Thursday, December 30, 2010

Review: Revlon Beyond Natural & Fantasy Lengths False Lashes and Precision Lash Adhesive

Hi everyone! I know I said I'd be making more scheduled posts... and obviously I failed miserably at that -___-; LOL! But anyway, I figured as a New Year's Resolution, I'm going to try and get back into the swing of things ;) So cheers to a new year very soon, and here's a review to start it all off :)


I had previously reviewed Revlon's Fantasy Lengths "Intensifying" false lashes here, but had mentioned that I had wanted to try different styles. To my surprise, Revlon contacted me and graciously sent me some false lashes and lash adhesive (as well as false nails) for review!

I haven't tried the Beyond Natural line of lashes until now and I thought I would like them less than the Fantasy Lengths ones because there is no thick lash band and you have to mess around with lash glue. However, I was pleasently surprised to find that I like the Beyond Natural line just as much (if not more) than the Fantasy Lengths ones.


These lashes retail for around $3-4.

Revlon Beyond Natural lashes
"Dramatic"


What they say: -With various styles available, each with a different length and volume, you can easily customize your lashes -Synthetic, Handmade -Available In 3 Styles



My take: I really like these lashes because of the great volume they give, while still having a nice "wispyness" to them :) They're really full and long, but like the box says, they are ULTRA lightweight and I barely feel them at all. The only thing I don't like about these lashes are that the inner ends don't taper down in length and the outer ends don't flare out as much as I'd like, so they don't exactly look quite "natural." Other than that though, they are a great fit for my eyes and feel perfectly comfortable on. The band is super thin and not rigid at all, so these lashes are easy to place on and adjust. If you're looking for full, voluminous lashes, I'd give these a try.


Revlon Beyond Natural lashes
"Natural Defining"


My take: I don't really care too much for these lashes on their own, as I found them to be too "natural" for my tastes. They look nice up close, but from a distance, they are not really noticeable at all on my eyes. However, they are FANTASTIC for layering with other lashes (will explain below!!!). If you already have naturally long, full lashes, I think these would be nice for adding some extra oomph to them. Like the name, they are definitely "Natural Defining" and don't add much noticeable volume if you have short, sparse lashes like me :( The band is super thin and invisible, and like the other Beyond Natural lashes, they are ultra lightweight, easy to apply, and comfortable to wear. (Sorry no picture with me wearing just those!)

Revlon Fantasy Lengths lashes
"Flirty"

What they say: REVLON® Fantasy Lengths® Maximum Wear glue on eyelashes are a revolutionary way to go from Plain Jane to Naturally Fantastic instantly. Without messy glue to fumble with- you can have perfect lashes that stay where you want them to- even in waterAvailable in four different styles.


My take:
I had mentioned in my other Fantasy lengths review that I really like these lashes because of the innovative self-adhesive strips. I think this is a great idea for people on the go who don't want to mess around with lash glue (me!). They come with an extra pair of adhesive strips too. And you can still peel off the strips and use regular glue afterwards. This pair didn't have the same rigid black band that the other Fantasy lengths lashes I reviewd had. This was a good thing too though because they were more flexible and comfortable. I like this style because it has a good volume and length and is noticeable on my eyes without looking too natural or too dramatic.


& On to LAYERING!!!

I think that this is the best part about these lashes... Since they are SO lightweight and the bands are so thin, they are PERFECT for layering over one another. This is what the Natural Defining and Flirty lashes look like put together:


I really like this combination because it gives the perfect length and fullness for me, while still looking natural :D This combination gives the fullness I like from the Dramatic lashes, but it tapers off nicely and can be adjusted for more flare at the outer end. LOVE :D If you don't mind the extra steps, I'd suggest trying to layer these lashes together for a costumized fit and volume :)

All of the lashes that I've tried are also great quality. I've been able to get around 10 uses out of these lashes until they finally started getting a bit bent out of shape!

Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive

Price: ~$5.00



What they say:
-Ultra thin brush allows for precise application on entire lash band or even the corners of lashes. -Saves time! Easy to apply with no hassle. -No need for extra application tool (such as cotton swab or brush) to apply onto lash band. -Easy touch-up anytime, anywhere. Convenient and purse friendly. Waterproof & Latex Free

My take: I really, really, REALLY like this lash glue. I think it's actually the best lash glue I've tried so far! Application is super simple and really mess free. It has a super fine brush tip that allows for easy application of just the right amount of glue to the lash band. It's not messy at all. The glue stays tacky for a good amount of time so you can easily place and adjust the lashes, but it dries rather quickly too, so the lashes don't fall off while you're in the middle of trying to put them on. And it lasts all day! The lipgloss-esque packaging is also great to keep in your purse if you need to do quick corner touchups throughout the day. I've tried other lash glues before that were sticky, smelly, hard to use, didn't dry quickly, were a bitch to remove, and were otherwise just plain gross! Never again! I'm so glad that I got to try out this lash glue because it's definitely become an HG for me!


The Rundown:

Packaging:
5/5
The packaging of the lash glue is great for stashing in your purse.

Product: 4.5/5
The lashes are fabulous: they're super lightweight, great for layering, and last a long time. It would be great if Revlon would continue to make more styles of lashes! The lash glue is the best I've used so far. Simple and mess free!

Price: 5/5
Completely wallet-friendly!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]


FTC Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were provided to me for review by Revlon.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with these products.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Review: Coach Poppy Perfume

Hey everyone! I've never done a review on a perfume before, but I figured what the heck! I've finally come across one I really love, so I wanted to share :)


A little background:

Coach launched Poppy, a new fragrance for women, in July. The name is borrowed from the Coach Poppy fashion line, and it is the first Coach fragrance to launch directly in department stores. Poppy is a fruity floral with notes of cucumber flower, mandarin, freesia, jasmine, water lily, gardenia, crème brûlée accord, cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla and whipped marshmallow. Coach Poppy is available in 50 ml Eau de Parfum, and in a purse spray and body lotion. (via wwd)


Price:
$60 for 1.7 Oz

What they say: Poppy is a flower. Poppy is a girl. Now, Poppy is a fragrance.


The good stuff:
  • Smells SOOO DELICIOUS!
  • Super adorable packaging
  • It's PINK!

The low-down:

  • If you don't like fruity florals, this isn't for you.
  • Considerably pricey
  • I can see myself using this up quickly

My take: I am in love love love with this perfume! I had been needing a new one since I ran out of this random Paris Hilton perfume I had been using prior :P I purchased this from Sephora when I was on Oahu. Although I hate to spend $60 on something as trivial as perfume, I do think it was well worth it! It just smells so YUMMY. I couldn't really place my finger on what the scent was at first.... all I knew was that it literally smelled DELICIOUS. Like candy :) After doing some researching online, apparently the scents are "cucumber flower, mandarin, freesia, jasmine, water lily, gardenia, crème brûlée accord, cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla and whipped marshmallow."

The only other downer besides the price is the fact that I can see myself using this up rather quickly because it's kinda tiny, and I like to smell good all the time. LOL!

Would I repurchase/recommend?: Yes, as long as I don't come across a scent that I like better, I would definitely repurchase this after I run out. I would recommend this to anyone who likes sweet, candyish, fruity floral scents!


The Rundown:

Packaging:
5/5
Adorable & luxurious!

Product: 5/5
Super "yummy" scent. A great fruity floral!

Price: 3/5
Of course, you're paying for the label so the price is to be expected. But it's still up-there for just perfume :P

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Latest MACquisitions: Fleur Power Blush & Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass (Pics + Swatches)

Hey everyone! It's been a hot minute since I've done a MACquisitions post, haha :) I only got one thing from the Venemous Villains collection -- Strange Potion Lipglass, will swatch next! -- but while I was on Oahu, I picked up some other stuff I'd been lemming for awhile:

Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass & Fleur Power blush

Fleur Power is described as a "Soft bright pinkish-coral (Satin)"
It is uuuuber pigmented! This is the most pigmented MAC blush I own so far. A very light swipe packs A LOT of color for me. It is gorgeous though, a great fresh flush color :)

Richer, Lusher is described as "Peach Coral"
It also packs some punch in pigmentation. Not as sheer as I expected it would be! Although I was really excited to get this shade, on its own, it's a bit "bold" for me :P I like to use it to add some color to nude lippies.


