Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick Review & Swatches

You might be wondering to yourself, "Wendy, why are you trying out more Super Stay products? You know it didn't work out for you the first time around." And if you're not thinking that, here's a little bit of a refresher. At the end of last year, Influenster and Maybelline paired up to allow select beauty bloggers to test out their original Super Stay 24 Hour Lip Colors. The formula was so different than any other liquid lipstick I had tried due to its sticky nature and, unfortunately, I didn't find it to be all that wearable or comfortable unless I added the balmy top coat that came with it. While they are still technically liquid lipsticks, I didn't really prefer them for functionality and comfortability. This time around, however, Maybelline has expanded their Super Stay range to include actual matte liquid lipsticks closer to what I think most beauty enthusiasts are familiar with.

In hopes that Maybelline had heard all of our feedback, I rushed to Ulta's website to purchase six out of the ten shades of the brand new Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick when they released. Ironically, I made this purchase before I even knew Influenster was sending me a couple of these very lipsticks to try out. What can I say? We both can spot the next hot item when we see it. Fortunately, this Voxbox was not completely sent in vain as I did not own one out of the two shades sent to me, allowing me to review seven out of the ten in Maybelline's starting line up.

My Current Collection of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks. From Left To Right: Loyalist, Dreamer, Lover, Believer, Escapist, Pioneer, & Voyager.

Applicator on the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

Arm Swatches of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks From Left To Right: Loyalist, Dreamer, Lover, Believer, Escapist, Pioneer, & Voyager

Lip Swatches of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks From Left To Right: Loyalist, Dreamer, Lover, & Believer

♥ Loyalist - Light, peachy nude. This is the lightest shade in the collection.

♥ Dreamer - Light, bright pink. Will actually read as more of a nude pink on those with medium and deeper skin tones.

♥Lover - Rosey mauve.

♥Believer - Orchid purple. I found this to be the streakiest of all the shades I tried. Because of how much I applied to try to smooth it out, it never fully dried down, which amplified the stickiness of the formula and felt gooey.

Lip Swatches of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks From Left To Right: Escapist, Pioneer, & Voyager

♥ Escapist - Deep smokey plum. Has a much different texture than the other lipsticks in this range; it feels like a whipped mousse texture. It applied a little streaky, but not nearly as streaky as Believer.

♥ Pioneer - Bright, classic red.

♥ Voyager - Rich wine red with slight brown undertones.

♥♥♥♥♥

Q&A's

♥What are the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Colors?♥

The Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Colors are Maybelline's latest edition to the Super Stay line. This liquid lipstick incorporates the Super Stay longwear technology, while giving the wearer a matte lip appearance. You get a lot of product at 0.17 oz for roughly $7.99-$9.49 depending where you shop. The packaging has a very nice, sturdy plastic feel with the bottom component corresponding to the color of the liquid lipstick inside. The applicator itself is much different than anything I've seen at the drugstore with its tear drop shape and hollow center. However, it is reminiscent of the Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipsticks or the YSL Volupte Tint-In-Oils to give you a reference. It is currently available at Ulta and Target and is slowly beginning to roll out into drugstores.

♥What are the claims made on this product?♥

According to the press release sent in the Maybelline Voxbox: "Maybelline's SuperStay Matte Ink provides highly pigmented color in a true matte finish for up to 16 hours of comfortable wear. Unique arrow applicator allows for precise application of liquid matte color."

♥How do they apply/wear?♥

When it comes to application, I like the pointed tip of the applicator as it allows you to create a smooth, sharp lip line if you do not have a lip liner on hand. However, the hole in the center does not allow the applicator to hold enough product and I found myself having to dip into the product four or more times for my relatively small lips. Also, the stickiness of the product seemed to cause a little bit of streaking in certain shades, but I was able to smooth it out with a few passes of the applicator (except in the case of the shade Believer).

After a few minutes of wear, the lipstick is noticeably more of a satin finish and has a slight stickiness to it, but it is nothing compared to the stickiness of the original Super Stay lipstick. It is actually very comfortable. Throughout the day, however, I do notice that these lipsticks become increasingly more matte to the point where there is no transfer whatsoever. In fact, these lipsticks are so budge-proof that if you do want to remove them, you will certainly need a makeup remover or oil to do so.

