Product Review: NYX Round Lipstick in Louisiana
Name: Round Lipstick In Louisiana
Brand: NYX
Size: 4g
Price: £3.95
From NYX’s website:
A velvet-texture lipstick formulated with mineral oils to provide moisturizing benefits and rich colors. NYX’s top selling lipstick, the Round Lipstick offers long-lasting, non-smudging color.
What I liked:
– wide selection of colors available
– pigmented
– creamy texture
– easy to apply
– doesn’t bleed
– the packaging
– the price
What I didn’t like:
– can feel a bit drying on the lips
– doesn’t last long
After hearing all the raves about NYX Round Lipsticks, I finally gave in and purchased one. Choosing among the wide selection of shades available (144!) wasn’t easy and took me several days of looking at swatches online, but in the end, I went for Louisiana and I’m very pleased with my choice.
Louisiana is one of the most beautiful pink shades I have ever seen. It is a bright hot pink shade that looks very flattering on cool-toned beauties, but those with warm undertones would be able to rock it too. It is very pigmented and one swipe is enough to achieve an opaque coverage.
The texture is creamy and the lipstick glides on smoothly but if you don’t wear a lip balm underneath it can feel slightly drying on the lips. This is not a problem for me as I always put on lip balm before any other lip products. I also usually use a lip liner before lipsticks, so I didn’t have any problems with bleeding either.
The staying power is only so-so and after less than two hours the color has completely disappeared from my lips. I can’t say I was too disappointed about that as, considered the very cheap price tag, I didn’t really expect it to last too long or stay put after I’ve eaten.
The lipstick is housed in a pretty and sleek black tube which looks pretty and not tacky or cheap at all. At the base, there is a colored band that is identical to the shade inside the tube, which makes it easier to identify the lipstick among your stash.
Summary
Overall, I love NYX Round Lipsticks and I’m definitely gonna get more shades in the near future. They are cheap but work very well. Louisiana, a bright pink, is creamy, pigmented and doesn’t bleed. However, it doesn’t last long on the lips and can feel slightly drying.
Rating: 4/5
Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.Product Review: Max Factor Flawless Perfection Blush
Name: Flawless Perfection Blush
Brand: Max Factor
Size: 5.5g
Price: €9,89
From Max Factor’s website:
A healthy looking flush doesn’t have to be out of embarrassment anymore – this sheer, soft blusher blends easily into your skin leaving a hint of colour that completes any make-up look. Use it to define your cheekbones or simply let the luxurious and soft texture freshen your complexion.
What I liked:
– sheer color payoff
– beautiful, shimmering shade
– gives cheeks a healthy look with the tiniest hint of shimmer
– lasts most of the day
– the price
What I didn’t like:
– not many shades available
– if you like pigmented blushes, this is not for you
– nasty preservative
– the packaging
Have you ever bought a product because you liked the shade and it was cheap anyway, got home, played with it and were disappointed cos it’s just average? That’s what happened to me with this blush. It’s not a bad product, but it didn’t wow me either and I find I rarely reach for it cos I have lots of other blushes that I like more.
Max Factor Flawless Perfection blush is available in only six shade. Being a pink lover, I purchased n°223 Natural Glow, a shimmering pink shade that looks a bit dark in the pan, but when swatched, it’s a soft baby pink. For a drugstore product, I’d say the powder is quite finely milled and soft to the touch, but the texture is not really as silky or finely milled as that of high-end blushes.
The blush is very sheer but buildable. I had to apply numerous layers in the swatch to make the color show up in the pix as on my pale skin blushes always look washed out and don’t photograph well, but in real life I only need a couple of swipes to achieve a flattering and healthy look, just like I’m naturally blushing. And it has just a hint of shimmer to give cheeks a natural glow.
Because I’m pale the fact the powder is so sheer is a plus for me, but if you prefer your blushes to be pigmented, this will just disappoint you. And while I like the shade, I think there are other blushes out there that do the same thing just as well or even better. It’s nothing special but I think it’s worth considering if you’re on a budget.
The staying power is ok and it lasts about 8 or 9 hours on my non-oily cheeks before it starts to fade. As for the packaging, that’s just very ugly and cheap-looking. And, as always, the brush that comes with it is too small, scratchy and completely useless.
