Jordana Modern Matte Lipsticks: Swatches & Review

I might have to start admitting that I'm becoming obsessed with lip products! ...Especially affordable drugstore lipsticks. And I love collecting all the shades when they're extremely affordable.

I really didn't think I would find the new Jordana Modern Matte lipsticks. But then low and behold, there was a display in Walgreens! And they were only $2.49! I did go to 2 more Walgreens to find the other shades I wanted. :) So that's why my initial pictures below are broken into 3 parts. But I will swatch them all together at the end of this blog post.

The packaging is cute. I love the font of the logo, and is think it's fun that the container matches the lipstick color inside. So on to the pictures! 

Left to right: 06 Matte Adorable, 07 Matte Popular, 09 Matte Dare, 10 Matte Pretty, 12 Matte Style

Left to right: 06 Matte Adorable, 07 Matte Popular, 09 Matte Dare, 10 Matte Pretty, 12 Matte Style

Left to right: 06 Matte Adorable, 07 Matte Popular, 09 Matte Dare, 10 Pretty, 12 Matte Style

Left to right: 01 Matte Bare, 02 Matte Blush, 04 Matte Tease, 05 Matte Classy

Left to right: 01 Matte Bare, 02 Matte Blush, 04 Matte Tease, 05 Matte Classy

Left to right: 01 Matte Bare, 02 Matte Blush, 04 Matte Tease, 05 Matte Classy

And then finally, I found 08 Matte It Girl at the 3rd Walgreens, so that's why she's all by herself! 

And then I wanted to swatch them all side-by-side for y'all so you can see the shades all together. 

Left to right: 01 Bare, 02 Blush, 04 Tease, 05 Classy, 06 Adorable, 07 Popular, 08 It Girl, 09 Dare, 10 Pretty, 12 Style

Left to right: 01 Bare, 02 Blush, 04 Tease, 05 Classy, 06 Adorable, 07 Popular, 08 It Girl, 09 Dare, 10 Pretty, 12 Style 

From first impressions (wearing them just a bit so far) and swatches, I actually like them!  I've heard from some people that theirs smell awful. Mine actually don't, and you know how sensitive I am to scents in makeup products! Mine smell like a subdued version of Mac lipsticks with a faint waxy scent behind that. But the scent doesn't bother me at all. If anything, I kind of like it! I'm guessing that there are maybe some bad or older batches that went to the shelves somehow, maybe?  Just speculation there! 

But overall, I think they're really fun lipsticks for $2.49 that come in a lot of versatile colors. Side note though: I do not like these more than the Wet N Wild MegaLast Lip Colors. Those will probably always be my favorite matte lipsticks from the drugstore!

And as far as the feeling on the lips, not all Modern Mattes are created equal. Some I have tried seem much drier than others and some are much more patchy and difficult to apply. While others are creamy, opaque, and very comfortable!

Drugstore Makeup and Beauty Favorites

 

There’s something about strolling through the beauty aisles of a drugstore (or your favorite discount store). Tons of beauty products to choose from, inexpensive and worth a try. In many cases, formulas are equal to that of their more expensive department store counterparts. The difference is usually in the packaging–maybe not quite as luxe as what you expect in the department store beauty aisles. 

Since I try hundreds of beauty products throughout the year, I’ve found many of my favorites come from the drugstore. These are the drugstore beauty products that I re-buy frequently :

Makeup

No longer do you have to feel that you're trading off quality for value. The product that I buy most frequently in the drug/discount store is mascara. I'm always searching for the newest/greatest. My favorite drugstore mascaras include L'Oreal Paris Voluminous® Power Volume 24H Black Smoke mascara and CoverGirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast Mascara. 
Eyeshadow is another drugstore staple. If you like neutrals like I do, check out Maybelline The Nudes Palette. Twelve eyeshadow colors that you can mix and match to get your own versatile look. I also love the  Maybelline EYE STUDIO® COLOR TATTOO®  line and have found these to be great dupes for MAC. And for eyeliners, you can't beat Wet 'nWild or e.l.f.!

Sunscreen

Unless you are loyal to a prestige department store brand, the sunscreens in the drugstore are excellent. Two of my favorites include Aveeno® Protect + Hydrate™ Lotion Sunscreen with Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and NEUTROGENA Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen. Both of these brands consult regularly with top dermatologists, so there is no trade-off in quality compared to more expensive versions.  

Nail Polish and Nail Care Products

Nail polish is my favorite product to buy in the drugstore. There are so many brands to choose from—most are well under $10. Sinful Colors, L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche, Essie…I can always find a new color to pick up.  Chances are if you like a hot-off-the-runway department store nail polish shade, you can find a dupe at the drugstore! And while you’re there, don't forget nail care products. Pick up Cutex® SPA Formula Nail Polish Remover, Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab and stock up on nail files.

