Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer

I bought this concealer a while back, I don't know why but I didn't start using it until about a month ago.  I've been using it since, it is really nice!

I got 010 Ivory- I think that was my shade in their foundation too but I don't have it anymore.  

Yes this is a close up of my skin lol- no, see how it really does match perfectly- 

I really LOVE this concealer.  I usually use separate ones for eyes and face, but this one is perfect for both.  It brightens under the eyes but blends in seamlessly.  I can't speak for big problems but it does cover small spots perfectly and some light freckles, and the formula is really great.  It is just the right consistency and it's smooth, very easy to blend also.  It's lightweight, non-cakey, and I'd say medium coverage just because I don't have any other experience to share. I wish the top could pop off or something since I'd rather not fiddle with the brush and use it as a liquid instead but that's not a big deal.  

Maybelline Master Drama Eyeliner in Ultra Violet

I've looked at a lot of purple eyeliners lately, but nothing has been quite what I wanted.  This one is pretty nice.

It's a standard pencil- I almost can't stand twist ups anymore... 

What I like most is the colour- its not a plum or a berry, just purple:

This is a pretty decent eyeliner, but I find it unwearable on my waterline, it's just too irritating.  It does pull a little bit too.  But I really like how it's very pigmented even on my eyelid.  I don't think it's the smoothest or creamiest eyeliner by any means, but it goes on with a deep colour in just one swipe.  

It didn't last anywhere near their 16 hour claim on me either- it looked good at 8 hours, fading at 10, gone by 12.  Overall, the colour is what sold me but I don't see a reason to buy another.  

Essence Get Big Lashes Mascara

I bought this because it was just such a huge tube, kinda hard to resist.  I have to warn you guys, I am on a bit of a mascara marathon over here, lol!  I know where to buy the Prestige one I want but I just want to try out the ones I've purchased first.

This is called "Get Big! Lashes" and it's supposed to be a "volume curl" mascara.  You really get a lot of product in this one.

Results: 

I am sorry but I just don't love it.  I don't see where it really volumizes, and I don't have straight lashes so I can't say about the curling but the brush is nice and curvy.  And big.  The formula is really wet and thin, and it flakes on me really bad, but not until the near the end of the day when I would be about to take it off anyway.  

Essence My Base Illuminating Makeup Base

I feel like it's been ages since I found any product I really love.  I've tried illuminating bases before, but not for quite a while.

IT HAS A PUMP!!! Was so happy about that for some reason :D

I took a lot of swatches to make it easier to see how it is in different lighting and with/without the foundation.  

Straight from the tube 

Blended out 

Under foundation 

I honestly thought it was going to be too sparkly for me, but it's not.  Over the past couple of years my age plus living conditions have made my skin go from normal, to dry, to super dry.  I simply cannot wear matte face products anymore.  I cannot sufficiently express how much I really love this product.  It makes my skin look and feel glowy without being glittery, and the texture is so light and refreshing.  It's like a light lotion, without being greasy or heavy.  The only small negative I noticed was it doesn't smell great, but it's definitely not noticeable enough to be a dealbreaker.  It lasted on me, as long as the foundation did, so I was very pleased.  I don't know how this would fare on more oily skin types, but I wholeheartedly recommend it otherwise.  

Catrice Haul

Since some of the products I bought from them didn't do so well I decided to try different ones.

I got a Made to Stay cream shadow, a gel liner, a pencil liner, "Glamorous Volume" mascara, and the most gorgeous light lilac nail polish.

I was looking for a mint green polish since I broke my bottle of Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet a couple of months ago- I loved it so much!  It must be discontinued now cause I surely can't find it.  I checked Models Own and Barry M and they don't have something just like it.  All mine are too blue, too dark, or just not the right shade, so if anyone knows of a good dupe please tell me!!

Going Bananas!

I noticed that some people stamp the other way... so where it's visible "right side up" when the fingers are curled... but I think that would really bug me, so I do it where it faces me when my fingers are elongated.  Which is the right way???  I think it's personal preference, but I don't know!

The stamp is Cheeky's Summer collection CH42.  I used Revlon Sunshine Sparkle- I was about to throw it out, but one cool thing since I started stamping, I've salvaged more polishes since some look cool as bases and old ones can be used to stamp!

Oh and my inspiration for this was my son's birthday movie- Curious George!

Essence 2 in 1 Volume Mascara

I went to repurchase the Prestige mascara I've been using, but they didn't have it (well, they had it... in blue...) so I got this Essence mascara just to try it out.

I didn't understand it was one of those dual brush types- I think I would have passed because of that alone if I knew.  

Look 1 is "defined volume" and Look 2 is "oversized volume".  

