Beauty Joint Haul

Hi guys! In September I made the plunge and ordered some stuff online to be shipped directly to Jamaica and since this company BeautyJoint.com offered international shipped I opted to go for it.

It took 5 weeks for me to get. In this time I was worried that my package got lost in transit or something because girls in New Zealand and Australia said they got theirs in 2 weeks. But I kept my fingers cross until that faithful day the mail man showed up with the slip for me to pick up my package at the post office. To my surprise the package did reach Jamaica in 2 1/2 weeks but was delayed by the dreaded customs for another 2 weeks. Talk about a bummer! I was glad however that I did not have to pay customs duty on the package. Yay for that!

Everything came in good condition, nothing was broken thankfully (except the handle of the ELF brush but I think that's a manufacturing issue and not as a result of the shipping). It came all wrapped up in layers of bubble wrap and felt pretty secure.

I am glad to get my hands on some Wet n Wild, ELF and NYX products without having to travel to America and I liked the variety of drugstore items the site offer. Below are pics of the items I received.

Check out my unboxing video of this package http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP30FWR0GFw

ELF Powder Brush

ELF Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Tiki Torches
(I regret buying this. Its too shimmery for my taste)

ELF Lip Exfoliator
(Super happy to get this and it smells like vanilla)

NYX Round lipstick in Indian Pink

Swatches of Indian Pink (with and without flash indoor)

Jordana Twist n Shine 
From top to bottom: Honey Love, Candid Coral, Rock n Rouge

L.A Colors Jumbo Eye Pencil in Sun Kissed

China Glaze nail polish in Jamaican Out and Wet n Wild Megalast nail polish in Club Havana

NYX Slim Lip liner in Orange, Pumpkin, Sand Pink

Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate in 103 and 104

Swatches of Rimmel's Kate 103 and 104 (with and without flash indoors)

Wet n Wild  Megalast Lip Colors

Top Row L-R: Just Peachy, Pinkerbell, Purty Persimmon, Think Pink, 24 Carrot Gold
Bottom Row L-R: Coral-ine, Smoking Hot Pink, Rose Bud, Blink Pink, Wine Room

Wet n Wild Color Icon Collection 8 pan palette in Petal Pusher and Comfort Zone

Swatches of Petal Pusher (top) and Comfort Zone (bottom) palettes

BH Cosmetics Crème Luxe Lipstick Review

I bought the BH Cosmetics lipstick on the same occasion I bought the Real Techniques Core Collection. I have tried it a few times and has decided to do a review on the product. I swear the sales girl scampered me into buying as I had no intention of getting a lipstick when I went into the store much less a nude coloured one. So I decided to take the BH Cosmetics lipstick when given the option between it and a Milani Colour Statement in Nude Crème which I had initially wanted. But seeing that I can purchase a Milani lipstick readily and had already had a few, I opted for the BH Cosmetics lipstick in Tea Time.

The lipstick comes in a slick black packaging with a clear base showing the actual colour of the lipstick. The only writings present on the tube is the BH Cosmetics Crème Luxe Lipstick written down the side and the name of the colour on the clear base (as seen in the photo above). It reminds me a lot of the NYX Round lipsticks except that the BH Cosmetics lipstick has a greater circumference and is taller. However the inner tube and the actual lipstick is the same size. The packaging feels durable and closes pretty tightly so I doubt the cap would be coming off in your make-up bag.

Comparison of the BH Cosmetics lipstick to the NYX Round lipstick (Doll)

On the BH Cosmetics website these are priced at USD$7.95 generally but they are always having some sort of sale where you can get them cheaper. At the local store I purchased it for JMD$600, which isn't bad for a lip product. So I can say it’s afford and well-priced.

Now on to the actual lipstick itself. It is available in 12 shades but the one I have is in Tea Time, one of the lightest shades available. The texture of the lipstick when applied to the lips is very creamy as suggested by the name Crème Luxe. It reminds me a lot of the creaminess of the MAC Amplified lipstick. The pigmentation is fairly good considering that such a light colour showed up on my much pigmented lips. Overall I find the formulation to be too creamy for my liking (not a fan of MAC’s Amplified formula either). I feel as if it will just slip off my lips as time goes on not the mention the colour applies patchy and slips and slides when I rub my lips together. This is definitely one of those lip products that you have to apply, blot then apply again and might even need to blot a second time just to get it to adhere to your lips.

Lip swatch with and without flash

I am not sure if I would purchase another one, if I did it would be a darker colour just for the sake of trying it out.  

Mini German Pancakes with Almonds Recipe

Mini German Pancakes with Almonds Recipe

•          1 cup flour
•          1 cup milk
•          6 eggs
•          ¼ cup melt butter
•          ¼ teaspoon salt
•          1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•          2 tablespoon pancake syrup
•          ½ cup Almond or however much you desire

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cupcake pan with some of the melted butter to be used in the mixture. 

