Sep 1, 2014

Back to Blogging + Current Favorites!

Hello again everyone! It's been quite a while since my last blog post, my channel has grown considerably within the past few months and it's been taking up every single moment of my time. I don't know how it all happened so quickly!  Although I do love making videos, there's nothing like sitting down to write a peaceful post. Thank you all for you continuous love and support! 

I figured that since I haven't reviewed anything in a while that I would just share a few of my current favorite things!





The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist- This is the most refreshing face mist I've ever used! I love the way that it instantly hydrates my skin, and it's perfect for setting makeup. It has a light rose scent too!

Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in Natural Beauty- This has been my everyday lipstick. It's perfect for any occasion, neutral with pink undertones. The creamy formula is amazing and it lasts on my lips for 5+ hours comfortably. 

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso- Milani makes some of the best drugstore blush! Luminoso has been my favorite these summer months, I love the soft satiny coral finish it gives. It's a beautiful blush that gives a pretty glow-no highlight needed! 

Milani Shadow Eyez Eyeshadow Pencil in Champagne Toast- These Milani shadow pencils can be used alone, as a shadow base, liner- you name it! I've been using Champagne Toast as an inner corner highlight lately, it just perks up the eyes wonderfully. I look 10x more awake whenever I wear it. 

Clinique Lash Powder Feathering Mascara- I don't know where I would be without this.. it has quickly become a high-end favorite! The brush is made of traditional bristles, and they are so long, that one swipe grabs each lash to coat it with the perfect amount of mascara. I haven't been this happy with a mascara purchase in a while. 

Smashbox Master Class 3 Palette (Neutrals) -  This palette is a MUST HAVE! The variety of shades, finishes, and colors is seriosuly amazing. There is another side of the palette that comes with colorful shades, as well as blushes ( I have a full review on this palette here). I prefer to use the neutral side of this palette, each shadow is pigmented and applies smoothly. I love it so much that I've been using it everyday since I bought it, and it's limited edition, so act quickly! 



Thank you all once again for you support. I really appreciate each and every one of you, and I will try to be more consistent with the blogging. I plan on trying to update my blog once a week, hopefully more so once I get back into the swing of things! If you would like to stay updated with me, please subscribe to my beauty channel HollieEatsLipstick

Hope you are all having a great holiday weekend! 
-Hollie 

May 9, 2014

Hard Candy Contouring Face Trios!

Hey everyone, I'm back again with another drugstore review from Hard Candy! Usually Hard Candy is a hit or miss type of brand for me, but I'm beyond impressed with these new Contouring Face Trios. I absolutely love these because they are nicely pigmented, easy to blend, and convenient! 



The packaging is a bit bulky, but cute and sturdy nonetheless! This is a 3 in 1 type of product, you get a blush, bronzer, and highlighter all in one. Each trio has a smooth texture and is nicely pigmented. I found mine at Wal Mart for $9 each.




Here's a closer look at each trio (top left) 3rd Wheel (top right) 3x a Lady (bottom) 3 strikes.
Each trio has a shimmery finish that is really flattering on the skin.




Swatches from left to right: 3rd Wheel, 3 Strikes, and 3 x a Lady
If you would like to see how these apply on my skin, check out my video review here.

Claims: "Illuminate, contour and highlight with So Baked Sculpting Trio for a healthy looking, captivating glow. The baked trio includes a luminizer for highlighting cheekbones, a satin-finish blush for cheeks and a glowing bronzer that helps contour and define."
Finish/Texture:Each of these trios has a shimmery finish and a satiny smooth texture.
Pigmentation: The pigmentation is amazing, each section gives bold color.
Lasting Power: I had no fading at all with any of these trios, they last all day on my skin.
Scent: There is no scent.
Packaging: These are packaged in a big, sturdy plastic compact, no mirror is included.
Price/Availability: I paid $9 each at WalMart

Likes: 

  • Great pigmentation
  • Variety of shades to choose from
  • Inexpensive
  • Smooth Texture/Easy to blend
  • Multi-purpose 
  • Great quality

Dislikes:

  • Bronzers are not matte (personally I don't mind)

Overall:
Although Hard Candy is usually a hit or miss brand for me, I highly recommend trying these contouring face trios! They give you such a beautiful glow to your skin, while providing the convenince of having all of your cheek products in one palette. Each shade in the trios has a shimmery satin finish with great pigmentation. While I don't think these are the best for major contouring or highlighting, they are simply perfect to add a little extra spice to an everyday makeup look.


