Portrait of Mai

Purple Owl Recreation EOTD

Monday, April 30, 2012

I wish I could take credit for coming up with this look but I got the inspiration from Josi V. I saw a picture of her look on MakeupBee and then I went to her blog and found even more amazing pictures here. Please click and see her original rendition!

This is very Lakers-esque but I'm sure it's certainly wasn't the original intention!

Eyes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Darling Girl Glitter Glue

MAC Violet heavily in the crease on the the lower lashline

Sugarpill Poison Plum in the crease, lid, and on the lower lashline

Sugarpill Goldilux in the middle of the lid using Inglot Duraline to foil

e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner in Black

Ardell Lashes in 110 and 139

Maybelline Master Shape Eyebrow Pencil in Deep Brown

Swatches and Review of Three Meow Cosmetics Eyeshadow Collections

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Today I have a few swatches from three different Meow Cosmetics eyeshadow collections. I'm not new to Meow Cosmetics as a brand (I've tried out their mineral foundation and loved it though I prefer liquid foundation now) but I am new to their eyeshadows.

What I really like about Meow Cosmetics eyeshadows is that they have a nice variety of eyeshadow finishes. Some have a sparkle to them, not just a shimmer, and I think that really adds a dimension to the eyeshadow. The eyeshadows applied well with great pigmentation and adhesion and they doesn't have that flyaway texture that some of the lesser quality eyeshadows have. The eyeshadows vary in price depending on the finish and the collection.

All eyeshadows swatched dry over Coastal Scents Shadow Worx Matte Primer and the photos were taken under an Ottlite bulb.

From the Egyptian Treasures Collection: Artifact, Obelisk, Royal, and Tutankhamun

This collection has beautiful burnished metallic eyeshadows and I love the finish and sheen off them. A full size jar is $8.00 for 1.6 grams and a sample bag has 1/16 tsp for $1.00.

Meow Cosmetics Artifact, Obelisk, Royal, and Tutankhamun

Artifact: "A strong metallic copper with black undertone" The copper is subtle on top of the black undertone so I didn't like this as much as the other eyeshadows.

Obelisk: "A metallic sage with taupe undertones and a subtle metallic gray duochrome sparkle" I originally wanted to call it olive-y but it's definitely a sage color. I didn't noticed the gray duochrome as much.

Royal: "An extravagant velvety metallic magenta with bright plum and mauve sheen." You can definitely see the plum/mauve sheen though I feel like the base is a little more grey.

Tutankhamun: "A metallic maroon" GET THIS. Can you see the amazing sheen to the eyeshadow? Please get this, I'll love you forever for it.

From the Shattered Equinox Collection: Bane and Melancholy.

This is a seasonal collection so if you like one of the colors, I would recommend getting it! The collection has shades of mauve, plum, and purples with pops of iridescence and highlights. The full size eyeshadow is $8.00 for 1.6 grams and a sample bag with 1/16 tsp for $1.00.

Bane: "Intensely opaque, creamy metallic buffed silver with a soft buffed finish" This is a bright white-silver though I didn't think it was intensely opaque, it was a little sheerer.

Melancholy: "An understated quiet plum with golden sparkle and rosy sheen" This is spot on with the description, I see the plum and I also see the rosy sheen.

From the Wild Child Collection: GMTA and Sexting. A full size jar has 1 gram for $7.50 and a sample bag is $1.00

GMTA: "A teal with green sparkle" I hope you can see the green sparkle in the picture. It's more of a bright blue than the dusky blue that it looks like on the site. It had more of a satin finish.

Sexting: "A bright saffron yellow with orange iridescence and sparkle" I know it's quite subtle in the picture but there really is an orange iridescence to the shadow. It also edges on gold.

Have you tried Meow Cosmetics before? I will say that compared to other indie brands, their eyeshadows are a little more costly (about $7-8 versus $5-6 at other places) but I have been impressed by the colors I've tried thus far, especially Tutankhamun. I am looking forward to trying more colors!

