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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Review: Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara

Let me start out by saying something really negative, I absolutely detest Maybelline mascara. No matter which kind I've tried, I've ended up both super disappointed and around $10 poorer. There once was a time when Maybelline made a really great mascara, it was called "Illegal Lengths" and it has been discontinued for quite some time. It came in a navy tube and was one of my staple go-to products in high school. The absolute only reason I chose to ignore my distaste for Maybelline mascara and pick up this new one they've released is because I really thought they just brought back Illegal Lengths and repackaged it. And removed the letter "S" off of the end of the name. But actually it's not the same whatsoever. Here's the good news. Illegal Length doesn't totally suck. It's actually quite decent in the lengthening department which I enjoy. You do have to act fast to build on the coats because it does dry rather quickly and the packaging advises that you do not wait for the first coat to dry to apply the second. It's a rather wet formula but I didn't find that it was particularly messy to apply. 

I am not even going to say much about this whole "fiber lash extension" claim that Maybelline makes because I really didn't see any fibers or notice that the formula was really that different than other lengthening mascaras from the drugstore like L'Oreal Telescopic. And it doesn't do anything in the volume department which is actually my favorite department and the one I seek to satisfy when I buy a mascara. But I knew this was a lengthening mascara so I'm not complaining. With that being said, its a pretty good lengthening mascara but I certainly do not agree with the absolutely ridiculous claim that the advertisements make about the power of this mascara. If you will look at the AD below, it may have you believe that your lids will actually produce a ginormous false eyelash by using this mascara. This did not happen to me. Would I repurchase this mascara? No. Would I throw it away entirely? No.
Photo above taken by me
Photo above taken by me
Photo Credit: http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/2011/12/spotted-new-maybelline-illegal-length.html
Keeping it real with the original "Illegal" mascara, Maybelline Illegal Lengths



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Review: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in White ON

As an extremely desperate attempt to leave the store with a white nail polish, I bought the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in White On. I've tried many drugstore whites but they have been streaky and/or not exactly the bright opaque white I was looking for. Too lazy to drive to ULTA to purchase a respectable white like OPI Alpine Snow, I took a chance on this one, a formula I had never tried by Sally Hansen. In a nutshell, I freaking hated it. I don't know if I just got a bad or expired bottled but the texture and application of this polish was unacceptable. Because of the bright white appearance of this shade, it was literally like trying to spread melted marshmellow all over my nails. It was so thick and sticky that when I was trying to wipe off the excess polish to lift the brush out of the bottle, it left behind a string of polish hanging off of the brush that was still stuck onto the side of the bottle. Kind of like when you try to peel gum off the bottom of your shoe and it is a stretchy gooey nasty mess. The only thing semi-respectable about this polish is the shade "White On" which goes extremely opaque after two very thick and unbearable coats. But its no wonder its opaque after two coats, seeing as though the amount of polish you're putting on in those two coats is actually the equivilant of 10 coats of a normal polish. I will say that after I put on the first coat, I was like "ugh what was I thinking?!" and then after the second coat I was still like "ugh.. what was I thinking?!" but this time white at least enjoying the color.

Naturally, because of the consistency issues, it took forever for the polish to dry. Seriously, I painted them yesterday and 25 hours later they are still damp. Lesson learned. When you are too lazy or do not have the time to go the further distance to buy a quality product and you settle for crap in hopes that the crap will surprise you and be better than the other one, most often you will end up going back for the other item therefor wasting the money you spent when "settling". 

The photo below is from Maricza.com because I have already peeled that marshmellow mess off my nails before I was able to take photos. Again, the color is nice as you can see below.
Photo credit Maricza.com Sally Hansen White On


If you haven't done so already, there is still time to enter my contest for the Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! Contest is open worldwide so go sign up to follow my blog and then click on the photo of the Naked2 palette in the sidebar up top and get to it! Thanks!


Monday, January 16, 2012

Nails of the Day: Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Good to Grape

Another winner in my book, Good to Grape is a really creamy opaque mid-toned purple. It reminds me of China Glaze "Spontaneous". I tried to find another review on this shade so I could find out what collection its from and the odd thing is, I couldn't find one single picture of it on google images. Could it be that my review will be the first of its kind? And if it is not, please, do not ruin this moment for me. I found this color along with about 3 other brand new shades at Walgreens if you are interested. I had been to Rite Aid and CVS prior to going to Rite Aid so I could see if anyone had any of the SH Crinoline left and sadly, they did not. And Walgreens was the only store I had visited that had Good to Grape. The formula can kind of vary from shade to shade but this one is pretty much identical to Himalayan Blue in that it is very creamy with a rich and beautiful pigmentation. I am a three coats kind of girl whether I think two coats did the trick or not but I really think that this one is best with three coats. I used the Revlon Colorstay Top Coat which I've been enjoying lately over top. I have found that my manicures with the Revlon top coat + a Sally Complete polish have lasted upwards of 7-8 days. A rather large milestone worth mentioning. Enjoy! All photos included are taken by me.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Good to Grape (with FLASH, above)
Same polish, without the flash (above)


And for fun, my little girl wanted to get in on the action and show HER nails of the day (below) by Essie, I refuse to say the name of the shade because of one of the words being "risque" and inappropriate to be associated with a young girl. But the second word is "Divide". Thanks!

