Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Contour Duo - review and swatches

About a month ago I was in Sephora and picked up two of these mini lip sets from Kat Von D. At the end of last year I purchased a Lolita duo (click here to see review), and I really like the formula of those two shades, so thought purchasing another mini set wouldn't hurt. This set retailed for $31 AUD in store. I had previously seen it online, but cannot find it on the Sephora Australia website any longer. These mini sizes come with 3.0mL of product, where the full size comes with 6.6mL - so the product is just under half the size of the full size product. 

(L to R: Melancholia, Susperia)

I really enjoy the formula of the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks. They are thin, so I find they do tend to wear off quite a bit, but because of this, I hardly find them drying at all. You can see in the above swatches, especially with Susperia, that it is a little patchy, but this can be easily layered on the lips with no issue at all. 

You are able to achieve an ombre lip with this duo. Because the formula of these liquid lipsticks is so thin, you are able to layer these products with no cracking. These two colours go really nicely together to create an ombre lip. 

The only issue I find with this product is because it is so thin, after a few hours, you do see the product breaking down, especially in the centre of your mouth. This does not bother me at all, as it is quite easy to just layer this product so reapplying on top does the trick - you don't need to take the product off completely to reapply, like you have to do with other products.

I think the formula of Kat Von D Liquid Lipsticks is one of my favourites. I really like these mini sets, as going through a full liquid lipstick is quite a task. If you see this in store or online, I'd really recommend picking it up. The shades are nice on their own, but it's always fun to do an ombre lip!

Thanks for reading,

X

Kat Von D Monarch Palette - review and swatches

This is the first Kat Von D product I have tried. This was purchased in store at Sephora for $65 AUD. Out of all the Kat Von D palettes, this one is the warm-toned palette. 

The palette features twelve shades in a variety of finishes. 

(L to R: Entomology, Wrath, Papilio, Summerfly)

Entomology is a matte, yellow cream shade. From the swatch, you can see the shadow is a bit chalky, but does have good pigmentation. I tend to use this shadow to set my base before applying any other shadow. 

Wrath is a satin burnt orange. This shadow has slight shimmer in it, but I would describe the finish as a satin-matte. I find this shadow is great to warm up the crease - even though it has a slight shimmer, this does not transfer all too much when used like this. 

Papilla is a pearl bronze. This shadow is lovely and super pigmented, and has a frosted finish.

Summerfly is a gold. It is one of the more chunky shades in the palette, because it does have glitter. The shadow does have great pigmentation. 

(L to R: Telepathy, Killing Jar, Delaney, Vanish)

Telepathy is a light, "pearl gold". This shade has a frosty, metallic finish, and is one of the best performing shadows in the palette. This shadow is a lovely all-over lid colour. 

Killing Jar is described as a "pearl copper". To me, this shadow comes off as a rose gold - but it is definitely beautiful. The pigmentation on this shadow is great.

Delaney is a "pearl silver". This is another shadow, like Summerfly, that is more on the chunky side. It is quite a unique silver to my collection, and more wearable than a traditional silver. The pigmentation on this shadow is good, and it is quite blendable. 

Vanish is a medium, warm taupe. To me, this shade is quite interesting - and I can't say I have anything quite like this in my collection. This does work well as a crease shade.   

(L to R: Tiny Death, Disintegration, Shadow Box, Deadhead)

Tiny Death is a "glitter cream". In all honesty, this is the most disappointing shadow in the palette. There is glitter in this shadow when you look at it in the pan, but this does not transfer much on the eye. The shadow does not swatch cohesively. 

Disintegration is a "pearl brown". It is a dark bronze with a shimmer finish. This shadow reminds me a bit of Urban Decay Smog (which is my all time favourite eyeshadow), so this shadow is on my favourite list. This shadow swatches quite pigmented, and applies nicely on the lid.  

Shadow Box is a matte chocolate brown. This shadow, and the following, Deadhead, are not super pigmented, but for dark shadows like this - I don't think it is a bad thing at all. It does swatch and feel a bit dry, but works well for deepening eye shadow looks. 

Deadhead is a "matte black". The shadow is dry and not super pigmented. As it is a black shadow - this isn't the most disappointing thing. This shadow works well for deepening eye shadow looks, and setting liner. 

