Weekly Makeup Basket 11 May 2015 to 17 May 2015

Hiya

Another week, another makeup basket.  I must admit, that I am really enjoying this so far.  It is making me really think about my collection, and break out of my routines.  I'm looking forward to choosing next weeks products.

So, what I used this week

Garnier Perfect Blur 5 Sec

I really like this as a primer.  It has an odd, almost lumpy silicony texture.  It does a good job of disguising my pores and I think it gives a bit a longer wear time to the Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation I paired it with this week.

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation - Shell

Still plugging away on this foundation.  I'm still enjoying it, but I'm starting to get a little over it.  I'm looking forward to getting it finished.  It is a good, light coverage foundation with a nice finish, but I have so many foundations, I need to accomplishment of finishing one!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - Brightening

Almost done.  I still think it doesn't do a whole lot.  Though I must admit, since I've started blending it with a beauty blender, the finish and coverage is much better.  So while it still doesn't do a lot, it now does more than what it did before.

Revlon Nearly Naked Powder - Light

Good powder, nice coverage, nice finish - enough said.

Wet n Wild Bronzer - Reserve Your Cabana

Used this again this week as an under eye setting powder.  If I only use this as an under eye setting powder, I have enough to last me until approximately the end of time.

Revlon Photoready Bronzer

Much like the Revlon foundation, I am determined not be use another product until I finish this one up.  I feel like I have been using this for so long, but I can't even see a dent!  I'm starting to think its a magical product that is automatically refilled by the TimTam genie.

Mirenesse Crystal Colour Drops Hydrating Mineral Powders

Enjoyed using this again this week - particularly the red blush.  I used the satiny nide powder as a subtle highlight.  

Maybelline Colour Tattoo - Seashore Frosts

A beautiful colour - its a blue grey, with a bronzish/pinkish duochrome.  Like all the colour tattoo I have tried, this is a great eyeshadow base.  It is also an absolutely beautiful colour - unfortunately, unless it has an eyeshadow over it, I don't think it really suits me - boo.

Sigma Eyeshadow Base - Unveil

A beautiful gold that was really pigmented.  Geez, I must have bought these things a couple of years ago, and I think this is the first time I have used these.  Was a really nice base for my eyeshadows.  I haven't used this on its own, so I'm not sure of the performance there, but as a base, it worked great.

Naked 1 Palette - but not really

This palette is pretty meh - that is nothing against Urban Decay - mainly because I bought this at the markets and I'm pretty positive its knock off.  The pigmentation is okay, but the colours all pretty much blend together.  I think it might be time to de-stash.  My collection is full of great shadows I don't use - I don't need to use crap ones.

Urban Decay 24/7 Dual Ended Liner - Black Velvet/Smoke

Black velvet and flat out dry and rubbish - really dislike this.  Smoke on the other hand is soft and lovely.  These don't seem to have much staying power on me at all.  An hour on the waterline and poof! they disappear.

Rimmel Scandaleyes - Nude

I'm getting much better at remembering to use this!  I have had really irritated eyes for the last week.  This liner really dropped the red out of my eyes and made them look much brighter.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

I used this mascara up this week - the brush was just too spiky for my eyes.  WNP.

Mirenesse 24hr Brow Lift & Shape Mascara

A nice bronze colour.  Completely looks like it would match my dark brown brows, but somehow it does.  It has a sheen, but doesn't look obvious on.  The spooley is small and narrow - but not tiny, with short fluffy bristles.  This is my 4th or 5th one of these.

Lipsticks - Mirenesse Forever Lipstick

All of these lipsticks are very creamy, shiny and slippery.  They don't have much by way of longevity, but they are beautiful on.  They have a tingly feeling when applied, so likely have peppermint or a similar type stimulant in them.  The feeling goes away after 10 minutes or so, and I don't find it irritating.

