Summer Faves: Eyes

In the summer time I generally don't wear too much shadow for fear of having them smudge or crease on me. However, this season's stay put formulas give me reason to reach for the hottest summer hues!

1. Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion in Eden ($18 USD): The original UD primer is an absolute staple in my kit and when Eden came out I was definitely intrigued. A primer/shadow in one? Right up my alley. I received a sample to test out and decided to wear it alone as a shadow. 

Left side blended, right side not blended

On me, this "tawny matte hue" shows up more like a bone shade on me. A little goes a long way. With too much on, I felt it almost lightened my eye area too much making it look ashy against my skin tone. Definitely use sparingly. The primer does have a brightening affect as it lightens the eye area and reduces redness on the lids. Underneath a shadow, it is as long-wearing and crease-proof as the original. All in all, I prefer the original over Eden but it works great when a little amount is used.

2. M.A.C. To The Beach Shadow in Firecracker ($17.50 CAD): I know, this is so last 2 collections ago! M.A.C. is known for launching so many collections a month so even though this is the summer collection, it seems so passe! Nevertheless, Firecracker is still a must-have summer shade.

Firecracker is a warm, burnt orange-coral shade. The colour looks delish against bronzey skin. It's a bold shade but the warmth of the hue makes it so wearable for summer. Pair this with golds and bronze or smut it up with black khol rimmed eyes. Balance the shade with peachy, bronze or coral cheeks and a light gloss.

3. YSL Fard Lumiere Aquaresistant in Golden Sands ($35 CAD): Luxury in a pot. It's like sweeping real gold over your lids. I received Golden Sands to sample and fell in love with the high-shine shimmer. When I first opened it, I thought the shadow had a glitter finish. Thankfully, it doesn't but has strong shimmer pigments. For day, apply a small amount for a sheer luminous finish. To make it wearable for the office, mix with a matte shadow. But for night, layer the shimmer on! The more your layer, the more intense the pigment and shine. This light-weight, water-proof formula has a nice cooling effect and seriously does not budge. Sweat, swim, dance - this shadow isn't going anywhere!

4. Everyday Minerals Loose Pigment Shadow in Mall Punk ($2.50 USD): I don't usually gravitate towards loose pigment shadows but Mall Punk has become one of my everyday go-to shadows. It's actually a warmer pink in person and pretty much looks delicious when paired with peachy, bronze and pinks. This shade gives the eyes a luminous glow. I need about 2-3 layers until I'm happy with the intensity of the shade but when applied wet one swipe is all it takes. When applied with a primer, it lasts all day with no touch-ups! 

5. CARGO Cosmetics Color Eye Shadow Palette in Tahiti ($28 CAD/US): The price point of these gorgeous palettes are a steal! The Tahiti palette is definitely one to have this summer. These shades ranging from olive gold to bright teal are one of this season's hottest trends. I'll be honest, I haven't worn these colours in a while. But with my basic work wardrobe, I've been inspired to wear more colour! To make it more wearable for day, mix 2 shades together one lighter and one darker and smudge a little liner into the lash line. Since these shadows have a metallic finish, opt for a more matte blush and go for a creamy lip than high gloss. The shadows are highly pigmented and only took one swipe for the colour to show. The texture is velvety-smooth and doesn't budge. As a sucker for packaging, I adore all the different designs on each palette!

6. Milani INFINITE Liquid Liner in Infinite ($5.99 USD): Milani Cosmetics has definitely opened up my eyes to drugstore brands. I am in LOVE with these liners. The black shade is my go-to liner on brides when covering up falsies. Infinite is a bright ocean blue and is the perfect shade when you want just a pop of colour on the eyes. Whether you're a fan of bright colours or not you have to admit this shade is fieerrrce! Pair this with a neutral eye, peachy cheeks and lips this summer. I find the brush firm enough to work with but I'm also used to applying liner. If you have unsteady hands, I recommend using a thin angled brush. These liners are budge proof so after it sets it is hard to remove. Use a powder shadow in a similar shade as your guideline the apply the liner over top.

Have you tried these must-haves for the summer? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em?

Beauty Review: Milani 3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss

Milani 3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss is a new soft and brilliant Glitzy formula filled with super shiny polymers and the next generation of pearls to create the illusion of 3D depth for fuller, sexier, looking lips.

To be honest I don’t really like glittery lip glosses. I’ve tried MAC Dazzle glasses in the past and I absolutely dislike them. I don’t like that I can actually feel the sparkles on my lips and they are just way too sticky. Too much glitter and sparkle on my lips is just not my style so I was quite hesitant to try these. My initial reaction was that they look cheap. The packaging is just not appealing to me. But then I thought to myself, okay it’s not what’s on the outside that counts it’s the product on the inside. So I unscrewed the lip gloss and noticed that the brush applicator was kind of stiff at first. Then I decided to do some swatches before actually applying it on my lips just to get the brush to be more pliable. It was just as I expected, it appeared very glittery on my arm.

