Tag: review

  • does it work?? testing peanuts x wet n wild multi-stick set

    does it work?? testing peanuts x wet n wild multi-stick set

    Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call their favourite time of year. Peanuts and the holiday season have long gone hand in hand, thanks to the iconic Christmas special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” So, it is no surprise that makeup brands would want to release Peanuts themed products during the holiday season. Last year, Wet n Wild did just that, with a collection that included blush palettes, beauty blenders, and all sorts of other themed items. At that time, I was able to find the Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown Eyeshadow Palette. (That eyeshadow palette has been in heavy rotation for the past year.) When I was in the United States recently on a shopping trip, I came across another Peanuts x Wet n Wild product. This time, it was the What Christmas Is All About 3-Piece Multi-Stick Set. Does it work?? It is time to find out.

    The What Christmas Is All About 3-Piece Multi-Stick Set from the Peanuts x Wet n Wild collection was found at a discount store during my short getaway to the US. It was available for just $2.99 USD…a bargain that was too tempting to resist. According to the brand, it is possible to “spread holiday cheer with this 3-Piece Multi-Stick Set. Formulated with Vitamin E, these multi-functional makeup sticks feature a velvety cream to powder formula that applies seamlessly to eyes, cheeks, and lips. Mix and match to create different holiday looks.” Right off the bat, I like the fact that these sticks can be used in a few different ways. It is always nice to have a versatile product on hand! I also really love the packaging. The outer packaging shows Charlie Brown and Snoopy underneath the Christmas tree (so cute) and the actual sticks show Snoopy and Woodstock with lots of Christmas lights and different holiday decorations. In terms of the packaging and dedication to the theme, this set is a winner.
    Now for the actual performance of the Multi-Stick Set. There are three different colours: I Wish (glittery white), Warm & Cozy (shimmery brown), and Jingle Bell (glittery gold). The three colours are perfect for the holiday season. However, these feel somewhat sticky when applied on the eyelids. Though the brand claims reference a cream to powder formula, these did not dry down fully and creased not too long after application. The only way that I would use these on the eyes would be on the inner corner or underneath the brow. (I Wish works well that way.) Both I Wish and Jingle Bell are nice on the cheeks and add a fun dose of shimmer. I’ve tried the products on the lips as well, and though they look quite nice, it isn’t the most comfortable product to wear that way. There are certainly some pros and cons to consider when it comes to these stick products.

    For the makeup look, shown above, all three of the Wet n Wild products were used on the eyes. I Wish was applied all over the lid, Jingle Bells on the very center, and then Warm & Cozy on the outer corner. It looked decent enough and I do enjoy all of the glitter…but it didn’t dry down completely and it creased a lot. Warm & Cozy was also applied on the lips, which creates a really fabulous finish, but it is not the most comfortable. So…does it work?? Sort of. The What Christmas Is All About 3-Piece Multi-Stick Set from the Peanuts x Wet n Wild collection is neither a complete winner or a complete failure. I love the packaging and the theme. I love the colours chosen. I love the gorgeous finishes. That being said, the products do not work well on the eyelids and aren’t comfortable on the lips. It is possible to make use of these sticks, but not necessarily in all the ways that the brand claims. It was wonderful to find these cute holiday themed products for a ridiculously low price. I only wish these dried down and did not crease on the eyelids. Though it wasn’t a completely successful venture, it was an awful lot of fun to use these.

    Were you able to try anything from the Peanuts x Wet n Wild holiday collection? Are you looking forward to the holidays?

  • disney villains eyeshadow palette (#fotd and review part three)

    disney villains eyeshadow palette (#fotd and review part three)

    It is time for the third and final post related to the Disney Villain Swivel Shadow Palette from Townley. This themed eyeshadow palette is dedicated to different Disney characters (Maleficent, Ursula, and The Evil Queen) and features a wide variety of colours and finishes. Now? It is time to take a look at The Evil Queen section. Like most Disney Villains, she scared me as a child, especially on the Snow White ride that used to be at Walt Disney World. (A version of the ride is still in Disneyland, for the record.) Her intensity, her jealousy, and her desire to be first no matter what was more than a little terrifying. If nothing else, The Evil Queen taught me that being beautiful on the inside is more important than being beautiful on the outside. Ready to take a look at the final section of the Disney Villain Swivel Shadow Palette? Keep reading for swatches and a #FOTD….

