Maybelline Color Tattoo’s vs. Loreal Infallible Cream Shadow’s

Hey ya’ll!! I’m really excited for today’s post because it’s one that I’ve been wanting to do for a while now. I have been really into cream shadows lately and have been playing with these beauties the past couple of months so that I could give you my 100% thoughts, opinions, and experience with them.

The Maybelline Color Tattoo’s and the Loreal Infallible Cream Shadow’s are two of my favorite products from the drugstore. There are things that I like, and don’t like, about each line which is what we are going to get into today.

The Maybelline Color Tattoo’s are a true cream formula. They are best applied with your finger, and dry down to a powder finish. They come in a glass pot similar to the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade’s, or a potted gel liner. You get .14 ounces (4 grams) of product in each pot and they retail for $6.99. You can find them at any drugstore, and most often there are coupons available for Ulta and CVS, so you typically won’t have to pay full price for them.

The shades I have, from left to right, are: Bad To The Bronze, Tough As Taupe, Bold Gold, Vintage Plum, and Creamy Beige. The first three are from the original Color Tattoo line and the last two are from the Leather Collection. I do find there is a difference in formula between the original’s and the Leather’s. The original formula is a bit dryer, where the Leather’s are much more creamy and easy to work with. Bad To The Bronze and Tough as Taupe are great everyday shades and have great pigmentation. My favorite Color Tattoo, and a new holy grail item for me, by far is Creamy Beige. It is super creamy and pigmented, and is the perfect lid color. It is beautiful on it’s own, with a little definition in the crease, and with a smokey eye. My least favorite shades are Bold Gold and Vintage Plum. Vintage Plum was the biggest disappointment because it is very patchy, and the color separates and cannot be built up. Bold Gold isn’t what I hoped it would be. Instead of being a bronzed gold like I was hoping, it comes off more like a Deli Mustard color, which I’m not fond of.

The Loreal Infallible Shadow’s are much different from the Color Tattoo’s. The Color Tattoo’s are a true cream formula, where as the Loreal Infallible’s are more of a Hybrid between a cream and a powder. You can apply them with your finger or with a brush. I prefer applying them with my fingers because I think you get a much better color payoff, and effect that way. The shadow’s are packaged in a pot form similar to the Color Tattoo’s, but are flatter and in a plastic container versus a glass container. What I like about this packaging is that they come with a plastic stopper that sits under the lid, on top of the product. This really helps to keep the shape of the shadows, and helps to keep them from drying out. You get .12 ounces (3.5 grams) of product and they retail for $7.99. You do get a little less product for $1.00 more with the Infallible's. Again, you can find these at any drugstore, and there are coupons available.

The shades I have, from left to right, are: Amber Rush, Iced Latte, Bronzed Taupe, Bottomless Java, Golden Emerald, and Gilded Envy. As you can see they are all high-shimmer, and super pigmented. There are no matte shadows available in the collection. My favorite shadows from this line are Amber Rush and Bronzed Taupe. Amber Rush is a true dupe for MAC’s “Tan” Pigment. It’s a beautiful rose gold shade that is perfect for Spring and Summer, and will be stunning with a bronzed summer glow. Bronzed Taupe is another beautiful Spring and Summer color. It’s one of those shades that can be worn on it’s own and look exceptional. I already know that both of these shades are going to be go-to, easy color's to pop on my lids this Summer. Bottomless Java and Golden Emerald are both beautiful shades that have small specks of glitter in them. The great thing about the formula of these is that there is zero fall out, so you aren’t going to end up with glitter all over your face after you’ve applied them. My least favorites are Iced Latte and Gilded Envy. They are both a lot dryer in texture, and crumbly, than the other four. It’s really a bummer about Iced Latte because the color is very pretty. It’s a great brow bone and inner corner highlight color, and would be really pretty to apply in the center of your lids for an extra pop. I just wish it was creamy and smooth like the other’s. Gilded Envy just isn’t the right color for me. It’s not a bad shade by any means, it’s just not a great shade on me. I actually purchased it by mistake. I meant to grab Golden Emerald, but saw the green in the package and bought it thinking there was only one green in the collection.

