Lime Crime Love!

Hey dolls! My good friend Kim of BrownGirlzRock put me on to Lime Crime's new collection, Alchemy and the gem of a lipstick, Poisonberry. Remember it was on my lust list? Well, I went ahead and made an order. (Don't make the same mistake I did. Wait until Black Friday!)

What I purchased (with Lime Crime's descriptions) and my mini review:
Poisonberry lipstick (a deliciously dangerous berry-purple with a violet glow. Same intense coverage, new lustruous sheen! This shade combines lipstick and lipstain for prolonged wear) I wish this was the regular opaque formula, but I guess the shine is part of what makes this unique. I love this shade. As a purple lover, it's a must have. Getchoo some!

No She Didn't lipstick (a blue lipstick that gives 100% coverage! Wear alone as a statement shade, or layer over other lipsticks to cool down the tone.) The description is absolutely right... and i love it! No staining; no bleeding.

Orchidaceous liquid liner (Bright violet-purple. Matte finish.) It dries matte which gives it a vibrant color. I can't wait to try this with a look.

There you have it! Gorg colors and packaging.  Do you have some Lime Crime that you love? I'm needing all of the lip colors since I love these and my Chinchilla lipstick.  I'll share the rest of my Lime Crime later!

Lipstick Quickie: Purple Lipstick Swatches on NC50 and NC43 Skin

Swatches from top to bottom, NC50 and NC43:
Make Up For Ever #15
Make Up For Ever #14
MAC Young Rapunxel
MAC Heroine

Thanks Ro for lending your lipsticks and skin for swatching ;D

Nars Sin vs Black Radiance Plum Sorbet... Dupes? Pictures and Swatches

Hi guys!!
I'm loving the Black Radiance Artisan Color Baked blushes.  I wasn't sure what Plum Sorbet had in store, but once I swatched it I was reminded of another blush I own, Nars Sin.  I set out to compare them.  In the skin swatch (top photo) Nars is on the left and Black Radiance is on the right. Nars is a bit more rosey with a golden sheen while Plum Sorbet is a hint more true plum.  On my medium- NC43 (NC42 and 44 mixed, lol) skin, the two look very similar. that I can't tell them apart when wearing them blended like normal blush.  Heavier swatches may reveal their differences, but I won't wear them that way.  For all intents and purposes, they are dupes in my book.  Try them on your skin and tell me what you think!

Are you following me on Instagram where I post most of these pics first?

First Look: New Black Radiance Bronzer in Blackberry Photos and Swatches

(Swatches Blackberry bronzer l-r: blended out, single swipe)

I saw a few new items from Black Radiance in the drugstore over the weekend.  This was the most unique item.  Blackberry bronzer is a swirl of darkest grape or blackberry, lilac and caramel for a the deepest bronze glow I've ever seen.   I tried it on me with a skunk brush (MAC #187) and it appeared like smoke, sheer black with a sheen to it. I can't wait to use it on the right skin tone!

Have you seen this or tried it? 

Go Mommy Go!: Maybelline Color Tattoos

Ahh! It's been quite a while since I've done one of these posts.  Welcome back.  My Go Mommy Go! series is a series of posts showcasing products, tips, tricks, and topics of discussion to help moms on the go and busy women alike work makeup into their high speed routines to stay fabulous.

I'm sure you've heard so much about the new Maybelline Color Tattoos ($6-$8, varies by retailer).  If not, read on:  They are the drugstore version of MAC paint pots.  I'm a big paint pot fan as well as a huge fan of Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream colors.  Both of the higher end lines offer cream shadows that stay put throughout daily wear.  They can be used as a lid color or eye shadow base.  Multi-tasking products? Major bonus.  You can now get all of this is a drugstore line.  Yes, go and get these.  You need them.

