L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR - Forever Fuchsia (138) - Swatches and Review - Improved Fragrance (or Lack Thereof!)


L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR in Forever Fuchsia.

Happy Saturday and weekend everyone!  I hope everyone's 2011 is seeming brighter every day.  One of my resolutions this year was to keep up with more drugstore makeup.  Last year, I discovered some really impressive products from Revlon.  I don't believe that there is a big quality gap between drugstore and department store as their used to be.  The amount of research, marketing, process and technology that goes into a drugstore product launch can completely outweigh many department store products.  With large companies like L'Oreal and P&G, and the huge labs that come with them, there is bound to be a lot of science and testing that goes into drugstore products before they reach our shelves.

The L'Oreal lipsticks that I knew before I tried Infalliable Le Rouge 10HR never really got much love from me.  I always thought that they were pretty in the tube, but that signature L'Oreal fragrance that they used on their products was literally invasive on my senses.  I could smell, taste and almost feel the scent all over me.  Needless to say, their old lipsticks did not spend a lot of time on my lips.

With that in mind, I was extremely reluctant to try L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR, but trying to keep an open mind, I decided to try one.  I purchased Forever Fuchsia, a bold bright, blue-based, mid-toned fuchsia pink.  My initial impression was a shock.  No more fragrance!  Dealing with the old fragrance again was a huge hurdle that I was dreading in my mind.  You can imagine how revealed and almost excited I was when I opened the tubed and sniffed nothing!  Hoorah!  When I extended the lipstick, I liked the added touch of the L'Oreal logo on the tube.  It's a nice touch that adds a bit of luxury.

The application was not what I expected.  The texture on application is traditional lipstick, but the color adheres to your lips and bonds to them.  It's not drying, but the finish is more semi-matte vs. completely satin.  It feels more like it's sitting on top of your lips and creating a seal of color.  This is probably to help add to the wear time of the lipstick.  On my road tests, 1 application lasted about 5-6 hours, with eating, drinking, talking, being exposed to elements, etc.  I don't think it's really realistic to expect a full 10 hours, as claimed, without reapplying. 

Another added plus to this lipstick is that you can see the actual shade without opening the tube.  The clear top lets you see inside.  No more pre-tested lipsticks (by who knows who... gross!)!

The shade is visible from the tube.  No more weird, inaccurate plastic swatches.

The display.



First applied.

After 5 hours, without re-application.  This is post-coffee and lunch.


To Review:
L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 10HR - Forever Fuchsia (138) is $9.99 at drugstores (prices may vary depending on location). 
Pro: No fragrance!  Seals nicely with lips without being overly drying.  Pigmented.  Large variety of shades.  Lipstick is visible without opening the tube or breaking the seal. 
Con: Doesn't live up to 10 hour claim.  Slightly pricier than other drugstore lipsticks.
Overall Beautyburg Rating: B+

Do you like long-wearing lipsticks?  How do you feel about scents in your lipsticks?  Has scent ever driven you away from a product?

Chanel Spring 2010 - Black Pearl (513) Le Vernis Nail Colour - Swatches


Black Pearl is a part of Chanel's Collection les Perles de Chanel.  I admit, I was going to pass on this color.  From initial pictures and swatches, I didn't think that this color was going to live up to the hype of past Chanel lacquers.  Though it may not be "Jade-worthy," Black Pearl is a sophisticated and a très chic take on a black/grey polish.  The overall effect is a lustrous steel gray with green irisdescent shimmer.  After seeing the bottle in real life, I really appreciated the green in the shade.  It brings a luminous effect to what could just be a flat steel metallic.  Instead, Black Pearl is a very grown-up and not at all gothy color.  You could definitely get away with this color at work even in a conservative environment. 

I found my bottle's formulation to be a little thin, but it wasn't at all streaky or runny.  Two coats for opacity.  Three thin coats would probably be best for a soft and pearly finish. 



 Can you see the green in the shade?


Black Pearl is $25 for 13ml, 0.4oz.  Black Pearl is limited edition and available at Chanel counters and at chanel.com.

What are your thoughts on this Black Pearl?  Do you have any favorite Chanel lacquers?

MAC Peacocky Mega Metal Eyeshadows - More Swatches in Natural Light

More Mega Metal!

If you guys still need help deciding on MAC Peacocky Mega Metal eyeshadows, I thought I would take some quick swatches in natural light for you all.  

If you missed the product shots and original swatches, click here for the post. 

Mega Metal eyeshadows are Limited edition. $19.50 each for 3.4g 0.11oz.  Available at MAC counters and www.maccosmetics.com. 

 
  Peek-At-You, Prance, Dalliance.

  Paparazz-she, Sexpectations, Tweet Me.

  Ego, Odalisque, Dandizette.

 Noir Plum, Mating Call, Top of the Posh.

Spectacle of Yourself, Centre Stage, Unflappable.

Click here for more swatches and product shots.

Do any of these colors call out at you?  What do you think of the larger pan size?

