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OCC Lip Tar in Anita, Annika, Black Metal Dahlia, and OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss in Little Black Dress

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OCC Lip Tar, Creme Colour Concentrate, Concealer

Apart from the two Crème Colour Concentrates that I bought from my last OCC purchase, I also got three lip tars and a concealer (more on that later). Because of a Black Friday Promo, my cumulative purchases earned me a complimentary tube of my first OCC Lip Tar Stained Gloss in Little Black Dress.

OCC Lip Tar, Black Metal Dahlia

Each of these little lip things come in a small resealable vinyl bag, which I think is a little wasteful—but I guess I get what it’s for—and a small lip brush. Lip Tars are highly pigmented lip colors that come in a little tube that you have to kind of paint on. I have two of these already and I always find them inconvenient to use if I have a long day out and would need to retouch. I mean, where do you put the lip brush? The bag solves this problem, but I’m surprised at this move by OCC, since it doesn’t seem to be a sustainable solution.

I don’t believe my older lip tars came with them, which is why I am noting it here now! There are two types of Lip Tars, as far as I know—matte and metallic. Black Metal Dahlia is a metallic lip tar, and both Anita and Annika are matte lip tars. Little Black Dress is a Lip Tar Stained Gloss.

OCC Lip Tar - Black Metal Dahlia, Anita, Annika, Gloss - Little Black Dress - Swatches 1
L-R, swatched: Black Metal Dahlia (blended, unblended), Anita (blended, unblended), Annika (blended, unblended), Little Black Dress (blended, undlended)

LIP TAR: MATTE™ Product Description: “A liquid matte lipstick with unparalleled pigment intensity and wear time. Only the smallest amount is needed for opaque coverage. Contains Organic Hemp Oil & Soy-Derived Vitamin E, for a finish that feels as good as it looks!
Paraben-Free courtesy of refreshing Peppermint Oil. 100% Vegan & Gluten-Free.”

LIP TAR: Metallic™ Product Description: “Infused with state of the art hi-resolution metallic pigments, the unparalleled opacity of Lip Tar has gone high-voltage with an intense shimmer finish. Contains Organic Hemp Oil & Soy-Derived Vitamin E, for a finish that feels as good as it looks! Paraben-Free courtesy of refreshing Peppermint Oil. 100% Vegan & Gluten-Free.”

LIP TAR: Stained Gloss™ Little Black Dress Product Description: “Little Black Dress’ Stained Gloss, OCC’s newest colour innovation, imparts high-impact shine and subtly defines lips with a sheer veil of black pigment. This unexpectedly wearable shade creates the perfect neutral lip colour, while hydrating and softening lips and maintaining a slick, glossy finish that lasts throughout the day.”

OCC Lip Tar - Black Metal Dahlia, Anita, Annika, Gloss - Little Black Dress - Swatches 2

Black Metal Dahlia is described as a blackened burgundy with red pearl. I thought it would actually be much deeper than it is, but it’s still rather pretty. This shade stood out to me the most, while trawling different blogs, and made me want to buy it, stat! It pulls quite hot red on me.

Anita is a browned burgundy and is something that I DID NOT at all think I would ever want to purchase, but I’m so glad I did. It is so lovely. I don’t have a color quite like it, something like a brown brick red. It is gorgeous.

Annika is a pale neutral peach, and it is something that I strangely love on myself. It’s pretty bright for a pale color, which normally would put me off, but I found it so pretty as I was putting it on.

Little Black Dress is a sheer glossy black. I think its main purpose is to tone down or deepen lip colors.

OCC Lip Tar - Black Metal Dahlia, Anita, Annika, Gloss - Little Black Dress - Swatches 3

Along with Strumpet and Lydia, I think I have a nice collection of lip tars so far. There are a bunch of other colors I have my eye on, but these is quite a good range already, I think.

I have Black Metal Dahlia on here:
OCC Lip Tar - Black Metal Dahlia - Face

As you can see, it’s bordering on pink. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, but that’s not the color’s fault. Formula is beautiful and the stain it leaves behind is absolutely gorgeous. This shade is the most prone to feathering. I have a natural “barrier” so lipsticks don’t usually feather on me, but I just thought i should note.

OCC Lip Tar - Anita - Face

Here, I have on Anita. The direct lighting makes it look shiny—but it’s mostly matte, maybe a little on the satin-y side. This is beautiful, but I have to figure out what to wear it with, in terms of eyes and such. I really like this one, but I have to be careful because I can’t seem to draw inside the lines.

OCC - Lip Tar - Annika Face

Annika is a bold yet light color that I really, really like on myself, surprisingly. It reminds me a little bit of a slightly less pink version of MAC’s Betty Bright.

