Covergirl Tru Magic Skin Perfector Mattifier

Oh my, where do I even begin this review? I haven't disliked a product this much in a while! Covergirl is one of my least favorite brands at the drugstore, but that didn't drive me away from trying this 'skin perfector' balm. Basically, what it's supposed to do is control oil. You can use it underneath your makeup as a primer, on top of makeup in place of powder, or just alone to blur pores. Either way, this did not do anything for me at all. 

 Covergirl Tru Magic 'Soft Touch Balm'

The balm also comes with a sponge applicator, which is actually nice to use. However, I don't like the fact that there is no place to house the sponge with the compact! 

Claims: "Perfecting balm for a soft, smooth finish. Controls shine, non-greasy, won’t clog pores." 

Finish/Texture: The finish it gave was matte, but the texture was like silly putty! It literally feels like thick goo. Even when I used a small amount, I just didn't like the texture. It didn't give a 'blurred' finish. It honestly just made my face look cakey.

Lasting Power: I wouldn't say that this has 'lasting power' because it really didn't do anything for my makeup at all, other than make it look messy.

Scent: This is unscented.

Packaging: There's no place to put the sponge, and there's also no mirror. Two things that really irritate me, I feel like all compacts should have that. (Personal preference).

Price/Availability: I paid $11.79 at CVS

Likes:

• Nice concept being introduced to the drugstore

Dislikes:

• Didn't give a smooth finish/matte finish/blurred look
• Texture feels like silly putty/greasy feeling
• Balm does not work well over makeup or as a primer
• Expensive for drugstore
• Packaging could have been better

Overall:

Even when I only used a thin layer of this product, it felt terribly greasy on my skin. It did not give me a matte finish, or even a 'blurred' finish for that matter.. 

Whenever I used this, I could just feel the balm sitting on my face. It had such a heavy texture, that it was hard to apply evenly. It honestly felt like a putty more than a balm, it was unpleasant to put on my face, especially over makeup. It made my makeup look cakey, and when used as a primer it just felt terrible. I didn't notice it control any shine either, this product really had no purpose for me. 

I feel like this 'balm' was just put on the market to introduce a new concept to the drugstore and Covergirl was the first to do it, and for that I give them credit. Hopefully other brands will follow the trend and deliver something that actually works. 

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New Wet n Wild Coloricon 5 Pan Eyeshadow Palettes

There's an entire new range of 5 pan palettes from Wet n Wild! I actually had no idea about them at the time, so of course that added on to my excitement. Unfortunately, I didn't get the quality that I was expecting.. sadly, these were a miss for me. 

Palettes from left to right: Tunnel Vision, Art in the Streets, and The Naked Truth

Swatches for Tunnel Vision 

 Swatches for Art in the Streets

Swatches for the Naked Truth

All swatches were two swipes each, without primer.

Claims: "Five amazing shades in one convenient package for an unbeatable price! Each eyeshadow palette features five distinct shades that can be mixed and matched to create a unique look for every style. From matte to ultra-shimmer, these long-lasting, highly pigmented formulas are satiny-smooth for crease resistant wear."

Pigmentation: Tunnel Vision was the most pigmented of the three. Some shadows were more streaky and patchy than others. Only a few were decently pigmented alone.

Finish/Texture: Each shadow has a different finish, some matte, shimmery, and glittery. The texture on all of the shadows was very powdery. Some of them also felt dry to the touch. I really didn't enjoy the texture on any of these shadows. 

Lasting Power: I honestly don't know how long they lasted, because I wouldn't wear them without other shadows/bases underneath. These are terrible without primer. 

Packaging: The packaging is very basic, and it includes a small brush and sponge tip applicator. I have no issues with it. 

Price/Availability: I paid $4 each for these at CVS.

Likes:

• Inexpensive
• Nice variety of shades

Dislikes:

• Powdery finish
• Poor pigmentation
• Primer/base is a must
• Do not live up to claims
• All around poor quality

Overall:

These palettes were just not the quality that I was expecting..

I felt like all of the palettes had a very powdery texture. Some of them were hard to blend and a bit on the dry side. The pigmentation was poor on it's own, some shadows were ok, but I personally would never wear them without primer. Even with primer though, these weren't good. Overall, I just felt like the quality was missing with these. Even at $4 a piece, I wasn't impressed! 

I will have a video review on these palettes soon! 

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Wet n Wild Megaslicks Balm Stains

It was only a matter of time before Wet n Wild got in on the 'jumbo lip pencil' trend. I'm not complaining, because I'm a sucker for lip pencils. I have tried and loved so many different ones high end and drugstore, so of course I had to get these ones! 

