Sally Hansen: Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat

(photographed when it was still new)

Although I still have somewhere between 1/2 to 1/3 of this bottle left, I'm going to add Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Top Coat to my Project Pan list (Project Pan Item #21) for reasons to be discussed below.

All in all, this is a great top coat. I think it is identical Seche Vite (reviewed here) except with a nicer price tag. It is extremely glossy and protective, and it definitely speeds up dry time. Its only downfall is, again, exactly like that of Seche Vite- as the product dwindles down, it gets thick, goopy, and ultimately unusable. For some reason, it gets to a point where it bubbles up as it dries, thus ruining the nail look and defeating its purpose. Sadly, I am at that point now. Even so, I will be repurchasing this because it is the best top coat I've tried (along with Seche Vite) and it's a nice buy at around $4.

Orly Nail Lacquer: Space Cadet

Orly's Space Cadet

I've seen Misschievous on YouTube rave about Space Cadet but I figured it was part of a long sold-out collection. When I randomly stumbled upon it on sale at Sally's Beauty, I quickly snatched it up. This actually came as part of an Orly French Manicure set with a base/top coat, a black polish, and some nail design stickers but I got it primarily for Space Cadet.

Space Cadet is an awesome purple-green duochrome, like an oil slick color, with lots of sparkle. It applied like a dream, very smooth with quick dry time. I don't have much else to say about it other than that it's a cool polish and I recommend it!

Orly's Space Cadet (natural light)

Orly's Space Cadet (with flash)

Orly's Space Cadet (good angle for seeing duochrome)

Revlon Lip Butter: Creme Brulee, Peach Parfait, Sugar Plum, Berry Smoothie, Pink Truffle, Raspberry Pie, Candy Apple, Cherry Tart, Red Velvet, Fig Jam

L-R: Creme Brulee; Peach Parfait; Sugar Plum; Berry Smoothie; Pink Truffle; Raspberry Pie; Candy Apple; Cherry Tart; Red Velvet; Fig Jam

L-R: Creme Brulee; Peach Parfait; Sugar Plum; Berry Smoothie; Pink Truffle; Raspberry Pie; Candy Apple; Cherry Tart; Red Velvet; Fig Jam

L-R: Creme Brulee; Peach Parfait; Sugar Plum; Berry Smoothie; Pink Truffle; Raspberry Pie; Candy Apple; Cherry Tart; Red Velvet; Fig Jam

Each shade has been swiped twice so that you may compare opacity/pigmentation.

I was very quick to get on the Revlon Lip Butters back when they launched. I tried to restrain myself by buying only two (Berry Smoothie and Pink Truffle) when I first spotted them. However, I fell so deeply in love that I immediately went back for more. I believe I have the majority of the range. I've only included 10 shades here because there were some that I chose to leave behind when I moved.

These have been critiqued and coveted to death so I'll keep my own review brief. In sum, I feel that the accolades that the Revlon Lip Butters have received are well-deserved. These lip butters are smooth, creamy, and easy to wear. They come in a great range of shades, some of which are sheer while others are richly pigmented. In my swatches above (on my arm), I swiped each shade twice so that you can see the variation in opacity between shades. All of the ones included in this review come in creme finishes except Peach Parfait, which has gritty gold shimmer.

A few cons- I don't feel that these Lip Butters are particularly hydrating. While they are not drying either, I would not be inclined to recommend these as a remedy for chapped lips. Secondly, they are so creamy that they can get mushy and messy. I ruined my first tube of Pink Truffle because the stick broke off during application. In less extreme instances, these still make a bit of a mess as the product melts onto the sides of the bullet during application. My last complaint is that I personally am not a fan of the grit or shimmer in Peach Parfait, although I do feel that the color is otherwise nice.

The standouts for me are Sugar Plum, Pink Truffle, and Raspberry Pie. Sugar Plum is a "my lips but better" sort of shade, which surprised me because it looks so purple in the tube. However, it looks very fresh and natural in wear. Pink Truffle was my original love. It's a neutral pink-brown that is a deeper shade of "my lips but better." Lastly, Raspberry Pie is a bright fuchsia with intense pigmentation. A color like this is usually formidable to me but what is great about these Lip Butters is that they are so creamy that the colors are easily sheered out to make them extremely wearable. Another perk of Raspberry Pie is that as it wears out over the course of the day, it leaves a pretty berry stain on the lips.

Creme Brulee- a sheer nude.

Creme Brulee

Peach Parfait- a sheer pink with gritty golden shimmer particles. I think the mix of gold and pink gives it its "peachy" color.

Peach Parfait

Sugar Plum- a deeper version of Peach Parfait but without the shimmer and with stronger pigmentation. A "my lips but better" shade.

Sugar Plum

Berry Smoothie- similar to Sugar Plum but with hot pink tones. Still very wearable because it is sheer.

