Review: Revlon Lip Butters

As promised (way too long ago...lol) here are the swatches for the lip butters I reviewed in my YouTube video (linked at the bottom of this post).

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter: Crème Brulee



Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter: Peach Parfait


Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter: Berry Smoothie


Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter: Pink Truffle


Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter: Candy Apple


Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter: Red Velvet



Just a brief synopsis of what my video covered:

I am a big fan of the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. The packaging is sleek, yet adorable (I LOVE the quilted pattern!). Packaging may not matter to some people, but I'm a sucker for cute packaging! These lip products basically feel like a lip balm with a LOT more color payoff than a typical balm. I'm not crazy about the colors that have shimmer because in my personal opinion, I feel like I can feel the reflects used in the product. BUT I still use them. The colors are lovely, and the staying power is hit or miss. They aren't meant to be a long-lasting lipstick, however I do find that the darker colors (i.e. Red Velvet) tend to have longer staying power and need less touch up.

These lip butters are made with mango, shea and coconut butter, which are super hydrating ingredients, but when it comes to hydration, I prefer using a regular lip balm.

The only products I can personally compare these to are the MAC Sheen Supreme lipsticks. I don't find the Revlon Lip Butters as hydrating as the Sheen Supreme, but these are at least 50% less in cost and are a lot more accessible because you can find them almost anywhere. Since I first picked them up, I have found their empty displays (definitely a hot commodity!) at the majority of the major drug stores, and stores like Ulta and even Bed Bath and Beyond (larger locations that have a large selection of personal hygiene/cosmetics).

My overall opinion: I love these things. My 2 favorites (so far) are Pink Truffle and Red Velvet. But I plan on picking up a few other colors, still. So we'll see if they continue being my favorite. More than likely, they will continue to show up in my monthly favorites videos for quite some time!

If you're interested in seeing my full review:

Neutral Series: MAC Fall Bronze Tutorial

So it's been a while since my last blog entry. But if you've been keeping up with my recent videos, you know why.

This tutorial is one of the easiest looks to pull together. It's a great mixture of warm-toned browns and bronze. I wear this look to work (minus the black shadow) and when I'm going out for a night with the girls. And it's not too dark to be a daytime look. It's perfect. And since I haven't done a tutorial using MAC products, I figured why not do a look using some of my favorite MAC shadows?

MAC cosmetics has a ton of really great products. My all-time favorite lipsticks are by MAC, and the majority of my personal makeup and the makeup I use in my freelance kit is MAC. Though I don't strictly stick to MAC. I use a LOT of great makeup products - both high end and drugstore brands (personally and in my kit). Though all of this is beside the point. Keep on reading if you would like to know what was used in this tutorial. If you're interested in seeing how I put this look together, check out the video at the end of this post.

Brushes:
MAC 227 - Large Shader Brush (All over/brow bone highlight)
MAC 239 - Shader Brush (Lid)
MAC 217 - Tapered Blending Brush (Crease)
MAC 219 - Pencil Brush (outer v)
MAC 224 - Blending Brush (Blending & Transition)
Japonesque - Medium Detailer (lower lashline)
Japonesque - Small Detailer (inner corner highlight)
E.L.F. - Complexion brush (blot powder)
Real Techniques (Samantha Chapman) - Blush Brush (blush)

Face:
MAC Blot Powder - Medium Dark
MAC Powder Blush - Frankly Scarlet
MAC Sculpting Powder - Sculpt
MAC Cream Colour Base - Pearl

Eyes:
Primer: Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer (with Firmitol)
All over: MAC Eye Shadow - Brule
Lid & Crease: MAC Eye Shadow - Woodwinked
Lower Lashline: MAC Eye Shadows (in order)- Woodwinked, Embark, Carbon
Brow Highlight - MAC Eye Shadow - Ricepaper
Inner Corner: MAC Eye Shadow - Ricepaper
Transition: MAC Eye Shadow - Wedge
Outer V: MAC Eye Shadow - Embark
Liner: MAC Fluidline - Dipdown
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler & Japonesque Heated Lash Curler
Mascara: MAC False Lashes Extreme Black

Brows:
MAC Eye Shadow - Omega
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - Clear

Lips:
EOS Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm
Clinique Almost Lipstick - Black Honey

End-result:





To see the look put together:

Neutral Series: Smashbox Softbox Daytime Taupe Tutorial

Two blog posts?! And less than a month in between?! Amazing! Haha.

