Revlon Gel Envy Nail Enamel in 500 Ace of Spades

I think I have a new favourite faux-gel nail polish (others include the Sally Hansen and CND Vinylux versions). Lately I've been loving the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel in 500 Ace of Spades ($7.99). It's a dark slate blue with an almost unnoticeable hint of sparkle. 

I'm not typically a wearer of dark nail polish but the added shine from the Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat makes the polish incredibly glossy (and who doesn't love a glossy polish). It applies flawlessly - slightly thicker than the Sally Hansen Miracle Gels but with less drying time. Revlon claims this polish lasts up to 11 days without chipping. Indeed, 'tis true. Not that I'd ever wear my polish for that long, but if I get lazy I can count on this polish to continue to look flawless without a worry. 

Also, it's super easy to remove. No need for acetone soaks, my regular old non-acetone nail polish remover from Quo on a cotton pad is all that's needed. 

All in all, Ace of Spades is an amazing fall polish - deep, dark and mysterious with a little shimmer. For some added awesomeness, I like to place a few simple studs from the Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Set. There's 30 other shades in the Gel Envy Nail Enamel range and I can't wait to check out more colours. 

Have you tried the Revlon Gel Envy Nail Enamels? 

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Santa Holiday Nail Art

Nail art is the best form of final exam procrastination. I've taken all but 7 polishes back to Toronto, so luckily the colours that I've got at school are holiday-ready. My Tim Horton's sweater cup inspired nails used the same colours and tools (check it out here). Today's mani is a simple little Santa on an accent nail of your choosing. 

Products Used: Essie First Base, Essie Plumberry, NYC Black Cream Lace*, Quo by Orly Purity*, the Body Shop Nail Art Pen*, and Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat*

To create Santa Claus on your nails... 

1. Apply a base coat. 
2. Paint half of your nail white. 
3. Paint the 1/4 of your nail closest to the cuticle in red. 
4. Fill in the sides of the nails with white using a dotting tool. 
5. Make large dots along the red polish to create the rim of Santa's hat. 
6. Add two black dots in the un-polished area for Satna's eyes and one red dot in the centre of the large white area for his nose. 
7. Apply a top coat to seal in the deal. 

... Voila! and there you have it. Santa on your nails with three colours of polish and a dotting tool. So cute and relatively simple. 

What do you think of this nail art design? Will you give this one a shot? 

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STRIKE A POSE IN STOCKHOLM - Jet Set into Fall with Revlon + INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY

I'm all for an adventure (a makeup one that is!). Revlon challenged me to create a look inspired by somewhere far, far away - Stockholm - using and reviewing a few of their latest product launches. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED (obviously). I've never actually been to Stockholm, but it's on my bucket list.

Below is the the look. You can win all the products used by (1) finding the photo on my instagram (2) liking the photo (3) following me on instagram (4) and if you want you can tag a friend!...You must be Canadian, 18 years or older, and the contest closes October 14th, 2014 at 11:59pm :) GOOD LUCK. 

THE LOOK. A burnt red lip with a piercing eye (Strike a pose in STOCKHOLM). The eyes could be quite a bit more piercing but a thin, sharp wing of liner is more flattering on my eye shape. I've clearly put all my focus on the look of the deep, glossy lip. 

THE PRODUCTS. Revlon ColorStay ShadowLinks in Onyx and Bone ($3.49 each), Revlon Color Stay Skinny Liquid Liner in Blackout ($10.49), Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara in Blackest Black ($10.49), Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain in Stockholm Chic ($13.59), and Revlon Color Stay Gel Envy in Double Down, Ace of Spades and Diamond Top Coat ($8.39 each)

Revlon ColorStay ShadowLinks in Onyx and Bone - Bone is a matte cream colour and Onyx is a shimmering black. I've reviewed a few other shades of the ShadowLinks previously (see here) and I'll have you know that I'm not a fan. Personally, I prefer shadows that are creamier in texture and much more pigmened, however, if you're looking for a sheer wash of colour on the lid, these might work for you. 

Revlon ColorStay Skinny Liner in Blackout - The Skinny Liner might just be my new favourite liquid liner. None of my brushes (for gel liner) or liner markers can compare to the Skinny Liner's minuscule felt tip. Not only can I get a thin precise line, but it also lasts all day long without smudging or transferring onto my lid. 

Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara in Blackest Black - I'm on the fence about this mascara. Contrary to the name "Bold Lacquer", for me, this mascara provides a "natural" looking amount of volume. It is most certainly very black yet non-smudging/flaking but doesn't provide me as much volume as I'd like. 

Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain in Stockholm Chic - yum, yum, yum. I can't get over the product formula or the beautiful burn orange colour. This is my first experience with the Revlon Moisture Stains and I think I'm in love. There's something so special about the cushion-y thick, moisturizing feeling of a gloss combined with the pigmentation and 7-8 hour staying power of a stain. Stockholm Chic is a burnt orange-red. It leans slightly brown so despite being quite dark, it's very wearable for everyday. 

