Product Review -- Revolution Beauty Reloaded Eyeshadow Palettes

As I've said before, I definitely enjoy plenty of high-end makeup products, but there's always something exciting about finding a budget-friendly product that performs well.

Who doesn't want to save a little money when you can?

Revolution Beauty is a brand that puts out plenty of high-quality products at a very affordable price point, so I'm always willing to give their new items a try.

Their Reloaded Eyeshadow Palettes have been out for a while, and I've slowly been collecting them. I only have four at the moment, but I feel like the quality is consistent enough among those that I have to assume what the others are like as well.

The palettes are only $7 each, but you get 15 shades in each one so they're a serious value.

Product Review -- BECCA Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder

I've mentioned before that I have a very difficult time finding a setting powder.  My skin's gotten drier as I've gotten older, so most powders, whether they're loose or pressed, just accentuate all the flaky, dry patches or wind up looking cakey.

And I try them all with a variety of foundation so it's not just the combination that's the problem -- it's just that my skin doesn't play nice with powder.

So I was intrigued when I heard about BECCA's Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder because they claimed it has "a revitalizing mist-like effect on skin."

When you've got dry skin, that sounds pretty promising.

Product Review: a2o Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Kits

I'd heard a lot about the MissA website for a while, and over the past year or so, I've picked up quite a few products from the website's in-house brands.

If you're not familiar, the brand is focused on budget-friendly makeup items. Many of their AOA products are only $1 (and I've tried some, which are really quite good so I'm sure I'll get around to talking about them at some point), though they do have a slightly more expensive line, a2o Labs, which includes a variety of pressed powder eyeshadows, highlighters, and blushes in pans, as well as empty magnetic palettes, so you can put together custom palettes.

(The empty magnetic palettes have become a real favorite of mine, because the largest size, which holds 28 traditional sized eyeshadow pans, is only $7.50. They're made of sturdy cardboard, feature fun designs, and have a large mirror inside. If you don't need a mirror in your palette, though, they're only $6.  You can also opt for small empty palettes that can hold 9 shadow pans for $4 (without a mirror) or $5 (with a mirror).)

But there are also some curated eyeshadow kits that include 9 shadows and an empty mirrored magnetic palette with the kit's name on the front.

All for just $10.

I couldn't resist picking up all 5 of the kits (because I've been obsessed with pan eyeshadows and making my own custom palettes for the past year or so and am determined to try as many different brands as I can) to see just how well the shadows perform.

Product Review -- Ace Beaute Paradise Collection Classical Paradise and Blossom Paradise Eyeshadow Palettes

About a year ago, I started seeing ads on Instagram for Ace Beaute and was definitely intrigued.

The ads were mainly for the Quintessential Eyeshadow Palette, which is certainly stunning -- but I hadn't really heard anything about the brand or the quality of their products at all and I kept dragging my feet about actually making a purchase.

Fast forward several months later, when the brand released the Paradise Eyeshadow Palette Collection and not only were these palettes all gorgeous but I saw plenty of positive reviews for them, which mean I couldn't risk trying them myself.

All of the palettes are lovely, but there were two that I could see myself using more than the others so I picked up the Classical Paradise Palette and the Blossom Passion Palette.

A Few of My Favorite Things -- 3 Things I'm Loving at the Moment

2018 was such a blur for me that the idea of doing a yearly favorites post is just mind-boggling.

But there are a few products that I've been loving at the moment that I don't see myself doing full reviews of but are still worth sharing.

So here are some of my late 2018 faves:

Product Review -- Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette

I've had my eye on the Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette for quite a while.

But I talked myself out of it for a long time because it's not like the shades in the palette are particularly unique -- though they are stunning, which was what had me so torn.

Well, that and the fact that I saw so many positive reviews for it that made me think I was really missing out.

So I eventually caved during the holiday season when I was shopping for others and decided I should treat myself to a gift too.

Fortunately, I don't regret the purchase in the least.

Hello 2019!

It's almost impossible to believe that a new year is upon us. 2018 was somewhat of a blur for me, and if I'm honest, it was really the greatest year for me or those closest to me (and really, the world in general, in my opinion).

