2014 Empties #3

Hello again readers!

So this is the last empties post of 2014! Out with the old, in with the new, and this time around, there is a LOT of stuff that's going. I recently went through my entire collection, and got rid of the products that were too old to use (even by my standards) so I went ahead and got rid of them. I also finished a lot too (mostly lipsticks) because I wanted them gone. 

Asterisks are products that I would repurchase, or have backups of already.

Body

 Finesse ReVitality Volumize and Correct Conditioner - Empty*

Not Your Mothers Beach Babe Texturizing Shampoo - Empty*

April Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Wash  - Empty*

Skin Milk Shower Gel - Empty*

Eucerin Skin Calming Lotion - Empty

Bath and Body Works Vampire Blood Hand Sanitizer - Empty* :( I'm sad because I went to stock up on this particular scent, and I missed out this year. Hopefully they'll bring the plum scent sometime in the near future... Sugar Plum works for now.

Crest Toothpastes - Empty

Degree Fresh Deoderant - Empty. I figured out that deodorants that cater to females just don't work for me. They're not strong enough. Such a shame, because they have some amazing scents that I now miss out on. Boo.

Face

 Apricot Face Scrub - Empty*

Cetaphil Daily Cleanser - Empty

Sea Breeze Facial Wash - Empty*

Neutrogena Foaming Face Wash - Empty

Equate Daily Face Wash - Empty

ELF Daily Brush Cleaner - Empty*

Botanical Choice Charcoal Nose Pore Strips - Empty

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes - Empty*

Face Products

 Revlon Nearly Naked Ivory Foundation - Depotted

L'Oreal True Match Alabaster Foundatin - Depotted

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation - Classic Ivory - Empty

Aziza Buff Beige Liquid Foundation - Old*

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer - Empty

Obscure Blush Brush - It's falling apart it needed to go. 

ELF HD Setting Powder - Empty*

Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Translucent Light Foundation - Empty

Wet n Wild Fergie Take on the Day Mattifying Powder - Empty. It still has a teeny bit of product left, but I hated this powder so much it wasn't even worth it.

Maybelling Fit Me Concealer in Light - Old. It's such a shame that these don't come a bit lighter, because they are AMAZING concealers, and this concealer did wonders, but it was too dark for me, and oxidized darker. What a shame. 

L'Oreal True Match Compact in Alabaster - Old. I have had this for YEARS. I am completely ashamed.

ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium - Old*

Isn't this just the most satisfying sight?

Lip Products

Milani Color Statment Lipstick in Fruit Punch, Uptown Mauve, and Best Red - Empty

NYX Butter Lipstick in Lollies - Empty

ELF Blackberry Creme Soothing Lip Balm - Empty
ELF Essential Lipstick in Fantasy - Broken
Nivea A Kiss of Mint & Minerals, and Milk & Honey - Empty
Revlon Creamsicle Lip Butter - Empty
Wet n Wild Fuchsia with Blue Pearl Lipstick - Old
Wet n Wild Megalast Sugar Plum Fairy and (not pictured) Cherry Bomb - Old**
Wet n Wild Megalast Vamp it Up - Empty*
BlackHeart Beauty Pink and Purple Lip Palette - Old. It had mold when I got it and I swatched it anyway and it was not worth my time at all.
ELF Heartbreaker Lip Stain - Just awful
ELF Matte Lip Color in Coral - Empty
Wet n Wild Fantasy Makers Black Lipgloss - Old. Old as balls. I've had this forever and I should be ashamed all over again.
ELF Balm Stain - Berry and Grapefruit - Old* I love Grapefruit, so I'm going to pick that one up again, but I'm passing on Berry. I'm just not a big red fan anymore.

