My Top 5 Favorite Mascaras

Mascara claims are probably one of the most over exaggerated amongst all makeup products.

Maybe it's because it is nearly impossible to test one in stores.

Or if you do decide to use the disposable brush and fool yourself into believing that no one has "double dipped" a brush in the container; the mascara is dried out or once purchased comes with a completely different applicator.

No matter what the process is, there is a certain amount of risk that goes into buying mascara.

Some of us thrive on the adrenaline rush, others just want a good product.

Let me take the mystery out of these five mascaras.

In no particular order:

Ck One Color Mascara (in 800 Black): 

I wasn't totally sold on the brush that is supposed to retract and expand. But the actual mascara itself is lovely. It is the blackest black I've ever used. And the formula gives major volume and length.

Cover Girl Clump Crusher by Lashblast (in Very Black):

Mascara clumps are a nightmare. Especially when you worked so hard to get the perfect eye look.

This really does crush clumps. I don't know if it is the brush or the formula but it absolutely lives up to the hype.

Avon Extra Lasting Mascara (in Y01 Black):

A very nice mascara. The thinner brush makes it easier to coat each lash and get extra length.

It lasts all day and doesn't smudge. 

  

Ulta Voluptuous Volume Mascara (in Jet Black):

It lives up to its title and gives super volume. The thicker brush helps amp up lashes for a fierce look.

Sephora Le Waterproof Extreme Resistance Mascara (in Black):

This mascara is without a doubt waterproof. I know because I tested it. 

It didn't run, streak or smudge when I threw water on my face (yeah, I'm that kind of dedicated).

Perfect for swimming.

I just realized all of my mascaras are in some shade of black.

So those are my current favorites. May change in the future.

Some news: I have been working on starting a youtube channel for Ultima Beauty.

I'm hoping to have a video up by the end of the week.

I'll give you more details soon!

Thank you for reading!

~Brittney

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Bare Minerals 5 in 1 BB Cream Shadow Review

I got a sample size of bareMinerals new BB cream shadow.

My first thought was 'Really? We need more of this BB trend?'

However after using this I was pretty happy with the results.

It comes in10 neutral shades.

The color I have is Divine Wine, which is a dark brown with a little bit of a purple undertone.

Although the sample vial is small (0.03 fl oz) this cream is so pigmented that I could see this lasting a very long time.

The next part is evaluating the claims versus the actual results

Long-Wear Color: The color did stay on all day and did not fade.

Prime: The shadow did not smudge or budge, but it did crease.      

It stayed perfect for about 6 hours and then it started to crease.

I don't know if it would on everyone but I have oily skin so most 

shadows crease on me. Take that for what you will.

Brighten: I can't attest to much for this because my lids aren't          

discolored but it did make my eyes look brighter.

Smooth:  Again I can't say because I don't have wrinkles yet but the

cream went on very smooth and satiny.

Protect: There is really no way for me to distinguish if the SPF does     

     what it claims. So since I'm not a chemist I will take their word for it.

Application:

I used the brush it came with to apply and then smoothed it out with my ring finger.

It goes on so nice and soft. Love it!

Swatch:

 

This color is really lovely with a hint of shimmer when the sun hits it.

Also it didn't come off my arm for 3 days, no matter how hard I tried.

Those are my thoughts on bareMinerals 5 in 1 BB Cream Eyeshadow.

I would give it an 8/10

It is available at Ulta and Sephora 

Thanks for reading,

~Brittney

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A Tribute to My Beautiful Dog Oreo

As you may have noticed I have not posted on my blog in a while. 

The reason is because my beloved 12-year old Border Collie-Labrador mix Oreo became very sick. 

Two months after being diagnosed with oral cancer, Oreo lost the battle on July 5, 2014.

Her last two months were happy ones; she had good nutritious food that she loved and as much attention and love as she had her entire life. 

It seemed like she was getting better, I thought we were going to beat this, until a week ago. 

She became very ill and was not eating. It was truly heartbreaking to see my beautiful, sweet little girl in so much pain. The only comfort I have is that she is no longer suffering.

I talk a lot about beauty on this blog and I cannot think of a better example of beauty than my Oreo. 

She was a beautiful dog on the outside, but she was even more beautiful on the inside.

She was sweet and considerate, a real member of our family.

We rescued Oreo when she was 3 months old, she had been abused as a puppy

Anyone who could hurt an animal sickens me.

 But after we adopted Oreo she was never hurt again, she was hugged and loved all day, everyday.

Oreo (obviously named for the cookie) had a personality like I have never seen in a dog, or some humans.