So I'm ready for 2019 and firmly committed to doing everything that I can to make it more positive than 2018.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share some of my makeup-related resolutions for the New Year as a way to start 2019 off on the right foot.  Please feel free to share your resolutions, beauty-related or otherwise, below -- I can definitely use all the inspiration I can get!

Product Review -- Urban Decay Naked Cherry and Elements Eyeshadow Palettes

Like many makeup lovers, the news that Urban Decay was retiring the original Naked Palette left me feeling strangely emotional.

I remember how much trouble I went to get that palette, how excited I was to play with it, how it seemed to start the whole natural/neutral palette trend back in the day. I've used it a ton over the years to the point where I'd hit pan on a few of the shades (and yes, I took advantage of all discounted pricing after its retirement was announced to buy a brand spanking new one).

To drown my sorrows over the news, I bought a couple of new Urban Decay palettes -- the Naked Cherry Palette from the Naked line and the Elements Palette.

Product Review -- Strobe Cosmetics Divinity Palette

I love supporting smaller, indie makeup brands, so Strobe Cosmetics has been on my radar for a while now.

In fact, a couple of years back, I purchased their American Horror Story-inspired palettes even though I've never seen a single episode of the show -- and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.

The shadows in those palettes are richly pigmented, easy to blend, and just a dream to work with.

I'd been waiting for Strobe Cosmetics to put out other palettes, and while they introduced the Creepy Cute Palette earlier this year, I wound up passing on it because I just didn't think I'd get much use out of the neon-pastel shades in it.

So I was very excited when they came out with the Divinity Palette this fall, which had shades that were much more up my alley.

Product 411 -- New(ish) ColourPop Releases

I've been such a slacker lately that I've got a pile of products to review that's about waist-high at this point. In particular, I've got a ton of ColourPop stuff that I've bought over the past few months and haven't gotten around to writing about yet.

(Because seriously, they seem to put out a new collection every single week -- in fact, at the time I'm writing this, they're releasing a new collection tomorrow or the day after, and I know I'll probably buy some stuff from it... I just can't help myself.)

To get through my backlog a little more quickly, I figured I'd do an overview of all of these new-ish ColourPop items in one post. I also don't feel like there's a need to do an in-depth review of the items because the quality and formula is pretty consistent across the board and I've already reviewed most ColourPop product categories, so it just seems redundant.

So here's just a general rundown with some swatches. I'll be sure to point out my favorites, though.

Product Review -- elf Hydrating Face Primer

I've mentioned before that I have a hard time finding a face primer that works for my skin concerns.

That's because my skin is dry but I also have enlarged pores that I want to minimize.

Hydrating primers don't tend to fill in texture that well, and pore-minimizing primers aren't usually very hydrating.

Over the past year, I've fallen in love with the Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer, which somehow manages to do both of the things that I need it to.

But it is $18, which, while not super expensive, is a little pricey for everyday use, so I've been on the hunt for a slightly more budget-friendly option.

The elf Hydrating Face Primer seemed like a good place to start.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Revolution Pro Foundation Drops

I've been on kind of Makeup Revolution (or is it just Revolution now? Have they officially changed their name? I'm a little confused...) shopping spree lately.

I love brands that offer quality products at affordable prices, so it's kind of hard to control myself.

So even though the last thing I need is another foundation, I couldn't resist trying out the Revolution Pro Foundation Drops.

It's meant to be more of a natural, breathable foundation, so if you're a fan of full coverage makeup, this may not be the best option for you.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution The Emily Edit The Needs and The Wants Palettes

I've bought quite a few makeup products that were collaborations between a brand and a YouTube beauty influenster but in most of those cases, I only bought the items because the specific shades or products appealed to me, not because I had much invested in the influenster in particular.

When I heard that Emily Noel was coming out with some palettes with Makeup Revolution, though, I knew that I'd buy them no matter what they looked like.

I've been watching Emily for 10 (maybe more even) years, and I appreciate pretty much everything about her. Supporting her is a no-brainer.

It doesn't hurt that I've become a big fan of Makeup Revolution over the past few years too -- they put out a lot of really quality products at an affordable price point, so there's plenty to like about the brand.

