Beauty – Page 8 – Hoots of a Night Al

Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick by Marc Jacobs in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

June 20, 2016 5 Comments

Love this lipcolor? Me too! I love the shade, the formula, the name…everything! Well…everything except the price. Let me back up a bit, though! This is the Le Marc Lipstick by Marc Jacobs in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is referred to as “dusty rose” or “baked rose.” I think that’s the perfect description! It’s a warm rose tone, that is perfect for everyday wear.

I have been wearing it in a few recent posts and out in public, and I get complimented on it more than any other lipstick I own! I think that’s a testament to what a pretty color it is.

It is also super pigmented, so I think the beautiful color will translate regardless of your natural lip color.

The formula is very moisturizing and extremely long-wearing. I wore this to a blogging event last week, and long after eating lunch and drinking water, it was still going strong.

The price is a little steep for my drugstore taste at around $30 a tube. However, I will say this lipstick lives up to the price. If you want a similar look for less, I would recommend Revlon’s Matte Balm in Sultry. It’s another favorite of mine, and it is also a dusty rose color (albeit slightly darker).

What are your favorite lipsticks for everyday?

Beauty

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette

June 14, 2016 8 Comments

Okay, I’m finally reviewing the Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette. Before you get all, “Ali, where have you been the past 3 years?!” don’t be rude! If you’ve spent any time reading my blog, you’ll notice I definitely favor drugstore makeup. They have tons of quality products for great prices, so I have trouble justifying buying most “high end” makeup items. However, my sister gave me a Sephora gift card, so I decided to splurge a bit and get this palette!

I went back and forth between all of the Naked Palettes, but after swatching all the colors, Naked 3 was the clear winner!

It’s packed with 12 amazing shadows, and I love each and every one! There isn’t a single shadow that I don’t think I’ll use! There are countless looks I can create with this palette alone from day-to-night, shimmery-to-matte, and natural-to-glamorous.

The shadows include shimmery pinks, a perfect matte highlight, neutrals, a red-toned black, and many more. I think the overall theme of the palette is rose gold (considering the beautiful packaging), and that definitely compliments my blue eyes. These shadows would be stunning with any skin or eye color though.

The shadows are very pigmented, so a little goes a long way. The palette also comes with four sample sizes of various Urban Decay eyeshadow primers. They claim each sample contains a week’s worth of uses, so you can really stretch them out.

All of the shadows are very easy to blend, and regardless of which ones you pick, they all go together nicely. I used a combination of five of the metallic and pearl shades, and I love how it turned out. Next, I definitely want to try using just the matte shadows.

If you only want to invest in one eyeshadow palette, I think this would be a good option. These eyeshadows are all exclusive to the Naked 3 palette. While the price is a little high for me, it’s a great value considering how many colors you get and what great quality they are. Plus, a nice, double-ended eyeshadow brush is included.

The hardshell packaging is great for traveling, and the exterior seems like it will be easy to clean after being toted around in my dirty makeup bag.

I’m very happy with the quality and quantity of eyeshadows in this palette, so I may be investing in more Naked palettes in the future!

Don’t worry, I’m definitely still a drugstore makeup girl at heart, but let’s just say I’ll be keeping my eye on Urban Decay from now on, too!

Have you tried any of the Naked palettes? What higher end products do you think are worth the money? Let me know!

Foundation: Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1

Bronzer: NYX Matte Bronzer

Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

Covergirl The Super Sizer by LashBlast Mascara

June 3, 2016 No Comments

I’m breaking out of my Maybelline bubble, to blog about Covergirl’s New The Super Sizer by LashBlast Mascara in Very Black. I have been seeing this promoted everywhere lately, so I picked up a tube to try myself.

As you can see the wand is pretty unique. It is slender and the bristles are relatively short. The are attached in a sort of swirl, so you’re supposed to twirl the brush as you apply the mascara. I found the wand pretty easy to work with. It does take a little getting used to though.

It comes in 3 colors: Black Brown, Black, and Very Black. I always reach for the blackest mascara possible because I think it provides the most impact.

According to Covergirl, this mascara is supposed to provide “400% more corner-to-corner volume for full, fanned out lashes.” I think it mostly delivers.

My lashes definitely have more volume and length when I’m wearing this, BUT AT WHAT COST!? Hah, kidding. Drama aside, my lashes definitely clump when I’m applying The Super Sizer mascara, and the short-bristled, swirled brush isn’t the best tool for separating my lashes. Of course, if I work with it long enough, I can get it to work. However, other mascaras make clump-free lashes much more attainable.

Maybe to some people clumps equal volume? I much prefer separated lashes that are somehow volumized while remaining clump-free, but who am I to know what everyone wants?

The Super Sizer mascara is mostly flake-free, which is a plus. It doesn’t smear at all even in the heat, which is nice as well.

