Review: Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

Following in the trend of the HD and for-photograph foundations, Revlon released a version of their own.  Surprisingly, foundation isn't an area in which I've had a lot of product experience.  I've really only used a few and my products of choice in the past and thus far have been: Revlon ColorStay, Bare Minerals, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, and MAC MSFN.  Coming out of my Bare Minerals addiction (still love their products--just wanna try something new!), I thought that I'd try going back to liquid foundation.  While I did enjoy the coverage that Revlon ColorStay provided, I didn't like the smell and how thick it felt.  When I saw Photo Ready while browsing through the drugstore and after getting a personal recommendation from my friend, Iris, I thought that I'd give it a try.  (Once again, like with the L'Oreal base, late to get on the bandwagon, but I'm here!)

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

What it is:
A lightweight, but buildable foundation that includes SPF 20.  The formulation is designed to be non-greasy and give a dewy finish.  It also smoothes to hide imperfections.
My impression:
Many of the reviews that I have read have been positive towards this product.  There were some negatives listed, however, like the shimmer that is in this product.  Personally, the shimmer isn't blaringly noticeable or off-putting to me.  I feel as though every time I've used it, it has given a nice, even, and dewy finish to the skin.  Another point that some of the reviews warned about was that those with oily skin might have problems with it.  Just like me, the friend who gave the recommendation has oily skin and did not experience problems with it.  It was more of a reason for me to try, and after using it several times, I would have to agree.  I don't know if it is from the L'Oreal perfecting base or what, but the makeup was long lasting and I did not feel the slightest need to blot until over 8 hours later.  I don't know about you, but I like the feeling of being able to and wanting to touch my face at the end of the day.  I would have to say that I have definitely fallen in love with this foundation.  I found it to be much lighter and more blendable than Revlon ColorStay.  I liked that the coverage was buildable and there wasn't any strong scent that I could notice.  One of the other things that I really liked about this product was the fact that it came with a pump.  I know that was an issue with the ColorStay packaging and I like that the pump minimizes the chances of contamination.
My recommendation:
I'm sure you could tell by my impression that I am in love with this foundation, but I think that the best way to find out if it's for you is to try it out.  I was under the impresseion that I should stay away from it because of the issues that some people with oily skin have had and because some people found the shimmer very off-putting.  However, after giving it a try (it could also be related to the base that I started using), I really loved it and really see myself using this a lot more in the future.
The rundown:

• Product:  5/5
• Packaging:  5/5
• Quality:  5/5
• Overall:  5/5
• Would I buy this again?:  Yes
• Where to buy:  You can purchase it from the Revlon website, ULTA, or from various drugstores.
• Price:  $12.99 at ULTA
• Pros:
  +  SPF 20
  +  Dewy finish
  +  Lightweight formula
  +  Not greasy
  +  Buildable
  +  Blendable
  +  Pump packaging
  +  Long-lasting
• Cons:
  -  Not as wide of a color choice when compared to ColorStay

Hopefully you found my review helpful!  If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review the product featured above. I purchased all of the products reviewed in this blog post and did not receive them for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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Review: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Secret No. 1 Magic Perfecting Base

Late to get on the bandwagon much?  This product is one that I've seen reviewed on several blogs--too many to name. Almost all, if not all of them, were very positive reviews that raved on and on about the product.  Why didn't I give it a try back when it first started gaining popularity?  I was using my own Bare Minerals "regimen" and thought that I would give it a try as soon as I went back to liquid foundation (reviews on this to come today as well, hopefully!).  Well, I'm back to it and now I can finally give this a review!

