Drugstore Finds, First Impressions
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New Releases From Maybelline*

Earlier this week, I got a cute surprise from Maybelline: some of their new releases, which includes four lipsticks and three brow mascaras, all tucked into this hot pink lip purse! I’ve fallen behind the new Maybelline releases since I’ve steered my beauty consumption towards a more cruelty-free route quite a while ago.

Maybelline - Pink Alert Lipsticks - Bottom

The four lipsticks are variations of pink, as they are part of the Maybelline Pink Alert Lipsticks, which is a new addition to their Color Sensational range. I think it’s an attempt to kind of “up the amp” in pink lipsticks, doing away with the prissy, frilly pinks with four kind of really in-your-face “rebellious” pinks, which they call “runway-ready pink shades.”

Maybelline - Pink Alert Lipsticks - POW 1, POW 2, POW 3, POW 4
There are four pinks: POW 1, POW 2, POW 3, and POW 4. POW 1 and POW 3 and blue-based, cool pinks. POW 2 and POW 4 are warmer pinks, with POW 4 being the most coral-y of them all. All are pretty bright. If you know me, I can’t handle bright lipsticks on my visage (lol), but you know what? It actually wasn’t so bad.

But first, the lipsticks.

Maybelline - Pink Alert Lipsticks - Swatches - POW 1, POW 2, POW 3, POW 4

Since these are part of the Color Sensational range, these are formulated with vivid red-based pigments and 100% nourishing honey nectar, which is probably why they’re so creamy. The swatches here were made with several passes, as there seems to be some slip to the lipsticks. They’re light on the lips, stay on pretty well (and fade evenly), but it might get annoying if you’re the type who presses your lips together a lot, as they dry down to a moderately tacky finish. Nothing sticky or gross; just slightly tacky. They will obviously cling to dry patches, but here’s the kicker: you don’t even notice them all that much when the lipstick sets after a few minutes. The color is evenly deposited, and for some reason, you don’t really see the delineation of where the lipstick ends towards the opening of your mouth. In other words, there’s no gross lipstick line on the inside of your mouth.

Maybelline ColorSensational Pink Alert Lipsticks - Face

As for the opacity and pigmentation, I’m kind of at an undecided fork in the road. POW 1 looks opaque, but I’m positive that some of my lips’ natural pigmentation is peeking through. Have I mentioned how much I surprisingly love POW 1? Because I really didn’t think I would. It is really a stunner, as far as bright pink lipsticks are concerned. POW 3, the other cool pink, is still bright, but I think, to some degree, much more wearable than POW 1 partly because it has less blue in it.

Speaking of the bluey-ness of it all, I’ve discovered that the blue “undertone” seems to actually have been achieved by blue microshimmer. (I saw it on my lipstick swipes on a napkin. Science.) The reds of the lipsticks are from actual pigment, while the blue is achieved with microshimmer. It doesn’t make the lipstick look gritty or glittery—the effect is similar to Japanese jelly lipsticks. Just an overall juicy look to the lips, and in these cases, a slight blue tint.

I like POW 2 more than I thought I would. It’s a warm medium pink, almost like what I imagined MAC’s Impassioned to be. I find it to be bright but not distracting on myself to myself (I find pinks in general, if it’s not neutral, to be distracting). POW 4 was the shade I was sure I would like, when I saw Liz’s post on these lipsticks. It’s a medium coral-leaning pink that looks so good and bright against a tan. It looks so orange when set against all these other pinks, but it’s actually not severely orange when you look at it on its own.

Maybelline - Pink Alert Lipsticks - Top Mirror

The top surface is kind of reflective and can work as a makeshift mirror in a pinch. It’s not a great mirror, obviously, but it does the job, kinda.

If you’re not sure what pink to pick, Maybelline actually has this handy little chart that matches a Pink Alert pink to your skin tone and suggests other pinks they already have in their other lines:

Print

The Maybelline Color Sensational Pink Alert Lipsticks are Php 399 each. I’m really surprised that I liked all of the shades in this range, as I have almost 0 desire for pink lipstick, let alone bright & loud ones. Huh.

I was super excited to have received the next things: the Maybelline Fashion Brow Coloring Mascara! I encountered this product first on Ae’s blog.

Maybelline Fashion Brow 24H Coloring Mascara

It’s supposed to create perfect brows, since they offer flexibility to tailor your look however you like. You can use this mascara alone or with other brow products, depending on what look you’re going for that day.

One of the most unique things about the Fashion Brow Mascara is that it comes with an angle-free brow brush that combs neatly over any stray hairs. Look at that BALLED END. There are three shades: 1 Yellow Brown, 3 Rusty Brown, and 5 Dark Brown.

Maybelline Fashion Brow 24H Coloring Mascara - Brush - 1 Yellow Brown
1 Yellow Brown, presumably for blonds. I did try this out, though, and though I looked and felt like a lion, it doesn’t look all that fake and distracting. Just a subtle tint.

