Covergirl Tru Blend Foundation

Covergirl recently relaunched their Tru Blend foundation line, which I never remember being a fan of, but decided to try anyway. Also the ad campaign had the singer Pink on the display, with her skin looking about the same shade as mine. Long story short, the foundation was too dark, it oxidized, and the formula wasn't impressive..

Here's what the new packaging looks like. There are 21 shades in the line and I chose the lightest one, Light 1. 

Here is a swatch of Tru Blend L1 

Claims:"truBLEND Liquid Makeup is available in 21 shades and features a new shade matching system. To find your perfect blend, first determine your shade family. Second, choose your number. Coordinate complementary truBLEND products based on your number for a seamlessly flawless nude look that blends in and virtually disappears. "

Formula: The formula is thicker than most liquid foundations. I don't like the way that I can actually feel it on my skin. It's a bit cakey for my liking.

Finish: The finish was a bit dewy, but not glowy. 

Coverage: The coverage was medium. I couldn't really layer it without it looking like too much, since the formula is so thick. 

Lasting Power: I don't really know that lasting power since I couldn't wear this out of the house.

Scent: There was no scent.

Packaging: I think the bottle is bulky, but  I do like the pump though.

Price/Availability: I paid $10.50 at CVS

Likes:

• The pump is useful

Dislikes:

• Expensive for drugstore
• Thick, cakey formula
• Color does not match/turns orange
• Coverage was 'ok'
• Overall quality is poor
• Does not live up to claims

Overall:
Covergirl foundations have never impressed me in the past, but I wasn't expecting this foundation to let me down as much as it did. I really had high hopes that this foundation would work for me color-wise, especially since they claimed that the line will match 99% of women, AND since they had models with similar complexions to mine on the ads. 

I really didn't have anything to like about this foundation other than the pump. The formula was very thick, making application more difficult than it should be. The coverage was alright, and the finish was a little dewy. I think over ten dollars is ridiculous for the overall quality of this foundation. Revlon Colorstay is a bit cheaper, and it's my holy grail. So I would never repurchase Tru Blend again, since it really did nothing for me.

It's incredibly misleading to use women with pale, cool skin tones on the ad/commercials, and not actually have a color in the line that pale women could use. I always find most makeup product ads to be ridiculous, but Covergril takes the cake this time. Just look at the color swatch on the website, it's totally different from what you actually get! 

 | Bloglovin' | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Twitter | YouTube |  

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. 

   | Bloglovin' | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Twitter | YouTube |  

Covergirl Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balm

Covergirl Lipslicks have been around for a while now. I remember taking them from my mom's makeup collection, feeling like a 'big girl' when I used them. As I grew older, I stayed away from Lipslicks because the sheerness was just boring for me. I'm happy to see that Covergirl finally revamped the line, it was about time! 

The new, colorful tubes are a bit smaller in size than the original. The top of the tube corresponds with the lip balm color, but of course the actual shade you get on your lips is a much sheerer version. The bottom colors of the tubes are just for decoration I suppose. The new look is more eye-catching than the original, I really like the bright colors. 

The balm itself is actually very creamy and comfortable on the lips. Their moisture factor is more than Maybelline Baby Lips but less than a Revlon Lip Butter. The pigmentation can be sheer to medium. I have three of the twelve available shades.

Swatches from top to bottom: #Text Me, #Luv U, and #Tweet Me

#Text Me, is a bright pink-red and is the most pigmented of the three here. #Luv U is a neutral light pink, perfect for any skin tone. #Tweet Me is a sheer orange-toned red.

