Products Worth the Investment Review | elf Contour Palette | Review and Swatches

Hello there!

I know I've been gone for a while, but I promise to make it up to you all!
Today's Products Worth The Investment Review is on the newly released elf Contour Palette that I am sooo excited about! elf has definitely stepped up their game!

Products Worth the Investment | Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Liquid Eyeliner Pen | Review + Swatches

Hello, hello there!

I hope you all are having a lovely day today!

I was actually debating on whether or not I should even bother doing a review on this product and decided that I should save any of you from possibly wasting your time and a couple bucks because every buck counts ya know? Well, today I'll share my experience and review of the Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Liquid Eyeliner Pen which I had quite high expectations for but I was equally disappointed with.

Don't get me wrong, I personally think Wet n Wild is one of the greatest, super affordable, cruelty free companies out there, but just like other companies they have products that are absolute fails and this is one of them.

A while back I was in search for an affordable black liquid eyeliner to use for quick touch ups on the go and for covering up any excess lash glue. The Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Liquid Eyeliner Pen was one of the top eyeliners recommended to me so I was really looking forward to checking it out.

The felt tip applicator is very user friendly and can be used to create both fine and bold lines.
My only complaint on the applicator is that the tip is not too precise...its not bad though, its perfectly usable.

Swatches of the Wet n Wild Black Liquid Eyeliner.

As they're swatched on my arm, the eyeliner is visibly seen slowly fading from an opaque black at the top to a streaky black at the bottom.

The very first time I used this eyeliner, I was really impressed with how opaque and richly pigmented the initial application was on my right eye, but when I did my left eye it started drying out and fading! It was like I used two different liners! I found that putting the cap back on and waiting for five or so minutes helps bring more moisture and product to the applicator, but seriously, I don't want to have to wait for five minutes to do my other eye every time I use this eyeliner!

Even if I store this upside down with the applicator down, the pen still dries out by the time I do my other eye. I gave this eyeliner about three tries and gave up on it. It just wasn't worth all the fuss.

So there you have it, a quick and straight forward review of the Wet n Wild Mega Eyes Liquid Eyeliner Pen. 

Got any requests? Leave them in the comments below!

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | Artistry Automatic Eyebrow Pencil Review

This week's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Artistry Automatic Eyebrow Pencil which has been sent to me by the company to review.
Just to make it clear, this is my first time working with a company to review products for them, meaning I purchased all the products that I've previously reviewed/featured with my own money and even if this product and the mascara on my previous post has been sent to me to review, the following is my own honest opinions on the product.

Alright now that I made that clear, lets get on with the review!

Close up of the product. I got the shade Soft Black.

This brow pencil comes in three neutral shades in Taupe, Brown, and Soft Black and retails for $13.55 for the actual refill (0.15g/0.005oz) and $15.05 for the refill holder (has a brow brush on the opposite end) at aogoods.com.

My bare brows.

My brows filled in with just the pencil and blended with a bare brow brush (no brow gel to set).

I tend to do a more natural brow look and I find that this pencil allows me to easily do so as it provides a beautiful soft-focused look on the brows.

Pros:

-Beginner/user friendly

-Looks very natural

-No sharpening needed

Cons:

-Doesn't provide any hold to the brows, requires an additional step of setting with a brow gel

-Lightly pigmented (could also be a pro because it gives a very natural look to the brows)

-Pricey...definitely a debate on whether its worth the investment or not

Over the three weeks of testing this brow pencil, I found that this works best for giving natural looking fuller brows. With this brow pencil, you really can't go wrong, its very user friendly and quick to apply. The only downside is that you have to buy the refill and the refill holder separately which are both pretty pricey alone and will total to $28.30! Overall, I think the Artistry Automatic Brow Pencil is not worth the investment. There are tons of other brow products out in the market that are far more affordable and will give better, if not equal, results.


Any brow product recommendation? Leave them in the comments below!


-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | Artistry Signature Eyes Volume Mascara Review

This week's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Artistry Signature Eyes Volume Mascara which has been sent to me by the company to review.
Just to make it clear, this is my first time working with a company to review products for them, meaning I purchased all the products that I've previously reviewed/featured with my own money and even if this product has been sent to me to review, the following is my own honest opinions on the product.

