Monday, July 31, 2017

Product Review -- Too Faced Love Light Prismatic Highlighter


I am a certified sucker for two things: cute packaging and highlighters.

(Well, dogs, pizza, and margaritas too, but that's kind of off topic...)

So I could only resist the Too Faced Love Light Prismatic Highlighters for so long.

Because not only do these highlighters promise unparalleled radiance, they come in adorable heart-shaped compacts with a shiny metallic that corresponds to the shade of the highlighter. For example, I bought the highlighter in Blinded By The Light, which is a champagne shade, and the compact is a silver color.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Unicorn Love Eyeshadow Palette


Last week, I talked about the Makeup Revolution Death by Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette and mentioned that I picked up another palette from the line during a BOGO-1/2 off sale.

The Makeup Revolution Unicorn Love Eyeshadow Palette is the same style as the Death By Chocolate in that it comes in the same long rectangular packaging and contains 16 eyeshadows in a layout that's very reminiscent of the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palettes.

The Unicorn Love Palette doesn't have a chocolate theme -- well, at least in theory.  It comes in a pink compact that has a fuzzy texture and a large crystal-like heart in the center.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Death by Chocolate Palette



I've had pretty good luck with most of the Makeup Revolution products that I've tried.

They make some of my all-time favorite highlighters, the Blushing Hearts Triple Baked Highlighter and the Vivid Baked Highlighter Powder, and I absolutely adore the New-Trals vs. Neutrals Professional Eyeshadow Palette, so I'm always willing to give their new stuff a try.

Recently (it's probably been several months actually... is it just me or is 2017 seriously flying by), they came out with a bunch of eyeshadow palettes that are clearly inspired by the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palettes, right down to the packaging, and I was definitely curious.

There are 5 or 6 of them in total, but I decided to purchase the Death by Chocolate Palette, which is supposed to feature rich, warm neutrals and cool, smokey plums -- because I definitely don't have enough of those kinds of palettes in my collection (that's sarcasm, for sure).

The palette comes in a rectangular brown plastic compact. It is designed to look like a chocolate bar, just like the Too Faced Palettes, but this one is melting a bit, which is kind of cute. Inside, there is a good size mirror, which stays open by itself so you can easily use it to do your makeup if you're on the go.

Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette

The palette contains 16 shadows. The shades include: White Light, a matte vanilla; Don't Let Go, a shimmery light bronze; Break Me Up, a matte light taupe; Consume Me, a mid-tone brown with a satin finish; All Is Lost, a mid-tone gray with a satin finish; Lick Me, a matte light pink; Fool's Gold, a shimmery gold; One More Bar, a matte mid-tone brown; Devour Me, a matte black brown; Tear the Wrapper, a shimmery copper bronze; Love You to Death, a shimmery plum; Pray for Me, a shimmery golden taupe; Dipped, a shimmery bronze taupe; Tease Me, a shimmery silver taupe; Set Me Free, a shimmery light taupe; and Bring Down Angels, a shimmery golden ivory.

Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette
As is the case with the other Makeup Revolution shadow palettes, the formula isn't perfect. The shimmery and satin shades are nicely pigmented, creamy, and smooth, so they're easy to work with.

The mattes can be a little sheer and dry, though they do build easily so I don't have any real issue using them.

And considering the palette is only $15 so you're paying less than $1 per shadow, I would say that they're really pretty nice shadows.

From l. to r.: White Light, Don't Let Go, Break Me Up, Consume Me, All Is Lost

From l. to r.: Lick Me, Fool's Gold, One More Bar, Devour Me, Tear the Wrapper, Love You To Death

From l. to r.: Pray For Me, Dipped, Tease Me, Set Me Free, Bring Down Angels
Of course, I love the shades -- they're mainly warm bronze-y and taupe shades that are always a favorite of mine. Don't Let Go, Tear the Wrapper, Dipped, and Tease Me are probably my most used shades in the palette, but they all work pretty well -- and it lends itself to both daytime and evening looks so it's pretty versatile too.

I don't think I'm going to buy any other palettes in the line (I already purchased another, though, because the palettes were BOGO-1/2 off, which I plan to review) but that's because the rest seem to contain shades that I already have a lot of in my collection.

However, if Makeup Revolution comes out with other palettes in the line with shades I don't have so many of, I wouldn't hesitate to buy them.

As I said, the palette retails for $15 and you can purchase them at Ulta.

Have you tried the Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate Palette? Which shades are your favorite?

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Product Review -- NYX Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powder


As far as I'm concerned, there can never be enough highlighters in my collection.

I would glow to the high heavens all day, every day if possible so it helps to have plenty of options in my arsenal. 

Over the past year, I've become especially obsessed with duo-chrome highlighters. You know, the ones that look like a simple white, ivory, or beige in the pan but actually flash a cool color like lilac, pink, blue, or green in the light. 

I know they're not for everybody -- not everyone wants to rocks a highlighter that flashes green -- but I absolutely love them. I feel like it takes a simple everyday makeup look and makes it a little more exciting. 

So I was really excited to try the NYX Duo Chromatic Illuminating Powders, which contain light-catching pearls that look different from every angle.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Product Review -- Tarte Make Magic Happen Eyeshadow Palette


If you're wondering if I ever buy makeup from a brand other than Tarte these days, that's definitely a fair question.

I have gone on a Tarte bender lately but it's not my fault that they keep putting new products that are so appealing -- but if you're tired of all the Tarte reviews, there's no need to worry. I've only got one other Tarte review on the horizon after this one.

And by this one, I mean the Tarte Make Magic Happen Eyeshadow Palette.

It's probably true that the last thing I need is another Tarte eyeshadow palette, but as soon as I saw photos of this one on Instagram, I was a goner.

Warm shadows with some purple tones thrown in?  Looks pretty perfect to me.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Product Review -- Tarte Clay Stick Foundation



I've mentioned before that I've always been a big fan of foundation sticks.

Whether it's true or not, I always feel like I can apply them more quickly than liquid, powder, or cream foundations.

Just swipe it over my face in a few places and blend it out with a sponge or brush, and I'm ready to go.

Lately, foundation sticks have become pretty popular for contouring and highlighting too because it's easy to apply them precisely to the areas you need shading.

I don't personally use them that way, so I can't vouch for the Tarte Clay Stick Foundation in that capacity but as a straight up foundation, it does a pretty good job.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Product Review -- Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Volume III Highlighting Eyeshadow Palette


These days, Tarte seems to be operating under the notion that you can never have too much of a good thing.

That's both in terms of how often they seem to be putting out new products and the way they keep adding to existing lines within the brand.

Case in point: the Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palettes.

I feel like I just bought the Rainforest of the Sea Volume II Eyeshadow Palette, but the Rainforest of the Sea Volume III Highlighting Eyeshadow Palette has already hit shelves, and considering how much I love the formula of the Rainforest of the Sea shadows, I couldn't resist picking it up.
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