Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Color Elixir in Petal Push and Nude Illusion

I had originally purchased these Maybelline Color Elixirs first but fell in love with the L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinary lip glosses more (check my post here!). Now that being said, this isn't a bad product at all. It all depends on what you are looking for. Compared to the L'Oreal counterpart, these are sheerer. I prefer more opaque glosses that only take one to two coats as opposed to two or more. These Maybelline Color Elixirs took me two to three coats to get the opacity I like but then it felt slightly heavy because I had so many coats on. 

When it comes to the scent, it smells sweet, like a vanilla candy, but with a floral background. It's definitely not for those who prefer lighter scents. There is a slight tack to the product but nothing obnoxious. I didn't notice any peeling on my lips but this does go on much better if your lips are smooth as they tend to settle in lip lines. The packaging itself is, cute. It's not my favorite, but that's because I prefer sleeker, more sophisticated packing. This tends to lean more towards teen, young adult in my opinion.

The wand is excellent. It allows for precise application on all lip sizes. It also picks up enough product for one full application which is nice. Out of the two I picked up, I enjoy both colors. They are great for every day and for people of all ages (despite the packaging). 

All in all, I enjoy these glosses but they didn't make me jump out of my seat. Unless there is a color I really want or has excellent reviews, I don't think I will be repurchasing these.

Pros:

-Over 20 shades

-Felt hydrating
-Affordable and easily accessible

Cons:

-Not as opaque as in the packaging

-Scent for sensitive noses
-Packaging may not appeal to everyone

Repurchase? Highly unlikely

Review: Maybelline The Buffs Lipstick Review

After searching online and in my local drugstores, I was finally able to get my hands on two of these ever so popular Maybelline The Buffs lipsticks. To be honest, at first I was kinda meh about the line and was going to skip out on it. Of course after reading blog posts and seeing swatches on Instagram and YouTube, I totally changed my mind and the collector in me needed to add these to my already large collection of lipsticks.

The formula is the same as the original Maybelline ColorSensational line. This means that the consistency, scent and texture are pretty much the same as its predecessor. So if you didn't like those, I would skip these. I personally don't mind the smell and find the texture to be creamy and slightly hydrating. Both lasted at least three hours on me without eating. With eating, I had to reapply after the meal.

The Buffs has ten permanent shades to choose from. The old me would have purchased all ten but after much debate, I decided on 915 Blush Beige and 945 Stormy Sahara. Some of the other colors were more brown and I'm more of a fan pinky/coral nudes. Blush Beige is the lighter of the two and definitely accentuates any flakes or dryness on your lips so exfoliation and balm is a must! Stormy Sahara is more of a "peachy, orange" nude that I just love. Both can be paired with a smokey eye or a natural eye, it all depends on your preference. Out of the two, Stormy Sahara is easier to wear, since it doesn't accentuate flaws as easily. 

Blush Beige and Stormy Sahara

If you love or like nudes, I suggest you check out the line. The ten shades provide a variety that go from very pale to vampy so there is something for everyone. Plus the drugstore price makes it more wallet friendly (the BoGo sales always help too!).

Pros:

-Creamy
-Ten shades
-Part of the permanent line
-Afforable

-Available in drugstore and online

Cons:
-Scent for some
-Not all shades have same texture

Repurchase/Recommend? Yes and yes.

Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral and Vivid Rose

A makeup post! Ermahgerd! I know I'm a little late with these Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids but late is better than never. I was already a big fan of the regular line of the Color Sensational lipsticks so I figured I would have an affinity towards these. Bright lipsticks can sometimes be the perfect accessory to complete a look and these are perfect for anyone who wants to experiment some louder colors without spending a ton of money.

It was a tough decision for me to settle on only two, but I picked the two that I thought would best compliment my teeth and skin tone. I may venture towards the Electric Orange in the summer when I'm tanner but I will settle for these two for now. There are a total of 10 permanent shades in the Vivids line. 

