BA STAR Sample Review

This week I got sent my first product to review from BA STAR! A company that focuses primarily on cosmetic products for "Cheerleaders, Dancers, Competitors, and Trend Setters". The sample contained holographic silver glitter ($8.75 for 5 oz.) and glitter glue ($8.75 for 1.5 oz). They also carry a large selection of shadows (both matte and glitter), pigments, blushes/bronzers, false lashes, lip/eye liners, lip glosses, and tools/accessories.
The glitter glue dries clear and did a decent job of holding the product in place for about an hour with regular movement. I didn't find the glue to be water-proof. I would be a little apprehensive to place the glitter on my lid, as I would worry about fall-out landing in my eye.
If you're looking for a glitter thats higher quality than what's available at a craft store, this is definitely worth checking out. I'd definitely be up for buying one of the cosmetic products from BA STAR, especially the "Bronze Star Dust" or one of their shadow palettes.

If you're interested in trying out this product, here's a coupon code for 50% off. Just enter "BBGLITZ" at checkout.

Discalimer: I received this product free of charge for review. I have not and will not receive any compensation for this review and as always, I give my honest, unbiased opinion of the product.

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Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil

 I mentioned in an earlier post (comparing Nuxe and Jack Black's lip balms) that I wanted to try the Hourglass Lip Treatment No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($42 for 0.25 oz.). Well, due to my total lack of self-control and fickle nature, I went out and bought it the next day. I've been using it for nearly three weeks, so I feel comfortable saying that this stuff is extravagant amazing. I don't think that it's a necessity, but it blows every other lip treatment product out of the water. It sounds dramatic, I know, but when I put this on at night, I wake up with new lips. I have the horrible habit of chewing my lips (gross, I know) and this is the first product that I feel actually heals my lips faster than I can destroy them. 

It has an herbal scent (you'll know its on but I don't personally find it off-putting. Also, don't lick your lips as it tastes really herbally and bitter. It feels very similar to the Jack Black lip balm until you put it on your lips and it quickly melts to a smooth, yet slightly thick, oil. You push down on the lever (see photo) to dispense the product and I find that it only takes less than half a pump to thoroughly coat your lips. This has a gold-plated tip, which apparently acts as an antiseptic and gives a nice cooling effect (that could likely be achieved with any other metal tip). It also has a good lasting power, but not as long as with the Jack Black or Nuxe products. When I put the Hourglass lip treatment on at night, I wake up with hydrated, plump lips, but I can’t feel any of the product still on.

Barneys describes the product as the following:

"An advanced anti-aging treatment for lips that combines botanicals, vitamins and three powerful active ingredients in a supremely luxurious oil blend. No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil hydrates, rejuvenates and regenerates the delicate lip area by boosting moisture levels, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and improving lip shape, volume and softness. Equipped with an opulent 24-karat gold-plated tip—it’s the gold standard for lips."

I personally have no evidence that it has any anti-aging effects or that it "[improved] lip shape" although it definitely improves lip’s texture. It is a fantastic product that I'd recommend to anyone with severely chapped lips who's tried other products without sufficient results. I figure if I’m lucky I’ll probably get around 40+ uses from it, which would make it about $1 per application—which is insane. I’ll try to only use it at times when my lips really need it... but we all know how little restraint I have. 

Eye Candy: Hakuhodo, MAC, and Sigma Brush Review

(Left to Right: MAC 217, Hakubodo J5523, Sigma E25, Hakuhoda K007, e.l.f. angled eyeliner, Hakuhodo J242G)

Can makeup brushes be sexy? I have no idea. But if they ever had a shot, it would be in the Tom Ford brush line. I'd been lusting after the brushes for months and so when I heard gossmakeupchat on YouTube say that Hakuhodo brushes were a better and cheaper alternative, gullible me quickly ordered three (thank you, Dr. Seuss).

I've been in a long-term relationship with the MAC 217 blending brush (goat hair, $23). However, I occasionally have a wandering eye and try out other similar brushes only to be left feeling underwhelmed-- most recently via the Sigma E25 (synthetic, $10).  Finally, it's actually worked out in the Hakuhodo J5523 Eye Shadow Brush (goat, $18). Will I still use the 217? Definitely. Still, the J5523 is definitely of higher quality, softer, and less expensive. The brush is dense enough to get the job done but still has a decent amount of give. It's not quite as fluffy as the 217 but it fits my crease better. It's unbelievably soft, but still manages to pick up the perfect amount of product. The Tom Ford Eye Shadow Brush (natural hair, $55) is supposedly most similar to the MAC 217, Sigma E25, and the Hakuhodo J5523.

