Maybelline

Review: Maybelline The City Mini Palette

August 9, 2017

I received this sample of Maybelline The City Mini Palette from Influenster, thanks guys!

From Maybelline:

Make a lasting impression with Maybelline’s six-shade mini eyeshadow palette, The City Mini Palette Downtown Sunrise.

Benefits:

Perfectly curated shades in a miniature six-color eyeshadow palette
Pure color pigments melt onto the eyelid for dramatic impact in a single sweep
Create your own amped-up look in an instant
Super-saturated color pigments deliver a long-lasting finish

Maybelline is a drug store favorite, always easy to find and reasonably priced. However, Maybelline is unfortunately not a cruelty free brand.

I found the colors to be quite beautiful, these are all neutral shades that are very flattering. I found the acutal shadow to be quite powdery and not that buildable. But the shades do apply smoothly, which I liked a lot. The shadows are not as pigmented as some other brands but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you’re not into the heavy eyeshadow look – I’m not.

Swatch #2

Overall the palette is quite beautiful but requires a bit more effort than other eyeshadow palettes. There was more time spent on blending and there’s the eyeshadow fall out to consider as well as the pigmentation but if you prefer a softer eye look then you may love this palette.

Have you tried The City Mini Palette?

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips Love Color Lip Care SPF 16

April 21, 2013

I have heard many great reviews regarding the Maybelline Baby Lips line. I mean the appeal of having a tinted lip balm that does not look like streaky lipstick simply just sold me. Unfortunately, I went to my local Wal-Mart and they were out of stock. I waited and forgotten, until I went back on my trip to Asia. Low and behold, while perusing through the local drug mart there, I stumbled upon Baby Lips. Except, it was not the Baby Lips line that looked like packaged lipstick, but rather, like a regular lip balm. And curiously enough, once I came home to good ol’ Canada, I could not find this particular product and their range of colors. So call me lucky that I got this product for cheap, and exclusively in sold around Asia (and I found out, Australia).

This product claims to provide “6-hr hydration and visibly renewed lips”, and “lips feeling soft and renewed”. I chose Rose Addict because it was subtle and I thought, perfect for every day use. And I was not mistaken, the color came out a sheer pink, and went well with everything.

However, I was not happy with the low SPF, since the heat in the Philippines is brutal. But I digress, it is a great product and upon putting it on, it added a nice light color and gloss to it. However, it did not last 6 hours (and is not cruelty-free), but lets just say because I used a lot of my mouth for consumption of water and food, so I will let that slide. The smell is quite pleasant, sweet and fruity and it brought me back to days of Bonne Belle lip balms.

Have you tried Maybelline Baby Lips?

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week FW 2013: Backstage at Giulietta

February 21, 2013

INSPIRATION: Giulietta New York, which is designed by Sofia Sizzi and currently a finalist for the CDFA/Vogue Fashion Fund award, is consistently influenced by the 1960’s. This season, Sizzi focused on the late sixties — with a little nod to Jane Birkin.

FASHION – The Giulietta Fall/Winter 2013 collection incorporated lots of cool color blocking and crystal and bead embellishment on simple yet elegant shapes. The palate consisted of muted grey and yellow alongside bright red and black. Trends included an elegant short cape, which was incorporated into tops and dresses, sliced a-line skirts, culottes and white tights with black patent mary-janes.

HAIR – The hair was parted in the center and curled in waves to produce a romantic, flowing look. Jon Reyman and the Aveda team took models hair and created waves by alternating the direction of the curling iron and setting the hair with lots of hair spray. Before hitting the runway, the crisp waves were brushed into shiny, soft styles.

MAKEUP – The simple, beautiful make-up at Giulietta was designed by Gato and featured entirely Maybelline New York products. The look began with Maybelline’s Tattoo Eyeshadow in soft pink shades all over the eyelid. Then soft brown eyeliner was used from the center of the eye, extending straight out to the side (not curved). Skin was perfected using the Fit Foundation collection, and a warm blush was added to the apples of the cheeks. To create perfectly soft, pink lips, make-up artists used a moistening chapstick, wiped it away, and then dabbed powder blush to add color. The result was romantic, warm, and simply stunning.

By Alexandra Amarotico of She is Red.

Maybelline NY and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week live on the internet!

September 4, 2011

If you live in New York City then you know that fashion week is upon us. From September 8-15, 2011 you can catch some of the runway shows and behind the scenes beauty as it happens live from Lincoln Center. Maybelline, official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, will be live streaming more than 30 shows from the tents. I’m looking forward to seeing Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson and Vera Wang!

Catch the front row experience here. To follow all of the details on twitter use the hashtag #LIVERUNWAY

Mascara Melee: Five Top Formulas, Road Tested

June 3, 2011

Even at their best, mascaras are a bit difficult to gauge. Very, very rarely do you find one that just “wows” you. If it doesn’t run and it doesn’t clump, it’s basically an awesome mascara, right? Even a really impactful mascara can be difficult to commit to, because you always want to find that really amazing curling, lifting, separating mascara.

Mascara also uniquely has the downside of degrading more quickly than any cosmetic. So sometimes a fantastic mascara will be amazing for ten days, before it turns into a flaky, goopy mess- which is such a shame, because when mascara is great, it can make your whole look feel exceptionally polished.

There are a few biggies in the mascara realm- some better than others and all with slightly different attributes. Let’s break down some of the best mascaras…

MAC Zoom Lash: Zoom Lash holds a special place in my MUA heart, because it was introduced when I was just starting out as a MAC freelancer. It was one of my first coveted “big girl” products, and a lot of my affection for it is based in that memory.

Bear in mind this is a controversial mascara, in as much as a mascara can be controversial. But even though the staying power isn’t the best on the market, it solidly darkens and thickens lashes and holds a curl well.

Lancome Hypnose: Earlier in the week, we discussed Lancome’s Dual Finish Pressed Powder Foundation. In the GWP that came along with it, I received a sample of this formulation. A moderate Definicils fan, I thought Hypnose would be a nice twist on Lancome’s mostly solid mascara line. I was definitely underwhelmed by the flaky formula, which called to mind Halloween costumes from when I was a kid. This formula gets some decent reviews around the web, but there are far better options at the Lancome counter.

Maybelline Full n’ Soft: I love high-end makeup, but mascara has far less of a gulf between fancy and mass-market than color products like lipstick or eyeshadow. If you’re at the supermarket or drugstore and need a mascara option stat, Maybelline’s Full n’ Soft is far better an option than the much lauded Great Lash. It defines and separates lashes without clumping, and has a lengthy makeup bag life. Definitely a diamond in the rough.

Clinique Naturally Glossy: Not one of the more dominant mascaras, Clinique’s Naturally Glossy is often overlooked and certainly underrated. This formula is great for work because it goes on thinly, but separates and darkens lashes really well. It doesn’t flake, stays put, and washes off with a minimum of fuss.

Dior DiorShow: DiorShow is another divisive mascara- one of the higher-end options on the market, and very loved by some. The formula defines and separates, without getting too thick or intense – good for day and night.

Everyone has a standard mascara they come back to time and again- what’s yours?