I could only find five shades, but there are six in total. I also heard that these are going to be permanent, so there's no need to worry about rushing out to find them!

Swatches from top to bottom: Nudist Colony, A Stiff Pink, Reddy or Not, Rico Mauve, and Lady and the Vamp. 

Nudist Colony is yellowy beige. A Stiff Pink is a bright blue based pink, Reddy or Not is a blue based cherry red. Rico Mauve is a deep pinky mauve. Lady and the Vamp is a bright reddish purple. These were two swipes each, all shades have a cream finish. 

Claims: I couldn't find any claims on these yet! 
Pigmentation: They are nicely pigmented. One or two swipes will get you full color. The stain they leave behind is also pigmented and not patchy. 
Finish/Texture:The finish is creamy with a subtle shine. The texture is very smooth.
Lasting Power: It lasted on me for about 3 hours. The shine dies down after that, and the stain it leaves behind is even and not dry or patchy looking. 
Scent: I didn't notice any scent.
Packaging: The caps on the tubes are really loose, so these may be hard to travel with.
Price/Availability: I paid $3 and ( I also got BOGO 50% off )each at CVS        


Likes:

• Pigmented
• Stain wears evenly
• Nice variety of colors
• Inexpensive
• Creamy finish & texture

Dislikes:

• They don't feel hydrating
• Cap easily falls off
• Aren't as long lasting as other drugstore stains

Overall:

These didn't really knock my socks off, but I think that they are 'okay' for the price. They did leave behind a decent stain, and the pigmentation is impressive. However, I wasn't crazy about the way that these felt on my lips.. they aren't moisturizing at all. Be careful if you tend to have dry lips, because I feel like that could be an issue.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend these over the Hard Candy All Glossed Up pencils, or the Jordana Twist and Shines, but I do think that some people will find these enjoyable since they are pretty cheap compared to most drugstore stains. These aren't anywhere near being a favorite for me, but I don't think that they are terrible. All in all, I would say if you want to try them, wait for them to go on sale. 

If you would like to see lip swatches, please watch my video review below! 

Have you tried the Megaslicks Balm Stains yet? 

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Haul: New Drugstore Makeup for 2014!

More new drugstore releases have landed! Even though it hasn't even been a month since my last haul, I seriously could not contain myself from trying these new items! This haul was actually unintentional, my mom came across everything for me at a CVS in Las Vegas. I'm so happy she found this stuff, it's saved me so much 'hunting' as I like to call it! 

Covergirl Bombshell Volume Mascara- This is a double ended mascara, which I believe is a first for Covergirl. Both brushes are meant to be used for the top lashes, one is a traditional bristle and the other is rubber bristles. So far I think it's ok, but nothing special.

Covergirl Bombshell Intensity Liner- This is a new pen liner from CG. It's in the same Bombshell line, I haven't used it at all yet, but I'm excited, the tip looks very fine.

Covergirl TruMagic Skin Perfector Mattifier- This is a clear balm! You use this in place of a powder to touch up your makeup. It's supposed to mattify the skin, but I've used it a few times and all it seems to do is smudge things around. It kind of has a gooey texture, and I'm not into it. Nice idea though, I've heard of high end brands making products like this. 

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer- It's finally here! I'm so happy it's reached the States, it took almost a year! Anyway, this feels a bit like Smashbox Photofinish, but thicker. It does make my skin feel smoother, but I'm not sure it really extends the wear time of my face makeup. So far I like it, but I don't think it will replace my high end primers.

Wet n' Wild 5 Pan Color Icon Palettes- Yes, there are new Color Icon palettes! I didn't even know about these at all, but I'm so excited to use them. I've already played around with the called neutral one called 'The Naked Truth' and so far I LOVE it! 

Wet n Wild Megaslicks Balm Stains- Of course it's about time WNW jump in on the chubby lip pencil fun. I  have used these this past week and have already reviewed them over on my Youtube Channel. I think that they're good for the price, but they aren't amazing. 

Wet n Wild Mega Rocks Nail Polish- This is a beautiful red nail polish that's packed with red glitter. It's called 'Always in the Pit'. 

L'Oreal Infallible Shadows- There are 6 new Infallible shades to choose from! I love the formula on these, it's so smooth and the pigmentation is amazing. I bought the shades Silver Sky and Gilded Envy.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick- This a brand new product from L'Oreal, liquid lipsticks! So far I'm not liking the scent on these, which almost makes me not want to use them...yeah, it's that bad, almost like a strong chemical mixed with fruit. The colors are gorgeous though, very saturated and shiny. We'll see how it goes..


