Behold the prettiness that is the Sedona Lace 120 Pro Palette! Sedona Lace is an awesome conpamy that sells cosmetic palettes for both eyes and cheeks. They offer different types of colorful palettes, including neutrals, shimmer, and matte. They also sell a concealer palette and a contour and blush palette. Their prices are awesome, and their service is great! I know there are other companies that sell cosmetic palettes right now, I won't name names, but some companies are better than others...and Sedona Lace is my favorite. Their customer service is friendly and helpful, and the shipping is fast. Best of all, the product is quality. The 120 Pro Eyeshadow Palette comes with two tiers of eyeshadow palettes, the colors are really bright and highly pigmented. You get a variety of both matte and shimmer colors. I love this palette! You can create just about any look you want using the colors that come with this palette.
Showing posts with label eyeshadow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eyeshadow. Show all posts
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sedona Lace 120 Pro Palette
Behold the prettiness that is the Sedona Lace 120 Pro Palette! Sedona Lace is an awesome conpamy that sells cosmetic palettes for both eyes and cheeks. They offer different types of colorful palettes, including neutrals, shimmer, and matte. They also sell a concealer palette and a contour and blush palette. Their prices are awesome, and their service is great! I know there are other companies that sell cosmetic palettes right now, I won't name names, but some companies are better than others...and Sedona Lace is my favorite. Their customer service is friendly and helpful, and the shipping is fast. Best of all, the product is quality. The 120 Pro Eyeshadow Palette comes with two tiers of eyeshadow palettes, the colors are really bright and highly pigmented. You get a variety of both matte and shimmer colors. I love this palette! You can create just about any look you want using the colors that come with this palette.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Illamasqua cosmetics review
Illamasqua is a fairly new brand, still making a name for itself in the States and is proving to be quite a competitor for M.A.C! The pigmentation of the products and the color selections are very impressive!
Lipstick in "Corrupt"
This color is described as a warm bright pink on the official website, and Sephora describes it as a matte hot pink. I'm a HUGE fan of bold lips and this lipstick is no exception. The lipstick is rich and creamy with beautiful pigmentation. The color is bold and sassy. This lipstick suits both warm and cool tones. I have neutral tones and it really perks up my fair complexion and it looks just as great on my sister who has very warm tones. In the photo swatch below, "Corrupt" and "Temper" are applied on her warm tones. I like to wear this with a magenta lipliner. With a single application, I'm confident that this color will last me for several hours! Due to the matte texture, you can wear it in all of its bold matte glory or gloss it up! I just adore Illamasqua lipstick! You can also find this fun color at Sephora!

*These product samples were provided for review. However, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Lipstick in "Corrupt"
This color is described as a warm bright pink on the official website, and Sephora describes it as a matte hot pink. I'm a HUGE fan of bold lips and this lipstick is no exception. The lipstick is rich and creamy with beautiful pigmentation. The color is bold and sassy. This lipstick suits both warm and cool tones. I have neutral tones and it really perks up my fair complexion and it looks just as great on my sister who has very warm tones. In the photo swatch below, "Corrupt" and "Temper" are applied on her warm tones. I like to wear this with a magenta lipliner. With a single application, I'm confident that this color will last me for several hours! Due to the matte texture, you can wear it in all of its bold matte glory or gloss it up! I just adore Illamasqua lipstick! You can also find this fun color at Sephora!
Intense Lipgloss in "Temper"
This lipgloss is VERY intense as far as pigmentation goes. You only need a little bit to make a colorful and bold impact. I love this bright tangerine gloss, it's perfect for Spring and Summer! I imagine this color could suit both cool and warm tones. On the above photo swatch, it was swatched on a very warm complexion. I think this lipgloss can be dressed up or dressed down, perfect for a warm Spring/Summer day or for a night out! The texture is thick, but not goopy or uncomfortable. The smell is divine. It has a slight fruity smell that I adore. I think this lipgloss will last a long time, a little goes a long way! Orange and tangerine shades were all the rage on the runway in Fashion Week, and this color will make you feel like you're on the catwalk because it's so trendy and surprisingly wearable for being such a bold shade! If oranges aren't your 'thing', don't fret! You're bound to find a color for you, there are so many shades to choose from and Illamasqua also offers many equally sassy and sexy colors in the Sheer Lipgloss collection. I really love Illamasqua!
Power Eye Shadow in "Fame"
I was surprised at how sheer this eyeshadow is! In the photo swatch, I layered the eyeshadow three times to achieve the color shown. I think the most accurate description for this shade is Granny Smith apple green. It's bright, it's fun, it's the color of Spring/Summer! Due to its sheer coverage, you can wear it as a part of your daytime or nighttime look! Greens and purples are my absolute favorites when it comes to eyeshadow shades, they really bring out the golden flecks in brown eyes! I think this color would look fabulous on every eye color: bringing out the very best from baby blues, gorgeous greens, heavenly hazels and bewitching browns! I also really like the packaging, it's a really sleek black packaging with a clear inlay on the lid! You can check out Fame eyeshadow at Illamasqua.com!
-Ashley
*These product samples were provided for review. However, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Labels:
eyeshadow,
lipgloss,
lipstick,
llamasqua,
product review,
product swatches
Palladio Beauty Review
I heard about Palladio a few months ago and I was curious! They were kind enough to send me a few products to try out for myself, and to feature on my blog! I was so excited when it arrived in the mail, I opened the package and took in the beautiful sight before me:

Baked Eyeshadow in "Plum"
I loved baked eyeshadows because the color is always very rich and can be applied wet or dry! In the swatch, I applied this eyeshadow both wet and dry so you can see the difference! This shimmery purple hue brings out the gold in my brown eyes. I honestly think the pigmentation of this eyeshadow (when applied wet) is comparable to M.A.C Frost finish eyeshadow. It's such a pretty light, and luminous shade of purple! The color intensity is buildable, perfect for a sheer wash of color or applied heavily to a deeper hue. The shimmer is so gorgeous, probably my favorite aspect of the color. I love shimmery eyeshadows, they have the ability of catching the light in the most flattering of ways. Palladio also has baked eyeshadow trios!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.