Gwen Lu in Elle Accessories Fall 2008 Look/FOTD

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

I've been feeling so inspired lately to recreate looks that I see in modeling campaigns, especially ones on Asian models. This look is a recreation of one done on Gwen Lu and I absolutely loved how the liner was drawn. I altered the shape a bit because Gwen has a very different eye shape than me (more of a monolid whereas I have a double eyelid) and also because the bottom liner was tricky for me to do. I found the picture through Powderdoom (one of my favorite makeup tumblrs!)

and the inspiration picture. I only wish I could have cheekbones like that.

Face
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 153
Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer

Eyes
Coastal Scents Matte Shadow Worx Primer

Sugarpill Goldilux applied with Inglot Duraline

Sugarpill Buttercupcake applied dry over Goldilux to make it a brighter, less burnished gold

Physicians Formula Eye Booster Liner

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner in Black

Inglot 567 Eyebrow Powder

Lips

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Soft Nude dabbed on

I hope your guys' week has been going well! I have a few quizzes this week plus a paper to get started on so that won't be so fun.

Too Faced Vintage Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss Swatches and Review

Monday, April 23, 2012

I was planning on finishing swatching all of my Too Faced order (and then reviewing as I went) but I really wanted to do this post first. One of my favorite things about blogging is doing lip swatches, even though it's finickier than the other types of posts I do. I have to photograph in daylight because I have to photograph in daylight (this is how anal I am about things) so I'm limited to doing them on certain days time and weather permitting (since too much or too little makes for an inaccurate picture) but there's just a satisfaction I get out of properly photographing lip products.

Anyway, today I'm going to be reviewing the Too Faced Vintage Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss. You can purchase it on Too Faced's website for $16.65 but honestly, I wouldn't. I got mine at Nordstrom Rack for $6.95 each.

On the left is Petal Pink and on the right is Berry Pink (though my tube says Pink Berry).

They are basically color changing glosses, though that description kind of doesn't apply to one of the colors (making it a pretty but expensive gloss). I don't think you can see it as anything else but gimmicky. I don't necessarily believe in gimmicky makeup products even though I will occasionally buy into it and purchase it anyway. Still though, for $16.65, these are way expensive. This has 13.3 Mls or .45 fl oz of product.

Each gloss comes with a color chart that shows the shades that it can adjust, based on temperature according to Too Faced. Petal Pink's is on the left and Berry Pink's is on the right.

Each gloss comes in a squeezy tube with a short black plastic slant tip applicator.

Arm swatches first. Petal Pink is the left set of swatches and Berry Pink is the right set of swatches.

The strip on the left side is the gloss applied directly from the tube and the wider strip next to it is the gloss rubbed out on my arm.

As I kept rubbing, Petal Pink went darker and turned into a milky bubblegum Pepto Pink from its original light white-pink color whereas Berry Pink kind of didn't do anything. I can't really see a color change. The left strip certainly looks darker but that's because the color isn't sheered out as opposed to it actually being a different color.

Onto the lip swatches (beware, there's a picture ahead where my lips look super flakey, just giving you a warning) where the color was applied and smoothed on so there was a color change.

As always, a picture of my bare lips.

Petal Pink (I warned you about my lips being flakey!)

Berry Pink

Needless to say, I was rather disappointed after swatching the lip glosses on my lips. Petal Pink looked horrible on my lips and accentuated flakes that I didn't even know was there. I did the swatches for Petal Pink and Berry Pink right after the other so you can tell that Berry Pink didn't accentuate the flaws on my lips at all. On that note though, I was a little disappointed in Berry Pink. It really sunk into lip lines and appeared darker there so it made the color look uneven.

The glosses themselves are really thick and tacky, it does take some effort to squeeze out of the tube. You really can't apply them to your lips using the applicator; the viscosity means you need to use your finger to smooth them out (and to get it to change colors). The thickness, lack of flattering color change, and the cost make this not a winner for me. The thickness does mean it'll last longer on your lips, but I didn't wear them for an extended period of time.