Product Review -- LORAC PRO Eye Shadow Palette 4

My apologies for disappearing for a couple of weeks. I was a little under the weather for a bit, and then I started breaking out like crazy (for no apparent reason) and took a little break from makeup for a while. 

The good news is I'm feeling better and my skin has cleared, so it's back to playing with makeup again (and thank God, because I certainly missed it!). 

I am a huge fan of LORAC's eyeshadow formula, so I'm pretty sure that I've bought every single PRO and Mega PRO palette that they've put out.

So it's no surprise that when they announced the PRO Eye Shadow Palette 4, I knew I would be picking it up.

Product Review -- Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick

I've never been that big a fan of matte lipstick.

Most of the time, they just don't feel that great on the lips, and they only really look good if your lips are perfectly smooth and moisturized.

I also just personally prefer a little shine on my lips, so while we've been in the midst of the matte liquid lipstick craze the past couple of years, I definitely gave them a try but I'd almost always top them with some type of gloss or at least a cream lipstick.

So I've been really happy to see a resurgence in glosses and creamy lipstick over the past few months.

And the Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick definitely fits the bill.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation

I've become a pretty big fan of foundation sticks in recent years.

They're just so quick and easy to apply, so when I'm in a rush, I feel like they're often the best bet for getting my foundation on.

But shopping for foundation sticks is always a little dicey because there are some formulas that have a drier texture with a matte finish that work really well for oily skin -- and are pretty much crap for dry skin because they cling to every single dry patch and flake that you might have -- and then there are formulas that have a creamy, almost moisturizing formula that glides easily over dry skin -- and is a disaster for oily skin because it'll probably slide right off.

If you choose the wrong foundation stick for your skin type, you're going to hate it -- I've learned that the hard way.

So I was a little nervous about trying the Makeup Revolution (have they changed their name to Revolution Beauty? That's how their websites seem to refer to themselves these days, but Ulta still has them listed as Makeup Revolution ... so I'm a little confused) Fast Base Stick Foundation -- I feel like drugstore foundations are usually matte and geared toward oily skin, though budget-friendly cream products often have a greasy texture than even my dry skin doesn't really enjoy.

Product Review -- Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Eyeshadow Palette

I'm a big fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow palettes, so I am always interested in the new stuff that they put out.

(While I admit that some palettes are better than others, I think I'm one of the rare makeup junkies who's never been really disappointed by any of the ABH palettes. Even the Subculture Palette works pretty well for me.)

But when I saw promotional photos of the Norvina Eyeshadow Palette, I was even more excited than usual.

All the purples and pinks and gorgeous rich metallic shades?

Definitely right up my alley.

Product Review -- bareMineral Gen Nude Powder Blushes

I love blush -- I am so pale that if I don't add at least a hint of color to my cheeks, I can look sick or my eye makeup can look a little too harsh -- but in recent years, I find that it's not a makeup product that I tend to buy all that frequently.

Which is weird.

So recently I decided I needed to introduce a few new blush options to my collection and I came across the bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blushes.

I've been a big bareMinerals fan since I first tried their Original Loose Foundation back in college, and I've enjoyed their foray into pressed powder and liquid foundation products in recent years.

Which is why it was kind of a no-brainer to try their new blushes.

Product Review -- Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick

I am a highlighter fiend, which means I've never met a highlighting product that I didn't want to try.

I'll admit that I'm not quite as good at using cream or liquid highlighter products as I am with powder, so I don't have quite as many cream highlighters in my collection.

Which was why I so keen on trying the Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick -- I am a big fan of the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation, which has a lovely texture, so I was hoping that the Vanish Highlighting Stick would be similar.

Product Review -- Beauty Bakerie Cake Mix Demi-Matte Foundation

I've been on a big indie beauty brand kick for a while now, and Beauty Bakerie is one brand that has really impressed me over the past year or so.

I've tried some of their palettes and their fabulous Flour Setting Powder (whose packaging and whole marketing scheme is beyond adorable and ORIGINAL), but I was really excited to hear that they were coming out with a foundation.

That said, I knew that the Cake Mix Demi-Matte Foundation probably wasn't the best fit for my normal to dry skin -- the brand fully discloses that the product is best for oily skin in its marketing information -- but I still wanted to give it a try because I figured it might be an option that could work for my skin in the summer.