Primers and Bases

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Sky Blue, Black Bean, and Milk - Old. So old that they have separated and caused the plastic packaging to bubble. Incredibly alarming. I have jumbo pencils that I find to be easier to use, so I'll use those instead.
Wet n Wild Fergie Take on the Day Shimmer Primer - Old. Not bad for a shimmery primer, but I don't use shadows that I want to amplify that often, and I'd rather use my Barely Branded Color Tattoo in place of this. Not a bad product though, just not the perfect fit for me.
Wet n Wild Fergie Take on the Day Primer - Old. * I know not everyone likes this one, but I do. It works really well on my lids. I might pick up another tube, but not in the near future since I have some other tubes I need to work on first.
Too Faced Shadow Insurance - Empty.* I thought I'd like this more, and I just didn't. It's really misleading, because the packaging sucks up so much air when you're using it, so you can't really tell for sure when you're going to run out (I even used a toothpaste squeezy) until nothing else comes out. I have a little sample of this primer as a backup.
Urban Decay Primer Potion - Empty.* I liked this primer, but it's not one that I NEED to have. I have a sample though.
ELF Eyelid Primer - Empty* I have others on hand that I can use, and I like it for whenever I really want to amp up swatches so they have something tackier to cling to, but I'm over it for my own lids. I have better primers out there, and I don't mind the extra splurge on them.

Eye Products

Covergirl Shimmering Onyx Eyeshadow Single - Old.

Wet n Wild Panther Eyeshadow Single - Old. * Whenever I run out of my other matte black, I want to get this one again. A great matte black, and for only a couple bucks. You can't go wrong and i lasts you forever.

Jordana Easy Liner in Denim Blue, Blue Devine, and Black - Old

Jordana Fabuliner in Brown and Black - Old

Wet n Wild Coloricon Eyeliner in Boysenberry - Old

ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Midnight - Empty, or at least dried up like a desert.

ELF Liquid Eyeliner in Black, Silver, and Copper - Old. * I do have a backup of black, it's not bad for a liquid liner, but it's sure as hell not waterproof. I'd pass on the others, since they're not my style. 

L.A.Colors. Eyeliner/Eyebrow Pencils - Old

NYX Extreme Blue Studio Liquid Liner - Old*

Mascaras

Maybelline Great Lash - I see Blue - Old. If I could, I would get another tube of this. I really like how it looks on my lashes, but my best best is at Big Lots or something. I can try!
Jordana Best Lenth Extreme - Old. Compared to the Best Lash Extreme, all of their other mascaras are just damn disappointing.
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Lycra Flex - Old. I liked this mascara at first, but it just didn't wow me. It got clumpy and the wand is ginormous.
Rimmel London Extra POP Lash - Old. Comic Sans. Really? The colors looked pretty great, but as a black mascara this was mediocre. It just coated the lashes, and though the colors could get by, this one just didn't make the cut. It was basic.
Sally Girl Bright Mascara Red - Old. I will miss these, because red mascara is such an odd thing to have and I liked wearing red lashes. They were really great for 50 cents a piece though!
ELF Black Glitter Mascara - God awful. In the tube it looks like magical unicorn tears, and on the lashes (or as a liner) it's nothing but disappointment. Hard. Crusty. Crumbly. Not something you want around your eyes. Ever.
CK One Mascara - Old. I got this as the free gift for my birthday and I hated it. It flaked like crazy, and the wand (though hella cool and serves a purpose) just didn't do it for me. The packaging is pretty awkward looking too. Not my cup of tea.
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara - God awful. This mascara was a complete trainwreck for me. The first time I put it on, I loved it. It looked phenominal, my lashes looked so fluffy and amazing, and then within an our it flaked off onto my undereye area and my cheeks and disappeared. It really hated me, and I hated it too. The feeling was mutual.

I gotta say, I am SO glad I got rid of a lot of this stuff. There's other things I purged too, and put into my giveaway bin for my friends to go through at their leisure but they were still usable with some sanitizing. Having all of these things out of my collection is like a breath of fresh air, and makes room for new things to come into play so I can have space for them. 2015, here I come!

Thanks for reading!