Oh and the glosses smell like gummy candy. Petal Pink sort of smells like a light grape gummy candy whereas Berry Pink smells like a full on grape gummy candy. Surprisingly enough, I actually like the scent of the lipglosses. On a brighter note, I do love the packaging of the tubes, I think it is so cute and Too Faced always has nice packaging. It doesn't make up for the general mediocrity of these lip glosses.

Please save your money. Buy something else, the gimmick isn't worth it (in my opinion).

Disclaimer: I purchased these lip glosses using a gift card I got for attending a Nordstroms Rack Event. All opinions are my own.

Aromaleigh V1 Spells! Eyeshadow Collection Swatches

Friday, April 20, 2012

I have been featuring a lot of discontinued or older eyeshadow collections in my swatch posts and that got me thinking more about my intentions for the blog. I would like to swatch a lot of older eyeshadows to serve as an eyeshadow swatch reference for anyone looking for older swatches. It may be useful if you do want to do comparisons with eyeshadows you already own! With Aromaleigh eyeshadows at least, I know that there are still tons in the hands of others so it's entirely possible to swap and trade for some and I know we always want to look for swatches before we do so.

Anyway, this time around I have swatches of the Aromaleigh Spells! Collection. Only one shade is available at this time on Aromaleigh's site (Imperio) but again, do look for other sources! I think what I like about Aromaleigh eyeshadows is the fact that there's so much sparkle to them. Often times with mineral eyeshadows, there's a lot of shimmer but companies often don't necessarily integrate sparkle or glitter well and I think Aromaleigh eyeshadows did/do a great job at that. When faced with the many indie choices of shimmer eyeshadows (that are often bland and boring and not all that unique), I do want to seek and shop from places that offer something different.

Alohomora, Fidelius, and Imperio

Aromaleigh Alohomora, Fidelius, and Imperio

Impervius, Incendio, and Morsmordre

Obliviate, Serpensortia, and Tarantellegra

Preview: Haul and Upcoming Too Faced Reviews!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

A little over a week ago, I got an email from Jacqueline from A Brilliant Brunette telling me that I won her Too Faced Gift Card Giveaway. I was really excited because I'd been having a bad week last week with school (two tests on Wednesday and a quiz on Thursday) so winning the gift card really perked up things.

I was going to hold off using the gift card because I figured that it was close to the time of their Friends and Family sale, but I ended up ordering anyway six hours later :X

Here's everything I got and I'll be trying to swatch or review in the upcoming weeks (though finals coming up will be putting a damper to that). I got the Chocolate Soleil bronzer in the original Chocolate shade, the Natural at Night Eyeshadow Collection, Eyeshadow Duo in Cocoa Puff/Honey Pot, the original Shadow Insurance and deluxe samples of the Glamour Gloss in Flirt and the Primed and Poreless primer.

My question for you is, what would you like me to swatch or review first?

I did want to make note of something though. A few of the items I got were dusty, like they'd been sitting in the warehouse for a long time before I got them.

The lipgloss was the worst offender.

I know it doesn't mean that the products I got were bad in any way, but presentation-wise it doesn't look the best. Anyway, tell me what you want swatched or reviewed first!

Miscellaneous Linnaeus Cosmetics Eyeshadow Swatches

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Judi of Judixo was kind enough to send me some eyeshadow samples, this time from Linnaeus Cosmetics and I'm almost sad she did because I have started wanting more from the brand! After using the Linnaeus eyeshadows, it makes me realize how much I enjoy eyeshadows mixed with carnauba wax. Carnauba wax add such a creaminess to the eyeshadows and I do really like the feel.

This is sort of a case of "Eyeshadows You Can't Have" (stealing the title from the lovely Pink Sith!) because the company is currently on a hiatus. They should be back though by June 2012 so I hope this swatch post entices you to wait patiently for their return!

Left to right: Hope, Kalahari, and Lanky.

Left to right: Puerile, Tough Stuff, and Twiggy

Linnaeus Puerile, Tough Stuff, and Twiggy

Do you share a fondness for Linnaeus Cosmetics? Am I the only one awaiting their return?

