Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse: My Journey Into Cream Foundations?

 I'm a big fan of trying out drugstore foundations. First, they're super afforadle, and second sometimes you'll run across some rare gems. I bought the Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation when it first launched after seeing it in a magazine ad (typical consumer). It ranges from about $7 to $10. I heard some good reviews on Maybelline's Dream Smooth Matte, but matte looks aren't for me. But, as luck would have it, they came out with Dream Smooth Mousse, which is supposed to moisturize your skin at the same time. Being from the US, there aren't any testers, so I gave an educated guess on the shade and got the color Natural Beige which is in the Medium range. It has a warm undertone, even though my face is neutral, I find yellow undertones match the rest of my body better. Natural beige is the first box in the Medium row.

The top opens to reveal a compartment for a sponge. Excuse my used sponge. I also found out there's no way to actually clean these things. I used the sponge once and tried to clean it. Fail. How are you supposed to survive with a sponge you can only use once? Yes, I'm ignorant, I usually never have this problem because I use liquid, not cream, foundations. I've resulted to squeezing in a triangular sponge in there and throwing it away after one use. 

240 is actually a very good color match. For the product itself, it's a very smooth cream. I really like the texture because it glides on my skin easily. I would say the coverage is light/medium. I prefer heavier coverage than this offers so sometimes I build it up a little more. I've come to reserve this foundation for Sundays and lazy days. I do like the way it looks. The formula isn't drying, and there's no dry patching involved.

In my opinion this is definitely a good foundation. However, it would be better with better coverage, but for those who want light/medium coverage this would be perfect. The only reason coverage concerned me is that I have some freckles, and EVERY single one of them showed through. I'm not sure if this is something I personally would repurchase, mostly from the fact that I barely use it and probably won't even go through this one. Another downside is it only has .49 oz of product, whereas most liquid foundations contain a full oz. It's decent for me though, considering I'll wear it once every 3-4 weeks.

Have you tried Dream Smooth Mousse? Is it better with Dream Matte Powder on top? Let me know!

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer is the BOMB

Seriously, title says it all. I was really skeptical to try a drugstore concealer. I haven't used one since high school (the seriously crappy turn-up tube one that CoverGirl makes). However, I heard some ravings, and decided to give it a go.

 The Instant Age Rewind concealer retails for about $8-9 dollars, depending on where you go. I bought the color light-medium. It has a dual ended spong-tip pen, one side to correct, and the other to highlight. This stuff is freaking awesome. The corrector really is a great concealer, and has reached HG status. I've been using this everyday. I usually use my Amazing Cosmetics concealer, which is great, but the consistency can be a bit thick. This offers great coverage (although not as heavy), but with a creamier consistency that feels more natural. You really don't need much because the coverage is that good. I use this under my eyes and around my nose. It does wonders for my under eye circles. Then, I set it with my Amazing Cosmetics powder set. I don't really use the highlighter side however, I did try it on my cheekbones, and it's ok. I like that it's not the usual glittery highlighter and looks a lot more natural.

Concealer on the left, Highlighter on the right. 

I'm definitely buying more once I run out =)!

Maybelline EyeStudio Quads(Post 3/3)

Continued from previous post...


Whew. Finally on my third and final installment of the Maybelline EyeStudio quads.
This post will include: Irresistibly Ivy, Mad for Mauve, Pink Persuasion, and Green With Envy

How freakin amazing does that look?! The third color is more green-toned in the palette, but when swatched it's a lovely aqua. I'm also digging that gold (golds are my weakness).

My favorite is the mossy green. I probably won't use the colors in this quad together, but they'll be great seperately.

This is one of the quads I was unsure about buying, but I did anyways because, well, I was buying all of them so I might as well. It's not really anything different. I'm sure we've all see the pink/black before. This black color is also included in I think two other Maybelline EyeStudio quads.

I'm gonna start off first with apologizing about the crappy quality. I rushed to take this early this morning in bad lighting because my sister was asleep. I took this one last because I didn't want to open the package because I was a bit peeved that it was sealed BUT was missing an applicator! I know I don't use the darn things, but I gave up on calling in to complain. ANYWAYS, the colors are much better IRL, I promise. 

