Maybelline Fit Me and the Zumba Test!!

When I heard that the Maybelline Fit Me line of products was being released in Walmart's in Canada I just had to run out and take a look! I was excited to see the display but was lucky to find shades that matched me. They only had 2 of the 6 concealers shown online and 6 of the 18 foundation shades! I am not sure if this was just my location so if you have seen the whole line please leave a comment and let me know!

Like I said I was lucky to find my shade in foundation and concealer. I may try the blush at a later time but I didn't see a shade that was different from those I have. I also skipped on the powder as when I tested it I really felt the powder with not finely milled and felt and looked chalky on the skin of my hand!

I bought the foundation in 125 nude beige and concealer in 20 sand as the light shade available had a pink undertone which does not erase redness like a yellow based does!

I decided to give these products the ultimate test and tried them for the first time on my skin while doing a Zumba class, but first I want you to know my initial thoughts. The foundation had a lovely medium coverage without looking masky. The finish was quite dewy and it took very little product to do my whole face. The concealer was a lighter coverage then some may like but I really liked the way it hide redness and dark circles without coming across as heavy and hiding my skin completely!

Now to the Zumba test and my thoughts! This was my first Zumba class and with buying these products today I just couldn't help but taking advantage to test how this foundation would hold up. I applied a light application of foundation and concealer and walked out the door with no powder to my 30 min class. I totally thought I felt makeup meltdown as I worked out but went on (I did not wipe my face during the workout and only blotted it afterwards). Once home I headed to the bathroom to check out the damage. I was shocked to see that there was minimum meltdown going on! I had wear on my forehead due to my bangs, and slight wear on my chin the oiliest part of my face! I was so pleasantly surprised that this product lasted so well!

If you can check out this line because for how light and dewy this foundation and concealer are the staying power is amazing and it really looks like skin not makeup!

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner Review

A few months back I did a short post about the Maybelline Gel Liners when I saw them in-store for the first time. I was thinking about giving them a try and wanted to know what you thought! Well I was lucky enough to be a sent the colour selection for review along with the entire Eye Studio line, so look for more reviews in the future!

There are four colours in the Lasting Drama Gel Liner collection, black, grey, plum and brown. As stated in my previous post these liners are an 'oil-free formula can hold highly concentrated pigments in a clear gel base. So color is more intense and lines resist wear for 24 hours, smudge-proof and water-proof and the most intense line for lasting drama'. 

I first tried black because it my favourite liner colour and the easiest for me as lesser quality liners never show as an inky black colour. Well I loved this liner, it was comparable to my most expensive gel liners without a doubt. This liner went on very smoothly and dried down well on my oily lids. The black was dark and inky which creates amazing drama on the eye.

The brush was usable in a pinch but not my favourite so I did go back to my standard liner brushes when applying this product. The brush couldn't create as many shapes as I like, but I wouldn't say it is a complete waste and I have actually used it as a spot concealer brush!

The other colours in the collection were all nicely done. I love the plum not only as a liner but as a base for purple shadow looks! The brown isn't for you if you like a very deep shade, as this one is a lighter chocolate shade, but it works well in many looks.

Overall I think Maybelline did a great job with these liners, and I have been using them a lot since receiving my goodies in the mail!

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

Maybelline has finally added a gel liner to the line up. I noticed while shopping the other day that the Eye Studio line as added a gel liner that comes in 4 colours for you to try; black, brown, grey and plum. The liner also comes with the brush to apply it with, but from a close look I think I would stick to the brush I use now.

Maybelline claims that 'only our oil-free formula can hold highly concentrated pigments in a clear gel base. So color is more intense and lines resist wear for 24 hours, smudge-proof and water-proof and the most intense line for lasting drama'. Reviews I have read are mixed, some say it is a great product while others hated it. I have gathered that those who use only liner find that it smudges (especially if you have oily lids). Those who prime and layer product find it wears well. 

I've decided I'm going to give this liner a try next time I see it on sale, just in case I don't like it! Have you tried this liner?? If so what did you think of it?