♥What are my overall thoughts of this product?♥

When Wet n Wild released their Liquid Catsuit Lipsticks, I think it really changed the game for the drugstore. Brands now had the challenge to create products that could best it or at least compete. While Wet n Wild's liquid lipsticks are still my number one because of their pigmentation, comfort, and affordability, these Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks are a close second. They are easy to apply, their pigmentation is buildable, and they last the best out of any liquid lipstick I've ever tried. I would highly recommend picking some of these up as long as you feel you can get past the initial stickiness of the product. If you can, I promise you it will be well worth it. Lastly, if I could add any critique, my hopes would be that Maybelline expands this line to include a better range of nudes that would flatter a wider range of skintones.

♥♥♥♥♥

Made it this far? Good! 'Cause you're in for a treat! It's been quite some time since I've hosted a giveaway, so what better way than to give one lucky person the ENTIRE Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick collection. You'll have even more shades than I do! To enter all you need to do is follow me on Instagram and tag a fellow makeup lover below on my Maybelline Super Stay post. The winner will be chosen randomly on August 7th. Good luck, beauty addicts!

XO♥

*Some of the products in this post were sent to me for review by Influenster and Maybelline, but all opinions are my own.

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Lip Color Review, Swatches, & Demo

Over the past two or three years, liquid lipsticks have completely flooded the beauty market. With such a wide variety available, we have come to see amazing, innovative formulas and finishes. Yet, with all of these new products, I think we forget that brands like Maybelline and L'Oreal have been on the liquid lipstick bandwagon long before it became such a craze. In fact, I remember strolling the makeup aisle in college and seeing these very lipsticks, but never being drawn to them. Whether it was because of the packaging, the shade range, or the fact that I was a complete newbie at makeup, I'm glad Maybelline and Influenster have opened my eyes to even more liquid lipstick options. 

Q&A's

♥What are the Maybelline Super Stay 24 Lip Colors?♥

The Maybelline Super Stay 24 Lip Colors are a line of two-step liquid lipsticks. To the best of my knowledge, these have been around for quite some time (five or six years), so they are not a new product in the beauty community. The product consists of a liquid lipstick on one end and a shiny lip balm on the other. The range for this is actually quite large consisting of 31 shades, all of which are very wearable versions of pinks, corals, reds, and plums. They are available at any drugstore where Maybelline is sold for about $10.49.

♥What are the claims made on this product?♥

Here are a few statements made about the Super Stay 24 Lip Colors found on the product page of Maybelline's website:

"This long-lasting lip color won’t cake, dry, or flake thanks to our unique Micro-Flex technology.""Meet the wonder that stretches the limits of long-lasting lip color. Our formula with Micro-Flex technology looks and feels fresh through 24 hours of wear. Available in a collection of shades.""No other longwearing lipstick lasts longer. Period. Our Micro-Flex formula glides on and looks gorgeous all day."

♥How do they apply/wear?♥

I was very suprised at how good the applicator of this product is. It has a nice length to it, bends to the contours of your lips, and isn't an overly stiff material either. Even though the price tag of this product is up there, sometimes drugstore brands cut corners on packaging and it is nice to know that Maybelline did not do that in this instance. 

So, to be clear, when it comes to the applicator, I love how the product applied, however, the two shades I was sent applied very differently. This more likely than not has to do with the fact that they are different finishes. "Keep Up The Flame" is a creme finish, which applied opaquely in one sweep, while "Constant Toast", as a frost finish, required two layers to get the full effect. That being said, I wouldn't recommend applying more than one layer because the formula automatically cracks and flakes off.Once both "dried down" on my lips, however, they felt exactly the same, which is to say that neither of them fully dried down. Instead, they remained quite sticky and tacky to the touch, so if you're the type to smack your lips together this will definitely be an issue. I have found that blotting your lips on a tissue did help the situation though. I also want to note that if you plan on using the liquid lipstick portion on its own to achieve a more matte look, it is not very comfortable when worn that way. I definitely always felt the product sitting on my lips and it felt pretty drying.This feeling was much improved once the shiny balm was applied over top. Instantly the liquid lipsticks became much more flattering and wearable, but I do feel that this balm decreases this supposed 24 hour wear claim because it increases the chances of smudging or transfer if you eat or drink. This is just something to keep in mind.

