Product Review: Milanis' Eyeshadow in Caramel Brown

Product Review: Milanis' Eyeshadow in Caramel Brown

Cost: About $6
Where to Purchase: Drugstores or Target

Claims: A super pigmented, easily blendable, crease-proof, silk-like powder eyeshadow.

Thoughts: I think I held a day of mourning when Milani got rid of their original shadows some years back, however I was able to stock up on all my favorite and created a palette for them. To me, they're still brilliant. About two years later I'm exploring CVS when I spot this beauty and instantly choose a color I know I'll use and bring it home to see if it's just as pigmented as their original pressed shadows used to be. Score! I don't know why Milani stopped making these, these were their best product. The texture of these shadows is just like they state, silky and buttery and very pigmented. I still wear primer under all shadows so mine lasted all day. I did a swatch comparison below next to MAC's Tempting so you can get an idea of what it looks like, the texture of these is just like MACs, and they comes in 12 different colors. My one complain is the packaging. Now, they have this nice heavy plastic case which feels much richer and nicer than their previous covers however... they're now larger than the MAC shadow and to depot them would be out of the question.
How I use it: Using a flat brush I apply it either all over the lid or on the crease.

Rating: A+

Product Review: Victoria Secrets' Silky Eye Shadow in Lose Control

Product Review: Victoria Secrets' Silky Eye Shadow in Lose Control

Cost: $12.50
Where to Purchase: Ebay as it's discontinued but can be found online

Claims:  Unveil eye-catching color. Pigment-rich formula drapes lids in pure color and a satin sheen.

Thoughts: This is such a brilliant line of products, I've enjoyed the Victoria Secret eye shadows for a few years now, they don't get nearly as much love as they deserve. This eyeshadow is super pigmented and very blendable.
How I use it: For best use, apply with a stiff brush, as it's got a near 'creamy' consistency to it but on top of primer it should last all day. I use it with a Sigma E60 brush, this way it grabs a lot of products and really packs it on the lid. I then blend it up into my crease it works a really attractive and simple brown smoky look.

Rating: A

On left is with a stiff brush, the shade is more concentrated. The swatch on the right is with a soft fluffy brush and it took like 5 tries to get it this dark. Lesson? Apply with stiff brush, q-tip or finger.

Product Review: theBalm's Shady Lady Palette Vol.3

Product Review: theBalm's Shady Lady Palette Vol.3

Cost: $39.50
Where to Purchase: Sephora
Claims: No claims.

Thoughts: As with all the Balm eyeshadows, the consistency and pigmentation of these are out of this world. To me, they are far superior to a lot of brands out there including Urban Decay. I have all 3 of the Shady Lady palettes and this is hands down my least favorite, not because these are bad eyeshadows but because it really lacks a theme. I find it hard to use two of these colors together and the combinations, for me, are limited. So this becomes one of those palettes that I just forget to use, going for palettes that have like-colors together to make a quick look in the morning. I will, however, go over each of the shades in the palette.

• Lusty Lee (light silver) - this is a true silver, extremely pigmented and can be paired with either 'All the Way Annie' or 'Guilty Gwen'.
• Envious Erin (metallic ivory) - this is somewhat reminiscent of MAC's Crystal Avalanche but more ivory than stark-white. It would work great as a highlighter.
• Racy Lacy (light, warm brown) - there's nothing light about this, this is like a copper brown, extremely pigmented and for me I'd rather use this on the crease than all over the lid. Might not show as well on very dark complexions.
• Safe Bet Annette (pearly pink) - just as described, this is a shimmery soft baby pink, definitely not my type of color.
• Runaround Rebecca (spring Green) - this is almost a metallic green, it's very pigmented and it blends very well. I did a drastic green look by using this all over the lid and blending in MAC's Humid in the crease.
• Come-hither Heather (light lilac silver) - as you can see from the swatch below it's super creamy and pigmented. I love this one, the soft lilac that it shows make for a great smoky purple look.
• Open to Offers Owen (true teal) - This is like the red headed step kid of the palette, it's got nothing that really goes with it and despite me being in love with this color I always forget it's in here. I use this (when I remember) all over my lid and then I blend out very well the edges, pairing it with black liner and tons of mascara.
• All the way Annie (soft purple) - a very brilliant dark purple with a bit of shimmer. I like to use this with MAC's All that Glitters for a neat pink & purple smoky eye look.
• Guilty Gwen (black with silver shimmer) - a perfect dupe for MAC's Black Tied, just identical. I love Black Tied, it smokes out any look for a good smokey eye and also works great as an eyeliner.