December Top 10

Hello again readers!

This month has just flown by, hasn't it? I finished the fall semester of Uni (which was a roller coaster, I can't believe how many papers I managed to write) and have been taking it incredibly easy since. I've been decently social, and I've been doing some self-reflecting, resting, and relaxing during my break which was something I was really looking forward to. :) 

December Top 10

Black by Rue 21:

I can't reach for this enough. I really like wearing cologne on some days, and this is one of my favorites. It smells great, especially on my skin, which is a miracle in some cases. It doesn't smell overwhelming, and I like wearing it. It's inexpensive too, at 10 dollars, so I don't see it as an issue to replace it in the future.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer:

I got this in a sample kit, and I just sort of fell right in love with it. It's a little tricky to work with, because the tiniest tap against the powder, picks up a lot of pigment, and if I pick up too much it makes my face look muddy - but if I do it right, it looks fantastic. I like the smell, I like the look if I want to warm up my cheeks, and I can see this lasting me for a really long time too.

ELF High Definition Undereye Setting Powder:

The first time I ever opened this I thought for sure I'd hate it, because there is a fine shimmer, and I'm glad it proved me wrong. It makes the concealer under my eyes hold up throughout the day (a blessing for my dark circles and discoloration) and adds just the right amount of brightness too. I love it, and use it everyday. A little goes a long way!

NYX Nude Mate Shadow - Skinny Dip:

Gosh dang have I been reaching for this eyeshadow single! I used it on Christmas, I used it just because. It's not too over the top, but it's a great pop of color when I don't want something too overwhelming. 

Beauty MP Pump for Revlon Colorstay:

I was a little skeptical, witht he pump not really fitting as snug as I expected it to, but holy cow, this is a life saver! This is my favorite foundation of all time, and I used to waste so much product because I'd pour it on the back of my hand, and then pour too much. So I'd go through it quickly. This dispenses the perfect amount of product, and it's just -- Love.

Bath and Body Works Forever Red Vanilla Rum Perfume:

This is my feminine fragrance choice for December. With all of the events and holidays, I just wanted to wear something with a little extra. It has the scents that I love from the Forever Red fragrance, but a little bit muskier (I call it 'boozy', with the rum notes in the fragrance but that's apparently not that classy) that just suit me well. I reached for it a lot, and just enjoy having it on my skin.

MAC Kitschmas Pigment:

I finally caved and bought this pigment, and I'm so happy to have it in my collection. It's rather odd, because it's a little hard to really get a proper description on it. It's a lilac, but also pink, but also silver, and completely flashy. It looks great on it's own, with a base, but it was the perfect lid color for me. I used this instead of a nude pigment when I decided to wear makeup, and I can't get enough of it. 

DarlingGirl Cosmetics Soft Focus Blush - Greyicious Lilac:

I don't use this for a blush at all, because it's a great contour shade for me. I just swipe some on my skin and blend it out and it reads as shadows. I was incredibly pleased by how much I reached for this, and I just can't get enough. I can definitely see myself picking up a large size of this when I finally run out, it's so gorgeous!

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick - Canvas:

Finally bit the bullet and bought this. I've wanted to try these out, and this seemed like the perfect one for me, and I was right. It's incredibly flattering on the lips, and I love it so much. It dries to a matte finish, but isn't uncomfortable or drying on me.

Physicians Formula Eye Booster -  Ultra Black:

I didn't like this when I first used it, but now I haven't really touched my other liners much at all. Once I got the hang of it, I found it super easy and quick to apply, whether I wanted a thin line, or a thick line. Making a wing is also incredibly easy, and the formula is wonderful. It lasts all day, looks great, and holds up fantastically well.

Well, that wraps it up for the last favorites of the year. What a year it's been. I really hope next year is better.

Thanks for reading!

Softlips Balms and Cube - Vanilla Bean

Hello again readers!

I'm still searching for the perfect balm, and today I have a few contenders!

