ProductWhores

Color Me Impressed

When I saw Violet Voss' new Rainbow Palette on Sephora's display of new "hot" items, it instantly caught my eye.  I mean, look at it!  The picture doesn't do it justice, but it's SUPER pretty.  But I don't often wear colors as bold as this, so I walked on by.  But I couldn't stop thinking about it the entire time I was in the store, so I came back and swatched it on my arm and put a few shades on my eyes and HOLY PIGMENT.  The teal shade I had on my eyes was so bright, a SEPHORA EMPLOYEE even stopped to ask me what it was.  (Hilarious).  I wanted it even more when I found out it was only $30.  I mean, I know $30 isn't chump change and I have so much makeup I don't "have" to buy anything ever again really, but really, this is a great deal if you're looking to add some interesting colors to your stash.  The pans are so huge that to get each one for basically $3 apiece is amazing.  It also has a five star rating on Sephora's website, which is pretty amazing.  Those are not easy to come by!  (And if you're worried that the colors will be too bold for you, the Sephora app lets you virtually try on the shades so you can see what you'd look like with them on before spending one cent of your hard-earned money).  I had to walk away without it this past weekend solely because I was buying another shade of Cover FX's Glitter Drops because I'm obsessed with how gorgeous they are and must have all of them.  But I'm already planning to head back this coming weekend for it (spacing out my makeup purchases somehow allows me to pretend I'm not buying as much, which is kind of insane, but hey, whatever works!)  I highly recommend checking it out and/or picking it up before it sells out and is gone forever.  Your inner bold girl deserves it!

Kaleidoscope Dream

You guys, I am SUPER into Urban Decay's new UD X Kristen Leanne collection.  I didn't know a ton about Kristen before this, but I read a bunch about her and she's kind of awesome, so on top of everything else, makeup is now teaching me things!  Who knew?  The entire collection is pretty great, but my favorite piece is definitely the Kaleidoscope Dream eye palette.  I've been wearing a ton of neutral shadows lately so it's sooo nice to pick up a palette that is the exact opposite - bold and fun and full of bright shades.  The thing that I love about bright eye colors is that you can really wear them two ways - you can pair them with other bright shades for a super creative fun look for a night out or you can tone them down by pairing one bright shade with a neutral.  I've been doing both just to get the most use out of this palette and it's great.  I mean, look at those pigmented shadows!  I especially love the blues and the purple - purple is my go to bright because I have green eyes and it always makes them look even greener.  And how cool is the layout on this palette?  It's super fun and way less boring than just throwing them all in one straight line.  (I mean, let's not get crazy - it'd still be a gorgeous palette that way too, but this just seems funkier).  I really love Leo + Brixton too - the split-pan duochrome gives us two beautiful shades, a holographic green pearl shift and a holographic red-green pearl shift, and you can use them with any of the other shades to create a totally new look.  Do you need this palette?  I mean, do makeup addicts "ever" really need another palette?  I think we all know the answer to that.  But will you love it and use it for nights out and feel far, far cooler than you really are using it?  Absolutely!  (Please don't let it just be me that feels that way!)  I feel like Urban Decay is in a really great groove right now with all their recent collections.  Been loving it all.  Good for them, not so good for my wallet!

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Urban Decay

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Urban Decay

Get Ready To Sparkle!

Okay, we've established that I love sparkly makeup and glittery... everything (nail polish included).  I really thought I'd grow out of it, but nope!  Still love it as much as ever!  So of course I couldn't wait to see Cover FX's new Glitter Drops in person.  I couldn't go until this weekend and, I mean, I really, really wanted to go the day they came out, so I don't let anyone tell you I don't know sacrifice.  But I finally saw them yesterday and OH MY GOD, they totally live up to the hype.  They're only available in three shades, which is both annoying and great, because if there were more, I would want more, and that's just unnecessary.  The three shades currently on shelves are:

