Light Golden and Burgundy EOTD featuring theBalm

I Purchased This Press Sample Gift

I haven't done an eye of the day post in a long while and I've been trying to experiment with different eye shapes so this blossomed after using my thebalm Balm Jovi palette I got as a Christmas gift. 

I'm stoked for the end of December and the beginning of January! I go back to school in three weeks (seems so short) so I'm going to enjoy these last few weeks as best I can before school and clinic starts up. 

Products Used

Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Tarte Amazonian Clay Skinny Smoldereyes Liner in Purple Garnet on the lower lashline and the outer third of the upper lid
theBalm Iron Maid-en on the inner corner
theBalm Alice Copper in the outer 2/3rds
Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes Mascara
Anastasia Lash Genius
Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Medium Brown

What did you guys get for Christmas if you celebrated Christmas?

Disclaimer: I received the Anastasia products as a gift from attending events/trade shows. I received the theBalm Balm Jovi palette as a Christmas gift. The rest I purchased myself. All opinions are my own.

City Color Cosmetics Shadow Primer in Nude Review

Press Sample

A few months back, I received a few products from City Color Cosmetics and am finally getting to my review on some of the products. If you have a Rite-Aid close to you, you might have seen a few items there but for the most part, you gotta shop online at City Color Cosmetics to purchase the full range. Thankfully though the products are quite affordable.

The first product I wanted to talk about is the Shadow Primer, the next in another post is the Matte Lipstick.

Where to purchase: City Color Cosmetics
Price: $2.99 for 2.3 grams. 
Do they test on animals?: The company does not.
Packaging: The eyeshadow primer comes in a plastic tube with a doefoot applicator. I do find the packaging to be a little cheap because the plastic does squeak  as you're removing the wand.

Formula:

The primer actually feels quite thin, kind of watery compared to other creamy primers I've tried. The color Nude is a translucent neutral that sheers out as you blend but I think the nude color might be a little chalky looking on tanner skin tones.

On my oily eyelids, the primer wasn't as strong as other primers I've tried in protecting against creasing. It still fared about 6 hours before creasing but I've experienced longer wear with other primers. While it isn't as good as other primers I've tried, it does enhance eyeshadows you wear on top. It was much better with pressed eyeshadows than loose eyeshadows.

Here's a comparison of Urban Decay's Gravity eyeshadow with (on the right) and without (on the left) the Shadow Primer.


All in all, while it isn't my favorite primer it's not bad if you have drier eyelids and are looking to enhance your pressed eyeshadows.

Purchase if:
a) You have dry or normal eyelids
b) You're looking for an inexpensive primer

Don't purchase if:
a) You have oily eyelids

Disclaimer: I received this product courtesy of the brand. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this post.

Studio Gear Cosmetics Holiday Smokey Eye Palette Swatches and Review

Press Sample 

Hey everyone, I hope you had a lovely Christmas or a typical Wednesday! A few weeks ago, I got sent this Studio Gear Holiday Smokey Eye Palette as part of a campaign with BrandBacker. I've only tried the CC Cream from the brand before so I was interested in trying their eyeshadows out.

Where to Purchase: Studio Gear, ULTA 
Price: $25 for four eyeshadows and one blush. On Studio Gear's website it is $25 but it appears to be $10 on ULTA's website. I'm not sure how much it'll cost in stores.
Do they test on animals?: The company does not however it says that their products may be tested in places where required by law. 
Packaging: The colors are housed in a cardboard palette with a magnetized closure.

You get four eyeshadows and one blush in the palette. They have a face chart in the lid of the palette but it's actually got the eyeshadows labeled incorrectly. The eyeshadows from top left to bottom left are: Frost, Coal, Glimmer, and Platinum. The blush is called Snowy Glow.

Formula/Swatches:

Unfortunately I wasn't impressed with the eyeshadows and the swatches kind of speak for themselves. The eyeshadows were swatched dry over Too Faced Shadow Insurance and the picture was taken in natural daylight with no flash.

From left to right: Frost, Platinum, Glimmer, Coal, and Snowy Glow

You can tell that even with a primer, it didn't help with the eyeshadows. Frost and Glimmer were especially flaky and prone to fallout. Coal looks sheer and Platinum was the best of the bunch, although it still needed the help of a primer. 

All in all, I personally wouldn't recommend this palette. For $25 I think there are other palettes out there that are a better value and have better pigmentation.

Even if you don't like the eyeshadow palette, you can still get 10% off your order with the code SGHOLIDAY on their website.

Purchase if:
a) You're curious and have $25 to spend

Don't purchase if:
a) You expect more out of your eyeshadows

Disclaimer: I received this product for review via Brandbacker. I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own!