The traditional balms are pretty cute. Small, compact, and you can easily toss one in your purse without taking up too much space. They come in a variety of flavors, and to top it off, they're pretty darn inexpensive, usually around a dollar.

Birthday Cake is one of my least favorite Softlips flavors. It doesn't really resemble cake at all, and was just unpleasant. 

Vanilla on the other hand, was fantastic. Smelled great, tasted pretty good (it's inevitable that you eat some of your lip product when you're wearing it) and made my lips feel so soft! Definitely would pick this one up if I found it in a pack on it's own.

The cubes are a new addition to the Softlips line, and I wanted to try one for a while now. I picked out Vanilla Bean, because really vanilla is one of my favorite kind of lip scents that I can't get enough of.

The packaging is really unique. It's sort of like an EOS balm, but since it's square, it gives it a little extra. These are easier to store, I think, because you can just stack them, or place them neatly into a drawer. They might not be as attractive as a decoration though, if you choose to store your balms in plain sight.

The balm has a very sweet scent. Not overwhelming, but  not subtle either. The balm itself is what I wish the EOS balms were like - smooth to apply, and actually soaked into the lips. Using this balm is a pleasure, because after a while my lips feel moisturized and comfortable, and not tight and dry.

The downside I have for this balm, is that it has a bit of mint oil in it, because then it makes my lips sting just a little bit. It's one of the reasons that I'm not overly fond of mint flavors for around my mouth. It doesn't really do well for me, but since it's not an uncomfortable feeling, just odd, I don't see a large problem with it, but it is noticeable!

I wasn't a fan of the Birthday Cake flavor, but the other two did well in my book. 

Thanks for reading!

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in Wine Room

Hello again readers,

I was sure that I would get at least two more, but this is the last color in the permanent line that I wanted for my collection. Take that as you will, but I'm pleased I have some self control (if only I had more...)

I thought at first this would be a dark shade, but I was really pleased with how it really looked. Instead of wine, it looks more like wine-stained lips. Not too unnatural, and so pretty. A great lipstick to swatch on and go.

Thanks for reading!

OOTD

Hello again readers!

I think I'm starting to get the whole 'fashionable' thing. Which is really relative to each individual person, but at least now I'm getting compliments. It's kind of nice, really. 

Working with a lot of really fashionable people is always a little harsh, since they always look so good, and I usually look like I rolled right out of bed, even with effort! 

It just takes the right kind of items.

Jumper: Rue 21

Skirt: KMart
Tights: Walmart
Shoes: Payless

It looks a bit like i'm wearing a dress, but it's really just a neon yellow jumper over a cami and a skirt. I really like how this looks, and I'm really pleased I managed to find a good combination to use the neon jumper!

Also I tried on the Coach earrings I got from my boss, and I really like them. They were given out during Fashion Week (not sure if it was STL or not, but I'm assuming so). They're not super fancy, guaranteed sterling silver and cubic zirconium, but they look fantastic.

Thanks for reading!

November Top 10

Hello again readers!

Can you believe it's already December? Geez, it seems like the days go by faster and faster. In two weeks, I'll be done with this semester of Uni, and then I have just one more! Everything is going by so fast, I just can't even believe it.

November Top 10

Urban Decay Smoked Palette:
A new addition to my collection. I am so pleased with it, and can't believe it took me years to get it! I can go more natural, or go super over-the-top. It's perfection.

Hard Candy Spicy and Sweet Fox in a Box:
I haven't reached for it in a while, but with fall, and soon to be winter kicking my butt, I need a little extra help looking healthy and alive. It helps so my cheeks don't look blotchy or too-white.

H & M Nude Glow Highlighter:
I wasn't sure I'd like it, because it looked a bit like Becca Highlighter in Opal, but I was so surprised with how much I loved it! It went so well on my cheeks, and so smooth, and now I'm a little mad at myself because i had to put Opal on my wishlist! I get such a nice glow with this product,t hat I can't help but love it.

