MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Shadow – M822, M846, ME 302

Hello again readers!

I've definitely been distant lately due to the fact that I dropped off my laptop to get repaired, and over a week later it hasn't been fixed at all! They didn't do a darn thing about it, so it's still unable to close, and I just got it back on Wednesday. I've missed it so much and trying to do anything but gaming on my desktop isn't going to help me much at all. I'm really happy to jump right back into blogging, and what better way to do so than to start with this Make Up For Ever trio?

With the MUFE artist shadows, you have options (which is always good to  have for beauty addicts!). You can buy just the pans and put them into a magnetic palette, or you have the option to buy the pans and also buy the plastic containers for them.

It goes a little something like this: 

A single compact and a shadow  – $22

A duo compact and two shadows – $35

A trio compact and three shadows – $44

If you're looking to expand your collection, the trio is the way to go. It's like buying two eyeshadows and getting one free!

The compact is made of good quality plastic that has weight to it. It doesn't feel cheap, and it feels incredibly sturdy. The base is black, and the lid is clear which is very beneficial to look through compacts quickly to find the shadows you want.

The palette has magnets to hold onto the shadows, and I'm incredibly pleased that the magnets hold strong and I don't feel like the pan of the eyeshadow will fly out if I were to drop it (which, if I'm being honest is an event that will eventually happen in the future because of my hands) so I have a little less stress about shattering one of these (expensive) eyeshadows.

The slots also have a small hole that you poke through to take the pans out, if you want to re-organize your palettes. I was really concerned at first before noticing the small holes, that once you put a pan into one of the slots, they were there forever (unless you used a method like the INGLOT freedom system where you use magnets to pull the shadows out). This is far easier and more efficient if you gather a large collection.

The downside, is you have to buy a compact, or have a Z Palette to hold the shadows in. They come individually packed in flimsy plastic. The lid doesn't fit snugly over the base, and they are NOT fit for travel, or even proper storage. Since I bought three I didn't have this issue, but if you wanted four, you'd be better buying a trio and then another single compact to hold them all.

M822 – Plum: 
Matte violet plum eyeshadow. One of the most popular shades in the Artist Shadow range. It's not too neutral of a violet but it's not too warm either. It's incredibly flattering on the eye.

M846 – Morello Cherry:
A true cherry red matte. The shade I just couldn't live without. I'm a sucker for red eyeshadows and love how I look in them, and this shadow did not disappoint. It's a tad streaky, so I have to watch how I apply it but the shade is such a nice deep red that it looks incredible on my eyes. I really can't get enough of how easy this shadow is to wear.

ME302 – Peacock:
Duochrome brick red with teal shift. I was really impressed with the pigmentation of this shadow, and I was even more impressed with how well it applied. It doesn't go on streaky, and it works just like my MAC Blue Brown pigment but this is far easier to travel with!

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Really, the shadows are incredible. The texture of them are smooth to the touch and applying them (aside from Morello Cherry, which was the hardest out of the three) is a dream.

At $21 a shadow, it's a rather large pill to swallow, but I do see these as being worth the money, especially if you find one of these shades that aren't as common in other stores (with the exception of Peacock, which is now a VERY common shade).

It was worth it for me to get this trio, but I don't see myself buying more than maybe three other shades from the range, since they don't have many shades that I'm lusting after as hard as these three.

Thanks for reading!

2015 Empties #4

Hello again readers!

These were the last items I used up in 2015! I was really impressed with how much I used up in the past year, and I can't wait to see what I use up in the next year. Even though this is the first empties post for 2016, I'm including it in the system from last year. Hope you enjoy!

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser – Empty*:

I really enjoy this. It's really great for controlling acne and clearing up the face. It's not a miracle product by any means, as I'll still get acne, but I do notice a difference when I use this product compared to when I don't.

Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil – Empty:

I'm not sure if I'll be buying this again or not, since I want to try out other brands. This got my makeup off so well, and so fast, and was a real MVP when I was working at the Haunt. It's dependable, and works like magic. The biggest downside I have is that the bottle leaks over a long period of use, which is why I have to have it in this plastic bag and why the label is rolling off. It leaks all over the counter and the medicine cabinet too so it's not the easiest to store.

Oil-Free Acne Wash – Empty:

Just an acne wash I got from the Dollar Tree. Nothing special. It's just a basic face wash, and did the job okay. If it didn't smell like grapefruit, I'd buy it again, but I cannot stand the smell of this product.

