Mascara Review: MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Extravagant

Today I will be reviewing the MAKE UP FOR EVER Smokey Extravagant Mascara.

Without mascara

With mascara

Availability: This is available at sephora.com and makeupforever.com as well as their respective physical store/boutique locations. The retail pricing is $24 for .23 oz.

Would I buy this?: Probably not.

Notes: Firstly - this is black and comes in just the black.. As far as lasting power, I wore it for about 10 hours and it went strong - no smudging, no flaking, nothing annoying. 

Let's go over what the mascara's supposed to do and what it actually does. It's marketed as a something that creates volume, length, and curl.

Alright so... this mascara delivers all of its promises. However, I prefer the Doll Lashes to this... the effect they both give is actually quite similar although this makes my lashes look somewhat thicker as well. However, the Doll Lashes mascara has the same brush but on a much smaller scale and I find that easier to work with and again, I like the really separated, defined look that Doll Lashes creates.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation whatsoever to mention it on here.

Mascara Review: Lancome Hypnose Drama

Today I will be reviewing Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara.

Without Mascara

With Mascara

Availability:  This can be purchased at sephora.com, nordstrom.com, macys.com, and ulta.com as well as its physical store locations along with lancome-usa.com and hsn.com. The retail pricing is $28 for .22 oz.

Would I buy this again?: Probably not

Notes: Firstly - this is black and comes in just the black. As far as lasting power, I wore it for about 10 hours and it went strong -  no flaking but I find that it does smudge a little bit. I have the regular version and it's easy to wash the smudges away with a little bit of water.

Let's go over what the mascara's supposed to do and what it actually does. It's marketed as a something that creates body and volume.

Alright so... this mascara absolutely makes my lashes look a lot thicker, fuller and more voluminous. However, I prefer the Doll Lashes to this because the doll lashes gives a more fluttery effect whereas this thickens but is on the verge of a clumpy look. In fact, the first couple of times I used this mascara my lashes did clump. I want to love it because it's got such a cult following but... it's not what I want it to be. :/

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Bought this baby myself.

Eyeshadow Review: Sephora Collection Midnight Swim Colorful Eyeshadow

I present to you my review of the Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in Midnight Swim. 

Availability: This has been discontinued.

Would I buy this again? Quite possibly.
Notes:  Midnight Swim is described as a petrol blue shimmer and appears to be discontinued. I would say it's a very deep blackened peacock blue-green teal shade. I think it's lovely and it's a darn shame that this color is discontinued.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I paid for this myself.

Mascara Review: Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes

Today I will be reviewing Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara.

Without mascara

With mascara

Availability: This can be purchased at sephora.com, nordstrom.com, macys.com, and ulta.com as well as their physical store locations along with lancome-usa.com, hsn.com, and paulaschoice.com. The retail pricing is $28 .

Would I buy this again?:Yes.

Notes: Firstly - this is black and comes in just the black.. As far as lasting power, I wore it for about 10 hours and it went strong - no smudging, no flaking, nothing annoying. 

Let's go over what the mascara's supposed to do and what it actually does. It's marketed as a something that creates lift and a separated-yet-volumized wide-open-eye look.

Alright so... they market this as something that's good for fine, thin lashes. I mean... I don't think my lashes are particular thick OR thin.. they're kind of average but I have to say this is by far my favorite Lancome mascara and one of my top three mascaras for sure. I adore the effect this gives - it gives a lot of nice length and volume without any clumping... it looks somewhat natural and yet is also dramatic and makes my lashes look real full and fluttery. I LOVE the brush on it too - the wider end is perfect for creating volume and the narrow end is fantastic for adding length and definition. I love that the overall design of the brush is on the smaller size too so it works great for most eye shapes and sizes. I'm very happy to own this. The packaging was from a limited edition collection and I think it's absolutely precious although the permanent packaging is quite lovely as well. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Bought this baby myself.

Mask Review: GLAMGLOW THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the GLAMGLOW THIRSTYMUD Hydrating Treatment.

