A year ago, my friend Sue told me she just finished reading The Hunger Games. Her twenty-something daughter recommended it, and Sue enjoyed it a lot. She suggested that I might like it too. Unfortunately, I’ve never enjoyed dystopian novels and I definitely think I’m well out of the target audience, so I passed. And I never did see any Hunger Games movies either. So, other than knowing something about the general proposition, I don’t really know much about the characters or the plot lines. I know there are districts and young people fighting each other gladiator-style, I think.
Nevertheless, passing on the books and movies hasn’t stopped me from checking out the limited edition Hunger Games-themed makeup from CoverGirl, launched to help promote the new movie, Catching Fire, that opens on November 22. Makeup artists have used CoverGirl makeup to put together different fantasy looks representing themes related to the Districts in the stories. The website has tutorials that show you how each look was created. The looks are quite striking, and though not for us over 40 gals, they are very interesting to look at. But on to the makeup in the collection.
The Hunger Games inspired-makeup collection is targeted to fans of the books and movies, and that means teens and young women. So women outside the target market have to edit their choices to what will work for them. The collection includes products for eyes, lips, nails, and face. You’ll find eye crayons, eye shadow, volumizing mascara, lip gloss, and nail polish minis called “glosstinis” that are full cover and high-gloss. The eye and nail shades are metallics or shimmers. Since I already have eye crayons and eye shadows in similar shades (plus I’m trying to stay away from shimmery shadows that make my eyes look older), I passed on those. And I don’t need more lip gloss. I am curious to try the Flame Out Mascara, but the cute little glosstinis are what really got my eye. The rest of this review will focus on them.
The first CVS I went to several weeks ago, right after the Hunger Games Catching Fire promotion launch, had a small display that was picked over already, especially the glosstinis. But I managed to get the last shade 610, that the label says is red/rouge. Forgive me, but unless they put on the wrong label, this color is orange, not red. I usually don’t like straight up orange, but this orange has such an appealing glow, I had to have it. The other shades that were available in the display were a loden green and a gold.
Amber, a beauty blogger friend who writes the Daydreaming Beauty blog, sent me shade 620, that CoverGirl calls pyro pink. Again, I beg to differ: it’s a lovely purple. That was so nice of you, Amber! I love it.
I really like these little glosstinis. They are 35 ml/11 fl. oz., and the mini size is just right for me. I seldom use up a nail polish shade before it get thick and unusable. These I can use for as long as I’m interested and then throw it away without feeling so guilty. I also love the look of these minis: the square shape, the silver top, very cool. The brush is regular size, and the polish is on the thin side. It definitely requires two coats, and three coats would be even better. But the upside with a thin formula is that it dries fast.
I started with Revlon ColorStay Basecoat. Then two coats of glosstini. Next, a coat of essence gel-look topcoat. And I ended with a coat of Orly Sec n Dry, a product I hadn’t tried before.
It is supposed to make all the coats of polish dry evenly and quickly. I could’ve skipped the essence topcoat, but I wasn’t sure whether the Orly Sec n Dry would give me a shiny protective topcoat or whether it just helped the polish dry faster. It definitely helped the polish dry faster than usual. It was worth the $8. And since I was traveling, I wanted to really seal the polish on, so I thought more was better.
I painted 4 nails in the orange shade, and my ring finger in the purple. Next time, I’ll reverse it. I love orange and purple together.
The polish lasted for 5 days with no chipping and only the tiniest wear at the tips after a few days. On day 6, it chipped at the tip of a couple of nails after I washed a bunch of dishes without gloves. I was visiting my friend, Kim, in Atlanta, and we were going out to dinner and I felt that I should remove the chipped polish before going out. I brought a travel size LA Colors Nail Polish remover kit with me — remover soaked cotton pads. At home, I prefer to use the polish remover container with the mesh lining inside that helps scrub off the polish. Removing the glosstinis with the LA Colors remover pads was tough. It took a lot of scrubbing…not as bad as removing glitter polish but more difficult than regular polish. I’m hoping that it won’t be as difficult if I use my regular removal method.
So I recommend the CoverGirl Hunger Games glosstinis. The colors are fun, shimmery, and rich. And they last pretty long, too. They’re made in France. At CVS, the glosstinis are $3.99, and they are a little less at other stores. So, check ’em out while they’re arround. They would make great stocking stuffers or a nice little Hanukkah gift for one of the eight nights.
Have you tried any of the products in the Catching Fire collection yet?
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COSMEDICA SKINCARE PURE HYALURONIC ACID SERUM GIVEAWAY WINNERS
The giveaway winners chosen at random last night are:
- Laurie Murley
- Yvonne Woodstock.
I will notify them by email requesting their mailing addresses. They must respond by Monday, November 11. The serum will be sent out directly from Cosmedica.
Thank you so much for entering the giveaway with your comments, for subscribing to the blog, following on Twitter, and liking the NSDB fan page on Facebook. I really appreciate it. And thank you for reading the review of Cosmedica’s awesome hyaluronic acid serum.
There will be another giveaway with multiple winners for a different type of product coming up in the next few weeks. So stay tuned, and thanks again for participating!
Thanks for the shout out sweets!! I’m glad you like the color! The names are a bit off, aren’t they? I really like the flamed up mascara, but like the original flamed out mascara, the opening is too big and it dries out super fast.
It’s got a nice fat brush and I do like the formula. A little tip, if you do try it, don’t rush. The brush is big and its easy to poke your eye or get mascara on your lid. LOL
It’s not quite as fast and effortless as my fave, CG Clump Crusher. It’s more dramatic though! 🙂
Amber recently posted…Beauty Blogazons Weekly Round Up 11/8
Appreciate the input on the Flamed Up mascara, Amber. I’ll pass. Clump Crusher has grown on me over the months, and I’ll stick with that one 🙂
I saw the display at CVS but sort of glossed over it. I have to take a re-look as those polish colors are quite lovely.
Monica.
Monica P recently posted…Not nearly nautical
Most of the stuff in the collection you can definitely skip. I think the two shades I picked are the most interesting, but there’s also a nice gold and a bronzy-brown that are nice if you don’t already have something similar.
I think I saw this display at CVS but can’t say for sure. I’m not the biggest fan of glittery sparkly polish as I prefer a creamy finish. These sound like they lasted pretty well on you. I’ll have to pay more attention when I go back to CVS to use my reward bucks. Thanks for sharing! Stacie xo
Stacie, this was from the Hunger Games LE from two years ago, I think. But regardless, I loved the glosstinis because of their mini size, and if I remember correctly, they stayed on well enough. I have so much nail polish that I buy minis whenever I can!