I was also disappointed to see that this blush uses Imidazolidinyl Urea as a preservative. This ingredient works by releasing formaldehyde which is a toxic and carcinogenic substance. Of course the quantity in this is so small to be safe (you won’t die if use it), but personally I just prefer to avoid products with this ingredient as I feel that are much safer preservative out there.
Summary
Overall, Max Factor Flawless Perfection blush is just average. The powder is sheer, easy to blend and gives a natural and glowy look that lasts for hours. However, those that like pigmented blushes will be disappointed with the sheer color payoff. In addition, the packaging is cheap and the product contains a formaldehyde-releasing preservative.
Rating: 3/5
Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.Product Review: Gosh Velvet Touch Lipstick
Name: Velvet Touch Lipstick
Brand: Gosh
Size: 10g
Price: £6.00
From Gosh’s website:
GOSH VELVET TOUCH LIPSTICK gives an intense and lasting color to the lips due to a high concentration of color pigments. The creamy lipstick contains a new type of light reflecting pigments that give the lips a bright and shiny look.
What I liked:
- pigmented
- shiny finish
- long-lasting
- the packaging
- the price
What I didn’t like:
- can feel drying on the lips
- not very convenient to carry it in your purse
- the scent
In January I reviewed a Gosh eyeshadow quad but wasn’t too impressed about it. One of my lovely readers, Halifax, said in the comments that she preferred their lipsticks and I have to agree with her. For just £6.00, those babies are pretty good!
I bought mine in London last year and the color I chose was Peony, a bright pink shade with purple undertones that looks very bold not only in the tube, but on the lips too. This lipstick has a fantastic color payoff and one swipe is all I need to get an opaque coverage with a shiny finish.
It has the consistency of a lipstick, but gives that wet look like a gloss so there’s no need for me to use one to add some shine to my pout. What I need to use with this though is a lip balm underneath. That’s because the texture isn’t very moisturizing and can feel dry on my lips, but nothing that a lip balm won’t fix.
I was also very impressed with the staying power. It lasts a few good hours on me before it slowly starts to fade and even though it disappears if you have lunch or dinner, it leaves a stain behind. The strong scent of vanilla, instead, disappears almost instantly once applied, so it doesn’t bother me at all.
I also like the packaging. The black and silver tube is simple, sleek and modern. I’m not sure I’d carry it around in my bag though as the cap looks like it could get loose easily, but then I rarely bring any makeup with me in my purse anyway so that’s not a problem for me.
Summary
Overall, I love Gosh Velvet Touch lipsticks. Although their texture isn’t very moisturizing, they are very pigmented with a shiny finish and last for hours. And they’re quite cheap too!
Rating: 4/5
Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.Product Review: Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Marie and Aspen Summit
Name: Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Marie and Aspen Summit
Brand: Sephora
Size: 0.07oz
Price: €11,50
From Sephora’s website:
Sephora Mono Eyeshadow has the perfect, high-payoff combination of brilliant color, an easy-blending formula, and endless versatility that will revolutionize your eye-makeup outlook and deliver show-stopping effects. This expert formula comes in three fabulous finishes: matte, glittering, and metallic shimmer
What I liked:
– wide selection of shades available
– easy to blend
– good color payoff
– the price
– long-lasting if used with a primer
What I didn’t like:
– doesn’t last all day without a primer
– short shelf life
Last year, I had the chance to try Sephora Colorful Pearl Mono Eyeshadows through a swap but I found them sheer and overall average so I never purchased them. But now that those have been discounted and replaced with a new formula, I was willing to give them another try and bought two of them. So, is the new formula really better?
These new eyeshadows are available in more than 80 different shades, from natural to blacks to brights, in 3 different finishes: matte, glitter and metallic shimmer. With such a wide selection of shades, it’s impossible not to find one that you like and the price won’t be setting you back too much.
Marie is a brown shade with rosey undertone and a slightly metallic shimmer finish. I’m not a huge fan of neutral shades, but this one is really pretty and doesn’t make me look washed out, which is what some natural shades tend to do cos of my pale skin.
Aspen Summit is a white shade with a subtle hint of silver and a shimmer finish. This is one of the most pigmented white shades I have come across and I like that. White shades tend to be very sheer which is good since they are usually used as highlighters, but I like that I can actually get the color to show quite well with just a few swipes if I want to use it on the lid.