 Clean and Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer – Empty*:

I've been avoiding moisturizers for ages because a lot of them leave a film on my face, that just fuels the oil production, making my face look drenched by the end of the day. Switching to gel moisturizers has been the beset decision I have ever made because I get that hydration that I desperately need and it doesn't make my face feel greasy. It absorbs into the skin within just about two minutes or so and hydrates it just enough without being too greasy. The perfect moisturizer to put on the face before makeup.

Equate Oil-Free Makeup Remover – Empty*:

Still my favorite makeup remover. I haven't found one that I've liked better than this. It gets the job done, doesn't hydrate the eye area, and helps keep my skin in good condition.

SkinNutritions Clarifying Lotion – Empty*:

I've been trying out the SkinNutritions line, and while I hate all of the other steps (the cleanser is too drying, and the moisturizer is FAR to much for my oily skin) but this one is rather nice. I still prefer witch hazel, but this is a nice little vacation, especially when my skin needs a bit of a pick-me-up right after a super hot shower. It's really hydrating, removes any traces of makeup or soap, and leaves my skin feeling so soft!

Benefit The Porefessional – Empty:

I wasn't really a fan of this. It's okay, but it wasn't my favorite. To me it's not really worth the price since I didn't notice phenomenal results.

NYX HD Concealer 01 – Porcelain – Empty:

This had a super light base, so I only used this under my eyes. It definitely made me look awake, but I found it to be a bit too heavy for under the eye coverage.

Stargazer White Foundation – Empty:

Finally used up the rest of the foundation while working at the haunt. This foundation is good to mix in with other foundations that would otherwise be too dark, or even just on it's own to white my face out. It's about the same price as the Manic Panic Dream Tone white foundation, so I'm going to continue to buy the Manic Panic foundation over this one since I prefer it.

Revlon Colorstay Ivory – Empty*:

One of my favorite foundations of all time, even if it's a little more pink than I prefer. It's super light, doesn't oxidize much on me, and applies like a dream. It keeps my skin looking good and doesn't make me look oily through the day. What a great foundation, I have three backups!

NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray – Empty*:

I haven't been into setting sprays as much as I probably should so this is the only one that I really do love. It doesn't add anything else to my face, and helps control oil, and soaks up any excess powder. It's a step that I sometimes forget and I definitely notice a better makeup day if I use it.

NYX Eyeshadow Single – Nude – Empty:

I wasn't using this as an eyeshadow, but rather as a really nice highlight. It was a little darker than my skin tone, but it looked fine layered nicely over a blush. It didn't have shimmer but it had a nice sheen to it that looked really natural.

Essence Gel Eyeliner – Midnight in Paris – Old:

I've had this eyeliner for what seems like forever. It's pigmented and it lasts a really long time. I forgot how much I enjoyed it until I started wearing it every day for work! The only reason I'm getting rid of it now is because after the haunt season, it started drying up. Plus it had baby powder in it too making it clump together. Wasn't going to be using it after that ...

H&M Angled and Crease Dual-Ended Brush – Broken*:

I love these brushes so much, just for the angled brush side. They're perfect for applying product to the eyebrows with great control. I get them for about a dollar or so when they go on sale, so when I find them, I stock up!

NYX Micro Brow Pencil – Ash Brown – Empty*:

I didn't get brow pencil hype, until I tried this. This is now my favorite product for filling in my brows. I can go stylized, or I can go natural, depending on the on the pressure or how much product I use.

Maybelline Master Shape Eyebrow Pencil – Soft Brown – Broken:

This was another brow pencil that I really liked, but after a while when I'd go to sharpen it (I tried three different sharpeners!) the wood would splinter and after one painful experience, I stopped using it. I think it was just this particular pencil, because some wood just isn't that great all the way through, so I might pick up another one in the future. I haven't decided yet. I did like how natural my brows looked when I used this though.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance – Old:

This product is okay, not a favorite of mine by a long shot. It kept separating and started being too much of a hassle, so I'm just pitching it so I can use other primers that I actually enjoy.

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Single – Sellout – Old:

Sellout is so pretty (dupe of the more recently released Cheeky). Since I have cheeky, I couldn't keep this. I shattered it ages ago, and re-pressed it, but it's too lose and just has so much fallout now that it gets everywhere. It's not practical.