• Ricardo - shimmery deep rose with subtle pink and blue shimmer.  Gorgeous colour
• Markko - Muted blue based pink with subtle multi-tonal shimmer.  Bit too milky pale for me on its own, so I changed the tone slightly with lip gloss.  Mind you, these lipstick border on glossy already, so all the gloss does is change the colour - it certainly doesn't add extra gloss.
• Fabbio - Creamy peachy-nude.  Lovely

Tarte Lip Surgence Lipgloss

A rose colour with gold shimmer and a nude - both minis.  I have no idea what the names are because they came in a 2013 holiday set.  Another minty lip product.  Both nice, but nothing spectacular.

Lip Liners

• Rimmel Exaggerate Liner - East End Snob - very soft, pretty pink.  Matched nicely with Ricardo.
• Estee Lauder Artist Pencil - Spice Writer - a pretty auburn.  I didn't end up using this, because stupidly it didn't match with any of the lipsticks I picked - not much forethought there.

 Mac Fix+

The more I use it, the more I like it.

I will be travelling for part of this next week, so my focus will be on picking products that are travel friendly or products that are multi purpose.

Have a good one!

Weekly Makeup Basket 3 May 2015 - 7 May 2015

Hiya

In an effort to utilise more of my ridiculous makeup stash, I have started the weekly makeup basket challenge.  I have seen various Youtubers (PrettyPistol86 and GlamourWithGrace come to mind) make videos about this, and I thought it was a great idea to use the products I have already invested so much money into.

I have so much makeup; I tend to buy things, put them away, and then never use them - or at the very least rarely use them.  I buy too much makeup, so this is a way for me to "shop my stash" and fall in love with products all over again - or realise I really dislike them and destash.  I am definitely not one to use a product under sufferance - if I disklike it, its gone!

So here is this last weeks makeup basket, and my thoughts: -

Holika Holika Naked Face Balancing Primer

This is a relatively thin, colour correcting primer without any sort of silicone feeling.  The bottle has a pump which is great.  The product is pretty lavender, green and peach colour balls suspended in a clear serum.  When the product is pumped out, the balls gets squashed, and you can see the separate colours pump onto your hand.  As the primer is quite thin, the colour correcting is quite mild - but that is fine for me as I don't suffer much from any sort of discolouration.

The primer has a soft floralish scent, that I don't find it in the least offensive; nor did I find it lingered.  The primer leaves an ever so slightly tacky finish, and I do believe it assisted in my foundation longevity.

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation - Shell

This is a fairly fluid foundation with light coverage.  I have actually been focusing on this foundation for a while and am trying to use it up.  I have a fairly normal skin, with a slightly oily t-zone.  I find this foundation starts to break down after about 6 hours or so on my nose and forehead.

I like it nice enough, but I won't rush out to repurchase once its finished.

Revlon Nearly Naked Powder - Light

A really nice finely milled powder that adds a light extra coverage.  I don't find this powder makes me look "powdery".  I would repurchase.

Revlon Nearly Naked Mineral Powder Foundation - Light

I don't have a lot of experience with mineral powder foundation - its isn't something I generally gravitate towards - but this was on discount at Wizard Pharmacy for 40% off with a free brush so I thought I would give it a go.  

I use the product by putting some in the lid and then smooshing an Elf Large powder brush into it and then buffing it onto my face.  I did try it over the Nearly Naked Foundation, but I thought that looked a little heavy.  I used it on its own (over the HH primer) and I really liked the finish it gave.  I do think it oxidised slightly though.  I the bathroom it looked find after application (I have daylight bulbs in my bathroom), but about half an hour later, then was definitely a difference in colour between  my neck and face.......  The difference was pronounced enough that it would discourage further use, but I will have to make sure I blend down my neck.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer - Brightening

Every person and their cat seems to rave about this stuff - but I just don't feel it does a lot for me.  I have more mild puffiness than darkness under my eyes, but I don't really feel it does much brightening???  I apply it, and then use the Sigma pointed Kakubi brush to light "tap-blend" it in.  I don't know.... I find it kinda meh.

Wet n Wild Bronzer (haha yeah right) - Reserve Your Cabana

Because WnW isn't available in Australia, I paid a small fortune for this on eBay - $20 including delivery from memory!  This is a very subtle highlight, which is a bit too subtle for me to use as a highlight.  I used it to set the concealer under my eyes to add a little extra brightness, and I really like it for that.

