New Sigma Discount Code for May 2013

A new month is here, can you believe it?! Where did April go? I feel I say that every month. Well, May is here and Sigma has a new discount code - RSR2013. And this month with your minimum $30 purchase you will receive a travel size E05 eyeliner brush.

Mother's Day is right around the corner and Sigma is offering a Mother's Day Box with 2 individual eye shadows - Notre Dame and Publicize, an eye shadow base in Provoke and a brush (E70) for $45 and they have special discount code to save 20% - making it $36 when you use MOTHERSDAY.

Sigma has also released the individual eye shadows from their Resort Palette.

Hope you all have a wonderful May and until next month -

XOXO Shannon

Review: MAC In Extra Dimension April 2013

MAC has launched a new collection (surprise, surprise) and it is another extra dimension collection. I really liked the first collection released in 2012, which included extra dimension highlighters and eye shadows, and then shadows and highlighters that were released in the holiday 2012 collection So, needless to say I was thoroughly excited to see a new collection of eye shadows, highlighters and blushes!!!

Blushes have never been a part of the extra dimension lineup, so that was the first thing that caught my eye! I picked up 2 blushes and one highlighter from the collection... although, there were some eye shadows that caught my eye.

This collection included 3 extra dimension skinfinishes (highlighters), 5 blushes, and 6 eye shadows. The highlighters in this collection are slightly different than the previous high lighters released, as in they are two-toned and when blended together are amazing. The blushes in this collection are gorgeous, they are matte and have no shimmer/sparkle in them - which is A OK for me.

So the only extra dimension skinfinish I picked up was "Definitely Defined" and is a silvery pink and soft rose with shimmer. It is so gorgeous and I wish they carried these in their permanent line up. They add just the right amount of shimmer or glow, without packing on the glitter.
Price: $30

(No Flash) L-R: Blended, Light, Dark

(Flash) L-R: Blended, Light, Dark

The two blushes I picked up were "Blazing Haute" and "Fiery Impact". "Blazing Haute" is a dirty peach and "Fiery Impact" is a burnt red bronze. I was not initially drawn to "Fiery Impact" based on pictures I had seen online, but when I saw it in person I was in love. I was going to pick up "Flaming Chic" and "Bareness", but when I got my hands on them I just didn't like them as much.
Price: $25

Blazing Haute

Fiery Impact 

Top to Bottom: Fiery Impact, Blazing Haute

I recently went in to MAC to pick some items from the collection that just release, "Baking Beauties", and I took the time to swatch the eye shadows so I think I might pick up two of the eye shadows. When I went in to pic up my Extra Dimension items I was on a one track mission, so I didnt pay the eye shaodws any attention.

Did you pick anything up from this collection? I know I get excited any time "Extra Dimension" comes  to MAC. Until next time,

XO Shannon

Review: INGLOT Palette # 3

Now for the third and final INGLOT eyeshadow palette installment, I have previously reviewed and swatched my first and second palette.

This third palette has more vibrate, colorful eyeshadows than my previous neutral based palettes. I am loving INGLOT and already have colors picked for another palette. 

This palette features two finishes in addition to my normal pearl and matted finishes. I have added an AMC Shine and a Double Sparkle. The AMC Shine gives off more of a sheen or glow effect. The Double Sparkle is more of a matte with sparkle, although the sparkle does not show too much and the color is softer.

So here is palette number three!

Top L-R: P414, P418 M337, P397, AMC S7
Bottom: L-R: P428, P446, DS 465, M349, M351

Top L-R: P414, P418, M337
Bottom L-R: P428, P446, DS 465

Top L-R: M337, P397, AMC S7
Bottom L-R: DS 465, M349, M351 

Top to Bottom: AMC S7, P397, M337, P418, P414

Top to Bottom: M351, M349, DS 465, P446, P428

Descriptions:

• Pearl 414 - metallic blackened green with a sheen
• Pearl 418 - metallic golden green
• Matte 337 - soft brown
• Pearl 397 - metallic champagne
• AMC Shine 7 - shimmering gold with a sheen
• Pearl 428 - metallic true blue
• Pearl 446 - metallic dark purple
• Double Sparkle 465 - matte purplish brown with golden glitter 
• Matte 349 - brownish grey
• Matte 351 - soft off white

I have not used all of the colors in this palette yet, but I have used three or four of the colors on a regular basis. I am loving M337 (great for the crease or upper brow), P397 (great for lid, similar to Urban Decay Sin) and AMC S7 (great for the lid or inner corner).

