No Bleeding Lips Review

Image from the No Bleeding Lips website

I so wanted to love this. I read a bunch of reviews about this clear lipliner and how it lasted and lasted. Plus I needed a clear lip liner. I have issues sometimes with my super dark lipsticks not staying within the lines ever-so-slightly. In addition I wanted a clear lipliner for the much raved about OCC lip tars which I am hoping to review soon. They will have to wait however as I seriously cannot use this.

The reason isn't because it doesn't work, it does but due to the ingredients and my super sensitive skin I can't suffer through wearing this for more than a couple minutes. You see the thing is it itches like crazy. I feel like I need to claw it off my lips with my nails. In fact I have to scrub it off with a face cloth. Asking some others the reason for this is due to the plethora of many evaporating ingredients in the pencil. I've listed the ingredients below if you are interested. 

Silica, Synthetic Wax, Isododecane, Hydrogenated Polydicyclopentadiene, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentaisostearate, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Hydrogenated Polydecene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polybutene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polyethylene.

On my (awkward looking) hand to show size

For those of you who don't have sensitive skin though this may work. It goes on easily and the thin tip makes it easy to line your lips. Though it looks white it is completely transparent, you can even layer it slightly to ensure you have your lips completely outlined and they say that it can help fill in lip lines. It has a nice twist up mechanism. Plus it's a good consistency it glides nicely but isn't so soft that it smooshes or comes off in chunks. No Bleeding Lips is also waterproof and said to be long-lasting.

The nicely sized tip

These are $15-$20 CND (I bought mine at Shopper's Drug mart for $20 where I can't return it and yet Sephora started selling it after this for only $15. Needless to say I'm not too thrilled.) You can check out the website here.

So for me and other sensitive skin girls this is a fail in my humble opinion. For more tough ladies (and gents) out there it may fit nicely into your make-up stash. And though it doesn't really count I don't like the name of it, all I can picture when I hear the name is chapped, sore, bleeding lips. Those hurt!

Hebridean Sprite Rating: 3/10. It does have an easy application and nice consistency but isn't a good formula for me.

Would I purchase this again? No, in fact I tried to return it but couldn't as I'd used it and I don't have the receipt any longer. Boo.

Mac Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder~ Review

I'm sure many of you have heard of Mac's Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder before. If you haven't it's a white dry powder that you brush on your face before or after make-up application to make cosmetics such as foundation and blush last longer and look nicer. I don't usually use mine as a primer (though it does kind of work- I've only used it one or twice this way), instead I use it to finish off my look for the day.

Most of the time I'll take my mini Eco tools Kabuki brush and buff this all over my face on top of my foundation to reduce shine and the look of my pores. I really like this powder for this as it's weightless, transparent and truly does give the nicest soft-focus effect. I instantly look smoother, less stressed and healthier when I use this. Of course this soft-focus effect doesn't last too long. Maybe an hour max. but the powder does help reduce oiliness throughout the day and it does help cut down the dewy finish of foundation. I'm fairly sure it lengthens the wear time of my powder blushes as well.

Of the different powders I've tried- Make Up For Ever HD, Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder and Mac Prep and Prime I've liked Prep and Prime the most as it was the most invisible and the most pore blurring. It was also the best deal as the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder is $22 USD for 0.14 oz, $21 USD for 0.32 oz for the Mac Prep and Prime, and $30 USD for 0.35 oz for the Make Up For Ever Microfinishing HD Powder. That's $1.57 for 0.01oz of LM, $0.66 for 0.01 oz of the MAC and $0.86 for 0.01 oz of the MUFE. Plus as you don't need too much product this lasts forever! I've had my jar for around 9 months and I'm not even halfway through it yet.

The one issue I have with this powder though is the huge sifter holes inside the tub. They let all the powder move about too easily and I always have to make sure to tap the lid (to avoid a huge puff of powder coming out into my face) and be really careful to hold it level before opening otherwise it will go EVERYWHERE. Also as with all loose powders of this type be sure you don't breath in when you're applying it around your nose and mouth. I accidently did that once and the coughing/hacking/sneezing that ensued wasn't pleasant.

Overall I quite like this powder, it doesn't break me out, it makes me seem to have nicer skin than I actually do and it helps control oil a little.

(Sorry I don't have more photos of this. Honestly it's not that interesting- it looks like a white powder in a black and white tub. I didn't really see a point. I may add one later of the large sifter holes but I'm actually not at home as I write this so I can't take photos of it.)

Sprite Rating: 8/10- lost points only for shifter issues and the inflated Canadian price (about $33 CND when you include tax- bleh).

Would I buy it again? Yes, and I probably will unless I get side tracked by a different product!