December Empties & Mini Reviews

Another month, another set of empties! I hope you all are enjoying this addition to Nailed, because I'm having a lot of fun keeping track of my empties. I started blogging about them in an attempt to motivate me to finish more of the products in my ridiculously huge stash and I feel like it's really working. I've already surprised myself with how much I've been able to get through! Here's what I finished up this past month!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser: This is desert island, HG, must-have... Whatever you want to call it, I just NEED this fantastic makeup remover in my life no matter what! You can read my full review HERE for more details on Purity's awesomeness.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: I've really come around on this. At first I thought it was kinda clumpy but I got the hang of it after a while and quickly became obsessed with the volume this mascara gives! I feel like the formula performs better after it dries up a teensy bit in the tube. It's a little too "wet" before that and would gum up my lashes. This mini came with my Stardust Palette and I found it completely dried out waaaayyy quicker than my full-sized tube did. I would definitely re-purchase a full-sized one again.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara: Delivers everything it promises: length, lift and definition--even with my straight, stubby lashes. It is strictly a lengthening mascara though, so you'll need to layer a more volumizing mascara over top if you want more dramatic lashes. Makes a fantastic partner for Better Than Sex.

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus: It's hard to draw too many conclusions from a sample size, but overall I enjoyed my trial run with this serum. It's got a nice, smooth texture that makes my skin feel soft and supple, plus I love that it can be used for both face and eyes.

Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream: This moisturizer is rich without feeling greasy or heavy. Lack of volume isn't really a concern of mine (I have a super round face) so I can't comment on it it really lifted or plumped my skin, but I did enjoy the feel of it. A good choice for the winter months. I've used several other Algenist products (I got this one as a gift with purchase) and have liked them quite a bit, especially the Complete Eye Renewal Balm.

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in Light 44: This stuff will cover anything! I've repurchased it several times because I love the full, flawless coverage it gives and how long it wears. I had a little trouble with the texture when I first used it, because it is quite thick and it dries fast, but applying with a Beauty Blender made a huge difference and helped me fall completely in love with this foundation. I don't recommend it for dry skin, as it's extremely matte, but if you have oily skin and want/need serious coverage, give this a try! I always get a lot of compliments on my skin when I wear it, which makes this acne-prone girl feel good!

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NW15: Another favorite foundation. I wish it had slightly more coverage (just my preference), but I adore the longevity and smooth finish of the formula. I'd describe it as a medium-buildable foundation, so you can layer it to full coverage if desired. 

IT Cosmetics Brow Power: I used this pencil exclusively until I discovered the magic of Anastasia Brow Wiz. It's still a fantastic product, but I've come to prefer the skinny tip and more precise application of Brow Wiz to the wider, oval-shaped stick of Brow Power. This is a great pencil for filling brows--it'll even fill in and stick to areas where you have hair--but the wider tip makes it a little trickier to shape your brows. I'm a big fan of the IT line in general and find most of their products to be excellent quality and this one is no exception; I just found something I like better for me.

Jack Black Lip Balm in Natural Mint: No, this line has no relation to the actor. They do make a fantastic lip balm though! This is one of the very few I've tried where I feel like my lips are being nourished and hydrated, not just covered in gel that will leave my lips feeling parched again in a few hours. The mint gives it a very cooling, soothing feel on the lips too.

Redken All Soft Heavy Cream: A great conditioning treatment for dry, brittle hair. I like to do a mask of this and Redken Extreme mixed together to help keep my hair healthy after bleaching it.

Elizabeth and Janes Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo: I knew I'd love the scent of this, because Nirvana Black is one of my very favorite perfumes, but I didn't expect it to be such an amazing dry shampoo too! Really de-gunks and de-greases. Why don't more fragrance brands make dry shampoos? It's a pretty clever idea. The scent is a woodsy mix of sandalwood and vanilla--very sensual yet cozy too. 

Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Heirloom Pear: I always have one of these clipped on my purse. This one smells like pears... Yep. That's pretty much it.

So there you have it: December is in the books! I'm off to a pretty slow start with January empties so far, so I don't think I'll finish quite as many products as I did this past month.

What was your favorite product you recently finished? I'm always looking for new recommendations, so feel free to let me know in the comments section! :)

Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation: Review & Swatches

My skin has good and bad days, but when I need to look my best no matter what my skin has in mind, I put on my Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation and tell acne to suck it! If you have oily and/or acne-prone skin and you need a foundation that means business, I think you'll love this full coverage foundation!

The foundation comes in a 1.0 oz cylinder with a pump at the top. I like that the packaging is not only pretty, but functional as well. The pump keeps the contents fresh and the clear tube lets you see how much more is left inside. My skin is NW20 and the Light 44 shade is a perfect match for me.

I was able to take this little dot...

...and blend it all across my forearm. You really do not need much of this foundation to get the job done!

So now let me tell you a bit about why I love this stuff. (WARNING: Big ol' block of text comin' atcha! Brevity is not one of my strong suits.) I've been using it on and off for several months now, giving me plenty of time to form a solid impression. It promises full coverage and 24-hour wear. On the full coverage front: man, they weren't kidding. This will cover just about anything--blemishes, scarring, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, redness, you name it. I don't need any concealer when I use this!