Baked Blush in "Blushin"
HG material! I think this blush has an uncanny resemblance to cult fave NARS Orgasm blush. The subtle golden shimmer makes this color extremely flattering. I imagine this color would flatter each and every skintone. I have very fair skin and this blush instantly perks up my complexion! This blush is very buildable. One application offers a very nice golden pink shimmer and you can easily add more to achieve a deeper flush. I use my E.L.F Powder Brush (excellent dupe of M.A.C 187!) to evenly distribute the color in the most flattering way. However, any blush brush will do the job!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.

Tinted Lip Balm in "Golden Pink"
I love golden pinks: blushes, lipsticks, lipglosses...and now I can lip balm to that list! This lip balm is extremely pigmented! One swipe of this and I was quite surprised at how much golden shimmer this little tube of lip balm packs! The golden shimmer slightly reminds me of M.A.C Lipglass in "Nymphette". It's easy to O.D on golden shimmer so only one swipe is all you need! I imagine this tube will last me a very long time due to the pigmentation! It's very moisturizing as well! There are eight colors to choose from (including "Golden Pink"). I think each and every person can find their perfect match!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
Lip Stain in "Rose"
I LOVE this! With careful application, this resists feathering and smudging pretty well. In fact, I applied this one evening and when I woke up, my lips were still stained a gorgeous pinky red. I was surprised at how natural this lip stain looked. It didn't feel sticky when it was drying like I have experienced with other lip stains. The color is buildable to a deeper pinky red if you desire more color. I think this will suit every skintone: not too overwhelming for fair skin tones (like mine), and very natural looking and flattering for deeper skin tones. I really really like this lip stain. I love the ease of application: simply line your natural lip shape and then fill in! I didn't notice any dryness or discomfort that other lip stains have caused. There are six shades to choose from (including "Rose")! However, I think this one is very universally flattering and definitely worth a try!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
Lip Slix in "Vixen"
Everything about this lip gloss crayon is a winner for me: the color, the feel of it on my lips, the ease of application and the staying power. Even though it disappeared after eating and drinking, I could see a bit of the color left over. That's extremely impressive for such a glossy crayon! This color is a very pretty light berry color that is semi-sheer yet very buildable. One swipe deposits an impressive amount of color but you can layer it for more intense color. There are six shades to choose from (including "Vixen") and I hope to try the rest of them someday! This glides on very smoothly and it's so easy to apply. Like the other previously mentioned products, I can see this lip gloss crayon suiting all skin tones! One of the things I love so much about Palladio is how universally flattering the colors are!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
So where can you purchase Palladio products? You can shop online at Sally Beauty, or go to your nearest Sally Beauty store and check out Palladio in person!
To learn more about the brand, check out the official website.
Baked Eyeshadow in "Plum"
I loved baked eyeshadows because the color is always very rich and can be applied wet or dry! In the swatch, I applied this eyeshadow both wet and dry so you can see the difference! This shimmery purple hue brings out the gold in my brown eyes. I honestly think the pigmentation of this eyeshadow (when applied wet) is comparable to M.A.C Frost finish eyeshadow. It's such a pretty light, and luminous shade of purple! The color intensity is buildable, perfect for a sheer wash of color or applied heavily to a deeper hue. The shimmer is so gorgeous, probably my favorite aspect of the color. I love shimmery eyeshadows, they have the ability of catching the light in the most flattering of ways. Palladio also has baked eyeshadow trios!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
Baked Blush in "Blushin"
HG material! I think this blush has an uncanny resemblance to cult fave NARS Orgasm blush. The subtle golden shimmer makes this color extremely flattering. I imagine this color would flatter each and every skintone. I have very fair skin and this blush instantly perks up my complexion! This blush is very buildable. One application offers a very nice golden pink shimmer and you can easily add more to achieve a deeper flush. I use my E.L.F Powder Brush (excellent dupe of M.A.C 187!) to evenly distribute the color in the most flattering way. However, any blush brush will do the job!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
Tinted Lip Balm in "Golden Pink"
I love golden pinks: blushes, lipsticks, lipglosses...and now I can lip balm to that list! This lip balm is extremely pigmented! One swipe of this and I was quite surprised at how much golden shimmer this little tube of lip balm packs! The golden shimmer slightly reminds me of M.A.C Lipglass in "Nymphette". It's easy to O.D on golden shimmer so only one swipe is all you need! I imagine this tube will last me a very long time due to the pigmentation! It's very moisturizing as well! There are eight colors to choose from (including "Golden Pink"). I think each and every person can find their perfect match!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
Lip Stain in "Rose"
I LOVE this! With careful application, this resists feathering and smudging pretty well. In fact, I applied this one evening and when I woke up, my lips were still stained a gorgeous pinky red. I was surprised at how natural this lip stain looked. It didn't feel sticky when it was drying like I have experienced with other lip stains. The color is buildable to a deeper pinky red if you desire more color. I think this will suit every skintone: not too overwhelming for fair skin tones (like mine), and very natural looking and flattering for deeper skin tones. I really really like this lip stain. I love the ease of application: simply line your natural lip shape and then fill in! I didn't notice any dryness or discomfort that other lip stains have caused. There are six shades to choose from (including "Rose")! However, I think this one is very universally flattering and definitely worth a try!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
Lip Slix in "Vixen"
Everything about this lip gloss crayon is a winner for me: the color, the feel of it on my lips, the ease of application and the staying power. Even though it disappeared after eating and drinking, I could see a bit of the color left over. That's extremely impressive for such a glossy crayon! This color is a very pretty light berry color that is semi-sheer yet very buildable. One swipe deposits an impressive amount of color but you can layer it for more intense color. There are six shades to choose from (including "Vixen") and I hope to try the rest of them someday! This glides on very smoothly and it's so easy to apply. Like the other previously mentioned products, I can see this lip gloss crayon suiting all skin tones! One of the things I love so much about Palladio is how universally flattering the colors are!
Shop online at Sally Beauty for this item.
So where can you purchase Palladio products? You can shop online at Sally Beauty, or go to your nearest Sally Beauty store and check out Palladio in person!
To learn more about the brand, check out the official website.
Labels:
blush,
eyeshadow,
lip gloss,
palladio,
product review,
product swatches
Monday, February 1, 2010
Surly Girly Cosmetics
Introducing Surly Girly Cosmetics. I found this really fantastic brand straight out of California. A brand that knows that us girls have a multitude of moods and feelings, so our makeup should match that. Some days we feel girly and sweet, and other days we can feel sexy and super sultry. Hence the awesome name Surly Girly! Surly Girly offers lipstick, lipgloss, and eyeshadow. A lipstick collection of both Surly *and* Girly colors, same goes for the lipgloss and eyeshadow. They offer really pretty colors and their packaging is too cute! I just adore their logo, pictured above, too. Cute!!
Surly Girly sent me a few of their items to try and I was so excited to get to sample some of their awesome shades. First up, Surly Girly Lipstick. I tested out the Hollywood Scarlet, Inner Rage, and Jealous. All reds, all from the Surly section ;) I adore these colors! It was love at first application. The lipstick formula is very smooth, doesn't dry out lips, and the color is super pigmented. The Inner Rage color is a very warm red, the Jealous shade is a very vivid blue-red, similar to MAC's Ruby Woo. Hollywood Starlet is a very true red, gorgeous color! It's something that really makes your look "pop". When I first applied it, I had no other makeup on, but I found myself sneaking glances in the mirror. It looked good, even without a full face of makeup on. Hollywood Starlet is my favorite shade of lipstick from Surly Girly, and it's my new HG red! I actually liked it better than some MAC red lipsticks, and Surly Girly is $2 cheaper than MAC lippies. Each Surly Girly lipstick is $12 a pop. SO worth it!! Can't wait to try more of their lipstick shades.
I also got to try some Surly Girly Eyeshadow. This time I tried two shades from the Girly collection: Flirt, and Hint of Mischief. Flirt is a very sweet pearly pink color that can be worn night or day, or used on the lid or highlight. Hint of Mischief is a lovely beige color that makes a great lid color. Once again, it's a color that can be worn night or day, as it's very versatile! Each eyeshadow is $9, and comes in either an adorable Surly black container black, or a Girly pink box. Too cute!
I really like the Surly Girly Cosmetics brand. Their products are high-quality, affordable, and they offer beautiful colors that offer their consumers a choice. Check out their website and see for yourself! :)
Labels:
eyeshadow,
lipgloss,
lipstick,
surly girly cosmetics
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Sp3ctrum review
I love when a brand not only delivers high quality products but also gives back to a cause. A childhood friend of mine had an autistic brother, so I really think it's awesome that 30% of proceeds from purchased items marked as "ɐ spectrum" go to Autism Research & Education! Way to go, sp3ctrum! Okay, now I'll get onto the review:
Oh snap, I think M.A.C pigments have some serious competition! I was convinced no other brand would tear me from my beloved M.A.C but I think Spe3ctrum might be my 'pigment' mistress...These pigments feel so light on your skin and can be used as a highlight, used with a damp brush for an eyeliner, an all-over wash of color on your lid, or even in your crease to add depth and dimension! I love the fact that even people with the most sensitive of skin can wear these gorgeous pigments, I know so many girls who have chronic skin problems and they want to wear makeup but most makeup irritates their skin. Of course, I was far from shy from spreading the word to them...and now let me spread the word to YOU!
You can browse by color family, and/or by your eye color!
Check out the full list here!
From L to R: Caution, Midas, Go!, Glacierz, Mocha Mojo





