Battle of the Brows-Reviews on 3 Brow Products! (Lorac, ELF, City Color)

Happy hump day! It’s been quite awhile since my last post, simply due to moving back to school and getting in the groove of classes, etc. However, though my blog posts stopped, my obsessive makeup-shopping did not. I have been very obsessed with brows lately, probably because I got mine threaded for the first time ever (and that was the first time ever getting my brows done, EVER) and I am now hooked. Brows are ALWAYS a part of my makeup routine, and so I like to try new brow products all the time to experiment with what turns out the best.

First off is the Lorac Creamy Pencil (I have the shade Blonde). I know this isn’t necessarily a budget beauty item (retails for around $20), but I found it on Hautelook for $7 (PSA: Lorac will be on Hautelook this Friday, 9/4, so GET ON THAT).

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(There will be a swatch of all 3 products at the end of the post)

I love how natural this makes my brows look. The color is spot on for my brows, and I have definitely had some trouble with finding an appropriate color for mine. This comes in several shades, including auburn (which I have never seen before, but probably because I generally stick with drugstore finds). It has a very creamy texture, and it’s easy to apply if you keep it sharpened. It is just a pencil with a brush on the end, and the pencil definitely needs to me maintained in order to get the maximum amount of color and precision. I also really like the brush on the end because it’s very durable, and it works great to brush out the color a bit to make sure it’s evenly applied. I honestly don’t think that it’s worth the full price, but if you can get a good deal on it like I did, I think it’s a great option. I will say that a definite con for me is the fact that it needs to be sharpened regularly, simply because I am lazy, and also because the pencil doesn’t last quite as long as I would like. I have stopped using it every day because I don’t want to have to buy a  new one just yet! All in all this is a great option for very natural but full-looking brows, but in my opinion, the full price of $20 is not worth it. Keep your eye out for it on Hautelook-there are always amazing deals!

Next up is the ELF Instant Brow Lift Pencil (I have the shade Taupe).

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This is a very cool-toned shade that is also perfect for my brow color (online it says that Taupe is good for blonde-light brown hair, and I would have to agree). There are 3 shades of this product. This also has a very creamy texture, but it’s in the form of a twistable crayon. I prefer the crayon to a pencil because I don’t need to sharpen it, and it lasts longer. There is also a brush on the opposite end of the crayon, which again, is great to brush the color through to ensure an even distribution. This is my favorite product of the three that I am reviewing because of the crayon-form, and also because this is one of the first brow products that I’ve tried that hasn’t given my brows a faint tint of red. I don’t know why, but many products end up making my brows look also auburn, even if I only use a little bit (I had this problem with the ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit). The skinny tip is ideal for precision, especially at the end of the brows, where they are often more skinnier than the rest. This has become my new everyday staple, and it’s only $2 on http://www.eyeslipsface.com

Last up is the City Color Bold Brow Eyebrow Powder (Shade: Light to Medium).

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I found this at 5 Below for $3, and it includes 2 powders that are only slightly different in color (although I’m glad that for a product that says “Light to Medium,” there are 2 color options). I apply this with an angled brush (the kit comes with 2 mini angled brushes). I feel sort of “meh” about this product. The color did pull a bit red on my brows, but that’s not to say that it would do that on all brow colors. I’m sure that if you had darker brows, this would be fine, but for my blonde hair, I wasn’t very impressed. You do get a lot of product for such a cheap price, so that is definitely a pro. The color just didn’t quite do it for, but in general, the texture is nice and easy to apply with the right brush. I would be interested to know if darker brows had the same issue with this product and pulling a red tint.

Also, for every one of these products, I used a clear brow gel on top to set the product, and so the staying power for all of them was roughly equivalent with the use of that gel.

Here are the swatches of all three products:

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Starting on the left (it’s very very faint) is the City Color Brow Powder, and then the Lorac Creamy Brow Pencil, and the ELF pencil is on the right.

