What Not To Buy : Shopping Tips

Many people view purchasing makeup differently. Some want the best value, or most product for the money. While others, want to know which high end brands are worth the splurge.  While there is no set formula to decide what is worth purchasing, I have figured out a few key tips over the years that may help.

Here are my shopping tips:

1. Read Reviews- Even if you are shopping in Sephora, before you drop some major coin, pull up the Sephora app on your smart phone, and read some reviews. Even if a product is highly rated, read some bad reviews, to get all view points before making your own decision.
2.  Test In Store- If possible, swatch the product on the back of your hand in store before making a major purchase such as an expensive eyeshadow palette. Foundations, should be matched to your skin color in store or at a counter. 
3. Stick With Brands You Trust-I use a lot of different brands. I love variety and am always willing to try new things. However, there are some brands that are tried and true for me. There are also certain brands that do certain things really well. For example; Too Faced is known for their bronzers. If you want a good bronzer, it is a safe bet that their brand has something you'll like.
4. Ask A Friend or A Stranger- If I am shopping at the grocery store, and a woman is wearing a lip gloss that I think looks amazing, you better believe I am going to ask her what brand it is and where she got it. There is no better way to be informed, than to ask around. You can also find people online, or in everyday life who seem to like the same types of products as you, and go to them for advice. 
5. Know Your Needs- A lot of people get hung up on thinking something is really good because everyone else says it is. However, you have to know what you like. If you don't like sheer foundations, then your best friend's light tinted moisturizer that she keeps raving about isn't going to be for you. 

Here are some real life examples of mistakes I actually made, and how they could have been avoided: 

On The Left: Brushes I really wish I didn't buy
On The Right: Brushes I like!

The two sets pictured on the left are actually both from the same brand (Crown Brushes). They are both supposed to be professional synthetic sets. However they are worlds apart. The one on the left is pretty much unusable, while the set on the right works just fine.

I purchased both of these online, but I got caught up on the name brand. Everyone always raves about Crown Brushes, so I decided to try a set. While I like the set on the right, they are certainly not the best in my collection. What I didn't think about were my personal needs. First of all, most of the people I know who like Crown Brushes use their animal hair sets. I only use synthetic brushes. I should have taken that into consideration before purchasing these sets.

On The Left: A Foundation I hate
On The Right: A Foundation I love

I should have tested the Kat Von D foundation in the store. Instead, I purchased it online. Had I tested it before hand, I would have realized, the coloring does not match my skin. It's far too pink.  I also would have realized that the packaging does not work for my makeup set up. There is no real cap to the foundation, so this wouldn't work when I need to travel. I also don't like foundations this thick. On the other hand, the Illamasqua foundation on the right, is moisturizing, feels amazing on my skin, matches my skin color and photographs beautifully.

On The Left: Glosses Not Worth the Money
On The Right: Great Buys

The Nars gloss pictured here is a mini gloss from the Larger Than Life Lip Gloss Coffret. I purchased it because of the Andy Warhol soup can holder it came in and I just had to have it the second it came out. Had I read the reviews, I would have seen the problems with the actual product. The applicator is a tiny brush, that is so small it's nearly impossible to paint your lips with it. Someone else pointed out this fact in a review on Sephora.com had I simply taken the time to read it. The Urban Decay gloss pictured on the left is fine in terms of the product itself.  However, I have had problems with the packaging of this product before. I've had several tubes arrive to me with the hole melted closed. I've also had the cap break on a few of them. I'm sorry but at $19 a pop, I expect more.  The E.L.F. gloss on the right, which only cost $3 has a better brush applicator, and a similar effect to the Nars version. Similarly, if you prefer your gloss in a tube, The Body Shop glosses are equally as moisturizing, and I've never had a problem with their packaging.