• Mirage - Golden Champagne Glitter
• Lunar - Multi-Colored Pastel Glitter
• Aurora - Multi-Tonal Pink Glitter

I honestly don't know how to put into words how pretty these are when applied to your face.  At my local Sephora, they didn't have a tester of the Aurora shade available (my guess is because someone walked off with it) which made my decision about which one to buy easier because I knew I'd use Mirage more than Lunar.  (That being said, I still want all three to be mine eventually because yeah, makeup addict).  That being said, this is not a subtle formula.  It's not something you'd probably wear to work, although in creative offices it'd fit right in and probably get you a ton of compliments.  But for a night out these are stunning.  It's literally a glitter explosion on your face and you need only one drop to get a ton of sparkle.  Which is my "one" problem with this product - the price.  At $44 a bottle, it's really expensive for something you won't use a ton.  (Unless you're a club kid, in which case, buy them all immediately!)  I wish they would put out bottles with half the product for half the price - that's more than most of us would ever need AND I feel like they'd make more sales.  But that's just me.  But other than the price, these are truly, truly gorgeous.  I put Mirage on my cheekbones, my eyes and my lips and I felt like some sort of glowing fairy tale heroine.  My Cinderella moment!  I actually felt so guilty over the price that I walked away, finished my shopping... and then thought about the Mirage shade so much that I went back later and bought it anyway.  And I'm probably going to buy the Aurora shade too just because I looked at swatches when I got home and I think I like it equally as much.  I haven't worn it out for a full night yet so I can't speak to wear time yet, but the formula alone impressed me.  (And I also think you could use it for a fabulous highlight on your collarbones or shoulders for a night out, which would be stunning).  I love them so, so much.  My inner tween is squealing like she's at a One Direction concert right now!    

Peachy Keen

YOU GUYS!  How pretty is that dark blue sparkly shade in the bottom right on Too Faced's new White Peach Palette??  I love it so, so much!  My main issue here is that most of the other colors are dupes of ones I already have in my stash and I don't know if need this palette at all realistically speaking, but I WANT IT.  It's just so spring-like with all the light shades and again, I must point out how gorgeous that Peach Passion shade is.  I have the original shadow palette from this collection - Just Peachy - and I adore it, but I kind of (read: DEFINITELY) want this one too.  At $45, I "really" shouldn't, but it's 2018 and I've decided "When in doubt, buy the palette."  Just because.  So yeah, I'm trying to convince myself not to, but I think we all know how this is going to end up.  That being said, how great of a smoky eye am I going to be able to do with Peach Passion?  SO GREAT.  Basically what I'm saying is, get ready to take my money, Sephora! 

Foursome Fever

 

You guys, as much as I like higher end makeup, I also love drugstore makeup.  Like, a lot.  It can sometimes be hit or miss, but when you find a great product for a great price, it's definitely worth it.  (More money for shoes!)  Almay's new Shadow Quad Eyeshadow comes in fifteen different shade combos (there are A LOT of neutral browns and beiges) and each small quad has the same shade in four finishes - matte, satin, metallic, and glitter.  Such a great idea!  Obviously you need more than one to create a look (for the most part) but they're so cheap, that's easily doable.  I bought four of them this weekend at ULTA and they were buy one, get one free at $6.99, plus I used a $3.50 off $15 coupon, so I got four of them for only $16.40 (plus tax).  I haven't played around with them a ton yet, but so far, they seem fairly pigmented and stayed on (without primer) about six hours or so before I noticed them starting to fade.  I also love that they're so tiny - no, you don't get a ton of product, but for that price it's totally fine and it makes them super portable.  I'm obsessed with the blue-green shade in Thrill Seeker - it's super pretty and fun for a night out, but I wouldn't want to spend a ton of money for it since I won't wear it often, so this is perfect.  If you're looking to boost up your shadow collection without putting out a ton of cash, get thee to an ULTA before everyone else snatches them up.  (Also because any excuse to go an ULTA run is a good one)!   

