Welcome to Las Vegas - Catrice Cosmetics

Catrice is -again- a German drugstore brand. It is similar to Essence.

I've wanted to try them for a long time, their collections are super nice too, but somehow I was holding back ("cheap products; what if I have an allergic reaction?").

 

I couldn't resist these lipglosses though! To be honest: I'm looking for a red that compliments my skin tone. So I'm buying every cheap red lipstick/lipstain/lipgloss on the market.

I couldn't get the whole collection, because it was mostly sold out. Personally, it reminds me more of Moulin Rouge-showgirls, not Las Vegas! You can watch the preview video below, to get a general idea. If you see something you like/you want to try, just buy it! Because, just like the Essence products, the price is really nothing to hold you back. (They are a little bit more expensive though.)

Now I think of it, you could achieve a Betty Boop look, if you want to!

 

The total collection consists of:

• an absolute eye colour quatro palette (€4,49)
• a liquid liner (€3,79)
• fake half lashes (€3,99)
• three duo lipglosses (€3,99)
• a transparent fixing powder (€3,99)
• four nail polishes (€2,79)
• a shimmering powder (price unknown)

 

Duo Lipgloss

I got the colors Lovely sinner (with gold 'topcoat') and Let me seduce you (with silver 'topcoat').

The packaging is a double-ended tube, which is very handy (you don't have to carry two products). On the topcoat-part of the tube you can see a little showgirl.

Each side has his own applicator, and, to my surprise, each one is different too! The lipgloss itself has a doe-foot applicator, and the glitter comes with a pointy sponge brush. I find that smart actually, as you can be precise about where you want the glitter! 

I think this is a magnificent combination of a very opaque red-like lipgloss, and a topcoat.
Although the red tones do not vary a lot, you can still see the difference each color makes on your skin tone. Plus they smell quite nice, not cheap at all.
You can use these all year without glitter, and when the holidays arrive: get your shimmah shimmah on! 

Overall:

Product : 9/10

Pigmentation : 8.5/10 

Texture : 8/10

Packaging : 4/5

Swatches

Preview video:

Vampire's Love - Essence Cosmetics

 

The Vampire diaries, Twilight & co… vampire fever is in the air once again this winter. Mythical nights, endless love, eerie and beautiful film scenes!
The new essence trend edition "vampire’s love" ensures a vampire look. Blood red lips and pale, shimmering skin… with the new products from the essence trend edition "vampire’s love", every girl can be a vampire queen in november 2011.

The collection consists of:

• an eyeshadow palette (€3,79)
• a volume lash powder (€2,99)
• two lipstains (€1,99)
• a blush gelée (€2,49)
• a shimmer powder (€2,99)
• five nail polishes (€1,79)
• an eau de toilette (€6,99)

Now, I didn't get the whole collection, but I'll explain why in a sec. I did get most though!

Let's start the review!
 

The eyeshadow palette

Love at first bite. 

SO. I really like the name! Especially because in EVERY vampire movie/series the main characters fall in love at first sight. Anyone noticed?

The palette is made out of black plastic, but it's sturdy and could survive a fall. It's good for traveling or just for keeping it in your purse! It also has a mirror inside, plus point. The double sided brush (smudge brush and flat brush) are ok, but if you have decent brushes of course you would use those.

The pigmentation of the eye-shadows is good, although someone who likes them opaque, might find these a bit disappointing. But my oh my, do they blend like heaven!

If you're a beginner, palettes like this might be good to start: you can't really do anything wrong with them, and you can make a neutral eye, a smoky eye and a very holiday-like look with it too.

The lipstains

Bloody mary (dark plum/purple color) and True love (dark fuchsia/red color).

 

Both come in a tube with a doe-foot applicator. The tube is quite small, so I would say it's convenient.

The color pay-off is really good, and I think they fit the theme of this collection perfectly. They definitely last a lifetime (get it, get it?), and they are smudge-proof when they're dry. So be careful when they're wet!

The only downside is that the applicator picks up a lot of product, so you end up with in-your-face-lips. Now, that can be good or bad, but I think that a lipSTAIN should stain the lips, not paint them like crazy. 

What I usually do is apply a few dots on my lips, and then fill them in with a lip brush. If I do it like this they actually dry quick too (so work fast when you put the dots on your lips, or you might ending up looking like a ladybug).

The blush gelée

Also called Bloody mary. Not very creative, Essence!

It comes in a plastic pump disposer. With one pump you get wayyyyyyy enough product for both cheeks. If you just want a flush, this one pump might actually be too much.

To be honest, I haven't tried this one yet, because I'm not really good in applying gel/cream blushes. But by the look of it: it looks like a great dupe for Benefit's Benetint! I even think it applies easier than with the brush applicator.

The nail polishes

Gold old buffy, Into the dark, True love (ts ts), The dawn is broken and Hunt me if you can.

They come in a regular 0.33oz (10ml) glass jar, nothing special. The colors are nice too, I think. Very up-to-date with this season's fashion, plus they match the theme too.

I didn't get all the polishes (because I don't wear a lot of nail polish anyway), but I got Gold old buffy, which is a glittery/metallic gold-black. I got it because I figured I could do a matching look with one of the colors in the palette.

