Revlon Vs. Mac

Many people when putting on makeup focus on making the lips the main focus. While, others focus on eyes, cheekbones etc. It differs from one person to another and what feature they would like to highlight. But, usually for day-to-day makeup natural pink/peach colored lips are preferred. Here are a few of our current favorite lipsticks from Mac and Revlon. We have noticed similar quality in all the lip products from these two brands and have decided to show and talk about the products tried from both Revlon and Mac.

Mac

From MAC, we have chosen three lipsticks which are quite similar to one another (However, with some differences)

Pink Nouveau 

It is the brightest 'pink' from all the three and can be best described as 'barbie pink'.. It can look too bright at times and that is why applying it modestly will be great. It will add a slight burst of color to your lips and will make your lips look beautiful.

Pink Plaid 

This is a more nude/ pink in which it might be perfect for when you have on a smokey eye and want the focus on the eyes. Personally, I usually find that it can look dull and make someone look 'sick' and therefore I always add a bright lipgloss on top to even out. 

Chatterbox 

Chatterbox is my favorite mac lipstick. It is right shade of pink for almost everyone. It's not bright and it's not dull, it can be used for day-to-day makeup and can be glammed up as well. It has a beautiful glossy finish and is highly recommended.

Mac is also famous for their lipglass. One of my favorites is Viva Glam 6 Lipglass. The glittery shininess of the glass has just the right amount of shine and glitter that it does not look too over done and too unwearable. The color is also more of a maroonish pink and is very beautiful on the lips.

Revlon

Revlon is also a great brand for lipstick and lip-glosses. Their prices are much more affordable than mac and of the (somewhat) same high quality.

Revlon Colorburst in Peach 075 is a perfect peach/nude color that gives your lips enough moisture and color in order for it to look natural and not at all overdone. The color is perfect for those who are not daring enough to put on a beige nude lip (or those who would like 'some' color).

Revlon colorburst in Fuchia is also a favorite of mine. However, this lipstick is not as natural as the peach shade. Personally, I put on this lipstick when I need a burst of color and when switching my makeup look to a night look. It's bright but not too bright and the color is so rich and glamorous that you are definitely bound to get compliments on it.

A favorite lipgloss of mine is Revlon's colorbust in Hot pink. It's so rich in color that it can be worn alone quite confidently and would not look so sheer and naked like other lip-glosses. The color is complimentary to almost all skin tones and is the perfect lipgloss to add on any lipstick to 'brighten' it up! 

Which is better? 

We have noticed that Mac lip products are often drying to the lips and can (sometimes) cause chapped lips. However, Mac lipstick are more long lasting then Revlon lipstick and there are a wider range to chose from. But, Revlon has two positive features to their products. Firstly, their lipsticks and lip-glosses are very moisturizing and nourishing to the lips. Secondly, Revlon prices are much lower than Mac whom are considered more higher end. Follow @_PrettySimple_

Red lips?

Choosing the right red lipstick for your skin tone can be hard. Of course, people don't have to follow 'rules' in makeup anymore and as long as you like it, who cares?!

However, the general rule is: If your skin tone is warm (yellow), the red lipstick that suits you is a warm red (orangey red lipstick)

And, if your skin tone is cool (pink), the best red lipstick for you would be the one with blue undertones (cool)

If you're having difficulty knowing your skin tone, comment on this post :-)

ps, keep in mind, warm undertone lipsticks make your teeth appear yellower and the cool undertone lipsticks make them appear whiter! ;)

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How to shape your eyebrows?

Shaping eyebrows can be very tough, especially if you don't have enough hair in them to shape! But, whenever you're plucking your eyebrows or drawing them, you need to remember that eyebrows frame your face. They help make your face look more symmetric and 'neater'. Whether you're going for a thick eyebrows or thin ones, you need to follow the guidelines to make them look great! (unless you're going for a specific look)  

The basic guidelines are demonstrated in the image above. However, you should keep in mind that shaping your eyebrows in a certain way could help make your nose appear wider or thinner, it would also help make your eyes appear closer or father apart.

If your nose is wide and you would like to make it thinner, you could try making your eyebrows slightly closer than you would normally. (considering that the basic rule advises starting from the outer sides of the ball of your nose, in the case of a wide nose, the gap is going to be wide as well, if you make the gap SLIGHTLY smaller, it could help!)

If your nose is too narrow to the point that your eyebrows seem very close to each other, you could try making them SLIGHTLY farther apart, it could help make it appear wider.

If your eyes are far apart, making your eyebrows closer could help your eyes appear closer (for this case, I advise using the basic guidelines, especially if you're not trying to make your nose appear wider). And vice versa for making your eyes appear farther apart. If your eyes are close try making your eyebrow start from the inside corner of your eye (the tear duct).

I hope this helps!

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Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

I love gel eyeliners, most of them last a lot longer than liquid eyeliners and they're easier to apply. The Maybelline gel eyeliner is one of my favorite eyeliners. It is very long-lasting; doesn't smudge, even on the waterline. I have tried so many gel eyeliners and none of them lasted as much as this one but the Makeup Forever gel eyeliner. However, the MUFE one is very expensive compared to the Maybelline and it works just as well, so I prefer the Maybelline one. The only advantage the MUFE eyeliner has over this one is the color range. I believe the Maybelline eyeliner comes in 3 colors only (brown, black, and navy blue). I have tried the black and the navy blue eyeliners and they're both very smooth and pigmented (they're thick enough to be applied easily). Also, the brush that comes with it is a good brush! I often use it to apply my eyeliner and it works well! I highly recommend this product.

