Weekly Drugstore Makeup Sales

My pal Make-Up on the Cheap has been super busy these past few weeks, so I'll be posting the full list of makeup sales on her behalf for a while. As always, you can view my picks for the best deals of the week here (which includes sales on makeup, skincare, haircare etc.). Here is the full list of all of the makeup sales for the week of 5/8 - 5/14:

CVS

Scan your Extra Card card, folks! This week CVS is printing a coupon for $3 off any $10 beauty purchase!

Maybelline cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

Sally Hansen cosmetics (includes nail products) BOGO1/2OFF

Milani cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

Spend $15 on Revlon cosmetics, get $7 Extra Bucks

Spend $10 on CoverGirl foundation, powder, blush or concealer get $3 Extra Bucks

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain $6

RITE AID

Wet n Wild cosmetics BOGOFREE and get $3 +UP Rewards when you spend $10

CoverGirl Clean Makeup, Simply Ageless and Natureluxe 30% off

Sally Hansen nail enamel BOGO1/2OFF

Revlon lip & eye cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

Almay foundation, powder, blush, concealer or bronzer BOGO1/2OFF

Neutrogena cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

All articifical eyelashes BOGO1/2OFF

WALGREENS

Rimmel foundation, powder, primer, bronzer or eye cosmetics 50% off

Maybelline cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

CoverGirl foundation, concealer, powder, blush or eye cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

Almay cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

Neutrogena cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

Revlon lip or nail cosmetics BOGO1/2OFF

ChapStick lip balm 3/$3

Don't forget to scan your Extra Care card at CVS this week for that great coupon, which can be used in conjunction with any manufacturer's coupons you might have (and of course the sales too)! And just another reminder--there are lots of other great beauty-related deals going on this week, so click here for the highlights.

Do you plan to take advantage of any sales this week? I'm very excited about the Wet n Wild deal at Rite Aid (And the eos and haircare deals too). Oh, and I want to thank my lovely reader Rachel for giving us an advance heads-up about the Clean & Clear body wash deal at Walgreens this week. Since they're BOGOFREE, you're really in luck if you have the BOGOFREE coupon that was in the Sunday paper back in March (I'm so happy I held on to mine!). You'll get both body washes for free!

The Lipstick League - week of 5.2.11

Mr. G, getting his pastry on.

I'm posting this picture because, whenever I look at it, I think:
Go for the gusto in life. 

My boyfriend and I recently spent a lovely afternoon at a wonderful local bakery here in San Diego. We decided to get one of their fresh fruit strudels (pictured above) and when we sat outside to eat, we tried to delicately approach it with our forks. Well, the pastry was so light and crispy (and utterly delicious) that using a fork proved impossible. So I finally just said, "This is the kind of food you need to pick up in your hand and bite into like there's no tomorrow". So that's exactly what we did, and I just loved that the Bavarian cream and flakes of pastry went all over his beard. I didn't want him to wipe them away before I snapped a pic--it was one of those moments that reminds you that sometimes you just need to be messy, act like a kid, and have fun in life.

Lipstick League Question of the Week:

What’s your favorite fragrance? If you don’t have a favorite, what are you currently loving?

G's Answer: Well, my all-time favorite fragrance is Chantecaille Frangipane. But lately, I've really been loving Bath & Body Works Into the Wild, which I will be reviewing very soon.

Links of the Week:

Nouveau Cheap -  Did the new John Frieda Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray work wonders on her pesky roots, or did it just give her scary high school flashbacks to days of orange hair and braces?

Pink Sith - Joeybunny Transports you to Cap Ferrat in Southeast France with the new NARS Cap Ferrat eye Shadow Trio!

Phyrra  - takes you on a journey to another dimension with the Supernaturals, a collection by Meow Cosmetics.

Vampy Varnish - wants you to stop and smell the Pacifica Body Butters.

we heart this -  Benefit's beautiful new Coral Chacha tint has us dancing!

Beauty Junkies Unite -  puts the new Makeup For Ever Aqua Liners to the test. Will they budge? Are they waterproof? Your questions are answered.

