Garnier Micellar Water - Regular and Waterproof

Hello again readers!

My amazing mate in England, Jess, sent me so many goodies a while back, and I've been pleased to work with them. Tea, lipsticks, palettes, and of course she sent me a travel-sized version of the Garnier Micellar water... only to find out after it got here that they were launched in the US! Ah, what luck, right? It was good though, because I was able to try out the pink, and I went out to buy the blue-capped version too, so now I can come to you with my thoughts on the products.

The bottles are a rather odd shape. They're not like traditional bottles, more like oval shaped. It makes it a little harder to store than I'd like, but I found ways around it. The travel-sized bottle fits perfectly into my medicine cabinet, but the full-size bottle doesn't. It's just too high. I found another place for it, but it's a little bit of an inconvenience that I have to put it under my sink or into my little tray on my sink to store it.

They come in two varieties; the pink cap, and the blue cap. The difference, is that the blue cap is used for the easy removal of waterproof products as well as non-waterproof. So, take that in mind if you're interested in trying these out.

You need to shake both before use, but the blue version you have to shake far more to mix up the two different components.

They're supposed to be in place of makeup removal and cleansing, but I do not recommend skipping out on cleansing your skin. I recommend that you use these for easy makeup removal, and then wash your face anyway knowing that your skin is as prepped for proper cleansing as possible.

The caps are pretty ingenious, if I say so myself. They close firmly, but they also have a plastic tab that sticks out of the top, that pushes into the opening to stop ALL liquids from leaking. I was really impressed, as I had my thoughts that surely, it wouldn't keep all liquids from coming out, but I threw it in my overnight bag, jumped, dropped the bag, tossed it around while moving around my friend's place, and nothing came out at all! I was really impressed with this feature, as I can safely travel with it without worrying about the cap popping off and leaking all over my stuff.

Now, the best parts about these, is that they're for your ENTIRE face. You can remove your eye makeup, your face makeup, and the makeup from your lips with just one product – no need to switch between products to get the results that you want. It's such a good bargain.

Now, I can go on and on about how amazing these are, but it won't mean anything unless I show you, right?

I had an assortment of products to try out: eyeliner, long-lasting eye shadow, foundation, and liquid lipsticks to give them a good go. I didn't think it'd be fair to put these up against powder products because even shitty makeup removers manage to remove powders.

The products I chose for the demonstration are:

NYX Mousse Liner – Epic Black
NYX Tres Jolie Gel Pencil Liner – Pitch Black
Maybelline Color Tattoo – Bad to the Bronze
Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Eyeshadow Stick – Tantalizing Taupe
L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation – 101 Classic Ivory
ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick – Mr. Blonde
Kat Von D Everlasting Love Liquid Lipstick – Witches

On the left, I'm using the Blue version, and on the right, the Pink version. To remove the products, I did NOT rub my skin hard. I lightly moved the saturated cotton pad with the appropriate version of the cleansing water, and gently moved it over my skin to break down the makeup after holding it to the makeup for a few seconds.

The Blue version removed everything with ease, only leaving a bit of a stain left behind from the eyeliner. I was really impressed with how easy it took the products off, and it didn't require any harsh rubbing to get the results that I want.

The downside of the Blue version, is that it NEEDS to be shaken up before use, as it has a two-step method compared to the pink, and needs more TLC before even using it, and you have to shake it BETWEEN cotton pads, as it separates easily. It also leaves a bit of residue (it says it's oil-free, but perhaps a conditioning residue?) on the skin, so I definitely feel like I have to wash my face after use.

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The Pink version removed everything, but the Tres Jolie pencil, Mr. Blonde, and just a little bit of Witches. I could have removed more if I rubbed harder, but the point of this experiment is to show what they can do with minimal effort put forward. This version also leaves my skin feeling the cleanest after use, and on days where I'm just too zombified to go on, I would use this and some astringent/toner and just pass out. It's not as good as removing your makeup and then washing your face, but it's better than doing nothing at all.

The downside of the Pink version, is that it doesn't remove waterproof, or even water-resistant makeup easily. It can be done, but it takes far more effort than reaching for the Blue version.

