Eyes

I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Tried Dior ‘Diorshow Mono’ Eyeshadow

June 7th, 2016 by Adia Goss 14 Comments

dior eyeshadows and mascaras — Kicking myself for not trying these Dior eyeshadows sooner!

As much as I love Dior, I can’t believe I never tried the Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows before now!

I mean, I haven’t been totally living under a rock, because I do have an eyeshadow palette or two, and I LOVE the sparkly Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadows. And I’m also a fan of Dior foundations and brow products, and these nail polishes look amazing, so I really have no excuse for not trying them sooner.

This spring Dior released nine new shades of their $29.50 Diorshow eyeshadow, and here are four of my favorites from the line: Gallery, a soft champagne gold with a satin/shimmer finish; Minimalism, a grayish taupe with a satin finish; Atmosphere, a cool-toned purple with a satin finish; and Power, a rich plum with a satin finish.

Here are two sets of swatches in different lighting:

These eyeshadows look pretty standard in their pans, but get them on your skin in the sun? Wow! They’re more complex than they seem, and there’s a really pretty (but subtle) shimmer running throughout. I think they’re great if you like matte shadows but want ones that won’t look so flat. I’m really surprised by how beautiful these eyeshadows are. If you’ve wondered about them, definitely take a look in a store! I don’t think that pictures online can do them justice.

[Continue reading…]

A Drugstore Jamboree! My Weekend With the Almay Smart Shade Products

June 6th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 10 Comments

Wearing Almay Clear Complexion Makeup in Ivory 100, the 140 Trio for Greens on my eyes, Smart Shade Blush in 30 Coral on my cheeks and Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick in 40 Red-Light on my lips

Do you ever want to go to the drugstore and fill your basket with new makeup to try out a whole new look?

That’s something I could never do at a high-end makeup counter, but sometimes it’s fun to take maybe $25 of fun money to buy drugstore colors I’d NEVER even think to purchase from a department store line — you know, just to play. It’s like what I used to do when I first started wearing makeup (at home only, I promise mom!) as a young teenager.

That’s kind of like what I did with these Almay products a couple weekends ago — have frivolous fun and experiment — and I found some things that definitely deserve more attention than they get in the blogosphere!

For starters, I can’t believe I’ve never noticed Almay’s Smart Shade Blushes (about $12). The stars sculpted into the powder are all-American (the brand’s slogan is “the American look”) but also classic Sailor Jerry style nautical stars…so you know that this tattooed makeup lover is all about the way these look.

With these pans, like with regular ombré blushes, you can vary the depth of the shade you want for your cheeks, and the pans also have a shimmery strip that you can glide your brush over when you want to.

I love the look of Coral blended out on the apples of my cheeks with a pop of the lightest shimmering peachy pink on the tops of my cheekbones.

Almay Smart Shade Blush 20 Nude and 30 Coral (about $12 each)

[Continue reading…]

The MAC Fashion Pack Collection! New Runway Worthy Eye Shadow x 9 and Fluidline Pens

May 25th, 2016 by Adia Goss 14 Comments

fashion pack eyes — Wearing pieces from the new MAC Fashion Pack collection

Another day, another MAC release!

While the last MAC collection I reviewed was full of soft, sparkly shadows, the new MAC Fashion Pack collection, which arrives online June 9, 2016 and in stores June 23 through July 28, has bangin’ bold, vibrant colors.

We usually get lots of pastels this time of year, so these deep purples and saturated pinks are a nice departure.

MAC Fashion Pack
Available online June 9, 2016
Available in-store June 23 through July 28, 2016
#MACFashionPack

“Lead the way with a new wave of front-row worthy hues. Fuchsia, violet, emerald, deepest plum, midnight…ready to wear, any way we dare! So, be a doll and show us how — the Fashion Pack is always in the know.” -MAC

Here’s a look at the Runway Worthy Eye Shadow x 9 and the Fluidline Pens from the collection! Stay tuned for the lipsticks coming up next.

