Illamasqua Kontrol Lipstick Review and Swatches

Illamasqua is a brand about drama, "Make up for your alter ego". If you have been following my blog you would know i have a bit of a love affair with purple lipstick. It is no surprise that when i heard of this color i had to get my hands on it immediately. Kontrol by Illamasqua is a blue based, matte, purple lipstick. It glides on soft and is not terribly drying. Since it is a matte it does sit drier on the lips than a satin or a creme but the color payoff is phenomenal. True to the tube color that applys opaque and stays put for 5 hours. The sleek black square tube and price point of about $16 dollars the quality and price range are on point with other mid/high level brands of lipstick.

Overall if you are looking for a rich purple shade that will never be mistaken for anything other than purple, this is a safe bet. Since it does lean blue it is not exactly a safe for work shade and will bring a lot of attention to the lips. If you like the drama of a statement lip, or just love purple you can pick it up here!

MAC Taste Temptation Collection Mattene Lipsticks in Nocturnal Instincts, Seductive Intent, and Night Blooming Review and Swatches

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Nocturnal Instincts, Seductive Intent, and Night Blooming.

I think of all the collections to come out recently, MAC Taste Temptation, was one of my favorites.
 "A seductive style surfaces after-hours, drawing in an exotic panorama of pleasure-seeking, night-blooming violets. M∙A∙C captures this world in an elegant colour collection of deep purples, plums and amethysts."
What a beautiful color scheme to welcome the cooler weather. This collection included a range of products but this post will focus on the Mattene lipsticks.

MAC Taste Temptation collection included three mattene lipsticks that are semi-mat.

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Nocturnal Instincts, Seductive Intent, and Night Blooming.

Nocturnal Instincts- A mid toned greyed lavender-
I found this shade to come off as more pink on my lips rather than lavender. It is very soft but does not wash out light skin. I found this shade to last significantly on my lips (about 6 hours) and i did not find this shade drying. If your lips dry out easily apply lip balm on about before applying this product. Because this shade is light flaky lips will be more apparent. Does not settle into lines and does not bleed or feather.

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Nocturnal Instincts

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Nocturnal Instincts without flash

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Nocturnal Instincts with flash

Seductive Intent- Vivid Purple-
This shade had me the most excited. It is so close to the coveted Heroine that it could almost be a dupe. This purple is absolutely beautiful. Lasts for about 6 hours on the lips and is not drying. You can always apply a lip balm shortly before applying this to keep your lips more moisturized. Does not bleed, feather, or exacerbate any lip flaws.

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Seductive Intent 

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Seductive Intent without flash

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Seductive Intent with flash

 Night Blooming- Mid Tone Blue Pink-
While described as a pink i found this to be more purple and when placed next to Seductive Intent they look only a few shades off from each other. It is a very flattering color for all skin tones that i have seen it on. This shade lasts about 6 hours on the lips. Since it is darker than Nocturnal Instincts it does not show lip flaws such as flaking lips as easily. There is no bleeding or feathering. This shade isn't drying but if your lips are prone to drying, some lip balm always helps.

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Night Blooming

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Night Blooming without flash

MAC Taste Temptation Mattene Lipstick in Night Blooming with flash

These lipsticks can be found on the MAC website here, along with other pieces from the Taste Temptation collection!

MAC Smoked Purple Review and Swatchs

Recently MAC opened up all of their pro colors online to everyone! For a while now i have wanted to get my hands on this great dark, matte purple, Smoked Purple. Once i ordered it i found out it was back ordered so i had to wait almost two months to get it. It was well worth the wait!

Smoked Purple is a very pigmented dark purple lipstick. In the tube it looks almost black but when applied it is a rich purple which leans on the red side. I did not find it dry and it lasted about 5 hours without touch ups and i was able to drink and eat lightly. This shade did not bleed, had a pleasant vanilla scent, and remained completely matte. I love this shade for the winter months. It is still available online but may still be back ordered.

Milan Rowe Lipstick in Caribbean Queen, Lavender Lust, and Alter Ego Review and Swatches

Prepare yourself! The next few posts will be focusing on a great brand that i feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to review! This first post will focus on three lipsticks that are daring, bold, and beautiful!

Lately there has been an explosion of bright colored makeup from eyes to lips, more and more companies are popping up offering up their best, break the mold, trendy brights, and i have tried many of these brands (some which have greatly disappointed). When i was contacted about Milan Rowe the usual skepticism (that i feel about almost everything) was absent! I had a good feeling about this brand just from browsing the site (which is very user friendly and included a wide range of products). When i received the products, i loved how they were so neatly packaged in a sleek black box with Milan Rowe tissue paper. Its the little touches that wow me before the actual product.

In matte black tubes with silver bands, they reminded me a little of MAC.  The tubes are sturdy and classy.