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Foundation Review

Choosing the right foundation is essential when it comes to makeup. You need to perfect the canvas in which you will create your artwork on! You need to think about several points before purchasing your foundation. You must consider such things as; skin type, amount of coverage and what type of finish you want to your skin. We will be reviewing the different types of foundations, (good and bad!) that we personally have tried. We will list them in no particular order.

• Laura mercier silk creme foundation

This foundation is different from other foundations I have tried. The foundation would adapt to your skin color and would even out your skin tone. However, it is not full coverage as it even states in the back of the tube and describes the foundation as giving "natural coverage" and that is exactly what it gives. However, what is beautiful about this foundation is even once you remove it, your skin does not feel damaged but actually refreshed and smoother. If you do not need full coverage but a natural foundation that evens out your skin tone.. this foundation is perfect for you! 

• Chanel Pro Lumiere foundation

This foundation is easy to apply and gives out a more 'glowy' finish while the product claimed to be "Semi-matte". Those who live in a hot climate should think twice before purchasing it as it seems to 'melt' once you are out and about in the sun. Personally, I don't think it would suit those with oily skin and probably a better option would be the chanel's "Matte lumiere foundation". This foundations coverage is quite strong and can cover blemishes easily. 

• Mac Studio Fix Fluid foundation

In general, Mac foundations do have a bad reputation. I do understand that many people break out from Mac foundations, but I never faced any problems with them. This foundation is a full coverage foundation and it is long-lasting. I go for it when I need extra coverage and it never disappoints! It is great for oily skin. However, its smell when I first apply it and the fact that it oxidizes bother me in this foundation (even though the smell goes away once the foundation is set and the oxidation does not make a huge difference in the color on my skin. Also, the shades are quite hard to match to your skin. The NC's tend to be too yellow and the NW's tend to be too pink. Usually I have to blend an NC shade with an NW shade to get a good color. However, considering the fact that this foundation is not cheap and not everyone would be willing on buying two different colors, you could get an alternative (this foundation is comparable to the Revlon ColorStay foundation). In general, I really like this Mac foundation mainly because of it's coverage and its lasting power, but I don't wear it if I'm having my picture taken because of the white cast 

• Mac Pro Longwear foundation

This is one of my favorite foundations. I love it! I love the finish it gives me (not too matte) and its lasting power. It gives a medium coverage that is buildable, but I like its final finish more when it's medium. It also feels very light on the skin, which is great. It keeps my face from getting shiny for at least 6 hours and still looks good even after 10 hours. It is great for oily skin, however, it dries very quickly so you need to blend it fast. Another great thing about this foundation is that it does not transfer to clothes and I find it to be water resistant. Also, I managed to get a shade that matches my face perfectly (and it is different from what I use in Mac's studio fix) so beware and do not automatically buy the same shade you used in the studio fix foundation if you plan on getting this foundation. The only thing that confuses me with this foundation is how it looks in photos. Sometimes it looks great and sometimes it has a white cast! I'm guessing it has to do with the camera's flash as well? I'm not sure, so I would not depend on it when I am getting my picture taken. 

• Revlon ColorStay foundation

I got this foundation recently so I did not have enough time to really test it. It is very comparable to Mac's Studio Fix foundation (smell and coverage), however, I think the colors in this foundation are much better. Even though, I believe they should have a wider range of darker shades, the colors were not too yellow or too pink; I could find a color that suited me perfectly. It is also an affordable foundation, which is great! 

• Revlon PhotoReady foundation

This foundation is great! Very affordable and of great quality. It is smooth on the skin and does not crease throughout the day. The coverage is also strong and a small pea-size amount would be more then enough. When purchasing it, I had my doubts about it photographing well especially that it has an SPF of 20! However, it photographs perfectly and because it has small shimmery particles it gives out a natural beautiful shine in photographs. Many would compare this foundation to the Makeup forever HD foundation (which we will review as well below!) 

• Makeup Forever HD foundation

This has got to be one of the most hyped about foundations! And, it is a very good foundation. However, it did not meet my 'high' expectations. Even though it photographers BEAUTIFULLY, I thought its lasting power was weak - especially that they claim that it is a "long-wearing foundation". I have oily skin and my face started getting shiny after just a few hours. Furthermore, it is a pricey foundation, so I was disappointed when it did not deliver what Makeup Forever claimed it would. However, it is still a great foundation for photos, probably the best I have tried.

• Makeup Forever Mat Velvet+ foundation

This foundation is perfect for oily skin and its coverage is wonderful. It is water resistant and it is very long-lasting. I loved it. However, I felt like it was somewhat heavy on my skin and sometimes I felt like the finish was too matte. It is one of the foundations I would go for if I know I'll have a long day and I need my foundation to look good throughout. 

• Nars Sheer Matte foundation

This is also a very famous foundation (along with the Nars Sheer Glow). It gives a very natural matte finish and it really looks like your skin, but better. People could not tell I was wearing foundation when I used this foundation. It felt very light on my skin and it photographed very well since it does not have SPF (which could also be a bad thing). However, it wasn't long-wearing, it literally 'disappeared' by the end of the day and my face got shiny just a few hours after applying it. I never bought this foundation again because I also noticed that it reacts badly when a drop of water gets on your face with it on! I believe it is because this foundation is water-based, I'm not exactly sure, but it leaves 'white' powdery marks (or trace) where the water was on your face. 

We hope you found this helpful! If you have any specific questions or you would like us to review any other foundations, please let us know!

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