Sunday, July 26, 2009

Royal & Langnickel Brush Review

As you all know I got four R&L brushes from IMATS and I've had all month long to test them out. On the R&L site you can see they offer many brushes, all of which are at a reasonable price and are very good quality.

Photobucket
L-R Crease C430, Smudger C445, Eye Shader C410, Angle Shader C500
(All brushes are from the SILK Pro line)

The first brush is the crease brush, its almost comparable to the MAC 226 brush that just got rereleased with the Color Craft Collection. It's not as dense and a little longer than the 226, and I would also say its considerably softer as well.

The next is the smudger brush, though I think of it more as a fluffy blending brush. I LOVE THIS BRUSH. It's sooooooo soft, had I known it was so good I would of got 2! Comparable to the MAC 224, perhaps even better! Ahhh I cannot stress how good this brush is!

I also picked up their shader brush. It's a pretty decent brush, its soft and all that jazz. My only con about it is that it doesn't really give they way the MAC 239 does. It's EXTREMELY stiff. It's kind of got that concealer brush feel. Might be better for things like paint pots and other bases, and yes concealers too.

Last I got the angled shader brush. Another one thats pretty decent, but not as good as the other brushes. It's fairly soft, not as soft as the other ones. It's slightly stiff and not very fluffy either. It gets the job done though, just takes a lighter hand and some patience.


So all these brushes are very very good quality! I would def buy some of these again and I'm also looking into purchasing more brushes from Royal as well. Face brushes look pretty promising on the site. DO check it out!

Hope your weekend was awesome,
Jess!

Friday, July 17, 2009

JULY FAVES! with Jess and Cj.

Cj and I are really rollin' out the posts today.

AAAAANYHOW. This stuff is the shit. That's all.

Photobucket


YES TO CARROTS
Can You C Me Eye and Face Makeup Remover
I was using Balms Away after hearing about it from Pixiwoo. It's cool but its so thick and resembles Vasaline I was over it quick. THIS STUFF HOWEVER.. its fresh, I like the idea that its filled with natural goodness, and if you put it in the fridge it feels like heaven. As for its makeup removing power, its pretty decent!

FYI, If it's liquid and goes on my face, I almost always put it in the fridge. Try it sometime!

With its first 5 ingredients listed as spring water, carrot juice, rosemary extract, algae extract, and cucumber extract its sure to give you a good dose of health karma points! YES, I would def buy again.

BENEFIT BROWS A-GO-GO
I was using Expresso e/s to FILL (not shape) my eyebrows. Now, both brow powders in this kit work for me. The lighter shade to fill and the darker shade to shape. Also, the highlighting shadow isn't so bad. Only CON, I prefer the Benefit Eyebright in pencil form. YES, if it's still avail in the future I would buy again.

DIOR ADDICT LIP GLOW
HG LIP PRODUCT OF ALL TIMEEEE.. or just for now. As some of you may have heard, it works with your bodys chemistry to give you a custom shade that looks EFFING FAB ON YOU! It moisturizes, lasts very long, and the shade it will give will most def work on you. HELLZ YEAH I WOULD BUY THIS AGAIN! Even for the hefty $29 price tag =/







Since i've been sooo busy with school and all, this is pretty much what gets me by in the morning. Plus my tinted moisturizer and Co Bigelow chap stick. =)

1. The Body Shop Bronzing Powder shade 2. I've used this in my FOTD.. and it's pretty much my default bronzer. I love it to death. It's sheer enough to give that nice glow, but not so it looks like a fake tan. MY MUST HAVE FOR THE SUMMER, even though San Francisco doesn't have much of a summer. lol. I have no idea how much this costs anymore, I used to work at The Body Shop (hence why I have tons of make up from there), but I really feel like it's been slept on. If you're near a body shop, mosdef check out the make-up.. also the face products. I LOURVEEE THEM!

2. True Blue Cotton Lotion from Bath & Body Works. My girls can back me up on this.. when i smelled this, I knew I NEEDED this. I got it at their sale, and I THINK they've discontinued it. So if the sale is still going on, and they still have it on stock, check it out.. it was only about $5!! ahh, bargains!