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Secret No. 1 Magic Perfecting Base

What it is:
This is a priming base offered by L'Oreal, although I'm pretty sure that it can be worn alone.  It claims to give "perfect skin texture" that will happen "instantly" and last "all day."  The texture is described as silky and lightweight, making application easy since it just glides over the skin.  Another one of its purposes is to minimize the look of pores and fine lines.  The result?  Skin that is very smooth and has an even matte finish.  It is said to benefit all skin types and is non-comedogenic.
My impression:
When I first got this product, I was a little wary about the size of the jar.  It's a very small jar, probably a little bit bigger than the size of a MAC Paint Pot jar.  Since I work every day and more often than not go out on the weekends (and it is my habit to apply a full or mostly-full face of makeup each day), I knew that it was going to get a lot of use.  However, after using it a few times and seeing how very little I need, my fears were allayed.  All I really needed to do was dab my finger into the jar once or twice and I was good to go.  The texture is a little bit thick and gummy, but it's very spreadable once you get it to your face.  It is also lightweight and if you don't make the mistake of globbing it on, it shouldn't feel heavy at all.  Despite the product being white, it blends into the skin quite well and invisibly.  I found that my face definitely became a lot smoother and more matte.  I was very impressed at the way that it made my nose and the areas on my cheeks around my nose look, since those are the areas where my pores are most visible.  When it came time to apply the liquid foundation (I used Revlon Photo Ready Foundation), it applied very smoothly.  Concealer did not crease underneath my eyes as it usually would without a base.  My makeup definitely lasted throughout the day and I didn't feel the need to blot until about 8 hours in.
My recommendation:
After using this several times, I would have to say that I agree with the raves that everyone was posting.  It's a really great product and if someone were to ask for a primer recommendation, I would definitely recommend this to them.  As someone that has tried both Smashbox (Photo Finish Light) and Monistat Chafing Gel, I would probably have to say that this primer works just as well.  I like that it is about half the price of Smashbox, and if you're bothered about putting something that wasn't originally designed to be a primer on your face, you've got a relatively inexpensive alternative.  It says that it can be used alone, but I personally wouldn't--not for any reason other than I just wouldn't, but it can definitely be done.  I have only used this with liquid foundation, but I can't imagine why it wouldn't work for creams or powders.  All in all?  Great product!
The rundown:

• Product:  5/5
• Packaging:  4/5
• Quality:  5/5
• Overall:  4.7/5
• Would I buy this again?:  Yes
• Where to buy:  You can purchase it from the L'Oreal website, ULTA, or from various drugstores.
• Price:  $12.99 at ULTA
• Pros:
  +  Evens skin texture
  +  Long-lasting
  +  Minimizes the look of pores and fine lines
  +  Matte finish
• Cons:
  -  At $12.99, it's a little bit pricey
  -  The jar is a little small for my tastes

So there's my review of this base for you!  I know that I was slow to jump on the bandwagon, but for those of you that haven't tried it yet and are interested, I would surely recommend it.  If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to let me know!

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review the product featured above. I purchased all of the products reviewed in this blog post and did not receive them for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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Review: NYX Slim Lip Liners

For those of you that pay attention to the tags, you may have noticed that this post was tagged under the "5 Favorite Things" tag.  It's not a mistake--the reason that I've done that is because that I have reached the decision to discontinue the series indefinitely.  I'm sure that my spurts of hiatus from both Twitter and the blog have become evident.  Since I started working, I've been a little bit too busy and hurried in the mornings to create anything new and have consequently been sleepily running to my go-to looks.  Additionally, since I haven't really been purchasing or using new things, there haven't been all too many things that I'd like to post about.  I still plan on continuing the review segments, though, because I really enjoy writing them and I hope that you guys enjoy reading them, too!