I received Caribbean Queen, Lavender Lust, and Alter Ego. These three shades are very creamy, but not waxy, streaky, and do not feather, or bleed. There is no overpowering scent or flavor. These shades are not drying. They apply very opaquely and feel soft on the lips. I like that even though these are highly pigmented they do not feel heavy or appear chalky. To compare to brands that offer up similar products they do not feel grainy like Ka'oir or waxy like Limecrime. If you are looking for brights with a better formula, consistency, staying power, opacity, pigmentation, and presentation, you need to check out Milan Rowe.

 Caribbean Queen-
Bright, bold, opaque, and highly pigmented light green (can appear almost mint in some lights), is an excellent statement lip. While you may think this is an unacceptable color to wear this shade will get you noticed! If you wear Milan Rowe Caribbean Queen with a neural eye along with a trendy outfit with pops of this color, it can go together very well, and look more polished then you may think. It will definitely get you noticed! Non streaky and does not wash out your skin. Since the shade is light it wont come off as witchy or Halloween. This lipstick is very smooth, and drys to a matte finish (but isn't drying on the lips). Hides most lip flaws. While this shade may be different from red's, nude's, and pinks, sometimes its better to break the mold then go along with it!

Alter Ego-
Another bold and bright lip shade! Milan Rowe Alter Ego is described as an aqua sea frost teal but appears more medium blue against my skin tone. Highly pigmented, non streaky, non chalky, hides most lip flaws, non grainy, non waxy. This pretty much is a perfectly formulated high pigment lipstick. Goes on creamy with a semi-matte/matte finish. This is a statement lipstick that everyone should have in their collection. If you are going to go bold but have some reservations, do it with blue! If you are worried about over doing it choose a black or navy smokey eye, or even some navy eyeliner and pair with a neutral outfit! Overall this shade will get you noticed and is a nice pop of color from the normal range of reds, nudes, and pinks! Confidence is sexy, so let is shine through with this shade!

 Lavender Lust-
If the shades above aren't for you (though i do recommend you try them before you disregard them), Milan Rowe also offers some everyday shades. If you were thinking about going for a purple shade this might be the perfect one for you. This frosty lavender/lilac with a silver shimmer goes on so creamy and soft. This color is can be built up from just a hint of purple/shimmer to full coverage. Non streaky, non grainy, does not feather, does not bleed, non waxy, non chalky, and non drying. This will beat anything you find in drugstores and even some high end brands like MAC. In some lights this shade can appear pinkish so if you want something that you can wear to work or school or aren't ready to try super bright shades this is a great option!

 

 

Over all i would recommend this lipstick formula to anyone who appreciates a good quality lipstick. If you want to try bold and bright colors, Milan Rowe is a great place to turn to. You won't be disappointed. To see the whole range of shades and products please check out Milan Rowe Cosmetics. 

 

Young Rapunxel - MAC review and swatches

Ah, yet another delicious purple lipstick, if you love fall for nothing else, love it for the purple lipstick! This shade is, sadly, another limited edition. I wonder why MAC is so adverse to giving us some permanent purple, i digress.

This beautiful amplified shade, made for Azealia Banks 90's rapper, was released on September 5th 2012. While some bloggers would describe this as a semi-matte i greatly disagree. This shade is quite creamy and has a good amount of shine. While it isn't streaky its texture leaves room for any flaws on your lips to become very apparent. This shade is very plum, it is very rich, and it can lean on the red side of purple depending on your skin tone. It is similar to La Provocative but this shade is less streaky and a little lighter. So if you missed either one they are pretty interchangeable.

 Are you wearing purple lipstick this fall? If so what shade? Why aren't you wearing this trend?

My Favorite Cosmetics of the Rinbow- Purple

Since i am such a fan of cosmetics of all colors i figured i would share with you all my favorites from every color of the rainbow. Traditionally the rainbow starts at red but i decided to switch things up a little and started at purple.

These are my favorite purple cosmetics ranging from lipstick, eye shadow, and even eyeliner. So i hope you enjoy my favorite picks!


My favorite purple nail polish is:
 Wet N Wild - On a Trip
I love this polish. It doesn't chip easily, its opaque, requires only one coat, and dries fast. The brush is wide so that you can cover your whole nail quickly. Its a bright pastel color, and i feel if your going to go for purple go for this purple!
Price: $1.99

My favorite purple eyeliner(s):
I couldn't pick just one so these are my top 4!
Favorite eyeliner stain:
Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Purple- I just recently talked about this product in my July Birchbox review. This really is one of these best colored eyeliner stains, smudge proof, that i have seen in a long while. I love the smooth application, and the lasting power.
Price: $15
Favorite Luquid Eyeliner:
Lime Crime Liquid Liner in Orchidaceous-
While i have some gripes over the size vs. price (the size is a sample size being sold for the price of a full size product), i do love this eyeliner. It is a creamy opaque liquid liner that starts off kind of shimmery and dries matte. It is a highly pigmented color so you don't need much more than just this liner over shadow. You do have to wait for it to completely dry but once it does it stays put all day.
Price: $13.99
Favorite Pencil Liner:
NYC Showtime Glitter Liner in Paparazzi Purple-
I love how glittery this liner is! It goes on smooth and does not tug at the eye lid, it is a deep purple so it is dark enough to outline your eyes but also adds that bit of color. It is highly pigmented so you wont have to go over the line you make, only one swipe required.
Price: $2.50

Top to bottom- Lime Crime Orchidaceous, NYC showtime glitter liner in paparazzi purple, and Eyeko in purple

No Flash : Top to bottom- Eyeko Skinny liner in Purple, Lime Crime Orchidaceous, NYC Paparazzi Purple, and HIP eggplant.

