New makeup at L'Oreal and Maybelline

L'Oreal Paris and Maybelline are blooming just when we thought they won't. A new extensive set of products stormed into our drugstores before we've (almost) quit. Maybelline made some drastic changes while L'Oreal released some pretty sweet pieces as well. L'Oreal Superstar line with the front star J.Lo is all about black, big and dramatic.

Remember past 2-phase mascaras with white side for dramatic, spidery lashes? Well, L'Oreal Paris re-started everything all over again. This time, improved L'Oreal False Lash Superstar Mascara (15,65€, drugstores like DM, Muller) brings big and voluminous lashes without clumps. Natural is not the flirting word with this mascara. White base makes lashes thicker and pronounced while second layer gives ultra black finish. First white layer has a same-like consistency as regular mascara, no fibers or particles whatsoever. I was personally always a fan of these kind of mascaras and I still remember my first golden L'Oreal tube in high school. The brush shape is nothing extra. Keep in mind, that this mascara does clump lashes a bit but I personally love big, almost spidery lashes. Visible and huge lashes make me happy. Can't say it's my favourite but I like the finished result altogether. If you're still grieving the past version, I'm sure you'll love new one as well.

L'Oreal Super Liner Superstar (10,19€, drugstores) might be the best eyeliner that I've ever tried. Yes indeed, your ultimate eyeliner freak likes this thingie so much. Bendable brush tip is just perfect for adjusting to your eye shape. Ultra black formula is strong enough to be layered over powder eyeshadows. Ah, I just hate when an eyeliner stops working because of layering over powder products. Does that happen to you too? Well, not anymore. I've been using this product for over several months now and it's still running smoothly. On top of all, it doesn't crease on bare eyelids. It's almost as waterproof and doesn't crack with movement. Finish is not matte but rather satin smooth. 5 Stars from me!

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Palette (11,90€, drugstores like DM and Muller) is a rather delightful discovery on our drugstore shelves. Pigmentation is way better and improved in comparison to original The Nudes palette (review here). If you love new Essence palettes with super buttery eyeshadows, this has almost the same formula. They are richly pigmented and quite soft as they tend to crumble with high pressure. Still, I had no problems wearing them all day - only the darker shades slightly faded in intensity. No creasing or transferring whatsoever. Also, shade combination is pretty unique but still in the rows of neutral and mauve. Swatches are made without a primer, on bare skin!

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick (6,99€ a piece, drugstores) are my personal gems out of them all. I was so drawn to them, that I even managed to infect my co-workers. Finally, new matte lipsticks on our market. Well, not so much. They are actually in the same category as NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, moussey and airy in texture. Above all, I got some feedback that the brighter shades actually don't dry up totally matte with time. And yes, I totally understand that it is a pretty good argument to be upset about them. Still, I choose the nudest out of them all - Nude Thrill, a brownish peach, and Nude Flush, modern mauve rose. I need to emphasise that I personally love them. They're not totally matte but rather a satin finish. They apply as soft mousse lipglosses with a bit of shine. Shine tends to disappear (at least on these 2 nude shades) within an hour or two. You're left with a comfortable formula that lasts up to 5 hours. It's not the most long wearing product on the market, but the nice feel on the lips repays it all. As a note, be careful at choosing colours. Possessed Plum is apparently the patchiest out of them all. Oh, and I bought both of them on my own - not to be mistaken. 

Don't forget to blot Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks with a tissue, if you prefer more of a satin-matte finish. It makes all the difference, while formula is still comfortable and mousse-like. Color is slightly less intense and saturated but still wonderful.

My highlight is definitely the L'oreal Paris Superstar Eyeliner, which quickly became my ultimate necessity. Also, I'm religiously wearing my nude Vivid Matte Liquids everyday. Maybelline The Blushed Nudes and L'Oreal Superstar are favourites too, just not as intensely. Be careful before purchasing Vivid Matte Liquids - just to be clear, if you're on a hunt after super duper matte lipstick, Vivid Matte Liquid is not ''THE IT''. Maybelline and L'Oreal Paris are available worldwide in almost any nearby drugstore (DM, Tuš Drogerija, Muller for Slovenia).

Rose Gold in Makeup

Everything started with Urban Decay Naked 3 and I can't wrap my mind around the fact, that I actually forgot to include the main star into this rose gold post. Oh, well. Continuing with rose gold mania, here are some pretty and new pieces on our beauty market. From high-end and down to low-end, I'm sure you won't have any problems hunting down your favourite rose gold piece. In fact, limited collections from various brands are currently on fire with rose gold theme. Just be sure to look them up more closely, you might mistake them for plain old, gold packaging.