Mirenesse Crystal Colour Drops Hydrating Mineral Powders

I have had this thing for ages.  I used to use it a lot, but it kinda got lost in the pile over the last couple of years.

This face pallet comes with a subtle hightlighter, a shimmery light bronzer, and a peach and reddy-rose blush.  I have fallen back in love with this!  The reddy blush gives a beautiful colour to my cheeks, and the subtle simmer highlighter is beautiful.  

Revlon Photoready Bronzer

This is a great matte bronzer, that I use for contour.  The powder has 4 differently toned quadrants, and I swirl my brush around all of them, then applied in the "3" motion on my face.  I'm not sure, but I think this might be discontinued??  It has popped up on Ozsale a couple of times, and I can't remember seeing it in Priceline last time I was there.  If it is still available, I would re-purchase after I get though my backlog of bronzers.  A bronze take me a age to get through - a bronze age! get it?? Yeah, lame joke.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo - Bad to the Bronze

I used this as my eye primer - for all shadow shades - and I absolutely loved it!  I had only really used bronzes over this previously, but it worked beautifully under all sorts of different shades.  This is a firm favourite, and I will buy it again.

Lorac Pro Palette

I have barely used this since I bought it - and given Lorac isn't available in Australia, it was neither cheap nor easy to get a hold of.  Forcing myself to focus on this palette only this week, I really understand what all the hype is about.  The colours as beautifully pigmented, and blend easily.  Over the colour tattoo, these eyeshadows stuck like glue.  Might have to pick up the Pro 2.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner -Trooper

Awesome liner, awesome tip, stays forever, easy to use - enough said.  Oh, other than it can only be purchased at Sephora, and Sephora don't like freight forwarding services!  Really hard to get hold of.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Not sure what I think about this mascara.  Sometimes is made its way under my eyes.  I found the wand a little too spiky where it sometimes hurt my eyes when applying.  I don't think its anything that great that I would pay full price for it, as its extortionately priced in Australia.

Rimmel Scandaleyez - Nude

I used this on my waterline.  I really love this liner, but I always forget to use it.  Would repurchase, because i feel it really does brighten up my eyes.

Anastasia Dip Brow - Dark Brown

This is a fairly new product for me, and I still have my training wheels on to some extent. I really enjoy the product so far.  I haven't had any issues with applying too much (as I've ready others have had problems with).  I think with a bit more practice, this could become a holy grail

Lip Pencils

Nyx Slim Line in Nude and Citrine.  Great liners.  For me, I think they are just as good as anything else, and they are inexpensive.

MIrenesse Passion Plums Dual liner - a brown based purple and a darker purple - lovely.

Lip Sticks

Mac Rebel - Beautiful colour, though I did find it a bit drying - nothing I can't work with though.  I think I need to remove it before re-applying in the future.

Mac AC96 - a gorgeous orange with a gold shimmer.  Sounds scary, looks gorgeous

Milani Nude - I needed a neutral to balance out the other strong colours.  Lovely comfortable formula.

Mac Fix +

Used to remove any powdery-ness.  I always forgot to use this stuff.  After using it for the week, I really like the finish it gave.

Well, that is everything I used for the week.  I really enjoyed this challenge, and am looking forward to picking out next weeks products.

Is there anything you've found in your stash that you complete forgot about, and have just fallen completely back in love with?

Review - Notoriously Morbid Duo Chrome Loose Eyeshadows

Hiya Everyone :-)

Hope everyone is doing well today.  So, my review today is another foray into the world of indie cosmetics.  Through Makeuptalk (I really should stay away from that place......), I found out about an Indie brand called Notoriously Morbid, which people seemed to love.  I quickly jumped onto their website, and after a teeny tiny look around, I placed my first order.  I requested eye safe duo chrome eyeshadows only, and this is what they sent.



