Review: NYX Cosmetics Invincible Fullest Coverage Foundation

Hey beauties!

I thought it would be fun to review a full coverage foundation that is also a drug store brand. It's hard to find something that's full coverage, affordable, cruelty free and won't fuck up your skin!

REVIEW.

PIGMENTATION: 9/10

This stuff was suuuper pigmented. And since it's a full coverage foundation I sort of expected that. I liked the variety of shades and the attention to the different tones. I feel like it's hard for some drug store brands to nail the tone of skin. Since this foundation is thick they advise to shake before using since the pigments may separate, but I didn't really have any trouble with this. I liked the fact that a small amount of the product covered my entire face and I didn't need to reapply in any trouble spots. I also felt like the foundation showed its true shade once you worked it into the skin.

LONGEVITY: 7/10

This foundation had a bit of a dewy finish so the longevity on my skin was about 6-7 hours which is still pretty damn impressive for a full coverage foundation; at least for me considering I could donate the amount of oil that my skin produces to BP. Full coverage foundations normally break up on my skin and they need a lot of maintenance, but I was pleased with the longevity on this one. I did have to powder my t-zone again about half way through the day which is pretty standard.

APPLICATION: 8/10

I used two different techniques to apply this foundation to see which worked best for me. I normally use a Beauty Blender, however I felt like that put way more product on my face than I needed which made me look a bit cakey after concealer and powder over top. I preferred using my fingers and lightly dabbing the foundation on my skin and working it in circular motions focusing most of the product in my trouble areas. Because of its slightly dewy finish I would definitely advise powdering over top especially if you have oily skin.

PACKAGING: 8/10

The packaging was a pretty standard 25 ml tube which should last a long time considering how full coverage it is. I liked that I could squeeze the product out verses using a pump. I feel like pumps don't let you get ALL the product out. There was also a small star shaped window to see the shades which helps you get an idea of the range of shades available. My only critique here would be that the shades showing in the window weren't always true to the product in the bottle. I would definitely swatch it onto your hand and work it into the skin to make sure you have the right shade and more importantly, the right tone.

OVERALL: 8/10

I was very impressed with this foundation. I love the wide range of shades available and the attention to undertones. The $12 price tag also makes it very attractive especially if you don't normally go for heavy coverage foundation but you want to try one out or get it to use during special occasions. I was happy with the longevity and finish of it considering my skin type and what little product I actually needed to cover my face. Swag.

All 15 shades in order from lightest to darkest. I swatched it on a white piece of paper since there wasn't enough arm space for me to get everything lookin' right. I'm shade #4- Light which has a yellow undertone. Top row- Shades 1-6. Middle row- Shades 7-12. Bottom row 13-15.

Review: L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints

Hey guys!!

You know how much we love a good glossy lip (almost as much as we love a good matte lip - well, just as much actually), so we were stoked to receive the collection of L.A. Girl Glazed Lip Paints to review. These glosses retail for $4.00 each, and there are six colours available. If you want to check them out, keep reading!  

REVIEW.

PIGMENTATION: 9/10

I have to remind myself these are glossy lip paints. Glosses aren't usually meant to be truly pigmented as opposed to lip liners or lipsticks, but these babies are. The colour that comes out of the tube is the same shade you see on the packaging, with that translucent consistency of a gloss. I like these a lot.

LONGEVITY: 8/10

So I applied the gloss when I got ready in the morning and in about three hours of talking, singing, eating, and whistling (what can I say? I can't keep still or quiet), the gloss had faded a bit but the colour was still present. I think these would wear best when paired with a lipliner as touch-ups every three hours or less would be inconvenient during a busy day.

APPLICATION: 9/10

These little ladies went on smooth as butter and blended well. I like that you can sheer them out or build the colour up easily. They also smell of peppermint which I find pleasant in lip  products, and they felt very moisturising on my lips. 