First up, the Runway Worthy Eye Shadow x 9 ($32), a mostly cool-toned palette with purple, pink, gray and mauve tones.

MAC Runway Worthy Eye Shadow x 9 shades

Runway Worthy (soft frosty white – Veluxe Pearl)

Dress Me Up (dirty pink – Satin)

Frock Talk (blackened cherry – Veluxe Pearl)

Paradise Island (soft warm pink – Satin)

Available in Petite (frosty raspberry – Velvet)

Snappy Style (deepened black plum – Satin)

Hypnotizing (frosted greyed mauve – Frost)

Zip Me Up (mid-tone violet – Satin)

Nice Fit (blackened blackberry – Frost)

mac fashion pack eyeshadow palette — MAC Cosmetics Runway Worthy Eye Shadow x 9

Most of the shadows are Satins or Frosts, but there is a smile-inducing 🙂 glittery pink right in the middle called Available in Petite.

Here’s a comparison between the Runway Worthy palette and a single MAC Eye Shadow…

[Continue reading…]

A Pink Eyeshadow Makeup Tutorial

May 24th, 2016 by Jen Clark 10 Comments

How I rock pink eyeshadow — Loving the pink eye shadow look!

Not long ago, Anna, Adia and I collaborated on how we rock pink eyeshadow, and many of you wanted to know how I got my look! I loved it too, so I thought I would do a quick tutorial. It’s actually super easy.

If you saw the other post, you’ll know that I mostly used the e.l.f Blush Palette in Light.

Are you ready? Here we go!

To start, blend the lightest pink blush in the palette into and slightly above your crease using a fluffy blending brush.

Bright pink eyeshadow tutorial — Top left shade in the e.l.f Blush Palette

Next, once you have that blended out really well, using a blending brush that’s a little more dense, place the bottom left shade from the palette all over your lid, and blend it into the crease.

[Continue reading…]

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Now Waterproof!

May 20th, 2016 by Anna Oh 19 Comments

Remember when Too Faced made a mascara that was “better than sex?” Well, this one is even better than that one because it’s waterproof!

Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara ($23) works magic in every department now — volume, length, and (now) curl.

Feeling upgraded in every way, it’s packaged in a heavy metal tube with a water-fleck texture like the one I fell in love with from the MAC Alluring Aquatic Collection (2014).

Waterproof mascara isn’t for everyone, though. For some, it means blinking away black flakes, dry crunchy lashes, and even losing a few eyelashes trying to take it off, but I think this is one of the better waterproof mascaras I’ve used, and it’s worth a try if you’re looking for a new one. This one’s now my favorite mascara for special occasions.

Better lashes, here I come!

too faced better than sex waterproof — Closeup of the “Better Than Sex” wand…

So, the wand on this mascara is ridiculously huge, and my first few tries with it were super messy. I’m not sure if the wand has to be THIS big, because sometimes the product can collect into clumps on the brush.

But since I love the way it makes my lashes look, I can overlook a few messy applications. The jet-black formula really sticks to my lashes, but instead of weighing them down like the original Better Than Sex Mascara does, this one holds them in place.

Multiple layers are also possible because of the slow-drying formula.

Now, even though your waterproof lashes look amazing, what do you do with them at the end of the day?

Removing waterproof mascara

You grab Too Faced Mascara Melt Off ($17), which you swipe right onto your lashes, and the oil-infused formula conditions and literally “melts off” waterproof mascaras.

The main reason I don’t wear waterproof mascara more often is because cleanup is so difficult, and even though I always use a separate waterproof eye remover, this mascara still doesn’t budge easily.

But Mascara Melt Off works great and takes less effort. I just let it sit on my lashes for a full minute before wiping off the oil and the rest of my eye makeup with a warm makeup wipe (I warm the makeup wipe by running it under hot water).

These products were made for each other, and Mascara Melt Off really works.

See you in the next!

