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

bareMinerals Eyecolor, $13

I just bought the Heroes Super Color Collection from Bare Escentuals. Since there's so much to review in the collection, I thought I'd give each product their own separate entry. The set includes a Buxom gloss, which is awesome (check out Mirna's review here).

Today I'll review their bareMinerals eyecolor (loose eyeshadow) in Fearless and Freedom.

(Fearless and Freedom)

Fearless is a super dark forest green/gray/black with multicolored shimmer. Oh my, is it gorgeous! I was surprised at how pretty it really is, in that dark and dangerous kind of way. The picture on the website really doesn't do it justice.

The shadow is intense and highly pigmented. It is crazy dramatic as a shadow. It could be used as a liner, to add some depth to your crease, or blended with other colors.

Freedom is a sweet light blue with a hint of green (less green when applied, see photo below), decorated with tiny silver shimmers. It reminds me of a really clear summer day, when the sun bleaches out the sky.

The color is also really pigmented but is much more subtle. It would look really nice with blue or brown eyes, and coordinates nicely with Fearless.

(click on pic to enlarge)The versatility of these eyeshadows really impressed me. The top line is Freedom, shown (left to right) over Urban Decay primer, dry, and applied with a wet brush. The bottom line is Fearless, shown (left to right) over Urban Decay primer, dry, and applied with a wet brush. As you can see, these shadows can have quite different looks! With primer the colors are bright and clear. Worn dry they are more subtle and easily blended, for a nice day look. When applied with a wet brush they become intense and really shimmery. I love having options!

Final verdict
Cost: $13 each. Right now these particular colors are only available in the Heroes collection for a limited time. ($40 for a lot of awesome products, get it while you can!) I found Fearless on Amazon, so as always check there, too (and eBay).
Color: These colors are amazing! They have so much life and depth, and are unlike any other eyeshadows I have. I personally prefer Fearless because of the richness and drama, but Freedom is sweet and pretty as well.
Versatility: The colors look different whether they're worn dry, over primer, or applied wet. You can create a lot of distinct looks with just one color.
Repeat offender: Totally! I would definitely buy their eyeshadow again, as well as other products. Stay tuned for reviews of the other products in this collection.

Hey! Did you enter our giveaway? Remember, it ends Friday at 11:59pm!

-T

Korres Blush, $24

(Korres Blush in 22 Purple)
Sephora had a sale on Korres Blush for a while ($10 instead of $24), so I decided to try it out. One thing that got me interested is their all-natural stance: they don't use parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, or phthalates (ok, I don't know what the last one is, but I'm sure a quick trip to Wikipedia will tell me it's probably not good). Sephora gives it their natural seal, basically saying they found this makeup to be awesome and awesome for you. Sounds good! Also, I was interested to try a "purple" shade since I always lean toward pink or peach.

(Korres Blush)
(back)
The container is really clean and fresh, reflecting their belief in simple, natural products. First thing I noticed (as you might have in the first pic): umm, this isn't really that purple. Looks to me like a dusty rose shade. But, ok, still a really pretty color. Just not really what I expected.

The blush itself is really soft and very highly pigmented. I'd recommend dabbing the blush brush in once, lightly, before adding more. It's not shimmery per se (like my standby, Nars Orgasm) but it does have very subtle light-reflecting particles that add the tiniest bit of glow. Really cute and natural!

I put on a lot here for the pic so you could really get an idea for the color. I think it's beautiful and the texture is super light and smooth. I gotta say I'm impressed!

Final Verdict
Cost: $24 is almost the price I pay for Nars, and with a great product I understand why it's expensive. I say if you find a color you like, it would be worth it. You don't have to use much so it would last a while. Sold only at Sephora (or Amazon!).
Glowing: The blush is light and soft, and the color is highly pigmented, sprinkled with glow-inducing loveliness. It would be really nice for someone who wants a little bit of sparkle without it being obvious.
Color: You'll want to check out the colors in-person first--I was expecting a deepish purple and got a dusty rose instead. Not a bad color but a bit of a surprise, for sure.
Repeat offender: Based on my experience with this, I would definitely buy more from Korres. I'm not really in the market for more blush but their other products seem interesting. Plus, they seem to go on sale a lot, which is always a plus!

