{Favorites} May 2012!

Hey there! It's been a while since I've done one of these favorites posts, so this is really a what-I've-been-using-for-the-past-three-months post and not just a May favorites post lol!

I've got a good variety of things too! I've really just been sticking to mostly basics lately because I've been on the go and working out a lot in the evenings, so I haven't been wanting to pile on a lot of makeup during the day only to have it melt off my face at the gym.

L --> R: Being True Energy Work Active Body Peel, Rimmel Fix &
Perfect Pro Primer, and RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream.

First up is skin care! I've really been trying to use as little as possible on my face. My skin has calmed down, post uni stress, and I haven't been breaking out. I have been using a sunless tanner so exfoliation is a must. The Being True Active Body Peel has been my favorite way of exfoliating for a long long time now (original review here). I reviewed it fairly extensively last summer, feel free to check out that review! I love it so much that this is actually my second tub of it! It's on the pricy side, $43 plus shipping, but worth every penny to me. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and my sunless tanning gel applies very smoothly, with rarely any streaks or patches. I highly recommend!

The Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer has been another go to in this warm weather. I haven't been wearing a lot of foundation lately, but I like this as a hybrid moisturizer/mattifier. It's not necessarily the best of either that I've used, but at the price, around $6, it works well to make my skin soft and matte. It is a silicone based primer, so if you don't like the feel of those on your skin, this one will not be right for you. And it doesn't work as well as the Smashbox primers, but for the price, it does a good job.

Roc Retinol Correxion Eye Cream

The ROC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream my mom actually picked up for me because I mentioned to her I ran out of my Biore Cooling Eye Gel, which I was in love with at uni because I was pulling a lot of all nighters and it would make my eyes de-puff like nothing else I've every used. My mom has an obsession with eye creams and has tried to get me to use something with retinol for a while now instead of, according to her, wasting money on eye creams with no active ingredients. The RoC cream is a bit more expensive than other eye creams at the drugstore level, but then again this is supposed to be anti-aging, so around $22 really isn't too bad. Does it work to get rid of wrinkles? Well, I really can't tell because I don't have wrinkles, but my mom is also using it so I'll see how it works for her. I like it because it moisturizes, but absorbs very quickly. A lot of eye creams tend to be too heavy and just sit there. It also de-puffs! I was surprised because it's not really all that cooling or anything like that.

My only complaint with this product is the packaging. It's in like a metal/foil package, so I have to be careful to use it from the end in because otherwise too much product is squeezed out. Also, because there is constant pressure on the cream inside the metal packaging, the tip tends to seep a little into the cap, which can be messy sometimes. Other than that so far so good with this eye cream, but I guess time will tell! I'll be doing a full review in the future!

L -->R: Being True Energy Work Active Body Peel, Rimmel Fix &
Perfect Pro Primer, and RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream.

Stila 8 Pan Eyeshadow Palette

I've been meaning to get a palette for my Stila eyeshadows for a while now and when Stila was on Haute Look a few weeks ago, I jumped at the chance to purchase the 8 pan palette and I love it! So glad to not have to store my shadows in the little plastic containers they used to come in. I actually prefer organizing them in a palette as opposed to the compacts they are currently being sold in. For me it's a lot easier to store and travel with them this way. The case is sturdy and has a full size mirror. And the brush the palette comes with is pretty good too!

L -->R: Starlight, Cloud, Grace, Barefoot Contessa,
Jade & Lemon (empty was from Chinois--matte bone shade).

These aren't all of my Stila Shadows, just the ones that aren't packed away. I've mostly been using the top row, especially Starlight, Grace, and Barefoot Contessa. I really want Viola, which is similar to Grace, but warmer and deeper. Cloud is a nice shade, but more of a going out shade because it applies very silver. Jade and Lemon are nice, but I haven't been using them all that much lately. Lemon applies a bit too yellow/gold on my skin. The top row is my go to quad for any occasion.

L --> R: Starlight, Cloud, Grace, Barefoot Contessa, Jade &  Lemon.
(applied wet)

If you want to get similar colors for less, the CoverGirl trio in Shimmering Sands is a pretty good dupe for Starlight, Grace and Barefoot Contessa. Not the same shades, the Stila ones are a bit darker, but pretty close for under $5.

L --> R: Charlotte Ronson Lip Gloss in Anabelle, CoverGirl Lash Exact
Mascara in Black & Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished.

