To W.W., My Star, My Perfect Silence

Review: Maybelline ExpertWear Eyeshadow Quad in Designer Chocolates

2012-05-04T19:22:00.001-04:00

Today I wanted to review my everyday go-to quad: Maybelline ExpertWear Eyeshadow Quad in Designer Chocolates.

The one I own is the older version; they recently redid the packaging, changing up the sizes of the pans. The old ones all have the same amount of product in each pan but the one new is supposed to be proportional to the amount of usage (i.e., you wouldn't use as much of the crease eyeshadow as you would the lid eyeshadow). I love the packaging on this! The sleek black design reminds me so much of Illamasqua's compacts especially with the clear top. I'm so glad mine isn't the cheapy blue looking plastic one and that there's no mirror in the top. I like the window and being able to see the colors so I can grab it from my stash easy.

What makes this my perfect neutral quad is that the shadows aren't all matte or all shimmer, they're a mixture. It has all different textures and finishes. You get a glitter finish, veluxe pearl, frost, and a matte. So let me break down each eyeshadow!

Lid - is a nude/tan with very fine silver glitter. This is a gorgeous color that matches my skintone wonderfully and when applied, the glitter gives a nice brightness to it. Somewhat sheer and can get chalky very fast if too much is applied.

Crease - is a veluxe pearl finish that's kind of a rose-cranberry color, buttery and glides right on. All the eyeshadows lean to the cooler spectrum but this is the only one that's warm and adds a really nice dimension to the entire look. Since I wear colored liners, I find this color usually detracts from the color of the liners so I tend to leave it out. But if I'm wearing just a black eyeliner that day, I'll leave the color in because it keeps from making the eyes look too drab.

Brow bone - shimmery, frosty white. Very good pigmentation and smooth application.

Outer corner - matte brown, not too dark, not too light, and velvety. Incredibly pigmented in one swipe and blends out wonderfully. Out of all the colors in the quad, this one is my favorite for how versatile it is.

I always wear these over my UDPP and get roughly 8-10 hours of wear. This is an odd quad in that I don't get any creasing at all whatsoever, however, they do start fading and migrating and wearing away. I'm not sure how something can disappear without creasing and I haven't rubbed my eyes or anything the entire day but uh, it happened, haha. So be forewarned that while they won't crease, they will fade and disappear from your lids after a while!

You get .17oz (or 4.8g) of product overall (which breaks down to .0425oz [or 1.2g] for each eyeshadow, a smidgen smaller than MAC eyeshadows) for $6 at Ulta, mass retail stores and drug stores.

Review: Fyrinnae Rapunzel Had Extensions

2012-05-03T12:45:00.000-04:00

I'm not a huge fan of pink but lately I've really been wanting more pink/gold duochrome shades. I wanted to get Barry M Dazzle Dust in Pink/Gold but didn't want to pay more for shipping alone on just one item and I'm so glad I remembered Fyrinnae's "Rapunzel had Extensions." I ordered the sample size and I'm probably going to end up purchasing the full size whenever I run out since I love it so much!

Like I said earlier, it's a pink/gold duochrome and it's very strong on the gold. But in the shade and dimmer lighting, the pink does come out more and it's a very light, soft blue-based pink. The texture of the eyeshadow is velvety and smooth. It's incredibly pigmented and you don't need a lot on the brush to get good payoff. Even with tapping off the excess, I did have some fallout but not as much as you would imagine.

I wore it over UDPP and it lasted six hours before it started creasing a bit so it's somewhat long-lasting.

I really like this color and think it would look phenomenal on paler and darker skin tones. I honestly can't think of a skin tone this would look bad on because it appeals to both warm and cool undertones having a warm color (gold) and a cool color (semi-blue toned pink).

You can purchase both the mini (.33 tsp, weighs roughly .75 grams I want to say) for $2 and full size (1.25-1.5 tsp, weighs 3 grams) for $5.90 on Fyrinnae's website.

EOTD: Slytherin-Inspired Look

2012-05-02T12:12:00.000-04:00

(On a side note, I did change the layout because I hated that all the posts were on the same page and I couldn't even add jump breaks to the posts! Loved the look of the layout, hated the functionality. Hopefully this is cleaner, simpler to navigate and doesn't take a toll on your browser. Anyways!)

This is another look I did from a few weeks ago! I created a makeup challenge for myself (like those 30 day makeup challenges where you try to do a different look each day based on the prompt), and the one I chose that day was Harry Potter. But really, I just wanted an excuse to do a look with the colors green and grey, haha.

Sorry for the crappy iTouch pics again :(

Originally, I did two-toned lips for this look, Illamasqua Galactic Lip Gloss on the top lip and Barry M's green lipstick on the bottom but it looked silly so I just mixed the two together until it melded into a silver metallic green color. I ended up really liking it!

