MAC Party Parrot- and it's accidental DUPE!!!

Let me start this off by saying... I FINALLY GOT MY PAWS ON PARTY PARROT!!!! (ya'll should see me doing my happy dance lol) I've been wanting this lipstick since it came out with the Iris Apfel collection early last year, so when it came out again with the Strength collection I was all set and ready to get my hands on it... but NO... a bunch of greedy heffas beat me to it LOL I almost cried when  it was sold out AGAIN before I could grab one, so after calling several stores and coming up short, I went the ebay route. And to be honest, I actually lucked up and got mine for just a few dollars more than I would have paid in the store (yay eBAY).

MAC Party Parrot

With Flash

 Without Flash

Anyways, upon opening it, my heart kind of dropped a little. I didn't really have anything similar to Party Parrot in my collection, so when it sold out again I happened to stumble upon Rimmel's KATE lippies in shade 06. I thought it looked kind of simliar to Party Parrot, but that "what if" was still in the back of my mind, which is why I tracked that bad boy down and paid above retail for it. But enough of my rambling. While not spot on, the Rimmel lipstick is pretty darn close to Party Parrot, just slightly deeper with a satin-ish finish. So in actuality, if you own shade 06, you can blot the shine away with a kleenex and pretty much pass on Party Parrot and save some $$$$.

Check out the pictures and let me know what you think.

 Comparison Swatches

L-R: Covergirl Fiarytale, MAC Party Parrot, Rimmel Kate 06

Covergirl Fiarytale, MAC Party Parrot, Rimmel Kate 06 (natural light-overcast)

Covergirl Fiarytale, MAC Party Parrot, Rimmel Kate 06 (inside with flash)

After seeing the swatches, what do you all think? Is the Rimmel lipstick a pretty decent dupe for Party Parrot?

Anyone else grab something from the Strength collection?

-Miss Brina

CVS Haul: Wet N Wild

 Stoplight Red and Sugar Plum Fairy

 I went into CVS today trying to pick up a WetNWild lipstick in 24K, but they didn't carry it. I swear I've been trying to get my hands on this shade for over a year, and NONE of the stores I go into it carry it (and I REFUSE to pay those outrageous ebay prices for something I can get in the store much cheaper). But I decided to make the trip worth it and picked up STOPLIGHT RED and SUGAR PLUM FAIRY after seeing a few swatches of them online. I have to say that I like SUGAR PLUM FAIRY so much more in person. I almost didn't buy it, but pictures don't do it justice, it's pretty hard to get it's true color to translate. It's so much deeper than it photographs, just a really beautiful plum shade, great for fall. And STOPLIGHT RED is just your everyday beautiful red. They go on with a bit of a sheen but after a few minutes they set to a nice satin/matte finish.... and last ALL DAY! I only retouch my lipstick once at the end of my day, and that is simply out of habit. I hear people complain about these lipsticks being cheap, and drying and how they pull when you apply them... but I mean for $1.99 I think they out preform themselves. As long as WetNWild makes these lipsticks I'll be buying them.

WNW Mega Last lipstick

WNW Sugar Plum Fairy and WNW Stoplight Red

Lip Swatches

Stoplight Red

Sugar Plum Fairy (flash)

Sugar Plum Fairy (no flash)

WNW Bronzer: Princess

I also picked up a bronzer by WNW in the shade PRINCESS. I always look at it in the store but never can talk myself into buying it... but it was only $1 on sale so I scooped that bad boy up and I'm actually really digging this bronzer. I was concerned about the shimmer (I prefer a matte bronzer) but it's not really bad, gives your skin a nice dewy effect rather than a I rolled my face in glitter look. I'll be keeping it in rotation for awhile.

All in all, I'm absolutely happy with my impromptu $5 CVS haul! And I'm really falling in love with the brand all over again. I used to rock the lippies and mascara back in high school because they were affordable aKa cheap, but the quality and variety of the products they put out is nothing to sleep on... they're like my go to DUPE brand lol

How do you guys feel about Wet N Wild products?

-Miss Brina

MAC Saigon Summer lipstick

Don't you love when you stumble across old gems in your makeup drawer!?!

