Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stains

 

Hello JFOG Readers! I have another review and lip swatch post. I hope that you are enjoying these and are finding them helpful. The Sephora Collection lip stains are matte liquid lip stains that come in 15 colors ranging from brights to nudes to darks and they retail for $13 each. I have swatched 7 of the colors from the 2015 collection and one of the lip colors is from the 2014 collection (discontinued), but I included it so that you can see how it compares to the new shades. I have also included my overall thoughts and favorites at the bottom of this post. 

 

Always Red 01

This was my very first sephora cream lip stain. A classic red that looks great on nearly everyone. (Paired with OCC NSFW liner)

Whipped Blush 08

Bright pink shade, similar to MAC Candy YumYum

(Paired with MAC Magenta)

Watermelon slice 09

Coral-pink tone, a unique shade

(Paired with MAC Magenta)

African Violet 12 

a lilac shade, similar to MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2 but it pulls more pink. 

(Paired with MAC CyberWorld liner)

Marvelous Mauve 12

This is a close dupe for Stila Patina. I usually don't like colors like this because they are brown based and I have brown skin so they tend to wash me out, especially if I pair it with a brown liner. A co-worker and fellow brown girl suggested that I pair it with MAC Currant and it totally works! 

(Paired with MAC Currant liner)

Endless Purple 04

one of the shades from the 2014 collection, a berry color

(Paired with MAC CyberWorld) 

Blackberry Sorbet 14

Similar to MAC Sin. It is a deep wine shade 

(Paired with MAC CyberWorld liner)

 

Polished Purple 15

True purple, more metallic than MAC Smoked Purple and deeper than Makeup Forever no. 15

(Paired with MAC Cyber world liner) 

 

Overall Thoughts/Favorites:

These are long wearing and very pigmented. They dry quickly and are completely matte. A little product goes a long way, thus I expect that the product will last for a while. I am able to layer these colors to make them even brighter and you can also layer the stains on top of each other to create ombre effects. I love these lip stains, as the range is diverse, thus there is something suitable for all skin tones and the price is right, particularly in comparison to high end lip stains of similar quality (Kat Von D and Stila). I would definitely recommend these to everyone!

 

My favorites are Always Red, Watermelon Slice, and Marvelous Mauve. Which are your favorites? Do you own any of these or are they on your makeup wish list? Please let me know in the comments section below. I love hearing from you all. Please stay tuned for additional reviews from the lipstick chronicles as I have been stocking up on lip colors!

Lipstick Chronicles - NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

As I continue to review liquid lipsticks, I have to mention the NYX soft matte lip creams. NYX is available at Ulta, select drug stores, grocery stores, and beauty supply stores, as well as online. Despite its vast availability, most of the popular shades are very hard to find. Hence the reason that I only own 4 but there a few more that I would love to have. Swatches are below followed by overall thoughts. I purchased these products at Ulta during the recent buy one get one 50% off event.

 

Prague

A warm toned pink. Paired with MAC Currant liner

Milan 

A blue hued soft pink, paired with MAC Magenta liner

Morocco 

A bright orange, paired with MAC Magenta liner

Transylvania 

A deep plum color, paired with MAC Currant liner

I am so in love with these. They are super affordable, comfortable, long wearing, and it is okay to apply multiple coats. I love the way that they are super opaque as well as matte. The quality is amazing and I plan to buy duplicates for my freelance kit. My absolute favorite is Transylvania and Milan is a close second! I would recommend these to everyone looking to try matte lipsticks for less as these are only $6 each. I hope that you enjoyed this post and thank you for continuing to check out my blog!



Lipstick Chronicles- Liquid Lipstick Review - Ulta Matte Lip Cream

Liquid Lipsticks are all the rave right now! It's the second hottest topic after contouring. Women are looking for lipsticks that will last all day and night without touch up, and most liquid lipsticks are designed to do just that. I will be reviewing quite a few liquid lipstick lines this spring so be sure to check back regularly. Below is a review of the Ulta matte lip creams that I recently purchased at Ulta during the buy 2 get 2 event. The first 4 that I purchased totaled to about $15 (they are $9 each and I had a $3.50 off coupon, thus I paid less than $4 for each lippie. The second set of 4 totaled to $12 since I had another coupon and I had $3 in rewards, so I paid less than $3 for each lipstick. There are 10 colors available at Ulta and I own 8 of them. I will show the swatches first (they are listed in the order as pictured above with Tender being first and Allusive last) and my overall review will be at the bottom.

