CoverGirl: LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm

Okay, I’m going to admit something here:

If Eva Chen posts anything on her Instagram or Tumblr more than twice, I consider it worth my time and there is a good chance I will buy it.

This philosophy gets me into trouble A LOT since it’s relevant almost every day.

So, naturally following my own advice, when I noticed her blogging about the new CoverGirl LipPerfection jumbo glossy balms I gave in and bought two at Target.

Left to right: 220 Haute Pink Twist and 205 Ballet Twist

I wasn’t really sure what to expect because CoverGirl is one of those drugstore cosmetic companies that insists on putting fool-proof packaging on their products so that you can’t discreetly test them. (Yes…I am that girl who looks through all the lipsticks and foundations at the drug store until I find one that someone’s already illegally opened just so that I can test it…) The glossy balm packaging allows no way of seeing the real product color, so all you have to go on is the (usually misleading) cap color. LAME!

However, Eva Chen said they were great…so I took the chance. I chose a pretty pale pink, 205 Ballet Twist, and because we know I can’t resist a hot pink, 220 Haute Pink Twist.

Honestly, they were nothing like I expected. The packaging touts “sheer color, soft shine,” so you would expect something, well, sheer and shiny, right? Oddly enough, they were just the opposite.

220 Haute Pink Twist

I was extremely surprised at the color payoff. With two coats, they looked like a regular lipstick; not like the “glossy balm” I was expecting. And as for that glossiness…that’s a good question. I got none. They have a super satiny finish, almost matte.

205 Ballet Twist

I also found that if you put two or three coats of them on, they act exactly like the good old Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balm Stains (and the packaging is almost identical).

These are kind of like a cheap dupe for the Tarte balms, just without the peppermint feeling.

Overall, I really like them and I’ll probably buy more colors, but I’m really annoyed that I was mislead by the advertising.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics: Lip Tar in Anime

Ah, the everlasting quest for the perfect long-wearing lipstick…..

I thought it would never end. I thought that I was going to be living my life running to a mirror every 6 hours to touch up my lipstick and stress about how there are no matte colors that leave my lips hydrated, not begging for Fresh Advanced Lip Therapy and a flaky, ugly mess.

That was…until I found out about my new hero, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics.

Lip Tar. Weird name, right? But let’s be honest, they couldn’t just call this “liquid lipstick” or “long-wearing lip color.” Nope, this product could never be in the same category as all the other lipsticks out there. Why? Well, this one actually sticks and stays forever and ever on lips no matter what no questions asked! Seriously.

I picked this up in Anime because I love hot pink lips and also because I was in a rush and this color was on the top of the pile at the checkout line in Sephora. It’s not super expensive at $16.00 and it even comes with a little lip brush (which is actually REALLY nice. Super precise and easy to control.)

On my lips, it feels like I have absolutely nothing on, and like I said before, it STAYS! Currently I’m drinking some Starbucks, and though I have a pretty good lip stick stain going on the lid, it doesn’t look like it’s come off from my lips themselves at all. Score!

Honestly, these things are like candy. I dare you to stop at one, those colors are just too hard to resist. I’m already planning which one I’ll get next…(it’s between Ophelia and Stalker…what do you think?)

Do you ever get a sudden urge to strike a (GASP) duck face pose when wearing neon lipstick??? I don’t know why, but sometimes I do…so I might as well embrace it!

THE DETAILS:

• $16.00 for a .33 oz tube and brush
• 40 different colors (buy all 40 plus the Clear and get 10% off!)
• My rating: A

Benefit: Peek-A-Bright Eyes

When I saw that Benefit had released this, I was ridiculously excited. A few years ago I bought a similar palette from them, the Big Beautiful Eyes one, and completely used it up. I was definitely in the market for a replacement!

The great thing about Benefit is that they don’t just sell you a product and leave you on your own. No, no, no. They give you step-by-step instructions on how to use it as well as a bunch of helpful and relevant tips! Awesome. I love easy instructions!

(Left to right): pink highlight shadow, warn chocolate contour shadow, buff base shadow, Eye Bright

This palette is extremely similar to the good old Big Beautiful Eyes one. It comes with the same two mini brushes (which are nothing special, but they do the job) and three neutral shadows. The difference in this one is that you get a generous helping of their Eye Bright.

I hadn’t tried Eye Bright before so this was a good palette to introduce me to it, since it tells you exactly where to put it and how.

Benefit instructs us to put the buff base shadow on all over your eyelid, then use the warm chocolate contour shadow in your crease and as a liner. Then, finish up with a few concentrated pats of the pink highlight shadow in the middle of your eyelid and some Eye Bright in the inner and outer corners.

I followed all the instructions given here, and this is how it turned out. To be honest, I’m a little disappointed with the shadows. The deep chocolate was super difficult to work with as a liner (and the brush given didn’t help).

I do like the Eye Bright, however, especially the fact that Benefit give it its own lid so no stray shadow bits got into it. Handy!

Peek-a-boo….Bright Eyes! Sorry, couldn’t help acting out the title .

In all, this is a good palette, but if you are going for the Eye Bright aspect I think just buying the product is a better idea.

Skeptical on whether or not I’ll keep this palette…hmm.

