*NEW* Girlactik Matte Lip Paint in Iconic Review + Swatches + Makeup Look

Girlactik Beauty Matte Lip Paint in Iconic

Girlactik Matte Lip Paint ($23) is an opaque liquid lip paint that dries completely matte in under a minute without leaving a dry or flaky feeling on your lips.

These Lip Paints are available in (4) colors: Iconic, Allure, Demure and Starlet. The color selection is limited but they are all beautiful colors that go well with most skin tones. I'm hoping that Girlactik releases more colors soon. I'd like to see more daring colors and a variety of neutrals.

'Iconic' is a classic red lip color with a blue tone. Think of it as the perfect pin-up red lip product. It complements all different skin tones and makes your teeth look as white as possible.

Girlactik 'Iconic' Lip Paint Swatch

These lip paints apply in a light-weight liquid form and dry to a matte finish within a minute's time. They are very long-wearing and depending on your daily activity you don't need to reapply product throughout the day. I love wearing a red lip, especially a matte red lip but finding a product that doesn't transfer throughout the day is a bit difficult, not with these lip paints though. And yes, they are smooch-proof! (Trust me, I tested it on the boyfriend - LOL)

The Girlactik Matte Lip Paint does not flake, crack or smear like some other matte lip products. When dealing with any type of matte lip product you do want to make sure your lips have been exfoliated. This allows for a smooth even application without showing any imperfections on the lips. Keep in mind that matte finishes show every small detail of the skin whether it is on your face or lips.

The formula is already pigmented and opaque enough and for you to be able to get away with one layer but I like my lip colors to be intense so I always wear more than just one layer. The way I use this lip paint after exfoliating is to apply one layer, let it dry for about 10-15 seconds and apply another layer on top. I'm not too fond of the smell (I'm not too sure how to describe the smell) but I haven't come across any lip paints that have a very appealing smell. If you are sensitive to certain smells this might not be the product for you. What I can say is that this is not a fruity smelling lip product. Once it dries I don't notice the smell too much so it's not a big issue for me.

The Lip Paints cost $23 which is a bit much for a lip product but Girlactik is a crulety-free, higher end makeup brand. It can be found online or at select higher end Rite-Aid stores. The formulation and durability of these lip paints are well worth the price.

PACKAGING
The packaging itself is very sleek and appealing. The bronze-brown metallic features stood out the most to me. The lip paint tube feels very lightweight but holds a good amount of product at 0.25 fl oz compared to other lip productS. (MAC lipglasses hold .17 fl oz of product) The applicator is a traditional doe-foot applicator which in my opinion is the best for dealing with liquid lip products like these. It allows for a more precise product application without needing to apply a lip liner.

Doe-foot applicator

Overall Thoughts
I'm really glad I got a chance to try out Girlactik Beauty products. The Matte Lip Paint has become a staple in my collection. I love the pigmentation, application and durability of this product. Other than the smell and price point, I have no complaints about this product. If you are in the search for a great red matte lip product  I highly recommend you try it. I can't wait to get my hands on the other colors!

Stay tuned for upcoming reviews on other Girlactik Beauty products and be sure to follow me on Instagram, Shugaandspice1 for makeup looks featuring products you find in my reviews. Also go follow Girlactik on Instagram for more swatches by fellow bloggers and makeup artists!

Wearing Girlactik 'Iconic' Matte Lip Paint

Girlactik 'Iconic' Matte Lip Paint in lips

Availability: Girlactik / Naimies
Price: $23


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

The Makeup Eraser Review + Demo

The Makeup Eraser

The Makeup Eraser ($19.97) is described as an all natural method of your removing makeup. No harsh chemicals needed, just wet the cloth with water and all your makeup is removed. Including waterproof eyeliner & mascara, HD makeup and much more. The best part of the Makeup Eraser is it is reusable, throw it in the wash and no stains remain. The Makeup Eraser will last 1000 washes and eliminate your need to buy product to remove your makeup.  The Makeup Eraser is pink with a sateen edge plush  and soft to the touch.

Love wearing makeup but hate the daunting task of removing it at night?! Join the club sister. We all know that removing our makeup is a long process depending on how much of it you applied earlier in the day. But if you're a beauty enthusiast like me then chances are you probably have layers caked on (high five).

The process of removing my makeup consists of using products found at the drugstore. First, I remove my waterproof eye makeup with an oil-free makeup remover and a cotton pad. After, using my favorite makeup remover wipes from Neutrogena (the blue bag) I clean the rest of my face before going to wash it with face wash. The reason I use eye makeup remover on my eyes is because I don't feel that the wipes remove every bit of my waterproof mascara (I layer my mascaras on). On most days I will use an alcohol-free toner after washing my face and even then I still have small traces of makeup left behind. 