Look 1 brush: 

Results: 

Look 2 brush: 

Results: 

Overall, it's ok but I'm kinda blah about it.... the formula is really thin and I don't see "oversized volume".  I like my mascara to feel and look like I have mascara on and this just didn't cut it for me.   

It seems like I must have bought the oldest, worst mascara from them because they certainly have a lot of mascaras!  They are coming out now with this Stays No Matter What line which includes mascaras and eyeliners that looks really great.  

I also got this stuff on clearance- really couldn't resist the ultra cheap price and it was right there at the checkout.  

I know it's really old but that nail polish is beautiful!!  I am going to try the gel stickers soon too, I think they have new ones now so if they work fine I'll try more.  

Anyone have any mascara recommendations??  

:D

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner Swatches

So... I was on a mission to find these eyeliners, but it turned out they are everywhere- very easy to find!  But I couldn't find the two I wanted most- Taupe and Nude- anywhere.  I swatched the purple in several displays but it just didn't look very good to me at all, so I didn't get it.  I also opted out of the light blue, it was very metallic and I couldn't see myself using it very often, if at all.  

I got Deep Blue, Black, Bright Blue, Silver, and Bronze.

Performance wise, these are pretty nice.  I'd compare them to the Urban Decay pencils, because I have the same issues with both- they take a bit to "set" on me, and they don't wear all day, unfortunately.  They are soft and glide easy, but I think my fave is the black, just because it's really an intense black.  I couldn't get it so close to my upper lash line though without making a mess, so I had to go over it with gel liner.  But overall, these are nice and a super bargain, so definitely worth a try!  

What I didn't know was "Scandaleyes" is a small range of products, including shadow sticks (haven't seen them) and mascaras.... has anyone tried these?  I think I'm burned out on Rimmel mascaras though.  

A New Skirt

So I just bought this skirt:

I actually think it's pretty versatile, but it's not a common colour in my wardrobe.... I was thinking best paired with black, a royal blue, or a bold purple..... any thoughts or suggestions??  

The End is Near....

I know everybody feels like this at times, but the lack of new products available here plus my general lack of enthusiasm, and I feel like my blog has reached its limit.  I never intended on doing anything but giving myself an outlet, a "makeup diary" as my title says.  But I think I've lost interest- I have nothing new or creative to contribute, really.

Catching Up on some Catrice Reviews

I've tried a few Catrice products to date and unfortunately not all of them have been good.  I would probably never buy another of their eyeshadows (Essence either), although I love their polishes.  These are a few things I've tried recently but never got around to posting them.

First is Ultimate Shine lipstick in 050 "Simply Rosewood".

While the shade may not be for everyone, I actually really love it, it just is so perfectly mauve to me.  But on my lips it does look a bit purpler than the tube.  The problem for me was the texture- it's so, so smooth that it actually feels too thin and slippery on my lips, so it doesn't cover very well at all, so it doesn't look that great.  Fail.  

Next, the eyeliners.  My expectations were low since the one black one I own looks like something that you'd dip a calligraphy pen in, but wanted to try them anyway.  

The felt tip one: 

I really like this one, it just glides on my eye really smooth.  The tip is really stiff and holds a lot of product.  Great that it doesn't bend when you don't want it to, and you don't have to go over the same spot three times.  I really love the colour too.  

The gel liners: 

Cute names- also note the two different locations: 

These two have really no similarities.  The bronze one is very smooth and pigmented.  Once it dries (just a few seconds) it is absolutely unmoveable, and needs an oil based remover.  The silver one is really soft, but it is more like a weak cream shadow- it doesn't stay on well at all.  

I'm still not too sure about the brand overall.... do any of you know of any standout products from them (good or bad)??? 

Happy Valentine's Day Mini Giveaway!

I am really happy to be having a giveaway again, just sorry the prize is modest.... shipping restrictions and all that, so better to be on the safe side. If all goes well I hope to have another one soon.  

Open to all followers (yes, worldwide!) and is open until midnight Feb. 27th, prize will be mailed mid-March.

The prize is a set of Coraline fauxnads :) 

And LO17 plate (watermelons), A41 plate, and some different shaped French tip guides: 

Be sure to leave a comment below on what your favourite stamping image either is or would be.  

Best wishes!!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coraline Fauxnads

The Coraline Konad sets are really hard to find now, but I thought they were really cute and it's a movie I've actually seen.

I took a chance on ordering the Fauxnads and they turned out pretty decent.

Stamping on paper isn't as easy as it looks sometimes!  My hand got really cramped stamping all these- there are 6 plates in total hey I dont know what happened to image C05.