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

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

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in 01 Onyx Review

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in 01 Onyx Review

A quick review. It's one of the darkest, blackest eye pencils I've ever used. What's more important is that it stays for hours without primer and does not smudge. I feel that good products need not depend heavily on primers as they should be able to deliver as promised in terms of pigmentation and other factors. Other times, we just want lighter and more natural looks without the fuss of primers, foundations, etc that makes it so much more heavy, don't we? The-non smudge factor is very important especially for oily eyelids. After I discovered this, I've been using it religiously for a period of time and especially when I know I needed to go out for hours on end. Swatches (without primer) below:

Both top and bottom lid lined with Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Eye Pencil

On brows : Shiseido Maquillage in some brown shade 

The finished look. Added on a pair of earrings, lipstick by Stage in 02 Buff Belle on bare complexion, and good to go!

You can see there's a bit of breakouts on my cheeks. I wonder if it's my blusher that cause them so have been avoiding it at the moment, or if it's my make-up remover not doing its job. So, have been scouting for non-comedogenic blushers and good make-up removers. More on that soon.

The Verdict
It's a very good eye pencil to have especially if you have long days and oily eyelids, or a combination of both. A pencil that takes you from day to night, very dark colour that makes eyes stand out, does not smudge, long lasting, basically an all rounder. (I just spent the last 5 minutes trying to come up with something to dislike about this product and I can't think of any!)

Do try it and tell me your thoughts!

Polkadotpaw

Mentholatum Lip Ice Tinted Lip Balm in Baby Pink Strawberry 

Mentholatum is well-known for personal care products especially their lip balms. Years ago, one can almost always see advertisements on TV promoting their lip balms. They were BIG. Are they still? There is a lot of competition today but Lip Ice is still popular, nonetheless. I remember buying their lip balms and applying it for the minty sensation regardless of whether my lips were dry / cracked. I've been through a few lip ice lip balms and have been more than satisfied with their products. One of which is unfortunately no longer available, called Lip Ice French Vanilla. It was a memorable one because of the scent. One of my favourites! Creamy, milky vanilla yet subtle and not overpowering like some of the vanilla flavoured Lip Smackers (you get the idea). Then there's another that I believe is still in the market but I have no recollection of which flavour I bought. Also, another colour-change lip balm that makes me look like I was playing with my mother's makeup as she enters the room and catches me red-handed and had to quickly rub it off - kind of colour. I gave it away almost immediately. And the list goes on. So after going through several lip balms from other brands, I stumbled upon this pretty new release. I had to admit I shy away from tinted / colour change lip balms after the experience with one of Mentholatum's colour change lip balms. Let's see what this has to give:

Packaging - On the outside, looks like a very subtle colour. Nothing in-your-face. I thought it would be a really light colour judging by the container. 

You can see the difference between the colour in the tube and on the container - It's completely different. It's a little misleading if you ask me. 

 Here's the swatches : (Top) One swipe. (Middle) Two swipes. (Bottom) Several swipes. I have to disagree with some reviewers saying that this lip balm is very light. (I read the reviews on the phone standing in the drugstore like an idiot before getting it.) It packs a lot of colour with even one swipe!

Let's see how the colour looks like on my lips. Pictured above; bare lips. 

One swipe.

Two swipes.

Several swipes.

And this is how it looks like on lips - with bare face. Nice colour. I would say it is definitely suitable for warmer skin tones - it doesn't make the skin look pale or anything.

The Verdict 
After using it for a couple of days, I find that it dries my lips. I haven't experienced this before with previous lip ice lip balms, they may have changed the formulations or ingredients (who actually reads the ingredients and compare them one by one? We all douse ourselves in cancerous / harmful / dangerous / toxic substances everyday anyway.) So, it may not be good in the long run as one would expect smoother lips after usage. I've read that certain ingredients (am being serious here) do cause the lips to be drier - camphor and mint. Speaking of which, this doesn't even have the slightest hint of minty sensation in it - why on earth is it still called Lip Ice? The texture of this lip balm is pretty buttery - not waxy at all which is a plus point. But, the fragrance is so strong it gives me a headache. A very strong, synthetic strawberry scent that hits you in the nose when you apply the seemingly innocent tinted lip balm onto your lips. Something that you need to apply right down below your nose shouldn't be so strongly scented in my opinion. It's a huge no-no for those with more sensitive olfactory systems. That aside, it has SPF 15 that protects your lips  from the sun's harmful rays. (Does it sound like it's about the only thing that is valid about this lip balm? Well, I was expecting a lot from this.)
I've listed all the red alerts - Well, one now knows what to expect. Would you be buying this? Tell me!

Polkadotpaw