Does Almay Truly Lasting Color Really Last?

I have a confession to make, everybody...     I want a lip color to last me all day and as the day goes on to look fresh with out having to reapply the color. But, isn't that every girls dream, really? We don't have to worry about our lipstick rubbing off or fading as the hours pass us on by. So, that is the reason why I have been testing different brands of lip stains for the past few days and now it is Almay tlc's turn to see if it can pass the rigorous test and live up to it's claim:

"All day nourishing formula that loves your lips. Soft, shimmering color lasts for up to 12 hours, even through meals. Comfortable formula conditions lips with essential vitamins and anti-oxidants."

I picked up this product in the color Blossom, a very beautiful deep pinky-purple color that looks absolutely gorgeous! I applied this in the morning around ten in the morning and vowed not to reapply the lip color no matter what to find out if this color will stay put and stay in place. I wanted to see how it would wear through out the day. The only product I applied during the day was the gloss that comes with it when my lips needed a little more refreshing.

(Almay tlc Lip Color In Blossom)

(Notice There Is No Color Transfer On The Brush!)

(Gorgeousness!)

I waited the standard two minutes before applying the gloss and noticed that there was no color transfer onto the lipgloss brush. None, which is super impressive! 

(Applied at 10:00 a.m.)

I love how the color sits on my lips, very comfortably and smoothly, like I'm not wearing anything at all. As time went by my lips, surprisingly didn't feel dry one bit. I was falling fast for this lip color! Extra bonus, there was no color transfer that I noticed during the day!
So, I must say that when I got home later that day and took the final picture a little after eight p.m.,  I knew this product by Almay and I were going to have truly long lasting relationship from that moment. Sure, the color had faded in boldness somewhat, but the way that it wore on my lips was beautiful, it didn't feather; it looked pretty still! 

(At 8:00 p.m. The Color Looks
Different Because The Sun Was
Setting Outside, But It's Still Pretty!)

I picked my shade up at Big Lots for $2.00 but you can also buy it at your local drugstore for around $9.99. When I looked on the Walgreens website I only saw a limited number of shades that you can choose from, which I must say is a disappointment since there are so very many colors in the world to paint on our lips! The other colors are Brown Sugar, Petal, Sugarplum and Blush; neutral colors that everybody can choose from.
If I come across more of these in shades that I want to add to my collection I will definitely pick them because who doesn't want to add some everlasting prettiness to their lips?

The Truth About E.L.F. Lip Stain Revealed

I have a confession to make...    I went to the drugstore the other day and since I have been on this lip stain kick I was on the search to find different brands to try out to compare and discover which one performs the best. Well, I came across E.L.F. Studio's lip stain product they have and so I picked one up in the color 'Fashionista', a beautiful bright fuchsia pink. For me E.L.F. products are hit and miss so I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this. E.LF. claims about this product:

"Achieve full coverage that lasts for hours wit this long-wear formula. enjoy silky matte color or layer on the moisturizing clear gloss for a shiny look. With key vitamins A and E your lips stay smooth all day long."

I thought that it was a cool idea that you can wear this product matte if you wanted to and your lips still feel like silk instead of dry like most other lip stains; they give you options, which I like.

So, I applied this to my lips in the morning on my dry bare lips and really liked the bright color! I waited two minutes for the formula to dry before applying the gloss over it, but when I touched my finger to my lips there was still some transfer, so I waited ten more minutes with minimal transfer at that point. I decided to apply the gloss anyways and went about my day.

(Beautiful Color!)

(Major Transfer!)

(Three Hours After Application)

Now, I will be honest, there was major transfer and the lip stain did not last three hours on my lips before it was completely gone! I was majorly disappointed because the color is so pretty. So, I decided to see if wearing the product matte, without the gloss, would make the stain last longer. Well, while it didn't have as much transfer, it still showed up on my water bottle, on the tissue when I'd blow my nose (allergies) and so on...thus, it eventually disappeared from my lips in about the same amount of time.

