Lime Crime Velvetines ✖ Salem ✖ Review + Swatches

I am SO happy, I have to share this good news with you guys! I have finally ordered the new Lime Crime Velvetines in Cashmere yesterday and I am so excited, I can't wait for my parcel to arrive. It's like, FINALLY! They have come up with a Velvetines that is suitable for everyday wear in an office environment. 

*squeal in excitement*

Today I am writing a brief review of Lime Crime Velvetines in Salem. We are so over winter in New Zealand, but I still very enjoy the whole dark lips look. ^^ & plus, Salem is one of the most raved about Velvetines shades and it is also the only Velvetines that I have enjoyed wearing so far. 

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem

Lime Crime Velvetines is described as a lip product that goes on liquid and dries completely matte; Lime Crime claims the Velvetines are touch-proof, transfer-proof, non-drying, long-wearing and does not leave stains.

Pfft ~ Almost all Lime Crime products I have tried in the past stains like a %$@*# and so far I haven't tried a liquid lipstick that is non-drying. Lime Crime may have exaggerated a bit about the non-stains and non-drying, all other long-wearing and touch-proof claims are very accurate, and the formula is actually very impressive.

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem

Salem is described as a Matte Chocolate Brown, to me it's more of a creamy, rich dark chocolate shade. 

I knew a couple of people weren't feeling the color of Salem, because it's brown and no one likes brown lipstick shades these days; but I must be the weird one as this was the only color that appeal to me the most when I did a Lime Crime order. 

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem

Lime Crime Salem has a good color payoff and it has an amazing coverage! The product first applies very liquidy then it dries to completely matte, I struggle to apply this perfectly for the first couple of times trying, the liquid sets very fast and if applies too much it goes all sticky and uneven.

I find that once you have practice the application enough, Salem would apply very easy and smoothly; and the most impressive thing is that this is really long-wearing and it is touch-proof! I could relax and have a big munch of a massive sandwich without having the liquid lipstick transfer to my food.

Not sure if all Velvetines smells the same, but Salem has this childhood smell, a very sweet, milky candy bar scent. Every time I wear Salem, I just couldn't stop sniffing LOL and that sounds super awkward haha! Salem stains a little bit when worn too long, if I was just swatching the color on my lips for a couple of minute, then it's okay. The stain could be removed with waterproof makeup removing oil.

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem Swatch

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem

OVERALL RATING

PACKAGING: ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ 

fussy, transparent tube that allows you to see how much product is left

APPLICATION: ✖ ✖ ✖ 

if applies too much it goes uneven and sticky

SCENT: ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ 

reminds me of a childhood milky candy bar scent

FORMULA: ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ 

at first very liquidy then it dries very matte

touch-proof / transfer-proof / kiss-proof / can relax and eat a big fat sandwich

drying but it's not extreme

COLOR: ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ 

love that Gothic creamy dark chocolate color

the perfect dark lips color without being too harsh

yes I'm talking to you Black Velvet

LONGEVITY: ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ 

very impressive wearing time

the most I have worn is 10 hours!

OVERALL: 4.5/5

Lime Crime Velvetines - Salem ft. Sunny

OVERALL THOUGHTS

When I first tried the Pink Velvetines, I dislike how watery the formula was so their first impression wasn't very good. As soon as I have tried it I was like, nahh ~ not my kind of thing! Obviously, I was too quick to judge and too quick to reject.

Later on I have decided to give the Velvetines another go, if the world is obsess with it, why can't I just try it again? Maybe this time I would fall in love with the Velvetines! Oh and I did, I fell hard! If dark chocolate lipstick shades are acceptable in a law firm environment, I would definitely wear this to work!

The thing I love the most about Lime Crime Salem is the scent! It has that yummy milky bar candies that I used to love so much as a kid and I love that it is transfer proof, there is no worries when eating and drinking while wearing Salem, hmmm this is probably the first and only lip product I have tried that doesn't makes me worry so much while wearing, it doesn't smudge, no touch-up needed during the day and it is very long-wearing.

Overall, Salem is a Kay approved product ;) I am slowly changing my opinions on the Velvetines and I look forward to trying more and reviewing all other shades. ^^

Which of the Lime Crime Velvetines shades is your favourite?

MEMEBOX ♥ Superbox #58 Lipstick Box Unboxing + Initial Thoughts

Memebox Superbox #58 Lipstick Box

MEMEBOX SUPERBOX #58 LIPSTICK BOX
This is for all you lipstick junkies out there! You can go through the rest of this month with the same sheer balm that has become part of your daily makeup ritual, or you can throw caution to the wind and try something totally new! These super rich, super fun, super beautiful lipstick shades are hand-picked by the Memebox Team, from classic shades to bold hues, you will be ready to sport some vicious lips with these hot lippies from some of the most popular Korean brands.

