Review: Ashunta Sheriff Perfect Blend Dual Foundation & Brush

Ashunta Sheriff Perfect Blend Dual Foundation & Brush

Ashunta Sheriff Perfect Blend Foundation ($40, .6oz) is a dual-ended cream foundation stick that offers two different shades providing a customizable, lifted and sculpted flawless finish all in one product for all complexions.

Available in (6) shades: fair, light, medium, tan, deep and dark.

Ashunta Sheriff is a celebrity makeup artist known for her work on some of Hollywood's appraised stars such as Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Janelle Monae - to name a few.

Left to right: Medium / Tan (lighter shades)

Left to right: Medium / Tan (darker shades)

The convenient, easy-to-travel-with Perfect Blend Dual Foundation comes with 2 shades, a highlight and contour shade. It is a cream foundation but has a semi-matte finish and offers buildable coverage (medium to full coverage) that can also be sheered out with a bit of moisturizer. It may not seem like a lot of product when you twist up the ends but trust me when I tell you that a little goes a long way with this foundation. Although not the most sanitary, my favorite way to use these foundations is drawing it directly on the face. Just make sure to sanitize them after every client. They go on buttery smooth and when blended out truly look and feel like skin without settling into fine lines. Because it is a cream product, it will make you look dewy throughout the day so you may want to set it with powder to prevent that if you're not into the dewy look. It lasted me all day when set with powders (10 hours) with very minimal fading.

I have the Perfect Blend Dual Foundation in Medium & Tan for review. Tan suits me better as the lighter shade is more of my foundation color and the darker is closer to my contour color. I do like the light shade in Medium to highlight though. In this case, I use Tan and highlight certain areas with a light concealer.

Wearing Ashunta Sheriff Perfect Blend Foundation (Medium) as highlight & contour

Wearing Ashunta Sheriff Perfect Blend Foundation (Medium) as highlight & contour

Wearing Ashunta Sheriff Perfect Blend Foundation (Medium) as highlight & contour

 SWATCHES

Swatches left to right: Medium / Tan (applied directly from tube)

Blended Swatches left to right: Medium / Tan (blended out w/ dual ended brush)

As a makeup artist I find myself having to mix 2 foundation colors to get a customized color for my clients. Every makeup artist's dream is to be able to carry around a lighter makeup kit but still have every product with them. The Perfect Blend Foundation sticks are every MUA's dream come true.

The Dual Ended Perfect Face Brush is a true game changer, again offering two products in one. Its soft vegan bristles allow for a smooth, uniform, effortless application. Use the larger domed side to buff and blend product on the face and the smaller end to blend out harder to reach areas like contouring the nose and concealing small dark spots. I've been loving this dual purpose brush to blend out any cream products.

Perfect Face Dual Ended Brush

Perfect Face Dual Ended Brush (larger side)

Perfect Face Dual Ended Brush (detailed side)

** The foundation & brush set are sold at a discounted price - $50**

PACKAGING
The Perfect Blend Dual Foundation comes housed in a sleek gunmetal tube with pull off caps on each end and safety plastic caps on the product itself. Each side twists up and down to reveal the foundations. The product itself smells amazing, it has an ever so light sweet, fresh, clean scent without smelling like that usual overpowering soap/floral fragrance. This is a positive in my book since it won't break my skin out from containing strong fragrances. I would say the one thing missing to complete high grade packaging is that the color shade is not found on the actual packaging, only on the box. This creates a bit of a problem for anyone owning more than one shade. It would also be nice to know which side is the lighter/darker shade before taking off the caps. I've put stickers on mine to differentiate the color shades.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
Ashunta Sheriff did us beauty addicts right when creating the Perfect Blend Dual Foundation. This beauty innovation actually deserves more attention than it has gotten. The smooth application and flawless finish of this cream product is sure to shine. A must have for your makeup artist kit or anyone's makeup bag, it is the perfect product for creating a beautiful natural face all while providing the right amount of coverage even for those with discoloration and dark spots. I would recommend this beauty find to everyone interested in using a convenient foundation that provides 2 shades in one product. And don't forget to get your hands on the Perfect Face Dual Ended Brush - it's magic!

Availability: Ashunta Sheriff Beauty
Price: $50 (bundle)/$40 (foundation)/$15 (vegan brush)


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: 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.   

Review: Rain Cosmetics Glam Lipstick in Socialite

Rain Cosmetics Glam Lipstick (Socialite)

Rain Cosmetics 'Socialite' Glam Lipstick ($20/.14 oz) is a creamy bright rose lipstick that provides full moisture to the lips. This paraben free lippie contains mango butter, grape seed oil and vitamin E that act as emollients that soothe and quench the lips throughout the day. This formula is available in both shimmer and matte shades.

Available in (13) colors: Socialite, Private Jet, Cocktail Hour, With the DJ, VIP List, Champagne Brunch, Penthouse Suite, Stretch Limo, Bottle Service, Velvet Rope, Red Carpet, After Hours, Very Hot Chocolate.

Rain Cosmetics is a Las Vegas based cosmetic company. The play on the city's nightlife is seen in the sexy packaging and in the names of the colors of their products.

Socialite Swatch

Close up Socialite Swatch

The Rain Cosmetics Glam Lipstick in Socialite was love at first sight! At first it seems to have a firm dry feeling but after a few swipes on the lips it warms up and becomes very smooth and creamy. It has the pigment and opacity of a lipstick but the moisturizing feel of a gloss, minus the sticky feeling! The color complimented my skin tone beautifully providing my lips with a bright but natural flush of color. The lasting power was about average of other lipsticks with normal daily activity of drinking and eating.

Sleek Packaging

PACKAGING
Rain Cosmetics has definitely put thought into the sleek packaging of these lipsticks. The product is housed in a light blue rectangular cube like tube and has a silver twist up. The quality of the tube itself is great and durable which provides a nice sturdy feel when twisting the product up.

 

The scent of this lipstick is the typical "back in the day" lipstick smell. Some people aren't big fans of this smell and say it reminds them of their grandma's lipstick but I have no problem with it. It is actually nostalgic to me.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
The Glam Lipstick in Socialite is a must have color for light to medium skin tones. It is the perfect shade of pink without being too blue toned for my medium olive skin tone. I recommend this lipstick to anyone who is looking for a great pink toned opaque moisturizing lipstick. I would have wished that it were more long lasting but there is not much you can do to find a moisturizing product that is also long lasting.

Wearing Rain Cosmetics Lipstick in Socialite

Price: $20
Availability: Rain Cosmetics / Store Locations & Salons


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.