Launch: ColourPop Mulan Collection

[Official ColourPop Email Promo]

Tomorrow, March 19-2020, ColourPop will launch it's Mulan collection in partner with the new live action film coming out by Disney. The movie was slated to come to theaters March-27, but due to COVID-19 and the shutdown of most movie theaters in America, Disney has since released a statement that the release date has been pushed back. That date is TBA, currently.

However, it looks like ColourPop is not going to hold back their launch and why should they? The movie is still going to come out, eventually, and shipping services are still active.

As always, the collection will launch at 10:00am PST online on their website: http://www.colourpop.com and will be a first come, first serve.

[Official Promo Image from ColourPop's Instagram]

The collection includes (see picture above):

• An eyeshadow palette that's a red-based neutral. The name is just "Mulan". 15 shades of mattes & shimmers. $22
• 2 powder blushes: "Matchmaker" & "Goodluck Charm". Both have a light gold pearl shimmer in them and are neutral warms. $12/each
• 1 Creme Lux Lipstick (regular lipstick): "Hua Mulan". $9
• 1 Lux Gloss (lipgloss): "Phoenix" which is a peachy-gold. $9
• 1 Lux Velvet Liquid Lipstick: "Strong Chi" which is red. $9

The collection also includes 2 DEBUTING products from ColourPop's sister brand: Fourth Ray.

• A gold lip mask (no name was given).
• Jasmine Face Milk that looks to arrive in a special limited edition Mulan bottle.

The full collection will be sold for $81. If you want the fancy PR box it's an extra $10, for a total of $99. The face bundle will be $17 and the lip trio will be $25.

My personal thoughts

I'm not overly excited about this collection. Yes, the packaging looks nice and has received very positive reviews, but I stopped buying make-up for the packaging a long time ago. Most of the time the art on the packaging is literally only on the actual box the product comes in, which I recycle asap, because who has room to store tiny, empty boxes? What little, if there is, any design on the actual products usually wears off in a month or less, because I am on-the-go so much. It's just not practical to me for so many reasons- storage, financially, waste.

For those in my life who will say: But you're Asian! Support! -Well, ColourPop is not an Asian company, so you're not really supporting the Asian community here. This is simply a matter of: do you want the make-up or not.

The only products I can see myself buying are the blushes. They will look good on my skintone and be good for spring, summer, and even into the warm fall we have in California. Plus, I am kind of in-need of blushes; my most recent trip led me to discovery this! And I do want the liquid lipstick, but do I really need another red liquid lipstick after I just bought 2?

The 1 thing I am curious about is the Jasmine Face Milk. I love Fourth Ray Face Milks and their White Tea is amazing! But having tried about 80% of them, I can tell you their not all made for everyone and there is very little information released on this Jasmine one, so I'll have to wait and see if it's something I even want.

General Statements

ColourPop has delivered on packaging as they always do with their Disney collabs. Honestly, I am really glad they have been gettting all the Disney licensing the last few years, because they just keep getting better and better! ColourPop quality is good too, so you really don't have to worry about that. The question is: Do you need more red? Do you need more neutral? - If reds and/or neutrals are your thing then go for it! This is for you! If you already have these or similar, there really isn't much special about these particular colors, in my opinion, so save your money if you have dupes. This collection reminds me of a lighter version of their Valentine's Day collection, and with back-to-back liquid red lipsticks being released by them (remember their Lunar New Year collection had 3 of them that all looked the same) it seems likely that this collection will sell more for nostalgia than anything else.

I personally will probably not buy anything on launch day, but rather wait until it gets a little discount as most ColourPop does. I really don't think this collection will sell out instantly like the Sailor Moon did or even as fast the Frozen 2 did. My only guess is the PR collection box will go within less than a week to collectors and maybe the lipsticks will sell out for packaging reasons, but the rest will probably be around for a while. The Jasmine Face Milk will also probably be permanent, but just won't have the Mulan bottle in the future, so no need to rush for that if the bottle isn't special to you. I will definitely be awaiting reviews and results on that though!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments and if you're going to pick anything up!

***Also, this article is being double posted on a new blog site that I'm testing out called HubPages. I would appreciate you checking out the article there too and letting me know if this format works better for you. I may be moving the blog completely to that site.

All photos are copyrighted and belong to ColourPop. They are used for reference only and I do not take ownership in any way.

Review: Wish App

First, let me tell say, I'm sorry for my absence this year, but part of the "new Beauty in the details" was not stressing about always uploading and reviewing the latest. I want this blog to be more personal and more helpful. My 2017 has been pretty hectic until now.

The other thing I want to address is the missing images. I was using PhotoBucket to host my photos. Recently, they decided to make all posting options into paid plans, even those that are not 3rd party hosting. Of course, blogs are considered 3rd party hosting and it costs $400 a year to do so. I will be working as hard as I can to update the posts and get the pictures back up with the posts. Please, be patient with me though!

Now onto the actual review! So, recently I was introduced to the Wish App. For those of you that may not know what it is or maybe not know much, I'll give a brief overview- Wish is an app that has to be downloaded on a phone or tablet. It's similar to Ali-Express, if you're familiar with that. The products range from clothing and jewelry, to hair accessories and make-up, and also everything in between. The items are suppose to be low cost and "unique". I had heard horror stories from people using this app. People had said their items never arrived, they received damaged items, or that the items were nothing like described, and some of the items were so cheaply made they were unusable. So, I had just avoided the app altogether, until one night at work when a friend had a necklace on and I told her it was really cute. Her response was, "Thanks! I got it off the Wish App!". I was kind of shocked by that. She then proceeded to show me her hair tie that had a crow shaped skull and it was also from the Wish App. She told me that she shops on there quite often. So, I decided to download it and give it a try. I spent the next couple of hours surfing on this app. Yes, it's a nice time consumer. Like I said before, it has so many different products.

