Review: Revlon ColorStay Shadowlinks in Oyster, Blush, Gold, Taupe, Plum, Peacock, Periwinkle, & Cobalt

Customize your palette. Mix. Match. Click. Individual, interchangeable eyeshadows click together to create your own customized palette of possibilities. In 4 fabulous finishes, and 30 covetable, collectable shades.

Oyster, Blush, Gold, Taupe, Plum, Peacock, Periwinkle, Cobalt

New for 2014, Revlon has released individual eyeshadows that you can click together to create your own custom palette. I really like the concept of these shadows. There is always 1 shade in most drugstore palettes that I don’t like, so being able to pick and choose not only the colours, but the finishes as well, is a great perk.

 

These 1.4 gram shadows link together side by side, and click into place. The quality of the packaging is a bit cheap, but the shiny black case does look quite sleek. The downside of these shadows’ packaging is that when you link them together they are a bit difficult to open and close.

Oyster, Blush, Gold, Taupe, Plum, Peacock, Periwinkle, Cobalt

The quality of these shadows varies greatly. I find that the matte shades blend easier and offer better pigmentation. I find that the other shades are a bit sheer and chalky. Almost all of the shades I’ve tried are buildable for more colour payoff. 

With a primer I get about 4-5 hours of wear without creasing. However, by the end of the day most to all of the shadows I put on in the morning are gone. When layered with both a primer and a cream colour base I get longer wear time and less creasing. All of the swatches below are with no primer and 1-2 swipes of product.

Oyster, Blush, Gold

Taupe, Plum

Peacock, Periwinkle, Cobalt

Overall, if you are on a budget and looking for a customizable eyeshadow palette then these might be up your alley. There are some of these shadows that I know I will grab for frequently.

 
 Disclaimer: Product(s) in this post were provided for review purposes. Thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own.

September 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

Of all the beauty box subscriptions I've tried, Ipsy has been my favourite. They consistently impress me, and supply me with new and interesting products to try. I also enjoy the size of the samples that Ipsy gives to its subscribers. I can really get a sense if I am going to like the product enough to buy the full size. If you would like to sign up for your own Ipsy bag you can do so by clicking here. If you sign up for Ipsy you will receive a mix of 5 full and sample size products, for only $10USD or $14.95CDN.

In September, we received 5 items plus a bonus sample of Michelle's new EM Cosmetics line. The sample of the palette provided us with enough to get one eye look, but I don't think it will give me a true inspiration of the quality of her products. I actually forgot to take a picture of it for this post. There isn't a lot of product on the card or I would have swatched them.

Freeman Paper Masks

I've really been into masks lately, so I was excited to see these in my bag. I get to try 3 different masks, which is nice because a mask that works for one person doesn't always work for someone else. The brightening mask looks the most intriguing, but unfortunately I am allergic to roses so I wont be able to try it. Right now my skin is so dry so I think that it will benefit greatly from the Blue Agave mask. These masks are fairly affordable so If I end up liking them I wont have to break the bank.

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Mascara

The last few mascara samples I've gotten from Ipsy have been truly disappointing. The Pixi one was so bad and hard to wash off that I lost at least 5 lashes per eye every time I used it. This mascara on the other hand is simply amazing. It has dark black colour payoff that really makes my lashes look fuller, and makes them pop against my makeup. This mascara lengthens more than volumizes, and I am left with a natural, yet defined, fan of lashes. I would definitely consider buying the full size.

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple

I was so happy to receive this product because I absolutely loved the Cailyn eyeliner I got a few bags ago. Although the packaging is a little bulky, it is perfect for on the go, as it has a built in brush in the lid. I feel like this product is more of a stain then a balm. I found it somewhat drying on the lips, but it was extremely long lasting, and left a pretty pigmented stain to my lips after it wore away. The size of the brush comes in handy when trying to get a precise application. I can't wait to rock this colour all the way through Fall and Winter.

NYX Single Eyeshadow in Hot Crystal

I was looking forward to trying a NYX single eyeshadow because I've only ever used NYX palettes before, and I'm sure there is a quality variance. Although I am not happy with the colour I received, it does work well as a lid colour or inner eye highlight. Hot Crystal is a glittery, frosty, white shadow. I wont get much use out of this colour, but I now know that the quality of these shadows are much better then the shadows in NYX's palettes.

Starlooks Eyeliner in Obsidian

At first I was a little iffy about the quality of this liner. When I first swatched it (you will see below), there wasn't a lot of pigmentation. It took about 5 swipes to get the swatch that I did. However, after sharpening it slightly, it is like a completely different pencil. It is super pigmented, and creamy, and blends beautifully. The only downside is that because it is so creamy you need to set it with some black eyeshadow or it is smudge city on you eyelids. I'm really thinking of signing up for Starlooks Starbox based off this pencil alone.

