Yearly Archives: 2016

Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color (Review + Swatches of the Full Collection)

Makeup, Reviews, Swatches

Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Colors

Let me start off by saying this product actually confuses me a bit. I believe the Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Colors launched as part of the Fergie Wet n Wild line in the USA (and were branded with her logo on it), but I got these here in Canada at a Wet n Wild launch party a few weeks ago. They’re missing the Fergie logo, and they seem to have totally different names when I compare them to the Fergie linup. I wonder if the rights to her line were only for the USS? I’m fairly confident that despite the shade names being different, they are in fact the same shades!

Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Colors
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Colors

Regardless of their names, this is an entirely new set of products to me. Being the matte lip lover that I am, I was more than happy to try these out! The Velvet Matte Lip Colors come encased in a soft rubberized tube (similar to NARS packaging) and twist up from the bottom and can, thankfully, can be twisted back down. Although five of the nine shades look to be near identical in colour, I found that the colour of the packaging was SERIOUSLY misleading. If you can believe it, there’s actually a pinky-purple and a straight up magenta in there!

These have a soft matte feeling which is starting to become pretty standard for matte lip products. I did feel like some of the shades required a bit more pressure to be applied (almost as if I had to break through some kind of sheer coating to get through to the colour), but once I got there, the colour was fairly solid. Some of the shades were a bit more sheer (namely Lie Lack and Turnt Orange) and you’ll definitely be able to see that in the arm swatches. Overall, I’m impressed with the consistency of these especially given that the price point is around $3-4 USD/CAD.

Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color Swatches

Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A360 Nude Streak
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A360 Nude Streak
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A360 Nude Streak
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A360 Nude Streak
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A361 Toffee Frappe
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A361 Toffee Frappe
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A361 Toffee Frappe
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A361 Toffee Frappe
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A362 Looking For Truffle
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A362 Looking For Truffle
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A362 Looking For Truffle
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A362 Looking For Truffle
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A363 Hickory Smoked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A363 Hickory Smoked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A363 Hickory Smoked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A363 Hickory Smoked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A364 Charred Cherry
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A364 Charred Cherry
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A364 Charred Cherry
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A364 Charred Cherry
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A365 Lie Lack
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A365 Lie Lack
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A365 Lie Lack
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A365 Lie Lack
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A366 Berry Tales
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A366 Berry Tales
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A366 Berry Tales
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A366 Berry Tales
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A367 Shelly Shocked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A367 Shelly Shocked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A367 Shelly Shocked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A367 Shelly Shocked
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A368 Turnt Orange
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A368 Turnt Orange
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A368 Turnt Orange
Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in A368 Turnt Orange

Final Thoughts

You cannot go wrong with this kind of price point, especially if you want to try out a new lip colour! The texture is wonderful and if you like any of the colours above, I’d recommend checking them out! My personal favourite shades are Hickory Smoked, Turnt Orange (although it looks drastically different on my lips compared to the swatch) and Toffee Frappe.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration.

Skincare Saturday: Bioderma’s Micelle Solutions (Sensibio, Hydrabio & Sebium)

Reviews, Skincare

Bioderma's micelle solutions in Sensibio H2O, Hydrabio H2O and Sebium H2O

Bioderma‘s micelle solution (often mis-said as “micellar” in English, which is really just an attempt to anglicize the French “solution micellaire”) is a product that I begrudgingly jumped on the bandwagon for several years ago. (I say begrudgingly because it was a little on the expensive side and basically only readily available in France – which is where I first picked it up!)

Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bathroom....
Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bathroom….

And now… it’s everywhere in my apartment and I’m loathed to be without it! It’s in my bathroom to help clean up and refresh my skin after I’ve removed my makeup. My husband even uses it when he’s feeling a bit greasy in the face after workday and wants a refresher.

Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bedroom...
Crealine/Sensibio H2O in my bedroom…

I also have it sitting on top of my makeup table to help me fix any makeup mistakes and clean up under my eyes when I experience fall out from my eyeshadows.

Bioderma micelle solution in Sensibio H2O
Bioderma micelle solution in Sensibio H2O

I was, however, slightly unaware that Bioderma actually made a few varities of their micelle solution. The one that’s most easily recognizable is the Sensibio H2O (called Crealine H2O exclusively in France) which has a pink top. For those unfamiliar with the product, Sensibio H2O has the consistency of water and is considered perfect for sensitive to intolerant skin. It is fragance, alcohol and paraben-free, as well as hypoallergenic.

Some people use it to remove their makeup entirely, however I don’t find the formula is heavy duty enough for that on my face because I often wear waterproof and/or longlasting products. I prefer to use this after I’ve removed the bulk of my makeup with an oil-based remover/cleanser and then go in with the micelle solution on a cotton pad and clean up the excess that I missed by washing my face (and trust me, no matter how much you wash your face, you will still have excess makeup somewhere!). It’s odourless, but not tasteless, so if you use this to remove your lipstick, it will be a touch bitter.

I also use this to clean up any makeup mistakes while I’m doing my face and to clean up the inevitable eyeshadow fallout on my under eyes during application.

Bioderma micelle solution in Hydrabio H2O
Bioderma micelle solution in Hydrabio H2O

The Hydrabio H2O formula is entirely new to me. I don’t notice any difference in my skin when I use this (as in, it performs just as well as the Sensibio H2O), however this is formulated for dehydrated sensitive skin. One thing that I thought was interesting about this one is that it smells really, really nice. Bioderma‘s web site indicates that it’s an allergen-free fragrance, as it would have to be since this is intended for sensitive skin. I’ve actually grown quite fond of the scent of the Hydrabio one and if it comes in the larger 500 ml bottles like the Sensibio, I’ll be switching to this one once I’ve finished all my bottles up!