NYX Slim Lip Liners

What it is:
This is what NYX brings to the table in terms of lip liners.  There are three versions of lip liners that NYX offers--jumbo, slim, and automatic.  This review will focus on the Slim Lip Liners.
My impression:
For those of you that have been following my blog since its creation in November and were around to read my New Year's Resolution post, you probably remember my resolution to wear lip products.  Well, I am proud to say that by using what I had and experimenting with different products, I was able to gain a greater appreciation for lip products.  I was experiencing some problems, however, like feathering and creasing.  For this, I went to my own personal "beauty consultant," AIversonBabe, who has always been there to help me with my beauty needs!  She suggested to me the NYX Slim Lip Liners, which she compared to the higher-end MAC lip liners.  I jumped at this idea, liking that the NYX lip liners were inexpensive and could allow me to develop a feel for lip liners as a whole since I had never used them before.  I was a little wary bceause the last NYX liners that I used were eyeliners, which I was not at all fond of because of how hard and difficult to work with they were.  I am pleased to say that I really like the lip liners.  They're creamy and apply smoothly and evenly.  The pigmentation is excellent--not sheer at all and it lasts me all day.  As long as I took care to moisturize and exfoliate my lips beforehand, I also found that these don't dry out my lips--very important because that is something that I really struggle with each day.  Me and NYX Slim Lip Liners?  Match made in heaven!
My recommendation:
There is no doubt in my mind that this is an excellent product and I would recommend it in a heartbeat.  Nice texture, smooth application, great pigmentation, long-lasting, and non-drying on top of all that?  It's hard to believe that a product like this would only be $3.50 (as listed on the NYX website), but no complaints on my end!  They come in a wide variety of colors and are sold in a vast array of places, so you might even be able to get them cheaper.  Definitely great for someone that is relatively new to lip products like me because they are inexpensive, but I feel as though even those that regularly use lip products might love these as well.
The rundown:

• Product:  5/5
• Packaging:  5/5
• Quality:  5/5
• Overall:  5/5
• Would I buy this again?:  YOU BET.
• Where to buy?  My main three sources are NYX Website, ULTA, and Cherry Culture, but there are a ton of retailers/etailers that sell NYX
• Price:  $3.50 as listed on the NYX Website
• Pros:
  +  Inexpensive
  +  Smooth appliation
  +  Creamy texture
  +  Great pigmentation
  +  Long-lasting
  +  Wide color offering
  +  Non-drying
• Cons:  (There really aren't any that I can see...)
  -  You have to sharpen it a lot?  Haha.

Hope you found this review helpful!  If you have any questions or want to know any more about this product, please don't hesitate to let me know!

As a side note, for those of you that haven't checked it out yet, I would really appreciate it if you could help me out with my Eyeliner Experiment.  I'm currently looking for eyeliners to test and try.  Thanks to everyone that contributed!  I really value your time!

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review the product featured above. I purchased all of the products reviewed in this blog post and did not receive them for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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Library: Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin

Kevyn Aucoin
Making Faces
$21.99

I first encountered the work of the late Kevyn Aucoin while my makeup addiction was still blooming.  I was very captivated by it and the creativity was astounding.  I was very impressed by the way that this celebrated artist embraced being different.  When I saw this book (a #1 New York Times Best Seller, might I add!) in stores, I knew that I had to have it and give it a look.

For those of you that like photographs, I would have to say that this book is chock full of them.  There are a lot of creative shots of models, but also of some of the products that are used.  I loved how the shots of the products gave the pages "texture" and interest.  Although there are many pictures of products, there are no products that are listed by name.  This allows you to use what you want, be it drugstore or high end.  It was nice to not feel obligated to run out and buy certain things that weren't already in your collection. 

I thought that the layout of the book was very nice and easy to understand.  In addition to the main text, there were also many helpful tips scattered about its pages.  The tips not only involved application, but also how to create different shapes, how to choose products, and much more.  The language he uses is very easy to understand and you feel like you are reading words by a friend, not by someone that is preaching to you.  I thought that the book was less in depth than the Jemma Kidd book, but I think that there is a wider range of topics.  For example, I liked that Aucoin spoke about cosmetic surgery, brow shaping, brow bleaching, brow covering, eyeshadow shapes, and lip shapes--just to name a few things.

