Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Lipstick & Lipliner in Ex-Girlfriend

Hello, Beautiful!

When Urban Decay first announced they were collaborating with Gwen Stefani, the 12 year old in me exploded with joy. I used to idolize her; I wanted to be her! Of course I ordered the eyeshadow palette as soon as it came out. Then I saw the Ex-Girlfriend lipstick that was coming soon (we received samples with the palette) and I knew I had to have it. As soon as it launched, I bought the Ex-Girlfriend lipstick and the Ex-Girlfriend lip liner.

I had seen swatches upon swatches from famous Instagramers who already received press samples of all the shades, and Ex-Girlfriend looked like the PERFECT pinky nude combo. I ripped open my Sephora package as soon as it arrived and couldn't wait to get these on my lips.... and thats when my balloon popped and all my excitement escaped and I felt deflated. I'll explain why throughout this post....

First, I ordered mine from Sephora - but you can get it at Urban Decay's website and I'm sure eventually it will be at Nordstrom, Ulta, Macy's, etc.

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani 
Lipstick and Lip Liner
Shade: Ex-Girlfriend

Here is what the packaging looks like; the same pretty packaging from the shadow palette. I absolutely LOVE the white and gold (that's a theme at my desk at work).

Let's start with the Ex-Girlfriend Lipstick....

It looks beautiful in the package and the lipstick tube itself is pretty.

I kind of wish the lipstick tube was also white and gold instead of black and gold, but I like it all the same. One thing I will say is it feels cheap; very lightweight and inexpensive feeling. I was expecting more, especially with how sturdy and well put together the Gwen Stefani shadow palette is.

Even the shade name sticker on the bottom is very plain and just seems like it was rushed or very little thought went into the process.

But I can look past any packaging flaws if the product itself is beautiful, and just look at this lipstick.... it certainly is a beauty!

It looks like a perfect everyday pinky nude shade; exactly what I was hoping for!

There is some slight shimmer in the lipstick but I don't really see it translate to the lips other than shine; I don't see or feel any shimmer on the lips.

This shade is a sheer shade - which I don't totally hate, because it's buildable - but at the same time, I think this shade fully opaque would be near perfection! I'm not sure which lipstick formula from Urban Decay this is... I'm assuming their Sheer Revolution Lipsticks, but I can't be certain because it's not mentioned on the box like the Lip Liner is mentioned as the 24/7 Glide-On Lip Liner.

As you can see in the swatch pic, it is very glossy and you can see it looks patchy due to being sheer and going over it with a few passes.

On the lips, it's very sheer and can be built up just slightly more than what you see below. Keep in mind these lip swatch pics are some of my worst - not just the fact my lips are super dry (from being sick), but also the light and angles and my foundation was a wreck all around my lips. But you'll still get the shade idea....

I guess if you look really, really, really close you might see a hint of shimmer but it is faint.

Now let's move onto the lip liner....

This is one of Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils, which I do like those formulas so I was really excited about this lip pencil; I could see myself pairing it with a number of lipsticks I already own.

 

As you can see, it looks like a gorgeous pinky nude shade....

And then I swatched it... and it turned more brown.... an almost orange undertone pink brown... certainly not what I expected.

Again, I apologize for the EXTREMELY bad lip swatch and my horribly dry lips, but I wanted to show you what the lip liner looked like on its own.....

The swatch actually looks a bit lighter than in person.

Here are what the lip liner and lipstick look like swatched next to each other.... you can see the lipstick has a much more pink tone than the lip liner. They certainly do compliment one another though, and don't get me wrong, they're pretty.... but you'll see what I mean....

Here is what the lipstick looks like over top the liner. I have to say, again, it looks darker in person than in this pic. In person my lips definitely take on a brown hue. In the lip swatch pic below, I can see more pink tones but not in person. The studio lights are doing this duo some favors.

So to re-cap:

FINAL THOUGHTS...

Even though the lip liner made everything darker than expected, I don't regret the purchase and can still use these. I love the lipstick on its own and over other liners I own. I sort of like the combo above, but I'm not a fan of brown lips so if any lip color even goes slightly brown on me I'm instantly not a fan. I think I have to warm up to it.

As for staying power, the lip liner is a long wear product - the lipstick is not. But together I get decent wear - depending on how much I'm drinking/eating.

I know this shade was sold out at Sephora, and it makes sense since the other 3 shades are bold/vivid shades - leaving this to be the only nude/everyday shade option - which I think a lot of people would prefer.

Let me know if you picked up either of these products and in what shade!

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

Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in Paradiso

Hello, Beautiful!

I never thought this would happen, but I think I'm addicted to Tom Ford makeup! That's a very bad addiction to have, considering the average item is around $50 to $80 a piece. I haven't gone off the deep end yet and into complete debt over this line... no, instead I've added piece by piece (and even returned a few, less-than-worthy items).

In today's post, I have the Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer in the shade Paradiso. This lipstick was from his Summer 2015 collection, but I've only now (in November) started to use it. I will say, this is a much more summer shade for certain -- especially when you see just how NOT sheer this "sheer" lipstick is.

Check out all the product info below, along with my full review and an array of pics!

Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer Info & Review

Cost: $52.00 (0.1 oz full size)
Availability: Available on the Tom Ford website, at Nordstrom, at Neiman Marcus, and everywhere else Tom Ford beauty is sold.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses for the formula... 4.5 out of 5 Kisses for the shade Paradiso.

PRODUCT DETAILS & CLAIMS...

Tom Ford's Lip Color Sheer delivers a lustrous sheen of color that compliments sun-kissed, summer skin. A decadent mix of Vitamins C and E, plus shea butter, helps lavish the lips with saturated moisture. The distinct, beveled lip color sheer bullet is packaged in a retro-chic, ivory and gold colored Tom Ford case.