Products used:

UDPP (Original)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

Urban Decay Deluxe eye shadow in Graffiti (discontinued with the new reformulation)

Coastal Scents 88 Matte eye shadow palette, dark green, silver, black

Wet'N'Wild Color Icon eye shadow single in Panther

Ulta Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner pencil in Perversion (to tightline)

Rimmel Special Eyes Hurricane Grey eye pencil on the lower waterline, very lighthanded and faint

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara

Illamasqua Galactic Intense Lip Gloss

Barry M Lip Paint in 149 Green

Review: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion

2012-05-01T14:21:00.003-04:00

Today I wanted to review something that I truly truly love and consider a holy grail item: Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliner in Perversion.

Perversion was first released with the 15 year anniversary 24/7 eyeliner set a couple of years ago. I was bummed that I'd missed out on the palette and when I had seen swatches upon swatches of just how rich and deep the color was, I was blown away. I searched high and low trying to see if I could find a decently priced single and no such luck. Until Urban Decay's spring 2012 press release when I found out they had added it to their permanent collection. I was thrilled (and still am!)

It is a deep, matte black eyeliner. It's very creamy and smooth to apply, no tugging or pulling. I primarily use it to tightline and the difference it makes is astounding. (To those unfamiliar with tightlining, it's when you line your upper waterline, creating the appearance of thicker, fuller lashes. It makes a remarkable difference!)

It stays put on both my waterline and lashline for the full 10 hours I had it on. Though after seven hours, it had faded in areas I had applied it lightly on my lash line. After the 10 hour mark, it had faded noticeably on my lash line but surprisingly, it hadn't budged or faded on my waterline at all. It's opaque in one swipe on the lash line but takes a few more passes on the waterline though.

I don't own Urban Decay's eye pencil in Zero so I can't really compare the two, but from swatches I've done in the store, Zero has shimmer and isn't as pigmented. Perversion is completely matte and as black as can be.

You get .04oz or (1.2g) of product for $19. You can purchase it from Urban Decay's website, Sephora, or Ulta.

Perversion on the left and Ulta's Automatic Black Eyeliner on the right

Review: OPI Fly Nail Polish

2012-04-30T12:00:00.000-04:00

Fly was recently released with the OPI Nicki Minaj collection and it is a dusty teal creme that's very vivid. I know that might seem like an oxymoron, dusty and vivid but it's true! I wouldn't call this a neon but it's incredibly bright. Even in dim lighting you can discern the color, sometimes I expect it to start glowing in the dark, haha. It's a beautiful teal that leans a little on the green side and it's darker on the nail than it is in the bottle. I couldn't get it to photograph true to color, either it was too dark or too green in the photos, it's a rather tricky shade to capture.

The formula on this is somewhat thin and runny which I kind of liked, normally I don't but I think it gives you more control over the application as opposed to an overly thick polish. It took me three coats of polish to reach opacity. I thought I could get away with two but depending on the angle and lighting, there was VNL (Visible Nail Line). It wore for five days with minor tip wear.

It's an easily dupeable color and while I don't have any similar colors as my nail polish collection is rather small, some people might so if you already have something similar, I would pass on this. But if you don't, definitely a color to have for spring and summer.

You get .5 fl oz (15 ml) for $8.50 and can be purchased from Ulta.

This is three coats of polish and a top coat.

Review: Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

2012-04-27T18:50:00.002-04:00

I absolutely LOVE Fyrinnae. They make such wonderfully pigmented and unique items at such an amazing price point, it's hard not to! One of the things they're best known for is their pixie epoxy, something I think should be a staple in everyone's makeup collections.

Pixie epoxy is a product that mimics "foiling," it makes glittery eyeshadows adhere better and it really brings out the best in both the base color and glitter/sparkles. It is not a base or primer and I would not recommend wearing it alone. Fyrinnae themselves describe it more like a glue and suggest the same. I usually wear my UDPP (Urban Decay Primer Potion) underneath to prevent creasing. My eyelids are rather oily and I usually only need the tiniest amount to make the thinnest of layers but I notice creasing after six hours. It's not too bad and not too noticeable either so it could probably go for another couple hours after that before it gets noticeable.

The best way to wear this is to get about a q-tip sized amount (I couldn't think of a better measurement unit, you really only need the tiniest bit for it to be potent!) onto your finger and spread it onto the eyelid. Give it about 30-45 seconds to get tacky and then either pat or sweep your eyeshadow onto the area. In those 30-45 seconds, try your best not to blink as it is rather sticky! I've tried both sweeping and patting my eyeshadow on and I promise there is no visible difference as to which packs on the color better. Do be careful where you spread the epoxy, it is rather hard to blend shadows after it's set since it really grabs onto the color.

No fuss with the packaging, it's just a straight doe-foot applicator wand in a tube for the full size and a tiny jar for the samples. It goes on clear so it doesn't change the colors of your eyeshadows. I have the full-size and it will last you a long, long time. I've only had mine a few months and haven't made a dent in it, but I've seen other bloggers who've had theirs longer and say that it's still just as good and still tons left. Although Fyrinnae states on the website that it has an average shelf life of 2-3 years which is still fantastic given mascara alone should be replaced every 3 months!

