Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara

In general, I am not a Covergirl mascara fan. I have tried every mascara in the Lash Blast line and none of them really worked for me. When Clump Crusher hit the shelves,  the curved brush stood out to me. I gave in after seeing the flashy bright green tube, oh why must new mascara be so tempting? 

Claims: "A revolutionary new mascara, provides 200% more volume, and clump-free separated lashes even after 30 coats!"
Formula: I absolutely hated how dry, thick, and messy this formula felt on my lashes! It was so thick that it made my lashes spike together at the tips, giving me a weird spidery look. The formula is so dry, that when I applied multiple coats it flaked, everywhere. It made my lashes feel heavy and crunchy,  it was just dreadful. There was a bit of clumping, but only at the end of my lashes. 
Wand Type: The wand is just like the original lash blast but slightly curved. I really liked how the curve was a gradual curve, and not an extreme C shape curve. The small rubber bristles deposit too much product, and are too short to comb through the lashes. This is why I dislike the Lash Blast line, all of the bristles are so short that they don't separate the lashes properly.
Price/Availability: I paid $8.00 at CVS 

Results:
This mascara didn't do much for me. The lashes look very spiky and unnatural. I prefer separation and length, which Clump Crusher just doesn't have (my lashes are naturally that long). If you look closely at the tips of my lashes, you can see that there are clumps. Normally the outer corner of my lashes don't droop down as they are in the picture. This happened due to the thickness and heaviness of the formula. Clump Crusher doesn't live up to any of its claims! 

Likes:

• The packaging is different, I haven't seen a green mascara tube at the drugstore
• The gradual curve on the brush fits many eye shapes 

Dislikes:

• The formula is way too dry and thick
• It made my lashes spike together at the tips 
• Doesn't separate the lashes
• The small rubber bristles deposit too much product and can't comb through lashes
• There was clumping at the tips of my lashes

Overall:
This mascara isn't for me. As I said before, I'm not a fan of Covergirl mascaras and I was just hoping that the curved brush would offer something different. The small rubber bristles aren't good enough for separating through the lashes. Also, the short rubber bristles cause the mascara to settle in the wand a lot faster, and I find myself constantly wiping off excess product. Mascara shouldn't make your lashes look crunchy or heavy, and that's why I really hated Covergirl's Clump Crusher. 

On a side note, I want to congratulate the two winners of my giveaways: Deb Anderson (won the Living Clay Company prize) and Rabia Akhter (won the Emani Minerals prize).  I hope everyone is having a nice holiday! I am so ready for all of the new 2013 beauty products that are coming out. I just bought the Maybelline Color Whisper lipsticks and I will be doing a review shortly! 

Dita von Teese Perfume Launch and Review!

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting my biggest fashion and beauty inspiration, Dita von Teese! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with her, take photos, and add her new perfume, Rouge, to my collection! 

The meet up was at Fred Segal's on Melrose in West Hollywood. Dita wore a vintage Thierry Mugler suit-dress and her signature Christian Louboutin heels! It was so amazing getting to have a conversation with her about makeup, old Hollywood, and her perfume collection. When I told Dita how much of an inspiration she is to me, she even teared up! She was so sweet, and even said that I looked fantastic! 

I talked with Dita about her makeup line with Art Deco, which I am a huge fan of, and she said that she is trying to release the makeup collection in the United States! Dita even opened her clutch, and showed me her powder compact and told me how she applies it with her brush. It was so amazing talking about my favorite subject, makeup, with her! I asked about her beauty mark, and she told me that she had it tattooed 20 years ago and that it has since faded. Dita told me to never get tattoos, so I promised her that I wouldn't, haha! When we talked about old Hollywood she told me stories about how she met Liz Taylor and Lauren Bacall! I was beyond thrilled that I had the chance to talk with her, and it was definitely a memorable experience!

Rouge, on the left and Femme Totale on the right

Dita von Teese/Femme Totale
Dita's first fragrance is unlike any perfume I own. It is a very strong, warm fragrance that has hints of floral notes. At first, it is a little too strong and a bit overpowering, I instantly smell the patchouli and musk. I prefer the scent after wearing it for a few hours, when the spice has toned down and the Bulgarian rose becomes more prevalent. The exact notes are: fresh bergamot, peony, bourbon pepper, Bulgarian rose, Tahitian tiare flower, jasmine, incense, patchouli, musk, guaiac wood and sandalwood. It stands alone and comes with a pump that is reminiscent of old-fashioned perfume bottles. Overall, I like this fragrance, but it is not my first choice.  

