Almay Shadow Softies

Almay is the one drugstore brand that never really interested me. I suppose it's because I never hear about their products being good, and usually their packaging is quite boring. Of course that all changed when I saw these cute, lower case 'a' shaped shadows, I had to take them home with me to try! 

The display stated that these were a 'whipped' formula, but in reality they feel like a weird cream to powder shadow crossed with a Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush. I was so thrown off by the texture, it's just awful. The pigmentation is even more difficult to work with. I had to use countless layers to get any sort of payoff, and to make things worse, they disappear when they are blended.

There are 12 shades to choose from, 6 'matte' and 6 'metallic'. I have a video clip of the full display in my latest haul video, if you would like to see it here.

Here's the packaging! I think that this an updated look for Almay.

 Here's an up close look at the texture. If you look closely, you can see how these have an indent after I used them. I'm not sure if you can tell, but these are also very powdery. 

 Swatches from left to right: Smoke, Fudge, and Creme Brulee. 

I used about five layers to get these swatches to show up on my skin. 

Claims: " Lightweight, Crease-free, Pure Color".
Pigmentation: These barely have any pigmentation. I had to layer the shadow about four plus times to get any sort of payoff. When I tried blending these with other shadows or using them as base, it completely disappeared! 
Finish/Texture: I bought two mattes and one shimmer, it's not metallic as it says. The texture on these is weird- it feels like a powdery version of a Dream Bouncy Blush from Maybelline. It's almost putty-like, but you really have to press into it to get any payoff. 
Lasting Power: These completely disappeared as soon as I blended them out with other shadows. When I wore them alone they didn't even last an hour. Which is absurd. 
Packaging: The packaging is probably the best thing about these. It's shaped like a cute lower case 'a' and it snaps shut nicely. 
Price/Availability: I paid $4 each at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Likes:

• Nice packaging
• Inexpensive

Dislikes:

• No lasting power
• Weak pigmentation
• Difficult to work with
• Odd texture

Overall:
Basically, these shadows are useless for my everyday needs. They have an odd texture, and you really have to take your time to build up pigmentation, not that there's much. They have no lasting power at all, and I'm not one for reapplying eyeshadow during the day..who is? I think you all get the idea of how bad these are! 

Also, I really don't get how Almay could claim these to be a whipped texture. It's not whipped at all! It's a obscure mix that feels like a powdery dream bouncy blush from Maybelline. Even if you prefer the natural look, I just don't see the point in these shadows! Better luck next time Almay.

I also have a full video review and demo of the Shadow Softies below! 

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Haul: What's New at The Drugstore Winter Edition!

I know it's still technically fall over here in the Northern Hemisphere, but that doesn't stop the winter drugstore collections from rolling on in! Yes, there is a whole new fleet of drugstore products that are already here! Of course if you're a regular reader of my blog, then you know I already rushed out to buy everything that I could find. I love it when there are tons of new things to try all at once, even if it leaves a hole in my wallet it afterwards.

I know this is the messiest picture known to mankind, forgive me. 

Revlon Highlighter- This doesn't have an official name really, but it's that little square in the upper left corner. It's so pretty, the color is like a rose gold with lots of shimmer, and glitter. It may not be for everybody, but so far I'm loving it!

Wet N Wild ColorIcon Trio- This little trio isn't exactly eyeshadow, it's smore of a cream. I haven't used it at all yet! I'm just hoping that the glitter will stay put once I have it on my eyes, we'll see how that goes. It's from the new Fergie Holiday collection.

Essence Jumbo Eyeliner- I had to get this, because I love my Essence I Heart Rock eyeliner (the skinny version) and I couldn't find it anywhere in the Essence display. I hope they didn't discontinue it, but until then I just decided to try this version.

Essence Stay No Matter What Shadow Pencil- These are brand new to me, I just spotted them at Ulta and I was so excited! This copper shade was calling my name, and it's incredibly pigmented. 

NYX Butter Lip Balm- I had to get this because of my love for the Butter Glosses. It's basically a tinted lip balm, so far I'm not loving it. It kind of feels waxy to me..

Revlon Powder Blushes- I LOVE THESE BLUSHES. They are matte and silky, but not powdery. The texture is exactly what I want in a blush, and they have so many pretty colors. The formula is nothing like the original Revlon blushes, they are 100% improved. I already have a full video review on them, which you can watch here.

Revlon Age Defying Foundation- Ok, I was so excited to try this. The packaging is amazing, there's a pump and the shade looked light enough..but the color was way off. It completely turned orange on my skin within minutes. This was the lightest shade, so basically there's no hope for me. 

Revlon Age Defying Concealer-  This concealer was too yellow for my skin tone, but I could still get away with it. The formula was just too thick and creasy. It's definitely not something that I would use under my eye area, but I could see it used as a cream highlight. 

Almay Shadow Softies-These were just a huge disappointment. I thought they were going to be great cream shadows with lots of pigment, NOPE. They were a weird bouncy texture, that barely gave off any pigment. They also didn't blend well, or have any lasting power. I have a full rant coming soon.

Prestige My Blackest Lashes Mascara- This stuff was not for me. It was dry and flaky, and it gave my lashes a natural look. Not too exciting for me. 

NYX Matte Lipstick- I bought this in the shade Alabama, a gorgeous deep red. So far I'm really liking it, the formula isn't drying at all.

Revlon Matte Balm- I bought another shade that I didn't try before, Shameless. I loved the color, so I thought I'd give the formula another chance even though I wasn't crazy about it at first. 