MAC + Mickey Contractor - Fluidlines in Ivy and Siahi

 Siahi and Ivy, new limited edition Fluidlines from MAC + Mickey Contractor. 

  Siahi and Ivy.

C'mon MAC!  Two launches in 1 day?  This is a trend that is considerably hurting wallet.  Not that I'm complaining.  MAC + Mickey Contractor and Peacocky are two collections that I have been actually pumped about!  To add to the excitement are two new Fluidline colors.  I love Fluidline's gel formula.  Blacktrack and Dipdown are every day staples for me.  I think they glide on better on the lid better than Bobbi Brown gel liners for me, and their wear is really long-lasting, especially when sealed with powdered eyeshadow.

Siahi and Ivy are two limited edition Fluidlines from the MAC + Mickey Contractor collection.  Siahi is a shimmering turquoise blue, and Ivy is a bright grass green.  I cannot wait to use these with the new Mega Metal eyeshadows.  Check out this post to see swatches.





Siahi and Ivy are $15 each for 2.5g 0.08oz and at a limited number of MAC counters and www.maccosmetics.com.

How would you wear these Fluidlines?  What would you pair them with? 

MAC Peacocky Mega Metal Eyeshadows - Pan Shots and Swatches - PIC HEAVY!

 MEGA MEGA MEGA! 

Today with the release of MAC's Peacocky collection come 15 new limited edition eyeshadows in a new formula called Mega Metal.  These are pressed eyeshadows, not creme like Metal-X.  I just got my package this afternoon, so I haven't had much time to play with them.  However, just from swatching I can tell that these are something to get excited about.  Super richly pigmented, great soft creamy powder texture and some really unique, fun shades.
There are a lot of photos here, so I'll shut up for now.  I'll try to post some swatches in the sun/natural light tomorrow and some comps.  Remember, click to enlarge any photo.


 Peek-At-You, Prance, Dalliance




 Paparazz-she, Sexpectations, Tweet Me




 Ego, Odalisque, Dandizette




Noir Plum, Mating Call, Top of the Posh




Spectacle of Yourself, Centre Stage, Unflappable




Mega Metal Eyeshadows are part of MAC's Peacocky collection.  Limited edition. $19.50 each for 3.4g 0.11oz.  Available at MAC counters and www.maccosmetics.com.

Chanel Ombres Perlées de Chanel - Spring 2010 - Eyeshadow Palette - Swatches

 Chanel Ombres Perlées de Chanel.

Chanel debuts Ombres Perlées de Chanel, a limited edition quint eyeshadow palette, for their Spring 2011 collection, Collection les Perles de Chanel.  Every picture of Coco, she is dripping not with diamonds but with pearls.  They have become synonymous with what is iconic Chanel.  The makeup from this collection captures that glowing luminescence that radiates from pearls. 

The eyeshadows in this quint are all of a pearl luster finish.  The texture is soft, creamy and blendable.  All the shades aren't just straight up frosts or shimmers.  Each carries a soft iridescence in blue, pink, violet, gold to add depth to the shade and draw glow where applied.  I am highly impressed overall with the quality of this palette so far.  It definitely stands up better than many of my recent Chanel quad purchases, especially the baked round eyeshadows.  I can't wait to play with this more.

We will feature another post with dupes of the shades from this palette, but I have to say that this is the first Chanel product in a long time that has gotten me excited.  More dish when I'm able to do a full review! But so far, very good!

 


 Lustrous colors.

 Click to enlarge.

Swatched over Urban Decay Primer Potion.



Chanel Ombres Perlées de Chanel is $65, limited edition and available at Chanel.com.

Comps coming soon!  Are you a pearl girl (or guy)?  Do you have a favorite Chanel quad, quint, palette, single or limited edition?

Hello Kitty by Sephora - Say Hello Eyeshadow and Lipgloss Palette in Super Fun - Swatches and Review

 Say hi to Say Hello Palette from Hello Kitty by Sephora!

If you saw our First Look at some products from the Hello Kitty by Sephora line, you have probably been tapping your foot waiting for me to swatch this palette.  I really wanted to give it a thorough road test before I brought it back to you guys.  I didn't want my opinion to only be based on the good looks of this palette.  So.. with that let's begin.

Say hi to Hello Kitty by Sephora's Say Hello Palette in Super Fun.  The palette consists of two layers, 1 mirrored, holding four eyeshadows and four lipglosses, all in an absolutely adorable pearl/metallic case resembling that icon snowball-head cat, HK.  Being burned by a lot of the products from the Toki Doki line, I swore that I wouldn't be overloaded by the cuteness from just packaging again.  My experience so far has been mixed on collaborations of non-cosmetics company collaborations with Sephora (e.g. Toki Doki, Kat von D, etc).  I wasn't sure how these products would measure up as a cosmetics line vs. just a pretty package.  If anything, I think I may have judged this line with a little bit of extra scrutiny.  It's not fair to get away with good looks alone, right?!

Let's see if this line has anything to back up that pretty little kitty face....