On The Left: A Lipstick I Loathe
On The Right: A Lipstick I Love

Oddly, I purchased the Urban Decay lipstick on the left because of the packaging. It's this same packaging that led me to hate it! While I still think the packaging looks cool, it's simply not functional. The little sword on the bottom makes it impossible to set the lipstick on a table top, which is frustrating given my makeup station set up.  Whenever you are spending a little bit more money on a high end lipstick, I recommend opting for a more pigmented one.  The reason being, sheer lipsticks are easy to duplicate and there are cheaper options available.  A more pigment lipstick (such as the Tarte one on the right) has more uses, you can apply it with your finger and wear it as a stain, sheer it out with lip balm or gloss, or wear it full on for a bold lip.  It's much easier to lighten a lipstick, than to darken one that lacks pigment.

On The Left: Mascaras that Make Me Mad
On The Right: Mascaras I'm Mad About

For a long time, I just thought I hated drugstore mascaras. Every single one I tried sucked. First of all, there aren't a lot of cruelty-free drugstore mascara brands available (I can name maybe 5).  E.L.F. has some great things for sure, but the brand is pretty hit or miss.  When I tried the E.L.F. mascara, my lashes literally stuck together, making it look like I had 5 eyelashes. When I tried to comb them through with a lash comb, the mascara had hardened so quickly, that I couldn't do anything other than take it off. This is a case where I should have stuck with a brand I know. Physicians Formula is one of the first makeup brands I ever used. As far as drugstore makeup goes, I'm not saying this brand does everything well, but for me personally I've had more hits than misses. These two mascaras from Physicians Formula just blow me away. They hold their own against higher end brands.

Sometimes, we do everything we can, and still get stuck with a bad product. We can't predict everything so knowing a store's return policy can also be a big help. Remember, what works for me, might not work for you so that's why of all the tips listed above, tip number 5 is probably the most important. Know exactly what you need the product to do before buying it. I hope this post was helpful. Please let me know if you'd like to see more like it. If you think you like some of the same brands I do, you can always ask my advice on Twitter @MakeupMatters1

Pinterest Weekly Round Up

It's that time again; time for my Pinterest Weekly Round Up.  I spend way too much time on Pinterest, but I can't help myself!  It's so much fun!  If you are on Pinterest too, make sure you follow me here: http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/

The things that inspired me most this week are a combo of looks, storage, and of course, brushes.  I am always inspired by others and hope that I inspire some of you!




Pinterest Posts From This Week:


Makeup Storage:  Everyone stores their makeup differently. Due to space constraints, or type of products you like to have at your fingertips, people get super creative comingup with different ways to store everything from brushes to palettes. Here are some of my favorites including how to keep your brushes dust free.  http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/makeup-storage/

Beauty Resolutions: I made this board to show you my beauty resolutions. I'd love to hear yours!: http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/beauty-resolutions/


My Pro Brushes: I'm always talking about brushes, and have the synthetic brush guide on my site. However, my collection is always changing, and I may be adding new brushes here or there. These are some of my current favs that I've collected over time: http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/my-pro-brushes/

Celebs:  I am not a celebrity makeup artist. However, I am still inspired by them.  These are some celebrity makeup looks that really caught my attention this week:  http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/celebs-who-inspire/

Dewy Highlighted Skin

Dewy, highlighted skin is a trend we will continue to see in 2013. It's one of my favorite makeup looks, but if done incorrectly can make the skin look greasy rather than luminous.

There are many different ways to achieve this look. The process will differ depending on your skin type and preferred method. This is how I normally like to create the look, along with some helpful tips on making the look work for you.

What you'll need:

• Rosewater & Glycerin Spray
• Moisturizer
• Foundation with a dewy or demi-matte finish
• Concealer
• Highlighter (liquid, cream or powder)
• Cream Blush 
• Setting powder
•  Optional Items: self-tanner, bronzer

How to create the look:

One of the keys to this look, is skin that is properly prepped. If you have dry or normal skin, I recommend creating layers of moisture by spritzing clean skin with a Rosewater & Glycerin Toner, applying moisturizer, then spritzing the face again with the toner. However, if you have oily skin, you can skip the extra moisture, and just apply your normal oil free moisturizer.  To give my skin an added glow, I have been using a self-tanner on my face all week, but this step is optional.