Maybelline Eye Studio in Sinful Sinnamon

I recently decided to pick up Maybelline Eye Studio duo in Sinful Sinnamon as I really felt that Maybelline was trying to do a dupe of MAC's Mineralize eye shadow duo and I just had to try it out. Now this statement did not come from Maybelline, but one look and you see many similarities in appearance.

This duo has a brownish burgundy on one side and a marbleized combo of pinks on the other. I am going to review one colour at a time to make it a little easier. The burgundy side has a high pearl to it much like many other mineral shadows. The texture was very soft, almost creamy and was very easy to apply. This colour looks great on people with green eye's but the shade has enough brown in it to look great on other eye colours as well. I found it made my eye's look a little irritated unless I used a black liner to break up the line between the shadow and my eye but my eyes look red very easily. Overall this colour wore very well and it definitely has found a place in m makeup bag.

The marbleized side was a different story. I found this shadow to be extremely crumbly and un-smooth to try and pick up on the brush. When I applied it to the eye I did not see a pink only a sparkly mess that did not stay on my eye at all but did seem to land on the rest of my face. I can't seem to find any use for this colour and wish it wasn't even there to crumble and make a mess.

Overall I did like the deeper shade and I did like it enough to eventually try some the other shades in the line. As with all new products, hopefully the next generation will fix the pitfalls that this product had.

I can't say that the same problem with the marbleized side would be true with all of the colours available! If you have tried this product out let me know what you think! Did you have a better result with the marbleized side then I did??

Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions Mascara

Maybelline launched a few products over the holiday season with the launches came Extensions mascara, so I decided to give it a try! At first I thought this would be a comparison to my L'Oreal Beauty Tubes, but this one is a totally different product. It is however extremely similar to the XXL Extensions™ XX-TREME LENGTH Microfiber Mascara So I may try that one next so I can compare for you all!

Maybelline says the following about this mascara 'Sweep the microfiber basecoat from root to tip of lashes to tame and align unruly lashes. Before the basecoat dries, sweep the lash extending topcoat from root to tip of lashes to achieve up to 85% longer lashes.' Ok so I don't know about 85% longer lashes, but once I used this mascara a few times I really started to like the look it gave me!

My lashes look longer, but also fuller which is something Maybelline doesn't claim but it something I love in a mascara. Most 2 step mascara's give great volume and this one is no different. It did not give any clumping, and the mascara stayed in place all day with no flaking or smudging. I did find it took a little work to remove, but it makes sense that it would with this formula.

I did wish that this came in a richer black as I really like my mascara as dark as possible, but those options always come after the launch so here's hoping it comes in the future.

If you love 2 step mascara's be sure to check out my post on L'Oreal Beauty Tubes as well!

Maybelline Superstay Foundation

This weekend I went out and purchased Maybelline's Superstay foundation. Superstay is the newest addition the the Maybelline foundation line up and is the replacement for the old long lasting foundation Maybelline once offered which was double sided and was blended once pumped from the bottle.

I really wanted to like this foundation but I just couldn't do it. All of you who read my blog know how much I LOVE Revlon's Colorstay so that is my comparison for sure. First of all Maybelline usually offers a great selections of colours for those who have both yellow and pink undertones. The Superstay however did not. Although the disply showed every other colour having the different undertone, when tested all were pink compared to my skin until I got the the shade nude, which is the fourth from the lightest shade in the collection and is darker then my skin tone. I did decide to try it as when I self tan I am much darker. 

As soon as I started to apply it I noticed a orange hue to my skin, as well it looked heavy but still did not cover all my redness. My Revlon goes on creamy and begins to cover right away with even the lightest application. I had to apply too much product for my liking in order to get the coverage so that redness didn't come through and by then it looked heavy. It did set to powder finish which is nice, but I did find that it made any dryness in my skin more noticeable.

As for all day wear I cannot say that is true either. Wearing the Maybelline just as I do my Revlon I saw noticeable signs of wear within a few hours. I did not rub my face with a cloth or anything extreme, just normal wear as compared to my favorite brand. 