Both shades have a soft texture that is easy to blend without any fall out problems. They are medium-pigmented and I only need two or three swipes to get a good color payoff. A great improvement from the old formula considering those were so sheer I had to apply lots of layers for the color to even show up!
Like most eyeshadows, these are better used with a primer if you want the colors to last all day without creasing, especially if you have oily lids. Without, they’ll only last a few hours before disappearing and you’ll have to apply again.
I guess most of you will be happy to know these eyeshadows are paraben-free. As for me, I don’t have any problems with parabens so even if these shadows contained them, I would’ve still been happy about it. Instead, the preservatives in these eyeshadows are Sorbic Acid and Phenoxyethanol which are weak and don’t work as well as parabens.
Phenoxyethanol, just like parabens, has potential safety issues too, although the small amount used in cosmetics is generally considered to be safe. In any case, my problem is that these shadows have a shelf life of only 6 months (as opposed to 2 or 3 years of most eyeshadows), so if you’re the type of girl that uses the same eyeshadow every day, this is worth getting.
But if like me, you have lots of eyeshadows that it’s rare for you to even hit pan on those you use more often after two years, well, you may want to look for something that won’t go bad so soon. It’s difficult for powders to harbour bacteria anyway, unless you use them wet, so I guess you could use them a bit longer than 6 months as long as you’re careful.
Summary
Overall, the newly reformulated Sephora Colorful Mono Eyeshadows are much better than the old ones. They are soft to the touch, medium-pigmented and last all day if used with a primer. However, they have a short shelf-life.
Rating: 3.5/5
Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.Product Review: Pupa Luminys Baked Blush #04
Name: Luminys Baked Blush #04
Brand: Pupa
Size: 3.5g
Price: €16,50
From Pupa’s website:
Gives cheeks a glow with a natural, adjustable effect for a radiant, healthy-looking effect. This light, silky powder has perfect hold and can be blended in with ease.
What I liked:
- very pigmented
- nice and smooth texture
- easy to blend
- gives cheeks a natural glow
- lasts almost all day
- the packaging
What I didn’t like:
- not many shades available
- the price
I adore Pupa baked blushes. I have a soft spot for baked blushes and these are among the best I have tried. Up until now though, I only bought those from limited seasonal collections, because the shades in the permanent range (only 4!) didn’t appeal to me. They are mostly natural colors that look really dark, bright and scary in the pan, esp if you have pale skin, like me.
But late last year, I finally gave in and bought one, #04, and boy was I impressed! #04 is a warm medium brown shade with veins of copper and is infused with shimmer. It looks beautiful in the compact and even better on the cheeks. It gives them a pop of natural color while defining the cheekbones and giving them a beautiful shimmery glow.
However, this blush is very pigmented and not for the faint of heart. If like me, you prefer a sheerer, more natural look you can still get it, but you need to be careful with application as it is very easy to go over the top with this. I suggest to use a skunk brush like the Studio Tools Dual-Finish Brush or a brush with fluffy bristles that don’t pick up too much color like the E.L.F. Studio Complexion Brush to apply if you want just a hint of color on your cheeks.
I also adore the texture. It feels soft and smooth to the touch cos the texture is fine and the shimmers aren’t coarse at all. It’s very easy to apply and feels light and velvety on my skin. I’m also pleased with its staying powder. Once applied it stays put for most of the day and, unless I need to go out at night, there’s no reason to touch it up.
I think the suggested retail price (€16,50/$22.00, but most shops here sell it for around €12.00 or €13.00) is very reasonable here in Italy, where most cosmetics are way overpriced. Here it is in the same range as L’Oreal for example while MAC Mineralized Blushes are even more expensive at €22.00 ($30.00!)!
Since Pupa blushes are much better quality than those, I think overall, the price here is good value for money and worth every penny. But if you live abroad then these blushes probably seem overpriced to you, and understandably so. Still, if you can afford to try one, go for it. You won’t be disappointed.
Summary
Overall, I love Pupa baked blush in #04. It has a fine and soft texture that lasts almost all day and gives skin a beautiful, natural sheen. It’s very pigmented and so needs to be applied with a light hand. Also, some may find the price too high.
Rating: 4.5/5
Disclaimer: the item was purchased by me for both personal and review purposes. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.