Review: Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipsticks + Swatches

Milani Cosmetics Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipsticks

Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipsticks ($5.99) are part of Milani Cosmetics permanent Spring 2015 line. Infused with grape seed extract imported from Italy, this smear-proof lip soother delivers mega color that won’t budge. The lightweight, creamy formula contains Vitamins A & C to keep lips kissably soft and hydrated. 
 

Left to right: Matte Innocence, Matte Naked, Matte Blissful, Matte Diva, Matte Orchid, Matte Glam, Matte Passion, Matte Confident

SCROLL DOWN FOR SWATCHES!

Available in (8) shades: 60 Innocence, 61 Naked, 62 Blissful, 63 Diva, 64 Orchid, 65 Glam, 66 Passion, 67 Confident.

Matte Innocence is described as a soft whisper of pink. It is a very sheer nude. Not my favorite of the collection as I've never been into canceling out the natural color of my lips but some will appreciate the pale nude color.

Matte Naked is described as a "Your lips but better" medium nude. Of the nudes/pinks this is my favorite shade. It compliments all skin tones nicely.

Matte Blissful is described as a girly blush pink. It is a blue toned pink which is hard to pull off and can make your teeth look yellow but some skin tones pull this color off pretty well.

Matte Diva is described as a happy, poppy hot pink. Matte Diva is a beautiful hot pink that flatters most skin tones.

Matte Orchid is described as a super flattering, complexion friendly fuchsia. This is one of my favorite colors that looks great on all skin tones. It is a true pink with purple undertones.

Matte Glam is described as a grape-Italian-ice purple. This unique true grape purple is a nice treat to drugstore lipsticks.

Matte Passion is described as a fiery sunset orange-red. Another favorite, it is a beautiful red with orange undertones that don't overpower the redness of this lipstick.

Matte Confident is described as a bold, gusty brick red. It is a true deep blue toned red that is flattering to almost every skin tone.

SWATCHES

Skin Swatches left to right: Innocence, Naked, Blissful, Diva, Orchid, Glam, Passion, Confident.

Skin Swatches left to right: Innocence, Naked, Blissful, Diva.

Skin Swatches left to right: Orchid, Glam, Passion, Confident.

Lip Swatches top left to right: Innocence, Naked, Blissful, Diva. Bottom left to right: Orchid, Glam, Passion, Confident.

I appreciate true matte lipsticks but not the dry feeling they leave on your lips. At first I was skeptical with Milani's claim about their new hydrated matte lipticks but these really do apply smoothly and feel quite comfortable on your lips. I wouldn't say they feel like a balm or as moisturizing as their previously released Color Statement lipsticks but they don't leave you with that common uncomfortable dryness that most matte lipsticks give. They also don't budge while eating or drinking and have about 6 hours of wear time before fading. Certain colors will stain your lips after having them on for a little while. I had to put in work in order to remove all the color ofl my lips when doing the swatches for this review.

I typically always use a lipliner with my lipsticks, not only to make my lip color appear neater but to prevent it from feathering and last longer throughout the day. My lip swatches were done without using lipliners but I would definitely recommend the use of them with these lipsticks.

PACKAGING
If you're a fan of Milani's packaging from their original Color Statement Lipsticks as I am then you will love the mattes the same. Although I do love the gold sleek packaging, it would be nice to differentiate the original lipsticks from the new mattes. The color names do include the word "matte" before them which is a plus but a distinction in packaging would have been nice. Color names are found engraved on the bottom of the tubes with the corresponding color of each lisptick. The fragrance of these matte lipsticks has been changed up from Milani's previous fruity melon scent, so if you love the scent of MAC lippies you'll appreciate the switch to the new vanilla scent.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
Milani Cosmetics has done good with the release of these affordable matte lipsticks. Although I do appreciate the color selection these lippies offer I would like to see a wider color range the way they released their original Color Statement lipsticks. Otherwise.. The scent, on point. The way they apply, on point.  The way they feel on your lips, on point. Let's just say Milani nailed these NEW Color Statement Moisture Matte Lispticks! Let's just hope there are new colors coming soon!


