Stila Convertible Color Gerbera Review

There was a lot of interest on my Stila Convertible Color in Peony review so I decided to do another one. This time I'll be talking about Stila Covertible Color in Gerbera. Gerbera is a bright sweet pink color that I found to be very flattering on all skin types. I first came across Gerbera when a makeup artist used it on me for an event and ever since then I was sold on the color and the radiant look that can be achieved with it.

Stila Convertible Color in Peony Review Here


Stila Convertible Color Gerbera Cream Blush Cheek and lip duo

Product Description from Official Website:


This versatile favorite brightens cheeks and lips with creamy, translucent color. Tap onto cheeks and press onto lips. The sheer tint adds an inherent glow to the cheeks while lips bloom with fresh, radiant color. Our two-in-one compact holds the key to easy, monochromatic makeup. A must-have in every stila girl's kit.

Ingredients

ingredients: ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, lanolin oil, beeswax\cera alba\cire dabeille, microcrystalline wax\cera microcristallina\cire microcristalline, octyldodecanol, phenyl trimethicone, ozokerite, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydrogenated palm kernel glycerides, ethylhexyl palmitate, isononyl isononanoate, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, tocopheryl acetate, hydrogenated palm glycerides, bht, [+/- mica, titanium dioxide (ci 77891), iron oxides (ci 77491, ci 77492, ci 77499), bismuth oxychloride (ci 77163), blue 1 lake (ci 42090), carmine (ci 75470), manganese violet (ci 77742), red 7 lake (ci 15850), red 22 lake (ci 45380), red 28 lake (ci 45410), red 30 lake (ci 73360), red 33 lake (ci 17200), red 34 lake (ci 15880), ultramarines (ci 77007), yellow 5 lake (ci 19140), yellow 6 lake (ci 15985)]

Note that for the ingredients that are used to make the color will vary depending on which color you're looking at.

Stila Convertible Color Gerbera Cream Blush Cheek and lip duo
This photo was from the event that I mentioned above where I first tried Convertible Color in Gerbera. I absolutely loved it cause the makeup artist was able to use it to give me a radiant look. It was also the first time when I saw a pro applying cream blushes and I quickly adopted her technique afterwards. ;)  And look at that hair - all done up, how I miss that!


Stila Convertible Color Gebera Peony Fuschia color swatch
Here's a color swatch of three Stila Convertible Colors. From left to right, Gerbera, Peony and Fuschia.The three colors don't have any shimmer in them but do have a slight satin finish.


Stila Convertible Color Gerbera Cream Blush Cheek and lip duo

I applied Gerbera on top of my foundation with a wedge sponge on the apples of my cheeks and moving upwards towards the area just between my ears and temples. Do this very lightly with the sponge so you don't end up with too much color past your cheeks. I recommend blending the product on the apples and then move further out and only apply more if you want more color. The amount of color to use depends on how natural you want your makeup to look. The more blended and less concentrated the color, the more natural-looking it becomes.

After setting my foundation and cream blush with loose setting powder, I applied Shu Uemura's Glow On Blush in M Pink 30 to even out any spots I missed with the cream blush.

Stila Convertible Color Gerbera Shu Uemura Blush M Pink 30
The Shu Uemura blush looks very similar in color to Gerbera here, but it's actually a lot pinker. It goes on fairly light but since I didn't want to intensify the color on my cheek even more, I made sure to get rid of excess product by tapping my brush and dabbing it to a tissue. You can tell I use my Gerbara a lot!

Gerbera is a pretty color that looks so flattering on a wide spectrum of skin tones. It's such a beautiful color and easy on the eyes. Where Peony is more neutral and takes on other blush colors easily, Gerbera adds a radiant soft peachy pink to your cheeks. I like to use it for a radiant glow as well as a blush base so if you're looking for both of these , you can't go wrong with the color.

Here is what I used for my makeup:

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Founation Primer
2. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer
3. Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation color 4.5 mixed with Lasting Silk 5.5
4. Shiseido Maquillage Line Concealer color 1 - blended it with
5. Graftobian Hi-Def Glamour Creme in soft orange
6. Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera
7. Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in M Pink 30
8. Lancome Color Design Eyeshadows in Couture and Fashion Show
9. MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon Matte
10. Heroine Make Kiss Me Smooth liquid Eyeliner
11. BUXOM Lash Mascara in Blackest Black - see my review here.




