Review: Bite Lipstick in Fig

On Saturday I dragged my friends Antoinette and Caroline to the mall to go shopping for my birthday. Here in Dallas there is a mall called Northpark that has a bunch of fun shopping, but all I seemed to want was beauty goods, so that's what we went after. I picked up some items in Nordstrom's and then moved over to Sephora and Neiman Marcus later where we admired their shoe selection.

In Sephora I found a lipstick company called Bite. From what I can tell they are based out of Canada and natural based. They want the items in the lipsticks to be healthy enough that you can eat them (or ingest them naturally through licking your lips and such) and cause no harm or side effects. I'd seen these items in Sephora in December but I wasn't sold. I decided to give them a try. 

SPOILER: I'm so glad I did. I love that this company strives to have natural ingredients and focuses on one thing... and does it well. Their lipsticks are some of the smoothest and most moisturizing I've ever used. 

They have their colors grouped: Wines, Reds, Pinks, Neutrals, Naturals, Berries (from what I can remember). I would love to see more selection-- I was looking for the perfect nice light peach color and I didn't find one from them but the red they had was perfect and I will be going back to buy that very soon. 

This is what the color looked like with a flash. I'd say in person it isn't that neon or bold of a color but just a pretty everyday kind of a pink. It's definitely creamy, makes your lips feel soft, and has nice color. It doesn't last very long, so if you are looking for a stain or something that will last all day, this wouldn't be the lipstick for you.

Sephora is the only retailer that sells this item. It is priced at $24 dollars, which is about normal. I'm really excited to get more of these lipsticks, they are just such a wonderful texture, consistency, and shade. What lipsticks are you getting into for the spring season? Have you heard of this lipstick or know anything else about it? 

Pros: Great colors

Great texture

Natural ingredients

Cons: Fades quickly

Smells a little odd, but doesn't linger

Rimmel Haul + Review

Why didn't I notice this was out of focus I hate myself.

Since my birthday is coming up I've been told by my parents not to buy anything because they don't want me to purchase anything that could be on my list (there was some make-up on there). Since I can't buy the expensive make-up that I want to, I've been purchasing some drugstore (high street) make-up, most of it being Rimmel. There are a few other items I'll review later when the time is right.

Some of these things were purchased out of the country because they aren't possible to find in the U.S. For some reason, Rimmel has a smaller market here, and you cannot find their blush in stores. It's very odd.

 From the left: 

Taken on a cloudy morning but in full light. 

This color is part of the Kate Moss Rimmel Matte Lipstick collection. I purchased #102. I already own #107 and #103, and you can see the review of those here. This is brighter than #103, it's a punchier pink than I expected. It's a very spring/ summer color, so it's perfect for the upcoming season. It's quite moisturizing for a matte lipstick but still a bit drying. It also has a strong scent, kind of fruity or floral, so if that makes you feel queasy or you have a sensitivity than be aware of that. 

Next up is a blush called Santa Rose (#010) It's been very popular in the affordable make-up market as it's (I suppose) a dupe for NARS' famous Orgasm blush. It is quite similar, though not as pink. It also doesn't last as long, but is still so gorgeous on, all it needs is a setting/ make-up lasting spray. 

 No foundation/ make-up on. 

This is so freaky close to my face, but this way you can see the bits of sparkle in the blush. They aren't visible unless up VERY close, they just create a beautiful glow. 

I purchased this blush from ASOS, where it's $6.63 currently. The link is here.

Another item I purchased was the Rimmel Apocalips Lipgloss. I saw this item ALL OVER the blogosphere. Well, from the UK blogs. It looked so gorgeous on and I don't own any lipglosses so pigmented. I even contacted Rimmel but they said they wouldn't be opening them to the US market. ASOS came to the rescue here, again! That website just keeps proving to be indispensable. When they perfect their shipping and/ or tracking they will be an unstoppable company.

 This is the lip color Nova. 