Now the real test was to swipe it on my lips and to my surprise it actually wasn’t all that bad. The formula is slightly sticky but not overly sticky as are MAC lip glasses. The color is actually pretty sheer and you can definitely see the sparkles but it’s not too overly sparkly on the lips. My lips did look fuller as the product claimed it would do. It seemed to have seeped into the lines on my lips which I think made my lips appear smoother and fuller. I also liked that I could not feel the sparkles on my lips so that was an added bonus. I probably won’t buy these again once I finish them only because I’m not a glitter fan. But it was nice to try them out. If you’re a glitter fan then this is probably something that you’d like.

Movie Star, Fashion Diva, Starshine, Stylish, In Vogue

www.milanicosmetics.com
$6.99 USD

Beauty Review: CRYSTAL EYEZ Sparkling Eye Shadow

CRYSTAL EYEZ Sparkling Eye Shadow is a smooth and lasting eye shadow with glimmers and pearls that delivers a sparkling finish on the lids. Available in 6 sparkling shades.

I have to admit that when I first saw these shadows I thought, “HOLY SPARKLE!” But when I applied it on it wasn’t as sparkly as it seemed when looking at it through the packaging. I experimented a bit with its texture trying to get it to work to my liking. If you want to really make your eyes pop the best way to wear this is over top of an eye shadow. If you want a subtle shimmer then you can wear this by itself. 

I found that the best way to apply this is with your fingers. For a subtle look place the shadow across your lids using a dragging motion. This is will help evenly distribute the product giving you a light wash of colour. If you want a more intense look I’d recommend patting the liquid shadow on top of your lids. Try not to go past your eye crease when putting this on, otherwise you’ll look like super shimmery sparkle queen. This shadow is also quick to dry and you’ll find that a lot of the product will end up drying on your finger. 

One thing I didn’t like with this shadow was that when it was fully dry, throughout the day I’d notice that the sparkles were beginning to fall out. And some of it even made it into my eye. Not cool! I give CRYSTAL EYES a 3 out of 5.

Lovely & Luminous, Beautifully Brilliant, Stunning & Sparkly, Gorgeous & Glowing, Delightfully Dazzling, Glamorously Glittering

www.milanicosmetics.com
$6.49 USD

Beauty Review: Milani TANtastic Face & Body Baked Bronzer

Milani TANtastic Face & Body Baked Bronzer is a baked marble bronzer with multidimensional coverage pays off not only in color, but in subtle highlights that enhance a natural glow. Infused with Macadamia and Jojoba oils, this product helps keep skin hydrated and soft while providing a healthy bronze glow and silky smooth application.

I have a love hate relationship with this bronzer. First off I love how this looks and feels on my skin. It gives me that subtle glow if I do a light dusting of it on my face and body. This product is very pigmented and super shimmery so be careful when applying it. Start off with a small amount and build it up to achieve the look you’re going for. The texture is very soft and a little bit creamy. You’ll notice it’s creaminess if you rub your fingers on top it. I actually really like that about this bronzer.

Now here’s what I hate about this bronzer…the smell. I’m not a fan of perfumed scents in cosmetics. This bronzer has that old lady perfume smell which can sometimes give people headaches. I also don’t like the packaging. It’s too bulky and looks to complicated. I prefer compacts that pop up. Instead this one opens on the side and glides to the right and underneath it you’ll find another latch that has that sliding mechanism and when opened you’ll find a brush that you can apply it with. I actually found the brush to be useless. I like to apply this with a MAC 187 duo fibre brush. This is a great product with poor packaging. I give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

FANtastic in Bronze, Fantastic in Sun Glow

www.milanicosmetics.com
$8.49 USD

Beauty Review: Milani Eye Liners

Milani INFINATE Liquid Liner ($5.99) Up to 24 hour long lasting formula that wears with comfort and color intensity to perfection. Now you can line your eyes with ease for an all day long elegant glance.

I tried Milani INFINATE Liquid Liner in the color Eternal which is a metallic apple green color. I’d have to say that the colour was absolutely gorgeous. It made my eyelids glimmer and sparkle especially when the light hit. I liked that it was waterproof and long lasting since I tend to have watery and oily eyelids. The only downfall I found with this liner was that the application wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. It actually went on pretty streaky and clumpy and I had to constantly go over my lids to make sure it was applied evenly. If the formula was a lot thinner it would be perfect! I give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Editor's note: I actually don't mind the consistency and didn't experience any streaks or clumps. However, I do prefer to apply it with an eyeliner brush rather than the brush it comes with. I find it applies much easier. The long-lasting formula makes it a winner for me!]

Milani EYE TECH Liquid Liner ($6.00 USD)

Full color flow thru system that delivers and defines a perfect line in one stroke. Felt tip nib applicator is easy to use, provides precise control with no skipping or pulling.

