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Recently: Maybelline Volum’Express The Rocket Mascara* & Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara

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Maybelline - The Rocket - Mascara

Ah, can you hear that? That’s the sound of disappointment. Not because The Rocket is bad. I’m disappointed because this is another SUPER GOOD and SUPER AFFORDABLE drugstore mascara that I can’t repurchase because of its animal testing policy. I got The Rocket from the BDJ Box this month and I couldn’t wait to crack it open and try it on. Unfortunately, I liked how it looked.

Maybelline - The Rocket - Mascara - Wand

Funnily enough its wand is not something I normally like, and though it looks chunky, it actually is easier to wield than it looks. I can get to the hard-to-reach parts of my eyelashes with ease, and the formula is light and not goopy, but it is also not very dry either. I love that it’s super buildable and it doesn’t dry to a crustiness that can’t be retouched or added to, like some mascaras I’ve tried.

Maybelline - The Rocket - Mascara - Eyes

The Rocket adds volume, holds a curl, and doesn’t clump or make your lashes stick together. It’s also a good mascara to layer with. I’ve used it over another Maybelline Mascara, The Hypercurl, in this look:

FOTD - Cut Crease Face

See how you can actually see my lashes from afar? Swoon.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Tube

Another “wish it were CF” mascaras I have been trying out lately is Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara. I got this mini from a Sephora GWP.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Wand

Its wand is similar to The Rocket’s in that it’s plastic and spiky. There are little fiber spikes on the end, too, which I find useful for my outer lashes and also my lower lashes.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Lashes

Dare I say I prefer the look of The Rocket? Although, this is quite nice, too. 🙂 Still! Not CF. I can’ttttt. I can’t bring myself to buy this, even if it is beautiful. I think Benefit’s Well, we’re against animal testing, but… stance is bullshit and more annoying than straight-up admitting you test. BUT. That is neither here nor there. I think it just pisses me off more because I LOVE their products and I just wish they’d stop testing altogether and not skirt around the issue. Anyway.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Face

This is not an eyeroll! It’s a “Sigh, but these mascaras are so pretty.” If only these were cruelty-free. I welcome suggestions for similar cruelty-free options, if you have any idea on where I could start. I know I didn’t promise to eliminate non-CF products, but it’s getting more difficult for me to buy non-CF items, which is GOOD but also, it’s like starting these holy grail quests all over again.

Anyway, suggestions, please! And, of course, many thanks for reading. 🙂

* This item was provided for me for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.

Maybelline is not cruelty-free. Benefit is not cruelty-free.

Le Métier de Beauté Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Noir

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LMdB BVVIP - August - Eyeliner

The Le Métier de Beauté Precision Liquid Eyeliner, which I got in the first LMdB Beauty Vault Box, costs a whopping $42. Dumbfounded? So am I. While in my book, it’s a beautiful liner that beats no other liquid liner in terms of ease of use, I’m not sure if that price tag is warranted.

And so, I was pressed to find out if there is anything else that’s special about this little pen. From the Nordstrom website:

Product Description: “More control than ever before in a liquid liner. This long-wearing, smudge-proof formula contains a unique, soft, quill-tipped applicator for precise control and definition.

How to use: Apply light pressure for a thin line along upper lash line, or apply firm pressure for a thicker, more dramatic look.”

I read through other reviews—this surprisingly got many 5-star raves—and someone said that the quill (or tip, similar to a felt-tip pen with a fine point) was made by Montblanc. That explains a lot. Don’t get me wrong—it’s pretty fantastic. But $42? I don’t know if I can justify that. I love Le Métier de Beauté and I’m happy to pay a premium for a lot of their other products (which, I do), but this takes the cake, I think.

LMdB - Precision Liquid Eyeliner - Noir - Face

It’s beautiful, easy to use, and while I don’t find it to be smudgeproof (it stays longer over primer or an eyeshadow; it melted off when I wore it by itself on my naked eyelid), it does stay on for quite a bit of time. The color and the width of the line are also easy to build.