How I use it: Use as indicated above. I use primer with all of my shadows.

Rating: A (because the pigmentation is spot on and they last all day but the overall palette and the lack of consistency make me see it as a much lower grade)

(click to enlarge)

Product Review: MAC's Trax Eyeshadow

Product Review: MAC's Trax Eyeshadow


Cost: $1.99
Where to Purchase: MAC counters
Claims: No claims.

Thoughts: This is a recent re-discovery, I've owned this shadow for over 2 years and I haven't really paid attention to it until recently when I decided to use it in my crease for some purple and I was instantly in love. Why haven't I hit pan on this two and three times?! It's not as purple as it looks on the pan, as you blend it out it takes on hues of burgundy and gold and they just make this beautiful and unique color.
How I use it: I apply on my crease with a MAC217 brush and blend it in.

Rating: A

Haul: Massive Online Haul 7/7/12

I had purchased quite a lot of things that I had been eyeing for a while 2 weeks ago and it seemed like they all arrived at the same time! Yay! So I'm going to through it all, maybe it's some stuff you've been checking out yourself and hopefully you'll like it!

The first thing was Miss Adoro lashes, I picked up 3 pairs from the website after hearing a nice review of them from a youtube guru. These lashes are 100% human hair, they are gorgeous all 3 of them and they have tons to choose from! I picked up (L-R) #20, #15 and #43. I am most excited about the #20s, look how full and fluffy they are! The lashes range from $2-$3 which is AWESOME for great lashes.

The next thing I got from Amazon was a beauty blender, now I had gotten the Sonia Kashuk one before and I liked it, it was fine but it was honestly a bit stiff and rough so I had been waiting to get the original beauty blender. I finally bit the bullet and got it, they retail online for about $16 for one and $19 for 2. I was a fool, I got only one and now I'm regretting it. It already feels better, I will be trying it out all week to see how I like it and maybe do and official review :)

Next bit was from Sigma Brushes. I LOVE Sigma brushes. I love them more than MAC brushes. Sigma brushes to me never shed, they're as good if not better quality than MAC and they last for ages. The eye brush I got was to replace one I lost in Michigan when I went to work the wedding of my cousin. It's just like the MAC217, it's called the E25 and it's one of brushes that I need multiple of because it's my favorite type of eye-brush. So I got a replacement and then I decided to go with the F86 which is part of their Synthetic line - which is brilliant. This brush is just so dense and soft and just a perfect brush for applying liquid foundation.

Now on to my E.L.F. haul! I've been a long-time fan of E.L.F. products so about once a year I do a large haul of their online stuff that I can never find in Target. So I did that last week.

Left to right: Studio Mascara Primer, Studio Mineral Infused Mascara, Studio Volume Pluming Mascara. All item were $3 each. These mascaras look AMAZING I can't wait to take them out for a spin.

So many goodies. I got the Studio Baked Blush in Rich Rose which would look amazing if you have dark skin, it's a golden beauty and I think I'm really going to love it as a type of bronzer. Very pigmented, it was $3. 

Then there was the Studio Cream Blush in Flirt which is a lovely happy bright pink, it's EXTREMELY pigmented so apply carefully. It's got a mousse-type consistency which is why I would consider this a mousse-blush rather than a cream blush. This item was $6, and I have to state that I was very impressed with the quality of the packaging for this item. It's locked in this hard plastic case that resembles glass and it's got a nice plastic covering over the product, feels heavy so not ideal for traveling.

