Beauty Skeptic

Matte Gel Polish Topcoats

December 23, 2022March 30, 2015 by Beauty Skeptic

In recent months, a few of the leading gel polish providers have released new matte gel polish top coats for those who like to mix up their polish wear. Harmony Gelish offers one ($14), the OPI Gelcolor line has one ($12), and now, so does Sensationail ($10). Matte nails and matte nail art have stuck around as on-trend for a few years now, so it makes sense that the gel giants would like to tap into the market. More people are adopting gel manicures than ever, so it makes sense from a business/sales perspective.

As for me, I’m less concerned with what’s on-trend, nail-wise (or otherwise). I still wear matte nails from time to time (metallic and glittery polishes look outstanding mattified), but I haven’t invested in, and probably will not invest in, any matte gel polish topcoats.

Why?

Shopping in Store

May 23, 2016March 27, 2015 by Beauty Skeptic

I prefer to shop online.

Not just for beauty items, but everything. I long for my area to have an offering where I can basically buy my groceries online, have someone in the store put together my order, and then just go pick them up (not even asking for delivery – just don’t want to scale the aisles).

Granted, you can’t swatch from the internet – but you can look up the swatches other people have done. It isn’t that I never want to go to a store to shop, but more often than not, I’ll buy online as opposed to shopping in stores.

It isn’t that I’m anti-social (okay, maybe I am – but that isn’t why); I just prefer to be able to select exactly what I need without having to hunt the aisles and browse the shelves. If I’m actually planning on making a purchase, I’m on a mission; I’m much happier if I can just search for that item, add it to my cart, done. If I’m in the store, even if I was familiar with the general store layout, planograms change. There’s no guarantee that I’d know where what I’m looking for is located.

Case and point:

Two months ago I was in Ulta with a friend to buy new heads for my Clarisonic. We went over to where their prestige skincare was, to the aisle that was dedicated to the Clarisonic devices. They had displays and devices a-plenty, they had boxes and testers galore…single brush heads? There were twenty! But who cares, no big deal, I wanted four.

The four pack was a far better deal than buying four individual brush heads, but it was nowhere to be found. It was later in the evening, but not yet close to closing time – but no sales associates were around. I could really see only one, and she was with another customer. We went around that area several times looking for them, but no dice. Eventually, I had to be that guy and flag down one that sales associate as she came near, looking for something for her other customer. She pointed me, “that way,” but had to (understandably) scurry off to attend to who she was working with. Eventually, I found them on a random standalone shelf in direction she pointed which was nowhere near skincare stuff. That whole part of the process took probably 10-15 minutes.

I’m glad my friend is patient!

Related to that, I always seem to wind up with what I don’t need from a sales associate while shopping in stores.

Most retailers’ (all types, not just beauty) policies require employees to greet any customers they hadn’t seen yet – even if they’ve already been greeted. Those policies also require the employees to check back with people periodically. As a customer, I do like to be greeted, and I like to know that an associate is available or where to find one if I need one. I do NOT, however, like to be checked up on every 3-5 minutes. 10-15 is okay – any more frequently when I’ve told you I don’t want/need help or am browsing feels like you’re stalking or hounding me, and it makes me feel like I can’t shop at my own pace. It doesn’t create a good shopping experience.

I feel like I wind up with either extreme. If I don’t have someone breathing down my neck, I end up needing help but unable to locate anyone. It was not busy that evening in Ulta but took a long time to find someone to help me (and I had to steal a moment of her time from someone else). There were employees visible when we walked in, but ten minutes later they had all but vanished. I never seem to find myself in a situation where there’s a happy medium.

I feel more comfortable browsing without intent to buy on the merchant’s website, from home rather than shopping in store – I’m not in other customers’ way, and they aren’t in mine. I’m not a face in the store that the employees feel the need to fuss over (which I don’t like anyway). Plus, pajamas. Paying for shipping isn’t fun and I usually try to plan my purchases in such a way that I avoid paying shipping costs (meeting their minimum or having a promo code).

On top of all that, you can’t use eBates in brick-and-mortar stores. I only recently saw one of their awkward commercials that make them seem a little sketchy, but I can confidently say (with three years of eBates experience) that they are legit. You can sign up for free here – this is a referral link that does end up earning me like $5 if you sign up, but I’m not sharing this to make money off you – I’m sharing it because I believe in it and have gotten over $400 back in three years – here’s a tiny screenshot of my cash back to prove it.

How do you prefer to do your shopping? Browsing the shelves, or behind a screen?