Other than shadows the rest of my looks have been pretty simple. Most days I only do mascara and gloss. Click here to read my review of the Charlotte Ronson gloss. I'm in love with it! Such an easy look, a little taupe shadow, touch of mascara, and juicy sheer red lip. Or, same shadow/mascara combo, but a shimmery sheer plummy lip instead. Effortless, and looks very simple and chic for summer.

L --> R: Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished, Charlotte Ronson
Lip Gloss in Anabelle & CoverGirl Lash Exact Mascara in Black .

And I've been loving the CoverGirl Lash Exact mascara for several reasons. If you've been reading my blog for a while you've probably noticed that I'm not a a bit fan of those plastic bendy mascara applicators. They tend to clump and leave my lashes looking long and spidery and clumpy, not a look I like. I'm more into thick and curled. This mascara, the waterproof version of it, for some odd reason, works. I was shocked. My sister had a tube and I borrowed it, fell in love, and bought one for myself. It gives me thick, lashes that stay curled day, and most importantly do not smudge at all at the gym, no matter how much I sweat! Not a big fan of the clean up at night, it takes forever to remove it, even with an oil based makeup remover, but totally worth it for me.

Top --> bottom: Sally Hansen Liptonic Gem Gloss in Embellished
& Charlotte Ronson Lip Gloss in Anabelle.

This picture really doesn't do the Sally Hansen gloss justice. It's so much prettier in person and  it's appeared several times on this blog. It was a staple in my makeup bag (see here) and it's even a dupe for MAC's Dazzleglass in Datenight (see comparison here!). All in all, it's replaced my Chanel Glossimer in Imaginaire, which is crazy given I got this gloss for a buck at the Dollar Tree and paid over $26 for the Glossimer.

OPI Nail Polish in A Good Man-Darin is Hard to Find

My last fave for this month is a nail polish. I don't post many nail polish pics because I can never get the swatches or even pics of the bottles to show up accurately in pics. I'm gonna try to show more from now on, maybe swatch some on tape or something.

           OPI Nail Polish in A Good Man-Darin is Hard to Find

This shade is perfect for summer. I have been favoring neons a lot too, but this shade has been a go to for my feet. It's a bright orange, almost tomato-ish, but not too red. It looks very bright in some lights and almost red in others. A really pretty color for toes, especially with it being flip flop season. It's completely matte and you could get away with one coat in a hurry because it's very opaque. I've had it on my feet for the last three or four weeks straight and I always get asked what color I'm wearing!

So there's pretty much what I've been wearing these past three months. I've been keeping it simple, half out of laziness half out of determination to finish some of these products too haha!

Tried any of these products? Loved them? Hated them? Let me know in comments!

{Favorites} June 2011

Hi! I hope all of you had an awesome 4th of July! I went to a poolside BBQ and saw some fireworks later! I had a great Fourth and hope all of you were happy and safe as well! And here are June favorites, as promised!

1. Skin Care


The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue
I've really been liking this foot moisturizer for the past month. With all of the pretty flip flops and open toed shoes I love to wear in the summer, it is really important to keep feet looking nice, and this does the job. And it smells absolutely divine!

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid SPF 70 Sunblock
Another summer staple is sunblock. I've been wearing this for a couple of months now and it really is almost undetectable under makeup, which for someone with oily skin is very very important! At a price of $12 I again highly recommend this sunblock! I wore it yesterday by the pool for hours on end and my skin did not tan in the slightest. And don't forget to reapply!

Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash
This has been my go to eye cream since January of this year. My mom actually picked it up for me because I mentioned I was close to running out of my No 7 Protect and Perfect eye cream, and she's a big fan of Clarins so she got me something of theirs to try out. It's a light eye cream that really moisturizes my eyes so well. I know, I'm a bit young to be using eye creams, but ever since I started wearing contacts my eyes and the skin around them are really really dry, irritated and red. This keeps my eyes happy! And although it is expensive, you get a 0.7 oz, a bit more than the 0.5 oz that are standard for eye creams.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Spot Treatment
This stuff isn't a miracle product, but for those looking to get away from very harsh products containing salicylic acid or benzol peroxide then this may just be for you! I like how it is liquid because I don't have to use a lot as it spreads easily. It takes about as long as any other treatment I've tried, but I find that it doesn't dry out my skin as much as the other treatments I've tried do.

2. Nails


Sinful Colors Hot Pink
I've been loving this obnoxious over the top color for my toes!!! Especially in the sun, it is blinding! I've never been crazy about such bright colors but lately that's all I've been wearing. For some reason these neon polishes tend to dry to an almost matte finish, with almost no shine what so ever, so you definitely need a top coat with this one.