Maybelline offers ten colors ranging in a few neutrals to colorful shades.  Heres's what Maybelline says:
"Dare to wear our longest-lasting shadow. Our ink technology creates super-saturated color.
Cream gel smoothes on for vibrant color that does not fade"

I picked up Tough as Taupe (cream), Painted Purple (cream), Fierce and Tangy (cream) and Edgy Emerald (cream)

Clockwise from top left: Taugh as Taupe, Painted Purple, Fierce and Tangy and Edgy Emerald

Swatched in same order as above

 

Since starting this post, I've picked up more everyday wearable colors such as Pomegranate Punk (soft cranberry color with slight shimmer) and Bad to the Bronze (soft bronze shimmer).  I'm missing the Too Cool (white), Bold Gold (soft yellow gold shimmer) and Audacious Asphalt (silver shimmer).  I use pomegranate punk and bad to the bronze often.  Move over paint pots!  These offer an easy, fool proof way to add color and the effect (when I applied with my fingers) isn't over the top, but work appropriate.

These will definitely pop up in some future looks (I need some Go Mommy Go! vids on YouTube!)  For now, check out a vid from Maybelline:

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake Product Review and Swatches

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush is a lightweight powder that melts into a cream according to Maybelline.   When I tried this I didn't think it was a powder at all.  It feels like a hardened, dense mousse.  Once applied, it doesn't settle down as an emollient cream, but a cross between a cream and silky refined powder.

Sorry that the blush doesn't look picture perfect.  I had to try this blush instantly when I bought it. Often times, picture taking comes second, lol.    I don't mind that you see the blush in this messy state.  In fact, it's important that you see this side of the product.    The name of the blush will lead you to believe that once you touch it, it will bounce back into its dome shape.  Not so much.   It moves around like play dough.  It doesn't keep neatly in its pot. 

The blush is not super pigmented, at least in this color 60 Coffee Cake.  This quality has its pros and cons.  Pro? It makes it a fool proof product so that you don't over apply and look like a clown.  Con? You may have to swipe a few times to build up the intensity that you desire.  More swipes, more pushing on the product. I wish the blush could bounce back into the dome shape.

Swipe on the finger.  

I was hoping the picture would show you that I didn't pick up a lot of product on this finger after one full swipe.

Left, one swipe; right, heavy swatch

Coffee Cake is a neutral, tan, peachy/rosey brown.

Overall, the product behavior in the pan didn't turn me away from this product.  I love this blush!  Lately, I've been doing the less is more look and this falls right into the scheme of things.   I nice little glow on my cheeks, not an oily glow, but a polished makeup glow.  This product also has the teensiest bit of shimmer, but barely noticeable.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush, $7-8

Do you have one of these blushes?  Which is your favorite color?

MAC Let's Skate Paint Pot Swatches and Review

MAC Let's Skate Paint Pot from the Winter/Holiday Glitter and Ice Collection is my favorite paint pot right now.  I'm so glad I added it to my collection.

Let's Skate is one of 3 limited edition paint pots from the collection.  It comes in its regular glass packaging, but this time with a white top! The color scheme for this collection is white and silver..yum! Like most other paint pots, this can serve as a creaseless shadow or a base.  If you have super oily eyelids, I would suggest a primer.  When I first started using paint pots, they creased on me.  Not sure why.  I would use a base and everything was fine.  After a while, my lids adjusted and I was able to wear them alone.

Upon initial inspection, you think it's another pale, white-ish cream, along the lines of MAC's other paint pots such as Bare Study, Soft Ochre, Painterly, etc., but it's so much more than that!

SURPRISE... It's a soft pale pink with slight iridescence and golden shimmer.  It was totally unexpected.

Here's a swatch that really doesn't do this product justice.  It was really hard to capture its real essence in a photo.  This product ups the glam factor a bit for neutral lovers.  I wore this to quite a few holiday parties. There was no need to add extra glitter and sparkle to my eyes as it was already in the product.  This served as a great way to wear glitter in a more subtle way. 