Clumps of Mascara - is in love with Color Club’s newest nail polish collection. Need some new neons in your life?

EauMG - Just for fun: EauMG asks her dog to discuss his favorite fragrances.

Lipglossiping - wants to hear your commandments for the perfect foundation.  Ladies, we’re taking no prisoners with this one!

What fragrance are you currently loving?

Maybelline Outloud Lime & Revlon Sunshine Sparkle

After seeing the limited edition Summer 2011 collections from both Maybelline and Revlon, I was immediately attracted to some of the nail colors. I purchased both of these shades recently and thought I'd share them with you.

First up, here's Maybelline Outloud Lime, from the Summer 2011 The Bright Side collection. Note: this shade is in the display that also contains the eyeshadows and blushes. This is not the green that's in the stand-alone polish display (that green is named Go-Getter Green, which is more of a grassy green, while Outloud Lime is a true lime green).

Maybelline Outloud Lime

(three coats, no top coat)

 picture taken in natural light (in the shade), no flash

 picture taken in direct sunlight (no flash)

Outloud Lime is a soft lime green creme.  I'm sad that it required three coats (it was a tiny bit streaky at two), but I love the color so much that it's worth it (for me). Also, by the third coat, the formula became a little thick and goopy to work with, so I think I'll need to add a few drops of thinner to this one eventually. Otherwise, I think it's a lovely shade for summer.

Next up, we have Revlon Sunshine Sparkle, which is from the Summer 2011 limited edition Summer Romantics collection. As you all know, I wasn't too thrilled with the Super Lustrous Lip Balm that I purchased from this collection, so I was hoping to have better luck with this polish.

Revlon Sunshine Sparkle

(three coats, no top coat)

  picture taken in natural light (in the shade), no flash

Sunshine Sparkle is like other yellows I've encountered, meaning it's streaky enough to require three coats. I couldn't get away with two--it absolutely required three. In the shade, you cannot see the fine sparkle in this polish, but once you get into the sun, it really comes alive:

  picture taken in direct sunlight (no flash)

 picture taken in direct sunlight (no flash)

I LOVE this color, despite that fact that yellows give me "lobster hands" (i.e. make my hands look red). It's soft, but bright and cheery at the same time. The sparkle gives it a little pizazz without being over-the-top. I found the consistency of the formula to be quite nice--not thin and watery (like other Revlon polishes are known to be), yet not thick and goopy either. If you don't mind applying three coats and you're looking for a fun yellow this summer, you might want to consider this one. Just be warned: I did experience some bubbling the first time I applied this, because I used coats that were pretty thick. If you take care to apply this using nice, thin coats, you'll probably avoid the bubbling issue.

Do you own any of the limited edition polish shades from Maybelline or Revlon? How do you like them?

Review: New NYC Liquid Lipshine in Rivington Rose

I purchased one of the new NYC Liquid Lipshines a few months back when I finally spotted this display at my local Rite Aid. I really love NYC's new lipstains (click here if you missed my review) so I was hoping to have similar luck with the new glosses.

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Rivington Rose

(retail: around $2.50)

Not to be confused with the old Liquid Lip Shines, these new glosses have updated packaging, new shades and, I believe, a new formula. I have tried a few of the old (original) versions, and I never could find one that I liked (they were too sheer and not very pigmented for my tastes).

Rivington Rose is a lovely berry-rose-mauve shade that looks just a tad bit cooler in real life than in my pictures. Like many other new drugstore glosses released this year, the applicator is what I like to call "doe-foot 2.0". It's not the traditional doe-foot (small, firm, slanted tip). This one's larger, flatter, and has some give when you apply it to your lips.

I love "doe-foot 2.0" applicators because they really distribute gloss onto the lips more effectively than their older sisters.

I was concerned, looking at the tube, that Rivington Rose might be a bit too frosty on the lips (I don't care for frosty lipglosses) but I was pleasantly surprised to find that while it does have lots of sparkle (silver, pink and violet blue, to my eye), it doesn't quite take on a frosty look when applied.

