Make Up For Ever Graphic Liner Review

Make Up For Ever recently introduced two new liners; the Graphic Liner ($29 cad) and the Ink Liner ($27). Both similarly priced, but with slightly different finishes and applicators. I chose to test out the Graphic Liner, because it was catered towards both beginners and pros. 

To be honest, I haven't ever tried a high-end (or, Sephora) brand liquid liner so I didn't have much to compare it to. I'm a huge fan of gel liners, and after testing this out I do have a few likes and dislikes about it.

The Graphic Liner has a super-fine felt tip. I have tried a few drugstore liquid liners and this is probably the finest tip I've used. The finish is glossy,  a 'glossy plastic finish' to be exact.

Make Up For Ever Graphic Liner: I believe I took the bottom picture first, and thickened the line a bit and took the top photo.

I actually found it quite difficult to use on my lids. The tip is so fine and it is a bit intimidating! I am clearly not the eyeliner expert, and I feel I have much better control with a gel liner. I did find this liquid liner hard to control because it is constantly pumping product to the tip. There is no "push to activate liner" or "dip your brush into this pot over here" so it took me some skill to make a decent line. I also didn't like the smell. It has a marker scent to it and it is a bit bothersome to me when applying. The scent does not linger and is gone after you close the cap, of course.

Although the fine tip is so intimidating, I liked that I could make the eyeliner as thin or as thick as I wanted. It took concentration, but I was able to make such a thin line in my inner corners, something that us hooded eyelid girls struggle with. There was no smudging, and it does not come off when ran under water but if you rub it under water... say goodbye to your eyeliner.

Above are some lines I made with the Graphic Liner felt tip. You can see how thin the line can get. I took a long hot shower and rubbed the lower half of my swatch and the liner came right off. However, I was impressed with the staying power of the rest that I didn't rub, it was only faded but still on pretty well. 

Pros:

- Very precise tip

- Staying power is decent

- Once it sets, it isn't going anywhere

- Dries super quickly

- Strong, opaque colour

- No smudging

Cons:

- Might be difficult for beginners, difficult to control for a shaky hand... ha..

- Fine tip is intimidating 

- The scent

- Not waterproof, will come off under water if you rub or wipe it. However if not rubbed, it will dry again once out of water and won't budge again.

It works much better when making long, quick, confident strokes. Any hesitation will definitely show. I'd say this liner is not for beginners, and more suitable for those who are a bit more experienced with liquid liner. Would be an excellent combination to use this over a gel liner for beginners or those with a shaky hand.

Overall, I wouldn't purchase this liner once I finish with this one. I would however, like to try the Ink Liner because I feel I might see a bit more control with that one because you are able to dip the brush into the pot, rather than this which is more of a free-flowing tip. Find it here* at Sephora, for $29 CAD.

This product was received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation Review: 120 Classic Ivory

I originally had no intentions of trying out this foundation when I saw it in stores. I haven't even tried the original 'Fit Me' Foundation so I didn't have any idea how this would perform. After doing a ton of Google searches, everyone suggested trying the Fit Me because it had a good selection of yellow undertone foundations. So, I swatched a shade of both the original and new Matte + Poreless foundation and loved the finish of the new Matte + Poreless, it was on sale... and now it's in my drawer.

The shade I chose was 120 Classic Ivory. There are 12 shades in total and apparently the yellow undertone shades end in 0 whereas the shades that end in 5 are more suitable for neutral/pink undertones (I believe), however I found the 120 to be more neutral orange toned and not yellow undertoned as it is supposed to be. This foundation is an extension of the Fit Me line and designed for oily skin to mattify and erase pores. It is dermatologist and allergy tested.

First Impressions:

After 8 hours; no primer: Foundation hasn't rolled off my inner cheeks or nose. everything seems to be in place and I'm really impressed with the finish and staying power of this foundation. It blends easily and covers decently. Reminds me of my Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation however it didn't go over my dry spots and bumps very well at all. There is a bit of a alcohol scent with this foundation.

This is probably the least oiliest I've looked from a foundation. I didn't use a setting powder or primer. I did notice the foundation darken a bit at first, but didn't see any oxidization afterwards. I do think I see a bit of redness showing through on my cheeks, but I did only use 1 quick layer of foundation. Doesn't seem to transfer very easily and it is pretty matte. Edit: I do notice that it is better applied with a beauty blender, I think it clung to dry spots more with a brush.