Softlips Vanilla Lip Balm – Empty*:

I've been using these up like crazy. Downside of having a love for ultra matte liquid lipsticks. What can I say, I love the staying power, not so much the dryness afterwards. These little sticks have a lot of product in them, they moisturize my lips quickly and add a little plump to them.

Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner – Everlast – Empty*:

Still my favorite liquid liner ever. I wish it didn't gum up as quickly as it does, because after you use it for a few months, it starts getting really thick and goopy, making it take longer to dry and just so much more messy! Aside from that problem I still love it and can't wait to go out and get a new tube!

Revlon Precision Clear Lash Adhesive – Old:

I. Hate. This. Stuff. I used it when I worked at the Haunt, and while it did apply the lashes quickly and efficiently, the container is just shitty. No matter what I did, no matter how many times I wiped it clean, there would be product that would get in the tracks of the cap, and would glue the cap together. You can even see all the disgusting glue that got pushed out! I liked it enough to use it through the season, but I won't be repurchasing. Plus, it isn't waterproof so those two nights where I had tears in my eyes from pain/sickness my lashes fell right off.

ELF Makeup Remover Pen – Empty*:

I don't know what I did with myself before I started keeping one of these pens in my collection at all times. It's so easy to clean up little makeup messes, like messed up eyeliner or to really clean up eyebrows before going in with some concealer. It's just so nifty and can take an okay makeup day and make it a great makeup day.

CoverGirl Clump Crusher Waterproof – Empty*:

My favorite mascara. I have no hope of having huge, fluffy lashes because I just don't have the lashes for that without the help of falsies. However, this mascara makes what little lashes I have stand out, and that's more than good enough for me. Plus, the water resistant formula (I don't consider it waterproof because I have had myself a good few cries and it WILL come off. Also quite a few encounters with rain!) lasts me all day which is great so I don't have to worry about touch-ups.

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 *Asterisks are items I have backups of, or I plan to repurchase.

Thanks for reading!

December Top 10

Hello again readers!

Was it just me, or did December go by really fast? It just went by like a blur! With all of the holidays and events, I couldn't really take a breather. Now it's 2016, and I'm excited to take on this new year. Hoping that it's going to be better than that awful last year of 2015.

Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Matte Eyeshadow Palette:

I needed this palette far more often this year. I did a lot of looks which needed a neutral shadow in the crease, and I just reached for this since it has so many different shadows with different undertones. No matter the look, this palette has a shadow that will work for it.

Milani Luminoso Baked Blush:

I get the hype of this blush, and I always forget that I enjoy it. It's the same blush I used for my friend on her wedding. It gives quite the natural flush, which is odd for me, but I couldn't resist. I looked really put-together and healthy with just a few products, and this gave  me both a flush AND a glow. A double-duty product.

Notoriously Morbid Pigment – Hallelujah:

I really hate bringing this up, since you can't get it anymore, but I love it. Great for smoking out as an all-over-lid shade, and has just the right amount of blue sheen to add just a little touch of something extra. I was scared of using it, but what the hell, I gotta live a little!

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Nude Eyes – Black Eyeliner:

I've been into tight-lining my eyes for this month, making them look a bit smaller but really intense. I still haven't found the perfect liner, but I couldn't stop myself from reaching for this one. It goes on nicely and blends out almost too well. I'm still on the search, but this is good to have for the time being.

MakeUp ForEver Trio – M822 Plum , M846 Morello Cherry, ME302 Peacock:

I sort of cheated with this one, since technically these are three singles but I don't much care. I have been so impressed with these shadows this month and have reached for them often. I used Morello Cherry and Peacock for when I went out with my coworkers for our Christmas Party, and I was so impressed with how well they blended and applied. I have fallen in love!

L'Oreal Infallible Foundation – 101 Classic Ivory:

The only reason this is in  my favorites, is because out of all of my foundations, I've been reaching for this most. Which is a little ridiculous, because this shade doesn't match me at all! It goes on great, but I finally noticed (where I was still in the honeymoon "it's perfect!" stage last month) that it oxidizes too pink, and too dark. Damn, I really wanted this to work for me, but it doesn't. Oh well.

Rimmel London Scandal Eyes – Trespassing Taupe:

I've been really invested in simple, one shadow for the entire eye looks. This one is fantastic. It's a matte, warm taupe and I can apply it all over for a sunken-in, tired look. Which, though it sounds unappealing, I really enjoy the look.