Availability: Milani Cosmetics / CVS
Price: $5.99


Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions featured in this post as they are my own honest experiences with the product.    

Review: Klara Cosmetics Kiss Proof Lips Box + Swatches

Karla Cosmetics Kiss Proof Lips Box

Klara Cosmetics Kiss Proof Lips ($29 AUD = $23 USD/8ml) are matte cream lipsticks acclaimed to have 24-hour wear. The collection offers both nude and bright shades that are made with 100% color pigmentation. Once applied, they dry within 60 seconds and last throughout the day without any bleeding or smudging.

Available in (14) shades: 01 Golden Rose, 02 Natural Pink, 03 Passion Pink, 04 Neon Pink, 05 Flaming Red, 06 Vintage Burgundy, 07 Sienna Nude, 08 Orange Tangerine, 09 Watermelon Kiss, 10 Madgenta, 11 Psycho Violet, 12 Lilac Lover, 13 Mix, and 14 Chocolate Temptation.

Kiss Proof Lips (left to right) Passion Pink, Watermelon Kiss, Flaming Red, Lilac Lover

Klara Cosmetics is an Australian owned and designed company named after founder, Klara Sabotkoski. Klara is known as the "Eau de Parfum of Cosmetics." As a true beauty professional she delivers a line of high quality products that are formulated with pure pigments. What you see is what you get with Klara Cosmetics. With such intense saturation in color, there is no need to pack on product several times to reach its true color potential.

If there is one beauty product I can't ever have enough of it would be lip products! What are my preferred lippies you ask? Lip lacquers and matte lipsticks are my all time favorites, so naturally you can imagine my excitement when I received the Kiss Proof Lips Box from Klara Cosmetics.

Klara Cosmetics puts out a limited edition Kiss Proof Box offering 4 of their various shades at a discounted price ($89 AUD - $70 USD). The box sent me to me included 03 Passion Pink, 05 Flaming Red, 09 Watermelon Kiss, and 12 Lilac Lover.


Passion Pink (03) is a warm neutral pink that compliments every skin tone. It is my most used and loved color of the bunch.

Watermelon Kiss (09) is a warm deep coral pink. It comes off a bit red in photographs but is more pink toned in person.

Kiss Proof Lips (left to right) Passion Pink, Watermelon Kiss

Flaming Red (05) is a true blue toned bright red. It is a complimentary red that goes with several skin tones. It is also one of my favorites.

Lilac Lover (12) is a blue toned lilac pink. These pinks are my least favorite as they don't really suit my skin tone.

Kiss Proof Lips (left to right) Flaming Red, Lilac Lover

Wet Swatches (left to right): Passion Pink, Watermelon Kiss, Flaming Red, Lilac Lover

Dry Swatches (left to right): Passion Pink, Watermelon Kiss, Flaming Red, Lilac Lover

Kiss Proof Lips are odorless and offer a pure matte finish which means they essentially make your lips feel dry. I highly recommend applying a lip balm on your lips prior to adding this lipstick to keep them feeling a bit moisturized. After applying, allow 60 seconds for the product to dry and you're set for the day. The lipstick does not bleed, smudge or transfer. Hence the "Kiss Proof Lips" name, they are 100% boyfriend approved!

With that being said, they tested to last 7 hours of wear but not because the product came off but because that was the longest I had worn it. I do believe they will stay put longer than 7 hours seeing as how they were a bit difficult to remove. A rag and water will not remove these lipsticks, you will have to use a quality makeup remover wipe or oil to get the product off. I can't tell you if the 24-hour claim is true because I don't ever see myself having the need to wear a lipstick for that long. But what I will tell you is that these lippies are definitely worth giving them a try.

