Tuesday, June 30, 2015

FOTD - 6.29.15



It's been a while since I posted a FOTD! Not the best lighting, since it's my cell phone and I'm too inept at using my real camera to take pictures of my makeup in the morning.

Products Used:

Face:
  • Rimmel Stay Matte primer
  • Urban Decay Naked Skin liquid foundation in 1.0
  • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
  • Anastasia Contour Kit
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused
  • Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer
  • Hello Waffle blush in Blush Honey
  • MAC Fix+
Eyes:
  • Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown
  • NYX Cosmetics Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown
  • NYX Cosmetics brow wax
  • NARS Smudgeproof eye primer
  • Make Up For Ever Artist Eyeshadows in Pink Taupe and Taupe Gray
  • Colourpop SuperShock eyeshadow in I Heart This
  • Inglot #77 gel liner
  • Inglot #353 eyeshadow
  • Diorshow mascara in black
  • Ri Pi lashes in RP-06
Lips:
  • MAC Prep and Prime Lip
  • MAC Mineralize lipstick in Be A Lady

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Nails of the Day - 6.24.15


I'm super excited about my very first Femme Fatale nail polish! This one is from the new The White Witch collection, based off of the Chronicles of Narnia. I ordered mine via Shiro Cosmetics - and while this particular shade isn't available, there are still others. This shade is Heart's Desires. The official description is a rose-coral crelly with green-gold crystal flakies and copper-orange highlights. I used two coats here. It's a really pretty toned down summery shade.

Products Used:

  • Formula X base coat
  • Femme Fatale Cosmetics Heart's Desires
  • Seche Vite

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

MAC Whirl Lipstick - Review

For the past few months, MAC Whirl lipliner has been tough to find. It was touted as the key to a perfect Kylie Jenner lip, and people were buying it like crazy. MAC must have gotten the memo, because with their new lineup of matte lipsticks, they included Whirl in the mix.



Whirl is described as a "dirty rose," with a matte finish. The shade is a balance between a pinky nude and a light brown. The lipstick applies smoothly, much more smoothly than you'd think for a matte finish, and did not tug or drag on the lips. The lipstick has the classic MAC vanilla scent. Due to the fact that this has a matte finish, I paired it with MAC Prep and Prime Lip. I found the formula to be lightly hydrating, and non drying - but this could be the primer at play. I did not use a lip liner, and experienced no bleeding or feathering. There was transfer, not super crazy all gone transfer, but a typical lip print was left on a cup. After eating, the lipstick needed to be reapplied, and left no stain.

The Matte finish of this lipstick differs from the Retro Matte that MAC also offers in that it is not as drying. I have found the Retro Matte to be much more difficult to apply, and harsher on the lips. The end finish of the regular Matte is mostly matte, you may have a slightly demi-matte finish if you do not completely blot it down, but it is not that "oh my god my lips are the Sahara" matte you get with the Retro Matte finish.

Pros:
  • Smooth application
  • Non drying
  • No bleeding or feathering
Cons:
  • Noticeable scent
  • Demi-matte, must be blotted
  • Transfers
  • Does not stain, will need to be reapplied after eating
MAC lipstick in Whirl - $16.00 for 0.10 oz
Review 3.5/5

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Sixteen92 Lolita EdP - Review

When I placed my first Sixteen92 order, I made sure I ordered Lolita, their best selling fragrance. Unfortunately, with the old oil blend, the fragrance was short lived on my skin. However, Sixteen92 has revamped their carrier oil blend to ensure longer lasting power (and with my new order I've definitely experienced that, but that will come at a later time!) but also, the shop has introduced more traditional perfume sprays. I knew that I would pick up Lolita with my next order.


The Lolita EdP has the same notes as the perfume oil - Crisp Apple Skins, Tart Peach Candies, Rose Absolute, Sugared Violet. When using the EdP, I don't notice a difference in the scent blend on my skin. I get a lot of fruity peach and apple, and not much rose at all. The main difference with the EdP that I noticed is the throw - it is much more powerful. The throw weakens after about four hours, but the scent still clings to clothing, which is something you don't get with perfume oils (because you know...oil and clothing don't get along.) The scent lasted on my skin for the entire workday, without the disappointing fade to nothingness of before, or the need to desperately sniff my wrist to detect it. A definite improvement!

I picked up the 15mL size, because of my growing perfume collection, but there are larger sizes available, plus a 2mL mini size. The bottle is glass, with a sticker label. The cap is black plastic, and the atomizer is also black plastic. It would have been nice to have a metal atomizer, but what can you do. The glass bottle appears to be pretty sturdy. It isn't the fanciest bottle on the vanity, but it has a clean look.

Sixteen92 has also provided a secondary EdP blend available for international shipping,  since perfumer's alcohol cannot be shipped internationally. 