Not impressed with the shade range, 120 is a bit too dark and orangey for my skin even though it was suppose to be suitable for yellow undertones. (For reference, I like to think I am an NC20 in MAC) I will definitely be saving this to use for summer sun-kissed/tanned skin.

I'd say the coverage is light to medium.

It covered redness ok.
It does not have a 'natural' look or finish to it.

Does not work well with dry spots or flaky skin.

Overall, after testing it for a few days I didn't notice any breakouts, but I will update here if it does affect my skin. I tested this after a bad breakout and it didn't cause any additional skin problems so I am guessing it won't break me out. I am in love with the finish and how matte it stayed on my face without a primer or powder. Again, it didn't go over my dry spots/bumps well at all. It is not too thick and doesn't feel heavy on the skin. It is difficult to remove and I'd suggest using a makeup remover before cleansing.

Below are a few shots of it being worn:

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless 120 Classic Ivory worn with NYX Hd Concealer in Porcelain under the eyes, Lorac Pro Palette for the eyelids, and Flower Beauty Lip Suede 'Mauve Over' on the lips.

I will definitely set this foundation aside for summer because of the fact that it isn't an exact match to my skin right now. I think it will perform better when the weather warms up. I would recommend this to those with oily skin or if you're looking for a long-lasting matte finish. If you have dry skin or dry patches, I'd recommend moisturizing and priming properly first, and/or apply using a damp sponge/Beauty Blender to apply. Skip the powder and maybe only use it for touch-ups throughout the day.

Actually, I thought I would repurchase it but I don't think I would because it didn't apply well over my dry spots, and there is no shade match for my current skintone. It definitely is a very matte foundation and probably best suitable for oily skin with little to no dry spots/flaky skin. Find it at Ulta (US) for $7.99, Well.ca for $10.99 or your local Walmart or drugstore. I picked mine up at Shoppers Drug Mart on sale for $7-8 CAD I believe.

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Collection Review

Lately, there has been a lot of hype around Real Techniques and their new Bold Metals Collection, which features a set of new individually sold brushes with a higher, more luxurious price point that aren't even available in Canada yet. But here I am still reviewing this old collection... (heh, kidding, it's not old)! 

The Duo Fiber Collection actually came out sometime in summer of 2013, however, it was marketed as a limited edition set. In 2014 it was decided that the set was going to be a permanent addition to the line of brushes. The Duo Fiber is definitely the most unique collection to be added to the Real Techniques brush lineup because of the 2 different synthetic fibers in these brushes. This set doesn't come with a brush holder/travel case like some of the other Real Techniques sets do.

The fibers are quite visible, as you can see there are shorter, denser black bristles, in between the sparse white bristles. And yes, these brushes are designed to be used with powders or with cream products.

There are only three brushes in the lineup, but you don't really need any more than that. These three are very versatile and are:

Duo-Fiber Face Brush

Duo-Fiber Contour Brush 

Duo-Fiber Eye Brush

In terms of how to use these brushes, I was a bit confused at first, but I've pretty much got it now after having tested them out.

The Duo Fiber Face Brush is designed to be used with powder products such as a setting powder, compact powder makeup, mineral powders, and even blushes. I found it great to apply a setting powder, or to highlight the cheekbones. It works well for anything you don't want to apply too much of, basically. I wouldn't suggest it for blush unless it is a very pigmented blush, because it will be difficult to pick up product.

The Duo Fiber Contour Brush is designed to be used with contour products, such as a bronzer, contour or blush. I love using it with my Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow to contour the cheeks, it works well with a powder bronzer like The Balm Bahama Mama. 

The Duo Fiber Eye Brush is designed to be used to add a bit of colour in the crease of the eyelid. I found the brush a bit scratchy and have better, softer brushes to use for the crease of my lids. So I use this brush to lightly contour the nose with the same Illamasqua Cream Pigment or a bronzer like The Balm Bahama Mama.

I found all 3 brushes to be less softer than the other Real Techniques brushes, and found them to be a bit scratchy.

