Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation - Classic Ivory

Hello again readers!

It's summer, which means heat, sweat, and unattractive breakouts. Oh dear, right? Well, I went around and picked up an old favourite (and I mean /old/ favourite, from when I was in High School and was tan(ish)...)

I bought a bottle of Neutrogena Skin Clearing foundation in Classic Ivory a while ago, actually, at Ulta when it was on sale for 7 dollars. Not bad, and it was the lightest that they offered, double awesome!

What this foundation is great for, is that while you wear it it's helping your skin! It helps combat acne, and skin problems, and after prolonged wear you should see your skin looking better and better. Should, of course, it's different for everyone, and even while wearing it I still get breakouts. I never really got too many, even during the worst years, so my experience with this could be significantly different than someone else's experience.

The formula of the foundation is a little runny, which is good since it absorbs into the skin faster. It dries to a satin finish, not quite matte, but not overly shiny either, and it's sheer. Like really sheer coverage that can be built up to a more comfortable coverage.

 It's great for if you're dry skinned, or oily skin, as a setting powder will make this product last longer, but it's not a drying product at all. Of course, being oil-free, doesn't mean that this won't let oil /through/, so if you have oily skin like I do, don't skip powder!

Though, even being the lightest foundation they offer, it's still too dark for me... and it oxidizes darker. :S Luckily, for this reason, I picked up a white foundation in Ireland, and mixed together it's much more suitable, and matches my skin so much better! 

Thanks for reading!

Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Bronzer - Light

Hello again readers!

Have I mentioned I love Big Lots yet? Because I do. You can find a lot of discontinued products, or clearance products, that you might even find hidden gems. I found an entire stash of Physician Formula bronzers, and at four dollars, I swiped one up to try.

The packaging for the Physicians Formula Healthy Wear, was never my favourite. The bright orange and pink scream summer, but the plastic packaging is just not cutting it. The packaging isn't that well constructed, and the clasp doesn't fully close anymore, making this impossible to just throw in my bag.

The powder comes with a brush, and I really wish it didn't. The bristles are scratchy, and they aren't ideal for applying bronzer. My original plan was to use the brush to apply it in a sort of line motion, and then blend it out, but the bristles don't blend the bronzer out properly, so I'm just left with a muddy mess. I just pitched the brush, and went with my other bronzer brushes instead.

As for the colour, it's not the worst... but it's also not the best. It leans orange, which especially on me, isn't the best look ever. I can use it, but it's just not ideal. I might not even finish it...

This bronzer was a flop for me, and I kind of wish I grabbed a darker colour instead. Silly me thinking that a light bronzer would work on my light skin, apparently. 

Thanks for reading!

Sinful Colors - Pride Swatch

Hello again readers!

Long time no see, right? Well, fret no more, I have a new swatch for you today. Around Christmas, Sinful Colors released a bunch of new shades, and this one just so happened to stick around for the permanent collection.

Pride is a multi-coloured glitter suspended in a clear base. The glitter likes to clump together, and you may have to add some more glitter to spots, but I really like how colourful this topper is. It's really fun, and for two dollars, why not?

Thanks for reading!

Ulta Haul and Swatches

Hello again readers!

I think I like doing hauls this way, where I take a picture of everything and then show the swatches. That way I'm more inclined to post them on time and not have them get lost in my computer somewhere and then have to drag it out months down the line.

I went to Ulta with Ani, and I got a bunch of goodies. :)

Orly - Space Cadet

Oh gosh, I could have cried when I found this in the clearance bin. I have been wanting this polish since 2012 when I stupidly picked up Galaxy Girl instead of this one. I should have gotten both that day... I gave up on ever getting it for myself, instead on focusing on getting dupes, but I don't need to do that anymore because I found this shoved in the bottom for under 4 dollars! 

Space Cadet is a gorgeous duo-chrome polish, that flashes from copper, to acid green, to a bit of violet in there for good measure. Every time you move your hand around you see something different, and it's always beautiful. This took 4 coats since it's a little sheer, but I find it's so worth it! If you're also a bit like me and don't like the hassle of so many coats, perhaps try it over black, because then you can get a whole new experience, without sacrificing the colour shift. :)

Nyx - Raspberry Tart Butter Gloss and Crystal Hip Liquid Crystal Liner

Crystal Hip is a really pretty iridescent glitter in a clear base. I do like this one on it's own, even if it's not really that attention grabbing unless you're close, but I absolutely LOVE it over black. It's great to add a little extra for when you want to be more dramatic with your look.

My mission to have a sizeable Butter Gloss continutes with Raspberry Tart. I think I'll skip over the browns (because they look terrible on me no matter how much I wish they'd work) but I do really want to get Cupcake and Sugar Cookie to complete my collection.

