Maybelline Review | Brow Satin + Master Ink + Creamy Mattes

What's your favourite brand of drugstore makeup? 

There are so many gems out there at the moment it's kind of hard to choose. But one brand I love and always seem to come back to is Maybelline. 

They have a knack for innovation and launching new products that just seem to tap into the mood of the moment, and it's all great value.

I found myself doing a mini Maybelline haul the other day and picked up some of their newest products. 

Here's what I thought of them and why you might need them in your life...

Brow Satin  -  Dark Brown

I'm pretty curious when it comes to new brow products, because brows are something I have to do every day.  Even if I have no other makeup on, I always put a dab of concealer and fill in my patchy brows. It just makes such a difference.

So far, I've never really gotten on with a brow pencil and prefer using a powder shadow on an angled brush. So this hybrid product - pencil on one end, powder on the other - intrigued me. I'd like the convenience of pencil format to be able to just pop it in my handbag.

I'm totally impressed with this. The automatic pencil is creamy and gorgeous. It's got a slim tapered point that is great for outlining the brows. I normally get a really uneven, wobbly result with pencils, but this one glided on smoothly

The other end features a self loading powder applicator, so you get that soft focus finish as well. The powder adheres to the brows really well and gives a full look that hides any sparse patches, while the pencil brings the definition. I'm so impressed with the result, especially as this little beauty is only £5.99.

The only thing I'd change is the shade.  My hair is very dark,  so I went for the ‘Dark Brown’ colour, and although it does match my hair I think too dark brows aren't flattering- they can look a bit heavy and drawn on. For brunettes, it's usually flattering to go a shade or two lighter on the brows. 

For that reason,  I'll pick up the medium shade next time,  but there will be a next time because this stuff is brilliant. It's perfect for on the go. 

Color Tattoo 24hr Creamy Mattes -  Creme De Nude

So, the Color Tattoo eye shades are literally the only cream shadows I get on with. 

Everything else, no matter what grandiose claims they make on the advert, never survives more than a few hours on my oily lids and always creases. 

But it’s well known that Color Tattoo lives up to its name and provides a long lasting hit of colour. They are one of the only eyeshadows you can rely on to stay put through long days, thunderous downpours, teary outbursts and sweaty gym sessions. A real wonder product.

For ages now, I’d been wishing they would release a nude colour. On an average day, I like to keep my eye make up look fairly simple and natural, but I do like to put something on my lids, just to take down any shine and discolouration. This shade is so perfect for that.

You can also use it as a brilliant base if you do want to add some colour - it doubles very handily as a lid primer and is a great dupe for the Mac ‘Painterly’ Paint Pot that every beauty guru seems to use on YouTube. 

Since buying this I’ve been using it most days, patting it onto the lid with the Real Techniques Concealer Brush, and it works like a dream. I can pretty much guarantee I’ll be repurchasing this non-stop.

With its yellow undertones, this is the perfect ‘my lids but better’ for my warm toned skin, but there’s also a pinker shade called ‘Creme De Rose’ that would have the same effect for cooler toned ladies.

I like to pair this with a swipe of the Color Tattoo in ‘Endless Beige’ (from the Leather Collection) in the crease, and that shade is also amazing to contour with because it does not budge, and it creates a very realistic shadow on the skin.

Master Ink Liquid Eyeliner - Matte

Because I can’t do without my cat eye liner for a quick beauty fix, I also picked up this liner pen. It comes in three different finishes - matte, satin and glitter.

This formula is blacker than black and Maybelline claim its formulated to be smudge, sweat and flake proof. While I haven’t really had a chance to put that to the test yet, I do like the intense pigment and I’m hoping its true.

The brush is made of a flexible foam rather than hair strands, and the shape makes it easy to get an angular eye. I do wish it was just a little finer though, because it draws a little thicker than I’d ideally like for the inner corners especially.

Its a very easy liner to use, so for those who are a little scared of liquid liners, I’d say its a great place to start. However, if you’re an eyeliner ninja (I am not, but I can dream…) you may not find that the brush allows as customisable a line as you’d want.

This is a great every day product though, and gives a pretty impact to the lash line. Plus, isn’t Maybelline packaging getting good? I think this looks very appealing.

Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick - Nude Embrace

And finally, I picked up one of their new Color Sensational Creamy Matte lipsticks, in the shade 'Nude Embrace (ooh err Mrs!). 

Usually, I'm not much of a fan of the very on trend matte lip look. I've never really found a nude lipstick that didn't make my lips look dried out, and I usually end up putting so much balm on to balance it that it cancels out the matte effect! I think a touch of shine is far more flattering.

But I have to say, if ever a matte lip was going to win me over, it would be these. They feel smooth and rich on the lips, and a single swipe gives a great, dense pigment, even in a lighter shade like this. The lipstick wears super comfortably.

 

It gives a velvety look that isn't too bad at showing all the lines and rough skin -  although a touch of balm before putting this on does go a long way.

The wear time I found to be about average - not as heavy duty as some matte lip products I’ve tried. Color Sensational Creamy Mattes are formulated with a touch of oil for smoothness -  so what they gain in glide, they lose slightly in staying power, but it's a trade I’m willing to make for the sake of not getting Sahara-lips.

I’m quite impressed with the colour, and its become my go-to everyday shade. It's a brownish nude, a little like Mac Velvet Teddy, with slightly less of a touch of rose, and very wearable.

Although matte will never be my favourite lip finish, I got on quite well with this formula and I like the packaging with the black frosted acrylic tube as well. I can actually see me testing out a couple of different shades and seeing if I can’t get the hang of this matte thing after all.

So that was my haul of Maybelline products. I think the brand are absolutely killing it at the moment. All of the product are great , but the Brow Satin and the Creme De Nude Color Tattoo are instant classics.

Have you tried any of the above? What other Maybelline products should I know about? Let me know!