Review: MAC Hot 'n' Saucy

MAC Tendertone in Hot 'n' Saucy from the Cook Collection February 2012

Looking back at my blog, I'm just now realizing I haven't purchased any MAC collections since December 2010 – a little over a year. Nothing has really caught my eye until I saw the Shop/Cook press release.

For lip-product lovers, I'm sure it wasn't too hard to find multiple things to buy with new lipstick shades, kissable lip colors, and what I was excited for, the repromotion of Tendertones. Everyone was crossing their fingers for a repromotion of Ripe Peach Blush in this spring collection. Unfortunately, a lot of people were let down. I've heard raves about Tendertones, and like most good MAC products (and sometimes colors), you'll only see them every few years. I practically ran to my MAC counter the day the collection was released to look at all of the Tendertones in-person. All of the lip colors were pretty intimidating – an orange, yellow, neon green, and bright red. But I remembered reading a review saying these were really sheer. I decided to go with the bright red, Hot 'n' Saucy.

First Impression
I loved the precious exterior box packaging...a summer picnic with the pink plaid packaging. (The lipstick sleeves were really neat, too.) It looked look a lip product in a paint pot. I expected it to be a harder balm so I accidentally dug my finger into with first use.

Review
The formula is excellent, super soft and easily glides on, pretty moisturizing and little to no color.

I usually don't care much for scented products – especially food scents. But I actually don't mind this one... it's some mix between strawberry-kiwi-watermelon. Like Kool-Aid, or a childhood Smackers lip product.

With the Tendertone itself, I was impressed and it does live up to its hype. It appears most other consumer reviews recommended the other 3 shades for the shimmer it provides, but I'm happy with the one I chose. I probably won't pick up any of the others, because there are better lip products out there for about one-third of the cost... if that. It does have SPF 12, so I'll probably end up using this a lot more in the Summer.

I prefer convenient packaging that allows the product to go directly onto the lips. I don't like to mess with lip brushes and putting your finger into a product is unsanitary and messy. Not to mention, the bottom being made of glass doesn't seem safe to travel...

Rating
Product: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Packaging: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

Retail: $15.00

Overall: It's a good product, and a nice one to have if you're really into MAC collections, especially products that are rarely out often. However, for the average consumer, there are better and cheaper lip products available.
Best For: Those who like potted, scented lip products and are looking for moisture but little to no color.
Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this product to a friend.

Saucy,
-Kaitlyn

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January Favorites

"Favorites" posts/videos discuss the products (and other misc things) you loved for that month. The products can either be purchased that month or (old) "rediscovered" items. Favorites are published at the end of the current month or at the beginning of the following month."

This month I had to repurchase quite a few items that I love and ran out of Origins Vitazing Moisturizer and MAC Turquatic Perfume, to name a few. I also picked up items that I already owned in other shades.  Instead of me giving a mini review on products you can already find on my blog, I'll just focus on the new products (From the drugstore!) I've been loving for the month of January:

John Frieda Sheer Solution: Lightweight Frizz Control Serum
The reason I''m so obsessed with this is just for the smell.  It smells better than any salon product that has every touched my hair.  (I purchased a few other items from the line, hoping they'd smell similar, only to be disappointed.) It does tame down frizz on damp hair.  But to tame morning bed head, I'm still on the hunt for a miracle product.

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara
It's a fabulous lengthening mascara, the fibers add quite a few centimeters to the end of my lashes. However, it doesn't do much thickening.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
See my full review.   I picked up quite a few of these lip butters but two in this shade.  I wear it every day and apply multiple times, it's replaced my favorite (drying) MAC lipstick.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Top Coat in Crystal Clear
The bottle claims it lasts up to 10 days. (I'm not sure if that's possible - I'm tired of the same color after a week.)  It has made usual manicure of 1-3 days last at least 5-6 days and still looks good (no peeling, minimal chipping.)  It's similar to Seche Vite, but better, and only one-third of the cost.  I just hope it doesn't thicken and ruin like Seche Vite does when you use half the bottle...

the salon smell,
-Kaitlyn

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Review: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Foxy - pale yellowed beige matte
Half Baked - coppery brown with golden shimmer metallic
Booty Call - peach-tinted white beige satin
Chopper - orange-toned with copper shimmer metallic
Tease - mauve brown matte
Snakebite - bronze with golden shimmer satin
Suspect - soft champagne-bronze satin
Pistol - taupe with a lot of brown satin
Verve - white-gray metallic
YDK - warm coppery brown metallic
Busted - burgundy deep brown satin
Blackout - deep black matte

Naked - sheer neutral pink with white shimmer.