Turn up the Speaker Box EOTD

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

I really wanted to play with the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Playlist (Swatches here!) so I did this look with Speaker Box and Chart Topper. I finally got another Physicians Formula liquid liner pen to replace the one I had that was drying out so I added in the winged liner (which is always fun to wear).

Eyes
Coastal Scents Shadow Worx Matte Primer
bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 Palette in The Playlist
-Chart Topper on the lid
-Speaker Box in the crease
Urban Decay Naked as a transition color between the crease and the browbone
Wet n Wild Brulee as a browbone highlight

Physicians Formula Eye Booster Liner in Ultra Black

Ardell Lashes in 110 and 139

Inglot Eyebrow Powder in 567

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara in Black

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Playlist Swatches and Review

Monday, April 16, 2012

It feels like Cait from Swatch Storm is my makeup fairy. She gifted me a bunch of her Silk Naturals Eyeshadows (swatches here!), I recently purchased a huge sample lot from her AND I won this eyeshadow palette.

This is the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Playlist. This retails for $40.00 for 8.0 grams of product (1 gram for each color) and it's packaged in a gold metallic compact and has a mirror on the inside.

I've heard great things about the READY formula and Bare Escentuals' foray into pressed eyeshadows so I was quite interested in trying out the palette. Needless to say, I do think the eyeshadow formula is as good as people say it is (with the exception of one).

Swatched over Coastal Scents Shadow Worx Matte Primer and taken under an Ottlite.

The top row. From left to right: Pumped, Chart Topper, Max Volume and Louder

Pumped: "Cocoa Sparkle" This has a gorgeous brown with gold sparkle. The base shadow is a satin/matte but the gold sparkle isn't as apparent when applied.

Chart Topper: This is described as a "Pewter Silk" but I disagree. I think it's a sparkly champagne beige. This was sheerer than the rest but applied excellently.

Max Volume: "Smoky Jade" This is a pretty apt description. It does look a little blue toned in the pan but it's definitely applies more like a blackened green. I personally didn't like this eyeshadow as much as the rest of the colors. I thought it was harder to get an opaque layer on my eyes, even though it applied smoothly.

Louder: "Burnished Copper" I have such a fondness for oranges and golds so it's no wonder that this was one of my favorites. Extremely metallic/frosty and I love it. Applied so well and I'm happy that it's one of the colors in the palette.

The bottom row

One Hit Wonder: "Butter Chiffon" I'm not really sure what color butter chiffon is supposed to be but this looks like a pearly white on me. I would probably caution someone with a darker skin tone about wearing this since it did err on being chalky looking on me (despite applying smoothly)

Most Requested: "Burgundy Sparkle" I love that they added in a burgundy. I think it's a color that not many people resonate too but I do feel like the one they've included can work with a lot of different skintones.

Remix: "Burnished Gold" This is a little less frosty/metallic than Louder and has much more shimmer to it. Still extra gorgeous and goes well with Louder. This did have a bit of fallout with the shimmer though.

Speaker Box: This is described as a "Shimmering Gunmetal" but that's totally off. It's a darkened olive green with lots of sparkle. Applied excellently and the sparkle in it adhered quite well.

With everyone talking about how smooth and buttery feeling the eyeshadows were, I looked at the ingredients list to see what might have attributed to that. It turns out that these eyeshadows are boron nitride based and after looking it up, I saw that it's most often used to make the product slide easily onto the skin and gives a velvety feel. It is completely true since these apply so well on!

The palette comes with a dual ended brush but I don't really like it (of course I'm never partial to applicators included with eyeshadow palettes). One end is pointy like a pencil brush and the other end is like a flat eyeshadow brush. The pencil brush end was scratchy whereas the other end was just okay.