The Wish App offers some deep discontinued items on a first purchase and I choose a ring. The ring actually arrived in good time. Another downfall to the Wish App is that it all ships from Asia, usually China, and takes a long time to arrive. This is another aspect of horror that I was told before I ever downloaded the app. The app is honest about the time frames though. I purchased the ring late at night on October 1, 2017 and it arrive October 11, 2017. Now, that's actually pretty good timing. It arrived in the plastic container in the picture. Nothing fancy, but I didn't expect much in presentation as I only paid $1 for shipping. There is also no tax charged on the Wish App.

The ring was described as "Sterling Silver" with a "natural Sapphire gemstones". I'm not a stone expert, so whether this is real or not, I have no idea! I can tell you that Sapphires do indeed come in pink shades. I did have people immeditely tell me this ring wasn't real "because Sapphires are only blue", which is false! Sapphires can also come in "white" or diamond-like hues, so it is possible the ring is actually sporting real stones. If they are real then I'm sure they're not the best quality, but I feel that the ring looks gorgeous! For a $1, I can't complain.

The ring is true to size. I wear a 5.5, but there were no half sizes. I went with a 6 and it fits better on my middle finger than my ring finger. I have big knuckles, as pictured, and I struggle with getting jewelry over them.

Overall, I would say the Wish App is fun, but it's not the best shopping tool ever. There are some really cool and unique things on there, but then again there are also some really poor quality things too. I have since purchased other things and will review them later. I wanted to get my initial purchase out there. I really do recommend browsing around and if you happen to stumble on something that is a good price and unique, I would definitely say to buy it. Just remember that you need to have the time to wait for it! If you need the product in 2 weeks, Wish is not going to help you! Even though products typically tend to arrive earlier than stated, they still give about a month and half for delivery.

I would now like to offer some advice to anyone who is new to the Wish App. These are things I wish I had known before:

• Do NOT buy the initial offer! I was excited when I first launched the app and saw that I was being offered these highly discounted items. Well, first of all, if you choose one of these 8 or 10 items they first offer then that's considered a "first purchase" and the bigger discounts on something that you really want can't be used. Instead, find someone who already has the app or Google search for codes and there are 50%-80% off first purchases. If using a code from another user, they will get 50% off as well, so that's helping them out too! Again, the first purchase codes cannot be used if you buy one of those items initially offered. I recommend just skipping that introduction offer. The other aspect to keep in mind, is that you're really not saving that much on these intro offers. I really only saved about $1.70 on that ring.
• Shop around! If there is something that catches your eye, chances are that other sellers have it for less. I mentioned that I made other purchases. One of them happened to be some pillowcases. I have found them offered for as much as $8 and as low as $2. It can take a bit of time to search for a lower price, but it's often worth it. For example, the first time I encountered those pillowcases they were at a shop for $4 a piece. Shopping around gave me $2 off per pillowcase.
• Get in on a group buy if you can! When you click on an item it will tell you underneath the pictures what the group price is. There are 2 methods to this: 1. If you're the first person to buy then Wish will give you a rebate for the price difference. This means that you pay the full price for the item and if another person buys the same product from the same supplier then a rebate or basically shop credit will be awarded for use on a future purchase. - 2. If someone has already purchased the item then you just pay the group price. No rebate/shop credit is given, but the cost will initially be less. It's still worth it to me to try either way. Saving money is saving money. I've only once had an item I bought that no one else purchased. Always worth a try in my opinion.
• Wait. There isn't always a need to buy something right away. Wait on it. I have literally left things in my cart and have been offered lower prices. "Lists" of items can be made and often the price will go down on them, and you'll receive a notification about the price difference. In general, prices tend to change too. For example, I really wanted these Disney stickers. Initially they were $13 a box, now they can be found for as little as a $1 for the same ones.
• Don't fall for the "free" product trick. A lot of times Wish will advertise that the product is "free" and "only pay shipping". Well, the issue with that is the product usually ends up being more than if the product wasn't "free". Shipping is usually more for these products and most of the discount codes offered do not work on shipping costs.
• Reviews help. If you're ever unsure if a product is good or not, read the reviews! People can post pictures of the products too, so scroll to find them! Also, it's helpful if you make reviews yourself. You also get reward points for writing a review and additional points for posting a picture of the product.
• Save your points! 100 points will be rewarded for every purchase made after it ships. Additionally, points are rewarded for reviews and posting product pictures. Currently, 300 points is the max amount for the highest reward tier. 300 points = 15% off. 100 = 5% and 200 = 10%. Why not get the most offered?
• Use the Deal Dash, but don't take it too seriously. The Deal Dash is a wheel that can be spun once a day and gives a 15 minute window to purchase products that are supposedly the best price. It's a cool way to discover new products that may interest you, but they're not always the lowest price. I have noticed that the products offered in the Deal Dash tend to be highly reviewed though.
• Remember: Not everything is cheaper on Wish. I have found products cheaper that are the same or similar on eBay and Amazon. Wish has name brand products and licensed products, but they're expensive! Just because something is on Wish, does not mean it's the lowest price out there!
• Do NOT buy make-up or topical products! I have heard so many horror stories that included pictures of allergic reactions and bad skin conditions after using beauty products bought off of Wish. Remember, the products on Wish are not necessarily regulated to American or EU standards and may not even be regulated to Chinese standards. A lot of the time ingredients are not listed either. I would never buy anything that did not fully list the ingredients. Be safe and use common sense.
• Be careful with clothing. I haven't personally bought any clothes off of Wish yet, but I have read reviews on several products. Some look decent, but a lot look cheaply made and not worth the $20 or so cost. Just be smart and make sure there are reviews. View those pictures!