Left: Makeup Eraser Right: Previous Makeup Removal Routine

Of course if I could find a way to minimize this process and save some money, it's worth a try! The Makeup Eraser has been buzzing all throughout Instagram recently. And with the claim of a natural, chemical-free towel removing even the most waterproof makeup many have raised their doubts. Therefore, I knew I had to try it for myself!

The Makeup Eraser is a reusable soft pink plush towel that contains no chemicals and works with just warm water to remove the most smear-proof, waterproof makeup. How it that possible, you ask? I have no idea, but if we all knew how it was done then it wouldn't be such a unique product and everyone would be making one right?!

The towel contains two different sides that serve different purposes. One side has shorter fibers used to remove your makeup and the other contains longer fibers which is used to exfoliate your face. The first time I tested the Makeup Eraser I had on a full face of makeup with about 3 layers of waterproof mascara, eyeliner plus a red lip and it managed to remove it all. It does take a bit of work to get every last bit of mascara off your lashes but it is fine considering the towel is not harsh on the skin at all. Remember it is a very soft plush towel, think of it more as a microfiber towel. The material is made up of 100% polyester and can be easily cleaned in the washer using cool water and tumble drying it on low. It claims to last 1000+ uses and washes.

Longer fiber side used for exfoliating

Once you wash it, no stains remain on the towel and you don't necessarily need detergent to get out the makeup. I have washed it by hand without soap or detergent before throwing it in the washing machine and all the makeup stains came right out. After several washes, the Makeup Eraser still maintains its power. I'm curious to see how well it holds up after hundreds even thousands of washes!

Makeup Eraser after removing a full face of makeup

Watch this demo by Camera Ready Cosmetics to see how well it works:


It retails for $19.97 and will save you money in the long run by replacing eye makeup remover and makeup remover wipes. Both cost me around $15 and last me almost a month. For just a few bucks more The Makeup Eraser cuts down the removal process and its longevity will save me some cash. It is definitely a must try!

 You can get your own Makeup Eraser from the lovely Monika through her links down below!

Availability: www.getmue.com / www.muperaser.com
Price: $19.97


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

L.A. Girl PRO Conceal HD Concealer Review + Swatches

L.A. Girl PRO Conceal HD Concealer

L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer ($5) is described as crease-resistant, opaque coverage in a creamy yet lightweight texture. The long-wearing formula camouflages darkness under the eyes, redness and skin imperfections. Provides complete, natural-looking coverage, evens skin tone, covers dark circles and minimizes fine lines around the eyes.

These cruelty-free concealers by L.A. Girl Cosmetics have been raved about all over social media and for good reason at that. We all know that finding a great long lasting concealer with little to no creasing and at an affordable price is hard to come about in the beauty market. Look no further my beauty enthusiasts, these gems are here to stay! 

The Pro HD Concealers come in (18) different colors: Classic Ivory, Natural, Creamy Beige, Nude, Medium Bisque, Pure Beige, Warm Sand, Medium Beige, Almond, Cool Tan, Toast, Warm Honey, Fawn, Toffee, Espresso, Chestnut, Beautiful Bronze, and Dark Cocoa.

With a vast array of color options to choose from, rest assure there is a color to fulfill your needs. Whether you are looking for a highlighting, concealing or contouring color,  LA Girl pro concealers have got you covered. From the lightest ivory to the deepest cocoa shade the variety in colors make these concealers a hot item for any makeup artist's kit; allowing them to have options for their clients' needs at a reasonable price.

Reviewed here are two of the shades in the collection. I use Creamy Beige to highlight and Toast to contour. When choosing your shade, it is a bit difficult to easily find what you are looking for through the website as they are not actual swatches. I recommend you try looking up real swatches on blog reviews such as this. I got lucky and chose the two that ideally met my needs. Creamy Beige is a bit light to match my foundation but it works perfectly for highlighting my face (mid forehead, bridge of nose, under eyes, cupids bow and chin) which is what I wanted it for. Toast is the perfect color to contour my face (temples, cheekbones and nose) with. I always go for a contour color about 4-5 shades darker than my skin tone and just blend blend blend into my foundation and highlight for a flawless contoured look!

Creamy Beige used as highlight / Toast used as contour

PERFORMANCE

Naturally I have dark circles that have always been an issue for me when trying to find a product to cover them up. I also have fine lines under my eyes that always tend to cause creasing when I apply concealer. The problem indiscovering the perfect concealer is finding one that would not only cover my dark circles but prevent creasing and is long wearing all at the same time. It wasn't until I started using MAC Pro Longwear Concealer ($19) that I had found a solution to my dark circle trouble. I vowed to never try another concealer again but when I came across the Pro Conceal HD Concealers and the raves about them I knew I had to give them a try.

