Beauty, Makeup & Nails
It was my first time with Kiko nail polishes. Prior this, I was a huge fan of maybelline nail polishes for the fact that they are affordable, super quality and quick dry. After moving to the US, I have had a hard time finding them… unfortunately, maybelline nail polishes aren’t available here. But to my delight I got my hands on the kiko nail polishes and here is the detailed review along with the swatches.
In one of my previous blog I had introduced you all to my KIKO nail polish and lipstick collection. These lipsticks are my favorite pick this season. They come in a variety of shades, you would easily be able to find your perfect picks. Here is a detailed review of the product.
You can never ever go overboard with a black eyeliner, I think it’s the most commonly used cosmetic around the world… And why not, a black eyeliner is something that fits very well in every occasion, be it an everyday look or the dramatic bridal look, a black eyeliner is what most of us reach for to complete the effect. My favorite liquid black eyeliners are the ones which have a pen sort of applicator. That makes the application so quick and mistake proof. Here is a detailed review of the Milani Eye Tech Perfection Eyeliner.
Packaging
The packaging reminds me of The Curve Eyeliner by NYX , It has a curved body to give a better control over the application. The felt tip allows you to create a thin, medium or a heavy line, as you desire! It’s extremely comfortable to hold, beginners would love it for sure. Talking of the down side, I faced slight issue working on a winged liner with this felt tip applicator, I wish it was slightly more flexible.
Quality & Texture
The product claims to give a full color definition in one stroke, well… that isn’t really true, I need to coat 2-3 times to get a deep pigmented black line.
It gives a matte black finish, which is how I like my eyeliner to be.
Another good thing is, It dries quickly as you apply, you wouldn’t need to sit for long with your eyes closed, which is a common case with most of the liquid eyeliners. Also it saves a few extra minutes getting ready.
Wearability
The product isn’t waterproof, it is some what water resistant. It smudges easily on oily lids, so if you have oily lids, this is not the right product for you, if you don’t, make sure not to apply moisturizer on your eyelids as a part of your daily moisturizing routine.
It lasts for good 8 hours if you have powdered your eyelids prior application, else it stays well for about 6 hours.
Price
7.99 USD
Rating
4/5
Why it couldn’t make 5/5?
A tinted moisturizer is the best option for your face during everyday summer makeup. The biggest advantage being, that it sits on the skin comfortably without clogging the pores. Also some of them come with SPF which is an added advantage. If you are not very comfortable wearing makeup, a tinted moisturizer can be your good pick. It gives sheer coverage at the same times feels light like a moisturizer. I picked up elf tinted moisturizer in the shade Ivory, it also has an SPF 20, so it looked like a good pick for summers. I have been using this since some time.
Packaging
This comes in an outer cardboard packaging, inside of which we have a matte black easy squeeze tube packaging. A screw cap ensures that there is no spillage. The nozzle gives control over the quantity.
The shade name is written only on the cardboard packaging and not on the tube, which is quite inconvenient. If you have multiple tubes, then you are going to have a difficult time locating the shade.
Though the packaging doesn’t look very classy, but keeping in mind the affordability of the product, I wouldn’t complaint. The directions for use are written at the back, so that makes it user friendly.
Wearability and Coverage
The tinted moisturizer lasts well for 6 hours. Though the product says that it needs to be reapplied after every 2 hours, but I have been comfortable wearing it for 6 hours.
It gives a sheer to medium coverage. I like it for an everyday use because it looks really natural.
Quality and Texture
Talking of quality and texture, I have noticed a few things her.
Price
3 USD
Rating
3.5/5
Why it couldn’t make 5/5?
A few months back, Revlon launched their liquid lipsticks, which claims to be lightweight and give high definition velvety matte color. Also this is said to be moisturizing with a unique gel formula. I was excited to try! I got the shade HD Obsession which is a bright, cool toned fuchsia pink. Here is a detailed review on this product.
Packaging
I love lipsticks having transparent packaging! It is so convenient to pick the shade you want to wear. I was quite impressed to see their packaging, it comes in a transparent matte bottle with a silver top, the applicator is a slight disappointment. It’s too firm… almost feels like you are applying the product with a stick. Little flexibility would have been good.
Quality and Texture
The product rightly claims to be lightweight and moisturizing. It glides on smoothly giving high pigmented color in 1-2 swipe. I love the creamy matte finish it gives as soon as you apply the product, which after an hour turns velvety matte. It sits comfortably on the skin. It also has a strong bubble gum scent to it, which I personally love. I don’t mind scented products, but if you do, this is not the right pick for you.
Wearability
It lasts very well for 6-7 hours, after which it starts to fade. But one can do a good 8 hour outing wearing this lipstick without worrying about touch up.
It does transfer very easily which is a downside, but as the creamy matte texture sets to a more velvety matte, the transferring decreases.
Price
7.99 USD
Rating
4/5
Why it couldn’t make 5/5?
This liquid lipstick from revlon is close to perfection! Here are some points that pull it back a little…
A black liquid liner is one of my makeup essential. Wet n Wild has some really exciting products at a very reasonable price. In my very first New York drugstore makeup haul, I picked up a few wet n wild products, megaliner being one of them. I tried it for a month and the experience was not so pleasant. 1 month of trying every possibility to develop liking towards it, failed miserably! It now rests in one corner and will come back in action god knows when! Anyway, hare is what I think about the product.