Seriously, how gorgeous are these colors?! Caution is a perfect stand alone yellow color, I love to use it for inner corner with my green eyeshadows. Midas tops Caution beautifully adding the most gorgeous golden sheen imaginable. Go! is a stunning frosty turquoise. Have you seen (discontinued) fan favorite M.A.C eyeshadow in Parrot? Okay, take that color and add about 100x watts of beautiful light sheen and there's your color! Glacierz is a gorgeous light blue that reminds me of Cinderella's light blue gown after a visit from her apparently stylish Fairy Godmother! It makes a gorgeous wash of color on my lid and pulls out the golden flecks in my light brown eyes! Mocha Mojo is a stunning color. When I first swatched it on my hand, I was in LOVE. I mix a pinch of it with my mineral bronzer and the effect it gives to the apples of my cheeks is out of this world, like intergalactic chicness!
I tried taking swatches of these gems with my cell phone camera because my digital camera broke, but that does NOT give it justice. If you would like to see some swatches, check out Niki's awesome review.
Check out Sp3ctrum ASAP! Put checking out this brand at the top of your "beauty to-do" list!
-ashley
Oh snap, I think M.A.C pigments have some serious competition! I was convinced no other brand would tear me from my beloved M.A.C but I think Spe3ctrum might be my 'pigment' mistress...These pigments feel so light on your skin and can be used as a highlight, used with a damp brush for an eyeliner, an all-over wash of color on your lid, or even in your crease to add depth and dimension! I love the fact that even people with the most sensitive of skin can wear these gorgeous pigments, I know so many girls who have chronic skin problems and they want to wear makeup but most makeup irritates their skin. Of course, I was far from shy from spreading the word to them...and now let me spread the word to YOU!
You can browse by color family, and/or by your eye color!
Check out the full list here!
From L to R: Caution, Midas, Go!, Glacierz, Mocha Mojo
Seriously, how gorgeous are these colors?! Caution is a perfect stand alone yellow color, I love to use it for inner corner with my green eyeshadows. Midas tops Caution beautifully adding the most gorgeous golden sheen imaginable. Go! is a stunning frosty turquoise. Have you seen (discontinued) fan favorite M.A.C eyeshadow in Parrot? Okay, take that color and add about 100x watts of beautiful light sheen and there's your color! Glacierz is a gorgeous light blue that reminds me of Cinderella's light blue gown after a visit from her apparently stylish Fairy Godmother! It makes a gorgeous wash of color on my lid and pulls out the golden flecks in my light brown eyes! Mocha Mojo is a stunning color. When I first swatched it on my hand, I was in LOVE. I mix a pinch of it with my mineral bronzer and the effect it gives to the apples of my cheeks is out of this world, like intergalactic chicness!
I tried taking swatches of these gems with my cell phone camera because my digital camera broke, but that does NOT give it justice. If you would like to see some swatches, check out Niki's awesome review.
Check out Sp3ctrum ASAP! Put checking out this brand at the top of your "beauty to-do" list!
-ashley
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - newly released products!
You down with OCC? (Yeah, you know me!)
You down with OCC? (Yeah, you know me!)
Words cannot describe how much I love Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. The loose color concentrates are a worthy opponent of MAC pigments. I can't believe I'm about to utter such a thing, butttt I think that I might like OCC way better.
I adore ANYTHING with a blue undertone, and Spectral is no exception. It looks shimmery and white in the container, but when you swatch it or apply it to your lids or mix with clear lip tar, it's insane. I have never seen another loose pigment quite like it, much like lots of the OCC products. Besides insanely awesome pigmentation, the colors are beyond unique.
Also, mix it with Frigid and you get the most gorgeous shimmery ice princess baby blue ever. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Authentic is the most wearable penny colored copper I have ever seen. Most coppers I have tried tend to have a lot of red or pink in them, which can make my eyes look tired. But like with every other thing from OCC I have tried, I was far from disappointed. I love it as a wash of color on my lid, or in the inner corner. It's like MAC eye kohl "Teddy" in loose powder form with an extra dose of gorgeous copper shimmer. These colors are gorgeous!!

