Makeup Fails! Products I Regret Buying

Every now and then we buy makeup with high hopes of it being awesome and it just doesn't live up to expectations. It happens to me all the time whether a color just doesn't suit me like I had hoped or the product itself just doesn't perform like expected. I've put together a little list of products that were total fails for me. Now this doesn't mean that they are totally bad for everyone, they just didn't work out for me personally. 

First up is this Covergirl blush. I can't even tell you the name since the sticker fell off but I fell in love looking at it in CVS. It looked like such a pretty peachy color with a hint of shimmer but unfortunately since we can't test drugstore makeup in the U.S. I had no idea that in reality it looks terrible on my skin. It is good for a light hint of color but once you build it up it almost has a blue metallic sheen. It gives a totally '80's vibe and I just don't dig it.

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Next up is a high end product and it's the Urban Decay original Naked Flushed palette. I really liked this when I first got it but I never find myself reaching for it. Ever. The colors are ok, but I've just found better bronzers, better blushes and WAY better highlighters so this just sits in my drawer totally neglected. 

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These break my heart but I have to add my Melt Cosmetics Shady Lady and Belladonna 2 lipsticks to the list. I really like the colors and I even found a way to work with the super dry formula, but after having these less than 6 months, they now have this weird iridescent green film on them, almost like mold. I contacted the company and showed them pics and all they did was give me a code for free shipping on my next order. It's a total bummer since for $19 a lipstick you expect a higher quality than this. I'm almost afraid to order replacements in case this happens again. I have had some MAC lipsticks for literally years and have never had this problem, so these are definitely a fail. 

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When Maybelline announced the launch of The Nudes palette, everyone was so excited. I was too until I actually got the palette. It just sucks! There's no pigmentation at all and you really have to dig your brush in the pans for any kind of payoff. Plus the shadows are so patchy once you actually get them on your lid that this whole palette is just a disaster for me. 

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I really used to love this Moisture Renew lipstick from Rimmel in the shade Lets Get Naked, but now I just can't handle it. It has such a strong perfume-y floral scent, that I get a headache within minutes of application. And the scent doesn't fade away like most lipsticks. It's such a pretty peachy nude shade and it's a shame that it smells so strong of someone's grandma.

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This next item is pretty new and I was so excited to try it. The Covergirl Stay Luminous Natural Glow Foundation was boasted as a drugstore alternative to the NARS Luminous Weightless foundation but it just doesn't live up. It's a very dewy finish and even with powder doesn't feel like it sets at all. It just feels wet all day.  Throughout the day it just melted off of my face and I'm not even oily. Plus the color is almost ashy. I tried two different shades and it just left my face looking a little weird with a cast. 

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Next is a mascara. I tend to stick to my tried and true formulas for mascara but I decided to give this L'oreal Voluminous Miss Manga mascara a try. It's a nice formula but I abhor the brush. It's supposed to flexible, but it's so flexible that I don't feel like it grabs on to my lashes at all. It just kind of bounces around hitting just the roots or just the ends of my lashes and I'm left with a clumpy mess. 

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I knew the Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer was heavy duty, so I knew kind of what to expect. At first I liked it for covering acne spots or redness around my nose, but it's just too greasy feeling for under the eyes. Once it's set it easily gets cakey and it's just too hard for me to make it work and still have it look nice. It creases like no other and after a bit of sitting in my drawers, the formula separated into an oily mess.

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Last up is an eyeshadow palette from Coastal Scents. I ordered the 28 Neutral palette on a whim for like $10 so I wasn't expecting much. The shadows themselves are okay, but I just never find myself using it. When I remind myself to use it, I'm just never that impressed with the quality of the shadows. They're a little powdery, some shades blend away to nothing and I find them to all be a little patchy when applied. I still try to use it from time to time, but I just find myself disappointed again and again. 

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So like I said, maybe these products didn't work for me, but maybe they are your holy grail products. It's all opinion, but I know I won't be wasting any more of my hard earned cash on these again. What about you? What are some products that were total fails for you? Let me know in the comments and have a fabulous day!

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Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

#MOTD Orange Lips and Doll Lashes

Hey everyone! I'm back with another #MOTD post. I didn't have anywhere special to go, but I just wanted to play some more with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture palette and I really wanted to wear MAC Tropic Tonic for my lipstick today and this is what I came up with. 

