MAC Fabulous Felines Superslick Liner Review

I have to say I usually do not like liquid liners. They are so easy to mess up and smear into my crease when I open my eye too soon after applying that I honestly haven't bothered to use any in years. After seeing the quick view for Pure Show on Makeup Geek and the fantastically detailed swatches for Defiantly Feline, Signature Blue and Smoky Heir on Temptalia, I knew I had to try them if not only for the colors.


The MAC website claims the liners dry in 15 seconds—completely true! Quick drying time and the sponge cone tipped wand makes these easy enough even for me to use. Normally liquid liners have a horribly flimsy, thin brush that with an accidental flick of your hand will cause disaster. Not to say that won't happen, but I definitely feel I have a lot more control with the sturdier-by-comparison sponge applicator. I can also hold the wand at an angle as I line my upper lid so the line will go from fine to thick without having to go back over the same area five or six times like I would have to with a thin brush. Another great feature about this product: the water-resistance is awesome. I did a swatch on my hand when I was home on my lunch break, went back to the office and even after washing my hands several times throughout the day, the liner (Pure Show) refused to come off until the next morning when I noticed it had rubbed off from sleeping.

I have received Defiantly Feline—brown with almost a bronze tone, Signature Blue—a lovely deep blue that borders on navy and Pure Show which is gold with a metallic sheen. I ordered Smoky Heir which is a deep purple that dries slightly shiny but it is backordered so I'll be receiving it in a few weeks (I hope!). I'll also be ordering On the Hunt black shortly and I am a little tempted to go for the metallic silver shade Nocturnal and the lovely shimmery green liner Treat Me Nice.*

*Update: I received Smoky Heir and On the Hunt but I have not ordered Nocturnal or Treat Me Nice as of yet. But I still really want to!

Anyway…these are so great! I do not know how long these last (I’ll update the post when I run out of these or if they dry up suddenly) but so far I like them. I apply them to my upper lash line (after primer and usually eye shadow), I wait less than a minute and I’m good for the day. I notice if I rub them with a dry finger—I mean, really rub, the liner will break apart into little bits. I can remove these with my regular makeup remover despite it being water-resistant and so smudge-proof. All the liners I purchased dried to a shiny (opposed to matte) finish except for Pure Show which is more metallic.

Temptalia’s swatches of these are my favorite swatches.

For Nocturnal, Signature Blue, Smoky Heir click here.

For Pure Show and On the Hunt click here.

For Defiantly Feline and Treat Me Nice click here.

Collection Tips!

So I am all about stalking all the beauty blogs for swatches and more info on upcoming collections.  Here are some tips that I find help me choose what products to get in a collection.

Research!

This can include looking for swatches, color/product descriptions, etc. Check to see if these colors are similar to a product you already own.

Temptalia’s Dupe List I think this is a wonderfully, genius idea. This list covers high end brands to the common drugstore so you can find something in your price range, ideas of color, consistency etc.

Review swatches--scour websites for someone close to your skin color. Many swatches I have seen are on the hand/arm but some can be on the place you normally put the product. I prefer to see both, especially for lip products.

Company’s website—go here to verify if the products you’re thinking of buying is a permanent part of the company’s catalog or if it’s limited edition. For example: MAC Tartan Tale’s Lash & Line Kits are full of products MAC has all year round. You get more for your dollar buying the kit, but if you miss out you don’t necessarily need to throw a fit because you can buy any those items separately. For me, this will allow me to focus my spending to another part of the collection.

Make your list, and refine it several times—this helps me so much! I can be a bit “particular” but my Wish List goes through several stages starting usually 2-3 weeks before the collection comes out. First is the note-taking stage. While I leisurely peruse the collection details online, I make notes in Notepad on product name, type and cost. A week after, more details of the collection are usually available like color breakdown and finishes. I transfer the notes to Word and flesh out vague spots in my list. When I want to see how much damage this collection will do to my bank account, I put all the information in Excel. I like Excel because it will automatically calculate how much my total cost will be. Finally, I have two totals: the grand total of every product on the list and the other is what I absolutely “need” to get.

Here are some examples of my crazily categorized lists.

Venomous Villains Excel List
(More Coming!)
Researching before your trip to the store could save you money to buy something you truly love.
 
Please note I do NOT NOT NOT own Temptalia's Dupe List or have any affliation with Temptalia.  My mentioning them is only a way to expand the reader's resources and knowledge base!

