Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Underground│Review, Swatches

Even though the Deluxe eyeshadows are being discontinued, you still get great quality and quantity (twice as big as the regular shadows) for wait your paying for. The Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadows are on sale for $.8.00 (insted of the original price $.18.00) on urbandecay.com I don't really know when were these released exactly. Honestly I'm in love with this shade and I want to get more Deluxe Eyeshadows before they're gone.
Underground is described as a medium fawn and it has a metallic sheen. The texture is very soft and the colour payoff is amazing. The packaging is very unique, and every shade has a different packaging. I picked Underground as I find it a very easy-to-wear shade and it's perfect for everyday! 

Will you be picking up any of the Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadows?

Swatch: Mac Powder Matte Blush in Melba

Hello lovelies! Hope you're all having a great week. Today I have a quick post to show you one of my favourite blushes. It's the Mac Powder Blush in Melba ($.20.00), a brown-peach with a matte finish. As you all know, peach is my favourite shade to wear as it's the most wearable colour and looks very natural. The texture is very smooth and very pigmented. Love it!
Have you tried Melba?

Review: Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss in Sugarbomb

I was lucky enough to win a second giveaway prize back in September! The giveaway was hosted by the lovely India Robyn who runs The Jewel Beauty. She has an amazing blog and is a sweetheart, really. She's super nice and also makes jewelry, check her blog if you can, you won't regret it! :) The prize was the Benefit Ultra Plush Lipgloss of your choice, and I picked Sugarbomb since I had recently bought the blusher. It's a shimmering pinky-nude lipgloss with a non-sticky texture. I absolutely love it because I can't stand sticky lip glosses and  of course, I'm in love with the packaging. And honestly Benefit has got to be the makeup brand with the nicest packaging!

The consistency of the lip gloss is very light and non- sticky as I mentioned before. However, the staying power is amazing, I even took a shower with my lip gloss on and it didn't faded away! The colour is very natural and has silver shimmer that makes it look very pretty. I'd say it lasts 2-4 hours without eating/drinking anything. It's buildable and it can look peachier if you apply several coats. I do not advise do add this lipgloss on top of a lipstick because it tends to run the colour underneath. (I was wearing a matte formula when this happened).

I really love this lipgloss, is my go-to and my new favourite at the moment. I love using it along with my Sugarbomb Blush as it complements it. Thank you so much India for hosting an awesome giveaway, I feel really lucky I had the chance to participate and WIN! Thank you so much! <3

Have you tried Benefit Ultra Plush Lipglosses? Which one is your favourite?

Swatch: Mac Marilyn Monroe Preferred Blonde Eyeshadow

Mac Preferred Blonde Large Eyeshadow ($.21.00) is a sheer white-champagne with a frosted finish. It reminds me of Crystal Avalanche on the skin, on the pan it looks a lot more champagne. I find it perfect for under the eyebrow as a highlighter and for the inner corner of the eye to make eyes appear awake. The texture is velvety but nothing special, this collection didn't wowed me slightly, I feel like Marilyn Monroe deserved unique colours and something extra special but that's just me. Three of four eyeshadows look very similar (How to Marry, Preferred Blonde and Silver Screen) and colour payoff could have been better.

Have you tried this eyeshadow or anything else from the collection?

Comparison: Mac Haute & Naughty Mascaras

I recenlty got the Mac Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara ($.20.00) which is basically a two in one mascara that has two finishes; the natural finish and the dramatic finish. I personally never really been a big fan of Mac mascaras because I don't find them as good and the brushes are always disappointing. However, when I first tried the Haute & Naughty Lash (original) I really liked how innovative it was that it came with "2 brushes" and the formula was good, never flaked. With this new version, I'm not so convinced.