Products Shown: Duo Fiber Collection, Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow, MUFE HD Pressed Powder, The Balm Staining Powder Blush in Houndstooth

Overall, the brushes aren't the softest in the Real Techniques line, but they are decent for someone who uses powder products often or doesn't want heavy application. They are definitely ideal for pressed powders that are highly pigmented, but I wouldn't use them with a drugstore blush or bronzer. They definitely aren't a necessity to a makeup collection, but they do come in handy. 

My favourite brush has to be the contour, with the face brush coming in second and the eye brush as my least favourite. No, I would not re-purchase these brushes if the set I have now were to break, but I would not regret purchasing them for the $20-30 that they are sold for (note: I did get this set as a sample but I was going to purchase them anyways). 

The Duo Fiber Set retails for $20 but you will usually find it for a little more. Available at Ulta*, Boots, Amazon.ca (overpriced alert!!), iHerb (probably the cheapest, for North America at least), and Obsessed Canada. Have you tried this set? Do you use duo-fiber brushes?

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates. 

Co Lab Dry Shampoo Review

I had no idea about the release of this new dry shampoo until it arrived at my doorstep. Of course I was excited, because although I love my Batiste, it does have its flaws. We are always trying to find something better than what we have, right?

COLAB Dry Shampoo is a new dry shampoo created by Ruth Crilly, a model whom many of you may know as A Model Recommends. I personally, have heard of her blog/website and have visited it a few times, but had no idea she was so influential in the beauty world.

What is so special about this dry shampoo? you may ask (I'm asking as well).. Colab Dry Shampoo is said to have a revolutionary (I know you've heard that word before) sheer & invisible formula, available in exquisite fragrances. It is said you will have no fear of white residue, and longer clean hair.

The directions are pretty basic, they are not on the can but I have them here on a sheet of paper!.. Basically shake the bottle, spray focusing on the roots, massage into the hair after a few minutes, and brush hair if desired.

Before: 2nd 3rdish Day Hair, After: Colab Dry Shampoo Sprayed London (Left Side), Rio (Right Side)

I put the new dry shampoo to the test on 2nd (or 3rd) day hair. I literally just got my wisdom teeth out and am still swollen during this photo, so I can't really remember clearly hah.

So my initial thoughts were that they weren't lying about the awesome fragrance. These dry shampoos have the best scents I've ever smelt from a dry shampoo and is almost like you're wearing perfume. But upon spraying, I sprayed a TON and did not end up achieving the affect I desired. The formula is semi-wet and you do need to wait a minute or so for it to dry before trying to rub it in.

I did notice a light powder when spraying the London and was like "yeah! That's what I wanna see". London has a few more ingredients than Rio and strangely, I felt like London was a bit more effective but I could just be hallucinating.
Ingredients of London: Butane, Isobutane, Propane, Alcohol Denat, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Parfum, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal.
Ingredients of Rio: Butane, Isobutane, Propane, Alcohol Denat, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Parfum.

I did like that it was still easy to run my fingers through my hair. The dry shampoo felt quite light on the hair. I didn't get that icky feeling that I get when I load up the Batiste. I did see a slight difference which is noticeable in the photos but I didn't think it was significant enough. The sheer invisible formula is just not strong enough to be as effective as I expected. (Although I do think the London formula showed better results than Rio)

Pros:
- Great fragrance
- Leaves hair feeling clean, not sticky, no strong residue

Cons:
- Didn't work as well as expected
- Had to use a lot of product and still didn't see worthy results
- Only slight volume

Click to enlarge

My hair doesn't feel weighed down, sticky, and overall I think it felt decently clean. However, I just didn't think the results were significant enough to purchase the full size. Definitely great for a refresher because of the awesome scents, however, I don't think I'd purchase this again and still prefer my Batiste over Colab. There are other, cheaper, drugstore options that I feel work similar to the Colab.

Colab Dry Shampoo is $5.49 CAD for the 50ml and $9.99 for the 200ml. I believe only the Rio and London versions are available here. It is available in Canada at London Drugs, Jean Coutu, Lawtons, select Pharmasave, PharmaChoice. To find these outside of Canada check out the info on their website here.

These products were received for consideration. All opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.