Maybelline Expert Wear Single Eyeshadows

The Maybelline Expert Wear shadows are definitely a drugstore hidden gem!  I never gave these shadows much thought, simply because I hadn't heard much about them before..and because they are placed on the very bottom of the shelf at most stores. The color selection is what finally caught my eye, there are twenty shades total. I'm so amazed at the quality of these shadows, and the low price, that I already want to get more!

 

The packaging is a simple, yet functional plastic that allows the shadow color show through. The shade names are labelled, in very small print, on the front. 

I bought four neutral shades. (Top left) Made For Mocha, (Top right) Tastefully Taupe, (Bottom left) Silken Taupe, and (Bottom right) Nutmeg. 

Swatches from left to right: Silken Taupe, Nutmeg, Tastefully Taupe, and Made For Mocha. Silken Taupe is a light champagne that has small glitter chunks, and claims to have a pearl finish. Nutmeg is a warm brown that has a matte finish. Tastefully Taupe is a shimmery light brown, it does not contain glitter and claims to be pearl finish. Made For Mocha is a deep chocolate brown shade that claims to be matte, but it has more of a satin finish. These swatches are two swipes without primer underneath. 

Claims: "All-day crease-proof wear. Rich, velvety textures in matte, pearl and metallic. Glides on effortlessly with superior smoothness."

Pigmentation: These shadows are pigmented on their own, and true to pan! They can be intensified with shadow primer. 

Finish/Texture: These have a smooth, velvety texture. Each shadow has a different finish, as I explained above. 

Lasting Power:  I had no fading or creasing with these shadows. They wore all day without a problem. 

Packaging: The packaging is nicer for such an inexpensive shadow. The lid snaps shut tightly, and the shadow color can be seen through the plastic, a huge plus for me! 

Price/Availability: I paid $3 each + tax at Target 

Likes: 

• Pigmented and true to pan
• Smooth texture and easy to blend
• Variety of shades and finishes to choose from
• Inexpensive
• Last all day
• Live up to claims
• Functional packaging

Dislikes: 

• Finish may vary from what is stated on the packaging

Overall: 

I wish that I would have discovered these shadows sooner! They are great quality, readily available, and inexpensive. 

The formula is very smooth and silky, which make these very easy to blend. The packaging is actually functional, and the price is unbeatable at three dollars. These wear all day without creasing or fading, and the pigmentation is great without a primer. Of course a primer would intensify these even more so, which is great. I love that these live up to all of their claims too! 

It doesn't matter if you're an eyeshadow beginner or an eyeshadow hoarder, definitely give these shadows a try! 

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Maybelline I See Blue Great Lash Mascara

Whether you love it or hate it, Great Lash is a classic mascara. I remember using the original Great Lash when I first started wearing mascara! Today, it isn't my favorite, or first choice when it comes to the many options at the drugstore. That aside, I am so happy that my mom bought me this limited edition mascara. The color is so bright, and unexpected! 

The shade is called 'I See Blue', and it's a gorgeous bright royal blue.

I really love the way that the blue color brightens up the makeup look. It's so unexpected, and it really makes the lashes pop! 

Claims: "Conditions as it thickens. Achieve a full lash look without clumps."

Formula: The formula feels a little dry, but not overly dry, it's smooth and creamy. The color is so bright and it doesn't need more than two coats to look good.

Wand Type: The wand is made of spiraled traditional bristles. It is the same shape as the original Great Lash mascara.

Price/Availability: This was a gift, but I've seen this collection at Walgreens and WalMart

There are a few other shades in this collection, but this is the only one that I have tried. 

Likes:

• Bright color
• Only a few coats needed to get full color
• Formula is easy to apply/ non-clumping
• Makes lashes appear fuller/thicker
• Lives up to claims

Dislikes:

• Limited edition
• The wand shape is okay/nothing too special

Overall:
If you're looking for a mascara to liven up your look, this is the one to get. I enjoy the pigmentation and ease of use with this mascara. 'I See Blue' is probably the easiest colorful mascara I have ever worked with, because it doesn't need to be layered. The formula is on the dry side, but it isn't anywhere near flaky. It made my lashes appear fuller and thicker, but it didn't lengthen much. The wand is very ordinary, but it gets the job done. 

Overall, I really adore this blue on the lashes! I just think it's different and fun to wear. I've always liked the idea of colorful lashes, but never actually found a decently pigmented mascara until now. Good job Maybelline, I'm impressed! 

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Drugstore Haul: Eye Products!

Sometimes when I'm shopping at the drugstore, I stick with one type of product. I don't know how it happens, but it does! This time around I chose only eye related products. It seems like I can never get enough eyeshadows, liners, and mascaras! 

