Is Rihanna's Stunna Lip Kiss Proof? FENTY BEAUTY BY Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color Review

Well, look who's back? Me! So let's talk--how have you been? I've been WONDERFUL. And I am SO ready for this year to end. So ready.

But first--the holidays! I can't go through the holidays (or really a week) without a red lip. Red lipsticks are my shopping weakness, y'all, so it was a given I had to try out Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Stunna Lip Paint, available at Sephora. Singer Rihanna's Fenty Beauty line has been flying off the shelves at Sephora. Have you tried it?


So yeah, I love a red, but why did I get this one?

Rihanna wanted a universal red, something that looked great on ALL skin tones.

She wanted something feels light on the lips, not an easy task for a matte lipstick, as most are drying.

She also wanted a long-wearing lipstick, and thus (side note: who uses "thus"? Me!) this fluid lip to matte was born.

$24, Sephora (YES I think that's a ridiculous price)

Cruelty-free

Unscented

And what really piqued my interest? Rihanna said, "I wanted a lipstick that wouldn't budge—even as you eat, even as you make out,” I had to try it.

More on that in a minute! Let's get to the swatch:

So the consistency is liquid to matte. It doesn't take too long to dry. I did have some initial transfer, but not anything too drastic.

It's easy to wear and feels very light on the lips and not drying. I would say it's a true red, more like a traditional red. It is VERY VIVID on. You will definitely be noticed wearing this.

The application, to me, is not that easy. The applicator isn't too hard to work with, but the liquid consistency might make it difficult for the occasion red lip wearer.

Speaking of wearing, here it is on! I would highly recommend using a lip liner, which I did not use because I wanted you to see what it looks like without it.


BUT is it kiss-proof?

Um no. 

Not even close.

Eating with it I had transfer too, but it really seemed to stay on and stain the lips. But it didn't last 12 hours as I'd heard.

Overall, it's a pretty red, I love the formula, and great for those who don't love a dry matte lip. Reviews online boast of it's kiss/eating/longlasting-ness of it, but I didn't encounter that. I'm glad I tried it though, but I still prefer my orange-reds.

Would you try this?

Have you tried anything from Rihanna's line?

PS: I'm featured TWICE on MSN--click here for 88 DIY Stocking Stuffers

Dupe? Tarte Exposed Blush Vs. Milani Romantic Rose

Y'all--I feel like it's been AGES since we've talked. I missed this space so much! Always do. I've been busy and I've not been busy. First up, lots of interviews happened--should be hearing answers this week! Crossing my fingers for my top pick. I had a fabulous time at Skyline Park at Ponce City Market, here in Atlanta. It's like a mini old-school carnival games space on the roof. I snapped (ellesees) it over the weekend. Amazing views and lots of fun. How have you been?

Now that we've gotten reacquainted, let's get into another fave subject of mine: DUPES! This is one of my most popular, and longest, series. I'm into dispelling dupe myths and save you some money, if possible! Today I'm comparing two blushes: Tarte Exposed and Milani Romantic Rose.

Tarte in Exposed is one of those blushes that looks good on so many people. It's a great natural-looking every day blush. I have talked about it on here numerous times as a must-have. But at $29, it might turn into a must NOT have for some of us! I decided to check the collection and that's where the gorgeous Milani blush in Romantic Rose comes in. Isn't it gorgeous? And it's only $7!

Tarte $29         Ulta, Sephora, online  

                                       
Milani $7 drugstores, Target, Walmart, Kmart, etc, online

Swatch time! Milani is on top and Tarte is on the bottom. I had to really work for the Milani swatch, as it was a little chalkier and a bit patchy.

Tarte is on your left, Milani on your right. Tarte is more pigmented and lasted longer. I'm wearing a BB cream, blush, lip cream, and I'd just awakened from a nap. Naps on Sundays are the best, am I right?

The breakdown:

Appearance in containers: not a dupe (Tarte looks darker)
Ingredients: not a dupe (Milani has synthetic wax, carmine, et al)

Finger swatches: not a dupe (Tarte looks darker)

Quality: not a dupe (Milani is a little chalky/patchy)

Pigmentation: not a dupe

Staying power: not a dupe (Tarte wins this easily)

Arm swatch: really close

Face application: not a dupe application-wise, but color wise, a dupe!

Do you own either of these blushes?

Do you think we have a dupe here?

Sephora Buckhead Exchange Grand Opening (Plus $200 Sephora Giveaway)

Hey y'all! How was your weekend? Mine was great--on Friday I got to attend the grand opening of a new Sephora here in Atlanta. This one is located at Buckhead Exchange. I shared the ribbon cutting story and a tour of the place on my Instagram Stories--did you catch it?

