Dior Fluid Stick vs. Maybelline The Color Elixir

There is a new trend of hybrid lipsticks available in drugstores as well as department stores. They are supposed to have the feel of a lip balm, shine of a gloss and the color of a lipstick.

Maybelline The Elixir was launched at least 6-8 months ago in a huge range of colors. In Canada there are 20 shades available at around $8 - 10. The tube is very interesting as it appears to encase a lipstick bullet but actually is a gloss wand. The applicator is slightly bent with grooves to pick up more product. The shade I purchased is 500 breathtaking apricot.
This shade is more of a peachy pink with yellow shimmers. The gloss lasts about 2-3 hours on me and leaves a stain that is not obnoxious. 

While browsing at the duty free shop in the airport I was drawn to the beautiful display of Dior lipsticks. Without much thought I picked up the hot newly launched Fluid Stick in Tiny Pink. It's a golden peachy pink with a hint of neon sparkles. The case is shaped much like the Maybelline one but feels much more sturdier and luxurious. The wand is a plush doe foot applicator. The color is beautiful, almost milky peach and appears to be much lighter at first until it settles into the lips to a pretty color. It retails at $36 and there are 16 shades. These have been heavily marketed and several shades are sold out on Sephora website. 

It's hard not to compare the two as they are so similar.
Formulation are quite similar and feel like a thick but smooth gloss on the lips. The Maybelline one is a bit sheer so need several coats to achieve the opaque color I want. Whereas Dior only needs one coat.
As for the wear time Maybelline seems to last a little longer as it leaves more of a stain than the Dior one.

The Elixir has a bit of an artificial vanilla scent which doesn't linger long. Fluid stick has a fruity scent that is light and not noticeble once applied. Both are very moisturizing and feel comfortable on the lips.

Dior applicator on left, Maybelline on right

If you are looking to buy one of these I would suggest The Elixir based on the fact that it is almost 1/4 of the price of Dior and the wide availability, especially if you want to try several colors.  $36 is very steep for a product that has an almost identical dupe available in drugstores.
The shades available in Dior are not as commonly found in drugstores lip glosses which is one of the reasons to consider it.
Have you tried any of these hybrid lipsticks? 

Dior Tiny Pink on right, Maybelline Breathtaking Apricot on left

Serum Review - Racinne Youth Power Serum

*this is a sponsored review as a sample of the product was given to me to be considered.

A fountain of youth. Does that exist? Well the cosmetic industry will want you to believe that such thing exists. As you all know I am such a beauty product junkie, I will try as many as products as possible.
Racinne is a company represented by a branding company in Vancouver, run by a group of friends. It is a Hong Kong based cosmetic company, utilizing Korean skincare technology.

The serum is encased in a gold bottle with a lid. The bottle is made of plastic, so it is lightweight and easy to travel with. The serum is on the watery side and absorbs quickly.

I really liked its citrus scent because it was refreshing rather than overwhelming like some other heavily perfumed products.
After using the serum consistently for 4 weeks, my face looked brighter and felt more supple. It did not give any trouble (such as clogged pores, irritations) and kept my skin looking rather smooth.

Racinne Youth Power Serum is currently being sold at T&T locations and can be purchased online at around $60 for 30ml. Compared to the high-end serums at Sephora and the department stores, this is definitely a bargain in price for a well performing skincare.

Current Foundation Favourites

Since moving to the East Coast, my skin has been through hell and back (or at least it feels like it). Due to the extremely cold weather, wind and hard water my skin has suffered greatly. Initially it was so dry that the whole face seemed to be tight and flaky. Now that it is getting warmer, the humidity is adding to the assault by making my skin quite oily.

I do love my base products and have accumulated a number of foundations over the last 6 months. Currently here are 2 of my go-to foundations.

Covergirl Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 foundation (Medium Beige) - $12 CAD

This is a very good drugstore foundation that gives med-full coverage. It is promoted as a base with primer, concealer and foundation all in one and is a drugstore dupe for Kat Von D's Lock It foundation.

I really like that this foundation has a pump applicator with the SPF of 20. On my combination skin, it lasts up to 8 - 10 hours of wear. Even though the foundation has a high SPF, it does not create a white cast. This foundation, like other CG foundations, do oxidize a bit. It is advisable that you pick up a shade lighter than intended. 

Pros - affordable, high coverage, wide selection of shades, lasts a long time (8+ hours) on the skin

Cons - bit thick and needs a bit of time to blend

I use my Beautyblender to blend this foundation and can easily skip using concealer for daily use. 

Make Up Forever Duo Mat Powder foundation - $40 CAD
I don't remember the last time I used a powder foundation. The last one I used was Studiofix, probably more than 10 years ago. When I traveled to Chicago last month, I wanted to bring a quick and easy but still quality foundation and picked up the Make Up Forever Duo Mat during the Sephora sale. As suggested on its box, the powder is best applied with the sponge it comes with. I have tried to wear the foundation with a brush but the coverage is too light for my liking.

