Colour Pop Super Shock Shadows

Hello beauties! As I was shopping last week the for Colour Pop Lippie Stix, I also bought some of their Super Shock Shadows to try them out.  First off, I love their names.  Just like the Lippie Stix the names are cute and edgy.  They are also only $5 for a 2.1g/0.07oz eyeshadow! The rate for shipping is the same as the Lippie Stix, spend $30 and get free shipping.

These shadows are super pigmented, creamy and easy to blend.  Colour Pop recommends that the best way to apply this shadow is with your finger and they are right.  You can use a brush but there is some fall out during the day when applied that way.  Enough talking, let's go straight to swatching!



Bae

Bae is a surprise color.  In the pot it's this blueish iridescent color but when swathed, its a purple with blue sparkle.  Such a great all over lid color or an outer V color for a smokey eye.

Hammered    Jewelry from The Limited

Hammered is a bronze-taupe color with gold sparkle.  Wonderful all over the lid color for that pop of color.




Game Face         Jewelry from Princes P Jewelry

Game Face is a very coopery color.  It's an excellent dupe for MAC's Amber Lights Shadow, just a lot cheaper.  If you are looking for an all over lid color for a copper look, this is it!

So Quiche

So Quiche is a taupe color with pink sparkles.  Beautiful lid color, the picture says it all. 



Get Lucky

Need I say more?  Get Lucky is a gold color that is so pretty as an all over lid color.  Are You Lucky?




Smash            Jewelry from Hot Topic

Smash is edgy and amazing.  Its a very creamy light brown color.  Can be used for a crease color or all over lid color.



Desert            Jewelry from Swarovski

Desert looks more sparkly than it really is in the pot.  It's a creamy matte light brown color.  I use it as a crease color and all over the lid.



Amaze

Amaze...the name speaks for itself.  A beautiful highlight color or all over the lid color.

I <3 This

I <3 This is great sparkly light pinky brown.  Good to use as a brow bone highlight, inner corner highlight or allover the lid.  A great dupe for Stila Kitten.

Until next blog, thanks for listening, Sarah

Picking apart the Tarte Away Oui Go Limited Edition Holiday Palette

 

I don't know about you guys but when I travel I want options, so I bring along a bunch of different palettes, blushes, mascaras, foundations, etc.  That bit me in the ass last February when my husband and I went to Las Vegas.  We paid an extra $25 for my luggage because it was too heavy and my makeup made it heavy.  I won't do that again!

This Collectors Set and Portable Palette by Tarte is a cool idea.  It has 4 small palettes in the box with 4 eye shadows (2g/0.07oz) on each palette and an Amazonian Clay blush (4.5g/0.158oz), that's a total of 16 shadows and 4 blushes.  It also comes with a carrying case that fits each palette on its own.  There are 3 fl oz Marajuca lip glosses (1.8ml/0.06) in different colors and 1 Lights, Camera, Flashes Mascara in black (4ml/0.13 fl oz).  Each color in the palette has a Parisian themed name.

This is a very warm neutral palette, with maybe 2 cool toned shadows.  I like the idea of having the choice of taking only one small palette with you but the colors are similar, lots of browns and purples.  There are 7 matte shades and 9 shimmery shades.    Not every small palette has a good brow bone highlight, actually only two do, those colors are snow angels in the parc (shimmer) and private chateau (matte).   The glosses are a little sticky, they remind me of the MAC's Lip Glass formula.  Lights, Camera, Flashes is actually one of my favorite mascaras, the brush is amazing and I always get a good curl with it. 

This palette was $58 at Ulta.  It's a steep price but with all of the products you get in this set, it was worth it.  Would I buy this palette if I wasn't a make up junkie? No.  I do see myself using this to travel because of it's size.  The shadows are really creamy and the blushes are the same pigmentation and formula as the regular Amazonian Clay blushes. 

Here are the swatches of all the products in this set.  Enjoy, Until next blog, Sarah



Tarte Away Oui Go Palette Collection



All the goodies





The Small Palette

Pop the palette right in!







Lights, Camera Flashes Macscara - Love the Brush!