Price Per Box: $27.00
Shipping: $6.99
Availability: Sold Out.

I may prefer Memebox's skincare boxes than their makeup boxes, but I can never have too much lipsticks! I have always been a huge fan of Memebox's lipsticks or lip products boxes, for example, I was very impressed with my last lip box: All About Lips.

Memebox may not always throw in the colors you wanted, but it's nice to try new things right? It's good to step out of your comfort zone sometimes ;) There are six full size lipsticks included in the Superbox #58 Lipstick Box.

Enesti Bijou Bijou Lipstick No, 36 Edge Red

Enesti Bijou Bijou Lipstick

             Full size product: 3.4g ($12)

Product Description: Enesti Lipstick boosts its high purify pastel color formation which creates that perfect moist, voluminous cherry-like lip makeup so loved among Korean celebs and beauty aficionados.

How to Use: Apply the lipstick according to your taste and preference.

Initial Thoughts: Okay, I admit I am a scaredy cat when it comes to red lipsticks, always afraid that they may stain :/ The Enesti Bijou Bijou lipstick is beautiful thou ~ It's not a proper red, it has a light pink tint to it, like a rosy red. I have only swatched this on my hand and I love how smooth it goes on and the color is super pigmented.

Karadium Movie Star Lipstick

Karadium Movie Star Lipstick

             Full size product: 4.5g ($29)

Product Description: Karadium's famous Movie Star Lipstick combines a lip balm, a tint, and a gloss altogether in one smart tint lipstick. It'll protect and maintain the moisture level of your lip all day long while offering the perfectly long-lasting, waterproof, vivid, and non-sticky glossiness!

How to Use: Apply the lipstick according to your taste and preference.

Initial Thoughts: This is truly a Movie Star lipstick ^^ It is SOOO PIGMENTED, apply even and smooth and it's like one of those "one swipe fix all problems" lol... Karadium Movie Star Lipstick is very glossy, but it's not one that will smear and move easily; it stay puts for a couple of hours and it stains. I don't like lipstick stains, but I can't say no to Karadium, cause this lipstick is just amazing!

✓ long-lasting
? waterproof
✓ vivid
✓ non-sticky glossiness
✓ moisturizing

Karadium Movie Star Lipstick in Royal Pink

I Myss 3D Cinema Transform Lipstick

I Myss 3D Cinema Transform Lipstick

             Full size product: 3.5g ($14)

Product Description: A magical lipstick that changes its color when applied on lips, the 3D Cinema Transform Lipstick is not only fun and unique but also effective in delivering colorful vibrancy and softening dry, chapped lips. The Pretty Blue applies on with a light pink hue, the Sexy Red with a more vivid redness, the Pink Red with a coral shade, the Funny Yellow with an orange hue and the Wine Purple with a purplish violet color.

How to Use: Apply the lipstick according to your taste and preference.

Initial Thoughts: I wish I have received a more 'magical' lipstick, maybe a blue or a yellow. I have the red and it's pretty much just a red lip stain, it smells amazing thou, it's got this strong strawberry smell. ^^ ♥

Cheek Room Lipstick

Cheek Room Lipstick

             Full size product: 4g ($12)

Product Description: Cheek Room's moisturizing lipstick instantly adds abundant color radiance and firmness to your lip with just a single touch. It glides onto lips velvet smooth and offers luminous pearling and emollient effects.

How to Use: Apply the lipstick according to your taste and preference.

Initial Thoughts: This reminds me of those NYX round lipsticks, it has a playdoh smell blehhh >.< the color is gorgeous thou! It's like the perfect nude and it's super moisturizing. I have the shade 08 Nude Brown.

Cheek Room Lipstick in 08 Nude Brown

Hope Girl Milky Balm Lipstick

Hope Girl Milky Balm Lipstick

             Full size product: 3.4g ($22)

Product Description: Hope Girl's Milky Balm Lipstick is the ultimate creamy smooth long-lasting lipstick that stays put for up to 10 hours! Get famously beautiful lips that stand out from the crowd with these gorgeous lip colors packed with vitamin E. It's guaranteed to keep your lips feeling smooth and looking marvelous every second of the day! Plus, how can you resist this perfectly cute packaging?

How to Use: Wear with gloss for added shine, or alone for creamy, vivid finish.

Initial Thoughts: I have to say this is my absolute favourite item from the Lipstick Box! Hope Girl Milky Balm lipstick comes in a cheetah prints packaging, super cute and it is also another perfect nude shade, with a hint of yellowness. I got the shade Sand Beige, it does keep my lips feeling smooth and moisturizing during wear, but it didn't wear for as long as 10 hours for me, five hours the longest.

