new makeup review – Hoots of a Night Al

Best Drugstore BeautyBlender Replacement? Flower Beauty 3-in-1 Blending Sponge Review

August 20, 2018 2 Comments

If you’ve read my blog before, you know I’m a huge fan of drugstore beauty products. I love trying higher-end products from time to time, but I believe that you can get equally amazing results with cheaper products. Based on that, I was so excited to try out a “drugstore” 3-in-1 blending sponge from Flower Beauty.

For the record, I typically use the Original BeautyBlender, and I love it! It costs $20, but it lasts me for several months, so I consider that a good investment. However, I saw that the Flower Beauty Sponge was getting amazing reviews, and it only costs $10 (hello 50% savings!), so I figured I would give it a try!

As you can see, it’s a beautiful lavender color and offers three distinct areas for applying your makeup. According to their site, “The Precise Tip allows for application around the eyes & nose. The Flat Teardrop Surface may be used for contouring and hard-to-reach areas. The Cupped Base buffs foundation seamlessly to create airbrushed look.”

So, how does it stand up against my BeautyBlender? In some ways it’s better…but in some ways it’s worse. As you can see below, it’s roughly the same size as a BeautyBlender when dry. However, when dampened it. is. HUGE. I loved this! The rounded bottom got so large that I could apply my foundation in half the time! This is my current favorite foundation, so I’ve been pumping it directly on my Flower Beauty Sponge and just dabbing away.

While I love the larger size for applying foundation, it made applying and blending my concealer under my eyes and around my eyes much more difficult. The “precise tip” gets pretty wide once dampened, so it just doesn’t work for my under-eye area when blending. However, I did like the “flat teardrop surface” for contouring and applying setting powder around my nose.

So I guess you could say it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. 🙂 The Flower Beauty 3-in-1 Blending Sponge is a great, cheaper alternative for applying your liquid foundation and setting powder quickly, but I would have another tool handy for applying and blending out your concealer. Do you have any other drugstore BeautyBlender alternatives I should test out?

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Beauty

wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Plaid to the Bone

September 12, 2016 1 Comment

I’ve been on a bit of a roll recently reviewing wet n wild’s Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection. I figured I would continue the streak and share my thoughts about their other new Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio, Plaid to the Bone.

Similar to Velour Vixen, this eyeshadow palette contains three shades designated for certain areas of your eye (Browbone, Crease, Eyelid). However, while Velour Vixen was all warm tones, Plaid to the Bone contains cool tones.

The “browbone” shade is a tan shimmer. While I wouldn’t use this on my browbone per se, it is a great transition or base shade.

The “crease” shade is a beautiful navy shimmer. This is my favorite color in the palette, and I used it to line my lower lash line as well. I think this would mix well with other shadows like copper or bronze.

Finally, the “eyelid” shade is a shimmer green with gold tones. It’s a very bizarre color and looks completely different swatched and applied than it does in the palette.

I usually prefer plums, reds, or neutral browns for eyeshadow, so I was unsure of this palette when I purchased it and even when I applied it. I decided to try it for the first time on a day I was substitute teaching. Um, PRO TIP: DON’T try new makeup on a day you have to go out in public.

Since this palette definitely seems like more of an evening look to me, I ended up feeling a bit like a showgirl at school all day, but hey, life goes on. Also, looking at these pictures, the look isn’t quite as dramatic as I felt it looked in person that day. *Whew*

However, since this is a bolder shadow look, I would recommend pairing it with a more neutral lip color. I’ve yet to find a nude lipstick that doesn’t look like a concealer on me, so I stuck with an old faithful, MAC Viva Glam V.

These shadows are very pigmented, so a little goes a long way! I would recommend starting light and building up to your desired intensity, which shouldn’t take much product at all.

There is definitely a little bit of fallout, but lightly tapping your eyeshadow brush before application will help with that. I also applied Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded as a primer. It helps my shadow stay put ALL day long.

Will this be my new everyday shadow? Probably not. But I can see myself reaching for it in the future! I think it would be great for date night, or I would love to use the navy “crease” shade with a bronze shimmer.

Not to mention wet n wild’s Plaid to the Bone shadow trio is only $2.99. For less than $3, you really can’t beat it! I have one more review from wet n wild’s Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection still to come, so I hope y’all aren’t sick of beautiful makeup for amazing prices yet!

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: e.l.f. Studio HD Translucent Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Plaid to the Bone

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

Blush: Wet n Wild Icon Blusher Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

Lipstick: MAC Viva Glam V

Beauty

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Kisses

July 14, 2016 12 Comments

Hey party people! Great news! Remember the Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolors I loved in Temptation and Love? Well, Revlon released more colors, and they’re beautiful!

I snagged their new color, Kisses, recently, and it’s so great. It’s a mauve color that I think would be flattering with any skin tone.

I reviewed these lipcolors in detail before, and everything I said then still stands. They are described as a “velvety matte,” which is totally accurate. It glides on so smoothly and sets pretty quickly.

The pigmentation is amazing, so I think it would pop regardless of your natural lip tone. The smell is very unique for a lip product. It’s sort of a vanilla fruit smell, but it goes away once the product dries.

The wear time is also incredible. These lipcolors last on me through eating, drinking, and the crazy Texas summer heat. I love being able to apply it once and forget about it the rest of the day. It’s also convenient because it doesn’t bleed.

Kisses has quickly become my favorite everyday shade, and I think it will work great year-round. I’m so excited Revlon decided to extend the color range of this product, and I plan on getting more shades soon!If you haven’t tried these yet and are looking for a long-wearing, inexpensive, beautifully colored lip product, what are you waiting for? I love Kisses as much as every other Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor I’ve tried, and I think you will, too! Have you tried any of the new shades? Which color should I get next??