Bite Beauty Best Bite Set: Swatches and Review

I Purchased This

When I got the $15 Beauty Insider Reward Certificate in my hands (I just hit VIB but not in time for the system to figure it out I guess), I had it in my mind to get this Bite Beauty Best Bite Set. 

The set contains four minis of the High Pigment Matte Pencils in Quince, Rhubarb, Cranberry, and Madeira in this compact metal tin (that has a mirror inside!). Quince, Rhubarb, and Madeira are part of the permanent line but Cranberry is limited edition (I'll show how it compares to a few other colors I have from the line). Unfortunately they've taken it off the website but they are available in stores!

The set is great because a) it costs $25 for FOUR pencils, each containing .05 oz when a full size is $24 and contains .09 oz. b) the tin is cute and I love minis c) you get to have a set of four colors
Click through to read my thoughts and see both lip swatches and full face photos!

Tarte Stop and Stare 6-Piece Eyeliner & Lash Set: Swatches and Review

I Purchased This Affiliate Link

I'm so happy that my first semester of grad school is over, now I can actually spend winter break blogging (without feeling like I'm neglected my school work). There are a few reviews I have to get up soon but I did want to finish this one and my next on the Bite Beauty Best Bite Set because they're limited edition holiday items.

After seeing Phyrra's review of the Tarte Stop & Stare Eyeliner Set, I knew I had to get my hands on it. It was on sale at Sephora for only $27 (down from $39) and combined with the Beauty Insider Reward Certificate, it was a sweet deal. Today, I'm going to review the eyeliners (not the mascara).

Where to purchase: Sephora (affiliate link) and ULTA. 
Price: $27 for three skinny SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liners and two SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liners plus one deluxe Lights, Camera, Flashes Statement Mascara. It was previously priced for $39 but is on sale at Sephora and ULTA (it was on sale in stores at Sephora but I'm not sure about ULTA).
Do they test on animals?: The company does not.
Packaging: The pencils are all color coordinated and sharpenable. The thicker Amazonian Clay Liners come with a built in smudger tip.

The three Skinny Amazonian Clay Liners are Purple Garnet, Azurite Green, and Onyx. Onyx is permanent and Purple Garnet and Azurite Green are limited edition.

The regular Amazonian Clay liners come in Rose Gold and Taupe. I personally don't think it's actually a Rose Gold, I do think it's more bronze and not pink enough but it's still a nice color. These appear to be limited edition colors.

Click through to read my thoughts on the formula and swatches!

Beauty Blog Coalition $900 Winter Giveaway!

The bloggers from the Beauty Blog Coalition are at it again and have set up a group giveaway with one grand prize winner and two first place winners!

All terms and conditions are listed in the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open from 10 December until 21 December, internationally to all those ages 18 and up. You may tweet using the Rafflecopter option once a day until the giveaway is over for extra entries. One winner will receive a $500 prepaid Visa gift card. Two more winners will receive a $200 prepaid Visa gift card. (Both are available as a one-time PayPal transfer if the winner so chooses.)

Please take time to visit the bloggers who made this giveaway happen and good luck!

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KellieGonzo.com

KillerLipGloss

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Lipgloss Break

Logical Harmony

Makeup by Kim Porter

Midnight Manicures

Moxie Reviews

My Highest Self

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog

Peace Love Lipgloss

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Phyrra

Pointless Cafe

Polarbelle

PolishGalore

polish insomniac

Portrait of Mai

Pure Natural Diva Botanicals

Set in Lacquer

Smashley Sparkles

Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful Blog

The Crumpet

The Lacquerologist

TheFabZilla

Will Paint Nails for Food

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
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The Prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. The Prize or any element of the Prize cannot be exchanged for any other prize/s with the exception that the winner may receive the prize as a one time PayPal transfer. The contents of the Prize will be at the Promoter’s sole discretion. The Prize is subject to availability and the terms and conditions of the entities supplying the Prize.

Review & Swatches: em michelle phan Creamy Color Classic Lipstick

I Purchased This

I meant to post this earlier but I'm glad I'm able to now while their Cyber Monday (Buy one product, get another in that shade for free!) sale is going on today! I'm reviewing the em michelle phan Creamy Color Classic Lipstick in Nude Lace. I've already reviewed the Matte Lipstick in a previous post so I'm covering the classic lipstick today. I wanted to get an idea of the brand's lipsticks and since I don't really have a place in my collection for a sheer lipstick, I got the Classic formula.


To save space on my blog's front page, I've put everything under a cut~