April Favourites 2017 (Video)

Hi everyone,

I posted a new video on my Youtube channel where I talk about my favourite products for the month of April 2017.Do like,comment and subscribe if you would like to see more videos from me in future ☺

Please comment in the comments section of my Youtube video as it will help my channel grow rather than here. Thank you :) 

Comments posted here with unnecessary blog links will be deleted.Leave your link in the comments section only if you are new to my blog.

Until next time... Take care xoxo

Spotted Maybelline Define-a-brow Eyebrow Pencil at Dollar Tree!

I know the Maybelline Define-a-Brow has been a drugstore brow-filler favorite among many of us (including myself) and was shocked to see it on the rack at my local Dollar Tree today. There were at least twenty of them, all in the shade Dark Brown. Many have compared this pencil to the MAC Eye Brows retractable brow pencil - I agree!

Apparently Maybelline hasn't discontinued the product, but they discontinued the shade "Deep Brown", which confuses me because I'd assume it'd be a popular shade for dark brunettes.

I think they're trying to re-direct consumers to their newer brow product, the Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil, and won't be surprised if they get rid of Define-a-Brow all together. They aren't really comparable products, I like both, but Define-a-Brow has an advantage, as it's retractable (no sharpening) and the product has a small tip (for precise shaping of the brows). Maybelline Master Shape has to be sharpened frequently and due to the soft waxy texture of the pencil, you can't get a very sharp point.

I know stock of discontinued cosmetics will differ from location to location, but I just wanted to make sure you were all aware that you might be able to spot this pencil at Dollar Tree. It's regularly around $8, for only $1 at Dollar Tree - very well worth it!!

My eyebrow before and after it has been filled in with Maybelline Define-a-Brow in Dark Brown.

For additional reviews for this product, check out Makeupalley!

Happy Shopping!

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara Review + Before and After!

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara

I'm sure the majority of us, regardless of age, have owned this little pink tube of mascara with the green cap at some point in our life. When I pass by the the makeup aisles and catch a glance at Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, it instantly reminds me of when I was about twelve or thirteen, when I first developed my love for makeup. Sure, it wasn't "all that", but it was cheap and at the time, it got the job done.

Needless to say, I have never repurchased it since because I like a little (or a lot) more oomph in my lashes, which the very natural, smudgy results of Maybelline Great Lash didn't prevail. So, Maybelline came out with a little something called Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes, a new spin on the classic original. 

This new mascara claims to provide "lots of impact", while the unique brush design grabs each lash for maximum separation and volume.

*Note: The directions state to not let this mascara dry between coats. For the best results, apply the mascara until you are satisfied with the achieved look. (more about this later)

It's available in three shades: Blackest Black, Very Black and Brown Black. I chose Blackest Black, as I always do.

The wand is a small cone shape, which can be a bit awkward to apply (especially if you have long lashes), but it's very handy for those with average to short lashes (less mess on the lids). Because it's small, you can really get down to the base of the lashes and reach the little corners that often get missed with larger brushes. Nevertheless, I find it a bit tedious to apply and wouldn't choose to wear this mascara if I had to apply it in a hurry. 

I completely agree with the claims of not letting this mascara dry between coats. When I let the first coat dry, and went back to apply another coat, the wand literally removed the mascara off the tips of my lashes, making my lashes look short and clumpy. A total mess. To achieve the best results, start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand upward. Continue brushing your lashes until you are satisfied with the results. 

This mascara builds volume and length pretty quickly. I usually apply enough on my top lashes to where it looks like I've got on around 2-3 coats with a standard volume mascara, so my lashes look long and dark even from a few feet away. I noticed this mascara works especially well for my bottom lashes. It really does a great job at lengthening and separating them. 

I notice a couple of clumps here and there, but I think if you want very volumious lashes, it's hard to avoid any clumping. The clumping was very minimal with several coats and can be avoided by making sure there isn't a lot of excess product on the wand. 

Left: Before; no mascara, Right: After; application was equivalent to two coats on my top lashes, and one coat on the bottom lashes. No lash comb was used.

I also found this mascara doesn't weigh down my lashes and holds a curl pretty well throughout the day. 

