Smile Pretty! Smashbox Smile-Brightening Lip Enhancing Lip Gloss Review

Smashbox Smile-Brightening Lip Enhancing Lip Gloss

The next product I will be reviewing today is Smashbox's Smile-Brightening Lip Gloss. This stuff has become a staple in my makeup wardrobe. I keep one in my makeup case, one in my purse, and one in my desk drawer.

This is one product I will make sure I am never without. Unlike most glosses, it is not sticky in the least. The consistency is better than any other lip gloss I have tried. It goes on smooth and hydrates the lips. Your lips are well moisturinzed all day long, and the brush applicator is amazing.

It has a slight tingle factor, but it's not overbearing at all. It has a minty fresh taste/smell/feel that makes your mouth feel fresh. The reflective pearlized sparkles defnitely make your teeth appear whiter.

The color is a pretty pink. It's sheer enough to wear alone for a subtle pink shine, buildable enough that you can actually get a pretty pink shade out of it, but also looks amazing layered over your favorite lipstick color.

In conclusion, if you are in searchog an amzing lip gloss that is hydrating, long-lasting, not sticky, has just the right amount of shimmer, a great color alone of partner to your lipstick that will brighten your smile and freshen your breath, pick this up.

Warning: It's addicting. Once you have it you won't ever want to be without it.

I give it 5/5 stars

xoxoxoxox-

Sisi

In the Eye of the Beholder: Smashbox Bionic Mascara Review

Smashbox Bionic Mascara

While this is by no means the worst mascara I have ever tried, I can't say that I am impressed with it. Usually, I love Smashbox products, but this one just falls flat for me. First off, I have tired it a few different times, and every tube I have gotten looks clumpy, dry, and old as soon as you open the tube.

I find it hard to apply. You have to use several coats to get any impact. I think it may be the construction of the brush. It's put together similar to the low end drugstore brands, and isn't at all optimal to coat the lashes without making a mess on your face. Then, when you do, possibly because of the thick density of the formula, you get volume in the form of clumps. Also, it is somehow wet enough to make a mess of your eyelids during application, yet dry enough to clump and flake. When applying to to perfectly clean lashes, I felt like I was putting a new coat over last night's mascara.

If you rub your eyes at all, this will smudge and smear and give you raccoon eyes, yet washing it off is really difficult. I use Purity by Philosphy to wash off my makeup, and it usually works like a charm to get everything off my face. This one, however, won't budge. I have to use a separate eye makeup remover.

In summary, while it's not a BAD mascara, if you want to do a thin layer just for a very subtle look, it may be okay. However, if you are looking for the lengthening and volumizing they promise, it doesn't deliver. The $8.00 Lash Stiletto was less than half the price, and performs more than twice as well.

I give it 2/5 stars

xoxoxoxox-

Sisi

Review of the Day: MAC Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation

MAC Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation

Okay, so the other day when I went to MAC to pick up some Prep + Prime, I decided to try their foundation. I don't know what made me think that something would be better than my Halo, but I did, so after the sales girl's spiel about how luminous, long lasting, and smooth this foundation was, I thought I would give it a try. BIG mistake. Huge.

First off, the initial shade she tried to pick out was almost pumpkin orange on my arm, so she went with the NC15, which, on the underside of my arm looked like it blended okay. When I put it on my face, however, I looked like the Vanilla Ghost (Scooby Doo fans know who this is). :)

Also, when applied, it does not have a "glow" or luminosity about it at all. It's shiny. It makes you look greasy. And it doesn't blend well at all. It settles in any lines on your face, no matter how miniscule, and makes them look awful. And buildable? Not even. I mean, your it just smears around, and you end up washing most of it off your face. The coverage is not very good. Not only does it NOT cover blemishes or redness, it creates more blemishes. I used it for two days, and within those two days my face broke out something fierce. And it wasn't because I didn't wash it off. By the time I got home in the afternoon, I had sprouted more new acne. Not good at all.

The staying power is not very good either. It came off on the collar of my coat, on my hand every time I TOUCHED my face, so it got all over everything, thus, by the time I got home, all the coverage was gone and there were more blemishes than I had tried to cover in the morning.

In conclusion, it is oily and greasy feeling, horrible finish, horrible color, horrible coverage, horrible staying power, and awful for your skin.

As much as I wanted to love it, this one is going back to MAC.

Good news is, I have been using my Halo again for two days, and my skin is already back to clear and beautiful! Thank you Smashbox!

