Revlon Matte Balm's

So for any of you who are familiar with my blog, you're probably aware of my obsession with Revlon lip products. I love their lipstick, liquid lipstick, and balm stains. When I heard that they were coming out with a line of matte balms, I could not WAIT to get my hands on some.

These were incredibly difficult to find, as most of my local stores either didn't carry them yet, were sold out, or had tampered products. The wrapping on these were less secure then revlon's balm stains...so this is probably the reason for the wasted products. My CVS did have a fully stocked selection, however they were charging about $12 each! Being that I saw Target and Harmon's selling these balms for $7, I decided to wait.

Well I finally got three shades...standout, sultry, and shameless. Let me tell you I am NOT disappointed. While these are described as balms, there is no mention of the word "stain" or "long lasting", unlike their counterparts. With that being said, I find that they have pretty great staying power, and last just as well, if not better, then the typical lipstick.

Above is a photo of the shades I purchased, alongside swatches. The first is Standout, a beautiful blue-toned red that is perfect for probably any complexion. It's beautiful for winter months and makes teeth appear whiter because of its cool undertones. Next is sultry, a pretty color I could best describe as dusty-rose. It is a nice every-day bold lip. Last is shameless, a crazy Barney-like purple color. I love this and I love how true to packaging the product shows up, but I struggle finding occasions where this color is appropriate.  Don't mind my pale skin, I'm in desperate need of a tan.

Overall, I think these are great, they have good lasting power, good color pay-off, a wonderful matte finish without being drying, and are incredibly affordable. These have a slight minty smell, same as the balm stains, and the color selection is beautiful! I can't wait to get my hands on more

just for fun, heres a picture of myself wearing "shameless"

December 2013 Favorites

Okay so with the year coming to an end I figure I should post up some favorites! These are products I found myself using at the end of 2013 rather frequently, and products I anticipate using into 2014 as well!

So to start off, I have been LOVING my Bahama Mama Bronzer by The Balm. I love ALL things made by The Balm and this bronzer is no exception. It is a somewhat deep made bronzer that is absolutely perfect for contouring. I think the thing I love most about it is that it is in no way orange. It is a nice brown, so I don't feel like an oompa loompa when I use it. While my primary use for the product is contouring, a light dusting is perfect for an all over subtle bronze. This stuff is incredibly pigmented so a little goes a long way. At $20 this stuff isn't the cheapest, but it is certainly not as expensive as some competitors such as Nars Laguna costing $36. I purchased mine from amazon but you can find it on thebalm's website as well!

Next is an amazing mascara.... Too Faced Better than Sex! This stuff has a strange wand but I find it gives my lashes both incredible volume AND length. I prefer mascaras with wands that aren't rubber. I feel they just don't compare when it comes to volume. This stuff is great and it looks even greater when applied alongside fake lashes (as I did for new years). This product can be bought at sephora and costs $23

My favorite eyeshadows have been the matte colors from my Naked 2 palette, if we're getting specific. I find myself using the shades Foxy, Tease, and Blackout on a pretty regular basis. I love the entire palette but lately I've been focusing in on these shades because I am loving matte shadows. The look these colors give is incredible! As we all know the palette is $52 but it has so many usable colors that its worth it!

My favorite eyeliner lately has been the Eyeko skinny liquid liner in black. It can be purchased at sephora and costs $16. It has a great tip that can create an incredibly precise line and it is jet black. I have no complaints its just the perfect for wing tip and all things liquid liner related. Here is a picture of the tip and one of me with the liner on...

Alright so last is a fragrance. I have been loving the Betsey Johnson by Betsey Johnson perfume and it is beautiful. It is somewhat masculine and fruity at the same time. I can't even put it into words it is amazing and the bottle is beautiful too. I use it pretty regularly and I got a 3.2 ounce bottle at Marshalls for like $20 so you can't even go wrong. I highly recommend this scent to anyone who likes fruity deep scents!