OCC was a huge hit at the IMATS and rightfully so. Everybody has been singing the praises of OCC lip tars, myself included. The staying power is out of this world, it dries to a nice matte finish but I don't notice any flaking like I have noticed with other matte products. I highly recommend a lipliner before applying lip tars so the product has something to adhere to and to prevent the possibility of 'bleeding' or 'feathering'.
These colors were just released from OCC:

Anime: (top row, left on hand and applied on lips with minimal natural pigment)
Seriously, how AMAZING is this lip tar?! When I first tried it on, I just HAD to take a picture to show people how gorgeous and pigmented and BRIGHT it is! It's soo bright and definitely catches your eye! When I looked in the mirror after applying, WOW. The effect was insane, I put a little bit of MAC 3D Glitter over it, and my lips were out of this world. I wear it around my house and it's probably one of my only makeup products that I can't stop staring at myself when I wear it. It's amazing, and I really recommend it to anybody who loves a bright and bold lip. Or even for somebody who rarely wears a bold lip but feels like making a statement. Look no further, this is without a doubt, the color that everybody needs in their collection whether they like bold lips or nude lips. It's THAT pretty. It puts every other hot pink lipstick/lipgloss I own to shame!

Fondue: (top row, right)
This couldn't possibly have a better name. While it's not a color I could probably wear and successfully pull off, this would be perfect for character makeup. The name makes me think of this restaurant in my home state of Michigan that specializes in AMAZING fondue. Focus, Ashley, focus...
Petty Beige: (bottom row, far left)
I could see this as a very wearable nude. I'm not much of a fan of nude lip colors, but applied sparingly (only a bit of lip tar goes a lonnngggg way), this could totally work for me. It's not too light to wash me out, but not too dark of a nude-y beige color to look awkward on porcelain skin. It has a teeny tiny bit of pink in it (or so it appears on my lips), and does have a bit of brown but not enough to take on a gray appearance (like other brown toned lipsticks/lip glosses I have tried). If you like nude lip colors, I suggest trying this out. And if you do, please comment and let me know what you think! :)
Botanical: (bottom row, 2nd from left)
I love green makeup on my eyes. On my lips? Hmm, I don't think I have the confidence or 'tude to rock such an unconventional lip color but sometimes I slick it on my lips when I feel that my creativity needs a boost while applying to makeup to other people. It's a fun color to wear in private, but I don't know if I could debut this one out on the town. Maybe one day. I also used to say that I could never wear a red lip or hot pink lip back in high school. And now reds and hot pinks dominate my lip products in my train case! So maybe one day, I could give this a go in public. But that day isn't today, sadly. If you're into character makeup and avant garde or if you have the confidence to rock this, go for it. Inspire others to make bolder choices with their makeup, and let the rest of us who are too afraid just remain green with envy for your confidence...pun intended. Even though it wasn't too funny, lol.
Hush: (bottom row, 2nd from right)
This is such a pretty baby pink. I could see this working as an everyday lip with a natural look, a pretty flush of pink to wear as you walk down the aisle on your wedding day, or even to compliment smokey eyes. This shade could work with any kind of smokey eye (black, gray, brown, or even if you prefer jewel toned smokey eyes!). This color looks amazing with NARS Orgasm and MAC Blonde MSF. It's the perfect light pink lip color to accomodate glowy pink cheeks. Highly recommended.
Conquest: (bottom row, far right)
This is like MAC's Myth lipstick and C-thru lipglass in one. This could be a better (and safer!) alternative to using concealer on your lips to mute the natural pigment - considering that some of the ingredients used in concealers are not meant to be injested. There is no trace or orange or brown detectable. Using a thin layer, it erases just about all traces of natural pigment...providing a base for any lipstick to really make any lip color pop. As a stand alone color? I personally wouldn't wear it, although I know MANY who would. It's just not my personal preference. As a lipstick base? Definitely.
Check OCC out if you haven't already! Makeup artists and makeup addicts like myself have been buzzing about OCC before, during and after the IMATS. If you haven't checked out OCC yet, I think you should. Like, soon. Sooner than soon. Like, now.