The Mac Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash has an intense pigmentation, which is supposed to be the blackest black. The formula is silky soft and it contains ingredients that prevent dryness. What I really like about both of these mascaras is that you get different looks with one mascara alone. The tube comes with two caps, one is tinier so it cleans the brush and leaves it with less product which leads to a more natural looking lash. The other cap lets more product on the applicator so you get a more voluminous lash. But it can get a little tricky, if you're not careful your lashes can end up looking clumpy. The formula is great, because it delivers really deep colour and makes the eyes pop out, it's not drying and doesn't flake or smudge.

The original Mac Haute & Naughty is indeed black but is not as deep as the new version. Both applicators are the exact same for both mascaras. The smaller opening cap is great for lower lashes and to really define the upper lashes. It doesn't thicken the lashes but it defines and curls them really well. The larger opening cap allows more mascara on the applicator which thickens but doesn't voluminizes the lashes. I find the Haute & Naughty Too Black delivers too much product on the brush and it can make the lashes clumpy and undefined. Overall, I would recommend the original version because the larger opening cap on it doesn't clump as much as the Haute & Naughty Too Black mascara. However, the pigmentation and formula is really good.

Please note the Haute & Naught Black mascara has been in use for a longer period of time.

Have you tried these mascaras?

Swatch: Mac Cremeblend Blush in Something Special

Mac Cremeblend Blush in Something Special ($.20.00)*  is a light coral with a creme formula. I find cream blushes to be great for summer but also for winter time, as they hydrate my cheeks and last longer. Something Special is a shade I instantly fell in love with as I tend to use peach and coral shades all the time. I find these shades enhance my natural skin tone and give me a healthy look. The cremeblend formula has a medium coverage and leaves a dewy finish on the skin. This particular shade is very soft but it can be buildable and I find it great for fair and medium skin tones. 

Have you tried Something Special? Do you enjoy using cream blushes?
*Gift

Picks: Top 6 Fall Lipsticks

I selected 6 lip products to use during fall/autumn. First it's CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in the shade 420/Sassy Mauve it's a cool toned mauve with a matte finish, these lipstains have great pigmentation and precise application. But the applicator gets in bad shape after a few uses. I love the colour but I wouldn't repurchase this lipstain. Next is Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in the shade Black Cherry. A deep red that I reviewed a while back, click here to see my review. Now, the famous Revlon Lip Butters, I picked three of my favourite colours: Fig Jam, Red Velvet and Pink Truffle. The most flattering for me, would be Pink Truffle. It's the type my lips but better! And lastly there's CoverGirl Lip Perfection in 380/Dazzle which is a dark mauve with a blue undertone, the shade is a little tricky, it has a certain sheen that makes it look more purple in different lighting. The Lip Perfection lipsticks have a creamy texture and are moisturizing.

From left to right: Cover Girl Lipstain 420,  Revlon Black Cherry, Fig Jam, Red Velvet, Pink Truffle and Cover Girl Dazzle.

 

What are your lipstick picks for Fall?

Review: Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer

Benefit Stay Don't Stray Stay Put Primer for concealer and eyeshadow ($.26.00) is a primer I've been using for quite a while, at first I didn't liked it much because it has one or two packaging-related problems. For starters, the pump delivers way too much product. Still, it's something that doesn't bothers me as much because the primer itself works wonderful. Stay don't Stray is creamy in texture and it has a light beige colour. On my lids it dries semi matte but I can still catch a hint of colour. Compared to Urban Decay's Primer Potion, this one doesn't dries clear, which in a way is good cause it brightens up lids and dark circles. I always apply primer on my eyelids as these tend to enhance the eyeshadow colours and reduce creasing, smudging and fading. 

As a primer for concealer it works well too, but I prefer to use concealer alone. Plus, in my opinion the best way to avoid concealer to crease is to pick the right formula and seal it with loose powder. I don't know how this primer would work on darker complexions, as it has a soft beige undertone. The packaging is okay, I like the fact it has a pump and it stands on it's own, but it delivers too much product with just one pump. Also, it's necessary to shake before use. The formula can get watery over time and it kind of separates in two parts. Maybe I've had mine for too long, but a little goes a long way! (It's still not expired, don't worry!).

