COLOURPOP Sundays in Silverlake Lippie Stix Set

[Purchased]

ColourPop Sundays in Silverlake Lippie Stix Set (6 x 0.0352 oz.) retails for $30 USD and contains six limited edition Lippie Stix shades that are exclusive to the set.

* Ace is described as a light warm pink, cream finish. [LE]

* Parker is described as a mid-tone warm nude, matte finish. [LE]

* Chel-La is described as a mid-tone bright peachy coral, cream finish. [LE]

* Thirsty is described as a cool-toned berry pink, satin finish. [LE]

* Pasties is described as a bright cool-toned magenta, hyper glossy finish. [LE]

* Cougar is described as a bright pinky-red, matte finish. [LE]

"All of our Lippie Stix formulas contain Vitamin E, Mango, Avacado & Shea Butter for added comfort & moisture - cuz we're cool like that. None of our Lippie formulas contain any nasty ingredients like Parabens of Sulfates. Glossy finish provides medium-full coverage, packed with moisture, feels extra creamy and buttery with a glossy finish.   Satin finish provides full coverage, long wearing, glides on smoothly witha  hydrating feel and has a modern satin finish.   Matte finish provides full coverage, superrr long wearing, ultra-comfortable and seriously loaded with pigment in a matte finish.   Hyper Glossy Finish provides full coverage and literally melts onto the lips, feels ultra creamy, super moisturizing with a glossy finish.   Pearlized Finish provides a medium to full coverage with highly reflective pearls that give a pearlized finish."

The packaging is their signature white pen-style tube with a color-coded section on the bottom, as well as everything under the cap, to easily identify the shade. They have a vanilla scent that can be noticed on initial application, but it does fade throughout wear.

Ace is a light-medium pink with hints of yellow, warm undertones and a creamy, satin finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and mostly opaque. It had great pigmentation and the creamy finish made it comfortable to wear. Though, I found this particular shade had a thicker consistency which caused the color to lightly fall into lip lines. Ace lasted +4 hours before fading. (4/5)

* MAC Pink Plaid was darker, cooler.  Too Faced Melted Marshmallow was lighter, more pink.  Too Faced Melted Peony was darker, more pink.

Parker is a medium-dark, muted rose brown with warm undertones and a satin-matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had opaque color payoff. It glided onto lips easily without tugging or dragging, was comfortable throughout wear and never felt drying. Parker wore well for +5 hours before fading. (5/5)

* Bite Beauty Latte (LE) was warmer.  MAC Kinda Sexy was more tan.  Too Faced Melted Chihuahua was lighter, warmer.

Chel-La is a light-medium coral with hints of orange, warm undertones and a creamy, luminous finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and mostly opaque. The creamy finish made it very easy to apply, but I felt it had the smallest amount of slip which caused the color to lightly settle into lip lines and emphasize any imperfections on the lips. Chel-La lasted +5 hours before fading. (4/5)

* Tarte Coral Blossom was darker, more pink.

Thirsty is a medium-dark pink with hints of plum, cool undertones and a satin finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had nice, opaque color payoff. It was the best performing shades out of the entire set as it never settled or emphasized drier areas of the lips. Thirsty wore well for +6 hours and left behind a faint stain. (5/5)

* Kat Von D Mother was similar, matte.  Sephora Collection Cherry Blossom was lighter, more pink.  Too Faced Melted Fig was muted, more purple.

Pasties is a medium-dark, magenta pink with cool undertones and a glossy, cream finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and mostly opaque. It glided-on very easily due to the creamy texture, without being too creamy where the product would slide around. The color was much more pigmented and bold than expected with this type of finish. Pasties lasted +5.5 hours and left behind a stain. (5/5)

* Kat Von D Bauhau5 was darker, more fuchsia, matte.  MAC Flat Out Fabulous was darker, muted, matte.  Sephora Collection Music Is Magic (LE) was brighter, warmer, more pink.

Cougar is a medium-dark, fuchsia red with cool undertones and a satin-matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had rich, opaque pigmentation. It glided onto lips easily without tugging or dragging, was comfortable throughout wear and never settled into lip lines. Cougar wore well for +7 hours and left behind a vivid stain. (5/5)

* Bite Beauty Palomino was darker, more purple.  Kat Von D Bachelorette was more red, matte.  MAC All Fired Up was lighter, warmer.