She slept in my room, right next to my bed on her own mountain of pillows and blankets that she rearranged each night.

 We were like sisters. We were inseparable.

My girl was always happy and just wanted to please everyone.

Whenever I was sick she would stay by my side and watch me.

When I had my wisdom teeth removed she pick up her bone (her most prized possession)  and put it on my pillow next to my head and nudged it towards me.

She was an exceptional dog.

Some of the best memories I have with Oreo is just sitting with her. Hugging her, petting her cute little ears.

I think we were the perfect match; we loved being together.

She was supportive of all of my school projects.

I was happy to be with her everyday.

She was my best friend.

She was the most wonderful dog!

I miss her so much and it hurts everyday now.

Other than the cancer she was extremely healthy and puppy like.

We still don't know how she got this horrid disease.

Some people without pets won't understand, they'll say "Just get a new dog".

But those who have pets that they adore understand the deep bond you have with them and 

that there is no way to replace them, just like there is no way to replace a human.

At the risk of sounding redundant: I miss my dog! I love her so much. My life is just empty without her.

I wanted to do this tribute to her here on my little piece of the internet.

A dog as spectacular as Oreo deserves a full page tribute on the front page of the New York Times.

But this is all I can do. 

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read about my special little puppy.

I love my Oreo.

~Brittney

The Drugstore Chronicles Part II: Hard Candy Eye Def Metallic Shadow

As my summer course slowly eats away at my soul I have not forgotten my faithful readers, however I have forgotten what the sun looks like. 

Hard Candy Eye Def Metallic Shadow. It's my first time buying anything from this brand and so far I'm impressed.

The color is really nice. It's a golden bronze with a serious metallic shine to it.

It goes on so smooth and it looks like it's been freshly applied even hours later.

They claim it won't crease.This is true for about 8 hours after that there is some minor creasing.

All things considered it's a pretty decent product.

Swatch

The color is brilliant and fortunately for my arm it comes off with water.

That's all I've got this week.

I promise once my course wraps up I'll have different types of cosmetics and better explanations.

Thanks for reading and your continued support,

~Brittney

 

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Wet n Wild Color Icon Glitter Singles | Review & Swatches | Drugstore Darling

Hey beautiful people!

 I'm taking a summer class for college that is quite intense; a regular four-month semester crammed into four weeks. So, I won't have as much time to search far and wide for beauty products for a few weeks.

 But have no fear, I live near a drugstore with a large cosmetics section 😉

As I walked down the lovely beauty aisle these Wet n Wild Color Glitter Singles caught my eye right away (as anything sparkly usually does 😅)

There is soooo much glitter! And such a terrific price, $0.99 each!

My natural inclination was to buy every single shade, but that seemed excessive, even for me.

So I narrowed it down to three.

The shades I bought are:

Spiked: Silver glitter

Brass: Golden bronze glitter

Binge: Violet glitter

I wasn't sure if these could be used on the eyes because the back label said "for body and face only".

I figured eyes are part of your face.

But I wanted to be extra sure before applying it to my eyes. So, I checked their website, and I’m happy to report this product is safe to use on eyes. 

But after the high of finding such fun, glittery looking products wears off, the real question becomes: will they work?

Will the glitter pay off be as intense on my skin as it is in the pan?

Will the glitter last or will it dull and fallout after a couple hours?

They are only 99 cents, could they really be that good?

Read on to find out if this drugstore darling is worth picking or if you should just keep browsing…

Name of Shades: Spiked (Silver glitter) Brass (Golden bronze glitter) Binge (Violet glitter)

Finish: Glitter

Formula: Cream

Needs Layers: Yes for use on its own, no if used on top of an eyeshadow

Lasts for: 8+ hours

Fallout: None

Blendable: Not really

Smudges/Streaks/Runs: No/No/No

Pros: Intense glitter coverage on eyelids. It looks beautiful on its own or layered on top of an eyeshadow (I like Brass over a brown eyeshadow).

The cream glitter is a phenomenal texture that stays put all day.

 

Cons: No really blendable. It smooths on nicely but once you place it on your skin, that’s where it’s staying. Needs a couple of layers if you plan to wear it on its own and want an opaque glitter effect.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⋆ (4 out of 5)

Would I Repurchase: Yes

Final thoughts: A really intense cream glitter product. 

Can be worn in a thin layer for a splash of sparkle or built up for a fully saturated glitter look. 

Lasts for hours without creasing or smudging.

I wore this glitter all day and when I went to take my makeup off I couldn't get the glitter off. All the rest of my eye makeup came off but this glitter stayed put!