3. CoverGirl LashBlast! If you've never tried it, you should. I became a fan when the 3 pack was on sale @ Costco. I got it for about $9 and some change with the coupon.. pretty damn good. I love bargains! I think this has become my holy grail mascara!

Toodles!

The Face Shop Product Review

Happy Friday everyone. Busy week, hence lack of posts. Sorry Jacky. I know you were waiting. HAHA. Anyway, about a month ago, me and Jess came across some face masks.. and I thought it would be a good product for a review. They're very convenient, and very affordable.

On with the review.

What is it?:
The Face Shop Serum Infused Facial Mask Sheets - I tried "fresh fruit lemon" for hydrated skin.

Where to buy?:

Participating Walgreens stores. Go to www.thefaceshop.com for a store locator. They're a Korean company, and I think they just started becoming main stream in the states. I had a lot of asian women come into the body shop asking for these masks, and now I get to try them out!

What The Face Shop says about this product:
- The benefits of lemons: Known for fighting fatigue as well as for their skincare benefits, vitamin-rich lemons hydrate and improve skin tone
- Made from all natural pulp for the gentle delivery of lemon extract, this refreshing juice-like mask sheet hydrates skin.

Directions:
-Use 2-3 times a week for best results.
- Do not reuse mask sheets
1. Wash face and apply toner. Remove mask sheet from package and unfold.
2. Carefully it mask over face
3. Remove mask sheet after 15-20 minutes. Gently pat any remaining formula into skin.

Ingredients:
Water, Polyglutamic Acid/Methyl Propanediol/Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Bentaine, PEG-32, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6, Fragrance, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract/Water, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract

Pros:
-I like citrus smells, so right when I opened the pouch, I was in lovee!!
- For those with dry skin like mine, this does EXACTLY what it says.. it's very hydrating.
- Left my skin very soft!
- It's very easy to use, it has slits and holes, so you know where to position it onto your face
- Super convenient for travel and storage
- Inexpensive! 2 for $5

Cons:
- Not available at all Walgreens
- Not able to purchase on the site
- It's really damp, even after you take it off.
- Doesn't fit my face very well, i had to keep readjusting it.
- Although they say that you have to rub the excess into your skin, i felt there was WAY too much left over, I patted my face down with a towel, then rubbed the rest onto my face.

Overall:
- I'd buy this again. It's inexpensive, and they come in 6 different masks.. so you'll surely find a mask for you. It's not available everywhere, so whenever I go to walgreens, I'm going to stock up!

Click to enlarge pictures!







If you guys come across these masks, try some! =)


Thursday, July 16, 2009

FOTD goodness.

I should actually be asleep right now because I have work at 6:30 tomorrow morning BUTTTT, TNB has seen no love in like a week so let's get to the post!

This first one I did earlier today.. it's a take on the MAC Senior Artist Video with Keri showcasing the Look of Mineralized. You can see it here.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Products Used:
Eyes
- UDPP
- Fix Plus on brush
- Mineralized e/s duo in Earthly Riches
- Saddle e/s
- Dazzle Light e/s

Face
- Korres face primer
- MSF liquid foundation in NW35
- MSF Natural in Medium Deep
- Spaced Out blush
- MSF in Cheeky Bronze

Lips
- chapstick and Utterly Frivolous l/s

Next.. I did this like last week when I got a few things off Color Craft from my local Macpro. I picked up three things: Ever Embellish l/s, Cheeky Bronze MSF, and Mineralized e/s quad in Fashion Patch.

Photobucket

Products Used:
Face
- Korres face primer
- Chanel Vitalumier in Soft Honey
- MSF Natural in Medium Deep
- Beauty Powder Blush in Tippy
- MSF in Cheeky Bronze

Eyes
- UDPP
- Painterly p/p
- Fashion Patch e/s quad
- Haux e/s
- Dazzle Light e/s

Lips:
- Ever Embellish l/s

Okay that's all for now, I gotta get some sleeeeeep!
<3 jess.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

So, I was cleaning my room...

... and I came across my 96 Eyeshadow Palette. I got this a while back from stars makeup haven after RenRen mentioned it on her blog. I don't own the 88 shadow palette from coastal scents, but i figured i'd get this because i'd get 8 more colors. HAHA. Anyway, i figured I'd do a FOTD with it since the 96 palette was collecting dust.

