lip gloss – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: lip gloss

Milani Power Lip Gloss Stain in Macaroon Review | $1.99 T.J. Maxx Find

Posted on August 26, 2016August 17, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I recently went to my local T.J. Maxx store to pick up a bottle of dry shampoo, and decided to browse through the beauty section to see if there were any other goodies worth purchasing. I did grab some cleansing wipes from the brand Avalon Organics to try, but on the way to the checkout I spotted some Milani products! I’ve never tried the Milani Power Lip line before, and the shade Macaroon looked really pretty. It was just $1.99, so I decided to buy it as well. Let me share my thoughts on this product with you, as well as some swatches.

Milani Power Lip is a really unique lip product that is part gloss and part stain. It is designed to have a non-drying formula that is also long-lasting. I was drawn in by the gorgeous color on the packaging, and thought it would be a nice shade to wear during the day.

Probably the most interesting aspect of this product is the applicator. This is a twist-up product with a brush at the end. I wasn’t really thrilled with this applicator at first, but I must admit the brush is really soft and the application is surprisingly user friendly. My tip in using this applicator is not cranking out too much product at once. Less is more with Power Lip!

Milani really nailed the description of gloss stain with this product! The Power Lip almost feels like a liquid lipstick, because it has an opaque yet super glossy appearance. While I did notice that the Power Lip sticks to any dry patches on the lips, the formula otherwise feels quite creamy and hydrating. If you do have dry lips, simply use a lip scrub before application.

The shade Macaroon is a true pink color. It is a bit brighter than I normally wear, and I was hoping for more of a peachy-nude undertone. However, I think the shade does look quite nice on me, and I hope to step outside my comfort zone and wear this often. I definitely appreciate how comfortable the product is during wear, and how the staining properties of the formula leave a nice tint to the lips as the actual gloss wears off throughout the day.

All in all, I’m really glad I found this Milani Power Lip Gloss Stain at T.J. Maxx! I think this is a fabulous and affordable lip product, and I am excited to wear it more. Unfortunately, the Power Lip appears to be discontinued since it is no longer listed on Milani’s website. Make sure to check out your local T.J. Maxx to see if you can score any at a discounted price! Please let me know in the comments if you’ve found anything exciting at your local T.J. Maxx or discount store!

ELF Cosmetics Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Pink Lemonade | Review & Swatches

Posted on August 15, 2016August 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of a lip product I received as a free bonus item in my last ELF Cosmetics order (see everything I got HERE). I’ve never tried a lip product from ELF before, so I was really curious to see what the formula and quality of the Lucious Liquid Lipstick line is like. These lip products retail for the fabulous and affordable price of $1.00 each, so if the formula is good, I will definitely be purchasing some in the future. Let me share my thoughts and some swatches with all of you!

The Luscious Liquid Lipstick line is formulated to provide a rich pigmentation along with lip hydration. Each shade comes in twist up packaging with a sponge-like applicator. I’m not the biggest fan of the applicator on this lip product. While it makes applying the lip color quite easy, it also traps a lot of product. I need to twist up the bottom several times to get a good amount of product out of the tube. It’s not too much of a hassle, but something I thought is worth mentioning.

I received the shade Pink Lemonade, which is a berry mauve shade with red and gold shimmer. While this is called a liquid lipstick, it is definitely more of a lip gloss. The product provides a nice pigmentation, but is definitely on the sheer side, and not opaque like a liquid lipstick. It also has a shiny formula that feels like a gloss. I really enjoy the feel of this product on the lips, but it is very helpful to know it is more of a gloss than a liquid lipstick. I also want to point out that the swatch of Pink Lemonade on ELF’s website is very different from the product in person. I recommend going to check out the products in-store before ordering online if you are looking for a particular shade.

Pink Lemonade definitely has a metallic sheen in person that was difficult to capture on camera. While I personally don’t like to wear shimmery lip colors, this is a really nice product. The texture is a bit sticky, but not in an uncomfortable way. Instead, it stays put on the lips and doesn’t slide around. The color is also quite long-lasting. I’m very impressed with the nice quality of this $1.00 lip product!