I threw on some playful doll-eye lashes and kept it pretty simple. 

Products used:

-Benefit Porefessional primer 

-Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage foundation 

-Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer

-ABH Contour kit to set and contour

-ModelCo blush

-BECCA Moonstone Shimmering Skin Perfector

-NYX Eyebrow Gel in Blonde

-Smashbox Lid Primer

-ABH Shadow Couture palette 

-Nubounsom Bengal Faux Mink Lashes

-MAC Tropic Tonic matte lipstick

I really like how it turned out. The lipstick is so comfortable for a matte and I love how it contrasted well with Intense Glaze from the ABH palette. 

What was your #MOTD today?

xoxo

LivforLashes

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Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

August Ipsy Glam Bag Review

Here it is not yet the end of August and I'm pleasantly surprised that I received my August Ipsy Glam bag two days ago. I just barely got the July bag a few weeks ago, so I definitely wasn't expecting The August bag to come in the mail until the very end of the month, but again, a pleasant surprise so I figured I would review it now!

The theme for this month is #PrepSchool and the bag itself fits right in. It's a really cute black and white houndstooth print with a pop of color with a cool toned pink zipper. The bag is made of a patent leather-like material, with cloth lining. It feels really durable and it's the perfect size to hold some everyday essentials in your school bag (if you go to school) or in your purse. 

The first product is this Leave In Conditioner from the brand Beauty Without Cruelty. It's certified vegan and they don't test on animals which is really cool and the product itself is amazing. I tried it out already and left it in overnight and after rinsing it out my hair felt super soft and so easy to comb through. I have naturally thick wavy hair, so this is definitely a good product for me. 

Next is a lip liner from the brand Ofra. It is in the shade Wine so I was expecting maybe a deep burgundy or a berry toned, but it comes off a little more rust colored, almost like MAC Velvet Teddy with a touch more pink. It nice and soft and pretty long wearing so I am pleased with it so far. I have a few things from Ofra and I really like them. The products are priced high-end but they don't seem to well-known yet.

Next is an eyeliner from a brand called Doucca. I've never heard of this brand, but this eyeliner is great! It's a basic black liner, but it's super creamy and the best part is its waterproof so it didn't smudge after I used it in my waterline. The formula reminds me of the Urban Decay liners. This pencil alone runs $22 so to get it in the glam bag which is only $10 is a good deal. 

The next product is this Amino Herbal Hydration Mask by the brand Oz Naturals. This is another vegan and cruelty free brand and it contains hyaluronic acids, vitamin B5 and vitamin E and after trying this out for about 20 minutes, my skin  felt so soft and hydrated after washing it off. It wasn't at all dry or tight and the mask has a nice clean scent hat didn't irritate my skin.

Last up is a lip gloss from the brand Hikari. This brand is featured pretty regularly in Ipsy glam bags, so I've tried a few things. This gloss is in the shade Salsa and it's a bright orange red. It's super opaque and not sticky so it's very comfortable to wear. Once it faded off it left a really nice "Popsicle lips stain" so I'm really liking it so far. My only complaint is the smell. It smells a little like chemicals and Clay, with no fragrance so it is a little unpleasant during application, however the smell fades rather quickly. 

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with this month's bag. I will get use out of most if not all of the products, so it's definitely worth the $10 subscription price. Are any of you Ipsy subscribers? What samples did you get in your August glam bag?

Thanks for reading and have an awesome Sunday everyone!

xoxo

LivforLashes

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

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Email: liv_2008@icloud.com

Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler Palette |Review &Swatch

It happens to me all the time. I go in to Sephora or Ulta (Target too!) to get one thing and I somehow walk away with something unexpected. That's exactly what happened when I bought the Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture World Traveler palette. I had swatched it multiple times in store and added it to my online cart numerous times but never ended up buying it. I thought it was nice but it just didn't appeal to me at first. Well after swatching it for the thousandth time in Ulta, I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy it.

The packaging is the standard cardboard palette similar to all other ABH palettes, but this one has a faux leather feel to it, almost like an old bound book, making it feel quite luxurious. The color scheme is a simple black and varnished gold angular design, with the logo imprinted in gold on the front. It has a magnetic closure, the same as other ABH palettes. 