 L - R Wayward Son, Look Upon Me, Evil Eye, It's the Riche, Lizard on a Window Pane, Bad Juju, Walking on Sunshine

 

 

Wayward Son

Ingredients

Titanium Dioxide, tin oxide, silica, mica, ferric ferrocyanide, magnesium stearate, lauroyl lysine

 

Wayward Son is an icy blue with a bright green duo chrome.  The powder is very light and kicks up a lot when applied with a dry brush.  This powder really needs a sticky base to look its best, as I had trouble with it applying to the skin.  This is a really beautiful colour.

 

Not lip safe, vegan

 

Look Upon Me

Ingredients

Manganese ammonium, pyrophosphate, mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, carmine, magnesium stearate.

 

Possibly my favourite of the dusts I received.  Look Upon Me is a cool-ish mid tone brown with a lavender purple duochorme.  This looks and applies stunning.  While it was still a light powder, it didn't fly around as much as Wayward Son.  The pigmentation was nice applied dry without a primer, but I did it would be extraordinary applied with either a base or wet.  Love it, love it, love it!

 

Evil Eye

Ingredients

Titanium dioxide, tin oxide, silica, mica, carmine, Red #40, magnesium myristate, magnesium stearate.

 

Evil Eye is a  dusty pink with a muted light green duochrome.  It is a lovely wearable pink, that can be worn with the fear of the colour making the wearer look sick.  Pigmentation wasn't fabulous, but once again, apply wet or with a primer, the colour would have much more impact.

 

Its the Riche

Ingredients

Mica, titanium dioxide, yellow #5 al lake, palmitic acid, hydrogenated polyisobutene, preservatives, tin oxide, iron oxide, silica, synthetic flurophylogopite

 

Its the Riche is a mustard yellow with a slight pink duochrome.  I didn't find this dust to be very pigmented, and it was fairly dusty - not my think at all.  That being said though, I don't wear yellow eyeshadow, so its more personal preference than anything else.

 

Vegan

 

 Lizard on a Window Pan

Ingredients

Titanium dioxide, mica, magnesium stearate, magnesium myristrate, tin oxide, iron oxide, carmine

 

My other favourite of the colours I received.  Lizard on a Window Pane is a cool toned taupe-ish brown, with a muted green duo chrome.  I think that applied perfectly dry, but the intensity could be upped with a primer, or by applying wet.  This is such a beautiful shade, and I would happily wear it to work

 

Bad Juju

Ingredients

Mica, titanium dioxide, carmine, iron oxide, ultramarine, magnesium stearate

 

Holy crap on a cracker, this dust is B E A U T I F U L.  You may well ask if its so beautiful, why isn't it one of my favourites..... this is purely due to wearability.  Bad Juju is a rusty red (colour of the dirt in the Australian Outback), shot through with a lavender duo chrome.  This dust was very pigmented applied dry - so much so that my skin was stained after I removed the colour (less than 5 minutes of wear on the swatch), so that may be something to consider.  I wish I could wear this colour, but it just looks horrible on my colouring.

 

Not lip safe

 

Walking on Sunshine

Ingredients

Manganese violet, mica, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, ferric ferrocyanide, lauroyl lysine

 

Yes another gorgeous shade - seriously I got zero duds in the colours I received.  Walking on Sunshine is a beautiful mid tone violet purple, with an aqua duo chrome.  I don't know if its because I received this dust in full size, but the product does seem to be denser in texture than the sample colours I received - and in my opinion all the better for it.  Walking on Sunshine applied smoothly, and had lovely pigmentation.

 

Overall?

The overriding feature in all the dusts I received (besides Walking on Sunshine) is that the powder is very light and can be a bit messy to apply - however this isn't uncommon with eyeshadow dusts.  Like most dusts, the pigmentation, longevity and creasing can be improved with the use of a good eyeshadow primer (Walking on Sunshine would look awesome applied over a black base I think.... mental note to try that).

 

I do prefer my Inglot Pigments to these, but that probably isn't a fair comparison as the above shades don't pretend to be pigments.  That being said, I really liked the colours I receive and the formulation's, so much so that I have subscribed to the Notoriously Morbid Vanishing Cabinet monthly subscription. 

 

I think this company produces really interesting and unique products that are harder to come by in the "commercial" cosmetics world - and at a great price!  I would highly recommend checking them out.

