MAC By Request Collection: Bait Lipglass

This lipglass was part of MAC's poorly thought out By Request Collection (I didn't actually purchase it myself by the way, I won it from someone in a makeup group!). I say poorly thought out because of the supply vs demand debacle with the lipsticks (if you sell out of one of the colors before you even send the email notice about the collection release, that's not a good thing) and the frankly bland colors of the collection. If I had it my way, I would have released Strawberry Blonde Lipstick but I digress.

Product Description: "A unique lip gloss available in a wide variety of colours that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or subtle sheen...Tinted Lipglass is the perfect product for creating shine that lasts. It's pigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colour"

My Thoughts on the Formula/Wear Time: I used to think I was partial to sticky lipglosses because of the wear time but now my tastes have changed and I'm not a fan of them anymore. These are quite tacky on but the wear time is pretty good, about 3-4 hours without eating or drinking. Despite the tackiness, it didn't feel uncomfortable or drying on.

Packaging: A fairly unassuming clear tube with black plastic cap and a doe foot applicator.

Price: $15.00 for 4.8 grams/.17 oz.

Where to purchase: MAC.

Cruelty Free? As they choose to sell in China (a country that reserves the right to conduct animal testing), they are not cruelty free.

Bait is described as an "iris-pink with gold pearl" and somehow depicted quite dark and coralish on the site (it's not in real life). It was originally part of MAC's Lure Collection which was released in 2006. I could swear that they mixed up Flash of Flesh and Bait's product picture because Flash of Flesh is definitely not that light looking.

I'd describe it more as a frosty, milky, baby pink with multicolor pearl. In contrast to my semi tan skin tone, it doesn't fare well by itself and definitely needs to be paired with another product.

I can't say this was a favorite lipglass of mine, mainly because I think it's a color that doesn't look well on me unless I pair it with something else. I had high hopes for the collection in general but I think the colors chosen feel kind of flat. They were the general public's consensus but I thought colors like Guacamole and Jete weren't highly coveted (why not Parrot?) or Moxie and Rocker.

For a while now, I've felt quite blase about MAC launches and this was the same.

Did you get anything from MAC By Request collection?

Back to School Blues EOTD, New Header, and Blog Sale!

Long time no substantive post! I started school yesterday and suffice to say, I'm already in major senioritis mode. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before but this is my last year of my undergraduate degree. Unfortunately for me, I'm also balancing studying for the GRE and worrying about grad school so that's super fun now. I can't wait to graduate so I can be done with undergrad.

I didn't wear this look to school because I couldn't bother at 8 in the morning but I just felt the need to do something bright and bold when I got home.

Eyes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk on the lid and waterline

Sugarpill Velocity on the lid and lower lashline

Sugarpill Mochi on the outer edges of Velocity and on the waterline

Wet n Wild Brule on the browbone

Mary Kay Lash Love Waterproof Mascara*

Milani Brow Tint Pen in Dark Brown

If you didn't notice, I revamped the blog a little bit by adding a new header and changing up some of the widgets. I really love the header (I purchased it from Suck My Lolly!) because I think the retro camera suits my blog name and it's pink so how could I resist? I got a little tired of just having the plain text blog title so I'm happy to have made a super cute header.

In conjunction with revamping the blog I wanted to ask you guys, what posts you want to see more of? I tried adding a poll but the widget isn't working I wanted to see if you guys want to see more lip product swatches, eyeshadow swatches, reviews, EOTDs, FOTDs, etc? Please comment below with your answer! EDIT: I got the poll working so please answer in the sidebar!

One of the last order of business is to direct you to my blog sale. It turns out that I'm only getting half of the financial aid that I expected to get this year so I'm slowly but surely selling off my collection to help pad my finances for next semester's tuition. You can check it out by clicking the link or the "Blog Sale" tab!

How was your weekend? If anyone is going back to school, are you already back or do you still have a bit of a vacation left?

pssst keep on entering my giveaways!

OPI You Callin' Me a Lyre?

(I've been suffering from allergies and I'm hoping to get over them before I do any makeup looks so until then, enjoy my reviews and nail polish posts!)

I used to dance ballet so anything ballet related is automatically something I need. When I heard about the OPI New York City Ballet Nail Polish Collection, I knew I had to get my hands on one of the polishes. I went back and forth on which one to get but decided on You Callin' Me a Lyre? because it reminded me of the satin on toe shoes.

I got it knowing it was a jelly polish and initially, I didn't like it on my nails. I thought it looked fine on my shorter nails where the smile line hasn't started growing but on my middle and ring finger, it appeared strange to me. Years of nail biting has left my smile line starting really high up on the nail. As I kept wearing though, the semi translucent jelly finish kept sucking me in and now I actually like it on my nails.

It does take some finesse to apply this evenly. I had to be sure to let each coat dry thoroughly on the nail and to not apply too much on each coat. I believe this was about four coats topped off with Seche Vite.

Are you a fan of sheer or jelly-like nail polish?

Look For Your Perfect Red Lipstick with Besame Lipsticks

Gift Affiliate Link

Ages ago, I was introduced to Besame Cosmetics by the MakeupAlley Makeup Message Boards. I was so drawn in by the vintage inspired gold and red packaging, combined with the vibrant hues of the lipsticks and other products. The line was started by Gabriela Hernandez and a "culmination of Gabriela's passion for design and her desire to create an original cosmetic with details and formulas that make women feel glamorous and unique".

Their big seller is their current line of Classic Color Lipstick but they do offer other products like a 1930s Mascara, Sweetheart Lip Balm, Crimson Cream Rouge (which I'm dying to try), Brightening Violet Powder, and other rotating accessories and sets.

I got this sample set of their Classic Color Lipsticks as a birthday gift but unfortunately, they've stopped offering it (hopefully it'll return soon!) . The set was $16.00 and came with six 1 gram lipstick samples (equal to about two lipsticks), a brochure card, and a tiny disposable lip brush. For sure, I'm set on red lipsticks for quite some time (I say this now of course!). Perhaps this is the perfect red lipstick set, I could see these lipsticks working for blondes, redheads, and brunettes.



Product Description: "The most delectable lipstick with a semi-matte finish and one coal full coverage. the highest natural pigment content for a smooth, indelible, feather-proof finish. Enriched with vitamins A, E, and C, aloe and green tea. Our vintage reproduction colors are the exact shades used by your favorite Hollywood starlets." The lipstick bullet has a "wedge tip" to line and fill with precision.

Formula/Wear Time: Elsewhere on the site (under "The making of Bésame"), there's further info on the lipstick formula. It's meant to have "a satin finish and high-pigmented formula" that stays put and I can attest to both claims. If you're looking for a matte finish, these lipsticks don't have it. Even after 5 hours, the color looked just as good as when I first applied it and it could have kept on going. I'll update when I wear it longer than 8 hours but I didn't notice any feathering. These didn't feel heavy on the lips, not tacky but just smooth on. Comfortable to wear. These aren't vegan by the way (they contain beeswax) but they look to be paraben-free (not a big issue for me but it's worth mentioning)

Packaging: Each lipstick is in a gold plated bullet shaped case and comes with a velvet pouch for storage.

Price: Full size lipsticks retail for $22.00 for 3.5 grams

Where to Purchase: Besame Cosmetics, Sephora (affiliate). Online orders don't ship internationally unfortunately but they do have a list of places to buy if you're international and some brick and mortar stores if you're in the US.

Cruelty-free? I checked their FAQ and they do not test on animals.

I usually don't like doing page breaks but since I have lip swatches, an arm swatch, and comparison swatches for these lipsticks, it's just too much to have on the front page so click on to see everything!