Rouge
This is my personal favorite of the two. When I first sprayed Rouge in the store, I instantly wanted it! The raw amber and orange notes are very prominent, and combine perfectly with the subtle magnolia. It lasts all day without feeling too strong, just the way I like a perfume to last. The exact notes are: orange, bergamot, pink pepper, smoked Lapsang Souchong tea, magnolia, woody tones and raw amber. I purchased the smaller size, which lays on its side. I love the multi-faceted look of the ruby red bottle, and the velvet bow adds a perfect cute touch! 

Here is a video of the perfume launch that I found on the RonRobinson Youtube Channel! I also just bought my ticket this morning to see Dita's show in February at the House of Blues! I am so anxious to finally see her perform! 

Emani Minerals Review and Giveaway! CLOSED

Hello everyone, today I am back with another review and giveaway, featuring products from Emani Minerals! Emani Minerals is a vegan friendly, cruelty-free beauty brand that only uses certified natural and organic ingredients. All Emani products are PETA certified, paraben free, talc free, gluten-free, and eco-friendly! When I was given the opportunity to test out a few products from their line, I felt so honored and excited! 

About Emani Minerals
"EMANI was established in 1998 with one simple purpose in mind; to provide a line of clean cosmetics that meet and exceed the high standards of the professional makeup industry and at the same time, promotes a healthy complexion for all women." read more here.

The Products:

• Organic Lip Shine -"Name Dropper"
• Vitamin Infused Hydrating Lip Color-"Drama Queen"
• How 2B Guide (includes vegan brush, lipstick, and 3 mineral shadows)- "Day Diva"
• Foundation primer and serum samples

Organic Lip Shine

I chose the shade, Name Dropper, because it is a pretty, classic cool pink that has a creamy finish! The doe foot wand allowed for easy, smooth application, and gave a lustrous shine. I appreciated that it didn't feel sticky on the lips and lasted comfortably for hours. It has medium coverage, and can be worn sheer or opaque. Vitamin A, E, and natural oils are infused in the formula, and I believe that is why this gloss is so comfortable to wear. It also felt very hydrating, like a lip balm. There is a slight scent that reminds me of orange sherbert , but it fades once on the lips. I was very pleased with the richness and quality of this gloss! 

Swatches from left to right: Vitamin Infused Hydrating Lipsticks in Ava and Drama Queen, and Organic Lip Shine in Name Dropper

Vitamin Infused Hydrating Lip Color

Drama Queen is an identical match to the Name Dropper gloss, and I love to pair similar lip colors together!  Made with natural plant waxes and oils, this lipstick glides on like butter. The hydrating formula softened my lips and delivered creamy opaque color! The wear time was average, but I definitely don't mind reapplying this lipstick throughout the day. Ava is a warm nude lipstick that came in the Day Diva How 2B Guide. The color is slightly glossy and sheer, unlike Drama Queen which is opaque. Although it is too warm for my fair complexion, Ava has a great formula. Also, the packaging feels very sturdy and luxurious!

How 2B Guide
I chose the Day Diva guide for the stunning neutral Crushed Mineral Color Dusts!  The kit also includes the Ava Vitamin Hydrating Lipstick, and a vegan eye shadow brush. The Ava lipstick looked like a pale pink on the website, but I will find a way to make the shade work somehow! I think it's so helpful that the side panel of the box gives a tutorial with illustrations on how to use the mineral dusts. 

Swatches from left to right: Safari, Peach Attitude, and Star Struck

Crushed Mineral Dusts
Made of 100% pure mineral pigments, these shades really do pop! They are suggested to be used wet, but I actually used mine dry, and got fantastic color payoff. Since these mineral shadows are loose, you have to be careful and take your time to apply them. Even using the tiniest amount gave me high color payoff! They feel very light, blend easily, and remind me of a loose version of the L'Oreal Infallible shadows.

Giveaway
Emani minerals has offered me to giveaway the How 2B Guide in "Park Avenue", which includes 1 Vegan Contour Brush, 3 Mineral Color Dust Shadows (White Gold, Java Java, Parfait), and 1 Lip Base Transformer, a $28 value! 