Let's take a peek inside:

For the special occasion, there was a dj to really get the party started. I was greeted by the enthusiastic and awesome staff.

 Then I took a look at the huge 4,800 square feet store! Of course I was like a kid in a candy store, y'all.

Everything looked SO nice. I looked at everything! I loved this endcap display of Sephora Collection masks and wipes. Sephora Buckhead Exchange has everything from skincare, haircare, fragrance, and of course makeup!

 I loved the display from Too Faced.

 Look at all of the gorgeous offerings from Tarte!

 There are those unicorn brushes that I mentioned on this post. I picked up one of the lipsticks also on that post.

And there are lots of products from the Sephora Collection I love, like their lip creams--so good!

Thanks for inviting me, Sephora! And the next time you're in Atlanta, stop by Sephora Buckhead Exchange!

Extra Elle:
Atlanta had a tiny cool spell, so I was loving it. Note "cool" is the 50s around here.
Picked up a few items during the Sephora VIB Rouge spring sale!


Don't forget my $200 Sephora Gift Card giveaway to celebrate my blogiversary!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NEW Sephora VIB Sale Picks--The Latest Makeup You Need to Try

It's that time of year again, y'all! Sephora is having a sale! For the spring VIB sale, they're giving rouge members 15% off using the code ROUGESPRING. The sale ends 4-24, so don't miss out!

Now I normally pepper my VIB sale picks with tried and true products and always suggest stocking up on faves.

Check out this for post Sephora VIB Sale ideas.

But this time, I wanted to share ALL NEW MAKEUP. These new releases are really good and if you're looking to splurge, give these 10 NEW Sephora VIB Sale picks a try:

LIPS

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Liquid Matte Lipstick

An ultra-matte liquid lipstick with insane color payoff and crazy long wear. $20

--Incredible staying power

tarte Rainforest of The Sea™ Color Splash Lipstick

A long-wearing and moisture-rich, full-coverage lipstick in an array of creamy shades. $21

--Because I'm a sucker for gorgeous packaging

Dior Addict Lacquer Stick

A full-coverage lacquer lipstick that delivers high shine and intense color with just one swipe. $35

--I'm in love with the shades of these! Dior never does me wrong.

Tools

Urban Decay Meltdown Makeup Remover Dissolving Spray

A powerful yet gentle makeup remover spray that instantly dissolves makeup in one swipe and leaves skin nourished and refreshed. $26

--Check out the rest of this line--it's all good for removing makeup

GLAMGLOWGLOWSETTER™ Makeup Setting Spray

A hydrating, refreshing setting mist that perfects and finishes makeup, energizes skin, and boosts radiance for an instant, sexy Hollywood glow. $26

--Green tea and charged water make this spray work really well

tarte Make Believe In Yourself: Magic Wands Brush Set

A limited-edition set of five vegan, cruelty-free, fairytale-inspired makeup brushes. $39

--No explanation needed. I mean LOOK at them!

SEPHORA COLLECTION Line Up Makeup Tape

This high-quality, medical-grade tape has multiple uses for makeup application from perfecting winged eye looks to creating precise nail art or protecting against makeup fallout. The tape is breathable and easy to remove. $6

--Great tape with lots of uses

Glow

rms beauty Champagne Rosé Luminizer

The Champagne Rosé Luminizer is a sophisticated, rosé highlighter. It leaves your complexion with just the amount of radiance for an ethereal glow. $38

--I have the original and it is the most natural glow ever. One container will last for ages.

Too Faced Natural Love Ultimate Neutral Eye Shadow Palette

A limited-edition eye shadow palette featuring the ultimate library of 30 natural-looking, must-have shades. $59

--It's just so pretty, y'all.

Benefit Cosmetics Dandelion Twinkle

A long-lasting, highlighting and luminizing powder in a perfect, nude-pink shade.  $39

--A highlighter in a shade that I don't own...yet.

Which of these caught your eye?

Are you going to buy anything during the VIB Sale?

Extra Elle: Speaking of Sephora, I'm giving away $200 gift card to Sephora! Be sure to click on the post and enter via Rafflecopter!

Do you follow me on Instagram? You might have seen these brushes that I found at Walmart from MODA. They are so good and so inexpensive!

Spring Makeup Palettes That You Need Right Now

Ok y'all, I am not feeling spring at the moment. It's exactly 3 am and I'm coming to you live from underneath a blanket, my home for all of this weekend. Dang pollen! But the idea of spring--the colors and the newness, I am most certainly all about.

Since I'm sick, I'm keeping this short and sweet. So today I've got a few new spring palettes that have popped up on my radar--I am resisting the urge to use spring and flower puns, y'all--that you need to check out:

Too Faced Natural Love Eye Shadow Collection

$59, which is ridiculous, but look how many shades you get and how pretty it is!!