-T

Sephora by OPI, Teal We Meet Again, $9

I am so excited because the Havana Nights collection has finally been released, and impulsively (or obsessively) I ordered the entire collection last week and it just came in the mail! There are so many beautiful colors so expect at least one nailpolish review each week for the next six weeks! I decided to start with Teal We Meet again. Remember last week I told you all how much I was obsessing over blue polish? Well Teal We Meet Again is a perfect addition to my growing blue collection. This polish has a intense bluish green color that definitely screams tropical climate.


I honestly couldn't wait to paint my nails and toes this color because it is so dramatic yet definitely colorful and playful. This is one of the two blues in this collection, it is darker and more saturated than the other blue. There is a slight shimmer to this polish as well.


Here is a tip for when you want to take off blue nailpolish. Make sure to saturate your cotton ball that you are using to remove the polish we A LOT of nailpolish remover. When you get the cotton ball really soaked with the nailpolish remover you don't have to press hard to remove the polish, it will come off easier.


Final verdict:
Cost: $9, standard for Sephora by OPI polish (find it here)
Is the color true to how it looks in the bottle?: Oh yes! This stuff looks exactly like it does in the bottle! I only did two coats and it was enough. Even with one coat it wasn't going on thin or anything.
Repeat offender?: You guys know me by now, of course! I mean, I lost complete self control and ordered 6 nailpolish colors at once, what do you think!?
-M

tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss, $15

(tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss in Arlecchino)
When I saw the new tokidoki makeup line (exclusively at Sephora) I freaked out. I love anything tokidoki--bags, clothes, Hello Kitty collaborations, you name it. And now makeup! I knew I had to get something immediately. I have a lot of eyeshadows and eyeliners, so I decided to review the Prisma Lip Gloss (instead of the adorable Cromatico eyeshadow in the heart and crossbones container...which I haven't bought yet but I'll probably get soon).


Oh tokidoki, you know me so well. I'm the biggest sucker for good packaging, so I was enamored with the designs on the outside of the plastic box.


The shade is called Arlecchino, and is a bright fuchsia.


One of the most exciting things about the lipgloss is the lid--it's a little plastic box that contains one of the characters. I chose Arlecchino because I just love that crazy multicolored ninja eating ice cream. The description on Sephora says that it's a snowglobe but that's not entirely true--there's no water in it. But, there is a ton of heart and crossbones confetti. It makes a really fun noise when you shake it.


Wee!
*ahem* Anyway.

The applicator is this interesting little plastic paddle, almost like what they use to wax your eyebrows.

It's really soft and bendy. Applying the lipgloss is almost like using a spatula to ice a cake.

So how's the actual lipgloss? It's super glossy (high sheen, no sparkles), almost sheer, smells like blueberries, is not too sticky, and seems to last a good amount of time. I can already tell this is going to be my default summer lipgloss.

Final verdict
Cost: Some people might think $15 is a lot for lipgloss but since this is a specialty, I think it's worth it. Plus, it's significantly bigger than I thought it would be, so I can see this lasting a long time.
Adorability: Oh man, this thing is cute. It's like having a cute toy and makeup all in one. And you get to choose out of 16 different characters.
Color: Even though the lipgloss I chose is super bright fuchsia in the container, it's mostly sheer with a hint of pink (which I prefer). From the comments on Sephora it seems like the other colors are like that too. Don't be afraid to choose what character you want--you'll probably end up with a nice, mostly clear gloss.
Smell/texture: It totally smells like blueberries (all of them do). It's not too sticky and the shine lasts a while--it's lipgloss so it probably won't stay on forever, but it has pretty good staying power.
Repeat offender: I love this and I'm so happy I bought it. I would buy more characters if I was a lipgloss junkie! I want to try out their other products as well; I know Sephora wouldn't carry tokidoki if it wasn't up to their quality standards!