I actually found this mascara to deliver like I thought it would, blowing all of the other Maybelline Great Lash Mascaras out of the water. 

Now the sad news, after a couple of hours, I end up with black smudges under my eyes. Let me tell you though, I am very prone to under-eye smudging and there are very few mascaras on the market that don't smudge under my eyes.

I didn't experience any flaking, and I found that it held up perfectly well by the end of the night (with the exception of the smudging). It's also easy to remove without leaving residue on the lashes.  

PROS: The small brush design makes applying the mascara to short lashes as well as bottom lashes much easier, builds volume well with additional coats, adds length, holds a curl, didn't experience flaking, dark pigment, easy to remove.

CONS: The small brush design makes applying the mascara tedious and a bit awkward, especially for those with longer lashes. The biggest con for me was that under-eye smudging was completely unavoidable with this mascara after a couple of hours, causing me to constantly check my makeup in the mirror, and powder my under-eyes - disrupting my concealer, etc. 

PACKAGING: Standard packaging, no complaints.

OVERALL: I was really satisfied with this mascara, especially for the price. I was able to achieve deep dark lashes with added volume and a little extra length with minor clumping. This mascara worked exceptionally well for my bottom lashes. Because I couldn't avoid the under-eye smudges, I won't be re-purchasing this mascara. Individual results will vary, and I've read a handful of reviews where the reviewer didn't experience smudging.

If you've tried this mascara, let me know what you thought about it!

Maybelline SuperStay 14-Hr Lipstick in Please Stay Plum.

Maybelline SuperStay 14-Hr Lipsticks launched at the start of the new year, and frankly, we haven't heard too much buzz about them.

Maybelline already has a Stain Gloss and Lip Color (the standard double-sided sponge applicator lip color with a clear conditioning balm on the opposite end), but they added a lipstick to the line, promising 14 hours of non-drying, comfortable wear.

Available in 20 shades: Perpetual Peony, Ultimate Blush, Fuschia Forever, Eternal Rose, Beige For Good, Never Ending Nude, Ceaseless Caramel, Consistently Truffle, Lasting Chestnut, Pout on Pink, Ravishing Rouge, Eduring Ruby, Timeless Crimson, Continuous Cranberry, Keep Me Coral, Infinite Iris, Till Mauve Do Us Part, Please Stay Plum, Endless Raisin, Wine and Forever.

I have Please Stay Plum, a deep, creamy wine.

I think the 14-hour claim is really alluring, as we all want our lipstick to last all day, but it also makes some of us weary because usually along with "long-lasting" lipstick formulas, you're usually left with lips that are shriveled, crying for moisture.


Surprisingly it's not the case for these lipsticks. They apply smooth and even without dragging or tugging at the lips.

Please Stay Plum in particular applies opaque with one coat, and deepens with additional coats.

It's a little difficult to describe the texture. It dries at about 80% on the lips, and has very faint tacky feel when rubbing the lips together. Although the lipstick is almost dry on the lips, the actual formula doesn't feel drying.

A quick wipe of clear lipgloss on top takes away that tacky feeling and makes this lipstick feel so much more moisturizing.

These lipsticks have a sweet, fruity scent, which I can only smell upon application. It doesn't bother me, but I know that it may bother those who are sensitive to scented lip products.

A common misconception about this lipstick is that because it's claimed to last for 14-hours, you'd expect it to be transfer-resistant. There are no claims that this lipstick won't transfer. In no way does it transfer as much as a standard lipstick, but when drinking, it will transfer on the cup. The color holds up really well after drinking my usual Venti Coffee at Starbucks (which normally it would've completely worn off) and eating a meal.

Does it last for 14-hours? No. The darker shades will have the best lasting power because they leave a bit of a stain behind - the shade I have has good lasting power (after 4 hours, I could use a touch-up), but I'm sure it will differ with the lighter, nude and pink shades.

Overall, I can't say I'm impressed with this lipstick, but the fact that it lasts longer than my standard lipstick and isn't drying on my lips is pretty impressive. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the color selection from the line, but I think I might end up trying one other shade - Perpetual Peony (a soft pink).

Price: Around $7 at your local drugstore, but the price may vary on location.

Maybelline Bold Gold Eyestudio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow Review!