Some of these items are new products, while others have been around for years. They all looked exciting to me, so I decided to give them a try! 

Maybelline Expert Wear Single Eyeshadows- I haven't heard many people talk about these before, so I bought them to try out for myself. I'm so happy that I did, because these have great pigmentation and such a smooth texture. There are so many different finishes and colors to choose from too! 

Maybelline Eye Stuidio Master Smoky Shadow/Liner Pencils- I bought these simply because I had a request from some of my subscribers on YouTube. I was never interested in these myself, since I found them a bit gimmicky. This eyeliner claims to give a smoky shadow look in two steps, but it just crumbled and broke off into the tube. This product was just an overpriced mess! I have a full review on them here.

Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios- I have so many of these and I love them! These are my favorite eyeshadows from the drugstore, so I decided to expand my collection and get some new shades. I enjoy how smooth and pigmented they are without primer. 

Hard Candy Ginormus Lash Mascara- This is a new product from the Hard Candy makeup line, exclusively at Wal Mart. I have never tried a mascara from Hard Candy before, so I decided to get this one. The brush is huge and the bristles are traditional. So far, I don't like how thick the formula is and it doesn't really do much for my lashes.

Do you sometimes only buy eye products? Or is it just me? 

Individual reviews on each product are coming soon! 

                              
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Maybelline Master Smoky Pencils

The Master Smoky eyeliner pencils are a new product to the Eye Studio line from Maybelline. I had a few requests from my YouTube subscribers to test them for a review! So, I took the plunge and bought the two darkest colors I saw: Black Smoke and Scorching Brown. I can't say that I was excited to try these, the idea of an eyeliner giving an entire smoky eye look in two steps is gimmicky. 

The packaging displays what your results can look like by using this liner (bottom right corner) and it also gives two step instructions on how to get the look. 

The eyeliners are double ended. One side has the tip of the actual eyeliner, and the other has a sponge tip. The sponge tip is what claims to give the smoky look. 

Claims: "Mastering the smoky eye has never been easier. Ultra saturated pigments in a creamy blendable formula. Long-lasting smoky eye in two steps"

Finish/Texture: The finish is matte, and the texture is smooth and crumbly. 

Lasting Power: The liner lasts all day, it didn't fade or smear.

Packaging: Ok, the packaging has some major issues. The liner completely popped out of the tube and crumbled everywhere. I didn't even do anything when it happened, I just opened the cap and saw that half of the liner was stuck into the cap.. ugh.

Price/Availability: I paid $8 

Likes: 

• Intense/pigmented color
• Feels creamy/smooth

Dislikes: 

• Formula dried up quickly
• Eyeliner crumbles easily
• Eyeliner completely broke in half and fell out of packaging
• Overpriced $8-$10 at drugstores

Overall:

This isn't a new concept with eyeliner. I've tried multiple liners that had sponge tips to be used for smoking the liner out, and this one was no different. The Master Smoky claims are a bit ridiculous, personally I would never use a single eyeliner for an entire smoky look, and even if I wanted to, this wouldn't cut it. 

This liner was so creamy, that it actually crumbled and broke off completely, yes the entire stick popped out of the packaging! The formula dries rather quickly, so it was hard to achieve a smoky look. I could barely smoke out my liner, let alone create an entire smoky eye look, I just don't see how it can be done. Another thing that I don't like about this liner is that you can only draw a thick line with it. It's not very versatile, and it's not worth the eight dollars at the drugstore. 

The colors are intense and very dark, they lasted all day, but the packaging issue was enough to turn me away from this eyeliner forever. There are way cheaper, creamier, liners at the drugstore that can be smoked out with a q-tip or a disposable sponge tip. Honestly, this eyeliner is a gimmick and  way overpriced for the quality. 

For swatches and a quick demonstration on how I applied these, please watch my video review below. 


Have you tried these yet? If so, did they work for you? 

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Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains

I have been wearing these Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains non-stop since I bought them about a week ago. The colors are gorgeous and the formula is as hydrating as a lip balm! The staining claim isn't really accurate, but these are still some of the best lip pencils I've ever tried. I have found my holy grail lip pencil! 

The packaging is very similar to the Revlon Kissable Balm Stains. It's a plastic tube with a twist applicator.  There is no sharpener, so these tips will dull over time.

Each balm has a very glossy, creamy, and smooth finish. None of these colors have shimmer in them, which is another huge plus for me. 

Swatches from left to right: Cranberry Crush, Honey Love, Tropical Frenzy, Rock N Rouge, and Candied Coral. 

