Sephora Collection Peach Beige 13 Eyeshadow, $12

First off, Happy New Year to everyone! After a little blogging break we are back and ready to review a whole bunch of new products.

I received this sample eyeshadow from a fairly recent Sephora purchase and wasn't too thrilled with it initially. I just thought it was a boring neutral that I probably wouldn't want to use much. But lately I've really been into wearing a neutral yet blended eye with a simple black cat eye so I thought I'd give this a go.

On its own, this shadow is pretty basic as you can see, a nice simple peach/beige color, true to its name. But when you blend the crease of your eye with a nice brown or shade in another darker color, this shadow is the perfect base color.

Final verdict:

Cost: $12 for a full size eye shadow. The size pictured here is smaller than the actual product but if you'd like to see what the full-size looks like you can see another Sephora Collection Eyeshadow I reviewed a few months ago, Tango Night.

Texture: The shadow is a nice soft texture which makes it perfect for blending.

Quality: I was very impressed with the quality and the lasting power of this eyeshadow. I wear it with a primer underneath and it doesn't budge. I usually use a YSL brown eyeshadow to shade my crease and the Sephora Collection shadow matches up perfectly to the high-end shadow.

Repeat offender? I will definitely be buying other Sephora Collection eyeshadows in the future.

-M

Sephora Collection Atomic Volume Mascara, $15

I've got a bag full of sample products that I've received from my many cosmetic purchases over the last few months and one of the products I reached for this week was the Sephora Collection Atomic Volume Mascara. This mascara promises "the most volume out of your lashes with just one stroke" and "extreme volume." I can attest that this mascara does indeed add volume to eyelashes in as little as one stroke. I don't really spend time curling my lashes or anything but this mascara definitely provides a good lift and even adds a bit of a curl.

The mascara goes on pure black and dries fast. I hate when your mascara takes a while to dry and you accidently end up with smudges on your brow bone. The mascara dries tightly so you aren't going to get soft lashes. It is a mascara that delivers a dramatic look as opposed to a natural one. I am noticing that most of the Sephora mascaras are getting pretty good reviews!

Final verdict:
Cost: $15 for a full size tube (the one in the pictures is sample size).
Does it actually deliver extreme volume?: This mascara plumps and elongates your lashes for sure. I have long lashes anyways so it might work better for me because it is just giving a boost but I'm not sure if it will be as effective for shorter lashes.
Is it waterproof?: Nope. I learned this at the gym yesterday!
Repeat offender?: I really like this mascara but like I've said before, I like to try different ones each time. I'd suggest it to anyone looking for something that elongates lashes.

-M

Sephora Collection Super Shimmer Lipgloss, Pink-o-lada, $10

What I've got here is a sample size of the Sephora Collection Super Shimmer Lipgloss. I don't use lipgloss the way I used to in high school but I thought I'd try this out because it is so pretty and shimmery. This lipgloss comes in many shades you can find here and this one is called Pink-o-lada and kind of makes me wish I was sipping on some pink lemonade alcoholic beverage!

So I put this lipgloss on and just kind of hung around, didn't eat or drink anything, made sure to smack/lick my lips and it is still on! The lipgloss is that traditional gloss texture but it isn't very thick or sticky. I love the fact that it doesn't feel stick on my lips, however if your hair touches your lips it will definitely stick!

The gloss goes on pretty much clear but has little bits of shimmer in it that show up on your lips as well. I don't mind the sparkles because they are so subtle and small. It gives your lips a really glassy look that can look great if you are trying to have something go on with your lips but don't want to wear lipstick.

Final verdict:
Cost: $10 for a full size tube which is twice the size of the tube pictured. I think that is pretty good!
Does it last?: This gloss has lasting power for sure. I love how even after a little while your lips still look glossy.
Will I have to reapply?: Face it ladies, I don't think there is a lipgloss that doesn't require reapplying! I think that you will surely have to reapply after eating or drinking but the lasting power is pretty good otherwise.
Repeat offender?: I think I could definitely make this a go-to lipgloss. There are so many different shades that I'd be interested in trying, especially the shade Red Velvet.

