OCC Lip Tar Bait & Switch

I don't usually write posts like this, but I am disappointed. Not disappointed like I want to go into a drama frenzy; just disappointed.

The brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics is most known for their Lip Tars. Makeup artists have loved these little tubes for years for their bright colors, pigmentation, and ability to be mixed and mixed into endless color combinations.

sephora.com

Recently, OCC announced the launch of a new packaging option for their lip tars. Lip Tar has been a huge hit with the average consumer (sell it and they will come), so they decided to create a product that was easier to manage and apply for those folks who didn't necessarily need to mix product or use it in a professional setting.

Enter OCC Lip Tar/RTW (Ready to Wear)!

lapalmemagazine.com

It sports a round tube with a doe foot applicator. Cool beans! I even bought one in my favorite shade Memento. OCC put all pro's and other fan's fears to rest by letting them know that the original tube packaging wasn't going anywhere:

Instagram screen grab

Everything was going super until their Instagram post today:

"You've made it clear: you are ready to wear #LipTar! Everyday users love it for ease of application, professionals love it for portability. Based on overwhelming popular demand #LipTarRTW will be our new standard packaging! Original packaging #LipTar is now on sale while supplies last, for only $9.00 each at OCCMAKEUP.COM! PS: Stay tuned for news about pro favorite shades makeing their #LipTarRTW debut!"

Uh oh. As you can imagine, people are not happy. Pros aren't happy. Everyday users aren't happy. 

Of course companies change products. Makeup companies have repackaged and reformulated products before, usually to the disappointment of their fans. If OCC had initially announced that the RTW pakaging was going to replace the pro tube packaging upon announcing the product, would people have been pissed? Of course they would. I've seen this happen plenty of times with plenty of companies, and the nasty comments and disappointment eventually die down as people accept the change or turn to another product.

The real problem here is that they originally told everyone that they were keeping both package types and that RTW would NOT replace the pro tube packaging. That's what I have a problem with and what many others are most upset about. It's the fact that they said one thing and then turned around and did the exact opposite. That's just plain poor customer service.

I really don't want to be a cynic, but this new RTW packaging is super expensive. The original tube tar is $55/ounce, whereas the RTW packaging is $107/ounce! They say that they are switching because of high demand and I know they don't need the money, but I know someone is going to point out the price difference, so I thought I might as well go ahead and do it.

No, I'm not boycotting OCC or posting nasty all-caps things on their social media, but this little mix-up has left a sour taste in my mouth that the minty goodness of Lip Tar just can't fix right now.

Ipsy Glam Bag - August 2015 review

Check out what came and what I think about it all!

Welcome back for August's bag! Here we gooooo........

Taking care of your brushes - Benjabelle Brush Tree

Hi guys!

Today I will hopefully be keeping it short and sweet while explaining the benefits of a brush tree! No 20 10-sentence paragraphs here; I'll save that for my ipsy review:-P

Washing your brushes is great, but what do you do with them AFTER?

Ipsy Glam Bag - July 2015 review

Check out what came and what I think about it all!

Back again for round 2! I'm way late for my July bag review, but I needed the opportunity to test out the products, which brought me in right under the wire:)

Stowaway Cosmetics Part 2 - Lip & Cheek

Missed all the excitement? Check out my post with more info on Stowaway Cosmetics!

If you just need a quick refresher, Stowaway Cosmetics is a relatively new company that combats the woes of larger-than-life-sized makeup products that are too big to be used entirely before they expire and too bulky to carry or travel with.

Their "right-sized" line of cosmetic essentials is not only adorable, but also more practical, portable, sanitary, economical, and cost effective than its hefty competitors.

New Stowaway Cheek & Lip Rouge set - 3 for the price of 2!

*This set is now $40*

I know I haven't posted my review of the lip & cheek products from Stowaway Cosmetics yet, but I just saw a post on Facebook letting me know about a new bundle you can purchase!

The Cheek & Lip Rouges sell for $15 a piece, but you can get a set of three for $30!

The set includes Burnt Rose, Peony, and Canteloupe.

Click here to get yours today!