 
Adorable silver bow on HK.  She has a beautiful opal glow!

 The shades.  Super Fun colors according to the label! 

 Eyeshadows (clockwise starting with upper left): Sugar Plum, Sweet Plum, Goodnight Dreams, Raindrop.

 
Swatched dry, no base.  Left to right: Sugar Plum, Sweet Plum, Goodnight Dreams, Raindrop. 
 
Swatched over Urban Decay Primer Potion original.  Left to right: Sugar Plum, Sweet Plum, Goodnight Dreams, Raindrop. 

I guess "Super Fun" translates into cool purple, silver and sparkley black shades in Hello Kitty's world.  lol  I actually thought that these shades were really complimentary, and they looked great on the eye together and alone.  I created looks with all four and also with only using two.  I wasn't expecting much in the way of pigmentation, but I think that they delivered well over an eyeshadow primer, nice surprise!  The black shade, Goodnight Dreams, was surprisingly very, very carbon black.  However, a big downfall was the texture.  Chalky and dry.  The texture wasn't the worst, but I experienced a lot of fall out during application, which is always a hassle. 

Lipglosses (clockwise starting with upper left): Snowflake, Strawberry Cookie, Sweet Plum, Pink Confetti.

 Left to right: Snowflake, Strawberry Cookie, Pink Confetti, Sweet Plum.

The lipglosses left a lot to be desired.  They were all extremely sheer, and once applied on the lips, looked very similar.  Also without applicators, you will have to use your own lipbrush (or finger) to apply. 

It could just be nostalgia, but these glosses have somewhat of a strong fragrance.  To me they have that classic Sanrio lip product scent.  I remember begging my parents for a tube of what was basically chapstick with Little Twin Stars logo printed on it, and it smelled exactly like this.  I personally don't find the scent offensive or distracting, but I could see someone not being a fan of the lip portion of this palette for this reason.  The scent to me was always a mix of wax, rose and candy.  It wasn't really something that I wanted to taste on my lips.  The Say Hello Palette's glosses' scent fades over time, but some may still not like this aspect.  If you are sensitive to scents in lip products, make sure to see (sniff) this in person.

If you missed the VIB pre-sale, don't worry... Hello Kitty is almost at Sephora stores.  Sign up on Sephora's site for updates on the exact day this line will be launched. 

To Review:
Hello Kitty by Sephora Say Hello Eyeshadow and Lipgloss Palette in Super Fun - $35 for 4 x  2g, 0.07oz eyeshadows, 4 x  2g, 0.07oz lipglosses.  Available at Sephora mid-January. 
Pro: Ah-door-rah-bull packaging.  Pigmentation better than expected on eyeshadows, but still leaves something to be desired.  Pretty and complimentary shades.
Con: Fragrance of lipglosses (personal bias).  Extremely sheer finish on lipglosses.  Fallout from eyeshadows.  No applicators.
Overall Beautyburg Rating: B 
(Might have been a B- if it weren't for the "looks." haha)


Do you think better packaged products get away with more?  When does design/packaging become not as important as the product? Do you have any items from the this line you want to check out?

Do you have a Sanrio character you would like to see with a makeup line or product?  I want to see Badtz Maru eyeliner, Deery Lou (did you know he's a GUY?) mascara, Purin body lotion, My Melody blush and Tuxedo Sam anything, he's a favorite.

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick - Darling (395) and Hot (305)

 
Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks in Darling and Hot.

Covergirl launches a new formula of lipstick called Lip Perfection Lipstick with corresponding lip liners.  Lip Perfection Lipstick comes in 42 shades and promises to help "create soft, smooth, beautiful lips in just 7 days."  This formula contains Covergirl's "Silk Therapy Complex" to help sustain moisture.

Recently, many drugstore brands have been coming out with more "premium" lip colors to really match those offered by department stores.  I have to say that while some have been let downs, for the most part, there have been vast improvements in drugstore offerings from when I was student and drugstore was my *only* store.  Back then, I really felt like I was missing out by not being able to afford department store options.  But I have to commend brands like Revlon, L'Oreal, Milani, Maybelline New York and Covergirl for really closing in the gaps between the drugstore and department store worlds.  Now, I don't think I'm missing out on anything!
Lip Perfection Lipstick by Covergirl is really rich and pigmented.  I found the texture to be slightly more balm than satin.  They are creamy but dry slightly balmy matte finish.  The fragrance has also improved from the last time I tried a CG lipstick.  It isn't overpowering at all; I might even say it's pleasant.  I wore Hot and found no bleeding, without lipliner, and no feathering.  Even after removal, my lips were stained from the red pigmentation (good sign in my book!). 


The gunmetal packaging.

I liked the square-ish tubing and the gunmetal cap.  Looks sleek, and the shape lends to easy storage!  No rolling lipsticks escapes to the floor!

 Darling (395)

Darling is a frosty cool soft pink with pearly shimmery.  I had hoped it was more mauve from the label, but alas, your best guesstimate is the fate of a drugstore purchase. 

