Worth the Hype? MAC LIpstick in Ruby Woo

$15     0.10 oz / 3 g

Availability: MAC, Nordstrom 

If you're a member of the beauty community, I'm pretty sure you either have heard people talk about this lipstick 10 thousand times, or you already have it. I seriously don't know why it too me so long to get this lipstick but I'm glad I did.

Color & Finish

Ruby Woo is described as a vivid blue red. I can never tell if a red lipstick has a cool tone but I can tell it doesn't have much orange in it. This red is a very bright true red. It's not pink nor coral. It suits all kinds of complexions.

It has Retro Matte finish even though on the packaging it just says Matte. Apparently they are different finishes. This is the only Retro Matte I have and I don't own any Matte ones so I don't know. But it's definitely very matte. It has no glossiness to it whatsoever.

Formula & Pigmentation

The formula is very dry. But it's workable. It can tug the lips when applied out of the bullet, so definitely apply in short strokes. I don't think it dries my lips out. It just doesn't provide any moisture. If you have dry lips, make sure you apply lip balm underneath. It would also help with the application.

It's very pigmented. You definitely need a mirror to apply it. Because of the dry formula, if you make any mistake, wipe it off soon because it might stain.

multiple layers | one layer

How I Wear It

I absolutely love wearing it for a night out because it can work as a stain. I apply a layer and blot it with a tissue and repeat it for a few times to secure the stain. I don't have to touch up for the rest of the night if I'm just drinking. It might come off a little but if you eat because of the oil in food. I also love it just keeping the rest of my makeup really minimal. I can also apply a thin layer with my fingers to create a sheer stain for a natural look.

Does it make my teeth whiter?

Overall, I love this lipstick and will keep repurchasing it. I love that it can make my makeup look look so much more polished when I only have foundation and mascara on. The dry formula makes the application require a little more effort, but I don't mind that since it also keeps the color on longer. It's a high effort but low maintenance lipstick. The color works for all kinds of skin tones and complexions. It's definitely worth the hype and I would highly recommend it to everyone!

Worth the Hype? Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum

$48     1 oz

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Water*, Glycerin*, Butylene Glycol*, Ethylhexyl Palmitate*, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6,Polymethyl Methacrylate, Dimethicone, Palmitoyl Grape Seed Extract*, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum (Fragrance), Squalane*, Potassiumsorbate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice*, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum,Sorbitan Oleate*, Sodium Carboxymethyl Betaglucan, Citric Acid, Sorbitan Laurate*,Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Phytate*, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Myristyl Malate Phosphonic Acid. (*Plant Origin)

Availability: Sephora, Nordtrom, Dermstore.com

This serum isn't a new product but has been getting really good reviews from many well known beauty gurus. I've been a fan of several products from Caudalie so I thought I would give it a go.

The consistency of this serum is really light. It feels very comfortable on the skin and is absorbed quickly into the skin. Even though it's light, it hydrates very well. It contains hyaluronic acid, which is a great ingredient for hydration that my skin responds very well to.

My skin type changes a lot, almost on day to day basis. It ranges from oily to normal to dry. I've also been breaking out due to dehydration. This serum is perfect because I can use it no matter what skin type I have that day and it really soothes the irritation caused by dehydration.

I think it's definitely worth the hype. It's such a versatile product in the sense that it can be used on many different skin types/conditions. For oily and normal skin types, I use one pump for the entire face, followed with a light moisturizer. When my face is feeling dry, I apply two layers of the serum, followed with a richer moisturizer. If my skin is very irritated, I use it in the morning as well before my normal moisturizer.

I love this serum! It's been  featured in September Most Loved 5 and has made into my Hall of Fame. I recommend a product to all skin types, and that's pretty rare!

Worth the Hype? REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask

$55     1.7 oz / 50 ml

Ingredients: Polysorbate 60, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Lactic Acid, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Passiflora Quadrangularis Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Alcohol Denat., Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Tocopherol

Availability: Sephora, Nordstrom, Dermstore.com

This mask received a lot of hype especially in the UK beauty community. With the rising popularity of glycolic acids and chemical exfoliants, I'd always wanted to try such kind of exfoliaters but was skeptical about the hype and it would be a quite expensive purchase. I finally gave in, bit the tongue and bought it.

Unique packaging. It looks like a plastics bag inside containing all the products.