Pros:
  • Scent lasts much longer than previous oil blend
  • Can be sprayed on clothing
  • International EdP blend available
  • Sample size EdPs available
Cons:
  • Sample size EdPs not available internationally
  • Plastic cap and spray atomizer
  • Throw fades after about four hours
Sixteen92 Lolita Eau de Parfum - $24.00 for 15mL
Review - 5/5

Thursday, June 18, 2015

RiPi Try On Eyelashes in RP-06 - Review

A reddit friend recently went on a trip to Japan, and I asked her if she could pick up some false eyelashes and other goodies for me on her trip. She picked up an assortment of things for me, and I'm happy to be able to talk about some of the lashes she picked up!



The Ri Pi lashes in style RP-06 remind me a lot of Ardell 110 lashes, a favorite of mine. The band is thin and clear, but it can be quite delicate. It does not bend much under the weight of the lash bunches, though. Each bunch has individual hairs of varying lengths, creating a more natural look. There is the slightest of flares from the inner corner to the outer corner of the lash.

I found that these lashes were easy to apply and remove. The clear band blended into the lash line nicely. The varied lash length gave a light, natural look that didn't scream FALSE LASHES. Since the band was light, they felt light on the lid, as well. I was able to wear these for multiple applications, and only had to toss the first pair after not storing them properly.

I'm really happy with these. I like that there were five pairs to the package, and it included a tube of lash adhesive as well. I linked to the listing on Rakuten below, as it was the cheapest I could find these for sale.

Pros:
  • Clear band.
  • Varied lash length.
  • Natural look.
  • Good for multiple uses.
Cons:
  • Long band, needs to be trimmed.
  • Band is delicate.
  • Needs to be ordered from Japan (not a con if you're in Japan, though!)

RiPi Try On Eyelashes in RP-06 - $6.46 for 5 pairs (on Rakuten)
Review - 4/5

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Sixteen92 Hand Lotion (and Wicked Perfume Oil!) Review


After my first review of Sixteen 92 after I ordered for the first time, I was really happy with all my products. I received a couple of the hand lotions in a swap in some scents I was interested in, along with a mini of Wicked, a general catalog scent. The mini lotions get a spot on my desk at work, as they're really easy to apply after washing your hands. (And I pee a lot and my job has the world's most drying soap for some reason.) The lotion is not my most favorite formula, but it absorbs easily and gets the job done. The mini 1 oz jars are great for places like your desk!

Almond Tea Cakes - Sweet vanilla cakes with fluffy almond icing. The almond in this scent smells very much like almond extract more than a subtle almond note. Thankfully, to balance out the extract portion of the almond scent, there's a heavy dose of vanilla! The two scents blend together to create a sugary cake like scent that sticks to the skin after the lotion has been absorbed. The scent doesn't last all day, and it is not overpowering. After the lotion has been absorbed, it leaves a gentle reminder of cake behind.
Review - 4/5

Sucre Vanille -  Raw sugar, vanilla and a light floral musk with a splash of sweetened coconut milk. The scent for this lotion is initially a light floral sweetness. The coconut and vanilla balance the sugar and floral scent nicely. It reminds me slightly of Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath and Body Works, but less manufactured, if you get what I mean. The scent is very light and non overwhelming. I'm a big vanilla and coconut fan, so I really liked this combo.
Review - 4/5

Wicked - Three vanillas, dark aged patchouli, almond buttercream. Straight from the vial, the scent is an airy almond extract, reminiscent of the almond from Almond Tea Cakes. Wet on the skin, the almond remains, with the same airy back note that I can't put my finger on. (Is it buttercream? I'm lactose intolerant, so I wouldn't know.) As it dries, the scent picks up a bit of vanilla. I detected no patchouli, thankfully, which I was afraid of. I'm not patchouli's biggest fan. This is a popular scent from Sixteen92, but it did not wow me. It wasn't bad at all, just nothing I need to own.
Review - 2.5/5


Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with these perfume oils and scents, which may differ for you!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Nails of the Day - 6.15.15


Happy Mani Monday! About time I upload my nails on a Monday! I actually too this picture right before I took this polish off. I've really been into gradients lately, and my favorite addition to gradients is a glitter topping. I really wish I had a solid glitter for this, but I made due with the shimmer finish of Hunny Bunny.

Products Used:
  • OPI Nail Envy
  • OPI Bubble Bath
  • China Glaze Rose Among Thorns
  • Lit Cosmetics glitter in Hunny Bunny
  • Seche Vite

Saturday, June 13, 2015

VIB Rouge Too Faced Lipstick Mafia Event

So about two weeks ago, I got an email from Sephora about a VIB Rouge event in New York City. Usually I don't pay any attention to these, because they're during the week right after work, and I'm not about to drive into the city after work. However, this one was on a Saturday, and had the words "gift card," in the description. I was instantly 1000 times more intrigued.

This event was a few hours after an open meet and greet with the Too Faced Lipstick Mafia at the Times Square Sephora location. The Rouge event was closed door with free gifts and refreshments, and you needed to RSVP. I immediately called and reserved a spot. 