 Hot (305)

Hot looks like a cool blue red in the tube, but I found it slightly warm, orange red on the lips (see below).  A very flattering color similar to Dolce and Gabbana Devil.  This is the shade that Drew Barrymore wears in the ad.

 Darling and Hot swatched. 

Darling (395) on lips.

 Hot (305) on lips.

Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks are available at drugstores nationwide.  I purchased mine for $7.99 each, prices may vary depending on location.

To Review: 
Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks in Darling and Hot, $7.99 for 3.5g, 0.12oz
Pro: Smooth, balmy finish.  Hydrating but not overly slick and shiny.  Good pigmentation, especially on Hot.  Pleasant, not overpowering fragrance.
Con: Bad swatches on Covergirl's website.  Hard to pick colors without breaking seal and opening the tube (which is a no-no anyway!).
Overall Beautyburg Rating: A-

Do you feel that drugstore makeup has improved recently?  Do you have tips for picking drugstore shades without testing the tube? 

Happy New Year - 2011 Will Rock - A Look Back at 2010

Peace, Love, Beauty in 2011!

Happy New Year everyone!  Hope everyone's NYE was safe, happy and  most of all FUN!  We have a lot of high hopes for 2011. 

Not to dwell on the past, but we had to mention some of our favorite things from last year.  We are looking forward to all the exciting things in the world of beauty that 2011 has to offer.  We wish everyone the best this year.  Thank you so much for helping Beautyburg get off the ground in 2010, and we know that this is just the beginning of a really exciting future.  Beautyburg's New Year's Resolution is to try to be the best blog it can be!

So... Let's just revisit some of our favorite things from 2010.

These are in no particular order, and some products shown were not launched in 2010 but new to us that year.  For more detail click on the appropriate links to the reviews.








MAC Venomous Villains



E.L.F. HD Powder


OPI Shrek Collection - Fiercely Fiona on the right



Burberry - the makeup line


What were your favorite beauty items of 2010?  What are you looking forward to in 2011?  Do you have any beauty resolutions for 2011?

Eve Pearl - The Eye Palettes - Au Natural and Diva Eyes

Eve Pearl Eyeshadow Palettes in Diva Eyes and Au Natural

Happy New Year everyone!  One of the great lines I discovered this year was Eve Pearl.  If you missed our recent Eve Pearl HD Foundation review, click here.  In the review, I did a look using the Au Natural palette. 

Eve Pearl, the person, is a five Emmy award winning makeup guru, and Eve Pearl, the line, makes fantastic quality products for getting you camera ready.  Her HD Foundation and Salmon concealer get a lot of attention from bloggers and YouTube channels.  From my recent haul, I have to say that every product I ordered I have become completely enamoured with, and these eyeshadow palettes are no exception.

I picked two palettes that were very different from each other, so I could get a sense on the spectrum of colors, finishes and quality from these products.  Just from the way most makeup lines are, it's rare that companies get mattes, shimmers, pearls, frosts, glitters all consistently right and in good quality.  Eve Pearl is not most makeup lines. All the shades were richly pigmented and applied smoothly.  I found myself drawing from both palettes to create looks.  I would definitely like to try other palettes from the line.



The ingredients.  Check the website for up to date info.


 Sleek gunmetal case.

Diva Eyes


Diva Eyes - this palette is full of so many fun and vibrant shades.  There is a little bit too much to use them all at once, but I love using this palette as my "accent" arsenal.  The Au Natural palette has great base colors to set up the eye for a "pop" color from Diva Eyes.  I love Emerald Green, and I have been using Black Frost to set eyeliner.

 Diva Eyes - Top: Sugar Plum, Cinnamon, Desert Rose.
Bottom: Black Frost, Midnight Blue, Emerald Green.

These were swatched dry with no base.  Wet and dry they are very pigmented.  When worn with an eye primer (like Nars Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base), they wore very well all day with little fading or creasing.

 
Au Natural

Au Natural - Top: Caramel Crisp, Cafe Latte, White Russian.  
Bottom: Coco, Nutmeg, Tiramisu.

If you need a good neutrals kit, get this palette.  I have been using at least 1 shade from it since it arrived.  The lighter shades are also wonderfully rich and do not come across too sheer. 

 
 Look how thin and sleek the palette is.
Eve Pearl stacked on top of D&G, Chanel and Dior.

Another aspect I appreciate about this palette is how thin it is.  The packaging is sturdy, but it's sleek and thin.  No extra bulk to weigh down your makeup bag or kit.

If you're not sure how to use these palettes, I highly recommend checking out Eve Pearl's YouTube Channel.  Finally, a brand that understands how important and how dually beneficial it is to have instructional videos on their products. 

Au Natural and Diva Eyes are $40 each and available at EvePearl.com 

OPI Ulta Exclusives Holi-Daze Collection - Gift of Gold and Plum Full of Cheer

 Gift of Gold
Happy New Year's Eve everyone!  As the year is coming to end, let's take a look at one of the last holiday collections from this year.