Sigma E25 turned out to be a total letdown. I'd heard so many reviews on YouTube raving about the brand I thought I'd give it a try. First of all, half of the brush is rounded and the other is flat (wtf). The bristles arrived a little splayed and it just feels cheap and in the few weeks that I've had it-- it's shed a few bristles. The synthetic brush is so slick it only disturbs the surface of the product rather than picking it up on the brush (great...). The brush is soft, but that's about the only praise I would give it. It works fine for blending concealer or putting it under the eye, but that's not really what I had intended, nor what it's marketed for.

Ok, now that I got that out of my system... The next brush up for review is the K007 Eyeliner Brush (weasel, $15) and it is amazing. Gel liner is hard enough to apply, so having a brush that makes it this easy is a lifesaver. This has a super fine tip, is relatively firm, and has a round thicker base (could that have sounded any more pervy?). Anyways... I honestly can't say enough good things about this liner brush. I've tried the Bobbi Brown Eye Liner Brush (synthetic, $26) and thought it was too big (and very similar to the brush that comes in the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner). I've also tried the e.l.f. Studio Angled Eyeliner brush (synthetic, $3), but ended up just using it to apply Latisse (more on that later).

Lastly, I got the Hakuhodo J242G Eye Shadow Brush (goat/synthetic hair, $17). This brush is the supposed equivalent of the MAC 239 (goat hair, $25) or the Tom Ford Shadow/Concealer Brush (synthetic, $60). This works well for packing on shadow or placing it on the lower lash line. It also works well for placing inner corner highlights and concealer (both under the eye and anywhere on the face).

With the excepting of the MAC 217, I don't see any reason why I would buy any new brushes from any brand other than Hakuhodo.

Beauty Subscription SmackDown: May 2013

I'm falling deeply in love with beauty subscription boxes. I pretty much pretend the packages are presents, rather than things I've paid for a few weeks ago (how's that for some alliteration?!). For those of you who may not know, both Ipsy and Birchbox are and are a monthly subscription service that for $10/month you get an unknown mix of (primarily beauty) samples.

Ipsy May 2013 ($50 value)

Zoya Nail Polish in "Julie": This is a frosty, metallic, lilac color and came in a full-sized version. I'm generally not the biggest fan of getting nail polishes in my boxes, but this was definitely a great value! I found it took 2 coats to get it opaque and it lasted 2 days without chipping (granted, I literally wash my hands 20+ times a day at work).

Alternates: One of the 5 other colors from the same Zoya Spring Collection (The "Blu" shade is so pretty).

Nume Finishing Serum: This is a really thick hair serum that smells amazing and does a good job of making your hair feel shiny. I don't know that I'll purchase, but I'm happy I got to try it out. That said, I love Macadamia products and would have loved to have gotten that too.

Alternate: Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

Yaby Concealer Refill in "Buff": This is a really good concealer and a great color-match (what are the odds!?). I put it in the GlamRx magnetic palette that came in the March Ipsy bag and keep it in my purse and it's perfect for touchups. It's a little slicker than the MUFE concealers (which are the closest thing I can compare this to), but this has great coverage. I only applied this to spots, so I can't say if it makes for a good under-eye concealer or not. 

Alernates: 3 additional color choices (one of appears VERY orange online)

Pacifica Roll On Perfume in "Tahitian Gardenia": I know perfume samples in beauty boxes really get some people fired up. But if you're going to get a perfume-- go big or go home! This was a full-sized rollerball and if you like gardenias, you'd love this. 

Alternate: "Island Vanilla" scent

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in "Fig": I was a little leery of trying another Juice Beauty product after my last expereince with their hydrating mist but this was pretty nice. Thankfully, I got the color "Fig" which is a frosty plum color and it also came in full-size. It smells and feels really similar to the Burt's Bees glosses that I had ages ago-- citrusy and a little sticky (when compared to something like the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector line).

Alternates: 2 other colors from the same line
*Bonus: If you're an active Ipsy member (I'm not) they were sending out one of the new Urban Decay Moondust Shadows. FYI, Urban Decay has their old Stardust Shadows (which from what I can tell,  are the same, just in different packaging) on sale for $6 on their website as opposed to $20 for the new Moondust shadows. The one pictured above is in "Diamond Dog" which is one of a few shades that were made in both the Moondust line and Stardust line.

