On The Shelf

Overview:

OCC Lip Tar (Black Dhalia)

Purchase Price $18.00 + tax

Retailer Sephora (Local Mall)  

Check out www.occmakeup.com for more product info.


Product Review:

It is official, I have OCC! The attraction to OCC’s Black Dhalia Lip Tar is obvious with its deep dark rich burgundy color with hints of brown undertones. Having done a ton of research (June 1^st post) the bar was set extremely high for this product so you can understand my excitement when it came time to review it. My day job requires me to wear a particle mask/shield for a lot of the work day so contact rubbing is going to happen. With this in mind it was very important to me that the lip products I use must have longevity. Through breakfast, lunch, dinner, and countless water bottles the color stayed perfect. My lips never felt dry, tight, or tacky and I believe the blend of essential oils (hemp and peppermint) played an important role in this. This is one of those great products a little goes a LONG way.

Packaging is simple and durable as each Lip Tar individually sold (OCC also sells collections) comes in a clear vinyl travel case with a mini application brush making it perfect for any bag. Be careful as things will get messy if not properly capped. Be sure to purchase the clear Lip Tar as it preps the lips for the color you choose and then seals it making it last all day. Plus the clear Lip Tar makes a great gloss!

On The Shelf

Overview:

J. Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette

Purchase Price $4.99 + s/h

Retailer www.jcatbeauty.com  

Check out www.jcatbeauty.com for more product info.

Product Review:

Having a subscription to IPSY’s Glam Bag, going on year two now, I am always excited to receive my monthly goodies. Months ago this glittery cream shadow palette arrived and I couldn’t wait to get it on my lids. Having a weakness for glitter I always have high hopes for products such as this. Making a comparison between the J. Cat Cream Sparkling Shadows and, my fav so far, Eye Kandy Sprinkles would not be fair since they are two different products.

The colors in this palette are truly fall inspired and I really do love them but that’s where my adoration ends. Between the smearing and the clumping I couldn’t figure which one caused me more of a headache. After three different applications all ended in a huge disappointment. Attempt number one, no prep to the eyelid just the product and it simply would not stay in place and smeared. Next, using a translucent powder to prep my lids the cream reacted the same way as with nothing at all. Last, applying Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance had the worst result of all with the cream shadows as they did not blend.

Trying as I may the applications did not seem any harder or easier than any other eye shadow but it seems as though a lot of product had to be used to achieve any look. For me this is definitely not the “cat’s meow”.

On The Shelf

Overview:

True False Lashes (Gypsy)

Purchase Price $0.75 + shipping

Retailer www.truefalseproducts.com  

Check out www.truefalseproducts.comt for more product info

Product Review:

Obviously the packaging on all the True False lashes make a lasting impression. But the distinctive graphics and colors of the Gypsy lash box is definitely eye catching. You will get a great full thick look when you apply these lashes, added to a darker eye makeup gives you that exotic mysterious appearance.

The lash line is thick enough for a generous amount of glue. Make sure to purchase adhesive since it is not included with this brand, I prefer DUO Eyelash Adhesive and you can find it virtually everywhere. These lashes are stiffer than most so proper application and patience is needed. There were no issues blending mascara from my real lashes into these falsies. 

The Gypsy lashes reminded me of those stiff falsies you buy around Halloween time but without the regret. The WOW factor is there and the price will please even the most budget minded person. Having so many choices from True False you should just buy them all for a different look every day of the week!

On The Shelf

Overview:

The original beauty blender

Purchase Price $19.99 + tax

Retailer Sephora @ JCPenney

Check out www.beautyblender.net for more product info

Product Review:

This is truly a beauty buy that all should commit to. A few months back I purchased it’s horrible wanna-be cousin, an off brand hard foam rubber with absolutely no give and impossible to clean. The Original Beauty Blender is a soft proprietary blend of foam, that you will be hard pressed to find out what exactly it is comprised of, is non-irritating in a great pink tear drop shape makes it perfect for applying concealer under the eyes. By simply adding water it grows, you then pat dry on a towel dab it with your favorite product from concealer to foundation and away you go. The application process may take a couple tries to get the stippling motion down but once you do you’ll love the end result.

Using MAC’s Studio Fix Powder (Aug 27^th Review) and Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Foundation (Sept 23^rd Review) I was amazed how well this worked with both. Although the look totally satisfied my needs the amount of product that was used versus standard brushes was on extreme opposite ends. With the powder I found it did not need as much. On the other hand the liquid soaked right up into the Beauty Blender, which is not to fault it, but perhaps the water content in the Urban Decay foundation is to blame. Clean up is a breeze, use a good makeup cleanser you would on any other brush or you can buy Blendercleanser which is available online.

 

This is another one of those products that was created by a makeup artist who knows what a good tool can do. I am definitely going to buy another one just for my on the go makeup bag.