2017 - New Beauty in the Details

Hello! How is 2017 treating you? The first month is almost over! I've been away for 8 months and that was due to my job. I had mentioned in older posts about such sparse entries, because of my demanding job and it only became worse as time went on. To the point that I really had no life outside of work. Around November I became sick and my final straw with that job was when I was still sick a month later in December, because I could not take time away from work! So, I quit. I have taken time to get myself, my life, my home, and my family back in order. Now, I have more free time and I'm starting to get back to my hobbies, and that includes blogging!

I've come to realize that my beauty and fashion blog need a bit of a change too. I have always enjoyed fashion and beauty as interests on a personal level and as general interest among society. However, looking back I can see that what I originally set out to do, I rather failed at, which is probably a contributing factor as to why I have been away for so long (aside from the whole job takeover!). I originally wanted to make a blog that was a bit different than the other beauty/fashion blogs out there. I didn't want to just write commentary on new and popular products, but rather set trends with whatever I may find in the world - old or new. As well as open up discussion and dialog with others about general information, discoveries, and views. Before I disappeared from the blog scene, I did regularly visit other blogs just for discussion, but I failed to do that with my own blog. So, for 2017 expect to see more "article"-type posts and less click-bait. I am by no means downing anyone who has a blog that focuses mainly on new products, I actually feel there are an abundance of blogs like that out there and are great! It's another reason why I don't need to make one of those! So many of you are doing such a great job with that. I personally am a being that is always seeking self discovery and I want to share that with you all in the fashion and beauty areas of my life. I also love finding beauty and treasures in the world that the majority do not see. I hope to bring a lot of change and positivity in 2017.

Review: ColourPop Brow Color & Brow Pencil (in Jet Set Black)

[ColourPop Brow Products]

About month ago on March-10, ColourPop Cosmetics released their first ever brow products. Obviously, before they were released I had scouted them out and gathered ever ounce of information on it via Instagram! (What can't you find on Instagram when it comes to beauty deals and beauty products?) - I was super excited to see the color range! One issue I have with any cosmetics company when it comes to brow products is the fact that they almost never release just a simple, plain black! I have pure black hair and thus my body hair is black, so it only makes sense that I would like my eyebrows to be filled in with a black color, right? - They released 2 different types of brow products: A brow pencil and a brow creme gel, which are pictured above.

[ColourPop creme gel for brows in Jet Set Black]

The creme gel formula is priced at $6 and is very pigmented. It glides on smooth and gives the brows a sleek appearance. Since this is a creme gel, it goes on a bit wet. It's definitely not runny by any means and it does stay in place, however the color can still smear or move before it sets. This is actually a good thing, because should you make a mistake it can easily be erased and if you're using more than 1 color the colors will have a chance to blend. To be honest, I have not done a minute-by-minute test, so I couldn't tell say the exact time it takes to set. All I can say is that I usually put my brows on first and then do the rest of my make-up and it set by then. I would say no more than about 5-10 minutes or so. Once it does dry down it stays all day and I have never had a problem with it running or smearing. ColourPop boasts a 10+ wear on it and I'd say I get more than 10 hours easily out of it.

[ColourPop Brow Pencil in Jet Set Black]

The pencil is $5 and comes in a skinny tube and the product is a round flat top. It is self sharpening, which I love! However, WARNING- It does not go back down once the product has been pushed up! This is a brow product, so it applies a nice and natural color to the brows. It is nicely pigmented. The pencil does set faster than the creme gel.

I ordered the products the day they came out and they arrived to me just before my recent trip to Los Angeles, California. (You can read more about my trip here.) I thought they performed well through each long day and held up nicely. Not to mention they fill my brows in perfectly! I'm a fan!

I used the gel to sharpen the outline of my eyebrows and smooth out any patches. Then I took the pencil and cleaned up the lines and filled in the brows. I think it turned out nicely and like I said before, I am a huge fan of these products!

Final Verdict

For $6 and $5 they're well worth! If you're a person who uses brow products daily, this will help your wallet a lot! It also helps if you're one to blend multiple colors together, because just two pencils is $10 and only $12 for the creme gel. I think they perform wonderfully and last through an entire day! They're well worth it and I didn't have to break the bank to get them! My only issue is that the pencil cannot go back down, but it is self-sharpening and that has been a tremendous help!

Let me know if you've tried these brow products by ColourPop and what your thoughts and opinions are!

Update: Not Moving

So, a quick update from my last post: I'm not moving now. -That's the life of the military. My husband is in the military and we were told that they needed staffing on the east side of the country. However, at the end of this week they told us they're changing priority to Alaska and so our orders to New York were cancelled. So, we'll be in California for a while longer!

Moving! & Possible Giveaway?

My consistency has not been the best in the first third of the year, but I've been busy and to top it off I just found out I have to move across country. If you have followed my blog, you know that when I first started I was moving from the east side of the USA to the West. I moved from Tennessee to California. Now, in a matter of months, I will be moving from California to New York, which is a very big change for me! I've never even stepped foot in New York, so I'm nervous and excited! Aside from that, I still have been getting consistent feedback and views on my blog daily! I cannot believe it and it makes me feel good that there are people out there who want to share and learn with me! So, I am almost at the point of hitting 10,000 views on this blog and I think when I do I would like to do a small giveaway to commemorate! Any thoughts, suggestions, or requests would be appreciated! Also, if you have hosted a giveaway yourself and have any advice then I would love it hear it!

Keep on beautifying the world!

Love, Kaitie

Review: Lip Bar Holiday 2015 Collection

Pardon my 2 and 1/2 month blog break. It was unintentional. Between the holidays, being sick on and off, and then having inventory at my work, I was super busy! I'd like to report that I am fully recovered from the holidays. Though I was sick just this past weekend (the weather here is being crazy!), I'm on the mend! I'm feeling much better and though the weather can't make up its mind, it is getting warmer here -slowly! I also am happy to report that hard work pays off! Though my job spent a month and half preparing for inventory at my work, we did indeed improve from last year and were successful overall! So, now I'm ready to get back to blogging! I was very happy in accomplishing my goal in 2015 for blogging more than I did in 2014. I even started 3 other blogs! I want to blog even more in 2016 than I did in 2015 and I know I'm off to a rough start, but it's not too late! I'm going to catch up now!