OPI A Good Man-Darin Is Hard To Find
This bright orange cream came out with the Hong Kong collection. I bought it a while later half off but wasn't really into the color that much. I took it out about a month ago and really like it for toes. It's not as attention catching as Hot Pink, but it makes my feet look really nice!

Sinful Colors Base Coat
I bought this one with the accompanying top coat, but I don't really like the top coat. This base coat, however, is great! Somehow it just grabs onto the color! My lighter cream formula polishes go on less streaky and all of them last much longer. Plus, my nails don't get stained any more! I've got a full review of both the base and top coat coming soon!

3. Makeup


Jemma Kidd Eyeshadow in In Season
It's a lot like Vintage from Jemma Kidd, but it has a more olive tone to it. I don't really have any olive shades because honestly they tend to make my skin look really yellow, but this shade has enough brown in it that that hasn't been a problem. I've been reaching for it almost every day.

Stila Convertible Color in Petunia
I love love love this! I've only had it for about two weeks, so it's not exactly a month, but it's the only blush I own that I've worn on a daily basis since I got it! I like Camellia as well, but I feel like this uber bright color is better suited for summer.

Rubens Remedies Rose Water Lip Balm
Ok, so this is one of the best rose salves I've ever used, but is is impossible to find anywhere. I'm not kidding. I got this at TJMaxx for less than a buck and I'm about half way though, but I can't find any place that sells it, in store or online. It's similar to other rose salves (like the C.O Bigelow or Smith ones), but it's nicer. It's a bit harder, but still melts down into a thin salve. while the other two I've tried tend to be soft to begin with. I also like the scent of this one a bit better than the other two. It's less fake. If you can find it anywhere, snatch it up!

Thanks for reading!!! Empties will be up tomorrow!

{Summer Must Haves} Lip Stain!

Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain in 420 Sassy Mauve and Laura Mercier Lip Stain in English Rose (LE).

So instead of doing one massive summer must haves post, I thought I would break it apart by category, starting with lip stains. I'm not a huge lip person, I usually play up my eyes, but in the summer when it's soooo hot, it's a lot simpler to do a stronger lip than to do a stronger eye.

I don't own many lip stains, only three actually including my Urban Decay lip stain that's not pictured because I couldn't find it lol, but I do have to say that there's a lot to choose from. If you're on a budget, the Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stains are great. There's a wide variety of colors from light pinks to deep plums and reds. If you have a bit more money to spend and are looking for something that is not liquid, Laura Mercier's lip stains are a good option as well.


Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain in 420 Sassy Mauve and Laura Mercier Lip Stain in English Rose (LE).

As far as applicators go, the felt tip marker on the Cover Girl certainly makes application fun and more importantly precise. I like how easy it is to get into all the little nooks and crannies to get a really full lip going. On the other hand, the tip does have a tendency to dry out. I store this marker with the felt tip pointing down and every so often I spritz the tip with some water to keep it moist.

The Laura Mercier stain isn't really a stain. It's more of a heavily pigmented longer lasting lipstick in a pot. I think by stain they meant that it's to be applied using the staining technique (use a finger to dot the product on for a stained look). I did a full review here (and posted a better swatch here), but as you can tell just by looking at the creamy product, it's not going to last all day. I still like it for the summer because the formula is waxier and does last longer.

Swatches:

CoverGirl Outlast Lip Stain in 420 Sassy Mauve and Laura Mercier Lip Stain in English Rose (LE).

I only have a couple of minor complains about the Cover Girl stain. One is that it tends to apply patchy if you have any dead/dry skin on your lips. Also, although it is long lasting, it doesn't last all day, especially if you wear the stain at it's full intensity. After eating it does sometimes leave the outer edge of my lips looking a bit darker than the inner. Other than that, it's a great stain!

The stain that I didn't picture is the Urban Decay Lip Envy Lip Stain in Envious (see it here on the Urban Decay site). I really like this stain because it's not a marker applicator which can dry out. It comes in a little container that holds the liquid stain and you apply it with a little felt tip that you dip into the product. I like this a lot better because there is no drying out. I'll post a picture when I find it.

And I know that the Laura Mercier Lip Stain was limited edition, but there are tons of stains to choose from at any budget, so you really shouldn't have much trouble finding something in a similar shade. Thanks for reading! More coming soon!

{Haul} Collective: Target, MAC, Sephora, etc.