Application

It's not a clay. It's more like a creamy gel consistency. It will not dry up or make your face stiff, which is nice. I do put it around the eyes because I want to exfoliate my milia. I don't recommend doing this at first because it is an acid and will burn/sting your eyes a little. Gradually putting it closer as your skin gets more comfortable with the product is the way to go. After putting it on, I let it sit for at least 20 minutes and then massage my skin a little before I rinse it off.

I need almost a full pump per application, which is a lot considering how big and how deep the pump is.

How my skin feels

I've heard that it stings on some people's skin. I've never experienced any stinging sensation on my face using this mask. Glycolic acid is supposed to loosen up the glue holding the dead skin on the face so the dead skin comes off. Here is a very good video on glycolic acid. My skin does feel very smooth afterwards, as most people experience. I'm not sure if it's the exfoliation or the hydrating ingredients in it that make my skin smooth afterwards. 

The impact

I was using it once a week, as suggested on the bottle. The description on the packaging and on official websites don't indicate how the glycolic acid concentration in the product, so I didn't want to use it more often than suggested just in case it's high. If I use it once a week, it only makes my face really soft and smooth afterwards. I would still have little blackheads and pimples as usual. I would say once a week application gives really temporary impact on the skin.

REN replied to a customer review on their official website that this particular product contains 6.5% glycolic acid, which isn't very high, so I started using it a few days in a row. At first it dried my skin out so I started using it every other day instead and my skin is pretty comfortable with it. Still, I didn't notice that it stopped my skin from getting black heads and pimples. But my skin was definitely soft and smooth.

Overall, I'm very unimpressed with this product. It doesn't harm the skin but it does very little. The only it really does is making the skin soft and smooth, which it does so fantastically that it made it in my July Most Loved 10. So if you want smooth skin, it does a great job at it. But it's also at a high price because it does run out very quickly if you use it every other day or so. If you already have blackheads and pimple before starting using it, it will not fix the existing ones, same as other exfoliaters. But if you want to prevent future blackheads and pimple, I would suggest look somewhere else. This mask won't do it, either. 6.5% is very mild.

Is it worth the hype? No, I don't think so.

Do I regret buying it? Just a little. It was my first chemical exfoliater and I'm glad that I tried it because I really like the idea and it is definitely more gentle then physical exfoliant. My only regret is that I paid so much for something does little and runs out fast.

Would I repurchase? Definitely not.

Recommendation

I would recommend it for people who haven't tried chemical exfoliant before and want a good taste of it. There are some products categorized on the mild side that only contain 2-5% glycolic acid and then the next level is 8-10%. Personally I think 5% would have been too mild for me to even notice any effects, so I think this REN mask with 6.5% concentration would be a good start, IF you're willing to spend the money...

I HIGHLY recommend pairing it up with VERY gentle physical exfoliant, such as REN Micro Polish Cleanser. This will help the dead skin come off when the "glue" isn't loosened up completely.

Worth the Hype? Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Tipsy

$26     0.20 oz/ 5.6 g

Ingredients: Talc, Zinc Stearate, Tricaprylin, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Alba, PEG-150 Distearate, Lanolin, Laureth-4, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Kaolin, Tin Oxide, Mica, Carmine (CI 75470). (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Red 6 And Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090)

Availability: Sephora, Beauty.com

Color

The pictures above aren't really good representation of the color. The product appears more pink in the pictures for some reason. Tipsy is described as coral, which it really is. Looking at the packaging and the pan in person it looks straight up orange. When swatched and applied it's much pinker than you think. I would say this coral is half pink and half orange. So depending on your skin tone (cool/pink or warm/yellow), it may look pinkish coral or orangish coral. It has some shimmer in it. There is no chunky glitters. The shimmer provides very subtle sheen on the cheese, almost unnoticeable.

heavy swatch | blended out

e.l.f. Candid Coral | NARS Deep Throat | tarte Tipsy | NARS Luster

Formula

It's a little dry and stiff. I can't pick up much product with just one swipe with the brush. However, it doesn't apply chalky. The formula is pretty easy to work with. It blends out smoothly on the skin.

Pigmentation

This color isn't as pigmented as the deeper shades like Exposed (reviewed in this POST). In the pictures I actually applied quite a lot of layers. I would say the pigmentation of this blush is below average. If you have medium skin, you really have to pack it on and layer it. But when applied not as heavily, it gives a natural sun-kissed flush on the cheeks.

Wear

This is definitely will not pass the 12-hour mark. I noticed that some color has faded away after 5 hours. If you have a long-wearing foundation underneath (like Estee Lauder Double Wear), it might stay on longer, but I doubt that it would last 12 hours.

How I Wear It

I like to wear it with some neutral eye looks or night-out looks. It looks very nice with a warm tone pink lip because they complement each other beautifully.

Overall, I'm not in love with this product, but I like it a lot, mainly because of the color. It's pretty and unique but at the same time very wearable. I find the pigmentation and the formula a little hard to work with. It just takes more effort to get some decent color payoff. I don't think this product is worth the hype. It doesn't completely suck; it just suits particular complexions. If your complexion is deeper than medium-tan, this won't do much good for you. If you have very fair skin, this will be your dream come true.

Worth the Hype? Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Exposed

$26     0.20 oz/ 5.6 g

Ingredients: Talc, Zinc Stearate, Tricaprylin, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Alba, PEG-150 Distearate, Lanolin, Laureth-4, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Kaolin, Tin Oxide, Mica, Carmine (CI 75470). (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Red 6 And Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090)

Availability: Sephora, Beauty.com

Color
Exposed is described as nude. To me it looks like a red tone mauve. It's a very pretty color. It has matte finish. I've seen some people using it as a contour and blush hybrid. I personally wouldn't because of the red tone in it doesn't really look natural as contour. But if you have very fair skin, it might work for you as a 2 in 1 product. This color will be visible on pale to medium complexions.

heavy swatch | blended

Formula
I find the powder a little stiffer than Illamasqua and NARS blush formulas. But it's not hard to work with at all. It goes on smoothly and evenly and it's easy to blend.

Pigmentation
I've heard a lot of people saying that these blushes are very pigmented. However, I don't really agree. To me, very pigmented means you have to be careful and you only dab the brush in the product, tap off the excess, and apply to your cheeks with a very light hand. I did exact that at first. But with this blush I find doing that doesn't give me much color pay-off. I would say you don't have to be that careful and just use it like how you would with other medium pigmented blushes.

I applied it heavily as contour and blended it upward to the apples of my cheeks.

Wear
I wore this blush for 10 hours and the color looked the same as I first applied it. This is no joke a long-wearing product. I don't typically wear my makeup for that long but I'm sure it will easily last 12 hours. After my mascara has smudged all over the place, my eyeshadows have creased, and my foundation has worn off, this blush is the only thing perfectly staying on my face. They ain't playing with the 12-HR claim!

How I Wear It
I really like packing on the color and blend it out and keep the rest of my face, eye, and lip makeup super clean and simple. If I don't use this to contour, I would contour the cheeks with neutral/ grey tone matte bronzer. This way the focus is on the cheek color.

Overall, it's a really nice blush. The color is beautiful and the formula and pigmentation make it very easy to work with. I'm super pleased with the staying power and I'm glad Tarte delivers on their claim, which is pretty rare in cosmetics industry. Tarte Exposed is definitely worth the hype and I highly recommend this product!

Worth the Hype? Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer (aka Apocalips)

 $4.99-$5.49     0.18 oz/ 5.5 ml

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Trisostearyl Citrate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Ozokerite, Kaolin, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Parfum/Fragrance, Ascorbyl Phosphate, Serica (Silk Powder), Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Propylparben, Tocopherol, Ethylparben, Retinyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, May Contain (+/-):, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), D&C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake (CI 15850), D&C Red No. 6 Barium Lake (CI 15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), FD&C Yellow No 5 Aluminum Lake (CI 19140), D&C Red 27 Aluminum Lake (CI 45410), D&C Red No. 33 Aluminum Lake (CI 17200), FD&C BLUE NO. 1 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 42090), FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake (CI 15985), Carmine (CI 75470)

Shades: Solstice, Out of this World, Light Year, Galaxy, Stargazer, Apocaliptic, Comet, Nude Eclipse, Nova, Stellar, Celestial, Luna, Aurora, Big Bang

Availability: Walgreens, Drugstore.com

These lip lacquers came out in the UK before they came here to the US and there was a huge hype around it in the UK beauty community. Most people seem to love it. Let's see if it's worth the hype!

There are 14 colors available. I only have Aurora and Stellar. A lot of the colors seem very similar to each other on the lips. I have to say that's sort of the case with Aurora and Stellar.