The best part of the Pink version, is if you're someone who needs to, or feels the need to wear makeup in your daily life, but by the end of the day you're too tired (due to fatigue, mental illness, etc.) that the pink cap is perfect to have sitting on your nightstand, so even if you can't bring yourself to walk off to the bathroom to take off your makeup and wash your face, you can still do both without wasting more energy. You CAN just use this to do both, as it's definitely better than nothing. Hell, if you're just plain lazy, you can do the same thing.

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Really, I love both of these for different reasons, and both are worth the money. Depending on your preferences, you'd need to choose which one makes a better option for yourself, but I don't think you'll be disappointed in the products at all. I think they're a fantastic addition to any collection, and I'm so pleased that they're now readily available in the US.

Thanks for reading!

2016 Declutter and Empties

Hello again readers!

It's that time of year again. The time of year where I went through my entire makeup collection, and just went crazy with purging. If I didn't love it, or use it, it went out the door. If it was old/smelled bad/dried up or was used up, it was purged. It was a long process, and it was exhausting, but I'm so happy with the progress that I made this year. I cut my collection down by a lot, and now I have room to expand with products that I'll actually use.

Blackbird Cosmetics Subtract Sculpting Powder Sample – Empty*:
I love this sculpting powder as a contour. I already bought a full-size of it for my collection.

Shiro Cosmetics Alkehestry Eyeshadow Sample – Depotted*:

I ended up having two of these in sample forms, so I combined them into a little jar. Much easier to use that way.

Notoriously Morbid Necromancy Blush Sample – Empty*:

Another product I really love for contouring. I bought a full-size of this product too, and I love it!

Mario Badescu Healing & Soothing Mask Sample – Empty:

I really hated this mask. It didn't do anything for my skin. It didn't sooth any redness, it didn't help my skin heal, and after using it, it felt like it did the opposite because my skin felt dehydrated. Boo.

Nivea In Shower Body Lotion Sample – Empty*:

I need to get a bottle of this for my shower, because I loved this. I really hate applying lotion to my body, so I rarely (if ever) do so, but this just makes it so ridiculously easy I don't have a reason not to.

China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat – Empty*:

I'm going to buy another bottle of this eventually, because I'm an impatient person when it comes to my nails. It dries so quickly and I can go back to doing whatever I want to do, and I don't have to worry about my nails smearing all over the place. The downside is that it gums up towards the end of it's life and gets really stringy and gross.

ELF Eyeslash Glue – Old:

This eyelash glue sucks really. I don't even know why I held onto it, because it doesn't keep your lashes on.

DUO Dark-Tone Eyelash Adhesive – Old*:

I need to buy a new bottle of t his, because I really do love it. I always wear eyeliner when I wear false lashes, so having a lash glue that dries down to a black color to blend in with that eyeliner? Holy grail status right there!

ELF High Definition Translucent Powder – Empty*:

I don't ever like being without this product in my collection, it's a recently appointed Holy Grail status product for me.

Wet n Wild Coverall Foundation – Fair – Old:

I might consider buying this foundation again, because I remember always liking it when I wore it, but I have other foundations I have to go through before I consider trying this one again.

Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation – Ivory – Old:

This is another product that's been discontinued, and I really wish it wasn't. It had such beautiful light to medium coverage, and lasted all day on me. Such a shame.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation – Alabaster – Old*:

I want to try this in the Neutral shade, because while I liked this product (I think?), I hated how pink it was on my face!

Maybelline Color Tattoo – Gold Rush, Barely Branded, Inked in Pink, Silver Strike, Pomegranate Punk, and Lavish Lavender – Old:

All old, dried up, and shades that I just never reached for that often. At least not enough to warrant me to repurchase them.

Sephora Cream Eyeshadow and Liner – Blue Night – Just awful:

It was patchy, it took forever to get opaque, and it would transfer like nobody's business. Such a shame because it was such a beautiful blue.

Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner – Teal – Just awful:

I wasn't wild about the color, and the formula, pigmentation, and staying power were just disappointments across the board. No wonder Smashbox discontinued it.

HIP Gel Eyeliner – Teal – Old*:

I love this shade like no other, it's such a unique shade, but it just didn't work for me. It would transfer like crazy, and would smear all over the place on my oily lids. Such a shame, because if it worked better i have no doubts that I would have used all of it.