Birchbox May 2013 ($15 value)

Marvis Toothpaste in "Classic Strong Mint": Marvis has a great line of "gourmet" toothpaste flavors like "Ginger Mint". I know, you're likely asking yourself how you've lived so long without "Jasmine Mint"toothpaste. Well, look no further. In all seriousness, this toothpaste is pretty good. Is it $11 good? Probably not for the mint, but I'd be up for trying another from the brand. If you're like me and only use whitening toothpastes, this one claims to be as well.
Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner in black: Birchbox has a lot of photos of this but in different, fun colors. However, they don't actually sell many of them (what a tease!). Either way, I love the formula of this liner. It's super creamy, super blend-able, and applies easily to the water line. It's not advertised as waterproof but it has a good lasting-power. Sumita also has a Color Intense line and an Eyeshadow Pencil line that I will definitely be checking out because of how much I love the formula.
COOLA Classic SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face: Another one of my favorites from the box. It smells exactly like cucumbers and is one of the lightest-feeling facial sunscreens I've tried. Completely non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and from what I can tell, doesn't have the dreaded "white caste" attributed with most sunscreens.
Runa Guayusa Tea: Probably my least favorite from this months box just because I'm not interested in food samples or non-alcoholic drinks. According to Birchbox's website, "each brew has more caffeine than your typical tea blends and double the antioxidants of green tea". As far as taste goes, it's very herbal and earthy. It's better than grocery store teas, but not as good as products I've had from Teavana.
amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask: A little thinner than my Macadamia Treatment Mask (which is amazing) but still works pretty well. It smells really similar to the John Frieda Full Repair line. The sample had enough product in it for two uses. Also, unlike the Macadamia Treatment Mask, this one says you can use it as your daily conditioner as well. 

Conclusion

This really was the first month that I preferred Ipsy over Birchbox. I was starting to think about cancelling Ipsy... so well played Ipsy, well played... This month's Ipsy box had 3 full-sized samples which is pretty amazing considering it only cost $10.
I wish Birchbox would ask you if you wanted to get food samples. I got one in last months box as well and I went over my questionaire to see if I said "feed me" any where on the survey... but nope. That aside, the Sumita eyeliner was definitely the stand-out sample from the box. I would totally be up for trying other colors from the same line.

I just signed up for Glossybox, which won't be here for another week but I'll definitely be putting up a post as soon as it arrives.

Which box would you have rather gotten this month?

Liebster Award!

I was nominated for the Liebster Award by the lovely Cassandra of  I Can't Afford My Lifestyle a blog that is all about fashion, lifestyle, nail deco, cuisine, and art. After reading the name of her blog I knew I would quickly become hooked. Thank you so much Cassandra for nominating me!
I was also nominated by Kinsey of Daily Cup of Fitness, a great lifestyle, fitness, and health blog written by my best friend!

To participate after being nominated you'll just have to complete the following:
1. Share eleven things about yourself
2. Answer eleven questions provided by the nominator
3. Nominate eleven blogs (under 200 followers) that deserve the title and let them know!
4. Think of eleven questions to ask these nominees
5. Thank the person that nominated you and link back to their blog

11 Things About Me:

1. My birthday was yesterday!

2. I'm a nurse in the Recovery Room.

3. I'm getting married April 26, 2014 in St. Lucia!

4. I'm going to school full time for my BSN (Currently have my ASN).

5. My brother and step-brother both are named Tyler.

6. I go to Sephora on a weekly basis.

7. I didn't know how to read until 2nd grade.

8. I'm a pretty decent painter.

9. I have at LEAST one coffee a day.

10. I'm completely obsessed with the Givenchy Antigona Medium handbag. 

11. I would go swimming every single day if (a)Idaho wasn't so cold and (b) I had a pool. 

Nominator's (I Can't Afford My Lifestyle) Questions:

1. What's your hometown? I was born in the big city of The Dalles, Oregon and currently live in Idaho (N.W. United States).

2.  How long have you had a blog? February 2013... so it's pretty fresh!

3.  What would be the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? I would probably be incredibly dull and practical and pay off school loans :/

4.  What do you want to make your career in life? I'd love to go to grad school to become a Nurse Anesthetist whilst still blogging.

