Coastal Scents 32 Lip palette | Swatches

Hey all! I’m really late today, but I wanted to get up this post because I promised I’d post the rest of my Coastal Scents haul. I’ll let the photos do the talking as there isn’t much to say about this palette besides that it’s a really good deal especially if you want to do other people’s makeup or want to try new colours without buying individual lippies.

The pots are the size of a quater, and not every colour in the palette is opaque, but there is a good mixture of creams, shimmers, frosts even, and sheer colours. The would be fun for mixing your own custom colour. All of them have a gloss finish, but if you blot your lips you would get a more matte look.

Swatches:

Disclaimer: This product was bought with my own money. Opinions are my own

Exotica Makeup Lipstick in LoveBrandie | Review

Hey all! I remember when I first started blogging and dabbling with makeup, a bajan beauty brand was a far off thought. Now there are about 3 that I know of doing big things in Barbados. This year I hope to try them all out. One of them I had tried a long time ago, but they’ve undergone a number of improvements and invention of new products, which is always a good thing.

Today I’ll be reviewing and swatching the Exotica Makeup lipstick in LoveBrandie, which I saw on their Instagram page and instantly fell in love with it (the irony there)! I paid $25BDS for this local brand lipstick, which is not much different from the other drugstore lipsticks we have here. Apparently the colours are inspired by the persons who work where their products are sold. They also sell tons of NYX products!

As you can see from the bullet, LoveBrandie is a deep maroon colour or looks brown even depending on the lighting. On my lips it comes off as a oxidised blood red. I was amazed by the formula of this lip product as it is glides on easily and doesn’t sink into the lines of my lips or highlight any dry patches. I would call this a satin finish lipstick, as there’s very little sheen to it once applied. I actually compared it to a similar Revlon lipstick I have of similar colour and I must say seems to last longer on the lips.

I wore this Old Years night and the staying power was shocking! Through eating, drinking, talking and New Year’s kisses, it lasted. Of course it wasn’t perfect, the centre of my lips were the most worn, but the colour still held on. My lips did start to feel more dry as time went by however, but nothing some lip balm or re-application of the lipstick couldn’t fix. It was not at all uncomfortable to wore and I in fact forgot I was wearing it. I paired this with a lip liner for Old Years and the transfer from lips to glass or cups was very minimal.

It makes sense to wear this with a lip liner, just to make sure it doesn’t go smearing all over. But once it’s on, it hardly goes anywhere!

The Verdict:

Pros

• Local brand
• Pigmented
• Glides on easily
• Beautiful colour which is a lighting chameleon
• Pricing is good 
• Would look good on many skin tones
• Long lasting

Cons

• Packaging is a bit short (I feel like I might lose it)
• Sells out way too fast (make more! haha)
• Not a moisturising lipstick

The Raw Sugar:

Like I mentioned, I was very surprised by the quality and staying power of this lipstick. I glided on easily and lasted well throughout Old Years Night. I have to test it even more during a regular day with a lot more eating involved, so I know the true staying power. But, I love this lipstick and would tell others to run out and buy it!

Where to Purchase:

Exotica Makeup & Extensions -Sheraton and the Colonnade Mall. (Barbados)

Disclaimer: This product was bought with my own money. Opinions are my own. 

Duty Free Day Lip Products (RW) | Beauty

Hey all! It was around this time, 2 years ago that I picked up what are still some of my favourite lip products, and what I thought was the best shopping day Barbados ever had. Duty-Free day!

For us locals, there’s this steep tax on most if not all imported goods, and although that’s good for Government revenue and all that jazz, it really is a stifler to purchasing anything. Imaging a Revlon lipstick usually $7.99USD, costing you $15USD. Say what…. that aint right, but that’s what we deal with in Barbados. Sadly too, many “sales” are never really much of a deal and the stuff I really want rarely goes on sale, nor is there coupons. So imagine my glee when Duty Free day rolled around in 2011 and I was just getting into lipsticks.

Here are just a few of the items I got back then and swatches.

Revlon ColorBurst- Peach

To view the original post and all the product details, click here!

Orangen’t you glad? FOTD | Beauty

Hey all! Recently, I took one of the Beauty Dares on the Michelle Phan website, which was to wear orange lipstick. You might have seen my swatches of the Maybelline Vivids lipstick in Electric Orange, some time in April. It’s a bright orange lipstick which is not for the faint-hearted or a makeup newbie. It is shockingly vibrant!
Also Don’t forget to check out this Wednesday’s WWBH! (click the button below)

That day, I wore the lipstick with a very simple eye- makeup, some bronzer to warm up my complexion, mascara and I groomed my brows (or tried to, at least). Of course, you could wear more eyeshadow, perhaps corals or something contrasting like green or blue, but I really didn’t feel like that day. pfft

Tell me how you would wear a bold orange like this?

