I'm finding it boring to read a long review about a product - mainly cos I read a review when I am about to purchase it and I just don't have much time to spare for all the stories I read.
So this is what I thought I'd try from now - a review entirely in 2 mins.
How you may ask?
My idea is to add my review as comments on the pictures cos after all a pic should be worth 1000 words and I could just add my few to finish it off.
So lets try!
Packaging - Easy to use, hygienic as less exposure to light and air
Formula - Easy to blend, contains shimmer particles, medium to stronger build able coverage
Finish - Luminous, can be a bit shimmery, better suited for Winter time for normal/oily skins.
Final Thoughts - A pretty good foundation if you're okay with some shimmers on face and fits within the narrow shade range.
With Fall and Winter and Dry chapped lips in the offing, I've been loading up on lip glosses and some liquid lipsticks..
Well, not that I need an excuse to haul lippies, but thats what I tell myself for consolation!
I've been eyeing the Dose of Colors and Pretty Zombie cosmetics websites for such a long time.
Finally, I cracked when DoC added a matte liquid lipstick to its range.
And I got tired of waiting for PZC to restock their pink shade.
LE products of drugstore brands are not common in Canada :( :( so when I saw these LE liquid lipshines from NYC, I didnt hesitate before picking up.
Note that this is not a review. Just a swatch fest for some of the products in the haul, i.e. the ones I already opened and tried :)
From Left to Right: Revlon Moisture Stain in Shanghai Nights, Miami Fever, H&M lip gloss, NYC Guava, NYC Passion Fruit, Essence Lip gloss in My Favorite Milkshake, Essence Stay Matte Lip cream in Smooth Berry, Rimmel Apocalips in Galaxy, Joe Fresh liquid lipstick in Rouge
Do you want me to review any products in particular? If so add it in the comments :)
Okay, I am late. But that doesn't I can post my 2 penny thoughts on these Ipsy bags right?
So here we go!
Ipsy July bag - "Sensationally Sunkissed"
Is it horribly shallow of me to admit that I love this bright fuschia-ish pink bag? Cos I do :)
The items I received in July Ipsy bag are:
bareMinerals READY® Eyeshadow 2.0 in the shade The Inspiration
Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass in shade Cherry
Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil SPF 08
Marrakesh Hair Care Marrakesh Endz
wHet Nail Polish in Facetious
I liked the nail polish, but I'm a bit iffy on the color - not cos I don't like it, but cos it doesn't really suit my complexion. This color is more suited for fairer skin tones
The product I liked the best in the set was the eyeshadow - not both the colors, but the one on the right called "Passion". Its a beautiful shimmery plum shade, the shimmer not on the obvious side but giving a great dimension to the already pretty color.
I wish they sold this in singles, cos I really didnt care much for the pale pink satin shade on the left!
As for the other products, the cherry tint is okay and works like most other tints. I like it.
Marrakesh split hair ends thingy leaves me cold - I prefer using my hair oils and rely on a good diet for any split end treatments and it seems to be working fine.
But the award for the most useless product goes to the tanning oil. Really!
Ipsy, this is too much! Don't you consider that your customer group can contain people other than the Fairest of Fairs who can use this product?
We are not all Snow Whites looking for a holiday in Hawaii, just so you know!
Ipsy Glam Bag for August - "Beauty Schooled"
I dont get the bag name - does it mean beauty has to be schooled for, well school? or does it mean, beauty for school?
Anyways, this is one of the most boring Ipsy bag, with the sickly orange polka dots on a cheap white plastic.
I cant imagine anyone being happy to take this bag to their 1st school day!
The big focus for this month was the Urban Decay Perversion mascara sample.
I am yet to try this, but I am excited.
The other products in the kit are:
Dr. Brandt Pore No More Pore Refiner
Nicka K Absolute Lip Balm in Grape
Coastal Scents Forever Blush sample
Lord and Berry Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil in Black
I have yet to ty the Dr Brandt one. Will let you know my thoughts on this soon.
Nicka K's Absolute Lip balm is purely for people who likes to be hit by the strong artificial scent of grape soda as soon as they open the jar. I am not one of these people, so this is a turn off for me from the start.
Also a lip balm in a jar is pretty unhygienic and makes it hard for me to use.
On top of that, it has glitters - you can see that right? Why? Why? Why? I've no idea what made these guys put glitter in a clear lip balm!
I'll forgive all this if this works well as a lip balm. I'll test it in the coming winter season and will let you know.