Claims: "Glide on sheer color and keep lips moisturized with our fabulously flirty Smoochies lip balm."
Finish/Texture: The finish is shiny and the texture is creamy/smooth.
Lasting Power: These last only about three hours on my lips.
Scent: The scent is strong, it reminds me of kiddie makeup-powdery, sweet.. it's not the best, but it fades and is only noticeable when applying on the lips.
Packaging: The lip balm itself isn't level with the tube, be careful when putting the cap back on! 
Price/Availability: I paid $5 at Walmart and got a BOGO 50% deal at CVS

Likes:

• Good pigmentation
• Variety of colors
• Smooth texture
• Moisturizes lips
• Inexpensive
• Cute, colorful re-packging

Dislikes:

• Strong scent that some may find off-putting
• Lip Balm itself isn't level with the tube
• Re-application is needed throughout the day for moisture and color
• Names are a bit gimmicky-not a big issue, but just saying!

Overall:
I was pleasantly surprised with these! I really enjoy creamy formula that's so effortless and lightweight on my lips. They have good pigmentation, moisture, and a wide variety of colors to choose from. However, reapplication is needed throughout the day. At five dollars each, I can look past their minor flaws. Even though I think the names are a bit gimmicky, I still think Covergirl did a great job with the re-launch of the classic Lipslicks line. 

If you would like to see lip swatches of these please watch my video review on YouTube.

| Bloglovin' | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Twitter | YouTube | 

Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara

Covergirl mascaras aren't my favorite, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't excited when I saw this at the drugstore! I always enjoy trying new mascaras, and new products in general. In my What's New at the Drusgtore for Covergirl post, many of you also said that you were excited about this mascara, and I can understand why. It's actually better than I expected, and so far it's the only Covergirl mascara that I enjoy using! 

The packaging is a bit different from what Covergirl usually does, I'm liking  the colors! 

The wand is made entirely of traditional bristles that taper in the middle, creating an hourglass-like shape. The end is blunt, and has excess mascara, but I never had any problems with it. I found that this wand reached all of my lashes and didn't over coat them.

Here are the results! I love the way that this mascara gave amazing volume and curl to my lashes (even my straight ones).The overall look is natural, but still noticeable. My lashes didn't feel heavy or droop at all during the day. It also does a nice job on lower lashes! 


Claims: "Ignite every lash. Make a bold statement with winged lashes that curve up and out. The unique wire brush coats your lashes for an instant volume boost."
Formula: The formula is volumizing, and it gives great definition and length. It feels like I'm not even wearing mascara, and it gives a very natural finish. It doesn't feel wet or dry, it's perfectly in the middle. 
Wand Type: The wand is made of traditional bristles that are pinched in the middle, creating an hourglass-like shape. Since the wand is quite bulky, people with smaller lashes or eyes may find application difficult with this mascara.
Price/Availabilty: My mom bought this for me:) it was $6 at Walmart

Likes:

• Lashes feel weightless
• Gives definition, length, and dark color 
• Lashes have a fluttery, natural finish
• Traditional bristles 
• Lasts all day, no flaking/drooping
• Layers well (meaning you can do multiple coats without getting clumps)
• Works nicely on lower lashes too
• Formula isn't too wet or too dry

Dislikes:

• The wand may be bulky for some people
• The wand end has extra mascara goo

Overall:
This is the first Covergirl mascara that I actually like! I found that all of the claims that Flamed Out made to be true, which is rare with any mascara. It gave my lashes excellent curl and volume that lasted all day. It even made my straight lashes stay put! It also managed to feel weightless and make my lashes look perfectly defined and fluttery. The wand may be bulky for some people, but I had no problems with it. I enjoyed the traditional bristles and the unique shape of the wand, which I believe is what really fanned out the lashes.

 I absolutely love this formula, and the wand does a great job. I will be getting lots of use out of this mascara! 

Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil and Shadow Pots

Hi there everyone! Today's reivew is going to be about two products that I mentioned earlier in my What's New at the Drugstore for Covergirl post. As you all know, I'm not usually a fan of Covergirl. I feel that these products really highlighted the so-so feelings I have about the brand. I was eager to try the Flamed Out  Shadow Pencils and Shadow Pots when they first released, but now I realize that they aren't anything special.