 

Available at Notoriously Morbid

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

Hiya

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday.  Its a lovely Spring day here on the West Coast of Australia.

Today I have a review of the Urban Decay Perversion mascara sample that came as a gift with purchase when I purchased the Vice 3 palette from the Urban Decay website.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water/Eau), Synthetic Beeswax, Acacia Senegal Gum, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (Cera Carnauba/Cire de Carnuba), Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polybutene, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Soluble Collagen, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Behenic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Oleic Acid, Mel (Honey/Miel) Extract, Sodium PCA,Hydrolyzed Elastin, Glycogen, Serine. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): CI 77499 (Iron Oxides)].

Packaging

The mascara is housed in a sexy little gun metal style plastic tube, with lilac writing on it.  It looks really stylish.  I kinda squirm when I read that I just wrote that - but there is no other word to describe it.

The wand is made of natural bristles and is a very full style without any bells or whistles (I hate those torture style spiky wand ends, such as on Benefits They're Real) - this is my favourite style of wand.  

Formula

The formula is neither overly wet nor dry.  It felt very smooth and almost creamy going on and captured lashes easily.  The formula built up volume nicely without any clumping after two coats.  However, I think the formula could begin to clump with further coats.  

I wear this mascara for approximately 12 hours during the day, and don't have any issues with smudging or flaking.  I also wear contact lenses, and I don't find the mascara irritates them.  It also didn't slide down my face when I got a little teary.

I found it removed fairly easily in the shower using my Alpha-H Triple Cleanser.

What Did it Look Like?

Please excuse my retinol irritated skin, and 15-week-old-baby-lack-of-sleep bags!

Bare Lashes

One Coat - top and bottom lashes

Two Coats - top and bottom lashes

Overall?

I really liked this mascara.  It gave my average lashes volume and length without clumping, smudging or flaking.  It wore well over a 12 hours period, and my lashes didn't look sad or pathetic at any time.  I would buy this mascara again, and would certainly recommend it my best friend.

Where to Get it?

The mascara is available from Urban Decay for $22USD.  Note to anyone in Australia - Urban Decay does not ship to Australia - I used MyUs freight forwarding service to ship my Urban Decay purchase.

The Makeup Addict Tag

Howdy!

I saw this tag on Sample Himes blog yesterday, and I thought it sounded made for me!.  The tag was originally created by Tales of a Pale Face - and the below image has been copied from her blog.

 

 

1. Which product do you still keep buying more of despite having plenty in your collection?

Hmmm..... honestly it would be a toss up between eyeshadows and lip products...... but I guess since lip products have a limited life, they'd have to win.  I have more lip products than I can possibly use in this, and the next lifetimes.  And its not even like I'm a really bad hoarder who can't throw things out!  I'm constantly going through my collection and getting rid of less loved stuffed.  First world problems right there.

2. What's the one product you couldn't live without?

My Miguhara BP cream.  This stuff is just phenomenal.  Its a beautiful silky smooth primer which makes my skin look flawless.  I received samples of it in various Memeboxes, and have been using it sparingly because its hard to find online.  I recently received a full sized one in the CoffeeBreakWithDani collaboration Memebox - happy days!

3. Favourite makeup brand?

Seriously? That's almost like asking me to pick my favourite child.  Hmmmm.... if I absolutely had to pick one, it would be Urban Decay.  Their eyeshadows, eyeliners and lipsticks are brilliant.

4. How big is your makeup collection?

My husbands answer to that would be too big!  Even I have to admit I have a stupid amount of makeup - I'm a Financial Controller for a living, so its not like I'm making any money from it.  However, I'm not going to try and make an excuse for my makeup - I am a makeup collector, and I am at peace with that - ha!

5. And how do you like to store it?

Unfortunately, I haven't yet figured out how I like to store it.  Currently I have it split between a 3 tier train case, a 3 drawer bedside table, and a little 3 drawer desktop storage drawer (great things comes in 3 apparently lol).   I would love to be able to have a room just for makeup - but in a 3 bedroom house with 2 kids, that's pretty unlikely :-).  - thats going to be a prerequisite for the next house I think!  Each time I get it just so, I buy more makeup and have to rearrange the whole thing - there's those first world problems again.

