Orange Is The New Red: Some Oranges I Love and One That Made Me Go What?!

 

Who am I kidding, red will always be my lip color of choice, but as it gets really really hot here in California, and as the orange lip trend is spreading like wildfire, I wanted to show you what I reach for when I want an orange lip. And to end...an orange lip warning of sorts.

Surprisingly, these are the only orange lippies that I own, beyond some balms and a Lancome gloss I have practically finished, so any recommendations are welcome in the comments!

From left to right:

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Geranium ($8.99): A gel finish with just a hint of sparkle. A very true orange.

Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencil in Chase ($22): Balmy but still gives nice color, this shade runs more pinky/orange.

Beautifully Disney Change Your Fate Lipgloss ($14.95): A sheer orange gloss without sparkle.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Orangesicle ($6.99): So pigmented! An orange that leans more red than the other shades.

NYX Macaron Lipstick in Orange Blossom ($6.99): A matte pastel orange. More on this later.

 

Revlon Ultra HD lipstick in Geranium is a recent find. It is the line that Emma Stone is touting all over the television, so naturally I picked it up at Ulta through some type of subconscious marketing. I love the consistency. It is gel-like and buildable with a punchy finish on the lips. Lasts roughly 4 hours on me but I hate the packaging (can be seen in first photo), just plastic and kind of tacky in my opinion. 

 I have had Lipstick Queen's Chinatown glossy pencil in Chase for a while now, and I still reach for it often. I love the thinness of both the consistency and the actual pencil and it feels good on the lips. This is not the most intense orange since it reads a bit pinker on lips, but it is still fresh. I do disklike the smell of Lipstick Queen lippies though--very drugstore/artificial.

The Beautifully Disney gloss in Change Your Fate, named after Princess Merida, is also something I reach for regularly when I want something subtle but not typical pink. This is a sheer look, similar to the Lipstick Queen pencil.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Orangesicle is new to my collection, but it much different than the original Butter Gloss formula. The smell is the same, but this is thicker and more like a liquid lipstick than a gloss. As you can see it is full pigment in one swipe and really should be worn with a liner. I think it is a gorgeous bright orange color but because of the thickness does get a bit messy if you over-apply.

NYX Macaron Lipstick in Orange Blossom was something I wanted forever and after looking at swatches, I thought this would be a matte bright orange. Um...who on Instagram is swatching this?? Because this is not what I have seen ladies. DO NOT TRUST THE GRAM. As you can see, this is a sickly sad pumpkin color with extra horrible sprinkled in. Please avoid. I don't know how I can make this work because Ulta accidentally sent me TWO of these when I ordered these so long ago. Help.

What is your favorite orange lippie? Do tell!

ColourPop Lippie Stix Lumiere: Swatches and Review

Welcome to my first makeup-related post of the new year! Some of you may have seen on my Instagram that I recently hauled a few things from ColourPop cosmetics, which is a brand based in Los Angeles and I have been hearing tons of buzz about (and they are cruelty-free!). I had to check them out!  

   I was going to post a review of all of my Lippie Stix at once, but through testing, I have found that they each perform differently for me, so they will be reviewed one at a time. This particular lippie stix is called Lumiere, and was created with @Kathleenlights to be a universal dusty mauve. Think a totally wearable MLBB (my lips, but better) shade, but matte. These retail for $5 each, just like everything else on their website.

 These are twist up, slanted thin crayon-type applicators and I like this because A) I might actually finish a lippie because of this and B) they are small and easy to apply and even line lips with the edge of the bullet. Warning: don't twist up too much because one of mine did break right away.

 

I'm usually not a matte person, well, not lately anyway. My lips in London were always so dry and chapped that wearing a matte was impossible, even after exfoliating. The good news about this particular matte shade is that it does not emphasize dryness.

I tested it by applying it to my lips without any balm or anything underneath and my lips were already moderately dry. This went on creamy and didn't tug on my slightly dry lips. The color was a flawless matte mauve that was so flattering. And it smells like vanilla.

I then went to brunch (with biscuits and gravy, yum!) and this stuff barely moved. A few hours later I had chinese food, but there was still a pretty stain left on my lips. In total, this wore well for 5 hours on me (including two meals) but if you don't eat or drink anything (you'll never catch me without some type of food), it will last much longer.

 

I got compliments galore and for the first two hours, this wore comfortably. After brunch, it started to get dry, and by hour four I had to put some balm on top. It didn't look dry on my lips, it just felt dry and tacky and I couldn't handle that. But that is matte territory; everyone has their limits.

Good news is that the balm didn't move the color, just made it slightly glossy, and I got a little bit more comfortable wear, pushing it to 5 hours.

I really love Lumiere. Really really. This is an easy to wear matte, but it may get a little bit dry on you, and I totally get if that is a deal-breaker. For me, this is a lip I will wear to go out for a few hours, but it is not comfortable for all day unless I put balm on it.

