Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Review: INGLOT Blush Palette

So he final installment in my INGLOT series is my blush palette. The Freedom System blush palette is the same size and functionality as the 10 pan eyeshadow palette and the palette itself is the same price, $16. The Freedom System blushes are $10 each for 6 grams of product. The entire palette costs $56, which to me is a steal!

The blushes on the palette are not broken down into finishes, but they do come in shimmer and matte finishes. I picked up four blushes to complete my palette and I could not be happier. They are very pigmented, so a light hand is needed, and they wear all day with minimal fading.

So here is my blush palette!
L-R: 29, 34, 28, 57 
L - R: 28 and 57
L-R: 29 and 34
Top to Bottom: 57, 28, 34, 29
Descriptions:

  • 29 - matte, bright cantaloupe
  • 34 - shimmer, light peachy coral
  • 28 - matte rose
  • 57 - shimmer, plum rose
I use the blushes almost daily, they are gorgeous and make my skin look glowy. The only one that I do not use all that frequently is number 29, its a very summer color and needs an extremely light hand for application. I would love to try more of these, but since the website does not have the best swatches and my google search does not return a lot I will wait until I can visit an INGLOT store.

Have you tried or do you own any INGLOT blushes? I would love to know your favorite or which ones to check out.

Until next time XOXO
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




Wednesday, March 13, 2013

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

Saturday, March 2, 2013

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

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Review: MAC Archie's Girls for Spring 2013

MAC has launched their spring collection and it is based on the comic strip "Archie". I remember Archie as a kid, both the comic and the cartoon. The collection is based on Archie's girls, Betty and Veronica.
"Betty and Veronica - the names alone are a vivid four-colour flashback to an era of sweet, comic book innocence. Their eternal love triangle, with all-American freckle-faced Archie, is legendary in its teen tension, tight sweaters and two-toned saddle shoe charm. Girl-next-door blonde Betty vs. vivacious, spoiled rich-girl, brunette Veronica, an epic rivalry, now in two contrasting MAC colour collections, packaged in exclusively designed cases. ALL LIMITED EDITION."
The collection contains lip, eye, and cheek colors based on the fair haired Betty and the dark and dramatic Veronica, and I have not splurged on a MAC collection like this in a long time, if ever! I could not pass up this fun collection!


The Betty collection contains 3 lipglass, 3 lipsticks, a blush, a pearlmatte face powder, 2 pigments, 2 pearl glide intense eye liner, 2 nail lacquers and one eye shadow quad. From this collection, I picked up 2 of the 3 lipglasses - Kiss & Don't Tell and Summer Sweetheart, the blush in Cream Soda and the pearlmatte face powder in Flatter Me.

The Veronica collection contain the same number of items of each. From this collection, I picked up one lipglass in Mall Madness, the blush in Prom Princess and the pearlmatte face powder in Veronica's Blush. I passed on the eye shadow quads in both collections, only because I feel MAC quads are over priced and the quality is no where near as good as other brands on the market.

I love the packaging, both the product and the paper packaging - I kept them! The standard matte black packaging has been replaced with shiny white and the comic book characters faces. The Betty blush and lipglass have Betty's face and the Veronica blush and lipglass have Veronica's face. The pearlmatte face powders have all three characters faces.


Lipglass L-R: Betty "Kiss & Don't Tell", Veronica "Mall Madness", Betty "Summer Sweetheart"
Lipglass L-R: Betty "Kiss & Don't Tell", Veronica "Mall Madness", Betty "Summer Sweetheart"
Lipglass L-R: Betty "Kiss & Don't Tell", Veronica "Mall Madness", Betty "Summer Sweetheart"
Veronica Blush "Prom Princess"
Betty Blush "Cream Soda"
Blush L-R: Prom Princess and Cream Soda
Veronica Pearlmatte Face Powder "Veronica's Blush" 
Veronica Pearlmatte Face Powder "Veronica's Blush"
Betty Pearlmatte Face Powder "Flatter Me"
Betty Pearlmatte Face Powder "Flatter Me"
Pearlmatte Face Powder Top - Bottom: Cream Soda and Veronica's Blush
I am a sucker for MAC collections, especially for the lipglass and blush, and if they have highlighter those too! The lipglass in "Kiss & Don't Tell" is a bright coral, it reminds me of the Viva Glam Cyndi or Nicki Minaj. The lipglass in "Summer Sweetheart" is a light nude, reminds me of underage. The lipglass in "Mall Madness" is a berry color with a gorgeous pink and purple glitter.

Each collection, Betty and Veronica, only had one blush and I had to have both! Both blushes are satin finish and very wearable. "Prom Princess" is bright in the pan, but gorgeous on the cheek with a beautiful blush to the cheek. "Cream Soda" is a peach that is amazingly gorgeous on the cheek, it will be perfect for summer! I have nothing like "Prom Princess" to compare it to, but "Cream Soda" is a satin version of MAC "Melba" or NARS "Luster".

I have never owned or tried the pearlmatte face powders, but I am extremely happy I have! They are so soft and add a beautiful sheen of a highlight to anywhere on the face. "Veronica's Blush" is a silver pink base with bright pink hearts stamped on top. It is very cool tone highlight and pair beautifully with the "Prom Princess" blush. "Flatter Me" is a peach base with coral hearts stamped on top. It is warmer and pairs beautifully with the "Cream Soda" blush or really any peach/coral blush.

Overall I am extremely happy with the products I picked up and recommend them all!

Did you haul anything from Archie's Girls? Until next time XO
Shannon

Saturday, January 26, 2013

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

Monday, January 21, 2013

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