Saigon Summer

I picked up this baby when the Cremesheen + Pearl lipsticks came out awhile ago, but never got around  to using until a few days ago... and it was instant love. I love and own a plethora of lipsticks in various shades, but I tend to stick towards nudes and coral for the working days, so Saigon Summer was a no brainer for me when I saw this collection. And the fact it was a Cremesheen lipstick was the cherry on top since it's my favorite finish from MAC. It is like more wearable Morange in my opinion, and can work through all seasons despite it's more summer-y tone. It kind of reminds me of Jazzed too, but  when I first saw it Vegas Volt jumped into my mind. Yet when I swatched a few other coral-esque lipsticks to compare... they all look PINK next to Saigon Summer... kind of weird.

MAC Saigon Summer

L-R: MAC Vegas Volt, MAC Lollipop Lovin', MAC Saigon Summer, MAC Sock Hop, MAC Richer Lusher

Anyhoo, anyone own saigon Summer, or any other lipstick from this collection? What's you're favorite Coral/Orange lippie?

 -Miss Brina

Review: Sonia Kashuk Flat Contour Brush (MAC 163 Dupe)

Man... they almost got me! Who? Why, MAC of course... them and their limited edition brushes! I was all set and ready to drop the $35 for their 163 contour brush, figuring it would make my life a whole lot easier, when lo an behold.... Sonia Kashuk swooped down and stole the sale LOL

I was a bit early meeting a buddy at the mall, so I decided to pass some time walking around Target when I spotted this brush... and my mouth hit the floor. I said to myself, "Dang that looks like the MAC brush I'm about to get," then myself answered back and said, "Girl, does that say $12.99?" So I promptly picked up the LAST one and hurried my behind to the check out feeling like I hit some kind of jackpot.

Now, at first glance it's identical to the MAC 163 brush, but there are a few minor difference in them (which I discovered when I whipped that bad boy out at the MAC store). After ignoring the side eye my friend was giving me for pulling out the "competition" in the MAC store, I proceeded to examine the SK brush against their 163... and amazingly SK came out the winner.

They are both flat Contour/Sculpting brushes with surprisingly dense bristles, making for fool proof contouring and blending of products, but the SK brush head is slightly smaller in width than the MAC 163. I happened to like this, figuring it will cut down on mistakes and help out my product placement and control.  The second was that the SK brushes bristles were a lot softer than the MAC 163. Now, I am not in any way saying that the bristles on the  MAC 163 were super hard or anything, but I had to note that I did notice a small bit of scratching as I rubbed it over the back on my hand. I experienced none of that with the SK brush. Also, the 163 is synthetic and the SK has natural bristles. I'd have LOVED if the SK was synthetic (personal preference) but something's gotta give, right?

In the end, I am OVER THE MOON with my accidental dupe discovery. And at well under half the price of the MAC 163, you just can't beat the price or quality. I'll be picking up a few more backups in the off chance it becomes unavailable in the near future.

Have any of you picked up the MAC 163 or Sonia Kashuk Flat Countour/ Sculpt brush? What are your thoughts on either?

P.S- I know it's late, but I had to throw in a random Halloween shot. Excuse the meltdown/smudges... it was the end of a very long day :)

-Miss Brina

Quick Rave: Melvita Eau Florale de Rose

A few months ago I received the Melvita Rose Water spritz in my Birchbox and after the 1st use fell instantly in love. I'd never really been into facial mists, despite all the rave about fix+ and so many other sprays, so naturally I left it sitting in the box for a couple weeks before curiosity finally won... plus, I figured I PAID for it, so I might as well try it. The pleasant scent of roses that accompanied the cool sensation of the spray was magnificent... and I am NOT a floral person at all. I prefer more soapy scents (ala Irish Springs and Clean Linen), but the rose water is subtle enough that it didn't bother or irritate, it simply left me feeling alert, refreshed and down right perky in the miserably hot weather (or so it was at the time I tried it). I've used it by itself for a quick pick me up, spritzed on my brushes when applying my foundation and even after applying powder, not so much to set my makeup, but more to help everything blend and avoid any ashy effect. My sample was .95 fl.oz. and I still have enough left to last me throughout the end of this month despite how often I use it. I'll definitely be purchasing the full size version for $22 when this trial bottle is finished. 