Giving this paint pot a chance after initial inspection makes me regret not getting the others. It's ok, maybe I'll actually use this up!

I did this look with the paint pot a while back in this post.

Paint pots retail for $18.50.  The Glitter and Ice paint pots are currently SOLD OUT on maccosmetics.com.  :( Try other counters such as Macy's and Nordstrom if you are still looking for these.

Do you have any of the paint pots from the Glitter and Ice collection?  What's your favorite paint pot right now?

Estee Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Nude Nuance: Review and Swatches

Ever since I passed up Springshine Ombre blush from MAC's Spring Color Forecast collection, I've been geeking for it. You know, I left it there because why do I need yet another bronzer??? Instead I got the Grape and Peach ombre blushes -__- Ask me how often I touch them. Anddd long face again.  So, some where in my brain I feel I need Springshine.  Luckily for those wanting the grape ombre blush, it will be repromoted  in the MAC Daphne Guinness collection coming up.  What about someone like me who needs another bronzer blush like a shot in the foot?

We have to hunt down people willing to sell theirs or haggle with swappers....OR find a dupe (a sport).  My searching  returned results for dupes for the highly sought after Peach Ombre blush.  Like a needle in a haystack, one result returned info that NYC's Sunny Matte bronzer is a close dupe.   I wasn't persuaded.  Luckily, I remembered that Estee Lauder had ombre blushes before MAC.  The one closest to Springshine is called Estee Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush Nude Nuance.  CCO discounted price... BINGO!  Apparently, they don't sell it any more. =(


I'm mostly content for now... but if you have a Springshine you don't mind departing with,  HOLLA!  Keep reading to see the blush and swatches!

 

(flash- top to bottom; lightest to darkest; right-- blended)

(without flash; more true to life color)

I'm happy with this blush.  It is silky smooth, blendable and pretty even without the shimmer.  It's not chalky or too powdery at all.  Springshine would make me happier, though ;)  (ooh you makeup addicts know how it is! LOL)

Dear Urban Decay, re: Urban Decay Duo Liner

Dear Urban Decay,
When your too-popular-for-its-own-good Naked palette hit the market, it initially debuted with a duo liner of Zero and Whiskey, the standard, but essential brown and black liners conveniently in one stick that tops off any look.  Then the palette was released with a brush.  Let's just say I'm glad I got the liners!  (...because I love them, not because the brush is bad.)  I fell in love it and was devastated all at once.  I knew once I ran out of the liners I wouldn't ever be able to replace it.  It got so small it was hard to continue sharpening it.  The caps were outgrowing the liner!

You wowed me earlier this year by listening to the fans and changing the packaging of our beloved Primer Potion.  I think you all heard my call and decided to wow me again.  I saw my liner being sold separately at the counter at Sephora.  I heard jingle bells!  Now all is well in the world.  Kudos and thank you!!!!

Now is it asking too much to make duo liners of other complimentary colors (as permanent items in the line)??

Love,
Kia, an Urban Decay Fan

This liner can be found at Sephora, $12. Unfortunately, I don't see this item on Sephora.com... but, they do have two pencils/combo pack for $14 exclusive to Sephora.com!

Hard Candy Glossaholic Rise and Shine Energizing Lip Gloss Review, Video and Swatches

If you made it through the title, congrats!  LOL Now on to the review with swatches and video!

Hard Candy Glossaholic Rise and Shine Energizing Lip Gloss (top coat) is essentially Nubar 2010 or Sally Hansen Hidden Treasure for the lips in a previously seen MAC Wonder Woman lipglass packaging; a nice flaky gloss to add dimension and fun to your lips with a HUGE doe foot!  It caught my eye immediately, but check out my thoughts on it!