 On my lips, this shade becomes a bit warmer than it looks in the tube, and I'm very happy about that because I can't pull off very cool shades on my lips. 

As for the texture, this is not a sticky gloss. It's got a very nice, creamy consistency and it's pretty opaque as well. It's not as opaque as a liquid lipstick, but I definitely wouldn't consider it sheer. I'm able to get about 2-3 hours of wear from this gloss, which isn't bad considering that it's not sticky.

I've heard that the fragrance and flavor of the new Liquid Lipshines vary from shade to shade. I find Rivington Rose to have a chocolate-covered-strawberries fragrance and flavor, which I love. The fragrance is stronger than the flavor, but both seem to fade within about 10 minutes of application.

FINAL VERDICT: I was pleasantly surprised by the new NYC Liquid Lipshine in Rivington Rose. The pigmentation is wonderful, the shade is lovely, and the staying power is great considering that it's not a sticky or tacky gloss. This product has a creamy texture and I find it nice and moisturizing on the lips. I also enjoy the chocolate-covered-strawberries fragrance and flavor. For around $2.50 each at the drugstore, I would most certainly consider purchasing other shades in the near future.

The new NYC Liquid Lipshines are available wherever NYC products are sold. If your particular drugstore doesn't have them on display yet, keep checking because they should be making their way to you soon. For more information on the other nine shades in this collection, click here.

Do you already own any of the new NYC Liquid Lipshines? If so, what shades do you own? How do you like them?

Review: Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer

I purchased this concealer a while back when CVS was running a sale and I also had some Extra Bucks and coupons. I ended up getting it for just pennies, and since I've heard so many good things about this particular concealer, I figured I was long overdue to try it myself:

Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer in 002 Light Medium

(retail: around $10.99, .04 oz)

The one thing I dislike about concealers that come in a click-pen delivery system is that you just don't get much product for your dollar. For instance, my beloved Maybelline SuperStay concealer (which comes in a standard tube with a wand applicator) is 0.18 oz and retails for around $7.99, whereas the Revlon concealer is 0.04 oz. and retails for around $10.99.

The shade I purchased, 002 Light Medium, appeared to have the most peach in it out of all the shades, so that's why I selected it. If my concealer has too much yellow in it, I find that it makes my under-eye darkness turn into a really odd shade of ashy gray. I need my concealer to have a peach tone to it, otherwise I know it's going to be a disaster.

Unfortunately, when I actually applied this product to my skin, I quickly realized that there was too much yellow in it:

In the "before" picture, I'm wearing absolutely no makeup (I hate "before" pictures!). I apologize for the glare on my skin, but that's just a reflection from my moisturizer. Anyway, as you can see in the "during" picture, there's a lot of yellow in 002 Light Medium. In the "after" pic, you can see that it did a great job of evening out the redness around my eye area (see my lids) but as for the darkness underneath my eyes? It's not concealed and it looks ashy. Therefore, this is one of many concealers I own that I can use on the rest of my face, but just not under my eyes.

As for the texture of this product, I understand now why so many people enjoy it. It's thin, but not watery, and it's very easy to apply--absolutely no tugging or pulling during application. I find that it doesn't settle into my fine lines, and it seems to keep the skin around my eyes hydrated throughout the day, without feeling greasy. I do find it too sheer for my particular needs though, as I found myself having to build a few layers of product when I tried to conceal some old acne scars on my cheek. I couldn't do it with one application. On the upside, once this concealer is on my skin, it seems to last for a good 7-8 hours on my oily skin with the help of a little setting powder (in my case, powder foundation).

FINAL VERDICT: If you have dry skin and you don't have moderate-to-severe under-eye darkness, I think you might love Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer. It applies and blends with ease, it's got good staying power, and it seems to keep my delicate under-eye area hydrated throughout the day, without feeling oily or greasy. Unfortunately for me, it doesn't conceal my under-eye darkness, and the color is not a good match for my skintone. However, it does conceal redness on other parts of my face, but if you have targeted areas that need more concealing, you'll probably need to build and use multiple layers to do get the job done. I really think this product is best suited to those who have minimal under-eye darkness and need a hydrating under-eye concealer that's not going to settle into fine lines.