Raspberry Tart is a darkened fuchsia. The container is purple, but the gloss inside leans more towards pink. This one was a little tricky to work with, needing about three coats to get the desired colour that I wanted... And even then it settled in odd places (you can tell in the photo where some places are darker than others). I'm not too put off with that, and I'm going to experiment to see if I like it worn sheer too, or over a few lipsticks. I'm determined to make it work, because I just LOVE these glosses.

Essence XXXL Shine Lipgloss - Nude Candy

This gloss DEFINITELY needs to be layered, especially for me. I picked it up because I switched from buying primarily reds, to really indulging in nudes (best decision to be made, even though I still lust after reds). This gloss settles into ALL of my lines of my lips and looks horrible... It's light, and because I'm so pale it makes me look sick instead of gorgeous... If you have a darker complexion, you'll look better in this than I do.

Orly - Push and Shove & Lay Down That Base

I tried to pass this up, but I couldn't help myself. I'm drawn to chrome-effect nail polishes. This duo comes in a little pack (you can find it at Ulta for 4.50 while they're around the clearance bins).

You need to apply Lay Down That Base first, letting it dry and then going over it with Push and Shove. This polish really is shiny (no where near chrome false nails) but it shows every ridge of your nail... If you've seen in other blogs, this polish duo does NOT play nice with ridge fillers or other base coats... which is a shame. Also, this mani is not meant to last, it's supposed to be just for a night on the town and will start chipping with wear within 24 hours. Not a polish you'd want to invest in for long time wear, but if you're drawn to it (like I was) and you can get it for a good price (which I did) then why not try it? They are attention grabbing and really pretty, even with the ridges.

Thanks for reading!

Big Lots Haul and Swatches

Hello again readers!

Well, I certainly have taken my sweet time in coming back. School started up again, and well, education comes first. I didn't have much time to take swatches, let alone make a blog post about them...

Anyway, years ago I thought Big Lots wasn't that great, it's just a shop that I just wasn't interested in until this past year after seeing some of the amazing deals that people have been getting with cosmetics. Now I'm kind of hooked, and I go there about once a month or so to see what kind of goodies I can get. Here we go!

Wet n Wild -  Greed

I started really getting into makeup when these palettes were still in stores (I really remember getting 3/4 of them and missing out on this one!).

Wet n Wild is not MAC or Inglot by any means, but they do have some great shadows, and their 6-pans were great! You'd get three matte, and three shimmer colours in each palette. 

Swatched Dry

In this palette, you get three mattes: a cream, an orange-brown shade, and a black. The black isn't that pigmented, but for adding a little bit of definition to the outer corner or to the crease it should work fine.

You also get three shimmers: A light silver with a small amount of gold shimmer (it looks so warm because I swatched it over the L'Oreal Caresse Shine Stain... oops!), a nice rose-gold, and a shimmery black. Once again, the black isn't the most pigmented, and really I'm never wild about shimmery blacks... however, the lighter colours are gorgeous.

You can still find these (many of these) paired with the Lust palette at Big Lots for only 3.50! 

L'Oreal Color Riche Balm - Laze in the Maze and Sundays by the Scene

Another one of those products that I didn't want at their full priced, but once I found them on sale I had to have them...

I adore the packaging on the Color Riche Balms! They are so cute, with the coloured caps and the gold plastic holding the balm. It just looks really adorable, and it's something you can easily find in your purse too. I'm also really pleased that the caps don't come off easily, as I was expecting them too, but they really do hold up to their own.

Sundays by the Scene is a clear balm with a pearl shimmer to it. I wasn't expecting a colour, since I've seen swatches beforehand, but I'm still a little bummed that it's not really a blue-colour... It'd be so unique!

Laze in the Maze is a bright, bubblegum pink. I have to be honest, I was prepared to hate it, but after wearing it, I fell in love! It's a perfect summer pink.

I had to lighten up the lip swatches, because for some reason they came out so dark, even when I took them facing the sun, what's up with that?

You can see all my peach fuzz, my bad

Sundays by the Scene adds a shine to your lips, kind of like a frosted effect.

Laze in the Maze

Something I really noticed was that the balms really liked to settle into the lines of your lips, which could be an issue if you have a lot or you get dry lips (like me) a lot. In most cases, it might not be noticeable, but if you're really looking closely you can definitely see it.

Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Lipgloss - Coral Heat

I bought this one on a whim, and I gotta say, I am loving my nude trend!

Coral Heat is a beautiful coral pink creme lipgloss, that has just the right amount of pigment. The wear is a little slicker than the NYX Butter Glosses, but how opaque it was is similar.

It adds just the right touch of colour, and it's very flattering.