One coat of it won't suffice, I usually put three, just to be safe. But I think two good thick ones should do. I couldn't say if it lasts long; even if I would paint my nails with wall paint, I'd still end up chipping it at the end of the day...

Now, for the products I DIDN'T get, but I did hold them and swatched them in the store, so I can give a small opinion.

The volume lash powder

Eye need you. White fiber powder.

Description: voluminizing lash powder. Obviously you coat your lashes with mascara, then use the spoolie to apply the fibers, and then coat again with mascara (so you get nice black lashes, and not snowy-white ones).

I didn't get this because I think it's too much mess for me to deal with. I could imagine all the fibers sticking everywhere except for my lashes. But I DO think this works, if you do it right!

The shimmer powder

Lil’ vampire. Highlighting powder.

I didn't get this because my skin gets oily, and I really don't need the extra shine this product gives. If you're just experimenting with highlight powders, you can give this a go, I think. This is a dupe for Too Faced's Absolutely Invisible Candlelight powder. Although I can't compare durability!

Essence is a German brand of drugstore make-up. I like the quality of it, and most products are very original. Or they make a very good and cheap alternative to high-end cosmetic trends! So price is key with this brand: impressive quality for less money. Very good beginner products! But experienced make-up junkies (like myself) can enjoy this products too. 

Just like this collection. If you see something you like/you want to try, just buy it! Because the price is really nothing to hold you back.

Swatches 

(sorry for the poor lightning, I took these at night! But you get the general idea):

Chinese Fake Lashes

I found some pictures of a review I wanted to do as an 'audition' for Marlena's Makeup Geek channel/blog. Knowing me, I filmed it too late (one day before deadline) and I'm not a hero in video-editing. Since I have my own blog now I figured I could do it here!

I don't use fake lashes very often (as they are a pain in my behind to put on), but somehow I like to play around with them. They are expensive here though, so I took a look on e-Bay, and it's eyelash heaven!

There are different sellers you can choose from, I tend to look at the negative/positive comments, just so I don't get ripped-off. I bought mine for $2.79! (Seller: lxdstation) I just saw you can get them cheaper... Oh well!

I got 60 pairs of lashes (6 styles, so 10 pairs for each style), a little tool and glue. I threw the glue away, I don't like to put random stuff on my eyes; instead I use DUO lash glue.

  

This is what the packaging looks like:

And the different styles (I had to take the picture from an e-Bay seller, because I've used mine and taking pictures was a no-go):

Personally I liked nr.1, nr.2 and nr.5 the most. They look pretty natural, but still add that little extra on your everyday look or that cat-eye effect.

I didn't like nr.3 that much because it's too much for me. But if you want the drama this is perfect!

Nr.4 is a REAL pain in the derrière! As you can see in the swatches (below), the 'spikes' are pointing towards... every corner they can point to actually.

As for nr.6: I can't find anything negative to say, I just don't like the style of it.

Overall, I can't really tell the difference between these ones and drugstore lashes. (I don't dare to say high-end lashes, because I haven't tried them all; I really couldn't judge.)

I like the fact that I don't need to panic when I mess up, I just take another one without feeling guilty about money I just wasted. Whether you're new or a pro, these are nice to experiment with!

'Swatches': 

Chic Chalet Collection - Kiko

When I am in France I usually tend to buy up whole Sephora, since we don't have it here in Belgium. But this time I decided that I didn't need any makeup for now.

THEN I saw this store Kiko (an Italian makeup brand). I had passed it on my previous trips, but I wanted to give it a go. So I bought my first Kiko palette: Chic Chalet - Daring Fire Hues.

Chic Chalet is the fall collection 2011 of Kiko Cosmetics. It has palettes which you can use daily, but also some other ones with colors that I've never seen before, or at least not in this price range.

Unexpected Rosy Taupe and Luxurious Gold and Plum obviously speak for themselves;

Hyperreal Green Wood has a vibrant green shade which is GORGEOUS, but I didn't buy it because I don't like myself with green eyeshadow. If you do like green eyeshadow, this is a must, I believe!

Daring Fire Hues is -like I've said- the one I bought. It has a 'never seen before' fuschia-red eyeshadow and a beautiful orange-golden one. Those are the reason I bought it; the light pink and the purple are nice too, but you can find those somewhere else if you want.

Sensational Cool Shades and Elegant Nocturnal Shades are both with cool shades, and to be honest I don't remember the swatches I did in the store. I do remember liking the 'light blue'-ish color in the Sensational Cool Shades palette though. The teal in the Elegant Nocturnal Shades is beautiful too.

The palettes are small, so it's easy to carry it around. It's made out of plastic, but yet it shows classy. I don't know if it would survive a fall, but you get a nice matching poutch for extra protection. Also, it has a relatively large mirror inside for your convenience!

The eyeshadows are very creamy, with a metallic finish. The pigmentation is excellent, and proves that you don't have to spend a fortune on good pigmented eyeshadows. With just 12.90 euro this is a very good deal, and honestly, I don't know why you would hestitate!

Overall:

Product : 8.5/10

Pigmentation : 8.5/10 

Texture : 8.5/10

Packaging : 4/5

Price: €12,90

Swatches: