With the enormous success of its “Naked” 1 and 2 eyeshadow palettes, it’s no surprise that Urban Decay decided to expand on its success!

After glimpsing the “Basics” palette on the ULTA shelf earlier this year, I first thought, “Why do we need yet another ‘Naked’ palette? These colors aren’t even interesting!”

Then I began to look more closely and – realized the rich possibilities offered by this palette.

The palette is sleek and thin, perfect for stashing away on a trip. It even boasts a mirror!

It holds 6 very basic colors, which appear (deceptively) simple and which I shall describe below:

1) “Venus” – Pearlescent shimmering white. Perfect to use as a browbone highlight or in the inner corner.

2) “Foxy” – Buttery warm-toned cream. Gorgeous as a base color over the entire eye! May also work as a matte highlight on the browbone.

3) “W.O.S.” – Very light peach-pink. Also flattering as a base color, as a matte browbone highlight, or even as a lid color.

4) “Naked 2” – Matte taupe. Exquisite as a subtle crease or lid color. Nicely mimics the natural shadow cast by the browbone.

5) “Faint” – Matte brown. Best able to deepen the crease, color the lid, or even as a brow color for brunettes.

6) “Crave” – Matte black. This color is able to infuse any look with smokey glamour! It can deepen the crease – and is excellent for lining the eye.

I have created a very basic (no pun intended!) daytime eye look below, using only shades from the “Naked Basics” palette:

For this look, I used “Foxy” as a base over the entire eye over my Urban Decay primer. Then, I used “W.O.S.” on the lid. “Naked 2,” “Faint,” and lastly “Crave” were used to emphasized the crease. “Venus” was applied as an inner corner and browbone highlight. I then used “Crave” to line the lashline.

All in all, this little palette is a gem. The quality of the eyeshadows is everything we’ve come to expect of Urban Decay — buttery smooth, well-pigmented, and long-lasting. It possesses that “all-in-one,” versatile quality that lends universal appeal. One can create multiple looks with this palette of only 6 shadows. It may not be as large or popular as the “Naked” 1 or 2 palettes, but, if I had to pick only one, I would grab the “Basics” palette — and so should you! 🙂

Final Score: 5/5

Available at Sephora, ULTA, and urbandecay.com for $27

Hi everyone!

Today’s post consists of my second YouTube video, in which I discuss and swatch half of my MAC lipstick collection consisting of pinks & nudes. I will post the second half, consisting of bolder colors, very soon!

The link to my video is as follows: http://youtu.be/J1xrpasNQ-w

Below, I have also posted lip swatches of the various shades mentioned in the video:

“UNLIMITED” – Muted Dirty Rose (matte)

“BOMBSHELL” – Bright Rosy Pink with Shimmer (frost)

“ANGEL” – Soft Pink (frost)

“VIVA GLAM V” – Neutral Pink with Pearl (lustre)

“SWEETIE” – Ultra Sweet Pink (lustre)

“PURE ZEN” – Frosted Warm Nude (cremesheen) {Limited Edition}

“POLITELY PINK” – Dirty Pink (lustre)

“BLANKETY” – Soft Pink Beige (amplified creme)

“CREME DE LA FEMME” – Pink Laced with Gold (frost)

“MODESTY” – Muted Neutral Pink (cremesheen)

“FAUX” – Muted Mauve-Pink (satin)

“SYRUP” – Cloudy Pink (lustre)

“TWIG” – Soft Muted Brownish Pink (satin)

“KINDA SEXY” – Neutral Pinky Rose (matte)

“PLEASE ME” – Muted Rosy-Tinted Pink (matte)

“SPIRIT” – Muted Pinky-Beige Brown (satin)

Stay tuned for Part 2! Take care 😉

Drugstore eyeliner always seems to be “hit-or-miss,” which is always a great reason to read reviews and make an informed decision!

Today I will rate and review CoverGirl’s new “Ink It!” eyeliner 🙂

The website states that these eyeliners, available in 6 shades, “glide on smoothly and easily without skipping, dragging, or pulling,” leaving behind color that “lasts all day long.” We shall examine these claims, one by one.

