wet n wild: first impressions (ombre blush + velvet matte lip color)

At heart, I am a drugstore girl. Though I love to mix and match high-end items, much of my makeup collection comes from brands like Cover Girl, Maybelline, Rimmel, Hard Candy, and Wet n Wild. The latter is one of my absolutely favourites. (In case you couldn't tell from the many, many, many times it has been featured on this blog over the years.) Most of their products are remarkable in terms of both quality and price...which helps the brand stand out with ease. Two of the latest items in my collection are the Ombre Blush in the shade In a Purple Haze and the Velvet Matte Lip Color in the shade Charred Cherry. So, how were they? Impressive? In between? Or total misses?

Wet n Wild Color Icon Ombre Blush in In a Purple Haze

Immediately, I was stuck by the ombre blush pictured above. I have a serious weakness for all things purple and ombre, so combining the two seemed like a match made in makeup heaven. Since my history with Wet n Wild has been largely positive over the years, I had no doubt this would be a gorgeous new addition to my (admittedly large) blush collection. The only snag? After using this ombre blush, it falls into the so-so category. 

While the formula is smooth and texture feels luxurious....the colour payoff is much weaker than expected. With a name like In a Purple Haze, I anticipated it would appear more, well, purple. Instead, the result is fairly subdued. That's not to say this blush will sit around unused. It actually has a nice glowy effect! However, this will not be used in the way I imagined. Sigh! 

Overall Rating:   2.5/5

Wet n Wild Velvet Matte Lip Color in Charred Cherry

I have tried to cut myself of from lipstick purchases time and time again. Quite frankly, I have more than enough colours, finishes, and brands to choose from. Yet every once and a while, I will find a new something that either takes my breath away or makes me curious. Then, before I know it, I've got yet another lip product in my beauty room. That is how Charred Cherry made its way into my life. I loved the idea of a velvet lip pencil....so it was a combination of intrigue and curiosity. The problem? Foolish me, I based my shade selection on the colour shown on the packaging. (Since there were no testers.) 

Despite the fact that the colour was Charred Cherry, I saw that rich mauve on the packaging and expected to see just that when I unwrapped the pencil. Nope! In terms of the colour, this was a total letdown. There is nothing worse than misleading packaging. That being said, the formula is great, pigmentation level is nice, and this feels very comfortable. 

Overall Rating:   2.5/5

Wet n Wild is one of those brands that I cannot get enough of, despite the odd disappointments and duds. Even though these items didn't work out quite how I envisioned, they were certainly fun to try out. 

Are you a fan of Wet n Wild? Have you tried these products?