Retails for: $25 USD
Where to buy: Stila Cosmetics online or in-store

Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara Review

We are at the end of my Lash Stash project with this final review of Sephora's Outrageous Volume Mascara Review! I hope my reviews were helpful to your quest to find the perfect mascara for your lashes. Here we go with Outrageous!

Read the other Lash Stash mascara reviews here. 



Description from Official Website


What it is:
A volumizing mascara that delivers pumped-up, glamorous lashes.

What it does:
This mascara's unique triple load brush intensely coats lashes in one easy stroke for a full, luscious look. The thick, Ultra Black formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid—an ingredient recognized for its moisturizing properties. Use the brush's reservoirs to intensify lashes from root to tip, separate lashes with the "spiked" areas, or achieve a curved effect by pressing the brush lightly against the tips of the upper lashes.

What else you need to know:
Tested under ophthalmological control, this mascara was found suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.


I like Sephora's Outrageous Volume mascara more than I thought I would. Like most mascaras, I had to apply several layers before I saw my lashes transform in volume and length. The fact that I could apply several layers shows that the formula allows for considerable sculpting before the window of opportunity closes and the mascara dries.

Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara ReviewSephora Outrageous Volume Mascara Review
There's definitely clumping with this volumizing mascara, but it was a lot better than I thought. Thanks in part to the brush, excessive product is effectively combed out.

Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara Review

Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara Review Brush Wand Applicator
The application wand is only sample size. The brush head however makes up a relatively large part of the wand. It didn't impact my experience negatively, because the bristles on the brush are short, stiff and evenly spread out on the brush head. You really have to poke yourself to accidently get product somewhere besides your lashes. The brush design is effective in that you could use it to sculpt your lashes, even out product without much difficulties. There are no chunky bunched up bristles, no oversized brush head to deal with.

I enjoyed trying Sephora's Outrageous Mascara. It's a few notches better than 3-4 of the other brands in the Lash Stash set and is one of my top 5 brands from the group. If you're looking for volume and have found that other volumizing mascaras with dense bristles clump your lashes, you might want to give this a try.


Retails for $18 USD
Where to buy: Sephora online or locally in-store.

Ingredients:

Ultra Black

-Hyaluronic Acid: A formula recognized for its moisturizing properties.
Water, Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Glyceryl Stearate, Glycol Montanate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Ci 77007 (Ultramarines), Pentylene Glycol, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, C12-16 Alcohols, Glycerin, Lecithin, Ci 77266 (Black 2), Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Sodium Dehydroacetate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera (Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax), Pvp, Nylon-12, Phenoxyethanol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Alcohol.


Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara Review

I have one more mascara to try after this review and I'll be finished with my Lash Stash review project. This time we'll be looking at Lancome's famous Hypnose Drama Mascara in "Excessive Black". I chuckled a little when I saw the name of the color. We've run out of names for the color black so marketing people have come up with trendy versions to call this color such as excessive black, rich black, blackest black, ultra black etc..I have "black" eyelashes that appear brown at the tips under light so I can definitely appreciate that there are various intensities of the color, but after seeing dozens all these different names it becomes rather amusing. "Ubertastical Black Matter Black", anyone?

Read the rest of the Lash Stash Reviews here.


Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara Review

Product Description from Lancome's Website:

Turn up the volume of your lashes 6 times for instant come-hither, hypnotizing eyes. Tiny, barely-there lashes are no match for the patented POWERFULL™ brush that thickens lashes from root to tip with custom volume you can control. And the exclusive, fluid SoftSculpt ™ formula, enriched with Vitamin B5, wraps lashes one luxurious layer at a time without smearing, smudging or clumping.

Benefits
  • Unique, oversized brush provides full contact with lashes for ultimate volume
  • Delivers maximum lash coating with immediate load gives lashes instant volume
  • Fluid, creamy gliding formula evenly coats lashes from root to tip for buildable volume
  • Promises intense, deep color
  • Fragrance-Free. Ophthalmologist Tested. Allergy Tested. Safe for contact lens wearers.

Technology
  • New oversized S-shaped curve full contact Convex Brush
  • Texturizing Complex formula with highly saturated waxes
  • Triple Coating System enriched with Pro Vitamin B5
  • Deep Carbon Black Pigments
This mascara has one trademarked technology listed. Makes the product seem so much more reliable...maybe? Well, how it does it fair?

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara ReviewLancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara Review
I was pleasantly surprised at the results. I got some very nice volume that didn't come at the expense of badly clumped lashes. The lashes fan out neatly thanks to a well designed brush. There is some clumping but it isn't a deal breaker.

