Inglot Eyeshadow Review & Swatches

Freedom System Full Eyeshadow Palette 5 ~ S9 (left to right): 

488, 362, 74, 72, 325

 Same order as above

Freedom System Full Eyeshadow Palette 5 ~ S7 (left to right): 

330, 397, 399, 326, 423

 Same order as above

Freedom System Full Eyeshadow Palette 20 ~ S1 (left to right):

Top Row: 11, 465, 327, 31, 42

2nd Row: 463, 26, 155, 27, 25

3rd Row: 352, 10, 15, 383, 422

Bottom Row: 347, 361, 46, 54, 12

YouTube Video Review

Cost: $6 per eyeshadow square from the Freedom System 

Where to Find: http://www.inglotusa.com/ or http://inglotcosmetics.com/inglot/stores

Above Palettes: 5 pan ~ $18.00

http://www.inglotusa.com/SALE-Freedom_System_Full_Eyeshadow_Palette_5_S9.html

http://www.inglotusa.com/SALE-Freedom_System_Full_Eyeshadow_Palette_5_S7.html

20 Pan ~ $61.50

http://www.inglotusa.com/SALE-Freedom_System_Full_Eyeshadow_Palette_20_S1.html

Pros:

• Great pigmentation
• Very easy to blend
• Minimal fall out
• Really good staying power (with primer / eyeshadow base)
• Very large color range with many neutral options as well as unique colors
• Great price point for quality ($6/eyeshadow square)

Cons:

• Limited store availability 
• Online site can be daunting due to the wide variety of color selection
• Packaging a little heavy and hard to open (the traditional palettes with the matte, clear lid)

Final Grade: A+ 

Absolutely worth checking out, regardless of the few cons. These eyeshadows are incredible quality, especially for the price point. They rival MAC and most other high end brands at a fraction of the cost. 

Best & Worst Drugstore Gel / Cream Eyeliners

Original swatches - not in ranked order (left to right): NYX Cream Liner & Smudger, Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner, ELF Cream Liner, Wet n Wild MegaEyes Creme Liner, Wet n Wild Fergie Creme Eyeliner, Rimmel Scandaleyes Gel Liner, Essence Gel Liner, L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner

 After rubbing with dry hand (same order as above)

 After rubbing with only water

After rubbing with soap & water

YouTube Video Review (for more detail)

Final Ranking (worst to best):

8. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner ~ Blackest Black ~ $9.99

Avail. in 4 shades ~ Comes with brush

7. ELF Cream Eyeliner ~ Black ~ $3.00

Avail. in 11 shades (greatest color variety) ~ Comes with brush

6. Wet n Wild MegaEyes Creme Eyeliner ~ Black ~ $3.99

Avail. in 2 shades ~ Comes with brush

5. Wet n Wild On Edge Fergie Creme Eyeliner ~ Little Black Dress ~ $5.29 

Avail. in 2 permanent shades; also have 2 limited edition shades for Spring 2014 ~ Comes with brush

4. NYX Cream Eyeliner & Smudger ~ Betty/Jet Black ~ $7.99

Avail. in 5 shades ~ No brush (can be used as eyeshadow base)

3. Essence Gel Eyeliner ~ Midnight in Paris ~ $3.99

Avail. in only 1 shade ~ No brush

2. Rimmel Scandaleyes Gel Eyeliner ~ Blackest Black ~ $5.99

Avail. in 4 shades ~ Comes with brush

1. L'Oreal Infallible 24H Lacquer Liner ~ Blackest Black ~ $9.99

Avail. in 5 shades ~ Comes with brush

Best & Worst Drugstore Liquid Liners

Felt Tip / Marker Style Eyeliners 

Intial Swatches - not in ranked order (Left to Right): Wet n Wild Mega Eyes, Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen, Rimmel Scandaleyes Thick & Thin, Maybelline Line Stiletto, Essence, L'Oreal Lineur Intense, L'Oreal Infallible Super Slim, Milani Eye Tech Extreme, CoverGirl Bombshell Intense, Jordana Fabuliner, NYX Super Skinny Marker, Physicians Formula Eye Booster, Milani Ultrafine Liquid 

 After applying water

After applying soap & water

Ranking (from worst to best):

13. Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Defining Marker ~ Black 

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $3.99

12. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen ~ Blackest Black

Avail. in 3 shades ~ $8.99

11. Rimmel Scandaleyes Thick & Thin Eyeliner ~ Black

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $5.49

10. Maybelline Line Stiletto ~ Blackest Black 

Avail. in 2 shades ~ $7.99

9. L'Oreal Lineur Intense ~ Carbon Black

Avail. in 3 shades ~ $8.99

8. Essence Eyeliner Pen ~ Black

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $2.99

7. CoverGirl Bombshell Intense ~ Pitch Black

Avail. in 2 shades ~ $8.99

6. NYX Super Skinny Marker ~ Carbon Black

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $8.99

5. Milani Eye Tech Extreme ~ Blackest Black

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $7.99

4. L'Oreal Infallible Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner ~ Black

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $7.99

3. Jordana Fabuliner ~ Black

Avail. in 2 shades ~ $2.99

2. Milani Ultra Fine Liquid Eyeliner ~ Prismatic Purple

(Darkest shade is called Black Vinyl)

Avail. in 5 shades ~ $8.99 (largest color selection)

1. Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum 

Avail. in 3 shades ~ $10.99

Brush & Ink Well Eyeliners

Intial Swatches - not in ranked order (Left to Right): Maybelline Ultra Liner Waterproof, ELF Liquid Liner, Wet n Wild Mega Liquid Liner, NYC Liquid Liner, Rimmel Glam Eyes Professional Eyeliner, Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner

  After applying water

After applying soap & water

Ranking (from worst to best):

6. Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner ~ Blackest Black

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $7.99

5. Wet n Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner ~ Black

Avail. in 5 shades ~ $2.99

4. ELF Liquid Eyeliner ~ Black

Avail. in 7 shades ~ $1.00 (largest color selection)

3. Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner ~ Black Glamour

Avail. in 1 shade ~ $6.49

2. NYC Liquid Eyeliner ~ Black

Avail. in 2 shades ~ $2.99

1. Maybelline Ultra Liner Waterproof ~ Black

Avail. in 2 shades ~ $6.99

Best & Worst Drugstore Pencil Eyeliners

From Left to Right: Almay, Neutrogena Nourishing, CoverGirl Liquiline Blast, WetnWild Fergie on Edge, L'Oreal Infallible 16 hr, NYX Slide On, Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl, Essence Long-Lasting, NYC Waterproof, Jordana 12 hr Made to Last, 

Maybelline MasterDrama, L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil, Milani Liquid Eye Liner

After rubbing with dry hand

 After rubbing with water only

 After rubbing with soap & water

I finally took my collection of drugstore, long-wearing pencil eyeliners  and put them through a few tests. I tried to pick the darkest black from every brand, with the exception of Essence, which is shown in dark brown. It is amazing how much more you discover when you compare makeup side by side. Let's just say I was a little surprised by some of the results, and quite happy to discover that some of the best drugstore eyeliners are the ones under $5. Check out my YouTube video for more detail on each.

Ranking (from worst to best):

13. Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner ~ Cosmic Black ~ $8.99

Avail. in 4 shades

12. Almay Eyeliner ~ Black ~ $6.99

Avail. in 6 shades (4th longest lasting)

11. CoverGirl Liquiline Blast ~ BlackFire ~ $7.99

Avail. in 6 shades

10. Wet n Wild Fergie CenterStage On Edge Longwearing Eye Pencil ~ Midnight Girl ~ $3.49

Avail. in 6 shades

9. L'Oreal Infallible 16 HR Neverfail Eyeliner ~ 

Carbon Black ~ $8.99

Avail. in 5 shades

8. NYX Slide On Eyeliner ~ Jet Black ~ $7.99

Avail. in 18 shades (Greatest color variety)

7. L'Oreal Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner ~ 

Carbon Black ~ $9.99

Avail. in 4 shades

6. Maybelline Masterdrama by Eyestudio ~

Midnight Master ~ $7.99

Avail. in 4 permanent shades (also have limited edition colors)

5. Essence Long-Lasting Eye Pencil ~ Hot Chocolate ~ $2.49

Avail. in 6 shades (3rd longest lasting)

4. NYC Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil ~ Black ~ $2.99

Avail. in 4 shades (2nd longest lasting)

3. Jordana 12 HR Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil ~

Black Point ~ $2.49

Avail. in 6 shades

2. Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Pencil ~ 
Black ~ $4.99

Avail. in 10 shades (2nd largest color variety, longest lasting)

1. Milani Liquid Eyeliner Pencil ~ Black ~ $8.99

Avail. in 7 shades (most black, 5th longest lasting)

