REVIEW: Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in "Rosy Nude"

oh hello there :) 

i got a quick lippie post for you today. 

while i was on the search for some nude colors that will actually look good on me rather than make me look deathly ill, i picked up my second Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick (3.7 g). 

"065 Rosy Nude" was recommended by some darker-skinned vloggers. i am actually pretty light-skinned but since the other nudes that people were recommending were just not working out, i figured that it was time i try a warmer shade of nude.

Revlon remains one of my favorite drugstore lipstick brands. look how pretty the packaging is with the sleek quilt pattern on the side and the colored top.

Revlon does not disappoint with the pigmentation or formula either. the ColorBurst line features lipsticks that are rich in color, lightweight and moisturizing at the same time.
"Rosy Nude" comes off a bit too red-brown for my taste - sort of like a rusty brown color. even though it is darker than i would've preferred, i actually like keeping this in my coat pocket for convenience. ColorBurst lipsticks are so easy to apply that i can use throw it on as i am walking to work. i use it like i use lip balm and the color payoff is a great bonus.
since it is so light on the lips, it does disappear rather quickly and i'd feel it wear off within the hour.

again, i love the lipstick itself but it seems that i am not having any luck with the colors i am choosing.

Revlon Colorburst lipsticks can be found at any drugstore for approximately $5.99.
check out my review and swatch of this lipstick in the shade "075 Peach" here.

quick note about a very generous offer from nailpolishcanada.com:
they are offering those of you that were subscribed to Glymm in the last four months and who had to endure the horrible drama that ensued, a box of nail goodies worth $25 for FREE. this Anti-Glymm Box Box even allows you to pick a nail color, given 3 options :). all you have to do is email them (click on the link for info) with proof of your Glymm membership and they will email you back a code. if you decide to spend at least $25 on other things on the website, shipping is free but if you want just the box, it will cost you $3.
there is a crazzzzyyyy Deborah Lippmann sale right now. need i say more?

TOPBOX: April 2013 [regular]

EEP!!!
it's been a week since my last post. i am sorry that i've been so busy! this weekend alone was filled with 2 birthdays and a funeral.
it may not have been as crazy as 4 weddings and a funeral but... i haven't seen the movie so who knows. (i hope this slightly comedic remark does not come off as insensitive!)

anyway,
quick post about the Topbox. yes i know, it came weeks ago. but i feel obligated (to myself?) to post this anyway! so here goes --

- - - - -

i interrupt this Topbox unboxing post to bring you an important message about Glymm:
what. the. eff.

i haven't been checking blogs and emails as often as i'd like last week but was able to find the news about Glymm shutting down operations from a Facebook group. sifting through my emails, i finally found the message from Glymm in my junk folder. Glymm's emails have always gone to my inbox before but this particular message of course, goes into junk.

i knew they were struggling the last few weeks since we did not receive our March bags. i believe that Glymm was saying that they were restructuring or something along those lines when they were bombarded with questions on their Facebook page.
well great. thanks for the heads up. all those Glymm points saved up for nothing. i could've, should've used them ages ago!! what was i thinking!!

the Glymm website, Facebook account, Twitter accounts, etc etc have all vanished. i'm hoping i can dispute some charges on my credit card bill... oh, the hassle. i am glad to finally wash my hands on this thing though. one less beauty box to be disappointed by.

- - - - -

back to Topbox!
like last year, they shipped all April boxes in the eco-friendly packaging in support of Earth Day (today!).

1) boxx cosmeticss Travel Foundation Brush - suh-weet! i was thinking of buying another foundation brush and this one is very neat! i like that the handle is travel-sized for convenience while the brush head is standard-sized so that it does not infringe on the brush's usability. 

the hairs are unlike any other brush i own - there is a mixture of goat and 3 toned synthetic fibers. it is very soft and thin as well. 

size: 1 brush - 25 g (full size!)

retail value: $28

2) Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover - i've always wondered if you could use regular makeup remover on your lips but since this one specifically says so, i do not have to question it anymore! remember to shake well before use and rinse afterwards. i am not a fan of oily makeup removers but they are better at removing resistant makeup.

*shake shake shake*

size: 50 mL

retail value: $24 (100 mL)

3) KMS California FREESHAPE Quick Blow Dry - i've received this previously from LB and i'm still working on it. i think it does a decent job but nothing so convincing that i need to use it every time i blow dry.