    Unlike the other Disney Villain sections in this swivel palette, The Evil Queen section is easily the most wearable for everyday looks. There are lots of warm metallics to choose from – and a few pops of colour as well. Though it would have been nice to see a red colour included in here as well (to represent the apple or her red lips) the shimmery metallics are stunning and really represent her crown well. These shimmers are richly pigmented, apply well, and look absolutely gorgeous worn alone or in combination with some of the others. I have been using these shades a lot lately for quick one-shadow looks. The glitter included in this section is a beautiful gold, but like the other glitters, it requires a glitter glue in order to work well. The colour payoff for the green is not as impressive, but the blue shadow absolutely wows. There is a lot to love about this section.

    For the #FOTD shown above (which was created before my husband and I left to stay in a spaceship themed room for a few nights)…it was all about those warm metallic colours. As you can see, these shadows are ultra shimmery and have a lot of colour payoff. The middle colour in the top row was applied all over the lid and a bit of the middle colour in the second row was added to the center. Then some of the darkest metallic colour was added to the crease for some extra definition. The lightest shimmery shade was applied to the inner corner and under the brow bone. The darkest metallic shade was applied along the lower lash line for extra drama. Though the Maleficent section was my favourite overall (those purple shades are hard to resist) this particular section was a close second. I love how warm the shadows are and I just adore the shimmers.

    What do you think of this #FOTD? Are you a fan of the colours in this section of the Disney Villain palette?

  • brown lipstick mini reviews (kvd, smashbox, and morphe)

    brown lipstick mini reviews (kvd, smashbox, and morphe)

    What is it about brown lipstick? It seems that I cannot get enough. It is no secret that I am obsessed with a lot of 90s trends and all things nostalgic…so perhaps that is one of the reasons that brown lipstick has become an absolute staple in my makeup collection lately. Between the 90s inspiration and the recent popularity of the latte makeup look, it seems that many are obsessing over brown lipstick at the moment. At least I am in good company! Over the last little while, I have been on the hunt for the perfect brown lipstick. I wanted something warm but still easy to wear. Did I find it? No, but it has certainly been fun putting a few different lipsticks to the test. Keep reading for a few mini reviews of KVD, Smashbox, and Morphe products.

    Smashbox Be Legendary Prime and Plush Lipstick in Caffeinate. The first lipstick that I tried was from Smashbox. This is a band that I have tried a few things from over the years, but isn’t something that is always on my radar. That being said, it is difficult to resist a rich brown lipstick. Caffeinate is a deep chocolate brown. Though it wasn’t the exact colour I had in mind…it looks fabulous. I absolutely love this lipstick. It is dramatic and warm. It has a nice amount of colour payoff and feels nice on the lips. This is more of a traditional lipstick (it even has that traditional “makeup smell” that I can’t quite seem to describe) with a nice solid and stylish tube. All in all, this is brown lipstick was a winner. It adds just the right amount of drama to a makeup look.

    Morphe DripGlass Drenched High Pigment Lip Gloss in Drip Coffee. The next brown lipstick on this list is actually a high pigment gloss. I do like really pigmented lip glosses from time to time, like the Kim Chi Chic Beauty High Key Gloss. The Morphe DripGlass Drenched High Pigment Lip Gloss comes in a fairly basic clear plastic tube with a clear plastic topper. Nothing too wild or interesting happening in terms of the packaging. As for the product itself, this is really pigmented, goes on smooth, and has a gorgeous finish. Though I like this milk chocolate kind of colour in general, it doesn’t necessarily look amazing on me. I think in future, I have to be really mindful about the kind of makeup that I pair with this particular gloss to make sure it looks as flattering as possible. It is a really nice product and the colour itself looks fantastic…just maybe not fantastic on me.

    KVD Everlasting Hyperlight Liquid Lipstick in Calytrix. Now for my favourite of the three. This KVD liquid lipstick was something that I used an old Sephora gift card on. (Gift cards always seem to encourage me to try something different.) I loved the old liquid lipstick formula that the brand had and was curious about the newer releases. This light brown shade called to me. Though the colour was not quite what I expected at first…it is something that I have come to love. This is a nice light brown and pairs well with a lot of different makeup looks. It is a really beautiful neutral. As for the formula? So impressed. It is good to know that the KVD line still has a fantastic liquid lipstick formula. I just wish that they would expand their colour selection a little more, because while there are a few colourful offerings, the old brand had some really fun and daring options.
    There you have it…some mini reviews of brown lipsticks from a variety of higher end brands. There was an awful lot to love overall and it has certainly been fun incorporating lots of brown lipstick shades into some of my more recent makeup looks.

    Have you tried any of these lipstick shades? Are you a fan of brown lipstick?