All in all, I’m so glad I got the opportunity to try Pink Lemonade from the ELF Cosmetics Lucious Liquid Lipstick line. I definitely think this is a great lip gloss to have in your stash if you are looking for something uber affordable. I will be checking out the other shades in the collection to see if there are any I enjoy. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any of ELF’s Luscious Liquid Lipsticks and your thoughts on them in the comments!

November PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing | $40 Value for $10

Posted on December 14, 2015December 1, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am so excited to share with you a brand new subscription service from Sephora called PLAY! by Sephora. As you might now, I’ve tried out a few $10 beauty subscriptions in the past, but ultimately cancelled all of them because I wasn’t impressed with the products, or I got the same items all the time. When I heard that Sephora had its own $10 beauty box, I had to try it out right away. I figured that if all the products were found at Sephora, it had to be good. I joined the PLAY! by Sephora wait list, and was able to get the November box. Let me show you what I got inside my first box!

My November box arrived in the cutest packaging! I love the lipsticks on the box. PLAY! comes with a magazine that details the products inside and how to use them. Plus, it comes with a coupon for a free one-on-one learning session at Sephora that also gives you 50 Beauty Insider Points with any purchase!

PLAY! by Sephora is a sample subscription, and I received six samples in my November box. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on each product in turn!

Stella McCartney ‘Stella’ Perfume – $2.70 retail value

The only product that I’m quite disappointed with in my box is this perfume sample. Sephora gives away these samples for free in store and online, and the packaging even says “Free Sample” on the back. I also won’t be using this perfume because it is a floral scent, which aggravates my allergies. Nonetheless, it has a $2.70 retail value and I can give this to a friend.

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil – $4.52 retail value

Next I got a deluxe sample of Josie Maran Argan Oil. This is an amazing sample, but it’s one I’ve tried before and it doesn’t work for me. This argan oil is just a bit too heavy for my skin, and I tend to break out when I use it. That being said, I know so many people who would love to get this product. I’m giving mine as a gift for Christmas!

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer – $5.76 retail value

I am so excited about this Make Up For Ever primer! I love trying out new primers, and this is a high end product I would never purchase without trying first. I might save this sample for travel, but it’s definitely great to have on hand. This is exactly the type of product I was hoping to get in my subscription!

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12h Wear in My Boyfriend’s Jeans – $4.25 retail value

The next item is a blue eyeliner from Sephora’s own brand. This is something I’m not going to use, simply because I never wear eyeliner, and blue eyeliner is definitely not my style. I think it’s great that Sephora included this, though, because many makeup lovers might not want to buy a blue eyeliner, but would perhaps want to try one. It’s a great idea, just not my taste!

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb – $13.33 retail value

Sephora included two lip products in this box, which I absolutely love! The first is this lipstick from Bite Beauty. The shade is stunning, and a bit more daring than I usually wear. I am so excited to be able to wear such a high end lippie for such an affordable price. It’s amazing that this sample alone is worth more than the $10 I paid for the box!

Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Dolly – $9.50 retail value

Last but not least is a Buxom lip product in the most gorgeous shade. I’ve really come to love Buxom products, and this one is no exception. It can be worn alone, or layered over the Bite Beauty lip product, so that’s awesome that they work together if you wish. I’ve worn this lip gloss already, and absolutely love it!

All in all, my November PLAY! by Sephora box is a $40.06 retail value! I am really excited about the two lip products, and the Make Up Forever primer. Even if I just consider the retail value of those three products, that is $28.59 and nearly triple what I paid. I’m super happy with this box, and will continue subscribing for sure. If you’d like to join, head on over to Sephora’s website HERE. Definitely let me know if you sign up for the subscription!

Shop this month’s PLAY! by Sephora box!

Birchbox Haul | Hair Care & Makeup

Posted on October 30, 2015October 25, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s the last day of Haul Week here on the blog! Today I have a small haul from Birchbox. Although I am no longer subscribed to the Birchbox subscription program, I had saved up $10 worth of points that were expiring this month. I decided to use my points and pick up a hair care favorite, plus a few other goodies. Let me show you what I got – all for $25!

