Jesse's Girl Liquid Eyeliner Review

Jesse's Girl Liquid Eyeliner Review

From the Brand:
Our unique Japanese calligraphy-style brush allows for precise, super-fine application that lets you create lines as small as one millimeter thickness! Combined with a formula that dries super-quick (for a waterproof, smudge-proof application), our liquid eyeliner glides on smoothly without tugging or pulling.

.017oz/5ml

BLACK ONLY

Retails for:  $6.99


Where to Buy:  JessesGirlCosmetics.com


My Thoughts:  I got this in an IPSY back forever ago.  I'd never heard of Jesse's Girl products before, and I love trying out new brands.  I'm always a bit skeptical of unknown brands with low price points that show up in these monthly subscription boxes, but half the fun is never knowing what diamonds in the rough you'll discover.  This for me is one of those diamonds.

The liner glides on very smoothly with no tugging, and the tip is the perfect felt pen shape.  Sometimes I think the liner tips are too long, too thick, or too blunt at the end.  This gives me great control over the shape and width of the line to create a variety of looks from very simple to dramatic graphic lines.

The color comes only in black, which is a bummer.  I'd prefer if it came in more options, since I like this so much.  The black is a nice rich color though, and I don't need to layer it for an intense effect like some cheap liners.  I challenge the waterproof claim on this liner though.  It lasts a good 7-8 hours, so it's not slacking in that department, but I'm at the makeup studio for a good 9 hours or more a day, plus two hours total of commute, so I usually reach for waterproof liners to keep my makeup looking fresh from dawn to dusk.  This does come off with water alone, so I wouldn't classify it as waterproof.

The packaging is also very sharp for a drugstore range product.  The sleek silver looks very high end, is good quality, and fits nicely in my makeup bag.

Final Verdict:  A definite must try if you're a fan of liquid eyeliner.

I Want To Know:  What diamonds in the rough have you discovered lately that you think the world needs to know about?  Share your thoughts/blog/reviews below and spread the love!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

The One Stick by Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Review

The One Stick by Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Review

From the Brand:
Formula: An all-in-one multiple stick with a smooth texture.
Bombshell Application: Apply to eyelids, cheeks or lips for the perfect pop of color anywhere!
Bombshell Tip: Apply as you would regular eyeshadow, blush or lip gloss.

Retails for:  $16.00

Where to Buy:  BeABombeshellCosmetics.com, IPSY.com


My Thoughts:  I got this in an IPSY bag a while back, and it's been sitting on my makeup counter in my "to be tested" box staring me in the face every morning as I get ready.  I finally broke this out the other day and tried it on my cheeks and on my lips to get a feel for both the color payout, the formula, and it's overall versatility as a multi-tasking makeup stick.

Color Payout-  The shade is a light frosty bubblegum pink, so I wasn't expecting anything too shockingly pigmented or bright, and that's exactly what I got: something not shockingly pigmented and not bright.  On the cheeks, it went ok with my fair skin tone but definitely could use a touch of powder blush to look a little more "alive".  It looks almost more like a pink highlighter than a stand alone blush.  After trying it on my cheeks, I didn't even bother on my eyes.  On my lips, I looked like I had a disease. The shade was not flattering at all.

The Formula-  I didn't find that this product lasted very long at all.  There wasn't much color to the cheeks to begin with, and alone it quickly dissolved into my foundation and left me feeling washed out.  When I tried it a second time with some blush dusted on top to help perk up the color and "set" the creaminess of the stick, it gave me a longer wear.   However, it did start to break down my foundation, which wore away sooner and took all the color on top with it.  On the face, I wasn't impressed with it's performance at all.  On my lips, oh geeze.  It chunked up and clung to any minor imperfections, and within a few minutes had moved around and settled.  Again, it looked like I had lips that were peeling off from a disease.  Still firmly in the not flattering category on this aspect as well.

Multi-Tasking-  It didn't work well on my cheeks, so I wouldn't expect it to work well on my eyelids which are more oily, crease, move, and have more heat transfer from the thin skin.  If it can't sit still on my cheeks, I can't see how it would work as an eye shadow.  And the lips, it was really quite horrendous looking.  I applied it in the bathroom, walked downstairs and straight out to my car, where I promptly was horrified at my reflection in the rear view mirror as I was backing out of the driveway.  I'm so thankful I caught a glimpse of myself before I made it all the way to work like that!  Horrified counts as not flattering, right?


Final Verdict:  Big fail.  Glad I didn't spend my own money on it, as I would have returned it right away.  There was nothing I liked about this product.  I'm really disappointed as I absolutely LOVE my powder blush from Be A Bombshell Cosmetics I got from IPSY last year!