Shocking Coral and Vivid Rose

I'm in love with these. They don't dry out my lips and go on opaque and smooth. I find no issue with the product settling into lines. There was only one issue when it came to one of these lipsticks for me. I think depending on the pigmentation of your lips, the color may appear different. For example, Shocking Coral is suppose to be a bright coral red, but it pulls quite pink on me. It looks more coral in the tube than it does on my lips, which makes me a little sad but I still love the color. Vivid Rose is pretty true to color on my lips. It's a great choice for girls who don't want to go with red but want a bright lip!

Pros:

-Bright, opaque color
-Reasonably priced
-Variety of bold shades
-Creamy feeling

Cons:

-Has the same scent as regular Color Sensational lipsticks so if you hate those, you'll probably not like these
-Some may find the packaging tacky
-Colors may pull differently on different people

Makeup Revisited: Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Gloss

When Maybelline revamped their lip glosses, I ran over to the drugstore and purchased the four that appealed the most to me. I tried them out and honestly, forgot about them and left them in my drawer. I guess they weren't that impressionable to me at the time because if I had loved them, they would've been constantly used. So I left them alone until about last week when I was cleaning out my makeup stash. I decided to give them a second chance.

I'm so glad I did.

I don't know what was wrong with me the first time I tried these because I'm loving these right now. Maybe I wasn't in a gloss mood at the time, but these are great glosses! There are 12 different shades, some have shimmer while some are cream finishes. Out of the four I have, Iced Chocolate is the only shade that has shimmer. If you want to check these out, I would definitely take a close look to see which ones are shimmer or cream. You can't tell from the swatches on the Maybelline website, (insert sad Panda face.)

According to Maybelline, these are wax free and contain honey nectar. I don't know about all that, but these don't dry my lips or make them peel like some other glosses I've tried. Another big plus in my book for this product.

I also love that these glosses are creamy but not tacky. If you hate the tackiness of MAC lipglasses, then I think you would love these. The scent is fruity and doesn't linger after you apply. Another plus for me with these glosses is the fact I can wear these alone or layer them. I definitely love layering them with my lipsticks, especially ones that are too bright or pale for me. My current favorite lip combo has been this:

 
MAC Viva Glam Gaga with Mirrored Mauve

If you are interested in these glosses I'd highly recommend you try them. They're not as raved about but the quality is great. I don't think I'll get any more shades, but I would definitely repurchase when I'm finished!

Have you tried the Color Sensational lip glosses? If so, which ones have you tried? Do you love them? Hate them? Please share!

Happy Monday!

Review: Maybelline Superstay 14 Hour Lipsticks

The last of the Maybelline lippies in my review queue! Again another claim of ridiculous staying power. Now, do these lipsticks stay 14 hours on your lips? Not on me, but staying power can vary. The colors I will be reviewing are: Perpetual Peony, Beige Forgood, and Please Stay Plum. 

The packaging is quite cute and you will be able to tell if the lipstick will be shimmery if you look very closely. If you just grab a color without examining the package, you may select a shimmery lipstick when you didn't want one. The cap makes a clicking sound to notify you that it is sealed shut, making it ideal for you to throw in your purse for touch ups.

The staying power of these lipsticks is decent. Applied on bare lips and without any gloss, these lipsticks lasted close to eight hours on me without looking too peeled or chipped. The most noticeable chipping was on the corner of my lips. Some of the color did settle into my lip lines as it dried.

Texture of these lipsticks is similar to other long lasting lipsticks. It applies smoothly, but as it dries you can feel tightening on your lips. It's not really a bad thing, but it may want to make you grab your lip balm and slather it on.

Perhaps the worst thing about this lipstick is the smell! It smells sickly sweet and plasticky. It reminds me of a rejected gum flavor. Be very wary of the smell. At least the smell dissipates once it is applied. Here are the lip swatches below:

Perpetual Peony- Is a bright blue based pink. If you love baby pinks, this will appeal to you. However, be wary that these colors can make teeth look a bit dull at times.

Beige Forgood- Is a lovely nude that leans more on the brown side. There is no shimmer or glitter. Depending on your skin tone, this may just mute your lips or make you look ghostly. 

Please Stay Plum- This plum has the most staying power out of the three since it does stain lips after it has been applied.  I think this shade can be flattering to most skin tones.

