Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains: Photos and Swatches

Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains
$2.99
at Walgreens stores

 Swatches...

From Left:
#01 Nude Chic
#05 Honey Love
#02 Sweet Pink
#06 Cranberry Crush

glossy finish

 On The Lips...

Nude Chic

Honey Love

Cranberry Crush used as a lip liner
Sweet Pink in the center of my lips

My Thoughts...
These balm stains are smooth, pigmented, extremely comfortable on the lips, and leave the lips with a beautiful stain that lasts all day. These are very similar to the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains...but are half the price and have a more wearable, neutral color selection. These Jordana balms stains are definitely worth picking up.

I also picked up the Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains in Terra Crave and Rock N Rouge. Photos and swatches coming soon!

Awesome Drugstore Brushes Under $10

 

   I recently pick up this SOHO brush set from Walgreens (I'm forever on a search for the biggest and best brush) and I'm so glad I did. I cannot say enough good things about this SOHO Double-Ended Cat Eye Brush Set...soft, dense, sturdy, CHEAP...they're an awesome addition to any one's brush collection.

*If anyone could enlighten me about why these brushes are called "double-ended" I'd sure appreciate it...cause they're not. They have normal brush heads and plastic blunt ends. So unless plastic, blunt ends of brushes are a new way of applying mascara...I got nothing on why these would be called "double-ended*

 

 

SOHO Double-Ended Cat Eye Brush Set

• $9.99 at Walgreens (in store only)
• Set Includes:
• Concealer brush and smudge brush
• Eye Shadow brush and definer brush
• Eyeliner and brow brush
• Nylon fiber bristles
• Long, plastic black handles with pink accents (very light weight)
• Website includes How-To and Care Instructions
• Made in China

 

The Brushes...

 

Concealer and Smudge Brush 



Concealer and Smudge brush (front view)



Concealer and Smudge brush (side view)

 

     I don't know if I'll be using this brush as a concealer brush or as a smudging brush but at far as a tapered blending brush...this is one on my favorites! This medium sized fluffy brush is perfect for blending out my eye looks without smearing shadow all the way up to my brow bone...I hate that. Great brush, definitely one of my current favorites.

 

Eye Shadow brush and Smudge brush

 

 

     Great brush for contouring and adding definition to the crease. This short, dense brush also has a slight slant at the top which makes this brush perfect for adding shadow to the crease and beginning to fade it up onto the brow bone, giving the eye a more natural finish. I also love the small shape of this brush because it does not overwhelm my eye and keeps my crease shadows right where I want them...in my crease!  

Eyeliner and Brow brush

Eyeliner and Brow brush (side view)

Eyeliner and Brow brush (front view)

 

   Don't get me wrong, I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to make a decent angled brush but I must say, this is a good one. This brush would be great for lining the upper lash line with a creamy gel liner but my preferred use for this brush is lining my lower lash line with liner or shadow. This brush is slim and dense which gives me great control for placing shadows in small places around my eye...such as my lower lash line. Though this brush claims to be a brow brush, I do feel like this brush is a little to flimsy for this use in my opinion...another awesome brush!

My Thoughts...

What an awesome little brush set! I'm so excited that I picked this set up. They are quickly becoming everyday staples in my vast brush collection.

Got a favorite cheap brush that you love?

Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Current Love: Sonia Kashuk Eye On Neutral #02

I've been loving using this palette for a complete eye look or in combination with any of my other favorite eye shadows. These shadows have a buttery smooth texture and amazing pigmentation...and for $20 at Target, you just can't beat the price!

 

Eye On Neutral #02
Eye Shadow Palette

  

Full Review, Photos, and Swatches!  

 

Matte Eyes
Neutral Cheeks
Sheer Pink Lips





For this look I used the creamy nude shade all over my lid and under my brow bone, a warm medium brown shade through my crease, and then deepened the outer V with a mix of the dark brown and black shades. I finished the eyes with black winged liner and two coats of mascara to the upper and lower lashes.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine
#13

And word on the street is Sonia Kashuk just put out another palette of all shimmer shadows...

she will be mine...

oh yes, she will be mine...

 

Comment below and let me know what new fall makeup products you're lusting over!

Thanks for reading!

Lip Butter Looks: Fig Jam

Lip Butter Look Challenge:

create a look inspired by my many (and mostly unused) Revlon Lip Butters

Fig Jam

 

Warm Eyes, Highlighted Cheeks & Fig Jam Lips

 

For my eyes I tapped a bright copper shade all over my lid, blended it out with a warm matte brown shade, then deepen my outer corner with a dark matte brown shade. I added thick black liner to my upper and lower lash line and a nude kohl eye pencil to my waterline, to prevent my eyes from appearing red and irritated from the red undertones in my eye shadows. I finished with two coats of mascara on my upper and lower lashes.

 

reddish brown lips

 

 

The Look...