6. How many items of makeup have you got in your handbag at the moment?

I actually cleaned out my bag last night, so I only have the Makeup Forever Aqua Lip pencil in 3c, and a Laura Mercier lip gloss in a shimmery nude colour.

7. If you could raid another blogger's stash, who would it be?

Given she seems to acquire absolutely everything, it would have to be Temptalia

8. How long does your usual makeup routine take and how many products do you use?

Given I get ready for work with a 3 year old, and a 14 week old in the morning, I don't have the luxury of a heap of time.  Probably 20 minutes start to finish.  I do my lippy in the car on the way to work (when stopped at traffic lights - not while actually driving lol) after I've finished my coffee.

I somehow manage to get a full face on in the morning - including contouring and eyebrows.  I have no idea how many products..........lots

9. Have you ever bought makeup knowing you wouldn't use it?

Probably eyeliner sets - especially colourful pretty ones.  But in reality, I know there is only so much eyeliner I can go through.

10. Tag a few other makeup addicts to do the tag! 

I tag whomever reads this!

First Impressions - Impulse Cosmetics Opaque Matte Lipsticks

Hiya Everyone

Thanks to Makeuptalk, I have recently taken the leap into indie cosmetics.  I really should stay off of that website - I am waaaayyy to easily led into spending money - haha.

One of the posters  on the "Down the Indie Rabbit Hole" thread mentioned they really loved Impulse Cosmetics Opaque Matte lipstick - count me curious as I love matte lipsticks.  I don't think I even finished reading the posters sentence before I was browsing Impulse Cosmetics' website.

On the website, the lipsticks can be purchased in either bullet, palette  or sample form - which I think is a great idea as it encourages people like me to order up and try different colours without making the commitment to a full size product (mind you, full size is only $6.99USD, which is really inexpensive by Australian standards). 

Anyway, I purchased sample sizes of Platonic, Pretty Please, Two Timer, Dementia, Dahlia, Medusa and Pandora.  The samples are packaged in a clear plastic clam shell, with the name written on top.  You get a decent amount of product in the samples, which retail for $2.45USD.

Everything I purchased was a sample size, so its possible that the full size product may perform differently to the samples (like mascara samples always seem too!).  I can't speak to wear time for any of these colours, as I applied them, took a picture, and removed them straight away.  However, from the way they felt on my lips, I am sure they will have a decent wear time - they aren't the least bit slick or slippery.

Just a note on how I swatched these: - 

• Applied with a lip brush to bare lips;
• No lip liner was used - which is kinda obvious lol;
• Each colour was applied, removed, and then the next colour was applied, so by the end my lips were getting chapped, and there was a little bit of colour bleeding around my lips.
• All photos were taken in the shade under my patio, because it seemed to give the most true-to-colour result, except two timer which was in sunlight.

L - R Platonic, Pretty Please, Two Timer, Dementia, Dahlia, Medusa & Pandora

Platonic

Platonic is a lovely muted neutral pink shade.  It applied easily with my lip brush, and was nicely opaque with a single application.  This product felt creamy on the lips, and had a slight sheen. B+

Pretty Please

Pretty Please is a blue-ish based red, which looked absolutely beautiful in the shell.  I had a hard time loading my brush with this colour, as the formula appears to be quite dry.  It took multiple layers to reach full opacity.  Though the lipstick felt creamy once it was on my lips, it did feel very heavy.  Although the formula definitely felt drier, I don't think it emphasised the fine lines on my lips.  I love the colour, but I'm not in love with the formula.  B-

Two Timer

Two Timer is a more neutral based red, which once again looks beautiful in the shell.  Two Timer was creamier, easier to apply, and more opaque than Pretty Please.  The product felt creamy, though heavy once applied.  A

Dementia

Dementia is a purple based red - though it looked like a pink leaning purple in the shell.    The consistency of Dementia is much the same as Two Timer.  Dementia was easy to apply and was opaque in a single layer.  Once again, the lipstick felt heavy and creamy once applied.  A-