Click to enlarge all pictures.





Products used

Face
MAC Strobe Cream
MAC NC42 Studio Fix
MAC Lightsweep Shadester Sculpt and Shape Powder
The Body Shop Bronzing Powder 02

Eyes
MAC Pharaoh Paint Pot (all over the lid)
96 Eyeshadow Palette

MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow (highlight)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (eyeliner)
REVLON Colorstay eyeliner in black (water line)
MAC Zoom Lash

Lips
MAC Sunsational l/s
The Body Shop Hot Brights Lip 02

Hope you liked the look!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Jemma Kidd/MUFE/Benefit Haul.

So I went downtown with the intention of finding and buying these daddies..

Photobucket

They didn't have my size at sheikh's.. LAME. I'm pretty bummed out because I was looking to up my summer shoe game. It's cool though, I ended up with this stuff instead!

MUFE Flash Color in White
Photobucket
I'm hella mad because I got home and opened it and it was freakin' used! BOO! So I've gotta exchange it now. I asked the Sephora SA and she said that it's not crease proof either, just fyi. Has anyone tried it yet, lemme know wsup!

Jemma Kidd Light as Air Liquid Foundation in Med.
Photobucket
Haven't tried it yet looks pretty promising though. Only thing that sucks is the packaging.. I opened the tube and I guess there was an air bubble in it and it started squirting like no other!

Jemna Kidd Bio-Complex Cover in Med.
Photobucket
IDK what exactly is up with the "Bio-Complex". Nothing in or on the box said anything about it.. oh well.

Jemma Kidd Contour & Flush Creme Blush Duo
Photobucket
Pretty good stuff. Reminds me of and might even be a good dupe for The NARS multiple duo.

Jemma Kidd Pro Flat Top Foundation & Pointed Cream Blush/Foundation Brush.
Photobucket
The girls at Pixiwoo can be seen using these babies.. unfortunately the pointed foundation brush was a little damaged but it was the last one so what the heyyy.

Benefit Brows A-Go-Go
Photobucket
My usual brow person wasn't in but I just couldn't wait. I was straight WOLF'n it out for about a week, it was time to tame these bad boys! Anyhow, the lady suckered me into buying this kit. It's actually not so bad. It comes with brow wax, two shades of brow powder, black eyeliner, eyebright, and a brow highlighting powder. Only thing I absolutely HATE is the packaging.. its like made from cardboard. Def NOT THE BUSINESS!





So anyhow, thats what I got. Regular price, Jemma Kidd is pretty expensive but supposedly her stuff wasn't doing too well at Neiman Marcus so she's getting the boot! I got all this for like.. idk, HELLA marked down. So if you're near NM cop some Jemma Kidd while you still can!


Lastly, MJ we miss you! I know as you're watching your memorial on that big flat screen in the sky, you're missing all of us too.
-Jess.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

IMATS collective haul.

Hello Everyone! I'd like to introduce ourselves. We're Jessica and Cj.. but we'd be better known as THEENEWBLACK. There's a brief description of the both of us in the side bars, but I'm sure as time goes on, you'll get to know us better.

A little info on us. We're aspiring make up artists.. to say the least. We just love anything and everything that has to do with beauty, and we hope that our work will continue to inspire you.

on with the post..

I'm sure everyone has been peeping about who got what and who met who at IMATS, i know we're 3 weeks late.

Royal & Langnickel booth
Photobucket
Eye Brushes


Crown Brush booth
Photobucket
Face brushes

Photobucket
shadow brushes

Photobucket
liner brushes

Frends beauty supply booth
Photobucket

Photobucket
Z palette - Whole magnetic palette!

Make Up For Ever booth (we were in line for at least an hour and a half. Completely worth it. 40% off EVERYTHING. The shadow pans were only $7.50
Photobucket

Photobucket
with flash

Photobucket
without flash

Yaby booth
Photobucket
World of pearl paints without flash

Photobucket
World of pearl paints with flash

Mac Booth
Photobucket
Euristocrats collection

Photobucket

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics booth
Photobucket

Photobucket

After looking at all the stuff we got.. we realized we didn't execute our game plan well.. but we think we did pretty well for our first time at IMATS.

Hope you like what we got. We'll do product reviews soon.