Cranberry Crush is a muted berry purple. Honey Love is a dusty brownish-mauve. Tropical Frenzy is a bright blue toned pink. Rock N Rouge is a bright blue toned red. Cadied Coral is a soft, peachy coral. I really like all of these shades! 

Claims: "Moisturizing Balm Infused with a Light-Weight Stain, Applies with a Glossy Finish then Transforms into the Perfect Flush of  Color. Long-Lasting."
Finish/Texture: The finish of each of these is glossy. It does dry down a bit, but it doesn't look matte. The texture is super smooth and creamy. 
Lasting Power: The lasting power isn't the best, it's only lasts about three to four hours on my lips. These are not long lasting at all, especially for a stain! 
Scent: These have a very sweet candy, vanilla scent to them. It is strong at first but fades one it's applied. 
Packaging: The packaging is just a plastic twist-up tube. The cap closes securely. 
Price/Availability: I paid $3.29 each for these at Walgreens

Likes: 

• Nice variety of shades
• Very pigmented
• Creamy texture
• Easy to use
• Inexpensive 
• Keeps lips hydrated

Dislikes:

• Doesn't stain lips
• Hard to find (Walgreens Jordana displays are hard to find/usually empty)
• Isn't long lasting

Overall:

Honestly, these are better than any other jumbo lip pencil that I've used at the drugstore. These feel like a high end lip pencil, similar to a Clinique Chubby Stick. Many people are comparing these to the Revlon Kissable Balm Stains, but these aren't dupes. These are more of a hydrating balm, and the Revlon ones are more of a drying stain. 

The formula is wonderfully smooth and creamy on my lips. I enjoy the way that they make my lips feel like I'm wearing a lip balm. The hydration is amazing. The colors are all gorgeous and very pigmented. I love that they are so inexpensive too.  These didn't stain my lips much, so they aren't long lasting at all. However, everything else about these balms is perfect. 

If you can find the Jordana Twist and Shine Balm Stains in your area, I highly suggest trying them! 

Please watch my video review (below) for lips swatches! 

Huge Jordana Haul!

Jordana is a brand that I haven't tried much from. Whenever I go to my Walgreens their display is usually empty! Luckily, I came across a full display at a Walgreens out of town. Jordana also had a buy one get one half off sale going on, which is why I decided to go ahead and indulge! 

Most of the products that I bought are brand new to Jordana! I didn't see any reviews on these at the time, but the colors were so gorgeous and the prices were too good to pass!

Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains- These look so similar to the Revlon Kissable Balm Stains, which I love, so I just had to try them. I've already tested these out quite a bit and they really do moistuize like a lip balm, and the colors are gorgeous, but they don't really leave a stain on my lips. 

12 Hour Made to Last Eyeshadow Pencils- Jordana and Milani are ownded by the same company. When I first saw these matte pencils, they instantly reminded me of the limited edition Milani Naturally Chic pencils! These matte shades are super intense, and the forumla is very creamy. I haven't really tested them enough to see how long they last.

12 Hour Made to Last Eyeliner Pencils- Ok, I've been using these non-stop. They are intensely pigmented, and insanely smooth. I like these just as much as Urban Decay shadow pencils! The forumla on these is definitely a dupe. I wanted to buy buy more shades, but these were the only ones left. 

Easyliner Eyeliners- These aren't new products, but I've heard EmilyNoel83 talk about these so much over the years that I finally decided to get them. The formula is decent, but I actually like to use these on my brows more than on my eyes. 

Easliner Lip Liner- I also bought this because of EmilyNoel83! This was the only color that I could see myself wearing, all of the other shades were very shimmery and dated looking. This one is called Sedona Red, and it's a beatiful matte. I really like it! 

Please watch my haul video if you want to see each product swatched!


Have you tried any of these new Jordana products? Or Jordana in general? Full reviews are coming soon! 


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Maybelline Limited Edition Color Whisper Collection

I'm just going to start this review off by saying that I don't really care for the Maybelline Color Whisper line. The formula is drying on my lips, and I'm not a huge fan of the greasy feeling finish. With that being said, I decided to give them a second chance. Why? I have no idea. Maybe because Maybelline is one of my favorite brands at the drugstore and I felt the need to really give these another try. Plus I love limited edition collections! 

I came across this new, limited edition collection unintentionally at Walgreens the other day. I decided to make these the colors that I would try to 'give the Color Whisper another chance' and I almost wished I hadn't..because the formula on these colors feels worse on my lips than the original ones! How is that possible you ask? Well, let me explain..

The entire collection consists of six completely new shades, which are limited edition.