PACKAGING: 7/10

I love that these come in a squeeze tube since you can get all of the product out, but the actual applicator was not my ffavourite Even though it is at an angle and fits well on the lips, the flat plastic kind of moves the product around and lifts it a bit. I found I had to squeeze the product on my lips straight from the tube and then go in with a lip brush and create the defined shape of my lips. You could potentially apply these lip paints straight from the tube in a pinch, but you wouldn't get a defined lip with them. 

OVERALL: 8.25/10

I think these glossy lip paints are bomb. I do. I love that they are pigmented and smell of peppermint. I like the initial colour range (although I would love to see more nudes and maybe a blue or green for kicks), and I can get over the fact that the applicator isn't my all-time favourite. For the very affordable price and great colour payoff I would definitely recommend them. 

Have you tried these? If so, what do you think about them?

Close up of applicator

Swatches Left-Right: Babydoll, Bombshell, Blushing, Coy, Hot Mess, Pin-up

Babydoll - Bubblegum pink.

Bombshell - Hot pink.

Blushing - One of my favorites!! A deep pinky-mauve.

Coy - Another of my favorites. I do love a purple lip.

Hot Mess - lovely coral.

Pin-up. Beautiful creamy red.

Review: Real Techniques Colour Palettes

Hey beauties!

So I recently had the chance to meet the lovely ladies at Pixiwoo. We know. Cray. Anywho, we got some of their dope brushes and their new palettes. They have 2 sets- a neutral and a smokey set. Keep reading to hear our thoughts.

MODERN NATURAL MAKEUP KIT: 8/10

Alrighty, so to break it down this palette comes with 4 shades, a gel liner, 2 glosses, a cream highlighter and powder blusher. The palette has a great set of colours for a dramatic neutral eye or a soft 'no makeup' makeup look. The quality and pigmentation of these shadows was what sold me. I was very intrigued by the pay off and smooth texture of the powders. The gel liner was a bit sheer when used with a brush- I ended up using it as a base all over the lid instead- but it'll do the job if you layer it. It's a nice deep brown shade which is a breath of fresh air from the regular black especially since the theme is a modern natural. My only worry with the gel liner was that it may dry out quickly since it's not in an air tight packaging, but then again when have I ever used a gel liner so much that I worried about it drying? Moving on- I personally love that the glosses come in their own little bottles verses a lip palette looking thing that I fuckin' hate. I don't have to worry about eyeshadow particles falling into the gloss and getting gross. And if I want I can throw one of the shades in my purse to touch up afterwards. The shades were quite sheer however they are very wearable for basically all skin tones which I appreciate. The blusher is a soft sheer pink shade and the highlighter is a cream highlighter which I thought was interesting. If you have dry skin this is yo shit right here. The highlighter was a very wearable neutral champagne shade and since it's a cream it looks a lot more natural than a powder. If you have oily skin I suggest lightly dusting some HD powder over top to avoid any oiliness throughout the day. This palette is great for those of you who travel constantly or if you just like having everything in one place. You also have the option to take the glosses with you to reapply which is a nice addition! 

NIGHT OWL MAKEUP KIT: 7.5/10

This palette has the same style as the Modern Natural but with darker shades. I felt that the shades chosen were a bit safe, but that's mostly just personal preference. The pigmentation was just as strong and the shades were really nice and creamy. I would suggest using the black gel liner as a base to really amp up that smokey effect. I loved that one of the glosses included was a red shade. Granted, it's sheer enough so that anyone can pull it off but bold enough to make people step out of their comfort zone slightly. Think rock n' roll with bold eyes and a bold lip, but more polished for a sophisticated execution. The blusher and highlight were the same as well since they're pretty universal, however I would have liked to see a matte bronzer with this palette instead of a blusher to push the edgy night owl theme! This palette is also great for travel and includes all the shades you would need to do a bold smokey eye or a softer one- whatever your style!

Review: Sigma Standout Eyes Gel Liner Collection

Hey beauties!