Hope Girl Milky Balm Lipstick in Sand Beige

Shara Shara Feminine Glossy Lipstick

Shara Shara Feminine Glossy Lipstick

             Full size product: 3.4g ($12)

Product Description: Rich in color formation and smoothly applying in its texture, this Feminine Glossy Lipstick offers a wide array of color options and it effectively coats your lips with a high level of radiance and long-lasting suppleness, which comes from its gentle formula enriched with Damascus rose oil and rosehip seed extracts.

How to Use: Use a concealer or a foundation to nudify your outer lip contour. Then apply the Feminine Glossy Lipstick using a lip brush. TIP: dab the lipstick onto the inner center o your lip, apply a translucent lip gloss over the outer contour, and blend it in for a naturally gradated look.

Initial Thoughts: Shara Shara Feminine Glossy Lipstick smells so sweet and fruity, the color is gorgeous too (I got Flower Peach), but I wish it suits me :( I reckon the color I got would suit people with very pale skin tone. This lipstick is sheer and it's very drying; it shows lines and cracks even when I have exfoliate and applied lip balm before hand :( This color reminds me of Lime Crime Babette, except a much glossier and sheerer version of Babette.

Shara Shara Feminine Glossy Lipstick in Flower Peach

Overall Thoughts

I remember ever single Memebox I have purchase that contains a lip product, Memebox would always throw in a red shade or a bright pink shade that I can never imagine myself wearing out of the house with. Not that I was disappointed with the products, it's just those colors are way out of my comfort zone and sometimes the colors don't suit the office environment.

I am very impressed with the color selections Memebox has picked for me for the lipstick box! In it contains my all time favourites nude shades, also to keep the box not so boring with the same range of colors, they have also throw in some red and pink. Overall it's a beautiful box and honestly, if I didn't purchase this box, I would totally regret it once I have seen some unboxing!

Anyway, did you grab yourself the lipstick box? and what did you think?

Birthday Haul ♡ ft. Guerlain, Hourglass, NARS & More...

I blow out twenty something candles last week and I spoiled myself rotten hehe, today I want to share with you my birthday haul and what I did to celebrate my birthday. I have always kept my birthday date a secret, for privacy reasons; so no one really knows when my birthday is and no one celebrates it with me, except for my parents.

So I first celebrated my birthday in a restaurant called Latitude 36, it was like a hotel-restaurant kind of thing and we had this three course meal deal that we purchased from Grabone. The food were really nice, it wasn't expensive with the Grabone deal and the customer service was good too. 

Then the following night I had dinner at Hansan, it's a Vietnamese restaurant and it wasn't fancy like the night before; but guess what?! I much prefer this than anything else! I LOVE rice noodles soups and rice noodles everything! It reminds me of home. ^^

NOW ONTO THE EXCITING PART

Smith & Caughey's had a sale in-store last week and of course their sales never applies to beauty items. =.= Lucky I visited the store anyway, cause most of the stuff I wanted wasn't available online and Guerlain was giving out gift bags worth over $200 if you spend over $80 or something. Guerlain is already very expensive, so it wasn't that hard to score yaself a gift bag. ^^ 

I purchased a few Guerlain items that has been on my wishlist for a long time and I was glad to finally cross off these items from my wishlist, *ahh that feeling you get when you cross-off something you've been drooling over for a long long time*. 

GUERLAIN Meteorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer

This product is described as a smoothing liquid makeup base for an ethereal complexion. It's not like I need another primer as I already have plenty Korean ones that came with my Memebox beauty boxes, but I just had to have it, especially after seeing it in person. The outside packaging is so elegant and beautiful and the inside, the pearls are just so pretty! 

GUERLAIN Gloss d'Enfer - L'Oiseau de Feu #901

I think this lip gloss is from the Christmas Color Collection 2014 and it is a limited edition product (please correct me if I am wrong). I was so SO glad I picked up the last one in-store! You guys know how crazy I am with LE products! L'Oiseau de Feu #901 is described as a sheer top coat for the lips, heightened with gold pearl particles, can be used on its own or over a lipstick to create an ultra-sparkling shine.

Guerlain Meteorites Pearls - Clair

GUERLAIN Meteorites Pearls - Clair

This product is described as a illuminating powder made up of light-diffusing pearls that minimize flaws and add brightness to the skin. I actually got this one online a few days before I did my purchase in-store, I couldn't wait any longer, knowing that this isn't a limited edition product so it isn't going any where haha. #NoRegrets! 