I seriously could gush and gush about Fyrinnae as a company but if I had to choose only one thing to recommend, this would be it. Whether you have sparkly shadows that just go on flat, mineral or baked eyeshadows, or whatever, this makes them more vibrant and pigmented.

You get 1.5 ml of product for $1.50 if you want to opt for the sample size, or 9 ml of product for $7.00 if you opt for the full size. Both are available from the Fyrinnae website where ingredients are also listed.

Sugarpill Magpie with no base on left & with Pixie Epoxy on the right

Swatched heavily on left, Pixie Epoxy on right

Review: Covergirl TruShine Lipcolor in Blushberry Shine

2012-04-26T15:33:00.000-04:00

My favorite and HG (holy grail) lipstick color has to be #415, Blushberry Shine. It is my perfect MLBB (my lips but better) shade. Unfortunately it's discontinued so I've been using it sparingly and have been on the hunt for dupes for a while now.

It's a rosy pink color and has a very slight sheerness to it. I feel like CG was trying to go for a wash of color with this line but it didn't end up that way and I'm so glad, I like the very slight translucency much better. They're pretty moisturizing and the consistency reminds me more of a gloss than a lipstick. It is a bit sticky so I'd be weary of that but otherwise I haven't experienced any bleeding or settling into lip lines. Lipsticks usually last a good amount of time on me but this one barely makes it to the two hour line which is a little disappointing.

As far as I've seen, a lot of people dislike the packaging because it seems "too cheap looking." I actually think it's cute! I love silver "holographic" things so it's probably more to my taste and more than likely not everyone's cup of tea. One thing I do dislike though is the cap, it's not very secure. Mine has cracked a bit which you might be able to see in the first photo and while that's not bothersome to me, it might be to some others. But my major concern is that it doesn't click when closed, it's more like it just slides onto the tube rather than sliding and locking in place.

For dupes, I've heard this in itself is a dupe for Nars Dolce Vita lipstick which would be great if it weren't for the fact that I'm not sure if it's feasible for me to get a high end lipstick in this case, haha. Although I think I might've spotted a couple of Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters that look like they might be similar in both color and function so here's hoping!

Like I said, this is discontinued but if you can get your hands on it somehow, definitely do if you have pretty pigmented lips. :) It's .10 oz (3.2 grams) of product.

EOTD: Yellow, Orange Pink, Teal

2012-04-25T13:12:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to share an eye look I did a few weeks ago! :)

Click to enlarge!

I just felt like doing something really colorful and vivid that day. Sorry for the slightly grainy photos, I only had my iPod Touch on hand at the time. :(

Products used:

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Dark

Studio Gear Inline/Outline pencil as an under-eye concealer

Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original)

NYX Trio Eyeshadow in Serengeti, yellow

Coastal Scents 88 Matte Eyeshadows, bright yellow

Maybeline Eight Pan Eyeshadow Palette in The Brightside (Limited Edition), matte yellow and matte orange

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Palette (Limited Edition) in Swan Song (iridescent white/pink pearl as a highlight under the brows) and No Regrets (hot pink sparkle)

Ulta Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Perversion (to tightline)

MAC Pearlglide Intense Liner in Undercurrent

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara

Review: Rimmel London Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

2012-04-24T17:04:00.001-04:00

Aside from eyeliners and nail polishes, makeup removers are another niche of mine. I've been searching for the right one for a while now and the first one I ever tried was Rimmel London's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. There was no particular reason, it just happened to be the cheapest I could find at the time.

I'm 2/3 of the way through my second bottle and debating whether to repurchase. I find it's very effective in removing makeup if you leave a soaked cotton round sitting atop your eyelids for a few seconds but it does have a couple of drawbacks. The first being it leaves a rather odd, filmy oily residue on your eyelids so I recommend washing your eyes after using this. The reason it's odd is it claims to be oil-free. It also claims to remove waterproof mascara and personally, I can't attest to that since I don't own any waterproof mascara for the time being, but it has a rather hard time removing my waterproof eyeliners, liquid or pencil. I found that I had to really scrub at my eyes to get them off, and that's not good for your eyelids at all!

Despite the drawbacks, one of the reasons I keep going back to it is it's very gentle. Meaning, if I get a tiny bit in my eyes, rather than creating a stinging sensation like some of the other eye makeup removers I've tried, this one doesn't cause my eye any irritation. No stinging, burning, excess watering, anything!

The packaging itself is nice. Flip-top so you can dispense as little or as much as you like. It does have a propensity to spill or overflow if you're not careful.

I think this remover is best if you're wearing a light wash of eye makeup or items that aren't waterproof. Though if you're like me and you don't like overly oily makeup removers, you might want to pass on this.

You get 4.2 fluid ounces, or 125 ml, for roughly $4-5 depending on where you purchase it from. It can be bought at Ulta, drug stores, or any mass-merchandise store that carries Rimmel (i.e., Wal-mart, CVS, Walgreens, etc).