ULTA Extreme Wear Gel Eyeliner – Dublin – Old*:

I need to buy a new one, because I love the darkened hunter green. Reminds me of my Dublin hoodie, and therefore it reminds me of my second home. Very fitting name.

ELF Eyelid Primer x2 – Old:

These aren't bad for starting off, but I'm past that point. Plus, I got these in makeup kits, so they weren't that special to me.

Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner – Forever – Old:

I really like the idea of gold eyeliner, but I just never really reached for it. It ended up getting all gummed up and disappointing me. Shame.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner – Blackest Black – Old:

An eyeliner that I remember loving to death in high school, that revisiting shows me how much I've grown in my makeup game. It just wasn't what I needed in my collection, and it wasn't as special as I remembered. It was pigmented, but hard to make wings, but easy to make just simple lines. It wasn't transfer proof, wasn't waterproof, and wasn't smudge proof, so within a couple of hours it'd be smudged and faded.

ELF Liquid Eyeliner x2 – Midnight – Old*:

These eyeliners are such a good investment. They're about a dollar, super pigmented, and incredibly easy to apply. The only downside is that they're not smudge-proof or waterproof, but even then they still last all day! It's incredible.

Stila High Shine Liquid Vinyl Eyeliner – Royal Blue – Old:

I loved the color so much, but this was such a disappointment. It cracked, it flaked, it dried out my eye area. What a shame.

Hard Candy 1000 Lashes – Black – Old:

I wanted to like this so much, because it made my lashes look so fluffy and full. Of course, the trade off is that I would have little black fibers and flakes raining down my face and into my eyes. Not a fan.

Milani Ultrafine Liquid Eyeliner – Sparkling Turquoise and Prismatic Purple – Old:

Both of these were just so streaky, and they both left stains. I wasn't reaching for them often anyway, and I didn't like these at all. Which, wasn't a surprise, I wasn't a fan of the black eyeliner either.

Hot Topic Blackheart Beauty Smokey Eyelid Primer – Old:

The idea of this product is awesome, but it ended up just... not working out. It has such a beautiful grey shade that would be perfect as a base, but the formula was drier than I was expecting and it was always a streaky base. Blending it out was a nightmare, and it was also a little sticky, but in a bad way. It made shadows stick to it and impossible to blend, but it didn't hold onto shadows to save it's life and left my lids in a creasy mess. Boo.

Hot Topic Blackheart Beauty Eyelid Primer – Old:

I only used this once or twice, because it was awful. Hell, the $1 ELF primer is leagues better than this one. It didn't hold onto shadows at all, it was a hell to blend, and just... overall awful.

NYX Eyebrow Gel - Blonde and Brunette – Old*:

The only reason these went bad, is because I only managed to use up half of each of them. So... technically I used up a full size. I really liked both, but in a twist, I prefer the blonde. The blonde in this formula is actually build-able into a dark tone that I enjoy for my aesthetic, and it can be sheered out for a more traditional blonde look. The brunette was amazing, but I found that if I was heavy-handed that day, I would walk away with perfectly sculpted drag eyebrows, which was much too heavy for everyday wear.

ELF Medium Eyebrow Kit – Old:

This used to be my favorite. Hell, this was the second one I used. I don't enjoy it nearly as much as I used to, becuase it's much too warm for my brows, and I have many other products I reach for far more often.

NYX Micro Brow Pencil – Ash Brown – Empty*:

This is a new Holy Grail product for me. I love how incredibly easy it is to fill in my brows, and they end up looking decently natural. I go through about one every two months or so, which means I go through these fairly quickly, but I can manage to get two for $15, so it ends up being WAY cheaper than the Anastasia version by far.

Revo Sugar Cookie Lip Balm – Old:

I never reached for this, because I was expecting a light, sweet, vanilla flavor and scent. What I got was a vanilla monstrosity that had an edge of mint. I wasn't sure what to expect, and it definitely wasn't that. I hate mint so much, so it ruined this balm for me. The good news is that the Revo balms DO moisturize the lips, so at least there's that.

ELF Lip Color – Maleficent – Old:

I held onto this for so long, just because of the name. It's not a bad gloss, but I'm not a fan of reds.