The pen design allows you to twist up the product with no sharpening required, which is always a plus.

As I swatch the product, it appears to possess vivid pigmentation:

So far, so good!

Application to the lash line, however, begins the difficulty. Tugging the lid a great deal and requiring many strokes to apply product, this liner does not dispense smoothly AT ALL. Novices to eyeliner will be completely lost with this product since application is very difficult, even for a makeup veteran like me. And forget the cat eye — that is impossible with this liner!

My attempt:

One caveat, however — This eyeliner, if ever you can manage to apply it, will indeed last all day without smudging. The swatch did not fade from my hand, even after multiple hand washings.

This product was a disappointment. The ad, which I will display at the bottom of the blog post, was tempting, so my hopes were high. The eyeliner does not “glide” onto the lid, as the company promises — far from it! Application is very tedious. Its longevity then becomes a problem, since the line made by this product is, due to the difficult application, coarse and uneven at best.

Save your money — $5 is too much to spend on this monstrosity!

Final Score: 1/5

Available at Walmart, CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite Aid, Target, & ULTA for $5

Earlier this year, CoverGirl released a bold new foundation, which claimed to act as primer, foundation, and concealer (hence the “3-in-1” part of its moniker), all the while providing a full-coverage finish that will combat shine all day.

As an oily skin sufferer, I was intrigued!

The sturdy glass bottle possesses a pump, which always helps dispense the product and avoid a spill:

As you can see, the product appears to have a thick consistency at first sight. My shade is the palest, “Ivory,” out of 14 shades:

It applies smoothly to the face and quickly covers blemishes and redness; I agree that this foundation is full coverage. The finish is matte, although the product does not feel heavy at all. No need to apply sunscreen underneath as the foundation contains SPF 20.

Bare face:

After Foundation:

The lasting power of this foundation is considerable. The coverage lasted late into the evening — until I cleansed my face! A hint of shine surfaced on the T-zone in mid-afternoon; nevertheless, this is an impressive feat as far as oil-fighting foundations are concerned. I was very impressed by this product, which lives up to the vast majority of its claims. It does indeed act as a 3-in-1product, with the capacity of a primer (with SPF 20), foundation, and concealer (with its full-coverage capabilities). It also fulfills it’s “Outlast” label since it lasts well into a working woman’s long day.

Full face:

As far as drugstore foundations are concerned, this is top of the line. Bravo, CoverGirl!

Final Score: 5/5

Available at Walmart, CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite Aid, Target, & ULTA for $9

Neutrogena’s “MoistureSmooth Color Sticks,” released in early 2013, have been widely acclaimed on the beauty circuit.

Of course I had to test the product myself! 🙂

The website states that these little lip crayons, if you will, “instantly moisturize lips, while continuously conditioning them so they are softer and smoother in just 3 days with nothing on them,” with a “sheer wash of moisturizing color that lasts for hours.”

The design reminds me of the popular Clinique chubby sticks! Thankfully, the twist-up pen precludes sharpening, which is always a messier alternative.

I purchased the “Bright Berry” shade, which, as the name suggests, is a pinkish berry hue. The color applies very smoothly to my hand — and to the lips. I was shocked — pleasantly so — at the bright pigment! Its vivid hue reminds me more of a lipstick than a gloss.

This definitely moisturizes the lips like a balm. The usual waxy sensation associated with lipstick is absent. It lasted for 2 hours before needing re-application.

Full face:

On the whole, I liked this product. It provided the color intensity of a lipstick with the gentle moisturizing properties of a balm. It did not last long before fading — and will need occasional re-application throughout the day — which is a disadvantage. Nevertheless, for a balm-like product, its longevity is standard. It’s always a trade-off between moisture and durability with these lip products, as the two always seem to have an inverse relationship. Nevertheless, the MoistureSmooth Color Stick lives up to most of its claims without carrying an unwieldy price tag. A nice product to carry in your purse! 🙂

Final Score: 4/5

Available at Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreen’s, & ULTA for $8