LA Splash Liquid Lipstick Review

I have a confession to make - while on the outside I look like a more conservative work type with slight hippie tendencies, on the inside I am obsessed with makeup. Ok, for anyone reading this blog that's probably not a surprise, but I'm especially obsessed with makeup looks I see on models and makeup artists online. I secretly strive for that look that a lot of the models on the Dolls Kill (a favorite) website wear. The models on that particular website have inspired many makeup looks in the last year. Since my body type can't work for a lot of the clothing that they wear, I instead stalk the shoes, accessories and makeup on the site often, patiently waiting for a sale.

In the last month and a half I was granted two, and so I bought a slew of different products, two of which were L.A. Splash liquid lipsticks. They looked like beautiful, easily wearable colors and the prices were too good to pass up.

LA Splash Lip Couture in Rose Garden: $14

This is the most worn shade out of the two, and this one was the first one I used. I must say, these are the most comfortable liquid lipsticks I have ever used. They're not drying and they don't feel weird at all. True to form, they don't transfer, however, I noticed when I drank and ate the inner part of my bottom lip had some of the lipstick come off. It wasn't very much though, and the rest of it remained on there with the color staying strong.

 Reapplying the product was quite easy and it layered nicely, however, because with my job I talk all day, I noticed flaking. Excessive flaking towards the end of the day was kind of a problem. OH GOD THE FLAKING. The interesting thing is that when it flaked off, it didn't leave behind any patchiness, so I think the flaking happened from the second layer I applied, but it took a long time for that to happen. 

The ONLY way I was able to remove the flaking was by removing all the product from my lips and starting over again. The only thing that works well with these lipsticks are oil makeup removers, so that is something to keep in mind.

LA Splash Lip Couture in Lollipop: $4.20

This shade is so bright lovely, and just like Rose Garden it's unbelievably comfortable on the lips. The same flaking problem happened with this shade too. However, this shade didn't flake quite as much as Rose Garden. Once again though, the only way to get the flaking off my lips was to remove the all of the product completely and start over. Both of the shades seem to be pretty much identical in formulation with how they wear and layer, as well as their intense opaque pigmentation.

Extra Pros

Long wearing - I wore all of my liquid lipsticks to bed on the back of my hand. When I woke up the next morning, the only shades that were still going strong were the LA Splash liquid lipsticks.

Vegan & Cruelty-Free: I emailed the company asking them about their animal testing policy and their ingredients for their liquid lipsticks. This was the response I received from their customer service:

"Dear Ashley,

 

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

 

Our Liquid Lipsticks do not contain any animal by-products, beeswax nor carmine colorants; which, are the ingredients of concern among the Cruelty Free and Vegan communities.

 

The ingredients for our liquid lipstick are listed below for your reference:

 

C10-12 Alcane/Cycloalkane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silyate, Quaternium-18 Bentonite, Propylparaben

 

We do not test any of our products on animals.

 

Our ingredients are FDA approved and cruelty free as well."

 

Verdict

I LOVE these liquid lipsticks, however, if you are wearing them throughout the day and you will be talking a lot, it would be smart to bring a tiny bottle of oil or oil makeup remover and a cotton wipe or two for the flaking issue that happens later on in the day. Aside from that, these are totally worth every penny.

MICA Beauty Cosmetics Review: Milky Cleanser + Rose Toner

From where I work everyday I can see the MICA Beauty Cosmetics kiosk and the two stunningly beautiful women that work there, armed with the power to lure makeup lovers in and have them walk away with their hands full and their wallets empty. Every time I have to walk in that direction (AKA - Whenever I have to go to the bathroom, which is often) I have to walk past that stand and those very good makeup artists/saleswomen. So of course it's no surprise that after only a few months I'm on a first-name basis with them and they've gotten more of my money than I'd like to admit.

 MICA Beauty cosmetics is 100% all-natural beauty line that I was introduced to through my previous Ipsy bag subscription. If the name sounds familiar, you might've seen products displayed in your local salon, at a kiosk in your local mall, or in one or a few of your subscription bags/boxes. MICA Beauty has been around since 2001 and has grown out of Los Angeles in into 15 different countries and only continues to expand into new territories and new products.