Talk to me!  Have you tried this?  Are you an IPSY girl, too and have gotten this or other Be A Bombshell products in your bags?  What are your thoughts?!  SHARE THEM HERE! {Wondering what the heck IPSY is?  Check it out now and join thousands of other women who are already a member!}

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Maybelline Baby Skin Review

Maybelline Baby Skin Review

From the Brand:
Poreless Smooth Skin Perfection! One second to smooth, poreless skin. Get mistake- proof, poreless smooth skin with Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer.

• Poreless Smooth Skin Perfection!
• One Second To Smooth, Poreless Skin
• Visibly Pore Blurring Smooth Skin

Retails for:  $6.99


Where to Buy:  You know the drill, anywhere drugstore brand makeup is found, but just in case, here's a few of my favorite places to shop:  Walgreens.com, Ulta.com, Drugstore.com


My Thoughts: I purchased this foundation primer to see how it would hold up on clients in the photo studio as a cheaper alternative to higher end silicone primers like the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.  I'd seen some people on YouTube talking about how much they liked it, and for only $6.99 decided to give it a go.  I can't use anything with dimethicone (a form of silicone commonly found in primers) on my skin, since I'm allergic, but I tested it out on several clients under my silicone Face Atelier foundations to see how it did on a variety of different skin types.

I wasn't very impressed with this primer, much as I'm usually not too impressed with silicone primers.  I really like to buff the foundation over the surface of the skin when I'm working with a liquid and brush, and I never seem to get the perfect finish I want when I'm doing this over a silicone primer.  I find that unless you really work it over the surface of the skin and use just the tiniest bit they tend to roll up on the skin and not sit in place when buffing the foundation over.  They work great when I'm airbrushing foundation over the surface, as I'm not touching the primer once it's laid down.  When applying makeup to someone else, it's kind of weird to sit there and rub their face.  But that's just how I am.  I prefer a thin primer with an almost serum-like consistency that sinks down into the skin to hydrate and lightly "plump" the skin rather than something that sits over the surface.

That all being said, if you do use just a tiny bit of this and really work it over the surface of the skin, it's a good primer to fill in the pores and create a more even surface for foundation.  Just don't try to buff the skin with a flat kabuki style foundation brush.  I can make it work with my Face Atelier by using a small dual fiber brush to stipple and then smooth out the foundation lightly without disturbing the primer underneath or even better with a blender sponge.  The best option is just to airbrush, but I don't bring that to the photo studio.

I'm not able to comment on how well it works at adding longevity to the makeup, since most of our clients take their makeup off before they leave the studio.  (It's boudoir, so 1. It's a heavier look to wear just around town, and 2. It's usually a surprise.)  It seems to dull shine just a bit, even under the lights or on warm days.  On really oily skins though it's not heavy duty enough to mattify the skin, and I need to powder and use a mattifying spray on top of the makeup.



Final Verdict:  It's a decent silicone style primer to have on hand if you can't afford the more expensive prestige brands, but it doesn't live up to my favorites like the Too Faced Primed and Poreless or Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara Review

Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara Review

From the Brand:
Get glamorous, big volume lashes from every angle
Lashes look 100% more magnified, multiplied, amplified*. Award winning.
*with two coats 
Lash finding brush with rounded tip easily reaches every single lash for maximum dimension.

Available in 3 non-waterproof shades: Blackest Black, Black, and Blackened Brown 

Retails for:  $6.99 and up depending on where you buy


Where to Buy:  Wherever drugstore makeup is sold, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Target, and Drugstore.com

My Thoughts:  First off, I love the wand on this mascara.  It defines and separates my lashes so perfectly.  It's a little pokey, so make sure you don't accidentally jab yourself in the eye with this the first time like I did.  It's nice and long without being too thick and bulky, so it fits in nicely in the inner and outer corners of my eyes to get the lashes perfectly.  It also has a little half ball shape on the tip to comb through the tiny lashes at the inner and outer corners of the eyes.  Overall, it's perfect for the inner and outer corners!

My lashes are very straight, and 90% of mascaras weigh them down and make them lose their curl no matter what I do.  I'm a professional makeup artist, and I've tried every trick in the book to get them to keep their curl.  Nothing works with some mascaras.  I think it's just their weight that makes the lashes lose the curl.  A nice thing mascara that dries quickly and a little on the stiff side locks in the curl before it can fall.  This mascara is perfect for that.  The formula is thin and dries quickly, but it can be layered really well to build up the volume.  Combined with the nice brush, it combs them out and gives them very fluffy flirty volume rather than thick clumpy volume.  With one coat, I get definition and locked in curl with a nice rich black color.  Looks very natural but amplified.  Two coats is when I get the perfect volume, which I love because I can get multiple looks with the same mascara.


Final Verdict:  In addition to the Covergirl Bombshell Volume Mascara, this is my new second favorite drugstore mascara.  It's one of those "on a whim" purchases I'm so thankful for!



Final Verdict:

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.