-M

Sephora Nano Eyeliner, $5

I bought Sephora's Nano Eyeliner so that my Sephora purchase would go up to the $50 free shipping price, lol. My excuse for buying more stuff, right? Anyway, I had seen the eyeliner before and it's $5 now, so why not? I decided to get it in glitter black.


As the site says, the liner is super soft and highly pigmented. It's very easy to put on and shows up in an instant. The glitter is really subtle, like really subtle. I felt like the more I put on, the more black showed up and the more the glitter went away, and I got sad.


The liner doesn't have the greatest staying power. I wore it just over the primer and it smudged a little on my eyelid and under my eye. It doesn't come off completely, it just kinda smears/smudges.

Final verdict
Cost: It's on sale now for $5 (originally $16).
Color: I got the glitter black, and it was definitely very black--only a little on the glitter component.
Softness: It's very soft and easy to put on--no tugging at all. However, I think the softness makes it so it doesn't stay on very well.
Repeat offender?: I wouldn't buy again. I need eyeliner that's gonna stay where it's put! I don't have the patience for upkeep.

-T

Sephora Collection Lash Plumper Mascara, $12

I am so surprised at how much I love this mascara. This little jewel (show in the sample size) came in a little birthday bonus gift pack from Sephora (if you are a beauty insider they hook you up with a tiny gift on your birthday, it is pretty sweet!). I am completely obsessed with how awesome this mascara actually is. It doesn't promise a million little things but it delivers way more than you will expect.

First of all it is nice and black, and this isn't even the "Ultra Black" version. The mascara plumps and separates lashes perfectly and does not clump at all! I am in awe! It also works great on the bottom lashes which can often be tricky. It gives a nice full and soft lift to your lashes and doesn't clump--what more can you want?

The lashes aren't left feeling like there is no mascara on them but they also don't feel heavy, cakey, or have that weird plastic-like crust that other mascaras leave behind. The brush is awesome for getting even the tiniest lashes even though it is on the slightly fatter side. Oh and even though it isn't waterproof it doesn't budge all day! Just got back from the gym and I don't have any smearing!

Final verdict:
Cost: $12 for a full size bottle, free on your birthday for a tiny tube!
What would you rate it?: Out of 5 I'd give it a 4.5 because I don't think any mascara has ever blown me away to a 5. This is definitely one of the top mascaras I have tried in the last year though, and trust me I try a lot!
Repeat offender?: I may actually buy a full tube of this mascara the next time I place an order or stop by Sephora. It is just nearly perfect which is good enough for me!

-M

Sephora Collection Harmony Trio Bronzer, Rose, $16

I made it my mission to get into bronzers a lot more this summer. This little compact was included in The Waterproof Bronzing Kit that I purchased a little while ago (and have been reviewing bits and pieces of it ever since then). This bronzer is a mix of three varying shades including a dark copper color, a rosy bronze, and a sheer yet shiny beige.

There are a few ways to make this bronzer work for you, they are all pretty straightforward. You can just take a brush and swirl it all on the compact itself, though you might end up mixing the colors a bit. You can even just stroke your brush across the palette and blend the different shades on your cheeks (with the brush) as you please. Another use for this bronzer is to just use the different shades individually for your eyes. The third tone would be a great highlighter and mixing the first two would probably create a pretty cool eyeshadow shade.

So far I've used this on my cheeks over some blush for a subtle bronzing effect. I was wearing a deep cut dress on Friday at the beach and decided to bronze up the exposed area of my chest. It definitely made a difference! It made me look more tan but didn't look weird because I didn't use too much. Just a little tip, I know you guys aren't dumb but seriously only do this if you are wearing dark colored clothing. I can just see a pretty light-colored top getting ruined by bronzer because we want to bronze our boobs (lol).