I am highly disappointed in this product because it doesn't live up to its claim and is not a true lip stain because it has no staying power whatsoever and to me should be classified as a regular lipgloss, even though in my opinion it is a terrible product overall and I would not repurchase this ever again. A regular lipgloss has more staying power than this does since E.L.F's lip stain feathers and is blotchy as it transfers. So, in my humble opinion, save your $3.00 and pass this product up because this product is nothing but a lie; a pretty lie, but a lie just the same.

Does Maybelline's Superstay 24 Hour Lip Color Really Shine?

I have another confession for you...    I have mixed reviews over  Maybelline's new Superstay 24 Hour Lip Color. I have always been hesitant to try lip stains because my first and last experience with Cover Girl's lip stain back in the day turned me off from trying any other lip stains (I found it way too drying on  my lips). That is, until Maybelline came out with their new formula, I was pulled in by the promise of a lip color lasting for 24 hours, no reapplying needed.
I purchased the color Continuous Coral, which by the way is more of a pink raspberry, at least on my lips. The color families this product comes in are Pinks, Reds, Plums and Naturals, which left me almost disappointed, because I was looking for a shade that had a nice coral-peach or coral-orange color to add to my collection. But they did not offer anything close, so that is why I ended up with Continuous Coral, hoping it would lean coral, but as I said, no it didn't.
Anyhow...I exfoliated my lips in the morning and after I worked out I applied this to my lips (10:25 a.m.) and I was impressed by the immediate staying power it has. Make sure that when you apply you don't make a mistake like going outside the lines of your lips, because you won't be able to fix it! I applied one coat and waited two minutes, as the directions state, before applying the balm over the top. 
I will say that the formula dried super quick and it felt only slightly dry, so I did have to apply the balm over the top through out the day because I cannot stand dry lips.
I made myself promise that no matter what, even if it did fade and feather through out my day of eating and drinking I was not going to apply a second coat of color, just the balm. I wanted to see just how well this product lived up to its claim. 
By the end of the day when I went to take my makeup off (7:40'ish p.m.) it was still on my lips with minimal fading around the edges, but nothing noticeable. And to push the experiment a little farther (haha) I went to bed without removing the lip stain to see how it would endure the night. When I woke up my husband told me I still had lipstick on, which pleasantly surprised me.

(Continuous Coral)

(When First Applied)

(About Nine Hours Later)

So, what I like is the staying power of this product and how there is no need to reapply at all. There was no transfer at all as I went about my day, which was awesome. My only suggestion would be to stay away from eating anything oily as it will definitely come off, so be prepared to reapply. It felt slightly drying, but I have worn worse drying lip products, so applying the balm helped very much.
I'm not too thrilled with the color selection, but then again I am picky about my shades as I like a vast variety and for some reason the selection in the color families seemed almost the same to me. There are no daring adventuresome colors, just your safe everyday colors (which is nice, but it seemed the product that Cover Girl has that is similar to Maybelline's has way more variety). 
I absolutely like how the balm is packaged conveniently with the lip color for easy travel. You don't have to purchase the balm separately, which saves money and I like saving money!
So, I would have to say that this is worth the money that you spend on it if you want a lip color that you will not have to touch up as you go through your day. I went to Rite Aide and got mine for $9.98 and they ran a BOGO special and I got my Falsies Mascara for $3.Something that I love.
While I may be on the fence with this product, I like it more than I hate it. My only hope is that Maybelline will come out with some more colors, but than again, I confess that I am picky...

