Kylie Cosmetics Mary Jo K Lip Kit Review

Looking for that classic red lip? Want it to last all day, all night, through meals and activities? Well, Kylie Cosmetics has the perfect combination that will stay with you throughout your entire day.

I first got the Mary Jo K lip kit for Christmas my junior year of college and I have to say…it has definitely lived up to the hype. At first, $29 for a lip pencil and matte liquid lipstick sounds a bit pricey, but for what you get, it is definitely worth the investment.

The lip pencil is super easy to glide onto your lips, giving your lips a clean border. As someone with thin lips, I highly appreciate the easy to sharpen and long lasting lip pencil because it gives my lips an easy outline to follow without getting lipstick all over my face. The best part is that it doesn’t bleed- so you don’t have to worry about looking like a vampire two hours after applying.

The matte liquid lipstick is….just absolutely phenomenal. Not only is it highly pigmented and easy to apply, it doesn’t leave your lips looking dry or cracked. I found that usually red lipstick fades or starts to look messy after a while, but Mary Jo K keeps it’s pigmentation and stays in place all day long. Plus, it smells good and doesn’t have that chemically smell lipsticks usually have.

The instructions suggest using the lip pencil first and then going over your lips with the liquid lipstick. I found that this tends to keep the lipstick in place longer and the lip pencil used on your lips acts as a sort of primer and moisturizer for the liquid lip.

I use Mary Jo K for whenever I want that bold classic look, but also a lot for my dance competitions. I need a lipstick that will last through hours of stretching, drills, actual competing, drinking water, eating, and all day until awards. Not only does Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit do this for me, but it also doesn’t crack or fade, even when my lips are chapped. Depending on how much time I have to get ready, I either use the lip liner or I don’t, and I found that the color stays all day. I may need to reapply once or twice, but usually I’m good for about 6-12 hours without reapplication. Before I put any lipstick or lipgloss on, I always prime my lips with the Lip Primer from Anastasia Beverly Hills, which creates a moisturized and evened surface on my thin and usually chapped lips.

The only negative I have about Mary Jo K is removal. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out. Everybody loves a good lip that can last the end of the world, but removing it at the end of the day can be the biggest pain in the butt. I found that if I use Tarte Micellar Magic Makeup Remover and Cleanser, then Farmacy’s Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm, I can usually get it all off. The frustration usually kicks in when I’m scrubbing it off and it gets all over my face, making me look like a vampire who just finished a hearty five course meal. Tarte’s Frxxxtion Stick is my next step and that not only clears away the lipstick, but also leaves my pores and area around my mouth smooth and clean. The best thing, I found, to use after any matte lippie, is Jeffree Star’s Velour Lip Scrub and then Chapstick, just to make sure that any and all lipstick is cleaned from my lips. By doing this, my lips are smooth, clean, moisturized, and ready for the next day.

Overall, I cannot recommend Kylie Cosmetics Mary Jo K Lip Kit enough for that classic bold red lip. The clean application, long lasting wear, sweet smell, high pigmentation, and easy application makes the difficult removal of the lipstick worthwhile. If you want that lip that will stay perfect all day, then this is something you have to have in your makeup collection.

I used Mary Jo K for my 2019 Halloween costume, and it lasted through the entire Halloween party.

Mary Jo K lasted my entire dance competition on a sunny and hot beach.

Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara Review

Do you want the look of false eyelashes without the mess of glue and the weight on your eyelids? Well look no further! Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara will make your eyelashes look long and voluptuous in a matter of seconds.

The first time I tried the Better Than Sex mascara, I was hesisitant. I’ve been using the same mascara for years: Maybelline’s The Mega Plush Volum’Express Waterproof Mascara. I’m always up to try new makeup, but for me (who already has long eyelashes and very sensitive eyes), this mascara always got the job done and I never saw the need to try a new one. Well, after some digging and reading the reviews I thought “What the hell” and went to Sephora and purchased my first Better Than Sex bottle. When I got home and tried it for the first time, I was SHOOK.

Now I already have naturally long eyelashes, but they’re blonde so I always lean towards a black mascara that can highlight my natural lashes. Trying Better Than Sex made my eyelashes look amazing: long, healthy, voluminous, and honestly, fake. In fact, I’ve been asked multiple times by people if I was wearing falsies. This mascara is so good that for the 2019 World Irish Dancing Championships this year, I didn’t even have to put on the false lashes the rest of my team was wearing (I did anyways and my lashes were ridiculously long).

The name Better Than Sex is quite the title and a huge promise to make to its customers. I was intrigued and now I totally 100% agree that this is a mascara that lives up to all of the hype and its name.

I use this mascara nearly everyday, switching it off with Tarte’s Maneater mascara. It’s perfect for glam, casual, work, and even my no makeup days where I just want to make my eyes look more awake (aka days when I’m running errands and doing chores and already look like a hot mess at the laundromat).

The wand is phenomenally thick, which makes it perfect for coating my upper lashes completely and thoroughly. Because the wand is super plush, I found that when used on my bottom lashes, those lashes look way too big, so I only use this mascara on the top and usually Benedict’s Roller Lash or Tarte’s Maneater on the bottom. Despite this mascara being a miracle and just beautiful, I did find some problems with it.