Maybelline Eyestudio Bold Gold Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

I previously posted about a couple Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows last month, and since then have been using them (mostly Bad to the Bronze) a couple days out of the week. 

Shorlty after, I picked up one additional shade, Bold Gold, which is basically a shimmery, medium toned brassy-gold. 

Bold Gold is a great shade that can be used alone, for a simple wash of color across the lids, or it can be used as a base for a powder eyeshadow to prolong the wear of the shadow, and to make any golden hues in the powder eyeshadow stand out more.

One of the ways I like wearing this shadow is applied all over the lid, with a soft brown shadow blended through the crease, and the top lid lined with a dark brown liquid (or pencil) liner for a quick and simple look.

(Cropped from a previous post)

My favorite application method is with my fingers, or a flat synthetic concealer brush. If you want more opaque color, a sponge eyeshadow applicator works well.

Maybelline Eyestudio Bold Gold Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

READ MORE! 

One of my favorite color combos is using a gold base with a black eyeshadow layered on top, or vise-versa (black base with gold eyeshadow on top). The two shades create a dark blackened olive green shade. It's a little more fun than your standard black. (See below photo)

Here are a few swatches of different eyeshadows layered over Maybelline Bold Gold. 

Swatches from left to right: Maybelline Bold Gold Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow, Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow (copper-gold) applied over Bold Gold, MAC Gilt By Association Mineralize Eyeshadow (blackened bronze-gold) applied over Bold Gold and MAC Black Tied Eyeshadow (black with silver shimmer) applied over Bold Gold.

Applied over Urban Decay Half Baked, the color appears brighter and much more opaque. Applied over MAC Gilt by Association, again, the color is more opaque, and the golden tones in the shadow are intensified. Applied over MAC Black Tied, the mixture of the black and gold make a pretty shimmery blackened green (Nars Night Clubbing dupe?)

I always used MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot (golden apricot cream shadow) as a base for my gold shadows, but I prefer the color of Bold Gold much more. 

If you wear a lot of warm golden and brown eyeshadows, I think you'll really enjoy this product. It's a very easy to use product, it lasts all day and it's in-expensive. 

You can find Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows at your local drugstore that carries Maybelline. The average price is around $6.

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer Review, Photos and Swatches!

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer

After blogging for a while, you start recognizing the products that get the most praise and recognition. Because of the popularity and rave reviews, you'll ultimately get sucked into purchasing a "blogger pick/favorite" sooner or later, some being great, and others - not so much.

Concealer is one of my favorite items of makeup. I'll never get tired of my endless endeavor, searching my local stores high and low for the best medium-full coverage, lightweight, brightening, non-caking, non-creasing, long-lasting concealer. Maybe my standards are too high? There are some concealers I favor - Hard Candy Glamoflauge (perfecto, but a little too dewy & not long lasting), MAC concealers (Pro Longwear, Studio Finish, Select Cover-up), but I've grown completely bored with them and am on the lookout for a new-found love!

Could it be Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer? I surely hoped so, but it does fall short of my standards.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

• Blends easily for complete yet natural coverage
• Conceals imperfections and undereye darkness all day
• Pure color, natural luminous finish
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Talc, oil and fragrance free, non-pore-clogging

There are six (6) shades in total: Fair 10, Ivory 20, Cream 30, Sand 40, Beige 50 and Latte 60. 

Depending on the store you're purchasing from/location you may have a limited shade selection. The few CVS stores in my area only stocked the lightest 2-3 shades. I ended up getting "Cream" due to the limited shade selection.

Cream is a pretty good match. It's a light-medium, (warm) peachy beige and would work well on skintones in the light-medium range (around MAC NC20-30).

Cream swatched on my wrist.

I need a pretty good concealer to camouflage my undereye darkness, which is mostly red & blue. My undereye darkness is better on some days than others, but most of the time, it looks like I haven't slept in days - so, concealer is a must for me!

I don't mind if a concealer isn't full coverage as long as it has a good consistency and finish. 

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer has a thin consistency, creamy, yet watery - similar to MAC Moisturecover Concealer or Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. It has a doe-foot (slanted sponge) applicator and once dotted under the eyes, the product blends very nicely with the fingertips.