However, I don't have much hopes!
Emily Noel had raved about these Coastal Scents blushes. Unfortunately the small pan makes it hard for me to dip a blush brush and use it effectively. Still, these colors are nice and pigmented.
The last and the most usable one for me , is the Kajal Kohl pencil.
Yeah, you read that right. Kajal Kohl Pencil.
Well, if you're from the East, you know that Kajal and Kohl are essential synonyms.
But Lord & Berry decided not to take a risk and add both the words into the name. Whatever.
Its an average kajal pencil, I've to test it out for more details.
Its not very creamy and not very black.
So lets see.
Overall: The thing with Ipsy bag is - its value for $10. So its well and good , and occasional great samples like BareMinerals eyeshadow and UD mascara makes it interesting.
If you're interested in Ipsy, give it a try here - referral link
In case, you've bought this total face brush , and is wondering how to use this best - I've some suggestions.
You might be thinking - let me throw this to the waste basket, it scratched my face more than my kittens ever did..
But wait, this brush is not completely useless.
I'd say - dip it in a glue or starch, get it stiff enough and use it to scratch your back or wherever it itches.
Another use could be - as a face pack slathering brush.
Or may be, something to dust your laptop key board?
How about using this to apply that marinade on the fish fillet?
Whatever you use it for, I would say - don't, please please don't use it on your face, unless you're Hulk and has a literally rocky face! Cos, this brush has the harshest, scratchiest, poking-on-my-nose-est bristles I've seen.
This brush is enough to make you a convert of Sigma or BDellium brushes, but since I've tried ELF Studio line of brushes, I know that ELF can do it right if they want to.
But I guess for $1, they decided- Hmm...lets make something that will force these cheapskates to buy the $3 Studio Complexion Brush.
So, if you would like to try a face brush, go for the Complexion Brush.Much softer and does the job much much better.
In fact, I think ELF Complexion brush is a great powder brush to have.
I think the pictures kinda speak for themselves, so enjoy !
I say, don't be narrow minded when it comes to makeup products.. cos so many of them is meant for something but actually does something else better.
I have had lipsticks that apply patchy but work beautifully as a cheek color.
And sometimes a black eye pencil can add superb contoured effect to your Red lip color.
So without more story, introducing you to 2 products that are meant as something else but work beautifully as Highlighters.
The 1st one shouldn't be a surprise because it is a popular Youtube guru favorite, espl with Emily Noel and that is Wet n Wild's Color Icon Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana.
I can't really think of a complexion for which this would be a bronzer unless you're like Edward Cullen.
For fairer complexions, this could even be a overall luminous powder to add that subtle glow.
For Light Medium to wheatish complexions this would work as a wonderful highlighter.
You can add this for subtle effect and this is my current daily office wear highlighter, cos its not at all OTT and has no shimmer in it.
I would suggest this for a day use cos of the SPF and also cos its a very subtle highlighter that works well in Daylight than at night.
As you can see [or cant see] it is a very subtle glow...
The next one is a surprise and something I never expected when I got this. Introducing a least likely candidate for Highlighter-ship - Yves Rocher 100% Natural Origin Loose Powder Foundation.
Yes.
You read that right.
This is a mineral foundation.
But it works as a highlighter.
Cos when Yves Rocher thought they'd make a mineral foundation that would give a luminous glow-y finish, they were not shy or modest..they went full out and created a foundation that if you use as a foundation, would make you look like a disco bulb.
You can see how luminous the powder is...
I was pretty disheartened when I came home and tried this product, cos this was an impulse buy and I was thinking - how can anyone mess up a mineral foundation, espl a reputed company like Yves Rocher?
So this was lying in the corner unused, when last day I swatched this for a "What Not To Buy" post and thought, Hmmmm... I tried it with a light hand and was most pleasantly surprised by the effect.
Can you see the highlighter effect? Trust me, its much stronger in person!
This has some shimmers, so I would suggest using this at night.
For paler complexions this could be a bronzy highlighter for getting that healthy glow-y Summer look.
For medium wheatish complexions, I suggest using this with a light hand and layering it over your blush for a luminous finish.
Overall: Moral of the Story - if you fail in using a cosmetics in one way, try in some other way.. Who knows, you might discover something!
After I got this bag, I realized that I rarely try out the various items I get from Ipsy - its like I just like getting new stuff in mail but can't go about using it [cos I am a lazy lazy lazy bug]. Anyways, lets dig into this month's Ipsy.