Apr 10, 2014

Naimie's Beauty Haul!

Hey everyone, I know I haven't blogged in what seems like an eternity! I just want to say thank you to those of you who have patiently waited for a blog post. Just to let you know, you can always find me on my YouTube channel, where I make beauty videos twice a week. 

March was an extremely busy month for me! I was mainly spending time with my friends and family for my 20th birthday, they all spoiled me by giving me various makeup related goodies (they know me too well) and that leads us to Naimie's! My parents knew that I had always wanted to experience Naimie's Beauty Center in person, so we made the trip out to Hollywood and let me tell you, IT WAS AMAZING! 


Naimie's has everything you could possibly want when it comes to luxury makeup, haircare, and even skincare. Every makeup lover should experience it, they have endless makeup counters of brands such as Makeup Forever, Kryolan, Smashbox, and Limecrime. I almost didn't know where to begin, but I ended up with a nice little haul: 



Kryolan High Gloss in Blue Lagoon- I'm obsessed with blue, it's my favorite color and I don't have too many lips products to show for it, so I thought that this little number from Kryolan would be a fun purchase. It's a high shine, pigmented gloss that goes on smoothly with an opaque finish. This is my first buy from Kryolan, and I love it! 

Red Cherry #747 Lashes- I really don't need any more falsies, but there was something about these that I just couldn't pass up. They are dramatic and wispy, my perfect combination.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lipstick in Watermelon- I've never tried Elizabeth Arden lipsticks before, what sold me on this one was the creamy texture and satiny finish. I also really love the mid-tone pink which simple, yet perfect for everyday looks.

Stila Single Shadow in Kitten- I LOVE THIS SHADE! I am a huge fan of shimmery champagne shadows, and kitten has always been on my top 5 list. I've used it palettes before, now I can finally have it on it's own. I have a review coming up on this shadow soon!

Makeup Forever Aqua Black Cream- This is the blackest gel liner I have ever seen. It's also very matte, which is exactly what I want for my everyday cat liner. I've been using this non-stop. It's waterproof, it lasts all day, and I love it. 

Smashbox Shadow Trio in Covershoot- I love the quality of Smashbox shadows! They're velvety smooth without giving me fall-out. This trio really caught my eye, I love the neutrals, two are mattes and one is a shimmer. 

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Berry Pop- This blush was too adorable to pass up! I couldn't resist the beautiful berry shade and the cute flower pattern. The texture is somewhat bouncy, and the pigmentation is fantastic. 

Butter London Color Wink Mascara in Chav- Once again, I couldn't resist the minty blue shade. I have never seen a mascara with this color, so I was sold on it's uniqueness alone. The pigmentation is quite good and it doesn't flake at all. 



So far I've really been enjoying all of these products! I always get a thrill from adding new, exciting products to my makeup collection.  I'm very happy that I experienced Naimie's in person, it's such a cool place to go, especially if you're a makeup lover! 


Thank you again to my parents for taking me out to enjoy my special day, and to those of you who wished me a happy birthday! I also made a video haul, where I show a few little extra things, if you would like to watch it below! 





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Mar 15, 2014

Milani Rose Powder Blushes

Remember the limited edition rose blushes Milani released last year? Well Milani did it again for Spring 2014, with four new shades of cute rose-shaped blush goodness! I'm thrilled to say that Milani sent me these for review, so I didn't have to hunt them down at all. I couldn't even get my hands on last year's collection, and I haven't seen these ones in my area at all. *Sigh of relief * 

Hopefully you all can get your hands on at least one of these blushes, because they are by far my favorite Milani blush I've used, even over the increasingly popular baked blushes!  


There are only four shades in this collection, and they all have a matte finish. These are limited edition, so once they sell out they will be gone for good! UGH.


Swatches from left to right: Coral Cove, Tea Rose, Love Potion, and Lady Rouge

Coral Cove is a bright coraly orange. Tea Rose is a muted cool toned pink. Love Potion is a bright hot pink (it pulls a bit red on me). Lady Rouge is a deep warm toned red.

These swatches were done with two swipes each. The texture is hard to swatch, it had a slippery/powdery finish to it that is not the easiest to work with. I find that a blush brush is the best way to apply these. 