The coverage is a light-medium, and my darkness is still noticeable, even when layered. Applied over a medium coverage foundation, the results are better, or in conjunction with a corrector. The reviews for this concealer are very mixed. Some say there's not enough coverage, and others say it has a medium-full coverage. No matter how much I layered this concealer, it wasn't full coverage for me. 

I find that it works well on blemishes and spots, so I often reach for it for touch ups and any added concealing my face may need after I've applied my foundation - prior to my setting powder. 

By the end of the day, it will have faded a little bit, so a good helping of setting powder under the eyes is necessary to help keep it in place.

Overall, I'm not disappointed with this concealer - It's not bad, in fact, its one of the better drugstore concealers I've tried. But, it's just not enough coverage for me. I'll continue using this tube, and will not be re-purchasing.

PROS: I was able to find a good shade (Cream) for my skintone, the consistency is light, yet creamy, and it doesn't settle in my fine lines, it covers my blemishes and/or redness very well, isn't drying.
CONS: It does a mediocre job at covering my undereye darkness, isn't long lasting - fades throughout the day, there isn't a very large shade selection, so it may be difficult to some to find a shade match (particularly those with deep to dark skintones).
PACKAGING: I have no complaints with the packaging. It's compact and the applicator works well.
OVERALL: If you don't have severe dark circles and need minor concealing/brightening, this is a fantastic concealer to look into. For those that need a solid medium to full coverage, you may want to look elsewhere. This is a nice little concealer to pop in your bag and use for touch-ups.

Have you used this concealer? What'd you think of it? What's your favorite concealer - drugstore and high-end?

Maybelline Bad to the Bronze & Tough as Taupe Color Tattoo Eyeshadows Review!

 Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadows

Those that follow other beauty blogs, I'm sure you're all very familiar with these newly launched Maybelline cream eyeshadows. They've been flying off the shelves along with the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows, as soon as they hit stores at the start of 2012.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows are cream/gel fomula eyeshadows with intense pigment, that claim to hold up for 24 hours without creasing.

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadows are available in ten (10) shades: #10 Fierce and Tangy, #05 Too Cool, #15 Audacious Asphalt, #20 Painted Purple, #25 Bad to the Bronze, #30 Pomegranate Punk, #35 Tough as Taupe, #40 Tenacious Teal, #45 Bold Gold and #50 Edgy Emerald.

I only picked up two shades, Bad to the Bronze and Tough as Taupe, which are two very versatile, neutral shades.

Bad to the Bronze is a metallic chocolate brown-bronze with very fine shimmers. It doesn't lean orange or red, and is a fairly neutral shade.

Tough Taupe is a matte dove grey. It appears slightly lighter in the container, but when swatched, the color is a bit deeper. It's very much on the neutral-cool side.

#25 Bad to the Bronze & #35 Tough as Taupe

The consistency is very creamy and easy to use. I found Tough as Taupe to have a drier texture than Bad to the Bronze - therefore, Bad to the Bronze took less time to blend. I didn't have any trouble blending either shade. Both shades distributed well across my lids without drying too quickly or caking up. I was able to build additional layers for more intense color with no problems as well.

My favorite way of applying these is with a synthetic, flat brush - such as a brush that is specifically designed for concealer. I've been using my MAC #194 Concealer Brush or Sigma F70 Concealer Brush and it works perfectly. I've also used my finger tips to "pat" the color across my lids, and it works just as well. 

Swatches of both shades:

And, I also wanted to show what it looks like on the lids with no additional products.

I'm really impressed with these cream shadows and I'll probably pick up a couple more. The only other shades I'd be interested in are Bold Gold and Too Cool.

They are very reminiscent of MAC Paint Pots and work just as good as a base, under a powder eyeshadow. I've tried these with and without a base, and although they do last a full work day on the eyes, a base keeps the color from fading as much throughout the day.

They retail for about $6-7 and can be found at most of your local drugstores.

Maybelline Volume Express One By One Mascara Review!