"Yummy Honey" Homemade Lip Scrub

I have a confession to make...    I have chapped scruffy lips. Yes, I know, severely unattractive, especially when wearing bright colorful lipsticks and lipgloss. Chapped lips manage to highlight all of the dead skin hanging around and the lines and crevasses...hmmm, almost reminds me somewhat of what spandex does for the thighs; not very forgiving.
So, I decided, in preparation for a series I have coming up here on this website that I would scrub my lips to make them appear more pretty and enhance the experiment I got going on.
I thought about dropping some money on a nice lip scrub, but than I remembered reading awhile back that a person can actually make their own lip scrub with the same effects of the expensive brands you can buy for a pretty penny using just about the same ingredients.
I thought this might be a good time to research a little about why it is good to exfoliate the lips and I like what I read so I am going to share it with all of you! 
Exfoliating prevents chapped lips from happening at all because smooth lips holds in more moisture, so during the winter time especially it is a great idea to exfoliate with the harsh weather conditions. Not only will it give you even toned lips after you remove the dead skin, it will also give you an extra added beauty benefit; it will help your lipstick stay on longer and can actually enhance the color of the lipstick you are wearing (now, if that is not incentive, I don't know what is!).
So, how often should we be exfoliating? The lip area is very delicate so we don't want to cause the skin to tear and bleed by over exfoliating, so once a week should do the trick; twice at the most if you really need to. What I like to use on my lips after exfoliating is (and you will laugh at the boredom of this product) good old Vaseline! Yes, petroleum jelly, if you will. I like this because it seeps into the skin and it feels so conditioning, when I wake up in the morning my lips are baby soft. I am sure there are special pricey high end balms that you can use instead, but I found what works for me; but you use what you enjoy and works for you. 
So, I gave making my own lip scrub a whirl and you would be surprised at how easy it is to make these scrubs, it seriously takes inexpensive pantry items that you have in your cupboards at home right now. So, I decided to try the recipe I found on makeupgeek.com (type in lip scrub in the search bar and you will find the recipe in her review on the Victoria's Secret lip scrub). All you need is:

 Raw Sugar, Olive Oil and Honey. Mix together one part each, them apply to lips and scrub with finger or toothbrush.

I used an almost empty Carmex jar to store my lips scrub in (after getting rid of the teeny bit left and washing it out with soap and water, then letting it dry. I have to confess, I love the taste of this scrub and had a good time applying it and scrubbing it in with my finger. I decided to name it "Yummy Honey Lip Scrub", it is that delicious (just don't really eat it, okay?). I applied my Vaseline and began to enjoy my new found soft lips. 

(Use whatever you want to store any extra product you have left over)

(The consistency is thick and tastes YUMMY!)

So, try this one at home and I promise your lips will thank you!

NYX Razzles And Dazzles!

I have an exciting confession to make...    you know me and my obsession with all things color, well, I now have a mounting obsession for all things glittery! And NYX Cosmetics delivers on the color and the glitter that we love to love!
Who out there just adores the opportunity to add a little something extra special and sparkly to their eyes once in awhile, maybe just for fun to reflect our creative side or on that special occasion when you want a little extra attention? NYX Cosmetics knows how to cater to a girl's craving for pretty! This is what NYX says about these eyeliners on their website:

"Create glamour in the twinkling of an eye. Our sensational Candy Glitter Liners let you produce a subtle hint of shimmer, of more dramatic lids worthy of a Vegas showgirl. Either way they ensure precision application."

Now, I have two of these liners in the colors Disco Queen and Purple. One of the colors I love to pair with my brown eyes is the color purple, so of course that would be one of the first that I would add to my collection, and it is a true to purple glitter liner! Same with The Disco Queen, it is true to the color that you see in the tube, but not as intense (FYI: the packaging is see through so if you are fortunate to get your hands on these in person you know what you are buying!). I expected it to be a little darker, but it is still gorgeous and as always, you can build it up to your desired effect. 
When applied to the lash line it will definitely grab people's attention as it is extremely visible (yea!). The tube is very lightweight as is the applicator. When you look at the applicator brush, it does look cheap, but let me tell you, it does its job and does it well. 
The product for both of these comes out with a massive amount of the glitter on the brush, which is what we want, it delivers the glitter that you expect. You know how with some glitter liners, you mostly get the clear gel with just a hint of the sparkly glitter on the line you make? Well, these liners give excellent glitter payoff!