Blush swatch - Then the 4 shadows

Blush swatch - Then the 4 shadows

Blush swatch - Then the 4 shadows

Blush swatch - Then the 4 shadows

 

Marajuca Lip Glosses

 

You Tube Made Me Buy It...

Hello, again.  I was thinking the other day about some purchases I have made because of some recommendations from You Tubers, some I am more than happy with and some I regret.  Here is a list of my top 5 worst and best purchases because You Tube made me buy it, Part 1. 

REGRETFUL PURCHASES:

1.  Colleen Rothschild Radiant Cleansing Balm:  This product retails for $65.00.  I used a coupon code (and someone gained commission) and got  it for $50.00 with s/h.  It comes with a Muslin cloth that retails on her website for $19.00.  Yes it takes off all of your makeup at one time, face, eyes and lips but it makes me feel greasy after I rinse it off, almost as if I have to use another face cleanser after this one.  The You Tuber claimed that the Muslin cloth gets clean with just a rinse of cold water every time she used it, maybe she got the super Muslin cloth that I didn't get, it has mascara marks like crazy.  Also the fragrance is just ok.  It's a cross between eucalyptus and vapor rub.  I will not be repurchasing this product.

 

2.  NUME Curling wand:  I have learned that when a You Tuber says they have a coupon code that can get you $120.00 off a product, don't buy it! I bought this curling wand for $35.00 after the coupon code, it retails for $165.00.  I bought the 32mm one and it does not curl my hair.  I have very manageable hair that can be worn straight or curly but this wand didn't do the trick.  I have to agree that it is very hot, they give you a heat protective glove and it come in a nice box.  I will not be buying anything from NUME in the future.  I am happy with my Sultra wand.

3.  Look Book Store:  Awesome idea, cute clothes great prices.  I ordered my first shirt and it took 3 weeks to arrive, it was $21.00 with free shipping.  I received a lot of compliments on my shirt so I decided to buy another.  I measured my bust, arms and waist the way the website told me to, I purchases a size US 8, sounded big enough for me (sigh) but it wasn't.  This online "boutique" is in China, am I really going to wait 6 weeks to return the item and wait for a bigger size? No, so my little sister has a nice new shirt.  I find it kind of weird that the website only has selfies of girls neck down wearing their clothes and not models picked out by the company to showcase their items.  I will not be repurchasing from the Look Book store in the future as it does not seem to conform to the curvy girl figure.

Such a cute shirt that I can't fit into but the measurements said I would

4.  Gerard Cosmetics/Whitening Lightening:  I bought into the hype, I bought some of their lip glosses, lipstick and brow bar to go.  I got coupon codes from You Tubers and they even had some great deals going on.  I put this company into my regretful purchases category because almost every You Tuber that I watch mentions their products and raves about them but no one says the negative aspects about them.  The lip glosses are merely just liquid lipsticks that's why they are "sooooo pigmented" according to every review I've sat through.  The lipsticks are ok, the formula is a little dry and rough to get on your lips with out having lip balm on before applying it.  I only just used the wax from the brow bar because the powder is decent but it's better as an eye shadow.  The prices are a reason I dislike the product.  Before any discount codes, the price is $19.00, then someone dazzles you with a code and the price drops down to $9.00, which is the same as the drugstore.  Their slogan should be "Champagne prices with beer qualities."   I probably will buy again from them though, it's like crack, lol. 

1995 and All Dolled Up

Do you see the gritty formula?  It's not smooth like other lip products

5.  NARS ITA Brush:  This retails for $55.00 and is rarely in stock.  When it popped up back in stock, I bought it.  I thought this brush was going to make my contouring game strong, it doesn't have super powers!  Only practice does that I realized.  It's a cool concept, the brush is expensive and it sheds a lot when you wash it and/or use it. The rubber handle gets dirty fast, especially if you have any product on your hands.  I wouldn't buy this product again but I'm kind of glad I got it, I know, I know this sounds like an oxymoron.

 



 

Thanks for listening, Until next blog, Sarah

Inexpensive Gift Ideas.... ColourPop Lippie Stix

Hello beauties, happy Monday!  Thanksgiving is next week and that means Christmas will be here before you know it.  I like to start Christmas shopping around the first week of October (I hate crowded malls and long lines) so I am always looking for small inexpensive gifts to give the special beauty lovers in my life.