I have been looking for THE perfect black liquid liner and I think I found it and will look no further. This liquid liner rocks! It does not budge one bit. Application is easy and smooth. As I had mentioned before, my eyes tend to be watery and I have oily eyelids. I’ve had so many problems with liquid liners smudging, flaking, fading but this one tops them all! I can’t say enough great things about EYE TECH. This is an absolute must have! I give this a 5 out of 5 stars.

[Editor's note: I am a fan of this felt tip liquid liner, however, I found that this one did not last as long as the Infinite Liquid Liner. My winged tips ended up smudging off after a night out. However, I do love using this to cover the bands on fake lashes. The felt tip has the perfect amount of firmness and the size makes it easier to line the eyes.]

 

Milani MECHANICAL GLITTER EYE LINER ($5.99 USD)

Breakthrough formula and technology of a color liner with glitter in a retractable pencil. The soft texture ensures a perfect glide and a creamy color pay-off for a combination of superior smoothness, rich color and rocking silver metallic accents.

I tried these in the colours Purple Quartz and Black Rocks. All I have to say is that they’re just ok. They didn’t last long at all. The colour payoff wasn’t as great. It wasn’t as pigmented as I would have liked it to be. I did like the texture of it as it was soft and creamy but this just didn’t do anything for my eyes. There was a hint of sparkle but like I said it was just kind of blah. This is not a must have. I’m sad to say that I give this a 2 out of 5 stars.

Milani LIQUIF'EYE metallic eye liner Pencil ($5.49 USD)

Extremely smooth eye pencil with the application and feel of a liquid liner that delivers true color payoff, in a metallic finish with a long-lasting wear.

I’d have to agree with the above statement from their website. This liner is VERY smooth and VERY creamy. Probably one of the creamiest liners I’ve come across. I can even say that they’re as creamy as Stila Kajal liners, if not creamier! Even with the lightest hand this liner had awesome pigmentation. I like that it can be used in so many ways. It’s great to use as an eye shadow base to make your eyes really pop. I tried this in the color Silver which I used on my lids for a smokey eye. The colour is great for evening looks especially for clubbing makeup. I definitely need to get more colours! I give this a 4.5 stars out of 5 only because it’s so soft that the pencil runs down very quickly.

L-R: INFINATE, EYE TECH, GLITTER EYE LINER, LIQUIF'EYE

www.milanicosmetics.com

Beauty Review: Milani NAIL ART LACQUER with precision brush

Nail art allows you to do your very own custom nail designs. A high quality precision striping brush allows for detail work, creating the perfect French tip that makes nail art fast and easy. Your nails are your canvas and you are the artist!

I absolutely adore Milani’s NAIL ART LACQUER with precision brush! I’ll have to warn you though, you really need to have a steady hand when doing a detailed design on your nails. One tiny mistake could ruin a whole nail. I’ve had to start over a couple of times until I got it right. So it’s important that you take your time when painting. I also like that you can create a french tip nail without having to put a tiny sticker on. I find that doing it free hand makes it look more natural. Nail Art Lacquer comes in 10 shades. Why not collect them all?! If you love painting and designing your nails this is a definite must have!

A couple of designs I did

www.milanicosmetics.com
$4.99 USD

Beauty Review: Milani NEON Specialty Nail Lacquer

New specialty nail lacquers created to give your nails a POP of brilliance. These bright neon shades capture the explosion of color that has made an impact of the latest color trends and are here to stay. Available in 8 shades.

I’ll have to admit I’m not much of a nail polish junkie. My collection is very minimal. But when I do look for a nail polish there are certain criteria that are important to me.

1. The application has to be smooth and seamless so the formula should not be too thick

2. The nail polish should dry quickly in between coats

3. Two coats of polish should do the trick

4. The polish should be long lasting and not prone to chipping

5. Beautiful Colors. Who doesn’t like getting compliments on their nails right?

One thing I liked about Milani NEON Specialty Nail Lacquer is that the formula wasn’t too thick which made it easier to apply. But I did find it a little too runny that the brush kept dripping polish even though I had taken some excess off. I also found that I had to apply 4 coats to get it even. Luckily the polish dried quickly in between coats, so that was good. As a frequent hand washer, I like a nail polish that can withstand something as simple as hand washing. My polish only lasted 4 days which isn’t as long as I’d like it to last. This is probably not my favourite brand of nail polish but they do come in beautiful bright colours! I’d give Milani NEON Specialty Nail Lacquer a 3 out of 5 stars. 

 A color wheel where I painted 3 nails. Top: Totally 80's, Middle: Pink Rocks, Bottom: Rad Purple. If you're wondering why there's a black tip on one of the nails, stay tuned for my upcoming review on Milani NAIL ART LACQUER with precision brush!

www.milanicosmetics.com
$4.99 USD

by Donna Marie