Wet n Wild Silk Finish Lipstick in 525D and 552A - Review & Swatches

Yesterday I popped into Walmart because I needed contact lens solution, and I came out with two new lipsticks, a set of nail files, and one of those mirror/brush travel compacts so I can touch up my makeup at my desk. I've never tried the Silk Finish lipsticks from Wet n Wild, but they were $.98, so I kept my expectations low and grabbed two.

(Picture taken with flash.)

I chose 552A (Just Garnet), which is a berry red, and 525D (Retro Pink) which is a cool-toned medium pink. Both lipsticks applied a little sheer at first, but you can build the color intensity up as you apply. They actually felt very moisturizing, and they didn't seem to sit on top of my lip like some other lipsticks do. 552A is a little brighter than it appears in the tube, but it's a really nice berry color for fall without being too dark. I love the vampy look, and this shade gives a bit of the vampy effect without making me feel too conspicuous. 525D is a little too cool for me, but if you generally like cooler pinks, then I'd definitely check it out. I do like that it's bright but not too light. The best part about these lipsticks is that they're less than a dollar, and you can experiment with tons of different colors without worrying about wasting your money if you don't like a shade.

Rating: 4/5They're not perfect, but the price range more than makes up for it, especially if you find a shade you love.

XOXO, Ally

(PS: I tried to take lip swatches of these but my lips are so chapped that they just looked disgusting, so I'll get the lip swatches up sometime in the next few days!) 

Did you get your Target Beauty Bag?

Cause I did! I checked my mail this morning and practically ran back to my dorm room to open it.

First thing I noticed was how cute the actual bag was! I actually use the Sonia Kashuk one from last year a lot, because when I travel to/from college I only need makeup for a couple of days and that little bag is a perfect size. But I really love the colors of this one - the gold and the magenta together are just so gorgeous! Anyway, the actual samples are the important parts, so I'll stop gushing about the darn bag...
As soon as I opened the bag I was like 'oh hey shampoo!' There were a lot of shampoo and conditioner samples in there - and it's not that I dislike shampoo samples, but I'm a college kid and I don't normally spend that much time experimenting with different shampoos. That being said, a college kid would never turn down free shampoo. xD

 So the three shampoo and conditioner samples were Tresemme Naturals, Garnier Fructis Pure Clean, and John Frieda Full Repair (with a $2.00 off coupon attached)! I'm definitely the most interested in the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean set - I'll admit it, I'm kinda a sucker for anything "green." The shampoo claims to be 94% biodegradable, while the conditioner is 92%, and it seems like the earth-friendly aspect of these would be their biggest selling point (which is not necessarily something you'd see reflected in your hair).

The bag also included a sample of L'Oreal Youth Code cream, which probably won't be too effective on me since I'm pretty youthful already, but hopefully it'll have some sort of effect. Finally it included a pack of 5 Pond's Cleansing Towelettes, which definitely appeal to the lazy side of me. I also really like that they're safe for contact lens wearers and that they remove waterproof mascara.

The bag also came with it's signature pack of coupons, which are not of too much use to me since there's not a single Target store anywhere near my college, but if you have a Target nearby, then you'll definitely be able to find some good deals in there!

XOXO, Ally

Wet n Wild Enter a New Realm Palette - Review & Swatches (& Comparison!)

When I saw the Wet n Wild Dream Weavers collection online, I knew that I'd have to go drugstore hunting until I found it. Luckily I stopped into a Rite Aid while I was vacationing in Maine, and they had a new display with these little palettes all set up.

Enter a New Realm was one of my biggest must-haves from this collection, mostly because of the red shade. Red eyeshadow is pretty hard to find in drugstores, so to be able to get a palette with a red shade for $2.99 is pretty crazy. And I love the quality of Wet n Wild products, so I was all over this new collection.

The palette has three shades in it - an eyelid, crease, and browbone shade. You obviously don't have to just wear the colors like the palette says, but you definitely could! I swatched the three shades over Too Faced Shadow Insurance and they all seemed vibrant and really pigmented. The browbone color is a metallic, shimmery silver color, the crease color is a matte black (with a tiny bit of shimmer if you squint and look really hard) and the eyelid color is a shimmery red. The colors stayed on really well (I had to scrub hard to get the swatches off my hand) and they blend nicely, as most Wet n Wild shadows do.

When I saw this palette, it instantly reminded me of another Wet n Wild trio that I own - Spoiled Brat. When I swatched them next to each other they definitely have the same concept, although the actual formulas seem different. The silver in Spoiled Brat seemed brighter, the black contains some glitter, and the pink ... is pink instead of red. But without a doubt, they share some similarities. I think they're both great to have in your collection - for only $2.99, you can definitely afford to pick up both.
Rating: 5/5
The quality is great for the price, and finding such a unique color in a drugstore is pretty exceptional!

XOXO, Ally