L-R: Fleur Power blush, Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass

Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass


Will do a look w/ the blush soon!


Tuesday, October 5, 2010

NOTD: NYX "Pimp My Nail" & Glitter + Love Package from Sheila! ♥

Hey everyone! Wow, I feel like I have been away from blogging for quite awhile, even though my last post was not TOO long ago :P Still, I'm sorry! I feel like I've been neglecting this blog! T_T ...I've been feeling so consumed by school/work lately that I just haven't found the time/energy to just sit down and write about all the things on my "to-blog" list :( I do lurk everyone else's blogs though! Haha XD I do have lots of reviews lined up, just gotta get around to writing them and taking pictures. Hopefully very soon :)

Anywho, today I wanted to share what I've been sporting on my nails this week: NYX's "Pimp My Nail" which is a fun, bright, neon green. Love it! :D However, I don't love the fact that this polish is VERY sheer, so I did about 5 coats, and it dried to a dull finish. I could still slightly see my nail line, so I decided to go over with glitter (another NYX polish) and NYC clear Extra Shiny Top Coat. Surprisingly despite all the coats, it dried relatively fast (compared to my OPI/China Glaze polishes). It was a bit tacky for an hour or so though, but hardened and shined up nicely after about 2 hours.







Also, I recently got a package in the mail from the lovely miss Sheila of MaddyLoves! Thank you so much love!!! ^____^ ♥

Sheila is the sweetest & I'm so glad I met her on blogger! :) I WILL visit you one day, Sheila! Or you should come to Hawaii for vacation... hehe ^.^


Ahhh! So much goodies! :D MBD masks, Dior samples, nail stickers, BIG HUNK OF LUSH SEXY PEEL!, falsies, eyeliner, mini Dior lipstick, Essie polish, and ZA Foundation! Can't wait to make use of everything!


YAY! Sheila was so sweet to get this for me because I had mentioned how much I liked this brand when it was still sold in Hawaii. I've been using this foundation since I got it. I'm still trying to get the hang of the best way to use it since my skin has gone back to being super-dry lately. If I don't moisturizer well beforehand, it can makes my skin look UBER DRY up close! But the coverage it gives is just as fabulous and flawless as I remember! Will review this soon :)


Thank you soooo much Sheila! ♥ If you haven't checked out her blog MaddyLoves yet, go for it! She does fabulous reviews & tutorials and is super sweet, friendly, & helpful ^__^ (Btw, if you were following her @ MademoiselleLovesBeauty and stopped getting her updates, her new url is http://www.maddyloves.com/, so be sure to visit & follow her there!~ ♥)

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! :)

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Review: Sigma Brushes - Naughty in Black Travel Kit (Pic Heavy!)

Hey everyone! I was recently given the opportunity to do a review of Sigma brushes. This brand has been rising in popularity lately, and is often compared to MAC brushes. I only own one MAC brush and have never owned any Sigma brushes before, so you're getting my honest first hand opinion and experience with these brushes :) For those who might not be familiar with the Sigma brand, you can visit their website to learn more about them!

"The Sigma Makeup brand is synonymous with quality and functionality. Our products are handmade and were developed to satisfy the highest quality standards."

Sigma offers many different professional brush kits for face, eyes, travel, etc. You can also buy individual brushes, brush rolls, belts, mirrors, and makeup bags. I chose the Naughty in Black Travel Kit -- yes, can you believe it? I passed up on pink! -- because I wanted to be able to test a variety of their face and eye brushes that are also travel-friendly (and because I fare better with shorter-handled brushes). I really like the signature sleek black look as well.

Shipping was very quick, it took about a week. I really loved the personal touches that Sigma included, it really made me feel like they take the time to make their customers feel special :) Their customer service and communication is also excellent. I was in contact with a marketing manager the entire time, and she was very accomodating and friendly.


Everything came in a cute purple bag!


Brush care instructions:


You also get a pamphlet with details on all the brushes. Very helpful.


And here is the Naughtly in Black Travel Kit:


The brush roll is black, simple, and sleek. It's made out of a soft pleather material that seems like it would be easy to clean. The brushes all fit snugly into their slots. There is also a zippered pocket, but you can't put much in their or the brush roll won't roll up and stay closed properly (it has a magnetic closure in the lining).

