CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in #280 Rapture

In the process of trying to find a good coral lipstick for summer, I picked up the CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in #280, Rapture.  It is a nude/coral with a frost finish.

I'm not a fan of frost lipsticks at all, but this one isn't bad.  It isn't super reflective and the color is dark enough that I didn't feel like it gave me the dreaded jizz lips.  The formula on this lipstick is nice.  It's very creamy and easy to wear.  Not super moisturizing, but comfortable and not at all drying.

I did need a couple of swipes to get opaque coverage, but the lipstick is very pigmented and despite it being a creamy formula, I didn't have a problem with it migrating and feathering.

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks contain .12 oz of product and retail for around $7 wherever CoverGirl is sold.  I got mine at CVS.

Overall:  7/10

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Baked Bronzer in Light Bronzer

Seriously, what is it with Physicans Formula and the names?!?!

I mentioned that a couple of weeks ago, I picked up some Physicians Formula products at CVS while they were 50% off.  One of the products that I picked up is the Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Baked Bronzer in Light Bronzer (what a mouthful).

As previously mentioned, while Physicians Formula could definitely improve their pricepoint (and occasionally, their quality), they certainly get packaging right.  Just look at this thing.  It's adorable.

Unlike the blush I reviewed recently, which was a big old disapointment, I really like this bronzer.  You can get three distinct shades.  

• Heart -  is an orangy gold.  I don't think you could use it as a bronzer, but it could definitely be used as a highlighter, though I tend to use it as an eyeshadow.  
• Outer circle - is a champagne brown.  On lighter skintones, it could be dark enough to be used as a bronzer, but again, it's shimmery enough that on some skintones it could be a highlighter (or eyeshadow).
• Mixed - is a slightly warmer champagne.  Again, highlighter, bronzer or eyeshadow depending on your skintone and proclivities.

The bronzer is baked, so you get an irridescent sheen, but it doesn't contain any straight up glitter.  It has good color payoff, but can be easily sheered out.  I got a good six hours of wear time out of it before I noticed any fading.

The Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Baked Bronzer in Light Bronzer contains 9.5 grams of product and usually retails for around $11 wherever Physicians Formula is sold.  I got mine at CVS (for 50% off).

Overall:  8/10

MAC Extra Dimension MSF in Shape the Future

Wouldn't it be fantastic if I had managed to get this review out while this product was still available?  SIGH.  I procrastinate, therefore I am.  Also, better late than never.

MAC Extra Dimension MSF in Shape the Future was released with the Spring 2013 Extra Dimension collection and like the other Skinfinishes, it is split into two colors which can be used individually or mixed together.

(daybulbs)

Of the three Skinfinishes launched with this collection, Shape the Future is the darkest overall.  

The lighter of the two colors is a shimmery pinky beige.  It's not quite as light as either the Superb Skinfinish or the lighter shade in the Definitely Defined Skinfinish, but it would definitely be a highlighter.

The darker shade is a very warm burnt orange, again with a decent amount of shimmer.  I think this would probably be used as a blush by just about any skintone.

The two shades mixed together make a shimmery peach color that again, would probably be used as a blush rather than a highlighter.

Shape the Future isn't as shimmery/iridescent as the other two Skinfinishes released with this collection, which I think probably gives it a bit more versatility.

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Shape the Future contains 9 grams of product and retails for $30.

Overall:  8/10

Maybelline Color Tattoo in #15 Blue Paradise

I am not sure when the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Blue Paradise came out.  I just saw it a couple of weeks ago, but I saw YouTube videos from UK YouTubers ages ago using this shade, though I'm pretty sure it's called Light In Purple in the UK.  (See Shiv from LetzMakeup's tutorial HERE)

(daybulb)

(indirect sunlight)

Blue Paradise is a sheer light blue base with blue, silver and violet shimmer.  I think this shadow is just stunning.  It's a chameleon shade and definitely changes color depending on the light and angle.  I found it to be a little patchy, but since I think I would most likely wear this shade layered over a darker shade, I don't think that's necessarily a problem for me.

I found the texture of this shade to be much more similar to the recent Color Tattoo Metal line than to the other, standard Color Tattoos I've tried.

Wear time on this product was good.  I got a good six hours before I had any noticeable fading.  And unlike other glittery color tattoos that I've tried (*cough*BoldGold*cough*), it didn't leave glitter on my face.

The Maybelline Color Tattoo in Blue Paradise contains 4 grams of product and retails for around $6 wherever Maybelline is sold.  I got mine at Wal-Mart.

Overall: 8/10

Rouge Bunny Rouge Colour Burst Lipstick in Word of Mouth

While some of my recent Rouge Bunny Rouge haul was disappointing, the lipsticks certainly were not.  I am in love with these things!  First off, the packaging is to die for.  They are packaged in metal.  They feel very substantial, they close very securely and they have a high gloss black finish.  They are beautiful!