Aurora

Stellar

Aurora (normal/blotted) | Stellar (normal/blotted)

Color
Aurora and Stellar are both pinkish red with warm undertone. Stellar is more neon than Aurora. The colors are similar on the lips. Stellar is just a bit brighter and not as "natural" as Aurora since it has a neon tone.

Finish
They are semi-glossy when you first apply it. The glossiness goes away throughout the day. It's more glossy than NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, but it's less glossy than regular lipglosses in the sense that it doesn't provide you any 3D or plumped looks on the lips. You can also blot it to take off some of the glossiness, which is the way I prefer to wear it. Blotting will take off some color but it's still pretty opaque.

Pigmentation
They go on very opaque in one swipe. I never found the need to dip the wand back in the tube to get more product. Even the lighter shades are very opaque. I had Luna, which is a peachy nude shade. I returned it because it's not a color I would normally wear. But it was just as pigmented as the darker shades.

Formula
The formula goes on just like NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream. It's like a very thin cream. It's not sticky at all. Actually it's a little slippery. But not as slippery as MAC Kissable Lipcolour, making it easier to apply because it's less prone to getting streaky. However, compared to a lipgloss, it's more prone to making a mistake because the formula doesn't provide much resistance. You definitely need a mirror to apply it.

Wear
Because of its thin and slippery formula, it wears off pretty easily. It will definitely come off when you eat and drink. If you talk a lot, it will wear off gradually and leave a ring around the lips, which to me is not attractive at all. It doesn't leave much of a stain since the pigment doesn't really stick to the lips. It will stain just a tiny bit but if you're looking for staining lip products, this is not for you. It will last you a few hours (without talking or eating) but you would definitely need to touch up throughout the day.

Overall, I don't think it's worth the hype. I think it's a nice product but it's nothing glorious. There's a really good color range. But a lot of them are similar. The colors are beautiful but I don't find any of them different or hard to find from other brands. I like lips products that leave a tint so that I have some sort of a "safety net." Unfortunately it does not do that. The formula is a little too slippery for me to have good control. However, it's comfortable to wear and it has good color pay-off. If you're looking for a good lip product, this is a good one to get. If you're looking for an amazing lip product, I wouldn't recommend it.

Aurora

Aurora (blotted)

Aurora (wiped off)

Stellar

Stellar (blotted)

Stellar (wiped off)

Worth the Hype? Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

$14     0.50oz/ 15ml

Ingredient: argan oil

Availability: Sephora, Josie Maran website

Recently there has been hypes around oils, especially argan oils. Josie Maran's line consists of many products infused with argan oil. One of the most popular products is her 100% Pure Argan Oil.

I got the travel size for $14 at Sephora, thinking that I would only use it for under eye dryness. But I actually ended up using it all over my face.

I really like this oil. Argan oil is dry oil, which means it does not linger on the skin as much as other richer oils. Because of that it makes a great face oil. I like to put it on at night to give it some time to be absorbed. I don't use it in the morning because I can't put makeup on right away.

It's great as a night treatment when you have irritated skin. The anti-inflammatory property helps calm down any irritation, including acne. I also noticed that it helps balance the moisture and oil production/ distribution on my face. My face is really dry under my eyes and my forehead and can get oily around my nose and my mouth. This oil has really helped making my skin a little bit more normal. My skin is still combination but a little less extreme. And it's been easier to apply foundation.

Compared to other brands, Josie Maran's argan oil is much thicker and feels like it's absorbed better as other argan oils I've tried can sometimes just sit on top of the skin. Josie Maran's definitely feels a lot nicer and more luxurious on the skin.

I really like this oil. It's very gentle to the skin, but at the same time does many good things to improve the condition of the skin very effectively. It has not broken me out.

I'm running out of my bottle really quickly. A travel size bottle like this only last me about 1 month if I use it every night, 7-8 drops per use.

If you're on the fence on price, there's other argan oils that are basically the same thing with different consistency. As long as it's 100% pure, organic, and cold-pressed, the quality does not vary drastically.
I highly recommend Josie Maran's 100% Pure Argan Oil. This is something I've been repurchasing and something that will be in my stable skincare stash for at least until I stumble upon something better.

Worth the Hype? Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

$27   6 x 0.05oz/ 1.3g

Ingredients:

Venus/Foxy: Talc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PTFE, May Contain: CI 77019 (Mica), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491/77492/77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines).