Hi! Another collective post, this time most of the things I bought during the month of May. And before I begin, I apologize for the poor quality of some of the pictures. I took these pics over the course of a month and sometimes I was in a big hurry:( I will be sure to post clearer pics of the products I review.

1.MAC

MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe and Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara

A couple of things caught my eye at MAC this past month. I've been eyeing Satin Taupe for a while now but never could justify buying it, especially as I've got about a million shades that are exactly like it, but I finally caved and bought it. And I was a bit intrigued by the two in one mascara. I know that Rimmel has one too, but I wanted to try the mac one and see how it compares. I'll be doing a full review soon!

2. Sephora

(L to R) Nars Laguna Body Illuminator (sample), Sephora Professional Mineral Makeup #45 Brush, Sephora by OPI nail polish in Traffic Stopper Copper.

So I finally caved and bought a couple of things I was eyeing at Sephora for a while now. A few months ago I got a large bamboo brush from Eco Tools, but it was a bit big for me and I finally found a smaller brush with the same type and density of bristles from Sephora. I've been loving it for buffing in foundation or cream bronzer. And the bronzer I got because I've been looking for something more natural looking than a powder bronzer. I got a sample of the body version to use on my face because I think the version made for face use is a little too sheer for my liking. I will have a full review soon!

3. The Body Shop

(L to R) TBS Cucumber Cleansing Milk and Cucumber Freshening Water.

The Body Shop had these on sale, two for $10 on all of the originals so I thought I'd try these. They both smell amazing, like the freshest cucumber smell I've ever smelled lol! I'll be doing a full review on these later on as well!

4. Target, Walgreens and the Dollar Tree

(L to R) ELF Complexion Perfection Powder, Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Orchid Frost, CoverGirl Nature Luxe Foundation in Flax, Revlon Nail Polish in Copper Penny, and Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Pink.

Of these I was most excited to try the ELF Powder. I actually wanted to try their HD powder because I've heard bloggers comparing it to MUFE's HD powder that costs $40, but I guess Target doesn't carry it. The Nature Luxe foundation from CoverGirl I'm kinda kicking myself about. It cost me $14. FOURTEEN DOLLARS!!! For a CoverGirl Product that is really expensive. When I saw that number ring up I was shocked. I was expecting somewhere in the range of $8-$10, but not $14. I was soooo temped to leave it you have no idea. Oh, and the thing I liked the most from this bunch was the Sinful Colors Polish. I've had it on my toes for the last week and every time I go out in the sun my feet look soooo nice!

(L to R) Almay Moisturzing Eye Makuep Remover, L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black and waterproof, CoverGirl Nature Luxe Foundation in Flax (don't know why I photographed it twice haha!).

If you read my last post you know I finished my Mary Kay Oil Free Eye Makup Remover, and I decided to go back to my trusty Almay remover. I like it. It does the job. It's cheap. Not much more I can say about it. Full review here! And I accidentally bought the waterproof version of Voluminous. I gave it to my mom and bought a regular one.

ELF Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets

A couple of months ago I finished my favorite blotting sheets from Boscia (lavender scented too!) and just never restocked. I saw these at target and decided to try them. I'll do a review, but for the most part they're kinda average. Not great but not the worst I've tried. They're kinda tiny though.

Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening System

I've heard a lot about this whitening system on YouTube from many other gurus and I decided to give it a try. It's only $10 though, so while I was happy it's cheap, I felt a bit hesitant using something so much cheaper than other whiteners that run about $40 and up. I'll do a full review in a bit, but for the most part I have to say I do like it!

(L to R) Cotton Rounds, Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, Elf Eye Primer, NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent.

I didn't finish my old Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, but I'm pretty sure my sister stole it when I was home for the weekend. And I ran out of my Sephora Professionals Eye Primer so I decided to try the Elf Primer before possibly buying UDPP again.

So that's it for now! More to come later!

{DIY} Cream Eyeshadow & Lip Gloss Palette

If you've been reading this blog for a while now you may have noticed that I really do love all things pretty. So, when I saw these Stila mother of pearl encrusted palettes at Sephora I didn't just buy one, I bought TWO!

Aren't they stunning!? My problem with them isn't the packaging, but rather the eyeshadows inside. I hate them.

