MAC Pigments

One of the few MAC products that I have never used is the Pigments, I tend not to enjoy working with loose eye shadows and these are often in shades that I tend not to wear on my eyes (on a normal basis).  I considered trying out some of the more neutral shades in this product and trying to see if I could make this versatile formula work for me.  I have seen many looks done by MAC makeup artists and many of them include a Pigment used in some way.  I have seen them used dry as an eye shadow, used with a wet brush and then applied as an eyeliner, and also used directly on facial bones to act as a highlighter.  I have purchased one shade so far and will be starting be using it both dry and wet as eye makeup.

Pigment is one of the key products in any MAC makeup artist's arsenal and therefore come in a wide range of permanent shades plus new shades come out in nearly every limited edition color collection.  "A highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin.  Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect.  Does not streak or cake.  Easy to blend and long lasting.".  Pigment in one of the most versatile products that MAC makes and I was determined to make use of this product and purchase several shades so that I can use them one multiple facial features.  The MAC makeup artist at my local counter told me that Vanilla is the most popular shade and one that she finds to be the more versatile so I decided to start with this shade and then return for more after trying it out.  I was intending to purchase Vanilla anyway after checking it out online but I wanted to get another point of view.  I have had the fortune to work with the same artist nearly every visit since late 2010 and I am more likely to go to counter if I see her working.  If I don't see her working, I am more likely to pick the testers up and just hand them to whoever is working...she is one of the few people that I will ask questions to.

Vanilla was a great choice to start with and use as eye makeup, I cannot see myself using this on any other facial feature and I guess this type of use will depend on what shades I purchase.  As of right now we are thinking of this product as an eye makeup product only. 

I tried first to use Pigment dry.  I started with my usual eye shadow primer and then used Vanilla as a highlighter.  The best way for me to apply this product was with my fingertip, a brush sent the product flying in all directions on my face.  A "sponge painting" type of technique was needed to get Pigment to where it needed to go.  I dipped my fingertip in and got enough product on to cover the tip and then I patted it right onto my eyelid and brow bone.  This technique worked very well and gave me the results that looked more like those of the MAC makeup artists.  When used dry, Pigment lasts about as long as a typical MAC matte or satin finish eye shadow.

I then tried using the product wet.  I used it wet in two ways, one way as a "cream" type of eye shadow and then the other way as a cream eyeliner.  To use as a more pigmented cream eye shadow, I used the same method of application as I did when I applied it dry except that I wet the tip of my finger before dipping it in the product.  I found this method of application gave me the most pigmented results and they lasted from the moment that I applied the product until I took it off at night.  To use this product as an eyeliner, I dipped a cream eye liner brush into water and then right into the product and applied it to my upper lash line.  I did not like the Vanilla shade used in this fashion but I would use another shade as a liner.  I got the same result when it wet as a liner or cream shadow, it lasted all day without smudging or fading. 

Vanilla is the shade choice that I made but there is a full range of Pigment shades that we will look at right now.

- Blue Brown - medium cool brown satin
- Copper Sparkle - bright bronze shimmer
- Dark Soul - deep charcoal satin
- Fuchsia - bright deep cool pink satin
- Golden Olive - medium warm olive green satin with traces of gold
- Grape - medium blue purple satin
- Kitchmas - medium lavender satin
- Magenta Madness - neon deep cool pink satin
- Melon - medium bronze shimmer
- Naked - medium beige shimmer
- Neo-Orange - bright orange satin
- Old Gold - green gold metallic
- Rose - medium pink rose satin
- Tan - deep tan shimmer
- Teal - medium green teal satin
- True Chartreuse - bright yellow lime green shimmer
- Vanilla - medium warm white shimmer
- Violet - medium periwinkle purple satin

I can already see that this product will present difficulties in using one shade on all facial features.  I can't think of any shade here that I would use (in full pigment) on all of my facial features.  I think that I am going to try and focus this product as a multi-purpose eye makeup product and therefore these are the types of shades that I am going to focus on purchasing.  I want the following: Copper Sparkle, Golden Olive, Kitchmas, Melon, Naked, Old Gold, and Violet.  I will report back if I find shades that I am more likely to use on my cheeks and lips and then if I have been able to do so successfully.

photo courtesy of MAC

Buxom Buxom Lashliner

Yesterday we looked at one of my new favorite lipstick formulas and today we are switching gears to one of the new eye makeup products that I have been playing around with.  Many of you know that I have been trying to buy more eye makeup over the past few months and less lipsticks and lip glosses in an attempt to even out my makeup collection.  I tend to prefer cream eyeliner formulas and rotate between ones from Tarte and Smashbox.  I wanted to try more cream eyeliner formulas and I decided on the Buxom Buxom Lashliner formula from Sephora.  I love Buxom lip gloss formulas and really wanted to see if the eye makeup products are the same quality as the lip products,

The Buxom collection can be purchased at Sephora or at Bare Minerals stores, I tend to purchase these products from Sephora as I don't purchase many products from the original Bare Minerals and rarely ever go into that store when I go shopping.  The first shade that I purchased was a brown shade and I was intending to purchase other shades in this product however I was disappointed to learn that this product is available in exactly two shades...black and brown.  Therefore I will not be purchasing many more shades in this product any time soon.