On a side note, I've been rather disappointed with my last 2 Birchbox shipments, and am thinking of cancelling after next months box if the trend continues. Anybody having a similar feeling regarding their boxes? Anyone get the Goop box (which I SHOULD have opted for instead)?

-Miss Brina

Sleek I-Divine Ultra Mattes V2: Darks

Well, HEY THERE party people! I know I've been MIA for a bit, but I've got alot going on in my little world these days. I DID however want to make sure that I kept my word and got these swatches uploaded for you all. Overall, I really like these palettes. I still tend to lean more towards the DARKS palette since they are a bit more wearable on any given day... but please believe they are BOTH something you need to have in your life. I really hope these rumors of Sleek coming stateside are TRUE, because they are easily becoming my go to brand. 

Enjoy the swacthes folks!

Sleek I-Divine Ultra Mattes V2: Darks Palette

 In Natural Light

 Indoors With Flash

-Miss Brina

Sleek I-Divine Ultra Mattes pt. 1: V1 Brights

 

I LOVE Sleek!!! I know they are considered a drugstore brand overseas, but they have some of the best products... PERIOD! I often find myself reaching for their palettes over my MAC, MUFE and Inglot shadows because the quality is just that good. The only thing I don't particularly care for is the shipping price to the USA ($13), but that's just because I've gotten used to free shipping for darn near everything!

Anyhoo! I picked up both of the new Ultra Mattes palettes before seeing any swatches based off the fact they've never done me wrong before, and I've got to say I'm glad I did. I love matte shadows, but honestly, they are not the easiest to work with. But these Ultra mattes by Sleek are actually pretty creamy and are easily blended (without the washout effect). There is a bit of fallout from several colors in both palettes, and I've worn with and without primer and have experienced NO creasing. I will say that the V2 Darks palette has the best pigmentation overall, even though I had to build up the black ALOT to get the swatch (more on that later)... anyone else have that issue?

But enough of my rambling, here's what you came here for in the first place... swatches! Enjoy.

Sleek I-Divine Ultra Mattes Palette V1 Brights

** All swatches done dry WITHOUT base/primer **

Part TWO: V2 Darks coming soon...

-Miss Brina

LOTD: MAC Korean Candy

Korean Candy is Spring to me! This is my 1st sheen supreme lipstick from MAC and I absolutely love how moisturizing, vibrant and opaque it is right from the tube. I've had it for a few months now, and it's ALWAYS in my bag since it pretty much goes with anything. It applies evenly and swatches a nice, intense coral, and can be sheered out a bit, as can be seen in the picture below.  Hope you all had a great weekend!

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick- Korean Candy

-Miss Brina

Ebay Haul!

Hey you guys! I'll start off by saying that I am an ebay junkie; whoever invented it is my HERO! I absolutely LOVE it... I probably average about 2-3 purchases a week. That being said, I pretty much stick to items within the USA, but I'd been looking at this particular ring for (no lie)  about 9 months! 

It has been sitting in my items watched page for 9 months, going on and off sale... but I was just kind of wary about the purchase. Would it be as pretty when it gets here? How long is is really going to take to arrive? Are they just gonna take my money and send me a pen? LOL I mean all sorts of worse case scenarios were fighting for dominance in my head. But while dropping in on the amazing WitchHazel's blog, my jaw dropped, because lo and behold.... SHE BOUGHT THE RING! And anyone who has been to her blog can verify, she is the QUEEN of cutesy ebay purchases. So naturally, I decided stop being so damn scary and make the purchase, and 10 days later... it's here! The transaction was so smooth, the price and presentation was absolutely GREAT and tracking was provided by the shipper, which really put my mind at ease. And I am floored by how beautiful it is.... so THANK YOU WitchHazel for forcing my hand... you've opened a whole new beast up now LMAO

Arianna RoseGold and Citrine Fashion Ring

So what do you guys think of my long awaited purchase? Has anyone bought anything from overseas on Ebay?

-Miss Brina