Overall, this was a nice all around set. It features very summery feeling shades and it's a great opportunity to try out a variety of different Lippie Stix finishes. Whether you're trying the brand for the first time, expanding your lipstick collection or the shades have just caught your eye, than it will be worth checking out—especially for the affordable price tag!

Available now from ColourPop for a limited time!

KAT VON D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks | New Shades!

[Purchased]

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks (0.12 oz.) individually retail for $20 USD ($24 CAD) and are available 28 shades. The brand recently introduced 16 new, permanent shades into the line. They are said to be "a long-wear, full-coverage liquid lipstick with a smooth, matte finish."

"Now with 16 additional, bold shades of Everlasting Liquid Lipstick for all-night wear, this innovative formula gives lips long-lasting wear and high-pigment color. Its creamy, color-rich formula glides over lips like a gloss but dries to a true matte finish. It’s infused with natural comfort-enhancing ingredients, including vitamin E and sunflower seed so you can flaunt lasting matte color that leaves lips feeling comfortable."

The packaging is a long, thin plastic tube with a velvet, doe-foot applicator. Depending on the size of your lips, I feel the applicator holds the perfect amount of product in one go to cover your entire mouth evenly and easily. It does a great job of applying color cleanly, but for those looking for total control and precision, you could definitely use a lip brush. The lipsticks also don't have a noticeable scent or taste.

The formula is highly pigmented and dries within 20 - 40 seconds of application. During dry time you will want to avoid applying more product or pressing your lips together as this will likely cause the color to lift in areas and appear streaky, patchy or uneven. With most liquid lipsticks, the color does cling to lips but never feels overly drying or uncomfortable. They typically wear between 6 to 10 hours on their own, but layering products, like glosses, can cause the wear time to be cut down drastically.

Ayesha is a medium, purple mauve with cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, mostly even and for the most part, opaque. It had good pigmentation but I noticed my natural lip color did show through in some areas, especially once the product slowly started to fade over time. Regardless, it was never streaky or patchy. wore well for +7 hours before fading. (5/5)

* MAC Men Love Mystery was lighter, brighter, warmer and more pink. 

Bow N Arrow is a medium, muted brown beige with warm undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly, fully opaque and had rich, opaque pigmentation. It had excellent performance throughout wear; it wasn't streaky or patchy once dry and it didn't crack or flake over time. Bow N Arrow wore well for +7.5 hours before fading. (5/5) 

* Kat Von D Lolita was warmer, more pink.  MAC Stone was darker, cooler, more grey.  MAC Velvet Teddy was lighter, warmer, more peach.  MAC Whirl was darker, warmer, more brown.

Damned is a deep, darkened burgundy with cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, semi-even and mostly opaque. It was definitely a trickier shade to apply due to it's darker nature, as it appeared darker in some areas, lighter in others—even with properly prepped, moisturized lips. Damned wore well for +7.5 hours and left behind a stain. (4/5)

* Kat Von D Homegirl is brighter, less opaque.  Kat Von D Motorhead is brighter, more red, less opaque.  Kat Von D Exorcism is lighter, cooler, more plum.  MAC Studded Kiss is brighter, warmer.  MAC Antique Velvet is lighter, more brown.  MAC Sin is brighter, warmer, more red.

Double Dare is a medium, dusty coral with warm undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had opaque color payoff. This was another shade that had excellent performance throughout wear; it wasn't streaky or patchy and it didn't crack or flake once dry. Double Dare wore well for +7.5 hours before fading. (5/5)

* Kat Von D Lolita was muted, more brown.

Echo is a darkened, royal blue with hints of purple, cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, mostly even and opaque. It was a slightly more difficult shade to apply, as it tends to be lighter and more sheer in certain areas. I found the quicker you applied this shade, the more opaque the coverage was—you can always go back and fix anywhere needed once it's dried. Echo wore well for +7.5 hours before fading. (4/5) 

* MAC Matte Royal was brighter, creamier and leaned more purple.

Exorcism is a medium-dark, red plum with cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, mostly even and opaque. While it had nice pigmentation, it did appear lightly darker in some areas, but it wasn't as noticeable or nearly as troublesome as Damned. This shade was actually quite easy to work with. Exorcism wore well for +7.5 hours and left behind a stain. (5/5)

* Kat Von D Damned is darker, more red.  Kat Von D Homegirl was brighter, warmer, more red.  MAC Instigator is cooler, more purple.