Tender

A nude color (Paired with MAC Hodgepodge liner)

 

Vivid

A bright blue hued pink (paired with MAC Magenta liner)

 

Lively 

A neon pink. Paired with MAC Magenta liner

Passionate 

A classic red. Paired with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics liner in NSFW

Brilliant 

A bright orange. Paired with MAC Magenta liner

Striking 

A warm hued pink. Paired with MAC Magenta liner

Stirring 

A dark wine color

Top row is paired with MAC Burgundy liner

Bottom row is paired with MAC Currant liner

Allusive 

A deep plum color. Paired with MAC Currant liner

 

Overall Thoughts:

These lip creams dry to a matte finish and are fairly long wearing. I've worn them for work and by the end of my shift my lipstick was not as vibrant but it was still there. It did not break up as is characteristic of most liquid lipsticks. It is not transfer proof, so when I was eating it did get on my fingers if my fingers brushed against my lips. It takes a while to dry to a matte finish (10 minutes or more) so it is advisable to wait a few minutes between coats. If you are in a hurry, choose another lipstick for the day because I did find that I had to go in and perfect my liner after drying, plus I like to apply two coats for a vibrant look. You can safely apply more than one coat of this lipstick without negative side effects (extra coats do not adversely affect the wear of the lip stain). Overall, I like the range of colors, the formula, and the price, and I would definitely recommend to others. My favorite color is Stirring but I love them all!

January/February 2015 Product Favorites

I spent January and February barely using things so my favorites list isn't as long as usual, and I have decided to combine the two months. Here is what made my heart go pitter patter during the past two months:

Tatcha one-step camellia cleansing oil - I love this oil for removing my makeup. It does not dry out my skin and it does a great job of preparing my face for my cleanser. It is very light so it does not leave a sticky residue behind, though it is not intended to be used alone or as a one-step cleanser. This product is available at Sephora

Tatcha rice enzyme powder - I love this gentle exfoliating powder. I have very sensitive skin and this powder is gentle enough for everyday use and it leaves the skin feeling soft and texture-free. I prefer to use it a few times per week to prevent over-exfoliating. This product is also available at Sephora.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fluid foundation - all of my sephora girls raved about this foundation since its release but I was a little late trying it. I absolutely love it. I set it with a mineral powder for a matte finish but it is a full coverage foundation with a natural finish. I wear the shade Pecan. Flawless Fluid melts right into the skin and it is not heavy and it is very easy to blend. It is long wearing and it does not separate or break up during the day. I tell my clients all the time that if you have to reapply your makeup throughout the day you should consider different products (from skincare to foundation). This foundation is available at Sephora. I am wearing it below. 

Bite Beauty Maraschino lipstick - I purchased this lipstick around the holidays at Sephora. It was in limited edition packaging and it is still available at a lot of Sephora locations, though you may have to ask an artist to get it for you. It is a matte luster finish. It lasts all day and is a unique shade of red. I am wearing it below.

Givenchy Mister Mat Primer - I love this primer! It helps my skin remain matte all day and keeps my makeup in place without drying out or irritating my sensitive skin. For super oily girls this primer can even be applied on top of makeup by tapping it lightly into the skin's oily areas to reduce shine. I have never needed to do that but I have demonstrated the technique on clients and they are always impressed with a primer that is able to do this. This primer is available at Sephora. 

Sephora Pro full coverage airbrush #53 - this brush is everything! Not only does it help to apply your foundation flawlessly and assists in providing a full coverage application, but this brush can be used to do your entire face. I've used it for foundation, highlight, contour, and for setting with powder one day when in a pinch. I recommend it to tons of clients and all of the sephora girls love using it on clients at our beauty studio!

GlamGlow ThirstyCleanse Hydrating Cleanser - I love this cleanser, especially for winter. It is everything that we love about the ThirstyMud Mask in a cleanser! It is very gentle, sulfate-free, so it does not dry out the skin, and it also safe to use with cleansing tools as it is not a physical cleanser (non-abrasive). This cleanser is great for all skin types, including oily and sensitive skin. It is available at Sephora.

Eco-Styler Argan Gel - This gel holds my edges so well. I have lived in buns and ponytails over the past couple of months (let us not discuss hair care right now) and this product has really come through for me. I can pile it on for about a week at a time before I over-do it and start to see flakes. That is awesome because gel is not intended to be layered in the hair for days at a time. When used correctly this gel is non-flaky, non-drying, alcohol and silicone-free so it does not pull moisture from the hair, and the hold is excellent. It does not build up in the hair and it washes out very easily with a conditioner cleanser. I purchased this product at a local beauty supply.

That is all for this month. Please stay tuned for more exciting posts and reviews! Please leave comments below or email me at jarfullofglam@yahoo.com. 

Best of 2014 Beauty Products

Happy New Year JFOG readers! 2014 is behind us and 2015 is here! I have finally completed my list of beauty favorites for 2014 and I sorted the products by categories. Here is what I absolutely loved in 2014:

Eyes

Lorac Pro Palette - I love this palette for my kit and for my personal use. If I could only own one palette this would probably be the one, which speaks volumes, as I am a major palette junkie! This palette has everything that is needed to create a full eye look for people of all complexions. I purchased this palette at Ulta. It is the only Lorac palette that I currently own.

Mac Rule eyeshadow - I also love this shadow for my kit and for my personal use. It looks amazing on everyone. It shows up as sort of a burnt orange color. Back in the day I used it as a blush as well! It is definitely a multi-use product!

Mac Orange eyeshadow - this shadow is beautiful on deeper complexions. I love it as a crease color for a bold eye. It is truly an orange eyeshadow. It is super pigmented and a little goes a long way!

