MAC - Paint in Bare Canvas

***Pictures and Swatches Coming Soon!***

I tried this as a primer on the recommendation of a MAC makeup artist since I have so much trouble with creasing. I was new to MAC and didn't know about the paint pots. Now that I've tried both, I don't really know why this was recommended! It's less dense than the Paint Pots and does even out skin tone, but I found that it doesn't do much to help with the longevity of my shadow. It dries so fast that the shadow doesn't cling to it as it does with the Paint Pots and other primers I've tried.


Also the packaging is quite frustrating because like some medical squeeze tubes, if an air bubble gets trapped, this sometimes keeps on coming out whether you want it to or not. This leads to a lot of wasted product that you can't get back in the tube and also can't store in a travel container for use later since it will dry out after a few hours.

Overall I wouldn't recommend these unless you absolutely love one of the colours and can't find it in another formula. Stick to the Paint Pots.

Ratings:
Packaging: 2/5
Product quality: 3.5/5
Worth the price? Not really.
Would I purchase again? No, I don't think so. 

Cruelty-Free? Yes - appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list.

Where to find it: MAC in store and online.

L'Oreal - HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner

 To view image source, click on image

This is one of the few products, drugstore or otherwise, that I had a particularly bad experience with. This was the first cream liner I purchased, well before I converted to a MAC junkie! I was curious but didn't want to shell out the cash for an expensive brand. At the time, this was the only cream liner available in my local drugstores, so when it went on sale I decided to give it a try.

Big mistake. The product itself was alright - didn't go on as smoothly as MAC's, of course, but not impossible to work with. As usual, the brush that came with it was completely useless. I didn't get a chance to assess its staying power, however, because within a few minutes of applying it, my eyes were stinging and watering.

This might be okay for people with less sensitive eyes, but these days there are other drugstore cream liners on the market, so this wouldn't be the first one I'd try if I were you. Mine went in the trash after one use.


**Update - 2/6/2011
I have been doing a lot of research on companies that do and don't test on animals. On top of the general bad review of this product, L'Oreal, appear on PETA's list of companies who DO test on animals. I will not be purchasing anything from them or their subsidiaries in the future, and please bear this information in mind when making your own consumer decisions.

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 1/5
Worth the price? No. Cheap pricetag, worthless product.
Would I purchase again? No way.

Cruelty-Free? No. L'Oreal appear on PETA's list of companies who DO test on animals. 

Where to find it: Your local drugstore (if you still want to!). 

MAC - Eye Kohl in Smolder

***Pictures and Swatches Coming Soon!***

I only recently gave in and purchased this pencil. I don't know what took me so long - I completely addicted to it! I've read some less than favourable reviews of this, but for me it really lived up to the hype.

It's dense and pigmented, and if I apply it close to the lashline and then blend and smudge with a 266 angled liner brush I can work it right into the lashes. I also use the 266 brush to draw the winged portion into a finer point. I apply it sparingly on the waterline close to the lashes as well.  Normally with liquid and cream liners, I need to use a matte black powder to set the liner and fill in lashline gaps, but with this one I don't need to.

Once applied, the colour lasts all day without smudging, smearing, bleeding or fading. Though it's soft enough to work with it's not so soft that you have to sharpen it each time you use it, so it lasts quite a long time. Though it costs more in comparison to similar drugstore products, so far I think it's worth the price. I didn't expect to like it as much as I do, but honestly I can't see myself switching back to any other black liners - drugstore or high end! I'm a convert!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Definitely!
Would I purchase again? Already on it. There's a backup in my makeup case.

Cruelty-Free? Yes - appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list.

Where to find it: MAC in store and online.

BeneFit - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in R.S.V.P.

The Sephora website describes the colour as "sparkling champagne," which I'd say is pretty accurate. It has a nice sheen (though no sparkles) and spreads like butter.

I have a LOT of trouble with creasing in general, and though this doesn't crease right away, by the end of a work day it does. If you have similar problems you might want to make sure you carry it along with you to reapply if this happens.

I got a sample size of this from Sephora and I've recently taken to wearing it with MAC's Shroom as a browbone highlighter and a coat of MAC Plush Lash and pairing it with a bold lip. It brightens up my eyes and looks gorgeous with almost no effort.  It's a nice, easy neutral look for those mornings when you don't want to bother with much makeup!

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 4.5/5
Worth the price? Nearly.
Would I purchase again? I don't think so - the sample I got is a decent size and a little goes a long way!

Cruelty-Free? Not sure. They claim not to use animal testing, but, according to PETA, they have repeatedly refused to sign the cruelty-free pledge to appear on PETA's Cruelty-Free list. When asked, they say this is because they can't guarantee that all the ingredients they use haven't been tested on animals at some point in history - but this is a given for nearly all cosmetics companies, so you'd think it would be implied for all the companies on the list. I'm still looking into it.

Where to find it: BeneFit online, Sephora in store or online, Shopper's Drug Mart in store.