The Sephora website provides a description of the product itself and the two shades that are available for purchase.  "A lash line enhancing and conditioning treatment.  Lash addicts beware: Buxom Lashliner is highly habit-forming. This may look like just a liner, but it's also a thickening and conditioning treatment that instantly takes the appearance of your lashes from hardly any to very many. This mineral-rich, paraben-free, whipped gel formula glides on like a liquid liner and dries to a long-wearing smudge proof eyeliner. The formula is made with natural ingredients, including vitamins A, C, and E; Honeysuckle; Jojoba Oil; Soy Protein; Tourmaline; and Biotin (vitamin B), which support healthy lashes. In one fluid stroke, you can fill in the base of your lashes—making them appear lusciously longer and fuller. This product is ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers. The result: Healthy, lust-worthy lashes that have no limits."

A few facts from the testing of this product:

-  88% of women agreed Buxom Lashliner stayed put all day
- 76% of women claimed Buxom Lashliner made their lashes more dramatic.
-88% of women agreed Buxom Lashliner stayed put all day.
-76% of women claimed Buxom Lashliner made their lashes more dramatic.

As I stated above, this product is available in only two shades; Leatherette (Black) and Suede (dark brown) and I purchased the Suede shade.  This is nice deep brown hue with a matte finish, it is easy to wear and I have paired it with a quite a few different neutral eye makeup shades. 

The formula is nice but I don't find it to be anything special and the claims that are made from the manufacturer have not been seen on my end.  I have been using this product for two weeks now (two or three times a week) and maybe I need to use it longer or more often to see the results on my lashline.  I use the product with the Tarte eyeliner brush and I make sure that I get it right on my lashline so I don't think that I am applying it incorrectly.  The formula applies nicely and states on all day without smudging however it performs very much like every other cream/gel eyeliner formula that I have tried and there is nothing that sets it apart.

The formula is easier to remove than that of Smashbox and I do like this aspect of it since I have struggled in the past to get all of my eye makeup off at night (even with use of a separate eye makeup remover).  Anything that makes it somewhat easier gets top marks in my book.

I am on the fence about really liking this formula, it is very nice and I love that is stays put and is easy to remove but I hate that there are only two shades of this formula.  I would consider purchasing the black shade however I currently have that shade from Smashbox and don't need another black cream eyeliner formula.  I would love if this product was offered in a few more shades and I could order more of them but my collecting of this product is basically done after my initial purchase.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Vincent Longo Duo Eye Pencil

I have been doing a bit of cleaning and re-organizing over the past few days and I decided that I was going to work on my traincase last weekend and dig all the way to the bottom to find some long lost favorites.  I haven't really unearthed anything new but I did find two old Vincent Longo eye pencils and I out both of them to the test later on that weekend.  I bought any new Vincent Longo products since Bath and Body Works and Sephora stopped carrying this makeup line. I want to find a brick and mortar store that carries it and play around with anything new that has come from this line.  I see some items that I don't recognize on the website and I am curious to see if the formulas and quality have remained the same or have been revamped.  Overall, I have found that the Vincent Longo collection contains some amazing products and then formulas that are complete duds.  It is one of the two extremes and therefore I am wary of just ordering the products online without seeing or being able to play with testers.

The Duo Eye Pencils are what I dug out of the bottom of my traincase this time around, I first bought and used these at Bath and Body Works many years ago and I wasn't in love with this product but didn't hate it.  These two came from a friend who could not get the formula to cooperate with her contact lenses and gave up trying after a few weeks.  Since I have been wearing my glasses exclusively for a few years now, I took these off her hands and then gave them a try.  I don't remember what I thought of them when she first gave me the pencils (maybe a year ago) so I worked with both of them over the past few days.  I can already state that this is one product formula that has not been changed since I first tried the line...and this is not a positive statement.

"Using two shades of eye pencil is a professional technique and easy makeup tip for creating intense and smoldering eyes. Combined complimentary shades encourage maximum creativity and remove the guess work for fast and easy application.  A must have for every makeup bag.  Smudge resistant and long wearing.  Glide-on application prevents tugging of delicate eye tissue.  Creamy texture and rich pigment blend easily to give maximum definition and shape to eyes.  Sharpens to a fine point without breakage.  Suitable for eyes of all ages.", states the Vincent Longo website.  The website goes on further to give more instructions about the best method of use for the product.  "Use the darker shade to define and shape your eyes by applying it along the lashline and in the outer corners.  Apply the lighter shade to the inner corners of your eyes to brighten and open them up.   The lighter shade may also be smudged over your upper lid to highlight your brow bone as well as intensify the color of your eyeshadow.  Blend the two shades together along the lashline midway between each corner to bring-out your eye color."

The colors are as follows...