Final verdict:
Cost: $16, I think this is a little too expensive because this is a pretty small compact. Last week they had it on sale on the site for half off so if you are interested I would just keep my eye out for a sale. The set it came in was $28 total and came with a lot more stuff.
Is it hard to get an even bronzing color because there are 3 shades?: Not at all. The three tones blend beautifully to give you the glow you want. You don't really have to worry about it looking like you have three different colored streaks on your face. Just remember: Blend! Blend! Blend! It really does wonders.
Repeat offender?: Though I'm giving it a good review I'd say no. It is a little too small for $16 and with so many bronzer options out there I'd feel lame just sticking to one kind.

-M

Wishlist - 7/9/10

Hey guys, it's time again for me to rant on about how much I wanna buy makeup and nail polish and other essentials like that!

BTW, it's my mom's birthday today. Happy birthday, Mom! I got her The Multiple from Nars in Riviera (shimmery pink). It's a cream-to-powder stick that you can use for your lips, cheeks, wherever. It has a lot of really great reviews, so I hope she likes it!

Currently I am lusting over Urban Decay's new line of fake eyelashes. I really like the look of the plush one, or the little colored accents. I don't know if $16 is reasonable for eyelashes though . . .

Speaking of Urban, they now have the Ammo Palette (reviewed here) plus the primer potion (our staple) for $39 (would be $54 if you bought them separately). It's only in the new Eden color, which I haven't tried yet, but is supposed to be a matte natural that can hide bluish discoloration. I checked it as a sample for my last Sephora purchase, so we'll see how it works.

I've gotten this renewed interest in my nails, especially through the tumblr nailcrazy. Recently they posted a pic of nails with Nabi heart glitter on them. Omg! Want.

Are you signed up for HauteLook? They do sales on designer clothes but also on designer makeup. Right now they have this awesome Lorac sale where makeup is super discounted ($18 items for $4!). You might wanna act fast before it sells out! But don't worry, they tend to have great sales pretty often.

Speaking of sales, all Harajuku perfumes are half-off at Sephora. G is my favorite, so I got the original and the beach version.

One of Sephora's weekly specials is a palette from Smashbox with deep purples and lovely neutrals for just $15. No promo code needed!

I'm really holding myself back from getting this Too Faced palette--four eyeshadows, two lip colors, a blush, and a bronzer--for $16.25. Plus, the mirror lights up!

That's it for now, have a great weekend!

-T

Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner, $12

One of the reasons I bought the Sephora Waterproof Bronzing Kit was because it included this Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof eyeliner in black. You all know how I take my black eyeliner seriously so I put this to the test.

Overall this eyeliner is pretty easy to put on and stays waterproof. However, It does smudge under the eyes after a while, unlike my go-to Revlon Colorstay Retractable eyeliner which does not smudge under the eyes. I really cannot stand any eyeliner that does that because number 1, I always ALWAYS use primer so it shouldn't be happening, especially not with a product that is known for being waterproof.

I think that this pencil is a bit too soft so it often just lets you draw a thick line rather than pressing lightly and being able to achieve a thinner line. It also includes one of those smudging sponges at the end of the tip which I have never actually figured out how to use. I always just end up smearing the eyeliner and ruining my neat lines.

Final verdict:
Cost: $12, about twice the cost of my favorite Revlon eyeliner.
Is it actually waterproof?: It is waterproof except for some reason it still manages to smear. I think that when things are waterproof they shouldn't be moving around at all.
Repeat offender?: I don't think so. Since I already use a similar product that doesn't smudge or smear and costs only half of what this does. I think I'll stick to what I know. However, if you are interested in still trying this, it does come in lots of different colors that the Revlon eyeliner doesn't offer (click here to see some of the cool colors!).

-M

Sephora Collection Waterproof Mascara, Jet Black, $6 (on sale from $12)

The Sephora Collection Waterproof Mascara in Jet Black is included in the Sephora Collection Waterproof Bronzing Kit that I recently purchased. The mascara is also sold individually and is currently on sale for $6. This is a nice classic mascara, no fancy plastic brush with spikes or some unproven lengthening formulas. This is just a good old mascara that just happens to be waterproof.