 This is quite a bold lip color... much bolder than I had anticipated, but still fun! It smells similar to their lipstick. The smell doesn't bother me because it doesn't last long (similar to the NYX Beige lip gloss). Things I found through using this lip gloss: it's not a high shine gloss, and the gloss doesn't last long but sort of fades in a lip stain that is still very bright and pretty. 

That is so much lip. Oh well, anyway, as you can see, bright and rather moisturizing! I also love how much gloss the wand holds. 

The last item is one more blush. This one is called Pink Rose (#120)

Still some remnants of the smeared lip gloss on. Wow I was so tired when I took these photos. Ah the dedication of a blogger. 

It's slightly pinker than Santa Rose, but has the same glow effect. 

Anyway, that's all! Overall I've had no real downsides to using Rimmel other than longevity, scent, and sometimes a slight drying effect. For a drugstore brand, they are pretty incredible. 

NYX Pretty in Pink Three Product Review

OK so everyone and their mom seems to be obsessed with Nyx products, most likely because they seem to be quite inexpensive and they are quite pigmented. I was in Ulta the other day and they had a buy one get one 50% off deal as well as a new member deal, so these three items ended up being $8.00! Not bad for three things, I think. Oh, and they are cruelty free!

It's very rainy today, thus the raincoat! The blush was recommended by Tanya Burr in her most recent youtube video, as was the lipstick.

How I feel about the items:

The quality of them isn't substantial. What I mean to say is, there is no wow factor where I think, "this could be a YSL blush or a NYX blush, I can't tell the difference." That being said, I did find most of the items to be better than expected.

The blush:

Called Rose Garden, it is a flamingo pink color in the case and have several sparkly bits to enhance shine. So if you are looking for a nice pink blush without sparkles, this is not the one for you. I didn't find the sparkles to be overwhelming and surprisingly, I don't find them reflected on my face in an obvious way similar to some sparkly products. Rather, it just gave me a nice glowy look that I really appreciated. Keep in mind I'm also wearing a highlighter on the top portion of my cheeks, which increases the glowing. 

No scent that I'm aware of which is nice. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this blush, to be honest. The case is plastic and clear on top so you can see what color you're picking up. That being sad, it's thin plastic and could probably break easily if you have kids or someone steps on it.

The lipstick:

Called Beige for some unknown reason, this is a pink lipstick that is quite rich. Made in Taiwan. One thing I noticed immediately is the smell. I can't stand the smell. Some people like fake fruit scents, but I just can't handle it. Reminds me of lower school and fruit scented markers... and gum.... and... cough drops. Ugh.  It's like cherry perfumed, and if you get nauseated easily or don't like the smell of cherry, I would warn you against getting this lipgloss. The smell does fade though, and fairly quickly, so if you want to grin and bare it, it's worth it in all other regards. There's even a little bow on top of the lid which is actually pretty cute. 

Let's talk about the applicator really fast:

Photo credit goes to Being Cruelty Free, a blog which talks in depth about products that are not harmful to animals. You can read more about it here!

I do not like this kind of applicator in all honesty, especially the bended bit because it just throws me for a loop. I'm weird and I like the kind of applicator that's a brush, not a sponge tip. Not many companies do this version, but when I find it, I'm very happy. I believe Armani does, if anyone is interested.

All these things being said, I still like the color of the lipgloss. It doesn't stay glossy for very long, but I like how it fades. It goes into a kind of dull shine that makes it look more natural and is really very pretty. 

(note I am wearing lipstick underneath but in a very similar shade)

The Lipliner:

I'm not wearing the lipliner in these photos because it's QUITE bright, but it's called Rose (#840) and is made in Germany (yay!). It's quite a rich pink, somewhere between cherry blossom to flamingo pink. It goes well with the lipgloss, but I didn't like the look of it underneath lipsticks. It's not very moisturizing and definitely left my lips cakey, but it was basically free so it wasn't a thought out purchase. I don't think I'd buy a NYX lip liner again, but it will do the job. 

Out of all three, I think the product I'd be most likely to buy again is the blush. The lipstick second, and I don't think I'd ever buy a lip liner from them again. The latter two were of fair quality and, scent aside, look really pretty on. 