Friday, June 12, 2015

Formula X Clix Freebie

So I arrived at home today to receive an unexpected package. I eagerly opened it once I flipped over the box and saw the big identifying label, especially as I hadn't ordered anything lately...

Free stuff? From MY Sephora?
Nicely wrapped and all!
Cute!
The Formula X Clix! The System To Go is currently listed at $16 on Sephora's website. I'm actually super pleased with this surprise freebie, as I've been wanting to try the Formula X base coat for a while, since I've heard really great things. (But I have a few bottles of Orly Bonder I need to use up first, and I have OPI Nail Envy in use as well!) 

I popped on over to BeautyTalk and it appears that many VIB Rouge and even regular VIB members are getting this set, and in different colors, too! I got the red, and I wish I had gotten the nude shade, but I'm not going to complain. Well played, Sephora, especially as I have a VIB Rouge closed door event tomorrow, and we all know how I love to critique those! (But no really, this was actually unexpected and makes me feel appreciated as a customer for once!)

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Smelly Yeti Unicorn Collector and Dame It Perfume Oils - Review


I received my first Smelly Yeti perfume samples in a swap a couple of months ago. I am going to be 100% honest here - I never purchased from this shop because I hated the name. I thought it was dumb. I have absolutely no leg to stand on, considering I buy products from Too Faced, one of the most gimmicky mainstream brands out there. (At least it isn't Benefit though, amirite?) But I received these in a swap, so I didn't have to forgo my moral high ground. I was gifted two samples - Unicorn Collector, for Harmony of Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and Dame It.

Unicorn Collector is listed as "bubbly and bright tangerine strawberries nestled in creamy Tahitian vanilla and tonka bean." In the vial, the scent is a very sharp strawberry mixed with citrus. Wet on the skin, the strawberry mellows out and becomes a more nebulous "fruit" scent, sort of like fruit snacks. After the oil dried down, the scent was a more mellow fruit, definitely strawberryish. I didn't get any vanilla from this, and I'll be honest - I have no idea what a tonka bean smells like. This lasted about four hours before I really needed to sniff my wrist to detect it. Smelly Yeti is kind enough to note on their site that this scent is vegan, which is helpful if that's your kind of thing.
Review - 3.5/5

Dame It is "Bulgarian rose, violet, lily of the valley, and a bouquet of delicate florals, peppered with hints of lime, Bartlett pear, and bergamot." Opening the vial, the scent is like rose incense from the mall. You know that scent. Wet on the skin, the scent is still that floral incense scent, but it blossoms (sorry) to be a bit sweeter, bringing in the lime and the pear. The rose scent sticks around as the scent dries, overpowering the fruit and turning into an old lady rose on my skin, which I'm not a fan of. After the oil had dried and some time had passed, I couldn't shake the rose scent and get that glimpse of fruit back. The throw on this was pretty strong, as is everything you end up disliking, amirite? I'm just not an overly floral person, I suppose.
Review - 1/5

My first encounter with Smelly Yeti is a mixed bag. Unicorn Collector was on the sugary side of fruity, but fruity nonetheless. Dame It just is not for me, with that rose note overpowering everything else. I don't want to write off the shop as a whole though (name notwithstanding...) I think I can put my pettiness about the name aside and pick up some more samples after perusing the shop and having some scents pique my interest. After all, in the past...I've actually bought Benefit. (Ugh.)

Perfume oils work differently for different people due to skin chemistry. This is my experience with this perfume oil, which may differ for you!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

DIY Mini Rollerballs


So I've been on an indie perfume kick lately if you have not noticed, and samples are the way to go if you're new to the perfume scene. However, using the samples can be quite annoying, as some don't have little spreaders on the lids or are just a pain to open. So I decided to buy some little rollerballs to put my favorite samples into, to encourage myself to use them more often! Here's what you're going to need should you decide to do this project too:
  • Alcohol to disinfect everything (70% will do!)
  • Baby rollerballs (I got mine here, they are 1 mL)
  • Perfume sample (I used one I wouldn't mind screwing up)
  • Bitty funnel (check out that listing, it comes with!)
  • Dropper (dat listing tho)
  • Surface to work on (paper plate FTW)
I picked Sixteen92's Lolita to work with, as I have two samples of the perfume oil, and I already ordered an EdP of the scent, so I wouldn't mind if I spilled this everywhere or royally screwed this entire project up. But anyway - onwards!


Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Too Faced Melted Metal Liquefied Lipstick in Peony - Review

Too Faced recently expanded their line of Melted lipsticks with Melted Metal lipsticks. Although Peony was the shade that looked the worst on me from the original line, the Metal shade actually doesn't look too bad! I picked this up a little while ago, during my Sephora spring sale haul. (Yes, I am still going through stuff from this haul. No, I am not done yet. Yes, I bought too much.)