Alright now that I made that clear, lets get on with the review!

This mascara retails for $26 at aogoods.com...before the price tag scares you away, I'd recommend you to stay and read on the see the results.

Here's a close up of the brush.

My curled lashes without any product.

My curled lashes with one coat on the top and bottom lashes.

My curled lashes with two coats on the top lashes and a light coat on the bottom lashes.

With the Artistry Signature Eyes Volume Mascara I feel like I could get the results of two or three layers of other mascaras with just one coat of this one. I definitely see a slight bit of length and tons of volume with one coat of this mascara and going for a second coat would just be unnecessary for day to day wear. At just one coat, I feel like my lashes are already big and volumized to my liking and by the second layer it starts to clump and feel heavy.

Pros:
-Effortlessly allows volume and length with just one coat
-Slightly waterproof, it can last through tears and the rain
-Holds a curl all day
-Doesn't flake throughout the day

Cons:
-Has a slight plastic-like smell
-A huge pain in the butt to remove
-Can give clumpy and spidery lashes


Over the three weeks of religiously using this mascara, I found that this would be a great mascara to use on those days you want super big voluminous lashes. I think you could definitely pull off a second or even a third coat as long as you comb you lashes in between layers. Even if I really like this mascara, I would probably not repurchase it because its just too much of a hassle to take off. Even if it gives me really good results, I debated with myself every morning on whether big lashes was worth the extra eight minutes of taking it off at night and for the price of $26, it slightly steers me away.



Have any mascara recommendations? Leave them below!

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | LA Colors 16 Color Eyeshadow Palette | Review and Swatches

Hello there!!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the LA Colors 16 Color Eyeshadow palettes.

If you've been following me here or on Instagram, you probably know that I've had these palettes for a while now and it took me soo long to finally review these because I wanted to make sure that I've used each palette well enough to make a clear and honest review.

Here are the three palettes from top to bottom: Haute, Smokin', and Sweet.

The first thing I noticed when swatching the shadows is that even if they feel very smooth, creamy, and buttery, they are very powdery and have tons of fall out! You've been warned!

Haute

Swatches of Haute without primer underneath.
I'm a little disappointed with this palette as I wish they didn't have two very similar cool toned pink shades and I find that the orange and light green shades are less pigmented than the rest. I think that golden olive shadow from the top row is also very random and doesn't fit the theme of this palette. With all that madness going on with the top row, I am obsessed with the bottom row, especially with the four shades to the right!

Smokin'

Swatches of Smokin' without primer underneath.
I have no complaints about this palette only that I wish the black was a little darker rather than being a charcoal shade. Aside from that, I completely adore this palette!

Sweet

Swatches of Sweet without primer underneath.
You all know I love my neutrals! This palette offers a decent amount of  neutral shades that gravitate towards the warm side. With the handful of shades available, I still think it is not enough, it lacks transition and definer shades. The black shadow in this palette is a bluish black so it isn't the same black shade as from the Smokin' palette.

The white shadow from all three palettes are exactly the same shadows which is really disappointing!
Also, I wish the palette offered a wider range of finishes. All shadows have a pearlized or shimmer finish which is again, pretty disappointing because that makes these palettes not suitable for being "stand-alone" palettes.

Although I would always recommend using a good primer, all shadows show up quite impressively without primer underneath (No where close to the UD Electric palette or Lorac Pro palette). For onlt a couple dollars, these shadows are very pigmented on the eyes, especially the lighter highlighter shades, I find that even if I lightly tap my brush into the shadow and tap off the excess, I still have lots of pigment left on my brush to work with and give my inner corners and brow bones a good highlight.

