Review: Benefit Lollitint

So I got caught up in the huge "Radiant Orchid" 2014 Color of the Year craze! I ended up picking up Benefit's new lip and cheek tint in "Lollitint" ^^!

I'm used to using the small travel sized tints, so the full sized tint looks enormous! It holds 12.5mL/0.42fl oz. I'm pretty sure it will last me over a year, if I ever finish it.

The applicator is similar to a nail polish brush. It actually works great to apply the color to your lips!

The full sized Lollitint is fairly pricey ($30.00 USD), but it is really beautiful. I don't think they have any mini kits out for it yet, but they will likely hit a kit in a year or so. If you can't wait, there are also great sales to pick this up! Starting March 30th, Sephora is having a 15% VIB discount for you and a friend! There is also the 20% holiday sale that Sephora holds every year in the autumn for it's VIB members. I usually wait till that sale every year to get the pricey items I want. Luckily, this time I had a gift card to use on my Lollitint ^^

Swatches:

The color is really bright on me, but shows up lighter for people with less pigmented lips. I really want to try it on with a lighter color below. It also applied a little patchy, whoops!

With Lollitint on both my lips and cheeks ^^ Sorry the quality of the photo isn't very good. Hopefully you can see the cheek color. I applied a clear balm over the lip tint here to even out the slight patchiness on my lips and give it some shine (´▽` )

This is probably my favorite tint from Benefit, after Chacha Tint (I can't resist my coral colors!) It applies extremely smooth and is just so beautiful! It also stays on forever. I ate a few meals and it looked just as bright as when I first put it on even hours later. It didn't last through my shower is all, but it stayed so well outside of it I almost expected it to still be there afterward ^^;;

The other tints I have ^^ (Benetint not pictured) I was able to pick up a nice Sephora travel set that included travel sized Highbeam, Chacha Tint, and Posie Tint for only $17.00. I don't believe they sell it anymore though.

Chacha Tint! My favorite out of all four tints.

Posie Tint is pretty and nice for a natural look. It doesn't show up quite as much as the other tints though.

Benetint is a nice red that can be layered for a stronger red! It is strongly scented like roses, which I usually like but it also tastes like perfume which is super gross ;_;

Overall, Lollitint is a really beautiful color, and while I wish it did show up a little more pale on me, I still love the color nonetheless. I will just have to try it out with a balm or concealer below it or with a small amount to try to achieve the light purple color in the advertisements ^^

Review: Etude House Minnie Kissing Lips (Bubble Pink & Minnie Red)

Hello! I recently picked up the Kissing Lips lipsticks from the XoXo Minnie Collection released by Etude House last year. The collection was just too cute to not partake in it! The nail glitter is really tempting too, but $$...

The full XOXO Minnie Collection ♥

I picked up the two lipsticks, 02 Bubble Pink (left) and  01 Minnie Red (right).

The colors inside ^^

Color comparison with the Babyface lipstick I got earlier. The babyface is actually much lighter and a warmer pink.

The lipsticks are smooth and creamy, with amazing color. I tend to prefer balmy lipsticks, but these are extremely nice. You can apply them fully pigmented with a couple swipes, or tap along the lips for a lighter tint. When I don't want the full blown color I use a lip balm prior to using the lipstick so it comes out more sheer (great for every day wear!)

Swatches:

The official release image had an example of a gradation lip with the lipsticks, so I tried it as well. The effect is really pretty! I especially like Minnie Red as a gradation to give a 'just bitten' look. Bubble Pink is definitely a bubblegum pink, and Minnie Red is a candy apple red. Both are warm toned and very pretty ^^

Official Minnie Kissing Lips promotional image.

Overall, I think I prefer Minnie Red over Bubble Pink since it does have a little more of a glossy look and applies a bit smoother (the pink tends to catch on dry parts of your lips etc), and I don't have a really amazing red in my collection. (I might have to actually get a red lip pencil for it though, or apply via a lip brush.) I really couldn't resist those polka dots on the Bubble Pink packaging though! I'm really happy I got both (●´▽`●)

Collections: MAC Cosmetics Lipsticks

Hello! Another collection update...!