I think if you only wanted a light coverage and had a pink undertone it MAY work for you. For me however who needs a medium coverage, has combination skin and a yellow undertone Superstay was totally not the right product.

I will not be giving up my Revlon Colorstay anytime soon!!!! 

Maybelline's Mineral Power Foundation Review

I recently reviewed Maybelline's Mineral Power concealer as one of my favorite concealers. At the time I touched on the foundations but decided I better include a more in-depth review so that you have a complete overview of this line (there are powder ad blush components to this line as well I may discuss at a later time).

Mineral Power consists of two types of foundation; a traditional powder foundation as well as mineral liquid foundation. I have personally tried both of these products and there is a clear winner in my books which I will get to soon. First we will discuss the liquid formulation.

This product is much like the concealer as it is not greasy or oily in anyway allowing it to blend very well into the skin. This product gives amazing coverage for how light it is, I would call the product a medium coverage foundation. The product comes in a very wide selection of shades which I found amazing, everyone was included when they formulated these shades. As well seeing as it is a mineral formulation it is great for problem skin (as it has no fillers) and works well from oil skin to dry. Many oily skinned girls know that liquid foundations can change colour (up to 2 shades) due to oxidation, this one does not have that problem!

Mineral Power's other offering is the traditional mineral powder formulation. Overall mineral powders are not my favorite as I feel they only work on skin that is pretty much flawless to begin with. They tend to exaggerate problems in the skin as well as any lines that may be present. That being said Mineral Power's is one of the best I have tried, I have worn it several times since I received the product and found it ok for light coverage. The one thing I do not like as with most mineral foundations is that it turns begins to give a white hue when it reacts with my oily skin. Again this is one of the better formulations I have tried and is great for young non problem skin but not my go-to product for sure.

So if you couldn't pick the winner in my books it is the liquid formulation. It is what I carry in my kit at the moment and I have it to be a great product on all ages and skin types I have encountered thus far!

Give Mineral Power a try if you are in the market for a new foundation!

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer Review

So a few days ago I mentioned that I would review my favorite concealer for the face so here it is...Maybelline's Mineral Power natural perfecting concealer. 

I tried this concealer last year when working with Maybelline and this quickly became one of my favorite products. The colour selection is one of the best I have seen even for the palest skin tones but still doesn't leave out those of you with deep tones. There is no greasy quality to this concealer allowing it to blend flawlessly into the skin without getting heavy or cakey. When I am without my Age Rewind concealer (please check out my review if you haven't all ready) it is a great substitute for under the eye as well! Even though the consistency is light it still covers flawlessly covering even the most uneven skin. A little of this product goes a long way so the little tube lasts a long time, making this product even more affordable.

I have tried several mineral products in the past and until now I have always been disappointed, either my pigmentation or consistency issues. Minerals always seemed to exaggerate the look of dry of mature skin which is something non of us want!   

I like the other products in this mineral power line as well, the liquid foundation I use in my kit as it is so gentle on the skin. This is a wonderful thing when you are working with so many skin types everyday. I use the blushes as well; they come in great shades and are so natural on the skin.

Please check out Maybelline's mineral power natural perfecting concealer, and don't forget to try out some of the other products from the line out as well!!!

Maybelline Age Rewind Double Face Perfector Review

Don't let the name of this one fool you, this concealer is not only for people wanting to rewind time. Maybelline's double face perfector  is one of the best drug store brands for those of us who have under eye darkness. 

I like this one because it is two products in one, a liquid concealer on one end and a liquid highlighter on the other. The reason that I feel this is a great idea is that for many women when trying to cover darkness beneath the eye, too much product ends up being used with the result of a cakey look. This only draws attention to the very thing you were trying to hide, those dark circles. Maybelline's perfector allows you to use a little concealer along with the highlighter to reflect light away from the eye differently not casting as many shadows and giving the illusion of no darkness without a lot of product!

