CLINIQUE Cheek POP Blush POP Blush in Ginger POP 01

Hey y'all! Happy Holi as well as St. Patrick's Day to those of you who celebrate these festive holidays.  

In my previous post I review Makeup Forever HD Blush in #420 Indian Rosewood (click here for review).  If, even after reading this post I wrote, you conclude that you would not feel comfortable wearing a creme blush, then here is an alternative for you. 

At first glance of the two blushes, I was reluctant to purchase both the MUFE blush and this Clinique blush, which is the topic of our "unilateral discussion" today.  I do think that the two shades I chose are quite similar and for this reason I was not certain whether I needed both.  However, the gluttonous beauty spirit within me enticed me to purchase both, especially given the fact that I had a 10% off VIB membership coupon.  I was awarded for shopping like a champion and reaching level two of three. Yay! 

I am not trying to convey the message that you must choose one over the other.  I am so happy with the quality of both products.  I do want to convey that the shade #420 Indian Rosewood in my previous post appears similar to Ginger Pop 01 on my cheeks.  Similar does not mean identical.  Once you read both posts and see the pictures, you will realize the unique beauty of each cheek product. 

Let us now focus on the featured product today: CLINIQUE Cheek Pop Blush Pop in Ginger Pop. 

What do I adore about this blush? Firstly, of all the blushes I own, this blush has surpassed them all in the staying power (longevity) category.  Secondly, the shade is gorgeous and absolutely ideal for my skin-tone.  This particular shade on my skin-tone provides a natural flushed look without compromising the "pop" effect.  When I feel like wearing a bold, warm-toned shade, such as a bright red or vivid orange, or even a neutral, nude shade, I like to wear this blush.  It really pulls the whole look together and makes a statement, but does not take the glory away from the partnering lip color.  Yesterday, I posted a picture of me wearing this blush with a bright tomato red lipstick on Instagram.  I would describe this shade as a warm-toned mixture of terra-cotta with coral.  This shade might have subtle yellow or brown undertones, which is probably the reason it suits my medium beige-olive complexion. Fortunately, the yellow tone does not shown through.  I had purchased MAC Mineralized Blush in Love Joy and in pictures I had a yellowed glow on my cheeks.  I didn't even bother to review it and returned it immediately.  Also, Ginger Pop is not as brown-based as #420 Indian Rosewood.  In fact, I think women with lighter complexion can use the latter as a cheek contouring product. Lastly, the beautiful packaging speaks for itself.  It is simply adorable and appropriate for the current season.  Other than the product's flower design, I like the clear acrylic-sort of outer packaging.  It does not attract finger prints. It is a refreshing change from the traditional black compacts, which have a mirror and/or a little applicator.  This blush fits in the palm of my hands and the product pan is small.  

Anything I dislike or recommend in regards to this blush? Initially, you may think that the color pay-off and pigmentation of this blush is not that great.  I thought this at first.  However, it is very easy to build-up the pigmentation on the cheeks.  If you are a fan of NARS blushes, then surely you might not be satisfied by the pigmentation here.  Personally, I have a tough time controlling the application of NARS blushes, so I really don't mind that I just need to do a couple extra swipes of this one.  I have been using an Elf Studio blush brush, which is also small in size and has a tapered or fanned shape.  I generously swirl my brush in this product and apply two layers to attain the effect y'all see in my picture at the end of this post.  Again, keep in mind that despite the fact that this blush is might be on the subtle end of the blush spectrum for some of you, the staying power is excellent.  I am quite certain that this is the blush I would like to wear on my wedding day. 

Availability and price? Are these blushes limited-edition or part of CLINIQUE's permanent line? 

The CLINIQUE Cheek Pop Blush Pop blushes are available for a limited time only.  These blushes cost $21 each.  I definitely recommend this product.  Meesha approved, stamped and sealed! 

I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated. 

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MAKE UP FOREVER HD Blush # 420 Indian Rosewood

Hey y'all! The new Make Up Forever High Definition Creme Blush in shade 420 (Indian Rosewood) is on the reading menu for today. 

I am very excited to share with y'all my review of this lovely cheek product. 

I first saw these blushes over a month ago on the Sephora website and was eagerly waiting their arrival at my local Sephora store.  I consistently check Sephora's website and brand websites to see what new products are coming up soon.  

