Jordana Modern Matte Lipsticks - all 12 shades - swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

In this post I have all 12 shades of the new Jordana Modern Matte Lipsticks to share with you. I was really surprised by the lip swatches in terms of which ones I thought I'd like and which ones I actually ended up liking. My favorite shade is Matte Popular. Read my full review below, after all the pics, to see all my thoughts on each shade and some tips to get them to look their best.

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shades: 01 Matte Bare, 02 Matte Blush, 03 Matte Frappuccino, 04 Matte Tease, 05 Matte Classy, 06 Matte Adorable, 07 Matte Popular, 08 Matte It Girl, 09 Matte Dare, 10 Matte Pretty, 11 Matte Caliente, 12 Matte Style
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 01 Matte Bare

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 02 Matte Blush

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 03 Matte Frappuccino

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 04 Matte Tease

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 05 Matte Classy

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 06 Matte Adorable

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 07 Matte Popular

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 08 Matte It Girl

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 09 Matte Dare

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 10 Matte Pretty

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 11 Matte Caliente

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick
Shade: 12 Matte Style

Jordana Modern Matte lipstick Info & Review

Cost: $2.49 (0.12 oz full size)
Availability: Available on the Jordana website, at Walgreens, and everywhere else Jordana Cosmetics are sold.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION...

Kiss your dry matte lipstick goodbye... Say hello to the Modern Matte! Modern Matte lipsticks are a winning combination of high payoff pigments and special ingredients that comfortably extend the wear. Expertly selected shades have an all-day wear without the typical 'dry lip' finish that feathers and cracks. Talc and paraben-free. Made in the USA.

Available in 12 shades:

• 01 Matte Bare - deep pink nude
• 02 Matte Blush - nude
• 03 Matte Frappuccino - rich brown nude 
• 04 Matte Tease - rosy pink
• 05 Matte Classy - mauve
• 06 Matte Adorable - bubblegum pink
• 07 Matte Popular - bright pink
• 08 Matte It Girl - fuchsia
• 09 Matte Dare - deep berry
• 10 Matte Pretty - terracotta
• 11 Matte Caliente - hot red
• 12 Matte Style - true red

MY REVIEW...

At $2.49 a piece (regular retail price), these are great matte lipsticks. Very pigmented and with a light layer of lip balm underneath (which is what I did for the lip swatches), I didn't notice much drag on the lips, if any. Without anything on your lips - especially if your lips are as dry as mine - you may notice some drag when applying them. I highly recommend applying a light layer of lip balm underneath to get the best application.

Out of all the shades, my favorite is Matte Popular. It's much prettier in person than in the swatch photos.

Matte Bare is my favorite nude from the line. I originally thought I'd prefer Matte Blush just based on how it appeared, but on the lips Matte Bare was far more flattering on me. Matte Blush actually came off a bit too concealer-lips looking.

Matte Frappuccino is a tragically horrid shade on me. I don't think many people will pull this off unless you are a deeper skintone.

Matte Tease was the one I was sure I'd love, but ended up not liking as much as I thought. it comes off a bit more baby pink on me than I would like. While it is still pretty and wearable, I just don't prefer it the way I thought I would.

Matte Classy is another shade I was sure I'd love, and while it is a pretty shade it's not my favorite but still one that I would recommend - as I think this shade would flatter a lot of people.

Matte Adorable comes off too baby pink light on me, so for me this shade wasn't flattering but I could see how those with more pink undertones would enjoy this.

Matte Popular is my favorite! It also applied really great too - but the color is just beautiful! Such a pretty fun brighter pink without being a pastel baby pink (which always looks horrible on me) or being too Barbie pink. It's a perfect inbetween. Very wearable but still not for those that don't want a bolder pink lip.

Matte It Girl is another pretty pink shade. A deeper berry shade that would flatter a lot of people as well.

Matte Dare looks far more purple in the tube than how it applies on the lips. On the lips it is much more of a cranberry shade, which is very pretty but not necessarily my style.

Matte Pretty was another one I was sure I'd love but didn't really like it. It does, however, remind me of NARS Orgasm.

Matte Caliente is an orange based red. If I were into red shades I'd prefer this one, as orange based reds tend to look slightly more flattering on me.

Matte Style is your classic pin-up girl blue-based red.


I'd definitely recommend these. Sure at $2.49 they aren't the most moisturizing matte lipsticks out there, but a light layer of lip balm underneath these fixes the problem without compromising color payoff or wear. I'd recommend!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of these matte lipsticks? Which shade is your favorite? Have you tried these or would you consider adding them to your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below!

xoxo with love & beauty,
Crystal Valentine

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. However, these products were sent to me for consideration. I am not being paid to make this post, nor has the company influenced me in any way. I have made this post because I wanted to, not because I had to. These are my honest opinions, thoughts and experiences.