Peony is described as a "metallic dusty rose." The original Peony shade is a "dusty rose" so they just slapped "metallic" in there to fit the Metal theme. The added shimmer brings this shade to be a bright rose gold, emphasis on the rose. The Melted lipsticks have a squeeze applicator with a felt tip, and the lipsticks applies smoothly. There is a lipsticky vanilla scent to the lipstick that fades a little while after application. The formula is light, and not sticky. The shimmer in the lipstick did not cause any graininess. Unlike other liquid formulas, this lipstick does not fully set, and it does not have a matte finish. 

While wearing, I noticed that the color tended to gather into the lip lines. The shimmer in the lipstick also highlighted any imperfection in the lips, as it would gather around anything like flakes. I didn't notice any dryness caused by the lipstick, however, or any additional flaking caused by the lipstick itself - just things emphasized by the shimmer in the lipstick formula. I do like how the shimmer caught the light and made my lips look a little fuller, as I don't have the world's most full lips. I did not notice any bleeding or feathering, though the lipstick was prone to transfer.

Pros:
  • Easy application
  • Squeezy applicator with sponge tip is actually not horrible!
  • No bleeding/feathering
Cons:
  • Definite scent
  • Prone to transfer
  • Gathers into lip lines
Too Faced Melted Metal Liquefied Lipstick in Peony - $21.00 for 0.40 oz
Review - 3/5

Darling Clandestine Perfume Haul and Review


My first experience with Darling Clandestine was a few months ago, when I managed to score the limited /r/Hug of Death perfume oil in a destash. I really liked it, so I decided to place another order with the summer release, looking to hopefully get a feel for what Darling Clandestine has to offer other than cutely packaged LE scents pandering to places I spend a lot of my time at. I placed my order the first day of the summer release, May 7th, and my order took the full 14 business day turn aroud time and shipped on May 28th (dammit holidays!). I had my goodies in my hands on June 2nd, after USPS decided to drive my package all over the state for no reason whatsoever. I hope my perfumes had a nice time in the truck.

I ordered three perfume oils - two from the summer collection (Morderteile Kelah and Tilt-a-Whirl), and one from the spring collection that was still hanging around (Blue Valentine). I picked up two in small "bitsy" sizes, and one full size (as it wasn't offered as a bitsy). Darling Clandestine offers both traditional perfume oil in liquid form, and solid perfumes. I ordered all three of mine in regular liquid form, but was pleasantly surprised to see a bitsy of a solid perfume included with my order in Electricity So Fine from the summer collection.

Let's talk about the scents!

Morderteile Kelah is described with "notes of amber, hyacinth, milk and strawberry jam. Spicy and sweet." I normally avoid scents with amber, since amber tends to go all old lady on me Opening the bottle, the scent is subtly spicy, with a touch of strawberry. Wet on the skin, the spice is still there, like a touch of pink pepper. There is a light floral note mixing with the fruit of the strawberry as well. As the oil dries, the fruity strawberry intensifies, along with the spice of the pink pepper from earlier, all mixing with the light floral hyacinth note. There's also something slightly creamy about the final drydown of the scent as well. The wear time is okay, about 3 hours or so before fading. Throw was moderate, nothing that will overpower a room. This sort of reminded me of /r/Hug of Death, mostly because of the fruity notes.
Review - 4/5

Tilt-a-Whirl is listed as "bright summer citrus and passionfruit mellowed with sage and other wonders. Juicy and fruity but not too sweet, candy for grownups." From the vial, the scent is summery and happy, bright, sweet, and fruity. Wet on the skin, the scent is still fruity, with a subtle earthy spice grounding the scent. As it dries, the scent expands to include a pepper note, and the sage becomes detectable, all while keeping the sweet fruit from the initial sniff. This scent hugged close to the skin on me, and lasted for about two hours. I liked the scent, but I was disappointed in the longevity.
Review - 3/5

Blue Valentine is from the spring collection, and I snagged it in bitsy form. "A moody bouquet of hyacinth and violet and poppies and figs, washed down with shots of real whiskey and bitters and delicate musks and mint." Opening the bottle, the scent is all violets and mint. Wet on the skin, the whiskey and bitters surfaces, mingling with musk and mint and violet. When I smell it, I can feel the mint on the back of my throat. As it dries, the scent stays minty but becomes a bit more fruity. This scent had a bit more throw, than the others in this post. As it faded, it stayed as a bit of mint that hugged closed to the skin. I could still smell this on my wrist after about four hours.
Review - 4/5

Electricity So Fine was my bonus solid bitsy that was included in my order. From the summer collection, it is "a night-black canvas of artemisia absinthum and mosses and blackest tea and port wine, splashed with an electric sizzle of sparkling violets." In the tub, the scent is floral - thick perfumed floral, imagine heavy tropical blooms. Right after applying onto the skin, the scent is floral and a bit powdery, like baby powder. It smells like the violet of my Guerlain Meteorites. As the solid perfume sinks into the skin, the scent becomes a little more green. The throw is okay, but this stays mostly close to the skin. I'm not sure if this scent is for me, but it was cool that I got to try the solid formula!
Review - 3/5

Now that the summer stock is gone, I need to think about possibly getting stuff from the Darling Clandestine general catalog to try. The solid formula is really interesting, and I'm curious to know if the solid lasts longer than the traditional oil.