I do have a few things to nitpick on though. The packaging holds fingerprints like no other which some people might not like, it's not too much of a problem with me. I can appreciate though the overall weight of the palette. It's got a bit of heft to it and I think that makes the difference between it feeling cheap and it feeling luxe. It feels substantial and something that I can carry around in my bag without feeling like it'll break apart.

bareMineral READY Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Playlist

I don't know who was in charge of the label but the eyeshadow depictions on the label are so off, it's not even funny. You can tell from my swatches that Max Volume certainly isn't a bright turquoise/teal, Louder isn't a burnt orange, Most Requested isn't a bright red, and Speaker Box isn't a light grey.

I do like though that the mirror is large, it fills up the entire lid of the compact. It definitely makes using this on the go that much more viable, even if the brush included isn't very useful.

I will admit, the $40.00 is a lot to spend on a palette, especially for 8 grams. Still though, I think they're worth trying out for the formula and they do make duos and quads. As you can tell, this is a very warm toned palette so you may want to consider how it might work with your skintone before you purchase it. It's also limited edition so if you like the looks of it, I'd snatch it up while you can! I don't believe it's available on the Sephora site but you can get it off Bare Escentuals and Beauty.com (affiliate link)

To sum it up, me likey. I loved nearly all the eyeshadows in the palette and I thought the colors were combined well!

Have you tried any of the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadows?

Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link that gives me a commission based off your use of the link!

Pink Blossom Cosmetics Eyeshadow Swatches and Review

Friday, April 13, 2012

A little while ago I was contacted by Lilly, owner of Pink Blossom Cosmetics and she asked me if I wanted to try out a few of the eyeshadows. I'd never heard of her company before so I was quite excited to try the company out and scope around her shop.

I was sent four full jars and a sample clamshell. The full size jars retail for $5.00 for 1-3 grams (my jars said 1.5 grams) and the sample clamshells retail for $1.00 for 1/8 tsp. All the jars and the clamshell were labeled with the name, ingredients and amount in the jars.

I should note that they only ship to the US, Canada, PO Boxes, APO, and US Territories. I do think it is kind of weird that they write no international shipping when Canada is international but maybe in the future the company will accept international orders!

From left to right: Ballet Slipper, Chocolate-tier, Shimmering Sapphire, Sultry Taupe, and White Chocolate

Just a note, the eyeshadows I got were from her initial batch and she's informed me that the formula has been changed since then and the second formula should be better. Of the five I got, I only thought one could have been improved. The eyeshadows didn't feel powdery but I do think they need a primer to adhere well.

Ballet Slipper: This was a color that I requested to try, purely because of the name. I don't see this on their Storenvy anymore. There is a swatch on it on the Pink Blossom Cosmetics Facebook but I do think it makes it look paler and more matte whereas this felt more like a peachy shimmery pink.

Chocolate-tier: "Shimmery brown with gold flecks" This was one of my favorites and the description is dead on with the color. It was one of the best colors in the set that I got. Applied well and wasn't too powdery or sheer.

Shimmering Sapphire: "A deep shimmery blue color" This was the color that I thought could have been improved. The official swatch picture makes it look like a very shimmery eyeshadow but on me, it applied more like a satin/matte with blue sparkle. It was a little powdery feeling and I'm hoping this has been improved.

Sultry Taupe: "A satin taupe color" This was my other favorite in the set. I even did a close up picture to show the awesome color. There's a slight pink shift that I saw and a gold sparkle to the eyeshadow. I even saw a bit of a green sheen to it too. Applied well too, like Chocolate-tier.

White Chocolate: This is a color that I think was on her Etsy but I don't see it on her Storeenvy. It's a basic shimmery white, not too opaque but not sheer either.

A close up of Sultry Taupe

As with all mineral eyeshadows, I do prefer patting the eyeshadow on versus sweeping it on.

Now my thoughts on the company. I would like them to shift away from the 88 palettes, NYX makeup and e.l.f. makeup that they sell on the site. I think that I could get all of this mainstream makeup elsewhere and I like to shop at Indies to get the cosmetics that they make.

