SWATCHES: A Plum Prospect & Berry Ready - Maybelline Color Whispers

These are two of the new Maybelline Color Whispers I had picked up at Target.  The two shades I got are A Plum Prospect and Berry Ready.  Both shades are completely stunning and they are fabulous products.  Then again I am a big Maybelline lover – I think I’d venture into saying they are one of my favorite drug store beauty lines.

In case you aren’t aware the Color Whisper line is Maybelline’s version of a lip butter.  It took Maybelline a while to master a product that can compare to the lip butter rage and I can say from these 2 shades that I own they did quite a good job.  I do like the packaging on these a lot more than the lip butters – they’re just sleek and I love how it has the name in cursive down the front of the cover.  The two shades I picked up compliment my skin tone quite well and I will admit I gaze at the display every time I stumble into a store that has them in-stock.  I’m sure I’ll grace myself with more but for right now I am happy with the two that I own.

A Plum Prospect is a darker pink shade with purple undertones.  Quite beautiful and truly unique.

Berry Ready is a very deep plum/berry shade with a bit of a reddish undertone.  It’s really opaque and attention seeking.  Definitely beautiful!

QUESTION:

Have you purchased any of the Maybelline color Whispers?  If so, what’s your favorite shade so far?

REVIEW: Covergirl Blast Flipstick

As a part of BzzAgent I was invited into the Covergirl Blast Flipstick BzzCampaign.  Upon receiving my BzzBox I was provided an information packet, 3 flipsticks and coupons to share with anyone and everyone.  I was quite surprised to see 3 tubes of lipstick in my package and I was even more surprised that all the shades I received would work very well with my skintone!  The three shades I’ll be reviewing are: Minx, Stunner and Vixen.

PACKAGING & PRICE

The product is packaged into double ended stick – which has a separate shade at each end.  Each tube contains .134 oz of product.  Suggested retail price is $8.49 but of course with store sales and coupons you can get them for a lot less.  They’re also less at stores such as Target ($7.99) and Walmart ($7.98).

PRODUCT

There are two lipstick shades available in each flipstick – one being a cream shade and the other a shimmer shade.  The lipstick shades can be worn individually or worn together and/or blended together to create a unique look (ombre anyone?) for any and all individuals.  Within the line there are 13 different flipsticks available with a number of different shade options.  In this case Minx is a mixture of deep brown and gold, Stunner is a mix of bright pink and gold and Vixen is a mixture of burgundy and a pearl pink shades.  From the swatches you can see the shimmer in one shade, while the cream shade in the other swatch.

PURCHASING

The Covergirl brand of Flipsticks can be purchased at all major pharmacy retailers (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) while they can also be purchased at stores such as Target and Walmart.  They are also available for purchase online at Ulta (they may be available in store as well but I don’t shop at Ulta so I cannot confirm), Walgreens.com, CVS.com, and Drugstore.com.

OVERALL

I find these to be nice lipsticks, they are very smooth and easy to apply.  The color payoff is stellar as it only takes a swipe to get a true color saturation on your lips.  Of course it may take two or three swipes across the lip to fully fill the lip in – but overall it’s a great payoff.  If you choose to go that route, the shades are easily blendable and it certainly brings the intensity of the darker shade down a bit, while also bringing sheen to the lips.  It has a generic lipstick scent, but it’s not gross or plasticy.  They are certainly a nice product, but they can most certainly be daring depending on the color shades you choose to work with.  Even the darkest shade (Minx) can be toned down into a nice shimmery deep brown.

RATING

B

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Swatch: Wet n Wild Mocha-licious

This is the Wet n Wild lipstick in the shade Mocha-licious.  I picked this up at Walgreens on a rather impulsive buy.  These Wet n Wild lippies retail for $1.99 each but Walgreen’s tends to have Wet n Wild products on sale with a buy one get one 50% off sale – which is the deal I bought this particular lipstick with.