Clean &  Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer:
I needed a new morning moisturizer to wear for the day, and with the dryer time of the year upon me, I need to make sure my dryer skin stays as moist as possible. This is a great moisturizer, that puts moisture back into my skin, and allows me to put on my makeup soon after. It absorbs so quickly!

ELF Mineral Blemish Powder:
This stuff is a miracle in a jar. It isn't a concealer, far from it, but putting it on my face with my makeup, and at night, heals my acne so much faster! I was skeptical at first, but trying it myself I can see the difference on how fast my acne heals. I can't see myself living without it anymore, and since  it's not necessary to use a lot of product, this little jar will last such a long time.

ELF Hydrating Under Eye Primer:
I didn't think to treat my under eye area any different than the rest of my face, and I know how horrid that can sound. Your eye area is really sensitive, with some of the thinnest, most delicate skin on your entire body! This primer goes on nice and slick, and dries tacky. I hated that fact at first, but then I realized that it latches on and holds onto the concealer you put on your under eye area! It doesn't move around like if were to use a more silicone-based primer, and I have quickly fallen in love.

Revlon Nearly Naked Ivory Foundation:
I didn't like this at first, but now I really, really do. Compared to the Colorstay formula, this formula is a light to medium coverage. If you prefer a look more natural, or your skin looks good without foundation, this would be the ideal choice. I was a little fearful that it would look bad with my oily skin, but even when I start looking oily, I don't look disgusting, more like a natural glow. It's easy enough to take care of with a couple of oil blotting sheets and some powder, and I can see this working out well for the winter, since the formula isn't drying.

Mac Blue Brown Pigment (Size to Go): 
I have been wanting this pigment for ages, even before Wet n Wild released their Comfort Zone palette. It's been a coveted shade that I've been looking forward to, and I finally caved in and bought it when I was offered free shipping through the newsletter. I am so in love. It looks great by itself, smoked out, layered with other shades, I've even used it as an eyeliner! For a strange color, it's really versatile. I want to try it as a blusher too, to see how well that works out.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance:
Not sure if it's a favorite because I really like it, or because it's what I've been wanting to use up. This formula is sticker than the UDPP, and I find it really grips shadows better. Though, this can be great for base colors, it c an make it worse for blending shadows out. It would need a translucent powder placed on top for easier blending.

NYX Brunette Eyebrow Gel:

I went out and bought these when they first launched, and I still LOVE them. I switch between blonde and brunette (depending on how dramatic I want my brows). It's tricky to use at first, trickier than a pencil, or a powder, heck, even a pomade, but once you get it down it looks fantastic.

Thanks for reading!

Urban Decay Smoked Palette

Hello again readers!

I have been lusting after this palette for years, and never was able to commit to buying it. I'd see it, and I'd want it, but spending that chunk of cash just wasn't something I could afford to drop on one product until recently.

The packaging on the box is very smooth. Just to the touch, the packaging itself feels luxurious, like the Too Faced Packaging.

The palette itself is a little strange. It has a fabric covered cardboard casing, which collects SO much dirt/product onto the surface. The picture above is before I even got to use the shadows, and you can see how dirty it looks already. It's also pretty bulky, and zips shut, which I haven't seen in another palette that I can remember. It's strange, but it's memorable.

I wish it didn't have this kind of packaging, since it's time consuming to get into it, and it gets dirty so quickly. The only upside I can see to having a zipper, is that it won't burst open if you travel with it. Otherwise, if you just keep it in your collection or in your makeup area, it seems useless.

The palette inside, has a mirror, ten eyeshadows, and a full-sized eyeliner. 

In the box, it supplies you with a really adorable mini (top) Urban Decay Primer Potion. I have it next to my travel-sized  UDPP, and you can see that the primer that comes in the palette is still smaller. Though it's small, the primer will last a long time, especially if you change our your primers like I do.