Skin Care - Cleansers

Yes, you can find good skincare products in the drug/discount store. Cleansers are an excellent drugstore beauty buy. My favorite cleansers include Neutrogena Foaming Cleanser, which removes dirt, oil and makeup. If you like a creamier texture, try Olay Luminous Brightening Cream Cleanser, which gently exfoliates and brightens dull, uneven skin. And if you prefer an oil, Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil is a great choice for dry, winter skin. 

Hair Care

The best drugstore hairspray—and my favorite hairspray at any price, is L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray. A fine mist, no-stick, no-buildup, stands up to weather formula make this hairspray my must-have. In addition, beauty companies are coming out with extensive hair care ranges that rival those found in a salon. You can find everything you need, from shampoo and conditioner, to products that create the perfect blowout. You can even buy hair dryers!

Jordana Easy Liner for Eyes - New Shades: Review & Swatches

New Jordana Easy Liner for Eyes shades are out! The new color names are Khaki, Tantalizing Teal, and Blackest Blue. These retail for only $1.99! 

Top to bottom: Tantalizing Teal, Khaki, Blackest Blue

Sometimes it can be a little tough to find more unique eyeliner shades at the drugstore. I feel like these shades are definitely more unique, especially the khaki and teal shades! They're really nicely pigmented too. Here are some swatches for y'all. 

Swatches left to right: Blackest Blue, Khaki, Tantalizing Teal 

Jordana is really rockin' it with the new products lately! Will you be getting any of these new shades?

Jordana FabuBrow - New Shades! Review & Swatches!

Jordana FabuBrow - New Shades! Review & Swatches!

Brows can definitely be a challenge to match! And brow product options in the drugstore are kind of lacking. So I was excited when Jordana came out with more shades in their FabuBrow line. The new shades are Light Taupe, Soft Brown, and Midnight Brown. These retail for $2.99.

Top to bottom: 04 Light Taupe, 05 Soft Brown, 06 Midnight Brown

Swatches left to right: 04 Light Taupe, 05 Soft Brown, 06 Midnight Brown

These aren't the longest wearing brow products, but they definitely get the job done, and at a really great price!

An Exclusive Look Inside the Too Faced Better Than Chocolate Natural Beauty Essentials Set (Available for 24 HOURS Only at HSN)

I've had a secret that I've been wanting to share with you for a little while now, and today I can finally spill the beans! If you've been wanting the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, Better Than Sex Mascara, Shadow Insurance and/or a Lip Créme, I've got a fantastic one-day-only deal to share with you:

  

Beginning NOW (9PM Pacific on 1/28) and for the next 24 hours, you can get the brand new Too Faced Better Than Chocolate Natural Beauty Essentials Set (retail value: $103.71) plus a one-year subscription to Glamour Magazine for $49 + FREE SHIPPING, and it's also available on Flex-Pay (three payments of $16.33)! This means that you'll only have to pay $16.33 up front, and then you'll be billed again for $16.33 in February and March.

For a detailed look at what's inside this set (with swatches) keep reading! But don't wait too long if you want this one because, again, it's only availble for the next 24 hours...

Too Faced recently sent me this set, so I'm able to give you a detailed look at what's inside:

Too Faced Better Than Chocolate Natural Beauty Essentials Set

HSN Exclusive

Once again, this set is $49 on the HSN website for 24 hours only with free shipping and Flex-Pay. The total retail value of this set is $103.71. 

Here's what you will receive:

• 1 full-size Chocolate Bar Palette - retail price: $49
• 1 full-size Better Than Sex Mascara - retail price: $23
• 1 full-size La Créme Lip Cream in Nude Beach - retail price: $22
• 1 deluxe sample Shadow Insurance - 0.17 oz (full-size is 0.35 oz and retails for $20)

You are literally getting a full-size mascara, a full-size lipstick and a deluxe primer FREE, since the palette alone retails for the entire price of this set. Here's a closer look:

Add caption

Full-size Better Than Sex Mascara

(Made in Italy

Full-size La Créme Lip Cream in Nude Beach

(Made in Canada)

Deluxe Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer

(Made in USA)

Full-size Chocolate Bar Palette

(Made in USA)

Just in case you were curious, you will receive the newer-style, slimmer packaging. I purchased the Chocolate Bar palette from HSN last year when it still had the older-style, bulkier packaging (see above). I much prefer the newer, sleeker, slimmer packaging.

If you are new to this palette, the shadows are made with REAL COCOA POWDER and they have a real cocoa fragrance. This palette smells so delicious, I often open it just to take a whiff (yes, I just admited that!).