Here are two of the OPI Ulta Exclusives from the Holi-Daze Collection.  I missed out on the third color, as it was sold out, but these two were the ones I was more interested in anyway!  Hehe :)

Gift of Gold is a soft candlelit gold glitter spotted with tiny red micro glitter.  This isn't as Thanksgiving as FingerPaints' gold and red glitter offering Holly Good Time.  The vast majority of glitter is gold with a tiny, little droplet of red.

Plum Full of Cheer

Plum Full of Cheer is a blue red purple with gold shimmer.  It's a little more red/blue than other purples I own, and I think it looks gorgeous on the nail.  If you have an Ulta near you, I would definitely recommend checking them out.

 
A bottle shot, and a better look at the gold shimmer. 
The gold in this shade gives this color more depth.  Very pretty, not just for holiday. 

OPI Holi-Daze Colleciton is exclusive to Ulta and available in stores.

Do you have NYE plans?  What were some of your favorite OPI's for 2010?  Have a safe and festive New  Year!

Revlon Molten Metal Eyeshadow - Heavenly Metal Collection - Swatches

Molten Metal

2010 has been an amazing year for Revlon.  They've exploded on Twitter and gave away lipsticks to their first 500 followers.  Gucci Westman, makeup artist extraordinaire, is on board as Global Artistic Director.  Other than marketing and creative, Revlon has also made strides most importantly in their products.  They have come out with some really interesting collections and colors this past year.  I loved their reinvention to Fire and Ice with a nod at vintage limited edition packaging.  If you missed our review of it, click here.  Grow Luscious has stepped over Diorshow as my new favorite big brush mascara.  And as far as nails go, this year they have come out with some really interesting shades in their Top Speed line, as well as some cool glitter top coats and matte colors.

A recent release, Revlon Heavenly Metal Collection explores a dramatic rocker look on Halle Berry with a twist on the classic smoky eye.  The display at my local store carried some new products introduced with this collection.  The one that struck out to me was an eyeshadow duo called Molten Metal.  Molten Metal consists of two baked eyeshadows in Jade and Onyx.  Jade is a soft minty pearl green with serious shimmer.  Onyx, isn't really black, but a blackened green with green shimmer.  Both colors had a great texture, and I was surprised how pigmented they were for drugstore shadows.  With a base, the colors really popped.  Below they were swatched with no base or primer.  This set is limited edition, so if you see it, I would snag this one.  I hope Revlon comes out with more of these!


 Jade and Onyx

Jade and Onyx (swatched with no base).

What Revlon products do you love?  Did you get anything Revlon in 2010 that you liked or didn't like?

MAC Cham Pale Rosé Olé Special Reserve Highlight Powder - Swatches, Review and Comps!

Rosé Olé

Rosé Olé is a soft pink highlight with golden and peachy undertones from MAC's Cham Pale Collection.  The packaging is Mineralized Skinfinish, but the product is something new (to me) called Special Reserve Highlight Powder.  It has a much finer milled and velvety texture versus Mineralize Skinfinishes like Petticoat, By Candlelight, etc.  The shimmer is very, very subtle.  No overbearing frostiness or shine here.  See our comparisons below!

Rosé Olé

I am the biggest sucker for patterns pressed on products.  Those Chantecaille powders with butterflies, dolphins, tigers, etc just make me weep.  When a pretty pattern is embossed to a pressed product, it makes opening it new even more special.  Using it for the first time, and disturbing it's delicate surface, is a such special moment.  A friend confessed to me that her MAC Marine Life was now "dead to her (me)" since she blurred the surface with use.   

With all that, I am really disappointed about the overall look of this product.  I kinda don't know what to say about all this mess going on Rosé Olé.  I get what it's meant to look like.  But what it does look like is what happens when  a shattered pressed powder has been re-pressed with alcohol.  The surface gets all lumpy and fugly.  MAC, couldn't you just slap an endangered cuteoverload on here and call it day?! 

Rosé Olé

Though the texture of the impression didn't translate into the best execution, the actual texture of the product is really smooth and velvety.  Very soft and buttery (for a pressed product).  I am really liking it, and I have been using it all week.  My goal is to use it enough to wear down some of this pattern!



Swatched.  Super fine glow.  No glitter particles detected.



Click to enlarge any photo.  
From left to right: Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder, Perfect Topping MSF, Porcelain Pink MSF, Glissade MSF, By Candlelight MSF and Rosé Olé.

On the skin, I didn't think that Rosé Olé was so pigmented, but swatched you can see that it's the darkest of the shimmery, pink highlight powders from MAC that I have in my collection.  This works best as a highlight for me, NC35, and probably darker skintones.  Paler beauties could use this as a blush.

In sunlight.
From left to right: Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder, Perfect Topping MSF, Porcelain Pink MSF, Glissade MSF, By Candlelight MSF and Rosé Olé.