Mocha-licious is a stunning dark warm mocha brown shade.  With my skin tone I typically veer towards browns because they just compliment me so well and I’m comfortable wearing them.  My lips are pigmented on their own but this shade just gives my lips a nice deeper shade which is subtle (at least in my case).  I can’t say it would be subtle for all, but if you have medium-tan to dark skin I would say you’d enjoy this.  Then again for the price you can’t go wrong!

Swatches: Wet n Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning

This is Wet n Wild’s limited edition 8-pan palette Sparkle ‘Til Morning.  I have to say out of the limited edition palettes that came out this year; this has to be my absolute FAVORITE!  It’s so gorgeous, pigmented and such fun sparkly colors that can be worn all year long.  These retail for $4.99 but are usually on sale buy one get one 50% off at Walgreens.  I BELIEVE these limited edition 8-pan palettes are only available at Walgreens – but don’t quote me on that because my CVS does not sell Wet n Wild (tear).   Do note these swatches are without a primer.

If you are not familiar, the palette includes two separate “instructional” shades but you can switch it up if you’re feeling fancy.  As with most Wet n Wild 8-pan palettes one side is more colorful while the other is more of a neutral look.  Personally I completely LOVE this palette it’s just perfection.

SWATCH: Wet n Wild Cherry Bomb Lipstick

This is the Wet n Wild lipstick in the shade Cherry Bomb.  I picked this up at Walgreen’s on an impulsive buy.  But I will say I’m glad I picked it up because it’s GORGEOUS!  I’m always so amazed by how pigmented and fabulous Wet n Wild lippies are.  For the price $1.99 you can’t go wrong.  Walgreen’s is also infamous for doing buy 1 get 1 50% off sales and they occasionally include coupons off items in store.

Cherry Bomb is a true deep, dark blood red shade.  This color is not for the faint of heart. I’m not particularly comfortable with bright reds on my lips BUT this is so deep it’s gorgeous. It’s dark enough that it looks nice against my skin tone without making me incredibly uncomfortable.  This is really a fabulous shade for the fall and winter months.

NYC Individual Eyes - Dark Shadows (Swatches & Mini-Review)

I received this NYC (New York Color) Individual Eyes in the shade Dark Shadows from Influenster in part of their Beauty Blogger Voxbox.

These complete palettes come with a cream primer and illuminator as well as four complimentary shadows.  To help the user create the “perfect” eye look there is a diagram on the back of the palette explaining where to put each shadow, while the plastic insert over the shadows advise as to where they go as well.  It’s a perfect all-in-one palette for a beginner or even someone who’s either on a budget or wants a palette that has everything together for easy travel.

This particular Dark Shadows palette has the following shades available: white, silver, gunmetal grey and black.  There’s also a cream illuminator (white) and a primer base (nude).  The shadows have a bit of glittery shimmer to them, but it’s no where near overwhelming or even moderately overwhelming.   I would say the color pay off is pretty stellar for a product that retails for $4.99.  I own the palette which is geared toward brown eyes (it has a cranberry/plum shade in it – gorgeous!) and I’ve used that many-a-time when I don’t want to have to go through what I have and want something that’s almost “fool proof”.

I would say the Dark Shadows palette isn’t for everyone.  Some just don’t look great with silvers, while others aren’t comfortable with such “bold” eye looks (particularly if you’re more of a neutral kinda gal).  Overall, I would say if you’re in the market for an all-in-one palette check out what NYC has to offer – they offer some pretty standup products for the price.

SWATCH: “Through the Grapevine” – Wet n Wild Megalast Nail Color

Through the Grapevine by Wet n Wild is a gorgeous fuchsia shade that leans toward the purple side of the spectrum. The shade applies flawlessly to the nails and gives off a crème finish.  It only took two coats for it to become opaque, but in all honesty, you could most likely get away with one coat.  The shade is stunning and is very appropriate for the impending spring and summer months.  I personally love wearing bright polishes during the winter to help take my mind off the winter weather.  I personally LOVE the new Megalast formula and I particularly love the brush.  The brush is similar to the Sally Hansen brush, but I really prefer this one over that.  I find the Wet n Wild polish is just a lot easier to handle in comparison to the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polish. If you are interested in the new Wet n Wild Megalast nail colors they are available at Walgreen’s  (possibly also at CVS – but my local CVS’ do not sell Wet n Wild any longer) and Rite Aid (if your local Rite Aid has restocked).  They retail for $1.99 each, but if you are able to get them on sale you can get them for cheaper.  I actually picked this shade and two others up at Walgreen’s and scored all 3, after a buy 2 get 1 free deal and a pair of coupons for $2 for 3!