So that's it for this haul! Of course I will have full reviews on everything soon. You can watch the  video version of this haul below! 

Are you looking forward to trying any of these products?   

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Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in Pink Light

When I first saw this, I thought it was going to be something like Benefit's High Beam. This is a re-release from Revlon, the Skinlights line actually came out a long time ago. Apparently people loved it so much, that Revlon decided to bring it back. This illuminator barely showed up on my skin, I must say I am a bit disappointed.. especially after hearing all of the hype! According to Allure magazine, a bottle of this once sold for $100 on Ebay after it was discontinued!

There are four shades available, and I purchased Pink Light. 

On the left is a concentrated swatch, and on the right is blended out. 

I do like the glow that it gives, but I wish it was more noticeable. On the face, I feel like this doesn't really do a great job at illuminating, and the color just disappears. It's barely detectable, which is just not my style. It was also not easy to layer.

Claims: "Banish dullness and even out skin with light-capturing crystals and photochromatic pigments".

Finish/Texture:The finish is slightly glowy, but I wouldn't say it highlights. The texture is very thin, to the point where it feels a bit watery. 

Lasting Power: I don't think this really lasts long, because it sort of disappears right after I apply it. This isn't going to serve as a great highlight.

Scent: There was no scent to this product.

Packaging: The bottle is basically just a plastic squeeze tube, nothing special.

Price/Availability: I paid $10.50 at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Likes:

• Pink champagne color is beautiful

Dislikes:

• It hardly shows up on my skin/effect is barely noticeable
• Doesn't layer well/can't be built up 
• Watery, thin texture
• Poor lasting power
• Expensive for the quality

Overall:

This just isn't for me. The finished look I got after using this was extremely natural. The texture was a bit on the watery side, and I found that it didn't layer easily (which is a bit frustrating when you want a more dramatic look).  

I would only recommend this to those of you who prefer the natural look. I had high expectations for this product, so I think that's why it really disappointed me. Overall, I was let down by the quality. I felt that it was also a bit pricey for what it is.. I mean $10.50 + tax for something that barely gives a glow is a bit ridiculous to me. 

If you would like to see what this looked like on my face, please watch my video review! 

*I'll post  the link to it once it's finished uploading :)

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New Revlon Powder Blushes

Revlon powder blushes never really impressed me, until now! Revlon has seriously improved the formula on their blushes, and they've added tons of new shades to choose from! These blushes are a part of their new 'Cheek Boutique' line, which also includes new highlighters and cream blush (display here). The two I purchased are Oh Baby Pink and Haute Pink. 

On the left is Oh Baby Pink and Haute Pink is on the right

Oh Baby Pink is a matte peachy pink. Haute Pink is a matte bright pink. 

Claims: I couldn't find any claims on these yet.

Finish/Texture: These have a matte finish. The texture is silky, but not powdery. It feels very similar to a NYX blush, except these are a bit more stiff to the touch.

Lasting Power:  have worn this blush for 10+ hours without any fading. Very long wearing!

Scent: These don't have a scent.

Packaging: The brush is very cheap, but other than that the packaging is fine.

Price/Availability: I paid $8 each at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Likes:

• Nicely Pigmented
• Variety of shades to choose from
• Amazing quality
• Inexpensive
• Blendable/Easy to use
• Great texture

Dislikes:

• Packaging could be better

Overall:

These new Revlon blushes are such a treat! They remind me a lot of Smashbox and MAC powder blushes, except for they are a fraction of the price! Can you tell I'm obsessed with these yet?

The texture is amazing, it's silky to the touch without being powdery. The pigmentation is crazy good, a little goes a long way. The lasting power is incredible, I'd definitely say they are great for all day wear. I love the way that they blend out so easily, that anyone can get a perfect flush. I really have nothing bad to say about the formula here, it's wonderful! 

If you would like to see how these apply, please watch my video review below! 

Have you tried these yet?

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Empties: Products I've Used Up!

I feel like it takes forever for me to use up a product! Whenever I actually finish something to the last drop, it's like a personal victory. Of course I'm sure that most people don't think twice about finishing products, but us makeup hoarders are one of a kind. Here's what I've finished up over the past three months: 

Olay Complete Daily Defense Moisturizer ($13)- I liked this at first, but then the texture turned really thick. It also had a strong sunscreen smell to it, which drove me crazy. This was one of the first moisturizers I tried from the drugstore, and I'm happy to say that I've moved on. 