Overall, I think the L.A. COLORS 16 Colors eyeshadow palettes are great palettes to add to your collection if you're just wanting to experiment with a little color and go out of your comfort zone. For the price of $3.99, you're not losing much. And if you already have great, highly pigmented, good quality shadows (not saying that these aren't!), then I think you can definitely skip on these.
I find Smokin to be great to use for adding a pop of color to your smokey eyes, Sweet for everyday neutral eyes, and Haute to add a definite pop of color to your everyday looks. Although these palettes claim to have both matte and shimmer shadows, the finishes range from pearl to shimmer. The Sweet palette offers a decent range of shimmer highlighter shades, shimmer transition shades, shimmer defining shades and even some stand-alone shadows, but no palette, in my opinion, is good enough on its own, you need a matte transition or defining shade unless you're aiming for an all out, bright, shimmery look.

I hope you found this quick review helpful!

Stay tuned for more reviews!

Thank you for reading!

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | Sephora 12HR Jumbo Liner

Hello hello!!

Happy March! I hope everyone has a great month and year ahead of them!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Sephora 12 Hour Jumbo Liner pencils which are a collection of 28 multipurpose pencils that could be used as eyeliners or eyeshadows.

These jumbo pencils create a range of different effects and are resistant to water, heat, and humidity. From deep blacks to rich and shimmery shades, each is formulated with exclusive waxes and pigments to assure maximum color intensity that stays put for 12-hours, as it claims on the Sephora website.

There are 28 different colors available:

1. White                      15. Silver Glitter

2. Grey                        16. Grey Glitter
3. Taupe                      17. Beige Glitter
4. Beige                       18. Pink Glitter
5. Brown                     19. Dark Taupe Shimmer
6. Gold                        20. Brown Glitter
7. Khaki                      21. Dark Brown Matte
8. Green                      22. Green Shimmer
9. Turquoise                23. Peacock Blue Shimmer
10. Marine                  24. Electric Blue Matte

11. Violet                    25. Mauve Shimmer

12. Purple                   26. Purple Glitter
13. Glitter                   27. Purple Matte
14. Black                    28. Lilac Shimmer

Claims:

                                         O agree     X disagree

-O Can be used on the inner corner, outer corner, upper and lower lid, waterline and tight line.
-O Can create a dramatic finish or a soft blended out finish.

-O Pencil may be blended with fingers or a brush to spread color all over the eyelid. 

-O Layer two jumbo pencils to create your own custom look. 

-X Can be used as a base for your eyeshadows to make them last all day long. 

For some reason, you cannot use these pencils as an eyeshadow base because it will only create a really harsh, unblended look under your eyeshadows. It works better to lay it over your eyeshadows to create an even more intensified look.

Retail Value: $14 USD

One Swipe. Left to right: White, Purple Glitter, Taupe, Khaki, and Black.

Rubbed swatches.

Wet swatches after rubbing.

Overall, I think the Sephora 12HR Jumbo Liners are worth the investment, especially if you can get them on a discount or bundle. I would say though, that $14 for each pencil sure is a bit pricey, but these are absolutely great products that are super pigmented. With these, a little fefinitely goes a long way! I swipe these over my mobile lid when I just want a quick brightening color or I smudge it out for a nice cream shadow or waterproof liner. I find that these are the only eyeliners that I've tried so far that are actually waterproof and stay on for over 12 hours even on the waterline! As you can see the swatches from after smudging and wetting still stayed in place and are still very vibrant.

Let me know what you think of these Sephora 12HR Jumbo Liners and definitely let me know if you have any comparable products for less!


Thank you for reading!! 

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | NYC Liquid Eyeliner | Review + Swatches

Hello there!

This weeks Products Worth the Investment review is on the NYC Liquid Eyeliner. If you follow me on Instagram (@wndr14lnds), then you might recall me being on the hunt for a good drugstore liquid eyeliner that could be used to cover excess lash adhesive. Well, this was the eyeliner that was recommended to me the most so I definitely wanted to give it a try.

Brush tip applicator.

I only realized that I picked up the pearlized black shade when I got home, but they have a regular black shade available too.

Overall, I really like this NYC Liquid Eyeliner and I will definitely be purchasing the regular black shade. Even if I didn't end up using this particularly for covering excess lash glue like I intended to, I still really enjoy this for adding a nice twist to my regular black eyeliner looks. This eyeliner is super pigmented and long lasting. I love the brush tip which is super precise at the tip, allowing you to create the fines and boldest lines in just a couple strokes.

