I love the packaging of all of NARS’ products. It’s very smooth and feels like velvet. It is also easy to travel with and super duper tiny.
NARS Laguna (Open)
The packaging also includes an tiny mirror. I’m not sure how well you could actually apply the bronzer while looking in a mirror this small, but I appreciate the sentiment, NARS! The eye shadow is covered with a thin plastic slip to avoid contamination and look extra fancy-dancy.
NARS Laguna (Swatch)
Laguna is a very warm, tan bronzer with golden shimmer. The shimmer isn’t too obvious, but it is there. The bronzer is of fantastic quality: soft, buttery, and easy to blend. It isn’t highly pigmented, though, and takes several swatches to get the true pan color.
Josie Maran Pink Escape (Closed)
The name is a bit of a mouthful, but the Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelees are basically gel blushes. The packaging for this is very tiny, about the size of two fingers, and is made from sturdy glass and a plastic lid that corresponds to the color of the product.
Josie Maran Pink Escape (Open)
It’s really spongy to the touch, and sort of feels like Jell-O. It is a really lovely bright, warm pink. This product also has a mild soapy smell.
Josie Maran Pink Escape (Swatch)
Swatched heavily on top, and blended out on the bottom. This blush is highly pigmented and dries quickly, so it needs to be blended out fast! I used use my ring finger to dab all around until it faded out to a color I liked.
Josie Maran Pink Escape (Swatch)
It also stains! This is after using a makeup remover wipe and scrubbing for a few seconds.
OCC New Wave (Packaging)
I am in love with OCC Lip Tars. If you don’t know what Lip Tars are, they are basically liquid lipsticks that you have to paint on with a small brush. This is from their newer line, the Stained Glosses. It is not as opaque as the original lip tars, and you can see your lip’s texture underneath the gloss, but it seems to smooth out imperfections like fine lines. They are also far more hydrating than the original glosses! They have a slight minty scent to them, but it isn’t distracting.
OCC New Wave (Swatch)
New Wave is a bright, bold pink. It’s very pretty, but I’m not so sure if I like the texture of this product. It feels almost oily, as if there is a film of oil over the lips.
Buxom Goddess (Packaging)
Goddess is a surprisingly generous sample of a cream highlighter. It is in a clear plastic squeeze tube, which is nice and hygienic.
Buxom Goddess (Swatch)
(You can still see my stain from the Cheek Gelee…) Swatched heavily on top, and blended out on the bottom. I would consider this color a warm, shimmery champagne. It is very soft and pretty, especially when blended out. I think it is a bit too warm and dark for my skin, although it would likely work as a bronzer. I applied it by squirting a small bit of product on my arm and dabbing it with my finger to blend it out.
Buxom Goddess (Swatch)
Another angle to show the shimmer in this.
Deborah Lippmann Mermaid’s Dream (Packaging)
This is a very dense nail polish, packed with turquoise, blue, and pale yellow glitter. I actually already had the original sized one.
Deborah Lippmann Mermaid’s Dream (Swatch)
The glitter turns out like more of a foil texture, which is pretty neat. It is a bit hard to apply because of how thick it is, though. It also dries up and clumps rather easily.
I have very little to say about this mascara. I generally don’t have a problem finding a mascara that works for me, but this one was a complete failure. I pulled the wand out of the tube and it was a neat, gel texture. Then I swiped it over my lashes and it looked wet. I gave it a few seconds and tried another swipe, and BAM. Thick, clumpy lashes. I’m going to give this a pass.
Urban Decay All-Nighter
I have dry skin, so I typically don’t need to use a setting spray for my makeup. I like this spray for going out or going swimming, though, because it keeps my makeup in place for 14+ hours, even if I’m sweating or in and out of water.
MUFE 12L (Packaging)
I didn’t expect much from this eye liner. I even scoffed it off at first glance because it was so tiny. I ended up loving it, though. The packaging is nothing revolutionary: black plastic pencil, plastic cap.
MUFE 12L (Swatch)
12L is a deep teal color that glides on the eyes smoothly, blends easily, and stays on even after being in the water. It has a subtle silvery shimmer to it, as well.
MUFE 12L (Swatch)
Even after scrubbing with a makeup wipe, it isn’t budging.
Stila Kitten (Packaging)
This is really different from a regular eye shadow, but isn’t quite like a glitter or loose pigment, either. It is similar to a mousse in texture and is very metallic. The packaging is a nice, sturdy plastic. It seems very small, but will likely last me a long time.
Stila Kitten (Swatch)
Kitten appears like a rose gold on its own (dabbed on with a finger, left), and like a copper when applied with a base (over Lit cosmetics glitter adhesive, right). The pigment is difficult to work with, but really beautiful when built up. It has a very lovely shimmer and a lot of depth.
The Sephora Favorites Summerstash Collection contains:
– 0.049 oz Stila Cosmetics Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in Kitten
– 0.08 oz Nars Travel Size Laguna Bronzing Powder
– 0.095 oz Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee in Pink Escape
– 0.27 oz Deborah Lippman Nail Lacquer in Mermaid’s Dream
– 0.018 oz Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in 12L
– 0.08 oz Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in New Wave with Lip Brush
– 0.23 oz Buxom Divine Goddess Luminizer in Venus
– 0.5 oz Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray
– 0.09 oz Marc Jacobs Mini Lash Lifter Mascara in Blacquer
– Cosmetic bag
If you hate the Marc Jacobs mascara but still want this, there’s a different set at JCPenny! It’s a bit cheaper because it comes with one less item (the cheek gel), and there are two substitutions: Becca shimmering skin perfecter in Opal instead of Buxom’s Goddess (which is better than Buxom if you are pale), and Bad Gal instead of the Marc Jacobs.
and if you are wondering:
Q: how do you get such nice corners on your swatches? those corners are so neat and squared off
and The Sephora Birthday Gift 2015 is…