I am so glad I patiently waited to buy this blush.  Last month, while strolling through Dillard's, I saw that Clarin's had released four new creme shades for this Spring.  I was drawn to the shade called Grenadine.  I would describe Grenadine as a warm rose shade with hints of coral, peach, and brown. The color was beautiful, but the product felt so strange.  It was difficult to pick up and blend.  It did not appear or feel creamy and smooth whatsoever.  It felt dry.  The Clarin's MUA told me that the best way to apply the product was by using a basic makeup sponge (not the beauty blender, the ones that are kept as testers at makeup counters).  The formula of the blush was horrible.  I would not even pay "drug-store prices" for it.  I did take into consideration that perhaps the formula had dried out because it was a tester that I had tried; testers are exposed to air and bacteria.  I politely told the MUA that I would like to think about it and will come back to buy it another day.  I decided not to go back for two reasons: the horrible formula and the soon-to-come Make Up Forever HD blush in #420 Rosewood.  

Initially, I was under the impression that the new MUFE blushes were powder blushes.  I did not realize that these blushes were actually creme blushes until I saw them in person in the store.  Honestly, I almost decided not to buy one.  Although my excitement level went down a bit, my curiosity did not.  I limited myself to purchase only one shade.  

I do not like to return makeup.  It makes me feel guilty, but sometimes I have to because I purchase and try so many products to review here on my blog.  For this reason, I visit the stores and contemplate endlessly before buying products, especially products that cost as much as a dinner at a restaurant for two people.  Holy moly!  Sometimes I am awed by the fact that a lipstick costs as much as a tank of gas or a few days worth of groceries. Eek!  How do I justify this? Hmm! I don't eat that much. Is that good enough? 

Indeed, MUFE HD blush in #420 ($26) has quenched my desire for the shade effect of Clarin's Grenadine. It also provided a better formula and was a bit less expensive than Clarin's Grenadine ($30).  I also used  my 10% off VIB discount on this purchase. 

The images of these blushes on Sephora's website make it seem as if these blushes are the size of a big compacts. In reality, the packaging of these blushes are quite small in size, but this does not bother me. The pan is almost twice the size of my Real Technique's stippling brush, so the small packaging is not an issue for me. I think it is cute, lightweight, and travel friendly. In fact, for these good reasons I prefer to purchase makeup with smaller packaging. The appearance of the little compact is clean and simple - black with white writing. 

I am not particularly a fan of creme blushes.  Although I have not tried many high-end creme blushes other than Tarte Maricuja Airblush Blush in Shimmering Poppy and my brief encounter with Clarin's Grenadine, I have tried both drug-store and high-end creme eyeshadows and am not a fan of this formulation of eyeshadows.  Due to my dislike of creme eyeshadows, I presumed that I will not like creme blushes. Testing out the new creme blush sticks from Maybelline turned my presumption into a confirmation. Also, seeing the testers of creme blushes turns me off.  The testers always look dry, dirty, and have foreign material ("fuzzies") sticking to the product.  

MUFE HD #420 has been an eye-opening experience.  I am thoroughly enjoying this product and really look forward to wearing it.  I think it will look even better on me once the warmer months come along because I tend to pick up a slight natural tan in the Summer months. At the moment I am quite pale as per Southeast Asian standards, but I don't mind.  I am quite grateful for my beige-olive-yellow skin-tone. 

MUFE HD blush in #420 is a warm rose with a brown base and hints of peach and red.  The formula is excellent.  The application is effortless.  The lighter shades in this line of blushes can come off sheer, but you can easily build up the product on your cheeks.  On the other hand, you can easily blend down the deeper or brighter shades.  The lightweight formula of this blush allows you to have better control over the product.  I think the formula of this blush is a hybrid of a gel and creme.  You receive the sheen, light weight, and sheerness of a gel formula mixed in with the rich pigmentation and emollient texture of a creme formula.  This blush did not look patchy and did not feel greasy.  

Fortunately, I have not had any negative reactions to this gel-creme formula.  For your reference, my complexion is normal with dry t-zone in the cold months and normal to dewy (not oily) in warm months.  I do get acne occasionally.  If a face beauty or skincare product does not suit me, I react very quickly.  