- Mystic Sabine - deep shimmering brown/black
- Cabaret Urban Nights - matte plum/matte charcoal
- Brown Fawn Silk - medium brown cream/lilac cream
- Brown Orofila Golden Moss - medium gold cream/medium charcoal cream
- Jet Black Brown Black - deep black cream/deep brown cream
- Knight Spell Carnaby Pink - medium gray cream/pale pink cream
- Lapiz Lazlu - medium blue cream/medium jade green cream
- Lime Forest - pale green cream/medium navy cream
- London Glimmer Jet Black - deep charcoal shimmer/deep black cream
- Midnight Smoke - deep navy blue cream/medium charcoal cream
- Raisin Cabernet Esmeralda - deep purple cream/deep charcoal cream
- Satin Plum - light blue cream/medium navy cream

I have the Jet Black Brown Black and Brown Orofila Golden Moss pencils from this shade line up.  The best aspect about this product is that the shade line up is extensive and the idea for the use of the two shades to line the eyes is very unique and works well once the product is actually applied (sort of).  I get the most use from the Jet Black Brown Black shade, it is a very nice neutral that works with all kinds of eye makeup shades.  The other shade that I have (Brown Orofila Golden Moss) is a pretty gold hue but I don't love the look when used with the charcoal shade.  I only use these two shade alone with complementing eye makeup shades. 

The aspects of the product that I dislike will take much longer to write up.  The first aspect that I dislike is the hardness of the liner, it pulls and tugs on my eye area and would be much improved by having a softer formula that would glide on much easier.  I can barely use this formula without getting annoyed at the formula and therefore I would rarely use the two pencils that I own and have no reason to purchase any more shades of it.  The pigment is lacking in the lighter shades of these pencils, the gold hue kills me when I use it.  I have to go over the line at least twice and then work with the hard to use formula even more than I would like to.

This is one of the Vincent Longo products that is a complete dud, I like the concept of the complementing shades but the formula is so bad that I hate using the two liners that I already own from this company.  I much prefer gel or liquid liners to begin with and this formula is great example of why I prefer to purchase many types of liners other then the traditional pencil liner.  I would be willing to try a gel liner from Vincent Longo but I would hesitate before ordering any type of pencil liner from this company since I have gotten such horrible results from this formula.

photo courtesy of Vincent Longo

Tarte EmphasEYES Waterproof Clay Shadow/Liner

I have been talking on here about buying more eye makeup and less lip gloss for the past few months, so far it has been going decently well.  I have definitely been buying more eye makeup but also I am buying just as much lip gloss as before...maybe slightly less but not that much.  However the last time that I went into Sephora, I managed to walk out with face wash (why I went in in the first place), nail polish, blush, and two eyeliners.  I actually managed to walk by the NARS counter without buying anymore lip products even though the Larger Than Life lip gloss set from the Andy Warhol collection was calling my name...I was a lady on a mission!

I decided that I needed a new eyeliner more than I needed a new eye shadow palette this time around, I was checking out many of the eye shadow palettes that had just been released for the holidays and was very tempted by a new one from Too Faced but I was trying to be somewhat practical this time around.  I also wanted to buy liners in shades other than just black as I am accumulating quite a collection of black eyeliners, considering that I mostly wear brown and neutral eye makeup, having all those black liners is not exactly what I currently need.  I was considering one of the new eyeliner sets from Urban Decay but I also wanted to try something that I have never tried out before.  Decisions, decisions...I must have looked a bit odd wondering around Sephora and pondering all these things at once.

After I decided what type of liner that I wanted, I then decided that I wanted to try something different from either Tarte or Stila.  Since I was closer to the Tarte counter, I just decided to start there and I quickly found what I wanted and picked out the two shades that I wanted to buy.  Needless to say, I went to the register a very happy girl.  So what did I finally pick out after the whole decision making process?  I ended up buying two shades of the EmphasEYES Waterproof Clay Shadow/Liner, a cream eyeliner that is housed in a pot.  I really like all of the Amazonian Clay products that I have used so far from this company so I was more than happy to try yet another one!

From the Sephora website, "A collection of plush eyeliners and a double-ended eyeliner brush, to create intense and long-lasting high definition eyes.  These liners provide skinvigorating™ benefits and an intense yet smooth-cream texture, perfect for creating a precise, high definition line or a smoky, sultry shadow base. High-performance natural™ Amazonian clay deepens the intensity of pure color pigments while nourishing skin for a truer, bolder color that lasts. The botanical waterproofing agent in these liners is earth engineered from a blend of natural plant waxes to form an impermeable layer that protects against rain, sweat, tears, and creasing for longer wear.  Nature's most perfect ingredient, Amazonian clay, balances and neutralizes skin's surface. Whether oily or dry, it reduces surface oil and improves the overall texture of the skin, for smoother application and better wear. The black and brown shades are matte; the bronze, plum, indigo, and green shades are metallic."

This eyeliner formula really does last all day, I even rubbed my eyes by accident yesterday afternoon and the formula barely budged.  I have been using the larger side of the eye brush to create a thicker smudged line, paired with several shades of eye shadow.  This liner was very easy to apply with the brush that the company included (I love that a correct brush was included with the product and I don't have to guess what brush to use it with!), the last time that I bought a cream liner at Sephora, the sales associates had to guess what would work the best with it.  Using the thinner side of the brush gives me a look closer to that of a liquid liner, I prefer to use this type of formula for a thicker line and I would be more likely to use a liquid liner pen to create the more precise, thin line.  I haven't really used the formula as an eye shadow, I would use a cream eye shadow formula as this liner is a bit too hard to use well as a cream shadow.  This product is best used an eye liner only.