I love how quick it is to do the whole face with this powder. I tend to use it over a tinted moisturizer (current favourite is Laura Mercier) or a BB cream.
When I use concealer, I use it before this foundation. The coverage is medium but can be layered to full. It's best not to do more than a couple of layers or can get cakey.
The oil breaks through about 4 hours in on my nose and need blotting but overall it lasts about 6 -7 hours.
What I really like about this is the colour match - the yellow undertone makes this powder match my face perfectly (my shade is 203). 

Best drugstore eyeshadow palette. Wet n wild Comfort Zone

Wow it's been almost 6 months since my last post. I can't promise frequent posts but will try to keep this blog alive. 

If you have $5 to spare and are in need of a kick-ass 8 pan eyeshadow palette, the Wet n Wild Comfort zone is the one for you. I really think that this can replace the 10 times more expensive original Naked Palette by Urban Decay. They are sold at Walmart, Target and online (www.well.ca). 

The quality of the shadows is great considering that they are drugstore variety. The shadows are buttery and richly pigmented. With just one or two swipes you can have beautifully deposited color  onto your lids. Since these are so soft, the powders tend to fall on the cheeks. So using an eyeshadow base is a must. And I actually like using my fingers or sponge applicators to apply rather than brushes. 

The shadows are all warm tones with shimmers but are not too frosty. 

Have you tried Wet n Wild eyeshadow? 

Here are the swatches. First are of the 4 shadows in the left column. 

And here are the other 4 from the right side of the palette. 

My Lips but Better (MLBB) lipsticks - pinks and nudes

My lips are very pale naturally and without lipstick or gloss, I can look quite sallow and tired. With the new season, I have been digging up my old stash of lipsticks and buying a couple more (because who doesn't need more lipsticks? :)). When I was browsing through them I realized I tend to buy the same tonal family of lipsticks - rosy/mauve pinks that can be categorized as My Lips But Better.
Here are some of my favs, mostly from the drugstore.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up ($6 US $8 CAD)
The Color Sensational Lipsticks come in several categories: Neutral, Pinks, Reds/brights.
Warm Me up is from the Neutral line (indicated by the brown lid) and is a perfect "warm" pink. It is quite opaque and lasts at least 3 - 4 hours on the lips. The shade looks more orange in the tube but on my lips it gives a nice rosy color. It does have a scent - something like artificial vanilla. It's not too overwhelming for me but those who are sensitive to smell may not like it.

L'oreal Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in Forever Frappe and Unending Kiss ($9 US $12 CAD)
This is a super matte long wearing lipstick range that I really enjoy. Typically the long wearing lipsticks are 2 part system, that tends to have a gloss that you need to wear throughout the day. This does not give that glossy look; however, the color pay off is great. It is tad drying on the lips compared to other lipsticks but not uncomfortable. The lipstick stays on for at least 4 - 5 hours. If applied with heavy hand, the lipstick can chip off the lips.

YSL Rouge Volupte in Shade #3 & #23 ($34 US $39CAD)
Rouge Volupte is a very luxurious, opulent line of lipsticks that a true makeup junkie would own at least one tube of. The case is a heavy embellished gold tube with the shade band in the middle of the tube. The lipstick itself is super creamy and buttery on the lips.
Because my lips are on the white side, the true nude shades in the range do not suit me (makes me look very pale and sickly). #3 is called Ultimate Beige and is a orange-y toned beige on my lips.
#23 is called Luscious Pink and is a good nude for my skin tone. It is a darker rosy color and brightens up my face nicely.
Due to its slippery texture, the color lasts only about a couple of hours and despite them feeling buttery, can be drying on the lips. 

Shiseido Perfect Rouge in BE740 ($25 US, $30 CAD)
This is also a beige-toned nude lipstick. The Lipstick is encased in a beautiful metal tube. The lipstick feels smooth on the lips and the color pay off is great. It lasts at least 3 hours on my lips. I tend to prefer rosy MLBB shades than beige shades so this has been in my makeup drawer for the last little while.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Fiend ($22US $26CAD)
UD has launched a new line of lipsticks and this shade is described as muted rose. This lipstick is amazing. The metallic tube is heavy and has a nice "click" of the lid. The lipstick is very opaque and the color clings to the lips for hours. This shade is probably the brightest of the ones mentioned here. It is not drying and does not flake or fade weird. I am looking to purchase more shades (muted tones: Naked 2, Rush, Rapture).

L to R: maybelline warm me up, L'oreal unending kiss, YSL #3, #23, Shiseido BE740, UD fiend 

 Top to bottom: UD, shiseido, YSL 23, 3, L'oreal, Maybelline 

Maybelline warm me up

L'oreal unending kiss

YSL shade 3

YSL shade 23

Shiseido BE740

Urban Decay fiend