This drugstore darling proves that you don't always have to break the bank to get an excellent makeup product 😀

Thanks for reading my review of Wet n Wild's Color Icon Glitter Singles.

Why not subscribe to my blog with your email so you will be the first to know about my other reviews 📧

If you like glitter you also might like my Too Faced Unbearably Glam Makeup Tutorial and Review

See you next time!

XOXO

Ultima Beauty

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My Top 5 Favorite Red Lipsticks

REDS

Few makeup products can pull your entire look together like red lipstick.

A quick swipe of red across your lips can make minimal or no makeup look like you spent hours in front of the mirror. 

Or, the addition of red lipstick can be the perfect finish to take a full-on makeup look to the next level of glam.

No surprise then that I love red lipstick!💄

It's a main staple for many of my style idols (Marilyn Monroe, Sofia Vergara, etc.)

You don't necessarily have to break the bank to get a gorgeous red kisser.

Some drugstore and more affordable brands are comparable to their higher end counterparts.💸

Here are 5 of my favorite red lipsticks across all price points, with some swatches as well.

L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick in Target Red

308 Target Red was named after the shade of Target's bulls eye logo.

It's a creamy, classic red that last for approximately six hours, and is flattering on all skin tones.

2021 UPDATE: The shade 308 Target Red was discontinued a while ago.

You can still find some online for an absurd amount of money.

Or you could try L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge in 343 Red Fatale, as a close dupe.

2021 UPDATE #2: The line of Infallible Le Rouge was also recently discontinued (Oh, come on, L'Oreal). Red Fatale is still available online on sites like Walmart & CVS.

Or you could try L'Oreal Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in 125 Maison Marais (unless they discontinued it in the time it took me to type this! 😆). 

It is in a similar shade and finish to the Target Red Infallible.

Target Red on upper lip, right side.

Check out my tutorial using L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge Lipstick here

Mirabella Colour Shine Lip Gloss in Reckless

This one is not exactly a "lipstick", but it's still a great red!

It's a sheerer tint, closer to a gloss, perfect for when you want a hint of red without the commitment to the heaviness of lipstick. The shade leans more towards an orange-red.

With a slight minty flavor and scent, this shiny lip color lasts for about three hours before fading to light red hue.

Check out my full review of Mirabella's Colour Shine here

Revlon ColorStay Overtime Lip Color in Forever Scarlet

A liquid lipstick with two different steps.

Step one is the vibrant scarlet red shade with an easy to use doe foot applicator.

This gives you a saturated lip color, but with a tacky feeling finish.

Step two is a clear gloss on a lip brush that adds a nice shine and takes away the tacky feeling of the lip color.

I have to say, this color stays on for a loooooong time!

All day, even after eating and drinking, it's still there. You may need to reapply the gloss, but that's it!

The swatch on my arm it is still there, and I applied it yesterday! 

I tried to wash it off, used makeup remover, took a shower and the color is still there! 

Hello, perfect long-lasting color!

Check out one of my makeup tutorials featuring Revlon Colorstay Lipstick here

Maybelline Superstay 24 Lipstick in All Day Cherry 015

This beautiful deep red is my all time favorite shade! 

A liquid lipstick that also has two steps.

The lipstick end goes on smooth and effortlessly, it's like painting. 

When it first dries it feels a little tight on the lips but...

 ...As soon as you apply step two, the moisture rich balm, it feels perfect!

It gives lips a polished and sophisticated finish.

 I've worn this to weddings, all day conventions, and it does not move! It really does last 24 hours!👄

Avon Extra Lasting Lipstick in Eternal Flame

A traditional lipstick in a traditional red shade.

It has decent staying power, 4-6 hours and once it starts to fade it leaves a pretty "bitten" shade to the lips.

2021 UPDATE: The shade and the line have since been discontinued (you can't rely on anything anymore 😅).

But Avon's FMG Cashmere Lipcream Matte in True Red is a close shade and formula.

Those are my Top 5 Favorite Red Lipsticks (in no particular order 👍)!

Thanks for checking out my favorite reds!

What are some of your favorite red lip colors?

Name drop them in comments so I can try them!😉

To see more reviews, and some tutorials too, subscribe with email to get my latest posts delivered to your inbox📧

Here's a few of my other posts you might enjoy:

Mirabella Colour Shine & Lip Definer Review

Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm Review

 Urban Decay Naked Lip Gloss & Eyeshadow Duo Review

Thanks again for checking out today's post!

See you next time!😎

XOXO

Ultima Beauty

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