Milani Cosmetics Gel Powder Eyeshadows

Introducing the new Bella gel powder eyeshadows from Milani Cosmetics! Saw these at my local CVS store last week however they had a smaller display which only had some of the shades, I then went to Walgreens today and was able to grab a few more as they were on sale for $3.99, whereas CVS was $4.59 each. Since I hear these are permanent, I would wait until they have a BOGO half off or BOGO free sale (which they occasionally do). I believe there are a total of 19 shades.

I skipped on some of the other colors only because I know I would either never use them, or because I have something similar (do I really need another black eyeshadow?!??).

First impression: These are NOT gel, nor are they "gel-like", it's not soft and mushy like a gel, in fact I have actual gel-powder eyeshadows from Colour Pop Cosmetics to compare it to, and those are definitely gel, because as soon as you touch it, your finger feels somewhat wet to the touch, and the slightest touch causes the product to move similar to that of a mousse/gel.

These eyeshadows however, just feel like a soft, baked, finely-milled powder eyeshadow. They don't shift to the touch, and they feel very velvety and smooth. Some shades are highly pigmented, even on their own without a primer, some looked less pigmented with a primer for some odd reason, and some were not pigmented at all (Bella Cappuccino and Bella Caffe were the worst performing, they were so light and I really had to scrape a good amount of color just to swatch them), in all fairness though, it may be a good thing that they go on so light for those of you that have a heavy hand, because it will really give a more natural look then going on too heavy or borderline smoky. Bella Sand was also another one that was very sheer and light, however that was what I expected, and it makes a good highlighting color.

In terms of performance and staying power, I have not tested it myself as of yet since I just got these, from what I know with past Milani eyeshadows, a good eyeshadows primer is a must. They seem to fade very quickly when worn alone.

Below are the shades I bought, there are two swatches in each pic, for each color, the swatch on the left is the eyeshadow by itself, and the swatch on the right is with an eyeshadow primer (I used a Rimmel eyeshadow primer for these).

My favorite shades: Bella Gold, Bella Bronze, Bella Emerald, Bella Navy, and Bella Charcoal
Least favorites: Bella Cappuccino and Bella Caffe

Are you picking up any of these? Have you seen them yet at a store near you? Sound off in the comments below!

 

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Physician's Formula - CC Cream, Concealer & Powder

Went to my local Rite-Aid and came across the new CC Concealer, Cream, and Powder from Physician's Formula.  I was so excited to see their "CC" version as I loved their "BB Cream" line.

CC stands for correction cream, and is designed to even out the skintone, give dull skin a little bit more of a glow and brighten up the complexion.

The concealer I found to be too sheer for my liking, but I did love the CC Cream and the powder together. It gave a nice natural look while covering most of my blemishes. The "light/medium" was a better match on me than the "light" shade which I found to be a tad bit too light on me (I am a MAC NC35 for reference). The powder I got was in "Light/Medium" as well and that was also perfect, it has a pink sheen to it, but nothing too obvious once on, it just gives the skin a nice healthy glow. Initially, I thought it would make me look chalky or like a ghost, but not at all!

Definitely check it out, these packages even have a $3 off coupon you can use at checkout!

Wearing CC Cream and Powder in Light/Medium

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Review: Glossybox Subscription Box

I never jumped on the subscription boxes bandwagon. It's sort of like those mystery bags you see in stores, where you pay $15 and don't know what's inside. I never liked those. I just always thought well what if I don't like what's inside? Then I just wasted $15 I could have use to buy something I actually like- or want. I was sent a Glossybox to review, and I have to admit I was curious and excited to finally experience what all the fuss was about. I have a few blogger and beauty addict friends who are all about the ipsy and julep bags, and seem to enjoy that they have more hits than misses. The Glossybox subscription is $21 a month, and although it may be pricier than other subscription boxes/bags, read on to see why I think it's worth it. When I received it, my first impression in one word was: LUXURIOUS. The packaging itself was very classy, it wasn't sugarcoated with a sequined makeup bag, it was a nice box with a pretty ribbon, it came with a very helpful info card that detailed each product. I love that the samples are deluxe sample sizes, this definitely helps in giving us a good amount of time to actually try the product. One thing that annoyed me with samples from other places was that I felt it wasn't a decent amount to actually see whether you would like it or not. I like that you can actually try designer products without breaking the bank. For instance, the Tarte masacara I received in the box was actually FULL SIZE! That mascara alone is $23 at Sephora, and to subscribe is $21 a month and you get other samples to try out. Another fave was the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream, my face has been a bit dry lately, and this brought my skin back to life. I have yet to try the mask, but I am a sucker for masks so I cannot wait to try it out! Overall: If you are into subscription boxes and want to try luxury, deluxe samples, I suggest giving it a try. You can also cancel at any time- no commitment.