All in all, I would give the ELF product the best grade, and it just so happens to be the best price of the three 🙂

Thank you so much for reading! Comment your favorite brow product below-I’m always looking for suggestions, especially for blonde hair! 🙂

Quick Makeup Look-Video!

Hi everyone! Today I decided to take a stab at making a makeup video. Excuse the poor iPhone quality filming 🙂 Products will be listed below the video! Please take a quick look–it’s a super short video, and there’s a cool song in the background (need I say more?)

Covergirl 3 in 1 Foundation

Maybelline Master Conceal Camoflaging Concealer

Covergirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder

ELF Contour Kit

ELF Mineral Eye Primer

ELF Mad for Matte Palette

ELF Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette

ELF Cream Eyeliner (Black)

Covergirl Super Sizer mascara

Maybelline Great Lash

Lorac Creamy Brow Pencil (Blonde)

City Color Be Matte Blush (Blackberry)

ELF Icicle Face Palette

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Rush-  Not an Illusion

Thanks for watching!

Mini ELF Haul+ First Impressions (Mad for Matte, Contour Kit, Smudge Pot)

Hello everyone! I recently placed a small ELF order when they had a free shipping with no minimum special a few weeks ago. I’ve been so excited to get my hands on these products, so today I just wanted to share the mini haul and my first impressions of the products that I purchased.

I ordered a Smudge Pot in the color “Wine Not,” the new contour kit, and the Mad for Matte Eyeshadow Palette:

First up is the contour kit:

Simply put, this is amazing. The colors look a bit darker in pictures (especially on the website) than they really are, but the darkest shade (a cool-toned contour shade) is absolutely perfect. It creates a very natural look, and is not orange-y at all. It is also completely matte. I had heard from my favorite YouTube beauty guru, Emily Noel, that this kit was a dupe for the Smashbox contour kit, and so for $6, this cannot be beat in my opinion. The yellow/cream shade is also matte, and it is great for the under-eye area. I used it to brighten and set my under-eye concealer, and I was again, very satisfied. The white highlight shade is shimmery, but it’s not an overwhelming amount of shimmer. It looked great on the brow bone, over my blush on the cheek bones, and on the cupid’s bow. I don’t think that the warm tone would look great on me as a contour shade (it comes off a little orange) so I am still working with that shade to find a way to use it, but it is also matte.

Next up, we have the Smudge Pot in “Wine Not.”

It’s a sort of purpleish burgundy shade, and is very shimmery. The texture is almost mousse-like, and very easy to apply. I just used my finger to apply it as an all-over lid shade. I applied just a thin layer of it, since it’s a darker than the colors that I usually go for. I did you the ELF Mineral Eye Primer underneath, and after about 5 hours in the outside in the sun and heat, the color was still just as vivid, and there was no creasing whatsoever. Pictured below is my simple eye look using this product:

This was such a simply way to look like I really tried today with my makeup. One shade on the lid, a bit of bronze-colored eyeliner, and mascara. Boom.

I am more than impressed with this Smudge Pot, and I am really excited to try out more colors. Plus, they are only $3 🙂

Finally, I purchased the Mad for Matte Eyeshadow Palette, which is a relatively new product for ELF. I was extremely excited for this because I am OBSESSED with matte eye colors, and this definitely hits the spot.

I’ll just say upfront that I have only swatched these shades as of now, but a full review of this palette will be coming very soon! There are 10 shades in total, all completely matte. The texture of these is extremely buttery, and they are highly pigmented. I am especially loving the shade that is 4th from the right; I think that is going to make a fantastic crease color. This is a great collection of staple-shades that would be a great addition to your collection if you like the matte colors. Additionally, the packaging is very thin and smaller than it might look, which makes it a perfect palette to travel with (so many palettes  are too bulky to throw in a makeup bag, but this would be a perfect fit). Again, a full review of this is coming very soon, but my first impression is that I am very impressed by the texture and pigmentation of these shadows, and there is a great selection of colors. This is definitely worth the $10, so far.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @flannelbeauty for blog updates and news! 🙂

Work Day Makeup!