If I had to pick one line over the other, the Color Tattoo’s or the Loreal Infallible Shadow’s, I would have to go with the Infallible’s. It kills me to have to choose because the Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige is one of my new, holy grail products and is my favorite shadow out of all of these combined. But when you get down to performance, formula, pigmentation, and application for the shadows as a whole, the Loreal Infallible Shadow’s win in my opinion.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and found it helpful! I would love to know which one you prefer out of the Color Tattoo’s and the Infallible’s, and which shades are your favorites. Like I said, I’ve been really into cream shadows lately, so if you have a favorite brand other than the two I mentioned, I would love your recommendations in the comments down below whether they be high-end or drugstore!

xoxo,
Casey

Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipsticks: Review & Swatches

Hey ya'll!

Well I almost made it through the month of September without buying anything. I am supposed to be on a Beauty Ban, but crap things just happen and the drug store has some really great products right now! I have been excellent in the high end department though. I haven't set foot in a Sephora all month long (cue the applause)! Anyways, I finally got my hands on the new Maybelline Creamy Matte lipsticks. I've been looking everywhere for them for the last two weeks. I got four out of the ten shades, and they are all absolutely wonderful and I am really happy with my choices. The formula is very creamy and comfortable to wear. Most matte lip sticks can leave your lips feeling really dry, and can be a little difficult to apply. These matte lipsticks are creamy, the don't dry out your lips, they apply very smooth, and they have great wear time. To see them in action, check out my video below. I also have attached pictures of all four shades, along with swatches for your viewing pleasure!

#655 Daringly Nude
Daringly Nude is a really nice pinky, nude shade. It's perfect for everyday and will look great in any season. It's comfortable to wear and easy to apply. If you're looking for a "No Muss, No Fuss" matte lipstick, you should give this one a try.

 

#660 Touch of Spice
Touch of Spice is a beautiful, warm, pinky/brown color. It was one of the colors I was most excited about trying out of the whole collection. It's very universal and I think it will look great on anyone. It's perfect for Fall and is right on trend with the whole 90's lip color. This shade will transition really well from day to night. I really love it!

#665 Lust for Blush
Lust for Blush is a pretty pinky/purple, mauve shade. It reminds me of a darker, more pink version of Kat Von D's lipstick in Lovecraft. This is another universal shade that I think would look great on a lot of different people and different skin tones. It's another one of those "No Muss, No Fuss" kind of color's that is really easy to apply.

#695 Divine Wine
Divine Wine is another one of the shades that I was super excited about trying. I've been looking for a deep red, burgundy color for Fall and the upcoming holiday season. I have a hard time wearing reds because most reds don't suit me at all. If I'm going to wear a dark lip color, I go for one on the berry side. This color is just what I was looking for, and I can't wait to wear it around the holiday's.

I think Maybelline did a FANTASTIC job with this collection. Coming from someone who shops high end quite often, I'm here to tell that you do not have to spend a ton of money to get a good quality lipstick. All of the shades are super pigmented, easy to apply, creamy, and long wearing. They look great on their own, and layered with a gloss.

I hope ya'll enjoyed today's post! Let me know if you've picked up any of the shades from the Creamy Matte collection. I'd love to know which ones you're wearing and loving.


xoxo,
Casey

GRWM: Naked 3 Palette

Hey ya'll!

Today I am going to be doing a full face Get Ready With Me using my Naked 3 palette. I will list all the products I used, what colors I used in the palette, and how I applied everything below.

Every makeup look should start with a good, clean base. I started by washing my face, and moisturizing like normal. I first primed my face using the Make Up For Ever HD Primer, and primed my eyes with the Nars Eyeshadow Primer. I then took a pump and a half of the Nars Sheer Glow Foundation on the back of my hand, and used my finger to dot it all over my face before blending it in using a Sigma F80 Flat-Top Kabuki brush. I like to dot the foundation all over my face first because it helps me not to use too much product. After that's buffed in, I apply the Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer under my eyes, and blend that out using the Real Techniques Buffing Brush.

Next step is to set my concealer and foundation. I used the Laura Mercier Setting Powder with the Real Techniques Powder Brush. Then I used the Benefit BrowZing in Medium to fill in my brows using a flat liner brush to apply it.

