I Heart Makeup Lip Lava in Unleash - Review & Swatches

Hello gorgeous ladies! Spring is here and I am enjoying the colourful blooms and the fashion/ makeup trends that come with it. Bright lips including coral/ orange are favourites for spring so when I Heart Makeup released their Lip Lavas, rumored to be dupes of Too Faced Melted lip colours, we just had to pick up Unleash. Read on to find out why I love it for this season!

Product Claims

Lip Lava is a super intense liquid lipstick formula with nourishing Vitamin E.

What Do I Think?

The Lip Lava comes in a cute coral-shocking pick packaging holding the actual tube, which is the same colour as the shade. The sponge tip applicator is super easy to use, helps spread the product evenly and prevents wastage. The black cap is pretty secure so it’s safe to carry around in your purse. Unleash is a true coral, meaning it is perfectly balanced between pink and orange. I love the fact that what you see in the tube is what you get on the lips.

I agree 100% with the claims. The pigmentation is insane! This is the most pigmented lip product I have ever come across. You need the tiniest amount to cover your entire lips and the control the applicator gives you is just great. The formula is as light as air and sits comfortably without drying. Unleash doesn’t form a thick layer on top of your lips rather it sinks into the thin skin of the lips. This may give the appearance of visible lip lines but it does not look unflattering in the least. In fact, it enhances their natural beauty in my opinion. If you have dry lips you should definitely exfoliate before application if you don’t fancy the flaky look. I wore it for around 7 hours with minimal eating and drinking before removing it myself. I did not notice any fading or disturbance during this time. It has a strong stain as well.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a pigmented long lasting lip colour. There are four shades in this range, two bolds and two nudes. I really hope the shade range will be expanded because this product is phenomenal with an unbelievable price tag.

Price

PKR 500

Availability

Online from Daraz.pk or Just4girls.pk

Pros

Intense pigmentation

Non-drying comfortable formula

Amazing lasting power

User friendly applicator

Secure packaging

Affordable

Great quality

Cons

I did not find any cons

My Rating

5/5

Have you tried any of the I Heart Makeup Lip Lavas?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Sigma Beauty Eye Brushes – Review

I am all about perfection when it comes to makeup especially eye makeup. I did not get those “photogenic” or even close-to-awesome results with the makeup brushes I previously used for my makeup looks and then came a time when I strongly longed for ideal makeup tools especially for eye makeup. One fine day I finally got a chance to shop from Sigma through some friend living in US (yes that was one long procedure) and I decided to splurge on their eye brushes.

I ordered their 6 eye brushes E21, E30S, E44, E45, E46 and E57 with ferrules in chrome finish. Since my order exceeded $30 amount they were kind enough to send a free mini E56 brush as a complimentary gift. You can very well imagine the level of happiness when I had discovered that in the box. :D

So were those worth my money? Let’s find out.

Note: I have put up pictures of the brushes in before and after washing condition for you guys to have a better idea.

What Do I Think?

The first thing I noticed about these brushes was that they have amazingly thick and extremely soft bristles and this goes for all the brushes I got. We all know that for a makeup brush “the thicker the better” unless of course it does not shed any hair. The handles on all the brushes go thicker as the brush size gets bigger and they look as well as feel high-end. I have used them many times now and I did not notice any staining or shedding of the bristles or the handles going loose or faulty. The chrome finish on the ferrules gives the brushes a chic look; I love how they shine under light Haha! I have washed them too and did not observe any shedding during and after washing. Do not be harsh with them while you wash and shape them properly when you leave them to dry. I understand they are supposed to withstand “harshness” (with THAT price tag) but you also have to be careful if you want them to last very long.

E21 – Smudge

The E21 Smudge features a very small and short, rounded brush head perfect to smudge the eyeliner, eye shadow on lower lash line and even create a crisp crease. I have done it all with it and hence find it multi-purpose. If you want something that does ALL the detailed work for the eyes, this is the brush for you.

