Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lip Colors Review + Swatches

Now I'm a sucker for a bold lip... of any kind. I'm 100% down with rocking an emerald green lip, but that's not always the most appropriate look to go for. I'm also a sucker for products that have good quality with a price tag that won't break the bank. Ergo, I'm a gigantic sucker for the Maybelline Vivids line.

The line has 10 different colors with quite a wide variety of colors, ranging from light pink to bright berry. They can be found at most drugstores, but prices may vary depending on where you get them. The price ranges from $5-10, but sales and coupons can lower the price. Each lipstick contains 4.2 grams or 0.15 ounces.

Pink Pop (860) is a cool-toned pale pink with a slight frosted finish. This one is one of the more poorer performing lipsticks of the bunch, and personally, my least favorite. It didn't go on as evenly as I would like it to, and the consistency feels slightly waxy and uncomfortable on the lips, but the formula is creamy. It gives semi-opaque coverage.

Fuchsia Flash (865) is a neon cool toned pink. The consistency is smooth and it applies evenly. Its finish looks almost gel-like with a glossy sheen, and it's very opaque.

Shocking Coral (870) is a warm pinky coral, emphasis on the pink. The color reminds me of a more saturated watermelon Jolly Rancher. The quality of this one is one of the best. It's smooth on the lips, pigmented, and lightweight. There's a sheen in the finish, and a slight stain is left behind.

Vivid Rose (875) is a bright medium red-rose. This is, in my opinion, the most universally flattering color in the line. The quality is similar to Shocking Coral: smooth, pigmented, and lightweight. It's glossy and leaves a stain behind.

Electric Orange (880) is a vibrant, warm medium orange. The finish is glossy with semi-opaqueness. It's light on the lips and is smooth and creamy to apply.

Vibrant Mandarin (885) is a medium to dark orange with a hint of coral to it. The application is smooth and easy, and the color is opaque. It feels comfortable and lightweight on the lips, and has a glossy finish. It's similar to Shocking Coral except it has more orange and coral in it.

Neon Red (890) is a vivid orange red being more orange than red (the dominant orange color is more evident in the side by side swatches). It's very creamy and pigmented and very easy to apply. It feels a little heavier on the lips than most of the others and a stain is left behind but those are the only differences in formula.

On Fire Red (895) is a true, bold fire truck red. This one is ever so slightly sheer but very buildable, so opaque color is very achievable. The finish is very glossy and lightweight. A stain is left behind.

Hot Plum (900) is a bright magenta. It's similar to Fuchsia Flash but with more purple in it. This one clings to dryness a tiny bit, and I find its finish is also comparatively less glossy. It's also heavier on the lips, but the color is completely opaque.

Brazen Berry (905) is a cool toned berry magenta. This is the sheerest of them all and the consistency has a lot of slip and smoothness to it. It is lightweight and leaves a tiny bit of stain behind.

Maybelline states, "Now bright goes gorgeous, never garish. Brighter color from our exclusive vivid pigments. Creamier feel from nourishing honey nectar."

The description Maybelline gives their lipsticks is a little bit ambiguous. The only thing they claim is a creamier and more nourishing feel, and they don't claim anything relating to wear time.

(From left to right: Pink Pop, Fuchsia Flash, Shocking Coral, Vivid Rose, and Electric Orange)

(From left to right: Vibrant Mandarin, Neon Red, On Fire Red, Hot Plum, and Brazen Berry)

Overall, I think the quality of this line is fantastic, especially for the drugstore price. My least favorite shades were Pink Pop and Brazen Berry, and my favorites were Vivid Rose, Shocking Coral, and Neon Red. All of them were slightly moisturizing but not significantly so, and they lasted 3-4 hours on me. Certain colors like Pink Pop, Fuchsia Flash, and Brazen Berry made my teeth look a little yellow, and other colors made them look whiter like Vivid Rose, Neon Red, and On Fire Red. Most were very comfortable to wear due to the formula having a slip to it.

Overall Grade: 84% B

Formula: 8.5/10

Claim Expectations: 9/10

Overall Quality: 8.5/10

Application: 8/10

Wear Time: 8/10

Be confident,

Molly

Benefit Box O' Powder in CORALista Review and Swatches

About a year ago, I was scouring the internet (blogs, cosmetic retailer websites, YouTube videos, etc.) looking for the perfect blush to pick up my face and make me look like an angel due the glowing 'lit from within' effect it would give me. Then I fell upon a video made by the well known Missglamorazzi (A.K.A Ingrid Nilsen) titled May Favorites 2012 <3 Makeup MAYhem Day 16. The way Ingrid described it fit the bill perfectly and I had been dreaming about this blush ever since. A couple of months ago, I finally got my hands on it.

Benefit claims, "Take tropical pleasure trip with CORALista. Sweep this coral pink powder onto cheeks anytime, anywhere. Move your brush to the beat & turn up the heat... bikini optional!"