 If you haven't done so, please enter my contest to win an Urban Decay Naked2 Palette. Sign up to follow my blog, and click on the picture of the Naked2 palette in the sidebar on the right to enter!!! Contest open WORLDWIDE!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Win Urban Decay Naked2 Palette!

Have you entered to win the Naked2 palette yet? If not, sign up to follow my blog and follow the link below! Contest open WORLDWIDE and the chance to enter multiple times! The prize is a $50 value and a super popular item right now. Good luck!

Click on the picture of the Urban Decay Naked2 palette to your right in the sidebar and you'll find all of the details! ------>

Monday, January 9, 2012

Nails of the Day: Sally Hansen Complete Manicure in Himalayan Blue

Himalayan Blue is part of the Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen collection. It's a bright and creamy opaque blue that has quickly become one of my favorite polishes. Some people do not like the wide brush that comes with these Sally polishes but I rather like it. It works perfectly for the shape of my nail beds and practically covers the whole nail with one flat stroke. When I paint my nails using this formula, I get a very neat and precise application every time. I never really thought there was anything special about the SH Complete Manicure polish formula but for some reason, this latest one that I have has applied better than any of my OPI, Essie, Deborah Lippmann, Butter London, etc. Next on my list is Green Tea. 
Sally Hansen Himalayan Blue, photo taken by me.

If you haven't done so already and you would like to WIN an Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, please sign up to follow my blog and click the link below to find out how you can enter multiple times!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Kate Moss Lipstick Collection by Rimmel London: No. 14

Kate Moss has been seen in various Rimmel advertisements and commercials as a spokesperson for the brand and now has her own collection of  Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipsticks. While at CVS today, I was able to see some of the collection but they didn't have all of the shades. I picked up No. 14 which is a pinkish-brown nude with a matte creamy finish. It's quite a pretty color and I really like the texture and the way it wears. While it claims to last for 8 hours, it didn't quite go that distance on my lips. Maybe two hours at most. When I swatched it, I was reminded of MAC Blankety lipstick which looks quite similar to the Rimmel No. 14. Although Blankety is slightly pinkier, both have that brown undertone which really warms up the shade. See for yourself. If you're the kind of person that just can't pull off those really pale nude lips like MAC Myth or Creme d' Nude, you may want to try a warmer shade of nude like the Rimmel No. 14 or MAC Blankety.
MAC Blankety on top, Rimmel No.14 bottom  

Friday, January 6, 2012

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette @ Sephora! Hurry!

The exclusive and coveted Urban Decay Naked2 Palette is in stock right now at Sephora. It won't be coming to stores until the end of January but is available, for the time being, online. If you missed out on its availability during the debut, now is your chance! But you have to hurry... before its all sold out again. For those of you that have the original Naked and the new Naked, I'd love to hear your thoughts on which one you prefer! I know everyone loves the original Naked, but I found that I only really used a few of the shades (mostly Naked, Buck, and the highlight colors). I actually prefer the shades of the Naked2 better but still wish they would make a Naked Matte palette!

If you want to WIN an Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, enter my contest by clicking the link below. And don't forget to sign up to follow my blog so that you can enter. Find out how you can enter multiple times! 

http://makeupsessed.blogspot.com/2012/01/kicking-of-2012-with-giveaway-urban.html

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The New Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink

What a cool product. The latest blush released from Maybelline has the most unique texture and feel with its sponge-like bounce and silky powder application. It feels like a cream blush but is actually powder in the way that it applies. The color selection is pretty much amazing with super fresh and bright shades that scream "SPRING!" I was already a fan of the Maybelline Dream Mousse blush but I really wish they had more of a matte selection because I think they are rather shimmery. The Bouncy blush in Fresh Pink looks matte for the most part but may have some very fine shimmer that certainly isn't very noticeable. In fact, I don't even know if its really there or if I'm seeing things and making the whole thing up. Fresh Pink, the color I chose, pretty much looks like it sounds in that its a very beautiful, cool-toned, bubble-gum pink. In the photos, it appears to have a blue undertone but its less noticeable in person. It really gives your cheeks a natural flushed appearance. Well, actually, how natural is having hot pink cheeks? Let me put it another way. It looks bright and scary but goes on very sheer and natural if that is how you choose to wear it. I took some pictures showing the color on my wrist. The swatch is what the pigmentation looks like after a few good coats, you can make it much more sheer but I wanted it to show up on camera. 
Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Fresh Pink. Photos taken by me.

