comparing black eyeliner.

The black eyeliners I have on current rotation.

From left to right: You're So Fine waterproof liquid eyeliner, e.l.f. liquid eyeliner, Maybelline New York Eye Studio black gel liner, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero, Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet, Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx, Clinique Cream Eye Liner in 01 Black Diamond, Lord & Berry Mini Kajal Kohl-Liner in #1001 Black Silk

Black eyeliner is one of those makeup bag essentials. It's used in such a variety of looks, from the most basic to the more detailed. As far as formulation goes, I use different ones for different purposes. I like liquid liners for the perfect cat eye, gel liner for subtle wings or for top liner, and pencil liners for anything from rimming my top lid to smudging up the bottom lid. Here's a rundown on my thoughts about my current collection.

You're So Fine Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - This was an Ipsy find, and a great one at that. While the brush is not the best one I've ever used, the actual formula is fantastic. This stuff does not budge until you douse it with makeup remover. Plus, there are some lovely flecks of glitter mixed into it!

E.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner - I've gone through more bottles of this than I care to admit. Of course, at only $1 a bottle, it's not really hurting my wallet. The brush is perfectly pointed and the color is pure black. This stuff is essential for all of my cat eye and winged liner looks.

Maybelline New York Eye Studio Black Gel Liner - I read multiple reviews before buying this gel eyeliner. I'm glad I did because this product is great. It goes on smooth and lasts all day. My only qualm is that it is not as black as, say, the e.l.f. one is. But that's pretty minor.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero - Urban Decay liners are hands down the best pencil liners on the market. If you're looking for a basic black liner that won't budge, this is the way to go.

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil  in Black Velvet - This has become a new favorite. Not only does it have the same lasting power as the original UD ones, but it is a seriously smooth black. I also think it's the darkest one in my collection, so there's that.

Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx - I got this one in the "Try It Kit" and was impressed by how easily it glides onto my lids. This is a classic long wear liner. Love it for everyday looks.

Clinique Cream Eyeliner in 01 Black Diamond - This holds a special place in my heart because it was the first black liner I ever owned. While it's not the blackest of blacks, it does have a nice subtle sparkle that sets it apart from the others.

Lord & Berry Mini Kajal Kohl-Liner in #1001 Black Silk - This was another amazing Ipsy discovery. While the sample I got was pretty tiny, my pencil has gotten quite a bit smaller due to my reliance upon it. This formula blends like no other. I love using it to smudge up my lower lashes and complete a smoky eye look.

Have you tried any of these? Have you seen my red and nudes/darks lipstick reviews?

xoxo

Sabrina

perfect polish pairings.

My go-to summer nail polishes

Now that summer is fully underway, it's time to embrace sandals season and put your best foot forward. For me, this means rocking the perfect nail polish color combo. I love coordinating my nails and my toes, and have come up with a few of my favorite polish pairings. I'm not a huge nude polish girl, as these selections probably make clear. Of course, summertime is all about color, so why not take advantage of the season and let your nails pop?!

Formula X Power Source and Revlon ColorStay Sorbet

Coral Craze: This one is for all those coral lovers. While neither polish is actually coral, together they create the perfect pink-orange combo. I'm all about brights, so this hot pink and neon orange mix is perfect!

Sephora by OPI Read My Palm and Revlon ColorStay Rich Raspberry

Offbeat Beauty: I absolutely love fuchsia and teal as a color combo. This pale teal from Sephora is one of my all-time favorite polishes. It looks chic and unexpected on your fingers. As for toes, I love the color payoff from this Revlon polish. It lasts forever and looks amazing with sandals.

Sephora by OPI Keep Me on My Mistletoes and Pacifica Red Red  Wine

Glam Goddess: Ok, so these are two of my favorite nail polishes all year round. As the gold polish's name suggests, this combo could easily work for winter as well. I love rocking a gold polish on my fingers and pairing it with a sophisticated oxblood on my toes.

Probelle Into the Blue and OPI Umpires Come Out at Night

Beach Babe: This one reminds me of a day at the beach. The different shades of blue complement each other nicely and look amazing with a tan. Also, both of these polishes have serious lasting power and deliver a beautiful color.

Which combo is your favorite? Any other favorite pairings for summer? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Sabrina

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ipsy - june/swim into beauty.

Great haul: BioRepublic face masks, tre'Stique shadow crayon, Smashbox Photo Finish primer, Jules and Esther face serum, Formula X nail polish, and a cute bag!

This month's bag has me excited for summer. I'm ready to simplify my routine and focus on the basics behind the makeup. Here are my thoughts on the products I received:

Ipsy bag - Finally a black bag! This is a keeper for sure.

BioRepublic sheet masks in Cucumber Breeze, Green Tea Detox, and Aloe Rescue - I've been wanting to try sheet masks for sooo long, and Ipsy has delivered the opportunity right to my doorstep. While I've only tried the cucumber one so far, I already know that I will be a fan of the other two. The mask left my face feeling smooth and fresh.

Smashbox Photo Finish primer - Okay, so I already own this stuff. Not that I'm complaining, since I absolutely love the formulation and the staying power. Plus, I'm about to run out of my old primer, so perfect timing Ipsy!

tre'Stique shadow crayon in Marimoto Pink Pearl - First of all, the packaging is perfection. I love the faux pencil cap. As for the product itself, I tried it out for the first time the other day and was blown away. The shadow glides on and delivers the perfect natural champagne color. I blended lightly around the crease and threw on some mascara and red lipstick to go with it. Love!

jules and esther facial serum No. 24 Vitamin C - I am all about serums. Especially vitamin C ones. The Ole Henriksen Truth Serum is one of my all time favorites. When I tried this out, I was kind of expecting it to be like the Henriksen one. While they both contain vitamin C, the jules and esther one is much lighter and less oily than the Henriksen one. Personally, I prefer oilier serums, since it generally means I can skip moisturizer. Of course, I'm definitely going to use the jules and esther serum! I just have to follow it up with a light moisturizer.

Formula X nail polish in Power Source - When I saw this online, I thought it was a pinkish coral. It is not. In my opinion, it's even better! The hot pink is the perfect summer polish. I put it on immediately and was so happy with the results. The color payoff is amazing. It looks best with two coats. As for lasting power, it went a week with no chips. It probably would have held up longer, but I was ready to change the color by then.

xoxo

Sabrina