Beauty Reviews for the Girl on the Go

I'm just a girl with a hobby for beauty. I offer short, concise reviews on drugstore and high end (although mostly drugstore) makeup and skincare products. Send me requests for future reviews. Some quick facts about my skin type: I have oily skin which...

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NYX Butter Lip Balm - Brownie

So, this is definitely another great lip product brought to you by the drugstore. NYX Butter Lip Balm in Brownie is my perfect MLBB shade. It’s slightly pinker and darker than my natural lip color, so it’s very natural and easy to wear to school or work. Plus, it feels smooth and comfortable on the lips. It’s definitely not longwear, though, so you will need to reapply every couple of hours. Also, although it says ‘lip balm’ in the name, this is not a replacement for a quality lip balm like Burt’s Bees. The colored pigment in this balm will highlight any flakes on your lips, so if you’re suffering from chapped lips, I suggest exfoliating and moisturizing first before you use this.

Rating: 7/10

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What’s the Deal With Makeup Sponges?

Well, that’s a great question. And here is what I have to say about that:

1. Makeup sponges are not the end to a trusty foundation brush.

Some foundations apply better with a stippling brush and some foundations apply better with a flat top brush. It’s all a matter of experimenting with what works best with the foundation formula and your skin. The same applies with a makeup sponge. I’ve found foundations that look absolutely gorgeous with a sponge, but other foundations that really need to be applied with a foundation brush.

2. Should I buy the Beauty Blender?

I honestly don’t know. I’ve never been capable of biting the bullet to buy one. HOWEVER, I have fallen madly in love with the Real Techniques Sponge. It’s amazing, and I can’t imagine a sponge that’s twice as expensive creating results that justify that jump in price. There are plenty of makeup sponges on the market for lower prices than the Real Techniques, and honestly, it’s all about you deciding what you want to spend your money on.

3. How do I use a sponge?

First, you want to run the sponge under water. Make sure the sponge  thoroughly absorbs the water; it should expand in your hand once it’s saturated. Then, squeeze out all the water. It should still retain it’s expanded size and feel damp, but if you hold it between your fingers, it should not drip excess water. Making sure that your sponge is damp but not soaking will ensure that you get the maximum surface area to the sponge while also preventing excess foundation from absorbing into the sponge fibers. With this in mind, you’re ready to use your sponge! Just dab the surface of the sponge into some foundation on the back of your hand and pat/roll the foundation into your face. Experiment with what motions work best, but generally, you should not be smearing the foundation in with the sponge as you would with a brush.

4. Does a sponge need to be cleaned/replaced?

YES. You should be cleaning your sponge every time you use it (just like a makeup brush), but since we all have busy schedules, you should at least be deep cleaning the sponge once a week. This will prevent bacteria growth and keep the sponge lasting longer. You can use any sort of gentle brush cleaner or shampoo. Look on Youtube for better cleaning tutorials. Replace your sponges every couple of months or whenever you feel like the surface is getting too torn.

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Rimmel London Provocalips 16Hr Kissproof Lip Colour - Play with Fire

The buzz is real, everyone. These cheap liquid lipsticks are honestly a total bargain at the drugstore. A little while ago, I got obsessed with liquid lipsticks after trying on one from Kat Von D at Sephora. However, the prices for the Kat Von D were a little too high for me, so I settled for a drugstore alternative. The Rimmel Provocalips are $5-6 at your local drugstore and they DO NOT budge. I got the deep red color Play With Fire and damn, when I wear it, it does not move. Granted you have to apply the color sealant, but I found after eating greasy teriyaki chicken, the color hadn’t budged on my lips. After about 8 hours, the color did look like it was flaking on the corners, but it was a minimal issue. The formula is transfer proof, for all intents and purposes oil proof, and applies so smoothly. I highly recommend.

Rating: 10/10

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Maybelline Master Duo Liquid Eyeliner  

I was looking for a good black liquid eyeliner at the drugstore after my trusted Kat Von D Tattoo Liner dried out. To be clear, this is NOT waterproof, and unfortunately for me, that makes it kind of a dud. If you shake this product really well, it’s very pigmented. It takes a little bit of practice to get used to the shape of the want, although once I mastered how to utilize the flat side and the skinny side, I actually enjoyed the ease at which I could fill in my lines. The downside of this product is that after about 5 hours, my oily eyelids caused this to flake like crazy. I probably won’t be repurchasing.  

Rating: 4/10

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ColourPop Lippie Stix

I’ll just get to the point: these are amazing. Each of the ColourPop Lippie Stixs are so pigmented and creamy. They don’t feel like a lipstick, they feel like a lightweight balm. However, the pigmentation is gorgeously opaque and fairly long lasting. I’ve tried several shades, but I really like Frida (a pinky nude) and Fighter (a true red). Both shades lasted pretty well throughout the day, even when I ate really oily meals. Fighter, and I would assume most of the darker red and plum shades, tinted my lips and lasted longer than Frida and the rest of the nudes. You will still need to reapply this around 6 hours. But all in all, for $5 this is a steal.

Rating: 9/10

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Sorry I haven’t been posting in a while! It’s hard to buy a lot of makeup with a college budget. But don’t worry guys! I have stocked up on some great new products that I’m ready to review! They’ll be coming soon!

[makeuptips-]

Sketch out the shape of your eyeliner with a white eyeliner pencil first and then go over it with which ever colour you desire. The colour will appear more intense & last longer.