Lovesick is a medium, dusty rose pink with cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had nice, opaque coverage. It had good pigmentation and the color was never streaky or patchy. I also didn't experience any flaking or cracking during wear. Lovesick lasted +7 hours before fading. (5/5)

Melancholia is a light-medium, pale bubblegum pink with warm undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, mostly even and had opaque color payoff. While it was never streaky or patchy, my natural lip pigmentation did show through ever-so-slightly in some areas due to the more pale nature. Melancholia lasted +6.5 hours and lightly cracked throughout wear. (4/5)

Mother is a medium, watermelon pink with cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had ultra rich, opaque pigmentation. The color coverage and performance was great. Again, it wasn't streaky or patchy once dry and it didn't crack or flake over time. Mother wore well for +8 hours before fading. (5/5)

 

Noble is a light, pale peach with warm undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, mostly even and semi-opaque. It seemed to have a thinner consistency and sheerer pigmentation which caused my lip color to show through in some areas. This could be easily corrected by applying a second coat once the product had dried fully for a more opaque coverage. This was also a more troublesome shade to apply due to it's lighter nature. Noble wore well for +6 hours before lightly fading. (4/5) 

* Kat Von D Nobel (Lipstick) was more muted, pinker.

Nosferatu is a medium-dark, crimson with warm undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had opaque color payoff. Once again, it wasn't streaky or patchy and it didn't crack over time. My only complaint is it can look darker in some areas in certain lightings, but it wasn't. Nosferatu wore well for +8 hours and left behind a stain. (5/5)

* Kat Von D Outlaw is brighter, more vivid.  MAC Studded Kiss is darker, warmer.  Bite Braised Maple is brighter, lighter.  Bite Mulled Maple is warmer, glossy.  Bite Black Cherry is warmer, glossy.

Requiem is a muted, pale lavender pink with cool undertones and an ultra matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had ultra opaque pigmentation. Despite it's lighter, more pale nature, this lipstick was surprisingly easy to apply . Although it could end up looking streaky at times if you don't smooth the product out fast enough, or try and apply more before the first layer has dried completely. Requiem wore well for +7 hours before fading. (4/5)

* Kat Von D Coven is cooler, more purple. 

Susperia is a medium-dark, purple fuchsia with warm undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and semi-opaque. There were a few areas that seemed lighter but that never caused my lips to look patchy, streaky or uneven. It was richly pigmented and I appreciate that it's one solid color on the lips and doesn't separate like LUV—which tends to look more fuchsia around the edges. Susperia lasted +7.5 hours and left behind a stain. (5/5)

* Kat Von D LUV (Liquid) is brighter, more vivid, pink.  Kat Von D LUV (Lipstick) is cooler, more purple, less pigmented.  MAC Heroine is brighter, more vivid, pink.

Witches is a dark, true black with cool undertones and a matte finish. This shade applied smoothly, evenly and had rich, opaque pigmentation. This shade was surprisingly easy; I found the quicker you spread the product across your lips, the more opaque and even the coverage was. For any sheerer areas, you can always go back and touch up once it's dried. Witches wore well for +8 hours and left behind a faint stain. (5/5)

 * MAC Hautecore was similar, less pigmented.  Kat Von D Slayer was similar, less pigmented.

Overall, the additional shades were such a nice, long awaited surprise and I hope to see some more unique shades and finishes—like metallic! I am a huge fan of the Kat Von D formula and these are by far my favorite, go-to liquid lipsticks out there. Of course with that said, I highly recommend checking them out and if you have, let me know your favorites in the comments!

Available now from Sephora!

Upcoming | KAT VON D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Extension (July 2015)

[Disclaimer Policy]

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks (0.22 oz.) retails for $20 USD ($24 CAD) and are available in 15 new shades. They are said to be "a long-wear, full-coverage liquid lipstick with a smooth, matte finish."