It neither shed any hair nor changed its shape after washing.

Price $14.00

E30S – Pencil

The E30S Pencil features a chisel shaped (flat on one side and rounded on the other), thick and pointed brush head perfect to apply eye shadow on the lower lash line for a smudged effect, create a cut crease and apply eye shadow on any other concentrated areas of the eyes. Another multi-tasked brush!

It neither shed any hair nor changed its shape after washing.

Price $14.00

E44 – Firm Blender

The E44 Firm Blender features a firm, dense brush head great for intense crease application for even blending of colour or blending two shades together. You can soften out the crease colour with it very well without losing any control over the application. I use this one for blending out and mixing colours together in the crease to get perfect transition.

It neither shed any hair nor changed its shape after washing.

Price $16.00

E45 – Small Tapered Blending

The E45 Small Tapered Blending brush features a small, tapered brush head with a pointed tip. I love its shape, the pointed tip allows me to place colour in the crease very well to add depth with great control.

It did not shed any hair but changed its shape a bit after washing which did not affect its performance.

Price $14.00

E46 – Shader – Inner Corner

The E46 Shader Inner Corner features a small, tapered oval brush head which is perfect for adding colour to the inner corners and lower lash line of the eye. It gives me control over concentrated application in the inner corners.

It neither shed any hair nor changed its shape after washing.

Price $14.00

E56 – Shader – Lid

The E56 Shader Lid features an oval, tapered tip similar to E46 but broader hence perfect for precise placement of eye shadows either on in the inner corners or smaller areas of the lid.

It neither shed any hair nor changed its shape after washing.

Price $14.00

E57 – Firm Shader

The E57 Firm Shader features soft yet firm fibers with a short, flat brush head. This brush helps in concentrated colour application onto the lids with amazing control.

It neither shed any hair nor changed its shape after washing.

Price $14.00

Availability

Sigma Beauty

Pros

No shedding

Soft yet thick bristles

Do not irritate the skin

Complete control with the thick handles

Feel and look high-end

Cons

E45 changed its shape a bit after washing

My Rating

5/5

Now I am up to try some face brushes by Sigma too as I am hopeful those too will not disappoint me. I highly recommend these brushes to you guys if you also wish to polish your makeup skills and get the perfect results because what I have learnt is that tools, especially the good ones, do make a difference. In the end it’s all about enough practice, your dedication and the perfect tools.

You can check out my work on our Instagram where I use these Sigma Brushes in my makeup looks :)

Love,

Fizzah

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Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Color Studio Pro Blushes – Review & Swatches

Hello my blush-crazed beauties! Today I am very excited to share one of my favourite blush ranges of all times with you! Color Studio Pro blushes are among the first ones I ever tried so I wanted to get one of each basic shade. I got Pixie Pink, Natural Glow and Audacious Orange and later added Pinkify to my collection because it was just to pretty to ignore. I wanted the entire range but I found the last shade Havanna, loaded with a bit too much shimmer for my taste although the colour was great. Read on to discover why I love these blushes so much!

Product Claims

It is a velvety-smooth powder blush that enhances your natural beauty. Colour Studio Professional Pro Blush is a beauty essential suitable for every skin tone. Formulated for a long wearing cheek glow with a light weight application easily blends onto the skin. From matte to shimmer finishes, add an illuminating glow to your cheeks.

What Do I Think?

Okay, so for starters I am just so happy that the size and quantity is so great for the price. I know I sound cheap but this sort of generosity really pleases me. You get 13g of product for only 750PKR!  The packaging is pretty basic and I like that the lid is clear plastic allowing me to locate the shade I want easily as I have four of these. The product is pressed into a round black plastic base with a metallic pan and is quite sturdy and travel friendly. The cardboard box it comes packed in will be helpful for frequent travellers.