Dahlia

Dahlia is a brick red.  Similar to Pretty Please, I found this lipstick to be quite a dry formula, and multiple layers were required to get full opacity when using a slip brush.  As with all the others, this lipstick felt creamy any heavy on the lips, and had a slight sheen. B-

Medusa

Medusa appears to be a brown-based red in the shell, but applies more maroon.  Medusa applied easily with a lip brush, and was opaque in a single layer.  Creamy and heavy with slight sheen A-

Pandora

Even though I was a teenager in the 90's and did the whole dark brown lipstick thing, the colour of Pandora in the shell scared even me.  It looked VERY dark brown.  However it applied a blackish purple - completely not my colour, but I won't hold it against it!  

This was another colour with a dry-ish formula, but unlike the others that built to full opacity, I found Pandora remained quite patchy.  Once again, it felt creamy and heavy once applied. C

The Verdict

Overall, I am really impressed with Impulse Cosmetics Opaque Matte lipsticks.  The heaviness and dryness of some of the colours doesn't particularly bother me, as that seems to be par for the course with most matte formula's (such as Wet n Wild Mega Last).  Your lips need to be in good condition, or the formula could be problematic.  None of the colours, to me, were a true flat matte, with most having a certain amount of sheen.

As I mentioned above, these lipsticks may perform differently in the full size, as I only purchased a sample sizes - particularly in relation to dryness.  

I can see myself buying full sizes in Two Timer, Dementia and Dahlia once I'm through the samples.

Available from Impulse Cosmetics.

Unboxing - Lip Monthly August 2014

Hiya Everyone

Today I have an unboxing - or I guess really an unbagging - of the August 2014 Lip Monthly Bag.

Lip Monthly is a monthly subscription service that costs $10USD per month, plus shipping to Australia.  I believe there will be 3 - 5 full size lip products sent, plus an extra which may or may not be lip related.

The bag is sent between the 10th and the 15th of each month.  For some reason, international bags are shipped from Chicago to Canada, before being on forwarded to their ultimate destinations.  My bag arrived today (9/9/14), so it took somewhere around a month to get to me.  However I received an email last week saying as of September, my bag will be shipping directly from Chicago - yay!

So, onto the unbagging!

This months bag included  a blue make up bag, 4 full size lip products, and the bonus item is a Pixi Lid Last Shadow.

The first item is the Jesse's Girl Glow Stix lip gloss in Glam.  

The gloss looks really pretty in tube, but is swatches clear, and is just meh for me.  I don't layer gloss on top of lipsticks etc, so this is a miss for me.

Next is the City Colour Cosmetics Lip Balm in Ultra Pink.  It contains vitamin E and feels quite moisturising.  The colour is really pretty.  I wouldn't described this as Ultra Pink - seems to me to be a more coral leaning pink.  It has a lovely shiny finish, but its definitely not going to stay on the lips very long.  Happy with this product.

Next is the City Color Magic Balm which is a ultra sheer lip balm which is supposed to be great for chapped lips.  It feels lovely and rich when swatched.  This will be a good one to chuck in my handbag

The last (thankfully - it'd be nice to have some variety!) is yet another City Color cosmetics product.  This time its a Be Matte lipstick in Phoebe.  I love matte lipstick, and this colour is a lovely natural shade of pinky-mauve.  I'm looking forward to wearing this - big hit!

The last item is the Pixi Lid Last Shadow stick in Gentle Gold.  This swatches onto my hand smoothly, and after a good hour on the back of my hand it still has not budged - even though I've washed my hands with anti-bacterial soap!  Not sure how it will go on my eyes (I've hooded eyes), and I'm not sure that gold is really my colour, but this seems to be a pretty good product.

Overall, I'm quite happy with my first bag from Lip Monthly.  My only criticisms would be that 3 products from one brand is too much, and I two very sheer products, and two similarly toned pinks - I'd like more variety.  I was nice to receive brands that are not readily available in Australia.

I guess I'll see what Septembers bag brings before deciding if this is a subscription service worth keeping.