I actually don't have that many MAC lipsticks, but here is my little collection. Some of the MAC finishes are hit and miss for me. I tend to like my lipsticks with a creamy satin finish. I thought all of these would be the same finish because they apply the same (except Viva Glam V), but they're actually all different! Oddly enough, Viva Glam Gaga is listed as a lustre, but applies like a satin... Confusing.

From left to right:

1. Creme Cup (Cremesheen)
2. Fanfare (Cremesheen)
3. Viva Glam Gaga (Lustre)
4. Viva Glam II (Satin)
5. Viva Glam V(Lustre)
6. Sail La Vie (Satin) - Limited Edition MAC Hey, Sailor Collection (I couldn't resist the awesome marine themed bullet and it's punny name!)

Swatches:

Above: Viva Glam II can look a bit deathly by itself, so I layer Fanfare on top to make a REALLY PRETTY neutral pink ^^

Out of these six, I probably use Sail La Vie and Viva Glam Gaga the most, although Creme Cup and Fanfare are the best for everyday. I just have so many different lipsticks in similar colors since I tend to lean towards pinky nudes and rosy colors. Buuuuut I should really wear my MAC lipsticks more often ^^;;

Also, if you haven't noticed, three of the bullets are red. This is because they are part of the Viva Glam MAC AIDS Fund program. For every Viva Glam lipstick or lipglass (what MAC called lip gloss) you buy, every cent is donated to the MAC AIDS Fund, which you can read about below. It's a nice feeling to know your make up money is going to a good cause. Plus, they always have great lipsticks and promotional campaigns for the Viva Glam.

MAC Cosmetics Website: http://www.maccosmetics.com/

MAC AIDS Fund Website: http://www.macaidsfund.org/

Guinea Pig Heaven

My friend recently got three adorable guinea pigs! I absolutely love guinea pigs because of their adorable expressions and whistling ^^ I took a TON of photos, and decided to share some of the cuteness~

Since she only recently got them, they don't have set names yet but the black/white guinea is a male, while the brown/white and the white guinea are females. I'm biased and my favorite is the black/white (which I have dubbed "My Boyfriend"). He is kind of a jerk and head butts the girls to get out of his house, but I still love him. I also really like the brown/white girl, but she is a total fatty and steals all the foods ^^;;

Isn't he a cutie?

Kissy times~

"Hmph!" /turns away

Notice the fatty on the left (≧∇≦)

Review: Palty Foam Pack Hair Color - Raspberry Jam

Hello!

I just wanted to start off by saying my favorite hair dye is Liesse by Prettia, which is another foam dye. However, I wanted to try something new, and I bought Palty Foam Pack Hair Color because it was a couple dollars cheaper than the Liesse, plus it's super cute!! In general, I only really use foam dyes because they can cover way more hair than a cream dye (I used to have really long hair) and you also don't have to do your hair in parts since the foam spreads everywhere fairly evenly ^^! After trying Palty out, I really love the evenness and brightness of the color! Not only is the packaging cute, but the product actually smells REALLY GOOD mixed together. The box said it smelled sweet since they use a lot of fruits in it, and it smells something like apples and berries and sugar? A huge improvement over the chemical smell I'm used to choking on. Can even dye your hair without the window open! I really like how my hair smells after I've dyed it ^^;!

The packaging for Palty is extremely cute and comes in a way larger box than the Liesse. The reason is because they give you a large cup to mix your foam in, instead of a small dispenser! 

It comes with a mixer stick, a cream, and a liquid.

First you pour the liquid in.

Then you pour the cream in.

After mixing a few times, the foam expanded a lot and got really fluffy!!

If you mix a little more, or wait too long, it shrinks and turns back into a jam-like consistency though :( I like that Liesse gives you a small bottle that you mix 2 liquids in (and because the bottle dispenser is what makes it foamy it will stay foamy the whole time.)

You also have to scoop the foam out of the cup to apply it to your hair with latex gloves, which is kind of troublesome...

I let the color sit in my hair for 45 minutes (although the box says 20 minutes) because I wanted to make sure my roots were colored.

Before ---- After!!