Walk of Shame/Naked 2/Faint: Talc, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, PTFE, May Contain: CI 77019 (Mica), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491/77492/77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines).

Crave: Talc, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid, Boron Nitride, May Contain: CI 77019 (Mica), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491/77492/77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77007 (Ultramarines).

Availability: ULTA, Sephora, Beauty.com

This palette is another edition of Urban Decay's Naked series. I didn't think I needed it although almost all the reviews I read were raving about it. The swatches looked either too light or too dark for my everyday look. However, it seemed like a great size for travelling and I love the idea to have all the eyeshadows I need for a look in a compact palette. Ulta was having a sale so I decided to give it a go.

Venus is the only shimmery shade in this palette. Although it's the least pigmented shade among all, it still has okay pigmentation. It's not chalky at all. If you'd like it to be more opaque, just dab it on the lids with a dense eyeshadow brush.

Foxy and W.O.S (Walk Of Shame) can be used for blending or as a base to even out the complexion. On my NC 20 skin they don't show up much. Foxy is yellow tone and W.O.S is pink tone. They can be used for setting under-eye concealers for certain complexions.

Naked 2 is just a bit darker than my complexion. If I want to blend out my crease shadow I would use this. It could be a natural crease shade for very fair skin.

Faint is much darker than Naked 2. It's a neutral brown, which I find much more natural than those red-tone browns. It may have a hint of gray but it's by no means a taupe. I use it for my crease. It's very creamy and easy to blend out so I normally don't need a lighter shade to blend the edges.

Crave is a dark charcoal. Although it's the most chalky of all shades, it's still easy to apply. It can be sheered out to a dark gray for a smokey eye look or packed on as eyeliners.

Of all the shades I use Faint the most. It's perfect for a minimal makeup look on the crease with some mascara. I use Crave mainly as eyeliners. Sometimes I would use Venus on my lids to brighten the eyes. I don't really use Foxy and W.O.S as they don't really show up on my complexion. I only use Naked 2 occasionally for blending out eyeshadows.

Normally there's really not much to talk about the packaging, but I have to say that the mirror in this palette is the perfect size for applying eye makeup. Not too big and not overly magnified.

In terms of the lasting power, they perform pretty well. My mascara normally smudges or transfers before there's any creasing from the eyeshadows.

I've been using this palette 80% of the times for the past 2 months since I got it. Even though I only use 3 out of 6 shades consistently, I definitely still see this as a stable in my makeup stash because of how compact and convenient this is and how creamy the formula is, which makes it really easy to blend. It's also nice to have the other 3 shades in the palette just for those moments that you need something to fix your makeup. I would highly recommend this product if you're looking for a good quality, easy to use, and convenient eyeshadow palette.

Worth the Hype? Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl

$4.49   0.04oz/ 1.2g

Ingredients: Isododecane, Hydrogenated Polycyclopentadiene, Polyethylene, Cyclopentasiloxane, Paraffin, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Perfluorononyl Dimethicone, Polybutene, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Glycerides, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Talc, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Polyurethane-11, Propylene Carbonate, Tin Oxide, BHT, May Contain: Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Ultramarines (CI 77007), FD&C Yellow No. 5 Aluminum Lake (CI 19140), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Carmine (CI 75470)

Shades: Black, Sparking Black, Brown (slightly shimmery), Taupe, Nude, Deep Blue, Turquoise, Light Blue, Silver, Purple

Availability: drugstores, ULTA, DRUGSTORE.COM

The first one I got is in nude. I had never been a fan of putting white eyeliners in my bottom waterline to brighten the eyes. But I thought a nude color would look more natural. I fell in love with the nude one because it looks more natural and it stays on very well. So I thought if it could stay in the waterline fore this long, it must be very long lasting on the lash line as well. I got the black, brown, purple, and blue ones.

Brown | Purple | Black | Deep Blue | Nude

I have to say that they are really creamy and almost remind me of the consistency of Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliners. If you've read the REVIEW, you know that I really didn't like the Urban Decay liners because the staying power was awful on me. However, the staying power of Rimmel Scandaleye eyeliners are much better. The brown one stays one and doesn't smudge throughout the day. The other darker shades may smudge a little bit. But if you pad the lash line with cotton swaps after you apply the eyeliner to take off some excess, it will not smudge throughout the day.