Anyway....

I am absolutely in LOVE with the Smashbox Softbox Eye Palette. A great range of colors (all neutral, of course), where 4 of the colors are matte, 4 of the colors are shimmery, and 1 glitter shadow (bleeeegh!). Ok, ok, glitter shadows aren't THAT bad...when you make sure to use a glitter adhesive. Otherwise you end up with glitter fallout all over your FACE! So annoying. But that's getting off subject.

As promised in the description box of my video (linked below if you didn't come here from YouTube), here is a list of everything I used for this look:

Brushes:
MAC 227 - Large Shader Brush (All over/brow bone highlight)
MAC 239 - Shader Brush (Lid)
MAC 217 - Tapered Blending Brush (Crease)
MAC 224 - Blending Brush (Blending & Transition)
Japonesque - Medium Detailer (lower lashline)
Essence of Beauty - Blush Brush (blush)

Face:
Tinted Moisturizer - Mixed The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Moisturizer mixed with MAC Mineralize foundation
Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Dark Circle Roller
MAC Mineralize Blush - Warmth of Coral (LE)
MAC Cream Colour Base - Pearl

Eyes:
Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
All over: MAC Eye Shadow - Brule
Lid: Smashbox Softbox Palette - Truffle
Inner Lid (last): Smashbox Softbox Palette - Sugar
Crease: Smashbox Softbox Palette - Stone
Lower Lashline: Smashbox Softbox Palette - Sienna
Brow Highlight - Smashbox Softbox Palette - Vanilla
Inner Corner: Smashbox Softbox Palette - Vanilla
Transition: Smashbox Softbox Palette - Nectar & Nude
Outer V: Smashbox Softbox Palette - Sienna
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil - Whiskey (duo that came with UD Naked Palette)
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler & Japonesque Heated Lash Curler
Clinique High Impact Mascara - Black

Brows:
Wet N Wild Color Icon Pencil - Taupe
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - Clear

Lips:
EOS Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm
Victoria Secret L:ipstick - Cabana
Victoria Secret Lipgloss - Sublime

This was the end-result:




And if you didn't already see the video:

Neutral Series: Naked Palette Day to Night Tutorial

Another tutorial! And another Blog post!! It's only been a month since the last one...that's an improvement in my opinion!

Another neutral tutorial! (surprise, surprise). But this one is fun, it's 2 tutorials in 1! This is a typical day time look I often wear to work, and then I show you guys how I darken up the look for a nice night-time look. The products I used are all listed below - separately for Day and Night time looks. :)

Day Look:

Brushes:
MAC 227 - Large Shader Brush (All over/brow bone highlight)
MAC 239 - Shader Brush (Lid)
MAC 217 - Tapered Blending Brush (Crease)
MAC 224 - Blending Brush (Blending & Transition)
Japonesque - Medium Detailer (lower lashline)
Essence of Beauty - Blush Brush (blush)

Face:
Bare Minerals Foundation & Bare Minerals Matte Foundation - Light
Bare Minerals Concealer - Summer Bisque
MAC Peaches Blush
MAC Cream Colour Base - Pearl

Eyes:
Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
All over: MAC Eye Shadow - Brule
Lid: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Half Baked
Crease: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Naked & Buck
Lower Lashline: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Buck
Inner Corner: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Virgin
Transition: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Naked
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Brows:
Wet N Wild Brow Liner - Taupe
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - Clear

Lips:
EOS Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm
MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Ultra Darling


Night Look:

Brushes:
MAC 227 - Large Shader Brush (All over/brow bone highlight)
MAC 239 - Shader Brush (Lid)
MAC 217 - Tapered Blending Brush (Crease)
MAC 224 - Blending Brush (Blending & Transition)
Japonesque - Medium Detailer (lower lashline)
Essence of Beauty - Blush Brush (blush)

Face:
Bare Minerals Foundation & Bare Minerals Matte Foundation - Light
Bare Minerals Concealer - Summer Bisque
MAC Peaches Blush
MAC Cream Colour Base - Pearl

Eyes:
Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
All over: MAC Eye Shadow - Brule
Lid: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Half Baked
Crease: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Buck & Smog
Outer V: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Darkhorse & Hustle
Lower Lashline: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Smog
Inner Corner: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Virgin
Transition: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Naked
Eye Liner: MAC Fluid Line - Black Track
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Maybelline Falsies Mascara
Tweezerman Eyelash Comb

Brows:
Wet N Wild Brow Liner - Taupe
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - Clear

Lips:
EOS Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm
MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Ultra Darling


To see how I put this look together:

Neutral Series: Naked Palette Neutral Pink Tutorial

As you all know, I'm a big fan of neutral makeup. With my clients (mainly the models doing fashion shoots) I'm a lot more willing to experiment with brighter/edgier looks, but on myself, I always lean toward the neutral looks.

