Avon Over Nature Makeup Palette

This all new makeup palette contains 4 eyeshadows, 2 blushes and 2 applicator brushes housed in a beautiful purple orchid print casing that is surprisingly sturdy. The eyeshadows and blushes are shaped to resemble the orchid and makes this palette all the more charming. This looks too good to pass up and I'm glad I did not because the pigmentation is very good. I got the one in Garden Voyage, pre-dominantly consisting of purple eyeshadows and coral blushes. The other palette we have in Malaysia is Ocean Flower, featuring slightly pinker blushes and turquoise / tan / black eyeshadows. In Australia and New Zealand however,  both these variants are not available. They have 'Tropical Dessert' which features pre-dominantly brown eyeshadows - which I think they should also market in our country. The Over Nature here in Malaysia also carries 8 spring-worthy lipstick shades housed in a similar purple orchid print casing, whereas 5 shades are sold in Aus & NZ.

Makeup Palette retails for RM49.90 (S&S RM54.80)

The Over Nature range is limited edition.

Below are the pictures of the all new AVON Over Nature Makeup Palette in Garden Voyage.

Swatches without flash.

Swatches with flash.

Just by looking at it makes me all feminine and happy. Doesn't it?



Love,
Polkadotpaw

AVON Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact Lipstick Swatches & Review

The Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact Lipsticks come in ten mega-watt, vivid and high definition colours. They have chromo-pixel technology that makes the colours more vivid. All of the colours have tiny specks of glitter in them. They are available in 10 gorgeous shades. These shades are the ones available here in Malaysia. 

The 10 shades are:

1. Pink Pop 

2. Fuchsia Fun 

3. Kicked Up Coral 

4. Really Rosy

5. Brilliant Berry 

6. Charged Cherry 

7. Divine Wine

8. Rockin' Red

9. Personified Plum 

10. Brilliant Brown (not in pictures)  

I got all the shades except for Brilliant Brown because I don't think brown hues don't do anything for my skintone. They appear muddy on me and makes me look dated and too matured. All the lipsticks are placed in the same order as above (except for Brilliant Brown) for easy viewing purposes. Same goes for the lipstick swatches. 

These are the lipsticks in their bullets. They remind me of the Cle de Peau lipsticks but only in terms of the shape of the lipstick. I can't really compare the two of them because the last time I visited the Cle de Peau counter I was hunting for foundation and didn't bother trying other products. 

 Swatches taken with flash.

Without flash. (L-R) :

Pink Pop, Fuchsia Fun, Kicked Up Coral, Really Rosy, Brilliant Berry, Charged Cherry, Divine Wine, Rockin' Red, Personified Plum.

Bare lips for reference.

Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact Lipstick on lips:

 Pink Pop (gold glitter) : Warm-toned, sheer pink.

Fuchsia Fun (silver and gold glitter) : Fuchsia pink. (It has cooler undertones compared to Pink Pop) 

 Kicked Up Coral (pink glitter)  : Warm-toned, deep coral with brown undertones.

 Really Rosy (gold glitter) : Warm-toned red with a slight hint of orange.

Brilliant Berry (pink and gold glitter) : Berry shade with plum undertones. (This has less plum than Rockin' Red. To me it's a lighter version of Rockin' Red. )

 Charged Cherry (pink glitter) : Bright, blue-based red.

Divine Wine (pink glitter) : Deep red with slight plum undertones. My favourite of the lot. It is deep red with just the right amount of brightness. This would flatter most skintones. 

 Rockin' Red (red glitter) : Burgundy red with plum undertones. (More plum compared to Brilliant Berry.) 

Personified Plum (gold glitter) : Deep plum shade. This is the least pigmented of all and looks as if I'm lifeless and makes my lips look dull when I put it on. It looks like a stain. For deeper, vampy shades it is not only right but a must to choose pigmented colours for statement lips. Save the sheer colours for a natural look. This shade just looks odd as if it's trying to be natural when it is not a natural shade at all. Well, it didn't suit my light complexion because of the stain-like effect. I was expecting quite a lot from this seeing the gorgeous plum shade in the tube.



Photos below dedicated to the shade in Divine Wine. I can't speak highly enough of this.

On lips : AVON Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact Lipstick in Divine Wine. Outlined my lips with a concealer and it made the colour stand out even more!

Other products used :

Eyes : Shiseido The Makeup Fine Eyeliner in Black on upper lash line, AVON Glimmersticks Cosmic in Silver Eclipse on lower lash line, Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express Mascara.

Face : Maybelline Angelfit Flawless Affinity Foundation in Light Ochre, Estee Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Radiant Kiss (used with a light hand).