Maybelline Vivids Lipstick- Electric Orange | Swatches & Review

I recently attained one of the Maybelline Vivid collection lipsticks in the colour Electric Orange, which is a screamingly bright orange. At first, I was a bit intimidated by the brightness of this lip colour, but as I tried it, it grew on me. To me, this seems more daring than wearing a bright pink or even a red lipstick because it is just … so.. ORANGE!

Electric Orange is a red toned orange, typical of the orange crayon would always see as a child. The packaging of the product is also very bright with a highlighter bright orange cap and a silver tube. The packaging feels a bit bulky compared to other lipsticks that I own, but it is definitely unique for the colour. I love that the cap matches back to the lipstick because it helps a lot in storage. Mind you, this lipstick is highly pigmented !

The smell of this lipstick is somewhat candy-like, I can’t quite put my finger on it. Reminds me of Sweet tarts or something along those lines. The formula felt moisturising when I tried it and for the short length of time that it was swatched, it stained my hand, so that must speak something of the staying power. The lipstick also leaves a glossy finish, which is not sticky.

A tip for if you choose to wear this lipstick, is to exfoliate your lips. It will look 10 times better. My lips needed a little more exfoliation when I took these shots, but eventually the lipstick settled and it did not look as bad as when I first applied it. But it will kick up all the little dryness on first application.

Enough chit chat, let’s get to the swatches!

Disclaimer: This product was given to me as a gift from a family member. Opinions are my own.

MAC Daddy’s Little Girl lipstick Comparisons (bonus gloss)

I’ve make mention of this lipstick quite often since I got it and that’s because I have nothing like it in my collection. I love how bright and fun it is and it is blue toned too, meaning that it should make my teeth look whiter.
This is not a dupe list as I do not have that many lip products that I could find a dupe, but I just thought it would be interesting to show you how different it is from other pinks and purples that I have. (Btw Candy Yum Yum is in a whole other category by it’s self, that is just a bright electric neon pink, so it wasn’t included.)

I recently acquired the Maybelline lip gloss in Raspberry Reflections that compliments this lip colour so well! I will be giving a full review on that very soon, but until then here are some swatches of it over DLG.

DLG without gloss for reference (Note: picture is a bit dark)

M.A.C. Daddy’s Little Girl (swatches and mini review)

Sorry about the lateness of this post, this was intended to be up yesterday, but I forgot to write the post on it, then my internet went wonkers. Anyway I blogged about attending the Barbados launch of the M.A.C. Archie Girls collection and I picked up this lipstick while I was there. The name just seems so fitting of me, as I am a big daddy’s girl haha.

M.A.C. Daddy’s Little Girl is a bright blue-toned pink lipstick which is a satin formula, meaning there is a touch of sheen to it. This lipstick is bordering a magenta depending on the lighting (which you will see in the swatches). It is unlike any of pink lip products that I have so I feel very proud of that. Even compared to some of my mauve or purple shades, it’s still very different.

As with most M.A.C. lipsticks, this has the typical vanilla scent but the packaging is white with Veronica on it, as this is one of the products from her side of the collection. This lipstick is full of colour and one swipe will leave your lips brightly coloured. I also wore this for just 15mins and it stained my lips for the rest of the day. When it is not wiped off immediately, it can last up to 6 hours, as I found out one college day, and even then the stain still lingers. It takes a makeup remover wipe or exfoliation to get rid of it.

I am in love with this lipstick, but this is not something that you can wear to college everyday or even work because it’s very bold and people WILL stare. Alone this lipstick can have a somewhat chalky appearance on women of colour, but as the lipstick settles in and wears, it’s not as bad. I’ve actually just found a solution to the bit of chalkiness, a coordinating Maybelline lip gloss. It was quite a coincidence that my aunt gave me it, because it goes so perfectly with this lipstick. Also you may want to wear this lipstick with a lip liner to prevent feathering and to ensure that you keep this bright colour in check.

I will do another post with comparisons and how I wear this lipstick very soon.  Until then, enjoy the swatches!



Pictured in direct sunlight

Disclaimer: This product was bought with my own money. Opinions are my own.

MAC Archie Girl’s Collection

Hey all! I know I haven’t been blogging in two weeks, I’ve been busy as I said in my last Aspiration Diaries post. But I do have something fun to show you! I don’t know if it’ll make up for my absence, but I really think it was a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.

Last month for North America at least, MAC Cosmetics launched their well awaited Archie Girls’ collection. This March, the 14th to be exact, MAC had a special launch for the event, and I was  lucky enough to be an invitee!  After rushing home from classes, I tried to put myself together quickly, but still look nice, as it was my first event of this type. I went for a pretty relaxed look and wore a white linen pants, a mint green cami and my DIY denim vest. I also kept my make up simple, just an easy winged liner look, some N.Y.C. bronzer, blush and the Revlon “raspberry pie” lip butter. Sadly I forgot to take more pictures of my outfit and make up.