Now onto the eyes. I started with the lightest shade in the palette, Strange, and applied it using a large shadow brush all over my lid and up to my brow bone as a base. I then took the Real Techniques Shading Brush and mixed the colors Buzz and Trick together, and applied them all over the lid. Using a fluffy crease brush I took the color Nooner and applied it generously into my crease. Using that same crease brush, I applied Factory over top of Nooner. Going back to the Real Teachniques brush, I took the color Darkside and applied it to the outer corners, and into the crease, to darken it up a bit. Finally, using a clean, fluffy crease brush, I blended out Darkside so that it wouldn't be too harsh. Once the eyeshadow was done I used the Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil in Matte Black to line my upper lash line. I lined the bottom lash line with Nooner and Factory using a small, flat shader brush.

I like to apply my bronzer, blush, and highlighter after my eyes. If I have any fall out, I use my powder brush to dust it away before applying these next products. I used the Sephora Collection Classic Contour brush, along with the Becca Shadow & Light Bronze/Contour Perfector to bronze my face. I applied it in the hollows of my cheeks, my forehead, my chin and jawline, and down my nose. Then, using the Sonia Kashuk Dense Blush/Powder Brush I applied the Nars blush in Sin to the apples of my cheeks, blending it back towards my hairline. I ended up applying it with a heavy hand, so to correct it I blended it out using a big stippling brush. After bronzer and blush, I applied the Becca Highlighter in Opal to the tops of my cheeks and above my brows.

I like to apply my mascara after all my powder products. If I apply my mascara before the powder products, my eyelashes end up getting dusty, and that's just not a good look. Per usual I used the Loreal Voluminous Extra Volume Collagen Mascara, followed by the Covergirl Clump Crusher.

Last but not least are the lippies. My lips are chapped right now so I just went with a balm and a gloss. I used the Tarte LipSurgence in Energy, and topped it off with the Nars Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight.

That's it for today's GRWM: Naked 3 Palette. Let me know what shadow combo is your favorite using the Naked 3 Palette!


xoxo,
Casey

First Impressions: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Hey ya'll!

The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is without a doubt the perfect dupe for the Beauty Blender. In my opinion, it's even better! I purchased mine from Ulta for $5.99 and the Beauty Blender is sold at Sephora for $19.95.

The Real Techniques sponge has a pointed egg-like shape on one end, and is flat and slanted on the other end. The Beauty Blender has a true egg shape with one pointy end and a round bottom. My favorite thing about the Real Techniques sponge is the slanted, flat end. It's perfect for getting right under the eyes and really helps smooth everything out.

Looking at the Real Techniques sponge in the package you can tell that it is larger than the Beauty Blender. When I took it out of the package it was light weight and was pretty firm. I wet it just like I would the Beauty Blender, and it too grew to twice it's size and has the exact same plushness and texture as the Beauty Blender.

Before I applied my foundation, I primed my face using Laura Mercier's Radiance Primer with my fingers. I then squeezed the sponge with a towel to make sure I got all the excess water out of it. The foundation I used today was my Benefit "Hello Flawless" Oxygen Wow Foundation in 'I'm So Money' Honey, and the concealer I used was Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind in Fair. The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge applied my foundation and concealer flawlessly. I used the body of the sponge to "bounce" the foundation across my face, the flat end to blend the concealer under my eyes, and the pointed end around my nose and in the corners of my eyes. It was so quick and easy, which is perfect for those days when I am short on time and need to get ready quick.

I think sponges are a great way to apply liquid foundations, especially in the summer time because you can apply it as sheer as you want, or you can build it up to your desired coverage. Also with it being wet, it feels really cool on the skin. If you live in the South like I do, anything that can make your skin feel nice and cool on a 100 degree day is real a winner!

I've had my Beauty Blender for quite some time now. There was so much hype around it when it first came out that I just had to try it out. I have to be honest, I really have never thought it was THAT great. Don't get me wrong, it's very easy to use and applies liquid foundation really quick and easy. But in my opinion, $20 for a sponge is a bit much. Especially because they don't last near as long as a brush. Yes you can clean your sponge, but after a while it just gets gross.

So at the end of the day, the real winner here, by far, is the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It's amazing and you cannot beat the price. I love the size, the plushness, and the design. I have quite a few Real Techniques brushes and they are all such great quality. If you are interested in any of the Real Techniques products you can find them at your local Ulta. I've heard that some drugstores carry them, but I've only ever seen them at Ulta. If you know which drugstores, if any, that carry Real Techniques, please let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,
Casey



Just wanted to let ya'll know, the background used in the photos on this post are from the amazing book Living in Style by Rachel Zoe. I love Rachel Zoe, and her books do not disappoint! Click the link to purchase your own copy. I have it on a book stand on my bedside table because the cover is just too pretty to sit on a shelf collecting dust.