Bioderma micelle solution in Sebium H2O
Bioderma micelle solution in Sebium H2O

The final micelle solution is the Sebium H2O which was created for combination, oily or blemished skin. I’m none of these things, so I can’t tell you how it does, or does not help the skin in those respects. (I mean, I’m potentially combination skin, but it’s February here in the northern hemisphere so I’m basically just a dry bastard right now.) This one is also scented (although interestingly not marked as allergen-free), hypoallergenic, paraben-free and has no colouring agents. I assume the colouring agent comment is indicated on their site because unlike the others, this liquid is actually blue!

Final Thoughts

I cannot live without the Bioderma micelle solution in any of its formats. It’s a gentle, easy to use product that works wonders to help clean up my skin, or refresh it if it’s feeling tired and dirty. It’s rinse-free, which means you can splash it all over your face and not have to worry about reaching for a towel. If there’s one skincare product out there that I can recommend to you, it’s this one.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration, although I did already own the two larger bottles of Sensibio H2O.

Smashbox Insta-Matte (Review & Comparisons)

Makeup, Reviews, Swatches

Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer

In the beauty world, we’re pretty oversaturated with products that are virtually the same, just in different packaging. So it’s like seeing a unicorn amidst the pack when you spot something new and totally unlike anything you’d ever experienced before.

Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer
Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer

The brand new Smashbox Insta-Matte Lip Transformer is that rare mystical beast! As a matte lip obsessor, this has gotten me a little overexcited!

Smashbox Insta-Matte applicator
Smashbox Insta-Matte applicator

So what is this thing then? The Insta-Matte is a soft transparent gel that can be applied to your cream lipsticks (not for use with glosses, lacquers or balms) to transform them into a matte lipstick. It won’t change the colour of your lipstick either!

Smashbox Insta-Matte swatch
Smashbox Insta-Matte swatch

The Insta-Matte is also a really comfortable light-weight product that feels cushiony on the lips. It doesn’t add the dryness that most matte lipsticks have and it maintains the colour perfectly. I can liken it only to the new-ish matte formulas that have started to circulate in the beauty world… they have a bit of a gel texture, but they feel soft on the lips.

Application-wise, I apply my lipstick first, then pop a little bit of the Insta-Matte on to my finger tip and blend that in directly onto my lipstick. I discovered that less is better – one time I applied too much and it got a little bit gloppy on my lips. So stick with a small amount of product and add more as needed to mattify your lips. (A little goes a long way, so you won’t need much!)

Anyway, you’re here for the lip pictures. Let’s see the Insta-Matte in action!

Insta-Matte Comparisons

Smashbox Insta-Matte on Too Faced La Creme lipstick in Jelly Bean
Smashbox Insta-Matte on Too Faced La Creme lipstick in Jelly Bean

The Insta-Matte is recommended for use with cream lipsticks, so I went straight for my Too Faced La Creme lipsticks. The difference between the two sides is astounding. I applied the lipstick to my whole mouth, then applied the Insta-Matte to the left side. You can see the instantaneous transformation AND that the colour of the lipstick stays true to itself!

Smashbox Insta-Matte on MAC Viva Vlam Cyndi lustre lipstick
Smashbox Insta-Matte on MAC Viva Vlam Cyndi lustre lipstick

Now that I know this works like a charm on cream formulas, I decided to give some of my other lip products a try. This is MAC’s Viva Glam Cyndi lipstick (limited edition several years back, but it’s the only lustre formula I own) and it worked out just as well as the Too Faced one!

Smashbox Insta-Matte on Revlon Peach Parfait lip butter
Smashbox Insta-Matte on Revlon Peach Parfait lip butter

And because I feel like instructions are meant to be tampered with, I decided to see how far I could push this product. The lip product above is my Revlon lip butter in Peach Parfait. This is where the Insta-Matte starts to struggle a little bit. It does work to tone down the sheen of Peach Parfait (which is one of the most reflective lip butters I’ve ever owned), but it’s not something I’d wear with regularity.

Smashbox Insta-Matte on NYX Peach Cobbler butter gloss
Smashbox Insta-Matte on NYX Peach Cobbler butter gloss

This last shot was just for fun. The Insta-Matte definitely says it’s not to be used with lip gloss, but I wanted to see what would happen. And as you can see… the results aren’t glamorous. NYX’s Peach Cobbler butter gloss actually maintains its colour but it starts to go crumbly and chunky.

Final Thoughts on the Smashbox Insta-Matte

My mind is totally blown by the Smashbox Insta-Matte – it’s a really incredible product and unlike anything else of its nature. I never liked the idea of applying powder to my lips to mattify a lipstick (like ew, hello, crunchy and powdery? Gross!) and this is a solution that will actually work for everyone. Although the instructions say to apply liberally, I would encourage you to start out with a small amount of product, and then build on that as needed. The best part is that this actually feels comfortable on the lips – it’s not drying which can be a chief problem with matte lipsticks (as a note, this does not make your lipstick transfer-proof!). So if you couldn’t tell by my post, I love this product – it works well, it’s comfortable to wear and it doubles your cream lipstick collection!

The Smashbox Insta-Matte is available now and can be purchased from Sephora.ca for $26 CAD and on Sephora.com for $24 USD.

The product featured in this review was sent to me for consideration.