As I am writing this review, I want to go wear it right now!  I want to try out more shades.  Even if I may not have liked the way some of the lighter shades looked on me, I would most definitely like to recommend this product.  If you are in the market for a creme blush, then definitely consider this new collection of blushes. There are many shades to choose from in this collection.  The display at Sephora has displayed the blushes according to the skin-tones they would suit the best.  MUFE HD blush in #420 (Rosewood) was displayed in the medium skin-tone section, which is the category I fit into.  I did try some other shades, but this was my favorite one for now.  I am really hoping to find some more shades! 

I want to continue using this blush and will update my review with a few words on staying power.  

What else am I wearing in the picture above? L'Oreal moisturizer; Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner; Bare Minerals Lash Domination Mascara; Rimmel lipstick in Coral Shimmer; Coral sweater from Target; Gold ball earrings from Kohl's. 

I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated. 

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Essie Nail Polish in Peach Daiquiri

Hey y'all.  I thought I would share the nail color I am wearing and loving - might I add - this week!

If someone would have recommended this color to me merely a few months ago, I would have told them no thanks. It is too coral! It is too bright! It doesn't suit me. It doesn't look natural. Yep! Debbie Downer I know. 

At present, I am thoroughly enjoying the coral trend. Of course my liking is definitely limited, but I am definitely testing the new waters. 

Essie's Peach Daiquiri is not really a peach in my opinion.  I would describe it as a bright and vibrant, deep coral pink with a reddish-pink undertone.  This color looks bright fuchsia in certain lighting. 

Obviously, I purchased mine at Kohl's using the much-appreacited 30% off coupon. Y'all, well at least my trusted readers, know this fact pretty well. The nail polish retails for $8.50 without any discount and minus sales tax. 

I would definitely recommend getting this shade, especially because this Essie polish has a nice formula. The formula is great, not thick and not thin. The perfect medium. The first coat is fully opaque and not at all streaky, but I added a second coat to even out the appearance. On some nails I added a third coat. The reason being that this polish can apply minimally patchy because the polish gushes off the brush. I recommend wiping off the brush and taking a breath between coats as to not drag the first coat by the second coat.  I know my description might make y'all think this polish is a tough one to apply, but it is not at all. Trust me! I don't have a good threshold when it comes to formulas and application. 

The staying power is typical. Typical, eh? Well, I wore the polish on Friday and it is now Tuesday.  I have minimal chipping on the index fingernail of my right hand. So, five days and still looks very nice. 

I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated. 

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Radiant Orchid: Pantone Color of the Year 2014 (Beauty Edition)

Hey y'all. Today's post has been inspired by the gradient of shades that fall under the umbrella of Radiant Orchid. When I first heard that Pantone's "Color of the Year" for 2014 was deemed Radiant Orchid, I thought to myself, "I was already rockin' this last year." In fact, for the past two or three years, especially around Spring and Summer, I have been drawn to - with blinders on - lilac, lavender, and fuchsia-purple pastel shades. 

At first I was not planning on doing a post dedicated to the Radiant Orchid theme. I don't find purple based makeup particularly flattering on me. The closest I come to wearing purple based makeup is by wearing deep mauve pink and plum shades. Recently, I tried a lipstick by Cover Girl in the shade Delicious. Although I have plenty of nail colors like the shade Delicious and do think such a shade looks lovely on my hands, I cannot carry off such shades on my lips against my skin-tone. Fortunately, thereafter I purchased another shade by Cover Girl called Tantalize. I believe Tantalize is exactly what I had expected Delicious to look like on me. So, Tantalize, which is the color I am wearing in the picture below, is the better suited version of Delicious for girls with a similar skin-tone as me. 

My research for today's post began with this look below: 

What am I wearing? Cover Girl Bombshell Shine Shadow in Oh La La Lilac on the eyes deepened with a matte plum purple shade in the crease and blended out; Milani Baked Matte Blush in Delizioso Pink; Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize. 

However, I did not stop here. I selected two more blushes and plenty of more lip colors as y'all can see from the pictures. I posted one of these images on my Instagram to give a preview, but then I got carried away. 

