New L'Oreal displays + Color Riche Balm swatches

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! I swear this year has flown by.

I wish you all a great 2012 :)

Anyone making new year's resolutions? I'm not since mine are rarely carried out.

New L'Oreal:

Nail polishes

Infallible 24 hr eyeshadows

Illuminating primer

Color Riche Balm

Voluminous False Fiber lashes mascara

I swatched some open & used Colour Riche Balms in the store, and boy am I glad I did... These are so incredibly sheer, I'd much rather get the Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters if they're ever in stock.

I did get a few things though :) can't wait to try them out some more and write a review!

Review & Swatches: Maybelline SuperStay 14 Hr Lipstick in Perpetual Peony

The following day

Pros

- Long-wearing

- Pigmented
- Doesn't transfer

Cons

- Strong plasticky fruit scent

- Limited color selection

- Slightly drying

Value

$7-9 for 0.12 / 3.3 g

Verdict

Overall: B

The shape of these lipsticks remind me of the L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge lipsticks, which I've still yet to try, but both lines don't have colors that attract me that much. Sadly Perpetual Peony turned out too cool-toned for me once again, very unnatural against my skintone. The lipstick itself is very long wearing, but it made my lips look dry, and the stain doesn't look attractive after a while when it's concentrated in certain areas. I thought it was ridiculous that I still had a slightly stain a day later, on my lips and my hand.

Repurchase?

Probably not.

Review & Application: Shiseido Perfect mascara

Claims:

Pros

- Holds curl

- Defining

- Gives some volume
- Water resistant

Cons

- Can look spidery

- Not much length

- Hard to remove

Value

$23 for 0.29 oz

Verdict

Overall: B

I like how this defines my lashes and holds a curl, but I don't like mascaras that take forever to take off (I had to go over it 2-3 times each eye for it to come off completely) and it looks a little spidery after 2 coats. I also didn't get much length, and it smudges a little at the end of the day

Luckily this was a sample so I didn't spend any money on it

Repurchase?

 No.

Jewelmint Blanc Bomb ring

Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope you all had a good holiday break :)

For some reason they didn't include an info card, hmm

This is basically a gold-white version of their Aqua Bomb ring (which is silver-aqua) linked here

I don't know if you can tell, but the ring actually puts space between my fingers, which can be uncomfortable until you get used to it

http://www.jewelmint.com/jewelry/blanc-bomb-ring

Price: $29.99

As usual, I recommend checking Retail Me Not for coupon codes if you're a first-time purchaser, or if you're buying several pieces at once

New Drugstore Products: Maybelline, CoverGirl, Revlon

Target - Maybelline

I had to keep telling myself to get what I actually would use, which are the 24 hr cream shadows and the 24 hr lipsticks. Maybe I'll try the concealer and foundation some time? Hmmm...

Target - CoverGirl
Very disappointed in the Flipsticks, the color combinations are terrible...

They also repackaged their LashBlast mascaras and came out with a 24hr one, I think they're all pretty much the same... The cream shadows aren't anything new, but I've yet to try them after seeing bad reviews on makeupalley

CVS - Revlon

Excuse the slightly blurry pic, I'm excited for the foundations, eyeshadow and liner... Sales here we come?

Have you guys tried any of these products yet? What do you think?

Let me know in the comments :)

Review & Swatches: Revlon ColorBurst lip butter in Tutti Frutti

 Top: One swipe

Bottom: Built up

Tutti Frutti (sheer orange)

Pros

-  Not drying

- Nice packaging

- Slightly sheer color (con to some)

- Vanilla scent (con for some)

Cons

- Not much product

- Texture can be too soft

Value

$6-9 for 0.09 oz / 2.55 g

Verdict

Overall: B+

Most stores near me were out of stock of the Revlon lip butters, so I picked up this one since out of the 2 left (the other was a dark pink) this seems more attractive to me. Tutti frutti is a little brighter in real life than it shows up, but this color would definitely brighten up your face.

I am mildly disappointed by the texture of these, since I was expecting a really moisturizing product. It feels okay on the lips, nothing to rave about really. The biggest improvement in this line compared to other "moisturizing" lipsticks is probably the color selection and packaging.

The cap has a clear top, so you can see the color without opening it. 

I've also noticed people saying that the stick itself can get really messy around the tube, which I haven't experienced since it is chilly right now.

My favorite moisturizing lipstick of all time is the Maybelline Moisture Extreme (review here), maybe they'll bring it back under a different name one of these days :)

Repurchase?

Probably some of the other colors, since this is pretty easy to wear.

Quilted purse + wristlet

I've been really into quilted things, since I recently purchased my first Coach product, as some of you may have seen on Twitter

Retail: $118

Macy's F&F sale: $88.50 + tax

I thought this was expensive at first, but Coach's real wallets are even more, the one I liked was like $200, and I thought "... I'll go with the wristlet" since it's more convenient anyway.