330 Melted Caramel (left) and 335 Scorching Cocoa. 

Claims: "Flamed Out Shadow Pots pack a punch of vivid color in perfectly sized pots so you can mix, match, and blend to customize blazing hot hues."
Pigmentation: At first the pigmentation seems great, but within a few hours the color fades. There are big chunks of white glitter that leave fallout everywhere.
Finish/Texture: The finish is so shimmery that it's almost metallic. The texture is somewhat gritty due to the large pieces of glitter. 
Lasting Power: These shadows only lasted a few hours with and without primer. I was so disappointed by the wear time of these, because the pigmentation looks great at first. 
Packaging: I have two major issues with the packaging. First, the shade names aren't listed on the bottom sticker, only the number which is always annoying. Second, the plastic lid is so flimsy, that it can easily twist off at any moment. 
Price/Availability:  I paid $5 for one and $2.50 for the other (BOGO 50% off) at Rite Aid 

Likes:

• Good selection of colors

Dislikes:

• Color fades quickly
• Fallout is inevitable
• Texture is gritty
• Overall bad quality and value
• Packaging is flimsy

350 Melted Caramel Flame

Claims: "Two versatile products in one brilliant pencil! With Flamed Out Shadow Pencil, you get vivid, creamy color plus the definition of eyeliner for the bold eye looks you crave.
Pigmentation: The pigmentation is ok. The color  is more frosty than I would like. I feel that the brown tone is overwhelmed with silver. Definitely something I wouldn't wear alone.
Finish/Texture: The finish is too frosty for my liking. The texture is very smooth, but it isn't creamy.  It also gives a cooling sensation when applied.
Lasting Power: I had about four hours wear before this started to crease and fade on me. When I tried to use it as a base, the color still faded around four hours but it didn't crease. Used as an eyeliner, it smudged around two hours. 
Packaging: This is a pencil that you will manually have to sharpen. Which I hate!
Price/Availability:  I paid $7.50 at Rite Aid


Likes:

• Smooth texture
• Cooling sensation feels nice on the eyes

Dislikes:

• The color is masked by white frost
• Pencil needs to be manually sharpened 
• Doesn't work well as a base or eyeliner
• Bad value for the quality
• Doesn't live up to claims

From top to bottom: 350 Melted Caramel Flame Shadow Pencil, 335 Scorching Cocoa Shadow Pot, and 350 Melted Caramel Shadow Pot. 

Melted  Caramel Flame is a cool taupe with white frost. Scorching Cocoa is a warm medium brown with white sparkle. Melted Caramel is a warm light brown with white sparkle. These swatches were all taken without primer.


Overall: 
At first glance these products look promising, but when it comes down to performance, they don't deliver. I felt that the shadows were too gritty and had too much fallout for my liking. The color fades quickly throughout the day, and the glitter just seems to somehow get all over my face no matter how many times I wipe it off. The shadow pencil is more pigmented than the powder shadows, but the color wears off during the day just the same. When used as a base and an eyeliner, it creases and smudges terribly. The cooling sensation that it gives is great, but it only lasts during application. Both of these products also have major packaging issues! The shadow pots are unnamed on the sticker (one of my biggest pet peeves) and the lids pop off with the slightest twist. The shadow pencil is really a pencil, so you will need to have a jumbo pencil sharpener in your collection in order to keep using it.

I am usually not a fan of Covergirl eyeshadows because I feel that the poor quality is never worth the price they ask. If you could somehow get these products on sale, or clearance rather, they might be worth it. There are much better options at the drugstore that are better in quality and in price! 

I also made a video review of these products, which you can watch on Youtube, here.

What's New at the Drugstore: Covergirl Products Summer 2013

If you can't already tell, I love drugstore makeup. When new collections release at the drugstore, I get crazy hyper. I'm that person who's constantly reading Nouveau Cheap for the latest 'spotted posts'. I'm always making never-ending shopping lists of the newest products, you get the idea. Today I'm announcing the beginning of a new series on Eating Lipstick, What's New at the Drugstore! 