These are definitely by far the best eyeliners I've ever used. I would even say they're better than Urban Decay and Make Up For Ever eyeliners. They are super creamy and super long-lasting. They are really high end quality. I would even be willing to pay $20 for them. At $4.49 apiece, I really can't think of any reason not to get them.

Pros:

• Wide range of colors
• Long lasting
• Creamy, easy to apply
• Good for waterline

Cons:

• No matte brown shade
• Some shades can transfer throughout the day. But this can be avoided if you pad the lash line to take off the excess right after you apply eyeliners.

Worth the hype? YES! I highly recommend them!
Great for: Everyone

Worth the Hype? MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

$18   0.30oz/ 9ml
Ingredients: cyclopentasiloxane, water, trimethylsiloxysilicate, butylene glycol, sorbitan sesquioleate, PEG/ PPG-18/ 18 dimethicone, tribehenin, magnesium sulfate, phenyl trimethicone, tocopheryl acetate, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, dimethicone, methicone, ethylhexylglycerin, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, laureth-7, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin, sorbic acid

Check out MAC WEBSITE for shade range

Availability: MAC website, MAC stores & counters

This concealer does what its name says. It's a liquid concealer that lasts for a really long time. It gives you some time to blend it out and once it sets it stays on all day. It dries to a pretty matte finish so if you want to use it to highlight your under eye area, you'll need a lighter shade than your complexion.

Although it doesn't dry instantly, I would only work on no more than 2 or 3 blemishes at once. So I would dot it on 2 or 3 blemishes and then blend the concealer into the skin. I do this because when it's more liquid, the coverage is medium blended and when it's a little more tacky, I can achieve a fuller coverage.
I know a lot of people use it as under eye concealers I actually won't recommend it to people with dry under eyes because it's not creamy once it dries so it does not provide any moisture and can sometimes make your under eye area looks even dryer and really cakey.

The packaging isn't the greatest, even though it has a pump. This concealer is very pigmented and you don't need much to cover up any imperfection. Most of the time it pumps out more than I need so I pump it into a small container. Since the air can get in when I leave the container open when I put makeup on, the concealer inside can dry out over time. If you choose to use a small container, I suggest you only put one pump in it so that you don't waste a lot of product.

Color matching can be a little tricky because it oxidizes. Not too much though. I was looking for the perfect match and it took me a long time. I finally settled with NC20, which is my foundation shade. It's pretty close to my complexion but just a tiny bit too dark when it sets. It can be easily be covered or blended in with my foundation though.

Overall, this concealer is well worth the hype. I like it as an under eye concealer sometimes, but I LOVE it as a face concealer. It's $18 for 0.30 oz/ 9ml. It's a really good value considering how concentrate it is.

Worth the Hype? L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara

I know this mascara is many people's holy grail and much hyped about. I bought it thinking that I would love it. However, it really disappointed me. It's just my thought on the product. Not trying to step on anyone's toes.

I actually really like the look it gives. It really volumizes the lashes without clumping. However, the staying power sucks. 2 hours after application it already smudged all over my under eye area. It also transfer onto the eyelids really easily. And this is a waterproof mascara?! I've heard some people say that you need to let it dry out a little bit. I took the mascara wound out and let it dry for 1 minute and it still transferred.

I don't know if it's just the waterproof version not working or the same applies to the original version. I really want to like this product because it does make my lashes look really pretty. If there's anything I should have done, please let me know! I'm hoarding it for now but if there's no other way to use this then I'll get rid of it.

Worth the Hype? Caudalie Beauty Elixir

I got my first bottle 2 years ago in the Sephora birthday present Caudalie kit. I don’t remember having any special opinion about it then. I bought the second bottle at the end of last year for travelling. The hype is that it’s a good toner and setting spray and also works great to refresh the makeup.

I’m not a herbal/ woody scent person so I really don’t find the scent appealing. At first I hated the scent. Hate is a strong word but I really did hate it. After a while I was sort of used to it. I still don’t like it, but it’s now more tolerable.

I really like the feeling of mint when I first spray it. But the alcohol (plant derived) makes it evaporate so fast and the mint sort of intensifies the feeling. Just after a few seconds the product is completely gone. I would say some is absorbed and most of it feels evaporated. My skin almost feels like nothing happened but the scent and feeling of the mint.