Sigma Beauty was kind enough to send us their new gel liner collection "Standout Eyes". They come in 6 shades ranging from your classics to a few colorful shades. You can check em out by following the link below: 

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=691641

REVIEW.

PIGMENTATION: 8/10 

These gel liners had great pigment to them while still being smooth and creamy. The only inconsistent shade would be Royally Striking (purple) which had a different texture. It would streak and was a bit difficult to build over. I noticed if I let it dry for a bit then went over it again it would become more opaque, but building before it set was a bit tedious. The rest of the shades has a great opacity and creamy texture that made it really easy to draw clean lines. They dried quickly enough so it wouldn't transfer or move but there was still a good amount of play time in case you gotta clean something up or change the shape of your lines.

LONGEVITY: 7/10

All the shades had about the same longevity which was about 6-8 hours. I noticed the purple shade dried and got a bit flaky but that's probably because I had to layer it a few times. The rest of the shades had no issues with flaking or fading. 

APPLICATION: 9/10

The gel liners came with two brushes- E06 & E68. Both brushes help with creating the perfect cat eye. E68 (larger brush) helps with making a crisp line on the lid and the E06 is a bit smaller but still has an angle to help with defining a clean wing. I much prefer using the E10 (small eyeliner brush) while doing my liner, however the E06 and E68 are great to learn with! 

PACKAGING: 9/10

The packaging and presentation was clearly just beautiful while still being functional. The gel liners had a classic glass jar with a circle cap and Sigma logo. The package kept the liners in place and organized. I would probably keep them in that package because I am a hoarder. Duh.

OVERALL: 8.5/10

These liners are beautiful and smooth with a great shade range. They're great for keeping in your kit for diversity or if you like changing up your liner slightly while still keeping it classy and sophisticated. I feel like I have all the shades I would need to a quick dark liner or something a little more fun (like the grey and teal)! Thank you so Sigma Beauty for this beautiful package and awesome new line of gel liners! 

Top row, left to right: Liberally Toasted (light brown), Stunningly Ladylike (dark brown), Wicked (black)

Bottom row, left to right: Standout Peacock (teal), Unexpected (grey), Royally Striking (purple)

Left: E06 Right: E68

Left to right: Liberally Toasted, Stunningly Ladylike, Wicked, Standout Peacock, Unexpected, Royally Striking

Using Standout Peacock, Unexpected & Royally Striking with T Dot Ooh Lashes from Velour Lashes.

Review: Anastasia Contour Book

Hey beauties!

We were fortunate enough to receive the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Book featuring all 27 highlight/contour shades. Unfortunately, this book is not for sale, but you can buy all of the shades separately on Anastasia's website. We've gone ahead and swatched all the shades for your reference! Hope you guys dig it.

http://anastasiabeverlyhills.com

REVIEW.

PIGMENTATION: 9.5/10 

Almost all of the shades in the book were quite pigmented, with a few colours here and there falling short. Although some colours swatched to seem less pigmented, they applied full strength on the face. 

LONGEVITY: 9/10

These shades proved to be pretty long wearing, generally lasting 8+ hours on the skin. This may be due to the fact that they are usually worn over a cream/liquid base, which will increase longevity. 

APPLICATION: 7.5/10

While many of these shades applied very smoothly and beautifully, there were a few that fell short and applied slightly patchy. Some of the lighter shades appeared to cake up a bit when applied over top of concealer/around the eye area. We found this could be remedied a bit by waiting to apply your powder until your cream/liquid products had fully set. 

PACKAGING: 9/10

The Contour Book itself is gorgeous and obviously eye catching, although it's clearly far too big to tote around. The packaging for the refills is compact, durable, and beautifully minimalistic. It allows for shades to be magnetically popped in and out, which is very convenient if you want to custom design palettes for yourself or clients.

OVERALL: 8.5/10

Contour kit refills & palettes.