Pine-ing Away

You guys, I love scent diffusers.  I have a ton in my house, so many that I'm always a little worried they're going to like, cancel each other out or something.  (Is that even possible?  Probably not.  Just add it to the list of stupid things I worry about!)  I'm also OBSESSED with having my place smell like pine or balsam (basically, like a Christmas tree) every year during the winter because let's face it, Los Angeles isn't exactly a winter paradise and it gets me more in the spirit of the season.  (I know the holidays are already over.  Don't judge me!)  This year, I got the chance to try out Nest's Birchwood Pine Reed Diffuser and OH MY GOD, it's exactly what I wanted.  It totally smells like a walk in the forest on a crisp, cold winter's day on the east coast, which is one of the things I miss about living in this part of California (I get over it when it's 75 degrees here though when everyone back east is freezing though!)  The diffuser blends scents of white pine, fir balsam and birchwood over a base of rich musk and amber, and seriously, it smells AMAZING.  When I open my front door and walk in every night, I instantly catch it wafting through the air, even thought it's a big, open room.  It's lovely.  Highly recommend this purchase, if only to keep the winter months going on the west coast (or after you've thrown out your Christmas tree)  Two noses up!  

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with NEST

Your Best Glow

When NARS introduces a new foundation, they really don't believe in going small.  Their new Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is available in a whopping 33 different shades, so not matter how pale or dark you are, you'll be able to find your perfect match.  (Side note - can we take a second to celebrate how great it is that more brands than ever are doing this now?  The days of having a foundation come in like, five shades are long gone and I couldn't be happier about it).  I'm really digging the formula too.  It's a medium to full coverage foundation so it's great if you need to cover up some flaws but don't want a mask-like finish, as this is meant to give your face a natural appearance that mimics the look of your skin (but a flawless version of it).  I love the way it looks me look - almost airbrushed, but not in a weird, unnatural kinda way.  I know I'm kind of lucky because I don't have a ton of things to hide (yet - I'm sure that day is coming!) but this just makes me look... better.  I also really love how long it lasts.  The description says that it's sweat-resistant, transfer-proof and won't wear off for 16 hours.  16!  That's so long that I couldn't even test it because I hit hour 14 of it and had to take it off because it was bedtime.  And I don't even go to bed that early!  I will say that at 14 hours, it had held up remarkably well and hadn't worn off much.  It obviously didn't look as fresh as it had at 8am, but it definitely looked better than most of my foundations at that point in the night.  I also liked that it wasn't oily and didn't dry my skin at all - it has something they call a Skin Optimizing Complex, which is a blend of raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts (yum) that helps to support your skin’s elastic fibers to smooth and improve its radiant appearance.  (I mean, anytime my makeup can have fruit in it, I'm happy!)  Overall, I love it, I just wish it wasn't quite so pricey at $49, but, you know, it's a small price to pay when you consider how long a bottle lasts, really.  You can check it out in stores now and be radiant for the spring!

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with NARS

Heavy Metal

You guys, how have I gone this long without experiencing the magic that is Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliners?!  Seriously, how?  I love glitter more than anyone who isn't a 12 year-old should and am obsessively collecting Stila's Glitter & Glow shadows even though I don't go to nearly enough fancy events to warrant that many shades of glitter shadows.  But this past Christmas, I saw the shade Stix and Bones at ULTA and I just had to have it, so luckily they sent over that and a few other shades for me to try.  While the Stila shadows are a cream formula that I apply all over my eye (and rarely use underneath as an eyeliner) the Heavy Metals I use almost exclusively as a liner.  They're kind of magical - their formula is water-based and involves a clear base with colored glitter in it that you apply with a small, fine brush.  I generally use this over a shadow to give myself some sparkle for a party, although I have used it as a shadow once or twice (I prefer it as an eyeliner though).  These things are so, so sparkly - not for the shy or faint of heart!  Stix and Bones is my favorite - it's an iridescent maroon glitter and it basically announces to the world that you're here and ready to party.  (So cheesy, but I mean, it's the truth!)  I'm obsessed with these to the point that I look at them every morning when I'm getting ready to work and always have a moment where I'm like, "Can I...?" before I come to my senses and realize that no, work does not require even a (fairly) sedate black glitter.  That'd be kinda weird even in Los Angeles.  I just love these eyeliners so, so much - they're a reasonable $20, they dry quickly, and once on, they don't migrate glitter all over your face.  The perfect grown up glitter.  Someday I'll grow up and tire of sparkling, but, you know, not until these all dry up because I have made an INVESTMENT in shimmering and I'm not letting a penny of it go to waste.  Don't you either!