THE DETAILS:

• $32.00
• Three shadows, eye bright, and two mini brushes
• My rating: B

Stila: Seeing Stars Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner Set

(Left to right): Tetra, Oscar Fish, Stargazer, Angelfish, Moray

I took my own advice and picked these up at Sephora the other day, and man, am I glad that I did.

When Stila says that something won’t budge, they really mean it. I’m NEVER ever ever disappointed in any of their waterproof products (like, ever.) Once you put these super pigmented liners of heaven on, they stay there until you want to take them off. It’s fabulous.

(Top to bottom): Tetra, Oscar Fish, Stargazer, Angelfish, Moray

I like these because you can either wear them simply, as an everyday look, like this…

Wearing Oscar Fish as winged liner with Angelfish lightly blended into inner corners.

…or, you can build them up and do some smudging and make yourself glam for an event (or just for fun, who says you have to be going somewhere special to amp up your eyes?)

Wearing Stargazer layered with Moray as dramatic winged liner and Tetra on lower lash line, Angelfish lightly blended into inner corner.

Literally every one of these colors impress me. When I was swatching them and taking pictures, all that was going through my mind was: “OMG. Angelfish is kind of amazing! No, wait–hello, Stargazer! Are you kidding me? I need Tetra on my eyes right this very second.”

Only one complaint here, and it’s about the packaging. For some weird reason, it takes a lot of time to roll these up. It takes a good 10 turns until it really even starts to move…hm. At least they make up for it in the actual product quality.

And to top it all off…the price? CRAZY.

THE DETAILS:

• $32.00
• 5 full size Smudge Sticks
• Limited edition for Holiday 2012
• My rating: A-

End of the Year Update

Okay, I know. I kind of failed at the whole advent calendar, post-per-day thing.

But I got sick and then crazy busy…and it just feel behind.

I’m not going to finish it since it’s pretty redundant at this point and eventually I’ll probably use the polishes in a post.

HOWEVER, I got a new camera (Canon Rebel T3i…plus a standard AND a macro lens…HOLLA!) and oodles of new products for the holidays, so look forward to it .

Tarte: Pure Maracuja Oil

I have something to tell everyone that I think most people will agree with.

My skin annoys me to death.

Sometimes it’s oily, sometimes it’s dry…it’s just a really confused organ.

When I got my Clarisonic nearly a year ago, it came in a set of a few of Sephora’s best selling skincare products. I only used two of them (the others were all anti-aging related): the Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash and Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream. I’ve been obsessed with both of them ever since. But, as I’m going into the colder months, I’ve noticed that my beloved Korres cream doesn’t perform as well as I need it too.

Every night, after I take a shower, I immediately pat my face dry and put on my moisturizer. If I don’t do this, I feel my skin getting super dry and tight within the next five minutes. During the summer, Korres totally eradicated this issue. Now, though, I’m feeling that tightness even after using it!

I’m nearly out of that cream anyway, so I decided to try out a new product. After a bit of research, I saw this Tarte oil.

Oil? What, on your face? What kind of crazy talk is that? I went all the way out to the big Sephora store that carries Tarte and asked for a sample (they are very nice about doing samples–it’s my secret weapon with new products…all you have to do is ask one of the workers!). So, after loving my sample, I took the plunge and spent the $46.00 on the bottle.

The packaging. It’s really great. The bottle is this pretty dark purple with gold lettering and the screw-cap has the easiest-to-use button for the oil. And it all comes wrapped up in this  bamboo-like box (I have a thing for nice boxes).

But the real beauty is the oil. You might think that you can just use some Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead of spending a good amount on this oil, which is what I used to do, but once you try this you’ll see the difference. It has a very faint nutty smell and it’s totally clear. It only takes 2-3 drops rubbed gently into your skin, and voila! Within two minutes it’s totally dry and your skin is the most beautiful you have ever seen or felt it.

As for the price…I was skeptical. I hate spending tons of money on makeup…contrary to popular belief. But, reading the description on the box, Tarte really makes you feel as though you are one of a lucky few:

Known as “puro milagro” or “the pure miracle”, only one crop of this rare Amazonian fruit is harvested each year by Amazonian women affiliated with our tarte cooperative in the Amazon. Piece by piece, they sustainably pick and extract nutrient-rich seeded pulp from each individual maracuja fruit by hand.

ONE crop PER YEAR? Wow, now I’m going to feel sort of guilty if I waste any of this…

In short…this is my new go-to skincare. I put it on at night and also in the morning. It evens out my skin and primes it for foundation or BB cream.

THE DETAILS:

• 1.7 oz for $46.00
• My rating: A

Have you tried any face oils? Leave a comment below, tweet me at @lilianebeauty, or send an email to liliane.a.kelly@gmail.com!

Advent 2012: Day 16

Today’s color was appropriate for the season this year, seeing as it’s been an average of 60 degrees and sunny. It’s kind of sad that the December weather fits such a bright and springy color like Big Yellow Taxi.

As you would expect from a yellow, it is a pain to apply. It’s not exactly sheer, but it is so streaky it takes at least three coats (what I’m wearing in the pictures) to make it look decent.

Also, it makes me feel like I should go on Lime Crime and place an order for that crazy New Yolk City lipstick. Don’t they look like a perfect match? Even the names correspond!

What do you think? How’s the weather where you are? Leave a comment, tweet me at @lilianebeauty, or send an email to liliane.a.kelly@gmail.com!