This shade is from his Summer 2015 collection, which included four shades. 

Tom Ford Lip Color Sheer
Shade: 07 Paradiso

This is what the box looks like...

   

This lipstick packaging is in white with gold trim instead of his usual deep brown/burgundy and gold. I like this color combo a lot more.... white and gold together is just really pretty to me. 

The top of the lipstick lid has his traditional TF embossed.

And the bottom has a sticker with the shade name. My sticker is put on very crooked... you'd think for such an expensive lipstick a detail like that would be unacceptable. I mean, Maybelline and L'Oreal seem to get it right.

And here she is again... such a pretty pink. It photographs a little differently than it appears in person. And even in person I find that the shade looks different in various lighting.

Sometimes it looks more red, other times more coral, and even sometimes it pulls with a hint of orange. But the main shade is pink, and it's a beauty.

This bullet style isn't my favorite. It has a flat, pointed top. I know some people prefer this style because they say it can line the contours of the lip better, but I just don't have the lip shape for this. Plus, once it wears down you lose that precision anyway. But it's nothing I can't work with.

And of course, the traditional TF is embossed into the lipstick.

Here are two swatches of Paradiso:

And lip swatches of Paradiso:

This isn't the best lighting, but you can see there is NOTHING sheer about this lipstick formula. It's very good pigmentation, especially considering I was expecting a sheer wash of color.

FINAL THOUGHTS...

I purchased this lipstick with the intention of getting a sheer wash of color... imagine my surprise when I applied this to my lips and was given anything but sheer. Sure, it's not totally opaque on first swipe, but you can see from the lip swatch pics above just how opaque it can be.

The shade I decided to try, Paradiso, is a gorgeous coral pink that seems to morph slightly depending on the lighting. Sometimes it looks very pink, other times more coral, and even at times a bit red. It certainly is a beauty though... and a shade I do think is very summer appropriate.

What I love most about this lipstick is how hydrating it is. It feels so incredibly luxurious on my lips.... very silky smooth. If you've followed my blog for awhile then you probably have heard me say that I have the driest lips on planet earth... year round dryness! So when a lipstick feels this good on my lips, it's something to take note of!

I really love Tom Ford lipsticks, from what I've tried so far. I have this one, a sheer, and one of this regular lipsticks in the shade Pink Dusk --- which is probably my holy grail nude shade (blog post of that beauty to come soon).

Also, just for comparison, I do find this lip sheer is a bit more hydrating and conditioning on the lips than his regular line of lipsticks.

If you want a luxurious lipstick that feels like an amazing lip balm but looks like a lipstick, then give this one a go. If you'd rather save the cash, I understand fully. $52 for just ONE lipstick is insane... you gotta REALLY love the shade AND the formula. For me, I love the formula and like the shade. But when it comes to the Pink Dusk lipstick... well, I love the formula AND shade and wouldn't hesitate to repurchase that one. Paradiso, while it's pretty, isn't a lipstick I'm adding to my "must re-purchase" list.... at least not yet. Give me a few months and warmer weather and we'll see how I feel then.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this lipstick? 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

Black Radiance Perfect Tone Lip Color - 3 shades - swatches, pics, review!

Hello, Beautiful!

This is going to be a quick post, because I just wanted to show some quick swatches of the Black Radiance Perfect Tone lipsticks. If you've never tried Black Radiance lipsticks, then you're really missing out! They're very affordable ($1.99 each), have a nice texture, and an assortment of beautiful shades.

I currently own three shades (and I have a backup tube of my favorite, 5115), but I certainly want to grow my collection.

Black Radiance Perfect Tone Lipstick Info & Review

Cost: $1.99 (0.13 oz full size)
Availability: Available on the Black Radiance website, and at select stores (drugstores, Walmart, Target). I usually find mine at Walmart or CVS.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

PRODUCT DETAILS & CLAIMS...

Perfect Tone Lip Color provides lasting full coverage and sufficient shine in one. This beautiful collection of lip colors is designed to compliment a vast array of skin tones. Plus, it's deep moisturizing color lasts for hours. Gluten-free. Cruelty-free.

Black Radiance Perfect Tone Lip Color
Shades: 5115, 5113, 5112
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

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5115

First up is my favorite of all three, shade 5115.

These all have real names too, not just numbers, but they're not listed anywhere on the package after you remove the seal. I forget the names, so that's why I can only refer to them by number.

This shade is one of those "your lips but better" shades that goes with almost any look, and is a great throw-in-your-purse shade.

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5113

Next is shade 5113.  This shade is a brighter, cooler tone pink shade.

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5112

Next is shade 5112, which is a bright purple and just happens to be one of my favorite purples to wear.

THE FINAL VERDICT...

These lipsticks are fantastic! For the price, they're really hard to beat. Black Radiance is made by the same people that make Wet n Wild, and just like there are real gems to be found in the Wet n Wild line, there are also real gems to be found within the Black Radiance line. Their lipsticks are absolutely my favorite product thus far (I also like their 8-pan shadow palettes a lot).

They're really nicely pigmented, go on smooth, don't dry out my lips, and top that off with a $1.99 price tag...... seriously, how can they get any better?!!

If you can't find Black Radiance in stores near you, just go to their website to purchase them (plus you'll get 15% off when you create an account on their website). I find Black Radiance at Walmart and CVS.... but it's not carried at my local Walmart. I have to go to a Walmart that's about 30 to 40 minutes away to find Black Radiance. To find Black Radiance at a CVS is even harder.... I've only had luck with locations over an hour from me.

Now let me know what you think...

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

xoxo with love & beauty,
Crystal Valentine