-ashley
You down with OCC? (Yeah, you know me!)
Words cannot describe how much I love Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. The loose color concentrates are a worthy opponent of MAC pigments. I can't believe I'm about to utter such a thing, butttt I think that I might like OCC way better.
I adore ANYTHING with a blue undertone, and Spectral is no exception. It looks shimmery and white in the container, but when you swatch it or apply it to your lids or mix with clear lip tar, it's insane. I have never seen another loose pigment quite like it, much like lots of the OCC products. Besides insanely awesome pigmentation, the colors are beyond unique.
Also, mix it with Frigid and you get the most gorgeous shimmery ice princess baby blue ever. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Authentic is the most wearable penny colored copper I have ever seen. Most coppers I have tried tend to have a lot of red or pink in them, which can make my eyes look tired. But like with every other thing from OCC I have tried, I was far from disappointed. I love it as a wash of color on my lid, or in the inner corner. It's like MAC eye kohl "Teddy" in loose powder form with an extra dose of gorgeous copper shimmer. These colors are gorgeous!!
OCC was a huge hit at the IMATS and rightfully so. Everybody has been singing the praises of OCC lip tars, myself included. The staying power is out of this world, it dries to a nice matte finish but I don't notice any flaking like I have noticed with other matte products. I highly recommend a lipliner before applying lip tars so the product has something to adhere to and to prevent the possibility of 'bleeding' or 'feathering'.
These colors were just released from OCC:
Anime: (top row, left on hand and applied on lips with minimal natural pigment)
Seriously, how AMAZING is this lip tar?! When I first tried it on, I just HAD to take a picture to show people how gorgeous and pigmented and BRIGHT it is! It's soo bright and definitely catches your eye! When I looked in the mirror after applying, WOW. The effect was insane, I put a little bit of MAC 3D Glitter over it, and my lips were out of this world. I wear it around my house and it's probably one of my only makeup products that I can't stop staring at myself when I wear it. It's amazing, and I really recommend it to anybody who loves a bright and bold lip. Or even for somebody who rarely wears a bold lip but feels like making a statement. Look no further, this is without a doubt, the color that everybody needs in their collection whether they like bold lips or nude lips. It's THAT pretty. It puts every other hot pink lipstick/lipgloss I own to shame!
Fondue: (top row, right)
This couldn't possibly have a better name. While it's not a color I could probably wear and successfully pull off, this would be perfect for character makeup. The name makes me think of this restaurant in my home state of Michigan that specializes in AMAZING fondue. Focus, Ashley, focus...
Petty Beige: (bottom row, far left)
I could see this as a very wearable nude. I'm not much of a fan of nude lip colors, but applied sparingly (only a bit of lip tar goes a lonnngggg way), this could totally work for me. It's not too light to wash me out, but not too dark of a nude-y beige color to look awkward on porcelain skin. It has a teeny tiny bit of pink in it (or so it appears on my lips), and does have a bit of brown but not enough to take on a gray appearance (like other brown toned lipsticks/lip glosses I have tried). If you like nude lip colors, I suggest trying this out. And if you do, please comment and let me know what you think! :)
Botanical: (bottom row, 2nd from left)
I love green makeup on my eyes. On my lips? Hmm, I don't think I have the confidence or 'tude to rock such an unconventional lip color but sometimes I slick it on my lips when I feel that my creativity needs a boost while applying to makeup to other people. It's a fun color to wear in private, but I don't know if I could debut this one out on the town. Maybe one day. I also used to say that I could never wear a red lip or hot pink lip back in high school. And now reds and hot pinks dominate my lip products in my train case! So maybe one day, I could give this a go in public. But that day isn't today, sadly. If you're into character makeup and avant garde or if you have the confidence to rock this, go for it. Inspire others to make bolder choices with their makeup, and let the rest of us who are too afraid just remain green with envy for your confidence...pun intended. Even though it wasn't too funny, lol.
Hush: (bottom row, 2nd from right)
This is such a pretty baby pink. I could see this working as an everyday lip with a natural look, a pretty flush of pink to wear as you walk down the aisle on your wedding day, or even to compliment smokey eyes. This shade could work with any kind of smokey eye (black, gray, brown, or even if you prefer jewel toned smokey eyes!). This color looks amazing with NARS Orgasm and MAC Blonde MSF. It's the perfect light pink lip color to accomodate glowy pink cheeks. Highly recommended.
Conquest: (bottom row, far right)
This is like MAC's Myth lipstick and C-thru lipglass in one. This could be a better (and safer!) alternative to using concealer on your lips to mute the natural pigment - considering that some of the ingredients used in concealers are not meant to be injested. There is no trace or orange or brown detectable. Using a thin layer, it erases just about all traces of natural pigment...providing a base for any lipstick to really make any lip color pop. As a stand alone color? I personally wouldn't wear it, although I know MANY who would. It's just not my personal preference. As a lipstick base? Definitely.
Check OCC out if you haven't already! Makeup artists and makeup addicts like myself have been buzzing about OCC before, during and after the IMATS. If you haven't checked out OCC yet, I think you should. Like, soon. Sooner than soon. Like, now.
-ashley
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mally Beauty review
This brand is quickly becoming one of my favorites. "Mally Beauty" is the cosmetic line by celebrity makeup artist, Mally Roncal!
Life, Love and a Really Great Lipgloss single in "Life Is Fuschia"

