Clinique Cheek Pop in Pansy Pop: Swatches and Review

Things are hectic right now here at Panda Headquarters, but I wanted to share this review before the weekend got underway, especially because I love this blush so much that it will be on my face tomorrow at my Master's graduation. That is high honors for a blush, I tell ya!

But before I begin, there is a bit of a story with this one. My momma and I have been looking for these new colors forever. When they first launched, even our Clinique SA's had no idea there were new colors! (Does this ever happen to you?). My Ulta has had an empty display where they are supposed to go for a month. Sephora was picked over/sold out. What was a girl to do?

Finally my momma and I begged the Clinique SA's to go check the stock at Nordstroms to see if they were in. Hmm...they were! The SA's were going gaga over these blushes like they'd never even heard of 'em! Case in point, I got to be the first to swatch the brand new testers and left with the color Pansy, a gorgeous lavendar pink. Patience is a virtue!

 

Pansy Pop (15) retails for $21 and should be able to be found at Sephora/Ulta/Clinique. After swatching some of the colors and seeing dismal pigmentation, Pansy blew me away and I snatched it up!

Pansy Pop is unlike any other blushes I own. I may not have a big stash of blush, but I have mostly pinks, corals, and reds, but nothing cool-toned like this. I've been wearing it non-stop! It lasts for 8 hours on my combo skin and has the dewiest glow to it. I feel that this shade works best applied in layers with a stippling brush for the perfect finish!

 I love the unique hue, the wear, and the finish so much I will be wearing it tomorrow, on one of the most momentous days of my life to date! Yay Clinique Cheek Pops!

Do you have one (or all?) of these?

Butter London Bloody Brilliant Lip Crayon in Primrose Hill Picnic

 

Hello!

As you probably all know, I am obsessed with London. Always have been since I was little. And now that I had the fantastic opportunity to live there for a while, British things mean even more to me. I've always wanted to try some of the Butter London cosmetic line and decided on one of their Lippy Bloody Brilliant Lip Crayons in the shade Primrose Hill Picnic for $20. Not only is the color a gorgeous bright pink that is my cup of tea, the name reminds me of very fun times spent on Primrose Hill. 

 This is a picture from Primrose Hill in London. Although it was winter when I took it, I imagine now it is full of bright spring flowers that make this color aptly named. The town around the park is so fun and colorful as well, so I think the shade name is perfect.

But enough about London, I know you want to see what it looks like!

The lip crayon comes with a built-in sharpener in the cap. According to Butter London, the Bloody Brilliant formula delivers "Intense shine of a gloss and full coverage of a lipstick." For once, I have to agree with this statement! Primrose Hill Picnic is one of the most opaque lip crayons I have tried in a long time!

This is a nearly neon opaque creamy pink. There is a high shine to it but no shimmer. It wears well for four hours and leaves a pretty pink stain behind on my lips. The texture is slightly thicker than a balm and more emollient. You can feel it on your lips but the texture does help it stay and look super glossy. The only downfall for me with this product is that the color is slightly high maintenance and definitely not transfer proof, although Butter London makes no claims that it is. I just prefer my lip products to not get everywhere.

This color has become a staple in my lipstick wardrobe for this spring and I love how the tip can be sharpened to a finer point and that the crayon is already small so it doesn't require a liner or lip brush.

Have you tried any of the Butter London cosmetic line? Is there a product you own with a name that evokes a special memory?

Lorac Alter Ego Heartbreaker Palette

 

You can be pretty in pink (and blues) this summer with the Lorac Alter Ego HeartBreaker palette ($24). This is a Ulta exclusive, which I know many of you don't have Ulta's close, but there is one called Dreamgirl on the Lorac site which looks amazing as well. These palettes correspond the the Alter Ego lipsticks and glosses (the latter of which are brand new!). 

Okay, so I will admit, a large factor in why I purchased this palette is because it is neon pink. The casing is a bit rubberized (think NARS packaging) so it will collect fingerprints, but the inside is a chic pink plastic with a mirror and ten gorgeous shadows.

None of the shadows have names, but they are sectioned into 'looks', which I feel are warm (on the left) and cool (on the right), although I think they are fine for any skin tone to wear. The size of the pans are generous, especially for the highlighting shades.

The warm side includes a satin matte medium brown, a satin matte shell pink, a shimmery berry, a shimmery reddish brown, and a true matte cream.

All swatched with Lorac primer. I felt they were creamy and easy to work with. Some fallout with the shell pink, but nothing crazy. They blend very well and are of better quality than I expected for the price. Almost akin to the pro palettes, but maybe a touch less pigmented.

The cool side isn't a completely cool look, especially when you add in the shimmery brown. It includes a shimmery royal blue, a shimmery silver, a satin matte light blue, a nearly metallic golden dark brown, and a shimmery white.

 

This side of the palette was more impressive with pigmentation. These aren't the most unique colors and you may already have dupes in your stash, but I think the size and price make it a great travel palette. I was absolutely drawn to the blue and I am glad it performed well!

Here is a very quick daytime eye look I did with the warm side of the palette. The shell pink and berry are blended on the lid to make a coral and the light brown is in the crease.

Here is a mix of the silver and the baby blue from the cool side of the palette! So easy to blend! I felt like an 80's Barbie and I loved it!

What do you think of this palette? I think it has a good mix of neutrals and pops of color!