Overall, I can safely say I'm a huge fan of these quads. Even though they each included a highlighting white color that's 2X the size of the other shadows (highlighting colors are the least used....), and the fact that they include gratuitous amounts of glitter, the pigmentation and soft texture of the shadows make up for its faults. I also find that they are pretty easy to blend. I say you should go out and try one to see if it works for you, because I highly recommend them. =)

Maybelline EyeStudio Quads(Post 2/3)

I was supposed to post this yesterday, but I didn't have time. Sorry!

Anyways, to continue from the last post... 


This post will include Maybelline EyeStudio Quads in Purple Icon, Legendary Lilac, Sapphire Siren, and Spirited Seas.
*I'm going to reiterate again that these eyeshadows are not for everyone, they are VERY sparkly.

Purple Icon isn't one of my favorite quads, but that's because I'm not big on wearing a lot of purple eyeshadows. The qaulity is, again, great. I love the dark vibrant purple.

Even though I already said I'm not found of purple, I'm digging this quad. The violet is just gorgeous, and I can't wait to actually wear these colors.

LOVE. These are beautiful true blues. Isn't that the most legit royal blue you've ever seen?

I've always loved the gold-blue combo. But I've never tried copper with blues, so I'm really excited for this.

All the quads in this post are catergorized as colors I'm kind of scared of using. I've seen one too many girls wearing blue eyeshadows that end up looking like hookers. I'm more of an everyday-neutral type of gal, but these are way too hot to pass up.

To be continued...

Maybelline EyeStudio Quads(Post 1/3)

I'm a total hoarder. If I find a product I like, I feel the compulsion to buy every color it's made in. I fell in love with the new Maybelline EyeStudio Quads, so naturally I bought all 12 of them. I have to split up the posts over a few days because it's a bit much to fit into one. I'm also only doing fingertip swatches because I'm not about to sit around and swatch 48 different colors up and down my arm... Also, my fingers aren't actually sausage-shaped, they photograph weird. I SWEAR!

The shadows as a whole are all soft and VERY pigmented. (also very sparkly... but I'll get past that)

I haven't actually tried out all the quads, I think I've worn about three of them. So I'll review those first.
Quads in this post are: Taupe Temptress, Copper Chic, Give Me Gold, and Sunset Seduction. 

Taupe Temptress is my favorite. I especially like the third color, its such a pretty taupe!

The colors in Copper Chic are really nice, however I really don't like wearing this on my lids. The colors blended together make my eyes look TOO coppery (If that makes sense), so I'll probably use the colors seperately.

Give Me Gold is simply gorgeous. I love wearing golds on my lids so this is perfect. You do have to be careful when blending though, because you can lose a lot of the color.

 

 I haven't worn this yet but I already love the swatches. This seems like a very wearable everyday look. Really pale and casual. I have no idea why it's called sunset seduction. What sunset was this person looking at? Fail.

To be continued...

Heels for my lashes?

Today I'm reviewing Maybelline Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Waterproof Mascara. 

Maybelline says: 
Now long lashes don't have to be skinny. Only our dual action brush stretches as it thickens each lash for dramatic length and volume. Our rich cream formula adds the most seductive finish.

Here comes my no-makeup face...

 After using the mascara, I can see a difference in length. However, the voluptuous part isn't doing it's job. I'm also not too fond of the formula, the consistency isn't as creamy as I'd like, it feels dryer. But maybe it's just the retarded wand that's doing that. Is the curve of the wand supposed to be helpful?? BECAUSE IT'S NOT. It's awkward and doesn't do its job in coating my lashes, meaning I had to go over the same areas a lot of times. I had high hopes for this one because it's so darn SEXY.


Conclusion. Length= good. Volume, formula and wand = not so good.

This is probably something I won't buy again, but I will layer it with my lash blast for extra length =). Now I'm not saying it's a bad mascara. It works decent, but I don't prefer it.