Pros:

-Many shades to select from

-Decent staying power, not as long as advertised

-Packaging allows easy transport

-Does not tug on lips when applied

Cons:

-The smell!

-Doesn't stay on as long as advertised

-Hard to decipher from the tube if the color is shimmery or not

Would I Repurchase?

No, I wouldn't. The smell really killed it for me.

Review: Maybelline Superstay 10 Hour Stain Gloss

When Maybelline announced their new line in the Superstay collection, I gravitated more towards their cream eyeshadows and lipsticks, staying away from the bright white packaging of their stain glosses. Eventually, I saw a sale at my CVS where it was a buy one get one half off and decided to finally try it. 

The reviews I had read before purchasing led to varying opinions of the product. Some bloggers hated it, while others claimed it was a possible dupe for the high end YSL Rouge Pur Couture. Having never tried the YSL liquid lipstick, I had no expectations of this being an amazing product. 

Upon arriving home, I peeled off the packaging (be sure to buy a sealed tube! I found plenty already with the seal removed, meaning gross and tampered gloss ::insert disgusted face::) and opened each tube to examine the contents. The first thing that hit me was the scent of the product. It's very fruity, in fact, it reminds me of a candy I used to eat, except I can't remember the name of it. Bottom line, if you're sensitive to sweet, fruity smells, you may not enjoy this product. The smell does go away after some time and it doesn't taste overly sweet, not that we should be eating our gloss anyway! ::looks guilty::

The skeptic in me highly doubted the 10 hour claim, and the skeptic in me was correct. I ate, drank and ate some more with this gloss on and while the sheen and glossiness of the product came away, it left a nice stain on my lips. It's the stain that lasts for quite a few hours, about five to six hours. In the end I had to scrub my lips to remove the remaining color. 

The texture of the gloss feels a bit like a liquid lipstick or stain and can seem drying to the lips. I do recommend NOT putting a balm before applying this if you want staying power. Not only will the balm cause the product to slip around, it will create a barrier, preventing the product from being absorbed by your lips.

Pink Plush -It's the lightest color out of the line and leans a little more red than pink. There is some shimmer but no grittiness when you press your lips together. While I do like this color a lot, it's the least glossy out of the three I purchased.

Ruby Indulgence -This is a beautiful red. It is also very opaque as you can tell from the swatch. Very glossy and leaves a beautiful cherry popsicle stain on your lips.

Mauve Dream - This isn't really a mauve color. In fact, I don't see any purple tones in this color at all. It's a very neutral color that I feel can be appropriate for any environment. This leaves the "just bitten"color to your lips.

Pros:
-Twist sealed packaging, longer self life
-Opaque colors
-Smooth application
-Leaves a nice stain for a few hours

Cons:
-Not a huge range of colors
-Does not live to the 10 hour claim
-Bulky packaging
-Applicator tip may be too large for those with thin, small lips

Would I Repurchase?
-High possibility because I do like the opacity and how smooth the product feels on my lips.

Have any of you lovely readers purchased these gloss stains? If so, what are your opinions? Do you have a favorite? 

Eye Tutorial: Natural Smokey Look For Double Lids

As promised, here's the follow-up post to my monolid natural look. I hope you girls enjoy it! Please leave me some feedback, do you like the way the tutorials are set? Do you prefer it a certain way? By all means let me know so I can improve and bring you better stuff!

I marked which colors I used from the Maybelline Quad in Chai Latte. I tried to use all drugstore brand products so people can see that you don't need ridiculously expensive makeup to achieve a beautiful look! Also sorry about Step 2 and Step 7 for being a single picture! I forgot to take the corresponding photos to go with it! =(

Have a great weekend! Those on the East Coast pray with me to the Winter gods that we have no more snow!

Dupe Alert: Match For MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick

One of my favorite MAC lipsticks has to be Viva Glam V. It has a lustre finish and is a neutral pink will a pearly sheen to it. It's a great everyday color that is a perfect MLBB lipstick. This is actually the first MAC lippie that I ever purchased! MAC's Viva Glam line donates every cent of each purchase to the MAC Aids Fund to help men, women, and children who suffer from the disease.

