Maybelline and Dior Summer 2013 

Hi-Lo Impulse Purchases (Vol. One of Many)

[Purchased by me]

Inspiration strikes me at random times and judging by my self rationalization from a few posts back, impulse buys and long-time wishlist front-runners make up the majority of my beauty purchases these days.  I don't really differentiate between high-end and low-end in terms of preferences for most things, but for impulse purchases, it seems low-end is the way to go.  If something doesn't work out for you, your wallet feels a lot better than if you splurged on something on a whim.

With the overwhelming blogger attention to the Maybelline Color Tattoo launches, I usually get interested in every collection that comes out but rarely bit the bullet and purchase anything because I know cream shadows dry out and it's not something I've incorporated into my everyday routine.  However, when I heard the Summer 2013 collection was duochrome, a lightbulb went off in my head and I thought "I want that."  For all you movie buffs out there, imagine the lady from Napoleon Dynamite whispering this to her husband as Uncle Rico presents a model ship as part of his sales pitch.


I found these at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $5 which is pretty much a crazy great price for a really great formula....BUT sadly there was a hit and a miss.

Seashore Frost and Icy Mint

Seashore Frost is a gorgeous periwinkle/lilac duochrome with a yellow sheen that has medium pigmentation that's buildable.  I think this is really nice on it's own and a really unique color for cream eyeshadow.  This was the one I wanted the most from looking at other blogs and I'm glad I got it.  I'm a sucker for duochrome. 

Icy Mint is a sad disappointment.  The color is sheer and not buildable.  I wanted it to use as an inner corner eye highlight (an obsession of mine recently as you've seen) but it barely registers.  All that really shows up is a light green sheen.  I managed to make this work as a base for neutral shades surprisingly.  Under a wheat brown shade, it lends a very very subtle green sheen underneath that's a slight twist on the usual neutral eye look.

I also bought Dior Addict Lipstick in Delice.  If you've read my lip product post you know I'm actually trying to use one up right now in another shade, Beige Casual.  I swatched this at Sephora and couldn't resist picking it up during the Chic Week sale.  It lends a sheer orange sheen to the lips that looks really nice but is essentially a glorified tinted lip balm.  I haven't found anything at the drugstore that's a worthy comparison to this texture but my main justification was to be able to wear an orange lip in any type of environment, even the conservative.  

Dior Addict Lipstick in Delice

Top to Bottom:  Dior Delice, Maybelline Seashore Frosts and Icy Mint

Almost impossible to capture the true sheen of Seashore Frost but believe me it's awesome!

This is just such a gorgeous shade and I totally justified it.  I was thinking of doing a monthly favorite post but I actually rotate through my collection pretty regularly on a daily basis and these new things are probably what I'm reaching for most otherwise.

Five(ish) Lip Products to Finish in 2013

[All purchased by me, or gifts from friends]

As with many avid makeup collections, the things that tends to pile up and become overwhelming before it becomes overwhelmingly gross are lip products.  There's just something about lip products that feels more transient than say, a foundation or an eyeshadow.  Lip products wear off so easily and it's really the only thing that I feel like re-applying throughout the day (cue the beginning of many confessions of laziness).  That is how I justify the build-up of a grouping of lip products that have just got to go. 

Now I'm not saying these products are bad or ones that I want to get rid of.  On the contrary, I enjoy using each and every single one of these.  It's because I know that I like these particular products that I don't see the need to hang on to them and ration them out like the makeup hoarder that I am.  Besides, as previously mentioned, lip products get kind of iffy as time goes on.  If I like something enough, I'll gladly repurchase it later on with no guilt pangs.  

On to the pic(ks).... (get it?) 

As you can see, there are five full-size products with a mini thrown in.  A run-down of these products and mini reviews:

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Raspberry

This little gloss came as a gift with purchase and was surprisingly enjoyable.  It feels like a heavier balm on the lips and has no stickiness, scent or taste.  The finish is glossy but not with an overly mirror-like shine.  I think it's decent at moisturizing my lips and I recently received a full size of this gloss in a different shade from a friend.  

Loreal Color Juice Stick in Island Punch

I'm a little embarrassed to include this because this product is pretty old (and discontinued).  If you've never smelled anything from this line then you're missing out on some pink grapefruit yumminess.  I own a gloss as well and these were really amazing.  

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Parfait

Why finish a beloved Lip Butter?  This color is just so pretty and flattering I feel like I should wear this on those days where I make excuses for not using any lip products.  The slight grittiness doesn't bother me and the shade is oh so flattering.  

Dior Addict Lipstick in 222 Beige Casual

A friend gave this to me as a birthday gift.  My primary reason for wanting to finish this is so I can buy an Addict lipstick in a different shade (I'm thinking Diorkiss?) hehe.  I have nothing against owning more than one at a time but as I stated before I just feel a bit overwhelmed by my lip collection.  This is super smooth and moisturizing on the lips.  However, the shade is hard to detect on my lips because it is so subtle.  As always, the packaging is very nice.

Essence Stay With Me in Candy Bar

Pretty much the perfect consistency of lip gloss for me.  It's feels light on the lips, lasts a long time, has good pigmentation and smells/tastes like candy.  This is the only shade that really stands out for me, sadly, in the range but I'm ok with that since this is the perfect coral-pink shade. 

Prestige Light Shine in Kauai

Also pretty sure this is discontinued, but it is a heavier balmy gloss that isn't sticky at all.  It has a light, vanilla scent and a brush applicator (my favorite kind).  The sparkles weren't obvious on the lips but enhanced them nonetheless.  Wish these were still readily available.

The ones that had shade names

Hopefully will be able to use up some of these.  Can't guarantee I'll want to hold on to these after they become "empties" but will try to update at the end of the year (or mid-March next year hehe)