This gloss is a gorgeous sheer candy pink. It smells amazing, like cotton candy! Looks gorgeous with MAC "Dollymix" sheertone shimmer blush. So fresh and girly. This gloss pairs beautifully with my pink/pink-based neutral lipsticks. It also looks amazing on its own.
City Chick Smokey Eye Kit in "Brownstone"

I love this color coordinated smokey eye kit! The lid color really brings out the golden flecks in my eyes. The crease color is similar to MAC's Espresso eyeshadow. You can also use the darkest shade as an eye liner or to fill in brows. Another winner from Mally Beauty!
Ultimate Performance Professional Foundation in "Fair"

This stuff is amazing. I usually have to top my foundation with light finishing powder to make the color match better. This stuff is a near perfect match. It conceals redness, undereye circles and evens out my skintone. Perfect. I recommend this to anybody in search of a foundation with great color, great coverage and a great formula.
Poreless Perfection Skin Finisher

This powder is the perfect finishing touch after I complete my makeup routine. It matches my skin perfectly when used with foundation or a light dusting on its own. This is great, it's like powder airbrushing!
Check it out!

-ashley
Life, Love and a Really Great Lipgloss single in "Life Is Fuschia"
This gloss is a gorgeous sheer candy pink. It smells amazing, like cotton candy! Looks gorgeous with MAC "Dollymix" sheertone shimmer blush. So fresh and girly. This gloss pairs beautifully with my pink/pink-based neutral lipsticks. It also looks amazing on its own.
City Chick Smokey Eye Kit in "Brownstone"
I love this color coordinated smokey eye kit! The lid color really brings out the golden flecks in my eyes. The crease color is similar to MAC's Espresso eyeshadow. You can also use the darkest shade as an eye liner or to fill in brows. Another winner from Mally Beauty!
Ultimate Performance Professional Foundation in "Fair"
This stuff is amazing. I usually have to top my foundation with light finishing powder to make the color match better. This stuff is a near perfect match. It conceals redness, undereye circles and evens out my skintone. Perfect. I recommend this to anybody in search of a foundation with great color, great coverage and a great formula.
Poreless Perfection Skin Finisher
This powder is the perfect finishing touch after I complete my makeup routine. It matches my skin perfectly when used with foundation or a light dusting on its own. This is great, it's like powder airbrushing!
Check it out!
-ashley
Labels:
eyeshadow,
foundation,
lipgloss,
product review
Monday, April 6, 2009
Pop/Pixi review
I'm a sucker for cute packaging. I love love love it.
Goddess Clutch

First of all, the black clutch is adorable and I love the material it's made of. You can also pop out the makeup and use it as a regular clutch for a night out. Awesome, awesome. Now onto to the contents of the clutch...There are a few matte eyeshadows as well as sparkly, two blushes, and one clear sparkly lip gloss. I love the gloss, it wears well throughout the night, and goes with everything. The blushes are two healthy looking and natural shades (peachy pink, baby pink). I love the sparkly/matte finishes off the eyeshadows and the colors, especially the deep gorgeous teal!
Lid Pastels

This palette features six fun pastel shades. When you flip open the top, there are three suggestions for looks you can create using the palette. I love the lightest shade (the shimmery white one), it's a great highlighter for super fair skin just like mine! I'm constantly on the look out for a good highlighter, and I usually always find them in the most unlikely products (my favorite highlighters tend to originally be eyeshadows)!
Lip Lust in "Flirty Fuschia"

If you want to try out bright lip colors but you're afraid of something that is too pigmented, you will love this. If you're a fan of bright lip colors (like me) and want to add another color to your collection, you will love this. It's a bright pink fuschia but it's very sheer to medium coverage, not very opaque so it's definitely a 'safe' bright color. It's incredibly moisturizing though!
Pixi Gel Liner in "Jade"


This reminds me of MAC's Fluidline eyeliners. I love green eye products: shadows, liners, etc. They're amazing for brown eyes. This gel liner comes with a little brush to apply it with. Normally, it is advised to throw out the applicator brushes but this brush is actually pretty good. It's small so you can have more control over the color and the application.
Neutralizing cover up kit

This is perfect for any and all skin imperfections. I mostly use the green to cover up some redness that I get from my hypothyroidism. I put a thin layer over the redness, then cover it up with concealer and that's all. It reduced my 'redness covering up' routine to only two steps.
Sheer Cheek Gel in "Natural".