Towards the end of the book is a collection of looks that Aucoin has done in the past, ranging from looks that are natural and minimalist to looks that are dramatic and edgy.  I truly believe that there is a look for everyone and every mood in there.  These looks are explained and illustrated in detail.  I also liked that Aucoin included several makeover stories because it is uplifting to really see how makeup can have a positive impact on someone's life.

Overall, I was very fond of this book as a whole.  I learned a lot from it and was very drawn in by the pictures.  The only negative I would have say is the way in which some things are explained.  For example, in explaining how to replicate the looks, there are drawings rather than photographs.  It makes it a little difficult to follow, but at least the text is descriptive enough that you get the gist of things.  Most people with a makeup obsession should catch on fairly quickly.

I hope you found this book review helpful!  Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review the book featured above. I purchased the book reviewed in this blog post and did not receive it for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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Review: My First Lush Haul

I'm sure that most of my readers know that I have a fairly active life on Twitter.  I also enjoy reading blogs from other enthusiasts like myself as well as those with industry experience.  Well, I'm sure you can only guess that it was just a matter of time before I tried Lush products for myself.  After all, praise for their products seems to be widespread across the makeup community.  I had actually been visiting Lush stores for roughly a year now--probably been inside them maybe three or four times before I actually ended up making a purchase.  I originally came in for a lip scrub, and well, I'm sure all my makeup addicts know how it goes:  I walked out with much more!

Sexy Peel Hand and Body Soap

What it is:

Sexy Peel is a soap that is meant for hand and body use.  It is a citrus soap that is recommended for use in the mornings, as its purpose is to refresh and wake up the user.  Featured in the ingredient list are: fresh orange, lime, and lemon juice; lime, lemon, and orange peel; and grapefruit, coconut, lime, lemon, and rape seed oil.

My impression:

At $5.95/3.5 oz, I had really high hopes for this soap.  When I first used it, I found the experience to be quite a lovely one--definitely refreshing for first thing in the morning.  I found it to have a nice citrus smell, almost like lemon or lime lollipops or even like lemon cake.  I can't say that it didn't give me cravings!  The peels in the soap seemed to give it some sort of scrubbing action, but I didn't find it overly harsh.  I felt clean afterwards and the scent was absolutely amazing--a must for someone who loves citrus scents like I do!  The only things that I didn't like about it was that it didn't seem to last long.  I shower every morning and the 1/4 pound bar that I picked up lasted me just a little over a week.  Despite keeping it in a place where it was less likely to "melt," it did show a little signs of melting.  Though it was refreshing overall, I found it to be just a little bit drying.  After I rinsed it off, my skin felt slightly tight.

My recommendations:

Overall, I thought that it was a very luxurious soap that left me feeling clean afterward.  Because I am very into that citrus smell, I thought that the scent was absolutely fantastic and surely refreshing.  I think that I would definitely get it again, but because of the price (and my college student budget!), I would probably just save it for special occasions--like if I was planning on having a relaxing weekend or going on a vacation.

The rundown:

• Product:  4/5
• Packaging:  5/5
• Quality:  5/5
• Overall:  4.7/5
• Would I buy it again?:  Yes, but only for special occasions.
• Where to buy:  Lush website and Lush stores
• Price:  $5.95 per 3.5 oz.
• Pros:
  +  Smells great
  +  Luxurious
  +  Refreshing
  +  Rinses clean
• Cons:
  -  Doesn't last very long
  -  A little bit drying
  -  Pricier than other soaps

 Honey Trap Lip Balm

What it is:  

Despite having a few tubes of Carmex to use up, this came as an impulse buy as I was getting ready to check out with my Mint Julips and Sexy Peel.  I was asked to try it out and was told that it was the store's best selling lip balm and a personal favorite of the sales associate.  I found the feeling of it on my lips to be quite nice, so I thought I'd pick it up.  Included in the ingredient list are shea butter, olive oil, honey, and beeswax.  The main purpose of the balm seems to be to not only moisturize (shea butter and olive oil), but also to hold the moisture in (honey and beeswax).  It is also said to have a white chocolate and vanilla taste.