I also use a brightening serum daily to help eliminate acne scars, and add a brightness to the skin. This step is also optional, but should you choose to follow it, it should be applied after the first spray

of toner, but before your moisturizer. 

Next, You'll need to prime the skin.  I recommend using a brightening primer. It will add to that lit-from-within glow.  However, if your skin is particularly oily, you'll want to choose a primer that works for your skin type. If that means a mattifying primer, that's fine, we'll add the dewiness later. To create my look, I used a brightening primer by CoverFx. Another one I like is from the Lily Cole line available at The Body Shop.

Once the skin is primed, you'll need to choose your foundation. For those with dry to normal skin, I recommend a foundation, tinted moisturizer, or BB cream with a dewy finish. If you have oily skin, choose a formula with a demi-matte finish. Apply your foundation as you normally would. For this look, I used Lavera foundation in shade Ivory 02 (vegan). 

Other good choices are Stila HD Beauty Balm (dries to a powder finish-good for oily skin), Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm (has light reflectors) or Urban Decay Urban Defense (dewy finish) or Illamasqua Skin Base (hydrating):

Next, you'll want to choose your highlighter. It's important to note, that we are highlighting before concealing. Highlighters by nature add light to the areas they are applied on the face. If you have fine lines, blemishes, or anything you want to hide, the highlighting product will actually accentuate your flaws. To counteract this, we want to highlight before we apply concealer. 

My highlighter of preference is liquid or cream. I think it looks more natural on my particular skin.  However, many people prefer powder highlighters. If you prefer a powder products, skip ahead to concealing. If you only wear mineral foundation, use a powder highlighter.

When it comes to choosing a highlighter brand, you should buy whatever works for your budget. There are good highlighters available at all price points. Here are just a few of the brands I've used:

Pictured above: Hourglass Illume Bronze Light, Illamasqua Gleam in Aurora, Illamasqua Illuminator in Odyssey, Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum, Stila All Over Liquid Luminizer in Kitten Shimmer, Elf Shimmering Facial Whip in Golden Peach and Camilla, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl

A word on choosing your highlighters: fair skin choose white, or pink highlighters, medium skin looks best in champagne shades and deeper skin tones look best in gold tone highlighters.  

To create my look, I used Illamasqua Gleam Cream in Aurora. 

How & Where to Apply

You can apply the product with your fingers, or a brush. I recommend using a flat paddle foundation brush, or a small highlighter brush. I used the Real Techniques Contour Brush, because it fits perfectly on the tops of my cheekbones. Dip lightly into the product, and test out on the back of your hand to see how much comes off. Then very lightly apply a thin layer to the high points of your face. I applied it to the tops of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose (using a clean finger), cupid's bow (with a small brush), and just a tiny touch to the forehead and chin.  It is very important to blend the edges well so that you don't see where the highlighter ends and your foundation begins. If you used a brush to apply your foundation, go over the edges of the highlight with that brush lightly to blend. If you used a sponge or your fingers, you can blend lightly with either of those. Turn your head from side to side, to see how the highlight catches the light. If needed, apply more until you get the desired glow.

Next, conceal. I applied corrector under my eyes, followed by my favorite concealer by Christopher Drummond Beauty. I then concealed any blemishes or spots on my face. If you don't like the idea of applying highlighter to your forehead or chin, you can highlight those areas with a little concealer, or a foundation that is slightly lighter in color than your normal shade. 

Next, you will need a cream blush, gel blush or a cheek stain. Choose a shade that best fits with your skin coloring. 