MAC Goldenrod Eyeshadow - This color is very unique. I have never found a similar color in a different brand. Goldenrod could best be described as marigold or mustard. It is beautiful on most skin tones and especially gorgeous on deeper complexions. I didn't use it as much as I would have liked to in 2014 but I love it!

NYX white eyeshadow base - this base made all of my eyeshadows pop! A little goes a long way and you get tons of product in one container. The product is more likely to dry out before you can ever use it up. I purchased it at Ulta. 

NYX Jumbo pencil in vanilla ice - this pencil made for the perfect inner corner shadow for most of my looks for 2014. I bought it a while ago but I could not stop reaching for it in 2014. 

LA Colors Dramatilash kit - I purchased two variety packs of these lashes from Ross for about $5 each. They were amongst the most beautiful lashes that I owned in 2014. I am not so great at saving lashes so I went through these packs much quicker than I probably should have. I have to do better with preserving my lashes in 2015. 

 

Urban Decay Deep End liner - I threw on this turquoise liner with nearly everything in 2014! I always get so many compliments each time that I wear it and it makes my brown eyes pop. It enhances the most simple makeup looks and it is an effortless way to give the appearance that you put thought into your makeup look. I purchased this pencil in the 2013 Ocho loco set but it is sold individually at Sephora. 

Lorac Front of the Line liquid liner - this liner lasted forever and it made liquid liner extra easy to master! I love this liner! I purchased it with my Lorac pro palette set but it is available for individual purchase at Ulta. 

Complexion 

Kat von d lock-it tattoo foundation - I love this full coverage foundation. It lasts all day and stays matte without transfer or separation. I featured a full review in a past monthly favorites post. I wear the shade Deep 71. This foundation is exclusive to Sephora. 

Mac Pro longwear concealer - this is my holy grail concealer. I love the full coverage and anti-crease technology. I wear the shade NW40. (In MAC foundations, I typically wear the shade NW43) I repurchase this concealer each time that it runs out. 

Mac mineralize skinfinish  - I love to set my makeup with this sheer powder. I also repurchase this powder each time that it runs out and I use it in my freelance kit as well. It is light enough to set makeup without changing the color of the complexion, and it is buildable to use on its own as a sheer coverage foundation powder.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz - this is the best highlighter that I have ever purchased. It is so finely milled that it melts right into the skin very seamlessly without creating texture on the skin, resulting in a natural sun-kissed glow. I purchased this highlighter at Sephora. 

 

Lips

Mac Nightmoth lip pencil - this lip pencil goes with nearly everything! I especially love it in fall and winter when I wear darker lips. I can pair it with nearly any color from red to purple!

Mac Magenta Liner - I wore this liner to death during the summer. It seemed to go with nearly every lipstick that I used. 

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment - I love using this lip moisturizer at night before bed, as it truly hydrates and softens my lips. It is pricey but it lasts a long time and it truly works. 

Tools

Sephora #74 contour brush - I love using this as a blush brush, though it is amazing for blush, highlighting, and contouring. I love multi-use tools!

Mac 224 blending brush - I love using this brush to blend my eye looks together. It makes blending super easy. 

Mac 217 crease brush - I can not function without this brush! It is amazing for applying shadow in the crease. It is useful in assisting to blend out shadow as it is applied (the brush practically does the blending for you).

Mac 239 lid brush - I love to use this brush on my lid, as well as to contour my eye with a darker eyeshadow. It works really well. It is dense so it is great for packing on color. 

Real Techniques Sponge - this was a holy grail in my kit and for my personal use in 2014. I own about 10 of them and I love them for blending out foundation and concealers, and creating a flawless complexion. This sponge works well both wet and dry and it is easy to clean.
 

Skincare 

Fresh soy cleanser - I have blogged about this cleanser multiple times! It is amazing for my sensitive skin. I purchased it at Sephora.
 

Bliss Lid & Lash Wash - this was one of the best things that I have ever purchased at Marshall's. I keep hoping that I will run across it again, but wishful thinking! When I am done with all of my eye makeup removers, I will definitely repurchase the Bliss eye makeup remover, as it is very gentle, yet effective. 

Vaseline Spray n Go - I love the convenience of this product. There is no excuse to skip lotion with this product, even when in a hurry!
 

Hair

Darcys Watermelon seed oil - I love this oil! It smells yummy and it is light, yet moisturizing. One bottle seemed to last forever and it was my absolute favorite hair product during 2014.
 

Fragrance 

Atelier Cologne Vanilla - I have never mentioned this fragrance on my blog because I don't even actually own it! I spray it at Sephora nearly every single day. Since working at sephora, my fragrance collection has started collecting dust, as most of the fragrances that I love are at sephora, and I see no point in depleting my supply each day when I have the privilege of trying different fragrances at work. I only fall in love with about one to two fragrances per year and I usually purchase those, as it is difficult for me to regularly find one that I love, so this is on my to-buy list! This fragrance is very unique and warm, as it smells like pure vanilla with notes of amber! I absolutely love it!

 

Thank you for continuing to read my blog. I look forward to a great year of lipstick and love in 2015! I would love to know what items made your 2014 favorites! Please leave feedback below. I love reading your comments!