If you want a better idea for what the lipliner looks like on, look at my last post, I was wearing it under a lipstick then and it made it very bright. 

Also, I've been having lots of fun with my Métier de Beauté palette and finally did a semi-different eye than usual! Goooooo meeeeee! You can't even see how cool it is in this photo. Oh well, there is no way I'm going to take more photos. You'll keep seeing the glory of these eyeshadows as time goes on. 

ALSO-- wasn't I supposed to stop buying so many "pink" products? I told myself to buy other colors but I just keep going back to pretty pink shades. Must... change... pace. 

Review: Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey

So, Clinique has a lipstick they call their "Almost Lipstick" which is meant to be universally flattering. That is to say, anyone could pick it up, swipe it on, and look good in it! I tried it on in store and liked the texture... kind of moisturizing, feeling like a balm but not necessarily a chapstick.

 I'm not saying this is holy or anything by having Mary and Jesus in the background, but I do love the print that is hung in my room and it served for a nice alternative background!

It looks very dark in real life and you think that it will go on the same way, but it doesn't. The color reminds me of raspberry jam or something, not very dark or pigmented at all, but sheer like, smooth, and capable of being used for every day.

I like it a lot, though I'm annoyed by the little bits of color left on my lips.

As you can see here, there are little "pulp like" bits of color that kind of stray unless you blend them in. Hopefully this will go away with more use, I'll keep you updated on this! They are easily blendable though, so if you don't mind smoothing in your lipstick or almost lipstick, then this should be no problem to you. The color is nice, slightly darker, I'm sure, than your original lip color but the absolute perfect thing for when you're in a rush and need it to look like you're more put together! It doesn't really leave any residue behind when you're drinking and stuff, except for a little bit of a ring, similar to one you would expect chapstick to leave on a glass. I really like it, it's fairly moisturizing, and good for every day lipstick and/ or a look of "trying but not trying too hard"

You can buy the almost lipstick from a bunch of places including Sephora and Nordstrom. From what I can understand, this "universal" shade also comes in multiple formats including blushes, creams, and lipsticks.

Scientific Method: Tarte Foundation

So I went to go buy NARS Sheerglow Foundation the other day, and got distracted (as usual) looking around, and tried out some foundations. I was very frustrated because NARS didn't make me glow at all... it's definitely sheer, but I couldn't understand where the glow factor came in. So I tried out the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation.

Formulate a Question: Will this product successfully prove to be high quality insomuch that I can use it on a regular basis and maintain an even and beautiful complexion?

Hypothesis: The foundation will be of high quality.

Prediction: Due to the price ($38) and reviews of the product, it will prove to be of high quality and meet up to my expectations. 

Test: 

Results: Alright, let me be completely honest. This is a blog where I try to find things that are of high quality. This applies to literature, films, purses, quotes, lifestyle, and of course beauty. I liked how this looked on in Sephora. I do not like how it looks on now that I'm home. Maybe I'm just not a foundation person after all. I really, really wanted to love and use foundation. But I'm not sure I'll be using it all that much, really, unless I find something absolutely amazing and life changing. 

The packaging is decent enough. It has dark earthy tones and a wooden twist off cap, so it reminds you of the forest (or, perhaps, the amazon?) The foundation itself does feel very rich and heavy, almost like a very refined clay before it's been fired. 

On my skin: But I feel like it dries kind of... thick and cakey. It's oil-free (great for people with oily skin but I don't have that) and waterproof, but those things don't really matter to me if I feel like the foundation highlights my blemishes. I also think the color is just a little bit off. It's like it dried in a kind of yellowish way, even though I got the pinker of the light light light foundations. ALSO: it is totalllllllyyyy not full coverage. Don't think for one second it is. Maybe if you put on  a few layers but... I found it to be sheer. 

Price: It's not the most expensive foundation I've ever come upon, but it's certainly not cheap. I'm sure it will last a while (though honestly, I did have to use a lot to spread it out over my entire face, so a little does not go a long way). 