There is also a booklet inside that gives detailed instructions for creating some looks, but I don't keep that on hand since I'd rather go with trial and error to see what works for me.

This was my first Urban Decay eyeliner pencil that I own, and I was happy that it was in black. I use black liners over any other shade, and if it turned out to be brown I wouldn't get any use out of it.

The eyeliner is incredibly creamy and smooth. This was one swipe over my arm, and I didn't have to press down to get pigmentation, similar to my Milani and Jordana gel eyeliner pencils. 

Since it's so creamy, it's easily blendable, and easy to smoke out, making it a great addition to the palette.

However, it just doesn't work out for me. I haven't found an eyeliner that i can wear comfortably in my waterline yet without major smudging, and even with setting this eyeliner with a powder, I still get smudging and mega wear through the day. It just doesn't hold up for me. 

The shadows however, being the reason that I wanted this palette in the first place, do not disappoint. In the palette, they give you four mattes, and six shimmers that can be used to make a multitude of eyeshadow looks, from casual everyday to club-worthy.

Each of the shadows are buttery smooth, with great pigmentation. Aside from the black and brown, they all go on on incredibly easy and build up to full opacity.

Kinky: 

Matte Cream

Freestyle: 

Matte peach/tan. I use this as my blending shade.

Mushroom: 

Taupe Shimmer. Favorite shade out of the palette, but that's not so surprising.

Backdoor: 

Matte Brown.

Blackout: 

Matte Black. Pretty pigmented for a black, and it can also go on pretty sheer if you tap it into the product. Not the best black I've ever used, but one that I will use up.

 Barlust: 

An almost coppery, brown shimmer. Beautiful color, and I didn't expect to like it as much as I do.

 Rockstar:  

Plum shimmer.

Evidence: 

Blackened cobalt shimmer.

Loaded:

 Blackened emerald shimmer. One of my other favorites. It goes on so effortlessly and smooth. I love it!

Asphault: 

A silver grey shimmer. Perfect for all over the lid with some smoked out eyeliner.

--

All of these colors were perfect choices for a palette like this. An easy smokey eye, no matter if you want to go more natural, or really out there.

I was incredibly impressed with the wear, the pigmentation, and the feel of these shadows. They didn't disappoint, and this palette was well worth the 29 dollars.

I think that this *might* be discontinued, since I can no longer find it on the Urban Decay site. If you don't want to miss out like I might have if I didn't jump on it, go out and see if you can find it in store! I got mine from Ulta, so try there. Free shipping, and free samples if you order it that way!

Thanks for reading!

MAC Large Duo Pro Palette

Hello again readers!

This week I am going to upload all of my higher end makeup reviews and swatches that I've been holding onto. 

Today I have the Mac Large Duo Pro Palette!

This is my first MAC purchase, and I wanted to note how great the box itself felt. It's light cardstock, but it feels really sleek and luxurious. I know, look at me waxing poetic about a box, but it did feel nice.

The palette is made out of a hard black plastic, also smooth to the touch.  The issue that I have with this palette, is that it shows off fingerprints. If you have product, or oil, or anything at all on your finger tips, it will transfer onto the surface of this palette, making it look dirty. Just from taking it out of the box to photograph, it had oil transfer! Not a good look.

The inside of the palette has a clear plastic divider, keeping shadows in their respective places. The reason I chose this palette over the others, is that I can use both sides to store shadows.

The palette itself is magnetized, perfect for MAC shadows and other shadows like MORPHE, but not so great for shadows that you depotted from other palettes. I had to buy a strip of magnet from Walmart, but that itself didn't put me back much, and I still have most of it, since you don't need a lot for the eyeshadow pans.

I stored the shadows that I depotted from the ELF 36 pan pallete, my ELF beauty books, my Profusion palette, my eyeshadow set from Emma, and my ELF Eyeshadow single (already magnetized).