Got any product recommendations or suggestions? Leave them in the commends below!

Thank you for reading!

Stay tuned for more reviews!!

-Mary

Favorites of the Moment | Makeup Favorites + Mini Reviews

Hello hello!

I just realized that I haven't shared some favorites in a while and since The Oscars is today (which I actually don't keep up to), what better day to give some extra love and appreciation to my absolute favorites? I thought I'd do a quick post sharing some products that I've been absolutely loving recently.

I haven't done reviews on any of the items on this post, but I certainly plan on doing some full individual reviews on certain products. 

Any requests? Just leave them in the comments section and I'll get to you as soon as I can!

Products worth the Investment | e.l.f. HD Lifting Concealers | Review + Swatches

Hello there!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on these e.l.f. HD Lifting Concealers which are from their studio line.

These elf concealers have been raved about by so many so I wanted to test them out for myself. I've been using these for a couple months now just because I wanted to test how it could wear on my skin throughout the different seasons.

Swatches with the shade Light on the left and Fair on the right.

Blended out swatches. Light on the left and Fair on the right.

These concealers are definitely medium to full coverage, as you can see it completely covered my mole. Heehee. On my combination skin, I find that these concealers definitely need to be set with a powder right after blending them in, otherwise they will set into your fine lines.

PROS: Long wearing.A little goes a long way. Very blendable. Medium to full coverage - covers up most imperfections from hyperpigmentation, to sun spots, to redness, to darkness under the eye..
CONS: When builded up, it can feel heavy and look cakey throughout the day. Unnatural/non-skin-like finish. Hard to find a good shade match.

Over all, I really like these concealers, they have such great coverage and staying power for being only $3, still I wouldn't repurchase them. Because of how hard it is to find a perfect shade match, I had to pick two shades (which neither ended up even matching). The light shade is way to warm and orangey to use as a concealer (and no, its not a peachy toned concealer), while the fair shade is too cool and pinky toned on my warm complexion.
So are these elf HD Lifting Concealers worth the investment? Hmmm...I don't think so. I definitely think you can skip on these and save your $3 for another great, affordable concealer for an additional couple bucks.


Stay tuned for more reviews!

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | Rimmel Provocalips | Instant Kiss Proof Lips + Swatches

Hello hello there!

Hopefully this isn't too late. I meant to post a review on the Rimmel Provocalips 16 Hour Kiss Poof Lip Colours at the beginning of February, but I just got way too busy. Anyway, here it finally is!

730 Make Your Move (top) and 230 Kiss Fatal (bottom.)

Make Your Move is a rusty nude.

Kiss Fatal is a deep berry/plum with a slight bit of shimmer.

The lock and shine swatch is on the far right, its just a typical clear gloss without shimmer.

There are eight total shades from this collection that range from pale nudes, to pinks, to reds, and to a deep plum.

These are the two step type of lip color/stain that has the color on one end and the lock and shine on the opposite end. There is a faint chemical scent in the colored part while the lock and shine has a yummy coconut scent. I usually don't like coconut, but this one just smells so delicious and it hides the chemical scent from the colored side.

I've tested these for over a month and I can say that they are definitely kiss proof, transfer proof, food proof, and drink proof! I can't guarantee that these lip colors can last over 16 hours, but I've worn them for 13 hours and yes, they held up surprisingly well!!

I know a lot of people have complained about these being so difficult to remove, but I find that using baby oil works wonders at removing these stains right off. I also use the Neutrogena oil free makeup remover which works almost as great.


Overall, I think the Rimmel Provocalips 16 Hour Lip Colours are absolutely great products that are definitely worth the investment. I love how comfortable, pigmented and long lasting they are. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a lip color/stain that leaves a beautiful stain on your lips and not just the typical reddish tint most lip stains leave behind.



I hope you found this helpful!


-Mary

Favorites of the Moment | L'Oreal Nail Polishes

Hello hello!