5.  What is your biggest guilty pleasure? SEPHORA

6.  The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? Beatles!

7.  If you were on death row, what would be your last supper? Red Curry with one helluva dessert! And I would eat very sloooooooooooowly.

8.  Favorite item in your closet? Christian Louboutin New Simple Pumps (120mm) in Nude

9.  PC or Mac? Mac, every single day of the week. 

10.  Favorite Quote? "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothings going to get better. It's not." -Dr. Seuss in The Lorax.

11. If any, what era would you have liked to have lived in (i.e. 20's,40's, 60's, 90's, etc.)?: Again, I'm going to be practical here and say I'm happy I was born in the 90's because without the medical advances they have today I wouldn't have lasted long in previous decades. Also, I love the view expressed in the movie "Midnight in Paris" about the desire that people feel to live in previous time periods. I can't remember the exact quote but essentially, it's that even in your dream decade-- the people living at that time likely wished that they could live in a different one too. 

Nominator's (Daily Cup of Fitness) Questions:
1. If you could eat one type of food every day, and not gain weight, what would it be?: Thai food, definitely.
2. What is your go to work out of choice?: Swimming/Skiing3. What is your favorite thing to wear when you work out?: lululemon4. If money wasn't a problem, what type of car would you buy?: Audi A85. What is your favorite era?: I'm a big fan of the current one6. What is your favorite book to read? I know this is a loaded question if you read a lot.: I really had to think about this one, but I'm going with Tuesdays with Morrie.7. What is your favorite thing to cook? Mixed drinks8. How old were you when you knew what you wanted to do in life?: I still don't know exactly what I want to do in life, but I'm enjoying the process of figuring it out. 9. Where is your favorite place to vacation?: England. but I can't wait to go to St. Lucia!10. If you could be best friends with anyone, who would it be?: Daily Cup of Fitness! After her, probably Mel Soldera on YouTube.
11. Why did you get into blogging?: I started watching A LOT of YouTube videos then eventually found my way over to the bloggosphere. I've gradually gotten more in to makeup over the recent years and I've tried a lot of good and bad products and figured I had something to contribute.

My Nominations:
http://www.dailycupoffitness.blogspot.com

http://cosmeticdebris.blogspot.co.uk

http://whatmollyloves.blogspot.com

http://imjustalittlepixie.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.graceofbeauty.com
http://ameliasallsorts.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.betzysmakeup.com
http://jasminepaigeblog.blogspot.co.uk

http://bellinibeauty.blogspot.co.uk

My 11 Questions:

1. What's your dream job?

2. If you could have an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you go?

3. What do you drive?

4. Favorite blush?

5. Favorite pencil eyeliner? 

6. Is your goal to blog full-time?

7. What's your dream handbag?

8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

9. Would you rather live in a house or condo?

10. What's your most extravagant purchase?

11. How did you come up with your blog's name?

Eyeshadow Twins!: Drugstore Dupe

I got the Lorac Private Affair Palette ($38 at Sephora) a few months ago and recently fell back in love with it's buttery, pigmented shadows. However, if you're looking for a drugstore dupe-- look no further than the Wet & Wild Petal Pusher Palette ($5 at CVS). In the swatches above I first applied the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer and then the shadow overtop and then tested the shadows by rubbing my arm pretty vigorously.

In terms of formula, Lorac's shadow is definitely more pigmented but the Wet & Wild shade is buildable. The base of the shadows is a very dark purple/charcoal color with purple glitter. Because of the glitter, both shadows have a lot of fall-out if you don't tap the brush before applying. The Lorac shadow has quite a bit more of the purple glitter than the other and is really buttery (more so than UD shadows). I actually think that this particular Lorac Palette has the most pigmented buttery shadows of any I've tried.

The Wet & Wild shadow's in general don't always apply evenly but are one of my favorite powder shadows at the drugstore. This particular shade definitely doesn't have the same butter texture and is a little powdery feeling. This shade is just a little more charcoal color than the Lorac shadow but once applied to the eye it is almost impossible to tell. After rubbing my arm the glitter had pretty much been removed and what was left of both shadows was identical.

In summary, this is a great duplicate but I definitely prefer the formula of the Lorac shadow.