Oh but wait... there's more! Some nail art too :) ... featuring the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Polishes in 530 Double Down, 500 Ace of Spades, and the Diamond Top Coat. So far, so good for these polishes. I'm hoping to write a full review so stay tuned for that! 

Overall, many hits (the Gel Envy polishes, Moisture Stain, Skinny  and Liquid Liner) and a couple misses (the ShadowLinks and Bold Lacquer Mascara) but regardless, the products make for a stellar fall look. If it's any proof that I'm loving this look, I've already worn it out 3 times this week! 

What's your go-to look for fall? 

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Revlon Rio Rush Collection ColorStay Eye Shadow Palettes in Wild and Exotic

I've already discussed how enamoured I am with the Revlon Rio Rush Collection by Gucci Westman for Summer 2014. All the colours... all the colours. Two eyeshadow quads ($12.95 each) in the Rio Rush Collection are the definition of "summer brights" - at a glance, truly swoon-worthy. If you're looking for wearable, now might be a good time to leave. These are not for the faint of heart. 

Revlon ColorStay™ 16 Hour Eyeshadow Palette in Wild

Wild contains a shimmery white, a satin brown-gold, a matte teal and a matte orange. The neutral shades are nothing you haven't seen before but check out those colours. mmmmmm. The texture of the shadows are definitely on the harder side and slightly powdery yet still easy to blend. I've never worn eyeshadow for 16 hours straight but these Revlon ColorStay eyeshadows seem to last well throughout the entirety of a day without creasing. 

Revlon ColorStay™ 16 Hour Eyeshadow Palette in Exotic

Exotic is similar to "Wild" in that it contains two neutrals and colours - a shimmery white gold, a matte purple, a matte yellow, and a matte black. Again, the neutrals are nothing special. It's such a shame that I have to compare this to the palette above. The purple and yellow colours are nice but they look and feel chalky in texture. 

Overall, the coloured shadows are truly standout, especially for items that you can find at the drugstore. If you're willing to put up with some not-so-great neutrals definitely check these Rio Rush eye shadow quads out! 

Do you buy coloured shadows at the drugstore? 

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Revlon Rio Rush Collection Lipsticks in Sultry Samba, Brazilian Tan & Carnival Spirit

Probably most exciting part of the Gucci Westman for Revlon Rio Rush Collection are the LIPSTICKS! There are three in the collection - Sultry Samba, Brazilian Tan and Carnival Spirit. 

Evidently, different lipstick finishes last for different periods of time and everyone except the matte lipstick is moisturizing rather than drying. Mattes stick around for ~4 hours, Cream ~2.5 hours, and Gloss/Shine ~1 hour. Despite looking ridiculous in the tube, both Sultry Samba (pink) and Carnival Spirit (orange) are actually fairly subdued. 

Sultry Samba

A matte bright pink. The colour's wonderful but I find it to be a tad drying. 

Brazilian Tan 

A creamy brown-nude. I expected this one to look deathly on my lips, but it turns out that it works quite well with my yellowy colouring. YAY for that! 

Carnival Spirit

A sheer shiny orange. This one gives that "I-just-ate-an-orange-creamsicle" kind of look that I love. This one's perfect for everyday. 

For sure, I'm a huge fan of the second two - Brazilian Tan and Carnival Spirit. I have a feeling these colours are going to make their way into my summer lipstick staples. 

What do you think of the Revlon Rio Rush Collection Lipsticks? 

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Revlon Rio Rush Collection Nail Enamels in Copa Sunset, Carioca Crush & Gold Goddess

Summer polishes releases are so yummy. These three from the Revlon Rio Rush Collection are no exception. Bright, glittery, fun. All the things that go perfectly with the warm weather. Revlon launched 4 limited edition Nail Enamels ($5.95) - Copa Sunset, Carioca Crush, Golden Goddess, and Oi Beautiful (Orchid, not shown). 

The formulation of the polishes are consistent with other offerings from Revlon. The cream polishes (Copa Sunset and Carioca Crush) are consistent with other Revlon Nail Enamels - super pigmented and opaque in 2 thin coats and lasting power of ~3 days. Carioca Crush was a poop to remove - don't forget a base coat with that one! As for the glitter topcoat, it's concentrated enough to look good in one layer and lasts so long that I couldn't be bothered to count the days. 

All in all, three pretty polishes. Be sure to check them out if you see them in store! 

The Revlon Rio Rush Collection by Gucci Westman is available at drugstores in Canada as of May 2014. See my overview here. 

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Revlon Rio Rush Collection Summer 2014 Overview - Lipsticks, Polishes & Eye Shadow Quads

Summer's all about the brights and colours but for some reason I've been sticking to neutral and boring. What landed in my mailbox this week was a little tropical inspiration - the Revlon Rio Rush Collection by Gucci Westman for Summer 2014. The collection includes 3 lipsticks, 2 eyeshadow quads, 4 polishes, and a creme eyeliner.  

I'm at home for the weekend and I've realized how much I miss my white background and studio lighting. I haven't fully formed thoughts about the products in the collection but no doubt, Revlon has put out some gorgeous products for this Summer. 