Monday, June 8, 2015

FOTD - 6.9.15

Forgive my front facing camera selfies, but I liked how my makeup turned out today! I was also able to get somewhat decent pictures of it, so I wanted to share. After all, this is a makeup blog, and I should share how I use all this makeup I write about.



I used a ton of products. I apologize in advance for the Bite lipstick being limited edition and no longer available...their Matte Creme Lip Crayon line is great, though!

Face:
  • Rimmel Stay Matte primer
  • L'oreal True Match liquid foundation in N1
  • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
  • Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent pressed powder
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit (Vanilla, Banana, Fawn)
  • Hello Waffle blush in Sweet Tea
  • Hello Waffle highlighter in Golden Veil
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused
  • MAC Fix+
  • TonyMoly Pocket Bunny Sleek Mist
Eyes:
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown
  • NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown
  • NARS Smudgeproof eye primer
  • Inglot eyeshadow #353
  • Make Up For Ever Artist eyeshadows in Pinky Diamond, Rosewood, Cookie, and Sweet Chestnut
  • Kat von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
  • Givenchy Noir Couture 4 in 1 mascara
  • Ardell 110 false lashes
Lips:
  • MAC Prep and Prime Lip
  • Urban Decay 24/7 lip liner in Streak
  • Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Blood Orange

Mini Sephora Haul


So I was fortunate enough to have a $50 Sephora gift card come into my life recently, which means I was able to place a small order. I've been wanting to pick up a few more Make Up For Ever Artist Eyeshadows. Sephora has a great deal where when you buy three plus a little magnetic palette, you get $20 off - essentially getting one of the $21 eyeshadows for free. The little palettes are sleek and handy, and only cost $1 each, so you aren't breaking the bank by adding one to your cart. I also got some other goodies via samples, promo codes, point perks, and yeah I bought something else!

  • Make Up For Ever Artist Eyeshadows - I picked up three of these in shades D708 (Pinky Diamond), M816 (Rosewood), and M650 (Cookie), along with the three pan magnetic palette. Pinky Diamond is my first pan of the Diamond finish that MUFE orders, and I'm excited to try it!
  • Fresh Sugar Lip Balm in Nude - The regular Fresh lip balm is my HG balm. Nude is their newest shade, and I really liked it after swatching it in the store, so I decided to pick it up. Even if I end up not liking the shade to wear out, I'll use the balm. I figure it'll be good for days when I run errands or don't wear much makeup out.
  • Fresh Rose Face Mask - This was a 100 Point Perk. I love Fresh products, but I feel they're a bit overpriced. Whenever I see point perks or free samples or promo codes for Fresh items, I jump at the chance to snag them. I liked the Black Tea face mask when I had a deluxe mini of it, so I wanted to try this one, too!
  • Fresh Soy Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover - Yup, another Fresh item! This one was from a promo code, and I'm looking forward to trying it without dropping $$$ on the product itself.
  • Guerlain Maxi Lash So Volume - This was a sample that I selected at checkout. Nothing better than mini samples of high end mascaras! These minis are usually good for a couple of weeks of uses, so definitely worth picking up. I have about five hundred mascaras tucked away right now, so this will probably get taken on a trip with me or something.


Sunday, June 7, 2015

Nails of the Day - 6.7.15


I really love doing ombre nails. I chose to do a peachy coral to mint gradient this time, using two creme polishes. Normally I'd top with a glitter (China Glaze Fairy Dust is the perfect glitter polish to top everything with!) but I decided to forgo it this time around. I really suck with creme finish polishes for whatever reason, I should work on that.

Here's what I used:
  • OPI Nail Envy
  • China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint
  • OPI Toucan Do It If You Try
  • Seche Vite

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Ten Three Labs perfume oils - Review


Okay so a while back (it may have been last year...) I made an order from Ten Three Labs. And like the lazy person I am, I never got around to reviewing what I got. So, here we are. But instead of saying I'm lazy, we will say that these perfumes have had time to age, since that sounds like I know what I'm doing.

I picked up three perfume samples in Artificial Angels, Dark-Eyed Daughter, and Exorcists of Malignant Devils. I really love these bitty jars, since they have little drop stoppers on the openings which mean it's easy to apply the oil, and it's less of a mess should you drop the open container.

Artificial Angels (apple, black cherry, sugar cane, olive) upon opening the jar smells like cherry NyQuil. I, for one, am a fan of NyQuil, but not as a perfume. (Or for recreational uses, it's just gotten me through a few bad nights, ok?) Wet on the skin, the medicinal scent fades off, leaving you with a strong cherry scent. The sugar cane and apple comes through, reigning the cherry back from that artificial medicine like cherry to a more palatable fruit cherry. As the oil dries, the olive helps to balance the sweetness of the fruit notes and the sugar cane. After a while though, the fruit faded leaving behind only the scent of olive. 

