Happy New Year! 2014 Makeup Favorites

Hello Beauties!

I have been working on this blogpost since the year's end.  It was really difficult picking the creme de la creme of makeup products.  I sat down, pulled out my notebook and had pages upon pages filled with makeup products that I loved!  Needless to say, I had to dramatically edit myself down to the best of the best. So, let's get this started!


Best Face Products:

I did a blogpost about the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer.  I used this primer throughout a majority of the year and continue to adore it despite the high price tag. If you're looking for a good dupe, try the NYX Angel Veil.

I started using the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation in the summer based on a recommendation.  I loved it so much that I just purchased my winter color.  I am still dying to try the original Estee Lauder Double Wear for a fuller coverage but my skin hasn't been problematic lately. I like the light version for light-medium coverage that doesn't budge and is comfortable on the skin.

The Mac Mineralized Skinfinish was a powder that provided the added coverage for my oily t-zone.  It was lightweight and allowed me to touch up during the day without looking cakey.

The Hourglass Ambient Light Blush Palette was the most exciting purchase of the year!  Why oh why is it limited edition?  The colors are gorgeous and the finish on the skin is beautiful.

Anastasia Beverly Hills hit a home run with the Contour Palette.  It is multi-functional and I have used it to set my under-eye concealer, to highlight, to bronze, and to contour.   I was on a hot pursuit for this palette the majority of the year and I have to say it was worth the hype!

Best Eye Products:

The Lorac Pro Palette is by far the best palette ever created...EVER!  I purchased it on a whim when it first came out and I have not put it down since.  It beats out all my other palettes/eyeshadows in quality, value, and versatility.  Love!  

As a base on my eyelids, I use Mac Soft Ochre Paintpot.  It really cancels out all the natural darkness I have on my eyelids so I can start with a blank canvas.

Lancome kicked it up a notch when they released the Grandiose Mascara.  I love it so much that I dedicated an entire blogpost to it.  All my other mascaras have been put aside because this is the only one I have used since purchasing it.

I mentioned the It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil in my last favorites.  My eyebrows don't need a ton of work but this product help fills in the sparse areas while keeping a natural look.

I am a lover of eyeliner....the blacker the better!  I love the Physician's Formula Eye Booster Liquid Eyeliner so much so that I have re-purchased it twice already.  The Nars Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner is the best product I have found for the waterline.  It is a little drier than most liners so it stays put all day.

Best Lip Products:

If you follow me on Instagram you may have realized that I am a lip product junkie. So, this was very difficult for me to pick the best.

The Tarte LipSurgence Skintuitive Lip Tint is alway in my rotation.  This unique product gives you a personalized shade of pink.  Not to mention it is super hydrating.  I am already on my second tube!

I mentioned the It Cosmetics Your Lips But Better Waterproof Lip Liner Stain Romantic Rose in my last set of favorites.  It is amazing and super long lasting.  I use it all the time and it has opened my eyes to lip liners.

Maybelline wins at the drugstore for lipsticks in my opinion.  They stepped it up when they released their Creamy Matte Line of lipsticks.  My favorite is Touch of Spice which is on trend for that "Kylie Jenner" look.  It is the 90's browny nude lip look that I have adored for years.

The L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color in Nude Ballet was my favorite gloss type product for the year.  Don't underestimate the opacity of this product though!  It is a full on nude that I usually use in center of the lips for that extra pouty look.

I think that Urban Decay is my favorite high end brand.  I was so excited when the Revolution Lipsticks came on the market.  My favorite is Fiend which is a muted rose color that I am always reaching for.  It certainly goes with so many looks.

I hope you enjoyed my 2014 favorites.  What were your favorites?  Please comment down below and let me know!  You can also leave any questions, requests or feedback too.  Don't forget to follow my blog to stay up to date.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Pintrest, and Tumbler for updates, hauls, and mini-reviews.  All the links are in the sidebar.  Also, feel free to email me at geektochicbeauty@gmail.com.  Stay Beautiful, Stay True!

Geek2Chic - Christine

Worth the Hype??? Gerard Cosmetics Lipsticks

Hello Beauties!