I love the detailing around the mirror:

So yes, this palette is adorable and it smells delicious. But the shadows are also superb. With the exception of one shade (I think Triple Fudge is a bit dry and stiff), all of the shadows in this palette have a smooth consistency, incredible pigmentation and they are very easy to work with. They are incredible when worn over primer (I of course used Too Faced Shadow Insurance for the swatches below), but even without primer these shadows are beautiful:

 

It's a little too early for me to give you a mini-review of the Better Than Sex Mascara and Lip Creme in Nude Beach, because I have only had those products in my possesion for short period of time. But from the few times I've used them, I can understand the hype. The mascara provides some great volume and length and it does a very nice job at separating and defining as well. The Lip Creme has a shiny finish and it's quite moisturizing; the color is a light pinky-nude. As for the Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer, well I've been using that primer for years now and it's one of my very favorites. Even though you don't receive a full-size tube, it's still a generous amount of product that should last you a long time since you only need a tiny amount per application.

Of course the real star of this show is the Chocolate Bar Palette, which as I mentioned above, I have owned for about a year now. It's one of my very favorite palettes in my collection because both the shimmers and mattes are extremely easy to work with, they are highly pigmented and the colors are downright stunning in person (and also quite versatile). Plus, it's made with real cocoa powder and it smells like chocolate. What's not to love?

If you have room in your budget for this set, I say GET IT NOW, since it will only be available for 24 hours at this price (with free shipping and Flex-Pay). I honestly don't think you'll regret it (especially at this price!).

Coming this Spring: New and Improved e.l.f. Essential Brushes

If you're an e.l.f. Essential brush fan (chances are if you're reading this, you probably own a few!), then you might be excited to hear that e.l.f. is releasing "new and improved" brushes in their $1 Essential line!
In case you don't follow e.l.f. on social media, here's a pic they just posted to their Instagram today:

image source: e.l.f. Instagram page

New and Improved e.l.f. Essential Brushes for Spring 2015

From e.l.f.'s Instagram post:

We've got #spring2015 on the brain today, so here's a sneak peek at some new arrivals. Look for our new and improved (vegan!) Essential Brushes coming this spring to eyeslipsface.com #elfcosmetics #sneakpeek #comingsoon #brushes #makeupbrushes

Again, these are "new and improved" brushes from the Essential line. For example, it looks like the fan brush on the far left above is an improved version of the existing Essential Fan Brush, but I obviously can't confirm that yet.

100% Pure Organic Rose Hydrosol Facial Mist Review

Do you ever feel like taking a break from the complications and chaos of modern life? When I feel overwhelmed, I find myself longing for the simple things… and nothing is more beautifully simple than 100% Pure.
For those who need a refresher, here are just a few reasons why we heart this loves 100% Pure: their products are all natural, vegan, gluten free and cruelty free. In fact, every ingredient is held up to this level of purity, resulting in a collection of products that the company describes as “health food for your skin.” 100% Pure actually makes their products with ‘food grade’ ingredients! 

 And speaking of refreshers… allow me to introduce the ultimate complexion pick-me-up: Organic Rose Hydrosol Facial Mist ($15). This product is 100% Pure at its uncomplicated best. Designed to instantly hydrate, refresh, and soothe skin, the mist is especially effective for sensitive and dehydrated complexions

 The way hydrosol mist is created might just be the coolest thing ever: essential oil is extracted through a steam distillation process, and hydrosols are the steam! As a natural byproduct, the mist contains exactly the same medicinal properties as pure Organic Rose essential oil. That’s right, you can hydrate, refresh and soothe all skin types with a simple spritz of mist!

In the interest of testing (and because it smelled so darned good), I misted every way I could imagine: over newly-washed skin, over moisturizer, under and over makeup. I misted at home and away. The bottle is small enough to take with you for touch-up sprays all day long if you want (I’m kind of tempted to do this, honestly.) I’ve concluded that misting is addictive and I’d better buy a backup bottle before I run out.
A quick mist will set your makeup in the morning and refresh it later in the day. Even if the moisturizing effect is short-lived, the smell of roses makes me feel happy. It’s as if spring is right around the corner no matter what the calendar says. 

Pros: • Made from the steam of organic roses • Refreshes skin • Small enough for on-the-go touchups • The rose scent is mood-lifting • Ingredients are so pure, they’re considered food-grade (and therefore don’t require animal testing) • Vegan and gluten free • Instead of artificial preservatives, 100% Pure preserves products with anti-bacterial herbs and a high concentration of vitamins and antioxidants
Cons: • None
If your skin (or even your mood) feels parched, dull, drab, or generally overwhelmed, a misting of Organic Rose Hydrosol might be all you need to look and feel simply beautiful.

Natural Astringent using Tomato

 

Astringent helps to clear out excess oils and get rid of clogged pores thus helping oily or acne prone skin.


Though they are many astringents found in the market they can irritate or dry out your skin. So, one of the best natural astringent that can be found in your kitchen are tomatoes.
Tomato juice when applied on skin controls oils by deep cleaning the skin. The acidity in tomatoes helps to clear acne and acne scars making it a perfect natural astringent.

• Blend a tomato and strain the pulp out, to it add cucumber juice and pour it onto a container.
• With a cotton ball apply the natural astringent to your face for 10 mins.
• Rinse off with cold water.