With Flash- T- B Eyeko Skinny Liner in Purple, Lime Crime Orchidaceous, NYC Paparazzi Purple and HIP Eggplant

Favorite Cream Eyeliner:
 L'Oreal H.I.P Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Eggplant-
This is a very pigmented liner. Since it is cream you apply it with an eyeliner brush. It can make for very dramatic cat eye, or just a simple line. I love the application and the staying power of this cream liner.
Price: $10

 

Favorite Purple Palettes:

I have two!

Maybelline Eye Studio in Amethyst Ablazed-

This is my favorite purple palette ever. The bottom color is your base but i use it as a lid color, to the left is your base color (i use as a crease color) , to the right is your outer corner, the V shaped color above these three is your liner, and the shiny silver color is to put over the other colors to make it glitter. I find putting it over the other colors ineffective and i use it as a high lighter. I find the effect of a glittery under brow to look fantastic! Even if you choose not to do base, lid, crease, liner, high light, these colors are great on their own and there is plenty of each color that you can create your own look!

Price: $10.99

L-R Lid, Base, Corner, Liner, Glitter Highlighter

My second favorite palette is:

L'Oreal H.I.P Bright Shadow Duo in Flamboyant-

You get one shimmery yellow shadow and one purple matte shadow. These are complimentary colors and when used together create a very dramatic and beautiful effect. By placing the yellow color on the inner corner of your eyelid and working it to the middle followed by applying the matte purple from the middle of the eyelid out to your outter  eyelid (following the line of your brow to create a wing effect) you can create a blending look that almost resembles butterfly wings. Use a soft sponge applicator or soft blending brush to blend at the middle and always use a primer for all day wear. 

Price: $7.99

Blending on hand using soft sponge applicator. The shadow is applied over primer.

 My Favorite Purple stand alone shadows are:
M.A.C- Melton Mauve-
This shadow is a matte color, it lasts all do, it is smooth, and highly pigmented. It is a little on the pink side but still purple enough to make it in the purple category. This product is a little higher end than the drugstore makeup listed above but is is worth it. I do believe MAC has discontinued this color but it is still available on sites like eBay.
Price: Varies

Over primer.

Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Fishnet-
I have to start by saying i got this years ago and i still have plenty left after heavy use, so if you do pick this up it will be in your collection for quite a while. I love the packaging on this product and the little mirror is helpful. The color is a medium purple with a little bit of iridescence to it.  Used over primer it will last all day and is very easy to blend with other colors.
Price: $18

Urban Decay Asphyxia-
I love this light purple and i love the packaging. This is also slightly iridescent and is somewhat sheer. Using over a primer fixes the  sheer problem. I love blending this color with fishnet which i mentioned above. While urban decay products can be on the pricey side they do give good color pay off and last a very long time. These two were bought in 2006, and 6 years later they are still in perfect condition with plenty left.
Price: $17

No Flash- Asphyxia above, fishnet below.

With Flash- Asphyxia above, fishnet below. This picture really shows off the little iridescence these colors have.

 My Favorite Purple Pigments:
Jesses Girl- Eye Dust in Ultra Violet
This is a brand i found in Rite Aid a couple of years ago, and while ive tried high end pigments i keep coming back to this brand. Its inexpensive, the color pay off is amazing. It is highly pigmented and when applied over primer will last all day. I love how it sparkles too! 
Price: $4.99

My Favorite Mineral Purple Pigment:
E.L.F.Mineral Eyeshadow in Flirty-
This is a fantasitc  mineral pigment. It is very similar to the color listed above but since it is a mineral eyeshadow it goes on very smooth. This color is very opaque and will last all day over primer. I love using this color to blend or over matte purple shadows to add a bit of shimmer.
Price: $3

ELF Flirty above, Jesses Girl Ultra Violet below.

Favorite Purple Glitter Shadow:
Medusa's Makeup in Electric Purple-
Let me start off by saying this brand doesn't get as much attention as it should. Their pigments, shadows, liners, glosses, and mascara are all amazing, and will be featured in future blog posts. This color has micro silver glitter in it, and is a matte purple color. This color pops on its own but when applied over primer it looks so dramatic. I recommend this color to anyone who loves daring shadows, and isn't afraid of very bright, highly pigmented color. If applied without primer it can appear lighter for a less dramatic look.

Price: $8 (Look out for their manic Monday sales where you can sang 5 products for 5 dollars each!)

Applied over primer with flash

Applied over primer without flash.

As for purple lipstick please refer to my blog entry here because all purple lipsticks are my favorite!
For purple lip gloss please check out this post!