♥What are my overall thoughts on this product line?♥

While there are quite a few pros and cons that I have found when testing out this product, I do have to admit that I am very pleasantly surprised at the overall quality, specifically of the creme finish. I would not recommend the frostier finishes from this line as they apply streaky and are harder to work with. Overall, I think given the current trends, we have become so accustomed to companies having those ultra matte liquid lipsticks that we are less accepting of liquid lipsticks with other finishes. However, I do think this will be a great alternative for those of you who want to experiment with the trend, but don't like the overly matte feeling.

XO♥

*The products in this post were sent to me for review, but all opinions are my own.

The Most Affordable Full Coverage Foundation EVER! Review of the Jordana Complete Cover Maximum Coverage 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation

First off, I know the name of this product is completely ridiculous. If the name got any longer, I would literally need to start abbreviating, so for the purpose of this review I'll be referring to this product as the Complete Cover Foundation, okay? Now that we got that out of the way, it's story time. Whenever I pass by a drugstore, I always have to stop in and check out the new makeup displays. It is such a bad, compulsive habit, but I like knowing all of the new beauty bits that are coming out. Well evidently this product is not new, but it was on a display in Walgreens as a repromote because the packaging was upgraded. So after a tiny bit of research and seeing the amazing price tag, I picked up two shades of this foundation and that is what I have to show you guys today.

Jordana Complete Cover Maximum Coverage 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation in Fair Beige (Left) & Golden Beige (Right)

Q&A's

♥What is the Jordana Complete Cover Foundation?♥

The Jordana Complete Cover Foundation is a full coverage foundation in a squeeze tube packaging with a thick, yet liquidy consistency. It is marketed to double as a spot concealer and comes in a total of 12 shades. This foundation can be found at certain drugstores and beauty supply stores for $3.99. I picked mine up from Walgreens.

♥What claims has Jordana made on this product?♥

Here are Jordana's claims: "Meet your secret weapon for making dark circles and spots look like they’ve vanished! Complete Cover 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation evens out skin tone when applied as an all-over foundation, and also works as a full coverage concealer—just dab onto trouble spots for a quick fix. Complete Cover 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation = the ultimate in double duty beauty!

• Max full coverage
• Oil-free formula
• Evens out skin tone
• Blurs the look of flaws
• Suitable for all skin types
• Made in USA"

♥How do you apply this product?♥

Immediately after applying this to my skin, I noticed that this foundation has an extremely strong cosmetic chemical smell (it honestly made me nauseous). On top of that, it has an interesting texture that is just overall not my favorite. There is a thickness to it so when applied with a brush, you may risk streaks and cake-iness. I recommend using a damp sponge, but bare in mind that the sponge lessens the coverage a bit. However, you can always go back and spot conceal wherever you need it.

♥How does it wear?♥

I have to say that I found this foundation incredibly heavy on the skin, which is probably due to the beeswax and silicon ingredients found in it. Once applied, its finish reminded me quite a bit of Mac Studio Sculpt, so it will be a great dupe if that is one of your faves. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wearing it on a hot Summer day as it creased and caked up terribly at the corners of my nose within the first few hours. It may be a more suitable foundation for those needing a moisturizing Winter foundation with lots of coverage.

♥What are my final thoughts?♥

While I don't hate the Jordana Complete Cover Foundation, I cannot truly recommend it as I myself wouldn't wear it. The price point is excellent, so it may be a good choice for beginners or even makeup artists who need to stock their kit on a budget. As I said before, if you love the Mac Sculpt Foundation, I think you'll absolutely love this one as well. It just doesn't make the cut for me due to the way it sits on my skin and the incredibly strong scent. At $3.99, however, it doesn't hurt to give it a try and see if it is your cup of tea. Other foundations that have similar consistencies, but worked better for me are the Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation and the Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation.

XO♥

My Fave Drugstore Palette EVERRR!: The NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette in Warm Neutrals

When the NYX Ultimate Shadow Palettes made their debut on Ulta's website a couple months ago, I was hesitant because eyeshadows have not always been one of NYX's fortes. But who can turn down yet another gorgeous, warm tone eyeshadow palette, am I right beauty addicts? So somehow, despite my doubts, it made it into my shopping cart and I have been playing around with it ever since. Now if you're thinking this might be an unnecessary addition to your makeup collection, let me tell you why you're wrong. Not only is the quality impressive, but also there is absolutely nothing comparable to it at such a price point that is as readily available to those of us beauty addicts on a budget. The Warm Neutrals palette has been my go-to consistently because the color combinations are so inspiring, can go with any look, and transcends any season, warm or cold. But enough about that--let's get into the nitty gritty!