It holds a lot, but as you can see there is some big gaps between the small pans and the large pans from ELF. It's not a huge deal, but I can see myself having issues in the future because of this empty space.

I really do like this palette! I got it for 8 dollars and some change with free shipping since I don't live close to one of their stores or counters. It arrived within a week, and the quality is fantastic for an 8 dollar product. I definitely see myself buying another one when I fill this one up, since it's so easy for me to store eyeshadows in.

Thanks for reading!

OOTD

Hello again readers!

I thought I'd post an outfit I wore a while back. I've been really... underwhelming when it comes to my fashion choices. I make good makeup choices, but my fashion usually consists of jeans, a t-shirt, and some kind of canvas shoe... Not really something I'd call fashionable, and it is really boring and repetitive.

This was a while ago, but I do remember it was on a Friday. I wanted to wear something really comfortable since I only had the one class, and I wanted to be able to just kick my shoes off and laze around in bed after I got back.

I wore my favorite Hale hoodie (go Derek!) that I bought online, a pair of yoga capris I bought from Rue 21, and my Zoo York canvas shoes. I really liked how simple the look was, and I still felt really cute.

 My hair was also a complete wreck, so I wore my cyan wig as well. I finally got around to cutting the fringe so it's not in my eyes, but now it sort of looks a bit like Coconut Head... luckily I can change the look by brushing the hair around a bit to fall differently. My next step is to add in some extra layers.

That same day I had to go drop my car off at the shop, and dad made me take my wig off. I'm sure if my hair was longer, I wouldn't mind crazy colored eyebrows, but since my hair is so short, they're incredibly noticeable. I looked rather silly, but since I was going to put my wig right back on it wasn't worth it to remove them.

I need to start drawing them on like this again, they've gotten a little crazy.

Thanks for reading!

ELF Halloween Cosmetics

Hello again readers!

There are still so many after-Halloween goodies just waiting out there, and I have a few here to show you that I scooped up during the sales. All from ELF, of course.

Essential Nail Polish - Red

The packaging is the same as the other essential polishes, but the difference is that it's decorated for Halloween. The cap has a spiderweb design on it. Honestly, I did buy it for that feature alone (and on sale it was pennies) so I can't complain.

Red is a basic red creme, you can never have to many in your collection. The polish smells like how I know ELF polishes to be - heavy scented. Smells a bit like spray paint, but I'm very happy with the application. It took two coats to be fully opaque. I'll have better swatches up in the future.

Glitter Mascara - Black

I've never tried any of their Glitter Mascaras before, but since it was so cheap and looked great in the tube, I thought why not?

I really hate everything but how it looks, however. As a mascara, it's terrible. It just clumps my lashes together. you can't even see the iridescent glitter on the lashes, so it's not worth it. As a liner, it's better, but I still have to put it over an existing black (see bottom swatch) eyeliner to get it pigmented enough. With that extra step, I am better off just layering the next product to get a similar effect.

 Liquid Eyeliner - Stardust

I am a fan of their liquid eyeliners, even if they don't last the longest on me. They go on just so easily, that I can't help but love them. The tube is nothing special, a clear base with a shiny black plastic handle. Easy to hold in your hand while applying. The applicator for this is a brush applicator, which is my favourite applicator for liquid eyeliners. Plus, at a dollar (or cheaper if you find them on sale) a piece is super sweet, so you can get a variety.

Stardust is an iridescent glitter in a pale pink base. The color of the base of this product doesn't affect how it looks if you layer it. The issue I have with this one, is it is so much base, that the glitter is sparse. This possibly could be built up, but i can see it crumbling if it's applied too thick. It works best layered over another eyeliner.

Essential Lipstick - Red and Pink

The classic essential lipstick, packaged for Halloween. Generally, these are packaged in a silver base with a silver cap, but this time around they're in a clear cap with a black base.

I have to say, for Red, the cap just doesn't work. It falls off incredibly easily, and it is not safe to store anywhere but upright unless it's taped shut.