Perhaps you didn’t know that in addition to its subscription program, Birchbox has an amazing online store! It’s a bit like Sephora, but there are often sales and coupons, and even freebies! There is a rewards system as well called Birchbox Points. While subscribers earn points very frequently, anyone can earn points just by shopping online. Each dollar spent is one point earned, and 100 points equals $10. I always save my points, but because they expire in a year’s time, I needed to use them right away!

First, let me share the products I purchased. I had to grab my holy grail dry shampoo from Klorane. No matter how many dry shampoos I try, this one is still a favorite. Unfortunately, it costs $20, so I only pick it up when there is a deal. I also decided to purchase a trio of mini lip glosses from Cythnia Rowley. I received one of these glosses in a Birchbox last year and really loved it, so I grabbed it for $15. I am a little disappointed with how tiny these glosses are, but I’m still happy with them. I’ll have a full blog post showing them off soon!

The rest of the items in this haul were freebies! I got an email from Birchbox with a coupon code for this travel size dry shampoo from Living Proof along with the L. Erickson headband. I’ve been doing PiYo for over a month now, so this headband really comes in handy for my short hair. Plus, I am always up for drying out another dry shampoo. Maybe this one will beat out Klorane!

Finally, Birchbox has a Bonus Shop that lets you add additional freebies to your order depending on what you buy. I always go for the Mystery Sample Pack. If you spend $35 or more, you can add this pack to your order for free. It contains two deluxe samples, but you don’t know what they are. This time I got the Templespa In Good Condition Hair Conditioner and Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Lagoon. These are great products, but I think I’ll be passing them on this time.

All in all, I’m really happy with this Birchbox purchase! I do miss the subscription program, but still recommend it for those of you who have an extra $10 to spend each month. You can subscribe using my referral link HERE if you’re interested.

What is your favorite hair care product at the moment? Let me know in the comments!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

NYX Butter Gloss Reviews | Merengue, Créme Brulee, and Peach Cobbler

Posted on September 4, 2015August 30, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have swatches and reviews of three Butter Glosses from the brand NYX. I am pretty new to NYX, and am trying out the brand’s many products slowly. I am so glad NYX is now easily available at CVS Stores, and at Ulta both in store and online so I can try out these fabulous and affordable products! NYX has a vast product line, but I decided to start with the Butter Gloss lip gloss when I got a coupon for it at CVS last spring. I fell in love, and had to pick up a couple more! Let me show you the Butter Glosses I have in my makeup collection!

MERENGUE

Merengue is a pink lip gloss with cool undertones of blue and purple. Like all of the NYX Butter Glosses, Merengue has a slight vanilla scent that I really love. In addition, it packs a sheer amount of color to the lips, and can be worn alone or over another lip product. I’m not really a fan of Merengue with my skin tone, but I think it would look gorgeous with dark skin. I’m going to try layering this one to make it more wearable for me.

CRÉME BRULEE

My favorite of the bunch is Créme Brulee, a peachy-pink nude gloss that for me is a ‘my lips but better’ shade. Créme Brulee is the first Butter Gloss I purchased, and definitely my most worn. It is perfect for daily wear, and can be layered over many nude or pink lipsticks. The formula of each NYX Butter Gloss is awesome as well, because while they are a bit tacky, that slight tackiness allows the product to be long-wearing. They are comfortable to wear, and I would not label them “sticky.”

PEACH COBBLER

Last but not least is Peach Cobbler, a bright red-orange gloss. Peach Cobbler is quite pigmented, and brighter than I normally wear. It does look great with my fair skin tone, and I just need to go ahead and wear it. Peach Cobbler is a great gloss to wear any time of year as well!

All in all, I’m really enjoying the NYX Butter Gloss lip glosses. While I’m still trying to find out the perfect shades for me, I don’t mind experimenting because these glosses cost just $4.99! Plus, both CVS and Ulta offer coupons and sales on NYX on a regular basis, so you can score these for just a couple dollars (if not less!). These glosses are really great quality for the price, and I highly recommend them!

What are your favorite NYX products? Let me know in the comments!