This product currently is available in five shades...

- Black - matte black
- Bronze - deep brown sheen
- Brown - matte chocolate brown
- Indigo - deep royal blue sheen
- Plum - eggplant purple sheen

I bought the Bronze and Brown shades from this product, the Brown shade is very pigmented and best for a more conservative and professional look.  The Bronze shade is a bit more casual and has a bit of shimmer in it, I would use this more on the weekends or to create a bronze smoky eye look at night.  Of the two shades, I found that the Brown is more pigmented and actually lasted longer than the Bronze shade.  The Brown shade was also harder to remove and needed an extra swipe of eye makeup remover at night, both shades need eye makeup remover to get off but the Brown needed a bit extra.  When I first bought the product, I thought that the Bronze would be my favorite hue since it has shimmer in it but the Brown is my favorite since it is more pigmented and longer lasting. 

I would buy this product in the Black and Plum hues, I really like this formula and wouldn't hesistate to recommend it or buy more shades from it.  I would love if Tarte comes out with more in this formula as it is one of the best cream eye liner formulas that I have ever tried, both in pigmentation and lasting power.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner

About a week ago, I reviewed my Too Faced Return of Sexy Eye Palette.  Along with the fifteen eye shadow shades that came with this palette, Too Faced included a full sized black eyeliner to use with all the eye shadow looks.  As of right now, I am still trying the "how to" cards that are included with the palette.  I am currently through about two of the included looks and have begun working with the Perfect Eyes Eyeliner that was included with this palette.  After trying it one or two times, I decided that this product needs its own review because it is a great product on its own.  I have found that the eyeliners that tend to be included with eye shadow palettes are often an after-thought on the part of the product development team, they are often just thrown in to help create a few looks with the shadows.  However, in this case, the eyeliner is fast becoming one of my favorite items in the palette!

I looked for this eyeliner on the Sephora website and I was happy to find out that it is available on its own and in a huge range of shades.  "A creamy, longwearing eyeliner that glides on with the ease of a liquid liner and locks down for eight hours of budge-proof, smudge-proof.  These high impact pencils come in various waterproof shades ranging from the necessary classics to cutting-edge couture.  Each includes a flexi-firm, beveled smudger to allow a smoky blend or precise line.  Once applied, this eyeliner won't transfer, smudge, or budge, and unlike most other waterproof formulas, it even holds up to tears.  This creamy smooth liner glides on effortlessly never pulling, skipping, or slipping."

This formula glides on very smoothly and I didn't have any issues with tugging or skipping.  The first time that I used this product, it drew a thicker line then I would have liked and I had to play around with it to draw on a less intense line the second time that I used it.  I prefer this product for use on the upper eye and I haven't really used it to try and tightline.  I am hoping that I can use it tightline eventually since the formula is waterproof and practically budgeproof once it is set.  I get a full day's wear from this product and it even held out when I went running in the evening.  This is a great product for the summer months since it didn't budge anytime that I have used it.  I tried this product with and without the built-in smudger, it helped to soften the line a bit and would be best in a smoky look for night.  Personally, I prefer the crisp, clean line for the daytime and that is how I use this product mostly at the moment.

The available shades in this product...

- Perfect Black - black
- Perfect Black Orchid - blackened plum
- Perfect Brown - brown
- Perfect Peacock - teal
- Perfect Purple - purple
- Perfect Storm - charcoal
- Perfect Navy - navy
- Perfect Expresso - deep brown
- Perfect Moss - olive

The Perfect Black shade came with the Return of Sexy palette and it is the best shade to use with all the eye shadow shades that have been included with this palette.  Perfect Black is the shade that I likely would have bought myself since I am always looking for great black eyeliners.  After trying this product, I want to buy some more shades of this product.  Perfect Black Orchid will be awesome to create a plum smoky eye and I want to buy this shade next.  Perfect Brown and Perfect Expresso will both work very well with all of my gold and bronze eye shadows.  Lastly, Perfect Storm will be a great shade to use in a slightly more subtle smoky eye. 

I haven't bought a new eyeliner for the past few months and I am so excited that a great formula just fell right into my lap when I bought the Return of Sexy Eye Palette.  So far, I love this formula and I will be using it for the next few months!

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Hey, Sailor! - My Haul and Final Thoughts

This morning I was finally able to pick up my pre-order on the Hey, Sailor collection at my local Macy*s.  After sitting in what seemed to be endless traffic and massive amounts of humidity rendering my hair a disaster (I will be redoing it after I finish this post up), I finally pulled into the mall parking lot, found a spot, and then went running into Macy*s.  I even skipped over Sephora on this visit, I was so excited to get my MAC products and then get back home to play with them.  My initial thought when I got to the counter was that there was no excitement around this line, the counter had one poster up and normal-sized display instead of all the bells and whistles that was I was expecting to see.  I did my pre-order a few days ago with the counter manager and I wish that she would have been there this morning since she knows me well and has recommended products that have ended up being favorites of mine.  I ended up only leaving with the four products that I had pre-ordered so I will have to visit again in order to purchase some of the permanent shades that I need.