The picture on the top left corner, first box, are my blush selections: Milani Baked Matte Blush in Delizioso Pink (bottom), Milani Baked Blush in Fantasia Mauve (middle), and Sleek Makeup Blush in Pomegranate (top). 

The picture on the bottom right, fourth box, displays the swatches for four of my top five lipstick "Radiant Orchid" lip color selections are: Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (bottom left), Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in #47 L'Amoureuse (top left), Purminerals 

Chateau de Vine Lipstick in Show Off (top right), and Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (bottom right). 

Here are the lip swatches to match the arm swatches above: Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (first), Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in #47 L'Amoureuse (second), Purminerals Chateau de Vine Lipstick in Show Off (third), and Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (fourth). Adding Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Balm in Viva Violet (fifth) was an afterthought, so I do not have an arm swatch for it.

Y'all may think the inquiry stopped once I added a fifth shade, right? Hereafter, I posted the picture above where I have displayed all of Radiant Orchid selections on Instagram. I think I gravitated towards the products mentioned above because they are all new additions to my makeup collection. 

Once I posted the picture on Instagram, I thought to myself that I must have other colors that might qualify as a Radiant Orchid shade. Indeed, I was right! 

At this point I was overwhelmed by my findings - so many similar shades! What was I thinking when I purchased all of these lipsticks? I was also feeling too exhausted to create more makeup looks or photograph these shades on my lips, so I hope y'all won't mind the arm swatches. I will add links to the review posts for any of these lip colors below that I may have already reviewed. 

Honestly, the way I actually wear makeup in reality does not justify my lipstick collection. Gel eyeliner and lip balm are my staple. I rarely actually wear makeup unless my Beau is taking me out. Sigh! I am glad I had this eye opening experience, however, because now I think I might place a ban on my lipstick shopping as I did with nail polishes last Summer. The nail polish ban was not difficult at all and I continued the ban till January. I am planning on doing a blog sale. I have mixed feelings about it though.

(1) Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in RS745 Fantasia (2) Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture (3) Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Deep Lilac (4) Chanel Rouge Allure in #108 Determinee (5) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Plum Velour (6) Milani Power Lip in Raspberry Tart (7) Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Balm in Viva Violet (8) Chanel Rouge Coco in #42 Culte (9) Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Sheer Plum (10) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Berry Couture (11) Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in #47 L'Amoureuse (12) Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (13) MAC Satin Lipstick (LE) in Private Party (14) L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Purple Prelude (15) Purminerals Chateau de Vine Lipstick in Show Off 

(1) Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in RS745 Fantasia (2) Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture (3) Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick in Deep Lilac (5) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Plum Velour (8) Chanel Rouge Coco in #42 Culte (9) Sonia Kashuk Shine Luxe Sheer Lip Color in Sheer Plum (10) Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Berry Couture (12) Cover Girl Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick in Tantalize (13) MAC Satin Lipstick (LE) in Private Party (14) L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Purple Prelude

*I decided not to swatch (4) Chanel Rouge Allure in #108 Determinee because it is more of a muted mauve pink with a brown base, so it does not truly come under the Radiant Orchid category. This post took a lot of work. I kept going back and forth, adding more lipsticks, taking more pictures, editing, watermarking, and it all happened in annoying incriminates. At this point it would have driven me nut crackers to take another picture without (4). 

(16) Maybelline Color Elixir in Mystic Mauve (17) Maybelline Color Elixir in Amethyst Potion (18) Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Balm in Keep Mauving

I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated. 

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Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Rush Balms: Not An Illusion, Keep Mauving, The Redder The Better, Viva Violet, On Fire, Lady Marmalade, and All You Need Is Pink

Hey y'all! Today's post is a review on the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Rush Balms. This collection includes a total of fourteen shades: Give Me A Cuddle, Make Me Blush, All You Need Is Pink, I Want Candy, Keep Mauving, Boom Chic A Boom, Rumor Has It, Viva Violet, The Redder The Better, On Fire, Sun Kissed, Lady Marmalade, Not An Illusion, and Drive Me Nude. 

I purchased seven shades, which are displayed and swatched below on my arm as well as lips. 

Availability / Price 

I purchased these new lip products from Rimmel at my local Walmart. These balms are reasonably priced at $4.97 each (minus state sales tax). I have not yet spotted these anywhere else locally where drugstore makeup might be sold. 