To Review:
MAC Cham Pale Rosé Olé Special Reserve Highlight Powder
$28, 10g 0.35 oz - Available at MAC counters.
Pro: Soft, subtle pretty glow.  Softer texture than Mineralized Skinfish.
Con: Limited edition.  Unattractive impression pattern.
Overall Beautyburg Rating: A-

Do those impressions make an impression on you?  Do you ever buy a pressed product but don't use it because you don't want to disturb the pattern?  Or is that disturbing?

What has been your favorite pink, shimmery highlight product from MAC?

Hello Kitty by Sephora Liquid Nail Art - Blueberry and Minty

Hello to cute nails!!!

Minty and Blueberry.

As part of the upcoming and highly anticipated Hello Kitty by Sephora line, here are two nail colors from the collection.  If you missed our first look, click here. Sephora had a two day private shopping event online for VIBs, and even when I got to the sale on the first day, many of the items were sold out.  I was able to grab two of the Liquid Nail Art ($10) colors in Minty, a pastel Shamrock Shake green, and Blueberry, a blurple creme, and a set of Nail Art Stickers ($5) in Classic Icons.

I was hoping that this line's products would have some substance, and it wouldn't be all about the packaging.  Generally, I steer away from bottles that are short.  The short neck leads to a short brush, short handle, meaning less control of the overall application.  I also found the formula a little thick.  I couldn't find the exact amount on the bottle, but it does seem small. 

Hello Kitty Blueberry and Orly Snowcone.

These two are similar but not a complete exact match.  Blueberry has a little bit more of a purple base.  Snowcone is just more of a straight up medium blue creme.  

Blueberry with Classic Icons Nail Art Stickers.

Nail Art Stickers in Classic Icons. 

The Nail Art Stickers come in four varieties Classic Icons, Lace, Modern Icons, and Rhinestone Flowers and are $5 each.

Hello Kitty Minty and Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Mint Sorbet.

Now these were **exact** dupes.  I swatched them on alternating fingers and could not see any difference what so ever.  I prefer the Sally Hansen however.  The application and formula are just a lot nicer.  Also a bottle is only $2.99.

 All Minty.

 Left to right: SH Mint Sorbet, HK Minty, Mint Sorbet, Minty.
Can you tell the difference?  I can't!

So is this line all about the packaging?  At $10 a polish, for not such a great polish, I would say yes. 

When does cute packaging mean more than quality product?  Or does it all have to come together?

Say Hello Palette in Super Fun coming soon!

MAC Cham-Pale Soirée Nail Lacquer vs. Orly Rage - Comparison & Possible Dupe?

Are we related? MAC Soirée and Orly Rage.


I recently picked up the two nail lacquers from MAC's Cham-Pale collection (see my review here).  One from the collection, Very Important Platinum, was an epic application fail.  Streaky, thin, blech.  Reminded me of how bad MAC used to be at nails.  Then was Soirée a pretty dusty-rose metallic foil.  Very pretty on, but it seemed somewhat familiar.


Digging through my stash, I found Orly Rage.  A gorgeous rosy silver foil from a few collections ago and still easily available.


I decided to do a side by side comparison since one is about half the price of the other.  From the bottle, they seem almost identical.  You can see that Orly's Rage is more silvery and the duochrome particles seem finer.  Soirée seems more rosy and dustier, but overall they are very, very, very close.  Maybe fraternal, not identical, twins.


Left to right: Soirée, Rage, Soirée, Rage.


I think the ring finger shows off Soirée's dusty, copperiness best.  However, from a distance (of 6 inches), they look almost the same.  I think most people wouldn't even notice a difference.  Click on the photo to enlarge.


 A photo of all Soirée.  
You can see the copper and dustier elements in the shade here.


All Soirée.  Let's party! 

MAC Soirée is $13 for 10ml 0.34oz, limited edition at MAC counters and MAC online.
Orly Rage is about $7 (depending on store) for 0.6oz and available at salons and Sally Beauty supply.


If you missed the review of Soirée and Very Important Platinum, click here.


How close does a dupe, comparable have to be to cancel out the original?  Do you go by price difference, meaning the cheaper one?  Or sometimes do you just have to have it?

Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel - Sugar Plum

Sugar Plum

Revlon recently relaunched their Top Speed Nail Enamel in 32 shades that claim to set in 60 seconds.  I picked up a couple of shades last week and test drove the colors over Christms.  First, I was impressed by the number of non-traditional shades offered.  By "traditional" I mean pinks, reds, nude, beige.  There were lots of greens, blues, purples, metallics. 

Sugar Plum is a shimmery jewel like magenta purple.  Two coats and I had complete coverage.  I didn't set a stop watch, but the drying time did seem slightly fast.  However with base, 2 coats polish, 1 coat top coat, dry time is going to add up.  The manicure itself didn't wear so well.  I think that the speedy dry time cuts corners for durability and longevity in the manicure.  I had tippage at the start of day 2 of my mani.  But with fast dry time, why not just erase the old and paint yourself a new set of nails?

I would definitely try checking these out.  Revlon has definitely up'ed the ante with interesting color variety and a decent application and formula.