I couldn't resist snapping a bunch of product photos so here they are. Full reviews will follow along this week! :) 

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks ($9.50) in Sultry Samba, Brazilian Tan and Carnival Spirit

Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow ($12.95) in Exotic and Wild

Revlon Nail Enamel  ($5.95) in Copa Sunset, Carioca Crush and Copa Sunset

Is there such thing as a makeup-gasm? Because this collection is just so stunning. I imagine travelling to Rio would be equally, if not more, stunning than some makeup. But I'll settle for the time being. 

 The Revlon Rio Rush Collection by Gucci Westman is available at drugstores in Canada as of May 2014

What do you think of the Revlon Rio Rush Collection ?

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Revlon Nail Enamel in Posh

At first glance, I thought this polish would not suit me. The Revlon Nail Enamel in Posh (~$4.99) is a vibrant true green. For some reason, I think that cool colours, with the exception of purples (so green and blue), look bad on my fingertips. I've been proven wrong several times and this is just another one of those times. 

Revlon polishes are very on point for the price. The formula of the Revlon Nail Enamel in Posh is thin yet opaque in 2 quick coats. Dry time is neither slow nor fast - patience is always a virtue when it comes to polishes. Furthermore, the wear-time is also average at 2-3 days without chipping, easily extended by use of a top coat. 

What isn't average is the colour. I'm really enjoying the pop of colour that this "in-your-face" green brings to my nails. Every time I wear green I remind myself that green is the colour of money, trees, grass, and Kermit the Frog. Green is a pretty colour and boy, am I feeling posh when I wear it. 

Are there any colours that you think look "bad" on your fingertips? 

Special thanks to Natalie of Ivory Avenue for sending this lovely polish to me. :) 

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Revisiting the Revlon Shadowlinks in Greige, Taupe, Eggplant & Java

Back in Fall 2013, the Revlon Shadowlinks were released. I reviewed the colours Cobalt and Lemon (see my initial thoughts here). Through the Revlon Selects program, I received 4 more shades to test out. The Revlon Shadowlinks in Greige, Taupe, Eggplant, and Java landed on my desk and I thought I'd see if my feelings towards these shadows have changed. 

For one, the packaging is cool. The product comes individually (~$3.99 each), you choose the colours you want, then, you can click them together to create a customized palette. The shadows come in 3 different finishes - pearl (shimmer), satin (slight shimmery sheen), and matte (no shimmer). 

Greige is a grey-beige taupe (matte), Taupe is a... you guessed it...taupe (satin), Eggplant is a deep amethyst purple (satin), and Java is a deep, warm brown (pearl). I chose colours that I typically gravitate towards - simple neutrals and darker pops of colour. 

The texture of the shadows is neither rock hard nor buttery smooth. While I like the colours in the pan and when heavily swatched (left), the product is sheer and not easily buildable on the eyelids and when blended (right). The shadows aren't terrible, but you'll need to pack the product on top of a good primer in order to get colour payoff true to the pan. 

On one hand, you can easily customize your own palette with tons of brights and neutrals in a variety of finishes. On the other, the product doesn't deliver in terms of pigmentation. 

Would you sacrifice quality for variety? Or variety for quality? 

I received these items as a member of Revlon Selects. Opinions are my own.

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Bold Cheeks + Bold Lips - Putting It All Together #1

More often than not, I write a ton of reviews. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I try way too many beauty products than any regular human being on a yearly, monthly, and daily basis. No, I don't like every single product I've tried, but I do make a huge effort to incorporate new products into some sort of routine for at least a week or two. 

Then, after my review, comes the test of time. There are often products that I'll really enjoy at first, but then get bored of how they look on my face. I change up my makeup often. So, the real gems are the ones that I'll pick up more than a couple times a week. 

So... why not put it all together? This is a little summary of the things that I've already reviewed but still make their way onto my face. 

A couple days a week, I've been sporting a look that takes it easy on the eyes and puts all the emphasis on the cheeks and lips. 

The CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in 945 Warm Beige is currently my favourite drugstore foundation. It's quite heavy coverage and doubles up as a concealer, so it's perfection when my skin's being the opposite of perfect.

The NYC Big Bold Curl Mascara* isn't my favourite of all time, but it's volumizing and it doesn't smudge. I'm a firm believer in CoverGirl mascaras, however, all the ones I previously had on hand were past the 6 month mark and had to go into the empties bin. So instead, I've been reaching for this. 

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Revlon is a brand that carries some of the best formulated colour cosmetics at the drugstore and beyond. The Revlon Powder Blush in "Wine Not"* isn't as deep as the name suggests, but it adds a ton of warmth to a dreary face. Brushing the Revlon Highlighting Palette in "Rose Glow"* on top of the blush adds an intense glitter like no other. And it's no surprise that I'm wearing the Revlon Lacquer Balm in "Whimsical"* because I own 8 of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Stain/Lacquer/Matte Balms.

It's always nice when I amp up the lips and cheeks because I find that my huge glasses kind of take over my face, so any brights don't look quite as bold. 

What have you been wearing lately? 

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