* Ayesha is described as a deep lavender. [P]

* Bow 'n' Arrow is described as a fawn nude. [P]

* Damned is described as a black cherry. [P]

* Double Dare is described as a cocoa blush. [P]

* Echo is described as a navy blue. [P]

* Exorcism is described as a ripe blackberry. [P]

* Lovesick is described as a velvet pink w/ lavender undertones. [P]

* Melancholia is described as a rose blush. [P]

* Mother is described as a romantic rich pink. [P]

* Noble is described as a petal pink nude. [P]

* Nosferatu is described as a blood crimson. [P]

* Requiem is described as a soft lilac. [P]

* Santa Sangre is described as a poison apple. [P]

* Susperia is described as a bright lavender. [P]

* Witches is described as a bold ink black. [P]

"Now with 16 additional, bold shades of Everlasting Liquid Lipstick for all-night wear, this innovative formula gives lips long-lasting wear and high-pigment color. Its creamy, color-rich formula glides over lips like a gloss but dries to a true matte finish. It’s infused with natural comfort-enhancing ingredients, including vitamin E and sunflower seed so you can flaunt lasting matte color that leaves lips feeling comfortable. "

Available now on Sephora (US) & Sephora (Canada).

BECCA Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed | Comparison

[Purchased]

Becca Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed (0.28 oz.) retails for $38 USD ($46 CAD) and is said to be "a limited-edition [permanent as of 01/01/16], creamy, luminizing powder to illuminate the face with a soft, pearlized glow."

* Champagne Pop is described as a soft white gold w/ pinky peach undertones. [P]

"BECCA collaborated with YouTube beauty celebrity and makeup artist Jaclyn Hill to create a new limited-edition shade of their number one bestselling luminizer powder. Featuring her dream shade, Champagne Pop—a soft white, gold shade with pinky peach undertones—this creamy luminizer leaves the skin with a soft pearlized glow. It’s infused with light-reflecting pearls that beautifully catch the light, allowing your favorite features to pop. Just apply to targeted areas, or simply sweep it up on the cheekbones and down the bridge of the nose for quick, radiant perfection."

The packaging is a round compact with a silicone texture and features a mirror. The compact itself feels very slim and durable in the hand, but the product itself is quite delicate. Whether you like a strong sheen highlight, a subtle natural finish or you're looking to achieve the newest "strobing" trend, this product is great at achieving either.

These highlighters are best applied using a fluffier brush, like a fan brush, to ensure you won't over apply the color or get an intensely frosted finish that could end up emphasizing pores or imperfections on the skin. 

Champagne Pop is a light-medium peach gold with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. The texture was soft, silky, finely-milled and very smooth to apply. This shade had excellent pigmentation that blended out easily and evenly across skin. Champagne Pop wore well for +9 hours before lightly fading. (5/5)

When compared, Becca Moonstone is lighter, brighter and more champagne toned on the skin. Becca Opal is darker and more gold toned on the skin. Moonstone and Opal mixed together create a perfect, spot on dupe for Champagne Pop.

Overall, the performance and quality of Champagne Pop is consistent with the other Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed shades—they are ultra soft, silky, nicely pigmented and leave an incredible luminous glow to the skin. Unfortunately, due to the limited quantity and high demand for this product it seems to have sold out everywhere, but if you happen to own both Moonstone and Opal you can easily achieve this color by mixing the two!

Available now from Sephora! July 2 online and July 16 in-stores.

Upcoming | BITE Beauty Frozen Berries Collection for US (July 2015)

[Disclaimer Policy]

Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lipstick (0.15 oz.) individually retail for $24 USD and are available in 5 shades. They are said to be "a limited-edition, matte cream lipstick inspired by the depth and luster of flash-frozen wild berries."

* Barberry is described as a muted orchid. [LE]

* Black Cherry is described as a deep oxblood. [LE]

* Elderberry is described as a deep purple. [LE]

* Juniper is described as a deep fuchsia. [LE]

* Plum is described as a rich eggplant. [LE] 

"Matte yet moisturizing, Bite’s unique Matte Crème Lipstick has a blend of pigments, powders, and Japanese silica that leave lips with a velvety, soft-focus finish. It features blueberry seed oil, rich in phytonutrients and a potent antioxidant, and cranberry seed oil, which nourishes and moisturizes lips with omega 3, 6, and 9 essential fatty acids not found in other oils. This antioxidant-packed lip formula brings highly pigmented, moisturizing, wearable color to lips."

Available exclusively at Sephora (US) on July 14, 2015.