I picked up several shades, but the first I'm going to review is the Rouge Bunny Rouge Colour Burst Lipstick in Word of Mouth.  

(indirect natural light)

Rouge Bunny Rouge describes Word of Mouth as "Creamy, shiny finish cool cherry syrup - The little black dress of lipsticks, very pretty and feminine".  While I would describe the color as a medium browny red, I agree with just about everything else they said.  This color is incredibly versatile and flattering.

(daybulb)

You need a couple of swipes to get full opacity, but it wears well and is very comfortable on the lips.  I adore this color.  If you are someone who is drawn to red lipstick, but isn't ready to commit to fire engine red lips, this is a great introductory color.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Colour Burst Lipstick in Word of Mouth contains 3.8 grams of product and is available for $24 from BeautyHabit (or 24 Euros plus shipping direct from the RBR website).  I got mine from BeautyHabit.

Overall:  10/10

Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Tiki

A couple of months ago, there seemed to be a mass hysteria in the YouTube beauty community about the Dior Amber Diamond highlighter being discontinued - which, as I understand it, isn't true.  For the record, the full product name is 'Diorskin' Ultra Shimmering Allover Face Powder in 002 Amber Diamond.

Anyway, several of the YouTubers that I watch picked up Amber Diamond and then mentioned that it is apparently very similar to the Hard Candy baked bronzer in Tiki.

Now, as much as I love highlighters and bronzers, I'm less crazy about gold highlighters.  And especially at the Dior pricepoint ($45), I am not going to rush out and pick it up.  But the Hard Candy baked bronzer in Tiki is only $9, so I figured I could give it a try.

Now, since I don't have Amber Diamond, I can't do a side by side comparison.  But even without it, I have a hard time imaging Dior putting out something that's truly a dupe for this Hard Candy product.  Tiki is super frosty and very, very yellow (as opposed to gold).  It is also crazy reflective and not at all subtle.

Why, exactly, Hard Candy labels this thing a bronzer, I have no idea.  I cannot even begin to imagine a skintone on which this would bronze anything.  I'd think that in order to bronze something, you'd have to be bronze and this product isn't.  It's yellow.  Frosty, banana yellow.

In the pan, the product is champagne beige with gold veining, but on the skin it is straight up yellow frost.  If that's what you're looking for, good for you.  You get 12.5 grams of product for $9, which is a heck of a deal - provided you're looking for a frosty yellow highlighter.

Did I mention this is a frosty yellow highlighter?  Because, really, I just can't imagine who the hell reaches for this thing in the morning.

Overall: 3/10

Tom Ford Platinum Eyeshadow dupe

(L - Hard Candy Quick Sand; R - Tom Ford Platinum)

The Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Platinum is one of those products that got a ton of hype and a cult following.  I'm not sure where exactly it started.  I know that  Pixiwoo talked about the color and I think Wayne Goss did a video about it as well.  It launched with the Tom Ford Summer 2012 collection and was limited edition.

I managed to pick up a pot of Platinum and the first thing I have to say is that it's not platinum.  It's not even kind of platinum.  There is absolutely nothing platinum colored about this shade.  Which isn't to say it isn't stunning.  It is, but it's certainly not platinum colored.  FYI.

The texture of platinum is very light and mousse-like.  It goes on easily and sheers out beautifully.  When you do a stronger swatch, it looks grayer and more of a metallic taupe color.  Sheered out it is a light pink leaning  brown.  It has a fair bit of microglitter in it that is more obvious the more you sheer it out.  It seems to be the glitter that gives Platinum its metallic look because I don't think the shadow base itself is metallic at all.

So, on to the dupe.

Last week I picked up the Hard Candy All Lid Up Creme Shadow in #571, Quick Sand.  Swatched, Quick Sand is really, really close to Platinum.  (I believe the All Lid Up shadows are new this spring).

(daybulbs)

(natural, indirect light)

(direct sunlight)

The textures of the 2 shadows are quite different.  Hard Candy is a thicker formula, much closer to the Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams in many respects.  The Tom Ford, as I said before, is very mousse-like.  Platinum contains a lot of glitter, Quick Sand has no glitter, but does have a metallic finish.  Platinum is warmer, pinker, especially as it fades.  Quick Sand is a bit cooler.

In heavy applications, the two shadows are fairly indistinguishable.  Sheerer, the differences are much more pronounced.  The Hard Candy shadow wore way better than the Tom Ford.  The Tom Ford wasn't awful, but it wasn't great.  It didn't crease on my non-oily lids, even without a primer, but it did fade noticeably after three hours.  Whereas the Hard Candy shadow looked pretty much exactly the way it had when I initially applied it, the Tom Ford really changed as it wore.  Platinum started out looking much the way it does in the swatches above, but after a couple of hours on the lid, it had really sheered out, had become much pinker and much more obviously glittery.  It almost changed from looking like a shadow, to almost looking like the lid was wet.  I don't know if this is your thing or not.  It's not really mine.  But I know a lot of people like 'lived in' eye looks.  You'll definitely get that from Platinum.