Tarte Make Believe in Yourself 

Eye & Cheek Palette

$40--Tarte, you get me with that packaging every time. The middle shade is a highlight for cheeks or ryes.

Pony Effect Master Eye Palette #Pastel Master

$35, I included this one for the K-beauty fans out there!

Huda Beauty 3D Highlighter Palette

$45, Now y'all know it's not an ElleSees post without a highlighter in it!! And because I want a glow pretty much any time of year. I can't wait to swatch these next month when it hits stores.

Nars Narsissist Loaded Eyeshadow Palette

$59--a gorgeous mix of shimmer neutrals and the pigmentation is so good. I don't think I own any NARS shadows, just blushes, but this makes me want to see what the fuss is about.

Maybelline The 24K Nudes Palette

$12--FINALLY an affordable palette on here, right? Now we're talking. Each of these shades has golden shimmer built right in, so I this as a complement to any regular neutral palette.

NYX Lid Lingerie Shadow Palette

$10--Remember the NYX Lip Lingerie line that came out last year? Here's the lid version--I think it's clever and for $10, you can't bear it! The top middle shade could be used for a contour maybe?

Which of these caught your eye?

Extra Elle:

Pretty much slept all weekend with this cold(?) that I picked up from the kids at work. I didn't do much of anything. I hope you had a great one!

Buy This, Skip That: Makeup and More

Okay, how to start off this post? Today makes two years ago that my Daddy passed away. Some of you might remember my posts on it. I was in complete shock, and I still think I am. I tell you this to keep me in your thoughts today.

But I don't want to dwell on this, and instead I want to talk about all things beauty, which always makes me happy. Specifically, I wanted to go through my beauty empties. I love these kinds of posts because these are super duper thorough reviews.

I do empties a little bit differently. My list is HUGE, so I'm sharing just a few items from it. I've found that anything over 10 and people just scroll down without reading. I also don't take pics of the original, because while that's real life, makeup finger prints and shower crud just aren't appetizing. But that's just me.

Here's what to buy and what to skip (going sort of clockwise-ish):

Better Than Sex Mascara
--Let it be known, that I love drugstore mascaras something fierce, but sometimes I love a good pricey one too. And this one is excellent. It will be a while before I buy this one again (so many mascaras, so little time), but I will get it again one day.

Simple Cleansing Wipes
--I shared this brand years ago on here when they first started to be a hit in the States. I like these wipes, but they aren't a fave. I think they came in a blogger pr package.

Venus Travel Razor
--I'm pretty sure I was sent this a while ago, but I finally used it up. I loved these and have purchased more. I have another one that has shaving gel inside of it that I'll share next time.

Olay Body Wash
--What more can I say? I liked it. I purchased a different scent that I like better, but this one was good. I love Olay products and have for years.

Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream

--I used this super thick cream as a facial moisturizer. I like the results, but don't care for anything rose scented. I know, I know. I wouldn't repurchase because of that, but it's good overall. 

Yes, I'm putting the same pic again so you don't have to scroll back up. ;)

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

--Y'all, I swear I don't wear expensive mascaras all the time. Ignore Exhibits A and B of this post. ;) I really love the length on this mascara. It will be another one that I will repurchase at some point, but not any time soon.

Crest Whitestripes Supreme Whitening

--Y'all know I LOVE ME SOME WHITE TEETH. I'm kind of obsessed with having the whitest teeth in all the land. I found these at Amazon, and it was love at first strip. They make my teeth a little sensitive, but beauty is pain. I sound crazy. Moving on...

Heimish All Clean Balm

--Just in case you missed my other 3 posts about it, I am a cleansing balm fanatic!! This one was affordable and had lovely packaging. And it worked, did I mention that? I'd buy it again, but probably wouldn't because of the cleanser from Walmart I shared last week.

NYX Hydra Touch Primer

--All my dry skin girls say, "Yeahhh!" Okay, just me? This primer was okay, kinda nothing special, but it smelled good! And I think it was blue. I think I imagined that. Wouldn't buy again.

Acure Smoothing Shampoo

--This smelled SO DANG GOOD (coconuts, if memory serves) and it worked well too. Sometimes I want this wavy, frizzy mess straight and this worked. This was a PR sample, but I'd snatch it right on up again.

Which of these interested you?

Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam Review

Y'all know I am all about the newest beauty gadget or technology--did you see my post on what's new in the beauty world? The product I'm sharing today was on that list!

Celeb hair stylist, Jen Atkin, released her hair care line Ouai last year. It's been mentioned a few times on here. But her Dry Shampoo Foam is what recently caught my attention. Dry? Foam? What? After some testing, I'm here to share what I think.