Profusion BB Balm – Strawberry – Just Awful:

I used this once. Just once. The pigmentation was streaky. The balm did jack diddly. The flavor was definitely NOT strawberry (it was a gross, chemical flavor with a bland aftertaste of an attempt at strawberry). It was just a huge failure.

EOS Vanilla Lip Balm – Old:

This was a lot better than the popular egg version of the EOS balm, this actually gave my lips some moisture. It wasn't amazing, and not worth the money, but it wasn't awful. It ended up being hard to use because the more you use up, the more it moves in the tube ... I prefer just classic Chapstick.

NYX Circle Lipstick – Blush – Old:

Didn't like the color, so I barely used it.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick – Wink for Pink and Primrose – Old:

Wink for Pink was a color I sort of reached for, but just never loved. Primrose started out strong, but I soon discovered that it wasn't very flattering on me, and left me looking unattractive. What a shame.

Wet n Wild Just Peachy Megalast Lipstick – Old*:

I'm getting rid of this because with the new formula of the lipstick it's a much more flattering. This version was a white-based peach, and it just looked awful.

ELF Moisturizing Lipstick – Pink Minx – Old:

I didn't mind the color, but soon found out that I don't really like pink shades. It was a nice warm pink, so it was flattering and wearable, but I prefer nudes.

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick – Nude Delight, and Let's Get Naked – Old:

I almost used both of these up, because they were nice nude lipsticks. I'm not going to repurchase them, because I hate the perfume scent/taste of Rimmel lipsticks. What a shame, they're pigmented and moisturizing, they just taste bad!

L'Oreal Eva's Nude, and Jennifer's Nude Lipstick – Just Awful:

The pigmentation was sheer, which is good for a neutral lipstick. My biggest issue with these is that they're expensive at about $8 a pop, but they're just ... not great. The formula is a little drying and the scent is god-awful. It smells like old, musty, floral perfume. I'd prefer no scent at all to that. The scent made these completely unwearable for me and just a waste of my money, no matter how beautiful the shades were!

Primark/Penny's Beauty Pink Lip Gloss – Old:

It's a beautiful, non-sticky gloss but the color wasn't for me so I never used it. I should have passed it on early on in its life so that someone else could have given it love instead.

Sally Girl Pastel Purple Lip Gloss – Old:

I went through a phase where I was super into lilac/lavender shades for my lips. I had SO many of these. This was my last tube, and I never got around to using it up. I would have, had it not turned on me. What a shame, but they were like 15 cents when I got around to buying up the last of them so I'm not going to cry about it.

Hourglass Canvas Liquid Lipstick – Old:

Ah, now this was a product I assumed that since it was expensive (this little tube was $10!!) it would be amazing. That's not the case. It dried down to like a satin matte, it transferred, it cracked, and it flaked. It was a nice color, and it suited me, but the formula wasn't anything to write home about, and I've used better, CHEAPER products that don't disappoint me.

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I was SO impressed with myself, and this was only the stuff that went right into recycling/the garbage! I got rid of so many other things that I handed off to my friends. There was just so much, that it was almost scary, but it's now such a rewarding experience because all of that stuff was just weighing down that I felt obligated to hold on to, because I bought it.

In the future, all empties posts as well as my favorites will be featured on my Tumblr, so this blog will only be hosting reviews and swatches.

*Asterisks show backups, or plans of future purchases.

Thanks for reading!

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation and Pro-Last Lip Color Review

Hello again readers!

I tried out a couple things from the L'Oreal Infallible line and I was really excited to get back to you on my thoughts on the products. I gotta say that I wasn't the most impressed with either of them.

I was really happy to see the launch of the new L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte foundation. I'm a sucker for good foundations that help with the grease-ball that is my face, and I'm always pretty impatient to try out new ones. Especially when reviews started popping up claiming that this range leans more yellow-toned, I was definitely excited about that! I picked up the shade 101 Classic Ivory.

The pricing varies from $10–$13, which makes this foundation a little steeper, depending on where you purchase it. I'm used to buying foundations that are under $10, but if it works out, then a small splurge would be worth it.

