Products shown:
Batiste travel size dry shampoo - blush ($3.99) **
L'Oréal Paris 24 hour Infallible pro-matte foundation - 101 classic ivory ($12.99) **
Elf HD Powder - Sheer ($6.00)
Elf matte Lip color - Natural ($3.00)
Elf matte Lip color - Praline ($3.00)
Physicians Formula Super BB #InstaReady Beauty balm BB cream - Light ($14.99)
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer - Light Bronzer ($14.99)
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles - 110 Fair ($8.99)
NEW Smashbox Always on Liquid Lipstick - Dream Huge ($24.00) *
Beauty Blender Micro Mini ($18.00)
NEW Mac Liptensity Lipstick - Smoked Almond ($21.00) *
NEW Nars Velvet Lip Glide - Bound ($26.00) *
** repurchases
* first impression and review blog to come
Swatches and first impressions of lip products below!
Note: each swatch was taken without and with the flash (without flash on left, with flash on right)
Elf Matte Lip Color in Natural and Praline
Natural is on the top and Praline is on the bottom. For some reason the flash made these look super shinny but they are not. They are matte, I promise! I like the twist up of the product like an eyeliner but it is about the thickness of an eyeshadow stick, which will make it hard to get sharp precise lines, unless a lip liner was also used I'm thinking. I immediately noticed the creamy and soft feeling of the formula. I do love the color of Natural but I will have to see how I like it with my skin tone when it is one my lips. As you would expect, the color is very natural and somewhat brown. Praline is more of a brown red, but muted. This color is the perfect fall lip color and I see it always being in my purse.
Mac Liptensity in Smoked Almond
This product was surprisingly waxy and unlike the texture of most other Mac lipsticks. Out of all four of these products, this one was the only one with a noticeable smell. I enjoyed the smell a lot though because it was not a lipstick kinda smell. It was a wonderful vanilla smell, which upon further research I found out that this is Mac's signature vanilla flavor and scent! The color had a brown undertone to it which makes it a great fall color. This lipstick can definitely be applied very slight, for a slighter sheer look with just a little color added to your lips or it can be opaque with a good swipe(as it is in the swatch).
NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Bound
I love the packaging of this product as the tube is square with a doe foot applicator much like a lip gloss. The doe foot applicator was super soft but not overly cushioned. I was expecting this product to dry down and be more like a matte liquid lipstick but it did not (guess I should of done more product research). I waited about 7 minutes before taking the picture and the product did not fully dry down as you can somewhat see in the pictures. I will have to wait to see how it dries and behaves on the lips. This color looks quite like the Mac Lip Tensity above but this color is more pinky.
Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in Dream Huge
Now this product is exactly what you think of when you think of a liquid lipstick. The packaging was beautiful. I couldn't help but notice how smooth this felt. It took about 2-3 minutes for this product to dry down matte in the swatch. When I pushed a finger down on it, there was transfer, but minimal. I guess we will have to see how it dries on the lips. Out of all the swatches, this was by far the hardest one to remove. It was the only one that I really had to really rub back and forth over several times to get all the product off. But generally speaking, that is expected with a matte liquid lipstick as they can sometimes tricky to remove but thats why we wear them, so they don't go anywhere! The color of this one is the most pink out of all the colors but it is not overly bright. The pictures do not quiet do this color justice as it was gorgeous in person. The color is closer to the picture without the flash (on the left) as it is not nearly as bright as it looks in the second picture. I do not see myself reaching for this color everyday as I tend to stay with a more natural and neutral lip but this for sure is a beautiful pink for fun occasions (or everyday) as it is a bit of a bolder color.
I bought all these products from Ulta or straight off of the brands own website. As always, all reviews are my honest thoughts and opinions as I am not affiliated or being paid by any of these companies.
I am always so excited to try out the new makeup I buy and I cannot wait to share my thoughts on many of these products with you! Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these products and what you thought of them!!
~ xoxo Kristen