I was really disappointed in the lack of color selection in this collection. Most of the shades here are are muted nudes/pinks with a metallic, glittery finish. I think that Maybelline could have gave us more variety here, and honestly I just think most of these shades are unflattering on the lips.

Swatches from left to right: Pink Bombshell, Plum Setter, Strike A Rose,Coral Tease, Nude Night Out, and Red Around Town.

I really hated the metallic, glittery finish that most of these had. It's definitely not as noticeable in these swatches as it is on the lips. Pink Bombshell is a frosty light brownish-pink. Plum Setter is a frosty muted deep purple. Strike A Rose is a metallic/frosty light pink.  Coral Tease is a metallic orangey brown. Nude Night Out is a light orangey brown, it's very similar to Coral Tease. Red Around Town is a bright orange red, it doesn't contain any glitter and I 

Claims:"Pure color pigments suspended in a weightless gel. No heavy waxes or oils."
Finish/Texture: Red Around Town has a shiny/cream finish, while the rest all have a metallic/frosty finish. Red Around Town felt a bit greasy and the rest all felt gritty, due to the large glitter chunks. I really couldn't believe they were lipsticks, it felt like lip scrub! 
Lasting Power: These only last about four hours before they start to fade away.
Scent: I didn't really notice a strong scent with any of these, but there was a subtle vanilla.
Packaging: The packaging is a long, skinny plastic tube. It's cute and stays in place securely, I actually adore the tube! 
Price/Availability: I paid $7.50 each at Walgreens

Likes:

• Cute packaging
• Red Around Town is a nice color

Dislikes:

• The glitter caused the lipsticks to have a gritty texture
• Each lipstick has a greasy/slippery feel
• This collection is very frosty/glittery (which might be a like for some)
• Limited edition
• Poor staying power
• There was no theme/ no name to this collection at all, which is a bit odd

Overall:
This collection was strange. There was no theme, goal, or color scheme here.. other than frost. There was no name for this collection on the display, all it said was limited edition and the name of the product. I've seen it at multiple Walgreens stores and they all say the same thing. I have no idea what Maybelline was trying to achieve here, but whatever it was left me feeling confused. 

I really don't like frosty finish lipsticks, especially when they have huge glitter chunks in them. I would have liked these better if they had maybe some lipsticks that were frosty, some glittery, and some cream. Instead it was just a mess of both, and one cream! What is that? 

These colors were pretty to me, it was mainly the finish and texture that turned me off. These had a gritty feeling to them, which honestly felt like a lip scrub. It was so weird and almost laughable. Who wants to put something scratchy on their lips? I know that I don't. The wear time is ok, and the packaging is nice, but the texture is awful. The frosty finish with glitter chunks isn't my style. 

I felt like this collection was put together and released without any thought. I'm still not really a fan of the Color Whispers, but I'm happy that I gave them another try.



If you would like to see what these lipsticks look like on my lips, please watch my video review.

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Limited Edition Wet N' Wild Pop Art Craze Collection

Just when I thought Wet N' Wild limited edition collections couldn't get any better, Pop Art Craze came along. There are six different trios, most of the shadows have a matte finish, and they're only about three dollars a piece. This collection is definitely bright, fun, and something totally different from anything that I've ever seen at the drugstore. It's nice to finally have some bright shadow choices available at the drugstore! 

These are all six of the trios, and yes, that is the display in the background. Isn't it cute? The girl at the store let me keep it, which was so nice of her! I love the pop art theme of this collection.

 From left to right Your 15 Minutes Aren't Up, Hard Being the It Girl, and Three's a Party. 

From left to right: A Regular at the Factory, To Muse and Carouse, and I'm Seeing Triples.

Likes: 

• Inexpensive, about $3 each
• Variety of colors to choose from
• Quality of the shadow is great/little fallout
• Most of these have a matte finish
• Unique and fun collection for the drugstore

Dislikes:

• Limited Edition
• Packaging is a bit flimsy

Overall:
Wet N Wild did an amazing job at creating bright, fun trios for summer! So many creative looks can be made with these, the possibilities are endless. I love that these shades are pigmented without a base (with the exception of a few shades, I explain more in the video) and that they are seriously affordable at about $3 each. I have never seen a drugstore collection like this before, the quality of the shadows is the same great Wet N' Wild formula that is one of my all-time favorites. 

The Pop Art Craze collection is something that I will be sad to see leave the shelves. I really wish that these would be permanent! I've already got a backup of Three's a Party, which is my favorite trio of the entire collection. 

Please watch my video review below, to see swatches of every shadow and hear me talk about the finish and textures more in depth. 





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