Have you tried Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer? What do you think of it?

Eye looks using Wet n Wild's LE Go for the Gold collection

I thought I'd post both a cooler and warmer eye look using the Wet n Wild Summer 2011 limited edition Go for the Gold eyeshadow trio, which you can see swatches of here.

First up, here's the warmer look I did, using all three shades in the trio:

For this look, I used the bronze shade on my lid, the lightest shade on my brow bone and inner corner, and the darker brown shade in my outer "v". I also used Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeliner in Bronzed to line both my upper and lower lash line. 

Here's the cooler look I created, using the same trio, The Gilded Age:

For this look, I used just the lightest shade as a wash from lashline to brow, and then the darker brown shade in my crease.

 I also want to show you what the bronzer in this collection, Everything Under the Sun, looks like on my skin:

In this photo, I used Everything Under the Sun on top of my blush (I believe I was wearing a Milani blush that day) and I just lightly applied the bronzer to the tops of my cheekbones. I was surprised, considering how neutral this bronzer appeared when I swatched it several times on my arm, that on my face, there's visible gold shimmer that I did not see when I swatched it on my arm. It definitely gives the skin warmth and a nice glow, but I just want you to be aware that there is gold shimmer in this bronzer.

Have you spotted the Go for the Gold display in your area yet?

 

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

New body washes from Vitabath (yes, Vitabath!)

I honestly couldn't tell you the last Vitabath product I owned (I think I picked up their Spring Green Bath & Shower Gelee a few years ago at Ross), but this news has me wanting to revisit this classic brand:

image source: beautyadvisorlounge.com

(from beautyadvisorlounge.com)

Vitabath, a bath and body brand that dates back more than 50 years, is looking to attract a whole new generation of women with the introduction of 17 new body washes.

The brand’s revival will begin with the rollout of Lime Citron Basil, exclusive to Costco, in June. This will be followed by the release of the 16-scent Vitabath Fragrance Collection in July.

“Our new body washes combine the trusted elements of the existing Vitabath brand — rich, nourishing lather and high quality ingredients — with playful packaging and fresh fragrances, and are designed to provide affordable indulgence to a younger, highly savvy demographic,” stated Vitabath CEO Richard Neill. “All of our 17 new products offer busy young professional women a way to take some much needed ‘me time’ to relax and reinvigorate while nourishing their skin with vitamins and antioxidants.”

Beginning June 1, Vitabath’s Lime Citron Basil geleé will retail exclusively at Costco locations in 38 ounce bottles for $16.99. 

Launching in July, the Vitabath Fragrance Collection includes 16 body washes retailing for $9.99 each. The fragrances include: Spa Day, In Bloom, Fruit Fanatic and Cupcake Couture. This line will be available at Fred Meyer, Ricky’s, Harmon Discount and Bed Bath & Beyond stores, as well as other locations.

Do you remember Vitabath from back in the day? Are you excited to try any of their new products once they hit stores? The prices seems a little steep, but I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for sales. I can never have enough cupcake-scented body washes.

Spotted: new Sinful Colors neon display

It's neon season again and this year's Sinful Colors neon display is about six times the size of previous years! (Remember 2009's Neon Nights display? That was tiny compared to this year's display!) 

If you'd like more information about the shades, including which ones are new and which are repromotes, Nightly Nails has a great summary here. I'm excited that Irish Green, from the St. Patty's Day display, has made a reappearance in this neon display.

A HUGE thanks to my lovely reader Abby for these great pics and for confirming that the orange shade is Summer Peach. 

image credit for all of the following photos: Abby for Nouveau Cheap

Please note: cameras have a tendency to wash out neons, so that's why you see a little bit of white in these pics.

 If you'd like to see swatches of the yellow shade, Neon Melon, Nightly Nails has pics here.

I'm wondering if any of these Nail Art Stripers are repromotes of the Nail Art display I spotted at Rite Aid last summer?? I'm willing to bet that at least the yellow, purple and pink shades are.

The retail price for the stripers and polishes is, as always, $1.99 each.

