Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick Swatch/Review

Recently I've purchased something unlike anything I've ever used when it comes to makeup. I had seen them on a display at my local Walgreen's, but was a little turned off when it came to trying them. This was until I watched a first impression by saaammage on youtube. Once I saw her swatch the color Fuchsia Ecstasy, I just knew I had to run out and get my hands on it, which is exactly what I did.

I don't know why, but the color just completely spoke to me. Especially with spring right around the corner, it just made me think of a flower in full bloom. I got it home and immediately had to try it. Now, I will say that the first thing I noticed is that the applicator is not very forgiving or precise, which is kinda a fail for such a bold color.

However, the second it was on my lips, it felt like nothing I have ever tried before. This is due to it feeling like nothing once you have it on. All you feel is a huge boost in softness and moisture. Seriously, after putting this on and the texture of it, the weightlessness of it, I just have completely fallen in love. I plan to pick more of these up as soon as my budget allows, in more everyday, wearable colors.

The applicator is more of a paddle brush type style, long and flat. It holds quite a bit of product, but isn't the most precise when it comes to lipstick application. I really, really, wish the brush was a doe foot applicator, but after you get used to the brush it isn't the end of the world. You can also choose to line your lips, to help define a border, giving added precision in application.

Full face: Eyes - Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani (Review coming soon!), Foundation: Maybelline Dream Velvet in Soft Ivory, Powder: L'oreal True Match in C2 cool, Blush/Bronzer: Toofaced Sweethearts Duo in Ross & Rachel 

As I've been saying, I am obsessed with this formula. Maybelline has hit it out of this world with the way this product makes your lips feel. While it is not a true matte, (I recommend blotting if you want a matte finish) the finish can look like a satin finish on the lips as is. It has a very faint old lady lipstick smell to it; but you cannot smell it during application, or while wearing it, only if you go take a whiff of the applicator will you catch it.

As I said the color I purchased is Fuchsia Ecstasy, definitely one of the bolder colors in the line. However, that is the reason I decided to try the line at all. Pigment is full coverage, bold and pigmented. It wears well, but does not claim to be, nor is long lasting. It is a good idea to reapply after food or drinks. It also transfers, even after extended wear, but it also can leave a light stain on your lips, depending upon the color.

Looking forward to getting back in the groove of posting in 2016. I still have school, but my schedule this semester is far less hectic and congested.

I hope you all enjoy and find this review helpful. Let me know if there is something you would like to see me review in the comments below,

Lash Sensational - Maybelline

      Maybelline is known for their mascara. From Lash Discovery (which I absolutely swear by for my lower lashes) to Great Lash,Volum' Express, Falsies & everything in between everyone knows Maybelline for mascara. Taking my history with Maybelline and the fact that I have enjoyed many of their mascaras in the past and also currently have a few in my collection, so when I saw Maybelline's
Lash Sensational at my local Walgreen's I picked it up.

Lash Sensational Brush

No Mascara


Well mistakes were made, first of all I accidentally grabbed regular formula instead of waterproof. Not really that big of a deal, since I don't actually waterproof a lot. Then secondly I bought the mascara in brown. I'm a brunette so not the end of the world, oh well. Try something different is what I told myself. 

    Then things went from oh well, mistakes happen, to what a waste of money and this is where I start hating this product and calling it a fail. Now, I will say I do like the brush a bit. It seperates my lashes well, even my wispy bottom lashes if I use the brush just right. However, when I opened the mascara the next day and notice right off the watery formula. When I say watery, I really mean it. I put it on, just one coat, and wait a second, I blink and bam, it's all over. (I should have taken a picture, but it made me mad, so I forgot.) :/

      I have mascara not only on my lashes where I want it to be, but under my eye, on my eye makeup...so watery that it looks like I did a really shaky eye liner application and forgot some spots. I took a tissue and tried to minimize the damage, the product under my eye actually came off like it was never there with a simple swipe of the tissue. The product on my eye was another story, due to eye shadow and primer being on the lid of my eye as well. Needless to say, I was pissed. Naturally, I then had to remove my eye makeup and start over. So upon second application I wait...wait and wait some more even blowing at my eye and other sillyness to dry the mascara, lets just say it takes a good minute and a steady hand to apply this formula. I manage to put it on without it going everywhere and blink without the same issue. I have tried wearing the product over a month or so now and have the same issues with the watery formula every time. That is what makes this a FAIL product as far as I am concerned. Not only does it not live up to it's claims, but it is a huge hassle just to apply this formula.

After 2 Coats - FAIL

      After all the fussing with this product I look at myself and notice, that it doesn't do much for me. I don't have the best lashes ever, they are thin and sparse. My husband has better lashes then I could ever hope to have. Therefore, when I wear mascara, I want it to show up and make what I do have look amazing. This mascara just is not that, in every way. Upon drying the lashes look spidery and sometimes even clumpy. Just, so not impressed. I guess with Maybelline, I expect better. At $9 I want better. I noticed no increased volume and no real "fanning effect" that this product claims to provide. Nor, will I be purchasing again in the future. 