Berry Smoothie

Pink Truffle- a natural pink-brown with good pigmentation. A darker version of "my lips but better."

Pink Truffle

Raspberry Pie- a fuchsia with intense pigmentation.

Raspberry Pie

Candy Apple- a warm orange-red with medium pigmentation.

Candy Apple

Cherry Tart- a sheer fuchsia-red.

Cherry Tart

Red Velvet- exactly as the name describes. It is a deep vampy red with good pigmentation. A darker version of Cherry Tart.

Red Velvet

Fig Jam- a sheer natural brown that is very wearable despite how dark it looks in the tube.

Fig Jam

The Body Shop Eye Colour: 10 Taupe

The Body Shop Eye Colour in 10 Taupe

This is so exciting! I have actually hit PAN on an eyeshadow (Project Pan Item #20), The Body Shop's Taupe. It makes sense for this shadow to be the first for me to make such a big dent in because it is probably my favorite. It is definitely my most reliable go-to shade. As a true medium taupe in the matte formula, it is THE perfect neutral shade. Great to wear on its own for a subtle, polished look, to pair with other neutrals, or to use as the blending color for more dramatic, smokey looks. The options are endless with a shade like this.

I've reviewed The Body Shop's eye shadows before (here and here), and Taupe is no different. Smooth formula that blends out easily with good pigmentation. I can't recommend this shade enough!

The Body Shop Eye Colour in 10 Taupe

10 Taupe worn solo across the lids (photographed after 8-10 hours of wear)

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure: Glitter Party

Sally Hansen's Glitter Party

Like Earl Grey, Sally Hansen's Glitter Party is one that I had been eyeing for quite a while. In the bottle, it's a  super sparkly silver with what looks to me like a slight hint of taupe (I seem to have a tendency to see purple/taupe undertones in gray colors). On the nail, however, it looks like true silver. The coats go on evenly and dry quickly so application is nice and easy. The first coat is sheer and a bit streaky so you definitely want to apply at least two coats to build up density. Rather than being glossy, it has sort of a matte finish and gives a foiled effect. All in all, it wasn't the color that I was expecting since I was hoping for something more taupe but it's a good polish if you're looking for a foiled silver.

Sally Hansen's Glitter Party (in lamp light)

Sally Hansen's Glitter Party (in lamp light with flash)

UPDATE: I was studying my nails when I noticed that there were red specks amongst the silver! This may explain the very subtle purple/taupe tone that I was picking up on.

Close-up of red flecks in polish

Project Pan: DayWear Creme

DayWear Creme

Project Pan Items #18 and #19: Estee Lauder's DayWear Creme. I've finished up two! One was trial size (the one photographed) and the second was full size.

I don't even know how many of these I've gone through at this point (reviewed before here) but DayWear continues to be my favorite lotion. It has kept my skin nice and moisturized despite the bitter cold and dryness that I've been experiencing here in Boston. I plan to get more once I see a good gift with purchase (Estee Lauder's tend be great!).

Victoria's Secret Silky Eye Shadow: Lose Control, Provocateur, Between the Sheets

Victoria's Secret Silky Eye Shadows in (L-R) Lose Control, Provocateur, Between the Sheets

(L-R) Lose Control, Provocateur, Between the Sheets

(L-R) Lose Control, Provocateur, Between the Sheets

I was so excited about these Victoria's Secrets Silky Eye Shadows when I purchased them (quite a while back) because they are amazing to swatch. Very smooth with lovely pigmentation. The texture reminds me of L'oreal's Infallible Eye Shadows in that they're creamy powder shadows that seem almost like pressed pigments. In addition, the colors are beautiful. Lose Control is a deep warm brown in the Sparkle finish, which means that it has shimmer particles (though nothing crazy). Provocateur is a peachy pink, also in the Sparkle finish. Between the Sheets is a taupe-brown in the Lustre formulation, which gives it a satin finish.

Oddly, these apply much more sheer to the lids than compared to the way they swatch. I really have to pack the shadows onto my brushes in order to ensure that I deliver enough color to my lids. For the lightest shade, Provocateur, I also have to go over the color several times in order to build it up to how I like it. While these shadows require a bit more effort, I do like the way they end up looking. They're very easy to blend and melt seamlessly into one another. They're also long lasting when layered over a cream shadow base like a MAC Paint Pot (I've yet to try them without).

At $12 each for .11 oz of product (about double the amount in a MAC shadow), I feel that these are well-priced. While they require some work to build up pigmentation, it doesn't take too much extra effort as long as you load your brushes up well. In the end, they have a nice effect and look pretty. If anything, I recommend checking out the darker shades since they're better pigmented.

Provocateur across inner half, Between the Sheets on outer half, and Lose Control along the lashline (before blending)

Provocateur across inner half, Between the Sheets on outer half, and Lose Control along the lashline (final look after blending)

After 9 hours of wear