Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set Review

Hi loves,

Today, I have a review on the Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set that I purchased at Sephora. The set comes with 5 mini lipsticks ($25.00 for 0.18 oz), which are all available full sized individually (the set is now sold out, but full-sized are available as these are not limited edition shades). Overall, I think this is a nice set to try out different shades in Besame's collection. I adore that they are all different shades of the red family (plus one rosy pink shade) since these are all colors that I typically gravitate towards and find myself wearing most often. I also think the brand concept of Besame cosmetics' is really cool. They are inspired by vintage makeup and shades from the different eras (hence the lipsticks are each named after a year and the shades are replicas of an actual lipstick color from that year). I and loving the old hollywood, vintage, glam vibes. 

First, lets take a look at the swatches

Left: Indoor fluorescent lighting, Right: with Flash

Indoor florescent lighting, direct light

Indirect indoor florescent lighting in bathroom, with some natural lighting

My thoughts:

• Formula: The finish is a satin finish, not very glossy nor matte. Besame recommends putting on one coat, blot with tissue (this sets sort of a stain), then apply a second coat for maximum lasting power. I do like using this method when applying the lipstick and I find that blotting it gives it a more matte look on the lips.
  - The lipstick itself is pigmented and I like that it has sort of a cling to it (not super slippery like some lipsticks I own, more of a drier formula). This is especially important to me when I'm wearing a bold red or deep shade of lipstick so I feel more secure that the lipstick will stay in place and I don't have to worry about my lipstick slipping/sliding/moving to other parts of my face. Despite the "drier" formula, the pigmentation is great, so I like it.
  
• Lasting Power- good for a lipstick. Doesn't leave behind a strong stain like Revlon's or Jordana's balm stains, but the reds and deep colors leave a slight stain since they are such rich colors. Also because of the formula I mentioned above, it doesnt slip off or wipe off as easily as a more glossy or balmy lipstick would.
  
• Shades:
• 1930 Noir Red- A vampy deep wine red. I love this color so much, it's one of my favorites! A perfect shade for the fall and winter, and definitely on par with the vampy lips trend. I like how truly deep it is, and isn't overly purply or berry (some of these deep shades tend to look deep in the tube, then when applied come off as a fuschia/berry/purple which I don't like)- I like that this has a more red and brown undertone. 
• 1935 Cherry Red- Classic deep red. Has a bit of a pink/blue undertone. Perfect for the holidays.
• 1946 Red Velvet- Another lovely red shade, this one leans a bit warmer and it's a bit lighter.
• 1969 Dusty Rose- Mauve pink shade, really great everyday my lips but better (MLBB) shade.
• 1970 Chocolate Kiss- My favorite shade of the collection! Gorgeous terra cotta brick color. It's like a medium red with brown/orangey undertones. I have been really obsessed with terra cotta, pumpkiny, warm red/mauve shades lately.

Overall, I think this is a great set to try out the different shades. The lipsticks in this set are truly mini though! I would say they are smaller than other lipstick sets you'd see at sephora, the size of the container is about maybe my pinky size in height and the actual lipstick itself is about 1/3 of my pinky. I think each mini lipstick would probably last 15-20 uses potentially. However, I was still glad I purchased this set, as I think it is a nice way for me to test out the different shades. The lipsticks are super cute with the gold and red packaging, and although they are plastic, it still looks luxe at least.  

 The standouts for me in this set was 1930 and 1970- they're different from the shades I have in my collection and I may have to buy a full sized of the 1970 shade.. I just love it. 

Hope this review was helpful and thanks for reading! What's your favorite shade? Have you tried Besame cosmetics?

 Until next time...

xoxo,
Kathleen

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow Swatches and Review- Neutrals

Hey loves,

I am so excited to share with you all the swatches of Milani's new Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow that will be rolling into stores this month! Milani has created 30 amazing shades of these eyeshadows that range from satin, matte, shimmer, and iridescent metallic finishes. These eyeshadows look and go on as powder, but they feel smooth and soft. They are described as gel powder because of the smooth way they glide onto the skin with a single stroke. Initially, I thought these shadows were a cream to powder kind of product, but they are not. They are powder eyeshadows, but they go on pigmented and smooth.

First, I will start off with the Neutral shades (there are neutral as well as bright colors) and will swatch the other shades in a following post.