Obsidian, Hot Crystal, Big Apple

Overall, I definitely think that the value is there with September's bag. I am happy with almost everything I received and cant wait to try other products from the brands that I received. Ipsy succeeded this month in delivering new and exciting products. Stay tuned for my October unboxing/review next week. I am trying to get caught up in time for Novembers box.

Current Empties

In keeping with my current low-buy/no-buy I have been working through my stash of products, both full size and samples, and have been loving discovering new and old favourites. Along the way I have also found some products that I am not particularly fond of, so I thought I would share my thoughts on these products.

Although I have an abundance of makeup I find it extremely difficult to use up makeup quickly because there is always so much product in the container. I hope to have more samples used up for the next post, because I am currently swimming in sample sizes.

Biotherm Aqua Source Deep Serum

I found that a little goes a long way with this product, and it is super moisturizing. I found that I didn't need  moisturizer on top of this serum. I have saved another sample of this to use in the Winter when my skin gets a bit drier. I'm not sure if I would repurchase or not.

Nivea Hand Crème

This isn't empty, I am throwing it away because I don't like it. It smells horrible, and it does not absorb into my skin. My hands are left with a slippery film that gets on everything. This is the first Nivea product that I haven't liked. I would not repurchase.

Lucia Goat Milk & Linseed Soap

I found this soap very moisturizing. It left a subtle scent which lingered for part of the day. I would repurchase.

Garnier Fresh Grape Water Cleansing Cloths

I hated these cleansing cloths. They were so dry and barely removed my makeup. Because they were so dry I felt like they scratched my skin. I also didn't like the scent. I would not repurchase.

Kirkland Cleansing Towelettes

These clothes come from Costco and are my favourite cleansing clothes. They remove all of my makeup, including eyeliner and mascara with minimal effort. I don't have to tug at my eyes to get the makeup off. They are very moist with solution so I never have to worry about the package drying out. My face feels thoroughly cleansed after using these. I will continue to repurchase.

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara

This used to be my go to mascara, however since discovering some other mascaras, I find this one lacking. I prefer a wet formula mascara, which this is not. If I am looking for a natural, volumized look, this will be my go to, however, I will look elsewhere for a dramatic volumized lash. I may repurchase.

Maybelline The Rocket Volume Express Mascara

I heard such great things about this mascara, and I really wanted to love it but I just didn't. It didn't give me the volume I like at the base of my lashes, and removal was such a pain. It took a lot of makeup remover and rubbing to get the product off, and even then it felt like I couldn't get everything off. The only plus to this mascara for me was how dark black the formula was. I would not repurchase.

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara

This has been my #1 mascara ever since receiving it from Revlon to review. The formula combined with the unique brush shape gives me that perfect false lash look. I can see this being my Holy Grail mascara for the foreseeable future. I have already repurchased.

Face Stolkholm Luxe Lash Mascara

I found the formula of this mascara to be very dry. Because of this it was hard to get a dramatic look to my lashes. The brush was good at separating my lashes, so I may save and clean it to use with other mascaras. I definitely don't think that this mascara is worth its price tag, as most times when I was wearing it, it barely looked like I was wearing anything at all. I would not repurchase.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser

I actually like this cleanser at first. It lathers well, is very gentle on the skin, and cleans my makeup off very well. However, after a few uses I found that it was making my skin extra oily. Since this was the only new product I was using at the time it is safe to say it was this causing the excess oiliness. I will be sticking to oil free cleansers in the future. I would not repurchase.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

I really did not like this cleanser. It smelt weird, had a weird consistency, and didn't clean my face. There was no lather. It felt like it just sat on my skin. I always had to use a cleansing cloth after to get my makeup off. I would not repurchase.

Glamglow Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask

I have heard nothing but good reviews about this product, but my review is kinda 50/50. The good is that my skin looks and feels amazing after using this. The bad is that I get no tingling and it really hurts when I have to wash it off. I don't have overly sensitive skin but I found the bits in this mask way too sharp and abrasive for me. I would not repurchase this, but I wouldn't mind trying a different mask from this brand.

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

I really enjoyed this sample. It had the perfect amount of exfoliation to cleanser. Although it didn't lather I felt like my skin was thoroughly cleansed. The orange scent was very pleasant and helped wake me up in the morning. If the price was a little lower I would definitely repurchase.

Mario Badescu Cucumber Lotion

This toner is just okay. My face doesn't feel overly clean or dirty after using it. I feel like it leaves a film on my skin, and it doesn't really help with my oilyness either. I would not repurchase.

Herbal Essences Bye Bye Breakage 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner

This one of my favourite HE shampoos. I love using a 2 in 1 because I am super lazy and don't like having to use them separately. I find that this shampoo really helps with split ends and I have smoother hair, with less flyaways when I use it. This shampoo also gives my hair a nice shine. I will continue to repurchase this product.