Enter my Urban Decay Naked2 Palette giveaway! Sign up to follow my blog today and click on the link below for further details! Find out how you can enter multiple times! 


Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Stuff at the Drugstore: Revlon Colorstay Nail Polish & Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

Today was the first time in a little while that I went to the drugstore and so I was blown away by all of the new makeup goodies that were on the shelves since I'd last been. First, I see the Revlon Colorstay nail polish that claims up to 11 days of wear and all the shine of a gel lacquer. In quite beautiful shades I might add. Then I look up and see the new Maybelline Dream Bouncy blushes in a variety of lovely bright shades. Rounding the corner, I see the Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows (see post below for that monstrosity) and a bunch of brand new L'Oreal nail polishes in gorgeous shades. Now, I do not have reviews for the blush and the polish but I just wanted to make you aware of their existence because I have tested them and am excited to see if they work out for me.

Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel. Photo taken by me, @ CVS
I have painted two nails with the Revlon Colorstay nail polish and after two coats, I can say that they are very shiny. But the really cool thing is the Maybelline Bouncy blush. I can't speak to the wear or the application as of yet, but the texture is SO cool. And really is bouncy. It feels like a sponge when you press your finger to it. The texture is like a cream but is a very soft and silky powder. Very cool product. So check out the new goodies at the drugstore and I will have some reviews when I've had a chance to test them out to their fullest extent. 

Enter to win an Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, sign up to follow me~! Click on the link below!
Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette!

Review for Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Eyeshadow

What a bunch of crap. Color Tattoo?! I wish my tattoos faded as quickly as this shadow did so that I wouldn't have to live my life in further regret for making dumb decisions when I was 18. I was all set to put on the new Color Tattoo cream shadow that boasts 24 hour wear time so that I could take a picture of what it looks like now and then later to see if it held up when I took it off tonight. What a fool I was. As I applied one eye, I was quite pleased with the color and pigmentation so I moved on to the other eye, so far so good. But when I went back to look again at the first eye, the junk was already creased! But wait... in all fairness, I hadn't used a primer first. I like to to give the benefit of the doubt and so I removed the eye make up and started over. Bobbi Brown cream shadow doesn't need a primer. Tarte waterproof cream shadow doesn't need a primer. But I will do it anyways to be able to make a fair and accurate assessment of the performance. I applied my primer and repeated the process. Different story, same freaking ending. Crease crease and more crease. I can't say that this stuff won't work for others, but It failed miserably for me. I can't even be bothered to even describe the product in more detail because quite frankly I can't be bothered to waste another second on this rubbish product. I didn't do a before and after picture because the before and the after was the same result. Rather, this is the picture I took about 2 minutes after applying the shadow. I wasn't even expecting to get 24 hours of wear out of the stuff, but I was certainly expecting more wear than the time than it took to finish both eyes!
Now, you may say, well, maybe you have oily lids. Well, even if I did, there wasn't even time for my eyelids to get oily before the junk creased. You may say, well this stuff worked amazing for me. Well, maybe you only needed to wear it for 4.5 seconds and in that case, I'm sure it did work amazing in that time frame. Or, maybe your eyelids are made out of different material than mine. Ever think of that? Huh? So, RIP Maybelline Color Tattoo cream shadow.

No more pictures. No swatches. No before and afters. No checking out the other shades. Nothing. Nothing but disappointment. And creased up eyelids.

On a brighter note, scroll down and enter my contest to win a brand new Urban Decay Naked2 Palette!! Sign up to follow my blog today! 
Unnatural Beauty: A Humorous and Opinionated Beauty Blog: Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway.. The Urban Decay Naked2 Palette!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Kicking off 2012 With A Giveaway..Urban Decay Naked2 Palette! CONTEST CLOSED!

I haven't done a giveaway since last summer and I thought I would kick of the new year with a good one! Since everyone is trying to get their hands on the new Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, I thought that would be a fitting prize for the winner. I happen to have a brand new Naked2 that needs a good home. See the rules below and I hope you will enter! Please follow the directions when entering the contest, it will prevent a lot of confusion and be in your best interest to make sure your entries are counted. Thank you everyone!

Contest Rules:
Must be 18 to enter or have your parents permission!
Contest is open WORLDWIDE

YOU MUST FOLLOW my blog to enter (I do check, when I pick the winner!)

I use random.org to choose a number, when I get that number I count down to what comment corresponds to that number and that is the winner.

The contest will run until February 1st, 12:00 am EST CONTEST CLOSED!!!

To enter one time, answer the following question in the comments section of THIS post, "What is your everyday go-to eye makeup look?"