I narrowed my initial purcahse down to the four products that I wanted the most when I looked at the collection.  The bags are not available at the counters so I wasn't able to buy any of those.  I decided on a Lipstick, two eye makeup products, and a bronzer.  None of the shades and products are super-unique and they are many dupes out on the market from all different brands.  If you love the packaging, then you will be all over this collection; if you don't, then you will not die if you don't buy multiple pieces of the collection.  Did the packaging push me in the direction of this collection?  Of course it did!  The only product that I would have purchased if the collection was in the plain packaging is the powder bronzer since I actually need it.  MAC offers great red lipstick hues but I didn't need another one and wouldn't have really noticed this one had I not be stalking the collection.  The same reasoning holds for the gold eye makeup products.  However I happen to love the packaging and I am so happy with the four products that I have bought!

My Hey, Sailor! haul!

Hey, Sailor! Bronzing Powder - A lightly frosted, tinted powder that gives skin sheer, natural colour effects and highlights.  Ideal to enhance and strengthen a tan.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!  Limited edition.
- Soft Sand - golden bronze with fine gold pearl

Hey, Sailor! Eye Shadow - Highly pigmented powder.  Applies evenly, blends well.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!  Limited edition.
- Barefoot - tarnished gold

Hey, Sailor! Powerpoint Eye Pencil - A kohl pencil that has all the intensity of colour-power of ultra-soft carbon.  Provides deep, fully opaque coverage and an intense, smoked finish with duo-chrom pearl.  Versatile in application: blend or smudge.  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!  Limited edition.
- Handforged - metallic yellow gold

Hey, Sailor! Lipstick - Colour plus texture for the lips.  Stands out on the runway.  Simmers on the street...or at sea!  Packaged in blue and white stripes, it's a match to everything Hey, Sailor!.  Limited edition.
- Red Racer - bright yellow red

We will start off with the bronzer.  I decided on the Bronzing Powder because the shades were more neutral, the Pro Longwear Bronzing Powders looked slightly harder to work with; one shade has a red finish, the other a pronounced yellow undertone.  Of the Bronzing Powders, Soft Sand is medium tan with very little shimmer, the other Bronzing Powder has a heavier shimmer and is a darker hue.  Soft Sand is the easier of the two shades for me to pull off.  This bronzer has a sheer to medium finish, it will work best as a light dusting used to lightly tanned to medium skin.  This is the shade that will fit most of the ladies that shop at MAC.

The Barefoot Eye Shadow is the pretty gold shade that I wanted as soon as I first looked at the collection.  The MAC website doesn't give full details but the counter manager told me that the finish on this shadow is closest to the Veluxe Pearl formula, a formaul that manages to produce some of the best and worst MAC shadows.  This shade has a medium to sheer finish and works best when applied with an eye primer.  I will be using it with other golds and champagnes, it is not quite pigmented enough to wear on its own.  I was considering the gold-toned Pigment in this collection but the counter manager told me that the eye shadow is easier to apply and a bit softer than the texture of the Pigment, making my decision of what I wanted easier. 

The Powerpoint Eye Pencil is one of the best quality products that I bought with this collection and I see myself getting the most use of this liner and the matching shadow all year round.  This pencil is less pigmented than the Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencils so this isn't the dupe that I was hoping for.  It needs to be applied twice to get a full color intensity, one coat offers a subtle gold look and two coats are needed to create the full gilded eye look.  This pencil lasts all day long and only budged when I used eye makeup remover on it at night, this is a great choice for the summer months.

The last product is the one that is my absolute favorite from the collection and the one product that I had to own from the collection, the Red Racer Lipstick shade.  This a medium yellow red with a satin finish, the finish is very close to a matte and is just slightly creamier than Russian Red.  This shade reminds me of Ladybug with a full coverage finish, a shade that I have often hoped for.  This shade gives me about 6 hours of wear and will begin to wear off with extended eating or drinking.  A primer would be needed under this shade to keep it on all day. 

Overall I am very happy with my purchases from the Hey, Sailor! collection.  I certainly don't need the whole collection even though I love the packaging.  This is one of my favorite MAC collections so far this year, even though I think that the packaging is better than some of the products and shades in the collection.  I like other products in the collection but I really don't need any of those shades as much as I wanted these.  I will be able to use the bronzer all the way into September and the rest of the shades will work well for me all year round and will work well with the rest of the shades in my traincase.  I predict that this will be one of the biggest MAC collections of the year.

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Tarte EmphasEyes Aqua-Gel Eye Liner

As you guys all know, I have been working with the Tarte True Blood palette that I ordered several weeks ago from the Sephora website.  I am almost through the palette and the provided looks in it and have begun to decide what my favorite products and shades are.  One of my early favorites from this palette is the eye liner that was included in it to finish off the eye makeup looks.  This is the first eye liner that I have ever used from Tarte so I wasn't all that sture what to expect, but the EmphasEyes Aqua-Gel Eye Liner didn't disappoint me and now I want to try it out in some other shades. 

