Monday, April 16, 2012

Avon Plumberry Shine Attract Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

Avon Plumberry Shine Attract Lipstick

Call me crazy, but as soon as I twisted up this tube of Avon Shine Attract Lipstick, I wanted to take a bite out of it. Yep, that's right. I wanted to eat it. Doesn't it look like Jell-O? Or a Push-pop? The clear, surrounding layer is actually a stick gloss (for extra shiny lips), while the middle is the actual lip color.

Avon Shine Attract Lipstick is available in fifteen (15) shades: Shimmer Pink, Rose Pink, Mysterious Mauve, Plumberry, Cherry Pie, Guava, Nude Love, All Around Russet, Rose Bouquet, Fuchsia Flare, Wrapped in Raisin, Orchid, Passionate Red, Caressing Coral, Copper Connection.

I have it in the shade plumberry, which is a medium toned plum with fine shimmer.

Because of the clear layer of lipstick, the color is quite sheer with a shiny finish.


Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation Review!

Shiseido Sun Protection Foundation

Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation

Shiseiso Sun Protection Liquid Foundation is a product I've been wanting to try for years. After being turned down at a couple of Shiseido counters for a sample, I basically forgot about it for a while. It wasn't until lately when I ran across a YouTube video by Fleur, who raved about how she loves it (even more than her favorite Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua) that I decided I need to get my hands on a bottle.

As a part of Shiseido's Sun Protection line, the Sun Protection Liquid Foundation is a thin consistency liquid foundation with high sun protection (SPF 42) that claims to be non-transferrable through heat, water and sweat while looking completely natural.

What stinks about this foundation is the itty-bitty shade selection. It's only available in seven (7) shades: SP10, SP20, SP30, SP40, SP50, SP60 and SP70.



I'm not positive how the numbering system is figured, but I compared the three lightest shades - SP10, SP20 and SP30. They actually all looked like the same, or very similar depths, but with different undertones. SP10 appeared the pinkest of the three, SP20 appeared fairly neutral (nor pink or yellow - a good in-between) and SP30 appeared yellow toned. I ultimately ended up with SP30, which I would say is equivalent to around the MAC NC15-20 coloring.

Here's a comparison-
shiseido sun protection makeup swatches
From left to right: MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15, Neutogena Healthy Skin Liquid Foundation in Classic Ivory and Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation in SP30.

The darkest shade isn't very dark at all. P70 is equivalent to the MAC NC40-NC42 (medium-tan) coloring.

Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation

Friday, April 13, 2012

Covergirl Flashy Blastflipstick Blendable Lip Duo Review, Photos and Swatches!

Covergirl Flashy Blastflipstick Blendable Lip Duo

Have you spotted the Covergirl Blast Flipsticks on the racks yet at your local drugstore? Covergirl launched these lip duos at the start of the year, and to be honest, I dismissed them after spotting them at Walmart back in January because A) I didn't spot any barbie pink, and B) I wasn't too fond of the packaging. How shallow I must have been!

Well, I recently got the chance to try one of them, so I can share my thoughts with you all!

If these tubes look familiar to you, it's because the packagaing has a striking resemblance to the Covergirl Smokey Shadow Blasts I reviewed a couple years ago (Which I thought were pretty cool but gave my eyes an allergic reaction. My eyes were waterworks every time I wore them!). It's basically a double ended lipstick wand, with a darker cream shade on one end, and a lighter, shimmery shade on the other. Both colors can be worn separately, or you can layer the lighter shade over the darker one.

There are thirteen (13) shades in total: Whisper, Pucker, Glimmer, Flashy, Vixen, Perky, Tease, Cheeky, Stunner, Snap, Smooch, Minx and Intense.

I own the shade Flashy, a deep purple with a blue duo-chrome, and a light, shimmery magenta. This wouldn't have been my shade of choice, but it's a fab combination for deep to dark skintones!


Covergirl Flashy Blastflipstick Blendable Lip Duo

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Dolce and Gabbana Shimmer Illuminator Review, Photos and Swatches!

Dolce and Gabbana The Illuminator Powder in Shimmer

I picked up this powder recently through a blog sale as it was a great deal, and I was curious to step into the world of Dolce and Gabbana cosmetics. It's not a D&G product you hear much about, nevertheless I still wanted to write a review for it, because there isn't much info online about the product, and I figure it may help someone sooner or later.

Dolce and Gabbana Illuminator is described as a "lightweight powder highlighter offering effortless radiance. An enviable natural glow is created as every area of the face is brightened by the exquisite blend of pearlescent tones."

The Illuminator is available in two shades: Eva and Shimmer.

For a product that is labeled as a highlighter, Shimmer is not one to follow the crowd. In fact, Shimmer, isn't very shimmery at all. I'd say that Eva (light, golden-beige) is more of a traditional highlighter.

Shimmer is a soft, mauved-taupe with a sprinkle of ultra-fine shimmer. So sparse that it's barely there.

It actually doesn't work as a highlighter for me, and I can't really see this working as a highlighter for anyone - rather, a shade to add warmth and depth to the skin. For myself, it works great as a natural contour through the hollows of my cheekbones, or as a nude blush (ya know, the kind of blushes that are a cross between a bronzer).

In some ways, it reminds me a bit of MAC Taupe Blush (Pro shade) but more sheer with an added hint of rosy mauve, whereas Taupe is purely a pale, neutral brown that pulls slightly plummy on my cheeks.