PACKAGING
These pure matte lippies are housed in clear rectangular plastic tubes showing the actual product color and contain twist off black caps. The opening of the tubes contain a stopper that controls how much product is picked up by the applicator which is a plus in my book, this means no mess in the cap. The applicator itself is what I consider to be the best applicator available when it comes to highly pigmented lip creams. The flocked doe foot applicator is great for precision when using it on the edges of your lips and for an overall thin application. Remember, because of their intense pigment not much product is needed when applying. A little bit definitely goes a long way.

Wand Applicator

OVERALL THOUGHTS
The Klara Cosmetics Kiss Proof Lips are quintessentially the purest matte cream lipsticks I've come across in all of my years as a blogger and makeup artist. The intensity in color that these lipsticks provide is amazing and the lasting power will impress you throughout the day even during eating and drinking. The only con I have is the dry feeling but that is the common complaint of most matte lippies. And the other downfall is having to pay the expensive shipping to have products shipped from Australia. It would be awesome if Klara Cosmetics was easily accessible here in the United States. I would recommend all beauty junkies and makeup artists especially try out Klara Cosmetics. Its pure pigment does not disappoint!

Lip Swatches  (Top Left): Pink Passion, (Top Right): Lilac Lover, (Bottom Left): Watermelon Kiss, (Bottom Right): Flaming Red

Availability: Klara Cosmetics
Price: $29 AUD ~ $23 USD


Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions featured in this post as they are my own honest experiences with the product.   

*Limited Edition* Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners Review + Photos

Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners

Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners ($6.99, .14 oz) are part of the Limited Edition Bedazzled Collection. These vibrant shimmery gel liners provide smudge-proof, long wearing pigmented color for the classic cat eye or a smoldering smoky look. Please note that the shimmer is an overspray.

I haven't seen them at my local drugstores but if you happen to.. honey you better get you some! These babies were reportedly flying off the shelves and that's why many people haven't even had the chance to spot them.

Available in (3) colors: (01) Enchanted Lapis, (02) Enchanted Black Opal, (03) Enchanted Emerald.

Enchanted Lapis (01) Constellation Gel Eye Liner

Enchanted Lapis is a mix of dark blue, purple and silver with the overspray. Once the overspray has been mixed it becomes a deep bright metallic blue with a silver shimmer.

Enchanted Black Opal (02) Constellation Gel Eye Liner

  Enchanted Black Opal is a mix of black, silver, pale gold and burgundy with the overspray. Once the overspray has been mixed it becomes a metallic charcoal with silver shimmer.

Enchanted Emerald (03) Constellation Gel Eye Liner

Enchanted Emerald is a mix of teal, purple, green and silver with the overspray. It becomes a beautiful deep teal once mixed together. Enchanted Emerald is my favorite of the three colors.

As with most brushes that are included in drugstore cosmetics, I would just chuck them into the trash bin but these liner brushes are surprisingly amazing! Not only do I use them to apply these liners but they also work great with my other gel liners. The brush itself is a travel sized brush with dense bristles meaning it is super easy to use and provides more control when applying your liner. It picks up just the right amount of product; the tip is perfect for creating thin lines and with just a twist of the brush you can easily create thicker lines.

Travel-sized brush included

As you know when it comes to drugstore liners it's pretty much a hit or miss but as always Milani did not fail us with these babies. The texture is very creamy, glides on easily and is very rich in color. It's so creamy, you have a good amount of time to work with them - take your time creating that perfect cat eye or smudge them out for a smoky effect. They also create a great base for shadows. That being said, you will need to allow the product to set for 1-2 minutes so it won't smear. I'm not complaining though, I'm a happy camper as long as a creamy product sets. These babies won't budge once they have.

Mixed overspray

The product itself is an array of mixed colors that simply put, resemble galaxies. Trust me when I tell you that you won't want to touch these because of the stunning embossed swirl of gorgeousness. The downfall is that the shimmery goodness is a just an overspray. Regardless, the colors are still very pretty and unique compared to other drugstore products.