How to enter: 
-You must be following my blog, via Google Friend Connect (see the blue "Join this Site" button in the column to the right). 
-Like EMANIFANS Facebook fan page, here.
-Follow Emanitweets, here.
-Comment down below that you did all three entries and leave me your name! 

For extra entries: 
-Follow eatinglipstick on tumblr, here.
-Follow me on Instagram: hollieforrest
-Follow me on twitter, here. 

Please note that I will need your address so that I can forward it to Emani Minerals, who will be shipping you the products. This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. The giveaway will close Saturday, December 22nd at midnight pacific time. 

Thank you to the kind people at Emani Minerals for making this review and giveaway possible! Please be sure to check out my other giveaway, here. Also, I will be doing an international giveaway soon, so check back shortly! 

Maybelline Super Stay 10 Hour Stain Gloss

Even some of my favorite brands turn out flops, and the Maybelline Super Stay 10 Hour Stain Glosses are no exception. It was unbelievable how poorly these "stain glosses" performed. I was unsatisfied and disappointed to say the least!

The packaging is quite bulky and reminds me of a mascara tube. Also, the lettering on the front started to scratch off somehow, making me feel that the packaging is cheap. Definitely not the prettiest, or sleekest packaging.

The wand was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. I actually liked the unique oval-spoon shape of the applicator. It allowed me to apply color precisely and give me more control. 

From left to right: Refreshing Red and Ruby Indulgence

Pigmentation: The pigmentation is quite sheer, but that is expected with a stain. They don't layer very well, making the color difficult to build up. (Flaking occurs when layering). 
Finish/Texture: These claim to give a glossy finish, but the gloss wears off into a matte finish within minutes. Normally, this wouldn't bother me, but since it claims to stay glossy for 10 hours, I have to take that into consideration. 
Scent: As you know, I hate it when products are strongly scented. These remind me of grape soda, which is a rather odd choice for a lip product (plus I hate grape soda). I have never owned anything that smelled this strongly of grape before. The grape scent lingers throughout the day, it was unbearable for me. They also had a really strange, bitter taste that was horrible.
Lasting Power:  Seriously, these took forever to dry! Almost instantly after drying, I was shocked to see that the stain had settled into each and every line my lips has. The 10 hour stain glosses don't even have an hour's worth of staying power. 
Price/Availablity: I paid $6.94 per stain at Target. These are available at most drugstores.

Likes:

• Unique wand allowed precise application

Dislikes:

• Settled into lines quickly/doesn't apply evenly
• Shine disappeared quickly
• Flaking occurs when trying to layer
• Color only lasted about an hour before completely fading
• Takes about 5 minutes to dry after application
• Leaves lips feeling dry/uncomfortable
• Smells strongly of grape, has a bitter taste

Overall:
Obviously, these could never have lasted 10 hours. I already had a feeling that these weren't going to live up to such a claim, but the way that they performed was a disgrace. The shine barely lasted a minute, while the color faded within the hour. The grape soda smell was overwhelming, and the taste was disgustingly bitter. The worst thing about these stains is that they settle into the lines of your lips, even when a thin layer is applied. I have never had such a problem 

Sadly, this is one of the worst products I have tried from Maybelline. I usually am a fan of their lip products (I love the Color Sensational Lipsticks and High Shine Glosses) but these stains just didn't work at all. 

Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush

The Revlon Photo Ready range isn't one of my favorites when it comes to drugstore makeup. When these cream blushes were released in the summer, I was a bit apprehensive about picking them up right away. All in all, it is hard for me to resist such a bright, hot pink pot of blush!

I bought the shade Flushed, which appears to be a bright fuchsia. The packaging is very simple, which doesn't bother me at all. What does bother me is that I had to pay $13 at Rite Aid for only 0.44 ounces of product. That is steep for being a drugstore item.

Claims

• Creamy blush provides buildable, beautiful flush of color
• Lightweight formula with silky soft feel on skin
• Blends evenly over cheeks for smooth application
• Photochromatic pigments bend and reflect light to provide cheeks with a beautiful glow

The little pot instantly reminds me of the old Bobbi Brown pot rouge packaging, but they are both completely different and incomparable. I like that the name is right on the top, so I can see it easier among my sea of blushes in my drawer! 

Unfortunately, the bright pink here is not exactly what you get when the blush is applied to the skin. I was a bit disappointed because these really do lack in pigmentation. To get a decent flushed look, at least four layers are needed. 