Makeup by One Direction Limited Edition Tour Case Review

Posted on January 17, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have another review of one of the limited edition products from the brand Makeup by One Direction. If you are looking for an all-inclusive set, look no further. This case includes eyeshadows, eyeliners, mascara, nail polish, lipstick, lip gloss, glitter pots, and stickers! I got to work swatching the products for you so you can see what’s inside. Let me open up the tour case for you!

Here is what the Tour Case looks like before and after opening it. As you can see, it expands to three pop-up drawers. This is really an all-in-one set if you’re a One Direction fan!

Here are close-up looks of each drawer. First is the eye makeup drawer that includes 45 eyeshadows, two eyeliners, and one mascara. Next is the nail polish and lip product drawer that includes six polishes, two glitter pots, one lip gloss, and two lip crayons. There is also a UV light if you’d like to see how the nail polish looks in that kind of light. Finally, the third drawer contains stickers that you can use to decorate the tour case. Now let’s move on to the swatches!

EYESHADOW

This case contains 45 eyeshadows in a variety of formulas. Most are shimmers, but there are also a few mattes thrown in as well as some glitters and creams. The quality of the shadows varies dramatically. Some are amazing, while others are not great at all. The pigmentation also varies. I think this is a fun set for younger girls starting out with makeup who just want to play around with color, but I don’t recommend it for everyday makeup use. I swatched the shadows without a primer, and will let you know the colors from left to right in each swatch picture.

Metallic Mint, Khaki, Graphite, Spark, and Spotlight

Night Sky, Glacial, Poser, Mocha, and Dawn

Quartz, Bronzed, Ultra Violet, Sequin, and Blush

Surfer Blue, Mushroom, Cornflower, Dusk, and Amped

London Sky, Midnight, Center Stage, Irish Luck, and Lime Light

Aqua Mist, Spring, Georgia Rose, Melody, and Harmony

Brick, Sherwood, Terra Cotta, Earth, and Faded Jeans

Cityscape, Galaxy, Summer Rain, Lightening, and Twilight

Coffee Bean, Emerald, Sapphire, Amethyst, and Onyx

EYELINER

This set also includes two eyeliners in silver and black. I think it’s great to have these in any set!

Not pictured is also a purple mascara. If you’d like to see swatches of other colored mascaras from Makeup by One Direction, check out my review HERE.

NAIL POLISH

The first nail polish in this Tour Case is Strobe, a white creme polish. Strobe’s formula was a little tricky, but it evened out nicely in three thin coats. It’s awesome that Makeup by One Direction included the basics in this set!

Next up is Blue a Fuse, a glitter top coat with blue, white, and pink glitters. I applied one coat over Strobe, and I was a little disappointed with how many glitters came out. I would have liked more glitter in one coat, but overall Blue a Fuse is still a great polish!

My favorite polish in the Tour Case is Rebel, a bright fuchsia pink. Rebel has a perfect formula, and it is just stunning. I love my pink polishes, and this is a great one to have!

The next glitter polish in the set is Star Struck, a clear base filled with pink, white, and fuchsia glitters. The glitters were easier to apply with Star Struck than with Blue a Fuse, and I put one coat on top of Rebel. I am really liking this polish combination!

Along with a white, Makeup by One Direction also included a basic black creme. This polish is called Street Punk, and is a good black polish. I applied two coats and didn’t have any issues with the formula.

The last polish in the Tour Case is Graffiti, a glitter polish with black and white glitters. I applied one coat over Street Punk, but in the future I think I’d layer it over a non black polish to see the glitters easier.

Also included in this set are two loose glitter pots that can be used on the nails or even as eyeshadow pigments. They are in the shades Voltage (orange) and Shock (pink).

LIP PRODUCTS

Last but not least, the Tour Case includes three lip products. Here are swatches of all three on my arm, but I have lip swatches for you as well!

The lip gloss in this set is Backstage, a red glitter gloss. It has a nice wash of color without being too dramatic, but the glitter is a bit grainy on the lips. I would love this gloss if it didn’t contain glitter, but if you like glitter you would love this!