You may enter TWO additional times if you've posted my contest on your Facebook or Twitter page. You don't have to have both, just one or the other (make your second and third entry the link to your FB or Twitter page)

You may enter TWO additional times if you have posted my blog contest on your own blog (make your two additional entries the link to your blog)

If you do all of these things, you can enter FIVE TOTAL times. If you do two of these things (any two), you can enter THREE TOTAL TIMES.  If you only answer the question and do not do the other things, you can enter ONE TOTAL TIME.

If you have any questions, send me a message! Thank you for your support and good luck! Whoever wins is a lucky lucky girl!

Urban Decay 24/7 in Perversion: The World's Blackest Liner


I did a post on the Perversion 24/7 eyeliner back in April of last year. I received a message on my FB page from a girl that was desperate to find a Perversion dupe and this message reignited my love for this product. As all love affairs eventually do, my infatuation with the incredible black pigment in eyeliner form, fizzled out. But we're back. If you are interested in seeing the original post, I will have the link below. If you're too lazy to click on that link, I will tell you why I love this eyeliner.

-First, it takes black to the next level, the highest level, the kind of black that resembles wet tar on a freshly paved highway. Before it dries. Its so black that calling it black is an understatement. Not only is it blacker than all other liners but its glossier than most liners too. And its matte. If there is one thing I am not head over heels in love with, its a black liner with shimmer because the shimmer tends to dull down the intensity of the black. 

-The next reason I love Perversion is that its super soft. It glides on the water liner like instant perfection. No tugging, no running the liner back and forth to get the desired color. Its softness also makes it extremely easy to blend out to soften up the look. 

Unfortunately a really soft eyeliner can be problematic when you apply it too heavy. For some reason, Perversion is a lot softer in texture than the other 24/7 liners. It resembles the Stila Kajal eyeliner in Black Onyx if you are familiar. Or looking for a dupe. MAC Feline Eye Kohl pencil is supposed to be close as well. So I will leave you with a photo I took to demonstrate the visual intensity of this wondrous shade. You may think I was pressing really hard to get a super dark swatch of Perversion but it was quite the opposite. I had to press hard on the other colors to get a good swatch and had to be careful of not pressing Perversion too hard because its so soft! Again, if you want more details, follow the link below.
Urban Decay Corrupt, Zero, and Perversion from L to R, Photo taken by me.


Original Post for the Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Eyeliner:


Sunday, January 1, 2012

New Years Face of the Day! + Smoky Eye Tips for Beginners

Happy New Years everyone! Just thought I'd share my face of the day. A simple brown smoky eye using two shadows, a dark brown matte shade and a matte ivory shade to help blend and highlight. A great look for those who want to make their blue eyes really standout. If you aren't accustomed to doing a smoky eye, there are some tips below for a basic look.

Products Used:
Estee Lauder Doublewear foundation in Fresco
Smashbox Halo powder
Hourglass Hidden Concealer in Pearl
Anastasia Brow Whiz brow pencil in medium ash
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed
Tarte dark brown matte (don't know the name)
Tarte matte ivory shade for highlight
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Perversion
Mally Volumizing mascara in black
Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee




  
Smoky eye tips for beginners:
 A smoky effect is usually created using a dark matte (flat color, no shimmer)  eyeshadow like a black, charcoal gray, or deep brown. However, a smoky eye isn't about the color of the shadow, but rather, the blending technique used to "smoke" up the shadow. 
-Apply your shadow on the lid with a flat shader brush and just slightly above the lid with whats left on the brush. Careful not to use too much. You can always go back and add more. 
-Take a good blending brush that has some density to it and start blending upwards from the part just above the lid where you last applied shadow. There may not be much shadow there to blend but just do a little at a time.  
-You want to keep the lid the darkest part of the eye and from there, the shadow should lessen in intensity. If you apply too much, there will be no smoky effect and it will look like you have a black eye. 
-Just apply a little, blend up, apply a little, blend up.. until the desired look is achieved. 
-You  can take a much lighter matte shade to help soften the blending and transition to the highlight shade, or just go straight to the highlight shade. You may want to go with something shimmery for the highlight since you have been working with matte for most of the look.
-A smoky eye shouldn't have any harsh lines, therefor when you applyeyeliner to the top and bottom, use a smudging brush to soften it and blend. Using a dark eyeshadow (wet) applied with an angled liner brush will be your best option to give a softer effect and avoid harsh lines. 
-If you aren't comfortable using a shadow as liner, use it over your regular liner to soften up the look, especially important for the lower lash line.
 -Take a black liner, something soft that glides on the waterline without tugging for a more dramatic look.

Many smoky looks can be created with multiple shades and liners but its best to master the technique first and then start experimenting with other looks.