Category Archives: Makeup Reviews

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Nude Swatch, Review & Pictures

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Review & Pictures Sometimes I try beauty products because of the hype surrounding a brand or specific product. A lot of times I’m pleasantly surprised, but occasionally I come across a lemon.

The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Nude is a case in point.

Laura Mercier is a brand that I’ve never dabbled with mainly because of the ridiculously high price. But I’ve constantly been hearing great things about their liquid foundation – people made it sound like their Holy Grail! However, I don’t wear liquid foundation, so I opted to try the tinted moisturizer since it’s lighter.

Unfortunately, the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is a product that I won’t be repurchasing because I didn’t like it. Let me tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly. Continue reading →

NYX Dramatic Chromatic Eyeshadow Pigments Swatches & Review – Blues: Hard Core, Lagoon, Bayou, Ocean Blue, Blue Eyes, Piggy Back, Chaotic & Space

4 Replies

Image of NYX Dramatic Chromatic Eyeshadow Pigments ** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

A little while back I shamelessly did a haul post on my NYX haul from HauteLook. I wanted to do swatches on them right away, but I couldn’t really do a review unless I actually tested the products themselves. I knew the pigments would work basically the same across each one, but I needed to make sure.

So now, here is the first group of NYX Dramatic Chromatic Eyeshadow Pigments – The Blue Shadow Group. This includes Hard Core, Lagoon, Bayou, Ocean Blue, Blue Eyes, Piggy Back, Chaotic and Space.

Duh, right! Fiona jumping on the blue shadows first before any other color. Surprise, surprise. Well, you know what? Sue me! I just love blues the most, alright! 😛 I adore the color, and I love almost all the blues pigments that I got. Almost all. There are eight blues in total, and I love seven of them. Which one’s the ugly duckling that, in my opinion, won’t be a beautiful swan? Come see! Continue reading →

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils Swatches & Review – Yogurt, Oyster, Hot Pink & Yellow

14 Replies

I’m very impressed with NYX Cosmetics. I’ve tried many of their products and been quite pleased. Not only is the price right, but the color payoff is usually fantastic!

I previously reviewed a smorgasbord of NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils. Since then, I’ve bought 4 more: Yogurt, Oyster, Hot Pink, and Yellow!

I’m really loving these fun colors, and I appreciate how they really help to make my shadows pop!

Their creamy texture makes blending a cinch, and the stick form is very convenient for travel.

Have you tried any NYX Jumbo Pencils? Which color is your favorite? What’s your favorite NYX product? Continue reading →

Eyeko Line & Shine Duo Colour Pencil for Popstar Eyes (Electric Blue & Teal) Review & Swatches

2 Replies

Image of Eyeko Line & Shine Duo Colour Pencil for Popstar Eyes

** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

There’s something extra appealing about a product that you just can’t quite get your hands on, isn’t there? When I first locked eyes with Eyeko Line & Shine Duo Colour Pencil for Popstar Eyes, I really wanted it. But alas, Cherry Culture was out of stock for the longest time. I swear it could’ve put a restraining order on me as I was stalking it every week to see if CC had it available.

And it finally did. To hold something you’ve wanted for so long in your hand is satisfying! Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a HTF/discontinued nail polish or anything. It’s just… I waited months for it to be back in stock, and I’m so happy that I finally bought it!

This is the first time I’ve tried Eyeko, and I was wary about the quality at first. That’s because after falling in love with Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, I swear no one can make me go back to hard and scratchy ones. No one! This Eyeko Line & Shine Duo Color Pencil is far from scratchy! Continue reading →

e.l.f. Camilia Shimmering Facial Whip Review & Swatches

2 Replies

Image of e.l.f. Camilia Shimmering Facial Whip ** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

Y’know: I never feel too guilty whenever I’m on a shopping spree at the elf site. I’ve gotten 20 items for less than $20 before (not including shipping) thanks to their affordable prices and frequent promotions.

Normally I only really load up on their nail polishes (most are awesome), mineral eyeshadows (some are great), or their brushes (hit and miss). But on the last haul, I decided to venture into less-familiar territory (at least for me). e.l.f. Camilia Shimmering Facial Whip is one of those products that I’ve never tried before until recently. And I’m kinda, sorta, actually really liking this product.

It’s not a product I deem completely necessary. But for days when you have an extra 30 seconds and want to brighten your face, this is a winner! Continue reading →

MAC All of My Purple Life Lipglass Swatches & Review

4 Replies

MAC All of My Purple Life Swatches & Review The MAC Bloggers’ Obsessions Collection just came out on June 21st. Several beauty bloggers got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the lip gloss of their dreams. (There are also some gorgeous eye shadows in the collection.)

While I wanted to buy all of the MAC Tinted Lipglasses, I stuck to my budget and only bought one.

The MAC All of My Purple Life Lipglass didn’t just speak to me – it screamed at the top of its lungs, “Get me because I’m different!” (Usually I don’t like getting yelled at, but from a MAC lip gloss, I can overlook it…hehe!)

This unique lip color was created by Afrobella, who I hadn’t heard of before this MAC collection dropped. Her goal was to come up with the perfect purple for all women of color.

This pigmented purple MAC lip gloss isn’t for the faint of heart. And I hesitated to buy it for that very reason. Normally I like wearing clear, pink, or beige-gold on my lips. And I rarely wear super-dark, bold lip colors. So the MAC All of My Purple Life Tinted Lipglass was a far departure from anything in my current stash. Continue reading →

e.l.f. Pink Lemonade Luscious Liquid Lipstick Review & Swatches

12 Replies

Image of e.l.f. Pink Lemonade Luscious Liquid Lipstick

** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

I want to be able to pull off a sexy blood red (sounds morbid!) on my lips. But because I’m not used to that much color on my lips yet, I feel kind of weird and out of place when I have that red on. I’m slowly working up to it! For now, I feel most comfortable with sheer washes and pinks. But one day – just one day – you’ll definitely see me with lips colored with a vibrant red hue! I promise!

Until then… Today’s lip color is e.l.f. Pink Lemonade Luscious Liquid Lipstick. I believe it’s a pretty-new line because the last time I was stalking – erm, I mean browsing – their site, I didn’t see it. I purchased it on my most recent elf Cosmetics haul. Unfortunately, I only got two colors from the line. I say “unfortunately” because I’m really liking this product. I haven’t tried the other color yet, but Pink Lemonade is awesome!

Update: OK. So this line isn’t new. I just haven’t been checking out their lip section thoroughly enough. Hahah. I know better and will scour their entire site next time. Thanks, Poetic Realist. 😛

Continue reading →