Next up is a pink Lip Crayon. I’m really liking the formula of these lip crayons. They apply super easily and have a matte finish. You can, of course, add gloss on top, but I like the matte look. Be forewarned, though – these stain! That’s a benefit if you want it to last though eating and drinking, though.

Finally, there is also a true red Lip Crayon. I’m really impressed with the great quality of this lipstick. I definitely think it’s a highlight in the tour case for sure!

All in all, the Makeup by One Direction Tour Case is chock full of a ton of fun makeup products. I do recommend this case for One Direction fans, or for those who are just getting started with makeup. The quality is not the best on the eyeshadows, and some of the other products could have better formulations as well. However, for a full case that retails $49.95, I would definitely consider whether that price is worth it for you. If you’re looking for a good deal, check out the sale going on right now at Macy’s, where you can snag the tour case for 50% off HERE! As always, you can like Makeup by One Direction on Facebook HERE to stay up to date with the brand. Please let me know your thoughts on the Tour Case in the comments!

This product was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Makeup by One Direction Limited Edition Beauty Collection Review

Posted on December 10, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of another amazing beauty collection from the brand Makeup by One Direction. The company released a set of five tins – one for each member of One Direction – that contain some fun beauty products. They make perfect holiday gifts, and are also super affordable at just $12.95 each. Let me show you the tins and the goodies inside of them!

I was sent three of the five tins to review for you– Niall, Harry, and Liam grace the covers! Inside all of the products are the same, so make sure you stay tuned to Adventures in Polishland for giveaways in the future (hint hint!). I decided to open up the Harry palette. He was too STYLE–ing in that hat for me to resist.

Here is a quick overview of everything inside the tin. As you can see, you get six eyeshadows, four lip glosses, two nail polishes, a lip glitter, an eyeliner, and two applicators. I really appreciate that the lip glosses are packaged away from the eyeshadows so any fallout doesn’t get mixed into the glosses. Also, It’s great that the packaging contains the names of each product so I know what the colors are.

NAIL POLISH

The first nail polish is Stole my Heart, a bright pink polish with pink shimmer. Stole my Heart has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. It is such a fun shade, and I love the shimmer formula.

The other polish is Alive, a glitter top coat filled with a mix of multicolored glitters in a variety of shapes. Alive has a good formula, and I applied two coats over Stole my Heart in the photos you see here. I do wish more glitters applied with each coat, but the end look is awesome. I could see this as a New Year’s Eve manicure for sure.

EYESHADOW

Here are swatches of all the eyeshadows in this palette without primer. From left to right, the shades are: Everything About You, Summer Love, I Would, Same Mistakes, Tell Me a Lie, and Nobody Compares. I’m really impressed with the smooth formulas and great pigmentation in these shadows. Each is very shimmery and great for the holidays, but I will say I wish there was at least one matte shade in the palette. I would have to reach for another palette to get a full eyeshadow look. Nonetheless, this collection has some really nice shadows!

EYELINER

The eyeliner in this kit is I Want, a matte black pencil. I am really impressed with this product as well. It applies so easily and has a true matte effect. You can also smudge out this liner for a smokey look.

LIP GLOSS

This palette also includes four lip glosses and a lip gloss top coat. From left to right, the shades are: Over Again (lip gloss top coat), Heart Attack, Irresistible, One Thing, and Loved You First. Each lip gloss gives a subtle wash of color to the lips and has a sheen to it. If you want added glitter, Over Again is perfect. I do recommend using your own lip brush to apply these, as the one included in the kit does not work well at all. Of course, layer over lipstick for a more opaque look.

All in all, I think these Makeup by One Direction tins are great items for any One Direction fan. The nail polish is a huge favorite of mine, and I think the eyeshadows are a nice addition to any makeup lover’s collection. These tins can be purchased at Sears USA, KMart, Target, and Walmart Canada. At just $12.95, I think they are a steal. Let me know which tin you’d pick based on your favorite One Direction member in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Makeup by One Direction | Up All Night Review

Posted on August 12, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I am excited to share with you one of the limited edition tins from the Makeup by One Direction line! A couple weeks ago, I told you all about the three Looks Collections HERE. Make sure to check out that post for detailed information about all of the tins, and for the US release dates. I was sent the Up All Night palette, which is definitely geared for concert-goers! If you’re headed to a One Direction concert anytime soon, you’ll want to snag this tin!