Packaging
This comes in a sleek black packaging. The applicator is one of the best eyeliner applicator. It helps you create your desired look effortlessly. (**At this point I was happy and proud of my choice.) This is one of the best thing the product has… A perfect applicator!
Pigmentation
Coming to pigmentation, it’s super amazing. You get the blackest black line in one swipe which dries in no time leaving a deep matte black line. Must say, it’s pigmentation is the second best thing about the product.
Quality & Wearability
The product claims to waterproof, but that is absolutely not the case. It smears as soon as it comes in contact with even the tiniest water droplet. It smudges easily, and you are left looking like a panda! Here is a list of DOs and DON’Ts for this liner
DON’Ts
DO
Price
1.99 USD
Rating
2/5
Why it couldn’t make 5/5?
If you have read my previous blog, you would would already be familiar with is beautiful looking eyebrow kit from elf. Here is a detailed review of this kit along with a little demo as to how to apply it to fill in and shape your eyebrows.
I have been really enjoying some of the new products lately and have had a good time playing around with the elf velvet matte lipstick. I absolutely loved the shade Flirty Flamingo and would wear it often this summer.
This is my first time with stick foundation and I loved it. I am sure I’ll always have one with me. Liquid foundations are a little messy and one needs to handle them with utmost care to avoid spillage. On the contrary, stick foundations are really convenient.. no spillage, travel friendly, and overall I found them better.
It comes in 8 shades, I picked up 120 classic ivory, now the fit me compact is of the same shade and it matches my skin tone really well, but this one is lighter than my skin tone.
I have used the Fit Me Foundation and Compact previously and no doubt I quite liked it. With the stick foundation coming in, It was inevitable to give it a try. So I have used it for about 2 weeks now and here is what I think.
PACKAGING
It comes in a plastic body, which I like. The size is quite compact, allowing you to slip in the product conveniently in your travel bag. Another thing quite unique here is, the foundation has an anti-shine powder core, to absorb excess oil.
COVERAGE
The foundation has medium coverage. If you have some serious acne, you will have to use correctors and concealers along with this product, though it does manage to camouflage light acne. You can see me wearing it in the picture below, though it did manage to give me a good everyday kind of coverage, it did not cover my acne completely.
QUALITY, APPLICAION & WEARABILITY
The product feels light and is easily blendable if using fingers, I prefer using a damp beauty blender, with which, blending requires a little hard work.
It does give shine free finish. I have a combinational skin, and the foundation did not discriminate between the dry and the oily areas of my face, it glided on smoothly and evenly. Though it does leave a slightly powdery finish, which is noticeable on close observation but on using a fixing spray later can take that away.
It lasts well for about 6-8 hours without any touch up or a fixing spray, or even a compact.
PRICE
8.99 USD
RATING
3.5/5
WHY IT COULDN’T MAKE 5/5?
Liquid eye shadows are the new bomb in the market. After the immense success of liquid lipsticks, we could see brands coming up with liquid eye shadows. Revlon launched their liquid eye shadows lately, it’s the photoready eye art. The product is quite interesting, you have a liquid eye-shadow on one end and brilliant sparkle on the other. You can get creative and use it to create various looks. They come in 10 shades, and all of them are beautiful.
I was gravitated towards Moonlight Glitz which is deep, sort of a royal blue. I have been using it since a while and here is what I think about the product.
PACKAGING
The packaging is exactly same as their nail art enamel. I almost missed it thinking it to be their nail polishes. On a second look I realized that it’s the new eye art.
I am not very convinced with the way they have come up with the packaging for two reasons.
A. The brushes aren’t very convenient to use, I prefer using my separate brush. Both the compartments have a separate brush, the glitter compartment brush is a thicker (and uncomfortable) version of an eyeliner brush. and the liquid shadow compartment has a brush similar to a lip gloss applicator.
B. From application point of view, the bottle feels heavy and bulky, therefore quite uncomfortable to use.
It looks interesting otherwise, a transparent packaging is always great.
QUALITY & WEARABILITY
Eye-Shadow
I faced major issue blending the eye-shadow, I tried using a brush and finger to blend, but every time it turns out patchy and looks more like a stain. I feel this issue wouldn’t be there with the lighter shades but with this one, I faced difficulty in blending. It dries quickly giving you very little play time.
The good side is that it doesn’t crease and is water resistant.
Glitter
On application the glitter feels sticky, but the issue is resolved as soon as it dries. It take a bit longer to dry compared to the eye shadow but that’s not my concern. The glitter is quite fine and looks really gorgeous and the best part is that there is absolutely no fall out. The sad part here is that you do not get intense glitter line in one stroke, you’ll have to build it up if you are using it as an eyeliner, during the process it turns slightly blotchy.
It lasts for 5-6 hours and doesn’t crease much. The glitter tends to crease a bit if used over the lids.
RATING
3/5
WHY IT COULDN’T MAKE 5/5?
PRICE
$8.99
I hope you found the review useful, let me know if you have given a try to any of the eye art shades.