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshines - all 4 - swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

I'm all about shimmer and shine in my eye looks, so the Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshines really caught my attention. First, I want to point out that these are not a powder product; I know some people were confused on that and I just wanted to make sure that was noted from the start. These are a cream formula that have a more sheer base to them to give a more diffused glossy look (although some shades are more pigmented than others).

If you want to read more about the product and my review, check it out after all the pics!

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine
Shades: Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine
Shade: 01 Milan

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine
Shade: 02 Rome

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine
Shade: 03 Florence

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine
Shade: 04 Venice

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine Info & Review

Cost: $9.99 retail (0.14 oz full size)
Availability: Available on the Milani Cosmetics website, at CVS and other select Milani retailers.

My Rating: 2 out of 5 Kisses for the lighter shades in each palette - 3.5 out of 5 Kisses for the darker colors in each palette. Overall, 3 out of 5 Kisses

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION...

Rocking, runway-inspired metallics... Get ready to glimmer, shimmer, shine!

This isn't a shadow, it's a shine. Formulated with exclusive, multidimensional pearlescence, this extraordinary eye-enhancer gloss is truly game-changing. The eye gloss can be swept on bare lids for a shine without stickiness or tackiness. Available in four shade quartettes named for Italy's starriest, most beloved cities, the glosses mesmerize with special effects from translucent shimmers to rich opaque metallics. Get the shine, shine, shine without the tackiness of a traditional gloss. Wears better than the average gloss, 2 to 6 hours. Reapply as needed. An effortless addition to your makeup routine, the Fierce Foil Eyeshine is runway inspired and "real way" designed.

Available in 4 different quads:

• 01 Milan - chic nudes and neutrals
• 02 Rome - lush lavenders and smokey purples
• 03 Florence - molten gold, rose and bronze
• 04 Venice - frosty white and ice-cool blues

MY REVIEW...

When I first received these I thought they looked really pretty and I couldn't wait to photograph them so I could dip my fingers in and start swatching! I had seen some good reviews and also a lot of negative reviews on this product, but I still kept an open mind through my testing phase.

Upon dipping my fingers in these I found out just how creamy these really were. I knew they were a cream product but I was expecting them to be a bit more solid. They are almost too creamy, as you can really put a big dent in them if you aren't careful.

Out of the four quads, my favorite is Milan -- but Florence is so close in shades that you really couldn't go wrong with either. In fact, I don't think you need both. Florence is just a bit deeper with a more rose gold accent shade over Milan.


Let's get into each quad and what I think of each of the four shades within each quad. To talk about the shades in each quad I will name them 1, 2, 3 and 4. Shades 1 and 2 are top from left to right. Shades 3 and 4 are on bottom from left to right.


Milan -- This is my favorite of the four quads and out of the two neutral palettes, I'd choose this one. In this quad shades 1 and 2 swatch with the least pigmentation and are most patchy/sheer. These, I feel, are best as inner corner accents, highlights or toppers. Shades 3 and 4, however, apply beautifully. Very creamy and smooth with great even pigmentation. Shade 4 being the one that applied the best.

Rome -- This is the palette for purple lovers! This palette I feel like only shade 4 swatched with the smooth, creamy, even application. Shades 1, 2 and 3 seemed to be much more sheer and patchy - especially shade 3. But, shades 1 and 2 are still much more workable than shade 3. I really feel like the tones of purple are very pretty. Shade 1 is such a gorgeous lavender shade, while shade 2 is much smokier and more my style purple. Shade 3 is just very sheer and honestly I don't even recommend it other than maybe a topper. Shade 4 is gorgeous.

Florence -- This quad is such a close match to Milan; I feel like like just switch the layout and deepened them a bit. Below are both palettes swatched so you can compare them next to each other. Shades 1 and 2 swatch and apply the best. Shade 3 is very sheer and patchy. Shade 4 is sort of in between, but still has a pretty rose gold tone to it.

Venice -- I'm not very much into blue shades, so this quad was my least favorite. I also feel like the shades in this quad applied the worst. All but shade 3 seemed to be sheer and/or a bit patchy. Shade 3 is actually very pretty and is more of a smokey blue-based gray that I would use, but it doesn't justify buying the whole palette for me. You'd have to really like to want to use the two blue shades - which actually are pretty accent shades if you wanted a colorful pop to your lash line.


