I Have Moved!

 Hello!

Big news...since the corruption of my blog has been determined permanent, I have decided to salvage what I can and move over to Wordpress so this will not happen again and I have more control over my content.

Please visit my new blog HERE or type in http://prettypandamakeup.wordpress.com

Keep checking my Insta for updates and make sure to re-follow me on Bloglovin HERE.

Giant Mask Review!

Hello!

Masks are something that I love to do. In fact, I tend to use them 4-5 times a week. They are my half an hour of peace and pampering and with continued use, I feel they really have helped my skin.

Today I want to show you the 8 (yes, 8!) masks in my arsenal that I have been using for around four months. I will be sharing the improvements they have made in my skin, which ones I love the most, and the best masks for different problems.

Note: My skin in combination. My t-zone tends to have congestion and my cheeks are dry. However, I do suffer with hormonal cystic acne. What has worked for me may not work for you, but keep in mind that I have various skin types spanning my face.

Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask ($34): This is one of my favorite masks and a staple in my skincare routine. I use it as a break between days when I do clay/pore masks because it deeply re-hydrates my skin and leaves it plump and happy. A little goes a long way. I have used this mask dozens of times and still have most of the tube left. It really is an overnight mask---sleep in it for the best results. It doesn't get sticky or leave an oily film. It just repairs any dryness whether it is natural or inflicted by other parts of your beauty routine. It does help calm the skin down and is great to use on the neck as well. It is slightly pink and creamy without much of a noticeable scent.

Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask ($25): Possibly my favorite mask in this entire post, this Clinique wonder has literally saved my skin. Hormonal, cystic acne is pretty new to me. I've never before had deep, painful pimples beyond this past year and the use of this mask once to twice a week improves any existing breakouts and de-congests my skin gently. It is a thick, sticky black mask with a slight cooling sensation once applied on skin. Use only a thin layer and I find the best way to remove is using a Clarisonic or similar face brush. This really sticks to skin and you might find yourself rinsing for fifteen minutes without a little extra help. I seriously love this mask. If you have blackheads, acne, cystic acne, or just generally cranky skin, try it. I can't make any guarantees but it has overhauled my skin without the effects of purging it. 

Freeman Golden Grain Brightening Mask ($4.29): Freeman masks are cheap, and are often BOGO half off at Ulta, so they are always a fun beauty steal. Golden Grain is a more recent addition to my rotation but I am loving it. It is a moisturizing mask as well as a brightening mask. With acne comes acne scars and although this isn't going to mimic the effects of a peel by any means, it does provide temporary lightening and is great when used in conjunction with a brightening serum. Plus, it looks like you have gold sparkles all over your face when you wear it! It has a pleasant smell that I can't quite make out, but I am enjoying this mask.

Freeman Sweet Tea & Lemon Peel-Away Clay Mask ($4.29): I do love iced tea. Not the sweet kind necessarily, but tea with lemon is my happy drink, so naturally I wanted to try this mask. I do get hints of tea and definitely lemon in the smell. It isn't accurate but its close enough that I enjoy wearing this mask. It is a light cantaloupe orange color and very, very sticky. Because this is a peel-off mask, it is imperative to use a very thin layer to make the removal process easy and clean-up minimal. I find my skin is very toned after using this...and my little baby face hairs are definitely removed! It pulls out surface gunk but not deeply embedded black heads, so don't set expectations too high.

This picture shows the texture of the different masks. And the awesome gold glitter in the Golden Grain mask!

Formula 10.0.6 Keep Your Cool Skin-Calming Gel Mask ($5.99): This is a mask I reach for when I want to relax in every way. It smells like a tropical vacation with a very light and refreshing smell of coconut and feels like a drink of coconut water for your skin. It is supposed to be used to calm acne ridden skin during flare ups, but I use it both when I have acne and when I don't. It is a nice, lightly hydrating mask that makes any painful acne feel better when I have it. 

Formula 10.0.6 Get Your Glow On Brightening Peel Off Mask ($5.99): This peel off mask has a very sticky gel-like formula that takes a while to dry. It does peel off nicely if you apply a very thin layer and it smells great. Bright and citrus-y and vaguely floral. I do find that all of these Formula 10.0.6 masks have a scent that lingers during the duration of the mask, so keep that in mind if you are sensitive. This doesn't pull out any gunk, but it does provide temporary brightening. Over time, using both this and Golden Grain mask, I have seen my skin tone even.