I'm starting my 2016 blogging with a review from The Lip Bar. The lipsticks I'm reviewing are from their 2015 Holiday Collection. Unfortunately, the shades are not available anymore, but I feel this company needs more recognition! This is not my first Lip Bar purchase. I first heard of The Lip Bar on Hautelook a couple of years ago. I ordered some lipsticks in some unique colors. Most of those colors are discontinued now, but I love them. I may do a review with those later on. 

The story of The Lip Bar is amazing! The company is founded by Melissa Butler who was working in the corporate world of New York, but desired a more creative and colorful career. So, she started making lipsticks in her kitchen and now has a full line of lipsticks, lip glosses, and liquid lipsticks. The company also has a very cool truck that acts as a mobile shop! To top it off, she comes from my home state of Michigan! So, I have to try and support! - All the products are made to be vegan and natural, which is what initially drew me to the products. I am always in search of products that are natural and safer than what is normally found on the market.

[left to right: Crimson Wonderland & Frostbite in natural lighting]

Of the 2 lipsticks that were released this past holiday season, only 1 of them was actually new. "Crimson Wonderland" was actually released for the holiday season in 2014 and they brought it back in 2015. "Frostbite" was brand new for the 2016 holiday season. Both were released in November and I purchased them on a great Black Friday sale that they had! Originally, they were $25 a piece. I was able to purchase them for half off at $12 a piece. If you were lucky enough to catch their clearance price after the holidays they were $10 a piece! I just couldn't wait till the end of the holidays! To me, these just scream holiday party!

[swatches left to right: Crimson Wonderland & Frostbite in natural light]

Above are swatches on my arm of the shades in natural lighting and I think they are beautiful! They definitely are perfect for the holidays and very different from the company's normal lineup of bright and bold colors. These 2 are definitely more wearable and fit a lot of occasions.

 [wearing: Crimson Wonderland in natural light]

Crimson Wonderland is described as: "The perfect holiday red" and is suppose to have a semi-matte finish. To me, this is a cool toned red with a blue undertone. I also found this shade to be more of a satin then a matte. I do love the color though! The pigmentation is beautiful. The formula doesn't dry out the lips and actually does give some moisture too. The Lip Bar lipsticks boast about their ingredients; besides being natural and vegan, they also contain Vitamin E and Coconut Oil.

[wearing: Frostbite in natural light]

Frostbite is described as "semi-matte plum". To me, this a berry red shade in a satin finish. Like it's partner, this lipstick offers some hydration to the lips and does not dry out the lips at all. 

The packaging of these babies really sets them apart from other limited edition lipsticks released! The tubes look like the standard intricate design from The Lip Bar, but instead of having the matte black finish, they put these babies in a shiny gold finish. It was a nice touch. Not to mention the company has it's own tissue paper!

Final Verdict

The packaging and presentation is on point! I've always been impressed with how sturdy and beautifully designed The Lip Bar's packaging is for their lipsticks. The shades are beautiful, but honestly easily duped as well. What sets Crimson Wonderland and Frostbite apart are the fact that they're handmade and infused with good products for your lips. They're performance and pigmentation are great! The only issue I had with these is that they were advertised as a semi-matte and they're a satin at best. It's hard to have lipsticks be moisturizing and matte at the same time though. I'm personally fine with these not being semi-matte, because in the winter season I have problems with dry skin and lips and these help with that issue; I don't have to worry about having perfectly primed lips all the time when wearing them. Unfortunately, they're limited edition and the company is not making anymore. If you're interested I would wait until the holiday season, when I'm sure they will pop back up again and probably bring a new friend or two.

Update: I found that you can still purchase Crimson Wonderland here. It's at the full price of $25 and it looks like it's sold in the regular black packaging.

Review: Jeffree Star Cosmetics' 2015 Holiday Collection

It's been quite a busy time for me these past few weeks with the Holidays coming to an end, dealing with some family issues and work. I've not had as much time to blog or even rest, but here I am coming with a new review just in time for the holidays! I have the Velour Liquid Lipsticks from Jeffree Star Cosmetics' holiday collection!

***Scroll to the bottom of the page to read an overall summary of the review and skip the fine detail.

For those who may not know- Jeffree Star Cosmetics is an indie make-up company started by pop star, Jeffree Star. His launch of liquid-to-matte lipsticks, called Velour Liquid Lipsticks, have been a smash hit in the beauty community and are now sold at Beautylish and Morphe! The company has only been around for slightly over a year now since they launched on Black Friday of 2014 and this is the first holiday collection for the brand!

[left to right: Ho Ho Ho, Mistletoe, Drug Lord, Doll Parts]

There were 5 lipsticks originally released exclusively for the holidays. I was only able to get my hands on 4 of the 5, but best believe I tried my hardest to get all of them! The first time they were released I was at work, so I wasn't able to get my hands on them. The next release, I was only able to get 4 of the 5 and the final release sold out so fast that I failed to get the "Androgyny" which was the last shade I needed. But the show must go on! Each lipstick was $18 and that's the regular price of these Velour Lipsticks. The packaging was specially made white with rose gold accent, which differs from the normal bright pink packaging with gold accent.