Thanks again, Abby, for the great pics and the scoop! 

Have you spotted this gigantic Sinful Colors neon display at your local Walgreens yet? Have you purchased any of these shades? What do you think of them?

Reminder: Cherry Culture NYX 50% off sale ends this Sunday!

I know that several bloggers have already posted about the NYX Mega Sale that's currently going on over at Cherry Culture, but I just wanted to remind those of you who are interested that the sale ends THIS SUNDAY (5/8).

NOTE: when you view the sale items here, the prices on the site do NOT reflect the 50% off discount. You must enter the code NMS50 at checkout in order to receive the discount.

Click here to view the sale

And while you're over there, be sure to check out the other products currently on sale. Oh, and don't forget that you get a free Cherry Culture Bubble Gum Lip Balm with any purchase!

Have you already taken advantage of the 50% off NYX Mega Sale? If so, what have you ordered?

Review: New Prestige VinylWear Extreme Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss in Radical Cherry

Continuing my Prestige 2011 new product series (click here to see the new lipstick line), today I'd like to show you one of the new VinylWear Extreme Brilliant Shine Lip Glosses:

Prestige VinylWear Extreme

Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss in Radical Cherry

(retail: $5.99)

As many of you know, I'm more of a lipstick girl. I'm too much of a chronic gloss eater to get lipgloss to last on my lips more than an hour or so, but since starting this blog a few years ago, I have gotten better! I try very hard to resist the temptation of smooshing my lips together when wearing lipgloss (it's so hard to refrain!) but luckily for me, this new gloss from Prestige turned out to be a long-wear gloss that feels like it was made just for me.

First off, I love the sponge-tip applicator. As you can see in the pics above, this is one of the doe-foot 2.0 versions that's sort of like the new Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss I reviewed here. It's flat when viewed from the side, but it's got a slight curvature to it that really hugs the lips during application. Unlike the ColorBurst gloss, this applicator doesn't have as much bend, which helps with precision application.

As for the texture, I find this to be a heavier gloss, comparable to a MAC Lipglass. It is a bit sticky, but that's what helps it stay on my lips longer than non-sticky glosses. I don't find it to be heavy on the lips to the point of feel suffocating, but it's not weightless either.

Looking at the pics above, I hope you can tell that this is actually a sheer gloss, as opposed to being opaque like a liquid lipstick. It's definitely not a liquid lipstick--it's got a nice transparency to it, although the pigmentation is quite good. I LOVE sheer reds, and I find that I can get a whopping 3-4 hours of wear from this gloss (a miracle for me) and when it fades, it leaves a nice, even flush of color behind.

Let's talk about the shine for moment, since "shine" is in the title. When first applied, this is one shiny gloss. And what I love is that, unlike other glosses I own, the shine seems to linger much longer even as this gloss fades. I'm so used to my glosses taking on a dull look after about 30 minutes on my lips, but I find that the shine in this gloss lasts. I don't think it's the shiniest gloss in the world, but I really love that the shine it does have seems to last longer than other high-shine glosses I've used in the past.

As for the flavor and fragrance, I get a bit of a fruity, strawberry note to this gloss, but both the flavor and fragrance fade pretty quickly.

FINAL VERDICT: I am seriously impressed by Prestige's new 2011 lip color offerings. VinylWear Extreme is a gloss that outlasts several other glosses in my stash, and I adore the sheer red color of Radical Cherry. If you're a chronic gloss-eater like me, I think you might enjoy the staying power of this one (and the endurance of the shine, too!).

Prestige VinylWear Extreme Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss is now available on the Prestige website, the Ulta website, and should be available in-store at Ulta as well. I haven't seen it at my local Rite Aid yet, but I'm sure it will be in the Prestige display soon.

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Hollywood Hands Anti-Aging Hand Treatment: does it really work?