Then I got the Studio Baked Eyeshadow in Burnt Plum and it is MAJESTIC. I did a swatch to compare it to other MAC shadows I own that looked alike on the pan.

This color is going to look so awesome just all across the lid with some brown liner and tons of mascara, I just know it. These watches were done dry with no primer so you can see how pigmented it is! The baked eyeshadows are all $3.

Then we have the Studio Cream Shadow in Dawn. It was $3 and right away my roommate mentioned that I had something like it already so I set about proving her wrong and I ended up loosing that battle majestically as I swatched it next to the Maybelline Color Tattoos shadow I bought last week and it was quite evident that I'd stumbled across a very near dupe. Now, you see I thought it was going to be like Tough as Taupe and it actually ended up being closer to Bad to the Bronze but with more silver in it than gold. Regardless, I am IN LOVE with this color and for $3, if you find these at Target I would go for the ELF ones rather than the Maybelline ones.

Next....

Got a new eyebrow kit in Dark, which is my favorite ever for my brows. I love it, it was $3, got a neat new product: a Makeup Mist & Set which I will be comparing it to my favorite 'DeSlick' by Urban Decay. That product was $3! And I got one of their Mineral Eyeliner in Black which looks SUPER smooth and very pigmented. I'll have to test it out in my waterline later on.

Some lip stuff, got a Studio Matte Lip Color in Tea Rose which is a violet-pink tone. Looks good, I just don't know if it'll flatter my skin tone without making me look like an extra of Walking Dead. That was $3. Then I got one of their ELF Essential Lipstain in Nude Nectar, that was $2. It's a bit... brownish orangy... don't know if I like it. Looks like not a lot of product comes out. I'm still not convinced of that one. Then I got one of their Studio Retractable Lip Brush which looks like a great little pocket brush to have in my purse.

And finally some makeup brushes, for the Mineral Powder Brush which right away reminded me of the MAC109 brush, which I really love. And the Studio Flawless Concealer Brush which looks rather stumpy. I'm not singing its praises just yet.

And then the big one that I put on my instagram was....

A CLARISONIC!!!! My boss sent me this for my birthday, she's so special, I love and adore her. It's in this lovely aqua-blue and it's my current favorite possession.

I hope you all enjoyed this haul!

Haul: TJ Maxx and Ulta 7/1/12

TJ Maxx Mini-Haul: more like good finds. I found two bottles of my favorite Nexus hairspray at 60% less than I usually pay at Ulta! They had tons more left so check out your local TJMaxx and see if you can find some. I also spotted this Korres quad which I thought would be GREAT as a stocking stuffer. Yes, I start in July to buy things :)

The spray was $5.99 and the shadows were $7.99. Great finds!

The Ulta Haul was a bit more extensive but I picked up items I was waiting for. Keep in mind that Organix, NYX, Maybelline, L'Oreal and Revlon were all BOGO50%OFF! Also, all Ulta brand items are on sale! Head over to Ulta if you want to pick up some great deals!

• Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. The conditioner was double the size, same price! Brilliant! I will post a review of these once I'm done with them :)
• The NYX liquid liners! My friend recommended these to me but I've been so happy with my Jordana one (which I need to do a review on!) that I didn't find the need to verge but seeing as I could try them both out for a bit of a discount, I went for it. Just an overview:

• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe. I had one already but I just like these so much I went for another neutral. I'm so predictable! LOL It's a gorgeous matte gray.

• 3 Ulta Polishes, these were $2 each!! From L-R: Cream of the Crop, Pinata-Yada-Yada and Moody Blues. I think Moody Blues might be my 4th of July color!

• The BB Creams. I got the Maybelline one and the L'Oreal one, this is really why I went there, I desperately want to test these out and compare them. I'm already leaning towards the Maybelline one just because it has SPF.

I meant to stop by Walgreens to pick up some of those Sally Hansen polishes which are on sale in July but I think that will have to wait until later on this week!

Happy shopping everyone!