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Showing posts with label swatch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swatch. Show all posts

Monday, April 8, 2013

[Beauty] Great Value: Fergie for Wet n Wild - Desert Festival Eyeshadow Palette (Review, Swatches + Eye Look)




CENTERSTAGE COLLECTION Available at Walgreens 

Retail $4.99


Now this is a post I wasn't planning on doing BUT after trying this out today I just HAD to! 

Truth be told I'm not typically a fan of Wet n' Wild eyeshadow palettes (their blushes and single shadows are awesome though!) so I was a little on the fence about trying this one but I really wanted to get a few things from the Fergie collaboration. 

I picked this up at Walgreens when I was in Vegas last month and am just getting around to trying it now >_< As far as I know this collection is available only at Walgreens stores (despite the brand being available at a variety of drugstores).



There are 4 eye palettes in this collection but despite the price I only picked up one. I decided to go with what I thought I would get the most use out of as a whole and I am happy to say I am very pleased with my choice.

Desert Festival-
To me this is the most neutral and wearable - I would say suitable for everyday. 

It contains:

 - a skintone taupe-y beige with a slight sheen 
(for me this is way too dark as a highlight shade but looks great as a blending or all over lid color)

- a matte burnt orange 
This was the color that made me want to buy this palette!
(great to add depth to the crease and to layer between other colors in the palette. although pigmented enough to be used boldly it can also be applied lightly in a subtle manner as well. a wonderful and inexpensive way to try a color like this. I promise anyone can make this shade work!)

- a matte dark brown
(this is the color I used to darken the outer section of my eye in the photos below)

- a shimmery dark peach 
(truth be told I don't love the shimmery shades in this palette as much at the matte but these are still a nice addition. would be great as an all over lid color for a fresh spring/summer look.) 

- a shimmery dark brown
(I used this for my lower lash line but this would also be suitable as a crease color or as an all over lid shade for a darker look. this color is extremely pigmented and was difficult to get off my finger after swatching.)



Of course you can create several different looks with these colors but for my first time trying it out I chose to go with a comfortable medium intensity look. (You could always go lighter or darker but since I was doing my makeup for regular life (vs. photos or video) I just went with the style I normally do.)

For me the shadows did last all day without creasing or fading - no primer used. 
(for reference I never use primer and very rarely have creasing or fading but these preformed just as well as any of my MAC eyeshadows)

What truly impressed me the most was how effortlessly I was able to blend even the matte shades. I thought I might have a problem with the orange or the brown since they are pretty pigmented but I was pleasantly surprised that they did not require much attention. 

(I'm not sure how the shimmery brown will blend since it is the darkest of all the colors - I only used it on my lower lash line since I prefer the matte shades for my crease.)


^ Using all shades except the shimmery peach. 

I especially love the matte shadows in this palette! Very smooth application and easy to blend.

This photo was taken AFTER wearing the shadow all day - No primer. 
(I never use eyeshadow primer.)

I would have taken a before photo to show you but I didn't know I was going to like these enough to want to do a post on (plus I was in a hurry).

Lashes are from Lash Royalty - Style Luxe 1 (Available HERE)



^ All swatches done on bare skin with no primer.


Overall I am impressed with this palette and would definitely recommend it.
 At about a dollar per shade you really can't go wrong. These are much better quality in my opinion than the normal Wet n' Wild palettes. (I find the ColorIcon palettes to be very soft and break quite easily. Although they are pigmented I don't feel like they look high quality on my lids - something about the way the shimmer applies - not as smooth?)
 I would say they are more comparable to a lot of my higher end shadows. 

Pros
-Affordable at $4.99
-Easy to Wear 
-Can be used for both day and night looks - Shades are versatile 
-Different than your typical nude palette (incorporation of peach/orange)
-Good Pigmentation
-Easily Blended
-I am fond of the colors included 
-Packaging seems more sturdy than the ColorIcon Palettes 
-Shadows are not as soft/breakable as the ColorIcon Palettes 
-Not chalky and not too powdery (a little with the beige shade but tolerable)
-Good quality -Particularly the burnt orange - that shade is very comparable in both performance and pigmentation to MAC eyeshadows. 

Cons
-No highlight shade for fair/medium skin tones so if you will need a secondary product. 
-Not easily accessible - Available only at Walgreens + Limited Edition?
-Packaging could be a little more secure (but at $4.99 I can't really complain)


This is one of the best eyeshadow palettes I've purchased from the drugstore in a LONG time so if you were contemplating trying it I would say go for it! 

I picked up a few other products from this line as well, none of which I will be doing a blog post review on but they will be featured in my April Hits & Misses video at the end of this month on my YouTube Channel so SUBSCRIBE if you haven't : )

I hope you all have enjoyed this post.
Thank you for reading and for your continued support. 
I will talk to you all very soon!
Love,
Holly

Monday, March 11, 2013

[Beauty] Tryst Lacquers : Liaison in London : Fresh Paint and New Polishes

3 Coats of Tryst Lacquers - Liaison in London

So this is a very special Fresh Paint Post.

The polish I am using today is from Tryst Lacquers which is a new/up and coming brand hand done and created by Kimberly Maranan

Okay story time: 
So I actually found Kimberly when she commented on one of my nail posts via Instagram.
 I was intrigued by her thumbnail and was like 'hmm I wonder if those are her nails or if it's something she grabbed off the internet' - *proceed to clicking user account*

Oh Em Gee - They're hers!

BEST

NAILS

EVER. 

