Hi loves,
I did it. A few weeks (or a month?) ago I was approached by Maybelline to work together. It was when I woke up and checked my email before I rolled out of bed, and I had a 'holy crap is this a prank' moment. I couldn't believe a massive global brand like them would have seen my work and believe in me. Like are you kidding me? After checking the email domain, I pinched myself. This IS real life! Me running a beauty blog has never been for the free products. It is when someone believes in you and make you feel loved, and continue to push yourself to becoming your better self.
And on today, I was playing around taking some flat lay, there came the door knocks. As confused as I was, as well as questioning if my hubby done an online shopping spree, stood in front of me the holy FedEx man.
I didn't scream out loud, I contained myself too well that I surprised myself! I must admit it feels pretty good to have a big brand taking the time to send you a parcel all the way from the States to England. Inside the cardboard box, it contains a faux leather (outer) keepsake box that is too sleek to be used.
Inside, it includes 3 shades of City Bronzer and Contour Powder, as well as 8 shades of Tattoo Studio Gel Liner.
Let's start with the bronzers. It comes with 3 shades - 100, 200, and 300. Though I think it is different in the UK, they are called 200, 250 and 300. Regardless, the difference in shade code is self-explanatory. Housed in a pretty gold compact, the matte bronzing powders are smooth and buttery when I first swatched.
Turns out, they are in fact micro-milled pigments - so that explains why it blends pretty well when I swatched from my fingers to arm. These tones are leaning toward the warmer side.
Not to mention, these powders are infused with whipped cocoa butter and smell gorgeous! They aren't overpowering and so I won't worry too much if you don't like scented makeup (in terms of just don't like the smell, not because of sensitivity).
Overall, I think 100 is for lighter skin tones and it is for 'no makeup makeup' looks for myself. Also think it's great as a crease shade for natural looks. 200 is perfect for myself for whatever use, but 300 will be more of a night-out that I will have to be less heavy-handed. As far as affordable makeup go, they are buttery and definitely great!
And now onto the eyeliners. These eyeliners are sharpenable and are gel-based. These are meant to last for up to 36 hours, waterproof and smudge resistant. Coming in 8 shades (please see swatches below for shade names). Unfortunately two of those broke in the mail but it didn't stop me.
I don't usually use eyeliner pencil unless if it is black for my waterline. Lately, I have been dying to try brown as seen in one of my favourite makeup artists' work. I am glad I finally get to try this trend out! I am also very happy to have receive a white and silver one, because these are the basics everyone should have.
Only Sparkling Silver and Rich Amethyst contain fine glitter. Though the shimmer is more subtle for the purple. Others all dry matte. I say dry, but there isn't really any drying time since it is a solid product.
Eyeliner pencils sound so simple, but the art to perfect the formula is still a mystery for a lot of brands. Upon swatching, they MELTED into my skin whilst remaining a sharp line. Okay, I was very impressed. Polished White was the first shade I swatched and it was unbelievably pigmented. Again, eyeliner pencils are always a hit or miss when you try new ones out, as pigmentation is also hard to perfect for some. But okay, I was sold on that too.
But are they truly smudge resistant and waterproof? I took it to a quick test. I first ran my arm under warm water for 15 seconds. Everything stayed put, okayyyyy, sold: (iPhone images as my camera died at this point)
Then I used a makeup eraser on my arm. For those of you who don't know, it is a cloth that removes makeup when it is damp. I used to use this and it is quite good at removing liquid lipstick. I counted that it took me 23 scrubs (with force) to take everything off completely. Okay, sold too!
Overall, I am so very impressed with these liners. But I will have to put it to a proper wear test at work to tell you. But if your eyes aren't as watery as a contact lens wearer like me, I'd say go for it even before I publish a full review anyway! It is so pigmented and buttery and they are my weaknesses!
So there you have it. Will you be trying any of these out? Let me know in the comments!
NB: #CityBronzer retails for £7.99 (USD9.99) each and #MNYLiner retails for £4.99 (USD7.99) each. I was sent this package for review/ blogging purposes. Honest opinion from my end as always. Visit this page to find a retailer that I am affiliated with to get some discounts for yourself.
Speak soon,
Cinmi xoxo
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