ColourPop Lippie Primer Review

ColourPop Cosmetics is a new brand that is causing quite the stir in the beauty community. I don’t know any fellow bloggers who aren’t already in love, or at least eager to try the line. One of the major appeals to this line is the price– nothing is over $8. Their color products (they make lipstick, lip liner, blush, and soon to release highlighters) are amazing, and I promise to do more reviews of them soon. But I recently picked up this lip primer and felt an almost immediate need to share it with you.

According to ColourPop, the Lippie Primer “enhances the wear of any lip product and keeps your lips looking and feeling healthy”. It is colorless and feels like a balm going on. When I say balm, I mean one of those slightly waxy balms without a ton of slip to it. My lips are left feeling slightly tacky once it is applied. It is said to contain “itty bitty spherical beads” that help to fill in lines, giving lips a more full and plump appearance. This also helps to make lip products go on more smoothly.

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I purchased the Lippie Primer not only to wear with ColourPop’s matte lipsticks, but with any matte lip product. I absolutely love this primer. It helped my NARS Satin Lip Pencil stay on all day at The Makeup Show LA, and helps keep my lips looking less dry and cracked while wearing any matte lip color. It contains mango, avocado, and shea butter to help with the moisturizing effect. However unlike wearing lip balm under a lipstick, this doesn’t sheer out the color in any way. Your lipstick or gloss will look just as vibrant as if you wore it with nothing underneath.

If you’re a MAC addict, you might be asking yourself if this is similar at all to MAC Prep ‘n Prime Lips. YES, it is! But compare price tags. The MAC lip primer is $16 while ColourPop Lippie Primer is just $5. I’m so in love with this that I’m thinking of buying a second one (to keep in my purse) the next time I place a ColourPop order. And even at buying 2 of them I will still spend less than on MAC, haha!

ColourPop Lippie Primer is available from ColourPop.com for $5. Note: this product is made in LA and not tested on animals. 

If you’re new to ColourPop, you can use the code “THANKSBABE” for $5 off your first order, which is a free lip product. ;) Enjoy!

MAC Red, Red, Red Collection Info

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This collection may be called Red, Red, Red — but there’s plenty of near-red type colors to enjoy if you aren’t into the color full-out. I appreciate this since red has never really been my thing, haha. This collection launches 12/26 in North America and will be at all locations. Pro discount available.

MAC Red, Red, Red Collection – December 26th 2014

Lipstick: 

Lady Bug – yellow tomato (Lustre) – permanent
See Sheer – grapefruit pink (Lustre) – permanent
Toxic Tale – bright coral (Satin) – repromote
5-Alarm – soft orange red (Lustre) – new/LE

Cremesheen Glass:

Nectar Sweet – soft pink peach – repromote
Meteoric – mid-tone vibrant coral – repromote
Night is Young – bright red cream – repromote

Dazzleglass:

Love Alert – raspberry red with red pearlized pigments – permanent

Eye Shadow:

Give Me Fire – soft pink champagne with pearlized pigments (Lustre) – new/LE
Red Alert – rusty red mid-tone copper (Veluxe Pearl) – new/LE
Strike While Haute – true red (Matte) – new/LE

Beauty Powder: 

Hot Sensation – sheer pale peach highlight – new/LE

Casual Color: 

Out For Fun – cool coral – new permanent shade
Secret Admirer – coral pink – new/LE
Red Obsessed – soft rose – new/LE

Nail Lacquer:

Impassioned – bright warm pink (Cream) – permanent
Red Red Red – creamy orange red (Lustre) – new/LE
Rouge Combustion – pink red with sparkles (Frost) – new/LE

Lip Product Addict Tag

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This tag was created by a couple of awesome Youtubers, Essiebutton & Amelia Liana. Check out the original video here. I’m pretty obsessed with lip products, so when I saw it I knew I just had to bring it to the blog!

#1. Fav Balm/Lip Treatment?