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints Review + Swatches

Right to Left: Beige, Chestnut Taupe, Rich Russet, Golden Bronze, Magnese Purple

 Chestnut Taupe

 Left to Right (with flash): Manganese Purple. Golden Bronze, Rich Russet, Chestnut Taupe, Beige

YouTube Video Review

These creamy eyeshadows are one of the new launches in the United States from Rimmel. They did already launch in Great Britain a while back, although only in 5 shades. We are lucky enough to get 8 shades. The 4 new shades the U.S. launch includes are Chestnut Taupe, Manganese Purple, Beige, and Garnet. The British launch includes a color called Mercury Silver, which is not part of the U.S. line. Overall, they are a really interesting concept. I love the packaging which looks quite similar to the Rimmel lip glosses. Unfortunately, the packaging and the colors are about all I really like with these eyeshadows. Maybelline's 24 HR Color Tattoos are still the best cream shadow product I have used from the drugstore, especially if you are looking for something that can double as an eyeshadow base. Check out my list of Pros & Cons below. 

Price: $4.99 at Ulta

Pros:

• Good neutral color range with a couple fun colors (Manganese Purple, Garnet)
• Beautiful shimmer/reflective quality on the eyelid without large pieces of sparkle. 
• Most apply creamy, cooling to the lid
• Great packaging - less messy & more hygienic than a classic cream eyeshadow pot. 

Cons:

• NOT Waterproof - although they claim to be. 
• Can crease/fade if you have oily eyelids and don't prime since they are not waterproof. 
• Have no slip/tackiness so cannot be worn as eyeshadow bases.
• No matte color options. All have shimmer.
• Some colors not as pigmented and apply a little streaky (i.e. Manganese Purple).

Final Grade: C-

NYX Butter Lipsticks Review & Swatches

From Right to Left: Hubba Hubba, Fun Size, Fireball

Hubba Hubba, Fun Size, Fireball

I was very excited to see this new launch from NYX for 2014. I have a great love for the NYX Butter Glosses and was really hoping that these lipsticks, marketed under the same line, would hold their own. Unfortunately, the more I use these lipsticks, the less I find myself liking them. Don't get me wrong, the color range is beautiful. It is the sheerness and wear of them that I am not loving. Even for a creamy lipstick that does not claim to be long wearing, I find them to have one of the shortest lifespans on my lips. With all the other great lipsticks coming out in drugstore for Spring 2014, these just fall to the back of my makeup drawer. 

Price: $5.99 - 22 shades

Where to Find: Ulta, http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/p-229-butter-lipstick.aspx

Pros:

• Somewhat hydrating
• Sit nicely on lips - don't settle into fine lines
• Beautiful color range
• Non-sticky
• Price

Cons:

• Poor staying power - even for a cream lipstick
• Pigmentation is a little sheer, especially on the light shades. Have to apply a couple coats for color to show true to packaging. 
• Not as moisturizing as the Butter Glosses. 

Final Grade: C+

Maybelline Color Sensational The Buffs Lip Color Review & Swatches

 Left to Right (with Flash): Blushing Beige, Nude Lust, Truffle Tease, Sin-A-Mon, Stormy Sahara

 Without Flash: Same order as above

 Stormy Sahara - 945

 Sin-A-Mon - 935

 Truffle Tease - 930

**Favorite 

 Nude Lust - 920

Blushing Beige - 915 

**Favorite 

I have always loved Maybelline's Color Sensational line of lipsticks, and last year when they came out with the "Vivids" collection, I was so excited! So considering how much I gravitate towards wearing nude lipsticks, do I even need to tell you how this collection makes me feel? By the way, I apologize for the chapped lips in the swatches. It is just that awful time of year when no matter how well I moisturize or exfoliate, I can't seem to keep them soft enough.

I am thrilled to see more and more variations of nude lipsticks at the drugstore. Their is such a spectrum of skin tones that one nude for everyone does not always work. These lipsticks are some of my favorite nudes I have tried from both drugstore and high end because of how comfortable they feel on the lips. 

Price: $5.49 - $7.99

Where to Find Them: Ulta, any major drugstore, & online at any of the major stores websites (i.e. Walmart.com, Target.com).

Pros: 

• Creamy, smooth application
• Feel hydrating
• Good color payoff
• Great nude color variety for any skin tone
• Affordable

Cons:

• Lighter shades can accentuate fine lines, dryness of lips
• Not super long staying power - about what you would expect for a creamy formula. (Maybelline is not making the claim that they are long wearing). 

Final Grade: A+ 

Love these lipsticks! Definitely worth checking out if you like nude lipsticks!