Have you tried any ColourPop lippie stix? I have three more shades to show you soon! If you haven't signed up for their emails yet, ColourPop sends you a $5 off coupon, which is a free product!

Happy MLK Monday!

Coastal Scents Hot Pots: Swatches and First Impressions

Hello Pandas! 
Some quick updates before we get into this post:

• I have switched to using Disqus for my comments, so let me know if you experience any difficulties
• Impressionist Nails is being regularly updated again!
• I have a new life/style blog called Wit With My Tea on Wordpress. So far there are only TV posts, but it will include fashion, accessory, travel, book, and movie posts.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled Pretty Panda Makeup :)
I have wanted to try Coastal Scents products for a long time. Even despite the low price range, I've heard great reviews about the quality. Their 'Hot Pots', which are single, magnetic eyeshadow pots that snap into empty palettes, seemed to be the best place to start.
The 12 pan palette is $5.95 and each hot pot is $1.99, but they will occasionally have sales where you can snag the hot pots for only $.99! 

Above is what my palette looked like when it was completely put together (which took all of five seconds to plop the pots into the pan). So pretty! And all for under $20 because of sales! Coastal Scents seems to always be having sales, so wait before you make a purchase.

The palette, even for being so cheap, is relatively sturdy and has a plastic lid. There are little indents to help you remove the hot pots for easy switching.

Now, I am going to go through swatches of all 12 pots I picked up:

Bungalow Gold is a fairly deep, bronze gold with a metallic finish. It applied smoothly and had a creamy feel on the skin, which was surprising. This was also very opaque.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lip Gloss in Black Tied: Swatches and Review

I caved and picked up the Smashbox Be Legendary Lip Gloss in Black Tied ($20) because I couldn't resist the idea of black gloss with multi-color sparkle in a gorgeous formula.

In my experience, black gloss can be tricky. I much prefer straight up black lipstick or liner if you really want that goth chic look that is trending right now. I wasn't expecting this to be all that pigmented and mostly wanted it for layering.

This is also described my Smashbox as 'sheer', so there are no illusions going into this gloss. The formula is the same as Coraline, nice on the lips, smooth, and non-sticky.

The sparkles, black base, and minimalist packaging make this a really stunning piece on any vanity, but do you really need this black gloss?

Here is a swatch of Black Tied. It looks kind of like dirty water on the hand. The sparkles are so minuscule and very hard to capture without blurring the photo and adding flash, but are more apparent in person. 

Above is Black Tied on lips in artificial lighting. What this gloss does is bring out the pink/cool undertones in your lips very well. So, if you are looking for a very basic gloss that will enhance your lip color for cool-toned looks, this is a good choice. Although, I know that many reading this will want/expect more of a punch out of a color like this. 

Above is a more natural lighting scenario. You can see my lips appear cooler, pinker, and slightly gray. This gloss will in no way give you any 'goth' look. I tried layering this over other glosses/lipsticks and it cools them down a bit and adds plumpness and a slight sparkle to my lips.

You are not going to get much pigmentation out of Black Tied, no matter how much you layer it, so for $20, pass on this black gloss, no matter how pretty it looks in the tube, UNLESS you are looking for an easy to wear, comfortable formula for a my lips but cooler (toned) look. I personally like the way it gives my lips a finished look when I am just wearing black liner and mascara, but it is more of a frivolous un-necessity.

Lorac Alter Ego Lipsticks in Duchess, Show Girl, and Girl Next Door: Swatches and Review

I went a bit crazy for Lorac's new collection of Alter Ego lipsticks, which are their line of opaque matte lipsticks with ingredients like Acai Berry, Pomegranate extract, and Vitamins C & E. 

Three colors have found their way into my lipstick stash: Duchess, Show Girl, and Girl Next Door ($16 each). 

I swatched almost all of them at my Ulta and could have walked away with many, many more, but tried to pick some colors that I do not have many dupes for (basically forcing myself away from the gorgeous red). I ended up with a nude, a hot coral pink, and a light pink, all with names that made me smile and giggle. I love the idea of wearing a shade for what you want to embody for the day. So fun!

I like that the color is visible through the tube so there is no guesswork when you are looking through your purse or makeup bag and there is a subtle vanilla scent to all of these which I really enjoy. Almost MAC-like in nature.

These are very pigmented and opaque in one swipe of the tube, whether against skin (as shown here) or lips, and they will mask your natural lip color well. I have pigmented lips, so I found this a great benefit. These are not complete mattes (although stated to be). They are about 95% matte, but have a bit of creaminess to them. I would say MAC mattes are the most matte, and these fall right after. You do need to prep lips well before use (I did not and it is pitifully evident in the swatch photos below. Sorry!).