Maybelline Fashion Brow 24H Coloring Mascara - Brush - 3 Rusty Brown
3 Rusty Brown, for red-toned hair. This one, I’m not sure of, because I’ve never been a fan of red-toned brows (esp. if your hair is jet black), however, the red here is not even all that pronounced.

Maybelline Fashion Brow 24H Coloring Mascara - Brush - 5 Dark Brown
5 Dark Brown, my shade. It is perfect and subtle and natural-looking but also somehow gives heft and definition, and structure to your brows. I likey.

Maybelline Fashion Brow 24H Coloring Mascara - Swatches - 1 Yellow Brown, 3 Rusty Brown, 5 Dark Brown
Swatched, L-R: 1 Yellow Brown, 3 Rusty Brown, 5 Dark Brown

As you can probably tell from my descriptions, I’ve tried all three shades and the lighter ones don’t look half bad. They look pretty natural and really play quite a part in crafting the look you want. I don’t see myself having much use for Red/Rusty Brown, but Yellow Brown seems to be a likely candidate if I want full but not-so-defined brows, weirdly enough. I have to go play with them a bit more, though, as there is a learning curve to using these products.

Maybelline Fashion Brow - Dark Brown - Face
I’ve used Dark Brown by itself here. Very, very subtle. The effects of Yellow Brown, as expected, are more pronounced.

Rest of the makeup: Verikos Ultra Matte Velvet Primer*, Maybelline Clear Smooth All-in-One Shine Free Cake Powder (05 Sand Beige)*, LUSH Cream Eyeshadow (Sophisticated), Rouge Bunny Rouge Long-Lasting Eyeshadow (Bejwelled Skylark and Tantalizing Lovebird), Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (Mars), Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte & Waterproof Bronzer (Park Avenue Princess), Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush (Exposed), BECCA The Ultimate Mascara

Maybelline claims that these have “blendable and buildable color only from our exclusive pigments, with a film finish for 24-hour long wear!” It was actually frighteningly easy to wash these off with only water, so I’m not sure if I believe the 24-hour wear. These are great for subtle definition and a soft look to the eyebrow, but don’t expect them to transform you into Cara Delevingne because they won’t. Obviously.

These retail for Php 359 each.

What do you think of these recent releases? Anything you’ve got your eye on?

* PR Sample. Maybelline is not cruelty-free.

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22 Comments

  1. rXveur says

    Absolutely love the post! The lipstick shades look great on you!

  2. POW4 looks reaaaally good on you! The brow mascaras are interesting as I’ve never used any yet. But… it’s not cruelty free, so I’m not buying.

  3. Woah! All of the colors (lipsticks) are lovely! I went to the Maybelline counter yesterday, but didn’t bother to try these. (Was busy with the lip polishes. Hahaha)

    littellebratontheloose.blogspot.com

  4. foureyedwonder says

    I’ve always been afraid of bright pinks since I think they make me look darker, and not in a beautifully tanned kind of way, but these seem fun to try, and they look so great on you! The brow mascara is interesting though, I’ve always found the ones I have a bit too heavy for my semi-full eyebrows, but they look quite subtle based on your photo.

    I think I’m getting more addicted to makeup because of your blog haha!

    • Weird! Pinks are supposed to brighten up the face. 🙂 I’m actually a bit more tanned now because I came from the beach.

      RE: brow mascara, I know what you mean! I tried one before and it looked so funny. I usually use brow powder alone or with a marker/pencil under. 😀

      Hala, haha relax lang! Wag gagaya sa akin. 🙂

  5. I’m digging POW 4 and the brow mascara big time! I’ve been wanting to try stuff like that for a while now, but I’m not sure about the Benefit Gimme Brow thing. Got to stalk the local Maybelline displays till I see these! Thanks for the heads-up, Carina!

    • Thanks, Sunny! I’ve been wanting to try the Hourglass brow pencil, too but I’m just too stingy for it right now!

  6. I’m mostly excited about the brow mascaras. I’ve been playing with my hair color the last couple of years, trying to go as light as I dare. I’ve gone red, so I’d like something that would match. Very timely release for Maybelline. 🙂

  7. I’m really excited about the brow mascaras! 🙂 Wish they released some matte lipsticks tho. Yung “matte” lipsticks kasi nila dati, parang di naman matte huhu

    • Yup, got really disappointed with that ‘matte’ line. It has the same sheen as the colorsensationals.

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  9. I think POW3 looks fab on you! 🙂 I love the shades but I find that the maybelline lipstick I have wear quite tacky on my lips as well! 😦 I’m so glad that Maybelline has finally started offering colored brow mascaras, though! It’s been difficult to find colored brow mascaras for girls with lighter hair, hehe.

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