Packaging 

What can I say? Yes, I am one of those people, whose inner child is tangled up with unfounded liking for makeup, and easily enticed by colorful, chubby, stationary-like packaging. The packaging of the Rimmel Colour Balms is lightweight, plastic, and colored in the same shade as the product inside. There is nothing unique or luxe about these retractable crayon shaped lipsticks.  

Not An Illusion, On Fire, The Redder The Better, Viva Violet, All You Need Is Pink, Keep Mauving, and Lady Marmalade (left - right).

All You Need Is Pink, Not An Illusion, Keep Mauving, The Redder The Better, Viva Violet, On Fire, and Lady Marmalade (left - right).

Colors / Pigmentation

The pigmentation of this product is medium to full. I am trying very hard to explain the look of this product as descriptively as I can. The pigmentation is intense as these colors lean on the bright side and my lips are definitely concealed with color, but the color still has this transparent sheer finish. It looks sheer, but is not sheer, sort of like a jelly nail polish. 

Lady Marmalade, On Fire, Viva Violet, The Redder The Better, Keep Mauving, Not An Illusion, and All You Need Is Pink (top - bottom). 

 

On Fire and All You Need Is Pink are very similar. On Fire is a red with pink and orange undertones, while All You Need Is Pink is a red with pink and fuchsia undertones. Lady Marmalade is an orange-coral. Not An Illusion is a peachy brown. Keep Mauving is a mauve, leaning more purple than pink. Viva Violet is a brighter version of Keep Mauving, but here we have a hot fuchsia pink tone rather than the softer pink in Keep Mauving. The Redder The Better was not at all what I was expecting. This is not a cool-toned or blue-toned red. The Redder The Better has warm orange and yellow hues. It appears more like a red-orange on me than a true red. This is the type of red that can make your teeth look yellow. 

Of course y'all deeper skin-toned ladies can decide for yourselves, but I think these shades that I tried would look more flattering on skin-tones lighter than me. I would recommend shades like Keep Mauving, Viva Violet, and The Redder The Better for beige to deeper skin tones. It is all about personal preferences though. I am just here to share my review and give y'all an idea of the product. Now it is up to y'all to come to a conclusion for yourselves based on the information I have provided in this post. 

Not An Illusion*, Keep Mauving*, Viva Violet, Lady Marmalade, On Fire*, All You Need Is Pink*, and The Redder The Better (top to bottom). *The asterisked shades appear much brighter than captured in the pictures below. The arm swatches above are more accurate. 

Formula / Application 

This product is not a balm in the traditional sense. It might be mistaken as a balm because of the sheen, glossiness, and transparency of the shades. This product can be worn sheer or build up to full opacity in merely two swipes. These feel balmy and smooth on the lips, but this texture does not last for even an hour. This product did not moisturize my lips. After application, during wear, or once this product has worn off, my lips feel as they were (dry, chapped, or normal) before applying this product. 

Scent 

The scent of the Rimmel Colour Balms remind me of warm nutty coconut and sweet vanilla. Okay! Perhaps my description might overwhelm y'all more than the actual scent of these lipsticks. Yes, the scent is noticeable, but it is subtle and pleasant. However, if you are sensitive to scents, then you may not be able to avoid the scent, which I did not notice once I applied the product on the lips. 

Staying Power

The verbose title of this product includes the words "lasting finish." What does this mean? Lasting formula, color, or both? Obviously the pigmentation of this product does not last like a long-wearing, matte stain because that is not its intended purpose. The color wears off after eating. The color transfers onto your cup if you have a drink. If you do not eating, then the color stays on the lips for about three hours with lighter shades and five hours with deeper shades. Although the color does last a fair amount of time, especially the deeper shades, the sheen (glossiness) does not last as long as the color, which is the main disappointment. Lasting finish implies just that to me - lasting sheen. Right? 

Overall 

Likes: Excellent shade range; excellent pigmentation; very affordable; pleasant scent. 

Dislikes: Not moisturizing like a balm; sheen / glossiness does not last for the duration that the color remains on the lips. 