Platinum is much, much easier to remove - I'm pretty sure I could have rubbed most of it off with a tissue.  The Hard Candy shadow, in contrast, stays where you put it and requires an oil cleanser to remove completely.

Packaging, obviously, is very different.  Platinum comes in some seriously luxurious packaging.  It is a heavy, glass jar.  It feels substantial.  Everything about it lets you know it's a $40 eyeshadow.  Hard Candy comes in cheap plastic packaging and is available exclusively at Wal-Mart.

They are both beautiful shadows.  Personally, I think the Hard Candy shadow has a better formula.  It definitely wears better.  Also, it's $6.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Highlighting Powder in Sweet to Touch

As I mentioned a while ago, this spring I went on a bit of a kick and picked up several Rouge Bunny Rouge products.  I got them from BeautyHabit, which is still a far better deal for people living in the US than buying direct from the RBR web boutique (FWIW).

Overall, the haul was pretty hit or miss.  I absolutely love the eyeshadows and lipsticks.  The blush and this highlighting powder and rather underwhelming.

I know that people seem to rave about the RBR liquid highlighters, but I already have several liquid highlighters, so I opted for their powder highlighter in Sweet To Touch.  They do have another, darker, shade, called Goddess.

As with a lot of highlighters, it's really difficult to swatch.  The product doesn't provide much color on my skintone, but it does add sheen.  I would be concerned that this product could look ashy on darker skintones.

The effect of this powder is similar to the Kevyn Aucoin celestial veil highlighter in candlelight (review forthcoming), but it's not as good.  And really, at this price point and with this much hype, I want it to be great.  It's not great.  In fact, I think it's very middle of the road.

It's a subtle highlighter.  It's finely milled without being overly powdery.  It's not glittery at all.  It's ... lovely.  But the thing is, at this price point, RBR is competing with lines like Kevyn Aucoin, Tom Ford, Guerlain and Armani.  

And while RBR is nice, it's not on par with those brands.

If you buy direct from the RBR site, this product will cost you 39 euros, which as of today, is just over $50 - before shipping.  (If you buy it from BeautyHabit, it's $39).  That puts this product in Meteorites territory and while it's nice, it's certainly not Meteorites nice.

The packaging is cute.  It's high gloss black with a floral design and a nicely sized mirror.  But again, at this price point, it is competing with brands who can put out some seriously substantial and luxurious packaging.  This packaging reminds me of MAC.  It's good, sturdy, aesthetically pleasing, but not great.

The Rouge Bunny Rouge highlighting powder in Sweet To Touch contains a substantial 12 grams of product.  As I said earlier, if you buy it from BeautyHabit, it's $39 (which puts it in the range of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders and I do think it compares well to some of those shades and textures).  If you buy it from the RBR web boutique, you're looking at around $50 plus shipping.

Overall: 5/10

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural

I don't really have much in the way of Physician's Formula.  I feel like they have a weird price point that's just slightly higher than most drug store items without having a marked quality increase that really puts me off.  But, they were 50% off at CVS the other day, so I picked up a few items.

The first up is the Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural.  Ugh.  The name.  Seriously.  And the product, equally ugh.  I am so pale I swear, I almost glow in the dark and I had to fight to get this to show up on me.  The pigmentation is abysmal.  If you concentrate on the darker, redder hearts, you end up with something that's a medium neutral pink.

It does have a sheen.  I don't know that I'd call it a "glow".  The packaging is cute, I'll give it that.  Physicians Formula tends to have some really fun designs on their powder products.  But I don't think it makes up for the terrible performance.

This blush contains 7 grams of products and generally retails for around $12.

Overall:  0/10

Sugarpill Burning Heart Palette

Okay, so I am in no way Sugarpill's target customer base.  I wear a dramatic range of shadows from light beige to dark brown on a daily basis.  However, just look at this palette.  I mean ... just ... look.  This thing is gorgeous.

(Clockwise from top left: Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Poison Plum, Love +)

The Burning Heart palette from Sugarpill contains a whopping 16 grams of product.  Each shade contains 4 grams each.

• Flamepoint - Bright, burnt orange with a matte finish.
• Buttercupcake - Bright primary yellow with a matte finish.
• Poison Plum -Vibrant purple with blue microglitter.  This was the only shade that stained.
• Love + - Dark red with a matte finish.

All of the shades were on the drier, stiffer side, but the color payoff was excellent, especially considering these are matte shadows.  I was blown away with the quality of both the shadows and the packaging.

Sugarpill eyeshadow palettes generally retail for $34.  I purchased mine direct from Sugarpill when they were running their 20% off birthday special.  You can also get them from MakeupGeek, Beautylish and several other online retailers.

Overall: 10/10