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked

February 3, 2023March 25, 2015 by Beauty Skeptic

Last Friday I launched a giveaway for an Urban Decay 24/7 Lip Liner and Revolution Lipstick in Naked. If you haven’t entered, yet, go do so – entries close April 3!

I mentioned in my February Favorites that I was really loving the Revolution Lipstick in Naked – so when I was planning the Vernal Equinox Giveaway, I decided to pick up one of the sets for myself. Exclusive to Ulta, the Ultimate Pair set from Urban Decay features a 24/7 Lip Liner Pencil and a Revolution Lipstick in Naked. They also offer a red version with shades 69 and F-Bomb, respectively.

The Ultimate Pair - Revolution Lipstick in Naked

The value of this set is unbelievable – $26 for both the full-sized lipstick (regularly $22) and lip liner (regularly $19). I was originally planning on a self-imposed no-buy for myself for March, but this was too good of a deal on something I already really wanted, having the wee version of it.

I own wee versions of the Revolution Lipstick in Naked and, courtesy a friend, Catfight. Given that, I already knew the formula was nothing short of amazing. Being simultaneously creamy and long-lasting is no small feat, but these lipsticks feel great and don’t need to be reapplied frequently – and it isn’t just because this is a, “user-friendly,” whose wear is naturally less noticeable; hot-pink Catfight holds its weight in the longevity arena without looking prematurely worn.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked

Packaging

The Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked is the first full-sized tube I have from the line. When I unboxed it, I was pleasantly surprised at the weight of the tube – to me, heavier-weight packaging feels sturdier and slightly more luxe. I’ve talked about packaging before – heavier, sturdier package make me feel like my product is safer.

Color & Finish

This warm-ish mid-tone pink that has a creamy, almost-but-not-quite glossy finish. It catches light nicely without looking wet. I find it very flattering on my light, neutral-to-warm skin (NC15-NC20ish in MAC at the moment). It gives you a pretty, polished look without screaming for attention. It’s pretty much appropriate for anything life might throw at you…with the exception, perhaps, of a Rocky Horror reenactment.

Wear & Longevity

On me, applied after I’ve fiendishly consumed my morning coffee or tea, I find that Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked wears for about 3-4 hours before needing to be touched up, persisting even through drinking water. Wear is described without the 24/7 liner that came in the set. I’m not crazy about liner for lighter, neutral lipsticks like this, so I’m still trying to figure out how I like it best.

The Bottom Line

From the two shades I’ve tried the formula seems consistent in terms of application and feel once its on. From reading, I discovered that longevity wasn’t quite the same throughout, but you’ll have that with different levels of pigmentation. The quality, overall, is absolutely there and if you’re in the market for a fantastic lipstick, I recommend (any) of these. Personally, I still struggle with the idea of paying $22 for a single lipstick – MAC at $16 is the high end of, “I’m OK with this,” for me but this lipstick is really good. Since I was able to get it and the liner for $26 as part of The Ultimate Pair set, it was easier to deal with. I would still hesitate to pay full price for another lipstick by itself even though they are crazy good… Instead, I’d opt to wait for a 20% at UrbanDecay.com, or using Ulta points for a discount, or the semi-annual VIB sale at Sephora.

It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner

September 30, 2022March 23, 2015 by Beauty Skeptic

In late January I received a coupon from Ulta (because I’m Platinum this year) to get a free mini It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner. I’m not too familiar with the It Cosmetics brand, really only seeing their line in Ulta. This sums up what I know about It Cosmetics:

They have a brush line that I hear is pretty good. They have a silly brush-themed logo on their aisles in both Ultas near me.
They have CC cream!
Their Naturally Pretty Vol 1 Matte Luxe Transforming Eye Shadow Palette has an exceptionally long name and reminds me of a mix of the two LORAC Pro palettes. Same price-point, too!

That’s pretty much it.

I redeemed the coupon and got the freebie It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner to test the waters of the brand.

Here’s some info about It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner, from Ulta’s Website, condensed into tl;dr for your reading pleasure:

Gentle, smooth, pigmented gel formula that glides on.
Waterproof, proven to hold up 8+ hours.
Contains vitamin C and E as well as collagen, supposedly for, “younger looking eyelids.”
Sets after about 30 seconds (so you can blend and smudge).

My freebie mini came in Black Brown which I appreciated – I don’t need yet another black pencil liner, and am happy to have a brown pencil handy. I actually forgot about it (out of sight, out of mind) since it was tucked into my drawer, but I finally got around to it.

It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner - Swatch

It glides on effortlessly without much pressure, both swatched on the back of my hand and into my lashline.