Duchess is a rosy nude with opaque coverage and a very creamy texture. It wore well for 4 hours but was completely gone shortly after. This emphasizes lip lines and any dryness, but not so much if you prep well and use over a balm, but really is easy to apply and an easy color to wear. I love this nude on my skin tone.

Show Girl is a bit more forgiving and wears slightly longer at 6 hours (fading nicely). It is a lovely watermelon shade that is punchy and perfect for summer. I think this is my favorite of the bunch!

Girl Next Door emphasized dryness the most and was the most matte on my lips. The Lorac website describes this as a coral, but it is a light pink with some nude and possibly coral undertones but it is not a true coral. This is a pretty shade, but the hardest to apply; I found it less creamy than the others.

Overall, I really love the wear time and feel of these on my lips. They are comfortable and have such a rich feel. I will definitely only be wearing them on days I have time to prep my lips well though! Even though they may look dry, they do not feel so on the lips, which I am thankful for!

Have you tried any of the Lorac Alter Ego lipsticks? What is your alter ego if you could describe it in one word??!!

Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow in Beach Sand: Swatches and Review

I have heard the buzz about these new Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadows and seen them on Sephora.com, but when I saw them in person, I just had to play with them. Call me curious, but I really wanted them to be something special! Were they? Let's find out!

After playing with them, I was pretty impressed, and decided to pick up the color Beach Sand. This is normally not a color I gravitate towards. I would have picked up the brilliant green, but I need to round out my stash a bit more and a dark bronze is something I am missing.

For $18, you get .16oz of color in a little bottle that remind me of the LUSH cosmetic bottles. It comes with a cap and then you replace it with the brush top, which I like, so I KNOW no one has used that brush. As you can see in the first picture, the color is separated and in the above picture it is mixed together. You have to shake this before each use otherwise is separates into color and coconut water/argan oil mix.

This color is stunning...a rich chocolate...and is formulated without all the bad stuff (as per usual Josie) and is supposed to be a bi-phase shadow with the first layer being a nourishing coconut water and the second being argan oil that makes your eyes look younger. I have to be honest, I thought this would be a hot mess on my oily eyes...especially since reviews of the new cheek/lip creamy oils were pretty terrible.

But before I get into the wear time...let me show you my swatches of all the other colors taken in Sephora:

Don't you love that Rainforest Green?! I am still in love with it!!

Here is another swatch of my color, Beach Sand. I love that it is darker and has a nice depth/almost metallic look to it. Now, let's discuss application and wear.

Good:

You only need a drop per eyelid---saving product

Buildable if you so wish

It feels cooling and refreshing

It dries down quickly

It didn't budge on my oily eyes (with primer) for 9 hours!! (And then I took my makeup off)

Comes off easily without any special makeup remover

Bad:

Dries almost TOO Quickly

A bit hard to blend out

Brush it comes with is hard to use

Not waterproof

Now, the fact that it isn't waterproof isn't bad. It wears like iron as long as you aren't going swimming, so do not worry about some tears, etc. I would also be hard pressed to use this in any other situation other than a complete wash of color on the eyelid because it is already panic-inducing to blend. You have about a second or two!

So, if you want something to lock onto even the oiliest of lids and give you a gorgeous, good-for-you dose of color, I love this!! Stay away if you dislike application that has a steep learning curve. Or maybe I am just very klutzy. Either way...

Overall, I am really happy with this and will probably purchase the green! What do you think? Yay or nay on coconut water eyeshadow?

Lancôme Lip Lover in Orange Manége: Swatches and Review

The Lancôme Lip Lover's are fairly new, but I have had mine for a few months, somehow forgot to review it, and realized today that I have been taking it everywhere with me. Regardless of my fascination with it, I still have mixed feelings.

The shade that I purchased at Nordstrom is called Orange Manége ($23). This was during another shopping adventure with my momma (can you tell we are best buds yet?) and she opted for Beige Adage, which was pretty, but a bit too neutral for me. (FYI my friend Meesha over at Strawberry Hearts Chocolate Darts just posted a bunch of swatches, including Beige Adage and Orange Manége, if you want to view them on a different skin tone!!)
I was captivated by the name. I mean, it has orange in it, right? And orange is the perfect summer color---it is everywhere right now and I did not have many oranges in my lip wardrobe. I swatched it in store, and the swatch was rather orange.

I fell in love and snapped it up. On my lips, however, it isn't quite as orange, and is instead a pretty rosy coral. I still love it, but I just wish it had more of a pop to it. Lancôme says these are long lasting, but they only last about 2 hours on my lips. They also claim they are 'Dewy Intense Lip Color'. Dewy--totally. My lips feel great when wearing this, which is probably why it hasn't left my purse, but intense? Look somewhere else if you want a full color gloss or liquid lipstick.