Would I purchase more shades or backups? I returned four shades. Once I opened them up at home, one of the pencils (The Redder The Better) was broken inside (as pictured above). Probably because someone opened it in the store and carelessly put the lid back on.  In addition to the fact that one of the pencils was damaged, all four of the shades I returned were too bright for my skin-tone and personal liking (Lady Marmalade, on Fire, and All I Need Is Pink). 

Update: Comparisons 

If y'all don't mind spending $4.97, which is how much a cup of coffee costs these days, and absolutely adore collecting and/or wearing lipsticks, then I don't think it can hurt to pick one of these up. I kept three of the seven shades I purchased and do not regret the decision to do so. We beauty bloggers know that we cannot afford to keep products that we will not use at all. So, I would like to clarify that this product was neither a disappointment, nor did it sweep me off my feet. 

Now let me make some comparisons for y'all. 

Jordana vs. Rimmel (Rimmel wins = pigmentation + formula)

Cover Girl vs. Rimmel (Rimmel wins = pigmentation) 

Neutrogena vs. Rimmel (Rimmel wins = pigmentation)

Clinique (Intense Color Collection) vs. Rimmel (Equal quality pigmentation, Clinique has better staying power, sheen disappears in both) 

Revlon (Lacquers) vs. Rimmel (Revlon is more balmy than Rimmel; Equal pigmentation and staying power)

Revlon (Original) vs. Rimmel (Rimmel wins; better color selection; equal pigmentation; equal staying power and wear-off effect)

I will not compare this product to Tarte Lip Surgence (Matte), Revlon (Matte), or Flower Beauty (Matte) because the formula is contrasting (Sheen vs. Matte). The comparison would not be fair.   

I think my holy-grail favorite pencil-lipstick product is by BITE Beauty. 

I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated. 

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Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks Iconic Vintage Collection: Jungle Peach, Snow Peach, and Fifth Avenue Red (Limited Edition)

Hey y'all! Today, I would like to share my review and swatches of three of the five recently re-released Iconic Vintage Revlon Superlustrous shades.  The collection includes five shades: Icy Violet (1946), Sandstorm (1999), Jungle Peach (1963), Snow Peach (1956), and Fifth Avenue Red (1958). 

 I found the limited edition display yesterday morning at my local Walgreens.  The beauty advisor had set it up moments before I came in, so the display was untouched and fresh for the picking.  

Individually, the lipsticks are marked down from $8.29 to $6.99.  If you purchase two, then you get an additional discount.  I purchased Jungle Peach first, which costed $6.99.  I like to make purchases in smaller increments rather than all in one go.  It is a bit overwhelming and I do like to ponder on whether I really desire the items at all.  So, I kept Snow Peach and Fifth Avenue Red on hold, tested out Jungle Peach, thought over it, and then purchased the remaining two shades last night. I paid $6.99 for the first lipstick and $3.49 for the second one (minus the retail tax).  

Unlike some other beauty bloggers, I was not per say desperate (i.e., eager / no negativity implied here) to find these lipsticks, but I must admit that the sentimentality behind the fact that these lipsticks are vintage shades and might bring back memories for those fashionistas who rocked these shades in their heydays allured me to buy at least one.  I am not a fan of frost or shimmer finishes and did not even consider trying Icy Violet or Sandstorm.  Here are the three creme shades I bought: 

1963's JUNGLE PEACH

1956's SNOW PEACH and 1958's FIFTH AVENUE RED 

The formula of these particular shades was especially creamy and appropriately emollient.  I own a few Revlon Superlustrous lipsticks and do like the formula in general, but these lipsticks glided on buttery smooth.  I think this was the main reason I opted to purchase two more shades.  These lipsticks feel moisturizing like a quality balm.  Jungle Peach looks a bit streaky on my natural (medium) pigmented lips, but it does not bother me because I am in love with the texture. These lipsticks also have a subtle sheen, which gives a plump and healthy appearance to your lips.  I might need to occasionally blend Jungle Peach out or apply a few swipes to make it look less streaky, but Snow Peach and Fifth Avenue Red come off fully opaque in one swipe. The traditional tear-drop shape of the Revlon Superlustrous bullet helps with applying the color within the lips outline. 