Here’s what the tin itself looks like. I really love the packaging! It’s very sturdy and organized. Plus, I think it’s a great idea to have some tips on how to use the products right on the inside of the tin. Now, let me show you each of the products!

First up is the Stand Out Eye and Body Crayon in a dark denim shade. This is basically a jumbo crayon that you can use as eyeliner, or for anything else. I tested it as an eyeshadow base, and it worked really well for that. The formula is smooth and creamy, and blends out easily. If you’re using this purely as a liner, I suggest setting it with a powder product to avoid smearing.

Next up is the 4+1 Eyeshadow Palette. I really like how the names of the eyeshadows are right on the back of the palette. It’s so helpful! I swatched each of the shadows above over a primer so that my camera would capture them well. You can go with or without primer in real life, as I find these shadows are nicely pigmented and quite buttery. From left to right, the shades are: Up All Night, Another World, Save You Tonight, Gotta Be You, and More Than This. I do love that there are two neutral shades in this palette, as those are perfect for everyday looks. The blues are beautiful, but definitely more for “going out.” This is a great little palette to stick in your purse if you’re heading straight to the One Direction show after school or work!

To complete your eye makeup, this kit includes the Little Black Dress Volumizing Mascara in Perfect Black. To be honest, this mascara left me a bit underwhelmed. It gives much more of a natural look, which is nice, but it’s not too volumizing as the name suggests.

The Up All Night collection also includes two lip products, with the first being the I Should Have Kissed You lipstick. This is a super bright pink lipstick with a matte finish. The formula is extremely opaque in one coat, and will stay on all night. In fact, I Should Have Kissed You will stain your lips, so you may want to wear a lip liner or primer. The color is so vibrant that I felt a bit silly wearing it, but if you love bright lips this one is perfect for you!

The other lip product is the Taken Liquilights Lip Gloss. This is a bright pink lip gloss that glows to orange under a UV light. Unfortunately I don’t have a UV light so I couldn’t test the color change, but I did give the lip gloss a try. Because it is packed with glitter, it is a little uncomfortable to wear – I can feel the glitter granules on my lips as I wear it. Other than that, the formula is nice, and applies very easily. You can either wear Taken alone, or layered over I Should Have Kissed You to enhance your pink pucker!

My favorite product in the Up All Night tin is, of course, the Na Na Na nail polish! Na Na Na is a gorgeous metallic blue shade with hints of green and gold. The formula is amazing, and is opaque in two coats. I am really impressed with this polish! In fact, I would love to see more polishes come out from this line!

Last but not least we have the Decorator Stencil Set. These stencils are included as a little bonus, and can be used to decorate your limited edition tin, or for whatever your heart desires! There are a bunch of different designs, but I thought I’d share the cute diamonds.

All in all, the Up All Night tin from the new Makeup by One Direction line is a fun collection for any One Direction fan. The quality of the products is pretty good overall, with the nail polish being the stand out product for me. Whether you’re heading out for the night, or simply looking for some bright makeup shades, the Up All Night tin might be perfect for you! Make sure to like the Makeup by One Direction Facebook Page HERE for updates, and let me know what product you would most like to try from the Up All Night tin in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Red Lip Colors for July 4th from NYC New York Color!

Posted on July 3, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Yesterday I showed you a fabulous and affordable manicure for July 4th (see that post HERE), and today it’s time for some festive red lips! If you’re looking for some great lip colors that you can grab at your local drugstore, this is the post for you!

CITY PROOF TWISTABLE INTENSE LIP COLOR

Roosevelt Island Red – $2.99

The City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color is designed to be lightweight, soft, and silky. It applies really easily thanks to the crayon-like applicator, and smells just like fruit punch! I find Roosevelt Island Red to be very glossy and moisturizing. It has a good color payoff, but is not completely opaque. If you’re going for a more natural look, I highly recommend this lip color! You can also wear it on top of a lipstick for added shine.