My impression:  

Even though most of you probably know that the cold winter made me a die hard fan of Carmex, I ended up liking this quite a bit.  I found it both moisturizing and long lasting.  I apply it whenever I feel that I need it throughout the day as well as at night.  I find that when I wake up in the morning, my lips feel nice and hydrated  I also feel as though the 0.3 oz tin should last me a while, but I do wish that it was in stick form.  I prefer sticks to pots because I don't like getting my fingers messy with it afterward!  The website says that it should have a white chocolate and vanilla taste, but unfortunately, I was unable to detect this during my use.  The scent is definitely something that I think would need a little bit of getting used to.  It smells almost like the massage bars that I had sampled in the store...or maybe like sweet Play Doh.  I can't quite put my finger on the exact smell.  I wouldn't say that it tasted like white chocolate or vanilla.  It tastes the way it smells, for the most part, but the taste is very faint.  It's not like Carmex, where you can feel like you've licked and entire soap bar a few times.

My recommendations:  

I actually think that, despite the weird scent/taste (very faint and minimal, in my opinion), I really do like this lip balm.  It works and it lasts long, two things that are very important in a lip balm since I quite often find myself with dry lips.  I think that if you're interested in this product, you should probably head out to a store to check out the smell of it to see if it would bother you, other than that it's great!

The rundown:

• Product:  4.5/5
• Packaging:  4/5
• Quality:  5/5
• Overall:  4.5/5
• Would I buy it again?:  Yes!
• Where to buy:  Lush website and Lush stores
• Price:  $6.95 per 0.3 oz.
• Pros:
  +  Moisturizing
  +  Long-lasting
  +  Doesn't taste as bad as Carmex!
• Cons:
  -  The price
  -  Smells a little weird
  -  It comes in a pot

 Mint Julips Lip Scrub

What it is:

I actually first saw this product on What Style is to Nickel (the specific video can be viewed here).  He had purchased it from Lush's cosmetics sister company, but Lush decided to continue some of their products after the cosmetics brand shut down.  I decided to purchase it because I find that my lips get dried out easily, making lipsticks and other lip products look not so hot.  This sugar lip scrub is meant to exfoliate lips, lock in moisture, and protect lips.  As the name suggests, it has a minty taste to it mingled with a little taste of chocolate as well.

My impression:

I really enjoyed using this lip scrub and I felt that it worked very well.  I thought that the flavor was quite nice and I enjoyed the tingly feeling that the peppermint oil gave my lips.  I also thought that it was handy that you could just lick it off once you were through with it and not have it taste terrible.  Even though licking it off is possible, I usually just brush the majority of it off when I'm done with it.  Another thing I liked about it was the packaging.  It comes in a little jar so it is portable--perfect for tossing into a purse or in an overnight bag.  Despite claiming to lock in moisture and protect lips, I found that I needed a little bit more after I was done exfoliating.  I always followed this with lip balm and I felt all set.

My recommendation:

I think that this is a great product for those that are traveling or even as something to keep in your purse for when you need it.  It can make a little bit of a mess (as in stray sugar on your face, lips, and clothing), but nothing that a little mirror-looking and brushing off won't fix.  The flavor is refreshing, but if mint isn't your thing, they also have one that is solely chocolate and one that is also bubblegum flavored.  While it doesn't seem to lock in moisture or protect lips as it claimed, I would still say that it was a good product and that a little lip balm will solve the problem.

