Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline Review and Swatches

Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline

Glitter! Party! Gloss! Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline ($5.95) is a sugary sweet sparkle fest that costs about as much as a fancy cup of coffee. This pink lip gloss is perfect for wearing alone or layering on top of lipstick for an extra dazzling makeup look.

Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline is a sheer, mid-toned pink full of pink, purple, gold and silver glitter. It looks a little peachy in this swatch but I believe that's just my yellow-toned arm showing through. If anything, this gloss pulls cool-toned on me.

Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline Swatch

See? Due to the abundance of silver and purple glitter, Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline reflects flashes of cool purple among the neutral pink.

Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline

Prestige Vinylwear Extreme Lipgloss in Pink Adrenaline is a fairly thick gloss that fills in lip lines extremely well. It gives a smooth, super shiny finish befitting of the "vinylwear" name. If I don't eat, I've found that this lip gloss lasts about 3-4 hours.

I don't usually wear shimmery gloss during the day, but my mind is full of possibilities of using this gloss for a night out. I think it would look great over a hot pink shade like MAC Lipstick in Impassioned for a haute Barbie effect. I can't be the only one who still kinda sorta wants to look like Barbie!

How do you wear glitzy glosses?

Disclaimer: I received a sample of this product from the company for consideration. My review is based on an honest assessment of the product and was not preapproved by PR or brand representatives.

Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride Review and Swatches

Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride

Lipstick Queen founder Poppy King seeks to offer fabulous, high-quality lip products in colors and finishes that appeal to her personal style. As it turns out, lots of people like Poppy's great taste, and Lipstick Queen has become a very popular niche brand.

Despite Lipstick Queen's cult following, I had never tried any of the brand's products. I picked up Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride ($22) to discover what this line is all about.

Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride Swatch

According to the product description, the Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Glosses for Lips and Cheeks are intended to mimic a natural flush. The shade Free Ride, which is a pretty pink peach color, certainly does look like a great way to amp up your natural beauty.

Lipstick Queen Oxymoron in Free Ride is advertised as a "matte gloss" product (Hence the "Oxymoron of the name) that doesn't dry your skin out. I think they went a little overboard trying to make it non-drying and this product feels a little greasy to me. It sets to more of a satin than matte finish on cheeks. I have oily skin so this is not my favorite formula for a cream blush.

Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride

The finish of Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride works better on my lips, where it  gives a creamy, satin finish. Unfortunately, I think the shade is too pale for me to want to wear. Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride is a tad lighter than my natural lip color (my lips are pretty naturally pigmented) so it makes me look washed out.

Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride

I must say, I'm not really feeling this product. Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss for Lips and Cheeks in Free Ride is a really pretty color to use as a blush but I don't like the finish. On lips, it's just too light to flatter my coloring. I could see this product working well for someone with dry skin with less natural pigmentation in their face, but not me! I wonder if I would like something from Lipstick Queen's main lipstick line more than this product.

Have you had luck with Lipstick Queen?

Burberry Autumn/Winter Collection 2012: Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry Review and Swatches

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry

This may sound crazy, but I didn't have high expectations for Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry ($29). After trying a handful of unimpressive designer cosmetics, I started to think that some brands just focused on their clothing lines and let their brand names justify selling sub-par, high-priced makeup.

Turns out that's absolutely NOT the case with Burberry. This eyeshadow is some of the softest, silkiest, and most pigmented that I've ever had the pleasure of swiping on my lids. Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry is a lovely warm purple shade that falls between burgundy and eggplant. It's spiked with finely-milled shimmer for added glitz. 

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry Swatch

In addition to the beautiful product, this eyeshadow is wrapped up in gorgeous packaging. Both the eyeshadow itself and the sturdy metal palette are embossed with the iconic Burberry print. The palette comes wrapped up in a velvet pouch for an extra luxe touch.

For this look, I applied Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Half Baked to my lid and Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry in the crease. I used Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sin to highlight and blended Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Toasted between the crease and the browbone.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow  in No. 24 Mulberry Swatch

I am really happy with this sultry and glam eyeshadow look. Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry adds wonderful depth and a dash of subtle color that keeps things interesting. Plus, my eyeshadow lasted all day on top of Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer.

I definitely recommend Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 24 Mulberry if you are looking for a worthwhile makeup splurge. Kudos to Burberry for delivering spectacular quality along with the high designer prices! 

What designer brand do you think has the best beauty line? Which is the most disappointing?

Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer Review and Swatches

Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer

Estée Lauder has released a new line of "lipstick luminizers" designed to transform the color and finish of your lipstick. Simply layer an Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer ($25) on top of your favorite lip color to create a dazzling new look!

Available in 4 limited edition shades, these new lipstick luminizers seem like an interesting idea. However, three of the shades are pretty light and I think you could create a similar effect with a pale, shimmering lip gloss. I decided to try Gunmetal Luminizer, which is described as turning lip color "deep, dark, dramatic," because it sounded like the most unique shade.

Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer is a sheer, warm grey shade with multicolored shimmer. The formula feels glossy and smooth, similar to the texture of the Sephora Collection Rouge Shine Lipsticks or Shiseido Shimmering Rouges.

Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer Swatch

But how on earth to wear it? My mind jumped immediately to foul-mouthed rapper Azealia Banks, who rocks a bevy of dark, sexy lips in the video for her new single Van Vogue (Warning! NSFW).

Azealia has shading in the center of her lipstick in some scenes in the video, so I tried to replicate her look by layering Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer over Lancome L'Absolu Nu Lipcolor in Rouge Resille.

Estée Lauder Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer over
Lancome L'Absolu Nu Lipcolor in Rouge Resille

I tried to emphasize the center of my pout with the luminizer, but the result is a bit more undefined than I had hoped. Still, I think that Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer added a fun, sexy spin to the deep berry shade. Very dramatic though.