Maybelline One by One Volum' Express Mascara

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Patented lash catcher brush has 3 bristles per lash to make every lash count. It catches, coats and de-clumps each lash to make them all fatter and flirtier. Instant clump-free volume. Contact lens safe and ophthalmologist tested. Washable. (There are often Kmart coupon codes available for Maybelline)

Lash Catcher? Well, that's a fancy title for a mascara wand. The unique wand design is the star of the show in Maybelline's One by One Mascara, which I'm not actually too keen of. The shape is a rounded oval (like a football), with rows of rubber bristles that start out short and ascend toward the middle and descend again at the end. There's a tiny bit of space between each row, specifically so there are less bristles touching your lashes (think of it as one on one time with your lash and the bristle) to "catch" or coat your individual lashes. The result should be separated lashes with a little bit of volume, minus the clumps.

I actually have to give a hand to Maybelline, because the claims run true when using the product on my lashes.

My lashes are nothing to brag about. They are medium in length, but pretty thin. The difference between using a mascara that separates and doesn't separate is huge. I've tested out mascaras in the past that would clump my lashes together and make it look like I have around 8 stubby lashes on each eye. When using a good mascara that separates, it should give the effect of having even more lashes than you already have.

This mascara separates my lashes really well. I want to say it reminds me a little but of Maybelline The Falsies, but a more natural version, with a little bit of volume, without the clumps. I love Maybelline The Falsie's though for the record and don't mind the clumps!

Two Coats.

It holds up well throughout the day without any smudging or flaking. I also like that the color is very black (because I like the blackest black out there!) It also doesn't leave my lashes feeling stiff - yuck!

Overall, I think it's a really great mascara. But, for those who want really dramatic lashes, this mascara may not be the right one for you. Although it does give volume, it's not going to give a false-lash effect. In the long-run, I'm sticking to Maybelline The Falsie's for my bold lashes. 

PROS: Defines the lashes well (separates), doesn't clump, doesn't make the lashes stiff/crispy, the color is a true deep black, great formula that makes my lashes look slightly longer with a little bit of volume, doesn't smudge or flake.

CONS: Although the brush design is effective, I personally prefer a standard brush. Applying mascara with this brush is a little awkward, takes longer and I sometimes end up with mascara on my lids during application. Also, I find that the tube dries out too quickly.

PACKAGING: No complaints, really.

OVERALL: Overall there are mostly pros with this mascara. It's no doubt very good, but what's going to keep me from re-purchasing it is the brush design. Like I mentioned, it is effective in separating, but I prefer using a traditional wand for quicker application. For those of you who want separated lashes that look either natural (with one coat) or slightly fuller and wispy (with two coats) this mascara would be a great one to look into.

Have you tried this mascara? If so, what did you think of it? If not, what's your favorite mascara?

Review: Maybelline Eye Studio Master Shape Brow Pencil (Swatches + Before & After)

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Shape Brow Pencil

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: 

Master Shade: Subtle color pigments enhance your natural brow look
Master Shape: soft grooming brush adds final definition
Master Hold: exclusive wax technology keeps brows in place

Opthomologist tested - safe for sensitive eyes - Contact lens safe

Application: Fill and define brows using small, light strokes following natural brow shape. Groom brow upward and outward with brush to blend color and set brows.

What it basically is, is a tinted wax pencil. It's a little bit different than a retractable crayon (Maybelline Define-a-Brow or MAC Brows) for instance, as it's less crumbly and less pigmented. It's also the case for a standard brow pencil. Although heavy pigment is awesome for an eyeliner, it's a little less awesome for your brows.

As far as I know, it's available in four shades: Blonde, Auburn, Soft Brown and Deep Brown. This product is so new that it hasn't popped up on the Maybelline website yet, so I'm sure if there are any other additional shades.

 (Photo snapped in Walmart last night) From Left to Right: #260 Deep Brown, #255 Soft Brown, #265 Auburn and  #250 Blonde.

I picked up Deep Brown, as my hair is a very dark brown with no golden tones.

CONTINUE READING FOR SWATCHES + BEFORE & AFTER!

I really like that on the opposite end of the pencil, there is a spoolie (wand) to comb the brows in place. Many brow products have a wand or comb attached, and many of them are of poor quality or are non-functional/impractical. The wand on this pencil works very well.