NYX Liquid Suede – Stone Fox:

This is such a beautiful shade, and I put it on and couldn't keep my eyes off my mouth! It's a really great grey shade, without being too dark.

Nivea for Men Post Shave Balm for Sensitive Skin:

The return of this as a primer! I've been still so happy with this. It goes on SO easy and SO fast. Makes my routine go by faster.

Milani Matte Naked Lipstick:

This lipstick was my go-to this month for natural looking lips. It's comfortable, smells like cake, and goes on so smoothly.

Thanks for reading!

TKB Trading - Swatches

Hello again readers!

I'm really excited about this post (although, I'm excited about most posts to be honest), but this brand is something special. TKB Trading Company is a company that supplies micas, glitters, pigments, bases, tools, and so much more to companies, and to those passionate about makeup. 

The company features many pre-mixed formulations that you can wear right out of the bag, as well as ingredients that you can combine to make your own creations. 

I ordered all sample sizes (retail about $1.50+ depending on the product, sometimes even cheaper!), and was blown away with how much was included in each bag. Many Indie cosmetic companies that I buy from, ship out sample baggies (retailed for about $1 each) to try out their products before committing to the full-size (but they're so gorgeous you just can't help yourself a lot of the time!). With TKB, their sample sizes are HUGE. They have a nice weight to them, and there is so much product included it's like buying a full-sized Indie product.

Now, this isn't a post saying "Hey, don't buy from Indie companies!" because I love Indies, and a lot of their products are created with MANY different ingredients and not just one single bag. However, there are quite a few of these products that are just too good to pass up from TKB, and it's definitely worth a shot without taking away from the fun of Indies.

Mermaid's Gold:

I'm really impressed with this pigment. A beautiful yellow-gold with a green shift. The shift doesn't photograph well at all, and is much more intense in real life. I've used this as an eyeshadow and as a really intense highlight.

Chameleon Fine:

The most used duochrome ever. Rust-brown with a teal/blue shift. I'm so glad I can get a ton of this for cheap, as this is one of the best. It's exactly like the Makeup Geek Insomnia pigment, but SO much cheaper.

Nosy Be Chameleon:

The shift isn't as uniform, but the shimmer is more intense. A really beautiful shade. If you're a fan of duochromes, add this to your order.

Smokey XXX:

A plum-grey matte with a pink shift. Really gorgeous, and adds a beautiful effect to a smokey eye.

Ultramarine Blue:

If you're a fan of bright, matte blues, this one is for you. It does stain a little bit, and I find it works best over a base, but it's so freaking gorgeous. Darker in real lift, but pulls lighter in photos.

MyMix Slate:

Ready to wear matte light grey-blue pigment. Really pigmented, and so smooth.

Ferric Ferrocyanide:

Ferric Ferrocyanide I was hoping was going to be THE matte navy blue of my dreams. In the pouch, it's super intense. Of course, it was a pipe dream. You'd have to mix this in with another shade to make it work and so far I haven't been able to do that. I tried using a glitter glue since it won't adhere on it's own, and it just doesn't work out at all, it STILL comes out patchy even when I pat it onto the glue. I'm just not cut out for making my own cosmetics. My search for a perfect blackened navy continues...

Also, this will stain like crazy! If you touch it at all, you'll be dyed blue for days! Be careful of this ingredient!

Periwinkle Blue:
Well, as the name states, a matte Periwinkle Blue. I'm not sure if I really like the color, but the formula is nice. It's soft, and pretty pigmented. Easy to use.

Colorana Dark Blue:
Not that dark, just a blue shimmer. This is a really intense blue, and I wouldn't use this as anything except a lid color, or a pop of color on my lower-lashes.

Soft Aqua:

I was hoping that this would be a matte, but this is more of a satin aqua. It's a really beautiful aqua shade, and doesn't make me look sickly. Really impressed with the color.

True Green:

A green pigment with shimmer. I was really hoping it'd be a little darker, but I'm okay with this. I don't wear greens too often so it's not a huge deal.

Hydrated Chromium Oxide Green:

Similar to the Ferric Ferrocyanide, the Hydrated Chromium Oxide Green is just not cut out to be worn on it's own. In the packaging, it looks like a beautiful true green, but it's just not able to cling to the skin, even with glitter glue. What a shame it looked really pretty.