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara Review



Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara Review
The S-shaped brush head is designed to generously add product onto your lashes while preventing clumping. I am impressed by how well this brush works. My only complaint is the design is so effective at depositing product onto lashes that before you get a chance to even out or comb excess product off, some gets onto your lid from blinking or just moving too fast. Getting product on lids is my biggest pet peeve. It is so annoying to have to spend extra time getting a cotton swab to rub off the mascara and then reapply some eye shadow. All I have to say about that is WASTED TIME.

Aside from that annoying bit, the product is a tad pricey being $27 for one tube. I heard there is a big drugstore brand that delivers similar results. I will check that one out once these Lash Stash mascaras run out. On that note, if you're like me and find that most volume-based mascaras clump and have tried a lot of different mascaras without much luck, I do recommend Lancome's Hypnose Drama to you. If $27 is too steep then certainly keep looking. I'll be providing mascara reviews until there's nothing more for me to say so check back. :)

Retails for $27 USD
Where to Buy: Lancome makeup counters and website.

Sephora VIB 15% Discount

Hey VIBs! I wanted to put up something quickly to say that Sephora is having a VIB event that started today and goes until Monday, April 22nd where you get 15% off any purchase. For the first day of event today, they gave out a Sephora tote bag with 8 samples in it when you bought something. If you were waiting to stock up, now is a good time to do it and if you're a VIB, you should've gotten an email about the event. Be sure to bring a printout of that email or show it on your phone to let them scan the barcode when you are checking out as they do ask for that. Enjoy your haul!



Sephora VIB Event Discount Tote Bag Samples
 This is a sturdier tote bag than the one they gave out at the last VIB sales event from October 2012. You can use it for when you go for light shopping. The handle is long enough so that you can comfortably sling it over your shoulder.

Sephora VIB Event Discount Samples
Here are the samples I got in store. It came with Smashbox's Camera Ready BB Cream, Makeup Forever's Pro Finish, Gucci Premiere Eau de Parfum, Nude Cleansing Oil for face and eyes, Olehenriksen Oil-free Brightening Moisturizer, Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner and Josei Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum.

I'll probably try Bumble and Bumble tonight. Not sure if the BB cream would be too light for me but I'll try that too. If the products seem to work and I get my hands on some more I'll put up a review.

Deja Vu Beautenizer Fiberwig LX Mascara Review

Where do I even begin with Fiberwig? From the beginning I suppose. Almost 10 years ago a very good friend of mine who is an eyelash/mascara fanatic discovered Fiberwig during her travels in Japan. She came home with a handful of souvenirs and gave me my first tube of Fiberwig that claims to increase lash lengths to extraordinarily long lengths. I really enjoyed her gift and used it for months to follow.

When I got a chance to go to Japan I made sure to get some more Fiberwig and by then, they had released a spin off product that is the same as the original except it came with a small angled wand. This wand was designed to get to hard to reach lashes that the regular wand couldn't easily get to. I'm sure it was an impulse buy at the time, but I didn't care because Fiberwig was that good. I remember they even had a gold-colored cap version of it that was selling as a limited edition product. The Japanese love their limited editions!

Read the rest of the Lash Stash Reviews here.
DJV Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara Review


DJV Beauteniver Fiberwig has gone on to become Japan's #1 selling mascara and for good reason. The product does what it claims to do for a lot of people. I can't believe 10 years later I'm writing a review on it.

Description on Official Website Reads:


Brush-on Fiber Extensions
Dramatically Lengthens, Separates & Conditions
Four unique qualities:
- Dramatically long lashes with double the fibers
- Smudge proof all day
- Easy removal with warm water
- Conditioning oils for healthier and more resilient lashes
Fiberwig® LX is a technological advancement in a tube.
The brush-on fiber extensions, a false lash formula applied like mascara encapsulates each lash within an intensive fiber-rich film. The more fibers you add, the longer your lashes become, giving you natural-looking long lashes without the fuss. The result is a beautifully long lashes with a glossy-black finish. This budge-proof formula is also fragrance-free and leaves your eyes irritation-free. The new crescent-shaped brush allows for easier application to reach desired length. Also, this unique brush is shaped to conform to the roots of your lashes perfectly to create a more beautiful curl, adding length to each and every lash.

And on Sephora, it says the mascara is formulated without

- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- Triclosan

but if you look at the Ingredients tab, it has a few different kinds of parabens, mineral oil and petrolatum in the formula. I just need you to be aware of this so you can make an informed decision.