The colors they chose to put in this stunning palette kinda shocked me. I still bought the palette because I love how it looks, but I've only used the shades inside once or twice. They're just not shades that flatter my skin at all and the mother of pearl powder they put in the shadows irritates my eyes. So what I've been doing for the past few months with my second palette is replacing the eyeshadows with cream eyeshadows, lipsticks, and lip glosses that I melt down into the pan, and that's what you see in the lower palette. I put my a few of my CoverGirl ShadowBlasts into the pans, but I added either some gel eyeliner or glitter or loose powder eyeshadow to make them less oily and more lasting.

My favorite color of the entire palette in this run is the second orange. It didn't transfer into pictures really well but I added some cosmetic grade fine rose gold glitter into it and when I wear it with the first color in the crease I always get compliments because it makes my blue eyes really pop!

Aren't they pretty!?

I also added a couple of lighter colors and a potted moisturizing balm from Anthropologie.

I'm not a big fan of these two colors in general, but I've been layering purples and greens over them and they look absolutely gorgeous like that!

You can also do a full palette of lipsticks if you'd like. I won't do the tutorial here because I feel like there are a million YouTube videos out there showing the same thing. This is just how I make use of drugstore cream shadows which I would never otherwise wear. It takes be about two months to go through whatever I put in these palettes because I tend to use them on a daily basis so about every two months I've got a new palette! Do you play around with palettes you've got at home?

{Review} CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Foundation

Ever since I finished my Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid foundation I've been on the hunt for something better. I really like that foundation but there were some problems with it. It didn't last very long, isn't really for oily skin, etc, so I would have to touch up a lot more. I've never been a huge fan of CoverGirl's skin products. I love their eyeshadows but I've always been a bit wary of their foundations since the ones I've tried have been a bit on the dry side and tend to look thick and heavy on my skin. I have to say that I don't have either of those problems with this foundation. I think if you have oily skin, you may really like this foundation!!!

The new formulas of this foundation come in three, one of them being for oily skin.

The shade I got was the lightest available, Ivory. It's definitely a better match than the last foundation I got (Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse). I got this online so I was a bit worried it might be a bit too light because CoverGirl does have a lot of super light shades, but it fit me fine!

What it claims:

It is important to note that THIS ISN'T A MATTIFYING FOUNDATION!!! It's just supposed to be better suited for skins that get more oily. It does have a more matte FINISH, but it will not stop you from getting oily throughout the day. The actual makeup just doesn't contribute to the oiliness.

The biggest complaint I have about this foundation is the dispenser. It's a hole. That's it. With other foundations it is annoying, but not really that bad. This foundation however is a bit thicker, more like a gel than a liquid, so if you just turn it upside down, nothing comes out. I've been using a little spatula from a used up moisturizer to scoop out a small amount each time I apply it. Or you can use a q-tip.

Overall, I do like this packaging better than the old packaging though. It looks more modern and sophisticated. It's got an expensive feel to it, which is always nice.

What it looks like:

Spread out:

Blended out:

As you can see, you can kinda see the makeup, but it doesn't look in the slightest bit cakey. It looks very natural. As far as being good for oily skin, this is a lighter foundation. It's light to medium coverage and isn't heavy, which is why it is especially comfortable on oily skins. Other foundations I've tried from Rimmel and Clinique, for example, tend to feel really heavy and thick on my skin, which I really don't like. When I put this foundation on it feels like theres nothing there. It sets quite well, even without powder. I still powder, but if you have combo skin you may be able to get away with out powdering.

I also love how it applies. It blends out very easily, almost like a tinted moisturizer with more coverage. I apply it with my fingers. I feel that it gives me more of a natural finish, where as with a brush you get a heavier application. It's pretty buildable, just pat on the spot instead of rubbing. It looks very fresh.

As far as oil control goes, my skin doesn't look the least bit shiny after application. I have pretty oily skin so I do have to set with powder and then touch up about 4 or 5 hours later, but certainly not as bad as when I used the Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation or the Rimmel Stay Matte, or my least favorite: Clinique Even Better makeup. Even after powdering, my skin doesn't look like I'm wearing a lot of foundation, which is what I go for with foundations. I really hate feeling like I'm wearing a mask on my face. Thankfully with this foundation that's not a problem. If you've got oily skin, I would try this foundation. It's worked better for my skin than other foundations, even higher end ones, have.

Pros:

-Not heavy, light formula.

-Oil free.

-Doesn't make me greasy.

-Doesn't make me break out.

-Looks fresh, light, natural.

-Packaging looks nice, more sophisticated.

-Good shade selection.

-Good price.

Cons:

-Hard to get the foundation out of the container.

-Only light to medium coverage.

-No sun protection.