Inside the palette is a decent sized mirror but what makes me happy is that it's actually a usable mirror. Other Anastasia palettes have plastic mirrors that sort of bend a little and distort the mirror image, but this one is very clear and gives a crisp image. The brush included in this palette is actually quite nice too. It's fluffy and soft and more usable than other brushes included in previous palettes. 

The shadow pans are again, same size as other ABH palettes, with 12 shades included. There is a mix of mostly shimmers, metallics, and a few mattes. It has a nice blend of matte neutrals, shimmers for the lids and a few pops of vibrant colors. Included are Soft Peach (matte light peach), Morocco (matte burnt orange), Heirloom (deep violet with gold shimmer), Bellini (soft champagne peach shimmer), Pink Champagne (ultra shimmer pink, almost foiled), Chic (metallic light gold), Spoiled (peach with gold shimmers), Fudge (matte chocolate brown) Azure (deep shimmery blue), Intense Glaze (metallic/frosty red-orange), Metallic (metallic yellow gold), and Noir (matte black). I really like that there's a nice transition shade with Morocco, a common shade in Anastasia palettes, and a good blending shade with Soft Peach. Pink Champagne is so gorgeous, it's the first shade that caught my eye.

(natural daylight)

(with flash)

The shadows are nice and buttery with very minimal fallout, surprising with shimmery eye shadows. They blend out seamlessly and don't lose pigmentation when you blend them. And the mattes are nice and creamy and not the least bit chalky or powdery. The shadows in this palette actually seem a little higher quality than other ABH palettes, like the Maya Mia palette for comparison. 

Final thoughts? I am going to love this palette! I say that about a lot of palettes, but this one is honestly one of the best ones that Anstasia Beverly Hills has released in my opinion. It's a decent price for the quality and variety of eye shadows you get and its so versatile. I think this will definitely be one of my go-to palettes for fall.

Did any of you guys pick up the Shadow Couture palette? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments and be sure to check out my Insagram and Twitter for more updates and pictures! 

xoxo,

LivforLashes

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Email: liv_2098@icloud.com

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette | Review + Swatch

I'm sure I wasn't the only makeup lover who had a total fan girl moment weeks ago when Urban Decay announced the release of the Naked Smoky palette. Even though I rarely use my other naked palettes, I knew I wanted this one if only to compete my collection. So as soon as I saw that it was in stock at Sephora last week, I quickly snatched it up. 

First impression of the packaging was O.M.G. It's beautiful! UD always has awesome packaging, but I really didn't like the velvet cover of the first Naked palette or the tin cases of the other two. This one is plastic, but it doesn't feel cheap and it has a secure magnetic closure. The plastic is kind of see-threw with a smoke swirl all over it and the logo printed in gunmetal across the top. Like the other palettes, it has a nice full-sized mirror inside. It also comes with a little guide with how-to instructions on four different smoky eye looks as well has some helpful tips and tricks for beginners. It's a little thicker than the other palettes, but it isn't too bulky.

 The brush that comes with it is pretty nice too. Instead of the double ended flat brush/blending brush, it has a pencil brush on one end and the blending brush in the other. The pencil brush is perfect for smoking out and diffusing eye shadows, especially since this palette is targeted for smoky eyes. The flat brush in the other palettes never got much use from me anyway, so this is a nice addition. 

The eye shadows are a nice mix of mattes, metallic shimmers (I'm dying over the shade High) and velvets. Most of the shades are quite deep in color, going with the smoky theme, but there are a few lighter shades for transition shades, such as Whiskey and Combust. There's also a beautiful pop of color with Smolder, a deep purple, thrown in the middle of the palette. 

The eye shadows are quite pigmented and blend really easily. In fact, they are more pigmented and easier the blend than the other Naked palettes in my opinion. A few shades like High and Armor have quite a bit of fallout, but with a shimmery eyeshadow with glitter, it's expected. I did find a couple of the darker shades like Dagger and Black Market to apply a little patchy, so I'd definitely recommend applying a tiny bit a little at a time with your brush and blending it completely between layers, and definitely a primer underneath. 