John Frieda Volume Thickening Shampoo

I didn't really enjoy this shampoo. The thing I liked best was the colour of the bottle and the smell of the product. I found this shampoo drying. I definitely needed a conditioner after using this. I would not repurchase.

May Wantable Makeup Box

Hey ladies! Today I am bringing you another Wantable Makeup Box review. I last reviewed Wantable's subscription service in March, when they were still working on bringing their service to Canada. About two weeks ago they officially "soft launched" in Canada, and gave the first 1000 girls who signed up a free box. I still had to pay for shipping, duties, and taxes; so this box came to just under $15. If you would like to read all about Wantable, their subscription service, and past products, please refer to my first review HERE. This is a very extensive review, with a lot of pictures.

Unlike in March, where I kept my beauty profile very open, I re-did the survey so that I would get a more customized box. I asked for: eyeliner, blush, lip colour, nail polish, lash product, and eye shadow. I asked not to get: brows, highlighter, bronzer, and brushes. Looking back I wish I had asked for brushes and not lash products, but hindsight is 20/20.

This month I received 4 full size products, and one bonus product, with a retail value of $81. I am pleased with what I received, to a point. The colours are not really for me, and I don't know how much use I will get out of them, but it is always nice to try out new things.

I decided not to stay subscribed after this "free" month, because for $50 each month it is too much of a gamble. I would pay $15 a month for what I got, but in my mind I do not think it is worth it for $50. I would rather take that $50 and use it towards things I know I will like and use.

If you would like to sign up for Wantable I would love if you would use my referral link!

Now for a breakdown of the products I received.

Frownies Eye Gels

Retail Value: $0

"Anti-wrinkle treatment for puffy bags under the eyes contains powerful anti-oxidants that help protect your skin. With one 30 minute anti-aging treatment 100% of women testing Frownies eye gels saw a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. The weight of the anti-wrinkle patch smooths the under eye area and protects the integrity of the acid mantle and skin. Frownies Eye Gels promote beauty and provide anti-oxidants to fight free radical damage. Natural ingredients help improve the appearance of the skin."

My Thoughts: I am not in the age bracket that needs to use products like this. I will probably give this to my mom to use. I am glad that it was an extra, freebie product and didn't count as one of my main products.

Rainbow Honey Nail Lacquer in Pinkie Promise

Retail Value: $10
"Pinkie Promise is a fun and shimmery pink base filled with hex and tinsel glitter in magenta, light blue, and gold - this polish calls for a party! Designed and made in the United States, always free of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, and with ingredients that have never been tested on animals."

My Thoughts: This polish is so me! And, I am really glad I got this one instead of the matte polishes other girls were. This polish looks like a unicorn threw up on my nails. I only needed two coats for it to adequately cover the nail. It is so eye catching, and would be great for a full manicure or accent nail. I may have to look into buying some more from this brand in the future.

Manna Kadar Blush in Tropicana

Retail Value: $19
"Our custom formulated blush offers a special light texture which glides on smoothly and evenly and provides the perfect amount of colour to give your face a health glow."

My Thoughts: This blush is so bright and pigmented! Swatches will be at the end of the post. It is really not a colour I would go for, if I was buying a blush for myself. Even lightly swatched and blended this blush is way bright. It will require a super light hand to apply. I don't know if this will look good with my skin tone, but I am definitely going to try it at least once.

FACE Stockholm Matte Shadow in Lemon

Retail Value: $20
"This gorgeous matte shadow is hyper-pigmented for long lasting colour and velvety smooth for superb blendability."

My Thoughts: I was initially turned off by this colour, but after swatching it, I have changed my mind. This shadow is soft and lightly pigmented. It doesn't really come off as yellow, but more of a beige/neutral tone. I think this will look nice as an all over wash of colour.

FACE Stockholm Luxe Lash

Retail Value: $32
"Lengthen and define with our unique precision Lash Lift mascara brush. The close-cropped bristles are precisely spaced and designed specifically to latch onto and coat each individual lash for maximum height."

My Thoughts: When I first opened this mascara I found it to be a little too creamy for a brand new mascara. I thought it had totally dried up. However, after using it, I noticed that it is just a drier formula. I am not in love with this mascara. First, because it is a brown mascara, and I only use black mascara. And second because it doesn't do much for my lashes.

Right: Manna Kadar Blush; Left: Face Stockholm Eyeshadow

What I Found @ Dollarama

Hey girls! Today's post is just a short one to show some great things that I have been seeing at my local Dollarama's. Lately I have been seeing some great brands at great prices, so I thought I would share with you!

Keep in mind that all Dollarama's get different products so you may or may not find these products at your stores. Happy shopping! :)