The rundown:

• Product:  4/5
• Packaging:  5/5
• Quality:  5/5
• Overall:  4.7/5
• Would I buy it again?:  Yes!
• Where to buy:  Lush website or Lush stores
• Price:  $8.95 per 0.9 oz.
• Pros:
  +  Effective exfoliating
  +  Refreshing tingling feeling
  +  Pleasant taste
  +  Easy to use
  +  Convenient packaging
• Cons:
  -  Doesn't moisturize or protect

I hope you guys found these reviews helpful!  I'm looking forward to trying out more new things and sharing the stuff I've tried with all of you.  If you have any comments or questions, please don't hesitate to let me know!

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review any of the products featured above. I purchased all of the products reviewed in this blog post and did not receive them for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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Library: Make-Up Masterclass by Jemma Kidd

Jemma Kidd
Make-Up Masterclass
$24.99

I purchased this book probably around February, and it wasn't until now that I was able to read it thoroughly enough to post a proper review.  Makeup is probably one of my biggest hobbies and I'm always looking forward to learning more.  Be it through trial and error, blogs, YouTube, websites, magazines, or books, I'm always looking for new things to learn and new things to try.  After previewing the selection in my local bookstore, I thought that I would give this book a try.

The intention of this book is to teach the everyday woman how to apply makeup in a way that enhances their natural beauty.  It is meant to be a go-to book, a "beauty bible," if you will.  There were definitely things in this book that I encountered during my 1+ years exposure to the makeup world, but there were plenty of other things of which I had never heard.  I found that the book was very organized and the formatting was consistent throughout while still being able to draw my attention.  The photographs were beautiful and helped to illustrate the author's purpose.

One of the things that I liked about the book was the author's concept of "Skintelligence," which is an understanding of skin and how to keep it healthy.  I consider myself to be someone with oily skin, and there were definitely a handful of helpful tips.  I not only picked up a few pointers about keeping the skin healthy, but also about what types of makeup would be most effective.  In her book, Kidd has different ways of breaking sections up into skin type, skin color, and age.  She also includes how to address specific skin problems, such as scarring, open pores, and redness.  For those of you wondering which colors are best suited for your skin tone, Kidd includes suggestions of colors and color combinations for each skin tone.  There's a section for everyone and I'm confident that a vast majority of people would be able to find a description fitting them.

Another thing that I liked about the book were the Top Ten Tips that were included in almost every section of the book.  I thought that the tips gave a good overview of the previous section and highlighted the most important points into something that was easy to remember.  There were also lots of other tips that I found useful, including a section on when to throw away makeup (it's always difficult to say good-bye, especially for something you spent $14+ on!) and a section on what to do when the seasons change.  I'm not sure if other makeup books have sections on nail care, but this one does and I thought that it was very helpful and a nice addition.

The last thing that the book includes is a collection of looks that the readers can try on their own.  It's not step-by-step per se, but it has very detailed instructions and a few illustrations that I think anyone could follow.  Because this book focuses on enhancing a woman's natural beauty, there aren't really looks that you would find on a runway, for example.  Despite this, I still appreciate the looks and find them very useful.  For example, there are looks for corporate settings, nights out (including a way to spice up daytime looks for the evening), and vacations.

Overall, I thought that this book was a nice read for beauty beginners and makeup enthusiasts alike.  It gives a lot of good advice and I like that it strives to play up a woman's natural beauty.  Although it stresses natural beauty, it does not completely write off playful colors in total favor of neutrals--it just shows what Kidd feels best suits and is appropriate for different skin tones.  I felt that she was very knowledgeable about what she was writing and by the end of it, I thought that I had learned a lot.  I felt that she was not only knowledgeable about skin and color theory, but also about products.

Fellow makeup mavens might know that Jemma Kidd has several lines of cosmetic products.  First impression would be that she would try her best to market her products and her products solely.  However, that is not the case!  I was very surprised when there were mentions of different brands like Clinique, and this continued all throughout the book.  Of course, there are occasional mentions of her products and it is predominantly her products that are featured in the pictures, but I liked that other options were given.  In fact, there is even an index in the back of the book of some brands that Kidd recommends, among these are brands like MAC and L'Oreal.