Click here for the Canada exclusive collection! →

Upcoming | BITE Beauty Opal Crème Collection (July 2015)

[Disclaimer Policy]

Bite Beauty Crème Lipstick retails for $24 USD and the Crème Lip Gloss retails for $22 USD. (I'll update once the Canadian pricing is released.)

* Opal (Lipstick) is described as a sheer ultraviolet. [LE]

* Opal (Lip Gloss) is described as a slick of opalescence. [LE]

"Formulated with two-tone pearl, the sheer Opal Crème Lipstick and Opal Crème Lip Gloss offer an iridescent finish to be applied on its own or on top of any lip color for an ultraviolet dimension. Known for its stunning range of colors as light passes through, the Opal Crème Collection diffracts light into a beautiful spectrum of shades for a mesmerizing, multidimensional lip."

Available at Sephora in July 2015. (More details to follow)

URBAN DECAY Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blush

[Purchased]

Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Powder Blushes (0.23 oz) individually retail for $26 USD ($31 CAD) and are available in 12 shades. They are said to be "a blendable, finely-milled powder blush that sweeps on beautifully and delivers eight hours of streak-free color."

* Bittersweet is described as a bright purple. [P]

* Fetish is described as a medium pink-nude. [P]

* Obsessed is described as a light pink. [P]

* Rapture is described as a deep mauve w/ hint of shimmer. [P]

* Video is described as a soft nude. [P]

"Urban Decay Afterglow Blush leaves a sexy, lit-from-within glow. Fake a perfect flush with this eight-hour formula that creates the lingering, radiant look of a romantic rendezvous. Infused with light-diffusing pigments to enhance and perfect the skin, this highly-blendable, finely milled formula goes on sheer and provides eight long hours of lightweight, wearable, ultra-creamy color."

The packaging is a metallic gunmetal compact with a transparent window in the shape of the brands logo which is intended to show the color of blush. They feature a magnetic closure and the sticker is color coded depending on the shade.

The formula has a very finely-milled, smooth texture and a buildable semi-sheer to mostly opaque, true-to-pan color payoff. The one downfall is that these do tend to lean more on the powdery side, in the sense of there being a lot of loose powder sitting on the pan once product has been picked up—luckily the powderiness doesn't translate to the skin. If you're familiar with the Naked Flushed Palettes (check them out here) you may already be used to the issue, but the Afterglow Blushes aren't nearly as troublesome.

Bittersweet is a medium-dark, brightened purple with hints of fuchsia, cool undertones and a matte finish. The texture was incredibly soft, smooth, finely-milled, but I did find excess powder gathered on top of the pan once product had been picked up with a brush. It had great pigmentation that was easy to build and blended out relatively nice on the skin. Bittersweet wore well for +8 hours before fading. (5/5)

Fetish is a medium-dark, muted dusty rose with warm undertones and a matte finish. The texture was soft, smooth, finely-milled, but again had a lot of excess powder—more so than the other shades. It had good pigmentation but had difficulties adhering to the skin which made it troublesome to blend out. Fetish wore well for +7 hours before fading. (4/5)

Obsessed is a light-medium, lavender pink with cool undertones and a satin-matte finish. The texture was ultra silky, soft and finely-milled that again, was powdery in the pan but not on the skin. It had good pigmentation that was buildable despite it's more pale nature and blended out evenly. Obsessed wore well for +8 hours before fading. (5/5)

Rapture is a medium-dark, muted plum with cool undertones and a golden sheen finish. The texture was soft, smooth, silky and finely-milled. This shade, unlike the rest, didn't have any thin or excess powder issues. It had excellent, buildable pigmentation and left a soft, satin sheen to the skin. Rapture wore well for +8 hours before fading. (5/5)

Video is a medium-dark brown with warm undertones and a satin finish. The texture was again soft, smooth, finely-milled and silky. It had great pigmentation that was buildable and blended out evenly on the skin. I was personally hoping this shade would work as a contour shade, but it leans too orange to look natural—at least on my NW10/15 skintone. Video wore well for +8 hours before fading. (5/5)

Overall, the Afterglow Blushes perform great on the skin, despite being quite thin and powdery in the pan. They seem to stand true to their 8-hour claim and the range has a great selection of neutral to bold shades. Only a small amount of product is needed for a sheer wash of color and you can achieve a brighter, more intense payoff for darker skintones. If you're in the market for some new blushes, I would recommend checking these out!