$24.00 for 0.09 oz

A few months ago, I received a deluxe sized sample of NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover as a 100 point Sephora Beauty Insider perk. Although I dislike the scent and texture of NARS lipglosses, I have been interested in trying other NARS lip products, especially when it's a freebie!

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils come in ten shades. New Lover is described as a "gold infused strawberry pink." It's a gorgeous semi-sheer color with medium pigmentation, shimmer, and a nice shine to it. It's the next step up from my lips but better--it's an easy to wear shade that isn't too subtle, but not too tween-sparkle-overly glossy either. The texture is nice and smooth, even with the sparkles. The Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil felt nice on my lips--not too heavy, not too slick, not sticky. If I were Goldilocks, I would say that it's JUUUUST RIIIIGHT. I found it to be decently moisturizing and it wore for about 3 hours on me, which is good. Unlike NARS lipglosses, there wasn't any plasticky scent or taste (thank goodness). I didn't notice any scent or flavor at all, which I liked.

I'm a huge fan of this product, and I like everything about it...except the price and packaging. While the black matte pencil looks really nice and sharpens easily, I would prefer an automatic/twist up crayon. Compared to other NARS lip products, you're getting much less product for the same price, especially since you'll lose some product during sharpening (a lipstick is 0.12 oz, a lipgloss is 0.19-0.28 oz, and a lip lacquer is 0.14 oz). While I know that those are different product types, the Velvet Gloss lip pencils could have kept the same fabulous formula, but shaped into twist up crayons (like Tarte's Lip Tints and Lip Lustres, $24 for 0.1 oz, or Clinique's Chubby Sticks, only $16.00 for 0.1 oz!!). Or, they could have packaged it in a lipstick or lip balm tube. Still, I'm really fond of this product and might actually see myself shelling out the money to replace it when my deluxe sample is gone.

Lipgloss+Spandex rating:

I'm loving this new limited edition collection from Laura Mercier! 

The Inspiration:
For the holiday season, Laura was inspired by the decorative architecture, style and mood of the Art Deco period in Paris in the mid-1920’s, most notably the beautiful paintings of the artist Tamara de Lempicka.

The Look:
Laura created rich makeup shades of gilded golds, glamorous reds and striking blacks to beautifully contrast each other to achieve a beautifully ornamental look. Play up eyes with Illuminating Eye Colour in Gilded Moonlight, as seen on Marchesa’s Fall/Winter 2012 runway;  Makeup artist Talia Shobrook used this eye colour to create glamorous gold-rimmed eyes. Golds and bronzes are paired with high-shine reds and deep blacks. Eyes are sharply designed and defined – lined in black, with gilded shimmer eye colours as a beautiful golden background. Lips wear super-shiny red lacquer.

TotalBeauty offered to send me their TotalBeauty Collection for HSN to review before it was even available for purchase, so of course I giddily accepted. (I totally felt like one of the cool kids on the block...)

My earlier swatches were on my arm, instead of my lips, so I figured I'd give you all a better idea of how it looks on my face. :)

Check out my lipstick reviews here.

Lip pencil reviews are here.

Lipgloss reviews are here.

Yep, I'm super tired of looking at my own face right now. Hopefully these swatches are helpful! :)

I've already reviewed Red Apple Lipstick brand lipstick, and also their lip pencils, and now, on to the lipgloss ($18.50)! As with the lipstick and lipliners, these glosses are gluten-free,  paraben-free, allergen-free, soy-free, cruelty-free, and vegan! I tried three shades from their regular line, Amor Caliente, Bridesmaid, and Metropolis.

Amor Caliente is a shiny candy apple red with a nice shimmery sheen to it. It has medium-pigmentation. Bridesmaid is a lightly pigmented hot pink with lots of sparkle. Metropolis is a nude-pink with a shimmery sheen, low-medium pigmentation.

I love these. The formula is great--really smooth, not too thick and not too thin. The color stays for a decent amount of time, but it moisturizes for hours. These only have a faint fragrance--I can't quite place what it is, but I don't mind it at all, and I'm quite picky about how my makeup smells. I love the large sponge applicator, and I love that you can easily see the color, and how much product remains. The packaging is a tad bit bigger than the average gloss. The biggest drawback is the price. But considering the quality, I'd say it's worth it. AAAAANNNNNDDDD when you participate in their lipstick exchange, you can get them for only $11.99 (be sure to check out the details). 

These are awesome. It's pretty tough to impress me when it comes to lip gloss, and I had honestly been pretty skeptical that these lipglosses would compare with department store products, but they absolutely hold their own! It'd be great to see more colors added to the line, especially some highly pigmented pinks or corals! I'm also pretty eager to try the new Peppermints lipglosses, since I love minty glosses.

Lipgloss+Spandex rating: 

Cruelty free and vegan
International shipping
Discounts for makeup artists 

Free shipping over $50

Medusa's Makeup Eye Dust
$7.00 for 1.5 grams

"This is Medusa's Make-Up most inspiring product.  People can not get enough of it! This Eye Dust is truly an amazing mineral eye shadow in the form of fine loose powder, think powdered sugar. This all natural mineral eye dust is by far the best in the industry. It glides on the skin like silk and wears well all day long. Each color carries it's own characteristics, some shimmer, sparkle, some have iridescence and many are highly pigmented. Apply "Stick It" for dramatic effect. Can be applied to eyes, lips & face."

Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxide. 

Medusa's Makeup Eye Dust comes in 48 gorgeous colors, in every color of the rainbow. I tried out two shades--Counterfeit, which is a shimmery sea foam green or like an iridescent insect wing, and Mary Jane, a lovely shade of olive. They are so incredibly pretty to look at, especially when applied wet! The texture is just beautifully smooth, and the pigmentation is wonderful. These pigments do a good job lasting all day long, whether used as shadow or eyeliner (I always use eye primer though). I feel that these colors are really unique. They're quite affordable, and are comparably priced to MAC's pigment per gram, but you can buy smaller quantities, which I prefer. My only complaint is that a sifter is not included, but it can be purchased on their website. I'm a little clumsy and spilled a little pigment in the sink a few times :( But I can't get over how pretty the colors are!

Because I really enjoyed the Eye Dust, I think I'd like to try the Medusa's Makeup Pressed Shadows next (24 shades, $8.00 for 2 grams). 

Lipgloss+Spandex rating: 

Medusa's Makeup Lip Gloss
$8.00 for 0.25 fl oz.
Buy all 12 shades for only $29.00! (limited time offer)
"This rich and luxurious gloss glides on smooth and moisturizes your kisser. We have also added delicious flavors for each of our vibrant 12 shades."

Ingredients: Silica, Polybutene, Microcrystalline Wax, Octyl Palmitate, Methylaraben, Propylparaben, Paraffinum Liquidum,Butylated Hyclroxy, Fragrance, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide. 

I tested out Temptation, which they describe as a deep eggplant, but I feel is more like a brick/berry red with multi colored iridescent microglitter.  The pigmentation is versatile--this gloss can be built up a little or it can be sheered out.  There is a faint grape scent that I don't mind. The texture is nice and smooth, and it feels really good on my lips. Medusa's Makeup lip gloss is actually quite moisturizing, even after the color has worn off. I like the cute packaging--the pink lightning bolt on the handle is awesome, and the big doe foot applicator makes it easy to apply. It's also affordable.  I do wish there were a greater color selection, and there's just a tiny something in the formula that's missing, but I can't figure out what it is. Still, it's a really good gloss.