And here’s the effect of Little Black Dress in action:
OCC - Lip Tar Stained Gloss - Little Black Dress - Face

On the left is the stain left behind by Black Metal Dahlia (told you it was pretty), and on the right is what it looks like topped with Little Black Dress. The difference is subtle, but it makes a world of difference, I think. I really like the effect and I’m glad I got it for free because I never would have picked this up for myself.

On the whole, this purchase has convinced me of the merits of lip tars. I was not convinced after my first purchase, so I’m glad I gave them another shot.

OCC is vegan and cruelty-free. I bought these on OCC’s official website.

Quickie: OCC Skin: Conceal in Y3

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OCC - Concealer - Y3

My last OCC purchase led me on another trail of thinking I know better. Concealer is probably one of the trickiest things you can “eyeball” when buying makeup online. I think I may be the only asshole who does this but I can’t help it. My latest impulse blind buy is the OCC Skin: Conceal in Y3. The product itself is really good, I think I just missed the mark on the shade selection.

OCC Concealer - Y3 - Pot

The product comes in a plastic screw-top pot that is pretty much identical to their packaging for the Loose Colour Concentrates and the Crème Colour Concentrates. It’s the same as the containers I use to depot certain makeup bits. I don’t really like this—I prefer glass jars—but these are functional enough.

OCC Concealer - Y3

Y3 is meant for medium skintones with dark-yellow undertones. I shoulda known, to be honest. Look at how off the mark I was. The texture is really awesome, though, and it blends really well into the skin. It doesn’t settle into creases or crepe up and cake.

Still, I tried it on my face—on a blemish and on my bags. It didn’t fare well with the blemish, but I think it is actually decent under my bags:

OCC Concealer - Y3 Face

Too-light concealers actually tend to emphasize and accentuate my bags, and this seems to do the trick of concealing the dark circles without drawing attention to my eye luggage. I think I actually prefer this to too-light concealers which tend to make my under-eye area look ashy. I’ve found that topping this off with the Le Métier de Beauté Eye Brightening and Setting Powder in Refresh lightens the dark under eye action a bit, somewhat.

As a product, I definitely recommend this. I wish I had gotten the correct color, though.

OCC is vegan and cruelty-free.

Makeup Inventory: Revlon Lip Butters

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Revlon Lip Butters

Remember the hype that surrounded the Revlon Lip Butters? Here’s my entire stash of them. I can see your surprise. Let me explain.

I used to have Creamsicle, but I sold it to my friend, Jin. Fig Jam, I gave to my sister, and Brown Sugar was up on my blog sale. I had my eye on a lot more colors but these aren’t CF so I never bought more.

What I do have, from L-R, are: Cotton Candy, Sweet Tart, Wild Watermelon*, Raspberry Pie, and Sugar Plum.

Sugar Plum is the first one I bought and it remains a favorite. That shade is the most appealing to me, and I find that it is the most hydrating and comfortable to wear. I think you can see what I mean from these swatches:

Revlon Lip Butters - Swatches

Cotton Candy is a bit on the lighter side and can translate a bit frosty. Sweet Tart is a little too pink for me, but I want to see how I can make it work. I actually really like Wild Watermelon, even if it isn’t something I would gravitate towards, as I’m quite picky with red lipsticks. Raspberry Pie is an awesome berry color, though it is a bit too thick and drying on the lips. Last but not the least, Sugar Plum, the one I’ll miss the most. This looks like a sheer blah, but trust that it is a gorgeous sheer-but-buildable berry that isn’t too pink.

Anyway, these are my lip butters! I like them a lot (love saved for Sugar Plum only), but I don’t think they are super must-haves. I think there are a few colors that really stand out. I guess if you’re looking for something easy to put on, wear, and forget about, these are great for that.

Are you a fan of these lip butters? What’s an alternative to these that you prefer?

* I received Wild Watermelon in a BDJ Box I was sent for free. Revlon is not cruelty-free.

FOTD: Layered Mascara & a Neutral Lip

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FOTD 3

Here’s a recent FOTD~ using a bunch of new-ish and old products! My sister said these photos made me look unapproachable; I on the other hand thought that I looked nice, lol. It’s a pretty simple smoky eye. My default has been to use the Le Métier de Beauté Kaleidoscope Eye Kit in Gravité, for a dark and subtle smoky eye for the daytime. I just layered each tier over the Le Métier de Beauté Dualistic Eye Pencil in Tamarack, lined my upper lash line, and loaded up on the mascara. I also used Le Métier de Beauté True Colour Eye Shadow in Naked on the brow bone for some highlight and a soft transition.

FOTD - Eyes

FOTD - Mascara

Speaking of mascara, here’s my arsenal: Maybelline The Hypercurl Mascara* topped with Fairy Drops Volume Burst on curled upper lashes, and the Le Métier de Beauté Anamorphic Lash Mascara in Noir on the bottom lashes. I usually just use the last one on a daily basis since it looks natural but also adds ample definition.