Formula 10.0.6 Three Times Sublime 3 in 1 Blackhead Wash + Scrub + Mask ($5.99): This mask is something I only pull out when the big guns are needed. When I need to exfoliate or when I feel my face is really suffering from a day out in the heat, this is what I turn to. It is much too powerful to use everyday, at least for my combo skin and it does have Salicylic Acid in it. I do really like that it is multi-use as well. It does have my least favorite scent of all the masks. It has grapefruit notes but also something earthy that weighs it down. 

Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask ($5.99): This is a very basic clay mask that makes my skin feel refreshed and really loosens up the grime that accumulates in my t-zone. It has a wonderful strawberry smell to it that lingers on my skin even after I wash it off, so it may be too strong for some. 

Verdict:

Although I do like the Formula 10.0.6 masks, and I find that they have worked well to give me results, the only one I will repurchase will be the Keep Your Cool mask. That one is packed with slightly better ingredients but the others have alcohol or alcohol denat high on the list of ingredients and the fragrances are strong. This is just becoming my personal preference as I learn more about skincare and can afford to buy better skincare.

The Freeman masks are what I will continue to turn to for budget masks. They are paraben free and as far as I can tell from the ingredients, they do not contain alcohol and instead contain ingredients and fruit extracts I can actually understand, which is a positive. They are giving my skin great results. Golden Grain is definitely the better version of Get Your Glow On and Sweet Tea & Lemon functions better than Get Your Glow On as well. 

The Clinique masks are amazing. I highly recommend them and will continue to purchase them when I run out. As the two primary staples in my mask routine, they have really improved my skin and I have always loved and trusted Clinique.

What masks do you use? Is masking your little moment of 'me' time?

xoxo

Margo

(P.S: I know there are some weird blank photos on the blog right now. I am working to get them fixed!)

Inglot Classic Lipstick Review: Shade 254

 

You may have seen on Insta that I teased some goodies from Inglot that Mama Panda picked up for me. One of them was this pretty Inglot Classic lipstick in the shade 254. There are so many shades of Inglot lipstick and she picked the perfect one for me!

The tubes are basic black, square, with the Inglot logo, and contain .16 oz of product. and retail for $15.

Inglot describes their classic lipstick line as having Vitamin E and Apricot Kernal Oil to moisturize lips. This lipstick definitely has a sheen/cream finish to it, is non-sticky, and lasted four hours. It fades nicely but since this shade does have some glitter in it, tiny particles do linger for a while. It doesn't look garish--just a hint of sparkle.

Inglot does not provide shade descriptions, but 254 is a shimmery bright rose pink. This appears even brighter on the lips, but still is sheer enough to let some of your natural lip color show through. My lips felt very comfortable during wear.

Overall, I really love the Inglot formula. I didn't have much to go on, seeing as this is my first experience with the brand, but if I do get to visit a store, I will defintely be trying more. I want to swatch some more! My only complaint is the numbers instead of names. I get so much joy from a good lipstick name, am I alone here?

Looks from the Disney Dare to Dream Mulan Beauty Book

As promised, I've created some looks, two to be exact, using the Disney Dare to Dream Mulan Beauty Book!   I reviewed the book HERE, and after playing with it for a few weeks, it is really fun and easy to create looks with! I managed to use all the shadows in blushes between both of the looks!   The first look used all of the warmer, red tones in the palette.  

  I used Serenity and Honor (a pink and an orange) blended together on my lid. Tranquil (a deep red) went into my crease and I used Typhoon (a light cream) on my inner corner and Porcelain (a white) on my brow bone.   

I finished the look with Dynasty Dahlia blush and Mushu's Flame red lipstick. The second look incorporated the blues and purples of the palette and was really fun to create!

For this look I placed Jade (a bright turquoise) on my inner corner, Blossom (purple) in the middle of the lid, blended into Fortune (a lighter blue-green). I tried to not blend them so much because I was going for a kind of sea-inspired look and I really wanted to colors to pop. I blended Destiny (a dark smoky, sparkly black) along my lower lash-line and under my inner corner. It is a bit more editorial than I would wear for everyday but it is a fun look for going out. I finished the look with the Palace Puce blush and again with Mushu's Flame red lipstick. (The mascara for both looks is Miss Manga and the liner is NYX matte liquid liner.) I hope you enjoyed these looks! Maybe they can help you decide if this palette is right or you or inspire you!    If you love Mulan, help me name these looks in the comments!  