I am providing a product description from the Tarte website.  I was going to wait to review this product until I did the full write-up on the palette but I loved this eye liner so much that I felt that it deserved its own post.  "This revoluntionary EmphasEyes Aqua-Gel Eye Liner captures the high pigment concentration and staying power of a gel pot in an effortless pencil, no brush required.  Even more unique is the proprietary formula which encapsulates rich mineral pigments in a 50% water concentration.  By a process of hydrous pigmentation, cooling and refreshing oure water absorbs into skin to hydrate and replenish the delicate eye area, leaving behind an intense, long-wearing and pigment-rich color.  Fortified with vitamin E, cucumber, and aloe; this soothing aqua-gel eye liner maintains moisture balance in the skin while treating with healing free radical fighters."

This eye liner contains several ingredients that add to its unique texture and formulation.  Aloe Leaf Extract is a widely-known plant extract with soothing, healing, and antiseptic properties that helps maintain moisture balance in the skin.  Cucumber extract is rich in vitamins A and C and helps to soothe the skin.  Mineral pigments contains the color and dyes that are derived from natural minerals and have been known to soothe and soften the skin.  Vitamin E is a natural preservative that also acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and protects against free radical damage.  Pure water delivers and retains moisture.

I actually expected this product to be more of a kohl type pencil being that some of the looks in the kit require a decent amount of smudging to get the look right.  And we all know that gels are better to create a more dramatic, defined line.  So I was a bit wary about how this product would perform both on its own and with the provided look instructions.  Turns out, I didn't need to worry since it was a great product in both case.  This product is very easy to work with and lays down an even line on the first try.  The product actually feels wet and cooling when it goes on and then the feeling subsides very quickly, so I am taking that to be a "dry-down" that occurs as this product sets.  Once the product sets, it doesn't more or blend so it works more like a liquid liner in that respect.  If you want to soften this line, you must do it with a matching shadow since it will not budge after application.

I have this product in the black shade but I found that several other colors are offered also. 

- Black - pure deep inky black
- Brown - medium brown cream
- Navy - medium navy blue
- Charcoal - medium gray cream
- Plum - medium plum cream
- Forest - medium khaki green
- Teal - bright blue teal
- Bronze - medium bronze brown

I love the Black shade, it is the ultimate in deep, dark black, which is the exact shade that I use when creating cat eyes.  I would use this product more for creating that bold line instead of a look that calls for a smudged liner.  It can be used for a smoky look, but I prefer a MAC Eye Kohl for this since I feel this product is better for creating the bold, graphic line that is needed for heavy eye liner looks.  I would highly recommend this eye liner for someone who doesn't create this type of look very often and isn't yet comfortable working with a traditional liquid liner.  I want the Charcoal shade in this product also in order to create a graphic gray eye look. 

This eye liner wears for quite a long time, either by itself or with eye shadow on top of it.  This is best used in a smoky eye as a base for a deep eye shadow.  Once this product sets, then it will stay on all day and keep your shadow in place for the same amount of time.  I did use this product with a MAC eye primer underneath so I am sure that the primer helped to hold the pigment in place.  This liner is that can be worked with on the waterline though it is not water-proof and did not stay in place as long.  My eyes were bothering me one day when I did a True Blood look and with one swipe of my finger to dab the water, I smudged the liner and ruined the whole look.  This product could be improved in that area and some type of water-resistant ingredients added into the formula.  I needed a full eye makeup remover to get this product off and I am confident that it wouldn't come off without the use of remover.

This is a great eye liner however I find it best used for a graphic cat eye instead of a look that requires a decent amount of smudging to pull it off.  This liner is easier to work with than a traditional liquid and it will a good choice for someone who doesn't enjoy working with a liquid.  This liner was a great addition to the palette since it can be used to create a bold line or be used as a base for shadow.

photo courtesy of Tarte

MAC Eye Kohl

This eye liner is one of my go to products for creating nightime smoky eyes but recently I have been bringing it out into the daylight.  This product is MAC favorite and some shade of it is recommened to me every single time that I go to the counter to buy eye shadow.  Many of this company's fans consider this product the only liner that can be used to make a smoky eye look and will not use any other product in the eye makeup collection.  In addition, I feel like some version of this liner is released in almost all of the MAC limited edition collections because it works well with every eye look.

The MAC website gives an overall description of the product and the reasons that an eye kohl is different than a traditional eye liner.  "A soft-on pencil liner that lines, defines, and shades the eyes with rich colour and a silky smooth, matte/pearl finish.  Ophthalmologist tested."  An eye kohl is softer than a traditional eye pencil and therefore is easier to smudge and make the smoky eyes.  A traditional eye pencil provides more of a sharp line and is much harder to use to create that type of eye look.  I do have both types of liners in my collection since I don't really believe that one type of liner provides all the eye makeup looks that I carry out.

This product features some shades that are best for the night and some that can work during the daytime too.  The shades are...