In the end I like it! The Palty Foam Pack Hair Color did a good job of dying my black roots and evening out my hair color ^^ I really like how the color came out!

Random Notes:

• This hair pack didn't come with a rinsing conditioner like most do, but rather comes with a camellia oil treatment cream you apply after your hair is dry.
• Although it says it has 6 moisturizing treatments in it, my hair felt quite dry compared to Liesse dye, even in the shower while washing it out. Luckily conditioners and treatments helped here, and my hair felt silky again the next day ^^
• Because the foam shrank, I don't think the Palty box covers as much hair as the Liesse. Luckily my hair is short now so it was still more than enough for me.
• I really really like the scent of it. I suggest trying it out if you don't like the typical chemical scent of hair dyes ^^

Unfortunately, they only have one pink brown color and no orange colors (which are my favorite), but I might try Macaroon Brown or Chocolate Waffle at some point~

Review: It's Skin Babyface Pure Lipstick & Shine Gloss

Today I picked up an adorable lipstick and gloss from Image Beauty & Fashions. It was my first time shopping there, and also my first time seeing the brand It's Skin or their line Babyface. I couldn't help squealing over how adorable the packaging was, and ended up falling in love with their lipsticks even though I have so many lipsticks already...!

Isn't the baby face adorable? So simple, but looking at it makes me smile ^^

 I picked up the color in 04 Strawberry Pink with a matching Shine Gloss in 03 Lady Pink. They are both really pretty milky warm peachy baby pinks (Note: On my phone the photos look very peachy, but on my computer monitor they look really cool pink... but the actual color is peachy!) ^^ The lipstick is extremely moisturizing and extremely light-weight, but has great color and shine. I really love the feel of the lipstick and enjoy wearing it. It feels even lighter than a balm! They also have a light scent (and taste) of white peaches~

Pure Lipstick in 04 Strawberry Pink

With 03 Lady Pink layered on top of 04 Strawberry Pink

I still have yet to try the lip gloss by itself, but in general really loving these and would definitely buy more~ ｏ(＞▽＜*)

It's Skin Babyface Pure Lipsticks

It's Skin Babyface Shine Gloss

Note: Babyface products are quite cheap on eBay. I purchased my lipstick in store for about $12.50 USD, but it's available on eBay for around $7 to $8 ^^

Victoria's Secret Nail Lacquer: Runway Angel

The other day I visited my friend Kimi's place and wanted to use a simple nail polish to use before going out. She lent me the most beautiful gold glitter nail polish ever!!I swiped some onto my fingers and my toes, and it really looks amazing. I was in love with it, and surprised to find out it was actually a Victoria's Secret nail polish! It was the smoothest glitter polish I've ever used.

One of the things I dislike about glitter nail polishes is when the glitter is very thick, causing the glitter to stick out of your nail and  making it prone to popping off your nails. Another thing I dislike about glitter nail polishes is when the glitter gets moved around with the brush, causing most of the glitter to end up at the tip of your nail instead of all around. This polish has no issues like that! The flakes are thing and delicate, and distribute perfectly on your nails!

Here's a photo of my nails after one quick layer of the polish applied. By quick, I mean QUICK (because we had to leave in 5 minutes/were already running late), but it still looks amazing!! It's a little frustrating my phone camera can't really capture how beautiful the polish is ^^;;

Anyway, long story short, I loved it so much I had to have it in my collection so I went to Victoria's Secret today. They didn't have any on the shelf and said they weren't sure when they were going to get more in stock.... but luckily one of the employees was able to find one in the back for me. THANKS SO SO MUCH to her!

The color I used was "Runway Angel" and is the most gorgeous gold glitter polish. They also have silver version in stores called "Star Power" (which is oddly not available online). Since they were on sale for 2 for $15 (original price $10 each), I ended up also purchasing a mint green color called "Lucky". I haven't used it yet, so I'm not sure how good it is, but I think  it will look really pretty with the gold glitter ^^

Right now, Victoria's Secret (US only) is also having a promotion where if you spend $10 in stores or online, you get a "Shh... it's a Secret Reward"! It states, "Each card is worth at least $10. Thousands are worth $100 or more. But we can't tell you what your card is worth until March 31, when you present it at checkout." They are giving out these cards until March 30, 2014, and they may be worth $10, $50, $100 or $500. I figure, even if it's just worth $10, I can use it on another nail polish ^^!