Dark-Eyed Daughter (brown sugar, almond, gardenia, lotus, cranberry and plum) from the bottle, the scent is all brown sugar and almonds. Wet on the skin, almond and brown sugar notes persist, joined by a slight hint of plum. After the dry down, I got a hint of a berry scent, not quite a tart cranberry but something of a berry persuasion. No floral notes came out at me for about ten minutes. After the wait, I picked up on the gardenia note.

Exorcists of Malignant Devils (dragon’s blood, star anise, fig, oleander, apple, black raspberry, and poison berries. Er. Boysenberry) on opening the bottle, the scent is sweet. I can't pinpoint it, but I've heard dragon's blood is a super sweet note, so maybe it's that plus some fruit notes. Wet on the skin, there's a hint of spice - star anise, hello! As it dries, the initial sweetness takes a backseat and the apple comes out, grounded by the spice of the star anise. 

When I ordered, Ten Three Labs had a much smaller scent catalog than there is today. Cara, the shop owner, has since expanded the catalog and there are a couple of other scents I could see myself trying, so I definitely see myself trying another scent or two! 

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Corvus Cosmetics Haul and Swatches



So a few months ago I picked up my first few eyeshadows from Corvus Cosmetics. I originally swatched them right away, but I was having the worst swatching day of my life. So I set them aside to be dealt with another day - and that day is here! I picked up five eyeshadows from the Kinder-und Hausmärchen collection inspired by Grimm's Fairytales.


Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - Review


A few weeks ago I posted my Bourjois haul and this is the final product I'm reviewing - the Healthy Mix Foundation! I've been wanting to try it for a while, so I'm glad I finally got my hands on it.




I got this foundation in the lightest shade they have, Light Vanilla (#51). The Healthy Mix foundation comes in 8 shades - not the largest shade range by far. The darkest shade is something that I would match to someone with a medium skintone, so darker ladies are out of luck with this line, unfortunately. The bottle has a bunch of claims for the foundation, such as 16 hours of a flawless and radiant complexion. There are also some fruits on the bottle, for the "fruit therapy" included. The foundation is enhanced with apple, melon, and apricot to enhance and improve the skin.

The bottle has a pump top, which is great! I used two pumps for my entire face, applying with a beauty blender. I was able to get nice, even, medium coverage using the beauty blender - my freckles were still visible. I wore this foundation over a combination of Becca Ever Matte Poreless Perfecting Primer and NYX Q10 Renew Skin Serum. The foundation played nicely over this primer combo. The foundation had a natural finish, and I set with a bit of translucent powder to help with oiliness throughout the day. Without powder, I could see the foundation being more dewy than natural, but I need powder. I wore this on several occasions, using powder before foundation and after, and just after foundation to see how the oil control would be. I also set with MAC Fix+ and Ben Nye Final Seal.

Throughout the day, I did not notice any oxidizing of the foundation. Oil control was better on days where I double powdered (under and over foundation) but I still got a decent amount of oil throughout the day, so this isn't the best foundation choice for staying matte if you have oily skin like I do. However, for a night out and wanting a natural finish, this foundation is a good choice. At the end of my 9 hour workday, I didn't see the foundation completely breaking down on my face, but I was able to easily wipe a little of it away with my finger.

I'm glad I finally got to give this a shot! I'm going to keep it around and give it another try when the heat and humidity isn't building up - now isn't the best time to be trying out natural finish foundations for me. I'm glad the shade was a decent match, although it would be nice if there were more shades available at this price point.

Pros:
  • Did not oxidize
  • No scent
  • Decent color match
  • Did not sink into pores or highlight any imperfections
Cons:
  • Not great for oily skin :(
  • I wouldn't say it held up for 16 full hours...
Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation - £9.99 for 30 ml
Review - 3/5

Arcana Peaches Crave Beaches - Review


Arcana's pre summer release was huge. So huge, that I pretty much missed all of it (and I really don't want to talk about it.) (And this isn't even a seasonal release, goddamn!) I did, however, get the one peach scent out of the Peaches Crave collection that I really wanted - Peaches Crave Beaches. I saw that the Rhinestone Housewife had a few bottles left, and I immediately added to cart. I checked out on Friday the 29th, and it was in my mailbox on June 1st - super speedy, love it! 

Peaches Crave Beaches is listed as "green bamboo, coconut, vanilla musk, citron, lemongrass, bergamot, and dewy peach flesh." Opening the bottle, the scent is citrus and lemongrass and a hint of coconut - it smells like a tropical getaway in a bottle. I stood there and huffed it for a good minute or two. It smelled SO GOOD. Wet on the skin it smells more fruity, with the peach coming into play, ad to me it sort of smells like pineapple as well. The wet scent smells like a big, tall, fruity cocktail - the kind you'd sip under a sun hat and big sunglasses in a cabana on the beach. After the oil dries down, the scent stays fruity, but turns a bit green with the lemongrass and bamboo coming out to help ground the scent. The overall scent is that of a tropical drink getting caught in an island breeze. Perfect for fruity scent lovers who enjoy summer.