I have noticed a little bit of eye irritation when wearing this mascara, even though it is ophthalmologist tested. However, that could be due to allergies or another factor, I just wanted to mention it in case anyone reading has super sensitive eyes. You may want to avoid this one.

Another pro of this mascara is the price. From what I’ve seen it runs around $2 cheaper than many other drugstore mascaras…usually around $5-$6 depending on the store.

Overall, I’d give this mascara about a 7/10. Is it fabulous enough to make me abandon being a Maybelline Babebelline and try to be a Covergirl? Nope, probably not. (Also Maybelline Babelline was gross, I’m sorry.)

If you’re in the market for a new drugstore mascara though, I’d feel comfortable recommending it!

Covergirl’s The Super Sizer Mascara is available online, at drugstores, and at many big box retailers. If you decide to try it, let me know what you think!

As always, thanks so much for reading!

*FACE MAKEUP: Maybelline Fit Me Foundation & Concealer

*LIPSTICK: Maybelline Lipstick in Vivid Rose

*EYELINER: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner

*BRONZER: NYX Matte Bronzer

*This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you click on them or make a purchase using them, I may receive a small percentage. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation and Concealer

May 13, 2016 6 Comments

I have been seeing the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation and Maybelline Fit Me Concealer praised all over the place lately. From people who love high end makeup to drugstore fans, these seem to be pleasing everyone!

I decided to jump on the bandwagon, so I purchased both of these products last week. I feel like I have finally used them enough to write a review.

No surprise, I’M A FAN! I purchased the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair 15. There is another light shade, Light 10, but it seemed to have more yellow undertones. Fair had pink undertones, which suits my skin better.

It comes in sleek packaging with a doe foot applicator. I have been using it as both an under-eye concealer and to cover blemishes and redness.

The formula is great! It’s so creamy and smooth, without being greasy or looking too thick. It easily blends out with either my finger or Beauty Blender and provides enough lightness without making me look like a raccoon.

In fact, my mom has been on the quest for a good under-eye concealer for years and has tried every high-end product around, and she recently tried this and loves it, too!

I think the concealer adds brightness, while blending seamlessly into my foundation, which is everything I look for in a concealer. Oh, and coverage, duh. It does a great job of that, too. 🙂

For the foundation, I picked up the shade Natural Ivory 112. It is the second lightest shade, and seemed to have similar coloring and undertones to the concealer.

I LOVE THIS FOUNDATION. It seemed slightly drying when I first put it on, but I decided to wear it regardless, and give it a chance. I’m so happy I did! I’ve always wanted to have that porcelain skin look, but I feel like I can’t ever achieve it with my freckles. This foundation got me the closest I’ve ever been!

It comes in a bottle with no pump, so I simply dot it around my face with my fingers and blend it in with a foundation brush.

It definitely diminishes the look of my pores (I think anyway, based on the photo below!), and gives my face a flawless finish without looking like I have tons of makeup caked. It supposedly contains micro-powders that help absorb oils throughout the day, but I still get shiny after a few hours of wear.

What else is there to say? I’m a believer! This foundation and concealer combination is my current favorite, and at around $10 for both, I think it will be for quite awhile!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser and Nourishing Night Cream

May 11, 2016 2 Comments

I have always had issues with redness on my face, but a few weeks ago, it looked even worse than usual. I set out to find some new skincare products to try and help. I get so overwhelmed when it comes to picking out a new face wash, so I tried to narrow it down and specifically look for one that helped with redness.

Right away the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser jumped out at me. In its description it specifically says it helps reduce the appearance of redness through their trademarked ingredient “calming feverfew.”

I started using the cleanser that day, and I’ve been washing my face with it everyday for about two weeks. I must say, I’m super impressed! It helped reduce the redness on my cheeks within just a few days, and it’s gentle enough to use every night when I wash my face.

It’s good, not great, at removing my makeup. It gets off all of my face makeup easily, but I have to use a makeup remove to help get off my eye makeup most of the time. However, since I purchased it more for the redness calming property, I’m not complaining!

In conjunction with the cleanser, I purchased the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Nourishing Night Cream to use as my nightly moisturizer. I have used this every night as well, and I love it! It is smooth and creamy and soaks into my skin without leaving a greasy residue.

It hasn’t clogged my pores at all, and I think it has definitely aided the cleanser in reducing the redness on my cheeks and nose. Speaking of my nose, if you’re sensitive to smells, you may want to avoid this moisturizer. It claims to be fragrance free, but the Active Naturals Oat ingredient definitely gives it a yeast-like smell. It kind of makes me feel like a Sandwich Artist at Subway. (I ignorantly assume they all smell like bread all the time.) It’s pretty strong at first, but I think it does fade relatively quickly.

The ultra-calming line also has make-up removing wipes and a daily moisturizer. I have used the makeup-up wipes before, and they’re also great!

If you struggle with facial redness, you should consider purchasing some products from the Aveeno Ultra-Calming line. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!