This product is just like it's name. It's a very natural pink shade, what I love most about it is that the application is so sheer but very easily buildable so you can control the pigment. A little goes a long way though, so it's probably best to start with only a dot or two on your fingertips or on a cosmetic sponge. I like to put this on the apples of my cheeks very lightly (as a natural shade) and then brush MAC's Dollymix over it as a bright shade for a 'pop' of color. I got that trick from Bobbi Brown's latest book (Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual)

-ashley
Goddess Clutch
First of all, the black clutch is adorable and I love the material it's made of. You can also pop out the makeup and use it as a regular clutch for a night out. Awesome, awesome. Now onto to the contents of the clutch...There are a few matte eyeshadows as well as sparkly, two blushes, and one clear sparkly lip gloss. I love the gloss, it wears well throughout the night, and goes with everything. The blushes are two healthy looking and natural shades (peachy pink, baby pink). I love the sparkly/matte finishes off the eyeshadows and the colors, especially the deep gorgeous teal!
Lid Pastels
This palette features six fun pastel shades. When you flip open the top, there are three suggestions for looks you can create using the palette. I love the lightest shade (the shimmery white one), it's a great highlighter for super fair skin just like mine! I'm constantly on the look out for a good highlighter, and I usually always find them in the most unlikely products (my favorite highlighters tend to originally be eyeshadows)!
Lip Lust in "Flirty Fuschia"
If you want to try out bright lip colors but you're afraid of something that is too pigmented, you will love this. If you're a fan of bright lip colors (like me) and want to add another color to your collection, you will love this. It's a bright pink fuschia but it's very sheer to medium coverage, not very opaque so it's definitely a 'safe' bright color. It's incredibly moisturizing though!
Pixi Gel Liner in "Jade"
This reminds me of MAC's Fluidline eyeliners. I love green eye products: shadows, liners, etc. They're amazing for brown eyes. This gel liner comes with a little brush to apply it with. Normally, it is advised to throw out the applicator brushes but this brush is actually pretty good. It's small so you can have more control over the color and the application.
Neutralizing cover up kit
This is perfect for any and all skin imperfections. I mostly use the green to cover up some redness that I get from my hypothyroidism. I put a thin layer over the redness, then cover it up with concealer and that's all. It reduced my 'redness covering up' routine to only two steps.
Sheer Cheek Gel in "Natural".
This product is just like it's name. It's a very natural pink shade, what I love most about it is that the application is so sheer but very easily buildable so you can control the pigment. A little goes a long way though, so it's probably best to start with only a dot or two on your fingertips or on a cosmetic sponge. I like to put this on the apples of my cheeks very lightly (as a natural shade) and then brush MAC's Dollymix over it as a bright shade for a 'pop' of color. I got that trick from Bobbi Brown's latest book (Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual)
-ashley
Labels:
blush,
eyeliner,
eyeshadow,
lipstick,
product review
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
L.A. Colors
My first introduction to LA Colors was a beautiful (and colorful!) one. I first saw the display at "Five And Below", an awesome store on the east coast that features tons of cool stuff for $5 or less! I immediately ran over to the display of the nail polishes and loose powder eyeshadows. I guess the bright colors caught my eye. So I picked up a few shades and created some crazy colorful looks when I got home. My favorites are "Sunshine", "Black Pearl", and "Spring Fling". I actually used "Sunshine" on my lower lashline in my entry Rai's 80's themed contest.

I love the 'Nail Art', it's a long tipped brush so you can make your own designs on your nails. I like to paint my nails red and put black dots on them to look like ladybugs. Or one color like pink with a contrasting color like the gold glitter or white. I also like to paint white stripes on top of a base color and go over the white stripes with the gold glitter, it looks soo cool!

LA Colors recently came out with mineral eyeshadow duos. I tried a dark smokey one, and an ocean blue duo. I love mineral anything, so those of course made me very happy.
If you ever see an LA Colors display in any store similar to a store like "Five And Below", definitely check it out! Although I'm sure the bright attractive colors of the display will lure you in anyway...
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a place on the official website to place online orders or a store locator...so all I can say is keep your eyes open for an LA Colors display near you and check out the website!

I love the 'Nail Art', it's a long tipped brush so you can make your own designs on your nails. I like to paint my nails red and put black dots on them to look like ladybugs. Or one color like pink with a contrasting color like the gold glitter or white. I also like to paint white stripes on top of a base color and go over the white stripes with the gold glitter, it looks soo cool!
LA Colors recently came out with mineral eyeshadow duos. I tried a dark smokey one, and an ocean blue duo. I love mineral anything, so those of course made me very happy.
If you ever see an LA Colors display in any store similar to a store like "Five And Below", definitely check it out! Although I'm sure the bright attractive colors of the display will lure you in anyway...
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a place on the official website to place online orders or a store locator...so all I can say is keep your eyes open for an LA Colors display near you and check out the website!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
EyesLipsFace review
I have to admit that it's easy to be skeptical about quality cosmetics at such an affordable price ($1+). I know that I am not the first blogger to sing the praises of EyesLipsFace (E.L.F) cosmetics...but I am definitely joining that list of happy bloggers in love with ELF! I reviewed the following products:

All Over Cover Stick in "Fair"
This one matches my skin tone very well, it works great as a primer or if you're like me and only use concealer where needed and typically skip foundation. It covers dark circles, blemish, and any facial redness just to name a few of its many purposes.

Studio Brush 10 piece set
People always stress the importance of using good brushes, and with that being said, I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. My favorite one is "Powder brush". It looks similar to the MAC #187 brush and has the same purpose. My MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in "Petticoat" glides on beautifully with this brush, and it blends so easily and seamlessly. Normally, I have to blend a little bit with my finger sometimes, but there was none of that with these brushes.

Studio Eyeliner & Eyeshadow Stick in "Smoke"
This is a great product with "2 in 1" packaging. The shadow part of "smoke" reminds me of MAC's discontinued shadestick in "Sharkskin". The eyeliner part is a black shade, that glides on the lash line or waterline with such ease and very little effort on your part.