There are so many new makeup and beauty products coming out every single day.  As a hardcore makeup addict, I wish I could get my hands on it all.  Unfortunately, I have to refrain myself, but when I saw all the hype about these Gerard Cosmetics Lipsticks I had to see what it was all about!  They are being promoted on all social media by a lot of my favorite YouTube gurus and of course I trust their opinions.  In this blogpost, I have put these lipsticks to the ultimate test and pose the question...Are they worth the hype?

Buttercup, Nude, Tequila Sunrise, 1995

The Facts:

These lipsticks currently come in 8 shades:

1995
All Dolled Up
Fire Engine
Tequila Sunrise
Nude 
Berry Smoothie
Cherry Cordial
Buttercup 

They are found on gerardcosmetics.com for $19.00.  There are also discount codes you can find on social media to save a little cash.  

Two of these lipsticks are extra special; 1995 and Buttercup were made in collaboration with the fabulously talented YouTuber, Jaclyn Hill.  


In my Geeky Opinion:

I purchased four of the lipsticks for the discounted price of $39.  They swatch beautifully as you see below.  

Top to Bottom:
Buttercup, Nude, Tequila Sunrise, 1995

Buttercup:

This is one of the Jacyln Hill creations.  It is a creamy pinky nude that goes on pretty smooth but looks patchy on the lips.  The color is way too light for my olive complexion and just washes me out.  

Nude:

This is a true nude.  The website claims it is buttery but the formula is matte and is very drying on the lips.  I love nudes but again, this color does not match my complexion. 

Tequila Sunrise:

It is a peachy coral color as per the website but in person it looks like an unflattering neon orange.  The claim is that it is a soft matte.  This was so difficult to apply to get an opaque lip.  The formula was so incredibly dry that it really accentuated the lines on my lips. It makes my lips look incredibly dry which they are not...I am a lipbalm freak.  It is so gritty on the lips and uncomfortable to wear.  

1995:

This is another creation of Jaclyn Hill.  It was created with the 90s trend in mind.  It is browny nude that is creamy matte.  I feel it is the best of the set I purchased but unfortunately it does not wear well.  It lasted less than an hour on my lips.  I was not drinking or eating or kissing my husband.  I had to reapply it constantly and my lips where so dehydrated by days end.  

My Final Verdict:

So I have been testing these lippies for over a month now and I am sad to say I am not impressed one bit!  I hate to say that because I had such high hopes for these lipsticks.  Especially with all the hype I heard on social media by my trusted YouTube beauty gurus no less!  I almost question if I got a lemon? Of the colors I tried, Buttercup and 1995 had a decent formula but were not longwearing.  The Nude and Tequila Sunrise were incredibly drying and gritty on the lips that it was simply unacceptable.  I know I may get a lot of backlash but I have to give my honest opinion...I have to give theses lipsticks a FAIL.  They are so not worth the hype and I do not recommend these lipsticks at all.  There are many products at the drugstore that are 100% better than these lipsticks.  For the high end price point, Gerard Cosmetics needs to step it up and reformulate these products.     

I hope you all enjoyed this blogpost.  If you made these lipsticks work please let me know!  If you have any questions, comments, feedback, or requests, please leave them in the comments section down below.  Don't forget to follow my blog to stay up to date.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Pintrest, and Tumblr for updates, hauls, and mini-reviews.  All the links are in the sidebar.  Also, you can email me at geektochicbeauty@gmail.com.  Stay Beautiful, Stay True!

Geek2Chic - Christine  

Epic Beauty Battle: Benefit Gimme Brow vs. L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper

Hello Beauties!

Happy New Year to all!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.

Today's blogpost will be another installment of Epic Beauty Battle!  I will be comparing the Benefit Gimme Brow vs. L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper.  I wanted to put them to the test, comparing them on every level to see which one wins out.

Left: L'Oreal Right: Benefit

Gimme Brow by Benefit came out a little over a year ago and has been a game changer to my brow routine.  I have fairly full brows but they never stay put!  About a year ago, I noticed that every time I took a photo, my thick brows looked washed out in the picture.  I thought to myself...how are my super ultra-thick unruly eyebrows now disappearing into oblivion in pictures?!?  So, I jumped on the brow bandwagon and made it apart of my everyday routine.  This product has fibers that adhere to the brow hairs to make them look fuller.  I was so excited when the L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper hit the market within the last month or so.  I immediately sought it out to see if it was a worthy competitor!  