Anna

Anna Oh

Anna is an illustrator and designer from Atlanta, GA. Her work focuses on fashion, beauty, and awesome women. A former tomboy, Anna now happily embraces all things pink, glittery, and floral scented. You can see her illustration work at www.helloannaoh.com and on Instagram.

These MAC Prep+Prime Highlighter Pens Should Really Be Called PERK+Prime! Miracle Workers

May 20th, 2016 by Jessica Revitte 12 Comments

I’m guessing that by now you’re all getting tired of hearing me bang on about how tired I am.

But really, it’s a vicious cycle. I recently read a meme on Facebook (don’t judge me) while scrolling through my feed during the wee hours of sleeplessness with a fussy baby that read, “Parenting is the constant battle between going to bed to catch up on some sleep or staying awake to finally get some alone time.”

L-O-L, is that ever true!

Hopefully for this tired mama, MAC’s new $26 Prep+Prime Highlighter click pens can help. They’re supposed to “effectively [bring] a soft, sheer wash of colour to skin.”

But first, can we briefly pause to appreciate the shimmering — dare I say sexy? — packaging? I’m in love with these boxes and tubes…

The MAC Prep + Prime Highlighters in all their glittery packaged glory!

Available in nine shades (including two correctors in peach and rose) to suit a wide range of skin tones, the Prep+Prime Highlighters are MAC’s answer to YSL’s eponymous Touche Eclat Stylo. Creamy and easy to apply thanks to the gentle brush head from which the product is dispensed, these highlighters do dry down quickly and oxidize slightly to a somewhat deeper tone than I’d expect based on the swatches.

Although the two shades on the right are just too deep for my complexion, any of the first three on the left would suit my skin tone, depending on what I want and need. The one called Light, for instance, is a classic highlighting concealer, while Medium would be better suited to cancel out the blue tones under my eyes.

[Continue reading…]

These MAC Soft Serve Shadows Are Sooo My Cup of…Ice Cream!

May 19th, 2016 by Adia Goss 27 Comments

Seriously, sparkly cream eyeshadows are my go-to shadows most mornings (if I’m wearing eyeshadow at all), and I LOVE this cushiony cream-to-powder formula. I am 100% completely onboard with these creamy new MAC Soft Serve Shadows. There are 11 of them in the new Soft Serve collection with lots of pretty shimmer!

I think you’ll love these if you also like the Dior Fusion Mono or Chanel Illusion D’Ombre cream eyeshadows because the formulas are very similar. I like applying them with my fingers because they’re easy to build up and blend, but once they set, they stay put.

Basically, these are my dream eyeshadows.

The 11 shades

Bounce Around (Light, cool taupey silver)
Cushy Life (Light warm golden beige)
Best Make Up (Light golden highlighter)
Plead Gilty (Vibrant sparkling gold)
Quite Yummy! (Light pink)
So So Saucy (Mid-tone peach)
Put Me to Shame (Mid-tone dirty taupe)
Softened Up (Mid-tone warm brown)
Girls, Girls! (Soft pastel purple)
Big Bad Blue (Soft pastel blue)
Jealous Girl (Mint green)

[Continue reading…]

Would You Rock Pastel Brows? Introducing the MAC Soft Serve Collection Dare Hue! Brow Pencils

May 18th, 2016 by Adia Goss 29 Comments

mac soft serve brows — Introducing the new MAC Soft Serve Eyebrow Pencils!

Well…this collection is definitely outside my comfort zone. The first time I saw the new Dare Hue! Brow Pencils from the MAC Soft Serve collection ($16.50 each, available online May 26, 2016; in stores June 2 through July 14), I kept asking myself, “Are these definitely brow pencils? Because maybe these are really supposed to be eyeliners.” But, no, these are definitely brow pencils.

These six pastel-hued eyebrow pencils are pretty impossible for me to pull off with my coloring, but I gotta hand it to MAC for totally stepping outside the box. This is the kind of crazy-unique product that I expect from MAC, and I think it’s cool that the brand is still staying true to its non-traditional roots!

[Continue reading…]