Clarins Ombre Iridescente (about 22€ for 7g, Clarins counters) is a fairly new, spring addition to the superb Clarins makeup line. In fact, they might turn out to be permanent as they're a shimmery version of their classic Ombre Matte Eyeshadow line. I already made an essay on the formula here as it's a perfect hybrid between cream and powder eyeshadow. It melts like butter under your fingers and applies highly intense. In terms of seconds, I've totally fallen in love with Ombre Iridescente in 05 Silver Pink. It's the classiest rose-gold type of colour you can ever imagine. Not too rose, just a golden hint and still utterly natural. A perfect pink brown with taupe and silver-gold hue. A must in your spring eyeshadow wardrobe!

Staying in the same lines of eyeshadow, Maybelline Colour Tattoo (around 6€, Maybelline stands) in 65 Pink Gold is another pocket friendly rose gold. It's a more heavily pink-based cream shadow, which transfers rather highly shimmery with a strong silver sheen. It's perfect for bringing out that pink in your rather brown shadows or adding pink highlight to the center of your lid. It's not the best waterproof formula on earth, but it's slightly more creamy on the touch than the first Colour Tattoo batch.

Maybelline mascara and I don't go together. I usually find their formula too light or rather too watery to properly enhance my already blonde lashes. However, Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (around 9€, Maybelline stands) might be the highlight I always wanted. Formula is surprisingly good, not too liquid-y but still manageable to make magic. Plastic wand is surprisingly easy to use due to the curved shape and fits perfectly to my eye shape. Not bad at all but still not a staple.

I just had to have one single Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick (30€ on Charlotte Tilbury). Although price and shipping fees are painfully close to any YSL or high-end lipstick, it's worth the splurge. Packaging is just out of this world, with heavy rose gold tube and well considered detailing. My personal favourite shade is Very Victoria, a rather neutral nude brown with cool and warm tones. Still in the family of more defined nudes but slightly more toned down. Nothing like it in my lipstick collection. Formula is pretty light and weightless on the lips. It's not fully opaque but rather semi-opaque for natural look and layering.

Artdeco Glam Stars Lip Gloss (8,37-11,95€, Artdeco counters & online) doesn't have typical rose gold packaging but the product itself is quite unique in terms of colour. 31 Glam Frozen Orchid from Arctic Beauty LE is a perfect example of rose pink with golden shift. It has light-medium opacity and can add dimension to any kind of lipstick. Texture is comfortable, easy to apply and pleasant in scent. Artdeco is the right address for unique shades of lipgloss and lipstick. I'm wearing 31 in my previous post here and it's currently on Artdeco sale. 

What's my favourite highlighter you may ask? Along with my newly purchased Dior Glowing Pink, it's also Topshop Highlighter Crescent Moon (13,20€ in Topshop & online). This is the most stunning product ever. The shifting effect is just wild and the colour intensity is insane. It may look like a pure champagne at first but it applies as a perfect light champagne with pink shift. Camera doesn't do it justice. Unfortunately, Topshop is not consistent with their makeup line, so they usually change up products and shades within season. You might just catch Crescent Moon in their shops, online or another season. Still, newly added Horizon (look here) looks like a killer dope tan rose-gold. Highly recommend Topshop highlighters! Thank god Topshop is available worldwide on Feelunique.

Melvita Nectar de Miels (Melvita counters in Muller,Nama, Maxi & online) could easily won in the category of ''Best looking Packaging'' with Ecocert certification. Nectar de Miels actually replaced old favourite Apicosma line, that was based on pure honey for extra dry skin. Indeed, Nectar de Miels came out with gorgeous rose-gold honey comb design but the formula got improved as well. The main star of the new body collection is organic thyme honey, which restores, nourishes and improves skin texture. 3 types of organic honey will intensely nourish any kind of dry or sensitive skin. I have to say, that the texture is well improved compared to old Melvita textures. They sink into the skin quickly and don't leave any unpleasant sticky residue. Scent is quite unique due to thyme honey as it's pretty herbal, sweet but also earthy. Big like on combining pleasant texture, scent and lovely organic ingredients list. I've tried Comforting Creamy Milk (19,90€ for 200ml) and Comforting Hand Cream (13,70€ for 75ml).