A minor detail I noticed was that the stickers on the top of the lid had air bubbles. The tops of the jars are slightly rounded so I can see how it made it so they wouldn't lay flat. It doesn't affect the eyeshadows at all of course, but it's just part of the presentation that I noticed.

All in all, I think they're a good brand. I am interested in seeing how the eyeshadows have improved and I would like to see more unique colors. They do have a new collection out, with colors based on birthstones!

Have you tried Pink Blossom Cosmetics?

Disclaimer: I received these products for free for review. All opinions are my own and I wasn't compensated in any way.

Darling Girl Cosmetics' New Shop, Products, and Changes!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

The new Darling Girl Cosmetics Shop is finally open! I'm happy that Susan switched over from eCrater to her own domain. Everything really suits the Darling Girl theme :)

There have been price changes on a few things and I created a table to better show what's been changed. If it's not listed in the table, that means the price didn't change.

Item Name	Original Price	New Price	New Category?
All Powder Blushes	$2.25-$5.50	$2.50-$5.90
Color Correctors	$1.00-$5.75	$1.50-5.75 (Sample size price increase)
Color Shifting Liquid Kisses	$3.50	$5.25	Shades moved to Liquid Kiss Luxe
Diamond Dust	$2.25-$5.50	$2.50-$5.90
Eye Shadows	$2.25-$5.50	$2.50-$5.90
Holo Glosses	$4.75	$5.25
Kiss You Off: Color Rich Lip Balm	$4.75	$5.25
Liquid Kiss Luxe	$4.75	$5.25
Liquid Kisses	$4.75	$5.25	Most shades moved to Holo Glosses and Liquid Kiss Luxe
Luscious Lip Balm	$3.50	$3.75
Pixie Sprinkles	$3.00	$2.50
Skin Quenchers	$5.75	$6.25
Spectral Shift	$2.25-$5.50	$2.50-$5.90
Watercolor Paint Pots	$4.75	$5.25

Most things went up by about .50 cents, some only by a quarter and the Pixie Sprinkles actually went down in price.

I also wanted to go over some of the new colors, collections, and products added to the lines.

New

Eyeshadow Collection: The Spring Social
Colors added to the Blushes: Bleeding Heart DuoChrome Blush
Colors added to the Eyeshadows: Beso De La Muerte, Cornucopia, La Vie, Nemesis, Shameless, Spellbound, and Sultry Siren
Colors added to the Kiss You Off: Color Rich Lip Balm- Cherry Darling, Her Majesty, Honey Love, Love is an Act, Magnificent Mauve, Pink-A-Boo, and Rose Veil
Colors added to the Liquid Kiss Luxe: Darling Daffodil
Colors added to the Watercolor Paint Pots: Burnished, Le Gourmet, Mermaid Tails, Midnight Train, Sunrise, and White Rabbit
New Product: Skin Botanica Mineral Veil

I really love Susan's products and I can't wait to get more! I know there are a few colors missing from the lip products but it looks like some are being shelved because of supplier issues. Some will be reformulated or discontinued and some that are just missing from the new site and will be added.

Sailor Moon Collaboration: Queen Beryl

Friday, April 6, 2012

To complement the Sailor Scout/Senshi Looks that we did for our Sailor Moon Collaboration, all of us in the Collaboration did a Villain/Villainess look. If you want to see my Sailor Scout/Senshi look and get links to the other Sailor Scout/Senshi collaboration looks, please click here!

As you can tell from the title, I'm doing my look off of Queen Beryl. I was originally going to try to do a look based off the top of her dress with the crescent shape but abandoned the idea. I then started thinking about what a modern day Queen Beryl would be like and I kept thinking that she'd have this badass rock 'n' roll attitude about her. I wanted to try to represent that in a look and I decided to model the shape after this look by Queen of Blending. I knew I wanted to use purple so I did purple on the lid and to add sparkle, I put purple glitter on my eyelid to almost represent the facets of a beryl.

If I went clubbing, I'd wear this look out. I did this look right before doing my hip hop dance midterm and took it off before it though now I wish I had kept it on just for kicks.