Soft Mauve:

A beautiful satin mauve. I've used this as eyeshadow, and as a blush. Such a beautiful soft shade. Very easy to wear.

MyMix Ariel:

 A burnt orange-red. I can't use this as a blush, but this would be so beautiful on people with darker complexions. I do however how it looks around my blue eyes as eyeshadow.

I am a HUGE fan of the "Hilight"/"Travel to ____" series of powders. They make the most beautiful, "alien" highlights ever. They of course aren't standard looking like champagne or gold, but they catch the light beautiful. I use them as highlighters, but they can be packed on top of other shadows, or bases to change the effect too, even as liner – so many possibilities!

I can definitely see these gaining a lot of popularity in the future, with the introduction of unique and out-there highlights introduced into the cosmetics industry.

Hilight Blue:

Sheer white base with blue shift.

Travel to Pluto:

Sheer white base with a green/silver/gold shift. Beautiful shade and something that I reach for more often than I care to admit. (A lot).

Travel to Mars:

Sheer white base that shifts to a pink/red.

Highlight Violet:

A sheer white base with a violet sheen. 

Chameleon Glitter:

A glitter version of Chameleon. A beautiful rust-brown base with a blue/teal shift. I wasn't sure if I liked this as much as the pigment, but it's such a more dazzling version that I couldn't resist adding all three to my collection. Glad to have it, and this one is the easiest glitter I own to apply.

Luminosity Glitter:

A fine silver/holographic glitter. This is the kind of glitter to reach for when you want to dazzle at a party, and looks really nice applied to the nails as well. 

I tried Luminosity as a polish, and it really is just another version of China Glaze's Fairy Dust. It's easy to make polishes with these, but it needs a good base with them to suspend the glitter in the product. Otherwise the glitter just sinks right to the bottom.

I also bought a baggie of Multi Flakies. It's just flakie glitter, nothing super amazing, but the best part is I could use it on my face, body, or nails depending on the look that I'm going for.

I really liked it on the nail. It's a more subdued version of a multi-colored flakie nail polish, so it's very soft. I've only tried it over black (my go-to for trying out glitters and toppers!) so I want to try it over different kinds of polishes too!

It looks a little cloudy on the nail, and I"m not sure if I would have had to put another base instead of a clear coat. On top of that, it settles to the bottom and NEEDS to be shaken up. I'm not too keen on having to put that much effort into a nail polish.

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Thanks for reading!

Urban Decay Single Eyeshadow - Faint, Roach, and Lounge

Hello again readers!

I tried out some Urban Decay eyeshadow singles. I've used shadows included in palettes, and so far I've been really pleased with them. Of course, it's never a guarantee that the quality of shadows in a palette or shadows in singles will be the same. During the Days of Beauty event at Ulta, I picked each of these up for 50% off, so I wanted to really get a feel for a few of the singles. I picked up a matte, a satin, and a duochrome.

Tease:
Matte taupe brown. This is a fantastic crease shade, and so smooth to the touch. Blends out easily and applies well.

Roach:
Burguny-brown satin. I'd almost say metallic, but especially when it's blended into the skin, it loses a lot of it's impact. Looks good as an all-over-the-lid shade, and in the crease.

Lounge:
Brick red with a teal green color shift. I am a sucker for duochromes and I certainly resist my favorite duochrome color scheme. Of course, it's also the most easily found duochrome color scheme. So, this shadow I held to a higher standard. In the swatch, it looks fantastic, after applying to the lid and into the crease, it looses that duochrome finish and just makes the shadow look dull and lifeless – like it has faded after hours of wear. It was disappointing to say the least, as a $20 shadow I wanted to really impress me and knock all the other dupes I have out of the water. Save your money, get a travel size of MAC's blue-brown pigment, and get the same duochrome color scheme but with a better application and overall look.

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I'm happy with Tease and Roach, but I returned Lounge. I have a couple other Urban Decay single shades that I've been looking at, but aside from those, I don't think I'll be expanding my collection much more than that. The formula is okay, but I'm never overly impressed with these.

Thanks for reading!

House of Uni Lipstick

Hello again readers!

If you're like me, you've taken a notice of beauty bloggers talking about House of Uni lipsticks. It started with swatches of Rum Punch, and then a swatch of Fountain Lust sealed the deal for me. I checked them out, debated on buying from them, and then jumped on them when there was a buy three for $20 sale.