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with Urban Decay

Beauty Bites Back

Oh man.  I forgot how much I love Bite Beauty's Prismatic Pearl Crème Lip Glosses.  I hate when that happens to me, although it "is" kind of nice to stumble across your old favorites and remember exactly how great they are.  It's kind of like shopping in your own makeup stash!  (Always a good thing to do before you buy that fourteenth pink gloss.  Or thirty-sixth...)  But luckily in this case, I stumbled on my favorite Prismatic Pearl gloss right before they sent me their three newest ones - Cherry Pearl (pictured above), Lavender Pearl, and Blush Pearl.  Cherry Pearl is a metallic red (love!), Lavender Pearl is a metallic lilac with white shimmer, and Blush Pearl is a metallic white with pink shimmer.  You guys, these glosses are awesome.  Just... awesome.  I'm partial to the Cherry Pearl only because I love a great red gloss, and this one that shimmers with metallic goodness is about as great as they get.  But seriously, they're all fabulous.  Blush Pearl looks great with a holographic eye/highlighter combo - it gives you that ethereal, fairy princess look without making it look like you're just suffering from frostbite.  I love the glosses too because they're all full coverage and moisturizing, but they're not sticky and they're totally free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.  I just adore the way these look on - i've been pairing my newly rediscovered ones with foil eye shadows for a full face metallic look on nights out and I'm all about that look.  The only slightly annoying thing about the three new shades is that they're available online only.  I know, I know - but come on, let's be honest.  It just gives you more reason to order enough to get free shipping at Sephora, or if you're like me and spend wayyyyyy too much money on makeup, using your free Rouge shipping anyway.  Trust me, they're worth it.  (But if you have to pick one, get Cherry.  It's the bomb!)

Note: Samples of this product were sent to me by a PR representative working with Bite Beauty 

Prism For The Holidays

I can't believe that I've never written about anything from Anastasia Beverly Hills before on this site.  Like, when I couldn't find the tag, I was legitimately shocked because I used SO much of their stuff.  How has this slipped through the cracks??  I must remedy it immediately!  My latest Anastasia obsession is their new Prism Eye Shadow Palette.  Love, love, love!  There have been some of their shadow palettes that haven't had the best formula (cough cough, Subculture) but this one reminds me of Modern Renaissance in quality.  It also has a really interesting mix of shades that don't already exist in my stash - Sphere is an electric green-yellow that just... I don't know if I can pull it off as much as I want to be able to, but I love it.  Sometimes I put it on and just wear it around my condo because I love it so much.  (Is that sad?  I feel like that might be really sad).  I also am super enthralled with all the metallics.  Metallics are my favorite kind of finish right now and these are gorgeous.  Throne is my favorite - it's like blue-green-black shade that's hard to describe, but you can do a really pretty colorful smoky eye with it.  (Perfect for the holidays!)  And like I said, the quality in the shadows is top notch.  They blend easily, have staying power (even more so over primer) and none of them are too sheer.  Basically, just an all around great palette, which you can get for 15% off at Macy's right now (online and in store) by using the code FRIEND, which makes it $35.70.  A worthy purchase for someone else as a gift, or, you know, yourself.  (Come on, 2017's been a rough year all around!  You deserve it!)