Today's post is dedicated the L'oreal Paris nail polishes, which is my favorite drugstore nail polish brand at the moment. I currently own three from their regular line of polishes and Liya's Nude from their Collection Privée.

(L-R) Liya's Nude, Wild and Free, Wishful Pinking, Rough Around the Edges.

Liya's Nude, which is a purple toned taupe shade, has been my daily love during the colder months. The shade is absolutely perfect for the fall and winter seasons without being the usual burgundy red.

Wild and Free is a foiled royal purple that came out blueish in picture, but its purple. Aside from neutral colors, I love royal colors and this one is just soo beautiful on the nails.

Wishful Pinking is a light ballerina pink that comes off very shear at one coat, but looks so perfectly soft and beautiful. At two coats is when you notice the pink tint and is perfect when paired with gold glitter or french tips.

Rough Around the Edges is black with tiny specks of silver glitter. I love this because if the silver glitter was fewer, it would look like a night sky with filled stars. I like how this adds an interesting twist to the regular black nail polish.

Price Comparison:

L'Oreal's website: $5.00

Walmart $4.97

Target $4.99

Walgreens $5.99

I haven't seen too many people talk about the L'Oreal polishes but it's definitely one to consider adding to your collection if you haven't yet!

What do you think of L'Oreal's polishes? Do you have any color recommendations?

- Mary 

Products Worth the Investment | POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser | Review

Hello hello!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser which I have been trying for a while now and I've actually been really enjoying!

This POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser claims to remove deep-down dirt and make-up, including stubborn waterproof mascara, while infusing the skin with vital moisture - all in one easy routine.

Claims

Hypoallergenic

Suitable for Sensitive Skin

Won't Clog Pores

Dermatologist Tested

Key Ingredients: Mineral Oil, Water, Ceresin, Beeswax, Triethanolamine, Behenic Acid, Fragrance, Ceteth-20, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, DMDM Hydantoin Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylparaben


Price comparison
Target: $4.99 
Walmart: $4.97
CVS: $9.29
Walgreens: $8.29 
Ulta: $7.99



The actual product is very lightweight, fast absorbing, non-greasy, refreshing and cooling on the skin.
Its directions say to apply and massage to face in circular motions then wipe with a washcloth.
Rinsing off this product is optional, so I think this is great to use if you've been up all night and cannot wash your face, which is what I've been loving to use this cleanser for!
If you've ever used lotion in the past to remove your makeup, this works very similarly like lotion for that purpose, and this is very moisturizing so you don't need to apply a moisturizer after using this.

Just keep in mind that although this does a great job at taking off even waterproof makeup, this does not take out 100% of your makeup and can leave behind dirt in your pores so its still best to wash your face and only use this on days when you really can't wet your face for whatever reason.

Overall, I think this is a great cleanser to use whether you decide to wash your face afterwards or not. It does a great job at removing deep-down dirt and waterproof makeup. I love that it is very moisturizing and does not leave your skin feeling greasy or sticky at all! If you're looking for a cleanser that does not dry your skin out, I would definitely recommend this POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser!

I hope this review was helpful!
Thanks for reading! :)

-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | e.l.f. Blush Palettes | Review + Swatches

Hello there!

Today's Products Worth the Investment review is on the e.l.f. Blush palettes in both Light and Dark from their studio line.

A close up of the light palette.
Clockwise from upper left:Matte Light Pink (Very similar to their single studio blush in Flush), Matte Peachy Orange, Glittery Orangey Pink/Salmon, Matte Lemonade Pink.
**The order of the pans is the same order as it was when I received it.

A close up of the dark palette.
Clockwise from upper left: Matte Dark Orangey Pink, Matte Muted (almost mauve) Pink, Matte Brick Red, Glittery Red-Orange.
**The order of the pans is the same order as it was when I received it.

Swatches of the Dark palette (four left swatches) and the Light palette (four right swatches).
**Swatches are of the same order as they appear in the palettes.

I love both palettes, but I find that from the Dark palette I reach for the Matte Brick Red most often while from the Light palette I reach for the Matte Peachy Orange most often.