Makeup Inventory list! How I keep track of my makeup

Do you have enough makeup to stock Sephora for a year? Keep buying multiples of items and shades because you forgot what you have?

Well, here is a solution for you!

This video will show you how I keep track of what makeup I have and hopefully it will be helpful for you.

I'm not writing a separate blog post on this since the video is pretty self-explanatory and much easier to understand than if it was in blog form.

Click here to download a template of this document.

Once you click, you will need to click the down-facing arrow at the top of the page to download it. Then you might have to click "enable editing" once the document opens in Excel. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy organizing!

Stowaway Cosmetics review Part 1 - Eye products

Missed all the excitement? Check out my post with more info on Stowaway Cosmetics!

If you just need a quick refresher, Stowaway Cosmetics is a relatively new company that combats the woes of larger-than-life-sized makeup products that are too big to be used entirely before they expire and too bulky to carry or travel with.

Their "right-sized" line of cosmetic essentials is not only adorable, but also more practical, portable, sanitary, economical, and cost effective than its hefty competitors.

So......like how small are we talking, here?

Stowaway Cosmetics - "Life"-size makeup!

*Individual product reviews coming very soon*

No, I'm not talking 5'4" lipstick tubes. That would admittedly be pretty cool to see, but this company is making a big impact in a slightly more petite way! 

What is Stowaway Cosmetics?

Good to the very last drop - Get the most out of those makeup tubes!

Click here to watch my YouTube video on this.

Getting your money's worth should not be painful. Squeezing a tube of primer until your fingertips bleed is not a relaxing way to start off your beauty routine.

Something BIG coming soon!

Can't wait to share more info and product reviews on these babies!

ipsy Glam Bag - June 2015 review

Check out what came and what I think about it all!

Wellllll, it's certainly been awhile! I'm hoping to have more regular-ish posts from now on, but we'll see...

Click here to watch my video review!

I recently decided to subscribe to ipsy for 3 months to try it out. I will have to unsubscribe after 3 months for financial reasons, but hopefully, if I like it, I will be able to resubscribe at a later date. *EDIT: I think I'm sticking with it for a while longer!!!*

If you don’t know, ipsy is one of those subscription box/bag services like Birchbox or Boxycharm. You pay $10/month US and you get 5 products in your bag.

Do you know......how to pronounce Bdellium?

I first discovered Bdellium Tools at IMATS NY this year. Their soft, eco friendly, high quality, and colorful brushes really caught my attention, as did the name. Well, it turns out that I've been saying it wrong all this time!

Puerto Rico haul - Sephora & e.l.f. with swatches & photos

View the haul video here:

Feel free to skip the first two paragraphs....It's really not that much, but feel free to just look at the pretty pictures:-)) The info on each item is not going to be as detailed as there are a lot of items, and I plan on doing individual reviews of items that I am particularly pleased with after I have used them for a longer time.

Well, I finally made it back from Puerto Rico a few days ago!

Clarisonic Mia review to come!!

I just got a new pink Clarisonic Mia and I just used it for the first time a few minutes ago. After using it for about a month, two times a day, I will do a review. I'm waiting so long because this type of product is best highlighted for its long-term results. Stay tuned:-))

Sugarpill Heart Breaker Palette review & swatches

Not up for reading right now? Hear me say words instead!

***I made the pictures ridiculously huge on purpose so you could get the full effect:-)



Hello everyone!

Today I'm going to be reviewing for you the must-have palette of the moment: Sugarpill's Heart Breaker Palette!

Hot Pink Z Palette review & photos - The REAL Freedom System!

Video Version:

Well, I FINALLY did it. I got my first Z Palette!

When I first heard about Z Palettes, I didn't really get the point. I also didn't have as many eyeshadows as I do now. As my knowledge of and experience with cosmetics has grown, I've come to understand the benefits of having a freer way of storing my products in a palette.

So why did I decide to go ahead and get one now after eyeing these for months? Well, there are two reasons, really: 

Welcome!

Hello all! Welcome to my blog! I will hopefully have a post soon. I made this blog as a complement to my YouTube channel maquillarmeXesXvivir. Talk to you soon!