Do you prefer fast dry time to durability?  Or do you want something that does it all?

Sugarpill 4 Color Palette in Sweetheart - Yes, I'm Addicted to Pretty - Review and Swatches

Totally addicted, to pretty that is.  Mirrored palette with box.

Palette closed with the box. 

After talking about Bobbi Brown in my last post, there is nothing more on the other side of the spectrum than the wild, fun, totally unique shadows from Sugarpill Cosmetics.  In case you missed my earlier post, Sugarpill Cosmetics is a line of fun, vibrant makeup created by Amy Doan, aka Shrinkle.  She created this line to compliment her own funky aesethic, check her Etsy shop here, and has had thousands taking their doses of Sugarpill daily.  

You heard me already gush about the quality of Sugarpill's ChromaLust Loose Eyeshadow line, but I seriously wondered how the pressed eyeshadows held up.  Let's just say I was not disappointed.  They are uber pigmented and velvety smooth, not chalky.  The pressed eyeshadows range in matte and semi-pearly sheens.  They aren't as super sparkly or shimmery as the loose eyeshadows, but they pack the same ka-pow amount of pigmentation.

The back of the box with ingredients.

Are you Addicted to Pretty?
The illustration on the box is so adorable!  I couldn't bare to get rid of it.  

Left to Right: Dollipop, Afterparty, Midori, and Tako.

Swatched dry (no base).  Do you see how seriously pigmented these shadows are?!  If you love love bright, you will love Sugarpill.  I would like to try these colors in a subtle look, just for a challenge.  These colors have such a great texture and are so blendable.   I think the only thing stopping is my imagination and impulse.  When I see color, I usually just want to go all out there!!!

Dollipop - matte bright pink.
Afterparty - Smurf blue with pearly sheen.
Midori - apple green with pearly sheen.
Tako - matte white white that's really white and not sheer, white, pearly.
$34 for 1 mirrored palette, pans are 4 grams 0.14 oz each

These colors are also available as singles on Sugarpill's site, but get the palette!  It's a better deal ($48 value for $34).  

 Dollipop, Afterparty.

Midori, Tako.

 
My Sugarpill haul.
If you missed my review of my ChromaLust Loose Eyeshadow haul, click here.  Here is the gist: they are awesome.

To Review:
Sugarpill 4 Color Palette in Sweetheart from Addicted to Pretty Collection
Pro: PIG-MENT-TED!  Soft velvety texture.  Applies smoothly.  Adorable design.
Con: Limited distribution.  Only available on the Sugarpill site, but they ship worldwide and packaged with care!  Only for those who love bright shades.
Overall Beautyburg Rating: A

Bobbi Brown Modern Classic Lip and Eye Palette - Review and Swatches

Bobbi Brown Modern Classic Lip and Eye Palette

There is something classically elegant about Bobbi Brown's line.  From the universal colors to the sleek but timeless design, I always look forward to Bobbi's holiday offerings. 

With Christmas already passed, it seems a little late to be reviewing Bobbi Brown's Modern Classic Lip and Eye Palette.  But I think that this palette has more going for it than holiday seasonality.  It's a limited edition palette of 10 eyeshadows and 4 glitter lip glosses.  The eyeshadows come in a variety of matte, shimmer and metallics.  The packaging is in that classic Bobbi Brown fashion, packaged in gold and black.

Gorgeous presentation isn't the only expectation that I have with BB products.  The eyeshadows have a great reputation, and they always manage to find their way into staples in my rotation.  So many of Bobbi Brown's past palettes have been my go-to makeup kits for travel, work and just something I like to keep in my purse.

Bobbi Brown Modern Classic Lip and Eye Palette Shades
Eyeshadows: 
Top L - R: Ivory, Oyster Grey Metallic., Antique Pink Shimmer Wash, Quarry Shimmer Wash, Taffeta Metallic.
Bottom L - R: Brich, Heather Rose Shimmer Wash, Navy Charcoal, Gold Thread Metallic, Espresso.
Lips: 
L-R: Grape Glitter, Pink Bouquet Glitter, Golden Topaz Glitter, Paisley Rose Shimmer.


Eyeshadows: 
Top L - R: Ivory, Oyster Grey Metallic., Antique Pink Shimmer Wash, Quarry Shimmer Wash, Taffeta Metallic.
Bottom L - R: Brich, Heather Rose Shimmer Wash, Navy Charcoal, Gold Thread Metallic, Espresso.

I have to commend Bobbi Brown for not just doing all neutral beiges and taupes in this palette.  I am happy to see rose, blue, soft violet all in the mix.  These colors are nice in texture and are good quality.  They are subtle enough for work, but with some black eyeliner or a Bobbi Brown gel liner you could definitely work a seriously glamorous look with these shades.  

Eyeshadows: 
Top L - R: Ivory, Oyster Grey Metallic., Antique Pink Shimmer Wash, Quarry Shimmer Wash, Taffeta Metallic.
Bottom L - R: Brich, Heather Rose Shimmer Wash, Navy Charcoal, Gold Thread Metallic, Espresso.