(Left: Disco Queen, swiped once on the left and twice on the right to show build-ability. Right: Purple, swiped twice on left and once on the right.)

You can add just  subtle hint of shimmer along your lashes with just once swipe, or build up the drama with an additional swipe or two. What would be amazing is adding some sparkle over your everyday eyeliner, neutral or colored for an extra added hint of pretty with these liners! Beware that these liners do take a few minutes to dry, so be patient, but once they are dry they have excellent staying power. (After a few minutes when the swatches on my hand were done drying I rubbed them with my finger and they did not budge! How cool is that!)

(Left: Disco Queen Right: Purple)

Disco Queen

Purple

The one thing that I do not like about the product is the funky tassels on the end of the applicator wand. They tend to get in the way and are a little distracting when applying, so you can either live with it and make sure they are tucked securely in your hands when applying or you can just snip them off since they don't serve any purpose. 
These liners come in every color underneath the rainbow, eighteen in all. I must warn you, this is a long list, so bear with me! (Please note that I am describing the swatches that NYX Cosmetics gives on their website for each color since I do not own all of them myself)
French Silk: copper
Disco Queen: multi-colored, black, purple, silver, green
Mocha Latte: burnt orange
Aqua: turquoise
Lavender: pale purple
Passion: rosey-pink
Blue: deep blue/green
Gold: gold
Jade Green: bright seafoam
Silver: grey silver
Hot Candy: hot pink
Crystal: white silver with hint of pale blue sparkle
Jade: emerald green
Purple: purple
Red: orange/red
El Dorado: yellow-gold
Disco Ball: silvery-grey
Baby Pink: pale pink
These retail for $4.50 on nyxcosmetics.com and for the same price on cherryculture.com, but as of today cherryculture.com is having a sale and it is priced at $3.50. ulta.com sells these liners for $4.75, yet when I looked they only carried twelve of the eighteen liners; but they are having a buy one get one half off sale. beautyjoint.com exclusively sales NYX products and for the cheapest I have seen anywhere. Their everyday asking price is $3.25.
So, if your looking around for some affordable high quality glitter liners to jazz up your look check out the Nyx Candy Glitter Liners and I promise you, they will leave you razzled and dazzled!

Rimmel Stay Matte Clarifying Foundation Trial Review

I have a confession to make....   I am not in love with Rimmel's Stay Matte foundation. I want so bad to love this product because I have tried so many foundations (Neutrogena's Skin Clearing oil-free foundation and Almay's Truely Lasting Color 16 hour foundation) and have not been impressed with the staying power nor the coverage that these products gave for me. 
Now, let us just start by getting it out there...I have terrible skin; super oily (not just on the T-zone, but all over!), acne scars, discoloration from acne and yes, even though I am in my twenties, acne breakouts still (blech)! So, I need foundation that is not going to clog my pores and that will actually have the power to combat my ferocious oil glands and not slide off my face in horror. So, bottom line, my skin is very picky and ance-prone. FUN!
So, when I was at Walgreens a little over a week ago now, just needing to pick up some makeup remover towelettes, I browsed through the makeup department as usual and kept my eyes peeled for those bright orangey-red stickers that would let me know what was on clearance that week.
When I saw the Rimmel foundation was marked down to $3.50 I grabbed for a shade that closest matched my color. There was only a few bottles left and luckily I found that when I got home, the one I bought did match me pretty well.
 Rimmel claims on the back of the bottle: 

"Shine control formula for up to 12 hours matte coverage. With Skin-pure Complex for a visably purified complexion and gentle botanical extracts to help soothe sensitive skin. Oil-free. Non-comededogenic. Non-acnegenic.Fragrance free. Paraben free." 