 

Deep Brown is dark brown, completely absent of any red or orange tones. It's almost a dark, ash brown and matches my brows perfectly. I swatched it next to a few other brow products above for comparison. It's the most similar to MAC Eyebrows in Spiked, but slightly less golden.

First, I'll comb my brows in place with the wand. Then, with the pencil, I'll use light strokes, following the natural shape of my brow. It applies the product smoothly and precise. I love how it's not crazy pigmented, so it doesn't draw harsh lines. I'll comb through my brows again to blend everything together and I'm done!

Although the wax does keep my fine hairs in place, I still need a brow gel to maintain the coarse hairs.

I love the final result! I can't say yet how it holds up throughout the day yet, because I'll need to use it a couple more times, but I will update this post within around a week or so with my final verdict. The only thing I'm worried about, is because it's a wax, I'm worried it will make my brows look oily mid-day.. I'm hoping that won't be the case! I'll keep you posted.

I purchased this pencil at Wal-mart for around $6. I'm guessing this product hit some stores early, but won't make it's real debut until the new year.

UPDATE 1/1/12: I've been using this product for my brows every day, and it's been working great. The product stays put all day without causing my brows to look oily. But, I do have a big gripe with this pencil. HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU SHARPEN IT?! I've twisted, turned, pushed it and apparently it's not retractable. The pencil itself is plastic.. so obviously it can't be sharpened? I'll e-mail Maybelline and see if I can find the answer.

UPDATE: Apparently, the proper way to sharpen this pencil is with a standard sharpener. Weird, considering it's plastic, but it sharpens just fine. I used my MAC pencil sharpener and it works well. Granted it doesn't give the cleanest outcome, but it's the only way! Kinda stinks because sharpening it doesn't yield a very pointy tip, so I can't be as precise as I'd like to with the pencil. Still, I like the product and will continue using it.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Pink Frosting.

Maybelline Pink Frosting Dream Mousse Blush

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

� Air-whipped mousse blush feels satin-soft on skin, glides on smoothly, and blends easily for seamless color and a natural finish
� Long-wearing formula provides luminous, long-lasting color on cheeks without clogging pores?

APPLICATION:

With your fingertips, pat a small amount of blush onto the apples of your cheeks. Use feathery strokes to blend gently from your cheekbones to your temples. To build color intensity, apply more blush.

* For application, I much better prefer a (synthetic) duo-fiber brush such as the MAC 188 or Coastal Scents Tapered Duo Fiber Brush, although fingers can also be used.

Pink Frosting is a light pink that's a little bit on the cool side, with a scatter of fine, golden shimmer.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blushes have a velvety soft, light and airy, whipped mousse texture that melts seamlessly into the skin. They can be applied in a thin layer for a soft wash of color, or they can be built with several layers for your desired look. I usually build up 2-3 very sheer layers for a pretty wash of pink on my cheeks.

Why choose a cream blush over a powder? 
Cream blushes tend to give a boost of luminosity, dewiness and a fresher finish to the skin that a powder blush can't. Anyone could use cream blush, but the most beneficial skin type is for those with dry skin. Those with dry skin may find that powder blush makes their skin look dull, ashy or dry, because they're adding dry on top of dry. A cream blush will add moisture to the skin and keep the cheeks from looking dull. Very oily skin types are typically the least beneficial, as the excess oils will cause the blush to fade much quicker. You can also layer blushes for superior lasting power. Just apply a thin layer of creme blush and apply a sweep of a similar color powder blush over top!

Some cream blushes can be a bit tricky to apply. Some can be really thick or sticky, giving a blotchy end result. But, the mousse texture of the Maybelline blush really makes blending a synch.

Here's a close-up of Pink Frosting on my cheek. You can see that it looks very natural and radiant. It does contain shimmer, but it's not obnoxious. For personal preference though, the next time I pick up another shade, I will probably choose another shade sans shimmer. (BTW, do you see those sun spots!? I'm in need of a good sunscreen. Rec any??)

The lasting power is pretty average. It will fade a little bit by the end of the day, so I like to apply it a little heavier in the morning. Or, I'll sometimes I'll add a thin layer of powder blush over top - Something like Bobbi Brown Pale Pink, MAC Coygirl or MAC Dame. 

Really happy with the overall performance of the blush, and I can't wait to try other shades! Have any favorites? Let me know in the comments below!