But 42 freaking dollars. For a black eyeliner. If it were a special, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle liner or something, maybe I’d consider it. I think I would even get it if it was $30. LOL that’s also crazy, but less crazy than the truth!

Anyway, here are some comparisons with some of my black eyeliners. From L-R: Le Métier de Beauté Precision Liquid Eyeliner (Noir), K-Palette Real Lasting 24H Liquid Liner (Black), Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner (Black), e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner (Black). The top swatches are attempts at a light, thin line.

LMdB - Liquid Eyeliner Comparisons

For one swipe, the LMdB liner gave the least pigmentation and it feathered into my fine lines. Although, that’s not the case when it’s on the actual eye, just to note. e.l.f. is the darkest, but in my experience, it’s the one with the most dismal staying power. Dolly Wink fades throughout the day, too. My favorite all-around option from the 4 is still K-Palette! Le Métier de Beauté is a close second with a LOT of points docked off for the price. Come on, now. I don’t know, is this the normal RP for eyeliners by luxury brands?

I hope this helps! As much as I love Le Métier de Beauté, I don’t think I’m a convert of their eyeliner. I mean, their Indelible Inks are $28 each. I really think it’s the Montblanc-made (assuming that’s true) quill. Le sigh.

Le Métier de Beauté is cruelty-free.

Travel Tip: Decanting Products

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Travel Tip - Decant

Hey, everyone. Just popping in to give you guys a really quick, really obvious tip for traveling: Decant your skincare. Get a hold of these little pots and transfer a bit of the product there. As you can see, I saved a lot of room by leaving the full-size items at home, and bringing along just what I need. It lessens the risk of product wastage, too, in case anything gets lost, stolen, or broken.

So, I have the Le Métier de Beauté Peau Vierge Complexion Serum & Dark Spot Corrector, which I am in the middle of testing. The marketing for this product claimed visible results in 28 days, so I wanted to continue my testing period. Then, there’s the Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum, which I use on most nights. Sometimes I interchange it with the Mustela Bébé Hydra-Bébé Facial Cream, which is light enough to use in the daytime, too.

This method raises issues of hygiene, but honestly, just wash your damn hands before you dip your fingers in pots of product. I mean, I think that’s pretty common sense. Anyway, I hope this post helped you out, at least by showing you how much room you could save if you transferred products into smaller containers.

I mean, that sounds stupid and obvious, but I really had no idea just how much space I was saving until I saw the little pots beside the big pots. 🙂 Remember to clean the little containers before transferring anything, though!

EOTD: Cut Crease & Extended Wing

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FOTD - Cut Crease Face

Here’s an eye look I tried out last Tuesday for a movie + dinner. I changed the lip to a pretty red (Le Métier de Beauté’s Signature)after I got off the train. LOL I don’t like commuting with heavy makeup. However, the true focus here = the eyes! It’s a neutral look, obviously, but I did a cut crease, an extended wing, AND pretty thick lashes (for my standards anyway), which I don’t do often.

A cut crease is when the crease color is more pronounced than super blended out. That’s how I understand it, anyway. I used several colors from theBalm’s Nude ‘Tude Palette, which I’ve spoken about a lot here. I find that since using it from way back when, I may have changed my opinion on this slightly, but we’ll get to that later.

FOTD - Cut Crease Eyes 1

I used Sassy (frosty white) on the inner two-thirds, Stubborn (shimmery pink) on the outer third. Silly (glittery warm brown) as the crease color which extended to the outer part of the eye. I used Snobby (cool yellow) as the inner corner highlight.

FOTD - Cut Crease Eyes 2

For the wing & lower lash line, I used Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Stiletto and I set it with Serious (slightly shimmery black). For lashes, I used Maybelline The Rocket over Maybelline The HyperCurl, on curled lashes.