To conclude everything with a touch of perfume, Lancome could be the right pick for that rose gold touch. Lancome La Vie est Belle (around 57-60€ for 30ml, Lancome counters and luxury beauty shops) with Julia Roberts as the front star, combines  top notes of black currant and pear, while slowly settling into middle notes of iris, jasmine and orange blossom. The depth is created by patchouli, tonka bean, vanilla and praline. Scent is pretty long lasting and heavy, opening with fruit notes but slowly transferring into more deep notes. I can easily detect patchouli and iris, while tonka and praline is not that obvious on my skin pH. It's classy and sophisticated floral scent with a sweeter, deepened twist.

Maybelline The Nudes Palette

Maybelline The Nudes Palette has finally cautiously hit European drugstore after a year of successful route around US. While Slovenia is still behind, Austrian and German drugstores got a lot of buzz around this new hot item (obviously, beforehand good reviews make it even more appealing). Immediately ''sold out'' was a good indicator that the palette is not a one night stand for around roughly 14,99€. I have to say that it's pretty much well worth the money. Now let's just hope The Nudes will slowly start appearing in all European stores...

A single neutral palette with 12 shadows is quite frankly a rare find in low budget beauty department. Not only it looks inviting on first glance, it's also pigmented quite right. An array of shimmers, mattes, satins and glitters maintains a perfect balance for everyday looks. You have your warm browns, versatile taupes, extra shiny champagnes and rusty golds. On top of all, you're surprised with chocolate browns and gold glitters and multi dimensional ivory with gold, pink and green hue. You can easily create cool or warm looks. Although golds aren't really my thing I'm still happy to see a light gold and rusty bronze, dangerously reminding of Urban Decay Smog. Pigmentation is okay, nothing mind-blowing but still good enough to proudly stand in my collection. Shadows are not dusty, however black in particular, seems to crumble a bit due to dry formula. Also, multi dimensional ivory at the beginning seems to give a bit of fallout. Mattes in particular are blendable and soft enough for deserving a non-complain status. Longevity over primer is not a problem whatsoever.

Recapping entire story, I really like The Nudes delivery and quality. Some shades would need a touch or two of extra work but nothing major. An array of basic eyeshadows will deal with all your shadow needs. If you already own similar shades, you're probably okay without it. However, all must have shades in one place makes it pretty darn convenient. Maybelline The Nudes Palette is sold at bigger Maybelline stands for around 14,99€. 

Glossy Cheeks, Taupe Lips & Pink Mascara Look

All this makeup but still, some of you started to miss my makeup looks. Although I do experiment with products on daily basis (now don't get wild), I always seem to neglect sharing full on makeup faces with you. This time around I had an urge to try out most unusual, almost bizarre products on the market. Taupe lipsticks are pretty much a trend in makeup industry but not the cheapest and most common lip shade to opt for. Luckily, I stumbled upon NYX lipliner in 1000 years (3,12€, BeautyJoint), supposedly a dupe for MAC Stone lipliner, and KIKO Luscious Cream lipstick in 524 Taupe (6,90€, KIKO). They are both a cheaper alternative to trendy taupe lips. For a flawless base there's no better alternative than L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime range (review here). For better coverage I mixed L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime CC Cream (28,50€, L'Occitane online) with Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream (15,50€, drugstores or FeelUnique) along with Korean most popular, ultra covering The Saem Cover Perfection Liquid Concealer (7,12€, Jolse). For added glossy shine, the main star is definitely MAC Cinderella Eye Gloss in Pearl Varnish (LE Collection). Last but not least, cheap as chips Essence Colour Flash Volume Mascara 03 (around 3€, drugstores) adds a pop of pink on your eyelashes. If you want less apparent pink/red look apply over a coat or two of regular black mascara. With flash or without it, do you dare?

PRODUCTS USED:

- L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Cream (review here)

- Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream 31

- L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime CC Cream Light

- The Saem Cover Perfection Liquid Concealer 01

- Benefit Hervana Blush

-  MAC Cinderella Eye Gloss in Pearl Varnish

- Catrice Eyebrow Lifter 

- KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow 03 (review here)

- Maybelline Color Tattoo Permanent Taupe 

- Essence Colour Flash Volume Mascara 03 

- NYX Lipliner in 1000 Years

- KIKO Luscious Cream Lipstick in 524 Taupe