Enchanted Lapis (01), Enchanted Black Opal (02), Enchanted Emerald (03)

Enchanted Lapis (01), Enchanted Black Opal (02), Enchanted Emerald (03)

PACKAGING
The Constellation Gel Liners come in the ever popular Milani packaging known for their gold plastic. They are housed in a round container with a clear twist off cap. Although I have always loved the Milani packaging, they are a bit too bulky for my liking. The amount of product (.14 oz) is at the standard of other gel liners (Inglot's liner has .19 oz of product). Now, I understand that in order to design the galaxy effect on the product they would need the space for that, but then maybe the packaging could have been thinner. I don't know if there are reasons to the bulky packaging but I'm hoping that these liners don't dry out quickly. I hate it when that happens!
 

OVERALL THOUGHTS
If you come across the Milani Constellation Gel Liners I recommend that you pick them up, especially since they are limited edition. The pigmentation, formula and distinctive colors are well worth the price for a drugstore product and they will not disappoint. The only con I have with these liners is that the shimmer designs are an overspray, I've never seen anything more gorgeous, it would be nice to keep the design. Although we don't continue to see the constellation effect in the product, the colors are still beautiful when mixed. For a long-wearing unique gel liner, Milani has definitely done a job well done.

Availability: Drugstores - CVS, Walgreens
Price: $6.99 ea.


Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions featured in this post as they are my own honest experiences with the product.   

BornPretty False Lashes Review + Makeup Look

BornPretty Store (#1539) 5 Set Natural Curling Lashes

BornPrettyStore.com is an online beauty, nail and accessory wholesale supplier where you can find a variety of nail accessories to phone accessories as well as false lashes and hair supplies.

Save some cash on false lashes by buying in bulk! Why spend $5-6 on a single pair at the drugstore when you can just dish out $6 on 5 pairs of falsies from BornPrettyStore.com?!

Find lashes like this Natural Curling Set (#1539) on their site. They are made from artificial fibre but give a natural lash appearance due to the cut of the strands. They are shorter on the inner part of the eye and gradually get longer towards the outer end of the strip. The strip lash itself is transparent which is great making them as light as possible and the strands all while containing 13 individual clusters of strands on the band.

Translucent thin band offers lightweight feel while holding 13 clusters of strands

They are long enough for those with larger eyes and can be simply cut down to fit those with smaller eyes. In my case, I didn't have the need to cut them down, they fit my eyes perfectly.

Beauty Tip: Remember to always trim your false lashes from the outside. Do not cut them from the inner part or you will potentially ruin the design of your strip lashes.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MAKEUP LOOK!

BornPretty Store (#1539) 5 Set Natural Curling Lashes

PACKAGING
As an avid cosmetic "collector" aka hoarder (ha) I appreciated the simplicity in the packaging of the set. Yes, don't get me wrong I love intricate beautiful packaging but when you have a collection of beauty products, packaging begins to take over storage space. And lashes have been one of those items that don't really need to take that much space up.  Unfortunately there is no way to downsize on the packaging myself. I'm all for the packaging of boxed lashes that are just simply pretty to look at but I find plain bulky packaging to be unnecessary. For example, Ardell and Andrea lashes (found at the drugstore) just take up too much space in my drawers. I would love for them to redesign the packaging of their lashes. The 5 pairs came housed in a fairly thin plastic casing with a clear cover. I removed the insert in order to clearly see the lashes.

Packaging Close Up

Taking care of these lashes can assure multiple use out of them. When removing them after wear, I clean off any leftover mascara with alcohol and carefully remove the lash glue that stays on the band, then disinfect the band with alcohol and store them back in their packaging to keep their form. This will ensure that they last you at least 3 or 4 uses.

This featured set is currently on sale for under $5, make your way to the site and get your hands on them now! Plus, my lovely blog followers get 10% off by using coupon code (SAS10k31).

Availability: BornPrettystore.com
Price: $6.12

Wearing BornPretty Lashes (#1539)

Wearing BornPretty Lashes (#1539)

Wearing BornPretty Lashes (#1539)

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for consideration by the manufacturer. This does not affect any opinions featured in this post as they are my own honest experiences with the product.