Left to Right: Sand, Champagne, Vanilla, Latte

Left to Right: Sandstone, Peachy, L'Orange, Peaches & Cream 

Left to Right: Terracotta, Cream Soda, Nude, Golden Peach  

Left to Right: Copper Brown, Havana, Clay, Cinnamon

Left to Right: Banana, Mellow Yellow, 10k 

Left to Right: Fawn, Java, Espresso, Carob

Review: Pretty Zombie Cosmetics

Hello beauties!

Liquid lipstick is the bee's knees right now, and with good reason. Who would turn down a lip product with the ease of a lipgloss, the texture of a matte lipstick, and the staying power of a stain? Almost too good to be true. We got our hands on most of the Pretty Zombie Cosmetics line and are excited to review them for you. If you want to check them out for yourself, click on the link below. Enjoy!

http://www.prettyzombiecosmetics.com 

PIGMENTATION: 9.75/10

Out of the six shades we reviewed, there was only one that was a tad lackluster, and that was Zombettie. By a tad I do mean a tad. The swatches you will see below are straight on the lips - no liner, no base, no foundation. The pigmentation on these liquid lipsticks is extremely impressive.  

LONGEVITY: 9.5/10

I slapped on 3 Witches one day for lunch. It lasted beautifully throughout my meal eating, only fading slightly in the center. A problem I have found with a few other brands of liquid lipstick is that any fading warrants completely wiping the lips clear of product and starting over because the texture changes. Not about that life. One of the characteristics I enjoy most about these particular liquid lipsticks (besides the fact they barely fade) is that they don't crack, clump, or flake during wear or upon reapplication. 

APPLICATION: 9/10

Doe foot applicators aren't my all-time ffavourite but with the liquid consistency I don't think there are many other options. I do find that the applicator helps with creating crisp lines along the edge of the lip. 

PACKAGING: 8/10

The actual tube for the lipstick is transparent. The colour you see in the tube is the actual product floating around. The top part of the gloss with the wand has a picture of the Pretty Zombie and the name of the shade of lipstick. There isn't a brand name anywhere on the packaging, which I think is a loss for such an awesome product. However, I do like the simplicity of the packaging and the fact that different shades are easy to spot.

OVERALL: 9/10

Potion #9

Purple Poison

3 Witches

Zombettie

Blue Moon

Black Cat

Review: Sigma Warm Neutral Palette

Hello there beauties!

We were fortunate to receive one of Sigma's eyeshadow palettes and are excited to review it for you! The Warm Neutrals palette has twelve beautiful shades perfect for any occasion. If you want to check out this palette and others Sigma has to offer, check out their link below!

www.sigmabeauty.com

PIGMENTATION: 8/10

This palette has a nice variation of matte, satin, and frosty shades. I found that the frosty shades went on with extreme ease and the mattes were beautiful. However, some of the shades (Oyster Sand, Optimistic) weren't as pigmented as the rest. I had to layer a couple swipes of the product to get the saturation of color I was looking for.

LONGEVITY: 8/10

As with any other eyeshadow, I wore these over a base. They lasted well throughout the day with little to no movement, and no creasing. After 9-hour wear, the lighter shades unfortunately weren't as bright as when first applied. 

APPLICATION: 9/10

Butter. A word used to describe the texture of anything smooth and silky (and it is also a delicious addition to almost any meal). These eyeshadows apply like butter. I was surprised when even the mattes were almost cream-like in texture. Applying with brushes and fingers was equally as beautiful in texture. I did have a slight issue with building up the lighter colours, but they were mostly effortless.

PACKAGING: 9/10

The palette itself is simple with magnetic closure, a nice size mirror, and no unnecessary bells and whistles. I like that it doesn't come with a sponge-tip applicator or baby brush, they kept it simple. I find the amount of name placement on the packaging distracting, but to each their own.

