Lancôme Art liner 24h

Lancôme: Art Liner 24h

Type : Liquid Eye-liner

       I'll be the first to admit that I've had some bad experiences with liquid eyeliner. I've bough sloppy ones, scratchy ones, even one that made my eyes burn like fire and swell up (still mad at you for that, SEPHORA!). But I'm adventurous and apparently don't learn from my mistakes, so I went ahead and tried this one from lancôme. Lancôme is a brand I've learned to trust, and they've always done remarkably well with SkinDeep/EWG's allergen and safety tests. So far, I'm very pleased with it. My eyes are not swollen and burning, and that's always good, isn't it? 

   The color I chose was amethyst and it's quite lovely. It has a slight blue sparkle, not too overwhelming, which makes this product ideal for both a night out and at a professional setting. I also like that the application wand was soft and pliable allowing it to curve and swirl if desired.  

       I was equally impressed with how long the the make-up itself stayed in place without smudging. I mean, it stayed in place through a concert, through a rainstorm, through...other activities...all in one night! 

EWG score: n/a

Overall score: 9/10

   I really like this product, it's definitely top of the line! It does wear a little thin at times, but all in all, it's very good!

Estée Lauder Clear Difference BB Creme

Type: BB cream

     
       BB creams are designed to replace/ combine several steps in your make up and skin care routine. This one was definitively great for summer, as it has a 35 spf protection. Maybe not enough to keep you covered for a day at the beach, but it's just perfect for spending a sunny day outside. Now, for this particular product, Estee Lauder recommends wearing beneath foundation or with a setting powder, and it's clear why. This product is a bit greasy and takes a little while to dry completely. I did find it to be very moisturizing though. My skin did feel softer after a wearing. Very pleasant!  

EWG score: n/a

Overall score: 7/10

       Points off of greasiness and long drying time, but otherwise buttery soft and very moisturizing.  

Benefit BAD gal lash

Benefit BAD gal Lash

Type: Mascara

        Mascara can be kind of tricky to review because there's a lot of human error that can go into an application. I mean, I've heard of girls sending themselves to the hospital over mascara. Now, I myself have never had a mascara injury (knock wood) but I recognize that some ladies and gents find mascara tricky and bothersome to apply. The particular wand that comes with the Benefit BAD gal Lash mascara is big and chubby and just perfect for beginners. It makes for a very clean, even application. I also like that it separates and defines the lashes without smooshing them together. Unfortunately, the big chubby brush is not as easy to use on the lower lashes. The mascara itself tends to gather on the tip of the wand, which when used on the lower lashes, can cause a bit of a mess. 

     Now, the big claim that BAD gal Lash makes is that it's supposed to look like you're wearing false eyelashes- without the glue! Very on point with Benefit's retro theme :) .But, I found that the mascara itself actually wears very thin, and very dry. I'm not really seeing the volumizing or darkening... but still, it makes for a cute look. 

EWG score: n/a

Overall score: 6/10

 The product is nice, but it doesn't do what it's advertised to do, and the mascara is really very dry. Still, it's a nice product and it does look very pretty when worn. 

Too Faced: Perfect Flush Blush

Type: Blush

    I confess, I fell in love with the packaging on this one in a major way before I bought it. It just reminded me so much of the ascetic that Lolita brands like Angelic Pretty or Baby The Stars Shine Bright are going for these days which I thought was kinda nifty.  But packaging aside, this blush is actually really awesome. 

    First of all, I like the blend-able colors idea. I think the shades they choose really interact well with each other, at least in the "Candy Glow" set. I like the contrast that the corals and browns brought to that bright, bubble gum pink. It muted it without compromising the actual color. It also has the slightest shimmer to it, which almost acts as a highlighter in some lighting. Very pretty.

   Coverage wise, it gives the user a lot of control over the intensity of the pigmentation. I personally don't like a heavy blush, and I found it very simple to do a nice, sheer application. 

EWG Score: 2 (Good) for possible allergens

Overall Score: 9/10

  I really loved this product, but I'm hesitant to give it a perfect score because blending the three colors might be difficult for people who are newer to make up. Also, as pretty as the packaging is, it doesn't travel well at all. This definitely is not the kind of product you can carry around in your purse! 

    

Flower Cosmetics Kiss Stick

Type: Lipstick, High Shine

     Look, I try to be really fair when I critique make-up. I think it's important to go into each review with an open mind, so please believe me when I say I was not trying being prejudiced against this brand just because it's a Walmart exclusive. I was actually kind of excited to try this brand after I heard that Drew Barrymore was going to endorse/produce it. I do like Drew Barrymore, after all! 

      At first, I thought the packaging was cute in a vintage sort of way, but after a while, it kind of bugged me because it was just so big and bulky. It's the biggest lipstick in my (admittedly small) collection. Of course, all this is forgivable, why judge a book by its cover or a lipstick by its tube? 

    What isn't forgivable is the smell. I'm not sure quite why, but this lipstick has a very strong, pungent, almost medicinal smell. If I had to place it, I'd say it smells exactly like a bottle of expired vitamins, except much, much stronger. And the taste isn't much better. I know lipsticks aren't food, and shouldn't really be judged on taste, but my goodness! That metallic medicinal flavor is so strong, I couldn't get it out of my lips for the longest time. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the color.... 

     The color I bought was "sweet peony" which was a nice light pink. However, without a base balm or a primer, the pigment breaks up and fractures across the lips, giving an uneven and lumpy color. And there's no "high shine" to speak of. If anything, I'd say it has kind of a sandy, grainy texture which isn't exactly pleasant. 

EWG Score: n/a :(

Overall: 1/10

Woops! So far this is the lowest of the low. It loses points for smell, coverage, texture, packaging and taste. Sorry Drew, this one's a fail! 

CoverGirl Lipslicks Smoochies

Type: Tinted Lip Balm 

          As far as sheer coverage goes, Covergirl Smoochies are probably the lightest I've ever experienced. They barely offers more pigment and color than a completely clear chapstick. Now, sheer tinted balms are some of my all time favorite cosmetic products, so I know not to judge their pigmentation against lip glosses or lipsticks. But these are just not cutting it. At most they provide a mild, nearly undetectable shimmer that wears off almost instantly. But I must say, the Smoochies are  incredibly soft and moisturizing. They're simply lovely to wear, and they have a rather cute, sugary, almost fruity scent that reminds me of strawberry shortcake dolls.  

EWG score: 6 (moderate) for iron oxides and possible fragrance allergens. 

Overall: 3/10 

Points for softness and scent, but even still, I'll have to call this one a fail.  :(