Each of the lipsticks comes in a gold plastic tube. The tops have little clear stickers with "House of Uni" printed on them. The bottoms have a white sticker with the shade names.

The packaging looks nice, but it feels cheap. I'm more impressed with a lipstick that's ugly but feels sturdy, over a lipstick that looks beautiful but feels like it's going to break if I hold it too tightly.

To be honest, I have no idea how many ounces/grams are in each lipstick. I wasn't really pleased with that, as each of these lipsticks regularly retail for $9 (The site says $10, but every time I've checked the site it says that they're marked down to $9) so not knowing exactly how much you're getting isn't ideal. Although, by the look of the lipstick alone, it looks like  a standard sized lipstick.

The other packaging issue I had, is that each of these shades is poured differently? Fountain Lust is poured like a standard bullet lipstick with a pointed tip. Rum Punch and Blackberry has a flatter pour. It makes it harder to apply, and it frustrates me greatly. You'd think they'd all be poured into similar molds.

Fountain Lust:

A beautiful teal semi-matte opaque lipstick. I can apply this quickly, no liner, and it looks perfect. It doesn't wash me out, and for having a lipstick with green tones in it, it doesn't pull out the yellow tones of my skin, and doesn't make me look sickly. It's such a beautiful lipstick to have, and this formula has been a pleasure to work with.

My favorite shade, even with it's flaws. The flaws being, that even though it's easy to apply, that it smells like gross fake cherry flavoring. It's disgusting. I'd prefer my lipsticks to have no flavor, hell, I'd settle for the crayon-flavor over cherry. It makes me hate wearing this lipstick ...

Rum Punch:

A true cobalt blue shade. This shade is more like a crelly – a mixture of a sheer jelly, and a creme formula. It makes the color come off as streaky. If I put it on top of a primer, or even a lipliner, it makes it more opaque, but it needs a little help. It will go all over the place, and fades from the inside of my mouth quickly. It needs constant touch-ups to keep looking good.

The formula was so strange, because even though it was smooth, it had a bit of grit to it. Like chunks of pigment weren't broken down enough. It made wearing the lipstick uncomfortable. It also smelled like traditional play lipstick, the kind of crayon-scented lipstick you'd use as a kid. I prefer this over the cherry flavoring of Fountain Lust, but it's still not great.

Blackberry:

A beautiful blackened violet shade with warm undertones, this is what I wanted NYX Wicked Lippy in Betrayal to be like, color-wise. It has a similar crelly finish, where it's not too sheer, but it's not fully opaque either. This is another shade that needs some TLC to get to work best. I can't wear this without a lipliner, because it's such a smooth formula that it'll just slide right off! With how dark this shade is, it also needs constant touch-ups.

The texture was consistent with this shade, but it also had the issue of smelling like crayons.

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With the differences in flavor, and pour, as well as having the grit issue with Rum Punch, makes me not want to buy from this company again. I really love Fountain Lust, and will continue to wear it even if I HATE the flavor of it, but I know I can depend on it lasting longer than an hour without touching it up. For $9 a lipstick, I expect it to be better. I'd rather buy something else with my money, and though I won't have as many color options, I'd rather have something that I can depend on.

Thanks for reading!

ColourPop Super Shock Shadows & Blush

Hello again readers!

I'm really happy to start doing the reviews of my ColourPop collection. I've been placing orders and really getting a feel for certain products. I love some, I'm okay with others, and so far I haven't hated anything which is a good sign (just not for my wallet)!

Starting with the Super Shock Shadows/Pigments, I'm really sort of surprised with them. They have a mousse texture that dries down to a powder finish. They're $5 a piece,  soft to the touch, and a bit of fun to press around in the pan since they're malleable. 

A few things to note is that since they are a wet formula, they can't be depotted. This is frustrating for anyone that wants a large collection of ColourPop shadows, but doesn't want to sacrifice the space to house the products. It's also frustrating that for each shadow I want to use, I have to unscrew the product. It's something really silly to be frustrated over, but I've always preferred a pigment or pressed powder shadow for this reason, since you don't have to store them in air-tight containers.

I really couldn't resist the Forever Freshman set (since sold out! sorry for the inconvenience!) since it contains a few of my favorite things: 90's culture and beautiful shadows.