Ipsy is like a dear lil Santa that visits every month [on paying $15CAD of course but thats just a technicality] and even when I don't care much about the stuff inside, it still makes me happy to see the shiny pink package.
This month's theme was Summer and beach paradises with Michelle Phan's video on Beach Essentials kinda setting the mood- I don't know what all things she has done to look like this but she looks really amazin! Since I am planning a trip beach next week, this video and bag comes at a good time - let's see how useful it is!
Highlight of this bag has been - well, the bag itself. Designed by Rebecca Minkoff [never heard of her till this month's Ipsy, I should start reading Vogue or Instyle more], this bag has received so much attention in the blog world that it was probably inevitable that it disappoints, slightly..
The black base with pineapple print meant for a Hawaii theme, is very pretty and I love it. But I don't know if I should call this unique or designer stuff. I mean -its just a black pineapple print bag with normal texture and red interiors. I like the red interiors though, but designer -really? I also found a bag in her website that may have been designed at the same time!
But its still a fun makeup bag to carry to beach- so thats in!
The other items in the bag are :
Be A Bombshell Lash Out Mascara
DERMAdoctor DD Cream Dermatologically Defining BB Cream with Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray
Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner in Green
NYX Butter Gloss in Eclair
Out of this, the stuff I really want to try are the eyeliner and mascara. But neither is very exciting - product wise or color wise.
NYX butter gloss is nothing new and I already have a lot of shades, in fact I am reviewing 3 this week.
The DD cream may be good but I don't know how I can review it or even get a good use out of it, considering the size. Unless I find it performing that well, its just Meh for me. As for the beach spray - I am not a fan of the look [basically cos I cant get it right :)sheer jealousy].
So out of the 5, 3 is okay dokey and 2 is so so. Which makes this a good bag for me, but nothing exceptional.
I might decide to take the eyeliner because you can never have too much green eyeliners on a trip to beach :)
I wish Ipsy would start introducing all the new brands - which was one major reason for signing up with Ipsy, instead of bringing the same Ol' Ol' brands. Hope some day I can open my Ipsy and find a Fyrinnae or Dose of Colors or Holika Holika in it!
I used the central rose gold shade from Claire's Makeup Kit.
Rose gold is a shade that suits almost all skin tones and especially flatters the warmer skin tones [like me, so YAY]
I'd not applied much mascara and I didn't fill my brows in [so sue me!] but then I am planning to try something like this when I am going on my weekend trip next week. I planned this as an evening look so the silver of the eyeliner really comes across.
I also used the yellow golden shade in the palette under my brows and under my lower lids.
Since the focus was on the eyeliner design, I didn't do any smokey eyes.
For my dress - planning to go gypsy and wear a long skirt and peasant blouse.
So....what do you think? Do I look weird or mysterious [hoping for the 2nd :)] ?
This is not a moralistic post..honestly no! I am just going to talk about some stuff that I have done or seen people do w.r.t makeup, beauty & health in general, that really should be avoided. If you feel I am wrong on any count, do let me know & I'll be happy to correct :)
1. Skin so soft that it feels like Silk - I must keep touching it!
Its nice when models keep touching their face and start comparing it to silk & what-nots & its awesome if you have petal soft skin, but thats no excuse to keep pawing the delicate skin of your visage. In fact, HANDS OFF, lady :) You never know where your hands had been & how many gazillion bacteria may be on it, so do you really wanna transfer all that bacteria etc onto your face?
Also rubbing your face is basically causing some friction between the harder surface of your hands and the softer skin of your face - guess who would suffer more through the wear and tear caused?
If you have to touch your face, 1st clean your hands and then get on with your beauty routine. Also, as much as possible, avoid harsh rubbing - try to do more patting and tapping etc while applying a product.
2. Oh, let me keep washing my face till it feels squeaky clean -cos that's how you clean dishes right?
Sound principles, but your face ain't a dish - so treat it gently.As much as possible, avoid any chemical based cleansers, scrubs, exfoliants on your face - you never know how much damage it causes! These are alternate ways of cleaning your face without hurting them:
- Natural cleansers: Rice powder, tomate juice, lemon-honey mix, green grams powder, milk, yoghurt, rosewater, brewed tea water - all these are excellent cleansers, just choose one that suits your skin & is easily available for you
- For deeper cleanser [makeup removal etc]: As much as possible use oils for cleansing your face. This prevents loss of natural skin moisture. Also, if its still not gone, use a baby wipe.