I am loving the AMC Shine shadow I have, so I am definitely going to pick up some more or these in the future.

Until next time XOXO

Shannon

Review: INGLOT Palette #2

So I am back with the second installment of my INGLOT palettes, if you missed my first palette  and INGLOT overview you can click here. I finally got around to swatching and photographing my palettes.

This palette is probably my favorite out of the three eyeshadow palettes.

This palette is a mix of matte and pearl finishes, which are my favorite of this brand. If you have never tried INGLOT, I highly suggest you give them a try... you will not be disappointed. These palettes have become my most used, above MAC and Urban Decay. I love that you can build your own with colors that suit you and not what some company thinks people want or need. Not to mention it is friendly to your wallet!

So here is my palette:

Top L-R: P444, P399, P402, P409, M360
Botton L-R: P433, M342, M357, M328, P 393

Top L-R: P402, P409, M360
Bottom L-R: M357, M328, P393

Top L-R: P444, P399, P402
Bottom L-R: P433, M342, M357

Top to Bottom: M360, P409, P402, P399, P444

Top to Bottom: P393, M328, M357, M342, P433

Descriptions:

• Pearl 444 - metallic dark blue grey
• Pearl 399 - metallic lilac
• Pearl 402 - metallic taupe
• Pearl 409 - metallic golden brown
• Matte 360 - warm purple based brown
• Pearl 433 - metallic antique gold
• Matte 342 - warm medium brown
• Matte 357 - warm red based brown
• Matte 328 - light peach
• Pearl 393 - metallic peach

Some of my absolute favorite colors in this palette, that I reach for all of the time, are Pearl 393 (great for highlighting), Pearl 433 (great for all over lid), Pearl 402 (great for lid or crease), and Matte 357 (great for the crease).

Do you own any INGLOT? I would love to know what colors you have or love, I am always looking to expand my INGLOT collection.

Until next time XOXO

Shannon

Haul: BareMinerals Ready Shadows

I am obsessed with the BareMinerals ready shadows, that is the only thing I like and can wear from BareMinerals. I have a couple quads and duos already, but when Ulta had a one day only online deal for 50% off the ready shadows - quads and duos - I had to snatch some up!

The quads run $30 and the duos $20. I currently have the quads in The Truth and The Soundtrack, and the duos in The Scenic Route and The Top Shelf - all are amazing! BareMinerals ready eyeshadows are pigmented and buttery smooth, like Urban Decay buttery.

With this one day only sale I picked up the quad The Happy Place and two duos, The Winner Is... and The Promise. I got all three for $35! 

The Happy Place Ready 4.0 quad

L to R: Peace, Imagine, Exhale, Euphoria

The Happy Place

• Peace - matte soft peach
• Imagine - medium copper, with a golden shimmer-sheen
• Exhale - matte mauve taupe
• Euphoria - reddened brown

The Winner Is... Ready 2.0 dou

The Winner Is...

• Chart Topper - golden pewter
• Hit Single - luminous sage, gorgeous mermaid green

The Promise Ready 2.0 duo

The Promise

• Aspire - frosted warm orange tinted yellow
• Vow - matte grey brown, with a red undertone

Top to Bottom: The Promise - Vow and Aspire, The Winner Is... - Chart Topper and Hit Single

I have yet to be disappointed by these shadows and my list is ever growing. Until Nest time -

XO Shannon

Review: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Urban Decay has added a few products to their Naked line over the last few monhs, all of which I have been quite excited about. A few product launches ago, Urban Decay launched the Naked Basics palette, six eye shadows that can be used alone or alongside the Naked or Naked 2 palettes. This palette claims to feature six matte shades, however there is one satin finish shade - Venus.