Pictured Above: Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Loving & Flush, Lily Cole for The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Dome (a good choice for oily skin because it's a cream to powder formula)

 I chose to use Illamasqua Cream Blusher in the color Zygomatic. Stila also makes some great cream blush (not pictured). Dip two fingers, or a clean brush into the product, and stipple onto the cheek bones. You want to be very careful not to go too high as to disturb the highlighter you just applied. You can lightly blend the edges of your blush and highlighter together with your finger or a brush.

 You don't want to powder your entire face, or you will undo all of the work you just did. However, you do need to set your concealer. I recommend using a loose powder and a small puff, or small brush and lightly powder only the areas that you don't want shiny. I powdered, under my eyes, the sides of my nose, over any blemishes that I concealed, and a little bit on my forehead.

If you chose to go with a powder highlighter, I recommend applying this after you've set your concealer with powder. Like liquid and cream highlighters, there are many brands to choose from. Here are some of my favorites across various price points: 

Pictured Above: Josie Marian Illuminizing Powder (best for medium skin tones), Ecco Bella Shimmer Dust Color in Moon* (vegan), Elf Baked Blush in Pinktastic, Too Faced Candlelight Glow, Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls, The Body Shop Shimmer Waves in the color Blush, Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder (vegan), Lily Cole for The Body Shop Puff On Radiance

If using a powder highlighter, I recommend using a small highlighting brush, fan brush, or any small brush that lightly applies product to gently sweep onto the high points of the face.  You can go in a small "C" shape along the top of the cheekbones sweeping it up to just under or above the brow. Use a small fluffy eyeshadow brush to highlight the bridge of the nose if desired.  If you used mineral powder foundation instead of a liquid,  use the brush you used to apply it with to buff out the edges of your highlighter.

To further add to the glow, you can apply a powder bronzer anywhere the sun would naturally hit the face. This can really make the highlighter stand out because it creates a nice contrast on the skin.  

Extra Tips:

• Do not apply highlighter to anything you are trying to hide (fine lines, acne, etc)
• Use a light hand - going to heavy will make you look like a disco ball-not cute
• Choose the right shade for your skin color
• Really blend in the edges of your highlighter to make it look seamless
• When in doubt, it is better to under highlight than to over highlight

Generally, I prefer a matte highlight under the brow bone. However, for this look, I took a tiny bit of Urban Decay eyeshadow in the color Virgin from the original Naked palette, and with a very small brush, put it just under the brow bone.

Here is a look at the final result:

 Note the "C" shape of the highlight as it circles the top of the cheekbones up to just under the brow

As always, if you enjoyed reading this post, please don't forget to subscribe and comment below. If you need shade recommendations, drop me a comment or find me on Twitter @MakeupMatters1

Thank you for reading!

*The Ecco Bella Shimmer Dust was sent for consideration. This in no way alters my review. All of my thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and I only share them with you in hopes of helping you make informed purchasing decisions.  All other products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.

*Please note that L'Oreal owns The Body Shop, and is in the process of Acquiring Urban Decay. While both of these brands still have their cruelty-free status, it is important to note that L'Oreal is not cruelty free.

Pinterest Weekly Round Up

Pinterest Weekly Round Up

As promised, here is a round up of my favorites from the week.  I'm constantly updating my Pinterest boards, so if you have Pinterest too, let me know in the comments below so I can follow you!

Weekly Round Up:

 December Favorites: I already shared my top 12 products of 2012 with you, but these are the products I used most in the month of December. NYX eyeshadow palettes were a major theme of the month as were all things Tarte and Hourglass. Here are pics of the items I used most in the month of December:

http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/december-favorites/

My Wishlist: Companies are already launching their Spring 2013 collections. Therefore, I'm adding a lot of new products to my wishlist, as well as some older products that I've yet to try. Too Faced has one of the most interesting collections I've seen so far.  View my wants here:

http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/my-wish-list/ 

Highlighters:  I love highlighters.  In fact, I plan to do a collab with another blogger to create a look of dewy, highlighted skin sometime soon. Here are some of the products I use to help achieve that look:

http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/highlighters/ 

Cruelty-Free Drugstore Picks: A lot of people think choosing cruelty-free products means spending a lot of money. It doesn't. Here's proof: http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/cruelty-free-drugstore-makeup/