As far as application goes, these come with a silicone applicator, which works for picking up the cream product but not the best, and you'd have to clean it off well in between shades. I highly suggest using your finger for application; it will give you the best color payoff and application. You can use a brush to blend the edges if needed.

Overall, I think I was far more pumped about this product than it ended up being (for me personally). I like these but I think the price point is a bit steep at $9.99 each, so try to catch a sale if you want to try one. I also think these are too creamy, and if you have oily eyelids you definitely need to apply a primer. You can top with powder shadows too. I have been topping with loose shimmer powder because it sticks well to these before they set.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this product? Have you tried this, or would you consider adding this to your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below!

xoxo with love & beauty,
Crystal Valentine

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. However, these products were sent to me for consideration. I am not being paid to make this post, nor has the company influenced me in any way. I have made this post because I wanted to, not because I had to. These are my honest opinions, thoughts and experiences.

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil - 3 new shades! Swatches, before & after, review

Hello, Beautiful!

The Jordana FabuBrow isn't a new product, but there are three new shades that I think will better match a lot of brows. Back in December 2013 I tried the Jordana FabuBrow for the first time - and I liked it but the shades weren't an ideal match for me so I didn't reach for them. I never made an official blog post on it due to time constraints, but I did Instagram a collage of photos - including swatches - of shades 01 Taupe and 02 Medium Brown  -- CLICK HERE for that photo. However, the new shades I think are a home run hit.

The three new shades are: 04 Light Taupe, 05 Soft Brown, and 06 Midnight Brown. I no longer have the other shades to compare these to, but check out swatches and my before & after pic. A full review and product info after the pics!

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shades: 04 Light Taupe, 05 Soft Brown, 06 Midnight Brown
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

The below Before & After shows me using the shade Light Taupe at first (the top before and after set of pics) - but I felt like the shade was a little too off in tone. So I tried the shade Midnight Brown (shown in the bottom before and after set of pics) and it was a much better match for my brow hairs. I didn't use Soft Brown because it was too red in tone. 

Also - please don't mind my need to pluck my eyebrows in these photos.

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shade: 04 Light Taupe

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shade: 05 Soft Brown

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil
Shade: 06 Midnight Brown

Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil Info & Review

Cost: $2.99 (0.039 oz full size)
Availability: Available on the Jordana website, at Walgreens, and everywhere else Jordana Cosmetics are sold.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Kisses

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION...

Jordana's FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencil fills in, defines and colors brows. Creamy, long-lasting formula. Sharpens to a fine point. Cap has a built-in brush. Made in Germany.

Available in 6 shades; 3 shades are new (shades 04 through 06 are new):

• 01 Taupe
• 02 Medium Brown
• 03 Dark Brown
• 04 Light Taupe
• 05 Soft Brown
• 06 Midnight Brown

MY REVIEW...

As I mentioned at the top of this post, I have already tried the Jordana FabuBrow Eyebrow Pencils in the past. The new shades, upon first looks, seemed like they'd be better matches for my brow hair. I was sure Light Taupe would be perfect but it turned out too yellow in tone on me. Midnight Brown, which looked so dark, use lightly was a far better match. I find they all still have a warm undertone to them. I wish more brow products out there would get on board with the ashier tones - especially for us brunettes.

As far as how the pencil works - it does a fine job. I don't really like brow pencils this thick though because I find that my brows are too thin to be precise with these, especially if they are not freshly sharpened for each use.

This pencil has a waxy consistency, which can be helpful in controlling your brow hairs but can also build up too fast if you use too much of the pencil. You really need to comb the product through - which brings me to what I really don't like about these pencils: the attached comb. I hate these little brush combs - HATE. Sure, they work in a pinch, but a spooley is just such a better choice and I'd rather pay extra for a pencil to have a spooley than this brush comb - which does only a sub-par job at combing the product through properly. For the purpose of the before and after pics in this post I did use the included attached brush comb (but in real life everyday I use a spooley).

I honestly don't reach for these pencils very much; my brows are just a bit too thin and sparse for a thicker pencil and I'm spoiled by the Anastasia Brow Wiz thinness. However, I do think this pencil will work for a lot of brows out there - and the three new shades are great additions!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this brow pencil? Have you tried this, or would you consider adding this to your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below!

xoxo with love & beauty,
Crystal Valentine

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. However, these products were sent to me for consideration. I am not being paid to make this post, nor has the company influenced me in any way. I have made this post because I wanted to, not because I had to. These are my honest opinions, thoughts and experiences.