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Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation

I found this new foundation at Target today, and my first impression (I will change the review should my opinions change later) is that this is amazing! On the skin, this foundation feels incredibly light weight. It blends perfectly into the skin and dries immediately to a silky smooth powder touch finish. I would say that this nearly rivals the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, although the coverage is much lighter for this foundation. All in all, it's a good natural, everyday foundation for someone looking for a lightweight natural look.

Rating: 7/10

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Rimmel Fix & Perfec Pro Primer

I'll get to the point. This is not a holy grail primer. This promises to 1) Smooth, 2) Resurface, 3) Brighten, 4) Mattify, and 5) Protect. I really can't speak for the last one, but I think the only thing this primer does is smooth. It definitely doesn't mattify or help keep my skin matte for longer. I guess it's an okay primer because it allows my foundation to go on without streaking, but it really doesn't do what I need a primer to do, mainly fill in my pores and keep my foundation looking perfect for a full 8 hours.

Rating: 6/10

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Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain

I believe that this (new?) product is Revlon's entry into the liquid lipstick-gloss market to follow Loreal's Wet Shine Stain and Maybelline's Color Elixir (which I haven't tried). My overall thoughts on this product is that it's alright. The color pay off is very good, even with the lighter shades. However, it neither lasts on my lips or stains, so you will have to reapply after a couple hours or after a meal. When this sets, the gloss doesn't feel too sticky on my lips but neither is it a lightweight lip product. Also, the formula has a lot of shimmer. It actually kind of gave my lips a glow-from-within look which was pretty flattering, to be honest. On the other hand, the glitter tended to gather in the creases of my lips, which was definitely not pretty at all. So, overall, this is a very nice gloss

Rating: 5/10

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Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizers

Drugstore tinted moisturizers and BB creams are not my friend. I have oily skin, and whenever I typically buy a tinted moisturizer, I feel like an oil slick by the end of the day. For the minimal amount of coverage it provides, I at least want my acne to be somewhat covered up. So, call me surprised when Sonia Kashuk's Radiant Tinted Moisturizer actually provides decent coverage. I would say it's light-medium coverage, and it's definitely buildable. It doesn't claim to control oil, though, so for oily skin girls, you'll definitely still need to powder. My biggest gripe with this moisturizer, though, is it's color selection. I'm a pretty pale Asian (but I'm not a pasty white girl either FYI), so I bought the second lightest shade Linen. Imagine my surprise when this turned out to be about two shades too dark for me. I imagine if I spend a little bit more time in the sun this summer, it would match, but for anyone who has either very dark skin or very pale skin, you may have trouble getting a perfect color match with this.

Rating: 7/10

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Best of Beauty 2013

Hey guys! I'm back! Yes, I'm still alive. I'm a poor college student with minimal funds and no job so I have a hard time writing reviews for new products. But I'm here today to give my quick list of the best beauty products of 2013 (for me personally).

Face:

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

Rimmel Stay Matte

ELF Blush and Bronzer Duo in St. Lucia

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray

Benefit Porefessional

Eyes:

Naked Palette

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner

Maybelline the Rocket Mascara

Lips:

Maybelline Color Whisper in Pin Up Peach

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm in Mango

Rimmel Show Off Lip Laquer in Celestial

Best Skin Products:

Clean & Clear Continuous Control Cleanser

Dickinson's Witch Hazel

Cure Natural Aqua Gel

Best Overall Product of 2013

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation!!!!

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Hey! I love your blog, just followed! <3 I've just started a blog posting beauty product reviews and was wondering if you wouldn't mind promoting me? Thanks so much in advance! <3 <3

Aw thank you so much! That means a lot to me :)

I looked at your blog and it looks really awesome so far! Keep up the good work!

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Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush (Exposed)

I find that I've been reaching for this blush everyday since the weather has started to get colder. It's a perfect fall blush for that woman who wants a natural flush of color. Personally, I think pink blushes look really unnatural on pale skin in cold weather. This is a great alternative. It's almost like a pinkish brown color. The pigmentation is amazing, and it really lasts on the cheeks well. I would just be careful of how much you apply because the color payoff can be a double edged sword if you're not careful.

Rating: 10/10

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Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer (Celestial)

I am really late to the Show Off party, but I'm glad I joined when I did. The lip lacquers are essentially a liquid lipstick. There is a wide range of colors from nude to red, so you can find which one fits you best. The staying power is very good. It applies onto your lips like a creamy gloss but has the pigmentation and staying power of a long lasting lipstick. The one thing that I don't like about this product is the smell. It reminds me of those cheap lipsticks I used to play with as a kid that came in those makeup sets for children. It's very plastic-y, but the smell doesn't really linger once it's on your lips.

Rating: 9/10

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You should do more reviews! I really enjoy :)

I will! I promise! I'm in college in New York City right now, so it's a little hard for me to find new products to do reviews on, since everything here is so expensive and I'm trying to not fail all my classes. 

But I promise I'll update soon! :D

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Milani Even Touch Powder Foundation

I'm not an expert on powder foundations, so I can't really say how well this does in comparison to OTHER powder foundations like Bare Minerals. Personally, I think it has pretty minimal coverage. It won't hide your acne, but it does do pretty well at blurring scars and fading redness. The texture though is heavenly! It feels like butter under your fingers when you swatch it. I compared how the texture felt compared to my favorite Rimmel Stay Matte, and Milani beats Rimmel hands down. I think it's a good setting powder, although it won't keep you matte all day. However, in terms of packaging, this is nice to carry with you for touch ups since it has a mirror and sponge.

Rating: 6/10