The packaging is plastic, with a squeeze-tube dispenser. They're pretty much my favorite way to have foundations packaged (at the same level of foundations with pumps!) as they're hygienic, and easy to get product out of the container. However, this packaging is almost too easy to get product out, because I find that I squeeze out too much on some occasions.

The coverage is amazing, it's a medium coverage that can be built up to a full-coverage look. It dries down to a semi-matte that ends up looking more like my real skin than I've been wearing foundation, making this a very good every-day foundation to reach for. It ends up clinging to dry patches (thank you acne for being a jerk!) on the skin, and it's very apparent if you're having any issues with dry skin, which is a shame. It also doesn't last anywhere near 24 hours. Heck, if I can make it to 12 hours it's been a good day, because I start getting really oily around the 8 hour mark (even WITH powder and a good primer!) and the foundation starts breaking up on my nose and my chin especially.

The color match is less-than-stellar. It's far too dark, and it leans more orange than yellow. It's such a shame, because in the tube, it looks like it's going to be perfect, and once I blend it out, it's clear that it's not the right match for me. To make matters worse, it oxidizes within an hour, so I look like I've been messing with a self-tanner and made a terrible mistake.

In order for it to work for me at all, I have to mix it with a fair amount of Manic Panic Dream Tone foundation to make it wearable. I have to use an extra pump (4 pumps for every helping of L'Oreal), which makes it look like it's going to be too light for me, but since it oxidizes so quickly, it ends up matching up perfectly afterwards.

It's a hell of a foundation to work with, because if you work with it enough the initial application is flawless. However, it does have quite a few issues. If you're willing to shell out the money for it (and if you're like me, the money to shell out for a foundation mixer) then more power to you, because it's a very gorgeous foundation, and worth giving it a try. I have other foundations I prefer, and other foundations I want to play with, so I don't see myself buying this one again any time soon.

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L'Oreal Infallible 2-Step Lip Color in Neverending Nutmeg was a lip color that I was dead-set on buying. It looked to be the perfect color with just the right amount of color, and the right amount of grey-tones in it to make it my favorite everyday lip. If it manages to last through the whole day, then that would have been a bigger bonus for me, right?

Each 2-Step Lip Color retails anywhere from $10–$13, which is pretty steep for just one liquid lipstick at the drugstore level. It's a pretty nice chunk of change, but once again, if it works, it should be worth it.

The 2-Step process works like this: you apply the lip color, then you apply the balm on top.

The lip color is applied with a doe-foot applicator, with a longer shape. It makes it incredibly easy to apply the product to the lips, making sure to hit every nook and cranny. Though, an issue I had with this product, is that it would apply, but then it would be picked up again with the applicator. It was incredibly frustrating, because I'd have to do at least two layers to make the lipstick look opaque, and sometimes I would still find patches.

The balm is amazing; it smells like cotton candy, it's moisturizing, and it helps keep the lips from being uncomfortable. The downside is that there is barely any balm included! The picture above is all of the balm and I used quite a bit during my testing period, so it just didn't work out for me at all! I was hoping it'd go deep within the cap but it just didn't.

Now the left is the color when you just slap on a lot at once. The right is the lip color when you use the applicator properly, where it sheers the color out. It was frustrating because I wanted opaque coverage and it just didn't want to work with me.

The biggest issue I had with this product is that it was all around awful. The pigmentation wasn't that great and once it dried on the lips it was incredibly uncomfortable unless you were constantly applying the balm (which you don't get that much compared the amount of lip color so you'd end up running out of the balm way before you run out of the lip color!) and if you weren't adamant in applying the balm, it would dry up and flake right off your lips – and not just the insides of your lips, the entire lip area – so you'd have to take it of and apply it again.

The other issue, is that it wasn't long-lasting at all. It of course came off if I ate something greasy, but it didn't last all day even if all I had was something to drink through a straw! It came off just by talking a little bit. It was crazy how easy this lip product came off!

This product wasn't worth the time or money I put into it and I just hated it so much. If they come out with like an individual balm, I would buy that because I enjoyed the balm, but the lip color was a great disappointment.

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Thanks for reading!

Makeup Revolution Palettes

Hello again readers!