For the rest of the face, I used BRTC Jasmine Whipping Essence, Graymelin CC Base Cream, and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light. The brows were an afterthought in a frantic rush to get out of the door ASAP = the quickest product I could think of = K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 24H. For blush I used both Lover and Hussy from the Illamasqua Blusher Duo. For lips, I have the Le Métier de Beauté Lip Crème in Café Crème.

And that’s it! Hope this post was helpful. 🙂

Make That Face Monday: Everyday Cranberry Eye

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I realize that this is a bit similar to this cranberry look for autumn that I posted a few days ago, but this is definitely more wearable. 🙂

I’ve been having a lot of fun with the 3CE eyeshadow in Saturn*, which is strange because, well… it’s cranberry! Still, though. It’s quite nice and definitely one of my favorite finds as of late.

The video is pretty straightforward, so just watch it if you’d like to know how I intend to wear Saturn during the day.

* This item was provided free of charge.

BECCA Beach Tint in Grapefruit, plus a review revisit

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BECCA Beach Tint Guava, Grapefruit

Today, I’ll be talking about the BECCA Beach Tint that came in the “Best of BECCA” set I ordered a few weeks ago. If you’re new here, BECCA Beach Tints are one of BECCA’s cult products and a personal favorite of mine. Beach Tints are “water-resistant colours for cheeks and lips.” As with most multi-purpose products, I prefer this using this for one purpose, and in this case, it is a much better cheek product than a lip product.

The first one I purchased is called Raspberry, and I loved it so much, I got another one, Guava. The one that came in the set is called Grapefruit, and it’s the one on the right, which is similar to Guava, but more orange than Guava’s coral pink.

BECCA Beach Tint - Grapefruit - Swatch

It’s not extremely pigmented, and I honestly wasn’t expecting much mileage or use out of this because on the hand, it looks really blah. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, I suppose, is what I’m saying. However! When I put it on my cheeks, it gives me just the right amount of glow and warmth.

BECCA Beach Tint - Grapefruit

It’s really natural, even compared to the other two shades I have, which give more color. I think it’s because Grapefruit is closest to my skin tone. It’s also quite a great deal more watery than the other shades I have. I find that if I shake those up, the liquids kind of mix together better than the liquids in this particular shade. Not a deal-breaker, just something I thought I’d note. 🙂

Although I love these products, I feel like I’m going to tap out on other shades for now. In my experience, the darkest ones seem to work best on me. I love both Guava and Grapefruit, but the price tag on these makes me think twice about repurchasing them. I would get another tube of Raspberry when I run out, though, but I think I’m done hoarding experimenting with Beach Tints for a while. 🙂

BECCA Cosmetics is cruelty-free.

Quickie: Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream in Berry Blast

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Buxom - Berry Blast - Tube

Purchased on a whim, as part of one of my first Sephora order, I got myself this Big & Healthy Lip Cream in Berry Blast. Upon further inspection of the range—of course, after making said purchase—I realize that I would have been happier with another color. Regardless, this is a great lip gloss/cream formula, especially if you are not a terribly big fan of glosses.

Product Description: “A creamy, pout-perfecting gloss for voluptuous lips. Tingle, plump, and shine your smile to super-sexy proportions. No shimmer, no glimmer—this creamy lip gloss delivers velvety-smooth color with intoxicating shine. The hyaluronic filling spheres infuse lips with moisture for creamy soft perfection and the look of a full, extra-kissable pout. Vitamins A and E help keep the skin supple, yet protected, and the fun tingling sensation reminds you the gloss is hard at work.

Wear alone or over lipstick to create the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips.

Formulated WITHOUT: Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, GMOs, Triclosan.”

Buxom - Berry Blast

Berry Blast is a blindingly bright cool berry shade that swatches quite opaquely. On the lips, it’s not as intense, especially if you sheer it out, which is quite easy to do. There is a cooling, minty, tingly feeling that is probably what makes it a plumping gloss.

Buxom - Berry Blast - Face

I quite like it and am looking to purchase it in a color I like better, once I run out.

Buxom is cruelty-free.