It's a fabulous value, if you bought everything separately (12 shadows, the lip gloss, the brush) you would pay $234.  They put it all in one sleek palette for $50.

Pros:
-Packaging - Sleek packaging in a metal tin that shuts really well.  It's a little heavier than the original but feels more durable and travel-friendly.
-All eyeshadow have good color payoff, easy to work with.
-Matte highlight and black (can be used as eyeliner!)
- A large usable mirror.  Palettes and face products usually always come with those tiny impossible to see anything mirrors, but this one might actually get some use!

Cons:
-Lack of dark colors - not that many dark colors to work with. Only two good crease colors.
-Too many similar colors to the original palette.
-Dual-ended brush - (This is probably just me being weird and picky) I keep my brushes in brush holder - how am I supposed to store a dual ended one? One side will be messed up.  I don't like keeping brushes in the palette, they usually aways fall out when you open it.
-Lip gloss - I don't understand why a lip gloss was placed in this EYE palette? Another primer potion would've made more sense.

Comparison
Let's compare Naked (the original) to Naked 2.

There's really no need to purchase both palettes. If you're an obsessed beauty junkie, of course, you'll want both but the everyday normal person can definitely just get away with one.

-Half Baked is in both palettes.
-Booty Call (2) and Virgin (1) are nearly the same color.
-Suspect (2) and Smog (1) are nearly the same color.
-YDK (2) and Sidecar (1) are nearly the same color.
-Busted (2) and Hustle (1) are nearly the same color.

A few others are similar. Only 5 shades (out of 12) aren't similar at all to any in the first palette.  I'm a little disappointed with Urban Decay for producing such similar colors and even including one of the exact same.

The only two things I really couldn't stand about Naked the original were:
1.) The "black" color was really a glitter almost black/navy mess. I needed a true black to go over eyeliner or deepen the crease for night time looks.  I always had my Naked palette along with MAC Carbon Eyeshadow.

2.) The felt packaging always collected dirt.

Both of these 2 flaws were fixed in the Naked 2 palette. A deep dark black eyeshadow and a sleek metal tin as packaging.

So which one do I buy?
It took me a year to finally just give in and purchase Naked. I've used it every day since and have gotten rid of almost all of my neutral MAC eyeshadows (minus Carbon.)  Only a few colors are starting to have a dent in them.  It only took me a month to purchase Naked 2 this time around.  I looked at swatches but I never really sat down and read multiple reviews saying you don't REALLY need both.

My ideal Naked palette would be to take all of the eyeshadows from the original and put it in Naked 2's sleek case.  Then switch out Creed (1) with Blackout (2) and switch Gunmetal (1) with Verve (2).

Both Naked and Naked 2 both have warm tones.  Naked 2 is the cooler toned palette but still may not suit all cool tones.  Naked can create more looks.  Naked 2 has a matte highlight and black (can be used for eyeliner or deepening.) Naked is more pigmented and shimmery.  Basically, the choice will depend on your preferences and skin tone...

Rating:
Product: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5

Retail: $50.00
The Winner: Naked (the original)
Overall: I'd be more impressed with this palette if I didn't already own the original.  Don't get me wrong, I do like it and I've been alternating back and forth between the two palettes. They're pretty similar, but I understand it's hard to produce so many different shades of neutral.  The original Naked palette got a ridiculous amount of hype and Urban Decay played off that. $50 for 12 full-sized eyeshadows with great color payoff is a great value and worth looking into especially if you never purchased the original palette.
Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this product to a friend.

naked again,
-Kaitlyn

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Review: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

"94% of women felt lips were softer, smoother, and instantly hydrated." 

 - Revlon.com

I've heard (read) nothing but praises about this product.  A week ago, when the shelves were cleared at both my local Ulta and Wal*Mart, I realized it must be worth having.

Not that $7.00 is a bad price for a lip butter, this week (1/8-1/14) there are multiple deals going on which gave me motivation to finally go purchase it.

CVS has these on sale for $5.99 with $3 Extra Bucks (Register Rewards) making it just $2.99 - that's nearly the cost of your basic chapstick! Target Mobile has sent out $1.00 off any Revlon cosmetic item.  Ulta has these BoGo 1/2 this week.

I was happy (and surprised) to see an untouched display at CVS:

Unfortunately, there's a limit of one (for the Extra Bucks) at CVS or I probably would be going back to clear the shelves.  I had a gift card at Target and decided to use the mobile coupon to purchase a second shade ($5.49) there.