 I initially heard about ColourPop through CoffeeBreakWithDani on Youtube when she was launching her signature color Frida.  I liked it so much on video, I had to have it.  It's the kind of color that is effortless, a color you can wear to your kids school functions or meeting the boyfriends parents for the first time.  The great thing about ColourPop is that all their products are just $5.00 each and if you spend $30 shipping is free.  Here's a secret, you might as well spend $30 because shipping is $5.95 each order. 

There are 40 colors with a wide variety of shades to choose from.  They come in 3 different finishes, Matte, Glossy and Satin.  The Matte lippie Stix, I find to be long lasting but drying so make sure your lips are exfoliated and moisturized.  I didn't pick up any Glossy or Pearlized ones but the Satin finishes are fabulous.  You can also purchase the matching Lippie Pencil to go along with the Stix.  I would recommend using a lip liner for the Matte Lippie Stix, you don't want them to run over your lip line.

ColourPop's customer service is great.  They got my order wrong, I emailed them and they sent me the right items right away.  The only negative is that one of my Lippie Stix broke already, I just clicked it once and the product won't come up.  I will be emailing customer service again. 

Here are the swatches of my lippie Stix that I bought. 

ColourPop Lippie Stix, names are as marked.  Each Lippie Stix is 1.0g/0.0352oz


 

They come in these cute tubes that click up the product and can fit in your pocket, clutch, etc. 

I would have to say that my favorites out of this bunch are Bichette and Frida.  I am not normally a darker vampy color girl since I am so pale, but they were only $5.00 so I thought I would try it out.  Check these out for inexpensive gifts or stocking stuffers. 

Thanks for listening, until next blog, Sarah

Quick Inexpesive Holiday Gift Idea - BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight

Hello Beauties!  I am here to tell you about some inexpensive...and maybe some expensive gift ideas for the Holiday Season.  You can gift a beauty lover basically just about anything, because we all love gifts but if you are looking for a great gift idea that's cheap but doesn't look cheap, here it is.  The BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlight in 3 colors, Champagne Gold, Opal and Pearl.

I have wanted to buy one of the BECCA skin perfectors but I didn't want to spend $41 on a 1.7 oz that comes in 5 colors because you know I'm going to want them all.  I saw this little Holiday Pack when I was in Ulta, it was the last one there so I grabbed it. These are the perfect highlighters.

I already have the Opal Pressed Skin Perfector and I LOOOVVEE it.  Here are the Swatches below.  The 3 pack retails for $25 for three 0.17 oz. bottles. 

Thanks for listening, until next blog Sarah

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector $25

Swatches of Highlighters





Dupe for Gerard Cosmetics 1995!

Hello beauties!  I have found a dupe for Gerard Cosmetics 1995 with a better formula and a well known name.  It's MAC's Del Rio.  It retails for $16.00 but they have a recycling program with their makeup tubes that you use up.  It's called Back to MAC and if you return 6 empty primary packaging items, you get a free lipstick of your choice.

I like MAC's quality of their formulas, the smell of the lipstick and it's a brand I trust.  Just not their foundation because it's orange and dries me out!

Gerard Cosmetics 1995 on top and MAC's Del Rio on bottom

 

 

 

 

 



 

Thank you for listening, until next blog Sarah

Which Holiday Palettes Do you want a review of?

Hello beauties!  I'd like to hear feedback from you guys and see what Holiday Palettes you would like to see a review of?  Please leave your comment below

Have a great day, Sarah

NARS HIMALIA DUAL INTESITY EYESHADOW

I am very much in love with Himalia from NARS. Yup, it was on the pricey side $29 for a .05 oz of shadow but it's perfection.  Sometimes you have to just spurge!  The shadow is described as a Shimmering Topaz and it shimmers.  When I wear it in the daylight you can see the subtle shimmer it has and when you move your face the color reflects the light that gives it its glow.