I’m completely and hopelessly addicted to lip balms. I loooove me some balm! I really enjoy tinted ones that I can wear as my lipcolor for the day if I’m having a chapped lip day. My favorite tinted balm right now is Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me. It’s moisturizing, has SPF 20, and gives a great pink tint that is bright enough to wear alone while still being mellow enough to wear with a darker eye. For a product that is just strictly a balm, I’ve been using Epic Blend More Moisture lip balms – I keep the Cherry one on my vanity, the Grape one in my purse, and the Green Apple by the bed. See? Addicted. (By the way I have a full review of the Epic Blend balms here on the blog.)

#2. Best Eye-Catching Red?

This question was really hard for me, because red is just about the only eye-catching color I don’t wear. I don’t really know why, but I’m just not into reds. I love bright lippies – pink, coral, orange, whatever! I just don’t really love red, so I hardly ever wear it. I do occasionally enjoy MAC’s Hot Tahiti lipstick, which is a very soft red and probably pretty underrated. It’s a glaze formula, so it goes on sheer but can be built up. And hey since I’m so pale, even a sheer red is bright on me…

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#3. Best Luxury & Best Drugstore?

The most luxurious lipstick I have in my stash is an Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Creme lipstick in Fable. I splurged on it during a Sephora F&F sale. The formula on these is excellent – super creamy and oh-so-pigmented. I would probably own more if they weren’t $30 a pop. You can get a refill cartridge for $24 – cool idea, but who honestly finishes a lipstick?!

Best Drugstore lipsticks have got to be the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. I’ve mentioned them countless times on my blog because I’m obsessed. I am pretty sure I own all of them including some limited edition ones. I also have doubles of a couple of my favorites. I know…weirdo…(the ones I have doubles of are Pink Truffle and Juicy Papaya).

#4. Best MAC Lipstick?

MAC Flamingo. I convinced myself a long time ago that I did not need Flamingo. That is because at the time it was limited edition and impossible to find. Flamingo was going for $50+ on blogs and forums, and you probably don’t even want to know what people were willing to pay for this $15 lipstick on ebay. Yikes! Then MAC does what MAC always does – they repromoted it. In typical LE lipstick fashion it once again sold out in like no minutes flat. BUMMER. But I was able to get it from another blogger for $15 + shipping *grumble* – see for me that is more than usual because as a MAC PRO  cardholder I’m accustomed to getting 40% off MAC lipsticks. I know, I know…spoiled! But it was so worth the wait, and DEFINITELY worth paying full price. Now MAC has made Flamingo permanent, so I actually picked up a second one with my discount. Chyeah! Flamingo is the perfect sheer corally pink. Glorious.

#5. The Most Disappointing?

Ack, Maybelline Color Whispers! I lusted after these for I don’t even know how long. In fact, I did a blog post just about how much I wanted to try them! I read so many other blogs and watched so many videos about how much people loved them and I guess I built up all this hype in my head because I was left underwhelmed. I have my review & swatches here, where I also said I only liked them it wasn’t love. Meh. So sad.

#6. Liner – Yes or No?

Just a weak yes for liner. I wear it sometimes, but I usually wear a clear one. In my Hot Tahiti pic above I’m also wearing Urban Decay’s clear liner called Ozone. Hot Tahiti is a glaze which is sort of a squishy, movable formula. It’s helpful to anchor it with a clear lip liner. For dark/bright lip glosses or squishy lipsticks, a clear liner can be a lifesaver. Very rarely I will do a nude lip with a slightly darker nude liner for a sorta pinup look. My go-to liner of choice for those purposes is MAC Cremestick in Beurre.

#7. Best Gloss?