Overall, I am definitely happy with these three additions to my ever-growing collection of lipsticks.  I would definitely recommend purchasing these soon because these lipsticks have been re-released for a limited time only, the displays only carry two of each of the five shades, and they are currently on sale at Walgreens. 

I hope y'all enjoyed this review and found it helpful.  I am not as chatty today as I usually am in my blog posts.  I have not been feeling well for the past few weeks and am behind on studies and other work, and still recovering.  "I am so tired," is my currently coined phrase.  Fortunately, I had surgery (wisdom teeth extraction) a few days ago and now the four impacted monstrous wisdom teeth, which actually sucked all the wisdom out of my life for the past three weeks, are gone. Yay! 

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COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Lip Color in Delicious (Pastelicious Collection)

Hey y'all!!! Today, I am reviewing Cover Girl's Lip Perfection Lip Color in Delicious. 

I adore lilac, lavender, and mauve shades. Although these shades look very flattering as nail colors my hands, I have not had the best luck finding one that suits me in the form of a lip color. 

It's sort of ironic how trends change. I remember when matching lips and nails or cheeks and lips was a fashion no no, but I am under the impression that it is quite trendy at present. Boy o boy! I would be ever so ecstatic if I found the ideal lilac, lavender, or mauve shades for me to pair up with the overwhelming number of nail polishes I have in these particular shades. 

When I saw the display of the Pastelicious collection at my Walgreens, I was thrilled over the moon about it. Walgreens had marked down the Cover Girl lipsticks to $6.99 about a month ago. My Beau bought it as part of my birthday makeup shopping escapade. 

I had seen a couple of swatches, but not many, and no reviews at all. Inferring from the few swatches I saw online and the colored cube at the bottom of the lipstick tube, I assumed Delicious was a deep mauve-pink shade. It definitely looks like that  swatched on my arm, right? I shrieked with joy when I swatched it on my arm. 

However, once I brought it up to my face to apply it on the lips, I got a whiff of the lipstick and it was not pleasant. I recently reviewed a Cover Girl lipstick from the Bombshell Collection, which also had a strong scent, but it was not unpleasant or unbearable as this one. I would describe the scent as a strong plastic smell, not medicinal, but rather unnatural and obviously not pleasant, like fruity or floral or sweet  scents. 

Lastly, after finally applying it on my lips, I did not like the color at all. I removed it right away. I tried it once more and applied a pink gloss on top, but it did not look good on me. I felt clownish wearing this shade because it turned into a bright, pastel, milky lavender shade on my lips. 

Ugh! At this point I am utterly confused. I think I need to read a book about undertones - warm, cool, neutral, blue, yellow. Some blue-reds, not all, definitely suit me, but blue-toned pinks don't suit me. It is as if these shades transform from blue to yellow toned on me and make my teeth looks yellower than Shrek's (slight exaggeration). Yes, my teeth are not pearly white, but they are a natural white, and pretty decent given that I am an avid coffee drinker. I need someone to explain this trick on the eyes, please! I think that warmer mauve lip colors that one would associate with the Fall/Autumn season look nice on me, but the lighter, more Springy shades do not. So, unfortunately, Orchid is definitely not my lip color of the year. I stay far away from blue-purple toned pinks and yellow, orange, and brown toned reds. The boring warm and neutral tones keep me good company. 

This is a creme formulation and it feels creamy. This shade applies smoothly and appears opaque in one to two swipes. Generally, I find that the Lip Perfection formula is drying. Now, I don't want to mislead y'all with this statement. It makes my lips look dry and feel dry, while I am wearing it, but it does not suck the moisture out of my lips like Stila Stay All Day liquid lipsticks or any true matte, highly pigmented, staining lipsticks. The deeper shade (Ravish from the Bombshell) collection, which I reviewed a few posts ago, did not look as drying as this one. I attribute that to Delicious being a lighter and pastel shade, while Ravish was a deeper reddish-pink shade. 

Overall, I would only recommend this lipstick to those who are not sensitive to the strong, cosmetic-plastic, scent and like such shades. Before purchasing this lipstick, the swatches I found were on fairer skin-tones. This shade looks much brighter and pastel-like on my beige skin-tone, while it looked like a subtle mauve-pink on them. 

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Your friendly comments are much appreciated. 

Thanks!