The oil itself lasted a decent amount of time on the skin, there was no mad wrist sniffing to detect it throughout the day. The throw was decent yet not overpowering, I could catch hints of the scent while gesturing during conversation, but I wasn't waving up a cloud of Malibu Bay Breezes (it sort of smells like that!) The sillage was nice, you won't be having hibiscus flowers blooming in your wake, but someone you pass might get the very faintest whiff of summer. I only wore a small dab due to LIMITED EDITION though, I could see this scent being very strong and sweet if you load it on.

Pros:
  • Great set of notes!
  • Encapsulated summer and the beach.
  • Lasted a decent amount of time on the skin.
Cons:
  • Limited Edition :(
  • Arcana Pls :(
Arcana Peaches Crave Beaches perfume oil - $18.00 for 5 mL
Review - 5/5

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

FOTD - 6.2.15

So it's been like, months, since I've posted a face of makeup here. Way too long. So, without further ado...






I was so happy that the pollen was finally out of the air, and I was able to wear false lashes and glitter again. Here's a full list of products I used:

Face:
  • NYX Q10 Skin Serum
  • Becca Ever Matte primer
  • Urban Decay Naked Skin liquid foundation in 1.0
  • Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot! pressed powder
  • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla
  • Anastasia Contour Kit (Fawn, Vanilla, Sand, Banana)
  • MAC blush in Honey Jasmine
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused
  • MAC Fix+
Eyes:
  • NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown
  • NARS Smudgeproof Eye Primer
  • Inglot eyeshadow #353
  • Make Up For Ever eyeshadows in Pink Gray and Taupe Gray
  • ColourPop Super Shock eyeshadow in Birthday Girl
  • Inglot gel liner in #77
  • Lit Cosmetics glitter in Modern Love
  • MAC pigment in Vanilla
  • Maybelline Big Eyes mascara
  • Ardell lashes in 110
Lips:
  • Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in Gavi

Haus of Gloi Summer Haul


This is my first summer scent release from Haus of Gloi, and I'm excited to share it! Haus of Gloi seasonal releases are getting bigger and bigger, and that means more and more cutthroat. The summer Haus release went up at 3 PM on May 17th (I remember, because I was at the laundromat refreshing on my phone...) and Komodo oils sold out like, instantly. Good for the company, bad for us poor indie consumers just trying to smell nice for the season. But anyway, let's talk about what I managed to pick up! Here's a list of the goodies:

  • Whipped soaps in Komodo and Zazz
  • Hair oil in Sanctum
  • Bubbling scrub mini in Sanctum
  • Perfume mini in The Brier Path (my free sample!)
My order was placed on the 17th, and was sent out on the 21st - super fast considering how big this release was! It was in my hands on the 26th. No order issues for me, though my last Haus order had a mix up, but their Customer Service fixed it for me. Now let's talk about the scents!

Sanctum is described as "muskmelon, coconut water infused with bergamot flower, kaffir lime polished ho wood and sticky benzoin." I picked this up in two products, a hair oil and a bubbling scrub. Sometimes, scents can differ depending on the product they are in, but Sanctum smells the same to me in both forms - like a watermelon jolly rancher. I assume it's the muskmelon note working overtime, since none of the other notes even come into play for me. Maybe the benzoin is at work playing up the sweetness, but it is just sugary sweet synthetic melon scent for me. I'm torn on whether or not I want to keep the hair oil due to how overly powerful this melon scent is. What's great is, the scent stuck around for 4+ hours in my hair. The bubbling scrub was nice, it bubbled and exfoliated - I used it before shaving. Definitely give it a try!

Zazz is "tart cranberry, pink grapefruit, sparkling champagne all shook up with crushed ginger root." I picked this up in whipped soap form, though I waffled on this or Sanctum for hair oil (and am now sort of kicking myself.) This is my first whipped soap from the Haus, and their formula is a bit lighter than other soaps I've tried (I'm partial to the whipped soap from Savor!) but it really lathers nicely. I really liked the scent of Zazz, though, and I think it may be the favorite of what I've gotten so far! The scent was light and summery, all citrus and champagne. And I'm a sucker for champagne scents. When the restock happens, I might pick up Zazz in everything I can get my hands on.

Komodo was the big seller this year due to the announcement that it would be discontinued after this season, since they could no longer get the mangosteen note needed for the scent. Komodo is "mangosteen, Tahitian vanilla bean, dragons blood resin and faded tropical blooms." Maybe it's because I only got it in whipped soap form, but I really don't get much of anything from Komodo. I get a faint whiff of something sweet, but that's really it. No flowers, vanilla, or fruit, nothing tangible to really write home about. I'm sort of glad I didn't get the full perfume oil bottle I was going for...good thing the hype won out and I missed it!