I have came across so many pictures of the Meteorites Pearls on Instagram, it's like almost every makeup obsessives owns one and that's when I decided I need this in my life! I also wanted the LE one (Perles d'Etoile?!) that was released not long ago and I remember saving it to my cart on the Smith & Caughey's site that morning and I was deciding if I really need it as it's very expensive... and then that night I went in-store and they all gone.. G O N E wahhh :( so sad ~

GUERLAIN Meteorites Brush 

I have only just started to get into Guerlain makeup, so I am not that familiar with the brand. I purchased a meteorites brush on a Facebook destashes group not long ago and that left me wondering if it's the real thing?! I think it's one of the old version with a black handle and the bristle is a bit rough when I swirl it on my face. I have read loads of review on the one I have recently purchase, a lot of people were saying it's so rough etc... but when I felt the bristle in person, it's very soft, so I am really confused lol!

HOURGLASS Veil Mineral Primer
I have previously tried a 10ml size of this primer and I have been loving it so much I had to get the bigger size so it doesn't run out as fast! The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is SO amazing! Hourglass claims it helps to minimize the appearance of large pores and fine lines, and preps skin for makeup application while extending its durability. On days I have paired this primer with NARS Sheer Glow foundation, my makeup literally lasted all day through a very hot day.

NARS Algorithm Laguna Palette

NARS Algorithm Laguna Palette
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate this beautiful packaging! This wasn't even on my wishlist or anything, I just got it because the NARS Virtual Domination Palette wasn't in stock at Mecca. I have previously owned and reviewed the NARS Laguna / Orgasm mini duo and I later on sold it in a makeup group cause I just find the palette too small for me to dip my bronzer brush into Laguna. the Algorithm Laguna Palette is perfect, it's bigger than I have expected and in it comes with a mini Ita brush.

MAYBELLINE Baby Lips / NIVEA Tinted Lip Balm
I was so surprised to find the American version of the Maybelline Baby Lips in the Warehouse, didn't even know these things exist in New Zealand! I purchased all three electro pop from the warehouse, they were like under five dollars each, I already owned the pink and the orange but it doesn't hurt having too many lip balms, right...?

I also got me a Nivea tinted lip balm, the peach one.

JIMMY CHOO Exotic Eau de Toilette Spray
This is a new limited edition flanker of the Jimmy Choo original fragrance from 2011 (source: fragrantica). I don't own any other Jimmy Choo perfume prior to Exotic, I was just wondering around in Farmers one day when I came across this perfume, sprayed it once on my wrist and it stayed on for two whole days!! It has a fruity / flora scent and it is very long lasting. Every time I go to Farmers, I always made sure to check out Jimmy Choo Exotic, sadly Farmers does not carry this anymore!

MARC JACOBS Fragrance - Daisy Rollerball Trio
Marc Jacobs is one of those brands that I have always saved to my top designer list on sites like Saks Fifth Avenue / Net-a-Porter for easy access when I do my online shoppings, I love Marc Jacobs' style, I especially love the handbags and I can't get enough of their wallets. I don't own any Marc Jacobs perfume prior to this perfume set, so I was super excited when I got the daisy rollerball trio. Hmmm... quite disappointed to say I am not a fan of any of the Marc Jacobs perfume :( they smell so cheap... is it just me?!

ANNA SUI Lip Color Palette
Finally ~ No more drooling over this lip palette on Beauty Bay! I have made the best decision to get this lip palette, the colors are all very pigmented and high quality, the packaging is very elegant and the lip colors has this nice rosey scent. Can't wait to show you guys some swatches!

URBAN DECAY Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette
I am NEVER EVER EVERRR shopping from Beauty Bay again! I have told myself this before but I just couldn't resist a good sale lol, this time it's a NO for me! I may have to think triple twice (lol is that even a word?) before I place an order with them again.

Every single time I have purchased from Beauty Bay, they either send me an expire foundation, wrong eyeshadow in a custom palette or shattered eye shadow palette, grrr I really have enough this time!!! Their customer service is okay, I mean they replied to all of my messages within the time frame they've set in their automatic replies but this time I really had enough :( ... I was so looking forward to Vice 3, but the eye shadows came shattered, it was very messy, even after I cleaned up it's still messy. Messaged Beauty Bay and they only offered 25% refund of the product... WHAT?! 25% ONLY?! This option or I have to send it back... *sigh* *take a deep breath* That's it, me and BB are over for real this time! 

I end up selling the UD Vice 3 Palette for $20 cheaper than what I have purchased... 

Anyway, have you tried any of the products mentioned in my birthday haul? Any new products you guys recommend? I love trying out new things!