Review & Swatches: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer

I will be reviewing and showing swatches of Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer.

I purchased this concealer a while back after hearing rave reviews about how fantastic it was. I actually purchased it at Rite Aid when they were having 50% off all Maybelline products, so not only did I get this for half price, I also had a $2 or $3 off any Maybelline product manufacturer coupon, so I paid less than $2 for this product. Quite the steal! I will admit when I purchased this it sat in my bin of new products to try for a few weeks. After using this, I wonder why I waited so long to try out this gem! Please note the price I paid for this in no way reflects my feelings about this product – because once my bottle does run out I will be repurchasing (whether that be full price or otherwise). Now onto my review:

PACKAGING:
The product is packaged in a small sturdy plastic marker shaped container, the very tip of the product having a micro-fiber rounded tip. The tube itself holds 0.2 fl. oz. of product. The plastic top covering the applicator is easily removed by pulling upwards. To get the product out of the container you simply hold the neck (the red part) of the bottle and twist. If it is your first use, you twist and twist and twist but I promise it eventually does come out! After the first use the product comes out with ease, one twist and a swipe and you’re pretty good to go.

PRODUCT:
This is available in a number of different shades: Fair, Light, Medium, Honey, Neutralizer and Brightener. This product applies like a dream under the eye. It’s very smooth to the touch and blends in flawlessly. It does give my eyes a bit of a brightened effect, concealing my dark circles and lightening up the area. I use this under my foundation (mousse or mineral), but it can be used over your foundation if you have a container of Instant Age Rewind that directly matches your skin tone. I have seen guru’s on YouTube use this over their foundation and it looked just fine because the product was a direct match for their skin tone. I do not use the neutralizer or the brightener because my dark circles are not terribly out of control – but Maybelline does suggest using a neutralizer if you have extreme dark circles. You can use the brightener shade based on how the formula applies to your skin tone. Personally, in my case, a brightener would make me look crazy (the product already gives me a sheeny/glow) – so I skip it. It does a very good job at concealing any under eye shadows/circles and does not feel heavy.

PRICE:
This typically retails for $9.99 (Walgreen’s, CVS), but the price can go up or down based on where you shop. Target and Walmart typically sell these for $7.94 in store and online. If you have a coupon or are able to purchase this during a sale at any store you may very well get it a lot cheaper.

OVERALL:
I would highly suggest this to anyone in the market for a good under eye concealer. I have oily to combination skin so I was a little concerned because I really didn’t want my under eye area looking like an oil slick – but I have to say it does not do that! Granted I have been using this product in the fall and winter months, so the weather has not been obnoxiously hot, but I feel this would hold up even when worn in the heat. Maybelline suggests the product be applied using the applicator tip, blending in an outward motion, with the excess wiped off with a tissue. I actually apply the product to my under eye with the applicator and use my fingertip to lightly pat it onto my eye gently smoothing my fingertip over it to the outer corner of my eye and with any excess I bring it down to the lower socket of my eye (gently patting/rubbing) and I have even brought this up to my inner and outer corner. I wear glasses (which tend to showcase dark circles if you have any) and it makes my eye area look flawless.

Have you tried the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind dark circle eraser?
Do you have an under eye dark circle treatment that you use?

Note: I swatched this on my hand and I have a birth mark on it. It does not reflect a dark circle because I would hope no ones dark circles were that dark. But as you can see in the blended photograph it’s muted the appearance of the birth mark.

Images are mine do not take or use. Thank you.