Q&A's

♥ What is this product? ♥

The NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette in the shade Warm Neutrals is an eyeshadow palette containing 16 eyeshadows. The eyeshadows have satin, matte, or metallic finishes and range from neutrals to golds and warm, earthy shades. The entire line of the NYX Ultimate Shadow Palettes are available at Ulta for $18 each. 

♥ What are the claims that NYX made on this product? ♥ 

Here are the claims NYX have made straight from their website, "We named this collection the Ultimate Shadow Palette because that’s exactly what it is--a pro-level palette packed with 16 high-performance eyeshadows in a rainbow of tone-inspired shades. Available in four striking color combinations--Neutral-Cool, Neutral-Warm, Bright and Smokey/Highlight--each set features a vivid mix of velvety-rich textures and mesmerizing finishes that range from mattes and satins to shimmers and metallics."

♥ How is the quality of this product? ♥ 

In the past, I was not a fan of NYX's eyeshadow quality--they were always chalky and unpigmented. However, I must say that this palette in particular is definitely an exception. Not only are the eyeshadows buttery smooth and pigmented, the layout and color choices are inspiring. I often find myself reaching for this palette when I have the time to do my eyeshadow. Also worth noting is that no matter what primer I used in conjunction with these eyeshadows, they lasted all day and I can wear them without experiencing any sensitivity or allergic reaction. 

♥ How does the product wear? ♥ 

My go-to eyeshadow primers at the moment are Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre or the Lorac Behind The Scenes Eyeshadow Primer, depending on how the texture of my lids are that day. No matter which one I use, however, these shadows always last through the entire day. Also worth noting is that I don't experience any sensitivity or allergic reactions when wearing these shadows, which can sometimes happen with shadows containing red dyes. 

♥ What are my overall thoughts on this product? ♥ 

The only downside, which really isn't that big of a deal for me, is that the eyeshadows aren't named anywhere on the palette. So if you are a stickler for cute eyeshadow names or simply like to reference eyeshadow names for tutorials, that might be a drawback for you. Other than that, I 100% LOVE and recommend this palette. I am very interested in trying out the other ones, which seem more dramatic, whereas this one is more practical for everyday use. I also love how compact and travel-friendly this palette is and, while each eyeshadow contains half the the amount of a typical single shadow, you get 16 of them for only $18 (sounds like a deal in my book).

Makeup Deets

♥ Eyeshadow - NYX Ultimate Palette in Warm Neutrals

♥ Liner - Coastal Scents Glitter in Tropicana

♥ Lashes - House of Lashes in Smokey Muse

♥ Foundation - Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer

♥ Highlight - Wet n Wild MegaGlo Multi-Stick in Marigold Round topped with The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

♥ Bronzer - L'Oreal Glam Bronze in Medium

♥ Blush - Sephora Blush in # 3

♥ Lips - Rimmel Show Off Lip Velvet in Orange-ology

XO♥

Summer 2016 Metallic Lippie Trend: Milani Amore Mattallics Lip Cremes (Review + Swatches)

Summer 2016 is shaping up to be quite interesting as far as the beauty community is concerned. Last year saw a boom in the "strobing" or highlighting craze and, in case you thought that had went away, Milani is now bringing metallic lippies to a drugstore near you. This limited edition formula is actually part of their Amore line, so expect to still get that same matte texture with a little bit of a twist. These new Mattalics Lip Cremes have a fine micro shimmer throughout the formula giving the lips an intense metallic, wet sheen.

As luck would have it, I was at my local drugstore when the new Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Creme display was being placed on the shelves, so I had a complete visual of this limited edition line up. Truth be told, metallic lipstick might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it sure is fun if you're feeling adventurous. In total there are eight shades to choose from, ranging from nude to a deeper purple. For the purpose of this review, I snagged up three of the shades in light, medium, and dark tones just to test the waters out.

Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Cremes in (Left to Right) Chromatic Addict, Matterialistic, and Raving Matte

Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Creme Swatches in (Left to Right) Chromatic Addict, Matterialistic, and Raving Matte

Q&A's

♥ What is this product? ♥

The Amore Mattallics Lip Cremes are matte liquid lipsticks with micro shimmer throughout that give them an ultra metallic finish. This limited edition collection contains eight shades, ranging from a nude to a dark purple with a strong emphasis on the mid-tone pinky lip colors. They are sold in drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens for $8.99.