The two items I'm reviewing are the items that started the MICA Beauty obsession for me: the Milky Cleanser and Refreshing Toner. One day one of the girls had put some of the Milky Cleanser on the back of my hand and wiped it away to reveal, quite embarrassingly, how much dirt I didn't realize was there. I was floored, thinking it must be 10 times worse on my skin, and so I bought a bottle. The next month came the Refreshing Toner. I'm always on the hunt for a good toner, so it was only a matter of time before I had to try this one.

The Reviews

Milk Cleanser: There's something very luxurious-feeling about these products, and I suspect it is one part botanical ingredients and one part price. $59.95 gets you 8.33 oz and while many people like to say "A little bit goes a long way", I like to slather this on and thoroughly massage it into my skin, then take my damped washcloth to wipe it off. This cleanser has a thick, white consistency but with a lovely floral scent. Every time I open the bottle it's as if I was given a gorgeous bouquet with roses, forget-me-nots, lilacs, sunflowers and other assorted flowers. While it may sound like a sensitive-skin nightmare, it is actually perfectly gentle and formulated hypoallergenic. I have very sensitive skin and this doesn't strip my face or cause any irritation - on the contrary; it has helped give my skin less redness and a softer consistency after cleansing. One look at the ingredients list can help anyone understand why; ingredients such as: chamomile, ginseng, cucumber, sunflower and jojoba are all present in this magical cleansing cocktail.

 Refreshing Toner: While the cleanser does it's job beautifully, it's still always good to go after it with the toner just to catch any leftover dirt or makeup. This toner is honestly the most expensive toner I've ever bought retailing for $49.95 for 8.33oz, but while some products cost a lot and don't perform, this toner feels more like $100 rather than $50. Each time I use it my skin feels rejuvenated, hydrated, and smelling like roses. This product has a distinct scent of roses without being overpowering or irritating to my skin, which might have something to do with a few ingredients in this product being: ginseng, chamomile and aloe. For the first time in my life - yes, 28 years of existence, I have finally found scented skincare items that don't irritate my skin and actually work.

The Verdict

These two skincare items work together seamlessly, but they are an expensive pair. If you're on a budget and can splurge on only one item, get the cleanser. While I love the toner in a way that isn't normal, a great cleanser is one of the most important items in your skincare routine and should not be ignored. However, if you can afford both, get both. You won't be sorry.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 29 "Israeli Cut Crease"

Day 29 "Israeli Cut Crease" - Too Faced

 

Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick: $22.00

This is the most dramatic eyeshadow look I think I have ever done. It actually wasn't as involved of a process as I thought it would be, surprisingly. I decided to call it an "Israeli" cut crease since the Arabic cut creases I've seen use silver/white or pink on the eyelid while I used gold. Not that I'm trying to create a new look, I just thought it would be fun to use gold and whenever I think of Israel I think of the golden sand and beautiful shimmering building topped with gold in Jerusalem where we visited.

I did repeat this lip color but it felt like the only one that would truly pair well with this eyeshadow look since it's SO dramatic.

30 Days of Lip + Looks: Day 27 "Red Lady"

Day 26 "Red Red Wine" - J Cats

J Cats Big Lip Pencil : $3.99

So I decided to attempt the strobing trend along with my bright red lip for work. I feel like my makeup held up really nicely, I'm a little shiny despite re-applying powder after getting home, but my skin looks nice which is always my main focus. I actually really love this lip pencil because it's so hydrating and pigmented that I actually wear it by itself as like a lipstick. It lasted all night through eating and drinking with just one little touch-up. I need to wear this more often because this is one of the best red lip products, EVER.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 26 "It takes a village"

Day 26 "It takes a village" - BWC/100% Pure/Burts Bees/Alba/Coconut Oil/Derma-e/Bio-Oil/Lush/Olive Oil/Boscia/Pur-lisse/Balance Me

I've done posts before showing the metric ton of samples I've amassed throughout the year from Sephora, random stores, Ipsy, friends, coworkers, etc. However, I've never shown what I actually use on a regular basis for my skin. The most challenging look for me ever is having completely 100% clear skin on a consistent basis, which is why I felt very motivated for one of my "looks" to show you what products I use on my skin before my cake face. I have a lot of acne as I'm sure you can see in the photos. My acne is hormonal/food-related, it is NOT caused by makeup, trust me. I get acne whether or not I wear makeup.