One swipe of my finger was enough to show me how pigmented these babies are. You don’t need much to begin with but you can build up the lighter colours if you wish. Even when I overdid the application for the face swatches, I found that I could easily remove the excess layer with a tissue paper without ruining my makeup. I was further impressed by the smooth silky texture that makes blending a piece of cake. The fallout is minimal and depends on what kind of brush you use and how you pick up the product. I suggest lightly swirling a rounded blush brush onto the pan’s surface because of the super soft texture of these blushes and tapping off the excess. In pleasant weather they lasted on my combination skin for around 4-5 hours before fading with just foundation underneath. Lasting power is similar for all and depends on heat, humidity, skin type and whether you are wearing foundation and setting powder underneath. The shimmer of Natural Glow and Audacious Orange is heavier and it remains on the skin even after the colour has faded away.      

Audacious Orange

This is an intense coral-orange shade with tons of micro-shimmer. It lights up the face with a gorgeous pop of colour on the cheeks and the shimmer adds glamour to any look. I prefer to use this for bold looks that lean towards coral, orange or peach or just for a fun everyday look keeping the eyes and lips simple.

Natural Glow

This is a light but by no means dull tan shade with micro shimmer that brightens up the face beautifully. This goes superbly with a heavy eye-bold lip look or a no-make up look because it just adds a hint of neutral colour to the cheeks along with a natural radiance. I would recommend this to pale-medium skinned ladies as a blush as it is readily buildable. Dark beauties will love it a pocket friendly highlighter I believe.

Pixie Pink

This is a delicate peachy-pink shade almost like a muted coral. There are scattered fine shimmery bits in the pan that serve to add a slight glow to the cheeks. It is a chameleon colour that appears peachier when I combine it with a peachy-coral look and pinker with pink lipstick, etc.

Pinkify

This is a bright red-toned pink that appears as a beautiful rosy pink on my cheeks. There is barely noticeable shimmer the pan, which doesn’t really show up on my cheeks. I love to use this to add a flush of colour to a neutral look or just compliment a pink-oriented look.

All in all these blushes are a great addition to any makeup collection and are very suitable for beginners and compliment a number of skin tones and looks.

Price

PKR 750 each

Availability

Major departmental stores across Pakistan or online from Color Studio Professional Pakistan.

Pros

Soft texture

Excellent blending power

Highly pigmented

Minimal fallout

Great quantity for the price

Sturdy packaging

Easily available in Pakistan

Cons

It is not particularly long wearing as the claim says

Contains parabens

My Rating

4/5

Have you tried any of the Color Studio Pro blushes?

Love,

Sadaf

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Makeup Revolution London - Haul

Hello lovelies! Since every make up lover is going gaga over MUR these days, we decided to get some products from this brand on our wishlist from the very famous online store Daraz.pk! Makeup Revolution products are affordable and promising in terms of quality and variety. The only issue is limited availability, which we hope will be resolved soon, because there are some yummy products we are just dying to try out!

Lip Lava in “Unleash”

This is a gorgeous intense coral and very pigmented with an impressive formulation. 
PKR 500

Cream Blush in “Rose Cream” and “Caramel Shake”

We have already reviewed the shade Peach Cream and these perform just as well. Caramel Shake is a lovely neutral with a hint of mauve and Rose Cream is a beautiful medium rose pink. 
PKR 375 each

Salvation Intense Lip Lacquer in “Didn’t I Tell You” and “Nothing Like You and I”

"Didn’t I Tell You" is a very wearable bright mauve pink and "Nothing Like You and I" is a stunning rosy brown shade. The formula is very light weight and comfortable. 
PKR 350 each

Baked Bronzer in “Rock on World”

This is a golden brown bronzer with coppery tones and the texture is amazing giving a natural sun kissed glow to the skin. 
PKR 790

Baked Eye shadow in “Heavenly”

Heavenly is a highly pigmented baked shimmery white eye shadow with hints of gold. 
PKR 300

Powder Blush in “Love”

The colour is a delicate salmon pink shade. The texture of this blush is extremely soft so it is a dream to blend. 
PKR 225

Focus and Fix Eye Primer Matte

Initial impressions of this eye primer are good but I will have to test it further to build a proper opinion about it. 
PKR 490

That is all for now. We shall see you guys soon with some yummy reviews. Let us know in the comments below if you want us to review something for you and we shall do it.