Overall, I am really impressed with this palette. The shimmery shades are the most impressive - Summerfly, Telepathy and Delaney are my personal favourites. From what I have read, the Kat Von D palettes are set up as three quads in a bigger palette - like I have swatched the shadows in three lots. Each swatch post is one quad. But of course, the shadows all work well together. 

I have read on beauty blogs that this palette has been discontinued, so if you were interested - and love warm tones - I would recommend picking this up while you still can. I'm happy I gave this palette a go (and am excited to try other Kat Von D Palettes). 

Thanks for reading,

X

Current Favourites

I haven't done a Favourites post in quite some time, so I thought I would compile all the products I have been loving over the last couple of months.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Palette 
This is the only blush product I have been reaching for for the last couple of months. Baby Love has become my favourite blush - it is the perfect shade for everyday. To see my review of this palette, please click here.

MAC Whirl Lipstick
This lipstick has quickly replaced Velvet Teddy as my favourite MAC lipstick. It is a little bit darker. I really have been loving medium toned nudes over the last year or so, and am super happy I've added this to my collection.

Kat Von D Lolita Everlasting Lipstick
I think this is my favourite liquid lipstick ever. The shade is so gorgeous and perfect for everyday. I only have a deluxe size sample of this product, and will have to purchase the full size very soon.

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara
I picked a mini of this up to give it a try. I actually wasn't expecting to love this mascara as much as I do. This mascara is great at curling and separating the lashes.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara 
I got this mascara in a gift set of Tarte products from Christmas. Over the years I have heard good things about this mascara, and I have to agree with them. I love layering this mascara on top of the Benefit Roller Lash. This is a great thickening mascara.

Benefit the POREfessional Primer
This primer is amazing to use one my nose. I wear glasses, and I find with this primer, makeup transfer on my glasses is more than halved! Makeup transfer with glasses always discourages me, but I am so happy to have found a product that is able to reduce this. This primer also keeps product on my nose for much longer - when I don't use this product, makeup always fades super quickly on my nose.

MAC Lightscapade Mineralise Skinfinish
I think this is the most natural highlight I own, and I love it for everyday wear in the office. I picked up this highlight maybe two years ago after trying Soft & Gentle - which was seriously hyped in the beauty community, and to be honest - I just don't get it. Up until the last couple of months, I had hardly reached for this highlight. I tried it one day and was seriously wowed by how natural and glowy it looked on my cheeks.

The Body Shop Ionic Clay Mask 
I have been breaking out quite badly over the last couple of months - and this is something I have never experienced in my life. I love to use this mask as a spot treatment. I tend to leave it on for quite a bit to dry out pimples, and it works quite well.

Australis Take Me On Tour Contouring & Highlighting Palette 
The contour shade in this palette has become my everyday contour shade. Absolutely perfect for my light complexion.

And those are all the products I have been loving over the last couple of months!

Thanks for reading,

X

Kat Von D Lolita Lip Duo - review and swatches

On my first trip to Sephora, I was finally able to look at Kat Von D products in store. I have been interested in the Kat Von D eyeshadow palettes (Shade & Light Eye Contour, I'm coming for you) and the liquid lipsticks. I have read and seen swatches of Lolita, and when I saw this cute little duo featuring Lolita and Lolita II, it was the perfect excuse to pick it up.

I don't find the consistency of these liquid lipsticks as thick as some others, like the ColourPop Ultra Matte or the Australis Velourlips, which means they aren't as drying. You can also layer the products without it cracking or causing any issues. However, because they are thinner in consistency, they are not as long lasting - if I have been eating anything with the ColourPop on my lips (bar anything too greasy which breaks the product), it will still be on my lips afterwards. With this product, it does break away, especially in the middle. But because you are still able to layer the product without any issue, it doesn't really phase me at all. With other brands, like ColourPop, I would need to remove all traces of the product from my lips before being able to reapply. 

(L to R: Lolita & Lolita II)

I picked up this duo from Sephora in store for $30. Unfortunately I cannot find it online, so it looks like it can only be purchased from Sephora stores. I really enjoy wearing both lip colours, and because they are neutral shades, I find them work appropriate too. Because they are a liquid lipstick, they dry down to a matte and are generally more long lasting - just remember to check in a mirror after eating, as you probably will need to reapply. I'm definitely looking forward to trying more of these liquid lipsticks. 

Thanks for reading,

X