I like the formula of this mascara because it is really thin and allows you to separate your lashes more finely and precisely. This is also aided by the soft bristle brush that is shaped long and thin. In my opinion it is easier to get each and every lash with a soft and thin brush like this.


Without knowing I was going to go to the pool a week ago I had applied a bunch of the stuff from the waterproof collection, including this mascara. I ended up going swimming and my cousin was completely dumbfounded when I lifted my head out of the water and my makeup was still solidly in place. She literally could not believe it so this is definitely water-tested! I can vouch and say that this is waterproof, even after spending time underwater.

Final verdict:
Cost: Originally this mascara is $12 for a pretty big tube but right now it is on sale on the Sephora website for $6. That is pretty much cheaper than a lot of drugstore brands!
Is it waterproof?: Like I said above, it definitely is waterproof. However, if you start to pick at your eyelashes (which a lot of us do--admit it.) it will kind of chunk off. Waterproof formula seems to feel a little more sticky than non-waterproof mascaras.
On a scale of 1 to 5?: I give it a 4. It does what it says it will. But still it isn't "The One" we have mentioned before!
Repeat offender?: I don't usually re-buy mascaras because I like to try different ones each time but if I got this in another set or something I definitely wouldn't mind.

-M

Sephora Collection Eyeshadow, Tango Night, $12

I absolutely fell in love with this eyeshadow when I saw it in this kit a few weeks ago. I wasn't so interested in this particular kit so I thought I'd go with just the eyeshadow. I haven't really used any Sephora Collection eyeshadows so I was looking forward to seeing how this turned out.


Tango Night is a deep cosmic purple eyeshadow sprinkled with tons of silver glitter. Purple and silver look great together so this mix is definitely a good match! The eyeshadow absolutely requires some kind of primer otherwise the sparkles will not stick to the eyeshadow and on your eyelid.


When you put this on I suggest using a regular eyeshadow sponge brush. You will have to layer it on a bit because only one or two sweeps is a little too light (at least for me). Just play with the amount you apply on your lids. One warning, the glitter will get on your face because there is a lot of it in the shadow. What I do is simply use a wet face wipe and clean the area where there is a dusting of extra glitter, also make sure to wait to apply your moisturizer and blush until after you wipe the excess glitter off your cheeks or your under-eye area.



Final verdict:
Cost: $12 for one large size eyeshadow. I really really wanted this color so I didn't mind paying the $12.
Is it too glittery for the daytime? I don't think so, I think the sparkle is pretty subtle mixed with the purple shadow. Since the glitter is silver it just reflects the purple base around it.
How long does it last during a day?: With the primer this lasts me all day, and the sparkles stay in place!
Repeat offender?: I love this eyeshadow color so even though the application is a little tougher than other eyeshadow brands I still think it was worth getting. I would definitely try other Sephora Collection eyeyshadows.

-M

Sephora Collection Nailpolish, Curacoa, $5

This beautiful bright blue nailpolish was part of the Sephora Collection Waterproof Bronzing Kit. I have never used any Sephora Collection nailpolishes so I was really excited to try it, especially because this blue is like no other blue I know.


The nailpolish bottle is fairly small but this polish is really vibrant so you could definitely get away with a single coat. I have on two coats and a topcoat in the pictures. This blue goes on smooth and evenly and is very true to the color even on the first coat. I am really impressed with the formula of the polish because it dried quick and has not chipped at all in the 3 days I've had it on.


This is definitely a great summer color that was included in a perfect summer kit. I will be reviewing other parts of the kit in later posts.


Final verdict:
Cost: Individually these polishes are about $5 but the kit which includes a mini lip gloss, full-size mascara, full-size eyeliner, full-size bronzer, this polish, and a carrying case was $28.
How is the quality?: This is my first Sephora Collection nailpolish and I am very impressed! I love how vibrant the color is and when you put it on your nails it is completely opaque, even with one coat.
Repeat offender?: I love this polish I will definitely go for other colors in the future. Though they don't have the color Curacoa available to buy individually there are other blues that are worth checking out like the color Myrtle and Bleu Jean.

-M