Living in Southern California all my life, and visiting Hollywood more times that I can count, I always groan when I see the word "Hollywood" in the name of a beauty product. It's just a tiny bit too gimmicky (even for me, the queen of gimmicks!), but when I spotted this on deep clearance at my local Rite Aid a few months ago, I couldn't resist:

Hollywood Hands Professional Anti-Aging Hand Treatment

(retail: $15.99, 4 oz)

I was able to purchase this for $3.99 instead of the retail price of $15.99 but, even still, I looked it up on my phone when I was standing in the clearance aisle at Rite Aid and, much to my surprise, I saw over 15 favorable reviews on drugstore.com. That was enough to get me to put this in my shopping basket, and I've been using it pretty consistently for the past several weeks.

As you can see, there are lots of claims on the label. I don't have any sun or age spots on my hands, but I do have fine lines that I would love to see disappear.  If you're over 30 and reading this, I think we all can agree that the thought of brighter, younger-looking hands is very appealing.

First off, the "genuine pearl and light-refractive minerals" in this hand cream aren't visible at all when I apply this product to my hands. I've looked at my skin in all sorts of light, and I just cannot see any sheen whatsoever to my skin.

The formula itself is of medium consistency. It's not super thin or watery, but it's also nowhere near the thickness of, say, L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. I would say the formula of this hand cream is just a tiny bit thicker than a Bath & Body Works body lotion. The fragrance is not obnoxious, though it's nothing to write home about either. To my nose, it's a light floral with a clean, almost soapy note. After using it for so many weeks now, I'm longing for something that smells more "pretty", but it's not unbearable.

I find this hand cream to absorb in an average amount of time (not quickly but not slowly). It spreads across my hands with ease, but I don't find it terribly greasy and it's not sticky either. The one thing I really don't like is that if I accidentally squeeze out too much product and work it into my hands, it can ball up and leave tiny, icky balls of lotion all over my hands. 

After using this product for several weeks now, I'm sad to report that I see no difference at all in the texture of my skin. My fine lines are exactly as they were before I started using this product, and I don't see any increased brightness or youthfulness to my skin. I would post some before-and-after pics, but I'm afraid you'd think you were looking at the same picture twice.

One last thing: if you wash your hands a lot during the day, you'll find that you have to reapply this hand cream often. It does not last through even one hand-washing on my hands, which is disappointing for a hand cream that retails for over $15.

FINAL VERDICT: While this product did not help soften fine lines or give my hands a more youthful appearance, I cannot say that it won't work for you and your hand care needs. I noticed that on drugstore.com a few reviewers said it helped fade sun and age spots, but because I don't have those, I can't speak to that claim. Personally, I can think of half a dozen hand creams at the drugstore that retail for a fraction of the price and work just as well on my hands--if not better.

Have you ever tried Hollywood Hands? If so, how did it work for you?

Review: e.l.f. Studio Lip Stain in Heartbreaker

A while back I did a post about all of the beauty products that have been surfacing at my local Big Lots. Well, one of the things I purchased that day was the e.l.f. Studio Lip Stain in the shade Heartbreaker. Now that I've had a chance to use it several times, I'd like to give you my opinion:

 e.l.f. Studio Lip Stain in Heartbreaker

(retail: $3, currently $2.50 at Big Lots)

Since e.l.f. Studio products usually have a retail price of $3, I was happy to see that the Studio products at Big Lots are just $2.50. Also, I thought this shade looked lovely in the tube--sort of a pinky-brownish-peach creme.

 The thing that strikes me as odd is that this product is called a Lip Stain. As many of you know, I adore lip stains and I own dozens of them. I've never seen one like this, so I had my doubts that it would truly be a lip STAIN, since it looks like a traditional two-step, long-wear lip color (i.e. CoverGirl Outlast, Maybelline SuperStay, etc.).  

Now, I have used lip stains in the past that have come with doe-foot applicators (as we all know, the current trend is the felt-tip pen delivery system), but stains with doe-foot applicators don't usually come with an accompanying gloss (see: Vincent Longo Lip Stain). Also, I had my doubts that this e.l.f. product would behave like a traditional lip stain because stains are usually thin and watery and you can tell by looking at this that it's got a thicker consistency.