As the name suggest Fiberwig is a mascara that contains little fibers that attach and extend your lashes as the fiber builds onto one another.

DJV Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara ReviewDJV Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara Review
 I applied nearly two dozen coats of mascara. It was easy to comb through and it seem liked it was going to take a lot of layers for the product to start clumping. You can see a bit of clumping here from all the layers I applied. I kept going until my lashes couldn't possibly get any longer.

DJV Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara Review


As expected, Fiberwig gave me tremendous length with minimal clumping which lives true to two of its  major claims. The mascara is very long lasting and durable due to its oil, water resistent forumla and the cool part of it is it's not exactly waterproof. The mascara can be easily removed with just warm water. Makeup remover will do a more thorough job however.

DJV Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara Review
The wand has a slight half moon curve. The bristles on the brush are densely arranged in bunches that works well to comb through your lashes. If you look closely, you'll see a tiny thin fiber randomly sticking out off the mascara tube and on the brush. I didn't find the wand to be any easier or harder to use compared to other brands.

There's a very good reason that this mascara made it all the way from Japan to North American shelves and that is, it works and works consistently. And not only that, they've continued to make improvements to the formula to keep up with competition and keep customers coming back for more. You won't be disappointed if you're looking for a mascara that will add great lengths to your lashes. If you have oily eyes lids and struggle with products smudging, DJV Beautenizer Fiberwig's mascara is worth a try for that reason too.

[Update 10/12/2013]: Thanks to a reader, I found out that Sephora no longer carries Fiberwig. :( I guess that leaves Amazon or Rakuten.com (International online retailer based in Japan) to buy from. Rakuten sells cheaper than Sephora and Amazon at $19.99 per tax and shipping.


Retails for $19.99 USD (from Rakuten.com)
Where to buy: In North America, you can get this product from Amazon or Sephora online or locally Rakuten.com. 

Stila Convertible Color Peony Review

Last post I mentioned writing a review on Stila's Convertible Color duel cheek and lip so here it is. :)

Stila Convertible Color Peony duel cheek lip review

Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera Review Here.

 

Product Description from Official Website:

This versatile favorite brightens cheeks and lips with creamy, translucent color. Tap onto cheeks and press onto lips. The sheer tint adds an inherent glow to the cheeks while lips bloom with fresh, radiant color. Our two-in-one compact holds the key to easy, monochromatic makeup. A must-have in every stila girl's kit.

Ingredients

ingredients: ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, lanolin oil, beeswax\cera alba\cire dabeille, microcrystalline wax\cera microcristallina\cire microcristalline, octyldodecanol, phenyl trimethicone, ozokerite, caprylic/capric triglyceride, hydrogenated palm kernel glycerides, ethylhexyl palmitate, isononyl isononanoate, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, tocopheryl acetate, hydrogenated palm glycerides, bht, [+/- mica, titanium dioxide (ci 77891), iron oxides (ci 77491, ci 77492, ci 77499), bismuth oxychloride (ci 77163), blue 1 lake (ci 42090), carmine (ci 75470), manganese violet (ci 77742), red 7 lake (ci 15850), red 22 lake (ci 45380), red 28 lake (ci 45410), red 30 lake (ci 73360), red 33 lake (ci 17200), red 34 lake (ci 15880), ultramarines (ci 77007), yellow 5 lake (ci 19140), yellow 6 lake (ci 15985)]
Note that for the ingredients that are used to make the color will vary depending on which color you're looking at.

My first Stila convertible color was from many years ago when I was looking for something that would give my cheeks a glow rather than a concentrated color. I wasn't able to achieve the glow look very well until much later when I learned a few tips from the pros. 

Stila's Convertible Color in Peony is a great fit for what I've been on the search for recently. The blushes I use are are either orange or pink with two peach toned blushes somewhere between those two extremes so I wanted something subtler that didn't add a lot of "redness" to the color I got from my powder blushes. This is where Peony comes in. The color is a pretty neutral rose pink that when used on top of my foundation and underneath loose setting powder, gives a natural long lasting glow to my cheeks. And it still works very well to make my powder blush last for more than 12 hours.



lasting makeup Stila Convertible Color Peony duel cheek lip review
This photo was taken after a full day. It would've been at least 11 hours since I applied my makeup in the morning.