Primed and Ready

 A few years ago, I never used primers of any kind. I assumed they were about as effective as The Ab Belt (apologies if you own one and love it). However, once I gave an eyeshadow a try, I began to rethink everything (except for the Ab Belt) and became a changed woman. Now, I never put on eyeshadow without it.  There are so many primers out there-- but  the only ones I've ever ended up bringing home (via sample or purchase) are featured below. All of the primers were swatched with the silver shade in Lorac's Private Affair Palette. I chose this shadow because mid-toned, glittery shades like it seem to be one of the hardest to get to stay put without fallout/fading/creasing.

Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer ($21 at Sephora): This one came with Lorac's Private Affair Palette (which I love). It's similar in texture and color to UD's Primer Potion but slightly thicker. It feels a little oily at first but it dries clear and semi-matte. I feel like it keeps shadows true-to-color and incredibly pigmented. After rubbing all the shadows, this one seemed to perform the best.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original ($20 at Sephora, $10 at Nordstrom Rack): No eye primer post would be complete without this cult classic. This is the first one I was introduced to and the only one I repurchased because at the time, it was the only one I was really familiar with. This one dries clear and is the thinnest of the bunch. It's a good color and consistency for priming brows (which is really what I use it for now). Initially it feels a little greasy but once it dries that goes away. After I gave all the shadows a good rub, this primer retained the least amount of product. I've tried "Eden" and "Sin" in the line as well but not enough to give a decent review.

Benefit Stay Don't Stray ($26 at Sephora): This came in a recent Birchbox and it was also the first time I'd ever used it. It's very thin and heavily pigmented and comes in two skin-tone shades (which is great and unusual). The product description states you can use this to prime under-eyes for concealer (which made it feel a little too cakey on me) as well as eyeshadows. However, this creases almost instantly if you don't put on a shadow overtop. The primer itself does stay put, but it doesn't hold on to shadows very well (notice how it was after rubbing my arm). This primer also gave the shadow a more flesh-toned appearance. Plus, the price tag makes it pretty much the worst value of the bunch.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk" ($3.50 on Cherry Culture): I love this product. It's completely matte and works perfectly for under the brow brightening, cupids bow, inner corner, and as a primer. Since it's white it does a great job of getting eyeshadows to show up really true to color. Even though it isn't marketed as a primer I feel it holds on to products better than all but the Lorac primer. I bought this from Ulta for around $5 but would highly recommend checking out Cherry Culture for better deals.

Mac Paint Pot in Painterly ($18.50 from Mac): Another cult classic and one of my favorites even though it doesn't perform as well as the NYX pencil or the Lorac primer. I love that it completely neutralizes my eye lid and gets rid of any veins, redness, etc. While similar in color to "Stay Don't Stray" this one doesn't crease even if you don't put a shadow on top. I found that this works best if you use primer underneath (however, that's one too many steps for most mornings). It's quite a thin, slightly slick feeling primer that dries to a matte finish. I couldn't get it to photograph well but this primer gave the shadow a slight pink hue after being rubbed.

You be the judge; Which primers do you think performed the best? Do you have any other favorites?

I'm So Hauler: Beauty Haul

Milani Color Statement Lipsticks Left to Right: Sangria, 

                

Left to Right: Stila Liquid Eye Liner, Stila Smudge Stick Eye Liner, Jordana Eyeliner in Brown, Rimmel Scandaleyes in Light Blue, Covergirl Eyeshadow in Tapestry Taupe