OUAI Dry Shampoo Foam

Where to get it?

Sephora

How much?

$28

Which hair type is it good for?
✔ Straight
✔ Wavy
✔ Curly

What it is:
A waterless cleansing foam to remove oil and product buildup from dry hair.

Key benefits:
- Refreshes hair between washes
- Gently cleanses
- Detangles strands

If you want to know more…
This quick-drying, waterless cleansing foam removes oil, product excess, and buildup. Perfect for second, third, or fourth day hair, it leaves strands feeling cleansed, conditioned, and ready to be re-styled as desired.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens

What else you need to know:
Cruelty-free

How to use it:

Use a pingpong sized amount of foam. The foam itself is waterless and more like shaving cream than a mousse. 

Apply to roots and throughout the hair. This will look crazy (see pic above) but it will work.

Rub in the foam throughout hair to disperse it, kind of like you are washing your hair with shampoo. It takes just a minute or so. Let hair dry--this was only in the areas where I put a little too much. It gives some volume once it dries.

My thoughts: the scent is very strong. I smelled it all day. This is a love or hate it scent. I didn't mind it but I was told by others they didn't like the scent. I did apply it throughout my hair, so maybe that's why I could really smell it.

I felt that it really did work, but for my hair type, I didn't really like it. I think if you had oily hair or fine hair it would work better. But for me, I love the idea but will stay with my dry shampoo, sans foam. 3 out of 5 stars

Would you try this dry shampoo foam?

Extra Elle:
I got to be a guest of Pure Taqueria Roswell and celebrated National Margarita Day. Had an excellent night of fun and amazing food.

Physician's Formula featured me (say that three times fast) on their Instagram for National Lash Day!

10 NEW Beauty Products You Need To Try (Before Anyone Else)

Hey y'all! Is this thing on? I'm back after some traveling and sickness and I'm so excited to be here!

I hope you had a good weekend--maybe yours was a long weekend?

I had the day off and it was much-needed.

I'm finally feeling better and ready to talk about my passion: all things beauty.

But not just anything beauty...I'm talking 10 of the newest releases that are on my radar that I think you'll want to try too.

Becca First Light Priming Filter

This skin-perfector in a bottle goes on sheer and takes your skin's appearance to another level. Just lovely. $38, Sephora

First Aid Beauty Hello FAB 3 in 1 Superfruit Color Correcting Cushion

More color correcting products! I love First Aid Beauty's skincare so I'm excited to delve into their new line of makeup. Forget multiple steps of color correcting (green for redness anyone?), attack it all easily with this swirly cushion compact. Plus, it has superfruit extracts (that sounds fancy!) y'all. $36

Cutex BB Nail Concealer

I have the worst nails. I always have. I do go polish-free and sometimes I have plans to treat them. This gives me no excuse. It has polymer which helps with peeling and silk powder for smoothing the nail's surface. Plus, it's slightly tinted. And you can find it at the drugstore, like I will be this weekend. $6.99, drugstores

Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask

No, this doesn't come out until March, but I'm too excited to not share it. Plus, you'll SO be in on the latest stuff. Yes, you read that correctly. It's a DRY sheet mask. What? Leave it on for 15 min and massage for 30 seconds for amazing skin. It can be reused 3 times for hydrated, bright, and smooth skin. I'm way too excited to try this. $22

Olay Duo: Dual-Sided Body Cleanser

This one has me really intrigued! It's like a solid cleanser sponge, with one side that's smooth and one that's exfoliating. Just add water and the sponge shrinks after after a month of use. $9.99, drugstores

Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam

This grabbed my attention (and my money) the second I read about it. Created by celeb hairstylist Jen Atkin, this is completely changing the game when it comes dry shampoo. It's a foam that you massage into your roots and it disappears. Sounds crazy, right? Here's my review of Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam here. $28, Sephora

Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer

I haven't tried this one yet, but it apparently is applied while you're post-shower. Don't rinse it off but you can dry yourelf off. I can't wait to get this and see. I love Jergen's products already, so I'm excited.

Milk Makeup Blur Stick

Mine broke, so I'm kind of throwing a side eye to that, but the product itself is amazing. It's like a filter in a tube that blurs away pores and fine lines. It's oil and silicone-free, too, so no breakouts! $36

Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray

This detangles, serves as a heat protectant and ADDS VOLUME. Silky hair, here I come. This sounds perfect for cooler temps when my hair is frizzy and blah.

L’Oréal Paris Extraordinary Clay 

Pre-Shampoo Mask

I don't have oily roots, so I won't be able to test this out (maybe the summer) so I thought those who have oily hair would like to try this. Massage in your scalp and leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing out. Have you tried this? $6.99, drugstores

Which of these would you try?