My favorite high-end glosses are Chanel Glossimers (only the ones that have some actual color to them though, some are SUPER sheer), and NARS lip gloss. I have a few MAC lip glass, although they really are not one of my favorite formulas because they’re so thick and sticky. For budget brands I really like Rimmel Stay Glossy lip glosses. The formula on those is really excellent and comfy on the lips. I kinda go between lipstick and lip gloss in phases, and lately I’ve been more into lipstick than gloss. But on my next gloss kick I can assure you the first one I will reach for will be one of the ones I just mentioned. Bit of a creature of habit. ;)


NARS Lip Gloss in Giza – my go-to shade

#8. Something Extra:

There’s so MANY extra things I could mention here! But I have to give a shout-out to lip crayons/chubby pencils. I have a ton of these because they’re so easy to just apply and go. My 2 favorites are Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stains, and NARS Satin Lip Pencils. I recently repurchased Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in Honey because I’ve all but used up the one I had. I wear it a couple times a week.

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya, one of my favorites!

MAC x Prabal Gurung Collection Info

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The much-anticipated collab between MAC and Prabal Gurung launches Nov. 26. MAC went all-out with luxe packaging for this collection, which unfortunately means luxe pricing. ;)

MAC x Prabal Gurung 2014 Collection

Lipsticks – $30 ea.
Carmine Rouge – true red (matte)
Light English Red – sheer beige nude (lustre)
Ultramarine Pink – midtone violet (satin)

Lipglass – $30 ea.
Carmine Rouge – true red
Light English Red – sheer beige nude
Ultramarine Pink – midtone violet

Kohl Power Eye Pencil – $20
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Chromagraphic Pencil – $20
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Creme Color Base – $70
Coral Lumineaux – vivd coral creme

Bronzer – $70
Matte Bronze

Eye Shadow Duo – $40
Satin Ochre – soft pale white gold/coral orange
Cinder – smoky cool grey/dark charcoal
Terre – shimmering neutral beige/midtone warm brown

Square Handled Powder Brush – $70

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MAC Nasty Gal Collection 2014 – #MACxNastyGal

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This collab between MAC Cosmetics and Nasty Gal launches December 4th at MAC locations in North America (as well as online). It’s a small capsule collection with just 4 items.

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MAC Lipstick – $16.00 USD / $19.00 CAD

Stunner – clean red (matte)

Runner – burgundy (matte)

Gunner – deep purple (matte)

Studio Nail Lacquer – $12.00 USD / $14.00 CAD

Flaming Rose – true red (creme)

Miley Cyrus for MAC Viva Glam 2015

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It’s official: the new face of MAC’s Viva Glam campaign for 2015 is none other than Miley Cyrus! For those of you unfamiliar with Viva Glam, it is a series of lipsticks and lip glosses released to benefit the MAC World AIDS Fund. The best part of the Viva Glam campaign is that every cent of the selling price of Viva Glam items goes to helping women and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Unlike other charity makeup items that donate only 1-5%, MAC really puts its money up for the cause. True story, MAC Viva Glam V is one of my favorite lip colors of all time.

This release includes 2 items – a lipstick and a lip gloss. I’m really interested in that lipstick! How do they look to you?

MAC Viva Glam Miley launches January 2015 at all MAC stores, counters, and online.

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MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus Lip Glass – hot pink with sparkling pearl – $15.00 USD / $18.00 CAD

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MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus Lipstick – hot pink (Amplified formula) – $16.00 USD / $19.00 CAD

MAC Smoky Black Friday 2014 – #MACCosmetics Collection Details & Info

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MAC Smoky Black Friday Collection – Nov. 21 & 28

Hautecore lipstick (Black Matte) – Brazil-only exclusive (repromote)

Smoky Black Friday Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow – (white silver, cool silver, black) US-only exclusive

This collection will be online only, and only available to the U.S. and Brazil. MAC PRO discount is available on these items, as there will not be special packaging. Normally this would be one to wake up early for (or stay up late, depending on your preference), but I give this one a massive pass. VPF eye shadows have not been reviewed very well, and the shades for this one aren’t very unique. Only hardcore collectors need to take note.