Here's Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer all by itself. Don't think I'll be going out like this anytime soon!

Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer
That's a lot of look

Overall, I think Estée Lauder Pure Color Vivid Shine Lipstick Luminizer in Gunmetal Luminizer is interesting and kinda fun, but it's just not a product I envision myself using very much. I'm really curious to hear what other people think.

As a final aside, did you hear that Azealia Banks is collabarating with MAC to create a signature, limited-edition plum lipstick called "Yung Rapunxel?" That girl's career has skyrocketed so fast!

Prestige Primed and Ready Eye and Face Primers Review

I love primers, but they're usually pretty darn expensive. But you guys. I've found high-quality, long-lasting eye and face primers at half of the price of middle and high-end brands. Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer ($9.50) and Prestige Primed and Ready Face Primer ($11.50) are rocking my world.

Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer

Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer has a smooth, creamy texture that's easy to spread over your eyelid. Once it sets, it has soft matte finish that makes blending eyeshadow an absolute dream. Plus, the light beige texture of Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer neutralizes discolorations and makes the color of your eyeshadow POP.

When I use Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer, my eyeshadow doesn't budge. If I apply this product at 8 am, my makeup is still in place by the time I take it off at 11 pm. My shadow looks fresh, bright, crease-free and non-greasy all freaking day!

I think that Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer is really similar to Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which is my favorite high-end eyeshadow primer. I adore Too Faced Shadow Insurance and usually think that other eye primers don't come close. Turns out that Prestige Primed and Ready Eye Primer is just as good for half the price...I may even dare to say that it's better, because I think Prestige might have superior blendability.

Prestige Primed and Ready Face Primer

Like the eyeshadow primer, Prestige Primed and Ready Face Primer is a fantastic, affordable product that's comparable to high-end brands. This foundation primer is silicone-based so it fills in pores and is easy to blend. Prestige Primed and Ready Face Primer has a slick, somewhat greasy texture when first applied (similar to Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hr Perfecting Primer) but it sets to a nice velvet finish.

Prestige Primed and Ready Face Primer blurs imperfections for a soft airbrushed look even before I apply my makeup. This primer creates a smooth canvas so that foundation applies evenly and stays on all day. Plus, when I use Prestige Primed and Ready Face Primer, I find that my skin stays matte for about 4-5 hours.

Many foundation primers have iffy ingredients but I am happy to report that Prestige Primed and Ready Face Primer passes the ingredients test with flying colors. It is mostly made of silicones, which neither harm nor help skin, but it also contains salicylic acid, allantoin, and retinyl palmitate. These ingredients help brighten, renew and soothe skin cells. Who doesn't love makeup that makes your skin look better from the inside out?

Prestige Cosmetics are available at drugstores across the United States but stock is often hit and miss. If you're interested in trying these products, your best bet is to shop on the Prestige website, Ulta or Amazon. The Prestige website is currently offering a promotion where you can purchase both primers for $17.85 (a savings of $2.65) and receive a cute cosmetic bag! Considering the amazing quality of Prestige Primed and Ready Eye and Face Primers, I think this is quite the fabulous deal.

      

Disclaimer: I received a sample of these products from the company for consideration. My review is based on an honest assessment of the products and was not preapproved by PR or brand representatives.

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in All Hail the Queen Review and Swatches

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in All Hail the Queen

I'm a sucker for those 'in-between' nail polish shades, so I'm loving Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in All Hail the Queen ($14). Just look at that purpley grey-beige-taupe goodness!

Put most simply, Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in All Hail the Queen is a neutral beige with silver shimmer. However, I don't think that description does justice by all of the gorgeous grey, brown, taupe and purple hues that come out in different lighting. This shade will look killer with fall and winter clothing.

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in All Hail the Queen applies smoothly and is opaque in two coats. This high-shine lacquer has a beautiful creamy finish. I wore it with the Revlon Colorstay Nail Enamel Base and Top Coats and went five days without chipping.

The "3 Free" name refers to the absence of toxic chemicals Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP in Butter London Nail Lacquers. Butter London products are also formulated without parabens.

Pretty AND non-toxic? Count me in as a member of the Butter London fan club. 

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach Review and Swatches

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach

I've never been a big fan of bronzer. So many of them look orange, unnatural, or just plain dirty on my pale complexion. However, thanks to Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach ($16), you can finally count me among the legions of bronzer devotees.

For the uninitiated, Mia Mariu is a direct selling botanical makeup company based in Dallas. Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach is the first product I've tried from this brand and I am very impressed. 

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach is so subtle and natural that I find myself reaching for it every day to add instant radiance to my look. This silky-smooth loose powder is a rosy gold bronze shade with shimmer that blends exceptionally well with my light skin, and it lasts for about six hours before starting to fade.

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach Swatch

I typically brush Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach on my forehead, nose, chin and into the hollows of my cheeks. I use such a small amount that it doesn't look like I'm wearing bronzer -- my face just looks healthy, well-rested and glowing. However, I applied much more product than usual all over my cheeks so you could get an idea of the color in this photo.  

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach

Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach is so decidedly not orange that I could see someone wearing it as a blush.

I am so happy to have finally found a bronzer that works with my skin tone. The natural glow I get from Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer in South Beach is better than any other bronzer I've tried. This product is a wonderful choice for pale girls!

Mia Mariu products are available from brand representatives or online. Stay tuned, because I will be hosting a giveaway of a Mia Mariu Mineral Powder Bronzer and Kabuki Brush soon!

Disclaimer: I received a sample of these products from the company for consideration. My review is based on an honest assessment of the products and was not preapproved by brand representatives.