Review: Wet n' Wild Lipstick

Always the bargain hunter, I recently stumbled upon Wet n' Wild's makeup display in my local Publix while I was shopping for groceries with a friend. At first I didn't notice it, honestly. The display was pretty nondescript with no flashy signs and no pictures of their cover models. However, my eyes were caught as I was browsing price tags.

Covergirl: $12.99. Revlon: $14.99. L'Oreal: $9.99.

Wet n' Wild: $0.99?!?! What???

So I, the beauty brain and bargain hunter I am, moved in for a closer look. About a week earlier, I had picked up two of the brand's single eyeshadows (which I still have to review. Sorry!). This time, though, I was on the hunt for something I often avoid: lipstick.

Wet n' Wild didn't disappoint my wallet. Each lipstick was only $0.99 and the store had about 15 colors in stock. So I picked up three..

My three new Wet n' Wild lipsticks. From L to R: Fuchsia with Blue Pearl (521A), Nouveau Pink (511B), and Pink Ice (528A). $0.99 each.

I quickly realized that each lipstick was very glossy or even metallic-y: not really my thing. However, by simply blotting at your lips immediately after applying, you can totally change the appearance of these lipsticks and make them look like an expensive, high fashion product.

Pink Ice: A lovely neutral lipstick that looks a bit too frosty when applied, but can be blotted down to a gorgeous, peachy color. I especially loved wearing this with blue eyeliner and a neutral gloss to channel the hottest look from this summer. However, I also think it would look great with a smokey eye for a night-time look.

From frosted and glossy to totally matte..

Nouveau Pink: Okay, I know it looks like the name of this one is spelled awkwardly, but that's really how it's spelled on the packaging. Anyway, I really like this pink lipstick a lot. It's very feminine and instantly makes any neutral look a lot less neutral. I think it would be a great choice for holiday parties this year as it can be worn with a neutral eye or a smokey eye and would in fact look great with purple eyeshadow. This lipstick is not very glossy or metallic-y, but I would still recommend blotting it to reduce smudging later on.

Glossy to matte..

Fuchsia with Blue Pearl: Definitely the funkiest lipstick I've ever tried! I bought this on a whim and because it always seems like purple lips are popular in the winter. I, however, am a little too afraid to rock a violet lip, so I went with the pinkiest purple I could find! This is a very bold color and probably should only be worn at night with neutral or gray eyes. I would recommend blotting it or else it looks a bit clownish, but over all, it's a really cool color. Check it out! For the ridiculously low price, you might as well try the trendiest look for winter.

Glossy to matte...

My only complaint about these lipsticks is that the packaging is really quite poor. It looks and is cheaply made, so don't expect this to be a gorgeous product at first glance. However, if that's how Wet n' Wild is keeping prices down, then I'm all for it!

Over all, I think these lipsticks are really quite a steal. The colors are as pigmented and as different as MAC and definitely as trendy. But, like all things trendy, they won't (and shouldn't) last forever, so why spend $13.00 on a lipstick that could be very much out of style in a few months? Instead, get one of these Wet n' Wild lipsticks and don't feel guilty.

Swatches! From L to R: Nouveau Pink, Pink Ice, and Fucshia with Blue Pearl.

Review: Sally Hanson French Manicure Kit

I realize I do a TON of nail polish reviews on this blog, but since I'm trying to grow out my nails and keep getting bored with whatever color I have on, I'm always changing polishes, and therefore need a growing collection (at least that's how I justify it. Hehe...).

Recently, I thought I'd take a break from the dark fall colors I had picked up and try a classic French manicure for a sophisticated, pretty look. But I can't afford to go to a salon every week right now, so I decided to do it myself. Normally, I'm terrible at doing my own French manicures because my hands are just not steady enough to control an awkwardly sized brush and draw a thin straight line at the end of each nail. I was prepared for the worst, ugliest French manicure ever.

However, Sally Hansen's French Manicure Kit is a fantastic product that makes French manicures WAY simpler than they ever were before. Each kit comes with two pens: a white 'tip' pen and a sheer color brush pen. There are a few different colors or shades available for he sheer pen, but I like pink, girly French manicures, so I chose to buy the set in Le Bon Bon (3471).

On sale for $6.29 at Walgreens

The kit is pretty self explanatory. First, you draw the white edges onto your nail with the white marker...
It dries pretty quickly, but I've found that I get better results if I let it sit for 5 minutes or so before applying the sheer coat. Once I'm sure it's fully dry, I apply the sheer pink polish to the whole nail. I'd recommend two coats, but let the first one dry before going back over each nail...
To be honest, the polish does come out a bit streaky -- probably because the brush isn't exactly high quality -- and it can chip really easily. I don't think this is an ideal replacement for an actual manicure at a salon that looks clean and neat for days on end. But because this process is so easy and takes very little time (and money), I really would recommend it for quick fixes in between salon sessions or as a classy manicure for a semi-important function. Here's what my final manicure looked like...
On camera and from about a foot away, it actually looks pretty good. I think for its functionality, this kit is really worth owning because it's perfect for a quick fix or temporary elegant look.