Review: Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Bordeaux

A few months ago, I went to Ulta and the entire line of Revlon cosmetics was 40% off so I picked up a few lip butters and a lip gloss. Little did I know that the Revlon Colorburst lip glosses are amazing. Seriously good stuff. I particularly liked Bordeaux, mostly because it was a nice plummy color but also because it is wearable and adds that extra sharpness that only a bold lip color can add.

The formula is non-sticky and not too glossy. The texture is really creamy like a lipstick but has the moisturizing properties of a gloss. I liked how it felt on my lips - It did not transfer nor was it too tacky for comfort. 

The shade is a lot darker in the packaging than it is after wearing it. I was actually hoping for a really dark plum wine color but it turns out to be a plummy medium red, which I happen to like just as well :) 

After a couple hours the stain of the color stays on. The shine from the gloss is still somewhat there but mostly it's stained.

I do like that it did not dry out my lips in any way. The formula overall is really nice and it didn't feel high maintenance to have it on like many other glosses.

Overall, I think the Colorburst lip glosses are some of the best drugstore finds. The gloss cost me a mere $4-5 on sale and the range of colors were impressive. I really wanted a wearable red gloss more than anything so this was def very fitting :) I typically do not wear lip gloss on a regular basis but this shade is so pretty and the shine is not over the top that I think the Colorburst line will be a staple for a long time to come =)

Do you wear lip gloss? 

Maybelline Color Sensational in LET ME PINK

Maybelline Color Sensational in Let Me Pink

Really loving this color right now! Bright but wearable.

What lips are you sporting this week?!

Glossy Box May 2012

Hello friends!

I wanted to show you ladies my very first goodies/subscription box! Out of all the ones out there, I was always most excited to see when my UK friends would post the contents of their Glossy Box. Fortunately for us in the States, Glossy Box has slowly itched its way onto our shores! I was given the opportunity to receive a box to test out the service.

Even the parcel box is designed very uniquely. You can't miss it!

Comes with a sturdy pink gift box. Definitely reusing it ;)

Everything is packaged nicely and tied up with a bow. Even the wrapping paper is pretty!

Contents revealed! 

1. BASQ Cucumber Tea Eye Gel - .50oz - Received full sized item, retails for $24.00

2. OPI Kiss Me on My Tulips - .50oz - Received full sized item, retails for $8.50 

3. C.O Bigelow Lavender & Peppermint Body Lotion - 5.2oz - Received full sized item, retails $12.00

4. Cargo EyeBronzer - .035oz - Received full sized item, retails for $22.00

5. Erno Laszlo Skincare Samples - Received samples, retails for $125.00/5x.50oz

6. Kyrolan Lip gloss in Toffee  - Received full sized item, retails for $18.10

So all in all, FIVE full sized items! That's quite generous for a sample box subscription, isn't it?

BASQ Cucumber Tea Eye Gel

.50oz - Received full sized item, retails for $24.00

I was very excited to see this because who hates eye gels? I'm def excited to be trying this!

 OPI Kiss Me on My Tulips 

.50oz - Received full sized item, retails for $8.50 

This is a vibrant fuchsia magenta color from the new OPI Holland collection. 

C.O Bigelow Lavender & Peppermint Body Lotion 

5.2oz - Received full sized item, retails $12.00

Cargo EyeBronzer  

.035oz - Received full sized item, retails for $22.00

Very pretty shade, but not a fan of the packaging. It's really messy and I hate the rattling sound on the cap!

Erno Laszlo Skincare Samples 

Received samples, retails for $125.00/5x.50oz

It would be interesting to try this. It's quite pricey isn't it?!

 Kyrolan Lip gloss in Toffee

Received full sized item, retails for $18.10

Really pretty caramel shade and the gloss isn't sticky. The color is a bit on the frosty side and a little too shiny but it's still a pretty color.

All in all, I think Glossy Box has a lot of potential. The items they sent out this month are relevant, up to date and a diverse enough for any beauty lover. It is $21.00 per month to join and you can join/quit at any time. I'm kind of liking the whole surprise in a box thing :)

What kind of subscription sample boxes have you joined? 

Ray Ban New Wayfarer

Hey lovelies! I hope you all had a delightful Mother's Day weekend. I flew home to visit my family and chill out for the first time in months. Needless to say, I am now back with a vengeance! 

I wanted to blog about my first pair of "high end" sunglasses. I've never been one to invest in a pair because I tend to lose or break them by the end of summer. But then what's the point in that? I figured it's not worth spending lots of money going through one after another without a second thought. It makes more sense for me to buy one that I could use year round ;) And I have for the last 2 months now! 

I tried the original Ray Ban sunnies but I didn't really like the thick frames. The lenses tilted too far into my face and didn't look or feel comfortable. The new wayfarers are a tad smaller and have a slightly thinner frame that fits my face a lot better while still retaining its signature look. I also like the subtle design of the frames, the nice engraving of the logo on both sides of the arm, and the classic timeless look that is the epitome of the brand. 

Ray Ban New Wayfarer

I think the new design fits people with petite faces. And when you smile the glasses don't get pushed up in a weird position. At first I was hesitant to spend upwards of $100+ on a pair but once I bought it and wore it a few times, you can literally see the difference in quality and construction. The plastic frames are much sturdier and really well made to sit on the face better. The open and closing of the heavy duty metal hinges also feel smooth. The tint in the lenses are great and provide real comfort on sunny days. Mine is in the tortoise color and it feels great. My eyes never feel strained and I never get the feeling that the tint is too dark/not dark enough. 