 

 

MAC Artificially Wild Collection – Fall 2014 #MACCosmetics

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MAC Artificially Wild is a collection based on varying nudes in different finishes and camouflage-inspired shades. The collection launches September 4th at all MAC locations in North America. Limited edition.

Lipstick – $16.00 US/$19.00 CAD

Siss – muted golden beige (satin) – permanent
Yash – deep neutral (matte) – permanent
Icon – frosted neutral beige (frost) – repromote
Shitake – deep brown glaze (glaze) – repromote
Photo – golden brown (satin) – permanent

Lipglass – $15.00 US/$18.00 CAD

Obviously Bare – light cream grey nude
De-Nude – dirty golden beige
Spite – muted plum taupe brown – permanent
Explicit – golden bronze with icy silver shimmer – permanent

Lip Pencil – $16.00 US/$19.00 CAD

Oak – soft beige brown – permanent
Stone – muted greyish taupe brown – permanent
Cork – muted golden brown – permanent

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Eye Shadow – $16.00 US/$19.00 CAD

Artificial Earth – soft mauve nude (satin)
Stony – soft grey concrete (satin)
Marsh – soft dirty olive green (satin)
Natural Wilderness – dirty mustard golden nude (satin)

Cream Colour Base – $21.00 US/$25.00 CAD

Shell – soft pink beige with shimmer – repromote
Breaking Ground – light iridescent mauve
Au Nature – dirty mustard olive

Powder Blush – $22.00 US/$26.00 CAD

Taupe – soft beige brown (matte) – repromote
Next to Skin – soft beige (matte)
Pink Cult – mid-tone dirty neutral pink (matte) – repromote

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Top 10 MAC Products You Should Try (At Least Once!)

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Often I am asked questions like “what’s good from _insert brand here_?” or “is _brand name_ the best?”. I always tell them there’s good and bad products from every brand. But then the follow-up question is what are the good things to try? With those questions in mind, here are my top 10 MAC products you should try.

1. Cremesheen Lipstick in Modesty

Modesty is one of those super easy to wear, never fail colors. It’s a my lips but better nude (MAC says “muted neutral pink”). Great for job interviews or to pair with a smoky eye.

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2. Brush #217

The #217 brush is a white goat filbert brush and absolutely one of my most-used makeup brushes. It’s just the perfect size and shape for sweeping color over the lids. I love it so much I have 2. It is a total bitch to keep clean, though!

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3. Fix+

Fix+ is a product beloved by the masses and misunderstood by about as many. It’s a mist charged up with caffeine, glycerin, cucumber, and other skin-friendly ingredients. It works well to refresh your skin throughout the day. I also like to use it to “super charge” my moisturizer – spritz it on and massage the moisturizer in on top of it while your skin is still wet for an extra boost. It can also be used to spray down powder to make it meld with the skin better and faster.

4. Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul

The combination of the semi-translucent mineralize blush formula and its buildable nature with the perfectly toned beige of this blush make for the perfect nude cheek. It has a warm gold pearl that goes on soft and pretty– not garish or overly shiny! I’ve yet to see this blush fail anyone.

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5. Pigments

Pigments are just that – loose concentrated pigments. They have a ton of different uses. Vanilla makes a great highlight (for eyes, cheeks, anywhere really). There are tons of great eye color shades. Others can be mixed with lip colors for really cool effects, too. Melon looks great on the cheeks, eyes, or lips. Tan or Naked pigment can even be mixed in with a body lotion for a gleaming, glowy effect on your skin.

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6. Cleanse-Off Oil

Don’t be scurred to put this oil on your face; it’s one of the good guys! Start with dry skin and hands, and massage a couple pumps of this oil cleanser into your skin. The cleansing oil will dissolve the makeup and melt it off as you watch. Then rinse with water to let it emulsify and rinse clean. It’s 100% free of any mineral oil. There’s no residue, either. Yay! Bonus: there’s also Cleanse-Off Oil Tranquil for especially dry or sensitive skin. I want to try that one when I finish my bottle.