Due to my divorce and my imbalanced sleep schedule and on-off healthy eating, I'm on-off breaking out more than I ever have been before in my life. I can honestly say thought without a doubt that these products actually make my skin happy. Some people can eat pasta carbonara right before bed time and wake up fresh and dewy-faced without a pimple. I unfortunately eat anything sugar or dairy-related and I get instant acne/inflammation. I seem to keep accidentally eating foods that I think are dairy and sugar-free! These products help tremendously or I'd be complete pizza face right now. The little clear container with a yellow liquid is olive oil for my eyebrows, and the coconut oil is for eyemakeup removal/oil pulling. 

It definitely takes a village, as each product I use at specific times and on specific days in my routine. I'm regimented and treat my face well. I'm hoping adding more meditation to my routine will help with my inflammation as well.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 26 "Purple/Bronze/Nude"

Day 26 "Purple/Bronze/Nude" - Urban Decay 

 

(Inspiration photo)

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick "Naked": $22.00

I was sent an inspiration photo tonight that was so pretty I couldn't pass it up. I love dramatic brown/bronzey looks, so this was really fun for me to re-create. The lipstick is more of a pinky-nude than a true nude like in the photo. Despite my photo's appearance that my makeup is much softer than the inspiration photo, it is actually just as dark and intense - the lighting washed it out tonight a little bit sadly.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 25 "Feeling just a little blue"

Day 25 "Feeling just a little blue" - Bite 

Bite Lipgloss "Strangefruit": $22.00

I saw a look done with blue eyeshadow packed on the middle of the lid, so I decided to try it in a softer way that I could wear during the daytime. The gloss looks intimidating in the tube but once on it's super beautiful and absolutely wearable with any look.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 24 "Colour Pop"

Day 24 "Colour Pop" - Colourpop

Colour Pop Ultra Matte: $6.00

This colourpop color is brand-new, like so new it came in the mail right before I did my makeup. I thought it was so pretty I had to include it in my challenge for today's look. Because it's such a bold color and I worked today I was extremely hesitant to put anything on the eyes. I kept it simple and put a clear shimmery gloss on it to give it dimension. This lip product lasted through work, eating, and drinking! It's similar to a look I did a few weeks ago with a lip liner and a lipstick, so this similarity was unintentional but I thought the combination was really pretty today.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 23 "Natural Glow"

Day 23 "Natural Glow" - Paula Dorf

Paula Dorf Sheer Color Lip Tint SPF 15 "Tender": $22.00

 

This was my first time using this lip product, and even though it's a lip tint I thought it would be a bit more pigmented then it actually is. It's still really pretty though, plus it has SPF 15 which is awesome, but I wish it had a bit more of that orange tint that it has in the tube. I also went a little crazy with a highlighter I discovered in my makeup collection a few days ago. I've had this highlighter for over a year and never realized what it was until 2 days ago...and I kind of bathed in it today. I really love that natural, glowy look. Yaaaaaaaas.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 22 "No Makeup Makeup"

Day 22 "No Makeup Makeup" - NARS

NARS Lipgloss "Orgasm": $26.00

When I do my normal full-face routine for work, I layer certain products to hide all of my acne and scarring. My "work professional" routine in the last 2 years has transitioned from "5-minute natural" to "15-minute cake-baking" with the amount of product I have to use to cover discoloration, acne, etc. It's a lot for every day, and today I decided to experiment and try to revamp my "5-minute natural" routine so that I feel comfortable enough wearing it to work. This is the result, and as you can see some of my acne and light scarring is still showing through, but I look pretty even as far as my coloring is concerned which is a major plus. No eyeshadow, just super basic with blush, a touch of contour, some pretty gloss, light mascara and natural highlighting.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 21 "Good Intent Makeup Recreation"

Day 21 "Good Intent Makeup Recreation" - Calvin Klein/Bare Minerals

(Inspiration)

 