Get The Look set in "Smokey Eyes"
Everybody loves the look of smokey eyes, although sometimes it's not so easy to know which products will work and the order in which they are applied. This set includes easy to follow instructions, eyeliner, mascara duo, an eyeshadow quad featuring dark grey/black shades. Also, this kit includes a smudge brush to smudge your way to smokey perfection! Black makes an interesting contrast to brown eyes, especially in pictures. For some reason, it really ignites the golden flecks in my eyes.

Mineral Lipstick in "Barely Bitten"
This color is a beautiful and natural medium to darker pinky coral. I love pinky corals, they're a "must" for red hair! The staying power is great, it is very easily to apply, the colors aren't too opaque to the point of not being able to apply without a mirror. They're sheer, but not too sheer. But beautiful none the less.

Super Glossy Lip Shine in "Watermelon"
This color is a cute, fun, slightly frosty pink (but not an unattractive kind of frosty). It's a pretty youthful color, and I think this lipgloss lasts a pretty long time after it's applied. It doesn't feel sticky or heavy, either!

Luscious Liquid Lipstick in "Ruby Slipper"
It smells great, like mint and vanilla. It feels cool and slightly tingly, the moisture properties are impressive and the color is a gorgeous sheer golden red. Love love love.
Sooo what are you waiting for?
[Click the image to shop]

All Over Cover Stick in "Fair"
This one matches my skin tone very well, it works great as a primer or if you're like me and only use concealer where needed and typically skip foundation. It covers dark circles, blemish, and any facial redness just to name a few of its many purposes.
Studio Brush 10 piece set
People always stress the importance of using good brushes, and with that being said, I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. My favorite one is "Powder brush". It looks similar to the MAC #187 brush and has the same purpose. My MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in "Petticoat" glides on beautifully with this brush, and it blends so easily and seamlessly. Normally, I have to blend a little bit with my finger sometimes, but there was none of that with these brushes.
Studio Eyeliner & Eyeshadow Stick in "Smoke"
This is a great product with "2 in 1" packaging. The shadow part of "smoke" reminds me of MAC's discontinued shadestick in "Sharkskin". The eyeliner part is a black shade, that glides on the lash line or waterline with such ease and very little effort on your part.
Get The Look set in "Smokey Eyes"
Everybody loves the look of smokey eyes, although sometimes it's not so easy to know which products will work and the order in which they are applied. This set includes easy to follow instructions, eyeliner, mascara duo, an eyeshadow quad featuring dark grey/black shades. Also, this kit includes a smudge brush to smudge your way to smokey perfection! Black makes an interesting contrast to brown eyes, especially in pictures. For some reason, it really ignites the golden flecks in my eyes.
Mineral Lipstick in "Barely Bitten"
This color is a beautiful and natural medium to darker pinky coral. I love pinky corals, they're a "must" for red hair! The staying power is great, it is very easily to apply, the colors aren't too opaque to the point of not being able to apply without a mirror. They're sheer, but not too sheer. But beautiful none the less.
Super Glossy Lip Shine in "Watermelon"
This color is a cute, fun, slightly frosty pink (but not an unattractive kind of frosty). It's a pretty youthful color, and I think this lipgloss lasts a pretty long time after it's applied. It doesn't feel sticky or heavy, either!
Luscious Liquid Lipstick in "Ruby Slipper"
It smells great, like mint and vanilla. It feels cool and slightly tingly, the moisture properties are impressive and the color is a gorgeous sheer golden red. Love love love.
Sooo what are you waiting for?
[Click the image to shop]
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Girlactik review
So I'm reviewing a lip gloss and eye shadow from the awesome brand "Girlactik". This brand has been featured in magazines and according to Eva Longoria, "everyone in Hollywood is using it." (quote from Tatler magazine). The eyeshadows have made appearances in magazines like Allure, Glamour, Marie Claire, In Touch and US Weekly.
I love the Star Shadow in "Penny". It is described as a shimmering copper, and this particular shade has been seen in Glamour Magazine! I love it, it blends amazingly well and the color is rich and beautiful. It reminds me a little bit of MAC eyeshadow in Bronze. "Penny" really ignites the golden flecks in brown eyes!
I'm also reviewing the Star Gloss in "Just Sexy". These glosses have been seen in Oprah and People magazine. Anyway, back to my review: "Just Sexy" is described as a coral pink with a golden undertone. Being a redhead, I love coral shades, because they can range from their undertones can range from pink to orange to gold. I have so many of them, but this has earned a place in my favorites. You don't need that much product, a little bit goes a long way. It has pretty good staying power, I didn't notice myself having to reapply too many times.
I would highly recommend this awesome brand.
Check them out!
Right now they have a "free gift with purchase" offer going on with a purchase of $75 or more!
-ashley
I love the Star Shadow in "Penny". It is described as a shimmering copper, and this particular shade has been seen in Glamour Magazine! I love it, it blends amazingly well and the color is rich and beautiful. It reminds me a little bit of MAC eyeshadow in Bronze. "Penny" really ignites the golden flecks in brown eyes!
I'm also reviewing the Star Gloss in "Just Sexy". These glosses have been seen in Oprah and People magazine. Anyway, back to my review: "Just Sexy" is described as a coral pink with a golden undertone. Being a redhead, I love coral shades, because they can range from their undertones can range from pink to orange to gold. I have so many of them, but this has earned a place in my favorites. You don't need that much product, a little bit goes a long way. It has pretty good staying power, I didn't notice myself having to reapply too many times.
I would highly recommend this awesome brand.
Check them out!
Right now they have a "free gift with purchase" offer going on with a purchase of $75 or more!
-ashley
Labels:
eyeshadow,
girlactik,
lip gloss,
product review
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