This look is soft, and great to wear for any occasion. You can keep it simple with only 1 or 2 colors, or you can darken it up with a little bit of black, gray, or dark brown shadows. No pictures this time since I was in a rush to get out the door, but the products I used are listed below.

Brushes:
MAC 227 - Large Shader Brush (All over/brow bone highlight)
MAC 239 - Shader Brush (Lid)
MAC 217 - Tapered Blending Brush (Crease)
MAC 219 - Pencil Brush (Outer V)
MAC 224 - Blending Brush (Blending & Transition)
Japonesque - Medium Detailer (lower lashline/liner brush)
EcoTools - Blush Brush (blush)

Face:
MAC Pro Longwear foundation in NW20 mixed with The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Moisturizer
Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller
MAC Peaches Blush
Benefit HighBeam

Eyes:
All over: MAC Eye Shadow - Brule
Lid/Inner Corner: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Sin
Crease/Lower Lashline: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Toasted
Outer V: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Hustle
Transition: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Naked
Highlight: Urban Decay Naked Palette - Virgin
Eye Liner: Urban Decay 24/7 Liner - Whiskey
Shu Uemura Eye Lash Curler
Maybelline Falsies Mascara


Brows:
Wet N Wild Brow Liner - Taupe
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - Clear

Lips:
EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm
MAC Lipstick - Fabby
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss - Peony

To see how I put this look together:

Updated Skincare Routine (April 2011)

Ok, so I obviously suck at updating this website! I promise I will get better at this, once things in my life settle down a little more (i.e. possibly getting a new position at work, moving CLOSER to work so I'm not spending between 5-15 EXTRA hours a week in my car!).

As promised in my video, here is an updated blog about the products I use, their cost, etc. Look forward to a much more detailed review on the Seaweed face care line from The Body Shop, coming up soon!!

Listed below are all the products I use for my morning and night routines. I've also listed where you can find them and how much they cost. PLEASE NOTE: all the pricing I have listed (especially anything from the drugstore) may not be *exactly* what you will find it for, but should be pretty close! And at the bottom of this post, I have included links on where you can find these products online.

Morning Routine:
* Cetaphil Cleanser - Target/Drug stores - 8 oz - $6-$10
* Seaweed Clarifying Toner - The Body Shop - 6.76 oz - $12
* Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream - The Body Sop - 1.7 oz - $16
* Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing GEL - Department stores/CCO - 4.2 oz - $24.50
* Vitamin E Eye Cream - The Body Shop - 0.5 oz - $17
* Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Roller - Target/Drug Stores - 0.5 oz - $12


Night Routine:
* MAC Wipes - MAC Stores/Counters - 100 wipes bulk pack - $26
* MAC Cleanse off Oil - MAC Stores/Counters - 5 oz - $24
* Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover - The Body Shop - 8.4 oz - $14.50
* Cetaphil Cleanser - Target/Drugstores - 8 oz - $6
* Seaweed Clarifying Toner - The Body Shop - 6.76 oz - $12
* Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing GEL - Department stores/CCO - 4.2 oz - $24.50
* Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing LOTION - Department stores/CCO - 4.2 oz - $24.50

Scrubs/Masks/Treatments:
* St. Ives Apricot Scrub - Target/Drugstores - 6 oz - $3
* St. Ives Green Tea Scrub - Target/Drugstores - 4.5 oz - $6
* LUSH Bon Bon Lip Scrub (Limited Edition) - 0.9 oz - No longer available
* LUSH Sweet Lips Lip Scrub - 0.9 oz - $8.95
* Olay Pro-X Cleansing System - Target or most drugstores - $30
* Seaweed Pore Perfector - The Body Shop - 0.5 oz - $20
* Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask - ULTA/Target/Drugstores - 8 oz - $4
* Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - ULTA - 1 oz - $17.00





Websites:
http://www.target.com/
http://www.cvs.com/
http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/
http://www.clinique.com/
http://www.maccosmetics.com/
http://www.lushusa.com/
http://www.mariobadescu.com/