According to Hard Candy: "SUPER HUGE MEGA WATT LIPS One dip covers your lips! Ginormous applicator with gloss cup deposits gloss to your whole mouth in one swipe! These super lustrous lip glosses are infused with prisms of color that make lips appear fuller and plumper. Out of this world hyper-reflective prisms of pearl make lips sparkle like crazy! Feeling tired or wired? Two Glossaholic sparkling clear top coats are infused with mood altering elixirs to help you Chill Out or Rise & Shine! – You can wear alone or as a top coat. "

  In this range there are a total of 8 glosses, two of these are top coat glosses, Coffee and Vanilla.  I got the Coffee energizing gloss.  I don't like roasted coffee beans so close to my nose all day, unless that's your thing and gets you going.  The flakes reflect orange, gold and green.  The other option,  Glossaholic Chill Out, Vanilla, has a scent to calm you.  The flakes reflect cooler colors... light blue, purple.  The other six glosses have color with a good amount of sparkle.  Scent aside, the gloss is gorgeous and the flakes aren't too obnoxious, just enough to give you ample sparkle.

Bottom line: I want more! Only $5 a pop!

Lipstick Quickie: MAC Violetta vs. Milani Magenta Madness

....but which is which?



One is on my top lip and one is on my bottom lip.

On my hand the left is Milani and the right is MAC... total dupes.

Do you own either? What's your favorite look with your purple lips?

Throw back product of the day- 1st Edition

Hey guys! As a result of trying to shop my stash I came across a few old items that I used to love that I wanted to share. I'm going to tell you about one of them today.

Can you guess what product I'm wearing that I'm featuring as my "Throw back product of the day"? Look closely!
Nope, not the pale (maybe too pale) lip gloss I was trying out....

Do you see a difference in this pic and the pic above? If you guessed FRECKLES then you're right!! Have a cookie! A throw back product that I've had for a while now (according to my memory circa 2000-2001) is a Lancome Freckle Crayon. I have a few freckles or sun spots (as the derms have been calling them) of my own, more prominently around the nose and mouth area.
See? Well, ehh, you get the picture.

I bought this before I was really into makeup like I am now. Lancome had the "it" counter; a girl had to have a Juicy Tube in her purse! When I saw the promo ad for this I had to have it. I think freckles are beautiful and you know people like to have what they don't. I knew a set of twins that were speckled from head to toe with gorgeous freckles. Their unique freckles could help you tell them apart too! ;)
I'm sure I've told this to yall before, but once I met a guy wearing my 'freckles that he commented were "so cute". When we went on our date, I no longer had freckles.. hehe! Can you imagine the peeps and side eye I got? LOL! A weave can come and go too! ;D



Here are some swatches and comparisons: (from left to right OR bottom to top --the long swatch lines) MAC Cork lip liner, Lancome Freckle Crayon, NYX Rose Brown lip liner, NYX Nutmeg lip liner, MAC Spiked eye brow pencil, MAC Stubborn Brown eye liner

The closest, most similar color was MAC's Stubborn Brown eye liner, which is the small, dark, line swatch next to the long swatch of the Lancome Freckle pencil. The freckle pencil had the right amount of orange and brown, but dark enough to mimic real pigmentation spots. Stubborn brown seems to almost hit the mark, but without the hint of orange it needs to make the spots appear real (on my skin tone).

I think the freckle pencil/marker trend is resurging. Would you try it?

Lipstick Quickie: Intense oranges Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Intense, Milani MandarinaSwatches and Comparisons

They are pretty identical. To be anal, the very slight differences are that the MUFE 40 maybe slightly darker due to it being a touch more opaque/denser pigments. The Milani Mandarina is ever so slightly lighter and a touch more creamy, but look at my swatch... that's true to life color. They are dupes of each other.

Thanks to my friend Kim of Brown Girlz Rock for putting me on to the Milani!

MAC Studio Careblend Powder, Review, Swatches and Comparison

MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder: "Formulated to provide a smooth, virtually invisible, fresh-looking finish, this soft, cream-like powder is carefully blended to provide the skin with extra care, nourishment and comfort."

