Review: Annabelle Cosmetics Skinny Brow Liner

I have been using this wonderful little product on myself and on my clients for the last few years and I must say that I have been more than pleased with it.

Most of us are used to using pencil brows, and we all know the routine..  sharpen, apply, correct, sharpen... and it almost always still looks smudged.. ugh

Say goodbye to your frustrations!  Annabelle has the solution!

This gem of a product takes the frustration out of brow applications..  It is very fine, which allows for a precise application and make brow filling practically foolproof!  It is retractable and it includes a brow shaping comb as well. Some would prefer a spoolie instead, but in all honesty, it doesn't bother me at all.

The formula is matte, waterproof and hypo-allergenic... three words you want to hear when describing a brow pencil!

And the best part... it costs less than 10$ per pencil!

It is available in a number of colors:  Universal Light, Universal Medium, Universal Dark, Universal Ebony, Universal Taupe, Universal Auburn

I cannot tell you how many clients I have turned on to this product. 


Seriously.. two thumbs up!

Review: Maybelline The Nudes and The blushed Nudes palettes

I was walking down the cosmetics aisles of the pharmacy, as I usually do on my trips there, when something caught my eye in the Maybelline display.  Nude palettes! AFFORDABLE nude palettes! (They retail for almost 13$/palette + tax)

So I bought both ;)

With all the hype surrounding the Urban Decay Naked palettes that retail for a whopping 64$ + tax, it is no wonder that there are dupes popping up everywhere.  Other examples are the Coastal Scents Revealed palettes, and L'Oreal's Color Riche La Palette Nude or even Annabelle's Smokey Nudes Eyeshadow Pallette.


At first glance, the color options that these palettes offer are impressive.  You get 12 colors per palette, and each contain a combination of matte and satin shades.

The original palette has a combination of bronzy tones, ranging from champagnes to taupes to golds and browns/blacks

The blushed palette has an array of pinky tones ranging from a vanilla to rose golds to silver/greys and a sparkly plum

Application: 

As soon as you swatch the colors with your fingers, you understand that the color payoffs are quite sheer, especially the matte shades.  The more satiny shiny shades are more pigmented. 

Right away, I would recommend that these palettes be used with an eye primer and a dense eyeshadow brush (or even your fingers) to apply.

bronze palette swatches

blushed palette swatches

 

Final thoughts:

 

 

The colors are gorgeous, it is obvious that they gave the color choices a lot of thought. Most of the shades have a wonderful satiny finish that are easy to apply and easy to blend out. 

 

The variety available in the palettes makes it easy to go from day to night without the bulk of having to carry around a bunch of different pans and the user-friendly-ness of not having to break your head deciding which colors go well together. 

 

However, I do wish that the colors would be more pigmented.  Colors that are adequately pigmented not only facilitate application but also give the wearer the choice of degree of intensity they wish to have.

 

All in all, a good buy for the everyday woman looking for a variety of choices for an affordable price :)

 

 

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Guest Review: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

When my friend Teny saw me pull out a big white tube from my purse at the end of our breakfast date, she asked me what it was, as I was putting on my lips.

I was so excited to share it with her. Its not your conventional lip balm, but its a miracle cream I swear by and have so, since 1999. (pre Y2K! ha!)

When I was just a young fashion photography assistant, I would watch big make up artist put this product on the model's lips as a natural look and replacement for a gloss.

I asked them what it was...and I have since then used it and sworn by it. It is the very reason I have non-chapped lips and never worry about lipgloss.

The cream is called Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. Its a 50 ml tube that goes for about 35$ and will last you YEARS.

A classic, and a woman's must have. It can shape brows, revitalize shine, soothe dry hands (although I find it too greasy for it), smooth cuticles. Helps prevent chapping, peeling, and windburn. I use it as a lip balm in the winter months and in the spring when wind is a big factor.

In cold winter days, when we're all looking grey, I add a touch of my Mac Beet lipliner and mix in a dab of my eight hour cream and i got myself luscious lips that are also protected with a hint of color.

The only downfall is that it has a faint medicated smell. It doesn't bother me but your significant other may be slightly bothered by your kisses. In which case, I suggest you wear it to bed at night and wake up with fresh lips. I've even also burned myself in the kitchen and used it! I'm telling you...you won't want to live without it!! Grab one at any The Bay store.

-Magnolia 💜

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Review: Sonia Kashuk Perlescence Long Wear Creme Shadow

While shopping at Target yesterday, I came across the Sonia Kashuk line of products.  I have been reading some good reviews about her stuff so I decided to give them a try.

I ended up purchasing the pearlescence long wear creme shadow in "Diamond-01" (an ivory-white color) and "Moonstone-03" (a bronzy-gold color)

swatches of diamond (above) and moonstone (below)

Once I got home, I decided to try the products right away.  I applied the colors on my lids - without prepping or priming - and went about my business.

My thoughts?

GREAT little product.  The packaging is sleek and appealing and very very easy to use. Application is simple with the sponge-tip wand, and the product gives you enough time to play around with it if you wish to blend it out, but once it sets, it's bulletproof!  The shadows stayed on my lids even after my shower, all the way to the next morning; after a night of sleeping with my face in the pillow.

For anyone looking for a good on-the-go product to give you a boost, this little gem is a definite must-have in anyone's makeup kit.  And the best part? It's affordable at just 8.99$ per tube.  (Canadian Targets have 30% off makeup products now)

Comes in 4 colors: Diamond, Moonstone, Quartz, Tiger's eye

For the full line of products, visit SoniaKashuk.com 

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Tarteist clay paint liner by Tarte Cosmetics

Simply put, this little product is pure awesome

This is my new, favorite product of all time.  No contest.

** Photo found on Google images

First, the description of the color is "triple-black".  Drool.  You had me at hello. (See my previous post "my obsession with black eyeliner" and you'll understand)

Its a liquid, its a gel, its a cream, its in a tube!  

Don't get me wrong, I still love my liquid liners and my cream liners as much as the next person, but this!  Its the perfect marriage of both!  Comes out liquidy (but not too liquidy) applies SO smoothly, and dries as pigmented and as mat as a cream liner!  

As if that wasn't good enough, the product is long-lasting (12 hour wear) and waterproof!  And trust me when I say, a little goes a long way!  What more can a person want? 

Oh and don't get me started on the blending tip! Pure genius! The tube helps you control the amount you want to squeeze out and then you basically load up your brush right in the blending tip!  No more putting product on your hand,

No more black liner stains for days on end! 

Basically, in case it wasn't clear enough, this is a great little product and I would definitely recommend it to anyone, whether a makeup artist or not. 

Retails for 29$ at Sephora 

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