The pictures above show how the primer enhance the colour of the
eyeshadow and how it adheres to it even after trying to remove it.

Have you tried Stay Don't Stray? What is your go-to primer for eyeshadows/concealer?

Swatch: Nars Angelika Blush

I seem to have switched my love from peach to pink, somehow I find it to be very flattering nowadays! About two weeks ago, when I got Benefit Sugarbomb, I also picked up this Nars Angelika ($.28.00) which is a cotton candy pink with gold and silver sparkle. It's blue based as you can tell, and the most noticeable sparkles are silver. The texture is very silky and has great pigmentation combining matte and shimmer, though the shimmer fades between application and/or after application, so if you're not into it you don't really have to worry about it. And if you blend it enough, you can get a semi matte finish.


I know this colour may be quite intimidating at first, but it's actually very lovely and wearable. Plus it works well on most skin tones due to it's blue undertone and high pigmentation. I realized that on my skin it can look a bit darker than what it looks like on the pan, so I use a light hand on my cheeks, nonetheless it isn't heavy in any way so it can't be over done. Overall I think it's very beautiful, it blends easily and lasts for at least 8 hours.

Have you tried Angelika? What is your favourite Nars Blush?

Swatch: Mac Amplified Creme in Reel Sexy

Another Mac lipstick swatch! This one is Reel Sexy, there's probably no point on making this post though, cause it's not longer available :( It's a very summery colour, very pastel and creamy looking. If you really like this colour (light bright coral) there's a very similar one, Gotta Dash! which belongs to the Mac Sheen Supreme Lipsticks. I know this isn't a new shade and it's so last summer but I really love it and wanted it since that Reel Sexy Collection came out! 



Do you own any of the Reel Sexy Collection Lipsticks? What's your favourite peach/coral lipstick?

Review: Julep + Trina Turk September 2012 Box│It Girl

Another month, another Julep Box! This time i switched from Classic with a Twist to It Girl, as it usually comes with 3 polishes instead of 2. If you haven't heard about Julep: it's a nail and foot care brand with four boutique nail parlors in the Seattle area. You can sign up to get a monthly box with polishes and nail care products. If you want to sign up, click here.


Delaunay: it's a bright red, described as chili pepper red creme. It's a gorgeous colour, though I don't know how unique. I've seen lots of reds out there! Alma: a retro dijon yellow creme. It reminds me of mustard, as it's name suggests. It's a lovely and unique colour, I see me wearing this a lot in the next few weeks. Otte: My favourite from all 3, a nude colour. It's described as a rich camel natural creme.
All polishes have great consistency and two coats are more than enough to get a rich colour. They don't chip on my nails for at least a week, so that's good. I love that the polishes are different from what I would usually go for. They're also perfect for this season!

Have you tried Julep polishes? What are your thoughts?

Swatch: Mac Matte Lipstick in Please Me

I've been experimenting with lipsticks lately, and pinks seem to be on the top of my list. I'm getting a little lipstick-obsessed too. Mac Matte Lipstick in Please Me ($.15.00 for 3g) was on (my very long) wishlist for a while so I decided to get it! It's a lovely muted-rosy-tinted pink. I found that matte lipsticks are quite drying, but not as much really. I know it looks darker on the lipstick but lighter on the lips. That's why I always try everything on before buying it, something I would advise you ladies to do too :) 


Matte formulas tend to last longer on my lips and I love it! Please Me is a very wearable colour. At the counter I was deciding whether to get Please Me or Chatterbox. They're both very similar except  Chatterbox (bright red pink) is a bit darker and it has a Amplified Creme finish. I do like both, but as I never tried a Matte one before, decided to go for this one. But Chatterbox is still on my wishlist though! 


Have you tried Please Me? What's your favourite Matte lipstick?