- Fascinating - intense matte white
- Minted - vibrant mint green with pearl
- Rosemary & Thyme - mid-tone olive gold with shimmer
- Powersurge - bronzed-brown with golden shimmer
- Costa Riche - rich coffee bean brown
- Teddy - intense bronze
- Tarnish - blackened forest green
- Smolder - intense black
- Blooz - intense blue with blue shimmer
- Prunella - shimmering black-eyed plum
- Phone Number - smudgy charcoal

I currently own two shades of this product, Smolder and Rosemary & Thyme.  Smolder is the shade that is used to create the dark smoky eye and I believe is their best selling shade of this product.  This is the darkest, deepest black liner that I have ever used, with the exception of liquid liners.  I bought this shade to create smoky eyes and that the best use for it.  The other shade that I have is actually the more versatile of the two shades.  I first boiught Rosemary & Thyme when it was released with To The Beach last last spring and I will confess that I pretty much bought it only for the beautiful packaging.  But this ended up being one of my favorite purchases from MAC ever.  It is a deep olive green with the gold shimmer and it creates some of the most beautiful day or night eye looks.  It works in the day with a golden eye or a subtle neutral olive eye.  But at night, I pair this with vibrant olives and golds and it creates the most unique eye looks that I have ever done. 

This product is very easy to use.  I soften it quickly between my fingers and then apply it right to the upper and lower lash line.  I smudge it only on the upper lash line since I prefer a tightline on the lower lash.  The formula is easy to smudge but you must do it quickly because it will set within minutes.  After the smudging, I use whatever shadow I am following it with right over the line and then smudge shades into the gradiation.

Since I am so happy with this product already, I feel that I should add to my collection with some browns.  Powersurge and Teddy will work with all my bronzes and golds to create my gilded eye looks.

photo courtesy of MAC

Urban Decay 24/7 Jackpot Set

The latest Urban Decay set is the 24/7 Jackpot Set and their Friends and Family Event is coming upon use very quickly (follow them on Facebook and you will get all the goods!) so I want to into items that are great gift ideas and also get ideas for yourself. The 24/7 Jackpot consists of their best selling 24/7 Eye Liners, which are also a personal favorite product of mine. I already own several shades of this product and would never hesitate to buy more.

"You've hit the motherload! 24/7 Jackpot features NINE travel-size shades of Urban Decay's award-winning 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils plus one FULL SIZE pencil in Zero (our award-winning black)." These pencils glide on smoothly and then can be smudged within the first minute of wear. After that time, the color will set and stay true for the rest of the day. I have found that these pencils don't budge and stay perfectly in place until I go to take them off at the end of day.

The shades included in this set...

- Eldorado - gold

- Stash - dark green-gold

- Mildew - deep green

- Electric - bright aquamarine

- Binge - navy blue

- Ransom - bright iridescent purple

- Rockstar - darkest eggplant

- Gunmetal - gunmetal with teeny silver glitter

- Whiskey - dark brown

- Zero - zealous black

Of the shades offered in this set, I own the Rockstar, Whiskey, and Zero. Zero is a top pick for creating any kind of black, smudy smokey eyes. It is also great for tight-lining the lower rim and it never strays. Whiskey is a great eye liner shade to use day or night, it can be dressed up or down depending on your look. Of the three, Whiskey is the one that I use the most. Rockstar is a bit harder to wear, since I have to wear it with silvers or plums. However, it is very beautiful and makes a great statement. From this set, I most want to try the Stash and Mildew shades, I love those greens!

This is a wonderful set for makeup junkies and anyone who loves beautiful eye makeup. I must order this with my Friends and Family discount...

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

MAC Penultimate Eye Liner

It now seems that I cannot even go within the vicinity of a MAC counter without making a purchase of several items. In fact, if this trend continues, I may have to boycott the mall in order to save my checking account balance. My last haul was one that included several impulse items, I went to the counter to purchase only one product and ending up walking away with a bag full of items. The one item that I went to purchase (and the first one that I grabbed when I got to the counter) is the one that we are going to talk about today. I already own the Eye Kohl and tried to use it the other week to make a strong cat eye. However, that liner is better for smudging and making smoky eyes so the effect was not quite what I desired. I knew that I needed a different product to create a cat eye and decided to try out a liquid eye liner.

I have never used a liquid eye liner with good results. Back when I used to have full access to the makeup counters at Bath and Body Works, I would try in vain to get a good line but would always end up with a jagged disaster. So my primary concern with trying a liquid eye liner was ease of use. I had read about Penultimate when it was featured in MAC collections and wanted to try it out. It looks just like a skinny marker and it appeared to be the most dummy proof looking liner that I had laid eyes on.

The MAC website provides the following as a description of the product, "A liquid pen-style liner that provides the ultimate precise, bold line in a rich, deep carbon black shade. Goes on fluidly, in one steady stroke, to style any fashion of eye line". This product is available in one shade called Rapidblack which is described as a true black.