Now if you'll excuse me...

*shakeshakeshake*

-T

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, $42

Let me just say upfront: I don't like foundation. Sure, I'll wear some under my eyes if I feel like I look tired (which, uh, has been like everyday lately) or in a futile attempt to cover a bad zit, but I can't really do the all-over thing. Feels too heavy and I feel like it always looks fake, especially up close. So, I chose the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer as a free sample from Sephora because I figured this would be the closest to foundation I could bring myself to wear.

(Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Nude)
I must admit, this stuff is pretty nice. It's really thin, making it easy to blend a thin layer on my face. I was surprised by the coverage--it made a noticeable difference in evening out my skin tone. It felt light and soft, and I actually forgot I was wearing it. (Note: As with all face makeup I've tried, it did make my blemishes look, well, like I had tried to cover them with makeup. So, no exceptions there.) And, I learned that the color of blush really pops when applied over a nice base.

Final verdict
Cost: $42. Ow. Maybe if the price was, like, $30, which is still a lot, I'd be willing to pay for it. But $42 is just too much.
Coverage: Even though it's just a tinted moisturizer, it still evened out my skin tone noticeably. Plus it has SPF (even though it's just SPF 20, it's better than nothing!) and comes in a ton of shades.
Texture/feeling: This was my favorite part--it felt really light and soft. My boyfriend couldn't tell it was there.
Repeat offender: Well, if I had a ton of money then yes, I would recommend this. But, I just can't bring myself to spend that much!

-T

Sephora deal: This one is open to anyone with a Beauty Insider card (if you don't have one, sign up! It's free and you earn points toward samples!): 15% off your entire Sephora.com purchase with the promo code MADNESS. Good April 12-19.

Kat Von D for Sephora True Romance Eyeshadow Palette, Metal Orchestra, $34

Tattoo artist/reality star Kat Von D is definitely rock and roll. The girl is always decked out in some crucial heels, shredded shirts that show off her collection of body art, but most importantly she is forever wearing some really rock and roll makeup. I have been dying to try this Kat Von D palette that she has helped design and create with Sephora for a long time now. As part of my birthday gift my bff/coblogger Tori got me this awesome palette called Metal Orchestra.


The palette comes wrapped in a silvery coal tissue paper and a sticker with Kat’s initials. The outside art is all designed by Kat herself with her signature lightening bolts, religious symbols, and of course skulls. The smooth treasure box is full of eight different shadows in blue and silver tones and two double-sided brushes. The shadows from left to right are named: First Class, Techno, Thrasher, Dagger, Lucifer, Glock, Razor Gray, and Slayer. With names like that it is kind of hard not to be badass.


The different array of colors all compliment one another and can easily all be mixed, blended, or paired. I think that is what makes this palette different from others I have, it is definitely easier to combine the different shadows. The last color in the palette Slayer is actually a really awesome cream shadow that goes on smoothly and leaves a really awesome silver sparkle that reminds me of the wet looking silver sparkle leggings that Kat likes to wear sometimes (yeah I was a little obsessed with her for a while lol).


So far I’ve experimented with the blues which have stayed vibrant all day and did not crease or smudge. I also wore Glock and it was a really unique dark silver that gave me a smokey eye without having to actually mix any other shadows with it. For a more low key look you can pretty much use the dark shades as an eyeliner by using a slanted brush and just dust some of the lighter shades on your lid.


Final verdict:
Cost: $34, comes out to about $4.25 per eyeshadow color which is cheaper than some drugstore brands, plus it is all packaged in a beautiful silk screened box.
Is it worth it?: I definitely think it is worth it for the quality of the product and the uniqueness of the palette as a whole. If you are into the rocker look or just want to have some cool dark options this palette is a must.
Repeat offender: Most definitely, I have my eye on two other Kat Von D for Sephora palettes including Momento Mori and True Love.
-M

By the way guys, this is our 50th post!! Wooohoo!!