Art History & Nails: St. Mark's The Spot from the OPI Venice Collection

It is almost the weekend, are you ready?   This Thursday (night) brings the return of my Art History & Nails series! You may have seen the collection at your local Ulta, but in case you haven't, OPI has released a gorgeous new collection for Fall inspired by Venice.  I have picked up a few shades and plan on getting a few more, but the one I want to show you today is one of the limited edition shades. I am not sure exactly what that means in OPI world...but I did notice my Ulta display only had 3 each of the limited shades and 8 each of the other shades. They aren't more expensive or anything but if you want this shade, I suggest you hurry!   *(Update as of editing this post right before posting my Ulta sold out of this shade. RUN)*

This shade is very difficult to capture, so many of my pictures will have flash. This is OPI's St. Mark's The Spot ($9.50). It is a beautiful royal blue shimmer and it definitely needs two coats to get the perfect depth and richness. Dry time is average and I can get 6 days with minimum tip wear.  

  Now, having been to the Piazza San Marco (just the fancy Italian way of saying St. Mark's Square), I can say that this blue not only reminds me of the brilliant sky above the square but also of the water that floods in when the tide is high, and the beautiful lapis found in the church and the Doge's palace, which border the square.  

  This picture is from my Venice trip. Isn't the sky pretty? I spent a lot of time in this piazza and have many fond memories and stories, including eating some of the best gelato of my life while looking at this view.   

  This is a picture of the polish without flash. The shimmer isn't as apparent but it is still gorgeous! While not a complete Art History lesson with this particular post, Venice is a beautiful place full of art and culture and I am very glad to have had the opportunity to visit as well as glad that OPI has made a collection that is giving me such warm and fuzzy feelings while still being so on trend for Fall. What do you think of this color? Will you be picking up any of the shades from this collection?

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly: August 2015

Hey Pandas!    I have something a little bit different for you today. I've been on a pretty low buy recently and have made an active effort to use up things I currently have. But along with testing and trying things comes the inevitable dud. So I've created this series to document that!  

  The Good (and also a little bad this time around) It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin ($20): I really love this stuff! It is a leave in treatment and the addition of the keratin really helps my fine hair. It also serves as a protection from heat styling for me and just leaves my hair silky and looking fantastic with very little effort. The only downside is that I go through it very quickly (a month) because of the length of my hair. That's $240 a year. I've only bought two bottles but this will be my last for a while because I am looking for a cheaper alternative. I highly highly recommend anything from this line if you are looking for a conditioning/heat protecting spray though, it just doesn't fit into my budget right now. Benefit Roller Lash ($24): One of the better hyped up mascaras I have tried in a long, long time. Slightly lifts my lashes, gives me the length I want, and doesn't flake. Awesome...except for the $24 price tag. It's 3 months are up so I'm throwing it out. The Bad Beauty Blender Solid Cleanser ($16): This is the sorry little empty container on the far left. This is my second repurchase but will be my last. It does a nice job cleaning brushes, but is way overpriced for what you get. I wash a lot of brushes and I wash them once a week or more and I go through this solid cleanser like water. It just doesn't last and gets really grimy and messy fast.  The Ugly Benefit Lash Glue ($8): Who even knows what possessed me to buy this lash glue. My thought process went: hey...Duo glue smells like fish, maybe a pricier glue will work better, and Benefit is prestige, and I can trust them, right? Wrong.  This glue...honestly I wouldn't be surprised if it was Elmer's clear glue. It never dries. It is a watery drippy mess that gets all over your falsies and your eyes and stings everything and ruins everything. I am finally saying goodbye to this useless glue!
I hope you enjoyed these quick reviews! If you have any cheaper or better alternatives to the above products I would love to hear them!

Disney Dare To Dream Beauty Book: Mulan

I am a Disney lover, always have been and most likely always will be. So, when I saw the Disney Dare To Dream collection at Walgreens (in Hawaii of all places), I went a little purchase crazy.  The Beauty Book I will show you today is Mulan's. It retails for $10 and as far as I know, is Walgreens exclusive.