For one, it does tend to clump and my lashes on my outer corners tend to look a little icky, but this is easily fixed with a spoolie. Second, unfortunately, it’s ridiculously hard to take off; which, in a way, is good because it does last all day, but when it’s the end of the night and you’re drunk and just want a clean face when you sleep, it can be tedious. I used Too Faced’s Melt Off mascara remover, and found that it does get some of the job done, but not completely. Thankfully, I started a new makeup remover regimen. First, I use Tarte’s Micellar Magic Makeup Remover & Cleanser to start off, and then go full scrub with Farmacy Beauty’s Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm. Both of these products remove makeup without stripping my skin of its natural oils and cells, and together, take off every single trace of makeup. INCLUDING THIS MASCARA! For the first time, I’m waking up in the morning with no raccoon eyes.

Would I recommend this mascara? HELL FRIGGIN YES! Just let me ask you one question: “Yeah sex is great, but have you ever worn Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced?”

Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara (top lashes); Benefit’s Roller Lash mascara (bottom lashes)

Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara (top lashes); Tarte’s Maneater mascara (bottom lashes)

A different view: Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara (top lashes); Tarte’s Meaneater mascara (bottom lashes).

Tarte’s Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer Review

I recently started a new job in retail, where my appearance always has to be escalated and on point. Everyday I try a new makeup look, but most of the time I like going natural and fresh-faced, especially since I work for a company that is built on a fresh faced, beachy, New England look.

I’m always on the lookout for a new moisturizer that I can use on a daily basis or as a primer to hold my makeup throughout my day on the floor. Tarte’s Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer has been getting the job done for every look.

On days where I don’t want to wear makeup, this is the perfect skin brightener and moisturizer because it gives my face a natural sort of glow without having to put pounds of makeup on or any highlighter. I especially like it after washing my face at the gym, giving me a healthy not-gross looking sheen to my face.

As a primer, I have yet to find a fault with it. I’ve worn it under a variation of foundations, including Tarte’s Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer in “Light”, Rainforest of the Sea in “12N Fair Neutral”, and Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation in “Fair Beige”; Mac’s Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in “A18/NW30”; and Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Weightless High Definition Liquid Makeup in “2.5”. With each foundation, I found that my makeup stays in place each day and there is very little to no breaking or melting off of my foundation throughout the day. I also found that my makeup, no matter how full coverage it is, still has a dewy more natural look to it when I use the Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer as the primer.

Perhaps the best perk of this product is that my skin does not have that dry, raw feeling at the end of the day once my makeup comes off; it protects my skin from drying out and becoming damaged from my makeup.

Overall, I highly highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a great moisturizer that gives your skin a healthy glow or a primer that simultaneously protects your skin while holding your makeup in place, in no matter the environment.

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Tarte’s Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer in “Light”

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea in “12N Fair Neutral”

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Tarte’s Shape Tape Hydrating Foundation in “Fair Beige”

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Mac’s Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in “A18/NW30”. Note: This was for the World Irish Dancing Championships this past April 2019, so my makeup had to be dark.

Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer under Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Weightless High Definition Liquid Makeup in “2.5”

Tarte Micellar Magic Makeup Remover and Cleanser Review

Tarte recently released a new makeup remover with the goal of clearing awake makeup without stripping your skin of it’s natural oils and cells. Many makeup removers are harsh and for those with dry or combination skin like myself, it can be difficult to find a healthy way of removing your makeup without causing further damage to your skin.

I have combination skin that is always either dry and oily at the same time but in different places, or just completely dry all over my face. For years, I’ve been using the same makeup remover wipes and a few months ago I found myself looking at Tarte’s Micellar Magic Makeup Remover and Cleanser. Since skincare is a big thing for me and I always do my best to keep my skin clear of acne and red spots (I’m not always successful since I have red cheeks), I decided to give this new “magical” makeup remover a spin. And let me tell you. WOW.

When I first purchased my bottle and a sleeve of cotton rounds, I was not sure what to expect. I love Tarte and I was really hoping that this product would help remove my makeup after wearing it for hours on end in the city and at work. Luckily my prayers were answered as I pressed the wet cotton round onto my face and felt it immediately remove the primer, foundation, bronzer, blush, and highlight that was sitting there for about twelve hours. I then went on throughout my face and then my eyes, removing the makeup and feeling my skin after each swipe. I had been so used to my skin feeling raw and looking redder than natural for years, that I was genuinely impressed that the water had removed the makeup which simultaneously keeping my skin intact and hydrated.

While I love this easy to use product, I do have one problem with it-it does take a lot of cotton rounds to take off my makeup. At $18, it is a great deal since it has so far lasted me two months of almost daily use, but I have gone through almost 100 cotton rounds during that time. I don’t know whether it is because I use a lot of makeup on my eyes specifically, but I have found myself using 3-6 cotton rounds on my eyes alone; however, this one setback is not enough to keep me from using this product and subsequently buying my next bottle when I have emptied this current one.

Overall, if you are looking for a natural and cruelty-free makeup remover that does it’s job without causing damage to the sensitive skin on your face, I highly recommend trying this product. You never know, you could find yourself down the Tarte rabbit hole like myself, and become a true Tartelette.