In my defense of buying this, my other wallet broke.

So when I saw this Nine West quilted purse (linked here) on sale at Macy's, I had to get it

Retail: $69

On sale: $51.75 at the time

Use Macy's card event: $41.40

Leopard print inside, not really my thing but not terrible

The exterior is PVC, which seems to be a trend with bags these days, does anyone still make real leather that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

I also thought the chain detail was interesting

Review & Swatches: Maybelline Baby Lips

Swatched heavily

Grapevine

Pros

- SPF 20

- Moisturizing

- Scented (con for some, esp since it's artificial)

Cons

- Very sheer (pro for some)

- Juvenile packaging (pro for some)

Value

$3-4 for 0.15 oz / 4.4 g

Verdict

Overall: B+

I read on makeupalley that these are very sheer, so I went with Grapevine (since I think Cherry would've been too bright even if it was sheer). As expected, it turns out to be a sheer, almost berry-looking color on my semi-pigmented lips, which is at least wearable. The scent of grapevine is very artificial, which is how I like grape scents, but I can see how it would be a turn off for others.

Repurchase?

Yes. I am planning to get the peach and pink punch one... If they're ever in stock at Target. I like them but not enough to shell out $4 at Walgreens or CVS when it's only $3 at Target (here's me, cheapo)

Haul: Burt's Bees, Maybelline Baby Lips

Burt's Bees:

Radiance facial cleanser ($10)

Acne Solutions cleanser ($10)

Radian Day Lotion SPF 15 ($18) - used several times, it's very liquidy and has a nice fragrance

Sensitive eye cream ($15) - used a few times, doesn't seem to make a difference?

Sample:

Willow Bark cleansing cream

Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy ($18)

Heard a lot of good things about this as a acne treatment/concealer

Shiseido eyelash curler pads ($6)

Perfume samples

Tommy Hilfiger Eau de Prep

Someday by Justin Bieber

Dolce & Gobbana The One for him

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift air freshener - this is pretty neat, it's actually useful :)

Maybelline Baby Lips ($2.99 at Target)

In Peppermint and Grapevine

Can't wait to review these!

Have any of you tried these products? Let me know in the comments!

Review: The Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Toner

Pros

- Alcohol free

- Hydrating

- Contains Vitamin E

- Serum-like texture (con for some)

- Not tested on animals (as with all TBS products)

Cons

- Not as refreshing feeling

Value

$12 for 6.7 oz / 200 ml

Verdict

Overall: B+

For those of us who have used alcohol toners, this doesn't feel quite as refreshing. The texture is also more serum-like than water, which is what most toners seem to be like.

In the winter, I like to use this in the morning to hydrate my skin a bit, esp my cheeks. Right now my skin isn't as oily, but it's still not dry enough that I can skip washing in the morning.

It has a slight fragrance, kind of soap-like but it's very faint.

Repurchase?

Maybe.

Comparison: Shiseido eyelash curler vs. Shiseido eyelash curler from Ebay

As you can tell, the one I got at a legit Shiseido counter (right) is much flatter and well-constructed. Perhaps they just changed the color of the metal over the years, but I find the authentic one fits my eye a lot better and does not crimp.

The one from Ebay came with a black pad as well, but

All in all, the main difference between the two is the authentic one is much flatter, which suits my eye shape and possibly other Asian eye shapes very well. At the $19 price tag, I would say the real one is definitely worth it, if you're into nicely curled eyelashes.

My Jewelmint Ornamint came in

Desert Rose necklace

Lady Noir rings

I am underwhelmed by this purchase, although I do like the fact that it's supposed to be a surprise

I would've like the aqua bomb ring, or something that I would've actually chosen to purchase

I can see myself wearing the brown-jewel ring some time, but the green is a little "bright" for me, esp with the jewel being so big.

I think the necklace is neat, but impractical... What could I actually wear this with? The model on the website was wearing a black top with this tied like a rope, I think I prefer wearing it like this.

A lot of coupon codes, they're all buy one get % off though which is a totally turn off for me -_-

For some reason they only included the info card for the rings, nothing about the necklace

I just read my email carefully and apparently you had to order before November 30th, sorry everyone who missed my tweets!

Shiseido Goodies

Shiseido eyelash curler ($19)

I tweeted about how I'll do a comparison of this with the one I got from Ebay. This curls my lashes perfectly without crimping, soooo worth it :)

Shiseido Sun Protection Lotion SPF 60 PA+++ ($39)

Been eyeing this for a while and finally got it, set for summer now... Although it's like 6 months away

Samples:

Shiseido facial cotton

- Eye and lip makeup remover

- Super Corrective Serum

- Perfect mascara in Black

Shiseido makeup bag

My mom purchased some eye creams and sunblock as well, so the lady gave us this makeup bag and those samples. I have to say it's not the most attractive design, but I like the color and it is very roomy inside and has a open pocket in the front.