[swatches of the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Holiday Collection]

Left to Right

• Ho Ho Ho
• Mistletoe
• Drug Lord
• Doll Parts

[shade: Ho Ho Ho in natural light]

"Ho Ho Ho" is described as a "fierce, deep toned red with hints of metallic red and purple". My personal take is that it's a deep, berry red with tiny flecks of purple and red glitter. I tried my hardest to capture the glitter, but to no avail, I could not get it to show up with my camera and using the flash didn't help either. Even when the lipstick is on the lips it is hard to detect the glitter, which is nice for those who are not into glitter and shimmer. However, I'm a fan of glitter make-up and I was hoping to finally have a liquid lipstick that had glitter in it, but this was not the case. It's a beautiful red and perfect for the holidays, but not the most unique or special color out there. If there was one color to skip in this collection I would say this is it, just because there are so many red lipsticks out there and most of us have one similar or probably an exact dupe. I almost skipped on this one at first, but when I couldn't get Androgyny I said "what the heck!" and bought it anyway. I certainly do not regret buying it though and I will wear the heck out of it! The color performs well and lasts me a good 8 hours if I'm not eating or drinking. This shade is super pigmented and only needs 1 layer for opaque coverage.

***I have the original red shade released from this collection that's called "Redrum" and I can personally vouch that "Ho Ho Ho" is much more cool toned and much deeper of a shade!

[shade: Mistletoe in natural light]

"Mistletoe" is described as "true Christmas tree green matte". It is definitely a matte green, but when I think of a Christmas tree I think of a dark green or an evergreen color. To me this is a true green. I love it! I know LA Splash has made green shades of matte lipstick before, but I'm not a fan of that company. To me, this is the first real green liquid lipstick on the market and of course only Jeffree Star is bold enough to go there! I sincerely am thrilled with this color and will be sad once it runs out, since it is limited edition, but I keep hope that it will make a comeback one day. This shade lasts pretty well. The most I have worn it without touching it up is 4 hours, but I did eat food at these times. Food will always wreck liquid lipstick, especially if it's oily. I personally experienced this shade to be well pigmented, but still needs about 2 or 3 layers for full coverage.

[shade: Drug Lord in natural light]

"Drug Lord" is described as a "matte white" and that's exactly what it is. This is the first ever matte white liquid lipstick on the market and while some shied away from it because of it's bold nature, I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough! I saw the sneak peaks over the summer from Jeffree Star's Instagram and from that moment I eagerly awaited it's release! There's so much one can do with a pure white lipstick! Everything from using it as a mixer to cosplay options - this was definitely something I needed in my make-up wardrobe. Because of its light-colored nature, it does take about 3 layers to get it opaque. I found it best to wait until this shade dries completely before adding more layers. A great tip for this shade and other lighter shades is to pat on color in areas that need more coverage rather than continuously slathering on more layers all over, as this will give a smoother finish and waste less product. Drug Lord will emphasize any dry patches or dead skin on the lips, so exfoliating to the fullest is a must with this lippie! Once this white has dried, it stays put! I hope Jeffree Star Cosmetics will release this again in the future, because when I run out I will definitely want more! In my personal opinion, this should be part of the permanent collection.

[shade: Doll Parts in natural light]

"Doll Parts" is described as a "cool toned pink". It is cool toned, but I was surprised at how mauve it is when I received it. All of the pictures on Instagram made this shade look much pink-er than it really is. I do have quite pigmented lips, which would help deepen the shade, but this in itself is definitely more of a browned pink, aka mauve. I do like it and it's great for an every day color. I have found myself wearing these to work parties I've attended with my finace, since it isn't too flashy for those black tie moments, but it doesn't have much of a holiday feel. It seems more like something that would be a regular release for this company, but it is still a nice shade. It's very pigmented and only needs 1 layer for opaque coverage! It stays put after drying and dries fast. Minimal touch-ups are needed.

Final Verdict

I have never been disappointed in Jeffree Star Cosmetics' Velour Liquid Lipsticks. The formula speaks for itself! They are pigmented and creamy. They do not dry out the lips and they stay put for up to 8-12 hours. They dry down matte like they're suppose to and look amazing. Not to mention the unique colors they come up with! - As for the holiday collection. I think it's a great first go at a holiday collection. It was a bit frustrating with the online ordering and the limited supply versus the number of people who tried to buy these. Even with the lipsticks being sold on 2 other sites it was still hard to get! However, that's the only bad thing I can say about the collection. The lipsticks themselves are all greatly pigmented and perform like champions! The only question you should have is: What color do I want?

Androgyny Update- It was announced on the final release date of this collection that Androgyny will be a permanent shade in the collection after so many were bummed that they could not get it and it sold out so fast! It will return in February 2016 in the regular pink and gold packaging. I will definitely be trying to get my hands on it!

Doll Parts update- It is a rumor as of right now that Doll Parts may be part of the permanent collection in the future. No dates or a future release have officially been announced, however.

Stock Update

• As of right now all holiday shades are sold out on JeffreeStarCosmetics.com. Drug Lord & Doll Parts are still listed on the site, despite being sold out. Mistletoe and Ho Ho Ho have been removed.
•  Beautylish still has Mistletoe in stock. All other shades are out of stock, but still listed.
• Morphe still has Mistletoe in stock. Doll Parts and Ho Ho Ho are out of stock, but still listed. Drug Lord has been removed from their listings.

Other Products Used:

• Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full Coverage Foundation - foundation
• MAC Prep + Prime Skin Smoother - face primer
• Too Faced "Shadow Insurance" - eye primer
• Tarte "Tarlette Palette" - brows
• Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte bronzer - contour
• MAC "Ocean City" - blush
• Too Faced Chocolate Bar "Salted Caramel" - crease color
• MAC Electric Cool eyeshadow "Super Watt" - all over lid color
• It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty palette "Love" - upper crease blend color
• It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty palette "Pearl" - inner eye color
• Tarte Tarlette Palette " Best Friend" - outer corner and crease color
• Tarte Clay Pot Liner "Black" - upper lid liner
• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Closeup Liner - bottom lash liner
• It Cosmetics Hello Lashes - mascara
• Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Statement Mascara - mascara

Review: Josie Maran Decadent Bliss Holiday Set

Excuse my brief absence and sparse posts. As, I stated before, the holidays are a busy time in general, but it's exceptionally busy for those of us in retail!