See how well this lipstick shade contrasts with a dark blue outfit. Simply gorgeous! Am also in love with grey eyeliners! 

The Verdict

I love these lipsticks! This entire range has the right balance of pinks, coral, reds and plums! The colours are not opague but they are not that sheer either, they are buildable (Sheerest would be Personified Plum). These are high-shine and are quite pigmented for most shades. They do not last very long as with most Avon lipsticks. I did hope they lasted longer for the darker shades. There were slight bleeding of colours. The glitter is very fine and once applied on lips, it does give lips dimension. It's not a problem for me since the glitter is so fine - it's still better than those frosty Avon lipsticks (anyone agree with me?) These lipsticks are perfect for nights out when you want dimension on your lips. The scent is mild and inoffensive at all, in fact I kind of like it. I hope Avon doesn't discontinue this lipstick range as they have a tendency to do that all the time after you've fallen in love with a particular shade or range.

Retails for RM27.90 (S&S RM32.10) Be on the look-out. They sometimes have sale prices for more than 50% off!

Have you tried any of these?

Polkadotpaw

Review & Swatches: Avon Simply Pretty Lipsticks Haul

It's almost Christmas and a great time to indulge and hoard on lipsticks! Lipsticks are perfect for gift-giving and are great stocking stuffers too! These are all from the Simply Pretty line, made especially for Asians so they have a lot of shades that go well with Asian skin tone. There's a few sub-lines that offer a variety of finishes and colour intensity. Here, I've got Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer, Simply Pretty Colorbliss and Simply Pretty Spring's Sweetheart Colorbliss Lipsticks. I'm sure I'm not the only one having a hard time trying to figure out what the shades in real life look like so I'm going to share with you what I have. I'll swatch them accordingly.

All new and still in their seals. The excitement of opening them up and seeing how the colours are in real life!  

 Avon Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer Lipsticks. From (L-R) : Juicy Papaya, Buttercup, Raspberry Sorbet, Cinnamon Red. 

 Taken with flash.

 Avon Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipsticks. From (L-R): Fresh Melon, Pampering Pink.

 Taken with flash.

 Avon Simply Pretty Spring's Sweetheart Colorbliss Lipstick in Carnation Pink. Gorgeous shade as you can swatches below. But practicality of the lipstick in a shape a flower is close to nil. 

 Taken with flash.

 Avon Holiday Delight Lip Balm in Peach.

Taken with flash. 

 Group photo! Haha sounds as if I'm treating them as school children.

Taken with flash.

 Swatches from (L-R) : Holiday Delight Lip Balm in Peach (clear); Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer Juicy Papaya, Buttercup, Raspberry Sorbet, Cinnamon Red; Simply Pretty Colorbliss Fresh Melon, Pampering Pink; Simply Pretty Spring's Sweetheart in Carnation Pink. 

 Taken with flash. 

Codes of lipsticks taken in the same order as above. (I don't think there's a code for the lip balm).

Swatches will be done in the same order as above as well. 

Avon Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer Lipstick in Juicy Papaya (frosty). A lovely pink coral shade with shimmer that makes it look frosty. I'm no fan of frosty lipsticks unfortunately, it makes me look so dated. I would have reached for this more if it wasn't because of the frost. 

 Avon Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer Lipstick in Buttercup (creamy). A pink with beige undertones. 

Avon Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer Lipstick in Raspberry Sorbet (frosty). A pretty colour as well. Shame it looks frosty on the lips. 

Avon Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer Lipstick in Cinnamon Red (creamy). A brick-red with hints of brown. It's a tawny shade. From the bullet it looks intimidating because the colour is so deep. But when I applied it, it's actually very sheer. They make my lips look like they're very natural and healthy-looking. My absolute favourite of the lot! Love it to bits! 

 Avon Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Fresh Melon (creamy). A vibrant, orange-coral. 

 Avon Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Pampering Pink (creamy). A soft pink with warm undertones. 

Avon Simply Pretty Spring's Sweetheart Colorbliss Lipstick in Carnation Pink (creamy). A hot pink with warm undertones. Gorgeous colour but stains like crazy even after five minutes of wearing! 

 On my lips : Avon Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer in Cinnamon Red. Look at how natural the colour is and how it compliments my warm skin tone so well!  It brightens up the face in an instance! Love, love, love this to bits. (I will hunt for a dupe!)

On my lips: Avon Simply Pretty Spring's Sweetheart Colorbliss Lipstick in Pink Carnation. Nice hot pink with warm undertones! 