I am delighted to bring up these beautiful Makeup Revolution eyeshadow palettes. Shout out to my good mate Jess for being such a wonderful friend, and agreeing to doing a swap with me while she visited the states! I just had a few things I wanted to try out, and she was gracious to take the time to do the shopping for me, and sent me such a beautiful package (the wrapping paper even looked like reptile skin, she is a GODDESS).

There were so many that I really wanted to add to my collection, but there was two that really stood out above the others that I was hardcore lusting after for a long while now.

I <3 Makeup I Heart Chocolate Palette

The packaging of this palette is pretty cute; It looks like a half-eaten chocolate bar that's starting to melt on the edges! It's very cute, but it makes it a little harder to store because it's not a flat surface.

The shadows are a mixture of neutrals with a few pops of color to keep it from being too uniform and bland. This can be used as an every day palette, as well as shaking it up to make a variety of night-time looks as well.

You Need Love: Cream Nude Matte

Piece Me Together: Olive green with gold glitter. On the lid it looks more muddy brown.

One More Piece: Soft warm brown matte

Love Torn*: Burgundy with silver glitter

Stolen Chocolate: Deep cool-toned brown

Thank Friday*: Warm matte peach. Perfect for a transition shade.

More!: Light copper shimmer.

Pleasure Girl: Warm brown matte.

Meet Chocolate: Pale blue-toned pink. This was the chalkiest shade in the entire palette, and I won't ever reach for it because it's so hard to load up on a brush and the fallout is atrocious.

Unforgivable: Violet grey-toned blue.

 Love Divine: Brown Shimmer.

 Smooth Criminal: Copper Shimmer.

 Chocolate Love: Warm gold shimmer.

You Need More: Chocolate Brown shimmer.

What a Way to Go*: Deep matte burgundy.

Endorphins Ready!*: Pale pink ice shimmer.

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Well, it's no surprise that this palette is a supposed dupe for the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, being called "I Heart Chocolate" and all. The palette doesn't really have much of a scent. It's like they attempted to add fragrance to the palette but they couldn't dream to match the delicious scent of the Too Faced shadows.

Most of the shades in the palette were pigmented, easy to work with, and blended beautifully. There were two shades that stood out as just plain awful for me, those two being; Piece Me Together, and Meet Chocolate. They were the biggest disappointments and really dragged the quality of the entire palette down. Comparatively, I can assure you that the Too Faced shadows are better quality (and the price reflects that). It's been shown that the colors are dupes, but since the Makeup Revolution products are cheaper in quality, they need a little more TLC to show as much impact as the Too Faced. Some days I'm willing to work that hard, but most days if it's not going to work with me, I don't want to work with it!

I just have so many browns already in my collection, that I wasn't blown away with this palette. This makes me extremely happy that I didn't go ahead and purchase the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, because while I do enjoy the burgundy shades and the matte neutrals, I just don't reach enough to warrant the price of the Too Faced version.

If you're already thinking of getting the Too Faced palette, go ahead and invest in it. If you're like me, and you like the shades but don't see yourself reaching for them often? Go with the Makeup Revolution palette.

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New-Trals VS Neutrals Palette

This palette is a sleek black plastic. It's almost ridiculous how easy it is to store and travel with it, and it protects my shadows from any harm without being too over-the-top or fancy.

The shadows are a beautiful array of warm shades, from peaches, to oranges, to reds! There are also some beautiful cool-tones and a variety of neutrals so this palette isn't too out-there with the color range.

Bias: A pale yellow shimmer.

Neutral*: Warm matte dusty-rose.

Personal: Salmon pink shimmer.

Vogue*: Orange shimmer.

Trend*: Matte burnt sienna.

New-Tral*: Warm-toned matte red.

Tone*: Cool-toned matte red.

Custom*: Matte chocolate brown.

Cool*: Neutral cream. The best to set my eye area to make the shadows easier to blend.

Style: Pale pink glitter. +

Partial: Rose glitter. +

Mode: Copper glitter. +

+ All of these shadows had the most god-awful fallout imaginable. A single tap with a brush caused powder and glitter to get all over the place. They look beautiful on the eyelids, but at what cost?

Adapt*: Neutral brown. This is a perfect crease shade.

Buff: Brown shimmer.

Suit*: Taupe brown with a sheen.

Strong*: Violet glitter in a matte black base.