 Red is a cool-toned red. I found it to be a bit patchy to apply, but the product itself feels creamy.

Pink is a bright pink, and swatching it on my arm gave me no issues. The product also feels creamy.

Red is so creamy that it doesn't want to stay anywhere. I found it difficult to apply, and within seconds it faded from the inside of my lips, but not the edges. It moves around too easily, and will feather through the day.

On the arm, I love pink, on the lips, less so. The color likes to settle in the lines of my lips, and though I can apply more to avoid that, it just settles in like a magnet. It also feathers easily as well.

I don't know, this just didn't hit the mark for me. I don't see myself wearing either.

Duo Eyeshadow - Glitter

I picked this one out of the two duos offered (there was also a violet and green duo) because I would get more wear out of it.

Glitter is a pink shimmer on top of a brass shadow. The shadows feel really smooth, but I also see a lot of fallout when I use it.

 The product goes on beautifully. Easy to swatch, easy to use. Since they're so soft, they blend easily, so any eyeshadow look I make goes on great. I like using the pink in my inner part of my eye, and then the brass on the outer v and blending them together. Great look.

 Vampire Beauty Book

I was only going to get one book this year, but since it ended up being 70 percent off when I found this, I thought why not and bought this one too.

In these Halloween kits, you get a pair of false eyelashes, 8 eyeshadows, a dual sided sponge applicator, a black eyeliner, and a lipgloss.

It's not listed, but I'm pretty sure that these are a pair of natural lashes. I have a love hate with these eyelashes, because the band is so thin that it doesn't feel like I'm wearing falsies, as well as I like the look of these lashes, but the band is so thin it's hard to keep them maintained for a while.

For the shadows, they're not really what I think when I hear 'vampire'. They're a mix of warm and cool shadows, that look more like an example of a fall color palette than representation for vampires.

Fortunately, they're all shimmers, which I find work better than mattes for ELF shadows.

In the top row, you get a white, a brass, a copper, and a violet shimmer in a brown-toned base. I can see myself getting use out of the violet and the brass, but not so much the others.

On the bottom row, you get a gorgeous dark olive green, an almost orange brass shade, a cool toned grey, and a blackened slate shade. 

The eyeliner... I wish they would stop including it into these beauty books. They're too hard and rough to use around the eye, and the color payoff is just awful. It'd be better to just put in a primer, or another lipgloss, or something other than this. It just doesn't work.

The lipgloss is such an odd shade to include with a Vampire look book. It's a bright warm toned pink, that's not quite red. When I think Vampire, I think blood, and deep red/wine shades, not something that's a look away from being a pink.

The lip gloss is almost a jelly look, and this is a lip gloss that would work better layered over another lipstick. I can find ways to make this work, bu tit's not my favorite.

 Wicked Beauty Book

This is the only beauty book I really wanted, and the day after Halloween I snatched it up so I wouldn't miss out, it was just too good!

In these Halloween kits, you get a pair of false eyelashes, 8 eyeshadows, a dual sided sponge applicator, a black eyeliner, and a lipgloss.

 You get the same pair of natural lashes in this kit, as you do in the Vampire kit.

Similar to the Vampire book, you get 8 shimmer shadows, a mix of warm and cool tones to suit everyone.

I like the color options in the palette best. It's not too out there, but it's not neutrals either. It's a good mix of safe and a little crazy.

In the top row, you get an eggshell yellow, an orange-toned brass, a violet, and a copper.

In the bottom row, you get a green, a silver, a blackened slate, and a black shimmer.

The eyeliner, see above.

But this lipgloss. Can you believe it? A black lipgloss! 

It's pretty pigmented, but worn alone is just sort of a disaster. It settles into the lines of your lips, and just doesn't want to stay put. I'm sure with multiple layers, or a really thick layer you can get this to be opaque, but I'd prefer to just layer it over a black lipstick instead.

Did you pick any of the beauty books out?

Thanks for reading!