New Product: Wet N Wild Megalast Liquid Lip Color

Hello lovelies! While walking through CVS a few days ago, I spotted a small WnW display on a shelf and just had to have a better look at the assortment of color that was bombarding my eyeballs. Upon closer examination, I saw that the megalast lipstick that I know and love so well, was now in liquid form!!! YAY!!! And if it was in my power to do so, I would have gladly done back-handsprings through the store once I saw that they are only $3.19 AND they came with a $1.00 OFF coupon. Yes, that was NOT a typo... I got these bad boys for $2.19 a piece!!!

Now, the new Megalast Liquid Lip Colors come in 13 shades that range from nice, universally flattering nudes, to deep, rich wines. I kid you not when I say I was in the store hovering over the display like I found the crown jewels sitting on a diamond encrusted gold tray waiting for my perusal. After some serious consideration, I only grabbed 5 of the 13 shades, since a lot were already sold out. The shades I grabbed were: Click on my Hyperlink, Back to the Fuschia, Red my Mind, Cherry on Top and I Can Bare It.

Wet N Wild Megalast Liquid Lip Color

Top to Bottom: Cherry on Top, Back to the Fuchsia, Click my Hyperlink, I Can Bare It, and Red my Mind.

Now here's my take on them. The pigmentation is sssssuuuuupppppeeeerrrr!!!! I mean you have full coverage in one swipe. and what you see is exactly what you get. Some might have a problem with the applicator, which is broad and flat, but I actually like it. I was able to use the broad part to distribute the color quick and even, and then turn it on it's side to get a pit of precision to line the edges. And they took the idea of Megalast to the next level with the formula for these! They apply very wet, similar to the OCC Lip Tars, and dry down to a nice matte or satin finish. And once set, these things are HELL ON WHEELS to take off! I had to scrub with a textured baby wipe for a couple minutes to get the color off, and the lipstick peels off in little balls as you remove it. I must mention that they also left my lips really dry was well; walking through the desert without water for weeks dry... severely parched is an understatement. You need some heavy duty exfoliation and a great lip balm for these.

What I didn't like was the feel of the finish. While I dig the idea of the ElastiSilk technology, I hated the feel of these lipsticks on my lips. While fairly matte, they dried to a sticky finish, that made me cringe every time my lips touched. I really wanted to love these, but the finish could use a bit of a tweak! But honestly, for about $3.00 a pop for some fabulously pigmented lip colors, I'm going to find something to dab over the lipstick to make the finish not so tacky.

Overall, I'd say these new Wet N Wild Megalast Liquid Lip Colors are a no brainer as far as bargain and quality. I have some high end lipsticks that WISH they could pull off the intense pigmentation of these babies!!! Definitely worth the price, regardless of the finish.

Has anyone else tried these new lippies? I'd love to hear what you think!

-Miss Brina

Review: Portland Black Lipstick Company + GIVEAWAY WINNER

I'm a lipstick woman. All colors, formulas, brands... I'm not too picky. I see a shade I like, I buy it... it's very simple. That being said, I stumbled across some bee-yoo-ti-ful lipstick swatches a few weeks ago on Portrait of Mai, and fell in instant lust with all things Portland Black Lipstick Company. The swatches were so unique, so creamy, and soooooo pigmented that I HAD to head on over to their website to cop a few of my own. After much back and forth about what colors I wanted, I ended up placing an order for 8 lipstick samples, in an attempt to try out the brand for myself and narrow down what shades would suit me best before I made a full size purchase.

Now, there are 22 lipstick shades currently offered in the line, that run for only $10 a pop! That's certainly affordable. And honestly, the color payoff you get from these bad boys are better than a lot of the "popluar/it" brands that are on the tongues of the masses nowadays. And being an indie company, the customer service you get is great. I was very pleased with the ease of ordering, and the personable communication that was provided. I even received an email from the owner Kim letting me know my order had shipped (got it in 2 days!!!), apologizing for an overlooked inquiry AND giving me a very helpful and unexpected tip regarding carmine allergies. You can tell that she, and the staff of Portland Black really have a passion for their craft... and the extra samples that were included in my order were great!