Products I Regret Buying

I'm sure this has happened to everyone. You go to the store, see something you have to have, just to go home, try it, and be mega disappointed. Here are 10 items I shouldn't have bought. (Not to say them won't work for you. they just didn't for me.)

1) Mac's Hello Kitty Blush in Fun and Games

 

I tried so hard to like it, and managed to even persuade myself it was perfect. However, I've come to the realization that the pigmentation is so sucky, I'm not really getting much color out of it.

2) Loreal HIP Duo in Wicked

Seventeen magazine sucked me into buying this along time ago. It won best eyeshadow of the year. HAH. Yeah, right. Those 12 year olds obviously don't know good pigmentation. The bronzey side is ok, but the purple side is awful. I've tried to use this about 2 times now and the color isn't smooth and it gets muddy. YUCK.

3) NARS Concealer duo in Custard/Ginger

I was really excited for this one. I mean, c'mon it's NARS. Sadly, it doesn't conceal much. I use it on my eyelids now. AND, I still believe Nars has THE crappiest packaging. Fingerprint alert.

4) Urban Decay Blush in Exhale

It's super sparkly. Meaning, theres huge glitter chunks in this. I expect this out of their eyeshadows. But blush too? The color is nice but doesnt show up great, plus, did I mention the huge craft glitter?

5) Victoria's Secret Femme Lipstick

Yeah, it's a nice nude color and all in the picture. But it has crappy quality up the wazoo. It's drying on my lips and the color is strange on me. Again, DRYING.

6) Rimmel Lipstick in Airy Fairy

I had heard a lot about this one so I decided to try it. I HATE, ABHOR, DESPISE the color (on me anyways). And I really don't know why. I think I'm disappointed from the hype.

7) Sephora Lipliner in Chair Lift

First of all, the brush end is plain retarded. Second, who the hell invented the wood on the pencil. It's so harsh! The color would be nice if it didn't go on unevenly and chunky. Yeah. (note: try out Sephora's native nude lipliner, that stuff is geat).

8) Stila Major Lash Mascara

Doesn't do anything for my lashes. No volume, no length. Major lash? More like major a**. End of story.

9) OPI for Sephora Nail polish in A True Romantic

Tried this out once. Not doing it again. It's one of THOSE colors. The one's that come on two sheer, the ones for french manicures. I was not aware of this when I bought it. I was expecting a pink pastel.

10) Maybelline Superstay Foundation

I knew I shouldn't have gone behind colorstay's back. I'm a big fan of anything that says it'll "Stay". This is supposed to be transfer-proof. It's not. It transfered on EVERYTHING that touched it. A napkin, my shirt, my boyfriend's pillow. Freakin Fantastic huh?

I actually have a very important number 11 to add : Loreal HIP Cream eyeliner in Eggplant. IT SUCKS. pigmentation is poor. It's very sheer. I like the black one they make, but the purple is ridiculous.

What are the products you guys regret buying? I'm tagging everyone! (Because I love looking at products I SHOULDN'T buy)

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipcolor W/ Swatches

 

 Maybelline describe it as: 

Active power of a lip balm provides deep moisturization for voluptuous lips drenched in color. 

 These leave my lips so freakin' dry! I know they're supposed to be moisturizing, and don't get me wrong, they glide on like a dream. BUT, after I've worn them for a bit, my before-application supple lips have become a dried out sand dune. I purchased it in Nude Bush, Sugar Plum Ice, and Born With It. Nude Blush is a little pointless since it's so close to my natural lip color, and Sugar Plum Ice is too frosty.

Left to right: Sugar Plum Ice, Nude Blush, Born With It

Today I tried to wear this lipstick for the 5th time, hoping something magical would happen and maybe my lips wouldn't dry. NO AVAIL!

A plus side?

These lipsticks smell soooo damn good. 

It doesn't have that.. lipstick smell, it smells fruity and ah-may-zing. I could sniff em' all day. It's enough to make me keep trying to use these.

Anyone else tried them... and liked them?

FTC DISCLAIMER: I threw my own hard-earned money on this crap because I like to. My opinions. I wasn't threatened, bribed, or manhandled in any way. Thanks.