Ways to Update Your Look for Spring: This is a busy time of year for me. I'm often advising others on how to update their look. Many women find themselves in makeover mode.  I've compiled some easy ways to update your look for Spring 2013.  Try an emerald eyeshadow, swap out your foundation for BB Cream or try an all matte eyeshadow look. Here are several ideas to inspire you: http://pinterest.com/makeupmatters1/ways-to-update-your-look/

If you enjoy reading my blog, please don't forget to subscribe. 

I'm also on Twitter @MakeupMatters1

*Some of the products listed in this post may have been sent for consideration.  This in no way alters my review.  All of my  thoughts and opinions are 100% honest, and I only share them with you in hopes of helping you make informed purchasing decisions.

Hourglass Cosmetics Giveaway

 Hourglass Cosmetics Giveaway

Happy New Year!  I'm really looking forward to 2013, and I hope you are too. I have a lot of wonderful things planned this year including many more product reviews, tips, tutorials and of course giveaways!  I hope you've had a chance to read my post about Hourglass Cosmetics. If you haven't, you can read it here: http://makeupmattersbylnc.blogspot.com/2012/12/spotlight-hourglass-cosmetics.html

Hourglass is a luxury makeup brand that I've really been enjoying over the past year. Their makeup and brushes are luxurious and they offer several vegan choices in their cosmetic line. If you watched my New Year's Eve message on YouTube, you'll know that I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my wonderful readers and supporters of my blog. Spreading the message about cruelty free beauty is really important to me. I want animal testing to stop. I want companies to realize, that we care about being kind, and that is what's truly beautiful. I want to support brands that do not test on animals. Despite the fact that Hourglass is a luxury brand, they never test on animals. So I am offering this giveaway to my readers as a way to give back and show my appreciation. I realize not everyone can afford this brand, so I want to give you, my readers, a little bit of luxury the cruelty free way.

Rules:

• You must be 18 years of age or older to enter
• You can only enter once
• By entering this giveaway you are agreeing to terms & conditions listed below
• Winner will be chosen on January 15, 2013

How to Enter:

• Join my blog by clicking "Join This Site" with Google Friend Connect in the upper left hand corner of the home page. 
• Leave a comment below telling me which Hourglass product or products you would most like to try (products can be viewed here: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ )
• In your comment leave your Twitter handle or send me a private email with your email address so I know how to contact you if you win : makeupmatters3@gmail.com 

What You'll Win:

• A selection of Hourglass Cosmetics products hand selected by me! 

That's it!  Best of luck!  I want to thank all of you again for being loyal readers of my blog. I have a lot more stuff coming so please make sure you are subscribed so you don't miss anything.

I can also be found on Twitter @MakeupMatters1

Terms & Conditions:
Winner will be chosen at random.  Winner will be notified by Twitter or e-mail.  If the winner does not respond within five (5) days a new winner will be chosen.  You must be 18 years old to enter. I can only ship to U.S. addresses for this contest. There is never any purchase necessary to enter any of my giveaways.  This giveaway can only be entered once by each person. The winner will receive the prize within sixty (60) days of winning. The prize is non transferable. The prize cannot be exchanged for money or money's worth.  You are responsible for any taxes within your own State. Makeup Matters By LNC reserves the right to disclose the winner's identity. Makeup Matters By LNC waives all responsibility related to any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising out of connection with the giveaway or acceptance of the prize. 

***GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

Spotlight: IT Cosmetics Brushes

This is my final post of 2012, and I'm happy to report the year is ending on a positive note. Whenever I'm sent an item for review, I'm always a little bit nervous about liking the product because I am committed to giving honest reviews to my readers.

