Affordable makeup but does it work?

Hello Kats and Kittens!

As promised yesterday, I reviewed a new makeup haul. This one is from Wet n' Wild. I tried out their new Photo Focus Foundation, the Photo Focus Concealer, the highlighter, long wearing matte lipsticks, gel lip liner and some nail polish. I also gave a 2nd chance to the Younique 3D Mascara.

So let's start with the Photo Focus Concealer as concealer is what I apply first after lotion and primer. *I did not purchase their primer so I don't know if it is works. For this I used my First Aid Coconut Primer which I highly recommend. I'll link it down at the bottom so be sure to check it out. Their entire line of skin care products is pretty banging*

The concealer was definitely full coverage and it blended easy with my damp beauty blender. *You are getting your blender thoroughly soaked...right? It should swell to become twice its size and then you wring it out*

My only gripe is the smell. It smells very chemically which a lot of makeup does but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Other than the smell it was pretty good. I'd give it an 8/10 but what I'm going to boost that one point because it is ridiculously affordable. It is $3.99 and it comes in 6 shades. That is pretty impressive.

Next up was the Photo Focus Foundation. Right off the bat let me confess that once again I did not like the smell. It wasn't overpowering but there was still a chemical smell. Getting past that and into long lasting coverage...it was a solid win. The foundation is pretty bad ass, you get great coverage that is build able and it lasts quite a long time before separating. It did not leave my skin oily or dry, just a perfect combination of the two. And get this! The foundation is only $5.99 and comes in 20 shades! That is amazing. I'm a makeup snob and my regular foundations run over $30 but this little cheap beauty definitely stood up to the big dogs in the makeup world. I'm not saying it is on the same level but it is definitely coming up fast in the race. 9/10 due to chemical smell.

As I progressed in the rest of my normal face routine using non-Wet n' Wild products, the foundation and concealer stayed in place. I came to the portion of my makeup routine that I tend to mess up and that is the lips. Either I color way outside the lines or I'm drawing them too small. The Perfect Pout Gel Lipliner at $2.99 was worth the chance at not getting the right shade for my skin tone. And I'm glad it was cheap because one of two was WAY too pink. I can't do pink lips. The other color was pretty good. Wet n' Wild has 6 shades and I have to say that they went on smoothly and didn't bleed. That is definitely a plus. 7/10

The next makeup to get its time to shine is the MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick. I would say that these are super long lasting and they cost $4.99. They come in 13 shades, none of which are the really funky colors that are like a rainbow on your face. These are pretty standard colors. The doe foot applicator allowed for precise strokes but I didn't overly care for the tackiness. Long lasting lipsticks definitely are drying and you have to give them time to set. These, I felt, took a little bit longer than some of the higher end products. There are definitely worse ones. The color lasted quite a long time before flaking. You can even do the kiss test on the back of your hand and see little transference. 8/10 due to tackiness

I played around with the MegaGlow Makeup Stick-Highlight ($3.99) and was super impressed. The color was phenomenal and the highlight...Daaayyyuuummm kats and kittens. You have holographic highlight with a lot more precision than powder or cream. The highlighter builds to an incredible glow that carves out your cheekbones and gives you a dewy finish. I highly recommend. It blended out nice. I'd put it on a run slightly below Urban Decay's and Jeffree Star's highlighters. Not top of the line but definitely a close 2nd or 3rd and that is saying a whole lot considering the sheer volume of highlighters on the makeup market these days. 9/10

The one product that absolutely blew my mind was the 1 Step Wondergel Nail Color. It beats my OPI. I can't believe I could even write that. The beautiful, smooth coverage was seamless to apply, the applicator spread evenly and the shine is incredible. You could definitely get away with a one coat application but I still recommend two and a top coat to seal it in. And I tested out how easy it was to remove and it does phenomenally. No harsh scrubbing to peel it up and no special nail polish remover. Each of these will set you back $4.99 and there are a ton of colors to choose from. I definitely recommend "Lavender Out Loud" Rating: 10/10

I'm hesitant to voice my opinion about the final product and that is Younique's new formula for their 3D lashes. I've tried it two times. The first time I didn't apply correctly and had massive, itchy fall out. The second time the look was great but the fall out a couple of hours later was maddening. I will say that I think a majority of the weird looking eyelashes that resemble spider's legs is the wrong way to use this product. High end mascaras have the same issue but not as bad because you are dealing directly with the product and not trying to add in a crap load of fibers. This mascara does wonders for thickening and giving you those lush, full lashes but the tiny fibers need some serious work. I used a comb and separated the lashes that were clumping together. Maybe the fall out was due to me not sealing the fibers correctly. I'm giving this a maybe. It still doesn't compare to my Charlotte Tilsbury but then again...I don't think it is considered a high end mascara. If I were to advise Younique it would be to redevelop the fibers and gel and go for the "thickening" aspect. Spider legs on your lashes looks tacky. Sorry but I'm not really sorry for saying it. You needed to hear it/read it. Don't do it. It doesn't make you look like you are wearing false eyelashes. Go the thickening route and you will be super happy and it will give you lusher lashes that stand out for all the RIGHT reasons. I'm not rating this product yet because I want to play around with it a bit more.