This one isn't the best for skin imperfections on the face itself ( I will do that review soon so stay tuned ), but as an under eye product it is a complete winner!!!

If you have always been bothered by those dark circles give Maybelline's Age Rewind Double Face Perfector a try, the only thing you have to loose are those circles!!!

Colossal Volum' Mascara now in Waterproof

Just a little update for anyone who loves Colossal Volum' just as much as I do!! I just saw the waterproof version in store today which makes me very happy. My clients have been asking my why Colossal Volum' isn't in my kit when I talk about how much I love it. The answer was a only carry waterproof in my kit so it wasn't an option!

Well that has now changed. I am waiting for the Walmart in my area to carry it as I hate paying $3 more at a drug store for the same product, but it will be buying it very soon! I do not suggest wearing waterproof everyday as it is drying but for all you ladies who like to wear waterproof on special occasions etc.

I have read one review for the waterproof version (which was all I could find) and they didn't like the waterproof version as well as the washable. As with everything though everyone has their own opinion and I am hoping that Maybelline will not let me down with this one.

I'll give you all an update once I get a chance to try it out!!

Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara Launch

Maybelline is launching a new mascara Pulse Perfection which has a vibrating wand. This is much like Lancome's Oscillation Powerbooster which should be no surprise as both companies are part of the Loreal brand. This mascara is not yet available in stores but can be ordered online from the link I have included within this post. Maybelline's offering is half the price of the Lancome mascara at approx $20 retail and offers much the same promises!

I have not used the Maybelline mascara but I have used Lancome's version. Personally I found it to be a lot of hype. Unless you find it extremely taxing to work your mascara into the lashes this vibration is totally not necessary! I do feel it may work for anyone with limitations in hand movement to achieve a better mascara result but other then those individuals it is really not worth the extra cost.

Although I don't feel it is worth the hype I probably will try this mascara when it comes on the market just to see if some improvements have been made. For all you makeup junkies out there I know you don't want to miss a new product launch.

If you try this one please come back and leave a comment letting us know what you thought of it!

Once I try it myself I will include an updated review!

Mascara's You Should Leave at the Store

I am always on the search for a better mascara which I am sure is something that can be said for most makeup wearers! Mascara is a personal choice and it seems that what works for one just doesn't work for someone else. I am reviewing some of my resent buys that I personally feel you should leave in the store. Some people feel the same and others just don't agree as you can see by reviews on makeup alley.

The first is Maybelline's Stiletto mascara, a brand I usually feel do mascara's well but personally I feel like they didn't get this one right. It took several and I mean 4-5 coats to get the look I usually want. By then my lashes didn't look longer but actually made them loose curl and stand straight out. The brush is great for getting at those little lashes in the corner, but the formulation leaves a lot to be desired as instead of a 'patent finish' as advertised it started to flake within a few hours. There is also an odour that comes from ingredients to nourish the lashes but can cause sensitive eye's to water.

Second is Lash Blast from Covergirl, I had to try it as the advertising just can't be ignored! The formulation is ok, nothing special but doesn't clump that badly and doesn't run. My biggest problem was the bohemith brush which cannot get into corners and when you try to get into the lash line really easily smudges onto the eye lid itself. I just found it too hard to work with and wasn't woth the effort when the formulation of the mascara itself was nothing special.

Thirdly is another Maybelline mascara; Define a lash. I had high hopes for this one and again as with Covergirls offering there was nothing wrong with the formulation itself. My problem again was the brush, it was so flimsy that then you tried to apply it to the lashes the wand would bend and you could not work the product into the lashes. Several companies do great lenthening mascara's with the new elastomer (rubber type) brush. Loreal's Telescopic is my favorite drug store brand giving clump free application that still gives firmness in the wand for proper application. Maybelline just didn't quite get this one right.

So these are the three in the past couple months that I would leave in the store. Soon I will be reviewing my favorites so stay tuned for that!

If you have any products that you would like to see reviewed please send me a message or include in the comment section and I may include it soon.