Needless to say, I liked what I read and was super excited to try this thing out, thinking that it was going to give me the appearance of clear skin and it was going to give me more control with my oily face; not to mention it was nourishing for my skin! 
So, I have given this foundation a trial run of a week and have worn it five times since I bought it. Now, the first time that I wore this, I was shocked at how sheer this applied to my skin. It was just like my Neutrogena and Almay foundations that do not offer the coverage that I need for my skin type. I find that in order to get the coverage to satisfy me and hide my scars somewhat, I need at least two applications. I always set my foundation with a face powder all over since I have an oil spill swimming around on my face (I use, as of a month ago, Almay Line Smoothing pressed powder, which I am happy with for setting foundation). 
When I wore this the first few times I was happy with it, but didn't love it. What I find I like about it is that it seems to have more staying power than my Neutrogena foundation and, while with my oily skin I don't ever think there's a foundation out there (no matter their claims) that will give me a complete matte finish,  Rimmel did help control some of the shine way longer and way better than any foundation I have tried lately (for example: normally I will get super shiny an hour after wearing foundation). I am happy that it feels really light on my skin, and I don't feel like I am a breakout waiting to happen.
 But, despite all that, I do not like how I can still notice my discoloration spots underneath the two applications. I would not say that this foundation is very build-able, because I can still see my imperfections underneath, so this does not have very good coverage for blemishes and the such. Anyways, who really wants to wear three or more layers of foundation on their skin with out the fear of looking cakey? 
Then, there is the fact that it does not help this oil-slick stay matte, like the product claims. True, I wasn't as oily as I would get using the other foundations I mentioned, but I still do get a slight noticeable shine after about three hours of wearing. I will have to take my oil-blotters and blot my face, which I think is something I will always have to do, no matter the foundation.  I was very giddy about the promise that this makeup gave, but unfortunately did not deliver on.
On the positive side, I think it will work brilliantly for those of you who have normal skin and not a lot of destruction to cover up on their face. I will admit that I will use this foundation for everyday wear, especially this summer when it gets too hot to wear full coverage foundations. 
So, I will confess, I am not going to be repurchasing Rimmel's Stay Matte Clarifying Matte Foundation once it is all used up. I might just have to give in and try Revlon's ColorStay foundations, which I have heard nothing but good things about. But, what holds me back from trying this product is that I am terrified it will break me out like crazy! I have heard mixed reviews on it from girls with the same skin problems that I have. But, maybe for those special occasions I will only wear it for that flawless look...
Oh, well, this didn't work for me. Maybe it will work for you?

Is Wet 'n' Wild MEGA Liquid Eyeliner Worth It?

I have a confession to make....     Usually I love Wet 'n' Wild products, I have nothing bad to say about them. But, for this particular product I find myself in a love-hate relationship with it. See, I wasn't too sure what to expect when I picked the turquoise MEGA Liner at my local WalMart a few months back because I have bought some faulty liquid eyeliners from drugstore brands that I absolutely did not like. With Wet 'n' Wild being on the cheaper side of the makeup spectrum, I wasn't going to hold my breath as I paid the $2.99 that it cost.
So, once I took it home and swatched it, I was pleasantly surprised! Not only was it highly pigmented, but it came out the exact same color in the package. Wow, is that rare sometimes with any beauty product. I wore it on my eyes the next day and it gave a clean crisp line, and almost leaned on the metallic side when I looked at it. Gorgeous! 
Because I was highly excited about this liner and the color payoff it had, a few months after that I was at Rite Aide and they were having a 40% off sale and I saw the purple (actually it is named plum, but I shall refer to it as purple from here on out) MEGA Liner Liquid Eyeliner (boy is that a mouth full!) and I fell fast, because I love purple and I love purple anything for my brown eyes. 
So, when I got home and swatched it n my hand I loved it, the purple was very pretty, I must say it was the exact color purple as on the package, so you know what you are buying when your making your decision. But, the next day I went to apply it to my lash-line, and let me tell you something, I was irritated. For one, the color seemed more faded and grey, not as intense as it is when swatched on my hand. Then, the formula seems a little watery, which might be why it is not as a pigmented of a purple. Because it is watery I could not make my line clean and crisp where it stands out. So, after several attempts to love this liner, I have to confess, I fell out of infatuation with the purple one fast. 
Now, this is what the Wet 'n' Wild website claims about this eyeliner:
1. That it has a flexible tip you can apply your liner easily and precisely. Now, I agree with this as I had no trouble with the brush and found it extremely easy to apply the exact line that I wanted.
2. The formula is a rich and fluid fast drying formula which stays put to enhance or dramatically define. Okay, this is where I have the issue. I agree that that the formula is rich (depending on your color choice), and it is certainly fluid (depending on your color choice, it may be a little too fluid). Now, I can agree that it definitely does dry fast and it does stay put. When I did the satches on my hand it took a good rubbing to get them off with soap and water. Impressive.