All in all I was super happy with the results of this makeup test and think it says quite a lot about makeup. You can get a flawless finish using cheaper makeup. I'm not telling you to throw out your high dollar makeup but I am telling you to not pass on the less expensive. This haul definitely proved that affordable makeup is within everyone's reach.

Till next time my Kitties!

Soft, dewy skin...OH myyy!

Soft, dewy skin with a kiss of radiance. Who doesn't want that? It just breathes vitality and youthfulness regardless of the age of the skin. We put on our moisturizer. We slather on our primer but is this all there is?

No, it is not.

Make up is ever evolving in its pursuit of perfection and we need to stay abreast of the latest and greatest. It's why I'm testing these for you. It's a struggle. Won't lie...okay that is a lie. It really isn't a struggle getting to test new products. I'm a makeup junkie.

So lets talk about my current favorite moisturizer right now (and you'll get to know it more in-depth when I review the corresponding foundation.) It is the tarte drink of H2O hydrating boost. It is a gel and it is soothing, refreshing and makes your makeup glide on. I'm not kidding about this moisturizer. It is good enough I have to keep Maesin out of it on a regular basis. Unlike lotions, this leaves no heavy residue which is going to rock come this summer. It is the perfect moisturizer when you want to go full on natural.

 The whole Rainforest of the Sea Collection is pretty awesome. Tarte also has maracuja oil and this phenomenal eye cream. I can't remember off hand if I've already talked about it. If not then I'll cover it in the full face tarte review later down the line.

But you still need a primer with this if you are planning on any foundation. Even BB Creams tend to need a little extra help. There are, however, a lot of new products hitting the market that are more than one trick ponies.

tarte Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer

I've used this highlighting moisturizer a few times with mixed results. Let me clarify that it is incredible for highlighting areas for that dewy glow. It leaves you incredibly moisturized. However, I don't recommend this as a total face primer/moisturizer. It definitely leaves the entire face illuminated and that isn't the best look. We've all seen YouTube or makeup spokes people that seem to have diamond skin in areas and honestly...I'm kinda over it. It just looks like a painting, kinda Andy Warhol-ish. Don't get me wrong, I love highlighters but I think there is a limit.

I changed up how I was using this and since then it has worked beautifully. I apply my moisturizer and then take a tiny bit of the Brighter Days and apply it where I know I'll be using highlighter, or just using it alone. Works excellent.


First Aid Beauty's Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer

First off, the smell is absolutely wonderful. It has a very light coconut fragrance. Bonus for being a moisturizer and a primer in one. This is a relatively new product line for me and so far there haven't been any real misses. I've used just this several times when I am out and about and not wanting to bother with makeup. Your skin is left hydrated and with a shimmer. If you want to minimize the entire face shimmer, just put it on areas where natural light would hit.

L'Oreal Magic Lumi

This is the best drugstore light infusing primer I have found and it is a rockstar! It is affordable and the luminescent glow is like the moon setting on a tranquil sea. It is pretty poetic. I still have to caution that these are not meant to be full face lotions/primers. If you don't mind your face glowing and looking a bit slick...go for it. But I feel that is wasting the product.

Folks...it is perfectly okay, and even maybe encouraged, to mix primers and lotions. The only caveat I mention is what I've said a hundred times. Pay attention to the ingredients. You don't want your foundation sliding off due to a mismatch of water based or silicon based. Keep it in the same family and you'll look flawless. Anyway...I highly recommend trying this one out if you aren't near a Sephora. (If you live near a Sephora you can get samples of all the others to test out prior to purchasing.)

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer - blemish-less

Let me go on record and say that there is not a single product from Laura Mercier that I'm not in love with and want to stockpile. I have her makeup oil and it is incredible with foundation. Talk about healthy, glowing skin! (I've mentioned it before.)

