Review and Giveaway - Mary Kay (GIVEAWAY CLOSED)

In all my years, I had never tried Mary Kay® cosmetics. When I was a personal shopper, one of my clients was a Mary Kay representative and from her I purchased some skin and hand care, but I never tried the makeup. So when BlogHer contacted me asking if I would like to review some pieces of makeup from Mary Kay® , I jumped at the chance.

I was sent three shadows, a blush, a mascara and a lip color. I was also sent their Compact Mini; this compact was set up to house the shadows and blush via magnet, a compartment to store the brushes, and a large mirror. I had a similar compact once from another brand, but love Mary Kay’s version for its shape, strength, the mirror, and the smart area to hold the applicators.

Mary Kay® asked about my skin tone and eye color and sent products they felt would be flattering on me. I received Mineral Eye Color in Sienna, Silky Caramel, and Midnight; Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush, Ultimate Mascara in Black, and Tinted Lip Balm Sunscreen SPF 15 in Rose.

Shy Blush is a gorgeous shade, quite similar to Nars Orgasm, but with a hint more warmth to it. It has a subtle shimmer that makes the skin glow, but it’s still wearable for the office and daytime. The mineral formula feels silky on the skin, doesn’t look cakey, and wears beautifully all day.

I looked at the shadows and didn’t feel as though they would look good on me. Though I have pale skin and brown eyes, I often don’t like wearing brown shadows because I think they make me look tired. And blue eye shadow? I hadn’t worn that color since middle school. However, I felt Mary Kay knew best so I tried them. I used Silky Caramel as a base color and applied it up to my brow bone, Sienna on the lid and a bit above the crease in my lid to create a contour, and then I used Midnight as an accent. I used a stiff brush to wiggle it into the lash line and was amazed at how the deep sparkly indigo color made my eyes really pop. I then decided to try an evening look and used Midnight with a contour brush to add depth and a smoky look. Again, I was amazed at how beautiful and non-‘80s the navy shadow was. The color combination was unexpected but quite beautiful; I loved the mineral formula because the shadows applied easily and lasted all day. They almost have a creamy consistency so no issue with shadow falling on my cheekbones and getting everywhere.

The Tinted Lip Balm was a fun option – I had recently gotten a tinted balm from Burt’s Bees and liked it except that it didn’t have sunscreen. Next day, this product arrived as though Mary Kay® read my mind! Rose is a pinky-red that looks natural and feels great on the lips. It’s slightly shiny, sheer, and a perfect lip product for summer. The packaging is great – slim and easy to slip into a pocket or beach bag and the cap really stays on (a bonus in my book!).

And the mascara. Well I am constantly on the lookout for a Holy Grail mascara. I love DiorShow but hate the price and how quickly you can run out of a tube. I have tried dozens of mascaras and now wish I had tried Mary Kay sooner. Their Ultimate Mascara is AMAZING! It’s not too wet, not too dry. The brush gives an even yet thick application, I can layer without getting spider lashes, and I am left with thick, lush, dark lashes that can look amazing for day or be uber lush for evening. It has Smart Wiper technology which is supposed to only have the right amount of product on the brush – well it really works. I love this mascara so much, I know I will be purchasing another tube when this one is finished.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.


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