You can wear this dry or wet.  It's the perfect day or night neutral shadow.  Remember when you use Macs fix+ with a shadow only use it on a corner of the shadow or else you will ruin the whole eye shadow.  Hope you all enjoy the pics, I wanted to share my favorite NARS shadow at the moment.

Thanks for listening, until next blog, Sarah




NARS HIMALIA
 

Left- Dry   Right - Wet

Review: Too Faced Melted Lipstick Mini's

I was actually going to buy this as a gift, but since 4 Melted Lipsticks came in the package and I didn't own any of them, I decided to keep it.  This is such a great gift especially for the price and the quality of the lipsticks.  I would recommend this for anyone on a budget, office secret santas, stocking stuffers and/or just plain ole gifting yourself.

In this gift set you get 4 melted lipsticks in the shades Melted Nude, Melted Peony, Melted Fuchsia and Melted Berry.  A different array of colors for $25.00.  The tubes are 0.16 fl oz but for 1 regular 0.40 fl oz tube it costs $21.00.  The pigmentation on these lipsticks are great, although I have experienced that you have to reapply quite often throughout the day.

Pick this up before they are all gone at Sephora!  Until next blog, thanks for listening, Sarah



Melted Nude, Melted Peony, Melted Fuchsia, Melted Berry

It's almost holiday season...

So this year I promised myself to only pick up Limited Edition items for the Holiday Season.  I missed out on Tarte's Off the Cuff blush palette last year because I was at Sephora and looked at it, said to myself, "I will get it later."  Well later didn't happen because that ish sold out.  I was going to pay $75.00 on EBay for it but once I hit that "place bid" button, EBay informed me that my husband forgot to pay a sellers fee and I was SOL on my Off the Cuff Palette.

That was last year, when I was a baby makeup junkie just getting into the biz, now I am a full blown ALL THINGS BEAUTY junkie that does not want rehab but more and more products. lol. 

This year, I did my research.  I know what palettes I want and where to get them.  Except that damn Lorac Mega Pro Palette bc I didn't know that was LE or else I would have thrown that in the bag!

These are the palettes that I have gotten so far:
Too Faced Sugar & Spice Palette
Too Faced Everything Nice Palette
Tarte Sweet Dreams Palette
It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Celebration Palette
Too Faced Melted Kisses Mini's ~Melted Berry ~Melted Fuchsia ~Melted Peony ~Melted Nude


These are the Limited Edition Items that have caught my eye and I wanted to add to my collection as I call it, ask my husband, he calls it my make up palace.... ask my 2 year old daughter calls it playtime and my 6 year old son probably doesn't know what's going on outside of the Pokémon world.

I can't wait to do swatches and let you know which ones are worth it. Even though I already think all of them are.

Until next time, thanks for listening.  Sarah

My thoughts and experience at Jaclyn Hill's Skokie, Illinois Meet & Greet

Jaclyn Hill & Myself

I had a plan on the day of the Jaclyn Hill Meet & Greet, I was going to go to Old Orchard Mall early because I had items to return at bebe anyway.  I told myself that if the line was long when I got there at 3 p.m. then I would just return my stuff and leave and if it was short I would stay.

When I arrived in the parking lot, I got a closer parking space then I would have gotten on a regular day, I took that as a good sign.  I passed by Lush to check out the line and there were about 25 people just chillen in front, I went to Teavana to get a drink due to the overwhelming line in Starbucks.  When I returned to Lush, the line started to form already even though their Facebook page stated that the line will form at 4 p.m.

I got in line since there were only about 70 people in front of me, until all their friends showed up to jump the line, so that made me about 100 people out, I believe.  The first hour past and I thought to myself, "What the hell am I doing here?" but I already invested an hour of my time so I decided to stay.  I went alone since I wasn't sure I would stay and most of my friends were working.  I started to talk to the 2 girls in front of me and the 2 girls behind me.  Thank God, they were receptive and we all had a 4 hour conversation about everything under the sun and the time went by rather quickly.

Looking around at the crowd, there were girls who were dressed like Jaclyn in a few of her outfits she has featured in her YouTube videos.  It was crazy, girls crying, people with signs, etc.  By 6:00 p.m., there were well over 1,000 people there.  I was thinking that the line would go rather quickly so that everyone can get a chance to at least meet Jaclyn, um I was so wrong.  Like I said before, I was about 100 people out and I got to meet her at 7:20ish p.m.   That's crazy!