**Tip: I like mixing the different blushes from both palettes to create a whole new blush shade.

Overall, I definitely think these elf blush palettes from their studio line are definitely worth the investment. For only $6 per palette, you get a lot of product that is very buttery, long lasting, and pigmented. I love elf blushes in general, especially those from their studio line which run at $3 per compact so seeing this for only $6 for 4 pans is a definite steal! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great, versatile, and affordable blush palette.

I hope you found this quick review helpful!
Let me know what you think! :)


-Mary

Products Worth the Investment | Rimmel Wonder'Lash Mascara Review

Hello hello!

Today's review is on the Rimmel Wonder'Lash mascara. 

I was very interested in picking up this mascara after hearing that it contains argan oil, which is very healthy for the hair. 

I picked up the waterproof version which is in the metallic blue/green tube, but there is a regular version also available which is in a copper tube. 

First off, the packaging of this mascara is just soo beautiful! Both the regular and waterproof versions have an interesting tube shape and are metallic finished...which is just so eye catchy and hard to resist to not buy! 

On to the brush, the brush is a medium sized rubber bristle brush and like and the wand has a quite flexible tip. 

The formula of this mascara is very wet so it definitely takes a while to dry between coats (about 20-30 seconds).

This mascara gives the lashes a very naturally defined look. Although this claims to volumize the lashes, I definitely see more definition and length than volume.

The combination of the wet formula and the rubber bristle brush really help to give the lashes a naturally defined look that is clump and flake free. 

Overall, I surprisingly really like this mascara! At first I had mixed impressions on this as I prefer dryer formula mascaras and I highly dislike rubber bristle brushes! I feel like the brush of this mascara is very soft that even if you accidentally scratch it against your lash line or waterline. It won't hurt. If you're like me and you prefer dry formula mascaras, I don't think you will like this much as I still wish this had a dryer formula as I really can't stand waiting for so long just to apply a couple more coats after the initial coat. 

Even if this mascara doesn't give the lashes that false lash effect, I think it is still great to have in your collection as it is a perfect waterproof mascara for no-makeup makeup looks or everyday wear. 

I hope you found this review helpful! 

Have you tried this mascara? What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below! 

-Mary 

Products Worth the Investment | e.l.f. Lip Balm Tints| Review + Swatches

Hello hello!!

Today I have a Products Worth the Investment review on the e.l.f. Lip Balm Tints from their Essential line.

The shades I have are in Peach (top) and Berry (bottom). 

In the pot, the product looks very highly pigmented and vibrant, but when applied, it is very sheer and beautiful. 

The actual product has a thick jelly like consistency that is thick enough to not spill out of the jar...if that makes any sense. The product has a sweet candy-like smell that applies very smoothly over the lips, and (not that I puposely tasted it!) it doesn't have a noticeable taste.
**I do notice that over time, the Berry shade has a slightly odd smell and taste, but its nothing that bothers me too much.

Layered swatches of Peach on top and Berry on the bottom. These can definitely be builded up to have a slightly more vibrant color or a sheer tint. 

These come in four different shades:

• Nude-pinky neutral nude (not pictured)
• Peach-peachy orange (pictured)
• Grapefruit-pinky red (not pictured)
• Berry-red (pictured)

I love these because they leave your lips feeling very soft and moisturized, and the tint it leaves on your lips is just perfect! It adds a very beautiful and natural tint that is absolutely perfect for day-to-day wear. If you're looking for a product that is highly pigmented, vibrant, or vampy, this isn't the product for you as its name explains itself...its a tint!
The only thing I dislike about these is that they come in a pot, which means you'll have to use your fingers or a lip brush to get the actual product out of the pot.


I love using the Peach all over my lips and sometimes the Berry shade to create a soft gradient effect.

Berry

Peach

Overall, these e.l.f. Lip Balm Tints are definitely worth the investment, especially for only $3, you can't go wrong! These are very comfortable on the lips, very moisturizing and non-sticky, and are perfect for day-to-day wear! I would definitelly repurchase these and I highly recommend it!


I hope you found this quick review helpful! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

-Mary