I'm reviewing the "Decadent Bliss" 2015 Holiday gift set from Josie Maran today. It's available exclusively at QVC. This originally debuted as a Today's Special Value (TSV) for $69.96.

***Scroll to the bottom of the page to read an overall summary of the review and skip the fine detail.

FYI: QVC is an at home shopping channel that is available on cable and satellite services. The company also has a website where you can purchase all their current deals, recently aired products, and other inventory. A "TSV" is a 1 time only price of a product that is put up for 24 hours or sometimes a few days longer before the tv launch if it is in high demand. The price is usually quite discounted and they often offer "Easy Pay". (Easy Pay is simply the total price of a product, including shipping and tax, divided into equal payments through a certain number of months in which you have to pay it off. The number of months depends on the products and what QVC is offering.)

The gift set included: 

• 1.7oz bottle of Argan Oil (full size bottle)
• .5oz bottle of Argan Oil
• 8oz jar of Whipped Argan Oil (full size)
• 2oz jar of Whipped Argan Oil
• 5oz jar of Divine Drip (full size & new)
• 8.3oz bottle of Argan Cleansing Oil (full size)

I'd just like to note- As always, QVC products are packaged and arrive in good and safe conditions. They're always packaged so the products are not loose or shifting and there's no risk of damage. I never feel worried or scared to order liquid or fragile products from QVC.

For anyone who might not know, Josie Maran was a model who stumbled across the secret of Argan oil and it's ability to hydrate the skin well and help slow down the signs of aging. The Josie Maran brand is one of the few brands that actually offers pure Argan Oil and first press only Argan oil! It's also fair labor and fair trade. 

I was already a fan of the Josie Maran Argan Oil before I bought this set and it includes full size and travel size bottles. I had gotten a bottle as a gift and LOVED it! I saw a dramatic difference in whichever part of my body I used it on! It didn't matter if it was my face, body, or hair, because it all was improved by the oil. The only down side of using this brand is that it's $58 a bottle, which is significantly more than most brands on the market. However, like I said before, they supply only pure Argan Oil and only first press oil, but it's still a high cost. I've used other brands, but have yet to be as satisfied as I am with Josie Maran. So, when I saw this TSV, I had to jump on it! The total value of this set is $181, so snagging it at the TSV price was amazing, because the savings was far greater than half of the value!

This particular gift set debuted a couple of new things. The Argan oil is actually the only product in the set that is not new or altered. The world wide launch of "Divine Drip" was premiered in this set. Divine Drip is a combination of whipped Argan oil and honey. It's quite thick. Much thicker than the original Whipped Argan Oil. It has a slight yogurt-like scent, but it's not very noticeable. Once it is applied to the body there is no scent. 

As you can see from the pictures, it is too thick to simply just pick up with fingers without digging into it. The instructions read to apply to damp skin after a shower and I will agree that it is the best method. This is not a product that is meant to be used any time. Instead, this product is best used to lock-in moisture and repair damaged skin. This product would be great for those who have dry skin problems or problem areas like the elbows or knees where dry patches often occur. It will be a great product during the winter time and for those who put their bodies through harsh/drying conditions. I first applied this after a shower at night and when I woke up I noticed smooth skin and the rough patches on my knees were gone. It does not give the silky feeling of the original Whipped Argan Oil, but it does give smoothness, healing, and repairing properties to the skin.

The Whipped Argan Oil, which is a body butter-type product has been around for several years now. What is new about this product in this particular set is that it's now scented. Josie Maran debuted her "Caramel Apple" scent in this gift set and 3 of the products come with the scent. The big and small Whipped Argan Oil in both the original size and travel size were 2 of the scented products. The formula is the same and works wonders! It makes the skin feel like silk and can be used as much as needed all over the body. Unlike the Divine Drip, the skin does not need to be moist from water or bathing to use it. 

The scent is not exactly what most would initially think of with the title "Caramel Apple", but it is pleasing. It smells like Fresh Apple with subtle notes of caramel.

The Argan Cleansing Oil is not new either, but it is the third product that debuted in the set with the Caramel Apple scent. This is the first time I had ever tried the Cleansing Oil. It does not lather at all, which gives me a lot of relief. So many natural products on the market today claim not to have Sodium Laureth Sulfate in them, yet they have similar or other detergents in them which can bother the skin. When using this, I felt much better about my skin not be stripped or damaged. However, if you are use to having that lather, this might be a drastic change for you. The cleansing oil requires a bit more use of the product than soaps that do lather, because it doesn't foam and spread like the others. The oil leaves me feeling clean and smooth and it's really great for winter and times when the skin is dry. It is not overly oily though, so no oily residue is left behind and there's no worry about being greasy. 

As for the scent, I found it to be different then the Whipped Argan Oil. There's no Caramel notes in the Cleansing Oil, it's basically just a Fresh Apple smell. I like the scent, but it's not as advertised. The scent does only last while on the body. Once it's washed off the scent goes away, which I enjoy, since I tend to used scented lotions and perfumes afterwards and prefer not to mix scents.

Final Verdict

This is a great value! It's total retail value, if bought separately, would be $181. While it can no longer be purchased at the debut TSV price, it is currently only $10 more then the TSV price. It's on sale at QVC for $79.96 and available for 3 Easy Payments. They are having a lot of specials on and off weekly with 4-6 easy payments too, so look out for those if you're needing a little extra help this season with money. The products are exceptional and the quality speaks for itself. The scent is nice and something new to the brand, but an unscented option is available. I picked up the Auto Delivery option when I ordered it as a TSV and that means I'll be getting this same set but in different scents throughout the year. While I don't see that option available now, keep an eye on the QVC site throughout the year, because sometimes they have leftovers or a larger inventory of the Auto Delivery sets throughout the year that can be purchased separately. If you're looking for something to nourish the skin and body that is also safe and free from parabens and harsh chemicals, this is definitely a great natural option from a company that does not harm people to get their products to you. As the skin ages, it needs help locking in moisture and staying hydrated and Argan Oil is a great way to boost those needs! These products help with moisture and anti-aging without making you feel greasy and oily. This brand does not have values like this often, usually only about twice a year, so if you're a fan or wanting to try this out I would definitely suggest getting on it before the holiday season is over!