Claims: "An ultra silky-soft powder blush that delivers the perfect amount of color and easily blends onto cheeks."
Finish/Texture: The finish on each blush is very matte. The texture is somewhat powdery, which makes applying these a bit tricky. I find that using a brush is best, but the texture does make swatching difficult. 
Pigmentation: These are all very pigmented, a little bit goes long way. Especially for someone with my skin tone. I love the shade selection too.
Lasting Power: These had no problem lasting on my skin all day long. I would say these lasted me a good 10 hours, even on hot days.
Scent: These do have strong plasticy cheap scent at first, but it fades after you use them up a few times. Weird I know, but just pointing that out.
Packaging: You get 0.6 oz of blush in each compact. The compact is made of sturdy plastic, but it's bulky! These babies take up a ton of room.
Price/Availability: I was sent these for review by Milani. I've heard that they are available on their website and at Walgreens for $8-$10 each.



Likes:

  • Very pigmented
  • Pretty shades to choose from (suit all skin tones)
  • Beautiful matte finish
  • Great lasting power (10+ hours)

Dislikes:
  • Limited edition (hard to find)
  • Powdery texture/can be patchy
  • Difficult to work with
  • A bit pricey for drugstore
Overall:
I love the pretty shades and the beautiful matte finish that these rose blushes have. They lasted all day and night on me, even through the work days. Each shade is intensely pigmented, enough that even a deep skin tone could pull off. I prefer the finish and overall look of these blushes over the Milani baked blush line! Gasp! 

With that being said, these blushes aren't perfect. They have a powdery texture that makes application a bit messy. They can also be a bit patchy when blending onto the skin, which means that these take time to apply. However, I still really love Tea Rose and those little problems are something I'm willing to compromise. 

I would only recommend these blushes to the die hard Milani fans out there like me, or to the people who appeal to some of the gorgeous shades. The rose shapes are super cute, and the shade selection is amazing. I feel like any skin tone could pull off the blushes from this collection, which is something that we need more of at the drugstore! 



Will you be purchasing any of the new Milani Rose Blushes?



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Mar 5, 2014

Empties, Products I've Used Up!

Here we are again with another empties post! This time around I waited until I had a decent amount of makeup to show you. Personally, I just love seeing empties posts. I have a weird obsession with trying to finish everything in my collection at once, like that's ever going to happen.. haha. Here's what I finished up over the past four months: 


Aussie Moist Shampoo and Conditioner- I have been using these since I was a freshman in high school! I can't get enough of the delicious coconutty-vanilla scent that these leave in my hair throughout the day. I also notice that my hair feels very soft and silky, even after one use. I will always come back to my Aussie Moist products! 

Gilettte Satin Care with Olay Shaving Cream- I usually buy the sensitive skin version since my eczema can't handle any scented gels. However, this one was still sensitive enough for my skin to handle and the scent was a nice touch. It foams up nicely and leaves skin feeling hydrated, I will definitely repurchase.

Herbal Essences Naked White Tea and Mint Shampoo and Conditioner- I bought these on a whim, they are the brand new to the Herbal Essences line. I love the scent, it's more minty than white tea, but they just didn't do anything for my hair. They claimed to make the hair super shiny and soft, but I didn't experience any of that. 


Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser- I've been using this face wash steadily for over a year now, it's become my holy grail. I rarely ever break out anymore, and I believe that I owe it all to this cleanser! It's a gel cleanser that lathers nicely and doesn't leave my skin feeling dry. I always keep one by my sink and also in my shower.

Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover- I love this stuff. It gently removes my eye makeup with one swipe. All I do is dab some on a cotton pad, wipe it across my lids and my makeup vanishes. It's a huge time saver, and even removes my waterproof makeup effortlessly. I go through about one bottle a month! 

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes- These are my absolute favorite makeup wipes! I would really be lost without them.  All I need is one wipe to remove all of my face makeup, even eye makeup. (I follow up with eye makeup remover because I'm a bit obsessive with removing every last drop of makeup before I sleep). Anyway, I use these for everything, wiping down my makeup products, my vanity, and of course swatches! 



