A Couple of Maybelline Fails (For Me)

I don't like writing negative reviews, but I think honesty is important.  Not everything out there is fantastic and beautiful and wonderful and amazing and... well, you get the idea.  I tried a couple of Maybelline products recently that just did not work for me.

Affordable Face of the Day

I recently did a face of the day post using nothing but high end/expensive stuff, so I thought I'd do one using nothing but stuff available at the drugstore.

Jade and Silver Look of the Day

Here is the slightly over the top look I wore to watch the Michigan State basketball team play in the third round of the NCAA Tournament last Sunday (at home, in front of the TV).  MSU school colors are green and white, but I used silver instead of white, and chose a jade green instead of a more emerald green (like the color of the stones in my earrings, which are a "Spartan" green).

Eyes: Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Silver Strike
         silver "eyelid" color from the Wet 'n' Wild Shimmer the Night Away palette (LE)
         "Emerald Glitter" and "Olivine" colors from the Sephora + Pantone Universe Eclipsed
                      Color Grid Shadow Block (LE)
         Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon eyeshadow single in Brulee
         Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Covet (discontinued)
         L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara

Cheeks: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush

Lips: Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick in Blush Glow

Swatches:

from left: Silver Strike Color Tattoo, Wet 'n' Wild Shimmer the Night Away eyelid color, "Emerald Glitter", "Olivine",  Wet 'n 'Wild single in Brulee, Urban Decay 24/7 Covet eyeliner

from left: Hourglass blush in Luminous Flush, Elizabeth Arden lipstick in Blush Glow

Michigan State made it to the "Sweet Sixteen" and is playing again on Friday, March 28 with a tip-off time of 9:57 pm.  I case you need to set your TiVo.

Did you know President Obama picked Michigan State to win the NCAA tournament?

Sephora and Drugstore Haul

Cosmetics companies are so good at making us (me) constantly buy new things.  All the pretty new colors they constantly manage to introduce that aren't like anything else on the market or in my stash (:P), and the beautiful packaging that it really just a feast for the eyes.  Plus, Sephora occasionally comes out with some nice free stuff.  So, here is my latest haul.

From my local CVS where everybody knows my name (cue the Cheers theme song):

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hr Eyeshadow in Caramel Cool -- After seeing so many swatches of the Limited Edition Dare to Go Nude collection, I knew I had to have Caramel Cool.  I think copper colors are flattering for my eye color, and I don't actually have any cream shadows this color (surprising).

Maybelline Master Hi-Light Highlighting Bronzer in Light Bronze -- This is one that looks pretty in the pan, and I've read that these blush/bronzer/highlighter hybrids from Maybelline have a good formula.

Swatches of Caramel Cool eyeshadow and Light Bronze Hi-light Bronzer:

From Sephora (I used a gift card that my mom gave me for my birthday back in November):

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush -- I didn't jump on these during the VIB preview sale because I wanted to wait until I saw some swatches.  This one appealed to me the most.  I still kind of want Diffused Heat just because of the way it looks in the pan.

Swatch of Ambient Light Blush in Luminous Flush:

Also from Sephora:

MAKE UP FOR EVER Lab Shine Diamond Collection Lipgloss in D8 and D14 -- This set has 2 full-size lipglosses.  D8 is described as a shimmering baby pink, and D14 is a shimmering indian pink (p.s. what is indian pink?).  This is a $38 value for $16, so it seemed worth it.

Swatches of MUFE Lab Shine lipglosses in D8 and D14:

The free stuff from Sephora:

Balenciaga Rosabotanica EDP deluxe sample and printed scarf -- This was a 500 point perk.  I had been saving my points for a really long time, waiting for something cool to come along.  I decided to use them on this because the packaging of the perfume and the scarf looked really pretty.  The perfume itself smells really nice.  I am terrible at describing scents, so I'm not going to bother trying.  The large box in the group shot above contained the Rosabotanica set.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner in Intense Black -- I think this was just a deluxe sample with any $25 purchase.  Sephora says this is one of their best-selling liquid eyeliners, so I figured this would be a good way to try it.  It has a nice calligraphy-style pen tip, which is my favorite kind of tip, so I'm looking forward to using it.

Swatch of Stila Waterproof eyeliner:

What have you been hauling lately?

P.S.  I have a feeling I need to update my pop culture references.