I'm starting this series off with Covergirl, one of my least favorite brands at the drugstore. Even though CG products are hit or miss with me, I decided to buy quite a few of their new Summer items to try, I just can't help it!(:

The products above from left to right are: the Flamed Out Eyeshadow Pots in 330 Melted Caramel and 335 Scorching Cocoa, Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in 350 Melted Caramel, Lipslicks Lip Smoochie in #Luv U, and Flamed Out Mascara in Very Black.

 I skipped out on the new Whipped Foundation and the blush/bronzer duo, since all of the shades are too ark for my skintone. I've been playing around with all of these items since I bought them a few days ago, but I'm still testing them out and forming my opinion. So far I'm really liking the mascara and the Lip Smoochie!

Swatches from left to right: Shadow Pots in 335 Scorching Cocoa and 330 Melted Caramel, Shadow Pencil in 350 Melted Caramel, and Lip Smoochie in #Luv U

I made my first YouTube video today swatching these products! I think that this 'What's New at the Drugstore' series is going to be so much fun to both write, and talk about! I'm planning on doing one for Maybelline and Revlon soon as well, and L'Oreal once I start finding more of their new items! 

I can't wait to start making more videos.  Please let me know what you think of my first video! I would really like to hear feedback since I'm quite new at this. Trust me, it's nothing like blogging! My channel name is HollieEatsLipstick if you would like to take a look.

I will post individual reviews on each product soon!  

Review on Flamed Out Shadow Pots and Flamed Out Shadow Pencil here.
Review on the Flamed Out Mascara here.
Review on the Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balms here.

Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Plum Twist and Ruby Twist

Covergirl has always been one of those "hit or miss" brands with me. I rarely try their new products because of it. I feel that Covergirl's quality, for the most part, is lower than most other drugstore brands. Being a fan of jumbo lip pencils, I really wanted to give their Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm a try. (Read about my last Covergirl experience here.)

The packaging is very standard, a twist up pencil stick with a color coordinated cap. The name is what intrigued my to try this product. It states that it's a gloss and a balm, unlike most lip pencils which only claim to provide color. I'm always on the hunt for a moisturizing lip pencil!

The two shades I chose are Ruby Twist and Plum Twist. Ruby Twist is a warm orange-red with a cream finish. Plum Twist is a cool mid-toned purple that also has a cream finish. I prefer Plum Twist over Ruby Twist, because it matches my skin tone nicely. 

Claims: "Twist up the color and glide on the shine. Treat your lips to a balm fortified with shea and mango butters for a smooth look with a hint of color."
Pigmentation: The pigmentation is decent. I wasn't expecting it to be much, since the claims say a "hint of color".  I always like it when the brand clearly states how much the color payoff  will be so that I won't be disappointed. 
Finish/Texture: The finish is a little shiny, but I wouldn't say glossy at all. The texture is smooth, but it's not silky. They feel a bit slippery on the lips. They are slightly moisturizing, but nothing that could replace a lip balm. The moisture doesn't last throughout the day either.
Lasting Power: There isn't much lasting power with these since they are slippery. I only got an hour of wear, but if I ate or drank it slid off completely.
Scent: There was no scent.
Packaging: The packaging is a standard twist up stick. The pointed tips eventually wear down.
Price/Availability: I paid $7+ tax each at Target

Likes:

• There are 16 shades to choose from
• They are easy to use/good for on the go 
• Pigmentation is good

Dislikes:

• They aren't glossy
• Have a slippery texture 
• There isn't much moisture
• Overpriced for the quality
• Not much lasting power

Overall:

There are better jumbo lip pencils out there. I thought that these were just okay, there's nothing special about them. The one thing I enjoyed most was the color selection. They don't provide a glossy finish, which really disappointed me. There was a bit of moisture, but it didn't last, and the product itself felt slippery. The lasting power was very insignificant, maybe an hour if you don't talk, eat, or drink. I also feel that these are way overpriced for a drugstore lip pencil that barely performs. Nothing stood out to me when I was trying these "gloss balms". Maybe next time I try something Covergirl it will work out for me. 

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!