♥ What claims does Milani make about this product? ♥

Straight from Milani's website, "Paint your pout with gilded glamour. Introducing 8 limited edition shades of new metallic matte liquid lip crème. Bold and richly pigmented, these metallic liquid lip colors shine with a soft luster and dry to a smooth matte finish—without drying out your lips. Waterproof and kiss-approved, each Amore Mattallics Lip Crème delivers up to 12 hours of wear. Remove with an oil-based longwear lip color remover." 

♥ How can you use this product? ♥ 

Depending on the shade you pick up, you can actually utilize these liquid lipsticks in multiple ways. If you're the daring type, wearing them all over your lips is sure to make a bold statement. However, I think the way I'll be getting the most use out of these beauties is as highlighting accents in the center of any matte pout to give it more interest. As far as application goes, the doe foot applicator is pretty standard. The applicator makes it fairly easy to apply the lipstick to all the curvatures of the lips and the flat portion of the doe foot allows the product to go on easily and very opaquely with the very first layer.

♥ How does the product wear? ♥

These Mattallics Lip Cremes dry incredibly quick (as in under a minute). That plus all the micro shimmer in the formula lends itself to a drier consistency. The lipstick starts off at a comfortable dryness, but soon gave me that sensation of needing to constantly lick my lips. Also interesting to note, while Milani claims the need to remove these lipsticks with an oil-based remover, it came off easily when I ate a non-greasy sandwich as well as when I used a basic baby wipe.

♥ How does the product compare to other liquid lipsticks? ♥ 

While there are quite a few metallic glosses out on the market, metallic liquid lipsticks are a relatively new trend, especially for the drugstore, so there's not much to compare it to. In terms of how it acts as a liquid lipstick, I feel like it is on par with the inherently dry nature of what a liquid lipstick is. That being said, I feel as though the application is easier and much more even than the majority of liquid lipsticks, which can sometimes require multiple coats to look decent. 

♥ What are my overall thoughts on the product? ♥ 

The Milani Amore Mattallics Lip Cremes are a good, new innovation for the drugstore. So what it comes down to is: do I think this is a product you absolutely need in your collection? No, I do not. But for the bold person who likes to strobe every part of their face or just someone looking to have fun with their makeup, this might just be the answer for that.

Makeup Deets

♥ Eyeshadow - Morphe 35O Palette

♥ Glitter Liner - Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art Duo in Topaz Twinkle

♥ Lashes - Salon Perfect Demi Wispies

♥ Foundation - Fiona Stiles Matte Finish Foundation Concentrate

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal

♥ Brows - NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe

♥ Bronzer - Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Dark

♥ Blush - Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Captivating

♥ Highlight - Wet n Wild MegaGlo Multi-Stick in Marigold Round topped with Wet n Wild MegaGlo Powder Highlighter in Precious Petals

♥ Lips - Ofra Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Brooklyn with Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Creme in Chromatic Addict in the center

XO♥

Review of the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks (+ Lip Swatches)

You may remember a couple of weeks ago when I reviewed the ColourPop Super Shock Shadows. Well, I didn't include these in that review because I felt I needed a little more time to properly test them out. You see, the Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks, while extremely affordable, are either hit or miss as far as the beauty community is concerned. You either love them or you hate them--very rarely is there ever an in between--and I thought it was only right that I give them a fair shot. Unfortunately, I misplaced the shade "Limbo" so I don't have that currently for this review. However, I do have a good range of colors from light to dark and neon to neutral, so that you can get a good sense of ColourPop's range.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks (Left to Right): Midi, Koala, Lychee, Succulent, Zipper, & LAX - Click To Enlarge

♥ What are the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks? ♥

As the name suggests, these are a liquid lipstick with an extremely matte appearance. They retail for $6 with 1 oz. of product and can only be found on ColourPop's website as of the date of this post. While this might make it difficult when trying to find the right shade, there are a ton of swatches that can be found online since this is such a hot product.

♥ How do you apply the Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks? ♥

The doe foot applicator on this product is pretty standard and will suffice to provide a precise application. However, if you have a wobbly hand, you can always opt for a lip liner and lip brush. Personally, I'm not for or against the applicator--it's nothing special and rather hard compared to others on the market. I find I have to dip into the product three or four times because the applicator is so teeny tiny and can only dispense so much product at a time. This can be a positive for those of you who are very cautious about wasting product, but for me it's a bit of a hassle. I typically like products that only require one to two dips max. Just a note: if you find a particular color is not opaque enough for your liking, let the first layer dry down completely before going in with the second layer. Due to the product's fast dry time, it gets tacky relatively quickly and if you go in too early to apply the second layer, it may pick up that first layer and become patchy.