Onto the swatches! :)

(indoor natural/ in the shade lighting)

From L-R: Bella Gold, Bella Copper, Bella Bronze, Bella Espresso, Bella Taupe, Bella Charcoal (in sunlight)

From L-R: Bella Gold, Bella Copper, Bella Bronze, Bella Espresso, Bella Taupe, Bella Charcoal (indoor artificial lighting)

Bella Gold- Pigmented gold with metallic finish. Could definitely do a foiled-eyeshadow look with this one, its super pigmented and metallic! 

Bella Copper- Intense copper with metallic finish. Another super pigmented foiled eyeshadow.

Bella Bronze- intense deep copper with metallic finish. Its a warm brown color with an almost burgundy tint. Another super pigmented foiled eyeshadow!

Bella Espresso- Cool toned deep brown with satin matte finish. 

Bella Taupe- mushroom taupe with matte finish (love this shade! very versatile and goes well as a crease color)

Bella Charcoal- gunmetal gray with shimmer finish. With a sheer layer, it sometimes looks almost like a deep taupe color on my skin tone. 

L-R: Bella Diamond, Bella White, Bella Chiffon, Bella Caffe, Bella Cappuccino, Bella Champagne

Bella Diamond- white highlight with the slightest hint of golden shimmer- shimmer finish. This one was not go on very smoothly- it was quite sheer.

Bella White- white with matte finish- great as a highlight for under the brow!

Bella Chiffon- cream with golden shimmer, shimmer finish. This is perfect as a shimmery highlight for the inner corners to brighten and open up the eyes- love it!

Bella Caffe- warm light brown/deep tan color, with satin matte finish. This color is pigmented, but it is blends in a bit with my skin tone- so FYI ladies with NC25 skin tone! It might not show up very well on you! I can see this working well on someone with a very light complexion.

Bella Cappuccino- light brown/deep tan with a bit of a rosy tint- satin matte finish. This color is pigmented, but it is blends in a bit with my skin tone- so FYI ladies with NC25 skin tone! It might not show up very well on you! I can see this working well on someone with a very light complexion.

Bella Champagne- light warm pink/ salmon/ champagne with a shimmer finish. Another great color for the inner corner of the lid!










All eyeshadows were applied with a primer.
Overall, I am really enjoying the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadows so far! They are pigmented and when you touch the shadow, its smooth and velvety. My favorites in the neutrals that I've swatched today were: Bella Gold, Bella Copper, Bella Bronze (super metallic shades); Bella Taupe (creamy matte taupe- so gorgeous and wearable), and Bella Chiffon (essential highlight color- love that it has gold shimmer- it really warms up the look). You can find these for $3.99 at CVS and on their Milani website.

Let me know loves, which shades did you like best and which ones will you be checking out?
Stay tuned for the upcoming swatches of the bright/colorful shades! Until next time,

xoxo,
Kathleen

* Disclosure: These products were provided by Milani for review. These opinions are my own and I do not get paid to do this review. 

Milani Colorstatement Lipsticks (Reds & Oranges Colors)

Hey loves,

In today’s post, I will be showing you the Milani Colorstatement Lipsticks in the color range: Oranges and Reds.

The Milani Colorstatement lipsticks come in the shade ranges of: Plums & Berries, Naturals & Browns, Pinks & Corals, and Oranges & Reds.

Please see my previous blog posts on the other shade ranges:

Plums & Berries

Naturals & Browns

Pinks & Corals

Colors from Left to Right: Sweet Nectar, Orange-Gina, High Voltage, Red Label, Cherry Crave, Best Red,  Ruby Valentine

Now onto the swatches!

Left to Right: Sweet Nectar, Orange-Gina, High Voltage, Red Label, Cherry Crave, Best Red,  Ruby Valentine

Left to Right: Sweet Nectar, Orange-Gina, High Voltage, Red Label, Cherry Crave, Best Red,  Ruby Valentine

                   



Left to Right: Sweet Nectar, Orange-Gina, High Voltage

- Sweet Nectar: Cream finish. Bright orange shade- on the lips it looks more of a bright orangey coral color. 

- Orange-Gina: Pearl finish. Orange shade with fine golden shimmers through out. 

- High Voltage: Vinyl finish. Red shade with a bit of an orange undertone (warm toned red).