Review: Sugarpill's Pumpkin Spice

Normally, whenever I see a medical-looking cross, I get a queasy feeling. However, when it's colored pink and inside a heart, I feel elated! -It's the sign of a Sugarpill package!

I scroll through Instagram, daily -and by "daily" I mean like 4x's a day......sometimes more....... Anyway, as most of you beauty lovers know, Instagram is a great place for finding the latest news on cosmetics favorites! Sugarpill announced a knew limited edition eyeshadow coming out on their Instagram page and followed with swatches just hours later. The shade was called, "Pumpkin Spice", and it looked like metallic fall gorgeousness! The shade was officially released 2 days later only on their website and sold out by the end of the day. Trust me, I made sure to order mine the second it was announced. It was $12, which is the cost of a permanent Sugarpill pressed eyeshadow. While, I will say this was not the fastest selling item in history, like I said before, it did sell out by the end of the day.

I ordered my eyeshadow on November 4 and it arrived November 12. In the past, when I have ordered from Sugarpill, my package arrived in less than 7 days. I'm not sure if this was due to increase in sales or the fact that most of their staff headed to Sydney, Australia for IMATS Sydney, but it was longer than usual to get my eyeshadow. However, it wasn't out of the ordinary long, so I can't really complain. I'll also note that in every order I have received I have always gotten a free sample of one of their loose shadows and this time I did not. Again, not really sure why. 

[swatched in natural light]

The color swatches beautifully! The picture above is just 1 stroke! It is amazingly pigmented! The photo is in natural lighting.

Sugarpill describes the shadow as: 

[A] shade of rustic copper foil with warm golden flecks in a super saturated, rich and creamy formula that applies like butter.

The description of the color is accurate. It is a deepened copper with gold glitter in it. Although when applied, the copper color appears a little lighter than in it's pressed form in the pan. The application is not exactly what Sugarpill says it is though.

[lid color: Sugarpill's Pumpkin Spice]

I don't want to scare anyone away from this shadow, because the application just needs a little tweaking. First off, this shadow is almost what I would consider a "foil" shadow, although it's not quite as smooth as a foil. The shadow lifts onto a brush in pieces and the pieces themselves are like foil, but because it isn't seamless I can't actually categorize this as a Foil. Sugarpill as a company calls this a "metallic" shadow, but they don't list it as a Foil either. 

I recommend tapping off the access, because you will have some on your brush and not doing so may result in it falling onto the face. Next, I'd say this shadow is best pressed onto the eye first and then smoothed out. That's the method I found best in getting the best color payoff and being the most time efficient. Other than that, I have no complaints. Again, I don't think this shadow is unworkable, it just should be known that it doesn't apply quite like a regular shadow. In all fairness though, it's not a "regular" shadow. It is very much like foiled pieces pressed together with pigments and now just a powder.

The release of this shadow is odd to me, because it seems late. Not that November isn't still Pumpkin Season, but I feel like we could have gotten a lot more use out of this shadow (maybe even hit pan!) if they had released it in September or at least October. We're now heading into winter and the Holiday/Christmas season, so this rustic color is about to fade out of season. However, it's still beautiful and can still be used throughout the year, just depends on how one puts it to use. Sugarpill does list this as a "holiday" shadow, it just seems out of place in that sense to me though.

Final Verdict
This shadow is beautiful and unique. It's hard to find something quite like the formula or color on the current market and the fact that it's limited edition makes it even more appealing. Sugarpill delivers with it's super cute packaging, as always. The shadow is extremely pigmented and long lasting, even without a primer! I swatched the shadow on my arm and it took a bit of scrubbing to get off and there was no primer applied on it, although make-up remover takes the shadow off easily. The shadow isn't impossible to apply, but does not go on like "butter" as stated by Sugarpill; you need to pack it on and smooth it out after. Tapping off the excess before applying is also necessary, because the formula is chunky and lifts off on the brush in flecks. The formula itself is like foiled pieces melted together with pigments, which I find very unique. For $12 + shipping & tax, I feel it's a reasonable price. Anyone who is a collector will definitely want to pick this up. It's shimmery, but I honestly don't feel it's unwerable. This shadow could easily be used for every day use, as well as for special occasions. It would suit most ages too. 

The shadow is currently "out of stock" on the website, but does state that you can join a mailing list to get notified when it will be back in stock. So, if you're wanting this shadow make sure that you get on the list and stay glued to Sugarpill's Instagram or Facebook!

Review: SOHO Disney Villains Brush Sets for Fall 2015 (Walgreens Exclusive)

Last week, I posted that I had found all 3 brush sets by SOHO for their Fall 2015 Disney Villains collection. For first impressions and more basic info, please check out that post.

***Scroll to the bottom of the page to read an overall summary of the review and skip the fine detail.

Each brush set is targeted for a different set of make-up needs. Ursula is the only one that came with 4 brushes, as both Maleficent and the Evil Queen only had 3 brushes; I'm thinking the reasoning behind that is that Ursula's brushes are smaller. 

As you can see in the picture above, the brushes in the Maleficent set and the Evil Queen set look skewed inside and that's because they are.