About a week ago, I received a four cruelty-free synthetic brushes from IT Cosmetics. Brushes are my favorite beauty item, and I am very picky about the brushes I like and use. I've tried hundreds of brushes in my lifetime, and so many brands over the past year.

What Makes a Good Brush?
Everyone has different things that they look for in a brush. For me, I need soft synthetic bristles. They need to also be very functional, meaning they need to pick up, and blend product well. The brush needs to fit comfortably in my hand. I also like brushes that are sturdy, because I'm obsessive about keeping my tools clean, I need brushes that stand up to constant cleanings. While I've only had these brushes for a short time, I put them through the ringer. I tested all of them every day for a week using them in a variety of different ways. I gave them two deep cleanings (once when I first received them, and this morning before photographing).

I'm happy to report, that I am very impressed with these. These brushes are super luxurious, and I was able to find multiple uses for nearly every brush. IT Cosmetics (which stands for Innovative Technology Cosmetics) works with leading plastic surgeons to create cruelty-free makeup and tools focused on anti-aging as well as high performance cosmetics.

Here is a look at the brushes I tested

Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Brush:

 This brush has super soft luxurious bristles and can be used to apply powder, blush or even foundation. I tested it with both powder and liquid products and it worked equally well for both. This gave my foundation a very airbrushed appearance.  I think this brush would be ideal for someone with sensitive skin, because it has a very gentle feel against the skin.  As we age, we have to be more careful about pulling and tugging on our skin. I'm in my 30s and the fine lines are starting to show. I need to be more mindful about how rough I am with my face. This brush helped me get a professional makeup look without tugging on my delicate skin.

Dual Airbrush Concealer/Foundation Brush:

This double sided brush makes creating the perfect canvas a breeze. When you are applying your makeup, it's really nice to not have to reach for a separate tool. I was able to use the foundation brush to apply and buff in my foundation, then with a simple flip of the brush, I can blend out my under eye concealer.  I'm a huge fan of this type of brush for applying concealer under the eye rather than a traditional flat concealer brush. When used in small circular motions under the eye, you can blend out your concealer without it settling in the fine lines.  Like all the brushes in this collection, the bristles are super plush, yet firm enough to do the job they need to do.  This is the perfect tool for those who like an airbrushed look to their foundation.

French Boutique Luxe Blush Brush:

While it's really hard to chose a favorite out of these, I'm going to have to say this angled blush brush is it. One major complaint I have about the angled blush brushes in my collection, is that the head is not flat enough. I have quite an extensive brush collection, and none of my angled blush brushes have as flat a head as this does. This is truly the perfect brush for blush application. Simply dip the bristles into the product, tap off any excess product and stipple or sweep the product onto your cheekbones.

For comparison, here are some other common angled blush brushes in my collection. Note how narrow the head is on the others. A narrow head is fine for contouring, but a wide flatter head is more ideal for blush application.

Pictured Above:  IT Cosmetics French Boutique Luxe Blush Brush is pictured on the left, note the flatter head.

Although the head is wider, and flatter than other brushes in my collection, it is still the perfect size for my cheekbone (pictured above).

No-Tug Heavenly Luxe Dual Shadow Brush:

Although at first glance, this appears to be a 2-in-1 brush, it actually is a 3-in-1.  This brush works as a flat shader brush, to apply shadow to the lid, a smudge brush, or when the shadow end is turned sideways, it can be used as a blending brush.  The eye area is particularly delicate. So it's even more imperative that we use tools that are soft, and don't pull on this area of the face. As IT Cosmetics notes, "pulling on the lids promotes collagen-breakdown and eventually sagging of the skin."  If we are more aware of this fact now, we can take preventative measures, like using the right tools designed to prevent premature aging. Like all of the brushes in this collection, the rubberized handle makes these super comfortable to hold, and you don't have to worry about the brush slipping out of your hand. I used these brushes with pressed shadow as well as loose pigment.  The smudging end of the brush is ideal for applying shadow to the under eye area as liner, or when creating a smokey eye.