L-R: Red Label, Cherry Crave, Best Red,  Ruby Valentine

- Red Label: Cream finish. Cool toned red shade 

- Cherry Crave: Metallic finish. Warm toned red with tons of red shimmers throughout. This shade makes me think of the holidays (red + red sparkles makes me think of the holidays for some reason- ornaments, pretty wrapping paper.. can it be Christmas already?! Lol)

- Best Red: Matte finish. Cool toned red (a bit deeper shade of red than red label). Labeled as matte, but has a bit of a glossy finish. 

-  Ruby Valentine: Vinyl finish. Warm toned red (a bit deeper shade of red than high voltage). 

Overall, I really like the great formula of these lipsticks- not to mention, I love their packaging! It comes in a luxe looking shiny gold colored casing. The lipsticks are not drying, and they have a nice, rich opacity (one swipe and it has full on color), and leave a slight glossy sheen. They have a slight fruity scent to them, which I like. I love how affordable these are and I think these are great lipsticks with tons of shades to choose from (30 different shades to be exact). My favorites in this collection were Sweet Nectar (l love coral lips!) and High Voltage. The colors in this collection is quite similar, but have slightly different undertones or how dark/light the shade is. I like how there is a variation of cool and warm undertones so that people with different complexions can find the shade of red that flatters them the most. 

Let me know what you guys thought of the lipsticks and which one was your favorite? 

Until next time...

xoxo,

Kathleen

Milani products can be purchased at: CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, Kmart, and http://www.milianicosmetics.com

*Disclaimer: Products were provided for review. Opinions are 100% my own. I am not affiliated w/ the company.

Milani Colorstatement Lipsticks (Pinks & Corals Colors)

Hey loves,

In today’s post, I will be showing you the Milani Colorstatement Lipsticks in the color range: Pinks and Corals. The Milani Colorstatement lipsticks come in the shade ranges of: Plums & Berries, Naturals & Browns, Pinks & Corals, and Oranges & Reds.

Please see my previous blog posts on the other shade ranges:

Plums & Berries

Naturals & Browns
Oranges & Reds

Colors from Left to Right: Pink Frost, Fruit Punch, Flamingo Pose, Rose Hip, Hot Pink Rage, Flirty Fuchsia, Rose Amour

Now onto the swatches! 

Colors from Left to Right: Pink Frost, Fruit Punch, Flamingo Pose, Rose Hip, Hot Pink Rage, Flirty Fuchsia, Rose Amour

Colors from Left to Right: Pink Frost, Fruit Punch, Flamingo Pose, Rose Hip, Hot Pink Rage, Flirty Fuchsia, Rose Amour

Left to Right: Pink Frost, Fruit Punch, Flamingo Pose

- Pink Frost: Metallic finish. Light pink (cool tone) shade with tons of silver shimmer through out with a very frosty finish. 

- Fruit Punch: Cream finish. Medium hot pink shade that is a warmer shade of pink. I feel like this would be more wearable for those easing into the hot pink lip trend. 

- Flamingo Pose: Cream finish. A blend between hot pink and coral. 

L- R: Hot Pink Rage, Flirty Fuchsia, Rose Amour

- Rose Hip: Cream finish. Cool toned hot pink, with purple/blue undertones. 

- Hot Pink Rage: Matte finish. Warm toned hot pink (more of a reddish undertone compared to Rose Hip). While this is called a matte finish, I feel like it still has a bit of a glossy sheen- which I don’t mind, but just wanted to give you guys a heads up. 

- Flirty Fuchsia: Vinyl finish. Hot pink shade with red undertones, and lots of fine violet shimmer throughout- the shimmer is super pretty and blends in well with the lipstick. I like how the shimmer makes this shade very unique and bright. 

- Rose Amour: Cream finish. Medium hot pink shade that is cool toned (somewhat purple undertones). 

                                                                                                                                                           Overall, I really like the great formula of these lipsticks. They are not drying, and they have a nice, rich opacity (one swipe and it has full on color), and leave a slight glossy sheen. They have a slight fruity scent to them, which I like. I love how affordable these are and I think these are great lipsticks with tons of shades to choose from (30 different shades to be exact). My favorites from the Pinks & Corals were: Fruit Punch, Flamingo Pose, and Flirty Fuchsia. These were all warm toned hot pinks- which I feel like look better & are more wearable for my skin tone. I didn’t like Pink Frost because you guys know I don’t like Frosty shades (I feel like they are not flattering) and I don’t like super light colors for the lips- however there was nothing wrong with the formula or anything, its just a shade preference. 