[Ursula brushes]

To make matters worse, the brushes weren't just out of sync with the packaging, but they were actually stuck to their inside cardboard piece like that. Let me just say, that the picture above shows how the ends of the brushes look when they are out of the package. Those little circle on the ends of them are glue and that's what keeps them contained inside the box. They are not easy to take out and the glue stays on the bottom. The glue cannot simply be taken off either and they'll need to be washed to get it removed.

So, with packaging issues aside, I'm going to breakdown the brush sets and I feel these are fairly nice. They all have soft bristles that are made of "nylon fibers", in other words they're synthetic fibers. I have had no problems with shedding of the bristles when applying make-up. There was slight shedding with some of the bigger brushes when washing, but nothing too bad. There was no color fading when I washed the brushes either. The handles on these brushes are a little shorter than the average handles of a typical make-up brush which makes them great for traveling, but not necessarily the best for every day use if you prefer longer handles.

[SOHO Evil Queen brush set]

The Evil Queen brush set was focused on the basics of the face. The brushes in this set are all super soft and feel nice on the face. 

[descriptions by SOHO]

• All Over Face Brush - use to apply powders to the face
• Curved Foundation Brush - use to apply liquid/cream foundation; wide base easily covers large areas; pointed tip easily covers hard-to-reach areas
• Angled Brow Brush - use to shape brows; pointed end accurately draws on shape; wide base fills in the brows

The All Over Face Brush is a nice brush, but a bit small for my liking when it comes to applying setting powder. The full description does suggest using it for all powders and that includes bronzers, blushes, and loose/powder foundations. This brush applies bronzers and blushes well, but if full coverage is desired for foundation I would not recommend this brush as it's small and only dense on the tip. It's a nice brush for buffing out contour as well.

The Curved Foundation Brush does apply liquid foundations, but it's a bit too small for my liking. Since the brush is a bit small it takes longer than necessary to apply foundation. However, this brush works well at applying creams or liquids to smaller areas of the face or in a concentrated amount. Again, depending on the type of production you're using, this brush would work well for contouring too.

The Angled Brow Brush has the opposite problem of the other two, because I find this brush a bit too big. I personally prefer that eyebrow brushes be on the slimmer side, because it makes it easier to shape the brows. I feel this brush isn't horrible for shaping brows, but I'd suggest using another brush if you have it. I feel this brush works best at applying powders to the eye area.

[SOHO Maleficent brush set]

Maleficent's brush set was focused on the accents of make-up application. Her brushes are all about the contour and finishing touches. This fits well with the theme of how Maleficent is being portrayed today after Angelina Jolie portrayed her in the live action "Sleeping Beauty" movie. However, before then, I don't really recall Maleficent being the face of contour. Anyway, I felt the brushes in this set were nice, but not for the purposes intended.

[descriptions by SOHO]

• Stippling Brush - use to apply contour powder
• Angled Blush Brush - use to blend out harsh contour lines
• Concealer Brush - use to apply concealer to the face

The Stippling Brush is a decent size for contour, but I've never been a huge fan of using stippling brushes for contour, because I usually use powder. I feel that stippling brushes are best used for liquids and creams. Even with all that said, I still would prefer an angled brush for contouring. I would recommend this brush for liquid foundations and for applying liquid products in small targeted areas of the face.

The Angled Blush Brush can indeed be used to blend out harsh contour lines, but I feel it works better for applying blush or the contour powder itself.

The Concealer Brush is okay for concealer, but I prefer to use it to apply shadow to the inner corner of my eyes and on areas of the eye or around the eye that need little detail. I personally feel this brush is too thick at the tip and the bristles are not long enough for concealer. 

[SOHO Ursula brush set]

Ursula's brush set was all about the eyes and it suits her. Ursula's character is based off of the drag queen known as Divine and drag queens are all about over-the-top eye looks! This is the only set that had 4 brushes instead of 3, but like I said earlier, I believe it is because each brush in this set is smaller and uses less fibers than the face brushes.

[descriptions by SOHO]

• Eyeshadow Brush - use to apply base eyeshadows
• Crease Brush - use to apply depth and dimension to the eyes
• Pointed Eyeliner Brush - use to apply liquid or cream eyeliner
• Angled Smudge Brush - use to blend eyeshadow or soften lines

The Eyeshadow Brush is a bit big, but it does well to apply all over color or a base, as the description says. Those with smaller lids may not find much use for it outside of that. I also think it does a nice job at blending out colors.

The Crease Brush works fine for the crease and the outer-v of the eye, but it should not be confused with a blending brush. This is a narrow brush that works well at applying concentrated color directly into the crease or on the outside of the lid/eye. It works well for applying shadow to the eye, also.

The Pointed Eyeliner Brush is not an eyeliner brush. It's more of a very skinny blending brush. It's way too thick and big to be an eyeliner brush. I would use this brush to blend out color on small areas of the eye or to smudge color since it is dense.

The Angled Smudge Brush is more of an angled blending brush and works well for that. It can also be used to apply shadow to the eye in a sheer/light form.

Final Verdict

These brushes are good, but not great. They work well for traveling since the handles are shorter than the average brush handle and would make them easier to pack, but if you prefer longer handles for daily use then they might get annoying. Most of the brushes are good for multiple uses, so again they would come in handy for traveling and would even be helpful for daily use. The bristles are all soft and there's no shedding when applying make-up. I have experienced slight shedding with the a few of the face brushes when washing, but only a few bristles each and nothing too bad. There was no color fading when washing the brushes. However, these brushes are a bit overpriced to me. They're sold for $9.99 and if compared to what's on the market in both the drugstores and the high end spectrum, these feel a bit cheap to me. The handles feel like cheap plastic and the ferrules are also not very thick. If they knocked off a few dollars for each set I would say they would be right in line with the current market. If you're a collector, you'll definitely want to pick these up. If you're looking for multi-tasking or traveling brushes, these may be for you as well. However, for the more experienced, I'd suggest saving your money as it can be better spent. I'd recommend buying these brushes on clearance if you can catch them at that price.