This product is very easy to use even for someone not used to working with a liquid liner. If you can draw a line, you can get this liner to work for you. I steady my had by resting it on my cheekbone during application and so far have had no problems. I start my pulling my eyelid, making a line from the inside to the middle then another one from the middle to the outer corner. I found that the color is best when I go over the line at least twice, if I only do the first application, it appears more a deep gray then a black. I also have found that I need a second coat to get in closer to my lashes but this might change as I get better as using the product.

The lasting power of liquid eye liners is always better than pencil liners. Once this product dries, it will be on for the rest of the day until I remove it. I have no trouble removing it with eye makeup remover but I feel that it wouldn't come off fully with just soap and water.

I really love the eye liner and my only wish is that it came in more colors. At the moment, I am wishing for a bronze, a gold, a silver, a deep olive, and a deep plum. Hopefully MAC will include new shades of the this product in some of their limited edition collections.

photo courtesy of MAC

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collector Set

So far from Make Up For Ever, I have only used the HD collection but I have a friend that loves all of their products and one of her favorites is the Aqua Eye Eye Liner. I believe that I once got this product as a Sephora Beauty Insider sample but I haven't opened it up yet to try it out. But to a fan of both this line and this product itself, the Holiday Collector Set of these liners that is being sold at Sephora is a dream come true. The first 100 of these that are made and sold will be numbered and signed by Danny Sanz (founder of the company). For a huge Make Up For Ever fan, this is a dream come true.


The set is limited only to distribution at Sephora so I turned to their website to get a description of the product, "The 25 Aqua Eyes Collector Set includes the full range of 25 shades so that you can create endless eye looks. Aqua Eyes is an award-winning, waterproof, and long-lasting eye liner pencil that contains a unique formula that adheres to the eye lids and resists water - even under the most extreme conditions. Its creamy texture glides on effortlessly for precise application and intense color and by smudging it immediately after applying to the lid, it can double as a shadow".


Here are the colors that are in the set...


- Champagne 23 L - metallic pink champagne
- Fushcia Pink 13 L - metallic fushcia
- Purple 11 L - metallic purple
- Black Purple 6 L - deep purple
- Shimmering Plum 4 L - soft plum sheen
- Burgundy 18 L - deep burgundy sheen
- Pearly Brown 2 L - golden brown sheen
- Light Brown 19 L - dark taupe
- Light Taupe 24 L - taupe brown
- Bronze Green 5 L - golden olive sheen
- Bronze 10 L - metallic bronze
- Gold 9 L - metallic yellow
- Pistachio 17 L - metallic vibrant yellow green
- Green 16 L - medium yellow green sheen
- Forest Green 20 L - deep pine green
- Turquoise 7 L - light turquoise sheen
- Blue With Green Highlights 12 L - metallic teal blue
- Majorelle Blue 15 L - metallic royal blue
- Iridescent Navy Blue 3 L - navy blue sheen
- Mat Black 0 L - black
- Star Black 1 L - black sheen
- Dark Grey 21 L - dark metallic grey
- Grey 22 L - silvery grey
- Silver 8 L - metallic silver
- White 14 L - pearl white sheen

This huge set should make any Make Up For Ever lover or even any eye makeup lover jump for joy when they unwrap it. This quite possibly could be the end-all set for eye liner selection. Now if Urban Decay would make the same type of set so I could get it for myself...

photo courtesy of Sephora

Myself Wearing Smashbox Cream Eye Liner

This was my eye of the day the other night. I decided to try out my favorite Smashbox Cream Eye Liner with Urban Decay Primer Potion underneath to anchor it for the whole night. I have experience smearing in the past with this liner and decided to experiment one night.

Result - still a very small bit of smearing (to be fair, my mascara was black to and it may have been my mascara - this has been an issue with Givenchy Phenom'eyes) but my wear was much better. I also found that it prepped my lid much better than trying to apply the liner to bare skin. Much improved with Primer Potion on underneath...I wish I would have thought of that earlier. I am now to going to test it out underneath over eye liners and see if there is improved in wear also.

photo courtesy of Sarah Desch

Smashbox Cream Eye Liner

One of my long time favorite products was first introduced to me by a coworkers several years back. she alwasy had the most amazing eye makeup and was able to pull off the cat eye look like no one I had ever seen before. So needless to say, one day when she was getting ready to leave and she pulled her makeup bag out, I was intrigued enough to try see what she was using.

She was using a cream eyeliner from Smashbox and the matching eye liner brush from the company. I looked the product up on the Sephora website and wasn't shocked to see that it is very popular was a previous Best of Sephora Winner. She was using the Caviar shade which is a rich, pigmented true black. When I bought the product, the associates at Sephora actually recommended the Urban Decay angled brow brush becuase it is easier to work with for a person who has never used this type of product before.

Application is pretty simple. Dip the brush into the liner pot and then begin drawing the line on your eyelids. I found that I have better luck with using short, little strokes rather then trying to draw one thick line. It last an insanely long time. You will need eye makeup remover to get it off and it is one of those products where if I don't take it off at night before bed, it is still going strong the next morning.

Caviar is the only shade that I have tried so far and I love it. But I also was to try Midnight Purple (deep regal violet) and Thunder (mossy grey).

This liner gets Sephora's seal of approval and mine too!

photo courtesy of Sephora