OVERALL: 8.5/10

This palette is well rounded. There is a nice variation in the textures and finishes of the eyeshadows, and the shades vary from light to dark to make any type of look easy to achieve. The creamy consistency of the shadows along with the pigmentation most of the colours have makes it a great palette for the affordable cost. I am impressed by the overall performance of this palette and think anyone would enjoy having it in their kit.

Swatches below are without primer or base. 

op Row (L-R) Oyster Sand, Sugar Milk, Mild Mannered, Dove

Oyster Sand (Duo-Chrome) - Light Pink with Periwinkle Undertones

Sugar Milk (Matte) - Creamy Vanilla

Mild Mannered (Satin) - Rosy Light Brown

Dove (Frost) - Rich, Taupe Brown

Middle Row (L-R) Fawn, Cinnamon, Russet, Balanced

Fawn (Frost) - Light Mushroom

Cinnamon (Matte) - Medium Warm Brown .. gorgeous!

Russet (Satin) - Deep Burgundy .. my favorite.

Balanced (Frost) - Golden Peach

Bottom Row (L-R) Cozy, Innocent, Optimistic, Warm Stone

Cozy (Matte) - Cool Medium Brown .. one of my favorites.

Innocent (Matte) - Nude Pink

Optimistic (Shimmer) - Bright Rosy Peach

Warm Stone (Matte w/glitter) - Dark brown with Specks of Gold

Review: Sweetpea & Fay Summer Blush Collection

Hey guys!

Our pals at Sweetpea & Fay released some mineral blushes & highlighters perfect for summer! They're lightweight, they come in soft yet funky shades and they're totally cruelty freeee! You can take a peak at their products at: 

sweetpeaandfay.com

PIGMENTATION: 9/10

Since these guys are loose mineral pigment blushes there isn't really much that could go wrong in this department really, guys. The blushes feel very lightweight, however you must still be really light handed during application; the brush will grab all the pigment at once. I normally dump a bit into the cap or use whatever excess is on the cap and test it on my arm then continue on my face. 

LONGEVITY: 10/10

The blushes stayed strong all day! Even the lavender shade which was the lightest held on until the end of an 8 hour day. The highlighter, Dima was the most impressive one for me personally. It stayed shimmery and soft all day without dying down or fading. I went really heavy handed with it because...I'm crazy, but even the smallest amount gives a beautiful dewy glow especially in the sunlight. 

APPLICATION: 8/10

As I mentioned before, because of the texture of the blushes you gotta be light handed with application. All the blushes were consistent while being blended out. I will say Amnesia (a bright coral with slight pink undertones) was a bit patchy during application. It took a few extra brush strokes to blend out properly and not look like a doll...unless that's your thang, then by all means! 

PACKAGING: 8/10

The packaging is just your regular plastic jar and a black cap with SweetPea & Fay printed on top. There is (thankfully) a plastic sifter on top so there isn't pigment everywhere and you won't have a mess opening it. There is also about 5g of product in there so you're kind of set for life. It's a generous amount which is great since Halloween is just around the corner! You may need some crazy fun colours all ova your face!

OVERALL: 8.5/10

SweetPea & Fay continues to be a great indie brand promoting funky but wearable and cool products that are cruelty free! These blushes are great for everyday use or for special occasions. Since you get so much product, there's a ton of stuff you could use it for- if you have an airbrush system you can do some Avante Garde stuff with it while still having enough for your everyday life. The pigmentation and longevity are beautiful and impressive. I love the soft "normal" blusher shades and the pops of bold colours they have in their collection. 

Clockwise starting from the left: Dima (highlighter), Shangri-La, Lady Slipper and Amnesia. 

Dima

Shangri-La

Lady Slipper

Amnesia

Left to right: Amnesia, Lady Slipper, Shangri-La and Dima. 

EXTRA CREDIT: We got some more of their dope Liquid Lipsticks as well! If you'd like to check out our review on them go ahead and click on the photo above of the trio of Liquid Lipsticks!