EXPERT LAST LIP COLOR

Traffic Jam – $1.99

I’ve tried one Expert Last Lip Color in the past, and didn’t have a great experience (see that review HERE), but I’m happy to report that I’m loving Traffic Jam! It is extremely moisturizing, and glides on with ease. The formula is creamy, and extremely pigmented. With one coat I got an opaque look! Traffic Jam is actually quite a wearable shade, especially with my fair skin tone. This lip color definitely stains your lips, though, so be careful during application!

All in all, I’m very impressed with these new lip colors from NYC New York Color! Not only are they incredibly affordable, but they are high quality as well. If you’re looking to rock a red lip this Fourth of July, stop by your local drugstore to grab one (or both!) of these. I’ll definitely be checking out more shades from these lines in the future!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Manna Kadar Cosmetics | Beauty Simplified

Posted on December 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I recently had a great opportunity to join Birchbox and the brand Manna Kadar for a Google Hangout. We got to hear from Manna herself as she shared great information about her makeup line, and answered our beauty questions. As part of the experience, Birchbox sent me some of Manna’s products to try, and I wanted to review them for all of you! I’m completely obsessed with this line!

All of the products arrived in an adorable pink and white chevron pouch, along with a catalog to tell me a bit more about the brand. As I’ll explain more throughout this post, one of the reasons I love Manna Kadar products is because they are easy to use, labeled well, and really simplify my makeup routine. Plus, the products are amazing!

Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion

The Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion in Birchbox Love is a Birchbox Exclusive shade! This is an incandescent liquid that can be mixed with foundation or used alone to give the skin a glowy, illuminated look. I was a bit nervous to try this, but I’ve worn it a few times as a highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones, and I’m loving it! The product is a light pink shade, but blends right into the skin. What’s left is a beautiful glow that has a slight shimmer in the light! Perhaps soon I’ll be brave enough to mix it in with my own foundation!

Concealer Trio

Next up is the Concealer Trio in the shade Warm Front. These cream concealers have an amazing formula, and are extremely blendable. The lightest shade is almost invisible in the swatch photo above because that is how well in blends in with my skin tone! I love that this trio has different shades, so if my skin gets a bit darker in the summer I won’t have to purchase a brand new product. Manna really thinks of everything!

Eye and Lip Primer

If you’re looking for a great two-in-one product, the Eye and Lip Primer is for you! I have the shade Light Medium, and it is perfect for me! I haven’t tested this as a lip primer yet, but it is amazing as an eye primer. It goes on smoothly, and really makes eyeshadow pop. As with all Manna Kadar products, it is long lasting as well. I am really liking this so far!

Lip Gloss

I’ll be honest, I was very nervous to try this next product! The Lip Gloss in Hot Lips is a bright pink color packed with lots of shimmer. I absolutely loved the color, but was afraid of how it would look on me. Turns out I actually like it! The sparkle isn’t overboard, but the gloss is very pigmented. It is a bit sticky, but I don’t mind that. I also can’t help thinking what a gorgeous nail polish Hot Lips would be!

Mascara

Last but not least is the Curling & Volume Mascara in Black. I actually decided not to open this mascara yet because I already own a Manna Kadar mascara that I love (pictured to the right in the second photo). In fact, that mascara made my October Favorites post! I’m sure this new mascara will be just amazing as the one I’m wearing now, but if you would like a full review sometime in the future let me know in the comments!

Makeup Look

I am using all of the products mentioned in this post for this makeup look! I feel like my skin looks great with just a touch of the concealer, and my lips look nice even though I’m not used to such a bright color. I went a bit fancy with my makeup here because I was headed to an event that you will hear about soon, and I’m glad I got to see the eyeshadow primer at work. I’m really happy with everything!

All in all, I am truly enjoying all of the products I’ve tried from Manna Kadar Cosmetics. This is definitely more of a high end makeup brand, but if you are looking for really high quality products, I think these are worth the splurge. Everything reviewed in this post retails from $19-34, and can be purchased on Birchbox’s website HERE and Manna Kadar’s website HERE. Have you tried any Manna Kadar products? Let me know in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.