I hope you found this review helpful!  Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review the book featured above. I purchased the book reviewed in this blog post and did not receive it for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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Review - Stila Kajal Eyeliner in Topaz

As many of you probably know, I'm a college student.  I totally fit in with the stereotype of late nights spent studying to wake up only a few hours later to get ready for class.  I try to get as much as sleep as I can, but being one who already has such deep, dark eye circles, I need a little bit of help to get to look fresh and better rested in the mornings.  Along with concealer routine, this is definitely something that I reach for when I am so tired that I feel as though I should try "every trick in the book."  So now here are my thoughts on the Stila Kajal Eyeliner in Topaz! 

 

What it is:

The Stila Kajal eyeliner is an eyeliner whose formula is designed to imitate that of the Indian eye darkener that goes by the same name.  The formula is also designed to be very smooth so that it does not tug on the sensitive skin around the eye area.  It is formulated for bold, vibrant color, and easy blending.

My impression:

Looking fresh and awake is one of those things that everyone wants.  Since I already have problems with my eyes looking tired, I thought that this would be a great investment.  I had already heard some really great things about this eyeliner, so I was expecting something really good.  When I saw it in the Sephora Valentine's Day weekend, I thought I'd add it to my basket and give it a try.

I've tried the flesh-toned/white eyeliner trick with several other products, but I had trouble with staying power and just having it look natural.  I was afraid that this was going to be the case with this eyeliner, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It definitely gave a brightness to the eye and the waterline.  I thought that it made my eyes look slightly bigger and more awake.  When I first started using it, I was a little shocked at the vibrancy because it was very light on the waterline, but I think that I was able to make it work.

I am absolutely positively in love with the formulation of this eyeliner.  It's so smooth and creamy.  It does not put stress on my eye area at all.  On top of all of that, it is very pigmented.

I was very impressed by the staying power.  Though it faded in the outer corners of the eyes after a few hours, the rest of it remained relatively put and I needed only minimal touching up.  This is even without setting it with an similar-toned eyeshadow.  It didn't run, either, which was something that I was worried about.  I believe that after my experience with this, I would for sure consider picking up some of the other colors.

My recommendation:

Although I think that this product helped to make my eyes look brighter and more awake, I think that it's one of those products that you need to be careful with to avoid looking a little bit weird.  I know when I first started experimenting with it, it took a few tries for me to get it to look natural on me.  

I think that one of the things that really helped the eyeliner to blend in was to not build the application up too much.  Building up the application too much made the eyeliner so bold it was almost white and blaring.  I think just a once or twice-over would be enough.  Having it too light or too noticeable is not the look that I was going for.

Another thing that really helped was putting eyeshadow on the lower lashline.  Mascara wasn't enough contrast for me.   When I do neutral looks, I think putting a brown or taupe eyeshadow like MAC's Espresso or Satin Taupe helps a lot.

The rundown:

• Product: 4.5/5

• Packaging: 5/5

• Quality: 5/5

• Overall: 4.8/5

• Would I buy it again?: For sure!

• Where to buy: You can buy this from Sephora, Ulta, Stila's website
  

• Price: $18.00

• Pros:
  +  Brightens eye area
  +  For the most part, looks natural
  +  Product is easy to use
  +  Very pigmented
  +  Smooth, creamy formulation
  +  Good staying power
  +  Doesn't run

• Cons:
  -  Can look too light if application is built up too much
  -  Can look too light in general

Hope someone found that all helpful!  If there's any questions that you have, feel free to ask them here.  Or if you've used this product before, please don't hesitate to share your experience.  Also...if anyone has used any of the other colors, please let me know how you like them!  I'm interested in trying the other colors, like Onyx!


Disclaimer: I have not been paid to review Stila Kajal Eyeliner in Topaz. I purchased all of the products reviewed in this blog post and did not receive them for free. I ensure that this is my true and honest opinion.

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