Makeup For Life - Beauty Blog, Makeup Tutorials, Product Reviews, Celebrity Makeup, Beauty Advice » pencil eyeliner

Pixi Beauty Spring 2011 Collection Reviews, Photos, Swatches and Giveaway

Phyllis — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:36:54 +0000

Sweep away your winter blues with Pixi’s latest Spring 2011 Collection!

Pixi Beauty Spring 2011 Collection
Succulent Lip Twin ($18) combines a multi-purpose lip balm in a tube with a solid lip and cheek tint in the cap. Ingredients include Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Lavender extract, Vitamin E and Shea Butter so you can nourish, soothe and heal stressed skin while adding a tint of color to your lips and cheeks.

There are 4 shades to choose from, Nude Lilly, Coral Camellia, Pink Peony and Poppy Red. I have Pink Peony, a bright hot pink color that is gorgeous and perfect for spring.

Pixi Succulent Lip Twin in Pink Peony (Lip Balm)

Pixi Succulent Lip Twin in Pink Peony (Lip and Cheek Tint)

Although the lip balm applies smoothly and gives my lips a nice pop of color and shine, it feels a little greasy and has a very strong smell that I am not too fond of.

The lip and cheek tint, on the other hand, is great! It is highly pigmented and really easy to use. All I have to do is apply 3 dots directly onto the apples, blend and I get a natural-looking flush that stays on all day. I also like using this on my lips for a rosy look..

Endless Silky Eye Pen ($14) is a waterproof, non-transfer eyeliner that claims to deliver the intense effect of a liquid liner at the ease of a pencil.

It comes in 6 colors, Black Noir, Black Blue, Black Tulip, Black Cocoa, Deep Plum and True Teal. Black Blue is a deep navy color with really fine shimmer.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Blue Black

The pencil has a buttery texture and goes on easily without pulling or tugging the skin. While the effect is a little short of a liquid liner, the color is pigmented and does make my brown eyes pop. Plus once the liner sets, it stays on all day with zero budging or smearing until I take it off.

Finally, Lumi Lux Radiance Power ($26) is an all-over illuminating powder in shades of peachy gold, rose, pinky peach and nude with a beautiful floral design. The colors can be used separately or altogether on the face, cheeks, eyes and décolleté to add radiance and perk up tired skin.

Pixi Lumi Lux Radiance Powder

Pixi Lumi Lux Radiance Powder

Below is me wearing Succulent Lip Twin in Pink Peony on the cheeks and lips and Endless Silky Eye Pen in Blue Black smudged around the eye:

Wearing Pixi Succulent Lip Twin in Pink Peony and Endless Silky Eye Pen in Blue Black

Since I already own a few Pixi palettes with similar colors, I will be giving the Pixi Lumi Lux Radiance Powder away to one lucky reader. To enter, just leave a comment here by 2/10.

Update: The giveaway has ended and the winner is Connie.

The Pixi Spring 2011 collection is now available at Target stores nationwide and to celebrate the relaunch of Pixi’s website,www.pixibeauty.com, you can get 20% off everything for a limited period with coupon code TWENTYOFF.

Disclosure: The product in this entry was provided by the manufacturer for consideration. Please see my Disclaimer for more information on my posting policy.

CoverGirl LiquiLine Blast Eye Liner Review and Swatches

Phyllis — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:11:37 +0000

Used by makeup master Pat McGrath all over the European runways at Fashion Week, CoverGirl’s newest LiquiLine Blast Eyeliner promises to deliver all-day, striking intensity of a liquid with the effortless application of a pencil.

CoverGirl LiquiLineBlast Eye Liners
The liner comes in 6 wearable colors, including Black Fire (black), Brown Blaze (brown), Silver Spark (gray), Violet Voltage( purple), Green Glow (green) and Blue Bloom (blue). I have Silver Spark, which is a gorgeous metallic dark gray that was worn by Katy Perry at the MTV Movie Awards.