Availability: This product is available at sephora.com as well as its respective physical store locations as well as glamglowmud.com and paulaschoice.com. The retail pricing is $69 for 1.7 oz.

Would I buy this? I'm so torn... I want to say I will because my skin LOVES this stuff but... the price tag is painful.

What it is formulated to do:

Allow us to quote the lovely sephora.com:

What it is:

A nondrying hydration mask to deliver instant, extreme hydration. 

What it is formulated to do:

THIRSTYMUD™ uses the newest, most advanced, and extreme hydration active technologies. It moisturizes, restores, replenishes, and calms the skin. Dewdration™ boosts and locks in moisture for a dewy and youthful result while HydraPack™ leaves skin with an instant silky, soft, and supple feel. GreenEnergy™ smooths and energizes the skin, giving you a healthy-looking, glowing complexion. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens

- Sulfates 

- Phthalates

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

From sephora.com:

-Dewdration™: A blend of actives containing hyaluronic acid and citric acid for deep hydration; boosts and locks in moisture for a dewy, youthful look. 

-Hydrapack™: A blend of actives containing botanimoist, moisturizing sugars and acids from apples, oat beta glucan to soothe and calm the skin, and hydraclay to trap and retain moisture in the skin. 

-GreenEnergy™: A blend of actives containing raw honey and ginger root for radiance and detoxifying; coconut provides immediate skin conditioning. 

-Teaoxi Olive Leaf: Delivers naturally moisturizing linoleic acid.

What is the texture like?

This feels like a cross between a lotion and a mud. It's absorbed by the skin fairly readily but leaves behind a slightly sticky feel.

Is it scented?

This smells like a tropical indulgence - coconut, a slight apple scent, sort of beachy, like sand-like but in a good way. Y'all know that as a mermaid I love it.

My overall experience/comments on the product:

Let me just tell you folks that this is one of my favorite things that I've been able to play with and review. My skin just absolutely loves this stuff - it's hard for me to explain, but the moment I put this on my skin feels renewed, hydrated, glowing... like it just reacts so well to this... it looks and feels amazing and I've been getting loads of compliments on the way my skin looks and I just feel that is texture has improved since I've started using this. That said, I still suffer from accursed redness... :x :( Anywho... I use this daily, reason being I have several other masks that I need to at some point use up and I don't want to have them forever. Ideally, you're supposed to use this 2-3 times a week but it won't irritate the skin because you can actually use it as a primer for your makeup (if you're on the drier side; my favorite method for clients), you can use it as a regular mask and tissue it off, or as (my favorite method on myself) as a sleeping mask. This makes my skin feel incredibly hydrated, has improved the skin's texture, and leaves the skin with a beautiful glow. It pains my wallet to say I'm kind of addicted. Plus the scent... the scent is just lovely.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am in no way obligated to mention it on this here blog.

Eyeshadow Review: NYX Lilac Pearl Ultra Pearl Mania

Hey folksickles, so today I'll be reviewing the NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in Lilac Pearl.

Availability: This has been discontinued.

Would I buy this again? Not sure.
Notes: Color-wise I would say it's a soft lilac with a white pearl and silver micro-shimmer. It's beautiful and would work nicely as a blush or highlighter as well. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I bought this myself.

Eyeshadow Review: MAC Rose Pigment

Hey folksickles, so today I'll be reviewing the MAC Pigment in Rose.

Availability: This is currently available at maccosmetics.com, macys.com, nordstrom.com, bloomingdales.com, and their respective physical store locations where it retails at $23 for 4.5g or $12 for 2.5g.

Would I buy this again? Not sure.
Notes: I have read reviews of this in the past where people said it was chunky and sadly MAC has done nothing to remedy the texture. That said, it's fairly pigmented and I found that it wasn't too hard to work around the chunky texture. MAC describes this color as a rose with copper sparkle. I would say it's a warm-toned rose with a strong coppery gold pearl. It's absolutely gorgeous and would work particularly well on gals with green or blue eyes. It's such a beautiful color and would work well on lips, eyes, and cheeks as well as on a variety of different skin-tones. I think it's absolutely worth checking out.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I bought this myself.