Happy Saturday, everyone!

I have recently temporarily relocated from Chicago to El Paso, Texas for a summer internship, and let me tell you, I was NOT prepared for this heat. Makeup has been quite a struggle, as it’s about 100 degrees and sunny every day. Anyway, this is my first real internship, and I have to look professional and put-together every day, which I have never had to do before (I know, I’m a baby). So, I just wanted to share my every-day makeup look with you guys! 🙂

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This is a pretty basic look, but I think it works well for a day at the office. Starting out with my Covergirl 3 in 1 Foundation, I apply it with a damp, knock-off Beauty Blender from Dollar Tree ( that’s right, Dollar Tree. It actually works). Since the foundation has primer in it, it holds up decently well in this heat, but my skin is also going crazy from the change in climate so it’s more oily than ever, making any face-makeup more difficult to stay looking fresh.

Next, I cover up my lack of sleep with the Maybelline Master Conceal Camoflaging Concealer. It’s a decent concealer, but definitely not the best one out there if you want a really full coverage, especially in the under-eye area. I set the concealer and foundation with a touch of Covergirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder.

Next up, I do a light contour with Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Natural Radiance Bronzer, using my trusty ELF Small Stipple Brush. I top that with the peachy blush and highlight from the ELF Icicle Face Palette (full review of this product https://flannelbeauty.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/reviews-2-recent-discoveries-from-loreal-and-elf/)

My eye look is very simple, with the help of the ELF Flawless Eyeshadow Quad in Tantalizing Taupe. I use the lightest shade all over the lid, the second shade in the crease, and line my eyes with the darkest matte brown and an angled brush. I hit that with Covergirl Super Sizer mascara, and fill in my brows with the It Cosmetics Universal Eyebrow Pencil (thank you Ipsy for sending me products I could never afford normally!)

Last but not least, I gloss up my lips with the Loreal Colour Riche Balm in Caring Coral, and throw that in my purse for touch-ups during the day!

Let me know if you are looking for reviews on any of these products! I hope you all have a great weekend, and I’m just going to leave this right here…

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Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for blog updates @flannelbeauty

Makeup of the Day!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share a quick Makeup of the Day 🙂



Products used:

Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation

Maybelline Master Conceal Concealer
Cover Girl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder
ELF Icicle Face Palette

Maybelline Fit Me Blush- Light Pink

ELF Eyebrow Kit- Light
Profusion Bare Palette (full review of this palette can be read in my past entries)

Mary Kay Baked Eye Trio- On the Horizon (used the darkest purple shade on the outer corner of my lids)

Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara

Loreal Colour Riche Balm- Caring Coral
Here is the ELF Icicle Face Palette up close! I just recently purchased it at Walgreens, mainly because it was Frozen themed. The highlight color is BEAUTIFUL!


Here is the Mary Kay eye trio up close; I just wanted to show you guys how beautiful these colors are!


I hope you are all enjoying this heat wave (I live in Chicago, and it’s been in the 90’s and humid this week). Until next time!

Let me know if you want any reviews on specific products. Be sure to follow me on Instagram @flannelbeauty 🙂

Makeup of the Day

  

Just wanted to post a quick makeup of the day; products used are in the above photo!

Cover Girl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation

Maybelline Master Conceal Concealer

Cover Girl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder

Pop Beauty Sunkissed Bronzer- Secret Sunshine

City Color Be Matte Blush- Blackberry

ELF Eyeshadow Duo- Mocha Swirl

Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Volume Express (used on upper lashes)

Maybelline Great Lash (used on lower lashes)

ELF Eyebrow Kit- Light

Let me know if you want a full review on any of these products! 🙂

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for blog updates @ flannelbeauty

Hope you are all having a lovely summer day!