Overall, I think these are great brushes.  This set is ideal for women who are concerned about aging (which is probably all women), or those with sensitive skin.  I would especially recommend these for mature women or those with a heavier hand.  The way the brushes are made, instantly makes you have a lighter touch with your makeup, which in my opinion is preferable. 

These brushes are available for purchase here:

https://www.itcosmetics.com/catalog/brushes-%26-tools 

http://www.qvc.com

http://www.beauty.com

In Canada: http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/

I wish you all a very happy and safe New Year's Eve!

*Some of the products in this post were sent for consideration. This in no way alters my review. All of my thoughts and opinions are 100% honest, and I only share them with you in hopes of helping you make informed purchasing decisions.

Spotlight: Armour Beauty

I've now mentioned these glosses in two other posts; my Beautylish Haul and 2012 Favorites. I'm talking about the glosses from Armour Beauty. In order for me to express how much I love these glosses and why, I need to first explain what makes a good gloss.

What Makes A Good Gloss?
The answer to this question is different for everyone. For me, I like a gloss to be moisturizing, non-sticky, and feel light on the lips.  The pigmentation I want, depends on what I'm using the gloss for. If I am using the gloss solo, I want it to have good pigmentation and a nice shine. If I'm using the gloss to top off a lipstick I generally like some added shimmer.

My friends at Beautylish, sent me a sample of this gloss in the shade Diana.  After wearing it only once, I was so blown away by the opacity and shine, that I logged onto beautylish.com that night to order four more shades. I have never been so quickly impressed by a lip gloss in my life.  These come in opaque formulas that wear more like a high shine liquid lipstick, or shimmer shades that work great as at topper gloss.

All of the glosses in this post can be purchased here http://www.beautylish.com/b/armour-beauty 

One of the nice features of shopping this collection on Beautylish is that each of the gloss colors is shown on different skin tones. I wish all makeup products were shown this way online. Retail Price is $21 each.

Here is a closer look at the shades I own:

Diana*: This is a great nude everyday color. I found myself wearing this a lot during the day when I wanted a nice shiny, yet neutral lip. This color is a great choice to pare with a smokey eye, or even on days when you are going for a barely there makeup look.

Marilyn: This gloss is named after none other than Marilyn Monroe. It's a sheer topper gloss with sparkles that look like diamonds on the lips. This can be worn over a lipstick or one of the opaque formulas from Armour.

Nina (Beautylish Exclusive): Is an opaque formula. It's described as bright coral. This shade is perfect way to wear this spring's bright lip. Paired with minimal eye makeup, and a complimentary blush, this shade makes the perfect statement lip.

Siouxsie (Beautylish Exclusive): Is a warm red shade named after punk legend Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie And The Banshees. I was most excited to purchase this shade, because it just looked so beautiful online. I think this would look absolutely amazing on women of color. I plan to wear this shade on New Year's Eve. I'm also wearing it right now as I type this post.

Stardust: This is a topper gloss with sparkly gold shimmer. I love the way this looks over Siouxsie for a truly sexy evening pout. Like all the other Armour Beauty glosses I've tried, this is extremely long lasting, yet feels weightless on the lips. Plus, although this is loaded with sparkle, you don't feel any of the grittiness of glitter on your lips the way you do with some other brands.







Here are swatches of all the shades:

 From left to right: Diana, Stardust, Siouxsie, Nina, Marilyn

Armour Beauty Glosses are cruelty-free and paraben free. 

*Some of the products in this post were sent for consideration. This in no way alters my review. All of my thoughts and opinions are 100% honest, and I only share them with you in hopes of helping you make informed purchasing decisions.