I don’t think it’s really moisturizing. If you have dry skin, you might want to stay away from it. The alcohol will just make your skin dryer and irritated.

I don’t find it a good setting spray, either. It’s the same problem of evaporation. It doesn’t really set the makeup because of lack of moisture. It doesn’t help the makeup stick to your face better and doesn’t take away the powderiness.

I can see why people like it to refresh the makeup. The mint makes the skin feelrefreshed but it doesn’t actually refresh the makeup.

It’s a good aromatic and sensational product because of the herbs and the mint oil. However, I don’t find it doing much to the skin. There are better toners and setting prays. I know a lot of people love it and there will probably be a lot of people who think I’m crazy, but I just don’t think it’s worth the hype.

Boscia Balancing Toner is really good for the skin. It’s very gentle and moisturizing. It doesn’t have any scent. I used to use it as both toner and setting spray.

Worth the Hype? EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

People were all over these funny little lip balms the past year or so. I also grabbed a couple.

I used to have the honeydew one but my dog ate it. I only have this summer fruit one and he’s been going after it as well!

I love the scent and how it taste really natural. Some flavors contain pretty natural ingredients according to EWG’s ratings.

My main complaint is that they are not moisturizing at all. I have to really rub it in my lips and go over so many times to make it feels at least a bit moisturizing. I have to reapply really frequently. If I put this on before bed, my lips will feel dry the next morning.

Also the moisture doesn’t stay in your lips. If you stop using it your lips will be just as dry as before you start using it. My point is if you have chapped lips or dry lips, it doesn’t repair them or replenish moisture to them.

Is is worth the hype? In my opinion, no. The product itself isn’t any extraordinary. To be honest, you might be better off using just normal chapsticks. Also the packaging, even though interesting and cute, takes up a lot of space in the makeup bag. I would not recommend it.

Worth the Hype? Maybelline Color Tattoo

Top left Bad to the Bronze. Bottom left Tough as Taupe. Right Fierce & Tangy.

Bad to the Bronze. Tough as Taupe. Fierce & Tangy.

These cream eyeshadows have been talked about a lot. People seem to love it’s longevity. So in this post I will talk mostly about the longevity and less about the color. Besides, the color is mostly personal preference.

I have hooded eyelids that can get oily. I have to say that the longevity depends on the finish, just like MAC paintpots. Bad to the Bronze is shimmery. Tough as Taupe is matte. Fierce & Tangy is mostly matte with very little shimmer, which is almost unnoticeable.

I haven’t put Fierce & Tangy on my eyelids so I can’t tell you if it lasts on the eyelids. I’ve put it under my eyes to counteract with the dark circles. It’s very pigmented so be careful if you’d like to do that. It stayed on very well under the eyes.

Tough as Taupe is matte. Many matte cream eyeshadows have creased on my lids. The same applies Tough as Taupe. It doesn’t crease right after application. But it does after a few hours.

Bad to the Bronze is shimmery and it doesn’t crease on me. Same with shimmery MAC paintpots. I’m not sure if it’s because the finish actually doesn’t crease or because the finish makes creasing less noticeable. Anyway, Bad to the Bronze does not crease on my lids. At least there is no noticeable creased lines.

I also find that Tough as Taupe is more difficult to blend out than Bad to the Bronze. It seems sticky, whereas Bad to the Bronze is more creamy and smoother.

So are they worth the hype? It depends on the finishes. The shimmery ones, yes. The matte one, no if you have hooded eyes and/ or oily lids.

Worth the Hype? Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

The shade I have is black. I got this sample size in one of the myglam bags last year.

It’s very creamy and easy to apply. It’s also very pigmented.

I’ve only used it 3 times in a year. Every time I’m very happy with this product until this happens…

Yes. Creasing. Every time. (picture taken 5 hours later) Even when I use my holy grail NARS Smudge Proof eyeshadow primer.

I don’t see the hype that it stays on all day. I guess it works for most eyes. But if you have hooded eyes that fold over, this is definitely NOT for you. I can see why people with certain eye shapes love it. Creasing is the only problem for me. If it didn’t crease, I would have LOVED it because I love how it applies and how pigmented it is.

The staying power is definitely not great. It stays on for many people because their eye shapes don’t allow it to transfer.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliners have very good staying power. They don’t crease on me. When you use a new one it is super creamy. But after a few uses it gets dry and harder to apply.