MONTHLY FAVORITES: May 2012 (Mega late!)

I apologize for the super, super late May Favorites! I just got out for summer break from my school so I finally have time away from exams, projects, and whatnot to keep blogging!

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder in Transluscent

This has become my holy grail setting powder.  It's quite expensive, for about $35, but it's definitely worth it.  It sets my foundation perfectly and helps it not budge for the whole day.  It definitely does not look powdery on the skin.  It blends into my foundation so you can barely tell I powdered.  My old setting powder made it kind of obvious that I was wearing powder, in my opinion.  This is exactly what I've always wanted in a setting powder and I'm glad I finally found it!

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blusher in Pearlescent Pink

After hearing rave reviews about this blush from a bunch of beauty gurus, I decided go get it.  I mean, it's like $3. And for $3, it is AMAZING.  I am not a huge fan of pink, like I always mention, but this is a mauvey, dusty pink with a bit of shimmer in it.  The color pigmentation is really great.  Better than I expected from Wet n Wild, for sure.  I've been reaching for this a lot since I purchased it. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

This has, hands down, been my favorite lip product for this month.  Though I purchased it in the middle of the month, I've worn it almost every single day since.  I recently did a review about this product, if you'd like to read more in detail about it.  This shade has been my favorite of the ones that I've purchased because it is basically the same shade as my lips, but it just adds some shine and a bit more pigmentation.  It's been a really great every day shade for me.

Blistex Lip Medex

I'm obsessed with lip balms.  My lips get chapped fairly easily and I've tried a million and one chapsticks.  I love Burt's Bees, but this has been amazing.  It's very effective at helping my chapped lips.  It has that very medicated kind of feeling, so some people may not like it, but it definitely makes me feel like it's working.  It gives a bit of gloss to the lips so I've been enjoying using this over my lip products.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

I've had this mascara for a while because I purchased it when I heard all of the hype about it.  To be honest, I didn't really like it when I first bought it.  The brush is pretty painful because it's plastic so I feel like it poked me in the eyes every time I applied it.  But, I've been using this at the end of my mascara routine and it's been perfect.  It's great for thickening my lashes, but still keeping them separated.  A lot of volumizing mascaras can be quite clumpy, but the bristles on this brush help keep the mascara from getting too clumpy. 

Revlon Colorstay Overtime Mascara

This has become another staple in my mascara routine.  It's great for separating and lengthening and does not clump at all.  I use this right before the Benefit mascara and right after my lash primer.  It's also extremely black, which I really like in a mascara.  This mascara also helps hold the curl of my lashes.  I do have very droopy and straight lashes, so anything that holds curl is best for me.

MAC Powder Blush in Peaches

Now that it's summer, I've been using this blush a lot.  It just gives the perfect, peach flush to the cheeks.  I love the way peachy tones look on my cheeks because I think it looks really healthy and fresh, especially during the summer.  It's also a matte blush, which I really like for an every day look.  I don't own many matte blushes, but I am thinking of getting more because I like that this does not clash with my highlight.

xx,

Jordana

BEAUTY RAVE: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

Top to bottom: 'Adore', 'Sweetheart', 'Rendezvous', 'Honey', 'Charm'

Left to right: 'Adore', 'Sweetheart', 'Rendezvous', 'Honey', 'Charm'

Left to right: 'Adore', 'Sweetheart', 'Rendezvous', 'Honey', 'Charm'

Recently, I've been seeing a little bit of buzz over these Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains and I was really excited to see that they were available at my local Rite Aid.  I used this opportunity to scoop up a few, five to be exact, and give them a try.  And let me tell you, they are definitely worthy of the hype!

First off, the color selection is amazing. There are 12 shades ranging from dark berries to light nudes.  I purchased 'Adore', a red, berry shade, 'Sweetheart', a bright bluish pink, 'Rendezvous', a bright orange, 'Honey', a dusty mauve, and 'Charm', a light peach nude.  

The color pay off is quite nice.  They are more glossy and sheer, but the color definitely is pigmented on the lips.  I was actually surprised and impressed with the pigmentation. Comparing them to the Clinique Chubby Sticks, which are quite glossy and sheer, these definitely have a less glossy finish, but are much more pigmented. 

One of my favorite things about the Kissable Balm Stains is that they are actually a stain.  They last forever.  After I did these swatches, I tried to wipe them off my arm and was left with a stain of color on my arm that...is still there. 'Sweetheart' and 'Adore' are particularly long lasting. 

I find these to be quite moisturizing and smooth on the lips.  They definitely live up to the 'balm' name.   I applied them to my lips without any sort of chapstick or other lip balm underneath and they glided on easily and did not seem to highlight any dryness I had on my lips.  The crayon like applicator made it really easy to apply, as well as apply precisely.

Lastly, possibly the best thing about the product is...they smell minty.  They smell really minty and fresh when you apply them and you can definitely smell the mint when you apply it too.  It makes it really enjoyable to apply and refreshing.  I think I've said a million times that I love things that smell good...and these win on that part.

Overall, I think that this is yet another great Revlon product that has come out within the last few months.  I feel like Revlon has really stepped up their game in terms of their products, especially their lip products.  Revlon has easily become on one of my favorite drug store lines, if not my favorite.  This product is a great value at their $8 price point, especially when there is an offer on Revlon products.  They definitely will become a staple in my make up collection, especially during the spring and summer.  

xx,

Jordana