Fig Jam is probably one of my least used lip butters but I think this may be my favorite Lip Butter Look I have done yet. I love how this reddish brown lip color compliments the warm shadows on my eyes. I used a fair dusting of a golden highlighter to the apples of my cheeks and the center of my forehead and I feel like it really pulled the whole look together. This is a pretty neutral makeup look but the warmth of the red undertones give this look a little something unexpected.

Check out my other Lip Butter Looks:

Wild Watermelon

Strawberry Shortcake

Pink Truffle

Juicy Papaya

 

Look out for more Lip Butter Looks inspired by my Revlon Lip Butter Collection!

 

Thanks for taking time out of your day to have a look at my blog...feel free to comment below and talk makeup with me!

 

Lip Butter Looks: Juicy Papaya

Lip Butter Look Challenge:

create a look inspired by my many (and mostly unused) Revlon Lip Butters

 

Juicy Papaya

Neutral Bronze Eyes
Dewy Skin with Coral Cheeks
Sheer Coral Lips

 

 

For my eyes I tapped a medium bronze shade on my entire lid, then blended a deeper bronze shade through my crease and outer corner, and added a shimmery champagne shade to my brow bone and inner corner for an extra brightened eye look. I lined my eyes with a black liquid liner, smudged a brown pencil liner on my lower lash line and topped it with the same bronze shades I used on my lids. I added a peachy kohl pencil to my waterline and finished the look with two coats of mascara to my upper and lower lashes.

 

sheer coral lips

 

Everyday Neutral Look For Spring

 

 

 

The Look... 

Juicy Papaya has been one of my favorite "grab and go" lip colors lately. This lip butter is the perfect way to update your current makeup routine for spring. For this look I chose an everyday bronze eye look that I wear on a regular basis, added a peachy coral cheek, and finished the look with this sheer coral shade on my lips. I love how Juicy Papaya pairs with my everyday, neutral eye looks but also adds a bright, but wearable, pop of coral on my lips.

Check out my other Lip Butter Looks:

Wild Watermelon

Strawberry Shortcake

Pink Truffle

 

Look at for more Lip Butter Looks inspired by my Revlon Lip Butter Collection!

 

Thanks for taking time out of your day to have a look at my blog...feel free to comment below and talk makeup with me!

 

Best Drugstore Kabuki Brush

I recently bought these three kabuki brushes at three local drugstore/grocery stores. All three are readily available and (relatively) inexpensive. I've spent the last several weeks using and comparing these brushes to find out which is the better drugstore kabuki brush.

 

Here's what  I found:

 

SOHO, Essence of Beauty, ELF

What I expect from my kabuki:

large, dense brush

soft bristles

easy and convenient storage

 

What I use my kabuki for:

apply a thin layer of powder to set my foundation

after I finish applying my makeup, I like to use a big kabuki brush to make sure my powder, blush, and bronzer are nicely blended together

 

*all three kabuki brushes were washed before photos and reviews*

 

SOHO Professional Kabuki Brush

Walgreens $18.99

 

"The SOHO Professional Kabuki Brush compact dome shape shape and ultra-soft goat hair bristles flawlessly blend powder onto the skin for a polished finish"

 

Pros:

• largest of the three brushes-good for applying powder to my face and neck & quick overall blending
• the handle was large and weighted which felt nice in my hand

Cons:

• most expensive of the three brushes
• felt very scratchy on my skin
• shed like crazy after washing
• bristles were not as compact as I prefer which gave me less control over my powder products.
• this brush/stand combo made it impossible for me to store this brush in my makeup drawer. I have to keep it out on my vanity, which means I'm constantly knocking it over...annoying.

Essence of Beauty Kabuki Brush

CVS $9.99

 

"use this soft, durable kabuki brush to apply powder, bronzer, or blush"

"made of all animal hair"

(did not specify what kind of animal hair....this thing could be made of grizzly bear fur for all I know...eek)

 

Pros:

• less expensive than the SOHO brush
• applied powder to my face and neck evenly
• blended my face products (powder, bronzer, blush, highlighter) together nicely
• bristles are more compact, giving me more control over powder products. I would feel comfortable using this brush to apply a light dusting of bronzer all over my face.
• brush is short enough to store in my vanity drawer
 

Cons:

• not quite as soft as I prefer, still was a bit scratchy on my face
• sheds quite a bit after washing (but less than the SOHO brush)
• seemed to lose some of its original, compact shape after washing
• Though this brush is smaller than the SOHO brush, I still would not feel comfortable applying blush with this brush like it claims...hello clown cheeks 

ELF Studio Kabuki Brush

Target/eyeslipsface.com $6

 

 

"this antibacterial synthetic haired Taklon Brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products"

"use for powder, blush, and bronzer"

"provide a light to full coverage on your face or body to ensure a flawless finish"

"vegan friendly"

Pros:

• ultra soft on my face, very comfortable to use
• applied powder to my face and neck flawlessly
• gave me a nice, even, overall blended look
• no shedding to mention what so ever
• maintained it's compact shape, even after washing
• small, dense shape gave me tons of control with my powder products. I would feel comfortable applying powder, bronzer, and blush with this brush.
• short enough to store in my vanity drawer
• vegan friendly...at least we know this one isn't made of grizzly bear fur!
• cheapest of the bunch

Cons:

• Uhhh...I really don't have any....