*scrolls*

*follows*

*Goes back to my pic - replies back.*

*Continues to obsess over nail pictures for months.*

- Present Day -

photo from hollyannaeree's Instagram 




The color I used today is called Liaison in London -

medium dusty red jelly-creme base filled with tiny black and white hex glitter.
3 thin coats to full opacity, but can be used layered over various other polishes to create different and exciting new looks.

3-free and hand-blended

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I actually saw this on my friend Sam (Saaammage) and loved it on her!

In these photos I used 3 coats of the polish but you could easily just use two. It was my first time trying these so I was testing it out.

Finished off with a fast drying top coat, Seche Vite.



If you follow me on Instagram or are a regular reader of my blog you have probably seen me mention her in the past. Her and I talk back and forth and she very sweetly sent me some of the polishes she makes (MAKES...blows my mind!) - as well as a ridiculously good coffee flavored chocolate bar(?) thing that I've never seen/had before.
(I don't think it's sold here in the US (She's from Canada))

They are all beautiful and I can't wait to try them all out!

Be sure to keep an eye out for them in future 'Fresh Paint' Posts! 

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Tryst Lacquers are available through Kimberly's Site or Etsy Shop if you are interested. 

($7.50 - $10 It's cheaper to buy from here - her permanent site)

($10)







Which color would you want to see next? 
Leave a comment down below! 
(all colors are shown in the same order throughout photos)

Thank you again x100000000 to Kimberly for a.) being awesome and talented 
b.) for being so sweet to me as well as sending me these great polishes to try out!

Be sure and check her out on Instagram for various polish swatches as well as nail art & designs : ) 

Buy Tryst Lacquers HERE

Retail: 15ml Bottles are $7.50 - $10 


P.S. Kimberly OceanFront View looks AWESOME! So glad to see a turquoise added to the mix! 



Thank you all for reading! 

I hope you've enjoyed this post : ) 

A litte me update for those interested:
Sorry I haven't had a video up yet - I fell off the wagon with my sleep schedule again and am really trying to fix it >_< I am also working hard to do a little spring cleaning in my apt AND my little brother is coming back again for a visit - TODAY! ^_^ I'm so excited and happy! (my family lives in Connecticut if you didn't know) 

Lastly - I was eating pretty much a vegetarian diet the last week and a half which included a lot of soy products to supplement (normally I don't have soy products because I use to be allergic to it - now I can have soy sauce etc. but I was still not having it in large quantities (which is fine I heard too much isn't good for you anyway) but I am definitely having a reaction to it and just was not feeling great not to mention it messed with my skin. (I mean not bad enough where it will show on camera but I've been trying to take it easy, not wear makeup etc.) 

For those wondering I'm not currently trying to go vegetarian (I've tried in the past and it has not worked out for me. Not liking vegetables and being allergic to soy really puts a damper on it lol) BUT I have been wanting to try to eat a bit healthier so I can feel (and look) better. Unfortunately a lot of the foods I had picked out happen to be soy based : \

boo. 

If any of you have great tasting, not horrible for you, vegetarian recipes (that do not include beans) please share! It would be MUCH appreciated! (I know I can google to find recipes but I want something that is tried and true...by YOU!) 

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Hope you guys don't mind the bit of personal chat - sometimes I don't know when to throw it in. I don't want to do a separate post only on personal stuff because that's probably really boring haha but I do like to update you all and my blog definitely has a more intimate crowd. 

Thank you all for sticking with me. 
Reading, following, commenting on my blog as well as watching, subscribing and supporting me on YouTube. 

It does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. 

Talk to you all very soon.

Love,
Holly 




Tuesday, March 5, 2013

[Beauty] Milani Texture Cream Nail Polishes - Limited Edition - Review and Swatches



So excited about these NEW Limited Edition TEXTURE Polishes from Milani! 




Described as a Bright, vibrant crème nail lacquer with a textured, matte finish.

(It says top coat optional but I think it looks better without and lasts just as long as my regular polishes.)


Comes in SIX Colors:

901- Tainted in Red - and Orange Red Matte 
902 - Spoiled in Fuchsia - Fuchsia Matte
903 - Aqua Splash 
904 Yellow Mark
905 - Purple Streak - Dark Purple Matte
906 -Shady Gray - Deep Gray Matte 


So far Tainted in Red is my FAVORITE! (Shown Below)



I always find these Bright Red/Orange colors to be flattering on my skin tone and just beautiful for Spring/Summer. 

Fresh and Retro at the same time! 




I surprisingly really like the "textured" look - I didn't think I would but the granules are fine enough to keep the look crisp and neat while still adding a hip twist to a matte finish. 


(I would NOT like this polish if it did not have a matte finish.) 


It's also super easy to apply! It goes on a bit watery/thin which allows you to get a great, even coat. (I would suggest doing two coats) This also makes the polish fairly fast drying plus with no need for a top coat it's a very quick and easy manicure. 


Upon initial application it doesn't look much different than a regular polish, it's not until it starts to dry down where you will see all of the texture happen.






One of my favorite parts - The finish makes touch ups SUPER easy! Since it's not a glossy finish if you make a mistake or get a chip it's easy enough to just apply a little more polish, let it dry and your touch up will be seamless! 
It let's me keep my manicure even longer!

Overall the polish did pretty well for me - 4 days before I got any type of chips (and I think that was just because I was doing a lot housework) which I think is really good especially considering I didn't use a top coat. 

Removal was surprisingly easy. Requires a little more time than a normal polish (which is to be expected) but less difficult to remove than a glitter polish. 


I definitely plan on making these fun polishes a staple this Spring/Summer! 


Retail $4.99 


Can be purchased on milanicosmetics.com 



Thanks so much for reading! Hope you've enjoyed : )

Talk to you all very soon! 
-Holly