The Wear Test: It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner

Most pencil liners, even ones claiming to be waterproof, do not last on my waterline. I don’t have exceptionally watery eyes, but I guess my waterline is exposed to enough moisture that it usually breaks down and fades within an hour or two

At 7am, I tightlined with the It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner to provide definition. I added just a little more along my lashline, but the real test is waterline usage, so I slapped it in there, too, in the outer 2/3 of my waterline.

I checked it at 8am, and it still looked alright. Not as intense in the waterline, but it was still visible. Upper lashline and tightline perfectly intact.

I checked at 9am – it faded more, but I could live with it because I don’t like a harsh dark waterline. I don’t bother with dark colors in my waterline most of the time because I feel like it closes off my eye…I don’t like my eyes to appear small. It was still intact and going good on my upper lashline and tightline, though.

By 10am, it was noticeably in trouble. At the outermost edge it was gone completely, meaning the It Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner line didn’t appear to start until a few millimeters into my lower lashline. Awkward. Top is in good shape, still!

At the 11am check, the product in my waterline was barely visible but the tightline and waterline looked great. I decided to reapply and try again. Unfortunately, it wore away within 3-4 hours, just like the first run.

I found it removed relatively easily with a Ponds makeup wipe – it was no more difficult to remove than an Urban Decay 24/7 pencil, for instance. Also, I can’t really speak to the whole, “younger-looking eyelids,” thing – I noticed absolutely no difference from tightlining with it, but I’m also in my mid twenties, so. I’m taking it with a grain of salt anyway because that part sounds like nonsense marketing.

The Bottom Line(r)

So this makes a good liner for the upper lashline and tightlining. You CANNOT sharpen it (at least this little version, anyway) as it is a twist up and therefore has a blunt tip; it is not suited to sharp precision work, but makes for a smooth tightline and not-intense upper lashline work. Its performance in my waterline shouldn’t be the only thing that tells you to buy or not – like I said, I have a hell of a time with most pencils in my waterline…so if you DON’T have trouble with them, this might actually work really well for you!

I personally won’t be repurchasing a full size when I run out of this. I don’t dislike it, but I don’t like it enough to spend $22 on. If you don’t have an exceptionally watery waterline, though, it may be a worthwhile investment for you.

Disclaimer: HEY. Although I got this for free, this was not a sponsored post. ULTA has no idea who I am. I only got a voucher for this product because I somehow managed to make it into the Ultamate Rewards Platinum tier, which anyone can achieve if they have a ~~problem~~beauty hobby.. This voucher was distributed to platinum members, so I’m not special. Questions? Feel free to ask.

Too Faced Selfie Powders :: An Afterthought

May 23, 2016March 18, 2015 by Beauty Skeptic

Too Faced Selfie Powders

When I was researching the Too Faced Selfie Powders for last week’s post, I came across a thread on a popular makeup community discussing the product. The discussion was split roughly 50/50 – with some expressing feelings similar to mine, and others saying it was cute/kitschy/fun/etc.

There were, however, a few people who were neither for the Too Faced Selfie Powders nor against them that questioned the criticism. One participant adds something along the lines of (this is paraphrased):

I don’t understand why the Too Faced Selfie Powders are getting so much hate – why is this worse than silly nerd collections by Indie makeup brands?

It’s a good question, and it makes you think about the product and issue a little more. But I have a good answer.

Here’s the difference:

Geek Chic’s adorable Sailor Moon collection and Hello Waffle’s hilarious Archer-themed collections are just eyeshadows. They don’t claim to do anything special, they’re just cute eyeshadows with fun names. Too Faced Selfie Powders, on the other hand, are literally marketed as being, “filters,” for your real-life face…they’re just colored powders. At best, they’re for color correction. They aren’t appealing to a fandom, they’re marketing a product claiming that it does something that, realistically, it doesn’t do.

Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm

May 23, 2016March 16, 2015 by Beauty Skeptic

I’ve admitted before that I’m a lip balm junkie. For me, the gold standard is a sub-$2 tube of Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers. Yes, still. Judge all you like.

But I don’t always want to use it (especially now that the rights to it are changing hands and who knows if it will retain its glory?) – maybe I don’t want the tint. Maybe I want something thicker if my lips are really struggling. My fall-back is good ol’ classic Cherry Chap-Stik, even though it is more of a barrier and less of a moisturizer.

It was time to buy a new tube, and a friend recommended Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter. I used classic Burt’s Bees when I was a teenager and liked it alright, so I figured if this was anything similar it should be a good try.