- If its still not gone - Well, in that case, go for a cleanser suitable for babies. That should be the mildest one in the market and anything good for a baby should be good for you too :)
3. Ooh, a windy day, let my beautiful hair swish around me - I must look like that model in the Ad
This is something that I still do, but I so wish I didn't. If its a windy day, as much as possible try to contain your hair and not let it loose. This is especially important if you have medium to long hair. Reason? All that waving and swishing that can cause your hair to
- get split ends and other damages
- all the dirt & dust flying around - do you really need that in your hair?
- loose some important moisture, cos what does flowing air do? It dries things- Your hair is no exception!
You can still look pretty and casual if you wear a loose chignon, or leave some tendrils loose - so check Youtube to get some style you'd love.
Here's one that I tried recently:
4. I washed my face , now let me dry it by rubbing it like I scrub the floor..
I used to rub my face with a soft cotton towel till a friend pointed out patting my face softly with the same towel gets the same result while avoiding causing a friction between the cloth & skin. I have tried my best to avoid rubbing my face since!
5. Aw, how can I say No, when she is asking so nicely to try that lipstick?
This may be hard, but you've got to say No. Really you should. As a thumb rule, do not lend your makeup or skin care stuff where there is a chance of the product being touched by human skin. However, sometimes you just can't avoid sharing stuff, so here are my suggestions:
- Get a coffee stirrer and scoop some stuff out for your friend
- If you don't have a coffee stirrer and your friend still needs that lipstick or mascara:
-> if its a lipstick, or gloss or an eyeliner: use a paper napkin to wipe off the surface area of the lipstick bullet or gloss. You may lose some tiny bit of the product, but its sanitary
-> if its a mascara: Keep the wand under warm/hot tap water and wash away the surface ink. Dry it and then dip it back.
Another alternative is to keep a use-and-throw mascara wand for just these kinda cases.
- For face products: Use a paper napkin to get the powder or cream on it and then use it
Another option is to carry a small spray bottle of a makeup cleanser like rubbing alcohol or the Beauty So Clean cleansing spray. - use it once you're done sharing!
6. Am in the mall restroom, so now leme show off my new lipstick to the ladies
We all do this but we shouldn't. Just think about - for a second. Restroom-where people pee and poop ... You really wanna open something you put on your lips in there? Really?
I try my best to avoid this by carrying a pocket mirror with me [or even a mobile phone screen would do! :)] and reapplying my lipstick in a quite spot outside. At least, any spot ought to be better than near the poop-center right?
Same applies to your own bathroom too. Avoid using skincare or makeup etc in your wash room. Think of all the Fungus just waiting to latch on to it!
7. Oh, I don't need a makeup bag -Let me just throw everything in my hand bag
I learned this lesson a bit sharply when the kajal pencil I'd in my handbag stung my eyes as I applied it. After running around and washing my eyes, I checked to see why my eye pencil acted like a Jalapeno pepper. The culprit was a small sachet of pepper powder you get from restaurants. I had accidentally put both the items in the side pocket of my purse. :(
The lesson is - carry your makeup in a separate makeup bag. Always. Don't mix it with all the stuff in your hand bag - think of all the dust and dirt that could get inside!
8. Yay, got it from Blog sale , now let me apply it right away
This might not be something you like. We all love blog sales. I am not against it, I do it myself. But how sure are you on how sanitary the product is or was before you got it? Also, was it lying around for a long time in someone's cupboard before they sold it off? Did they use it when they had a fever or cold?
You never know. So here are some things to be aware of when you buy stuff off blog sales:
- Always always sanitize the product before you use. Use a rubbing alcohol or the Beauty So Clean spray to clean it.
- Avoid buying mascara, eyeliners, eye pencils - basically anything that touches on your waterline or lash line. These things have very low shelf life once they are opened. So unless the nice blog lady remembered to put it on sale immediately after she used and didn't like it,it is not safe.
- Ask explicitly for expiry dates or if not, ask for batch codes engraved on the sides of the product to find expiry dates. Checkcosmetics is a website you can use. If that also doesn't work, ask when the blogger started using the product and use the below thumb rule to calculate possible expiry:
- Eyeshadows - 6months to 1 year
- Lip products - 1year
- Face products - 1-2 years
- Preferably buy or sell only stuff that have a squeeze tube or a nozzle or a pump to dispense products.
Hope this will help you - let me know if you have your own Don't Do's. :)
All images in this post are Courtesy of Pixabay.com