Veet Suprem’ Essence Spray on Hair Removal Cream Review

Total Project Time: 25 minutes

Application
First thing I noticed during application was that it was more of a foam than a cream and one thing I was concerned about was getting an even application. The can says to press on the nozzle completely to ensure an EVEN (yes, it was stressed like that on can) application. I pressed the nozzle all the way down and used a continuous up and down motion. I used a moderate speed but I had to go over sparse areas for a second coat. I was sitting on a stool alternating between bending over while spraying and angling my leg up on my bathtub. When my feet were planted on the floor and I was bending over, I noticed the spray came out of the opening in a triangle shape and some of my tub and tile was very lightly coated with the foam. It was so slight the foam couldn’t be seen, only felt when I put my foot in the area. This product is seriously slippery—soap and body wash aren’t even this slippery! I tried wiping it up with a cotton towel but the product was just moved around. I realized quickly I’d have to use water and maybe even soap to get the slick film off my tub and bathroom floor. This may sound strange but during my six minutes, my skin kind of…hummed. It didn’t sting or tingle and it wasn’t painful or unpleasant. I don’t know if that’s normal with Veet or if I was just imagining it. If anyone uses this product, let me know if you felt something similar.

Removal
The can came with a wide wavy piece of plastic that was used to scrap the hair and the foam off the leg. This was easy enough to use however when I put my leg on the edge of my bathtub and used the scraper at a side angle, the foam flopped to one side of the scraper then slipped onto the area I was about to work on. Now I have two layers of foam stacked on each other. It was pretty messy. The other two depilatory creams I have used in the past had an actual cream texture with more structure so there was no flopping or slipping top of itself. After trouble with the removal while on the stool, I got into my shower/bathtub. It was a little difficult and awkward to remove the product with the water on. When I held the scraper under the water the foam slipped off onto the bathtub bottom making the bathtub extremely slick. If it weren’t for the handle bar the last owners of the house installed, I would have fallen several times. It took longer to remove the greasy film off my legs than the other depilatory creams I’ve tried. Then I had to let my shower run for several minutes afterwards to get the bathtub bottom foam free.

Afterwards
I noticed my skin felt particularly soft and smooth before I used my lotion. A few minutes after putting on my lotion, I noticed my right leg had a couple red bumps of irritation and was very mildly stinging. I used Nar Hair Remover Lotion a few weeks ago and I’m pretty sure my skin was a little stingy/tingly and slightly irritated right after. With Nair, this clears up by the next morning (and I tend to do this stuff pretty late at night. At the time I was getting into bed after using Veet, it was 2:30 am).

Regrowth
The next morning when I ran my hands down my legs, I definitely felt pricklies (which is unusual for me). Literally five days later I had noticeable hair regrowth on my legs. I was pretty disappointed with this because I know the product I usually use (Nair Hair Removal Lotion) can give me about 10 days or so before the hair on my legs are back to normal.

Verdict
I will probably not be using VEET Spray on Hair Removal Cream again. Putting the product on can be messy. The can said to apply it while you’re in a shower stall or something but with the slippery-ness of the foam, anyone could easily fall. Second issue was the wavy plastic remover and the way the product flopped onto the next area I was about to remove. And the most important issue was the short timeframe I would have smooth legs.
Please note this was not sent for consideration. I bought this product with my own money and by my own choice. I’m always on the lookout for products that may work better and will always give my frank and honest opinion.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - Mad Hatter Makeup Tutorial

This is a look I created that's inspired by the Mad Hatter from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Be sure to check out my other tutorials, reviews and all things beauty. Comment, rate, subscribe if you like the video. Follow me on Twitter.

Products I used:

• Hard Candy Powder Keg Loose Eyeshadow in Inked
• Micabella Eyeshadow #87 Iridescence
• Ben Nye Powder Rouge in Orange Pop
• Bloody Mary Pressed Eye Shadow (has no name, just look for the neon orange one)
• Ben Nye Powder Rouge in Passion Purple
• Ben Nye Powder Rouge in Fuschia
• Micabella #61 Artic White
• Maybelline Full N Soft Mascara in Very Black (2-3 coats)
• Loreal Paris Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara (1-2 coats)

In the pictures I'm wearing Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick #300 Rose Blush with a bit of MACs Lipglass in Sonic Vibe
For the video I believe I'm wearing a mix of clear gloss, Micabella's #83 Difference and #81 Resonance
I forgot the Artic White highlighter in the pictures I took at the beginning of the video! Below are some pics with the Micabella Artic White.

Close ups with the completed look

Anyway, I hope you guys like the tutorial.  Feel free to email, comment or request!  Seeya lovelies!

Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo & Conditioner Review

I was feeling bored with my current shampoo (funnily enough, another Herbal Essences formula) and wanted to try something new. My hair is past my shoulders, thick (not the strands thick but the amount of strands on my head thick) and naturally wavy. I don’t dye my hair or use additional products at this time. Sometimes I notice buildup on my scalp from my shampoo and conditioner and it is embarrassing, inconvenient and a little gross to me and onlookers. I do not have love for the buildup. I also don’t like to buy anything I can’t get from a local drugstore or something that’s too expensive. I found this article after doing a web search: 20 Best Drug Store Shampoos. Herbal Essences Hydralicious was the number one shampoo. Go through the slideshow to find out what real readers said about it and the other 19 shampoos made the list. The price was reasonable at my local Walmart ($2.97 per 10.01 fl oz bottle), it smells pretty good and when I got it I was so excited to try it because of what the readers at TotalBeauty.com were saying about it. This shampoo and conditioner is meant to (obviously) hydrate hair to help with shine and softness. One reviewer mentioned how touchable her hair was after using it (and she wasn’t the only one touching it either). I wouldn’t necessarily say my hair is coarse but because of the thickness and how long it’s getting, I can’t brush all of it alone and even with someone helping the tangles can be annoying.
Several Weeks Later…
I’d say I like this shampoo and conditioner. I usually don’t put any other products in my hair like hairspray, leave-in conditioner, shine spritz etc because I don’t like how it weights down my hair and feels gunky so I can’t comment on how well the Hydralicious shampoo and conditioner will remove other products on your hair that are used regularly. I did go to a salon recently and have a bunch of additional products in my hair and that one time, the shampoo and conditioner did remove the other products well. As far as results on my regular use I shampoo and condition about 3 times a week and I let it air dry. The products leave my hair very soft, lots of shine, easier to brush and a bit more manageable. The smell it leaves in my hair is not overpowering to the scents I use daily. I’m very happy with my results and the shampoo and conditioner. It’s a great price and its readily available at anytime I need it which gives it so much more value to me (I love being able to buy a product at 3 in the morning if I want to because it’s not at a mall or a salon). It’s also available in larger bottles for about $6 in my area. The 10.01 fl oz bottles have lasted me a month, I still have more in the containers and I use more than the generalized recommended amounts.

Rated: 4 out of 5

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - Cheshire Cat Inspired Makeup

Products used:

• Covergirl Eye Enhancers - Tourquoise Tempest
• Micabella Eyeshadow - Vibrance 88
• Micabella Eyeshadow - Effervesence 89
• Micabella Eyeshadow - Artic White 61
• Sonia Kashuk Dramatically Defining Longwear Gel Liner - Indigo
• Maybelline Full N Soft - Very Black 2-3 coats
• Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies - Very Black (waterproof seriously works) 2-3 coats
• NP Set Compact Lipgloss - Nisi

Tools:

• Sonia Kashuk Medium Eyeshadow Brush for blending
• Brush that came in the Maybelline Eyestudio Dramatic Gel Liner package**

**I know in the video I said I used Sonia Kashuk (KasHUK didn't pronounce the second syllable very well haha) but when the camera was off I realized I don't like the bent eyeliner brush AT ALL. I bought it, used it once and didn't like it, gave it a second chance and did like it but now (third chance) I really don't like it. The bent eyeliner brush did not hold it's original stiff shape like I was so sure it would. I have a brush from my Maybelline Dramatic Eye Studio gel liner that I used instead to get the end result you see on the video.

Update and Things to Come

Hey everyone!


I know it was some time between my first two videos on youtube and my Cheshire Cat tutorial but I'm going to be coming out with quite a few more videos with different looks I've been developing while I've been away.

Another thing I'm going to be doing are reviews. Here's a list of products I have and will be testing out:

• Bare Escentals bareVitamins Prime Time Primer
• Maybelline Eyestudio Eyeshadow Quad
• Maybelline Eyestudio Cream Trio
• Revlon PhotoReady Foundation
• L'Oreal, Double Extend 24-Hour Lash Boosting Sytem (Mascara + Serum), Black

I'll be coming out with all but the last pretty quickly. The Lash Boosting System is going to take some time because I want to use this for at least a month. I'll have before and after pictures so you guys can get a solid idea of what this system can do for you before you decide to spend your money! The L'Oreal, Double Extend Keratin Lash Boosting Mascara was listed in the article The Best Drugstore Alternatives to Pricey Cosmetics so I knew I wanted to try it.

I'm excited to review these products for you guys and if anyone wants me to review a product before you buy it, please leave me a comment or email me and I'll see what I can do!

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