I'm a sucker for the color-of-your-lips-but-better lip shades.  I first chose Pink Truffle, I had a hard time picking a second shade but I opted for a more wearable hot pink - Raspberry Pie.

It's a true lip butter formula that glides on and lasts awhile.  It's a really smooth, creamy texture making application even. Pigmentation depends on the color, they're buildable..from sheer to a heavy tint. If you want it completely opaque, it'll be best with a lip liner underneath.  It moisturizes, gives pigmentation, and a little shimmer/shine.

There's a wide color selection, barely-there colors to a deep vampire red.  All of the colors have food names but they're tasteless and unscented!

Pros:

• Unscented - and tasteless! I hate when good products are ruined by unneeded/unwanted scents.
•  Packaging - the lid matches the color of the butter, it's easy to see which color is which.
• Long-lasting - not in the lipstain way, but typical lip butters and balms usually vanish within 30 minutes.  This held up for a few hours.  Even after eating and drinking there was still a little bit of color left behind.
• Moisturizing - it really is.  I'd usually carry around both lip balm and lipstick but takes care of both moisturizing and the color.
• Shades - extremely large color selection

Cons:

• Limited Availability - Some stores didn't get all of the colors.  Some stores can't keep it on the shelves.
• Messy- It's the formula, I like the formula but... the butter softness has potential to be a big mess.  There's no way you can leave this barely hotter than room temperatures without it melting.  (This as a backup lipstick in your car is out of the question.)  It'll easily loose its shape so you'll have to be extra careful to hit it while twisting and putting the lid back on. I've had it for a few days now and the lip product has made its way around the exterior of the silver tube.  (What my lipsticks usually look like after a few months.)

Rating:
Product: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Packaging: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Overall: A short description is a lighter version lipstick in a lip balm formula. The product delivers as advertised... moisturizes and gives shiny color.
Retail: $6.49-$9.99 (depending on store and location)  
Best For:  Those fearful of lipstick but looking for color.
Bottom Line:  Yes, I would recommend this product to a friend.

It's hard to pay full price for an item when you first purchased it as low as $2.99! - I'll probably wait it out for another similar sale or a BOGO half off.  I definitely want to pick up a few more shades.

wearing Raspberry Pie,
-Kaitlyn

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2011 Beauty Favorites

Here are my favorites for 2011! It was neat to look back on my favorites from last year and compare them with the products I've used (or continued using) this year.

The products marked with - means it is a type of product that I do not use, or I just didn't find a miracle product for the year. The products followed by * means it was my favorite for both 2010 and 2011.

These are all products I have used continuously throughout the year.  I have repurchased most of these or I will in the future. I have recommended them to friends and family, and I recommend them to you.

Makeup

Blush: NARS Orgasm
Bronzer: NARS Laguna
Brush: Sigma Tapered Blending Brush
Concealer: Revlon Photoready
Eyebrows: Anastasia Brow Kit
Eyelash Curler: -
Eyeliner: MAC Technakohl in Graph Black*
Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Palette
Eyeshadow Primer/Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion*
Foundation: -
Highlight: MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralized Skin Finish
Lipgloss: -
Lipstick: MAC Velvet Teddy
Mascara: Clinique High Definition*
Nail polish: Butter London Come to Bed Red
Powder: -
Tool: Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge
Top Coat Polish: Seche Vite

High-End Brand: Urban Decay
Drugstore Brand: Revlon

Body

Bath Product: Epsom Salt
Body Exfoliator: LUSH Ocean Salt Facial & Body Scrub
Body Lotion: Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter
Cuticle Cream: LUSH Lemony Flutter
Fake Tanner: -
Foot Cream: Bath & Body Works Shea it isn't So Foot Cream*
Hand Cream: -
Perfume: Stella by Stella McCartney*
Shower Gel: -
Soap: Dove Sensitive Skin
Teeth Whitening - Crest 3D White Advanced Seal

Haircare

Conditioner: Joico K-Pak
Electrical: Clairol Hot Rollers*
Hair Dye: Revlon Colorsilk
Hairspray: Big Sexy Hair
Mask: Joico K-Pak Hydrator*
Miracle Product: Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstruct
Shampoo: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil

Skincare
Exfoliator: LUSH Ocean Salt Facial & Body Scrub*
Eye Product: -
Cleanser/Makeup Remover: Clinique Take the Day Off
Facial mask: Freeman Cucumber Peel*
Lip Treatment: Blistex
Moisturizer: Origins Vitazing
Toner: Clinique Clarifying Lotion


here's to the best,
-Kaitlyn

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