I don’t usually associate Revlon with eye make-up products, but I recently tried out their new ColorStay Creme Eyeshadows and the Exactify Liquid Liners and I was super impressed! Here’s my review and some swatches of the products…
Revlon ColorStay Creme Eyeshadow Review
Revlon’s ColorStay Creme Eyeshadows ($14.95 AUD for 5.2 g) are little glass cream pots reminiscent of Maybelline’s Color Tattoos that I reviewed before.
I have super oily eyelids, so it’s almost impossible for a cream eyeshadow to stay uncreased on them after about an hour of wear – Maybelline’s Color Tattoos creased after a while, even after setting with translucent powder. But surprisingly, Revlon’s ColorStay Creme Eyeshadows have managed it! These last a whole day on my eyelids without budging once they’re dried, and they don’t even need powder. They also come off very easily with a two-phase eye make-up remover.
There are some fantastic gift sets out for the holidays! Here are some of my favourites out of the many I’ve come across – hopefully it might inspire you if you’re still stuck for ideas!
Skincare
I generally don’t suggest gifting skincare – skincare is pretty personal, so unless you know exactly what they use or if you know that their skin can tolerate most things, I’d recommend sticking with indulgent body products. Reactions and breakouts are much more common on thinner facial skin. For facial skincare, the least risky products are those that don’t stay on the skin for long, like masks and cleansers, or skincare tools.
Jurlique Rose Oil ($59 AUD for 100 mL) is based on safflower and macadamia oil. It’s an awesome indulgence for a friend who loves roses and isn’t sensitive to natural fragrances. Sephora also has a selection of their own little gift sets including konjac sponges ($20 for 2 – great for gentle exfoliation) and bath treats. Lush is also always great for bath products, especially with their huge Christmas collection. My favourite products are the bath bombs ($4.25-$8.95).
Makeup
There are a whole bunch of makeup sets out, and makeup is pretty easy – anyone can use more makeup! Makeup brushes are a sure bet: IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Must-Haves ($110) are a lovely set for your makeup addict friend. For younger makeup fiends, ulta3 have a range of affordable gift sets under $25, and Sephora have the fantastic Geometricolor palette ($69) if you want to set a budding makeup artist with a great starter kit. For someone who is a bit more conservative with their makeup, Revlon and Mirenesse gift sets are a great option. My personal favourite pick are the NYX vaults ($79), which have great pigmented formulas at a low price.
I’ve always been a fan of the brown/rose/mauve family of lipsticks, so when I got my hot little hands on the much-loved MAC Twig, I wasn’t surprised when I loved it. Then I realised that I had an embarrassing number of lipsticks in my collection in the same colour family…so why not do a swatch comparison post?
(This is only about a third of my pinky-browns. Like I said, embarrassing.)
MAC Satin Lipstick in Twig* – This is a lovely pinky-brown colour that’s great for my-lips-but-better looks on darker girls i.e. “Kylie Jenner lips”. It smells pleasantly vanilla. The formula is a bit drying on my lips, but my lips are very prone to dehydration (fat lip life) so most people will fare better. The colour payoff is magnificent, and it’s opaque with one swipe, with a not-quite-matte, not-quite cream finish.
Marc Jacobs Lip Crème in Infamous* – Close colour dupe. This is a tiny bit little pinker than Twig, but has the same sort of finish. It’s very creamy and moisturising for a satin lipstick, with nicely opaque colour payoff. The packaging screams luxury, with a cool magnetic closure that snaps shut with a satisfying click. It’s practically fragrance-free.
Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Sultry – Close colour dupe. The crayon format of this lipstick makes it very easy to apply, and I love the matte metal detail on the twist-up end, although I’ve found that these Revlon lids crack very easily and then slip off in handbags. The colour is a bit redder than Twig, but it’s pretty damn close! The colour payoff is great. Like other Revlon crayons, this has peppermint oil which gives a minty scent and a weird tingle.
ulta3 Matte Lipstick in Rose Bloom – Close colour dupe, slightly matter finish. It’s almost the same shade as Revlon Sultry and the colour is fantastically long-lasting. This is an excellent budget option – the main drawback is that the packaging feels flimsy, and the bullet is a bit wobbly in the packaging. Its floral scent also hangs around for a bit, which won’t be to everyone’s liking. It’s a bit drying as well, but for the price it’s hard to complain too much.
I’ve been trying out a lot of products lately – these are some of the ones I’m really loving that I thought I’d give some mini reviews for. Face of Australia Gentle Make-up Remover* – This make-up remover is everything I want in a make-up remover – gentle, efficient, doesn’t leave an oily residue. Mary Kay Cream Eye Colour in …
I’m hoping it’s not just me and I’m not outing myself as an irredeemable weirdo – I LOVE looking at what beauty products other people use. I love going through other girls’ handbag stashes, and when I’m in someone’s bathroom I can’t resist taking a peek at what products they’ve got in there. (I can feel everyone revoking their dinner …
I posted swatches of the fantastic new Face of Australia Glossy Lip Crayons last week. Since the smooth moisturising texture is one of my favourite lip product finishes, there are quite a few similar products in my collection, so I thought I’d show you guys some comparison swatches. First up, against other brands: Face of Australia’s Pecan Pie is a …
Check back here for my 2012 favourites! I road tested a LOT of products in 2013 – a veritable truckload! It’s been a long year, and looking back, it’s interesting to see which products I’ve actually incorporated into my regular routine, and which ones I loved at first, but ended up putting aside in favour of old favourites, or new …
I’m halfway through getting 100 products in my attempt to get rid of all the half-used stuff in my life. Here are my latest 10 empties: Sportsgirl Butter Dream Body Butter – I’ve had this forever, and it’s really good for an under-$10 body cream, though not really rich enough for me to class it as a “body butter”. The …