Calvin Klein One Color Pure Color Lipstick "LipLock": $16.00

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss "Dare Devil": $18.00

If any of you lovelies out there have heard of the amazing and talented artist Kimbra, then kudos to you, and if you haven't, she was the other half to the world-famous song "Somebody that I used to know". Yep, that women in the video is Kimbra. I've been obsessed with her for a few years now, and one of my favorite videos from her is "Good Intent". In the video her lover has essentially done her wrong and she's trying to decide whether or not to forgive him. Throughout the video she has her angel personality and her devil personality singing to her trying to sway her to each one's side. It's an amazing song and video, and her makeup/wardrobe in it is flawless. Her makeup is full glam in the video, so I decided to attempt to re-create the look from her "neutral" look, which is actually her. There is a "red" look which is the devil on her shoulder, and then there's the "white" look which is the angel on her shoulder, but the look her herself is wearing is black and very dark, smokey and stunning.

(I don't own vibrant magenta colors like what was used for her, I own softer to dark pinks/purples, but nothing vibrant like what's on her lids, so I used different colors for my recreation. I didn't go as dark with my eyebrows because they're so big when I go too dark it doesn't look right)

The New Foundation/100% Pure Review

Since my beloved Buxom foundation is close to being empty, I decided to take the initiative a few weeks ago and purchase a brand new foundation ahead of time. I decided to try one from the company called 100% Pure: their products are vegan, cruelty-free and 100% organic. 

The problem was that I was torn between 2 shades since I can only order their products online. They have "Creme", which is a light shade with warm undertones, or "White Peach", which is more my color, but with pink undertones. My skin has yellow undertones, which means that if I put pink on top of my yellow, it will make my skin look ashy. I ordered the "Creme" shade, hoping for the best. It came in today and I tore into it immediately for my makeup routine.

(100% Pure Foundation)

(Buxom Foundation)

Left: Buxom/Right: 100% Pure

As you can see, there's a big color difference between the two foundations, however, with my photos and makeup application, I couldn't see much of a difference once on my skin. 

Fruit Pigmented Healthy Skin Foundation: $42.00

While it felt comfortable on the skin, it didn't dry down matte on me - it still seemed a little shiny after my initial application. It's without a doubt a full-coverage foundation. Using a lesser amount than I do my Buxom covered more than I've seen a foundation do. It lasted through a long day and night an it was still 100% on when I got home. The Buxom foundation is $34 for 1.5 oz while the 100% pure is $42 for 1oz. The price for the amount is different, but after taking off my makeup tonight my skin actually looked a little healthier. Also, in the bottle the foundation smells like cinnamon toast, which to me is a plus.

Verdict: I like it, but I'm going to order another vegan, cruelty-free organic foundation from another company for a future face-off out of curiosity.

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 20 "No foundation foundation"

Day 20 "No foundation foundation" - Urban Decay Naked BB Cream + Cargo Picture Perfect CC Cream

Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm: $34.00

Cargo HD Picture Perfect CC Cream SPF 20: $34.00

Today was an experiment day for me, not with lip color, but with skin coverage. I was called into work unexpectedly so I didn't have time to do a full face, just a basic "cover-up and go". I use a primer, sometimes a BB cream if I need extra coverage, and ALWAYS my Buxom foundation. Honestly though, I wanted to play around and see if I could get more natural-looking coverage by layering different products. Normally I feel really like I'm wearing a lot and sometimes I want coverage without that heavy feeling. I wanted coverage in a lighter way that I could still use my concealer with today. I decided to try my Cargo CC cream for the first time under my Urban Decay Naked BB Cream. My skin definitely looked more natural, but my acne still showed through a bit more than usual which was tricky to cover up. I feel like you could still see my acne even with my concealer today. I like this combination, I just feel it would be better for days where I'm not having such a horrible breakout. 

30 Days of Lips + Looks: Day 19 "An apple a day"

Day 19 "An apple a day" - Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm "Apple Pink"

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm "Apple Pink": $19.00

I have to admit, this is actually one of my favorite lip products I own. I don't use it as often as I should but I feel like this color is perfect for every season. I've worn it every season with different outfits and I always get compliments. I decided to contrast it today with brown/gold on the eyes.