I still can't believe I stood in line that long, I'm not that much of a fan girl but do support women entrepreneurs and I thought I would write about it for you guys!  I got a picture out of it and a hug.  Would I ever go to another meet & greet, right now the answer is no.  Long lines, screaming girls and crowds are not for me.  And my group didn't get featured in her vlog neither did my individual meet.  I had brought her 2 items that are very unique to Chicago and dear to my heart, that seemed to surprise her at the moment but that didn't get featured either.   I understand that it was probably overwhelming but you have to kind of expect that kind of reaction when you come to an area that has population of over 2 million people.

I am not talking shit about anyone because I know that people are going to be like "Why she be hatin."  This was my experience, through my eyes and my thoughts and reasons why I wouldn't go to another meet & greet any time soon.  I like to keep it real.

Jaclyn's sister Rachel and Myself

Alex Faction and Myself

~ HUGS ~

Gerard Cosmetics 1995, is it worth the hype...and the $$$?

I am a fan of Jaclyn Hill and watch her videos all the time.  I give her huge props for wanting to make a color that matched the "Kylie Jenner Lip Craze".  And she matched it up very well.   In my honest opinion, I do not believe that it is worth $19.99.  I believe I paid $21.75 with Jaclyn's code, which basically gave me free shipping and skimmed some dough off the tax.   That is more money than a MAC lipstick, ummm hello!?!

The packaging is cute, gold and the logo written very small.  The color is great, totally the same color I was rockin' in the year 1995.  I had a problem with the consistency, it was really gritty, like it had actual tiny balls from the lipstick formula, when I applied it and throughout the day i noticed little grit balls on my lips. My lips were moisturized, exfoliated and I use my Bite Beauty Agave lip mask every night.   So I know it wasn't my lips that was crack-a-lackin (in Chris Rock's voice from the movie Madagascar).

Me wearing Gerard Cosmetics 1995

1995

Now I am not a lipstick expert nor do I claim to be, but I am a huge consumer in the beauty world, just ask the hubby, and I know a good formula when I feel one.  Lipstick is supposed to be smooth when applied to the lips, especially when it's $21.75.  I recently picked up Maybelline's new Color Sensation Matte lipstick in A Touch Of Spice #660, which retails for $5.49.  It's a great dupe for G.C's 1995 and helluva lot cheaper! I have only found it at Target so far.  It's so smooth when I apply it to my lips and I received a ton of compliments when I was at Nordstrom and MAC, shopping of course.


Another cheaper dupe I had in my makeup stash was Milani's Spice lip liner #09, which retails for $3.49, so so so so affordable.  I line my lips with the liner then also fill my lips in with the liner.  It has great lasting power.  Milani has made these liners vegan, which is great to know for the non meat eaters out there.  The formula is super creamy on the lips.  I have found Milani at CVS and Walgreens.


Another dupe I found in my wonderland of makeup is MAC's Whirl lip pencil which retails for $16.00.  I put it on the same way I put on Milani's lip liner.  This color is so beautiful and it lasts a long time.

Swatches of all lip products mentioned

In the end, due to the formula, I will not be repurchasing this product.  Nor do I believe it's worth the hype and the money.  The brand is not high end so why is it priced so high?

Enjoy!

Me in 1995 wearing a similar lip color
Holy Brows!

Once Again, until next blog. Thanks for listening, Sarah xoxo

Here is a side by side swatch one of my readers requested below.  Revlon Colorburst Mattte Balm in the color sultry is on the top and Gerard Cosmetics 1995 is on the bottom. One the swatch, the color sultry looks a little warmer than 1995 but on the lips it gives the same effect as 1995.  Great fall lip color and it has a minty feel.  This Revlon color is a good dupe for 1995 and it looks closer to the color I used to wear in 1995, thanks Thalita!



Revlon Colorburst in Sultry on top, Gerard Cosmetics 1995 on bottom.

Revlon Colorburst in Sultry