Now more about the actual products I ordered. I found that they were all very creamy, absolutely non-drying, and had excellent slip and adhesion. All of the shades I ordered, with the exception of Lux et Voluptas, offered full coverage in one swipe. Some of the samples had small bits of unmixed pigment in them, but it wasn't a biggie, and they blended into the lipstick easily with the help of the lip brush I was using. While I truly LOVE all the colors I picked up (so much for the narrowing down lol), I have to say I was more partial to the application and wear of the flatter shades (the ones without any/much shimmer or metallics). My favorites in the bunch were This Corrosion, Blood Red and Artificial Amethyst.

Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about my first purchase from Portland Black Lipstick Co. and am looking forward to trying out the rest of their shades and their various glitters/powders. If you're into full coverage and unique  yet wearable shades, then I'd strongly suggest you head over to Portland Black Lipstick Company and check out all they have to offer.

Hope you enjoyed the photos!

And last but not least, the winner of the 30 Eyeshadow Rainbow Palette Giveway is...  ANN RAYE! Congratulations, I'll be emailing your shortly. 

MAC Hayley Williams- Sounds like Noise: Review/ Comparison

Hey fellow beauty junkies! I hope all has been going well with everyone. I've been on a bit of a makeup hiatus lately, but I recently picked up a new lippie from the Hayley Williams collabo with MAC and I have to say that I am impressed. Sounds like Noise is described as a "bright, true orange matte," but I can't say I wholeheartedly agree with that. SLN has more of a satin finish, and seems like more of a brighter, yellow-based, slightly more saturated pastel orange in my opinion, instead of a true/bright orange orange. I was a bit disappointed because based on the description, I thought I'd be getting a nice, matte orange... something bright and true like the orange in the AT&T logo... but this softer orange is beautiful in it's own right. I read on a few forums that it was similar to Milani Sweet Nectar (which I own), so I was kind of hesitant to make the purchase, but curiosity got the best of me and I dropped the $16.20 (after taxes) and picked this lippie up. And honestly, it isn't anything like Sweet Nectar, so I have no clue why anyone would compare the two as if they could be dupes. Sweet Nectar has a shinier finish, and is altogether deeper and more of a red-orange. Personally, I feel like Sounds like Noise isn't like any other color MAC has, and I hope they eventually decide to make it permanent, because it's a great everyday swipe and go lipstick. And I love that it's non-drying on my lips. I don't own anything like it, and since I've been wearing it daily, I think I'll have to get a backup while I still can.

I'll update in a few days with a lip swatch, but until then, here's a few swatches of Sounds like Noise next to Milani's Sweet Nectar for your enjoyment and comparison.

 (Sounds like Noise in natural daylight)

(L-R: Milani Sweet Nectar & Sounds like Noise in daylight)

(L-R: Sweet Nectar & Sounds like Noise... this pic gives the most accurate color for SLN)

(Sweet Nectar & Sounds like Noise outdoors)

(Milani Sweet Nectar & MAC Sounds like Noise outdoors/shade)

(Sweet Nectar & Sounds like Noise outdoors in direct sunlight)

(outdoors in partial sun)

All pictures (with the exception of the 1st three) were taken outdoors and in various lights WITHOUT flash.

What do you guys think of Sounds like Noise?

-Miss Brina

Hey there friend!

BLAST FROM THE PAST!

I had every intention of posting this, but somehow I never got around to it. Hard to believe it's been sitting in my drafts for almost a year. Since everything is still current I thought... better late than never, right?

ENOJY!

I saw this tag on Jump in my Sidecar and thought it was too cute to pass up!