 *also shake shake shake*

size: 30 mL

retail value: $18.75 (200 mL)

4) Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub - i had a d'oh moment with this. for some reason, i thought this was a mask. so i applied it on my face like you would a mask - thickly, while i was thinking to myself: "why is this mask so runny? now i have to apply even more!" and then my sister asks me how long we are supposed to leave it on for.

oops!

the scrub doesn't feel super gritty so i felt that it would be fine for sensitive skin. my sister said it stung a bit on her more acne-prone skin. i could barely smell the scrub which is a great thing since charcoal products usually have an unpleasant smell to them. 

left my skin feeling nice and soft. felt the need to moisturize after.

size: 30 mL

retail value: $18 (100 mL)

this Topbox was a decent one... the product that won be over is the boxx cosmetics brush for sure. the rest is just okay since i've received the KMS hair product before and i am constantly overwhelmed with makeup removers. what type of brush did you get?

there isalso a limited edition Mother's Day Topbox available where you can get vial samples of 6 fragrances and redeem the gift card for a full size. the cost of the box is $80. nice idea but not something i need. i've seen something similar at Sephora and Shoppers before.

BEAUTY BOX 5: March 2013

my BB5 arrived shortly after my Luxe Box. this month was just okay - i guess i was a little spoiled from their previous anniversary box!

1) La Fresh Nail Polish Remover Travel Wipes - i am being overwhelmed by wipes from beauty box subs, especially La Fresh ones! i can't remember if i have received these already... 

did a quick search on my blog and i have received something similar - back in June, i received an acetone-free version from Glymm.

size: 1 pad x 2
retail value: $3.99 (6 wipes)

-- update April 22, 2013 -- 

i used one of these pads after wearing Hard Candy's "Crush on Pink" polish for a few days. the pad easily removed the pink layer but not so much as the silver foil underneath the pink. i was able to remove 3 fingers easily before the La Fresh pad started drying out. i had to use some of my own nail polish remover to remove the rest of the polish off my fingers. 
i don't think these Travel Wipes are intended to be used on shimmery or glittery polishes. the pad itself was heavy duty enough (resembled felt) but dried up too quickly. --

2) Brazen Cosmetics Organic Mineral Eye Shadow in "Buzzed" - at first look, i didn't think too much of the color - yeah it's brown and it's sparkly. the swatch was of only one swipe and it was still just okay for me.
but once i started playing with it on my eyes, i am in love! i built up the color a bit on my crease and it is really long-wearing. i was surprised that it was just as vivid after i woke up from a very restful afternoon nap :)
Brazen Cosmetics (catch line: bold & provocative organic makeup) is currently making changes to their website so i can't find much about their shipping costs or products yet. ** spoiler alert ** the company will also be featured in April's box **

size: 3 g
retail value: $7.49 (5 g)

3) Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in "Tropical Mango" - i cannot get enough of Tree Hut! last month, i received a delicious-smelling Coconut Lime Body Scrub and last year, i got a i-want-to-eat-it Hawaiian Kukui Body Butter. "Tropical Mango" is also saliva-inducing but if i had to choose a body butter, i prefer the "Hawaiian Kukui".

size: 57 g
retail value: $6.49 (255 g)

4) H2O Plus Spa Sea Salt Body Wash - also received a H2O Plus product (shampoo) last month. i must say that i do not like this body wash. the scent is very strong, very marine-y, very salty... does not make me feel pretty.
H2O Plus is all about 3 key elements so here they are: red marine algae, Japanese green tea extract and provitamin B.

size: 30 mL
retail value: $17 (370 mL)

5) H2O Plus AquaFirm+ Eye Lift Concentrate - the tube may be little but keep in mind that it is about half-full. this is a very interesting eye cream - the cream itself has an iridescent color to it - very pretty. i guess it contributes to the light-reflecting brighteners in the product.
the 3 key elements for this include: caffeine, sea nutrient barrier and chlorella marine algae.

size: 4 mL
retail value: $38 (15 mL)

so i like about half of this box and the other half, not so much. i noticed that there was no organza bag this time around... all the items were just tossed into a cardboard box with some black crinkly paper and that was it. i guess i don't need more organza bags but i am curious if this is how they will be packaging their products from now on.

i'd like to thank the reader who signed up via my link last month. it was a surprise when i got an email from BB5 saying that my referral earned me, not $5, but a $10 gift card to Sephora. so thank you again! has any of you Canadian ladies figured out how to use this though? the tiny writing at the bottom seems to indicate that it can only be redeemed in the states... let me know if you have any idea!