In my box I received: - Sesha Skin Therapy Mask - Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes Statement Mascara in Black - Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream - balanceMe shune on tinted lipgloss salve - BVLGARI perfume 

Tarte Mascara

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FOTD: Fall Makeup Look

Did a Fall makeup look, here is a list of the products used:

Face:
- MAC Full Coverage Foundation in NC 35
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC 35

Cheeks:
- MAC Bronzing Powder in Soft Sand
- Tarte Darling Blush from the holiday blush palette

Eyes:
- NARS eyeshadow primer
- MAC eyeshadows in Brule, Motif, and Bamboo mixed together and applied all over the lid
- Sleek eyeshadows paperbag and villain from the Ultra Matte v2 palette on the outer corners and crease
- MAC expensive pink eyeshadow on lid
- Inglot gel eyeliner #77
- Tarte lights, camera, lashes mascara
- On lower lashline, MAC pearlglide eye pencil in Designer Purple

Lips:
- Buxom lipstick in Menace
- NYX lipliner in Deep Purple

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Review: LE Maybelline Matte Color Tattoos

Found these new Limited Edition Matte Maybelline Color Tattoos at my local CVS  (for $6.99) after endlessly searching every single store by me, I finally found them! I love matte finishes, I never used to and always leaned toward shimmery colors, but now that I am older and like more natural, everyday looks, matte finishes are right up my alley!

The shades I picked up are: Nude Pink, Matte Brown, and Just Beige

My favorite shade out of the three is Nude Pink, just because I think it's gorgeous on it's own, and goes well under any eyeshadow. Just Beige is also pretty because it's neutral, and matches my skintone. Matte Brown I like for darker or smokier looks (or even for the brows!) because it has no hint of shimmer.

What are these used for? A lot of people use these pots as an eyeshadow base, to wear under eyeshadows to help them last longer throughout the day and to give your eyeshadows a little more oomph by having a similar color underneath it. You can use them on its own as an eyeshadow though it may be harder to blend since they are creamy. You can definitely even use Matte Brown for the brows or as a liner.

These are similar to the MAC Paint Pots, I did some comparisons below of Nude Pink with MAC Paint Pot in Girl Friendly. The Just Beige is similar to MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre (comparison is in my video).

Overall? If you see them, grab them! These are awesome and have great staying power. Not to mention they are LIMITED EDITION!

NUDE PINK

MATTE BROWN

JUST BEIGE

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Tarte Holiday Blush Palette

Went to my local Sephora to check out all the new holiday goodies that are already out, and a few of my instagram buddies were already posting about this gorgeous blush palette by Tarte cosmetics and had to see it for myself. I was definitely NOT disappointed!

This palette retails for $42, it is limited edition and is available in Sephora stores and Sephora.com.

It's a nice sleek palette, and has all the sparkly bling that screams that the holidays are around the corner. The "Off the Cuff" palette also comes with a super cute cuff bracelet adorned with a gold bow (and I love bows!); the bracelet has two snap on buttons, which can be a con as it may not fit everyone. But very stylish nonetheless!

There are 4 blushes and 1 matte bronzer, the blushes are: Crave, Dazzled, Darling, and Dollface, and the matte bronzer is called Park Avenue Princess.