 

The Beauty Books are fairly thick (about an inch) and do, in fact, open like a book. Some people do not like the art, but I think it is pretty enough, kind of watercolored. It does have a mirror inside and a face chart, as well as all of the ingredients on the back of the book.

 

The face looks are nice and helpful if you want a guide, but I am sure we are all more concerned about what is deeper inside the book!

To be fair, I didn't have high hopes for these shadows. I figured they would be akin to play makeup at best. The colors are striking and unique, though, and I do love the names! I'm such a sucker for a theme, especially if it is Disney. But how do they fare? I did the swatches over a very thin layer of NYX HD eye primer, because I'm not planning to ever wear eyeshadow without primer ever again. The primer is basically nude, so there is no extra brightening going on of the colors.

The first four shadows are more neutral and fared just alright. Porcelain is a crisp white with a sheen and it was a bit chalky. Serenity is a pretty rose pink that has decent color payoff but it is at least smooth. Typhoon is a cream that can be built up easily without shifting, and Honor was disappointing. It is an orange/salmon glitter mess.

The rest of the shades were awesome, in my opinion, especially when compared to my dismal expectations. Tranquil is a red/rust color that is smooth and creamy. Jade is not really a true jade, more like a bright blue with sheen, and it has a thicker, denser formula that needs to be patted on. Blossom is the most gorgeous purple shimmer and Fortune looks more suited for an Ariel look--very mermaid-esque and has the same dense formula as Jade. Destiny is a sparkly black that had incredible color payoff in one swatch.

The book also has two blushes and a little tiny useless applicator thing that will probably never leave this little cutout.

Rounding out the offerings are a tiny black pencil liner and a red lipstick.

The Raven Haired Bun (aka Black) liner works well, but is of your typical $.99 variety. It is super small though, making it would be good for a lower lash line. Mushu's Flame lipstick is a shimmery red with a formula akin to a Wet n Wild lipstick. The blushes are nice! Dynasty Dahlia is a cool-toned pink and Palace Puce (what a name) leans quite red with shimmer. So, down to my final thoughts and the big question, do you need this? Yes if you want it as a collector. It really is a fun set. Double yes if you like the colors. I will be posting looks soon from this book and the other that I picked up, and the shadows aren't half bad. They show up well, blend fairly easily, and last with primer. No, they aren't MUFE quality, but they are better than many drugstore shadows. The blushes are a bonus, but I can't see myself reaching for the liner and lipstick all that often. No if you aren't a Disney fan or fan of Mulan, or just simply don't have room to store the bulky packaging. Also, keep in mind that only 6 of the 9 shadows I liked. The unique shadow colors drew me in and I have had fun playing with them, but they aren't for everyone, that's for sure! These are also made in China, contain a lot of Talc, and I do see beeswax in the eyeliner. No...not the best quality, again, but fun! Who is your favorite Disney character?

Baby Lips Gloss in Berry Chic: Swatch and Review

 

More lip product reviews coming your way, and today I am reviewing the new Baby Lips Lip Gloss in the color Berry Chic. These retail for around $4, but I have seen them for less and more (Ulta is having BOGO 1/2 off Maybelline now so this is a good time to get some!).

These things have been blowing up the beauty world. I swear, they are like Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all! While I was like that with the Baby lips balm, I was a bit more hesitant here. Early swatches from other bloggers didn't seem promising, so I chose the pretty red color from the 'jelly' collection, which I heard performed the best. 

The tubes themselves are very cute, each with a fun contrasting color and a small doe foot applicator. This formula really is jelly-like. To me, it smells a bit like floral Jell-o, but it isn't too strong. I have heard that some people can't stand it, but I don't mind it.

As you can see from my swatch, there is barely any color to this gloss. If anything, a very faint coral/orange red, but definitely not 'berry'. It does ever so slightly darken my natural lip color.

 

This is glossy and seems to blur the lines on my lips. It is a great topper gloss and if you want to wear it alone, well it is very moisturizing! For the past week it has replaced my lip balm! It just feels good on...non sticky, a little thick and jelly-like, and gives me moisture.