The free sample given to me, The Brier Path, is not something I would pick for myself. The notes are listed as "ripe wild berries and woods' rose, rich forest loam, ozone, dark amber and cream." As I've learned from past perfume reviews, loam is a fancy word for dirt. I also am not a fan of amber. The first sniff from the vial is berries and amber. Wet on the skin, the scent is sweet and rosy, with a hint of dirt (you can call it "loam" and be fancy if you want but we all know what it is, it's dirt.) After the dry down, the scent is amber and rose, and it reminds me of incense you can buy at the mall. I'm sorry mom and dad, I really shouldn't have burned so much of that crap as a teenager. This scent is definitely not for me, but the incense nostalgia factor was nice for a minute. I really don't like amber.

Monday, June 1, 2015

May 2015 Favorites!



Happy June! Time to list out my favorites from the month of May. I've decided to start doing my own shots for the favorites post, so I can include indies and what have you. I used to just cobble together a picture in paint, but no more! Now we're fancy.

  1. Cinema Secrets Brush Cleanser - I raved about this a few weeks ago where I showed how great it was at degunking my nasty concealer brush. I reach for this almost daily, it's a total godsend in between brush cleanings. I've recommended it a lot to people as well, the little spritzer bottle is so handy. It definitely is now a staple on my vanity, and I'll be repurchasing it once I'm out!
  2. Bdellium Tools 777 Bambu Brush - I picked this up at the Bdellium booth at IMATS earlier this year. I wanted a synthetic brush to use with my Colourpop shadows, since I wasn't enjoying needing to use my fingers, and my natural hair brushes weren't cutting it. This brush is great! It picks up cream products really well, and deposits them and is even able to blend a little bit. This is one of my first of three Bdellium brushes, and I really want to pick up another few.
  3. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sin - Okay, I know this is a super popular eyeshadow, but I've been reaching for it a lot lately. I destashed my Naked palette, and I repurchased this eyeshadow single since it was the only one I really missed. It's a great all over one eyeshadow look shade, a perfect champagne beige. I didn't do a full review because there's honestly a review everywhere for this. Urban Decay has a great shimmer formula.
  4. Arcana Jabberwocking perfume oil - Ever since I got a full bottle, this has been my go to in between reviewing new scents. I was iffy on it when I first reviewed it but it has definitely grown on me! The freshness of the musk mixed with the chai and ginger is just really speaking to me right now as spring is racing into summer. It sucks this is LE, but I'd rather use this up than Fluffing the Bunny aka The Precious.
  5. Hello Waffle blush in Blush Honey - This is a blush that I've had for a while, sent to me by the lovely Jamie of After the 9 to 5. Christine from Hello Waffle managed to make a beautiful neutral matte blush reminiscent of NARS Douceur. I reach for this whenever I can't be bothered to think of a blush to go with a look, and it ties my look together perfectly every time.

Mini Ulta Haul!


I was at Ulta this weekend to get my bangs trimmed, so I decided to pick up a few things! I also had a 20% off coupon and an offer for triple points, so I wanted to make sure I cashed in on that as well! I'm working on a low buy right now, and the majority of these items are repurchases/replacements. 

  • Nivea In Shower Body Lotion  - I love this stuff! It makes getting soft, moisturized skin even easier My boyfriend uses it as well, and this is the third bottle I'm picking up. I'm trying to go through all of the other body butters and lotions I have from indie companies, but so far nothing tops this in terms of ease of use. I can even get the middle of my back with this, meaning no dry, itchy spots I can't reach later in the day!
  • Simple Cleansing Wipes - I keep these in my gym bag to take off my makeup before a workout. This takes off everything but the most stubborn waterproof mascara, which is OK by me. The scent is nice, and I haven't had any negative reaction after using these for a few weeks. This is my second pack of these. There are a few variations of them, such as exfoliating and what have you, but I just pick up the run of the mill cleansing ones.
  • Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Mask - This is a new product for me. I saw this brand on the website, and I decided I wanted to give this mask a try! This mask is supposed to deep clean your pores and detox the skin. I'm a sucker for face masks, so I picked it up. There's another product I wanted to try from this brand called Three Times Sublime, but my Ulta was sold out. The scent on this is nice, like oranges!
  • Rimmel Stay Matte Primer - Another repurchase! I wanted to have a drugstore mattifying foundation on hand, and I really loved this stuff when I used it initially. I find it's much easier to work with than Becca Ever Matte in terms of spreading it onto the skin, and still gives a great matte finish.
  • NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown - I reviewed this a while back, so this is another repurchased. I LOVE this product, and recommend it to anyone who uses the Anastasia Brow Wiz. It's cheaper per ounce, and does the exact same thing. I'm sure some people will be nitpicky about the formula, but I personally do not see enough of a difference to pay an additional $11 for a basically identical product. Plus, Ulta has these buy one get one 50% off all the time, plus coupons...I just really like this product, okay??