♥ How do they wear? ♥

This particular part of the review is why I wanted to test this product out a little longer than expected. When I first received the product, I swatched all of the shades on my arm. I allowed them to dry down completely for 20 minutes and then I proceeded to run my arm under water and scrubbed like my dear life depended on it to no avail. The product did not budge in the slightest. Yet, when worn on the lips, I had a completely different experience.

ColourPop suggests applying this product onto dry, exfoliated lips, so for my first impression, that's exactly what I did. For dramatic effect, I used the darkest shade that I purchased, LAX. On applying the first layer, I noticed that the liquid lipstick didn't go on opaquely over the entire lip. I made the mistake of going in too early with my second layer and ended up having to put on three layers just for it to look decent. After allowing it to dry down for 20 minutes, I did notice that it felt a bit dry, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I proceeded to drink my coffee and then did the kiss test on my hand with only a minimal amount of transfer.

However, after that it was all downhill for this lippie. I didn't eat or drink much throughout the day until later than night at around 8:30 PM because I was insanely busy (horrible habit, I know). Despite that, the lippie wore off in the center of the lips in the most unflattering way possible and became increasingly more dry as if it was sucking all of the moisture out of my lips. And by the time I ate my food, I was able to easily wipe off the rest of my lippie with no problem at all. I wore the liquid lipstick for a little over eight hours total...if you count the many hours that it looked as if I was wearing extremely dark lip liner with nothing in the center of my lips.

♥ What are my overall thoughts on this product? ♥

The ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks are awesome, affordable products if you're looking to experiment with a wide range of colors. Past that, I can't recommend them as there are much better and longer-wearing formulas on the market. The second you drink or eat anything, it seems as though this lippie disappears, which can make it quite tricky and embarrassing with the less natural colors. While you'll have to spend quite a bit more, I'd be much quicker to recommend the Sephora Cream Lip Stains or the Ofra Cosmetics Liquid Lipsticks.

Other Makeup Deets

♥ Eyeshadow - Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows in ME-512 & S-102

♥ Liner - Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner & Inglot Gel Liner # 77

♥ Brows - Nyx Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade in Brunette

♥ Foundation - Maybelline Dream Velvet

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal

♥ Bronzer - Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Dark

♥ Blush - Japonesque Velvet Touch Blush # 2

♥ Highlight - Sephora Radiant Luminizing Drops in Ultralight topped with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal

XO♥

Beauty On A Budget: Drugstore Holiday Makeup Tutorial

After spending all your money getting gifts for family and friends, a trip to Sephora might not be in your immediate future. That being said, sacrificing your annual right as a beauty addict to go full-on glam during the holidays is not an option I will allow you to take. Though you might have to dig a little deeper to find gems in the drugstore, they are there. For instance, my search this past week has led me to find some new favorites in the NYX Nude Matte Shadows and the Covergirl TruNaked Palettes. For being so budget-friendly, they certainly pack a punch and I'd definitely recommend them even if money isn't an issue. Also, before I get on to the tutorial, I wanted to stress how important it is to utilize all of your options--use your products for more than one thing, look out for sales and cash back, get creative. There are no limits unless you create them ♥


Tutorial

♥ Click To Enlarge ♥

1♥ I primed my eyelids with the ELF Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer, which reminds me somewhat of my favorite Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, except it has a slightly drier texture and it blanks out the color of your lids a bit more.

2♥ When you're on a budget, my best bit of advice is to multi-task your products! There are so many ways to use one piece of makeup, so break the "rules" a little. As my transition, I'm using the lightest contour shade from the NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette and sweeping that through my crease up to my brow bone using a medium sized blending brush.

3♥ Again from that same palette, I'm taking the darkest contour shade on a smaller blending brush and concentrating that directly in my crease. I make sure not to take this color too far in--I go about halfway into my crease with this shade.

4♥ To futher define my crease, I take the NYX Nude Matte Shadow in Skinny Dip (medium plum) on an angled shader brush and trace over the area that I just defined in the last step. Once again, I don't take this shade in any farther than halfway through the crease. If the definition creates any harsh lines, feel free to take the smaller blending brush and gently blur out the edges.