Aveeno Positively Bright Brightening Cleanser- I have certain Aveeno products that I love, but this was not one of them. This cleanser didn't do anything for me, not even make my skin feel clean. It felt thick and slimy, all around terrible. It made so many ridiculous claims too, 'brighten/even out skin tone/reduce redness/remove dark spots' after one use. Haha no.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Scrub- I liked the texture of this scrub, the beads were gentle. It's a bit on the runny side, which isn't my favorite. Overall, I might repurchase it again if it went on sale. It's not bad, but not amazing either.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion- I've been using this lotion for years. It's perfect for my dry sensitive skin. It soothes my redness and my eczema after one use. I love how it makes my skin feel soft and hydrated throughout the day. 

Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads- These are another Aveeno favorite! I love to use them after I've cleansed my face just for extra freshness. They are also great at removing face makeup, but don't put them on the eyes or else they'll sting. I don't find them necessary, but they are a nice bonus!


Maybelline Fit Me Powder 115 Ivory-  This is one of the only drugstore powders that matches my skin tone! I love to use it for touchups, it won't cake up my makeup and it helps me keep my t-zone under control. I always have this in my bag! 

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Mask- I liked this at first, but then the novelty wore off. It's made with blueberries and chamomile to sooth skin and calm redness, but it really didn't do much for me. Sure it calmed redness, but only for about an hour. It had a smelly powdery scent that turned my stomach. Will not repurchase.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation 110 Ivory for Normal to Dry Skin- This is my favorite drugstore foundation! It's full coverage, matches my skin perfectly, and lasts me all night. At $10 a bottle, It can't be beat. I use this foundation everyday, even over my high end favorites.

Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer- This is one of my favorite drugstore primers! It's a lotion-like consistency that keeps my skin smooth and ready for makeup. I feel like it definitely prolongs my makeup and creates a smooth canvas. Love it.

NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Primer- Another drugstore favorite, this loose powder lasts all day on my skin without looking cakey. It's the perfect shade for my skin and the texture is very finely milled and smooth. At $3 a jar, I will always have one around.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me- This is my favorite shade and scent out of all of the ever-expanding Maybelline Baby Lips line! Cherry Me is a red tinted, sweet cherry scented lip balm that I can't get enough of. It keeps my lips hydrated with a nice pop of color.

Lypsyl Lip Balm- I know I've raved about this balm in almost all of my videos, but I still can't stop talking about it. Ever since I discovered it last year, I've been obsessed. The light non-greasy formula leaves my lips feeling hydrated all day long. The subtly minty scent is lovely. It's my holy grail lip balm! 

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara Curved Brush- I love the original L'Oreal Voluminous, but this curved brush is even better. I feel like it really grabs and separates every lash, while making them thicker, longer, and of course more voluminous. 

Tarte Light, Camera, Lashes Mascara- This is one of my high end favorites. I received this travel size and used it up rather quickly, the formula is a bit dry. It makes my lashes look incredibly long and thick, but in a believable way. I love this mascara for a more natural look. The only thing I dislike about it is that it dries up in about a month, which makes me weary about repurchasing. 

Elf Liquid Liner- NO NEVER AGAIN. This was so watery, then later on it got thick and gooey. I think it was a free gift or something, but just awful stuff. 

Assorted Eyeliner Pencils- As you can see, I go through eyeliner like water. I use it almost everyday, eyeliner is life. Anyway there are a few different brands in the mix, I'll talk about each one briefly. 


  • Avon Ultra Luxury Liner is one of the smoothest pencils I've used, but it's not the blackest, and I have to order it through the catalog or online. It's still a good liner pencil, but I hardly buy it unless it's on sale.
  • Rimmel Kohl Pencil in Black Magic and Sable are both good pencils, but they aren't favorites anymore. I used to use these a lot back in high school, before I discovered better pencils. They are smooth, but not the most pigmented.
  • Milani Liqifeye Pencil used to be my holy grail, until Jordana (same parent company as Milani) came out with the 12 Hour Made to Last line. This liner is still amazing, very black and extremely long wearing. Everything I love in a pencil.
  • Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last in Black Point is the blackest, smoothest, most long wearing liner I have ever used. It lasts all day on me, even in my waterline. Yes, even in my waterline, and it's only $3. It has impressed me beyond holy grail status. 

Well that was probably the longest empties post that I've ever made.
I feel like empties posts are fun, but they also let people know what you really love to use. Empties are the best!



                        

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