But the bottom line? You only need one, if any. These won't give you more than a whisper of color, but they are comfy, cute, fit well in a pocket, and are good on the go or to top off other lip colors. A fun idea from the Baby Lips fam, but I'll be passing by the display next time.

L'Oreal Le Matte Lip Colour Stick in She's So Matte: Swatches and Review

Hey friends!

  I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my vacation pictures on my Instagram, but I am back. And I picked up a ton of makeup goodies there, which I will be showing you as I get through testing.   The L'Oreal Me Matte Lip Colour sticks have piqued my interest because I am all about the matte finish (as is seemingly everyone else), but I am still on the lookout for a comfortable matte. Colourpop comes close, as does Nars, but my lips are very very sensitive to dryness even with proper moisture and prep. Still, I am a sucker and picked up the Le Matte color in She's So Matte ($9.99), which is a muted, very slightly brown-toned pink.  

 The stick is a very thin, twist up, domed lip crayon, which makes application a breeze. There is no tugging or pulling upon application. 

 

It does emphasize lip lines, as do most mattes. It wore very well for about 4 hours through talking and food/drinks. It was mildly uncomfortable after the first hour, but not so much that I wanted to claw my lips off. It played well with Chapstick brand balm as well as Jack Black balm. Neither took away the color, but the matteness will dissapear with any balm application.

What I do absolutly love about this product is that it stains! I had the most gorgeous stain still on my lips the morning after I wore it, and it continued to hold strong for a few hours more. This product does not claim to stain, but it was a nice surprise! Overall, I probably won't be picking up another color of these because I don't see another that I HAVE to have, but as far as mattes go, this is wearable and the stain makes this a great lip to wear for going out. It fades evenly and color sticks around. Have you tried these? Thoughts?

 

Next Stop Adventure: June Birchbox

 

Hey Pandas!

I took advantage of the offer to get a Birchbox for only $1.29 including shipping, so I thought it was a great deal to try out this subscription service again. I was with Birchbox a few years ago but wasn't impressed. Was I this time around?

The theme of the June Birchbox was "Next Stop: Adventure" and is full of summer products. I received 6 items that I will take you through.

Vasanti BrightenUp!: The full size retails for $34, making this 20g size worth roughly $5.60. This is a microdermabrasion scrub that has a very nice texture and is 99% natural, paraben and sulfate free.

Dr. Jart+ BB Night Beauty Balm: Full size is $38, so this tube is worth about $3.80 (.17oz). There is really only enough in here for a few uses and it comes out as clear beads that self-adjust on the skin. It is supposed to be gentle enough to sleep in while providing sheer coverage and fighting signs of aging. Last time I checked, I don't need coverage while I sleep!

Coastal Scents Revealed 3: The full size palette is worth $19.95 and this little sample is worth about $1.50. There is a matte brown, a gold, a deep rose, and a nude but I find the pigmentation sorely lacking. I've heard good things about this palette so maybe the sample formula is different?

Marcelle Waterproof Liner: Full size is $11 and this is over half size worth $6. The shade I got is a matte navy with an odd smattering of sparkle here and there. A little patchy but passed a waterproof test!

Supergoop! Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 37: The full size here is $45 making this sample worth $6 in theory. But I feel it is mostly full of air! This was the sample I was most looking forward to as I am always looking for eye creams with SPF and it is nice so far.

Bonus: Emi Jay Hair Tie: A pack of 5 is $13, making one worth $2.60. No way would I pay that much for a piece of colored elastic but hey, it was a nice freebie!

Total value: $25.50!

Overall, I got a lot of product for that $1.29, but I did end up cancelling my subscription. For $10 I am still not that impressed! Haha, call me crazy, but if I felt the samples were even worth the price (had that amount of product instead of air), I would be more inclined to stay. Did you get a Birchbox this month? Have you tried any of these products?

TokyoMilk Dark Everything & Nothing

 

Perfume/fragrance/scents...these aren't words that come up often here at PrettyPanda. In fact, I had briefly sworn off all fragrance. I have awful allergies, and I figured that fragrance would only hurt the issue. It took me a while to realize there are certain notes I do well with, that do not give me a headache, and do not irritate my allergies. Still, fragrance is something I can't wear everyday, but now that I know I can enjoy it, I am amassing a little collection I will be sharing with you.