May Beauty Favorites

Hey ya'll!

If you aren't familiar with Beauty Favorites, it's a list of all the products I've been loving for the month of May. There are links to all the products mentioned down below if you are interested in checking them out further. I hope you enjoy!

Freeman Facial Polishing Mask
This is one of the best facial masks I have tried. Even better, you can get it at Ulta for only $3.99! It's a Charcoal and Black Sugar exfoliating mask. The Charcoal helps to absorb oil and impurities without over drying, and the Black Sugar is the exfoliant. It makes my skin feel a tad warm and tingly, and leaves it so soft, smooth, and glowing. The directions say to apply it, let it sit for 5-7 minutes, massage it into the skin for 1-2 minutes, then rinse. I find that it's easier, and I get better results, if I massage first and then let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream
I am obsessed with this stuff. It smells so good and leaves my skin glowing and hydrated, with a tint of color (I got the Medium to Dark shade). I was on the fence about trying this product because I'm not a fan of the Jergens Natural Glow products. I was worried it would have that self tanner smell and would be sticky, but it is completely different. This has been my go-to body moisturizer for the last couple of weeks. I am almost out and will definitely be repurchasing this.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette
As I am sure most of you have heard by now, the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette is amazing. The shadows are creamy, smooth, and very pigmented. It also smells just like chocolate. I wear this all the time and can create so many different looks with this. I love neutral eyeshadows, and when I saw this palette I knew I would absolutely adore it.

Nars Blush in Amour
This color is gorgeous and perfect for summer! This blush is very pigmented so you only need to a light hand for a nice pop of color. It's blendable and buildable, so you can adjust the amount of color to your liking. Every Nars blush I have tried has been of such great quality and wears really nicely. I highly recommend this color.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

This is a cult favorite, so I'm sure you already know the deal with this. It's buttery, smooth, blendable, and just looks great on every skin tone. I've never had a problem with this looking muddy or streaky on me. This has been my go-to bronzer all month long and you can already see how much I love it because I've hit major pan.

Nivea Lip Balm in Olive Oil & Lemon

This is the best lip balm, hands down. I have tried EOS, Chapstick, Burts Bees, etc. and none of them compare to this bad boy. I leave it out on my bathroom counter so that I can pop it on any time I walk by. It smells good and is very hydrating, leaving my lips soft and moisturized.

Maybelling Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser

Ya'll, this under-eye concealer is amazeballs. I have a really hard time finding concealers that don't crease on me. This one does not settle into my fine lines, and does not crease at all. I set it with a powder and it wears beautifully all day. I have two colors so that I have one for when I'm tan and one for when I'm not. The colors I have are "Fair" and "Lite/Pale". What makes it even better, is that it is a drug store product!

These last two are my favorite lip duos!

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine #57 Aventure and Buxom Lip Gloss in Celeste
I absolutely love these two together and have been wearing them a ton! I'm wearing them in my May Favorites picture at the top. I mentioned both of these in my Sephora haul, so I won't go into too much detail here. I love the way they look together. Combined they create a very nice, everyday, glossy lip with a shimmer. I already know this is going to be a go-to lip combo for me all summer long.

Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs Lipstick in Stormy Sahara and It Cosmetics Vitality Butter Gloss in Perfect Nude
Nude lips are a tough one for me. It is very hard to find a nude that looks good on me and my skin tone. Most of the time nudes either wash me out, or make me look dead. These two combined give me the perfect nude shade. It looks great when I'm tan, and works when I'm not. Both of these products look good by themselves, but once they come together it's magic! I know this lip duo is going to be a definite go-to lip duo for me all summer long.



I hope ya'll enjoyed my May Beauty favorites. Let me know in the comments below what products you are currently loving, and don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @caferg_xoxo. Thanks for reading!

xoxo,
Casey

Just wanted to let ya'll know, the background used in the photos on this post are from the amazing book Living in Style by Rachel Zoe. I love Rachel Zoe, and her books do not disappoint! Click the link to purchase your own copy. I have it on a book stand on my bedside table because the cover is just too pretty to sit on a shelf collecting dust.