Benefit's claim was relatively small compared to other companies, but I think the point they're trying to get across is that this is a summertime blush that compliments a tan. I would be lying if I told you I disagreed. CORALista is a peachy coral color with a golden sheen and shimmer. Perfect for sunshine filled days! It makes your skin just glow like you're in a skincare commercial. It's pretty incredible! Also, if you suffer from acne *cough* me *cough*, it distracts from it, replacing the grossness of pimples and zits with a beautiful radiance.

Also, the packaging is... well... it's okay. It's 100% practical with a mirror, magnetic closing contraption, shock absorbing cardboard, and reasonable product to packaging ratio, but... it's a little too flashy for my taste. You definitely won't lose it it your makeup bag/collection though.

The quality is really nice as well. It's pigmented but not powdery, and it lasts up to TEN hours on me! But that's just on my skin (I have combination skin: really oily t-zone, relatively dry cheekbones). It could last differently on different skin types.

Despite the nice quality, it does have a tendency to apply in blotches if the brush you're using has densely packed bristles. To avoid that, use a fluffier brush. I recommend the Real Techniques blush brush.

This retails for $28. I know, it's expensive. But, there are 12 grams (about 0.42 oz) of product in this tiny box! In comparison to NARS blushes, which are one dollar more and contain about 4.54 grams of product, you get a better deal per gram with Benefit.

You can find this blush anywhere Benefit is sold.

Grade: 90% (A-)

Pigmentation: 5/5

Wear Time: 5/5

Ease Of Use: 3.5/5

Overall Quality: 4.5/5

Score: 18/20

Be Confident,

Molly

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Review and Swatches

I think this palette was released about six months ago, and there have been plenty of widely spread thoughts on it.

Urban Decay claims, "Naked Basics is more than the long-awaited, multipurpose MATTE companion to Naked. It's the palette EVERY women needs in her beauty arsenal. With six stripped-down, Nakedly neutral shadows, it has everything you need for the perfect neutral matte eye    including four totally new and exclusive shades."

When the original Naked (review here) and Naked 2 (review here) palettes were released before this one, many makeup wearers complained about the lack of matte colors, the original containing only two and the second including three. It didn't bug me, but I see how it could've annoyed others.

But the thing I like the most about this palette if the fact that it goes perfectly with either of the first two palettes (or both if you're crazy like me), or this could be you're only NAKED purchase and it would work just fine for you. Therefore, I 100% agree when Urban Decay says that every women could use this. It really depends on your style and sanity level.

The packaging is awesome! Not as functional as the original Naked Palette, but a lot better then the Naked 2. It's small and durable, being made of rubberized plastic, similar to that of NARS (but without the dirt!) I love the relatively large mirror as well.

Before I get into individual reviews, all six eyeshadows have AMAZING quality. All of them are pigmented, smooth, and not powdery at all! Urban Decay did not disappoint in the formulation department.

The first three are called Venus, Foxy, and W.O.S (A.K.A Walk of Shame).

Venus is a neutral creamy highlighting shade. This is the only satin finish eyeshadow in this palette, and I'm assuming its intended use was as an inner corner highlight... at least that's what I use it for. It is similar to Virgin only with a less pearly finish and less pink to it.

Foxy was included in the Naked 2 palette. It is a matte creamy beige color, that could be an all over lid color for those with yellow tones in their skin. I prefer using it as a base for other eyeshadows so they blend easier.

W.O.S is basically the pink toned version of Foxy. I use this all over the lid if I want a completely matte eye, which I sometimes do enjoy.

(In order from L to R: Venus, Foxy, and W.O.S)

The last three shades are Naked 2, Faint, and Crave.

Naked 2 is a very cool light to medium brown. I use this for a very natural crease color, that adds a little bit of depth without being overly dramatic. It is cooler than Naked

Faint is a rich medium to dark brown. I prefer to take an angled brow brush and line my eyes with this for definition, but if I wanted to be dramatic, I could easily put this in the crease. It is darker than Buck.

Crave is a super rich black with brown undertones. I only use this for eyeliner if I want even more definition than just brown. It is similar to Blackout, only Blackout has grey undertones.

(In order from L to R: Naked 2, Faint, and Crave)

This sells for $27 wherever Urban Decay is sold. Personally, I think this can seriously come in handy to anyone who wears eyeshadow, and this is coming from a girl who loves all those shimmery and glittery colors in the other palettes. Also, if you don't want to spend the $52 required for the other palettes, this one is a great one to consider because at the end of the day it's just a natural looking eye.

Grade: 95% (A)

Pigmentation: 5/5

Wear Time: 5/5

Ease of Use: 5/5

Overall Quality: 4/5

Score: 19/20

Be Confident,

Molly

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette Review and Swatches

Similarly to the original Naked Palette, everybody and their goldfish has heard about and seen reviews of the palette... BUT it's just so amazing and I wanted to share my thoughts with you.