Ingredients: Talc, Boron Nitride, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Zinc Stearate, Myristyl Trisiloxane, Caprylyl Methicone, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract

This powder is the newest powder formula for the line. It's a pressed powder that can be used alone or to set foundation with comforting ingredients like olive oil and shea butter.

Coverage
I've used the powder both ways and only applying with a fluffy brush (Sigma's SS150). When I bought this I had been using my beloved and previously untouched MAC Mystery Powder as a setting powder, simply from shopping my stash when I felt I needed a new powder. I asked the MAC MUA about this powder and she said it would provide just a bit more coverage than the mystery powder. Indeed it does, just a bit more as she had stated.

As a setting powder
I loved the way I looked after testing it out in the store. I can't recall what exactly I was wearing before she tested the powder on me, but I loved it. Over a cream like my MAC Mineralize (Cream) Foundation, the Careblend Powder felt a bit heavy as a setting powder. Over my thinner, liquid foundations the Careblend powder as a setting powder isn't a problem. However, the powder amps the coverage of the foundation overall.

Using it on its own
Lately, not wanting to fuss with a foundation and always on the run, I've been using the Careblend powder alone. I might even prefer the powder alone! At work, to even out my complexion and the like for sure, but going out, flash photography and pics... the powder alone will not do it (for me). I'm still testing the waters with this powder and reg point and shoot flash photography, especially at night. The jury is out, but I still use it =p

Comfortable, not drying
While this isn't the powder that will stop all shine for long hours at a time, it will hold some oil at bay. Touch ups are required. This powder feels comfortable for wear and won't make your skin feel thirsty.

Take a looks at some pics and read on for comparisons!

I use Medium Dark. For Summer, I may switch to Medium Deep.

Look who's hitting the pan already. I got this in February.

Here's the Careblend powder to the left, MAC Mineralize Natural Powder in Medium Dark and then MAC Mineralize Foundation Powder Loose in Medium Dark as well.

MAC Sheer Mystery Powder in Lighthearted comparable to Medium Dark

So purrrrddddyyy! I never wanted to touch it, but it came with a refill so I felt I could at least use 1! Lol!

Old beat up box for the Mystery Powder from Stylistics Collection 2007

Look closely, click to enlarge! Can you see? Top right side of my hand is Lighthearted Mystery Powder, l-r: Medium Dark Careblend Powder, MSF Natural in Medium Dark and MSF Foundation Loose

Mystery Powder: Not sure if they mystery is that it's finely milled, but I really liked the powder for most reasons-- no cakiness, finely milled and a decent color match. Color is similar to that of the Careblend powder.
Careblend Powder: Seems to be a touch smoother than the mystery powder! Because of the moisturizing ingredients, I've concluded that the powder is slightly heavier than the other powders. I've hit the pan fairly quickly with about over a month's worth of daily usage.
Mineralize Skinfinish Natural: This is the darkest of all the powders. I got this when the product first debuted during the Amuse collection in 2006. This was my face product of choice when I didn't use foundation. I used this with a kabuki brush. I may have retired this a year later. Whether I used it daily or not, I expected that this would be all used up by now. This is the only powder with small light reflecting particles in it. This is the first generation MSF Natural and to be honest, I'd have to use it again with my current routine to compare qualities. I remember retiring this product because there was no oil controlling properties at all. The newer MSF Naturals may be different.
Mineralize Foundation Loose: Making this in a loose form makes the coverage more buildable. I'm sure this was created to compete with the highly popular Bare Essentials mineral powder that has a cult following. I didn't grow too fond of this powder because the color was off to me. If you look in the picture, this powder looks very neutral to cool. I always felt off and grayish.

Of this bunch, my favorite is the Mystery Powder, followed by the Careblend Powder. I'm looking forward to trying the MSF Natural again as a person that's more knowledgeable about makeup. MSF Natural was my first love!