Mix all the ingredients except the Almonds in a bowl until all are combined in a creamy mixture. Then add the Almonds mixing them in with a spatula to evenly distribute the nuts. A ladle or a small cup can be used to pour batter in the cupcake pan. 

Sprinkle some finely chopped Almonds on top if desired or any other condiments to your liking. 

Bake for 17-25 minutes until puffy and golden on top. Makes about 10 cupcakes. 

Enjoy for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Real Techniques Core Collection

Hey Sweeties!

I recently gave in to the compulsion to get some Real Techniques brushes. I have been eyeing the Core Collection for a while but as usual everything in Jamaica is so overpriced so I skipped on it. Instead I started hunting it online but with the shipping costs I might as well purchase it on the Rock. So I gave in and bought the set in a quaint little boutique downtown.

I got it for twice the American retail price of course but that’s just the nature of things out here, sadly. At first viewing it in person I was disappointed at how small they looked compared to the many YouTube videos and blogs I have watch and read. Only one other reviewer I heard with the complaint and I thought she was mistaken as I never heard anyone mentioned that issue (except for the foundation brush).

It was only on the second visit to the store that I succumbed to the temptation, my blogger side wanted it for review purposes mainly lol. However, after reaching home and started playing around a bit with the brushes, checking the softness and density and if there is any shedding. I washed them before trying them on my face testing them for proportions. In actuality they are not small, they are perfectly sized for their intended purpose or at least my intended purposes for them.

The Real Techniques Core Collection includes 4 full-size brushes + case:

• detailer brush: precision cut to effortlessly conceal problem areas; or, use with lipstick for long-lasting shape and definition
• pointed foundation brush: Use with liquid foundation to build custom coverage
• buffing brush: ideal for full coverage application of powder and mineral foundation
• contour brush: delicately applies highlighter to contour or create sheer, soft-focus finish
• panoramic brush case is a 2-in-1 case + stand

My plans for using them:

• detailer brush: applying lipsticks
• pointed foundation brush: applying and setting under eye concealer
• buffing brush: application of powder
• contour brush: application of blush or bronzer if I should ever decide to wear any J

Contour Brush

Approximately 1.5 inches in bristle length

Pointed Foundation brush, about an inch in bristle  length

Detailer Brush

Buffing Brush about 1.5 inches in bristle length

Approx. 2 inches across

Densely packed bristles

The case I love because I can put an eye shadow brush or 2 and a liner brush and I am good for travel.

I love the fact that these brushes are so soft yet dense especially for the buffing brush. I like my face brushes to feel densely packed so I can get the product on in one go, so this is right up my alley. 

Cherry Culture Haul 2

Sharing with you guys yet another haul from Cherry Culture inclusive of swatches.

The stash in the box after taking them out of the wrapping 

Milani Colour Statement Lipstick in Orange Gina and Flamingo Pose

Milani Liquid Eye in Black (got 2 of these)

Jordana Fabuliner

Jordana Twist and Shine in Terra Crave

NYX Slim Lip Pencils

From top-bottom: Nude Pink, Bloom, Ever, Rose, Citrine

NYX Eyeshadow in Walnut

Free lip balm from Cherry Culture in Watermelon (feels like Vaseline on the lips)

Lip Swatch of  Jordana's Terra Crave

Lip Swatch of Milani's Flamingo Pose

Lip Swatch of Milani's Orange Gina (not a fan of this because of the gold flicks in it that makes it shimmery)

Comparing NYX Walnut to ELF's Moondust

Walnut swatched on the lid as an all over colour (it would be amazing as a crease colour)

Everything swatched

Kleancolors Lipliner Review and Swatches

Recently I came across a Kleancolor display in a local pharmacy and thought I would try out a couple of the lip liners since I was in the market for some and these were readily available.

 

The packaging is pretty typical of any lip liners these days. Basic black sharpen-able pencils with the colour on the base. The colour displayed at the base is pretty much true to the colour of the product. What I dislike about it is that all the pencils are not the same height some are a lot shorter than other and I personally find this very annoying.

However, for the price I cannot complain too much (especially since I had just bought 2 MAC lip liners, one of which the tip melted and broke off). It cost me JA$75 (less than (US$1) so I thought it to be a bargain despite the variations in the amount of product.

 

When applying the liners I found them to be quite creamy which surprised me because of how reasonably priced they were and for that I am glad. The pigmentation is remarkable from the nudes to the brighter and deeper colours, the colour pay off is amazing. They are not however as long wearing as per say a MAC or NYX liner. But the smoothness of application is very comparable to those more popular brands (some of the names and corresponding colours reminds me of the NYX slim liners).



From Top to Bottom: Brown, Chocolate, Plush Red, Hot Red, Pinky, Barbie Pink, Rose
When making the swatches the lip of the Rose broke because it was so soft.

From L-R:  Brown, Chocolate, Plush Red, Hot Red, Pinky, Barbie Pink, Rose



I would rate these lip liners a 4 out of 5. If only they had a bit of a longer wear time it would have gotten full marks no hesitation.