I give it 1/5 stars

xoxoxoxox-

Sisi

Review of the day: Smashbox Halo Hydrating Face Powder

Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder with

#29 All-Over Face Brush

I saw this powder advertised several times. but just could never pull myself to spend 60 bucks on a powder. After trying several foundations and not being able to find one that gave me the coverage and look I wanted without turning orange or breaking out my senstive skin, I broke down and decided to try the Halo.

Best makeup decision I have ever made!

First off, the price isn't that bad. You don't have to use much to get great coverage. I have used it at least once, sometimes twice a day for 2 1/2 months now, and still have not run out. The coverage is amazing. I won't even say it's amazing for a powder, because it's got the best coverage with the least amount of product of virtually ANY foundation I have used. It's sheer to medium, but easily buildable and blends flawlessly. A small amount covers discoloration, redness, blemishes, broken capilaries, or any other imperfections you may have. I have a lot of redness in my cheeks and it covers that wonderfully. The best part is it doesn't look fake. You don't look like you are wearing makeup to hide all of your skin problems. You simply look like you have perfect, glowing skin.

In addition, this stuff lasts all day. I don't have to touch up at all...even when it is hot or I have been very active. It has a glow to it, not shiny or overpowering, just a subtle, natural glow. I love that because it is natural. Our faces aren't completely matte, and this accentuates that. I have also noticed as the day goes on, it actually gets better.

Finally, I love the way this dispenses. You dial it and grind out exactly what you need from a pressed powder, so you are getting fresh, clean powder every time. In some other powders, because of the natural oils of your face getting on the brush or applicator, they tend to get funky after a while. This never does. There is no mess, no waste, just beautiful skin!

I DEFINITELY give this product 5/5 stars

xoxoxox-

Sisi

Fragrance Review of the Day: G by Harajuku Lovers

So, my BEAUTIFUL best friend got me this perfume for my birthday. I was watching HSN one day and fell in love with the packaging, and they said it had a tropical smell, and Ihad to have it. It sold out almost everywhere, and I had sort of forgotten about it. Well, she didn't. She went to Macy's and found it. I was really happy.

Then, I smelled it, and my happiness was turned up a notch or two or ten! The smell IS very tropical. It's coconutty, vanilla-ey...it smells like a pina colada by the pool on a hot summer day! That being said, it's not solely a summer smell. It is a light, flirty, fun smell that is great for any season. You do have to layer it if you want it to really stand out though. Also, the staying power isn't as good as some perfumes. It doesn't linger all day, and you find yourself reapplying a couple of times throughout the day. For this reason, I wish the actual bottles of perfume were bigger. They look much bigger than they are, because of the packaging. Not really complaining, because I love the packaging. Just saying that the bottle is a bit smaller than some, and you do have to use a little more, so that might be a downfall to some.

In summary, this perfume, is a tropical, light, fun, sweet, fabulously fresh scent that will take you away to an island vacay, no matter where in the world you are!

I give it 4.5/5 stars

xoxoxoxox-

Sisi

Champagne Quality on a Beer Budget: Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara

Maybelline Lash Stiletto in Blackest Black

Okay, I am a mascara junkie. I have bought virtually every kind of mascara on the market. I saw a commerical for Maybelline's Lash Stiletto, and really wanted to try it. I went to Wal Mart, and it was only $8.00 for a tube, so I thought why not?

I got it home, and was most pleasantly surprised. My natural lashes are short, fine, and a light brown shade. I like them to be big and bold and jet black, as I love a dramatic eye, and have black hair, so it looks off when they are not done.

I love a mascara to lenghten, add volume, and curl. This mascara does all of the above for me. The shape of the brush is wonderful for coating evenly and especially getting the outer lashes.It's thicker in the middle and thinner on the ends, and the bristles are a little wispy and random, which works wonderfully for lengthening and separating.

The finish is a glossy, jet black look. My lashes look very long, plump, shiny and sleek. I hear some people complain of the odor, and i have not noticed a smell. Also, I have heard comments about it flaking, and I have never had that problem. The only thing I can think is they say that to layer it, you need to do it before it dries. Some people are possibly letting it dry and then doing another coat. That is the only thing I can think of that would cause flaking.

All in all, a couple of my favorites are Diorshow and Imju Fiberwig Mascara, and this one has not only stood up to them, but crushed them in several ways. These mascaras dry out and clump much faster than the Lash Stiletto. And at $8.00 a tube vs. $30+ a tube, that is a win/win for me.