Love,

Sadaf and Fizzah

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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Co-Natural Better Than Ubtan Face & Body Scrub - Review

Hi everyone! It seems I have not written a review in ages! Today I am back with the review on Co-Natural Better Than Ubtan Scrub. I actually wanted to use the whole jar before I jumped to conclusions and write the review so now since my jar is finished I am sitting here writing.

Product Claims

Stimulates skin microcirculation, gently exfoliates, leaving skin soft and smooth.

Usage

For use on the whole body, add five level tablespoons of Co-Natural Instant Better Than Ubtan Face and Body Scrub in a small bowl. Add ten drops of Co-Natural Radiance Oil Blend. Add one teaspoon of cream or yogurt and three tablespoons of milk. Mix into a thick paste. Apply onto body and massage in a circular motion. Leave mixture for 2-3 minutes so that it settles on skin. Rub up and down on body until mixture becomes flaky and falls of skin. (Note: Do not rub on face; Use gentle circular round movements). Rinse off with water.

For Brides: Use every second day for 4 weeks for an absolute transformation in skin tone and feel. For maintenance, use every ten days.

What Do I Think?

The product comes in a big plastic jar (bigger than a palm size) sealed properly. It has amazingly refreshing aroma of ubtan and nuts. When I first used it I noticed some big chunks of almonds inside, I took out one full tablespoon of the product and made a paste with full cream milk and rose water and applied as mentioned on the jar. The nuts, which work as exfoliant, could not stick to my face (as you are supposed to leave the product for a minute or two on your face after application) and kept on falling while I worked with it in circular motions and little did they exfoliate. Then for the next usage I crushed the scrub properly with a heavy nut crusher which evened it out and converted the bigger chunks of almonds in to smaller pieces. The result? The scrub along with the nuts spread evenly on my face and actually stayed on my face! It even made the rubbing part easier. We all have learnt this thing in our science classes, the smaller the surface area the greater the activity. So, I recommend breaking down the pieces of nuts every time you use it to get maximum benefit. I also noticed that one teaspoon of the product was enough for my face, neck and hands and if I used more it was eventually wasted.

The big jar may give you the notion that there must be a lot of product inside but there actually is not. It only contains 60g of the scrub which lasted me 12–14 uses and that too only on the face, neck and hands up to the wrists (I didn’t use it on the rest of my body). Moreover I did not order the Radiance Oil with it, which the company recommends using with their products, as I wanted to try out the scrub alone to determine its performance.

Now coming to the results part. It cleans out the skin and removes black heads very effectively, makes it smooth and reduces pore size to some extent by tightening the skin. It neither irritated my skin nor dried it out completely and a light moisturizer would work well for me as my skin becomes very dry in winters after I exfoliate it. I did not notice any drastic change in my skin tone if that’s your concern, it did make my complexion brighter (did not make my skin tone even) and my skin softer and smoother but if you expect a snow-white skin after using this product then, I am afraid, you will be disappointed.

Price

PKR 1500 (for 60g)

Availability

Online from Co-Natural

Pros

Free from Parabens, Triclosan, Artificial Musks, Phthalates, Petroleum Jelly, SLS, Silicones and PPD

100% Natural Ingredients

Makes skin smooth

Removes Blackheads

Exfoliates gently

Brightens up the skin

Does not dry out

Cons

Expensive

My Rating

3.9/5

Have you tried any of the Co-Natural Products? Would you like me to try out any other?

Love,

Fizzah

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog edited by its owners and the opinions expressed here belong solely to its owner's. For questions and queries please email at thepoutpainter@gmail.com

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