Final thoughts? I love this palette. If you were to purchase only one of the Naked palettes, I would recommend this one. It's versatile for both day and night time looks and the eye shadows are just amazing. It is a little pricey at $54, but I definitely think it is worth it. It's a nice addition to any collection, big or small, and I actually see myself using this palette on a regular basis, as opposed to just thrown in my drawer of eye shadow palettes like my other naked palettes. 

What are your thoughts on the Urban Decay Smoky palette? Love it or hate it?

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Play! by Sephora

Attention Sephora Lovers!! Sephora announced that it will soon be going into the subscription box service! Yep that's right! Senhora will soon be offering a sample service, much like Ipsy or BirchBox. 

Each month will have a theme and the box will contain five deluxe samples of products that coincide with the theme. Samples are said to be a mix of makeup, skin care and fragrances that will be "high-end, Sephora brand signature items and cult favorites." And the best part is it will only be $10 a month! 

I'm super excited for this. While I really enjoy Ipsy, you often times get unheard of brands with cheap quality products, so a sample service with brands that I know and love is definitely appetizing. 

The service will only be available in select locations before rolling out nationwide in 2016.  

June + July Favorites | L'oreal, Bobbi Brown, Tarte and More!

Hey everyone! I haven't done a favorites post in the last month or so since I wasn't really using anything different from my last post, but I've rounded up some things to show you guys, so keep reading to see which products made the cut. The last two months were all about glowing skin, neutral eyes and lips for me, perfect for summer!

First I want to talk about the L'oreal Infallible Pro Matte foundation. Generally my skin is pretty dry so I steer clear of matte foundations, but with the hot humid weather lately my skin has been a bit more oily and this has been a god send. It literally stays matte for hours and it doesn't break up or oxidize which is amazing. I mix the shades Natural Buff and Porcelain for my perfect match. 

Next up are some liquid lipsticks from the Stila Summer collection. I've been really loving liquid lipsticks lately and Stila makes some of the best in my opinion. They last forever and don't flake or clump up like some brands. They are a tad drying but nothing a little lip balm can't help. I've been loving Como, this bright purple and Amalfi, a fun fuchsia pink. 

Highlighters are huge, especially this time of year, and all of June and July I've been in love with the Laura Gellar Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminators in Ballerina and Gilded Honey. I originally didn't want GH, but received it as a gift and these two mixed together create the perfect golden bronze glow. Ballerina is perfect for darker skin and with my skin being a bit more tanned, it gives a gorgeous bronze goddess glow. 

Recently I made a trip to my local Cosmetics Company Outlet and found this Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude palette and I've been using it practically every day. It's a nice mix of mattes, satins  and shimmers for neutral eye looks. The shadows are smooth and blend really well and the sparkle shades are just beautiful, if a little chunky. This is a good neutral palette for both day and night looks so it's been in constant use lately. 

I did some traveling last month and a staple in my makeup bag was the new Tarte Showstopper palette. It's so convenient since it has shadows, a bronzer, a blush and a highlighter all in one palette. Plus I really like the cooler toned eyeshadows and how versatile they are for different eye looks. And can we talk about the cute packaging?! I posted a sneak peak of this month's ago and I'm so glad I bought it. (Want a review? Let me know!)

Another highlighting/bronzing powder I've been dying over is this Este Lauder 5-Tone Shimmer Powder in Bronze Shimmer. This was another CCO find and I'm so glad I found it. It was released a few years ago and I missed out on it then, but this baby is gorgeous. I like how I can concentrate my brush more on the bronze shades for a warm glow, or on the golden champagne shades for more of a highlight. It can also be used for eyeshadows which makes for a nice bronze eye look.

On days when my skin felt a little dry, I was reaching for my travel sized MAC Strobe Cream. It's super hydrating and gives a luminous glow under foundation and the little bottle has been perfect for tossing in my makeup bag during my travels the last two months.

  

Last but not least are the Urban Decay Revolution Lip Glosses. These are super pigmented and not at all sticky and they last for hours before fading from my lips. They feel more like a cream lipstick so they're super comfortable to wear. I've really been loving Failbait, a soft pink, and Liar, a warm neutral. Let me know if you want a full review on these. 

And that does it for my favorite products from June and July! What made the cut for your favorites this summer? Let me know in the comment and be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter for me updates and pics. Have an amazing day everyone!

Follow me on Twitter! @LivforLashes

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Email: liv_2008@icloud.com