Lips: 
L-R: Grape Glitter, Pink Bouquet Glitter, Golden Topaz Glitter, Paisley Rose Shimmer.

Personally, I am always resistant of lip/eye palette combos.  I hate it when the powder from the eyeshadow gets stuck in the stickiness of the glosses.  I would like to thank the GENIUS at Bobbi Brown that actually had the foresight to create this handy divider to keep my lips and eyes separate!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! 

 
Lips: 
L-R: Grape Glitter, Pink Bouquet Glitter, Golden Topaz Glitter, Paisley Rose Shimmer.

To Review:
Pro: Quality eyeshadow and lip products all in one handy kit.  Work appropriate, but you can easily create some festive night looks with it.  Smart design separating lips and eyes.
Con: Pricey.  Limited Edition.
Overall Beautyburg Rating: A-
 
Bobbi Brown Modern Classic Lip and Eye Palette is $75 and available at www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

MAC Stylishly Yours Pigments - New Fixation, Madly Personal, Follow Your Fancy - Swatches

Left applied wet, right applied dry.
Left to right: Left to right: Follow Your Fancy, Madly Personal, New Fixation.

Here are the three new limited edition pigments from Stylishly Yours collection.  I didn't purchase Violet, since it's permanent.  I am loving the promo pic and looks for this collection.  To me, it's a modern taken on the Robert Palmer woman.  

This was my first encounter with MAC's new pigment packaging.   I hadn't bothered with pigments and loose eyeshadows in a while, but I have been revisiting my stash and was really interested in these particular colors to use on areas other than the eyes.  The new packaging seems to have a better grip on the cap, keeping pigments in the jar and out of your bag, drawer, kit, etc.  I do miss how the old opening was wider, but the new one is still large enough for most brushes.  The bottle lends itself to better grip and control.  Overall, an improvement, but you do get less product (old jars were 7.5g).  However, I'm not complaining.  I think I've only ever finished a pigment once.  Most of mine are still nearly full.



Left to right: Follow Your Fancy, Madly Personal, New Fixation.


Left to right: New Fixation, Madly Personal, Follow Your Fancy (sorry I changed the order).


Madly Personal warns not to use on lips. 
I emailed MAC for a reason why, but I'm still waiting for a response.

The ingredients.  Click to enlarge.
Left to right: New Fixation, Madly Personal, Follow Your Fancy.

 
Follow Your Fancy

Follow Your Fancy is a coral with slight gold shimmer.  I think MAC could have taken this color down a Melon route and made it really frosty, but I am glad they steered away from that direction.  This is definitely a color that I will use on eyes, lips and cheeks (though not all at once).

Madly Personal

Madly Personal is a cool, medium pink with pearlescent shimmer.  The shimmer isn't so much that it's frosty.  It's just flecked with shimmer and more concentrated on the actual hue of the pigment.  I am disappointed that this one warns not to put on the lips.  I generally ignore those warnings, at my own risk obviously.  I am waiting for a reply from MAC to see what they say about  this.


New Fixation 

New Fixation is a cool, blue based deep fuchsia, bordering on red.  I love how this collection the pigments, color bases and lipsticks are all representations of the same color scheme.  I bought the pigments vs. getting the lippies and bases since you can manipulate the pigments with various mixing mediums to create eye color bases or lip colors.

Left applied wet, right applied dry with no base.
Left to right: Follow Your Fancy, Madly Personal, New Fixation.

To Review: 
MAC Stylishly Yours Pigments - New Fixation, Madly Personal, Follow Your Fancy
$19.50 for 4.5g 0.15oz
Pro:  Pigments for eyes, lips (minus Madly Personal) and cheeks.  Richly pigmented.  Soft, finely milled texture.
Con: Limited edition.  Madly Personal warns not to put on lips.
Overall Beautyburg Rating: A

How do you feel about Stylishly Yours?  Do you wear pigments on places other than your eyes?

MAC Cham-Pale Nail Lacquers - Soirée and Very Important Platinum

Soirée

Soirée is a dusty rose duochrome foil.  MAC's site describes it as "sparkly light bronze," but as you can see there are serious rose tones going on here.  I'll compromise and say dusty, bronzy rose gold duochrome foil.  This shade had excellent application.  Two coats for full coverage.  Yay MAC!  You are making such strides in improving your nail polish formula, but you could try harder (see below).

Soirée again from another angle.  

VIP - Very Important Platinum

Very Important Platinum is a pewter metallic frost.  MAC has definitely improved its formula for nail polish over the years, but this is one attempt that just isn't showing the lengths of their improvement.  Very thin, very watery.  It was difficult not to show streaks.  It's unfortunate since I think the color is really interesting.  It's steel with green and silver undertones.  It's pale and shimmery without being too girly.  MAC's site describes it as "dirty platinum."  I could see that!

Soirée and Very Important Platinum are $13 for 10ml 0.34 fl.oz. and are a part of the Cham-Pale collection, in stores December 26.