Texture: I really liked how the foundation felt on my skin. It felt so soft. I had my mom feel both sides of my face, one with NARS Sheerglow, and one with this, and she said the side with the Tarte foundation was softer.

Irritation: No redness or anything like that, my skin hasn't become irritated per se but I have been breaking out more, as you can see on my forehead in the picture. 

The bottom line is-- the prediction was incorrect. I read a lot of reviews and it seemed like a good product, but I can't stand how it is setting on my skin. It's frustrating because I loved how my skin felt with the product on, but it's simply not a good match for me. I felt like my skin was dull with the foundation on. That being said, I've seen others use it with great results especially those who have oily skin so maybe you should give this a try if you do. I think this product is of medium quality. It wasn't full coverage, enhanced my blemishes and forehead wrinkles, and dulled my skin, though it was soft, a good texture and smell, and had nice packaging. 

UPDATE: When I finished writing this I walked by a mirror and looked at my face. From about 2 feet away, my skin looks fine. It's upon close inspection that I see the foundation setting in my fine wrinkles and being powdery/ cakey. I felt like I was a bit harsh on the product... no, it didn't work for me, but I know this will work well for others, especially if you have oily skin. I also forgot to mention that it has SPF in it, so it can work as a mild sunscreen as well. (No, Tarte did not pay me to say this) 

Review: Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet "Faux Cils" Shocking Mascara

OK so basically I feel like I am on an eternal hunt for the perfect mascara. My eyelashes have always been light so I need a product to make them stand out. I also feel like, while I have length, I'm always looking for thickening. And it feels like no one ever really delivers all that I want.
I think this is the first time I've bought a second tube of the same mascara so I suppose that's a good sign!

This mascara is for sure on the pricier side. It's $30.00 (eep) and you can buy it online or in store at lots of places, including sephora. It comes in Black, Black Bronze, Burgundy, and Obscure.

I own Black Burgundy though it really is just like a soft black. I don't see any burgundy tones in it at all. I love how it collects on my eyes-- it always seems like it's great coverage for just one application. I only put two layers on at most. One downside is that I do see a bit of the fallout under my eye on occasion. I have to be careful not to rub my eye or annoy it in any way, otherwise you'll get a few dust speckles as you can see in this photo:

Overall, though, I LOVE how thick it makes my eyelashes, and I love the color selection. So far, still my favorite mascara. What kind do you love? Send me recommendations!

Review: Lipsticks I've been Loving this Winter

So, I was thinking about which of my lipsticks I've been really drawn to this winter season, so I decided to photograph four of my favorites that have been being used a lot more lately!

From the left: Mac Angel, Chanel Rouge Coco #40 (Charme), Chanel Rouge Coco #11 (Legende), and Nars Red Lizard.

Angel has been a favorite of mine for a while. The lighting in this photo isn't really good enough to do the color justice (I'm working at that whole lighting thing), but it's just a great 60's pink. I've been doing a lot of Bridget Bardot looks, and this lipstick is always the perfect companion, though not matte enough for the time period. (Lipstick in the 60's was just super matte!). The color is a great muted pink, and looks luscious in the summertime as well.

This Chanel color has been my go-to for every day. It's just so light and refreshing and perfect for lunch dates and shopping trips. Not too strong a color to be worried about smudging and upkeep, but definitely just such a gorgeous, classic pink.

Légende is a wonderful shade. It's a wonderful rich deep pink and looks so gorgeous with light and dark brown eyeshadows. Versatile, easily transitions from day to night with a little additional drama to the eye. Wonderful shade, one of my favorites. Chanel just makes such gorgeous lipsticks.

The smudges in the corners of my lips are driving me CRAZY but aside from this, this color is kind of a wildcard for me. I have deep red hair so red lipsticks are usually intimidating but this color is just SO RED! It's wonderful for the winter when our skin is so much lighter, it just stands out like paint on a canvas, it's gorgeous. I do a very simple eye, maybe just a little champagne or white eyeshadow, simple black gel eyeliner and mascara.

What lipsticks have y'all been using? Comment and let me know!