Left to Right: Pink Pop, Coral Reef

Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Nail Lacquer in "Lilac Leather": The formula on this polish is really good, albeit expensive at $20.00. It definitely requires a top coat to get a really high shine but it typically doesn't chip for 3-4 days which is so good for me. 
Dolce & Gabanna The One Desire Eau du Parfum Delux Sample: This was a really decent sized sample I got using a coupon code with my Sephora online order. I love this warm, sexy, scent. I don't know if I'll buy the full-sized version (as I've got my eye on Molecule 01) but being as picky as I am with perfumes-- I really like this!
Milani Color Sensational Lipstick in Sangria and Uptown Mauve: Sangria looks really similar to Mac's Rebel after it's applied to your lips. The formula on this entire line of lipsticks is really good; smooth, hydrating, and with an artificial fruity scent (which I actually don't mind). Both colors are really blue-toned and make your teeth look incredibly white. They don't settle in to lines or accentuate any lines/dry patches. They wear off evenly after a few hours, but "Sangria" tends to leave a stain that lasts up to 4-5 hours. 
Crest 3D Whitestrips with Advanced Seal Professional Effects in Level 5: I love these strips-- this is my third box. The box recommends wearing these strips for two hours. And with my semi-sensitive teeth, there's no way in hell I'll do that. I find if I put them on for 45 minutes instead I still see results after each use and can do it a few times a week. By the end of the 7-count box, my teeth are genuinely white. 
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Sample: This is by far the best sample I've ever recieved. Granted, I'm a little biased to this line of lipsticks, but still. Love, love, love.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: This is by far the best heavy duty cream I've ever used... and I've used more than any person should. It feels incredibly light, but gives results better and longer-lasting than anything I've tried. It has a slight "minty" scent, and feels like a face cream. It absorbs almost instantaneously and I can cover my whole body with a quarter-sized amount and simply apply it once a day. Honestly, I can't say enough about this stuff. It might be the best thing I've bought for a few years.
Sephora Fan Brush: This has since been discontinued. I got it on sale for $9, regularly $24. It's synthetic and I wouldn't buy it again. I've only used it to apply highlighting powder and it really struggles to pick up the product and to blend it in. If you have any suggestions on other uses, please let me know.
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in "Creamy Natural": It's almost impossible not to have heard about this powder. It's under $4 and definitely a good value. While I do like this, and will try to use it up-- I'm not sure that it lives up to the hype. I find it a little chalky and has a cheap makeup smell. However, it's very light, doesn't settle/accentuate pores, and seems to wear well. Some of the reviews of this complained about it being too mattifying. I only applied it to set under-eye concealer and in my t-zone and I thought it only slightly mattified. I definitely need to spend some more time with this before deciding. 
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in "Turquoise": I bought this one first and the next day came back for the Smudge Stick version in the same color. The black liquid liner in this same line is extremely pigmented so I was really surprised to find out that this one wasn't. When I sampled this in the store I thought maybe the sample was just old or empty but I got the same weak/watery results when I opened mine at home. I love the precision of a liquid liner but I think I might be returning this.
Lavanilla The Healthy Deodorant in Pure Vanilla: I keep this in my purse and while I love the idea of a more natural deodorant... I really wish it was an antiperspirant as well. It smells similar to the vanilla scent from Lavanilla's line but mixed with baby powder. 
Maybelline Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner in "Brownish Brown": This was terrible. It was like trying to apply liquid liner with a toothpick. There is absolutely no flex in the brush and it applies in a big blob initially and it's all downhill from there.

Stila Stay All Day Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in "Turquoise": This is amazing. I love the unique color and this stuff really doesn't budge. I use it on my lower waterline to mix things up or will transfer it to a liner brush to create a precise winged liner above my black liquid line. I'll do a dedicated post later in the week. 

Jordana Fabuliner in "Brown": I love this line of liquid liners. They couldn't be any easier to use and they're so inexpensive. The "Brown" shade is a lot darker than the outside packaging. It's a firm felt tip but applies evenly and precisely (unlike the Line Stiletto). I definitely consider this my HG liquid liner.
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in "Light Blue": I haven't tried anything from this line that I didn't really like. My only complaint is that they easily transfer on my water line... but that kind of comes with the territory. If anyone has any recommendations, let me know! This is a matte baby blue and has kind of a "Mod" feel to it.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in "Ash Blonde": I still love the Lancome brow pencil I mentioned in my last favorites post, but I'd been dying to try this one, and after lightening my hair I figured it was a good time to make the switch. I love the fine point of this and it's ability to make hair strokes. It's definitely a harder/waxier formula than the Lancome pencil but I love how precise it is.  
Revlon Lipgloss in Pink Pop and Coral Reef: I only own one other lipgloss from this line and while I like that this doesn't turn gritty like a lot of glosses do, it's pretty sticky. These are unscented and leave a nice wash of color, but are by no means opaque. I've heard people compare these the NARS' lipgloss, but I don't think they're comparable. They are cheap though and happened to be on sale for $2.50 a piece. 
L'Occitane Supple Skin Oil: I love the warm almond, vanilla scent of this. It's a really thin oil, and takes quite a bit to cover your body. I mainly just use this on my upper body and, while I love it, I haven't noticed any significant changes in the "suppleness" in my skin. A lot of reviews on Sephora said that it faded the appearance of scars and I haven't been using it long enough to tell. It's not quite as moisturizing as I'd like but I prefer it to the Caudalie Divine Oil as it's not as "dry" of an oil.