Avon Holiday Delight Lip Balm priced at RM9.90 (S&S RM11.40) each. Got mine for RM3.90 (S&S RM4.50) each.

Avon Simply Pretty Lipsticks priced at RM15.90 (S&S RM18.30) each. Got mine for RM7.90 (S&S RM9.10) each.

They're always on sale so keep a lookout on their website's e-Brochures or you can visit Avon boutiques directly!  

The Verdict 

The lip balm is very smooth. The texture is not waxy at all on the lips and it's lightweight. Though it's peach-flavoured, I feel it smells a lot like starfruit. I used to have lots of fresh starfruit so I know what starfruit smells like. (We had a starfruit tree in our compound until we cut it down due to some ants / pests.)

I appreciate the fact that Simply Pretty is made for Asians and the colours would suit Asians / warm skin tones very well. This way I feel a little more carefree in choosing the colours and I don't feel like a misfit. At times when I'm at major / high-end cosmetic counters I feel like a misfit because the colours just wouldn't go with warmer skin tones! 

The lipsticks are of good quality for the asking price. Bear in mind the Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer line is supposed to be sheer as the name suggests. They perform well for what they are. I have rather pale lips, so a very sheer lipstick would be fine with me, so no problems about that. I wish they would state which shades are frosty / shimmery / creamy as there used to be indications on their brochures. I don't think they have it anymore. It'll be easier for customers to choose their shades based on the finish as well - I, for one would definitely avoid the frosty finishes like the plague. The Colorbliss line offers more solid colours. Some are sheer but colour payoff is still good. Spring's Sweetheart is meant for spring, I suppose. These are usually seasonal and the last I saw they are having a huge sale on them so, they're probably going to be discontinued. The shade I got (Carnation Pink) is so, so pigmented but it stains like crazy. I just don't understand why they shaped the lipstick in the form of a flower (looks like it's meant for kids), yes it may be good to look at but they're so impractical! If they say it's meant for very young girls, I still don't think girls that young would suit such a vibrant colour. (Other colours that were offered were even deeper) They would still have their mums behind their backs telling them what to wear and what not to, and these shades would definitely not be what a mum wants her young daughter to put on. Too much for a young age! That's just my opinion. 

That aside, the texture of all the lipsticks are almost similar, it's got this waxy feeling that is fine with me. A little sticky and leaves lips a little dry but that doesn't really bother me. What bothers the most, and I have to be honest, is the fragrance that comes with the lipsticks. It's strong and pierces the nose when I apply them. They give me a headache too. (Specifically the Avon Simply Pretty lipsticks, I have no problems with their Ultra Color Rich lipsticks.) And if I'm not mistaken, I noticed that these lipsticks make my lips and jaw numb at times. So, for those with sensitive skin just beware. You may just get one or two just to try and see if it works for you. The colours are gorgeous but based on my experience with the fragrance,  I don't think I'll be reaching for these very often. (I'd really envy those without sensitive skin as they have so many shades to choose from and yet very affordable!) 

And oh, a minor peeve, their names are soooooooooo long for a simple lipstick. It's was tiring typing them all out.

I hope my review and swatches has been informative and helpful to you. What do you think of Avon's Simply Pretty Lipsticks? Have you tried them? Do you find it hard to determine the colours from the brochures? Do tell me and leave a comment below! 

Polkadotpaw

Dark Vampy Lips - The Reveal : Avon

The best places to source for pigmented and a wide array of lipstick shades would be stores like Inglot or MAC. (Think of the makeup-academy-like stores) They carry colours from one end to another in the spectrum. However, I don't have a store like that anywhere near me. The nearest would be 1,863 kilometres away separated by the sea.

I'm almost at my wit's end on finding deep reds, berries and plums for my lips in my hometown for the holiday season. There are no departmental stores carrying higher-end brands here so that limits my options to drugstore brands. Most drugstore brands sadly don't carry darker shades anymore either. Even if there were, they wouldn't be as pigmented as I want them to be and wouldn't give me the effect that I'm looking for.

I almost gave up until...