(Wet n Wild MEGA Liner Liquid Eyeliners. Left: Turquoise, Right: Plum)

Now, this is where I am torn. It claims to give you the choice to subtly or dramatically enhance your eyes. I think that the turquoise liner definitely delivers on that promise. The purple one, not so much at all. You are not able to make the dramatic defined line that you would want to with the purple one, even if you tried to build it up. But, why should you have to build up a product when it should be rich and pigmented in the first place?
What I do love about these is the packaging, even though it is nothing fancy as far as packaging goes. But, it is in a pot as opposed to a pen, where I hear (and have experienced) that they do dry out faster in pen-like packaging (you know what I mean by that, I'm sure). As far as their color selection goes I think it is the typical drugstore variety. They have this product in Black, Blue, Brown and Dark Brown, so not many exciting colors, but enough to quench our needs, right?
Well, for $2.99 these MEGA Liner Liquid Eyeliners are definitely worth the try and if it should be that you a bought a color that didn't work well for you, you're not out that much at all. So, depending on your color choice, you just might be confessing your new obsession to someone else or not. 

NYX Nude On Nude Natural Look Kit

Surprise surprise everybody, but I have another confession to make....I do love me some natural eyeshadows! Especially in cute and small packaging. But, I will admit to you, when I ordered this online and then received it in the mail I was shocked at how tiny this product actually is. It fits in the palm of my hand, that is how small it is. Which fact actually did grow on me so I got over my disappointment fairly quick.
Now, I love bold and bright eyeshadows and I also love Urban Decay. Well, when they came out with the highly coveted and revered Naked Palette, I was torn between not being entirely impressed but wanting to own it for myself at the same exact time. See, I love high end products, eyeshadows especially because they seem to be way more pigmented then drugstore finds. So, if I find a unique eyeshadow that I am sure cannot be duped by any drugstore creation, I will gladly put down the money to add it to my collection.

Well, when it comes to neutral eyeshadows I feel you can pick up a good palette from a brand at your local Target. To me, neutrals are neutrals and nothing special. But, yet, I came close to buying a Naked palette, but talked myself out of it, because truthfully, I do have a few neutral shadows lurking somewhere in my kit that I do take out to use every now and then.

(Gorgeous eyeshadows!)

(Top row right to left)

(Middle row left to right)

(Bottom row left to right)

So, I didn't want to completely miss out on the hype and when I heard NYX had a kit that was comparable to the Naked palette, it intrigued me. I read tons of reviews, peered at several swatches online and I watched YouTubers declare their feelings on this product. I felt like this was something that I would love to have to travel with, having all the basic eyeshadows I'd need if I was out of town. It totally would cut down on my baggage.

(Pretty colors to please everybody!)