CoverGirl LiquiLineBlast Eye Liner in Silver Spark Swatch

Compared to regular pencil eyeliners, the LiquiLineBlast has a slightly waxier texture. It glides on very smoothly and easily without tugging the skin. Pigmentation is superb and thanks to its silicone formula, the liner stays put all day once it sets. The angled smudger tip is also great for toning down a line that is too thick or harsh. Definitely a great alternative to MAC liners!

In order to share the love, I will be giving away a brand new CoverGirl LiquiLine Blast Eyeliner in Brown Blaze to one lucky reader! Please leave a comment with your name and e-mail address by June 28th.

Overall Rating:

LiquiLineBlast Eye Liner will be available at mass-market retail outlets nationwide beginning July 2010 for $7.99.

* Update: The giveaway has ended and the winner is Diana!

Disclosure: The product in this entry was provided by the manufacturer for consideration. Please see my Disclaimer for more information on my posting policy.

MAC Art Supplies Collection Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner Reviews and Swatches

Phyllis — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:36:27 +0000

I have always loved MAC’s Pearlglide Eye Liners so how can I resist the newly formulated Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners?

MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liners

MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Undercurrent, Black Line and Almost Noir

MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Undercurrent, Black Line and Almost Noir

These babies come in 6 gorgeous colors that are highly metallic with awesome pigmentation. Like the original Pearlglide Eye Liners, the texture is ultra creamy and apply smoothly without tugging the skin. The liners also stay put very well once they set with zero fallout. Definitely worth the $14.50!

Industrial, Petrol, Undercurrent, Almost Noir, Designer Purple and Black Line swatches

Almost Noir is a burgundy plum with golden flecks, which reminds me of MAC Trax eyeshadow.
Designer Purple is a beautiful vibrant violet.
Petrol is a dark navy color. I don’t find this color to be that special.
Undercurrent is a bright teal with gold shimmer.
Industrial is a lighter version of Petrol with more silver undertones.
Black Line is nothing like the “true black” as described on MAC’s website but a gorgeous dark gold mixed with green. One of my favorites for sure.

Overall Rating:

Disclosure: The products in this entry were purchased by me. Please see my Disclaimer for more information on my posting policy.

MAC Suite Array Collection Review and Swatches

Phyllis — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:48:00 +0000

MAC’s latest Suite Array Collection brings us two new products for the eyes, Eye Shadow Suites and Pearlglide Liners.

The Eye Shadow Suites ($16) come in 8 pairs of complementing/contrasting colors. They are all matte with a pearly finish and while they are pretty to look at, the coverage is very sheer and you will definitely need a base underneath.

* Blue Zone – Deep grey/green with silver pearl/Light ice blue with silver pearl
* Ocean 2 – Mid-tone blue with silver pearl/Light blue with silver pearl
* Smoke & Ash – Black with silver pearl/Mid-tone grey silver with pearl
* Counterparts – Deep forest with gold pearl/Mid-tone orange with gold pearl
* Rose Suites – Intense blue pink/Light yellow with silver pearl
* Shallow v. Deep – Bluish green with gold pearl/Mint with silver pearl
* Sweet Liason – Pale yellow with gold pearl/Deep brown with gold pearl
* Team Violets – Dark burgundy with burgundy pearl /Mid-tone violet with gold pearl

The new and limited edition Pearlglide Liners ($14.50) are the real winners in this collection and I swear they are MAC’s best pencil liners! They are ultra creamy and glide on so easily! There are a total of 8 gorgeous colors available and they are all rich and metallic with a sparkly finish. You can smudge them out for a softer look or you can just let them set for a more solid effect. The staying power is also great. I ended up with Black Russian and Rave and they make my brown eyes pop!