Left to Right: Venus, Foxy, W.O.S., Naked 2, Faint, Crave

One thing that Urban Decay does that I hate is including a shade from a previous palette in a "new" palette. They did this with Naked 2, in which they included Half Bake from the original Naked. Well, Urban Decay has done it again with Naked Basics, where they include Foxy from Naked 2. Why,  Urban Decay, why do you do this???

The shades included are:

• Venus - sating flesh tone 
• Foxy - matte light yellow
• W.O.S. - matte flesh tone
• Naked 2 - matte cool brown, almost taupe
• Faint - matte warm brown
• Crave - matte blacked brown

I really do like this palette, the only downfall is the packaging texture. The texture of the packaging reminds me of NARS packaging, minus the dirtiness. It's compact and travel friendly, as well as a complimentary palette to any palette that you own.

Cost: $27

Availability: permanent 

Available at Sephora, Ulta, UrbanDecay.com

Have you picked up this palette? What is you favorite look to create using Naked Basics?

Until next time XO

Shannon

Review: INGLOT Palette #1

For over a year I have wanted to try INGLOT, however there is no store or counter near me and I was not going to be near one anytime soon... so I ordered from their website. After countless swatch reviews online, thanks Temptalia, I made a decision and ordered a 10 pan palette along with 10 shadows - mostly neutrals.

Like most, I discovered INGLOT through the YouTube beauty community and fell in love, obsessing over them for a year or so. INGLOT is most famous for their Freedom System, which is pretty much a build your own palette system, from eyeshadow to blush, to press powders to lipstick, they have a palette for you to build. They even have combo palettes, three eyeshadows and a blush, two eyeshadow, one blush and press powder, etc. 

INGLOT is a Polish company and have many locations worldwide, click here to find a location near you, however in the US there are 10 Macy's that have an INGLOT counter and free standing stores in New York, New Jersey, Las Vegas, California and Miami, Florida. I really wish they would put one in a Macy's anywhere near me!

Finishes

There are five finishes to their eyeshadows, AMC (Advanced Makeup Component), AMC Shine, D.S. (Double Sparkle), Matte and Pearl. Most people compare INGLOT to MAC, and you can, but I don't. This palette includes mattes, pearls and one AMC. 

Price

The prices have changed a few times since I started my obsession with INGLOT. Today a 10 pan palette will run you $16 and each pan is $6, a full palette costing you $76 - free shipping. 

My MAC palettes, yes I say palettes because I have 5 FULL palettes, and they cost well over $76. The MAC pro palettes are now $16 (used to be $14 or $15) and hold 15 pans. The pro pans are now $12 each (used to be $11). So, each of my palettes cost me a scary $180 each. Ouch! Two of my INGLOT palettes cost less than one MAC!

Product Size
MAC and Urban Decay single eyeshadows contain 1.3 to 1.5 grams depending on finish. INGLOT range from 2.3 to 2.7 grams depending on finish. You definitely get a lot of product for your money. Urban Decay single eyeshadows are $19 each and MAC are $12 (pan) to $15 (potted singles) each.

Pros/Cons

The pros... customizable, a lot of product for the money, blend easy, long lasting, durable packaging, paraben free, no animal testing, string magnetic slots and cost.

The cons... online site is hard to shop from (no real swatch or description of color), time to ship and receive (took almost 3 weeks) and for me I was sent a wrong shade. The shade I ordered was a brown and they sent me a bright purple, the plus is they sent me the right color and let me keep the purple (even though I will probably never wear it). 

To some this is a con, but to me I don't care... the shades are numbered and not named. For example, instead of Naked Lunch it is Pearl 395 - it is number and finish. This to me makes no difference and I honesty don't understand some peoples genuine frustration over this. Also, make sure to write down your shade numbers, once they are in it is hard to get them out without damaging the product (it's not impossible).

Warning: I suck at color descriptions, so please for give me - thanks!