FOTD 2

FOTD - Products

I used Tom Ford Cheek Color in Wicked high up on my cheeks and did light contouring with NYX Powder Blush in Raisin just in the hollows of my cheekbones. Lips are courtesy of my first high-end lipstick ever, Chanel Rouge Coco in Perlé.

Other, unphotographed makeup: Happy Skin Eye am Here to Stay in 01 Perfect Black on upper lash line, Graymelin Seven Tattoo Eyebrow in Dark Brown* for my brows.

FOTD 1

For my base, I used BECCA Resurfacing Primer and the Ellana Minerals Loose Mineral Powder Foundation in Caramel Latte*, topped with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light.

These photos were taken about seven hours after initial application. I think it held up pretty well, even without a setting spray. 🙂

* PR Sample.

Nosy Beauty Vol. 22: Sunny

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Happy Saturday everyone! You know what that means: Nosy Beauty! 🙂 Every Saturday, I ask someone to turn over their makeup bags and inspect their daily necessities. Today, we have Sunny, one of my favorite bloggers. She runs Mostly Sunny from beautiful Belgium, and it’s one of my go-to places for reviews on higher end makeup products. Let’s take a peek into her makeup bag, shall we?

khaki eyes, coral cheeks & lips

Sunny: I am a full time cat mama and translator by day! Read More

Quickie: Le Métier de Beauté Eye Brightening and Setting Powder in Refresh

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Eye Brightening and Setting Powder - Refresh

Here’s a quick review of the Le Métier de Beauté Eye Brightening and Setting Powder in Refresh. This came as a bonus vault gift when I made a purchase through their official website. I got the shade Refresh, which I think is the more cool-toned option from the two available shades.

Product Description from Nordstrom: “Exclusively ours. Comes as close as you can get to under-eye perfection.

  • This lightweight powder sets concealer and illuminates the under eye area for a radiant, soft matte finish.
  • Smoothes the under-eye area and creates perfect upper lid canvas for eye shadow.
  • Micronized pigments will not settle in fine lines or accentuate shadows.
  • Absorbs excess oils to create perfect canvas for makeup application.
  • Provides crease-resistant, long-wearing coverage.
  • Suitable for all skin types.

LMdB - Swatches

Here it is, swatched beside three shadows, on the extreme left. Read More

OCC Crème Colour Concentrate in Cthulu and Newt

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OCC - CCC - Cthulu, Newt

Remember when I said I haven’t been buying a lot of makeup lately? That is a half-truth. I made an Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics purchase when they had their Black Friday sale. I’d been eyeing a bunch of lip tars, but I also wanted to try these Creme Colour Concentrates, since I’ve been on the hunt for some cruelty-free cream shadows.

OCC - CCC - Cthulu, Newt - Pot

These are actually pretty unique! They can be used for the eyes, lips, and cheeks. I’ve only tested them as eye bases, though, as I bought them for that purpose.

Product Description: “This new texture innovation is a smooth, blendable, buildable cream coverage product that’s suitable for use on the eyes, lips, and cheeks! Loaded with emollients and humectants including aloe leaf extract, cocoa extract, and vitamin E, Crème Colour Concentrate goes on smoothly and wears like a dream. Apply anywhere intense, fashion-forward color is desired for a look that will last all day.
-Free of parabens -sulfates -phthalates”

OCC Cream Colour Concentrate - Cthulu, Newt - Swatches
L-R, swatched: Cthulu, Newt

I bought two shades: Cthulu, a “dirty pale olive,” and Newt, a pale peach. Who knew H.P. Lovecraft would make me buy makeup?

There are a lot of other colors in their range, but I chose these ones because I have my fair share of neutrals at the moment. I think it’s really nice that OCC still went for the production of wild colors like teal and blue for a multi-purpose product.

OCC - CCC - Cthulu - Face

Here is Cthulu worn. I anchored it down with some taupes in the crease, and inner corner. It’s actually a pretty good base by itself with pretty much no creasing action for a good amount of hours. I’m a bit surprised. The textures of these have a lot more slip than MAC Paint Pots and Benefit Cream Shadows. These Crème Colour Concentrates are buildable but they can apply sheer, too. I’m surprised they both held up well against my oily lids.

OCC - CCC - Newt - Face

Here’s Newt in action. It actually translates quite pink on me, so I’ve worn it with a deep reddish brown here. Again, this was quite pretty and held up nicely on my oily, foldy lids. I love this color so much. My theory with pink eyeshadow is that it usually just makes cool-toned, fair-skinned people look like they have pink eye but I usually like pink eyeshadow on girls with deeper skin. Usually!

Anyway, these are amazing. I have to see if they dry out quickly, as I’m not the biggest fan of the plastic pot packaging and prefer glass, but if they don’t, I foresee a great relationship with them. My hunt for great, cruelty-free cream shadows might be over!

OCC is vegan and cruelty-free.