However Laura ain't cheap and I'm always looking for a bargain or sample first before I dive right in and ring that credit card charge. I urge people to always sign up for loyalty rewards programs because the points add up. I believe I received this sample from Sephora. (I'm currently saving up for a makeup party in NYC. I've got a long way to go!)

Unlike the prior moisturizers, this one does not have a highlighter but it worked wonders on my pores. I have enlarged pores around my T-Zone and this glided over like butter and my foundation did not speckle or pull apart. Magic! Oui Oui!

Urban Decay Optical Illusion Complexion Primer

Before I jump in on a review of this product, I need to explain why I purchased it. I tend to like primers and foundations that are from the same line when using them. It saves me the hassle of looking for the ingredient list or wondering if the formulas are going to be a mismatch. I purchased the Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation about a month or so ago and tried it out. The first time I used it with a tarte Hangover Rx (my all time favorite primer) and it was splotchy. It is incredibly full coverage and you have to work with it quick if you don't want to spend 30 minutes blending and blending with a damp beauty blender.

I was pretty close to returning it (Please remember that if you use Ulta or Sephora...they have an extremely lax return policy. Even if you have used it a time or two they will take it back for in store credit or a total refund.) I already have the Kat von D Lockit which is phenomenal and ultra full coverage so I really was a bit disappointed. Then UD released their Optical Illusion line up and I wanted to give it a try. I applied the primer and then applied a light coat of the All Nighter foundation. The difference was phenomenal. The foundation blended far better than before and the coverage was perfectly balanced. SWING and out of the ball park!

This complexion primer is actually a part of a line up of the 2017 Spring Collection. There will be new vitamin mists, primers, setting sprays and more and I cannot wait to check them out. I have the B6 prep spray (goes on before moisturizer. Yes I know we are building a crap load of layers but sometimes ya gotta take care of ya skin) from their previous line and it rocks the kasbah!

So there are a few products that you may want to check out. I promise that whenever my broke ass finally gets a camera for taking quality video, I'll show you what the products look like on my skin, or if I can convince someone else to be my makeup model.

I think we are seeing a new trend in makeup and there will be a lot of new products on the market that bring out a youthful, dewy finish. This spring and summer makeup line ups should be pretty interesting and look good on any skin.

Hacks Part Duex otherwise known as Hack2!

In our last session, my kats and kittens, I gave you some weird, yet practical hacks to use for your beauty regime. I have some more and let me preface that some are so freaking wacky it is insane. And some may just be one person's strike to boredom. That being said...let us begin!

Hack #6 DIY Lipstick

This is a hack that has many people skeptical and there is argument about if it truly works. I'll tell you that it does but it definitely doesn't compare to lipstick. Here's what you need and the steps you'll need to take.

* coconut oil and olive oil (you can use just one if you like but the combination of the two is still the most popular. 1/2 tsp of coconut oil and 1/4 olive

*small containers (those daily pill boxes work really well and so do contact lens holders)

*tooth pick or any small stick for mixing. (I think wooden chop sticks work best)

*something small to mix it in. Those small glass bowls work the best. And I mean the very small bowls. The larger it is, the more gets left behind.

*Crayola crayons. (It has to be Crayola.)

You'll also need a few kitchen supplies such as a butter knife, oven mitt, paper to cut on, cutting board and a pot for boiling water.

So why does it have to be Crayola? It's the pigment. The Crayola crayons are highly pigmented and have nontoxic wax. You can even eat the buggers. I'm sure one or two of you tested it out as a little kid. :)

To get started, fill your pot with just enough water that will come up half way to your small glass bowl (or jar). Let it come to a boil and then back it down to simmer. You want it to still be at a very slow boil but not to the point of it spitting water everywhere. (not good for the crayon mix)

Remove the paper wrapper from the crayon. You can use any color, which is the draw here, but you'll have much better results with the darker colors.

Put down paper onto your cutting board and chop up the crayon into little small pieces. The paper will help protect your cutting board. Try to get the pieces as small as you can because it will melt faster.

Put your coconut and olive oil into glass bowl. Carefully lower the bowl into the hot water and begin stirring. Make sure you have your small containers out. Once all of the crayon is melted smooth, lift out the bowl and gently pour into your molds. Let it cool completely.

Once it has cooled completely it is ready for use. I'll give you a tip...use your finger instead of a brush. The warmth of your finger will allow more transfer.

So now you have the ability to have a lipstick in every color Crayola makes and they do look good once on. Are they the same quality as traditional lipsticks? No but  they make up for that with being made of fewer ingredients. And they cost a lot, LOT less.

So there you go! There is your hack. Stay tuned for more.