Keep in mind, as with any product I review, what works for me may not work for you. You may sneeze with this perfume, whereas I don't, etc.

 

Everything & Nothing comes housed in a 1.6 oz spray bottle for $36 and it available at Sephora or online at TokyoMilk.com. 

The bottle itself is sturdy: glossy black with a gunmetal cap and the image associated with the perfume printed on it in white (this one is a feather) with the number (10) and description in faded blue. This particular perfume is part of a line called TokyoMilk/Dark, also known as the Femme Fatale collection. All of the names (Arsenic, Bulletproof...etc) evoke a sexy, alternative vibe that I love.

I really love that the design of the perfume is unassuming yet sleek, which can make it very unisex as well if a man in your life likes it!

Now, let's get to the notes of this and how it smells and dries down on me!

The main notes that are both printed on the bottle and Margot Elena (the creator) describes Everything & Nothing are Sweet Orange, Pressed Petals, Desert Moss, and Tea Leaves.

After the first spray, the clear top note is the Sweet Orange. It is fresh and vibrant and has quite a throw to it. A few minutes in and black tea leaves and a bit of muskiness are present. It really smells like sour orange gummy worms for a while! I like it, but not everyone will.

About an hour in and the scent loses a bit of it's throw, although I am always aware of it on me. The pressed petals seem to be the middle note and have the most presence here. They aren't cloying and 'old' smelling, but are definitely romantic and vintage.

On me, the moss and tea leaves are the base, and the orange does linger throughout the wear, which was a good 6 hours. This is not a fragrance that will last all day (you will still smell it on your skin until you take a shower, but the throw disappears), but it is good for going out.

Overall, I feel very sexy but also strangely comforted by wearing Everything & Nothing. It shows how much of a duality there is to the fragrance, as the name implies. It is familiar, yet fresh. If you love citrus scents, give this one a smell!

Also, Happy Memorial Day! I know the night is waning, but take some time to think of our troops serving and who have served!

Baby Now We've Got Bad Blood

 

I have mixed feelings about Ms. Swift. It is a long, complicated, boring story. But what I DO like is the awesome film noir, black and white, gorgeous makeup looks in her new music video for the song 'Bad Blood', so I wanted to create my own 'persona' to join in the fun.

Naturally, my superhero name is PrettyPanda, and I wield concealer and red lipstick. If you like T Swift or even this idea, I challenge you to make up your own. It's nothing but a few basic Photoshop tricks. (I stress the word basic, my skills are so sub-par)

For the eye, I decided to do a very graphic liner that almost covers my whole lid. Any funky black liner would work though, a double or triple line would be cool too! I also did a lower line with an inverted wing.

The key to this look is a strong, dark brow, the graphic liner, and a clean base. I didn't use any blush and instead lightly contoured with bronzer. You can tone down this look and make it less editorial with a lighter brow and a slightly thicker cat-eye than normal (I wear a cat eye everyday. If you don't wear a cat eye, even trying one can be fun and new!)

I also think that a glossy lip works better here than a matte. Since my eye look is very black matte, I thought the glossy texture was a fun addition. Alternatively you could do a vampy matte red lip and a vinyl eyeliner look!

This look isn't so much dependent on specific products, but more how you use them.

1. Prime your eyes. Draw a rough outline of a thick cat eye with black liner (I used Rimmel Scandaleyes in Black). Fill it in, but don't worry, you will refine it later!

2. Fill in your brows! I used the Espresso shade from the Lorac Pro Palette.

3. Prime for your base and use your favorite foundation. I preferred a matte one for this look so used the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation and set with Rimmel Stay Matte powder.

4. Conceal blemishes and dark circles because the dark eyeliner will bring out shadows! I used IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under eye Concealer.

5. Contour lightly under the cheek. I used Too Faced Sun Bunny bronzer.

6. Head back to your eyes. Define the edge of the cay eye with liquid liner. I used NYX Matte Liquid Liner. 

7. Mascara! I used L'Oreal Miss Manga because it is so messy but when your eyes are covered in black, mascara smudges don't matter! (Blogger logic).

8. Gloss those lips with a red gloss or liquid lipstick. I used L'Oreal Extraordinaire by Colour Riche in Scarlet Concerto.

9. Embrace your inner femme fatale!

I hope you liked my corny look/post! Have a great day! 

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?