Milani Cosmetics’ Ludicrous Lights Duo Chrome Highlighter collection

When I first saw these in February and March 2020, I was a little hesitant about getting them at all: while I liked the base shades, I wasn’t sure that I would like the larger sparkle particles as much as the smoother particles in collections like last year’s Hypnotic Lights. All of these are pretty chunky, which means that you’ll get more of a scattered-glitter effect than a more traditional highlight. These also apply best with a softer,...

Notoriously Morbid’s The Winchester Gospels collection

Eight colors inspired by the TV show Supernatural. There are a few browns, a pair of blues, some greens and oranges. With the duotone shades, this isn’t a wholly “quiet” color palette, but depending on which your eye focuses on, it can either look like It’s Full Of Blues or it can look a bit neutral.

Notoriously Morbid’s I Call It Mr. Pointy

Very nice color payoff on this one! It looks brown in the pot, but applies decidedly more red than brown. I still do see a little bit of that odd ashy top layer that happens with so many Notoriously Morbid shadows when foiled, but it isn’t as thick, and so it doesn’t obscure or dilute the color nearly as much.

TKB Trading’s Vivid Cardinal

Are you looking for a bright pink that’s right on the border of being neon, and possibly just barely over that line? Here you go! This color is a slightly cooler pink with a matte formula that applies very nicely - no skipping or thinner spots, no flaking. It also does mellow down a little once it’s applied, shedding some of the brightness without losing any of the saturation. Though I have to admit - I’ve never...

elf’s Flat Eyeliner Brush

Remember, folks: marketing and labeling is a suggestion, not a restriction. This brush from elf is a great case in point. I picked this up when I was looking for a way to apply my deeper, vampier lip colors along the edges of my lips…when I could not find a lip liner in the matching color. This seemed like the perfect brush: the head was wide and cleanly shaped, the top was flat, and the bristles were dense enough...

Color Club’s Matte-erial Girl

This is one of the biggest pleasant surprises in this collection: a neutral polish with hints of colorchange. When the light hits this polish at certain angles, I can see pink and green. (This is the only polish in this collection that really does this.) It’s a very nice effect in a polish that could easily be “office appropriate.” This polish covers well and spreads nicely, though it does show its “metallic” heritage by showing brushstrokes.

Maybelline’s Lash Sensational Full Fan Effect Waterproof Mascara

I think I just need to stay away from any more mascaras in the Lash Sensational line. They all seem to have the same brush, which looks like a dildo designed by Pinhead. I have a hard time using this wand - I’ve poked myself in the eye multiple times trying to get the mascara on my innermost lashes, and I’m not thrilled with how it ended up. I see definition, but not much length. This isn’t...

Zoya’s Walker

Another clear medium blue polish - this one was released in 2019, a year before Pantone announced Classic Blue as its 2020 Color of the Year. This polish has the standard Zoya creme formula: smooth application, easy spreadability, good coverage, and a nicely durable finished manicure. The polish isn’t thick enough to be a substitute stamping polish, but I have used it for freehand nail art and it’s worked well.

NYX Cosmetics’ Suede Matte Lipstick in Cannes

Too Faced’s Life’s A Festival: La Crème Mystical Lipstick in Unicorn Tears

This ended up not being as attractive a lip color as I thought. I had hopes that this would be a soft, even layer of light blue with some pink or purple reflectivity. Nope. It’s light blue, but it’s grainy and it doesn’t layer well. When I first apply it it’s uneven as hell, and I have to go over my lips and redistribute the product to get the even sheer blue sheen.