Not So Sensational

      Have you tried Maybelline's Lash Sensational? What are your thoughts on the product? Do you have a go to Maybelline mascara, let me know in the comments.
   

NYC Smooth Skin 5 In 1 BB Creme Instant Matte Review

      About a month ago I was on the lookout for an inexpensive light coverage BB creme, for those days when I don't want to do full face makeup. Those times when I just want a bit of coverage, without having to apply too many products. So one day at my local Target, I was glancing over products and saw NYC's (New York Color) - Smooth Skin 5 In 1 BB Creme Instant Matte. For the price of three bucks, I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try.

      The product benefits as claimed on NYC's page are that this product will provide a perfect and instant matte finish (I do agree, that the finish was matte, and as I girl with combination skin
I was very happy with that.) Minimize the look of fine lines and pores, smooths skin. Minimizes skin imperfections, brightens skin tone for perfect flawless finish.

      So I picked their fairest shade and left hoping to be happy with my purchase. Sadly however, I must say that so far this product has been a fail for me. Their fairest shade is somewhere in the beige family, or at least it looks to be on me. Maybe, once I get a little more sun, with warmer weather kicking in this might...might work for me.

      Also my application has been blotchy and streaky and this has been trying it with various methods, my fingers, a brush, a stippling brush, and a beauty blender. First, I tried applying with a foundation brush and my face was SO streaky. I used my fingers to get rid of the lines and streaks around my eye area and on my nose. Another time I tried it I thought maybe a stippling approach might work, and while it did look better, I noticed blotchy application straight away. To deal with this I used a beauty blender, which thankfully got rid of the blotchy, patchwork look of the product.

      This product's formula made me mad, simple as that. The coverage you get is uneven and if you have any blemishes don't even reach for NYC's BB Creme. I have a small spot at the moment on my chin, didn't cover it, nor even help reduce the redness. So I tried building coverage in just that area and all that did was remove the product from that area.

      I liked that this product dries into a powder finish, but that is the only real positive I have to say about this product. I will not repurchase and even though it was so cheap, just no, this is such a fail product in my eyes.
Have you tried this product? If you use NYC, what's your favorite product by them? Let me know what you thought of this product and if you have any recommendations on products I should try let me know in the comments below.

Life, Books & What's Next

This post might be a little bit different from what I usually post. There are reasons for that though. I've been meaning to post since last Thursday, then naturally life got in the way. I've been under the weather, my husbands been sick so when not curled up in bed trying to feel better or being at school or work, cause being a grown up can stink sometimes (obligations to uphold, no sick days in college lol).

I honestly haven't been wearing too much makeup, which is a reason for this post not being about Too Faced ~ La Belle Carousel. I don't feel like I've worn it enough to give it a full review and it has so much to it that I don't feel a first impression would give it justice or be a fair view of the product.

Another thing I've been doing out side of homework, has been reading. I go through phases sometimes where I will just devour books. In the past month (January) I've read eight books & I'm about to finish my ninth and tenth. Here's a list of the books in case you are curious:

• Unlucky 13 - James Patterson
• Private - James Patterson
• Confessions of a Serial Killer - James Patterson (Just a bit of a Patterson kick lol)
• Hunger Games #1 (Catching Fire) - Suzanne Collins
• The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
• Storm Front - Jim Butcher
• Orange Is The New Black: My Year In A Women's Prison - Piper Kerman
• The Paris Wife - Paula Mclain

The ones I'm about to finish:

• Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
• Life As I Blow It - Sarah Colonna

So, as I said, I've been off devouring books, like crazy. It's just a habit I have and will never deny. In case you were wondering my favorites out of what I am reading or have recently read are Gone Girl (seriously, if you haven't read it, GO READ IT, after finishing this post of course ^_~), Unlucky 13, it's part of James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series and the entire series is great. The Hobbit is a favorite book of mine and I re-read it after seeing The Hobbit pt. 3 in theaters. The Paris wife is a lovely read. Orange is the New Black was good and I want to watch the show on netflix now (even though it's different from the book. Storm Front is book one of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, love the series, I'm re-reading this series because a new book just came out and I'm not caught up. Private was a boring letdown and I won't be continuing that Patterson series. Confessions of a Serial Killer was alright if not hard to follow because of the style in which it was written. Not really a fan of either of these books and I usually enjoy Patterson's stuff. Yeah, so those are my top picks and the fails out of this lot.

Anyway, I'm sure some of you are like where's the makeup content. Well, I'm working on it. I'm trying to fix my lighting setup so I can maybe start doing videos. Also I just really need to fix my lighting in general to get rid of orange tones in my pictures, et cetera. As soon as I work out the bugs there, I'll post some reviews on the few products I have been wearing lately. Some hits and a couple of definite misses for me, plus a product that I'm actually just mad at. Keep your eyes out for new content soon.

Leave me some comments on anything you might want to see me review. Or tell me what are you reading right now? Have any suggestions, leave a comment below.