Haul: DAISO Japan

Hello~!

One of my favorite stores is a 100 yen store in Japan, DAISO Japan! I am so happy there are now many stores in the US as well! They have so many useful and adorable things for only $1.50 each! No joke when I say they have almost everything you could think of. I tend to overbuy when I'm there so they still get all my money though ^^;!!

Here is my haul from when I went to DAISO with my friend Kimi last week ^^!

From top to bottom:

• Double tiered flower tray stand in pink (my friends got a matching ones in yellow and purple)
• Peach scented nail gel
• Pink/Mint pen set
• Comb nets
• Suede ribbon hair clip
• Natural Vintage Paris deco tape
• Pink deco tape
• Sheep deco tape
• Leaf designed cord wrappers
• Pink daisy designed cord wrappers
• Nail jewelry (heart-shaped, star-shaped, glitter)
• AA batteries
• Wall hanger pocket
• Disposable nail deco brushes
• Hair brush
• Disposable shower caps

Note: DAISO Japan has an online store as well, but it is not as fully stocked and also only sells in bulk.

Collections: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters

Hello everyone ^^

I decided to start posting about my make up collection here. Honestly, I have a ton of make up... Because I bought so much before, I've been limiting how much I get since I usually have something similar in my collection already. I think I only picked up a handful of things in 2013, phew!

To start the collection posts, I wanted to post about some of my favorite lipsticks, Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters!! They're extremely smooth and pigmented and my perfect lipstick. I love the glossy sheen they have, as well as the fact that they don't dry out my lips at all! You can wear them sheer, or layer them for full coverage in a couple swipes! The best part is that they're relatively cheap as well! I picked mine up at Target for about $5 to $6 each (of course, it still adds up when you have 12 colors...)

- Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156%
- Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth
- Sheer to medium colour with buttery shine
- Available in 20 luscious shades

The entire range so far has 20 colors right now:

Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya, Sorbet, Pink Lemonade, Pink Truffle, Sugar Frosting, Raspberry Pie, Tuttie Frutti, Peach Parfait, Fig Jam, Candy Apple, Red Velvet, Cotton Candy, Berry Smoothie, Cupcake, Lollipop, Strawberry Shortcake, Sugar Plum, Sweet Tart, Creme Brulee

I think they changed the line last year because they don't have Cherry Tart anymore, and I don't remember seeing Juicy Papaya or Wild Watermelon. Juicy Papaya (soft peachy coral) sounds right up my alley though!

My Collection:

From left to right: Brown Sugar, Pink Truffle, Cotton Candy, Sugar Frosting, Gumdrop, Lollipop, Sweet Tart, Strawberry Shortcake, Creamsicle, Peach Parfait, Tutti Frutti, Candy Apple

From left to right: Brown Sugar, Pink Truffle, Cotton Candy, Sugar Frosting, Gumdrop, Lollipop

From left to right: Sweet Tart, Strawberry Shortcake, Creamsicle, Peach Parfait, Tutti Frutti, Candy Apple

Favorites I always reach for:

1. Creamsicle: A really natural peachy nude lip that has perfect shine.
2. Tutti Frutti: A gorgeous coral shade that isn't too bright.
3. Sweet Tart: A really pretty bright pink.

Wouldn't purchase again:

1. Sugar Frosting: It's extremely sheer/barely shows up. Just makes my lips metallic.
2. Cotton Candy: It also barely shows up. Strawberry Shortcake is a better light pink.
3. Peach Parfait: The one I got comes out super metallic and shimmery...

I was also surprised with how much I like Brown Sugar and Gumdrop. Although the packaging of Brown Sugar is dark brown... the color is actually quite sheer. It also has a little shimmer in it which is very pretty so it seems more like a sheer shimmery lipgloss in lipstick form. Gumdrop is also a lilac purple shade, which if worn alone can make you look either really cold or dead... but paired with other make up it is extremely pretty.

What colors are you interested in? ^^