Top Row L-R: P419 and M358
Bottom Row L-R: P422 and P423

Top Row L-R: P419, M358, P420, P434, AMC 65
Bottom Row L-R: P422, P423, M363, M390, P395

Top Row L-R: P420, P434, AMC 65
Bottom Row L-R: M363, M390, P395

Top to Bottom: AMC 65, P434, P420, M358, P419

Top to Bottom: P395, M390, M363, P423, P422

Descriptions:

• Pearl 395 - metallic finish, cool tone champagne
• Matte 390 - matte flesh/light brown
• Matte 363 - matte cool tone, medium brown
• Pearl 423 - metallic purple tone, brown (similar to MAC Twinks)
• Pearl 422 - metallic warm medium brown
• AMC 65 - matte black with multi-color fine glitter (what MAC Black Tide wishes it could be)
• Pearl 434 - metallic medium grey
• Pearl 420 - metallic purple tone grey
• Matte 358 - matte cool grey (similar to MAC Scene)
• Pearl 419 - metallic olive green (similar to MAC Sumptuous Olive)

This palette contains some of my favorite shades that have become some go to colors for almost any look I do. One of those go to colors is P395, it is an amazing inner corner highlight that brightens and opens your eyes up! It is like Urban Decay Virgin's better version. Some other are P423, P422 and M390. The colors in this palette are great, I could literally take this palette on vacation and have everything I need for a bunch of looks.

Have you tried INGLOT? What shades did you pick up or want to get? What are your thoughts on the brand? What products have you tried, want to try or recommend? 

Until next time XOXO

Shannon

New Products from Sigma Beauty

This year Sigma is stepping up their product line and adding single eyeshadows and brow products from their eyeshadow palettes and brow design kit. Starting today, January 21, 2013 you can purchase shadows from the Bare, Dare, Flare and Paris palettes, as well as the brow pencil, highlighting pencils and brow gel. And an all new product, Brow Powder Duos.

You can save 10% off your order with the January discount code JAN2013!

Choose from 30 unique eye shadow shades from the Bare, Dare, Flare and Paris Palettes. The low price point allows customers to pick and choose their favorite shades and build their personalized collection of Sigma shadows.

What: 30 individual shades from the Bare, Dare, Flare and Paris Palettes. Finishes include matte, sheen, duo-chrome, frost, dimensional frost and glimmer.
Cost: $11 each
Collection Status: Permanent and will continue to expand!

Matte
Control - black
Snoop - slate
Hitch - sepia
Elope - nude
Catch - cayenne
Shout - sunflower
Gossip - eggplant
Louvre - cerulean

Duo-Chrome
Crush - hazel
Triomphe - pewter
Allure - fuchsia
Beware - lilac

Sheen

Approach - ivory

Chase - pale pink

Escape - almond

Publicize - blonde

Elysees - mulberry

Frost

Act - sand

Command - champagne

Grasp - peach

Reveal - brink red 

Oversee - muted jade

Define - wintergreen

Resist - plum

Dimensional Frost

Vanish - goldenrod

Notre Dame - lavender

Versailles - pearl

Glimmer

Eiffel - onyx

Seine - sapphire

Orsay - aqua

Due to high demand, we developed a collection of new individual brow products. The Dual-ended Brow Pencil (medium/dark), Dual-ended Brow Highlighting Pencil (matte/shimmer), and Dual-ended Brow Gel (clear/tinted) are favorites from the Brow Design Kit. For those who already own the Brow Design Kit, you can purchase the individual products to replenish your kit when your favorite component runs out! If you do not own the kit, this is also a great opportunity to choose the elements that you want to try.

The Brow Powder Duos are ALL NEW! You can now select the shade that is perfect for you! Choose from Light, Medium Dark and Auburn.

What: From the Beauty Expert - Brow Design Kit The Brow Pencil, Highlighting Pencil, and Brow Gel. ALL NEW: Brow powder duos in Light, Auburn, Medium and Dark
Cost: Brow Pencil - $12, Highlighting Pencil - $12, Brow Gel - $12, Brow Powder Shades - $14
Collection Status: Permanent

I am pretty excited about the eyeshadows, I have a few Sigma palettes and their eyeshadows are great and very pigmented. I have not tried the brow products, only because I did not see the need for the kit for myself - but I think I will now try a few products. Are you interested or excited about any of these products???

Until next time XOXO
-Shannon