Lo and behold, it's not a lip stain. It's a two-part longwear lip color. Now that I'm over the disappointment of that (I know, I know, I saw it coming so I shouldn't really be disappointed), I'll tell you what I think of this longwear lip color that calls itself a lip stain.

On my skin, the color was a LOT lighter than what I thought it would be based on the tube. It also turned much more pink than I had anticipated. Without the accompanying gloss, this color was very chalky, yet at the same time it was sheer. It's not a good combo if you have dry lips--it really exaggerates the dryness of my lips in a most unflattering way.

After letting the "lip stain" set for a few minutes, I applied the gloss. Unlike other traditional longwear lip colors I've used in the past, I was surprised that the gloss actually made the lip stain nearly disappear on my lips. When I looked down at the wand, I noticed that the color of the lip stain transferred to the doe-foot applicator of the gloss. This doesn't tend to happen with traditional longwear lip colors, which usually set quite nicely after a few minutes. I was disappointed that there was so much color transfer, but I didn't give up.

Next, I smooshed my lips together a few times to get the gloss to mingle with the lip stain, and the above picture is the result. I think that wearing the gloss on top of the lip stain looks much better than wearing the lip stain alone, and I actually was content with leaving it on my lips for the day.

Sadly, Heartbreaker turned out to be a real-life heartbreaker. It faded in less than 30 minutes on my lips and, after one hour of wear, I literally couldn't tell that I was wearing lip color at all.

On a positive note, this product doesn't have any discernible flavor or fragrance (I do get a slight chemical note from the lip stain though) and the gloss is semi-moisturizing, which was a plus because my lips didn't feel parched after wearing this product.

FINAL VERDICT: For $2.50 at Big Lots, purchasing this product helped satisfy my curiosity regarding its name. Could it really be a lip stain in the truest sense of the word? No, it's not. But for what it is (a 2-step longwear lip color) it misses the mark for me since it's too light, too sheer, and lacking in staying power. I'm not inclined to try any other shades in this line and I don't see myself reaching for Heartbreaker again any time soon. Compared to other e.l.f. lip colors I own (and love), this one was a bummer in every sense.

Do you own any e.l.f. Studio Lip Stains? How do you like them?

Swatches: Milani Marbleized Baked Eyeshadows

Continuing my Milani swatchfest, I'd like to show you three additional shades from the Marbleized Baked Shadow Collection (click here for the Metallics). A while back I showed you Drench in Gold and Intermix, and today I've got three additional Marbleized shades to share with you (the only shade I do not have is Medley, which is a black with silver sparkle).

 Milani Marbleized Baked Eyeshadows

(retail: $7.49 each)

These shadows do contain sparkle, which means that there's some fallout to be expected. However, when I apply them over primer, it really helps to give the shadow something to adhere to, so the fallout is contained more than when I apply them on bare skin. As with the Metallics, the label on the Marbleized shadows indicates that you can "use wet to intensify or dry for a softer look".

In the following photos, I have included one swatch on bare skin and a second swatch on top of Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Mix It Up is a matte black with lots of pretty blue sparkle. When applied over primer, the sparkle really intensifies. I'm looking forward to using this wet as eyeliner.

Fusion was the color I was the most curious to swatch in this collection. I couldn't predict how the colors would blend on the skin, and I was very happy to see that Fusion takes on almost a rose-gold quality when applied. This is a very pretty lid color and I like using Rich Java in my crease when I wear it--it's a lovely combo.

Mélange is a matte black with lots of gold sparkle. It actually looks almost metallic in real life when worn over primer. It's such an intense color--I think it would be nice to use for a nighttime smoky eye.

You can purchase Milani Marbleized Baked Eyeshadows at CVS, Walgreens and Target, and they're also available online at the Milani website and CherryCulture.

That's it for my Milani eyeshadow swatchfest! I'd love to hear from you if you've tried any of these shadows. If not, are there any that you've got your eye on?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Swatchfest! Milani Metallic Baked Eyeshadows

Remember back in December when we first started spotting the Milani Metallic and Marbleized Baked Eyeshadow displays? Wow, that seems like so long ago!