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Ivory ($10)- This is my favorite foundation from the drugstore. It matches my skin tone perfectly, and the formula stays put. The quality is amazing, and the shade range is impressive. Holy Grail! 

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in C1 ($9)- I used to love this foundation. The formula is easy to blend, and I love that they have 30 shades to choose from. However, C1 isn't as pale as it used to be. I'm not sure if I just got a bad bottle or if the color is actually different. 

Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer (sample)- This primer was wonderful. It kept my complexion matte all day long! The texture was like a smooth lotion. It was very different than most primers that I've tried. 

Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer $8- This doesn't treat dark cirlces, I've gone through enough of these to know that, but it's a great under eye concealer. This is the lightest shade, it has a lot of pink undertones to it which is perfect for me. The formula is thin, blendable, and has great coverage. 

Maybelline Colossal Smoky Eyes Mascara ($8)- This version of the Colossal is slightly darker than the original, but the wand and formula is exactly the same. I already repurchased a tube of the original, it's one of my favorite mascaras! 

Covergirl Flamed Up Mega Curl Mascara ($8)- I bought this because I loved the Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara (review). This one is so much better, because the wand is curled! It's quite chunky, but it easily grabs every lash. The formula didn't flake or clump on me and it gave my lashes amazing curl, length, and volume. You can watch me apply it in this video.

L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara ($7)- I love the orignal Voluminous, but this one just makes my lashes feel crunchy. It still lenthened very well, but waterproof formulas just aren't for me. I don't even know why I bought this! I rarely ever wear waterproof mascara.

Jordana Easyliner in Lavish Brown ($2)- This is an amazing retractable liner! I decided to try this because of EmilyNoel83, and she was right, these are great! I love how smooth and pigmented this was, plus there are a ton of different shades to choose from. I've already repurchased it! 

Essence Gel Liner in Midnight in Paris ($4)- This is my absolute favorite gel liner. It's smooth, intensely pigmented, and super affordable. It's better than any high end/drugstore liner I've ever used. I think I've been using this liner for about 4 years now.. I've probably gone through 100 of these..

I know that this doesn't seem like much, especially since it took me about three months to use all of this! I have been trying to use up what I already have lately, but of course that's easier said than done. 

I hope that you found this post interesting! I just love empties, they are always so fun talk talk about! 

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Wet n' Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine Color Icon Trio

Wet n' Wild makes some great eyeshadow palettes, my favorite one is Nude Awakening from the Spring collection. I came across this limited edition trio from the newest collection called 'In the Spotlight' for Holiday 2013. 

There are six trios in the collection, and I bought 'Drinking a Glass of Shine'. 

Up close, you can see that these are cream based shadows. The glitter looks like it's loaded in there, but it's actually only on the surface.

Here are the swatches, as you can see the cream is very sheer. The glitter is what stands out most with this trio. These swatches were three swipes each.

Claims: "Beautifully enhances to create the perfect look. All day crease-resistance color".

Pigmentation: This trio has a gel base that is almost completely clear. The glitter will show up if you heavily swatch it.

Finish/Texture: The finish is glittery, and the texture is almost chunky. It doesn't spread on evenly at all, and the glitter feels very rough.

Lasting Power: I didn't actually wear this trio, since it's not safe for the eyes.

Packaging: The case is made of plastic, it's the standard cases that most wetnwild trios have. It's a bit on the cheap side.

Price/Availability: I paid $3 at Walgreens.

Likes:

• I honestly didn't like anything about this trio.

Dislikes:

• No pigment
• Greasy, chunky, gritty texture
• Unsafe for the eye area
• Not an actual cream shadow/more of a gel
• Misleading advertisement

Overall:
I would never use this palette, ever, even if it was safe for my eyes. The glitter only shows up if you layer it a ton of times, and the cream base has no pigment. I hate the way that it felt, it was greasy and rough at the same time. I'm confused with  the claims, why would they say it's crease-resistant, if it's not safe for the eye area? Also, why would you include an eyeshadow brush and sponge tip in the packaging? A bit misleading..

Basically, I had no idea that this wasn't safe for the eyes until I read it on the back (which was in very small writing). I feel like if people knew that these were for areas other than the eyes, they probably wouldn't sell. It's almost like being tricked! I was disgusted by the terrible quality of this trio, and the holiday collection in general was disappointing. 

I also found out that Wet n Wild told Nouveau Cheap that these palettes are intended for use on the eyes, but they had to slap on a warning label on the back of the product to be safe, because of 'large glitter pieces'. Ok that totally makes sense, create a product that's intended for use on an area where it's unsafe. 

Well this turned into a bit of a rant..

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