I used Peony ontop of my foundation right before I used loose setting powder to set everything into place. Then I applied MAC's Sheertone Blush in Peaches on top which is why you'll see that the blush on my cheek is more orange. Peony is a neutral color that would blend subtly with other blushes. It really does give me a glow that's easy on the eyes.

Stila Convertible Color Peony duel cheek lip review Armani silk foundation MAC peach blush
On the right hand side is the cream blush. This is Sephora's new 100 Point Perk item. It's 1/3 of a full size Convertible Color and does not come with a mirror.

If you're looking for a neutral rosey color for a natural makeup finish, this a safe choice for any skin tone. It has enough color where you can just use it by itself or pair it with your favorite blush for a natural glow or even just so your blush will last longer. I highly recommend using Peony on top of your foundation right before you apply loose setting powder. These can also be used on your lips and the compacts they come in all have mirrors making them a top item to take with you in a makeup bag. I personally never use them on my lips, because I'm not an everyday lipstick person, but imagine the convenience of never having to worry about matching your lipstick to your makeup.That's pretty sweet.

If you're curious about what else I used for my makeup, here is a detailed list.

Here is what I used for my makeup:

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Founation Primer
2. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer
3. Armani Lasting Silk UV Foundation color 4.5 - it has SPF 20
4. Shiseido Maquillage Line Concealer color 1 - blended with;
5. Graftobian Hi-Def Glamour Creme in soft orange
6. Stila Convertible Color in Peony
7. MAC Sheetone Blush in Peaches
8. Coastal Scents Eyeshadow blended with;
9. Lancome Eyeshadow in Margarita Affair
10. MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon Matte
11.  Heroine Make Kiss Me Liquid Eyeliner
12. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara - see review here

Retails for: $25 USD

Where to Buy: Sephora is currently featuring this item as a 100 Point Perk so this can be redeemed with your points. The full size product can be bought on Stila's official website, most major cosmetics stores locally or online.

Sephora VIB Perk - Stila Convertible Color Perk and Origins Eye Cream Gift

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eyecream VIB Gift

I've been thinking for some time of trying a new eyecream that has more preventative properties and it just so happens that I've also been running low on my Shiseido's Moisture Recharge eyecream. I took this as a cue to do some research online and in store to see what's available out there. In addition to having preventative properties (like anti-aging, anti-wrinkle) it was also really important that the product does not have parabens and as little known harmful chemicals as possible. Because Shiseido's Moisture Recharge has done it's job pretty well for me, I naturally searched for other eye creams by them. To my disappointment, Moisture Recharge was one of the lower price point eye creams they have and anything else that I was interested costed an upwards of $70 so I moved on to other brands. I finally came across a promising eye cream by Tarte. It's their Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment in which they claim brights the area around the eye, firms and hydrates. It's also forumlated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Tarte also do not test on animals. What a nice bonus. I haven't gotten a chance to try the cream out, but I'm probably going to write up a review on it.


I actually came across the eye cream on Sephora's site via their promotional emails. What caught my attention with this particular email is they had new 100 point perks available. On any given day I scuff at Sephora's point system because they do not offer any cash value towards their products and it's injury upon insult when they don't have anything you want to use your points for. I'm going to save that rant for another time. Anyhow, today is one of those rare occassions where I was interested in not 1, but 3 out of the 6 new 100 point perks! That has never happened before. I literally drove to the store during my lunch hour to grab the goodies. And then at check out, I was so very pleasantly surprised that they had another promo going on. This is something every VIB should know! If you are a VIB and spend $38 (CAN), you should get a full sized Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eye Cream. Retail value is $54. I think this is an exclusive in store offer. Unfortunately, I am unable to confirm if it applies to all stores in Canada, all stores across North America or even how long the promotions lasts. My recommendation is for you to call your closest Sephora store and check with them. Time is of essense so if this is something you want be sure to call as soon as you can.

Well finally, being a VIB can actually be exciting.


Sephora 100 Point Perk VIB
Redeemed two Stila Convertible colors. They are miniature versions.

New 100 Point Perks


Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick - it's a beautiful plum red with hints of brown tone

Stila Convertible Color in Peony - been always wanting to try the other colors and peony is one of them. :) Review here

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray - I want more volume in my hair. I hope this works.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Double Detox Facial System - I heard this was good. I have my Mia though so I passed on this.
 
Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Restoring Cream - I'm happy with my current creams so pass,

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream - Eye creams everywhere? I do not remember seeing this in store. It might be limited to online redemption.


Screencap taken on April 4, 2013
100 Point Perk VIB Sephora

 
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