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7. Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator

I swear the first time I used the first release of volcanic ash exfoliator, a choir of angels sang at me in the shower. Okay maybe not, but I friggin love this scrub. If you’re having a breakout anywhere on your face or body, it does a great job of scrubbing away while drying up any over zealous oil production and nipping that nasty zit in the bud. But not just for acne sufferers, I use the VAE even when I’m not having skin problems. It’s just a darn good exfoliator too. It gets any yuck outta your pores and leaves your skin baby-butt smooth.

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8. 209 Eyeliner Brush

If you want to draw an uber-fine line with a teensy brush that not only has a fine tip, but holds its shape, you’ll fall in love with the 209. It’s SUPER tiny, but doesn’t splay out or fatten up after you use it. It stays sleek and teensy tiny. If you have smaller eyes and/or just want to be able to do a very thin line, you’ll fall in love.

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9. Fast Response Eye Cream

If you need to de-puff and wake up your eye area in a hurry, Fast Response lives up to its name. It has caffeine for an extra perk-up. If you need an extra boost of moisture to your lips, try Fast Response to plump up lines and moisten lips, too.

10. Eyeshadow in Patina

I hear more buzz about colors like All That Glitters, or Naked Lunch, or a plethora of other colors. But trust me, the one everyone needs to try is Patina. MAC describes Patina as “taupe brown with gold pearl”. TAUPE. PEARL. Duh. You need to try it at least once.

Have you tried any of these MAC products? What’s on your “must-try” list?

Try #EpicBlend For Happy Lips

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Ever heard of Epic Blend lip balm? I hadn’t heard of the Canada-based lip balm company until they contacted me, but I’m a lip balm freak and I liked the name Epic Blend, so I thought why not. They make lip balm in 3 recipes. Hemp lip balm contains nourishing hemp seed oil, their More Moisture lip balm contains several moisturizers like cocoa butter and shea butter, and their vegan lip balm is exactly that – lip balm sans beeswax. The vegan lip balm uses food-grade Candelilla wax instead.

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I have had a chance to try out all of the lip balms in this epic kit that Epic Blend sent me:

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I actually ended up giving one of the vegan balms to a vegan friend of mine, but to be honest I kind of which I hadn’t (sorry Laura!). The reason for that is I like the vegan balm better than the others, hahaha. I guess it’s just a preference but apparently the candelilla wax feels nicest to me. ;) Let me be clear though: all of the balms are awesome! They are all deeply moisturizing (and don’t just sit on top of your lips but actually absorb). All three recipes are made with top shelf ingredients, organic flavoring with no sweeteners, and are non-GMO, gluten-free, petroleum free, and not tested on animals.

If you have a keen eye, you’ll notice there is an unflavored option. I’m personally of the “flavor ALL THE THINGS!” school, but not all people are. For you not-even-vanilla folks out there, unflavored is for you! These balms aren’t terribly shiny either, so they are man-friendly. If you’re really into flavors, personally I think the More Moisture balms have the best flavors. I LOVE the Green Apple and Grape flavors!!!

There are currently 2 limited edition lip balm flavors available that I would just looooove to get my paws on. They’re both of the hemp lip balm recipe, and they are Chocolate Rum and Banana. BANANA! I love Banana anything.

Epic Balms have a very reasonable price tag of just $3.49 apiece. They’re also available in 4-packs for $12. Those prices are in Canadian dollars, by the way.

If Epic Blend sounds awesome to you, you gotta go get it online. According to their website there are currently no US retailers. Maybe that will change soon though. ;) I’d love to see this line in Ulta. Or heck, Whole Foods? At least they have free shipping on $20+ orders ($15+ in Canada).

Epic Blend is available from www.epicblend.com.