First look at the brushes:


Also comes with a free F50 Duo-Fibre brush!


Price: $49 from http://www.sigmabeauty.com

What they say: The Sigma Makeup travel kit Naughty in Black contains 7 essential brushes to achieve a flawless look on the go. Take Naughty in Black to your favorite travel destination or keep it in your purse for a quick touch-up during the day or a night out. All brushes are individually stored in a stylish black clutch equipped with a convenient pouch to carry all your must-have makeup items.

Clutch dimensions (closed): 7 x 4 inches.
Face brushes: 5 inches total
Eyes/concealer brush: 4 inches total

The brushes all come wrapped in plastic and the face brushes have their own brush guards.



I prefer the shorter-handled brushes because I do my makeup standing in front of my closet door mirror, and longer-handled brushes tend to tap against the mirror -_-; These handles are the perfect length for me and fit comfortably in my hand :)


Now, on to the brushes!

Large Powder (F30) - Very dense with a rounded top.
Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Very soft yet very dense! After washing this brush, it had a few flyaways but held its shape very well. No color bleeding and no shedding while washing either. It did get that kind of off-putting smell you get with natural hair brushes afterwards, but it dissipates. As long as you're not shoving the brush up your nose (lol), the scent isn't detectable.

How I use it: I use this brush to lightly dust my EDM Pressed Powder all over my face.

Overall thoughts: I love that this brush is soft -- not as soft as my ELF Flat-top Powder Brush, which I normally use, but nowhere near scratchy -- AND it's dense. It easily picks up powder and deposits it evenly. It's also a good size even for a travel brush. Although the brush head is small, it's not so small that it doesn't pick up enough powder and takes forever to apply it. Three swirls of this brush in my EDM pressed powder is all it takes to apply my foundation nicely.



Large Angled Contour (F40) - The angled shape makes this
brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: I was really excited to try this brush because I've been looking for a good angled blush/contour brush for the longest time. It also had a few flyaways after washing but had no problem maintaining it's shape. No shedding. It also had that smell to it, but it goes away like the Large Powder brush.

How I use it: I use this brush for applying blush on the apples of my cheeks and sweeping it upwards to my temples. Have not used it for contouring yet.

Overall thoughts: This brush is also very soft and firm. I really like that aspect of Sigma's face brushes -- many ELF face brushes, for example, are super soft but really flimsy and floppy. Sigma's brushes combine soft AND dense, which is ideal in my book :) This brush easily picks up powder blush and applies it wonderfully. It has a great shape for precisely applying blush just where you want it. I do wish it was a tad more dense and firm, though. It's a bit too flexible for my liking if I press too hard with it.




Foundation (F60) - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation.
It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles.

First thoughts: I was also excited to try this brush because I've been looking for a good foundation brush that I could use with powder products. It had no flyaways after washing and held its shape perfectly. No bleeding or shedding and no smell (bristles are synthetic, but no chemical scent either).

How I use it: I know this brush is meant for liquid/cream foundation, but I use it for precisely applying powder foundation below my eyes, around my nose, forehead, and chin. I normally use a Kirkland Borghese Foundation brush for that (it also has a compact, dense shape), but it's been getting scratchy lately so I opted to try this one.

Overall thoughts: I really like the size of this brush head. It's dense and firm enough to pick up powder foundation perfectly and apply it just where I want it. I don't like other foundation brushes I've tried because they're meant for liquid foundation and are just too flimsy for the purpose I want to use them for. This brush is soft, dense, and has just the right amount of flexiblity. It just about replaces my beloved Kirkland foundation brush!




Eye Shading (E55) - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Soft and VERY dense. A couple flyaways after washing and only 1 hair shed while washing. Not really much a smell to this one even though the bristles are natural. The handles also come off as a little "chubby" looking with these shorter eye brushes (not that it bothers me, it's kind of cute ^.^)

How I use it: I used this brush to apply a highlight below the brow, and pack eyeshadow onto my lid.

