purchase?
In Switzerland there aren’t Returning policies, so you either keep what you bought or pass it to your sister 🙂
Or successfully resist temptation?
I did not resist to summer sales !! I was in a Kiko outlet where everything was €1 !!! Who could resist?! I got like 10 different eye makeup that I absolutely don’t need!!! Lmao!
Sure thing! 🙂
Air Brush is So soft! Really like it, and I find the shape useful. What do you use yours for?
I got it as a multitasking brush. I don’t want to travel with 10 brushes, I have Wayne’s brush #11 for powder, but I wanted something smaller and more flexible to contour, highlighting, blush and powder. Wayne’s brushes (probably all Japanese brushes? I wouldn’t know) are so easy to clean in between switching products! My other brushes don’t do that.
What do you use to clean between products, Nati? I have microfiber clothes, but I don’t find that it’s good enough for really dramatic color changes (like say beige vs. black).
I don’t know what is in these brushes! I only use paper towels, the pigments just fade, I don’t know how to explain it. I do have a light hand, but I have used the air brush during a week to do my powder, blush contour and highlighter (all powder) without doing anything else but wiping it between applications! So it’s definitely some quality of the bristles that don’t absorb the pigment or I don’t know what.
What were your favorites from the last month? UD Rapture blush (I’d set it aside for quite a while and forgot just how perfect it is)
What didn’t impress you? Chanel Candeur et Experience – thought it wouldn’t be a good purchase for me and, after looking at it in store, passed on it otherwise it would have been the answer to the next question….
Did you return anything you purchase? Nope – I hate returning stuff; I think I’ve returned 2 items in the past 10 years
Or successfully resist temptation? I’m still wanting 2 of the Becca blushes but I’m not giving in
Ah, the love that is Rapture – always a pleasure to wear that one.
Favourites from last month: Nars Mona lipstick and Shiseido’s Real Ruby – it was a month of lipsticks!
What didn’t impress you? The Multisticks – I just didn’t like the same colour/product being used for eyes, lips and cheeks
Returns: None
Resisted temptation: Most things.
Real Ruby! Yay!
What were your favorites from the last month? I think my favorites from this month are the new lip launches from Tom Ford, Cle de Peau and byTerry. I’ve also had a nice run of new shadows from ABH and MUFE.
What didn’t impress you? The Glamglow Powermud cleanser and mask; mask is too drying and the cleanser is just messy with bulky packaging. Not a fan.
Did you return anything you purchase? The other Glamglow products I hadn’t opened are headed back. Just not impressed by the line, especially given the hype.
Or successfully resist temptation? I’ve resisted the ABH Modern Renaissance palette. Just too many colors I don’t see working for me.
What new eyeshadows did you get from ABH, Lea?
I got Pose (purple/brown), Chocolate and Truffle Glitter. I think I’ll stick to buying individual pans since that tends to work best for my taste. Though the new ABH palette (a collab with some MUA I think) looks nice, though I expect to hear complaints of too neutral from some here. It’ll depend on how much kick-back it gives. I’ve found that bothers me more than I though it did.
I’m seriously amazed by the number of products you review per month, Christine!
I love these questions! Can they be about any makeup products, not just recently reviewed products? I kind of have to mention other products, since I didn’t buy anything recently reviewed (not out of a lack of interest-I haven’t been buying a lot recently at all), but I’m sorry if that’s not the intention of these questions!
1. What were your favorites from the last month? Honest beauty eyeshadow trio in Heather Mauve, Jouer eyeshadow singles in Chestnut, Walnut and Bordeaux. I was impressed by all of them, but I swatched the Honest Beauty eyeshadows in store, so I expected to like them. I really didn’t expect to like the Jouer ones-they’re very mediocre when you swatch them, but apply and blend so beautifully.
2. What didn’t impress you? The Honest Beauty luminizing powder in Midnight Reflection. The texture is too powdery for my skin right now.
3. Did you return anything you purchase? No makeup, yet.
4. Or successfully resist temptation? Just barely! There are so many things that I want right now. I’m so in love with Chantecaille’s new Protect the Lions eyeshadow palette, I have a 20% off code to Besame Cosmetics and I’ve never tried one (or three) of their lipsticks but always wanted to (and their blush!), and the 25% off sale at Beauty.com is calling my name as far as some potential staples I’ve been wanting to try out (Kevyn Aucoin Medium Lip Pencil, IT Cosmetics tightline mascara primer*, Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder eye pencils) and discounted byTerry products. I just want to buy from one place right now, but I don’t know which to choose.
*I know that’s going to be on sale at Ulta soon, but it seems like pretty often when Ulta has a sale like that the products I want are already sold out by the time I get online.
Yes, any! 🙂 I want to hear about what the month was like for you beauty-wise!
It’s good to know that the Honest Beauty eyeshadows are good!
I managed to completely resist tempataion, but to be honest, that’s probably entirely because I’ve been too busy to shop.
Either way, nice job, Alecto 😀
What were your favorites from the last month? From what I bought, Bite Squid Ink and SauceBox Art Nouveau Palette.
What didn’t impress you? Wet n Wild brushes; they’ve got too much give. I feel like the bristles just bend when I try to use them. Thank goodness they were cheap.
Did you return anything you purchase? No
Or successfully resist temptation? So far I’ve resisted the new Sugar Pill pro palette and singles with which to fill it. I’m hoping to get a completely filled one for Christmas.
Squid Ink!! So glad you enjoy it 🙂
Squid Ink! Soooooo waaaaannnt! I will have that before the end of this month, I swear it!
You won’t regret it! 🙂