A little bit of this foundation goes a looonnggg way, but it never looks or feels like you're wearing a mask. If you have dry skin and you're giving this foundation a try though, I'd recommend making sure you have a good exfoliant and moisturizer, because it can accentuate any areas of dry or flaky skin due to its true matte finish. But oily skin will love its smooth, porcelain look.

My favorite ways to apply this foundation are with either a damp cosmetic sponge or a dense synthetic bristle brush. The right tools really help with the texture of this foundation and give you beautifully natural yet full coverage. Don't be afraid to really press down and buff it in. I use Urban Decay's Optical Blurring Brush and it makes a fantastic partner for this foundation! Once you find an application method you like, you are golden, because this stuff really covers and gets the job done!

In terms of weartime, I think the 24-hour claim is a bit much. In reality, it's closer to 12 hours or so, which is still great. I usually have to blot my chin (the oiliest area on my face) once, but otherwise, it lasts me all day, no problem. I also love that I don't ever have to worry about any blemishes or red patches peaking through as the day goes on.

When I'm having a bad skin day or I'm going out at night and want to look extra dolled up, this is the foundation I reach for. I always get self-conscious when my skin is going haywire, so this is like my little confidence booster in a bottle. I don't worry about any acne or redness, because I know Kat has me covered. ;)

Have you tried this foundation? Love it? Hate it? I'd really like to hear what you think!

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Palette: Swatches & Review

I think I've watched like, two episodes of "Miami Ink" in my entire life but I recently became intrigued by the new Kat Von D Palette, Mi Vida Loca. I'd never bought anything from her line before but I'd read that her palettes are generally good quality. So after much wavering and debating, I finally took the plunge and ordered Mi Vida Loca online during Sephora's 15% off sale. The entire Kat Von D line is exclusive to Sephora. This palette can currently be purchased online and in stores for $36.


I'm normally an Urban Decay gal but I just couldn't resist the bright colors in this palette. Most of her previous palettes have darker shades that don't appeal to me quite as much but this one seemed unique and fun. Will this adventure in brand exploration be a great new discovery or will I be clinging to my beloved Urban Decay palettes for dear life? Let's find out...


The Packaging
The packaging is very bright and colorful; a perfect match for the colors inside.

The box

 

The back of the box, with colors and ingredients listed.

I love the inside of the packaging. It's a nice touch.

 The palette itself. It's made of metal and feels durable enough. It's also quite compact and smaller than palettes like, say, Urban Decay Naked, but the pan sizes inside are generous. The palette has a hinge opener and the top pops open all the way so that the top lies completely flat and the hinge makes it so you can't tilt the mirror towards you, which is a little irritating.

 

The Goods

From left to right, the colors are:

• Swan Song - An opalescent white with pink duochrome shimmer that is much more interesting on than how it looks in the pan. Very pretty and would be especially great for highlighting and blending.
• Marya - A pale pink shimmer. Has a frosty finish and good pigmentation.
• No Regrets - A bright fuchsia with a hint of shimmer. I had some pigmentation issues with this one and it felt dry. This one was bit of a letdown for me because it's not as intense as it appears in the pan.
• Drama For Yo Momma - A matte purple. This is the chalkiest of the bunch and has the most disappointing pigmentation. I was hoping for a rich, velvety purple but this is quite hard to work with because it's so dry.
• Mad Max - A bright blue matte. I love this one. Although it's a matte it's not chalky at all and has great pigment and application.
• Dublin - A bright Kelly green with a pinch of shimmer. This is another favorite of mine from this palette. It felt a bit chalky in the pan but actually applies very smoothly on the skin and has rich pigmentation.
• Sparklehorse - A rich, warm-toned gold. The application feels silky smooth and soft. Another winner!
• Altruism - A pale vanilla shade with gold shimmer. This would be great for highlighting but is also vibrant and pigmented enough to have a variety of uses. Like Sparklehorse, Altruism feels super soft and buttery.

All swatches are done on bare skin (no primer).

L to R: Swan Song, Marya, No Regrets, Drama For Yo Momma, Mad Max, Dublin, Sparklehorse, Altruism

L to R: Swan Song, Marya, No Regrets, Drama For Yo Momma

L to R: Mad Max, Dublin, Sparklehorse, Altruism

And here they all are with flash.

In addition to the eight eyeshadows, you also get Wonderchild, an electric blue travel-sized eyeliner pencil. The application is hassle-free and pigmentation is impressive. This pencil is supposed to be water-proof, but I haven't had a chance to test how it well it wears yet.

The Verdict
No Regrets and Drama For You Momma were a little disappointing in terms of application and pigmentation, but still workable. The rest of the shades all perform excellently, particularly the last four in the palette. Mad Max and Dublin are my two favorites. You get a nice variety of colors here and a great amount of product for the money.


I'm very happy with my first Kat Von D purchase and I'm intrigued and impressed enough to definitely purchase more of her palettes in the future! I love to wear bright make-up all year round, but especially during the summertime. I think this palette will be perfect for that!


Do you own Mi Vida Loca or any other Kat Von D products? What do you think of them? Are there any other products from her line that I should pick up ASAP? Clue me in, girls!