Info:

Price: $6.99

Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Glycerin, PEG/PPG 18/18 Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclomethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Silica, Laureth 7, Arachidyl Behenate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Trihydroxystearin, Propylparaben, Methicone, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Methylparaben, Synthetic Wax, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylene Brassylate, Stearic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Mica

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was purchased by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any more questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in comments.

{Haul} Small But Super Exciting!!!

So yesterday my package from Drugstore.com finally came in!!! I didn't purchase much, only three things, but I think you guys will be excited about a couple of them!

What I got:

First, I picked up Neutrogena's newest sunblock. This is their LIQUID formula!!! I think this is the first liquid sunblock I've seen from a drugstore brand! I've used the Shiseido version,but it's very expensive. This one is originally $12.99, but I got it a dollar off! I have oily skin so getting sun protection from cream sunblocks doesn't work for me. I can tell you right now that this one is a winner!!!

I also picked up a liquid foundation. I'm still trying to find something to replace my Maybelline Mineral Power Liquid foundation. I got CoverGirl's Clean Oil-Control foundation in Ivory. I was worried that it'd be a bit too light, but it fits my skin very well. I'll be doing a full review soon, but so far I'm liking it.

The final thing I got is Ecotool's HUGE HUGE HUGE Bamboo Bronzer Brush!!! I've been eyeing this one for a while and when I saw it 25% off on drugstore.com I couldn't resist! It's HUGE!!! I've been using a blush brush to put my bronzer on, so I was looking for something bigger, but not shaped like a powder brush. I'll be posting a full review and pictures of this brush soon, too! I'm super excited about this one!!!

Review: CoverGirl ShineBlast Lip Gloss in Sparkler

A long overdue review. I was sent a sample of this review back when it first came out and just never got to it. Better late than never, though!

This gloss is from CoverGirl's ShineBlast range.

The big innovation is the brush:

Looks like a normal brush, doesn't it? It's not.


It curves, and is a bit wider on the front--it has a flat, slanted circle (it's hard to describe) that has three slits that hold more product and is supposed to sculpt your lips. I'm sorry to say, but the only good thing about this gloss is the applicator. Too bad the formula ruins its effect. A thicker formula would have been much better.

I wanted to like this product sooooo much, but I can't. I know it may seem like I'm picking on CoverGirl because so many of my reviews are negative, but really, this gloss just isn't cutting it.

To give you some idea of how disappointing this gloss is, here is what mvetsen

from Philadelphia, PA wrote on the CG site in the review section for this gloss: "I bought this lip gloss - color # 9300 in one of the Wallgreens located in NE Philadelphia. The problem is that I can not return it - I live far away." Kinda mean, but true and funny, lol!

Here's a swatch on my lips:

Ok, where to begin? Right off the bat, where is the color!? There is almost no pigmentation. Sparkler, the shade I was sent, is one of the darker ones in the range (at least in the tube), but on the lips it's almost clear with a bit of sparkle. That brings me to my next question: where is the shine!? CG promises 4x the shine with this gloss, but frankly, it's not there. Also, the formula is way, WAY to thin and smells very strongly of chemically fruit. This is a problem I have with all of CoverGirl's glosses. I keep buying them thinking that the shade may makeup for the lack of staying power and the smearing, but no, it doesn't! Not even close! A big problem with the thin formula is that it smears and melts off the lips any time you smack your lips. If you look in the pic above, you can see it outside of my lip line on the upper lip from when I smacked. My lips felt gooey and messy :( The applicator is also supposed to sculpt your lips, but with such a thin formula, it is a waste. Furthermore, the thin formula makes a mess out of the packaging.


Can you see the gloss all over the outside? Bad, bad, bad. I tend to get it on my hands when I apply it. This also begs the question of the size. The retail price of this gloss (at least where I live) is $8.99 for 0.13 oz. WHAT!? To give you a comparison, their WetSlicks Fruit Spritzers are 0.44 oz and $4.99. Big difference! For $9, I expect a lot more, especially since it was developed by the legendary Pat McGrath.

Info:

Price: $8.99

Ingredients: Polybutene, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Triisodecyl Trimellitate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides, Silica Silylate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Fragrance (Parfum) (Parfum), Butyl Methoxydibenzoykmethane, Propylene Carbonate, Propylparaben, Pentaerithrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mica, BHT, Di Calcium Phosphate, May Contain (+/-): Carmine, Red 28 Lake, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Red 27 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 7 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 (CI 42090), Red 6

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