beauty review: jane iredale liquid eyeliner

 jane iredale liquid eyeliner has become one of many liquid liners i've been testing out these days. i was already trying to better my skills in the liquid liner department, so it came to me at the perfect time!

in my "testing", i found that this liner is so easy to use {i love the bottle and it's long-handled brush} even though it isn't a felt-tip. the uber-inky formula is perfect for creating any eye look that can range from classic, subtle definition, to a dramatic, thick-line cat eye look.

while i really think it's a good, basic liner, my one gripe is with the wear. it lasts for a few hours before beginning to fade and slightly flake. since i don't always have time to touch up {maybe a little gloss or blotting powder in the middle of the day}, i wish it would be longer lasting.

jane iredale liquid eyeliner comes in a variety of shades ~ 
{take a look at some of the tips and tricks for each!}

Pinot Noir looks beautiful with so many looks ~ use it as a fresh accent to a neutral eye.

Gold Liquid is a great color for all, especially stands out on darker skin tones; use it alone on the outer two-thirds of the upper lashes as a subtle way to draw attention to the eye. for a more dramatic look, line the eye with Black Pencil or Black Plus Cream to Powder Eye Liner, and then draw a fine line with the Gold just along the lashes. want even more drama? apply Gold Liquid just above the Black ~ instant party look!

Copper looks wonderful alone for red heads, especially those with fair skin and green or blue eyes, but is gorgeous on all and a fabulous alternative to brown {not to mention a lot more exciting}. use Copper  to punch up the usual browns by first lining with Black/Brown Pencil or Black/Brown Plus Cream to Powder Eye Liner, then apply to the lash line for a more current look.

Silver along the upper lash line is romantic and enchanting; it creates a subtle flash of light with each blink of the eye. apply a thin line over your usual makeup.

 another beneficial thing i learned while using this liner was that by gently shaking the bottle before applying will allow the pigments and the essential oils to fully emulsify, so you get the best application.

so, bottom line: i'm not wild about this liner, but i really think it's a decent product. as a fan of other products {including this hydrating spray} i also appreciate that this liner, and the brand overall, is cruelty-free**, vegan and gluten-free. would i purchase it? no, but, who knows, it might be something you will love!

visit janeiredale.com for more info, including where to buy, and check out the entire range of goodies while you're there.

product featured was sent to me for review consideration; all thoughts and opinions are my own; pics taken by me :)
**jane iredale is certified cruelty-free by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program, the leading internationally respected animal protection group for cruelty-free certification. 

luxe & organic: Vapour Organic Beauty

hello beauties!

as another month is coming to a close {yikes, this month flew by!} and the spring season slowly blooms, i'm excited to share some gorgeous products from Vapour Organic Beauty i've been using over the past several weeks.

lovely and luxe, each of these products not only make you look good, but are also made with organic ingredients so they're good for you!

oh, and just as a little pop culture/celeb side note, Jessica Alba recently gushed over a few of these products...

the first product i have to share is Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation {swatched below with and without a flash}. the shade sent to me for this review is a tad too dark, but worked gorgeously as a liquid bronzer thanks to its natural skin luminizers. the finish is dewy and pretty, the formula feels light, and {when used as a foundation} is buildable so you can add more product to places that you may require more coverage.

creating flawless skin typically requires a concealer, and for this the Beauty Illusionist is fabulous. it easily covers imperfections, blending away dark spots and blemishes and is housed in a sleek tube, making it purse and travel-friendly.

Luxe Organic Lip Conditioner treats lips with jojoba seed, beeswax and coconut oils. one of my new lip-loving faves, i like to apply this when i begin my makeup application. by the end of it, my lips are soft and ready for whatever lip color i choose to apply. one to try...Siren Lipstick.

another lippie standout is the Elixer Plumping Gloss. of course, let's be honest, my lips aren't in need of plumping, but i simply j'adore this gloss! the non-stinging formula contains antioxidants, lip-loving skin-hydrators and has a gorgeously glossy, not-too-sticky finish. the shade pictured is called Vivid, a stunning fuchsia with silver flecks.

let's not forget the eyes! Vapour Organic Beauty's Mesmerize Eyeliner & Smoky Eye Tool applies and blends beautifully. whether i used it to create a defined cat-eye or {with help from the built-in smudger} a glamorous, smoked-out finish, the result lasted for hours and never irritated my eyes.

be sure to visit Vapour Organic Beauty's website for more info on these products. find them on facebook & follow the brand on twitter!

products sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

won't make brown eyes blue: L'Oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator Eyeliner

the beauty industry always has little gimmicks they like to throw out at us, the consumer, to pique our interest and hook us into their "newest" idea; in this case, i'm referring to the whole "only these colors enhance these eye colors" talk...

yada-yada...

it's all well and good, but let's face it-- it's not completely true. so much so, that i rebel when it comes to the only-stick-to-these-colors-if-your-eyes-are-this-color philosophy. yes, green and brown eyes look fabulous when wearing shades of amethyst and purples, while blue and grey eyes look remarkable when wearing shades of mauve and coppers, but skin tone and hair color also should play a role in choosing makeup colors.

but i digress...

so i bought L'Oreal's Double Extend Eye Illuminator Eyeliner color enhancing duo liner in Black Sapphire, intended for blue eyes.

and i love it.

though my skin tone is cappuccino and my eyes are definitely espresso {clearly, i have coffee on the brain}, this liner's shade is a fabulous compliment to them.

the lesson, in my opinion? have fun and experiment with your makeup; ignore what the brand says you should wear-- if you want to try the liner/shadow/palette for green eyes and yours are blue/brown/hazel, go for it. chances are, you'll find it stunning. if not, always know that you can wash it away if it doesn't work out. :)

pics taken my me :)

Beauty 101: Back to School Essentials

my kids go back to school tomorrow (i now have a 4th and 1st grader!), and not only am i excited, but so are they. today the school held a "meet your teacher" event in their respected classrooms so the kids could do just that.


these are the books that let me know what my daughter has to look forward to (and i suppose that would go for me, too-- yikes!)

with all of the back-to-school excitement and shopping, i've obviously had school on the brain. i know that when i was in school, it was so fun to get new stuff at the beginning of the year. i also know that no matter what "grade" you're in, pencils, bags and books are essential. here's my list of beauty "school" supplies i think you'll enjoy...




pencils: a new liner i am enjoying is Motives Cosmetics' Kohl Eyeliner in Amethyst. the smooth formula has been amazing for giving my eyes a touch of deep purlpe color when i'm wearing neutral tones and adds that "little something extra" when i wear more bold shades.

also check out: Bobbi Brown's new Ivy League Collection or get the scoop on some new pencils from L'Oreal





bags: Sonia Kashuk's Cosmetic Tote gives a roomy way to travel with your beauty arsenal. carry your must-haves and some extras with room to spare.

also check out: Sephora Film Noir Lace Bag Collection features bags for every need. a pencil bag for, well...makeup pencils and a large handle bag that unzips to reveal three smaller, removable inner cosmetic bags plus an inner zip compartment for space galore to store eyeshadows, blushes powders and anything else you need to get beautified.




books: Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual by Bobbi Brown

also check out:
The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin of Color by Iman and the new book, Who What Wear: Celebrity and Runway Style for Real Life by Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr

here's to a great school year! :)

xo

Beauty on a Budget: New Eyeliners from L'Oreal

eyeliners are a must-have for creating everything from a smoky eye to adding subtle definition to a more natural face. L'Oreal has some fabulous new eyeliners-- the brand's PR firm sent me some to try!-- and i think they are certainly worth checking out. read on...



HiP High Intensity Pigments offer some great new metallic variations-- called Color Chrome-- that give eyes an amazing bold, metallic finish. wearing them alone with my favorite mascara works fabulously for day, and pump up the volume on my favorite coordinating eyeshadow shades at night.




new Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliners have become my go-to liners for their rich color payoff and long-wearing abilities. i love lining the upper inner rim of my eye (tight lining) to give my lashes an even fuller effect. this liner in black gives a smooth application and looks great all day.




Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Eyeliner glides on smooth and compliments my more natural, eye-enhancing shadows. it blends easily, but stays in place, so i can also create a smoky eye-look with it, too! the liner you see next to it is called Le Kohl Duo-- a shadow on one end, and liner on the other. i love the shadow for highlighting the inner corner of my eyes and brow bones; flip it over and i can line, line, line-- multi-tasking products are so fabulous!

i really can't say that any one of these eyeliners is better than another-- i use them all, i think they all work fabulously. of course, i wouldn't expect anything less from L'Oreal. :)

find all of these eyeliners at your favorite drug and mass retail stores and for more info on the liners i didn't link to (they aren't yet available online), visit lorealparisusa.com.

xo
pics taken by me :)