In order for the swatch to even show up in this photo, I had to use about four layers of blush. I also didn't see any glow that it claims to give to the skin. The color is very pretty, but you really have to use your time and build up the color for a few minutes. 

The best thing about this blush is that it does feel very lightweight and is wearable. In this photo I had been wearing the blush for about an hour or so, and it had already faded quite a bit. 

Application: I used my fingers to apply this blush, for me it's the easiest way to get a smooth finish. When I tried using a brush the color barely showed up, and layering was difficult. 

Finish/Texture: The finish is creamy and sheer. The texture feels like a lip balm, it's really bizarre for a cream blush. I suppose that's why it felt very lightweight on the skin. 

Lasting Power: The lasting power was horrible. It was nonexistant basically. Barely an hour later most of the color was gone! 

Scent: There wasn't a scent at all, yay! ( I hate scented face products).

Packaging: The packaging is basic, just a small pot with a twist off lid. Similar to the old Bobbi Brown pot rouge packaging. 

Price/Availability: I spent $13 at Rite Aid. I'm sure you could find it cheaper at a Target or Wal-Mart. Available at most drugstores

Likes:

• Wearable 
• Feels lightweight and creamy
• Blends nicely and evenly

Dislikes:

• Very sheer
• Color fades quickly
• Difficult to build up color
• Expensive, $13 
• Doesn't give a glow to the skin

Overall:

I was expecting a bright burst of color from this cream blush, and instead I got a natural flush that faded within an hour. Don't get me wrong, I like a natural flush too, but this blush wasn't worth keeping since the wear time was next to nothing. When I put on blush, I want it to stay looking fresh all day. I don't recommend the Photo Ready cream blush line, simply because it requires too much work for what it's worth. Sorry, Revlon better luck next time! 

Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss

When these glosses first hit the shelves, I only picked up one. Now I have four, and I'm trying to hold myself back from buying the rest of the entire collection. The formula is perfect, the packaging is functional, and the colors are saturated, an all around incredible product! I'm absolutely loving these so much that they are my all time favorite drugstore lip glosses!

From top to bottom: Raspberry Reflections, Electric Pink, Gleaming Grenadine, and Plum Luster

Pigmentation: These are definitely true to the color in the tube! Maybelline claims to use pure pigments in this formula, and I believe it. Each color is vibrant and gives medium coverage, but they are easily buildable without feeling gooey. 

Finish/Texture: Each gloss has super shiny finish, living up to it's name! I noticed that there is a bit of shimmer in all of them, but on the lips the shimmer seems to disappear completely. Overall, I would say they are cream finish. The texture is completely smooth and light, and is Maybelline's first wax-free formula! 

Scent: They smell a bit fruity, exactly the same way Revlon Superlustrous lip glosses smell. It isn't too overpowering, and wears off within minutes. 

Lasting Power: I had to reapply these a couple of times while I was wearing them, about once every two hours. They aren't the longest lasting glosses, but they are so pleasant to wear that I don't mind to reapply them! 

Packaging: Each gloss has a doefoot applicator, my favorite! The tubes are long and sturdy making it easy to find in my makeup bag.

Price/Availability: I paid $5.50 at Target. I have also seen these at Ulta and most drugstores.

From left to right: Electric Pink, Plum Luster, Gleaming Grenadine, and Raspberry Reflections

Likes:

• Vibrant, pigmented colors
• Can be worn sheer or opaque
• High shine, creamy finish
• Glide on smoothly and evenly
• Feel light and moisturizing on the lips
• Functional packaging with doefoot applicator
• Affordable and readily available

Dislikes:

I don't have anything to dislike about these glosses! 

Overall: 

I can't believe how amazing these are, seriously this is the best drugstore lip gloss I have ever tried. The formula is non-sticky, moisturizing, pigmented, and gives off insane shine! I can't even pick which one is my favorite because I have been enjoying all of them equally. Hopefully Maybelline will expand this line and come out with more shades! 

Also, have any of you seen the newest Maybelline mascara, the Rocket? They are coming out with a ton of new products for 2013 new Color Tattoo shades, new Colorsensational lipstick shades, a new foundation, and a new line of lipsticks called Color Whisper! I can't wait to try everything! I saw pictures and swatches of the new products on Maybelline's Instagram page.