Maybelline Superstay 24 HR Makeup Review!

Maybelline Superstay 24 HR Makeup

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Foundation gives superior coverage and provides 24-hour wear. Superstay 24HR Makeup by Maybelline incorporates a Micro-Flex technology formulated to withstand heat, sweat and humidity - yet stays comfortable and looks flawless. Oil-free makeup will not transfer. Dermatologist tested. Fragrance Free. Suitable for all skin types.

There are twelve (12) shades in total, so finding your perfect match may be a little difficult with the limited shade selection. The shades are as follows: Porcelain Ivory, Sand Beige, Classic Ivory, Natural Beige, Nude, Classic Beige, Pure Beige, Natural Tan, True Beige, Honey Beige, Caramel and Cocoa. I purchased this foundation because I was in need of a foundation to wear when I'm not tan, so I chose the shade "Sand Beige", which seems to be around the MAC NC20 coloring.

Alright, so we all know that "24-hours" is a bit of a stretch in terms of wear for most foundations. You're not going to look like Cinderella for 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, and then poof! your makeup will blotch. Makeup companies tend to "stretch" (insanely exaggerate) the claims, so a product will sound appealing to the consumer. Even though this doesn't last 24 hours, it does have really good lasting power.

Let me start off with the color, like I already mentioned, I chose "Sand" which is the 2nd lightest color. It's a good match for the MAC NC20 coloring. It's more on the beige/neutral side, but it does warm up to my skin a bit. Because of the beige tone, it doesn't match my neck 100%, so with my foundation brush, I'll swirl the residue on my neck. The lightest color seemed a bit pink, and would probably be best for MAC NW15-20. If you're very fair (lighter than NC/NW15, there is no perfect match). For NC25-30, Nude seems like a good choice as there are are a good balance of yellow tones. Classic Beige can also work for NC30-35, as there are a fair amount of yellow tones (but, more beige than Nude).

In the photo on the left, the foundation is swatched on my hand to show the color, and blended on the right. You can clearly see the coverage is good, as it blurs out all imperfections on my hand. It looks a little pink, but don't worry, it doesn't look like that on my face.

The consistency is a little on the thick side, and for those that are use to thinner foundations may feel that this is a little difficult to work with. Because it's a little thicker and dries quickly, I always apply a light coating of a moisturizer to my face to help the foundation blend easier. I find it works well when applied with the fingers, but I like applying it with a flat top foundation brush the best, using light patting motions and then circular motions to blend. The coverage is on the heavier-medium, and is buildable to an almost full coverage. It covers 90% of my blemishes, while completely evening out my skin. The finish is pretty matte, so I never feel the need to set with a powder.

I am really impressed with the wear of this foundation, as it doesn't seem to get oily/shiny throughout the day, and it stays put very well. I do find that by the evening (after 7-8 hours) it will have faded from my nose and a little bit around the mouth. So, I will touch it up with my foundation brush at around that time. When it's time to remove the foundation, a cleanser is necessary.

I've seen several reviews, and many say that it photographs well, but in my experience, it gives me a slight gray cast in photos. Estee Lauder Double Wear does the same for me.

Overall though, I really like this foundation and think it's one of the better drugstore foundations. I'll be wearing it on those days where I need the extra coverage.

Here are a couple photos of me wearing the foundation with no powder or bronzer.

PROS: Excellent coverage, lasts well throughout the day, blends well.
CONS: Limited color selection - limited tones for yellow/warm skin, very light and deep skin tones, can sometimes make my skin look dull.
PACKAGING: The packaging is pretty standard. As with any foundation, I wish it had a pump for sanitary reasons and for convenience. It's also a little heavy, as it's thick glass - so it weighs down my bag a bit.
OVERALL: It's an overall great foundation for those with some hyper-pigmentation, acne scars, or for those who want good coverage for a lower price. Normal, Combination to Oily skin types will benefit the best from this foundation as it has a matte finish and doesn't seem to get oily throughout the day. Dry skin types may find it difficult to apply, and can possibly make the skin appear duller/drier. If you have dry skin, I'd recommend moisturizing prior or adding a drop of moisturizer into the foundation being applied.