* Wolf – Deep grey with gold glitter
* Rave – Deep purple with purple glitter
* Fly-by-Blu – Light blue with blue glitter
* Black Russian – Black with navy blue glitter
* Miss Fortune – Eggplant with light pink glitter
* Bankroll – Rich green with bright green sparkle
* Spare Change – Mid-tone brown with copper glitter
* Molasses – Brown with mid-tone brown glitter

Onto the swatches:

Black Russian and Rave Pearlglide Liners

Giorgio Armani Cosmetics Makeover Afterthoughts and Product Reviews

Phyllis — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:24:00 +0000

Here are my thoughts of the products used during my makeover at Giorgio Armani Cosmetics.

Compared to the Luminous Silk Foundation, the new Designer Shaping Cream Foundation ($65) feels so much richer. It glides right onto my skin and provides a heavier coverage and a teeny bit goes a *long* way. While I have yet to see it add any kind of contour/shaping to my face, it does impart a nice, luminous glow. This also tends to run a little lighter than the LSF. I’m a #4 in LSF but use #5 for this and with self-tanner on, I am a #6. All in all, I love the texture, coverage and of course, the SPF 20. My only rant would be the hefty price tag – it retails £45 in London which is roughly $90 – and the jar packaging. I’ll admit that the jar is pretty and you do get a lot of product but in terms of hygiene and practicality, a pump dispenser would be much better.

As for the High Precision Retouch ($35), it is a liquid concealer that comes in a slim black tube with a thin, eyeliner-like applicator. Similar to Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat, it contains light reflective pearls to “blur away imperfections, treat dark circles and highlight the complexion”. The shade selection is surprisingly limited with only 3 available, which all tend to run light. I use #3.5 Light Sand, which is already the darkest shade and a perfect match for my NC30 skin. Thanks to the Vitamin E and moisturizers, the concealer feels super creamy, non-drying and does not settle into fine lines. When applied onto my undereye area, down my nose and on the center of my chin and forehead, it does a great job brightening my eye area and adding radiance to my skin. Coverage-wise, this is a lot better than the Touche Eclat. However, if you have serious undereye circles like I do, it will still not suffice to camouflage them completely. I highly recommend using this on top of your foundation or concealer as a highlighter instead of a concealer.

The Eyeshadows ($24) come in mostly neutral, earthy colors so my initial thought was wow, what a limited color range. Despite the conservativeness, these colors are actually pretty fool-proof and would work on anyone. Unlike MAC eyeshadows, they do not come in different formulas. They all have a silky satin finish with a luminous sheen and are decently pigmented. Texture-wise, they are absolutely lovely and great to work with. Definitely great stuff if you like neutral makeup.

The ma used Smooth Silk Eye Pencils ($24) in #4 and #5 on me and I really like the texture of these. They are so soft and does not tug at all. The sponge that comes with it is also great for blending the line for a smoky look. The only downside is that they do smudge. I drew a line on my hand, rubbed it gently and it smeared and rubbed off right away. Not good if you are looking for something that would last.

The Star Lash ($26) does curl, lengthen and thicken my lashes but it did not wow me and I do not find it any different from the drugstore brands that I have tried. Plus unlike my Bourjois Yes to Volume mascara, this actually smudged onto my lower eye. There is *no* way I am paying $26 for this!

The Smooth Lip Pencil ($25) has got to be the best lip liner I have ever tried (and it better be at this price!) Before this, I have always hated the idea of lip liners. I never seem to get the shape right plus most pencils I have tried are wayyyy too hard to blend. This, however, is super soft and makes drawing the line so painless! I will definitely be picking up more of these!

The Lip Shimmers ($26) come in some pretty colors and the ma used #22, a peachy nude which is similar to my Baby Pink gloss, on me. I actually like the texture of this better than MAC Lipglass. They also tend to stay on better without leaving a white ring around my lips. Good stuff!

When I asked for a nude lip color, the ma suggested one of her favorites – Lipstick Mania ($25) in #32, a gorgeous nude that will look good on pretty much any skintone. The packaging is also uber sleek and the lipstick itself is pretty darn awesome too. The texture is silky smooth and it is so moisturizing that I barely need any lip balm underneath. No wonder GA is famous for their lipsticks.