I heard a voice telling me, "Why don't you try Avon?"
I went to their franchise, I flipped through their attractive brochures and lo and behold found the most amazing colour. They coincidentally had sample sizes for sale for the particular colour I wanted so I picked it up, brought it home and couldn't believe my eyes when I applied and saw the colour on my lips. The Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Cherry Jubilee (featured in my previous post). I read some reviews online about it and apparently it has its cult followers - one reviewer even said that when people found out the Cherry Jubilee she is wearing which she receives tons of compliments for is from Avon, their eyes bug out. My sentiments exactly. (Surprised and impressed at the same time)

Long ago, I've used their lip glosses and they didn't work out for me. I felt stinging sensations right after I applied it and had to quickly remove it. I tried several other lip glosses from Avon at some point but still was allergic to them. So after several disappointments I never really bought any of their products anymore until now. And I'm really impressed! Thankfully I'm not allergic to my new-found love Cherry Jubilee or I would have kicked myself. (Though I can't really take the scent that comes together with the lipsticks which sometimes give me a headache especially from the Simply Pretty line) I very soon bought some other shades from boutiques that carry both current and discontinued products (but are still safe to use as the expiration dates are printed on the package). One of which I love lots as well, as featured in my previous post, Avon Simply Pretty Valentine Brights Colorbliss Lipstick in Pure Plum.

Quick fact : Simply Pretty is a line under Avon that formulates shades specifically for Asian women and is sold in Asian markets. So, rest assured if you're Asian, they almost certainly will not carry shades that are too blue-based that make you look washed out.

One thing about Avon is that they have attractive brochures that show you the shades but unfortunately don't tally in real life. They don't provide testers, so it's a hit or miss if you buy their products. To be on the safer side, it's best to just see swatches online but there aren't many reviews and clear swatches especially for the Simply Pretty line so it's hard to tell just by looking at the brochures. They also change and replace their shades pretty often so it's hard to keep track and actually annoying for those who want consistency.


Here are the pictures:

Simply Pretty lipsticks are housed in purple plastic casing. It's even more inexpensive than the Ultra Color Rich line. Pigmentation wise it's decent, but not as pigmented as the latter.

(L-R) : Simply Pretty Colorbliss Serene Red, Simply Pretty Colorbliss Rich Terracotta, Simply Pretty Valentine Brights Colorbliss Pure Plum (discontinued), Ultra Color Rich Cherry Jubilee (sample size), Ultra Color Rich Berry Nice. 

Swatches in the same order as above. 

(L-R) : Serene Red, Rich Terracotta, Pure Plum, Cherry Jubilee, Berry Nice.

Avon Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Serene Red. Pink with a hint of red. It looks somewhat frosty in real due to the shimmer. 

Avon Simply Pretty Colorbliss Lipstick in Rich Terracotta. A brick red brown that leans more towards brown.

 Avon Simply Pretty Valentine Brights Lipstick in Pure Plum. A rich, plum shade with purple undertones. 

Avon Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Cherry Jubilee. Still my favourite. The colour is really suitable for Asian / warm complexions and gives colour to the face. A deep red without looking goth-like. 

Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Berry Nice. A bright red with a hint of coral that is absolutely gorgeous. Reminds me of geishas and everything Oriental. (This looks totally different from the shade in the catalogue.)

 This is the sample size Cherry Jubilee I first bought and immediately fell in love with. I've read somewhere that it's similar to MAC Media but I've yet to confirm. 

I hurried to get another two of the same shade in Cherry Jubilee. They were on a Buy 1 Free 1 promotion and I couldn't seem to choose another shade. I'm fixated on this. RM21.90 (S&S RM25.20) for both lipsticks. At this point, I wouldn't trade these for anything else!

The Verdict
There are people who swear by Avon lipsticks and I now see the reason why. They're Affordable (with a capital A), pigmented and long-lasting.

Simply Pretty is targeted at younger consumers (teens to young adults) so for the lipsticks they have a lot of wearable everyday shades to choose from. Two of the shades I chose are a little too dark for my liking (for everyday) so I've yet to find something I'm truly comfortable with. I prefer something barely there for everyday. It's either barely-there shades or strong, bold statement lip colours but nothing in between. (Can't stand the feeling of being neither here nor there, haha) I'd probably try the Simply Pretty Shiny & Sheer line for more sheer colours next!

As for the Ultra Color Rich line, they are smooth, very pigmented, packs a lot of colour in just one swipe - they're comparable to high-end brands! They have a lot of deep, dark shades that most drugstore brands don't carry and is hard to find for similar prices. Also, they don't seep into lines or dry patches on the lips which is a major plus point. This can't be more perfect for those of you who are beginners or wanting to try new shades but hesitant to fork out a lot of cash because you don't know if it works for you. Also you'd want to collect as many shades as possible with the same amount of money that may only be good for a single high-end item without compromising on quality! For the price and quality, it's definitely a steal! I highly recommend these and will definitely be purchasing more!

You can keep a lookout for promotions on e-Brochures which can be found on Avon's website. Try them to see if you like them!

Hope you enjoyed my review. Have you tried Avon products? Were they hits or misses for you? Do tell me!

Love, 

Polkadotpaw