Warranty: I imagine these will last for years if taken care of properly but if anything gets loose or damaged, I could take it to any Nordstrom's and get it repaired at no cost. I believe you can also send it to Ray Ban as well and it's all covered in their warranty.

Overall, I love these! I don't have any dislikes or anything bad to say about them. I had a ratty pair of Ray Ban's I got from a garage sale when I was a teenager and I held onto it for years and years until it finally tattered away. I taped on the arms and everything! I think I might still have the pieces at my mom's house O_O I used to wear it to the beach when the summers got hot and i wore it to chase the ice cream truck and wore it during school events. And when I finally stored it away to try other sunglasses, I still found myself gravitating toward this brand because no others I've ever owned matched up to the ratty pair I once had. And now when I revisited the brand, it brings back so many nostalgic memories :) I've always loved the cultural icon of these frames and the cool retro vibe of the brand. It's a look I associate with rock stars and style icons. Always classic, always timeless.

Do you have a preferred brand of anything (doesn't have to be sunglasses) either though a childhood story or some nostalgic event? 

Revlon's Lilac Pastel and Borghese Biscotti Beige

Two colors I am loving at the moment. I haven't done anything to my nails in nearly two years so this is my first attempt since then. Sorry for my messy application... I wish I had more nimble strokes. 

Above: Revlon Lilac Pastel

Below: Borghese Biscotti Beige

I am wearing both colors shamelessly at the moment ;) Living on the edge, yep.

Looking to paint on some corals for Mother's Day weekend. 

Hope you're all enjoying your week so far!

Concealers: A Low Maintenance Pick-Me-Up

Concealers are by far, and wide (okay, full circle, who am i kidding), my makeup arsenal of choice. If I had to answer any variation of questions about the one makeup item I'd like to have if I were stuck... outside my apartment building with no way of getting in for an entire night, I would definitely say a concealer. Or rather, concealers ;)

I wanted to share with you guys the six that I have in my collection. They are frequently used,well loved and work for me consistently.

L-R, T-B: Lancome Efacernes, It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye, Maybelline Mineral Power, Tarte Dark Circle Defense, Lancome Photogenic Concealer, Benefit Erase Paste. 

Lightweight and Brightening

Maybelline Mineral Power (find it here)

Price: Between $5-8 for 0.18oz

The Maybelline concealer is my go-to and favorite concealer from the lot. It's inexpensive and brightens the eye area really well. It's quite opaque for a drugstore concealer and the mineral pigments hide brightens your face instantly. The only bad thing is the range of shades but overall I think it's a good concealer to have around! Also very travel friendly with the lip gloss wand :) 

Price: 

Lancome Efacernes Concealer (find it here)

Price: $29.50/0.52oz

This concealer is another staple that I always have with me. I think it's really suitable for any skin type because it's not too wet and not too dry. The texture is light and brightens considerably. I use it under my eye and on any redness around my nose area. I like the fact that it's waterproof as well so it really won't budge unless you take it off. The bad thing about this is the packaging. It gets messy and I'm not a cap person! 

Lancome Photogenic Concealer (MUA)

Price: varies (around $25-$30 because it is discontinued)

Another Lancome concealer! It's pretty efficient and light to the touch. The texture of this concealer is super light and creamy, like a MAC paint pot. It's a nice concealer and the pigmentation is on par but the thing I don't like about it is that it tends to bring out fine lines if you're not careful. The formula is a bit drier than the rest of the concealers I have here. Use sparingly! It creases a bit.

Salmon Colored Corrector Concealers

Benefit Erase Paste (find it here)

Price: $26.00/4.40 grams/0.15oz

I use salmon colored concealers to neutralize really dark circles. I have very thin skin under my eyes so it's really a problem area for me. And it's also hereditary so no matter how much sleep I get my eyes still retain the darkness. This is such a nice concealer! I fell in love with it when I swatched it at Sephora. Perfect for people with oily/combo skin.

Tarte Dark Circle Defence (find it here)

Price: $32.00/2 grams/0.07oz

Tarte's Dark Circle Defense is just like Benefit's Erase Paste but made for dry skin. It's way more moist than Erase Paste but essentially is the same thing. I use both interchangeably depending on how my skin feels that morning. I do like this one a little better though because while it's salmon colored, it's still in the neutral range and doesn't become too pink. They claim to clinically reduce dark circles in 4 weeks' time. Hmm.

Heavy Duty

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye (find it here) 

Price: $24.00 for 0.28 fl oz

The most heavy duty concealer I own! I really wanted to show exactly how thick it is. Hopefully you can tell by the swatches ;) It's a very thick, ultra creamy concealer that is opaque enough to hide anything. I use this very sparingly and only in times of high distress when I look absolutely insane. I rarely do use it so this little tube lasts for a long time. The texture is really nice, and the coverage is high. They claim that it contains high concentrations of vitamins K (heals bruising), A, C, E and collagen. 

Phew! That's a lot of concealer talk huh? So that is my little collection. Honestly, the most important is to have one trusty salmon colored concealer, and a neutral one that matches your skin tone. Everything else is just vanity ;) The one I like the most happens to also be the most inexpensive -- Maybelline Mineral Power. 

Do you use concealers? What's your go-to? =D