These are completely non-sticky and I love that the brush is long and flexible, with a little tip to make sure application is a breeze. And the packaging? Lancôme classy at its finest. I love the little click mechanism...it makes me feel so chic!

Now, do you wanna see it on? I thought so!

I love how dewy and fresh it makes my lips look, and there is a slight shimmer that you can see on my bottom lip. Is it a showstopper of a color? Not really...but it is great for everyday wear.

Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream SPF 20 in Linen: Swatches, Thoughts, and Review

This is my first CC Cream ever! So, naturally, I was so excited to try it when I received the Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream in Linen for testing purposes through Brandbacker.  I am already familiar with and like Studio Gear, and because the weather is starting to warm up in California, a CC Cream would be a nice break from foundation on the weekends.

Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream SPF 20 in Linen retails for $34 (again, my sample was powered by Brandbacker). There are three shades: Linen, Natural, and Wheat. Linen is the lightest and this also has an SPF of 20. Here is a little bit about the product: "Hydrating CC Cream transforms and enhances your complexion in an incredibly light, smooth formula. This foundation simultaneously fights aging, retains moisture, and covers and treats blemishes with a non-oily, perfectly radiant finish".

Key Benefits:

"Prevents fine lines and wrinkles with collagen-building ingredients
Restores skin elasticity by promoting moisture retention
Brightens and illuminates skin with a non-oily, complete coverage application".
Do I agree with these claims made by Studio Gear? Yes...I do...from what I have tested so far.
This CC Cream is very hydrating and my skin feels good, but not oily, when wearing it, which is great because my t-zone is prone to being oily. It is also radiant and has that light, smooth formula . I do feel my skin is illuminated, but the coverage is very very light for me. It does not cover my acne well.
If you have a flawless face, this is all you need, but I needed to set this with a bit of powder to have more coverage, which is fine, because it is still lighter than foundation!
I cannot comment on the treating of acne or the preventing of fine lines and wrinkles because I have not tested it long enough to see long term results. However, I can say it has not aggravated any blemishes of mine further.

This is the first stage of the CC Cream--- (and this is about enough for a full face): Goes on white with little granules in it that produce the color.

Above it is smoothed out and rubbed in half way.

Sorry the picture is a bit blurry, but the tone is accurate. This is the CC Cream on my skin. Matches my skin well (maybe a bit too yellow right now, but will be perfect in summer---keep in mind I am VERY fair) and as you can see it minimizes redness but does not fully cover acne. You can layer on problem areas, but the overall effect is just dewy, healthy skin.

I can be into that...I need to let go of my fear of people seeing my skin anyway. Maybe Studio Gear CC Cream will help me with that!

Overall: Great product...and for my first CC Cream, I am surprised at how much I like it. It does smell like sunscreen, which does not bother me. Also, if you are very fair, like me...this is a good summer product but may be too dark for winter skin. Everyone else...go for it!

Want one for yourself...check it out at Studio Gear's website!

To help you try it out...or anything else from Studio Gear, the brand and Brandbacker has given me a discount code for you guys!

Reader Discount: 10% Off
Reader Discount Code: bloggercc

Happy CC-ing!

NYX Butter Lipstick in Cotton Candy: Thoughts, Review, and Swatches

Many of you have seen teaser pics of my haul including one of the brand new NYX Butter Lipsticks and the review is finally here!I have been a fan of NYX's Butter glosses, so the thought of a similar lipstick intrigued me. There is a wide range of colors, but I went against my normal shopping habits and picked out a very light pink.With 22 shades to choose from at $5.99 there is sure to be something to please everyone. I found this at Ulta, but the displays are already running dry! And they also don't have all the colors.

The packaging of these lipsticks is cuter than their regular matte lipsticks (which have the same packaging in black), but they still look a tad little-girlish and cheap. However, the color makes it easy to find in your stash. 

The smell of these is slightly sweet and a bit artificial, but you really have to sniff them to pick up on that. The formula of these is actually really nice. These are buttery and glide onto the lips well, providing a nice opacity of coverage. 

Cotton Candy is a very very light baby pink, so be aware of that, since it looks much darker than it appears on the lips. For this color, prep lips well. Other, darker colors in this line seem to be much more swipe and go.

Cotton Candy gives my pout a very springy and mod vibe. Butter Lipsticks are comfortable to wear, but only last me about 2 and a half hours. I just find them a little too light to really stick around, but I've never been one to mind reapplying a lip product on normal, non special event days.

Keep in mind, this wear time may only be for the lighter colors. I am hoping to pick up a darker shade to compare. 

Overall, I think NYX Butter Lipsticks are a great product at a nice price point and I have been reaching for Cotton Candy often since I have picked it up!

Have you tried any of the NYX Butter Lipsticks? Thoughts?