Urban Decay claims, "The most anticipated sequel of the decade. Naked 2 has twelve pigment-rich, taupe and greige neutral eyeshadows. Our palette proves once again, neutral is anything but boring (and is downright sexy when worn Naked). Feast your eyes on our shades ranging from pale to deep, matte to sparkly. This collection lets you achieve lots of neutral looks, smoky dramatic eyes, and everything in between. Let's just say there's a whole new way to get Naked!"

I agree with what Urban Decay says completely. The Naked 2 Palette is full of taupey, cool toned colors that are very subtle on the eyes, but none of them are boring. But the whole "most anticipated sequel of the decade" thing I do not agree with. I'm pretty sure that award goes to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2... am I right?

Focusing back onto the review, this palette also comes with one of their dual ended karma brushes, one side being the Good Karma Crease Brush, the other being the Good Karma Multi-Tasker. Like the original palette's brush, it's not that great. They don't pick up shadow that well, and whatever they do pick up is applied in patches. Not what I look for in a brush.

As for the packaging, I have many things to say, both positive and negative.

The positive said is that it's just plain pretty. I like looking at it. It's very sleek and structured, yet small and compact. Basically, it's just appealing aesthetically.

With that said, it isn't practical. The original Naked Palette had a velvety feeling material on the outside and cardboard on the inside, which I know isn't 'glamorous', but it's smart and practical. The cardboard is a good insulator of heat, therefore your eyeshadows are less likely to be ruined by heat damage. It also is better at absorbing the shock from a nasty fall. The Naked 2 is made of tin and a small amount of plastic. Tin not only is a bad insulator, it is actually somewhat of a conductor, as it is a metal. This makes it more likely to absorb the heat it may come in contact with. It also provides little to no shock absorption. Therefore, it is not functional for traveling, no matter how small it is.

Anyway, onto individual reviews.

The first four shades are Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, and Chopper.

Foxy is a matte yellowy beige color. It's basically the color of my fair skin, only more yellow. I don't use this one much, but if you're doing a smoky eye, I would recommend putting this all over the lid and up to the brow bone. That'll just ensure the colors blend easier. Also, if you have a medium or dark complexion, this would be great as a brow bone highlight. The quality is very pigmented, and almost creamy, with no powdery feel.

Half Baked is a bright gold, slightly bronzy color. This particular shade is in the original Naked Palette, so I'm not sure why they put it in this one, but the pigmentation and color payoff is awesome.

Bootycall is a light cream color with peachy-golden undertones. It is one of the most used colors in this palette for me because it's great as an inner corner highlight or all over the lid. The formulation is smooth and pigmented, as usual.

Chopper is a really glowy, shimmery coppery color. It has very noticeable glitter, almost, almost chunky glitter. It's pigmented, but not as smooth or as easy to work with as most of the other shades. There is also noticeable, glittery fall out.

(In order from L to R: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, and Chopper)

The next four shades are Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, and Pistol.

Tease is a matte, plummy brown shade. It looks amazing in the crease to deepen the eyes, and I like this on my green eyes because the plumy color looks quite striking on them. This is one of the more sheerer shades, but I don't mind because it is still pigmented enough on my eyes, but I can see how it would annoy some.

Snakebite is a dark cool bronze color. It is super pigmented and almost buttery, and I like smudging this under the eye to add a little definition and make the eyes seem bigger.

Suspect is a really pretty golden taupey color that looks amazing all over the lid. It has a really pretty sheen to it and the formulation is impeccable.

Pistol, again, is a shade I don't use very much. With my green eyes, silvers don't tend to look as good as golden colors. But if you love silvery, taupey shades, this has amazing quality.

(In order from L to R: Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, and Pistol)

The last four eyeshadows are Verve, YDK, Busted, and Blackout.

Verve is a very cool, almost white shimmery color with silver undertones. Since it is slightly silver, I don't use it that often, but whenever I do use it, it works as an amazing inner corner highlight. The formulation is great, you only need a little tiny bit when using it.

YDK is a cool, slightly mauvey, caramel color. It is one of the prettiest colors in this palette, but the quality is slightly more lacking than the others, which is a shame. I don't want to label it as chunky, but it isn't smooth and it is more difficult to work with. Despite that, I still love the color, so I smudge it under the eye or lightly blend it into the outer corner whenever I use it.

Busted is a cool, dark brown. I like using this to line the eye, or I feel like it would be really nice for a smokey eye. It is super pigmented and blendable as well.

Blackout is a super dark, matte black. It is absolutely perfect for a more natural eyeliner look if you feel gel, liquid, or coal is too harsh. The formulation, like most of the others, is amazing.

(In order from L to R: Verve, YDK, Busted, and Blackout)

As usual, this is sold wherever you can find Urban Decay. It cost $52, but, as I said in my original Naked Palette review, it is worth it when you do the math.

Whether it's worth having both is a different story. If you don't like cool colors, obviously, this palette is not a good investment for you. However, if you like options or experimenting, I thoroughly recommend both.

Grade: 92.5% (A-)

Pigmentation: 5/5

Wear Time: 5/5

Ease Of Use: 4/5

Overall Quality: 4.5/5

Score: 18.5/20

Be Confident,

Molly