Left to right: Creamy Beige - Toast

Just like the infamous Pro Longwear, they are very creamy and opaque, concealing my problem areas without having to use much product. Although they are creamy and blend easily, you will have to work a bit quicker with these concealers because they do dry a bit faster. I use a beauty blender or stippling brush to help blend out the product effortlessly. Thus far the concealer has stayed put for 10 hours without any creasing. 
 

PACKAGING

These squeeze tube concealers are reminiscent of some lip gloss tubes which some may not like but I love. I prefer this packaging over any jar or hard plastic tubes that come with a wand or brush... meaning less mess and more hygiene care. This also means no product gets left behind in the tube. We all know what a pain that is when you still have enough product leftover for a few more applications but there is no way of getting it out of the packaging. I do favor the pump that the MAC Pro Longwear comes with but the problem with pumps is that they make it difficult to control how much product you are dispensing; once you do there is no putting any leftover back in the container.

Holding .25 oz of pigmented product means they will last you quite a while. MAC packaging holds .30fl oz and lasts a long time. A little goes a long way with both concealers so not much is needed for one application.

There is one minor downfall to the packaging of these concealers, that being the tip has a brush applicator. Bacteria can grow in the brush from the leftover product after using it directly on your face. Even if you are using them for personal use, it's not too sanitary. I suggest squeezing out some product and transferring it onto the back of your clean hand or a mixing plate. The brush does make it a bit messy though..

Brush Tip Applicator

PRODUCT TIP - HYGIENE CARE

Here's a tip! When I received my concealers I took a pair of pliers and pulled out the brush applicators. This way I can just squeeze out the amount I need without the mess all while using the most sanitary care possible with this product. I also always wipe down the opening with alcohol to prevent any bacteria from entering the tube.

Top: toast / Bottom: Creamy Beige

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I'm happy I got my hands on the L.A. Girl Pro HD Concealers, they certainly do live up to the hype! The non-creasing long-lasting formula makes for a perfect concealer to fix problem areas as well as for highlighting and contouring the face.

At about a quarter of the price of MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, the Pro Conceal might just replace my previous favorite. A slight downfall to these concealers is the availability of them. I've heard some say they can be found at your local beauty supply store but I have yet to see them. They can be found online on the L.A. Girl website at $5 a piece or about $3 at iKatehouse.com. I need to get my hands on all the shades to add to my kit. These concealers are recommended by yours truly to everyone, especially makeup artists wanting to stock their kit with high quality products at an affordable price.

Availability: L.A. Girl / iKatehouse / Drugstore.com

Price: $2.29 - $5.00 
  

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

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer

theBalm Cindy-Lou Manizer ($24) is described as an all-in-one essential, smart shadow, beautiful blush and subtle highlighter that is tucked inside a go-anywhere compact. The light-reflecting peachy pink hue adds a splash of color to your cheeks and a hint of shimmer to your lids, while illuminating your finest features.

This beautiful soft sheen pressed powder can be used as a highlighter, blush or shadow on the lid. If you're familiar with theBalm products you know that they are very pigmented and have a silky buttery texture. This is the same for this multi-use beauty product. Use a light tap of your brush when applying the Cindy-Lou Manizer; its high pigment goes on smoothly so you don't need to use much of it.

Packaging
As with all of theBalm line, the packaging of this compact has a unique whimsical theme that is carried throughout their powder products. The inside holds a nice sized mirror which comes in handy for those of us that like to use compact mirrors.

With .30oz of product it is a fairly decent size compact powder that will last you for quite some time. Remember, a little goes a very long way with their products so use it sparingly. I have yet to hit pan on my previously reviewed Mary-Lou Manizer and have had it for more than year now; I use it on a regular daily basis.

theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is similar to the Cindy-Lou but just in another shade. The Cindy-lou Manizer is a soft pink powder with peach undertones whereas the Mary-Lou Manizer is a champagne-colored powder.

Swatches

At first, the swatch applies heavily but when sheered out using a brush it gives a more subtle shine to the skin and does not appear as powdery as the intial swatch done with my finger.

Wearing Cindy-Lou Manizer on cheeks

Overall Thoughts
Although it is a beautiful powder I don't think it will be replacing my Holy Grail highlighter, Mary-Lou Manizer. Since I have more of a medium skin tone I plan to use it more as an eyeshadow and blush. I do think that it will work great as a highlighter on lighter or darker skin tones. On my skin though, it gives a subtle sheen on the cheeks but I tend to go for more dramatic highlighters on my cheekbones. Be mindful when working with high sheen powders like these. If you have drier areas on your face make sure you avoid putting them on those areas being that they tend to emphasize them more. All in all this gorgeous powder is going to be a nice little addition to my collection and I recommend it to anyone looking for a pink-toned highlighter.

Availability:Nordstrom / theBalm 
Pricing: $24

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