If you caught my review of the beautiful reddish-copper shade, I Heart You, then you know that I've been loving that color quite a bit. Today I'd like to show you the remaining five shades in the Milani Metallic Eyeshadow collection, which I was fortunate enough to receive for review recently:

 Milani Metallic Baked Eyeshadows

(retail: $7.49 each)

Before we get into the swatches, I just want to reiterate that, according to the labels on these shadows, they're designed to be "worn dry for a softer look" or "wet to intensify". Since I usually wear baked shadows with primer as opposed to foiled (applied with a damp brush) I chose to swatch them dry and then on top of  primer.

All of the following shades were swatched on bare skin (first swatch), and then on top of Urban Decay Primer Potion (second swatch):

Pink Twice is a more complex shade than what you see above. At certain angles it's a warm pink, while at other angles there's a cooler pink shimmer running it through it that really comes through. If you're a pink eyeshadow fan, I think you might love this one. 

In real life, Teal the Truth looks very much like the above photos. It's a lovely, vibrant teal that really comes alive over primer. I'm excited to try this wet as a liner.

Purrr-Fect Purple is a bit more vibrant in real life than what you see above. In these pictures, it's difficult to see the violet blue shimmer that's running through this shadow. It makes for a lovely flash of color when viewed at certain angles.

Aaaah, Rich Java! The work-horse of the collection, for sure. Who doesn't love a rich, coffee-brown eyeshadow? It's so versatile and I love the fine gold shimmer running through this one.

As with just about every blue shadow I photograph for this blog, Blue My Mind was impossible to portray accurately. The color you see above it just a bit off--in real life this blue is actually a little bit cooler than what you see here, because there's an almost neon violet shimmer running through it that my camera refused to capture. If you like deep, rich, vibrant royal blues, you will probably adore this one.

I hope these swatches were helpful for those of you who have been eyeing these eyeshadow singles and contemplating a purchase. As I said in my original review, I find these shadows easy to pick up on my brush and easy to apply. Obviously you're going to get a much more intense color when used wet or with primer, but I also like the nice wash of color you get when applied dry. 

You can purchase Milani Metallic Baked Eyeshadows at CVS, Walgreens and Target, and they're also available online at the Milani website and CherryCulture.

Do you already own any Milani Metallic Baked Eyeshadows? If so, what colors do you own and how do you like to wear them? Please check back soon for more swatches of the Marbleized Baked Eyeshadows.

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

The Wednesday Question

I'm so curious to see your responses to this week's question--I hope you'll take a moment to answer in the comments:

On average, how many reviews do you like to read about a particular beauty product before making a purchase?

My answer is kind of tricky since I usually blog about my beauty purchases. Sometimes, when a product is brand new, I purposefully don't read ANY reviews, because I like to have a clean slate and not be influenced in any way when I review something for this blog. But sometimes when I'm purchasing something for a particular purpose (such as undereye concealer) I like to read as many reviews as possible before I commit to a purchase. I also like to read reviews written by people who have similar needs and concerns (age, skin condition, skintone, etc.). Other times, I actually have been persuaded to buy a product after reading a review from someone who is the complete opposite of me (I read a perfume review once written by someone who loves intense florals--something I usually don't enjoy--and I just had to purchase the fragrance after reading her review). So...that's my answer. How about you? Is one review enough, or do you like to read as many as possible before you make a purchase?

Heads-up: new Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara

Not to be confused with the original Grow Luscious (which I reviewed here), my pal Anne just alerted me to the fact that the new Grow Luscious Plumping is now available for pre-order on the Target website.

image source: target.com

Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara

(retail: $5.99 at Target)

There is not much info on the Target listing, and this new formula is not yet listed on Revlon's website. So I'm afraid I can't give you any facts about how this product differentiates itself from the original, other than (I'm assuming) it's more of a volumizing formula than the original.

After googling this product for a bit, I noticed that one of my very own readers, the lovely AKB, reviewed this product on her own blog! You can click here to see her review.

Have any of you found this new mascara in your area yet? I haven't seen it anywhere but I'm sure it will be everywhere in just a matter of time.

Thanks again, Anne, for the heads-up!