Note: I only used this brush with dry, powder products. I did not use this brush with wet/cream products so I cannot vouch for its claims. I just prefer to use my short, dense synthetic brushes for my wet/cream products. 

 

The Winner...

No contest...the ELF brush is clear cut winner. The bristles are soft and dense, making it the most versatile brush of the group. It was comfortable to use, convenient to store, and the cheapest brush I tested. What more could you ask for?! Overall awesome product!

 

Lip Butter Looks: Pink Truffle

Lip Butter Look Challenge:

 create a look inspired by my many (and mostly unused) Revlon Lip Butters

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
muted pink shade with a hint of brown

For my eyes, I lined my upper and lower lash line with a grey (almost navy) liner and smudged it out with a Q tip. Then, I ran the same liner on my waterline. I finished with two coats of mascara on my upper and lower lashes.

The look...

I created an everyday neutral look with a twist by pairing some smudgy grey liner with this muted pinky/brown lip color. I love how Pink Truffle adds a little bit of color and life to my face and the grey (almost navy) liner adds a little something unexpected. I'm really happy with how this look turned out. I'm excited to challenge myself to create more looks inspired by my Revlon Lip Butters that I just don't seem to get a lot of use out of.

In the Spotlight: Cold Weather Lip Combo

Like most, I'm still feeling the effects of the cold winter air on my skin, especially my lips. It seems I have been on a constant search for the perfect lip balm to moisture and protect my weather-beaten lips. I have tried many balms and treatments over this past winter but few have matched the healing and restoring qualities of this combo...

 

 

During the Day...

Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm

• Contains Vitamin E and Aloe
• Contains Sunscreen/SPF 15

This smooth, ultra moisturizing formula gives me that instant relief, medicated healing feeling of traditional Carmex, without that waxy feel on the lips. The small, slant tip makes application quick and easy...and I don't have to stick my finger in a pot...bonus!

 

At Night...

 

Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy
White Petrolatum Lip Protectant

• Active Ingredient: 77.4% White Petrolatum
• claims to repair and nourish as you sleep
• claims to restore visibly healthier lips in 3 days

Its safe to say I saw healthier lips after just one night. I would go to sleep with red, painfully chapped lips and would wake up to completely smooth and moisturized lips. This thick, rich cream would stay on my lips all night, without feeling waxy or sticky at all. Very soothing and repairing product!

In the Spotlight: Barely Berry Lip Colors

For my day to day life, I enjoy simple, no fuss makeup that still makes a statement. For me, that usually consists of neutral shadows, winged lined, and natural cheeks. With all this "neutral-ness" going on in face and eye makeup, I like to add a little interest to my lips...without too much fuss. For this, I turn to my barely berry lip colors. I love the pop of color and "life" they add to my look but I won't be a slave to the mirror all day, constantly checking and correcting my lip color to avoid the dreaded clown mouth. Now I love me some makeup, but even I don't have the patience for that!

I save the concealer, lip liner, and lip brush for a night out...these are my favorite, no fuss, anti-clown mouth, everyday berry lip colors...

Lip Swatches...

Maybelline Baby Lips in Yummy Plummy
The most sheer of the bunch, a must have in my purse
shiny lips with a hint of purple

NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm in #359 Apple Plum Pie
glossy soft lips with a slightly deeper berry tint
very wearable and goes with almost any look

 

Maybelline Color Whisper in A Plum Prospect
light and comfortable on the lips
definitely a more raspberry lip
 

 

Jordana Easy Shine Glossy Lip Color in Berry Colada
the smaller, slant tip of the lipstick makes for easy application
contains a fair amount of pink sparkle but is not overly glittery on the lips
very wearable and flattering shade

 

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie
these products have a cult following and for good reason
ultra moisturizing, easy, midtone berry shade

 

Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Plum
I use this shade interchangeably with Berry Smoothie
I enjoy a sheer application of these shades for smooth berry lips all day

 

Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Stick in Rich Raisin
EmilyNoel 83 described these as "the sweat pants of lip products"and I could not agree more
amazingly comfortable and pigmented on the lips
very red toned berry shade, makes a statement on the lips without going overboard

 

Revlon Super Lustrous Glossy in #090 Pearl Plum
newest edition to my budding lip gloss collection
smooth, non-sticky
sheer wash of plum color on the lips

 

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie in Dare Devil
one of my favs of the favs
long lasting without being overly sticky
wears nicely through the day without getting that "goopy" look
classic berry shade

 

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Gabby
also long lasting without all that sticky-ness
fresh minty sensation on the lips
very reflective/metallic on the lips

I wore this gloss in my Laura Mercier Laura's Colour Portfolio: A Review post