Crimper: Light metallic gold with gold glitter
This one is more like a shadow I'd pat in the center of my lid, compared to all over my lid. It's pretty, but it's not pigmented enough to be worn on it's own in my opinion.

As If: Mid-tone matte brown
This was a little "dry" to work with, and needed a few layers for best application. I like using this in my crease shade, so it works perfectly for that!

Melrose: Matte rust
My favorite shade in this collection. I can't get enough of it. The pigmentation is really good, and it makes the blue in my eyes pop! I wish they kept this on permanently.

Koosh: Metallic silver-taupe

I'm a sucker for a good taupe, and Koosh is no exception. It always looks good on my eyes, and the formula and pigmentation are really good.

90210: Grey-tone taupe with gold and pink glitter

Another shade that I wish they kept on permanently, because it's just such a beautiful shade. The pigmentation was phenomenal, and the color really pops even on the lid. This shadow does have a bit of fallout if I blend, but it's nothing too major and it's easy enough to wipe away.

 Baby T: Navy blue with blue sheen
This said it was a matte, but it has a sheen to it that just makes it look more like a satin. I was really disappointed, because I thought it was going to be the answer to my matte navy prayers. How sad. When blended out the sheen isn't as prevalent, but I don't wear this all over the lid for that reason.

 Doe-A-Deer: Matte blackened violet

I had high expectations for this color (one of the first shadows I ever bought) and I was really let down. The shade isn't bad, but the formula is really bad. It's patchy, and requires a ton of layers to build up to full opacity. I don't know what it is about this shade, but it just doesn't want to work out.

Downtown: Matte cool-toned taupe

I can't find this on the ColourPop website anymore, and that's a crying shame. This is such a beautiful cool taupe, that's perfect for the crease or blended all over the lid. It's very rich in pigmentation and easy to use. Really if it wasn't for this shade, I never would have bought another ColourPop shadow again.

Central Perk: Matte dark burgundy
This is such a beautiful color, but a little hard to work with. It wants to be patchy so bad, even though it can be blended out it takes some time to work with it. I find it to be worth it, because it's such a beautiful color (and a FRIENDS reference!).

Plaid: Blackened Olive

I was just a sucker for the entire fall line to be honest, and a blackened green? Sign me up! I only like deep greens really, and this is just such a beautiful shade for the lid. Incredibly pigmented and easy to apply.

Straight Trippin': Matte blackened violet
This is such a deep shade. It needs a couple of layers to have full opacity, but it's so well worth it. It's intense, it's deep, and it's very flattering to wear. I'm really pleased with this shade.

Mixed Tape: Mid-tone cool taupe grey

It's not quite a taupe, but not quite a grey either. It's a beautiful middle ground shade, that looks incredibly all over the lid. It catches the light just enough to be interesting, without being a metallic or a shimmer.

Straight Trippin' and Doe-A-Deer are incredibly different, even if they're approached in the same way. They're both blackened violets, where Straight Trippin' has far more black, and is far more pigmented over Doe-A-Deer which is lighter and more patchy. Straight Trippin' is a much better use of your money, and everything I wanted Doe-A-Deer to be.

Above is Mixed Tape, which has compmletely fallen out. I'm not sure what sort of glue they used, but it's an awful adhesive. It felt like gel when I went to scrape it off, like it's wet and never dried. This isn't the only one I've had issues with either.

Straight Trippin', As If, 90210, Crimper, and Plaid have all been loose. Either I can feel them shaking when I pick up the container, or when I go to use them, the pan moves around making it harder to pick up pigment. 

And it's only the new products. I wish that this wasn't the case, because it makes me really hate reaching for them. I can't super-glue the pans back in, because I don't want the toxic fumes to get anywhere near these cream products. I'll have to hot-glue them back in as soon as I can find my hot-glue gun. Very disappointing in that regard, which makes me not want to buy more.

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Aphrodisiac: Neutral Matte Blush

I reach for this blush all of the time, so much that I'm almost hitting pan! The pigmentation is really good, and it's a very flattering blush on my face.  The formula is similar to the Super Shock shadows, where it's a mousse-like texture that dries to a powder finish. I use a stipple brush to apply it, and it blends into the skin like a dream, I was really impressed with how easy it was to apply and blend. I'm not interested in any other colors from the blush range but I really enjoy this one. If the rest of the shades are anything like Aphrodisiac, then they are well worth the $8 price tag.

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Thanks for reading!