Glossy, lenghtening, plumping, and long wearing.

I give this one 4/5 stars

xoxoxox-

Sisi

My weekend purchases

This weekend, I hit up the MAC counter. I initially went in for some prep + prime, and this is what I came out with:MAC Prep and Prime. An ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder.







MAC Satin Finish SPF 15 Mineralize Foundation. A fluid foundation that blends the natural light-reflecting properties of micro-minerals with a smooth satin finish. Provides a low-to-medium buildable coverage with a slightly luminous look. Contains vitamins A, C and E to help nurture and condition the skin. Provides everyday SPF 15 sun protection. Long-wearing. Suitable for normal-dry skins.




MAC Hello Kitty Mild Eyeshadow x 4. Lucky Tom Compact, all in a limited edition shiny black Hello Kitty compact featuring her iconic image with pink bow on the front.

Shades from L to R: Crème Royal, Paradisco, Stylin', Lucky Tom.

MAC Hello Kitty Wild Eyeshadow x 4. Too DollyCompact, all in a limited edition shiny black Hello Kitty compact featuring her iconic image with pink bow on the front.
Shades from L to R: Yogurt, Romping, Too Dolly, Stately Black.

MAC Glitter in Reflects, Very Pink. This is a sparkling fuschia color. Glitter can be applied directly to the skin or combined with products to create high-level glitter and sparkle effects on all areas of the face, skin and hair.

MAC Dazzleglass in Extra Amps. This is a gorgeous pink. Lipcolour that dazzles with light and shine to bring an exciting dimensional pop to your lips. Large particle pearls reflect and refract light to mimic the brilliance of quartz and opal crystal. Provides exceptional shine with a crystalline iridescence. Non-sticky, non-tacky, lightweight and moisturizing. Glides on. Wear alone, or layer over lipstick or Lipglass for dramatic effect. Features signature MAC vanilla aroma.

Reviews of each product to come. Stay tuned!

xoxoxox-

Sisi

Product Recommendation of the Day

Smashbox Waterproof Jet Set Eyeliner applied with Smashbox #21 Arced Brush

I absolutely LOVE this eyeliner. The way my eyes are shaped, it is really hard for me to pull of a sexy, smokey eye without lining the inner rim of my eyes. The problem with that is almost every eyeliner I have tried (and trust me, I have tried a LOT of them!!!) smudges, runs, and wears off almost immediately after application.

One day I was watching Holly Mordini from Smashbox Cosmetics on QVC, and saw this eyeliner, which they said was MADE for the inner rim of the eyes. I thought that it was too good to be true, and decided to try it. I wasn't expectivg much, but I sure did get a lot. There is no irritation whatsoever, and the stuff glides on as smooth as butter. It stays put until I wash it off at night, even through summer heat and/or rigorous activity. I have even fallen asleep, and when I woke up, it was still perfectly placed.

The arced #21 brush makes application foolproof. It is shaped to accommodate your hand and the natural shape of your eye. You can't go wrong with application.

I have heard some people's complaints that it dries up very quickly and becomes flaky and hard to apply shortly after it is opened. I have found that, as long as you replace the lid tightly, this is completely untrue. One small crock lasted me over 8 months, and it went on just and smooth and easy from the bottom of the crock.

I will advise, in addition to making sure that your eyeliner is closed tightly, you make sure to wipe your brush after each application. If not, next time you use it, the brush will be very stiff, and you may injure your eye.

This eyeliner is not meant to be smudged, as the colors are very defined and the consistency does not allow it to smudge well in my experience. Also, I don't recommend trying to use it wet. The consistency is fantastic as is, and I recommend just using it straight out of the jar.

In conclusion, this eyeliner is long wearing, easy to apply, color intense, and all around glamtastic!

I give it 5/5 stars

xoxoxox-

Sisi

Welcome to my world!

Okay, here is the first of many blogs on this site.

My name is Sisi, and in addition to my 9 - 5 office gig, I am a freelance makeup artist, a drummer, and a self-proclaimed shopaholic. I have been buying clothing, accessories, and cosmetics for such a long time, and I thought it was due time I created a blog, so that I can share my experiences, opinions, and tricks of all my trades.

I will be posting product reviews, recommendations, and suggestions. I will eventually also be posting tutorials on certain makeup looks.

I will post reviews on new bands, CDs, and live concerts as well.

Everything you wanted to know about sex, GLAM, and rock and roll will be right here at your fingertips!

Stay tuned, loves.

xoxoxox-

Sisi