Black Radiance Lipstick- You all know that I love these lipsticks (review here)! I bought this shade called Pink Dahlia because it's so pretty! I'm going to have to do another updated review on the new shades I've bought soon.

Revlon Photoready Skinlights- This is a repromoted product. I really wasn't crazy about it, I think that this is for people who like a more subtle highlight. It's basically a weaker version of Benefit HighBeam. 

I've also put together a video of the haul (with some other items not pictured) if you would like to watch it! I also showed some of the displays again! 

I will have full reviews on all of these products soon. Have you tried any of them yet? 

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LA Girl Color Balms

A few weeks ago, I  stumbled across these lip balms in a random display at Rite Aid. LA Girl is a brand that I had never even heard of until I bought these. I'm glad that I found these balms, because they are so hydrating and they give off a beautiful tint to the lips. Yes, I think I have a found a drugstore hidden gem!

I love the packaging on these! They have a cute font on the outside cap, and a little illustration on the inside of the tube, adorable, and they're named after cities! 

The top swatch is Los Angeles, and the bottom is Rome.

Los Angeles is a reddish pink, almost scarlet shade. Rome is a bright cherry red shade. These are one swipe each. 


Claims: "This exciting new line of fun and flirty lip balms are luxuriously smooth and moisturize lips while adding a pop of color that compliments any skin tone. You'll love the smooth, shiny finish and the natural-looking sheer color you get from Color Balm."
Pigmentation: These are nicely pigmented for a balm, I'm very impressed with it! One swipe is all you need, but you can blot if you want something less intense.
Finish/Texture: The finish is shiny and the texture is very smooth and light. These feel comfortable and hydrating on my lips, they aren't slippery or waxy at all.
Lasting Power: They last a few hours on my lips, and they leave behind a light stain. 
Scent: Rome smells exactly like "Cherry Me" Baby Lips Lip Balm. Los Angeles has a sweet fruity scent. It's a bit strong at first, but it fades quickly. These also have a sweet taste.
Packaging: I love the packaging! It's very detailed and cute, however I do wish that the balm would twist down all the way, the tips do poke out a bit. 
Price/Availability: I paid $2 each at Rite Aid


Likes:

• Nice pigmentation for a balm
• Pleasant scent
• Cute packaging
• Inexpensive
• Smooth, light formula
• Hydrates lips
• Stains lips a bit

Dislikes:

• These are hard to find at the drugstore

Overall:
I really wasn't expecting to like these as much as I do. To be honest if the packaging hadn't caught my eye, I would've never gave them a try. Ok, enough rhyming, these are seriously great. They feel hydrating, smooth, and light on the lips. I love the soft stain they leave behind, they smell good, and they are incredibly cheap. I definitely suggest trying these if you're looking for something new in the tinted lip balm department! 



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Revlon Lip Butters: Invite Only and Provocative

I'm sure that most of you have heard of the ever popular Revlon Lip Butters. It seems like almost every beauty addict, including myself, owns a few of these.. or a lot if you're crazy about them like me . At the time, there weren't many products like the lip butters at the drugstore. Now, almost every brand has created a dupe. To me, the Revlon Lip Butters are a classic, and nothing else comes close. 

There are twenty beautiful shades to choose from in the original permanent range, recently four more were added. Now we have Invite Only and Provocative from the limited edition Evening Opulence Collection for Fall/Winter 2013.

Claims: "Provocative and Invite Only: 2 Limited Edition sheer shades that offer a tint of color with subtle shimmer and shine."
Pigmentation: These are clear balms. They aren't pigmented at all, but they do have small pieces of silver, purple, and blue glitter.
Finish/Texture: The finish is glittery, which isn't my favorite. I honestly would've liked these better without the glitter! The texture isn't as smooth or creamy as the original lip butters. They feel a little waxy to me. The formula isn't that same at all, it's a bit harder in texture.
Lasting Power: The glitter and the shine that these give goes away quickly. They didn't really last more than an hour for me. I also didn't feel like these hydrated my lips much either. 
Scent: These have a very faint marshmallow/vanilla scent that's amazing. 
Packaging: The packaging is the same as the originals. It's just a twist up tube that looks like a lipstick. The caps are the same pretty quilted design. 
Price/Availability: I paid $7 for one and $3.50 for the other (BOGO50% Off) at Ulta.

Likes:

• They look nice in the tube
• Subtle vanilla scent

Dislikes:

• These are clear, no pigmentation at all
• Finish is too glittery
• They feel waxy and hard
• The formula isn't the same as an original lip butters
• No hydration

Overall:
I knew beforehand, from reading other reviews, that these lip butters were going to be clear. Still, I was unhappy about the way that the formula didn't feel the same. The formula wasn't creamy, instead it felt like a waxy balm. The glitter is also off-putting to me. I rarely wear glitter on my lips, so I knew I would never use these. 

There's nothing appealing about either of these lip butters. In my opinion, they're very 'blah'. Even though these are limited edition, and I got them on sale, they just have no use for me. These are just waxy, colorless balms with subtle specks of glitter. Nothing more, nothing less. If you love the original Revlon Lip Butters, you will most likely be disappointed in these.


I also wanted quickly say, sorry I've been absent on the blog lately. I have a terrible cold that's lasted for about a week, stuffy nose, sore throat and all. Hopefully I can be up and running at my regular blogging pace soon. Thank you all for being patient! 

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