From L to R: Crave, Dazzled, Darling

From L to R: Darling, Dollface, and matte bronzer Park Avenue Princess

Swatches from L to R: Crave, Dazzled, Darling, Dollface, and Park Avenue Princess

Final thoughts: This is the perfect gift for yourself or for any beauty or blush enthusiast for the holidays. I love that it has a variety of colors to complement many skintones rather than showcasing one color family. It's great for traveling because it's sleek and small enough to fit anywhere without taking up a lot of room. The matte bronzer is great for contouring and is a nice addition to the palette. I love the permanent Tarte blushes so it's a no brainer these have the same amazing quality that Tarte continues to deliver.

From the Sephora website:

What it does:
The perfect gift for the spontaneous blush enthusiast, this palette comes with a range of five full-size shades and a wearable eco-chic bow cuff that’s sure to be the season’s hottest accessory. This limited-edition set complements all skin types and is infused with skin-balancing Amazonian clay that lasts up to 12 hours for fade-free, flawless wear.

This set contains:
- 4 x 0.158 oz Amazonian 12-hour blushes in Dollface (light pink), Dazzled (soft rose), Darling (nude melon), and Crave (pink peach)
- 0.158 oz Amazonian clay bronzer in Park Ave Princess
- Wearable, eco-chic bow bracelet 

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Review: Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Primer

I recently went to my local Walgreens as you know from my last post and came across the display stand for the Fergie Centerstage collection by Wet n' Wild, and all my lovely Instagram ladies that have already tried this demanded I pick this up! So today I will be reviewing the eyeshadow primer from the line (and will review the lipsticks in another post). As you can see from the top pic, I stocked up! Because this stuff is awesome sauce! Don't worry, I will be doing a giveaway very soon and one lucky reader or instagram follower will receive one in their giveaway set! If you have Instagram, feel free to follow me @nessasarymakeup.

The deets:
Where I bought mine: Walgreens
Price: $4.99 (on sale)
Shade: For my primas (only shade it comes in), it's a neutral, colorless shade and blends in with the skin.

What it's supposed to do: Prevent your eyeshadows from creasing on your lids and keeping it fresh all day.

First impression: When I took off the cap, I noticed the product was just spewing out due to all the pressure in the tube (not a deal breaker), but it's definitely a waste of product because you can't control it and you can't put any of the excess back in, however I am sure once some of it is used up, this will be eliminated. There is no funky smell to it, in fact, it reminded me EXACTLY of my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (UDPP). Same look and feel. I wore it under some Inglot eyeshadows to work when I did a brown smokey look, and 13 hours later (from the time I got ready for work at 6am until 7pm when I got home), it still looks really fresh! No creasing whatsoever! I was highly impressed considering this is probably one of the first drugstore eyeshadow primers I have really seen and it was only $4.99!

PROS:
- Lots of product in the tube
- Only $4.99
- Actually prevented creasing for me and kept my eyeshadows vibrant

CONS:
- Hard to find, since I believe these are Limited Edition as it is part of the Fergie Collection, that means when you run out, you most likely won't be able to re-stock.
- Too much product oozes out of the tube first few uses due to all the product pressure in the tube, but should subside once enough product is used.

Final thoughts: This is pretty amazing, and you cannot beat the price as it performs just as good, if not better, than some of the "high-end" eyeshadow primers as you can see from the pics below. I definitely recommend it if you can find it!

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Wet n' Wild Beauty-Fergie Centerstage

I love Walgreens; they always have the newest makeup displays before the other stores like CVS and sometimes Rite-Aid, and it's always so well stocked and organized. Today, I had to get cough drops and this beautiful display with Fergie on it caught my eye. It's the new Wet n' Wild Fergie Centerstage Collection.

As you can see, there are a lot of products that went into this collection! I ended up just picking up one palette, the eye primer, and a lot of lipsticks! I have not played with them yet, but enjoy the pics below, the lipsticks are super moisturizing and pigmented! The dark purple lipstick "Ferguson Crest Cabernet" is a good dupe of MAC "Rebel" lipstick, and it's only $3.49 currently at my local Walgreens!

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