So, I ordered mine on Ulta for $12.99, and as I mentioned, was shocked when I found how tiny it actually is, but once traveling with it, was glad it didn't take up much room in my makeup bag at all. The gorgeous lipsticks that come with it are so pretty; a Barbie-bubblegum pink color, that I think suits only very light skin tones. But the rosey-mauve color definitely looks great on all skin types. So, everyone is satisfied because of course, neutral shadows and the two options in lippies look great on all.
The only gripes I have are the stiff lip and eyeshadow brushes that come with the palette. Totally unusable so I threw those out and just use my own. The lip drawer is a fight to open, it could be a little easier to slide out, but then again, who wants their lipstick drawer sliding out too easily and get highly annoying when using this kit? Too true...
So, despite those two minor drawbacks, this is a definite must if you don't want to spend the fortune on the Naked palette and want something convenient and light to throw in your purse or travel bag for one of those All-You-Will-Need conveniences. 

(See what I mean by tiny?)

So, ladies, I give you an affordable alternative that includes great quality. You can find this product at ulta.com for $12.99. Or cherryculture.com for $13.00. But, for an everyday low price check out beautyjoint.com where they sell this product for $8.75 (wish I had known about this earlier, cause who doesn't want to save a few?).
So, three cheers for NYX for satisfying every girl's natural desire!

I Can Get "Hip" With Loreal

I got another confession to make, my fellow makeup lovers....    I am in love with Loreal Hip Eyeshadow duos. Have you noticed them in the stores the past few years and like me, always ooed and ahhed over the vast color variety they had? Well, I will tell you, I gave into the temptation about six months ago and bought one, Platinum, just to check it out and see if it was as pretty as I had seen on YouTube.
Well, once I laid my eyes on this duo, I was blown away by how sparkly the black eyeshadow was and how beautiful the silver that accompanied the black shadow came off. Of course, I don't wear black eyeshadow and frosty silver everyday of my life, but it is nice to have in my collection for a nice evening out when I want to glam myself up and add a little drama to my look. What girl wouldn't want to do that when she gets the chance?
So, I picked up a few more along the way in a variety of colors to add needlessly to my enormous collection of makeup. Let me share with you my thoughts on the gorgeousness of these shadows.
Now, you can buy these eyeshadows practically any drugstore, Target, Walmart, and I even heard awhile back that Ulta carries these shadows. I got mine at Target and Walmart both. My local Target carries them for $6.79 while my Walmart carries them for a whopping penny less. Beware that at least at my local Walgreens they carry these for $7.99, but bear in mind that sometimes these places run great sales where you may be able to score a BOGO free deal. Hard to pass a temptation like that up, right?
Now, these eyeshadows are highly pigmented and come in a selection, although limited,  of colors to please everyone, even a duo with a vibrant yellow shadow, right on trend for this season. You can apply these dry or wet for more vibrancy, but they are so vibrant on their own, that I have not yet tried these with a wet applicator.
You are getting 2.4 grams of shadow in each packaging, and believe me, a little of this goes a long way, baby. So, use a light hand when applying. These come is three different finishes; metallic, pearl and matte. Definitely something for everybody!
Something I am not keen on about these shadows is the packaging itself. It is round and bulky and takes up way too much room in my case. I have seen videos on YouTube where people have depotted these exact shadows and placed them into a much more space efficient palette. When I get time to do that someday, that is what I plan on doing to free up room.
Another irk about these is the fact that they snap open and closed on not only the top where the shadow is kept but the bottom as well. Now, I find this bothersome, because they are a pain to open and when I try to open the top, sometimes it is the bottom that snaps open instead. 
On the bottom part of the packaging is where they provide you with a useless brush applicator and a mirror for you convenience. Although, I think it to be a highly inconvenient way to apply your eyeshadow if a person would so choose to use the provided mirror to apply the shadow. Oh well, to each their own.
That aside, these shadows, bulky packaging and all, are highly recommended by me. Loreal has done a great job in the Hip collection they have. Keep it, Loreal!

These were all swatched over Mac's Paintpot in 'Painterly" to bring out their vibrancy. Left to right...(first duo:Sassy; second duo:Gunmetal)

Left to right: (first duo:Charisma; second duo: Platinum

Gilded

If you want to see close up pictures of these eyeshadows check my video out on YouTube. Until then enjoy these swatches!