Let me know what you guys thought of the lipsticks and which one was your favorite? 

Until next time...

xoxo,

Kathleen

Milani products can be purchased at: CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, Kmart, and http://www.milianicosmetics.com

*Disclaimer: Products were provided for review. Opinions are 100% my own. I am not affiliated w/ the company.

Milani ColorStatement Lipsticks (Naturals & Browns Colors)

Hey loves,

Today I will be showing you swatches of Milani's Colorstatement Lipsticks in the shade range: Naturals and Browns. These colors are more everyday colors that I feel would be suitable for school or work. The Milani Colorstatement lipsticks come in the shade ranges of: Plums & Berries, Naturals & Browns, Pinks & Corals, and Oranges & Reds.

Please see my blog posts on the other shade ranges:

Plums & Berries

Pinks & Corals

Oranges & Reds

Left to Right: Naturally Chic, Nude Creme, Dulce Caramello, Teddy Bare, Candied Toffees

Left to Right: Bronze Beauty, D'oro, Chocolate Berries, Double Espresso

Now onto the swatches! Here are the swatches of the natural pink colors:

Indirect lighting, Left to Right: Naturally Chic, Nude Creme, Dulce Caramello, Teddy Bare, Candied Toffees

Indirect sunlight. L-R: Naturally Chic, Nude Creme, Dulce Caramello, Teddy Bare, Candied Toffees

Left to Right: Naturally Chic, Nude Creme, Dulce Caramello

- Naturally Chic: Cream finish. Typical pink leaning brown shade, (my lips but better color). A nice neutral pink to give some color to your lips. 
- Nude Creme: Cream finish. Nude shade with pink tones in it. Good for achieving a nude lip look. 
- Dulce Caramello: Pearl finish. Nude mauve shade with a frosted finish. Has fine silver shimmers throughout.

L-R: Teddy Bare, Candied Toffees

- Teddy Bare: Cream finish. Mauve shade with lots of brown in it. Very Fall appropriate. 
- Candied Toffees: Metallic finish. Also a Mauve with lots of brown in it, with tons of silver and bronze shimmers throughout. 

And here are the swatches for the Brown shades:

Indirect sunlight- look at those shimmers! Left to Right: Bronze Beauty, D'oro, Chocolate Berries, Double Espresso 

Left to Right: Bronze Beauty, D'oro, Chocolate Berries, Double Espresso

Left to Right: Bronze Beauty, D'oro

- Bronze Beauty: Shimmer finish. Rose gold shade with lots of golden shimmers throughout- gives off a lovely golden sheen. 

- D'oro: Metallic finish. Copper shade with lots of golden shimmers throughout, also gives off a pretty golden sheen.
 As you guys know, I don't really like shimmery/ frosty/ metallic lipsticks, so I didn't particularly like these shades. Also I felt like these shades were not very wearable alone, esp. D'oro since its a copper shade. I think perhaps these are meant for layering- so you wear a lip color under (such as a pink color) and then you dab these in the middle of your lips to reflect light and give it a sheen which makes your lips look fuller. 

Left to Right: Chocolate Berries, Double Espresso 

- Chocolate Berries: Cream finish. Deep burgundy/purple with brown undertones. 
- Double Espresso: Pearl finish. Deep brown with very fine silver shimmers. I honestly do not know when I would ever need to wear a deep brown lipstick.

The formulation of all these lipsticks are great, they go on smooth and opaque, and leaves a bit of a glossy sheen. I love how affordable these are and I think these are great lipsticks with tons of shades to choose from. Overall, I liked the natural/pinkish shades- my favorite in the collection is Naturally Chic- I like that its not super bright yet it gives your face some color (I can imagine wearing this as an everyday color to school). I personally did not really like the brown shades because I feel like it doesn't go well with my complexion or my style- but perhaps others may like these warmer shades. (Funny tidbit) When I was swatching the brown shades, I thought to myself- what a gorgeous eyeshadow palette these colors would make! The rose gold, copper, deep purple, and deep brown seriously looked like beautiful eyeshadow swatches on my arm. 

Let me know what you guys thought of the lipsticks and which one was your favorite? 

Until next time...

xoxo,
Kathleen

Milani products can be purchased at: CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart, Kmart, and http://www.milianicosmetics.com

*Disclaimer: Products were provided for review. Opinions are 100% my own. I am not affiliated w/ the company.