Naked Palette... 2!

Look here

Are you as excited as I am? Stock up. I don't want either of us to wait 6-8 months for another Naked palette!!

My only gripe is that I was hoping for more matte shades. There should be a Naked Matte Edition, don't you agree? Maybe next year:)

Sephora Stippling Brush

Sephora #44, $35

Hi. Have you seen this stippling brush before? It's at your local Sephora, probably. It's got sturdy bristles when you touch it as you pass by, right? And you want a cheaper alternative to the MAC coveted stippling brush, right? Well, don't get this one.

I have had it for over a year now and I haven't had any better luck with it than in the beginning. It's not soft at all; it's like flimsy plastic rods poking at my face. If you use it to buff your makeup in rather than to stipple, you can probably get away with it. The brushes are indeed stiff enough so that they stay upright, and I haven't lost any hairs yet.

That all being said, my biggest gripe about it is that I wash this brush all the time, at least twice a week, and the dye is so darn cheap that it still bleeds! That's right, the black hairs' dye will bleed into the white part of the bristles, and even after a year it continues to do so. You can definitely wash it out, but what's the point if you want to use this brush dry? This dye doesn't stay on the brush. Oh no, no, no. It gets on your face when you apply your products. You WILL have a blue-tinted face. People have compared this to the MAC stippling brush, and even though I don't own that brush, I can bet that there's no real comparison.

Another stippling brush to avoid while we're at it is the Ulta stippling brush. I can't find it on the Ulta website so you may find it at your Ulta stores, but don't go out of your way because it's not worth it. I've had that one for a year too and it keeps on shedding; it's never stopped. It sheds when I wash it (wet), and it sheds when I use it (dry). The hairs get on my face and it's so annoying. Not only that, the shedding makes the bristles so uneven--you'd expect that though, wouldn't you? The only good news is that it's definitely softer than the Sephora brush... but that's not saying much.

Anastasia Hydrafull Gloss - Sugar Pink

See my Birch Box post for my open box in November 2011.

I got this sample and if you watched my video, you'll know why I was surprised at the applicator--it's a paddle, not a doe's foot or whatever you'd expect. First impression: thick and sticky. I was right, very thick and sticky. It was hard to apply because it was so thick, but it was pigmented thanks to the thickness. I had to use my finger to spread it out evenly; the paddle was good for scraping off excess gloss though... scraping. Very shiny, very glossy. Tastes and smells pleasant and sweet.

As the day goes on, it becomes less thick because the warmth of your lips will almost melt it, but that's a good thing in my opinion. It becomes very hydrating on your lips, but because it's (in a sense) melted onto your lips and thinned out because of that, the color becomes more sheer. It's very flattering though, and retains its shine.

Full size is $21, a little pricier than some other high end glosses. The brand Anastasia is known for its brow care/enhancing cosmetics, so this little introduction to its lip products is pleasant. All in all, not a bad gloss, especially as the day wears on. If you're willing to pay the price, I don't see why not :)