Naked 3 EotD/FotD and a Personal Update

I'm really enjoying my Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.  It's an easy, everyday, goes with everything palette.

Eyes: Maybelline Color Tattoo Metal 24HR eyeshadow in Inked in Pink
           Urban Decay Naked 3 palette -- Burnout all over the lid
                                                      Buzz and Nooner in the outer corner and crease
                                                      Strange by the tear duct
         Bobbi Brown Intensifying Long-Wear Mascara

Cheeks:  Josie Maran Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise
                Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar

Lips: Maybelline Color Sensational The Elixir lipgloss in Petal Plush

from left: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink, Burnout, Buzz, Nooner, Strange

from left: Milani Amber Nectar, Maybelline Color Elixir in Petal Plush, Josie Maran Cheek Gelee in Poppy Paradise

On a personal note:
In case you were curious, I was out of town without my laptop last week, which is why I didn't post for a few days.  I was busy with this:

Yep.  I bought a new (used) car (a 2013 Chevy Cruze).  I had to say goodbye to my 15 year-old Saturn Coupe, which made me quite sad.  I loved that little red car -- it was a stick shift, had a sun roof, and was generally kind of sporty.  But, cars don't last forever, and it was definitely time (possibly past time) to trade it in.

I haven't named my new car yet, but my old car was named Eloise (one my favorite childhood literary characters).

Goodbye Eloise!

I'm getting all teary-eyed.

Green and White MSU EotD

The Spartans won the Rose Bowl!!!  I'm sure it was in part due to the fact I was wearing some school spirit inspired green and white eye makeup.

I used:  NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (matte white) all over the lid
            Maybelline Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Silver Strike (metallic bright silver) on
                             the inner half of lid
            Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye palette (shimmery green) on the outer half and crease
                             and lower lashline
            Darling Girl loose eyeshadow in Go, Go Godzilla (sparkling kelly green) over
                             dark green
            Milani Ultrafine Liquid Eyeliner in Emerald Glisten (sparkling blue green) on the
                             upper lashline
            Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Covet (shimmery bright green) on the
                              lower lashline

from left: NYX Milk pencil, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Silver Strike, Sonia Kashuk green, Darling Girl Go, Go Godzilla, Milani Ultrafine liner in Emerald Glisten, Urban Decay liner in Covet

I, of course, wore my MSU Spartan head pendant.

The last time MSU went to the Rose Bowl I was in the sixth grade.  I remember watching the game with my family and being thoroughly overjoyed when MSU won.  Good times!!

I have to go buy myself a Rose Bowl Champs t-shirt.

Eyes of the Day with NYX and Maybelline

So, the Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadow in Cool Crush (part of the summer collection), which is a silver with blue and silver shimmer, is pretty, but sheer, on its own, but I discovered it is gorgeous over a black base.

All I used for this look was NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean (matte black) as my base, and Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadow in Cool Crush over it.  I applied Black Bean all over my moving lid and then blended it out with a brush, and then I patted Cool Crush over it using the same brush.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean, Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Cool Crush

I bet some of the other duochrome Color Tattoos would be amazing over a black base too.

Maybelline Color Tattoos in Cool Crush and Seashore Frosts Swatches and EotD

Maybelline has some new limited edition color tattoos for summer that everyone has been drooling over since several of them have a duochrome color to them.  I was lucky enough to find the colors I was looking for (Cool Crush and Seashore Frosts) at my local Meijers.

Cool Crush and Seashore Frosts

Cool Crush is a sparkly light blue with a blue shift and silver shimmer.

Cool Crush

Seashore Frosts is a denim blue with a gold shift with a tiny bit of pink.

Seashore Frosts

From left: Seashore Frosts, Cool Crush (indoor light)

(sunlight)

(flash)

This angle shows the base color better.

Both of these have a slipperier texture than the original Color Tattoos, so they apply more sheerly and they crease a little when used alone.  They work well for a color wash watercolor look.  You can also use them as a base or over top of another shadow to give interesting dimension.

Here I used Cool Crush as a base color wash all over the lid up to the brow and the navy blue color form the Josie Maran Eye Love You eyeshadow palette as liner and little bit on the moving lid, and Guerlain Maxi Lash Mascara.

(Yep, I'm watching the Tigers game!)

Have you gotten your hands on any of the new Color Tattoos?