5♥ Now it's time to clean up and polish the look a bit. Taking Shell (light beige) from the Covergirl TruNaked Nudes Palette, I swept that over my lid with a large flat eyeshadow brush. Doing this creates a blank slate on your lid. If you want, you can blur out the edges with a blending brush, but I wanted to keep the edges crisp so as to give the effect of a cut crease.

♥ Click To Enlarge ♥

6♥ I liked the faux cut crease effect so much that I wanted to intensify it just a teensy bit more. Taking an angled eyeliner brush, I took Sable (deep dark brown) from the same Covergirl Palette and defined that same area some more. Be sure to blend out the edges with the small blending brush again.

7♥ Create your winged eyeliner. For looks like this, I like to create a thicker more pronounced eyeliner so that when I add the glitter, you can still see the liner peeking out. Lately, I've been trying out the Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner in Blackest Black and I've really been liking it. I would go so far as to say that it might eventually replace my Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner because of its affordability.

8♥ Now for the part that takes this look up a notch--glitter, of course. Directly above where I created the winged eyeliner, I drew a line following the same direction and curvature using the NYX Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Gold. If the glitter goes over your winged eyeliner, you can always use your black liquid liner to go over it again and correct the shape.

9♥ As always, every look is about balance, so I smoked out my lower lash line. I didn't have a black kohl or gel eyeliner from the drugstore, so feel free to use whichever one you like. I, then, smudged out the eyeliner with a pencil brush and the Sable eyeshadow. Afterwards, I took Skinny Dip on the angled shader brush and blended out the dark shadow to make it more seamless.

10♥ Last up are the finishing touches--the lashes I used were from Elite Eye Lashes in style # 18 Black.

Face Deets

♥ Foundation - L'Oreal Infallible Pro Matte

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal

♥ Brows - NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe

♥ Bronzer - ELF Contour Palette

♥ Blush - NYX Baked Blush in Ignite

♥ Highlight - Wet n Wild Hollywood Boulevard

♥ Lips - Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Matte Naked

XO♥

Affordable/Drugstore Glam Makeup Tutorial

Over the past week I had been arranging my vanity area and rediscovered some old makeup loves. Somewhere along the line, the wheels in my head began turning and I thought that I should have a post with a more affordable focus in mind. Nowadays, there are so many incredible, budget-friendly brands than when I started doing makeup a few years ago. As a result, even already established brands had to step their game up. The point is, it is your makeup technique and aesthetic that makes the look "glam" -- not the price tag.

Tutorial

1♥ I started off with a primed lid. Because my eyelids were particularly dry today, I used the LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer in Medium Bisque and patted it onto my lid.
2♥ Using a large fluffy brush, I swirled the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Mandarin into the area between my brow bone and eye socket to act as a transition shade for the blending later on.
3♥ I lightly defined the crease with a pencil brush and Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Taupe, blending that into Mandarin so that there are no distinct harsh lines.
4♥ Using my finger, I gently patted the Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather Eyeshadow in Chocolate Suede over my lid and blended out the harsh lines using a thin fluffy brush.

5♥ Now we're getting to the good stuff! I prepped my eyelid with the LA Splash Splashproof Sealer, so that the pigment used would actually adhere to my lid instead of falling on my face throughout the day. Using a flat synthetic brush, I patted Makeup Geek Utopia Pigment all over my lid, taking care not to go all the way up to the crease.
6♥ I lined my upper lash line with the same Color Tattoo and set it with the Taupe eyeshadow just to have something that wouldn't make the lash band so obvious.
7♥ Using the same two "lining" products on my lower lash line, I smudged out Chocolate Suede with Taupe and a small smudger detail brush.
8♥ For finishing details on the eyes, I highlighted my brow bone and inner corner with the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Champagne and created my own set of fluffy falsies using two Salon Perfect Demi Wispies stacked on top of one another.

Face Deets

♥Foundation - L'Oreal Infalliable Pro Matte

♥Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer

♥Bronzer- ELF Pressed Mineral Foundation in Almond

♥Blush - Milani Powder Blush in Coral Cove

♥Highlight - ELF Baked Eyeshadow in Enchanted

♥Brows - NYX Micro Brow Pencil

♥Lips - Maybelline Color Elixir Lip Gloss in Nude Illusion

XO♥

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