1. Is it cute when guys kiss you on your forehead? I think so
   
2. A big poofy dress or a short party dress? Short Party Dress, I like to be able to move... you never know when you may need to high tail it outta somewhere LOL
3. Are diamonds a girl's best friend? I'd personally like something a bit more... shall we day... EDIBLE =)
4. Is your hair up or down today? Up in a bun... It was too hot for anything else
5. Do you straighten your hair? Ocassionally
6. Favorite mascara? The Curling by Kevyn Aucoin
7. Do you get your nails done? Nope
8. Small or large purses? I'm a mommy so LARGE 
9. Jeans or sweats? Jeggings... best of both worlds!
10. Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that's uncomfortable? Nope... I refuse to spend money on things I'll dread wearing.
11. Do you text message a lot? I sure as heck do, sometimes I don't feel like talking
12. Whats your favorite color? Green
13. Heels or flats? Heels
14. Would you ever leave the house without makeup on? Yep
15. Walmart or Target? Walmart because it's open 24 hours 
16. Do you think lip gloss is the best!? Not really, I prefer good old fashioned lipstick (no sticky feeling)
17. Do you own any big sunglasses? 2 pair
18. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? About 15 minutes, but 45 if it's me and the little one
19. Gold or silver? I LOVE Rose Gold
20. Do you like to wear dresses? When it's hot out
21. In the last 48 hours have you hung out with a guy? Yeah buddy
22. Do you like to hold hands? I sure do
23. What do you notice when you first meet a guy? Eyes, they say a lot if you take the time to read them
24. Do you like making eye contact? I always do
25. Would you kill for chocolate? No sir
26. On a scale from 1-10 how fun is shopping? I'd give it a solid 8, 2 if it's around Christmas time
27. Do you yell a lot? Depends on who I'm talking to
28. Do you wear sweatpants/pajamas to school/work? Oh heck yes!
29. Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy? Nope
30. What makeup could you not live without? EOS Sweet Mint lip balm
31. Do you fall in love easily? I sure don't
32. Do you have cramps? Nope, but thanks for asking 
33. Do you think you have the bestest friend ever? I most certainly do! Love ya!

EOTD: Yellow and Brown POP

Hey everyone! It was a cool, yet sunny day here in SoCal so I decided to do a fun look to match my mood and this great weather. Hope you all enjoy!

Products Used:

MAC eyeshadows- Chrome Yellow, Goldenrod, Ricepaper

Laura Geller Baked shadow duo- Biscotti

Sleek Ultra Mattes V2 Palette- Black and Brown shades

Stila Stay All Day Liner- Black

Napoleoon Perdis eye pencil- White

NYX Jumbo Pencil- Milk

Aromaleigh Pigment- Curious and Curiouser

MAC lipstick- Violetta

MAC Zoomlash Mascara- Black

Brushes by E.L.F, Sonia Kashuk, Illamasqua, Coastal Scents 

What are your favorite eyeshadow combos to wear on wonderfully sunny days?

-Miss Brina

EOTD: Feeling Purple

Well hello there! I hope everyone had a great holiday, I know I sure did. I haven't really been doing much in the makeup department lately (with the exception of playing with a few items for upcoming posts)... so I decided to break out the old 88 palette and give the peepers a little pick me up while I had 5 minutes to myself. Please excuse the eyebrows, I'm simply too lazy to tweeze them right now LOL Hope you all like it!

Products Used:

CS 88 Palette

MaqPro HD Puff Foundation (base)

Milani Extreme liquid liner

Sumita eyeliner (LOVE!!!!)

BE Mascara

CS and E.L.F. brushes

-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

Labor Day EOTD

Hey Party People! I know it's late, but here's a simple look I did for a Labor Day picnic last weekend. My maxi dress was pretty busy, so I wanted to keep the eye look fairly neutral. Please excuse the tired eyes and picture quality, I took them at the end of the day with my phone when we got home LOL Hope you enjoy!

 

Products Used:

Inglot #90 AMC Gel Liner (top lashline & eyebrows)

Bobbi Brown concealer (prime lid)

NYX Jumbo pencil- Milk (shadow base)

Laura Geller Baked shadow duo- Biscotti & Toast

CS 88 Warm Palette- random taupe color (deepen crease), random cream color (hi-light)

Sleek contour Palette

Milani Baked blush- Illuminoso

Clinique lipstick- A Brand New Grape

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H foundation

MAC Zoomlash mascara