Overall thoughts: This brush is a little too wide for my eyes when applying shadow to the lid and a little too dense for my liking to use as a brush for applying a highlight below the brow. It functions perfectly fine for both purposes and packs on color nicely, but the shape and density of the brush head is just a bit too bulky for my eye shape and leads to somewhat messy application :(




Concealer (F70) - The rounded, tapered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.

First thoughts: Very soft. No bleeding, shedding, or flyaways. No smell either!

How I use it: I use this brush to precisely conceal small areas -- it's good for covering up pimples and the redness around my nose. I don't use it to conceal below my eyes though, I use ELF's Studio Concealer brush for that because I prefer its larger, wider shape.

Overall thoughts: I love that this brush is very soft but not flimsy. It picks up creamy concealer and pats it down perfectly over tiny areas. It also is great for concealing around my nose. I don't prefer it for concealing under my eyes because I feel like it's too small to quickly cover my huge dark circles -_-;




Tapered Blending (E40) - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Very soft, but lots of flyaways before AND after washing. Doesn't hold its shape very well. No bleeding, but it did shed at least 4 hairs. Very floppy.

How I use it: I used this brush to lightly blend eyeshadow shades together.

Overall thoughts: I think I was the most skeptical about this brush because the brush head is so big and bushy. It's also quite floppy and soft, not really dense enough to easily and quickly blend for me since it's so soft and floppy. I think it will work better for applying a light highlight below the brow or doing a sheer wash of color over the lid. I wish the bristle length was shorter, and that the hairs were packed more densely together for a firmer brush. It is very soft and not scratchy at all though.




Pencil (E30) - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Again, another brush I was excited for because I've been wanting a brush for precise application of eyeshadow. It is very soft and dense. Had a few flyaways after washing but maintained its shape. No shedding, not much smell.

How I use it: I use this brush to precisely apply eyeshadow to my lid, crease, and outer-V.

Overall: I adore this brush! It is perfect for applying shadow to small, precise areas and smudging it out. It picks up powder shadow perfectly, and deposits it with the same pigmentation as in the pan. Great! It is also the perfect size for my eyes. The bristles are soft but densely packed together so the brush is firm but still flexible. Great for precision!




Duo Fibre (F50) - Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles.

First thoughts: A nice, soft brush. A few flyaways after washing but held its shape well. No bleeding or shedding while washing.

How I use it: I know this brush is best used for applying liquid foundation, but I haven't used it for that purpose yet. I used it to lightly apply blush using the stippling method.

Overall thoughts: This is a nice brush, like most of the other Sigma brushes I've talked about so far, it is soft but still firm and dense. It picks up powder nicely and is great for lightly applying a wash of blush (and also building it up). When I have the time to use it for liquid foundation and stippling, I'll update this review :)



OVERALL?

The quality of most of these brushes is excellent, very reflective of the price. They are all very soft. Some of them aren't as firm or dense as I'd like though. The face brushes are my favorites, as well as the pencil brush. The blending brush and eye shading brush may work better for others, just not for me. This is the perfect kit for travel, as it contains all the essentials you'll need! I took this kit with me on my recent trip to Oahu and got to make full use of each brush. I even want to buy some of the individual regular-sized brushes now!

LOVE IT: Pencil (E30), Large Powder (F30), Foundation (F60)

NICE TO HAVE:
Concealer (F70), Duo-Fibre (F50), Large Angled Contour (F40)

PASS ON IT: Tapered Blending (E40), Eye Shading (E55) -- if you have small lids

Also, I was a little curious about why the brushes say "Made in USA" but the wrapper says "Made in P.R.C." Apparently, the brushes are designed in the USA but made in China. Just to clarify :)


Anywho, I hope this review was helpful for anyong looking to try Sigma brushes! :)

The Rundown:

Packaging:
5/5
Comes in a stylish, durable black brush roll. F30, F40, F50, and F60 come with brush guards.

Product: 4.5/5
The brushes are all very soft! They feel and look high-quality. Some of them aren't dense enough for my liking though.

Price: 4/5
A bit pricey for beauty on a budget, but the quality definitely reflects the price.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]


Have YOU tried Sigma brushes?
What are your favorites? Flops? Share!



Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this review were provided by the company.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with these brushes.