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This palette was by far my favorite of the two. Now, it's supposed to be a dupe of the Lime Crime Venus palette, but it's that and SO much more. It hits those shades, while offering you a larger variety. Frankly, I don't support Lime Crime, and I'm fortunate that I never spent any money on their products (though I will admit, I've been tempted a few times). I'm so pleased that Makeup Revolution provided a better alternative.

The shades are to die for, and while they're not the most office-friendly shades out there, they're just right for someone like me who prefers "bloody" alternative looks.

With the exception to the more glittery shades, the shadows were pigmented, extremely easy to work with, and blended with minimal effort – a far thrown from the I Heart Chocolate Palette. It was almost ridiculous how easy these shadows were to blend together, they were MADE for each other. A match made in heaven ... in a factory.

This is the first larger palette that I fear I may just run out of the colors, I've been reaching for them like a nut!

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*Asterisks depict my favorite shades.

Thanks for reading!

January Favorites

Hello again readers!

Has anyone else felt like January was just such a crazy month? I mean dang, it was only 31 days and I feel exhausted. So much has happened! I started a class on Coding, which is just such a strange change for me because I generally have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm also succeeding. It's a very weird fit. I hope to keep up the effort I'm putting into it, and hopefully I'll pass the class and go on my way to get a job in the field. It's frustrating, but it's really rewarding when I write code that works.

I had my first meeting of the committee for the haunted house I worked at. It was scary, but we managed to get a good start. I hope that in time the meetings will really help make the haunt better and better as time goes on. I want only the best!

Also, I have managed to get in a relationship which is just ... really surreal. I don't want to gush too much about him (sorry to all my friends that have to listen to my word vomit), but he's really great.

So, without further adieu, onto what we're really here for: the favorite picks for January!

Shiro Cosmetics – White Chocolate Frog Highlighter:

I have been reaching for this highlighter at least once a week since I've gotten it. It's such a beautiful highlight that really catches the light, but it doesn't have a lot of glitter in it. It leaves a nice sheen on my cheekbones and blends in with almost no effort. They really outdid themselves with this product.

Blackbird Cosmetics Sculpting Powder – Subtract:

To be honest, I haven't reached for many other contour powders aside from this one. MAYBE once or twice this entire month. It's a beautiful cool-toned grey that needs just a tiny amount to sculpt out my cheekbones. A really easy to use product, though it's really easy to go overboard. I'm really pleased with it.

Milani Baked Blush – Luminoso:

I don't know what got over me, but on the days I wore very little makeup, I always reached for this particular blush. Just a no-nonsense two-in-one product that gives me color to my face, and a subtle highlight.

ELF Lip Kiss Balm – Bare Kiss:

January has been really hectic on my lips. They were always so dry no matter what I did (I need to get back into my skincare/lip care regimen ...) and so to solve so many issues I have been using tinted lip balms so I can get color, but also the moisture I've been desperately needing. These are new to ELF's range but dang they're fantastic. They come in a range of colors, and there's going to be something that'll suit everyone. I'm just not a huge fan of the peppermint flavor.

Bath and Body Works Forever Red Perfume:

I have been reaching for this like crazy this month. It smells so good, and lasts all day on me. It's probably my new favorite perfume (RIP Aeropostale's Promise Me) and I can just spray some on and not worry about it fading.

Sephora Lustre Matte – Fig Lustre:

This is such a great product. It dries down pretty matte (think like the Wet n Wild Megalast Lipsticks, where there's still a bit of sheen) and feels SO comfortable on the lips. I wish I liked more colors from the range because this product is great!

NYX Tea Tree Balance Skin Elixer:

I have been using this non-stop all month. I didn't think it'd do much, but it's perfect for putting under foundation, especially if that foundation you want to use doesn't have any acne fighting ingredients.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Lippie – Beeper:

It's a fan fave for a reason, it's just so good! I love this product, it's so easy to apply and lasts all day. Such a gorgeous color too.

MakeUp Revolution – I Heart Chocolate Palette and the New-Trals vs Neutrals Palettes:
I don't want to go too in depth with these, because I have a full review of them coming soon, but I love these palettes. My friend from London sent them over and I've been reaching for them constantly. So versatile!

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Thanks for reading!

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!