Revlon - Pink in the Afternoon and Night Sky

I haven't had a Revlon Lipstick in a while, so this is my first one I went out and bought for myself! The last one I had, was a gift.

And I was pretty excited for the eyeshadow too.

Pink in the Afternoon is a dusty, rose pink creme. I was really pleased with how pigmented it was, and with just one swipe gave a great pop of colour. It's pink enough to add more, but not too distracting either.

Night Sky is a blackened eyeshadow base with iridescent glitter. I was a little let down, seeing as it's so gorgeous in the pan, but swatching it was a nightmare. Unless you do this wet, prepare to apply layer after layer... after layer to where you want it. It's a hassle, and I wasn't wild about it... I guess I can use it for an eyeliner with some mixing medium, but I might end up just forgetting about it, no matter how pretty it is.

Maybelline Great Lash - I See Blue

I really want to get my hands on Maybelline Great Lash in Royal Blue, but seeing this for so cheap? Sold!

I See Blue is a bright blue that grabs your attention very quickly. I was really impressed with how opaque this mascara was, and was expecting to have to do at least three coats to get proper colour, but I only needed two for full effect! It goes on so great, and even if it's  not waterproof, is definitely a thumbs up.

L.A.Colors - Glossin Go Dazzling Lipgloss and Navy Blue Liquid Eyeliner

The L.A. Colors Navy Eyeliner I instnatly fell in love with at first swatch. It's a gorgeous deep navy, that gets full colour in a single swipe (you may have to go over it) and I was so excited to try it on that as soon as I got home i applied it.... And instantly had my heart broken.

The eyeliner was really runny, which isn't the biggest deal, my ELF eyeliners are runny too, but once this got in my eyes, they BURNED. Even applying it anywhere near my lid my eyes would start to water, and the eyeliner would get all over the place. I love the colour, but the pain isn't worth it.

Dazzing however, is a different story. It's a standard gloss, and I was expecting it to have minimal coverage, but I was surprised. It's a bright pink with a pearlescent shift, and it applied in one coat! It doesn't have a very good smell or taste, but it looks really great, and it's as slick as I come to expect from a gloss. Wear time is average.

Thanks for reading!

L'Oreal Caresse Shine Stain Lipgloss - Coral Tattoo

Hello again readers!

I passed up on the L'Oreal Caresse Shine Stain Lipglosses at first, because they were a pretty big hit to my wallet... I'm wishy-washy with lip colours, and if I get a wrong one, I'd much rather it be a two dollar lippy that I can still get a use out of, instead of a ten dollar gloss... However, I bought this one on Target on sale, so now I can do my review about it. :)

These have been kind of raved about in the beauty community, comparing them to a more expensive YSL lipgloss, which, I'm a sucker for getting a product just because it's a dupe of a more expensive product... Onto the product itself.

The Caresse Shine Glosses come in these nice looking tubes. I call them nice, because I'm not overwhelmed by the packaging by any means, but the gold really makes these stand out, on the shelves as well as in your collection.

The wand is nothing I haven't seen before, just a doe-foot applicator with a little indent to contain more product for application. The end is tapered of so you can do broad strokes, or go in with the tip to really define the gloss line.

With application, I was kind of pleased with how these actually work. You're not going to get a flawless opaque application on the first swipe by any means, but sometimes just a flush of colour is enough to get you by. The idea of these is you apply them as you see fit,  building the colour up until you are content with how opaque the gloss looks, just make sure you wait a minute between coats to make sure that the prior coat has had proper time to dry.

The colour I picked up was Coral Tattoo, which I was surprised that I liked so much. It's a warm, orange-red that with one swipe looks really orange, and with two swipes is a much more wearable orange-red. It's perfect for spring and summer, really, and just the colour is so beautiful to look at.

Top: 1 swipe, Bottom: 2 Swipes

Even the lightest swatch leaves a stain behind, which is great if you're going to be in the heat, or wearing this for a long time. Unfortunately, for me, it didn't all wear off at the same time, which made it a little awkward, but it's easy to just add a sheer swipe over the fading colour to bring it back.

3 swipes over lips

The swatch above is about after an hour os wear, with lip-biting included. It wore off a bit at the edges (like where I over-drew the gloss), but the rest seems to be in good condition.

I felt that the gloss was dryer than I was expecting, where I was expecting a gloss to be slick, this was a dryer formula to keep the gloss present for longer. It wasn't too much of an issue, but since it's not moisturizing, if you have a tendency for dry lips, this could just make your situation worse...

Do I personally think these are worth ten dollars? No, but if you're lucky, you can find them on sale every so often, and if glosses are your thing, treat yourself, you might just love them.

Thanks for reading!