Now as much as I love MAC's purpose with Viva Glam I also understand that many people cannot afford to purchase department store lipsticks due to their financial situation. I will say that if you do have that extra bit of money and do love the color of the Viva Glam line please purchase from your local MAC store or counter to help those in need!

For those who are looking for a very similar shade to MAC Viva Glam V, you are in luck. Maybelline has a shade in their ColorSensational line that is quite similar. Nearly There and Viva Glam V look almost identical on my lips and my hand. Nearly There has more of a red undertone compared to Viva Glam V's pink undertone. Both have a nice pearly sheen and are great for an everyday neutral look. It's not an exact match but it's pretty darn close! If you are pinching your pennies, purchasing the Maybelline ColorSensational lippie in Nearly There is a great option. Be on the lookout for the BoGo sales!

A Review: Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation

This foundation has been all the rave on some bloggers and amongst the YouTube community so I had to see what the hype was about. I really do like this foundation though it has some vices. It provides the smooth flawless skin that it boasts and the texture of it feels really nice! It's cooling and applies easily with medium to thick coverage. This foundation is best applied with a stippling brush or a dense flat top brush. It does come with a generic sponge but I haven't used it to apply the foundation.

The price can range from $7.99 to $9.99 depending on where you purchase it from. I paid $7.00 at my local CVS when it was having a Maybelline sale. There isn't much product, only 0.49 ounces which is pretty minimal if you ask me.

The packaging is definitely not my favorite. It's very bulky for such little product. The lid makes up for more than half of the space and is a waste of plastic! I would have much preferred if this came with just a simple screw on lid with no sponge holder.

Here is what the Maybelline sites claims:Why You'll Love It
Unique cream-whipped foundation provides 100% baby-smooth perfection.

• Skin looks and feels hydrated for 14 hours - never rough or dry
• Lightweight formula provides perfectly moisturizing coverage
• Blends seamlessly and feels fresh all-day
• Oil-free, Fragrance-free, Dermatologist Tested, Allergy Tested, Non-comedogenic – won’t clog pores.
• Safe for sensitive skin

I will say that the claim of 14 hours is false. After about six hours I can see the foundation slipping off and my pores reappearing. If you are someone with big pores, this foundation might accentuate it. It does feel moisturizing, which can be a problem people who have very oily skin. You need to set this foundation with a powder for it to have any staying power. Because of the texture, if you don't set it with a powder it will rub off which is not pretty.

Another strike against this foundation are the shades. It comes in a very limited ten shades. I had a hard time picking out a foundation that was right for me. I eventually settled on 240 Natural Beige because it had gold/yellow undertones in it. I was afraid that it would be too dark but it did blend nicely into my skin. I think that if I went with the shade next shade lighter, which would be 200 Creamy Natural, it would've have worked for me as well.

There is no SPF which means no white cast, but I wouldn't wear this out for a night dancing, I'd be too afraid that it would melt off my face! This foundation is probably best for the day when you're out running errands or going out for a lunch date. If it had more staying power I think this would be an excellent foundation but for now, it's just a good foundation.

Pros:

-Moisturizing
-Light weight
-Medium to thick coverage
-Flawless application
-Cooling sensation

Cons:

-Limited shades
-Not long lasting
-Can accentuate pores or oiliness

-Bulky packaging!

Would I repurchase: Probably not, though the shade matches me very well the hassle of me having to worry if my face is rubbing off my clothes deters me from buying this again.

Foundation Pic Tutorial!

Here is a picture tutorial I did the other day using Maybelline's Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation and everything else Maybelline, excluding the brushes and mascara. I didn't want to do a video since I already had one, but I figured some of your blogger girls would appreciate it. I will have the review on this up soon, hopefully the latest by tomorrow. I really want to try to get my August and September favorites up before the end of the month!

On to the tutorial!

 I hope this helps some of your girls who aren't sure how to apply this foundation. Let me know what you think of this. Do you like picture tutorials? Or would you prefer I do videos?

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far! Remember MAC Venomous Villains is out today so scoop your picks before they're all gone!