The Claims:

Benefit Gimme Brow:

• This innovative brush-on fiber gel adheres to skin and hair creating brows where before there were none.
• Builds easily for thick, lush arches, thanks to a tapered brush for blending and a precision tip for shaping.
• The fiber gel is water resistant, long lasting, and buildable for natural looking brows. 

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper:

• Add instant character to your brows with our innovative brush-on fibre gel mascara.
• Quickly build volume for thick, lush arches, thanks to a perfectly shaped brush and precision tip for shaping.
• Natural looking and matte finish. 

Hmm...is it just me or are the claims very similar?  

The Facts:

L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper 
$6.99 - 7.99
3 Shades: Light/Medium, Medium/Dark, Transparent
0.27 fluid ounces 

Benefit Gimme Brow
$22.00
2 Shades: Light/Medium, Medium/Deep
0.10 fluid ounces  

Disclaimer:  Before I use either brow gel I use my It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil to fill in any sparse areas.  Funny story, when I was young, my brows were huge!  I had the unibrow and everything.  I hated it!  I used to pull out my brow hairs that were really long to thin them out a little.  Now I am filling them in.  Ahh...I would give my past self so much advice, like that big brows would eventually come back into the style.  Oh well!  

In my Geeky Opinion:

How to Apply?

• Use a clean spooly to brush the hairs upwards and outwards.
• Apply the product in short strokes upward to brush through the brow hair. 
• Comb through to build up the product and blend into the brows.  

Formula?

The formulas for the L'Oreal and Benefit are comparable.  They are both comprised of a thicker tinted gel with fibers.  The fibers are barely undetectable when you have a fresh tube.  I have already repurchased the Gimme Brow and I noticed that the more I use it, the more detectable the fibers become.  Also, the Gimme Brow has dried down quite a bit over the past few months of use.  I cannot comment about the change in formula for the Brow Stylist because I have only had it for a month.  

The Brush?

Top: L'Oreal Brow Stylist Plumper
Bottom: Benefit Gimme Brow

Both of the products have a shortened classic mascara wand with rotating bristles.  These bristles make it very easy to brush through the hairs.  I do prefer the brush on the L'Oreal.  It is a bit longer and retains less products so I make less mistakes.  When using the Gimme Brow, I have to clean off the brush because there is just too much product on the bristles and it can make me look crazy if I use it straight out of the tube.  

Use?

For a perfected brow look, I use my brow pencil first to fill my brows in and then use either gel to set my brows into place.  I have also used the brow gel on their own for more natural everyday look which plumps up my brows and fills in the brows where needed.  Either way, I get a strong hold to my brow and I have not seen any flaking of either product as they wear.  Also, I have been caught in the rain wearing both products with no issues!

The Final Verdict:

I wanted to given you a comparison picture.  This is my New Year's Eve look.  My brow on the left is my sparse brow and the right is my fuller brow.  Gosh, I wish they were just even!  In comparison, keeping in mind my brow difference, I think they both look great!  I would recommend both products highly.  I love the way my brows look with these products.  

<------L'Oreal                                  Benefit------>

Who Won?

L'Oreal is such a wonderful dupe for the Benefit Gimme Brow.  You get almost triple the product at less than half the price!  I have to give it L'Oreal.  I love love love Gimme Brow and as I said, I have re-purchased this product which is a testament to how much I do love it.  However, I love it even more when I can get a dupe at a lower cost.    

I hope you all enjoyed this latest edition of Epic Beauty Battle!  If you have any questions, comments, feedback, or requests, please leave them in the comments section down below.  Don't forget to follow my blog to stay up to date.  You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Pintrest, and Tumblr for updates, hauls, and mini-reviews.  All the links are in the sidebar.  Also, feel free to email me at geektochicbeauty@gmail.com.  Stay Beautiful, Stay True!

Geek2Chic - Christine