Yes, I got myself in this love triangle.. or is it a square now…

 

Onto the actual event.. The atmosphere was quite nice and reminiscent of what you would expect if the comic were to come to life, old school jukebox music, mini hotdog and “burgers” as well as the cutest drinks I’ve ever seen! Sadly I didn’t get one, or take a picture but they were in short wide glasses with striped straws. I’m sure like in the comics I saw some persons drinking ice cream floats. And of course, Archie had to be there with Veronica and Betty fighting over him, as usual haha. I had mixed feelings about Betty and Veronica in my younger days when I read more comics, but collection and outfit-wise, I was loving Veronica more.

 

First out, let me say that for darker skin tones, the Veronica side of the collection is a lot better suited to us. I had seen some swatches of the collection from Necessarymakeup’s Instagram and even seeing them in person, I really couldn’t choose between 3 products that I really wanted. Her pictures couldn’t do enough justice to the Pearl Glide Intense Eyeliners, especially “Designer Purple” which is this fabulous violet with a purple pearl finish. I almost got that, but considering how often I wear eyeliner, I opted out. I may still consider it later though…

The next thing that intrigued me was Prom Princess satin-finish blush, however, I feel that this is dupable and it was really the packaging that drew me in haha. (probably for the whole collection really, I love the white packaging!)

 

 

 

What I finally chose was a bright satin lipstick which practically embodies my relationship with my dad, “Daddy’s Little Girl”. I just had to.. it was so cute and the packaging to die for! A bit pricey, but you have to splurge on yourself at some point right? A full review will be coming on this lippy soon. (FYI: this is technically not the MAC product I’ve used or encountered, but it is the first that I’ve bought for myself).

All in all, the collection is very nice, the packaging was well thought out and a nice refresh from the typical black, but unless you’re a collector or a fan of Archie you could probably skip it out as many of the lip colours and blushes have been done already. The only thing I would really go back for would be the Pearl Glide eyeliners, those were very pigmented, especially “Designer Purple” which was very different from what I typically see. 

 

Each of the attendees received a collectors tin filled with heart-shaped cinnamints. I have them on my dresser to sneak a few when I’m feeling peckish. Also there were a few giveaways of products from the line.

I really enjoyed the event and I would like to say thank you to Tyrell my bf, for encouraging me speak up and take the initiative and thank you so much to Tennille at the MAC counter, who was really helpful! As well as my sister, Erica who tagged along to the event with me.

Mad for Lavender-MAC Viva Glam Nicki 2

Since last Spring or maybe the spring before that I had fallen in love with lavender lip products.  Although they may not be the most typical and wearable of lip products,  the novelty of a purple lipstick just teases me.  So when MAC released their second Viva Glam lipstick with Nicki Minaj in February,  I was excited to see that it was pastey lilac.  The first Nicki Viva Glam was a bright coral pink colour,  which to me was something I could achieve by mixing a few colours.  But lilac is unique.
 

Lately I’ve been seeing many purple,  or at least purple-toned lip products and I have read that purple is a hot colour for Spring.  Revlon also makes a lilac shade for their lip butters as well as the balm stains and previously had a Super Lustrous lipgloss in a very cute lavender.
 

According to the swatches that I’ve seen of Nicki 2, as well as the MAC product description,  this is an opaque amplified finish lipstick,  meaning the it is loaded with pigment.  I appreciate this because there have been times where I see lilac lipsticks and there is hardly any pigment to them.  However as it would be obvious,  this colour is not for every skintone.  Definitely not darker ones,  unless you make some changes or you are extremely bold.  I like how blogger Cheryl from Makeup by Cheryl H warms up the cool tone of this pastey lilac lippy by using a deeper lip pencil.  Also for us darker in complexion, Ayesha from Simple Beauty Blog, show some great options to make this a more wearable colour.

 

  

 

Would you try the trend of lavender lips? Have you already bought Viva Glam Nicki 2?

Temptalia Review of Viva Glam Nicki 2

 

Disclaimer: Images are not my own.

American Apparel Nail Lacquer "Lipstick" & "Hunter"

Hey all! Today I’ll be showing you some quick swatches of two nail polishes that I recently recieved. These are the American Apparel Nail lacquers in the colours “Lipstick” and “hunter”. Usually when you hear the name of a company known for selling clothes and then cosmetics, people think that it’s junky but surprisingly, these nail polishes are very good quality.

Being kind of lazy, I just swatched them on one nail each, but the colour that you see in the bottle in definitely what you get on your nails. Lipstick only required one good coat, but I did 2 thin ones because I’m prone to smudging my nails, while Hunter would need 2 – 3 coats.

Mind you, these polishes stain your nails, I hadn’t the chance to remove them right away and did I regret it, at least it was just 2 days. Be sure to use base coat so that you avoid that.

 

Lipstick is a true red, not too pink, not too orange and would make the perfect lip colour HAHA. Hunter reminds me of pine tree leaves, that awesome dark green. Oh I love the smell of Christmas trees. If only this nail polish smelt like pine…I had some trouble taking good shots of Hunter, and I probably will re-take them.

 

I don’t remember the nail polish having a very strong smell, so that’s always a plus with nail polish. I would love to try more of these polishes. The colours on the American Apparel website are so pretty.