Cult of Taupe

Anastasia Beauty Express Kit for Brows and Eyes

2013-05-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

Last year I was turned on to the services of Anastasia, a brand synonymous with neatly groomed and shaped eye brows. Having suffered a few self inflicted eye brow tragedies, and a few I paid good money for, I was happy to find an eye brow service I could trust.

One of the first products I bought from Anastasia was a pack of eye brow stencils. My eye brow consultant helped me find my correct shape, High Arch, and after seeing it in action, it was a no brainer to pay the $20 for the stencil pack. As time passed, I wanted to enhance my eye brow wardrobe so I decided to pick up the Anastasia Beauty Express Kit for Brows and Eyes.

This kit has everything you need to style and groom your brows. It comes with cream brow shaping wax (top left pan) two shades of eye brow powder to fill in your brows (this kit is Brunette), and two neutral shadows (one matte, one shimmer) that can be used to highlight your brow bone. It also comes with 5 stencils for various brow shapes and a high quality angle brush to apply the powder/waxes to your brows.

The brush is made of dense synthetic fibers and can be used with the wax or the powders. I like to use this for the wax since it is stiffer, for the brow powder I use something slightly softer like a MAC 266. I think it gives a more natural line that won't require as much softening after the fact.

The Anastasia Beauty Express Kit comes with five eye brow stencils. Slim High Arch, Petite Arch, Medium Arch and Full Arch. You can mix and match stencil if needed to find your perfect shape.

Here is a before and after from my very first trip to Anastasia

Before

After

Final Thoughts

First, I can't recommend Anastasia's eye brow shaping services enough. I've paid decent money for some truly awful eye brows. The Anastasia artists work with your natural shape and fullness to give you the most flattering brows for your face and they show you everything and explain it so you can get the same results at home. I spend $30 every 6-8 weeks and it is well spent.

The Anastasia Beauty Express Kit is amazing for the price. It retails for $39.50 and contains over $100 worth of product in a kit that fits in the palm of your hand. The set of 5 stencils alone retails for $20. This is just an amazing value for your money and it will last you forever!

Currently looks as if this kit is offered in Blonde and Brunette. The kit pictured here is Brunette.

Where to Buy: Sephora or Nordstrom or your local Anastasia Counter.
Price: $39.50

I Bought This

Essence Special Effect Nail Topper: Night in Vegas

2013-05-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

I have so many wonderful Essence top coats to share with you all! Their line of Special Effect Nail Toppers are a fun way to add some flair to your existing nail polish wardrobe. The first topper I tried way back when was Night in Vegas.

Night in Vegas is an iridescent flake top coat consisting of flakes suspended in a thick clear jelly base. These flakes flash from gold, to copper, to green depending on the way the light hits your nails.

Close up, you can see the flakes reflecting the light in the bottle

Night in Vegas over a bare nail.

Here is where this top coat comes to life. Here is one coat over Wet 'n' Wild Ebony Hates Chris. When used over a dark base this top coat shows it's inner fire.

Final Thoughts

Night in Vegas is simple, yet stunning. I've used this with a few simple tape manis and over the tips of a french manicure and it does a great job of adding visual interest to you nails. The formula is thick and can be a little tricky to work with. The key is to apply a thin coat over your base color. You don't need to hunt for flakes or apply multiple coats. One thin coat will give you great coverage and tons of flakes. Occasionally if I am tough on my nails, I get some chips around the tips, but nothing consistent. So far I'm up to 6-7 Essence top coats and I love every one.

Where to Buy: ULTA Fred Meyer, H-E-B,
Price: $2.49

I Bought This

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup: 5/3

2013-05-03T20:34:00.001-07:00

Love At First Site!: Breaking News.Korres Summer Fun! Lips & Cheeks. SS13 Limited Edition.
Mama Fashionista: Clark's Botanicals has all the juicy color (and luxe formula) you need for your lips this spring!
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If you have a penchant for hybrid lipsticks that have the feel of a lip balm and the qualities of a lipstick, then you must try Bite Beauty Lush Lip Tints.
Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: DIY Makeup Tips for Prom.
TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla reviews Korres Mango Butter Lipstick in Coral. Yay or nay? Find out!
Ishah x Beauty: Ishah gets a Japanese gel manicure at Atlas Studio. Edgy Half Moons, glitter and rhinestones!
ColorMeSoCrazy: Check out my custom Liquid Lacquer polish I got for my BIRTHDAY!!
MakeUpMom123: Ivory 2-in-1 Hair & Body Wash.
Beauty by Arielle: What can you use a bar of Dove soap for? Brush Cleaning!
Cult of Taupe: Want that Clarisonic clean, without the Clarisonic Price? Check out my review of the Spa Sonic Skin Care System.
Makeup Demon: Do you know how much $ you have spent on cosmetics?! - participate in Survey!
Shades Of Beauty, Inc.: Hosting My 1st Giveaway: Salon Perfect Nail Lacquer Giveaway.
Rachel's Makeup and Skincare: Rachel reviews the new Nars Larger than Life Barrow Street eyeliner and she approves!
Hairspray and High Heels: An East Coast vs West Coast Makeup Collab for day & night looks!
Chickettes.com: Neon is hot this season! Check out these swatches of the Gelish Rio Neon Collection!
Beauty Professor: Summer is right around the corner and, to help you prepare, the Beauty Professor has swatches of the entire Tom Ford Beauty Summer 2013 Collection!
Makeup by Kim Porter: Kim Porter Reviews AJ Crimson's BB Cream, see why it is her favorite.
Baking Beauty: Baking Beauty shares her favorite drugstore liquid eyeliner.
The Passenger Element: Makeup Forever Aqua Creams in #2, #15 (swatch/review).

Spa Sonic Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher

2013-05-01T17:08:00.001-07:00

Press Sample

A few weeks ago I was approached about testing and reviewing the Spa Sonic Skin Care System. I had not heard much about the Spa Sonic Skin Care System prior to this contact, however it seemed like a product many would be interested in, so I enthusiastically agreed.

The Spa Sonic Skin Care System is described as a face and body polisher, that both cleans and exfoliates. It uses a variety of rotating heads to clean, buff, smooth and polish the softest and roughest parts of your body. The Spa Sonic Skin Care System is ready to go right out of the box.

This is what you get with the Spa Sonic Skin Care System. It comes with everything you need to get started, even the batteries!! You get the hand held wand, two small face brushes, one large body brush, one facial sponge and one pumice head.

The two small face brushes are compact and incredibly soft, softer then the Clarisonic senstive skin brush head I've been using. The bristles are more densely packed then the Clarisonic heads and are about 1/2 the size in total surface area.

Two unique features are the pumice and sponge heads. The pumice head is pretty smooth, still pumicey (made that word up) but not jagged like some of the cheap pumice you buy to scrub your feet. I was afraid of the pumice head after some aggressive pumiceing I did years ago on my rough, Hobbit like feet. However, when used over shower softened skin, I found it easily buffed away rough patches without leaving my skin raw. It couldn't eat through all my calluses, but it made a difference to be sure.

The sponge head feels like a dense cosmetic wedge sponge, with a cushiony feel. It is a microderm abrasion head designed to stimulate skin cells and improve skin elasticity. I will admit, do to some pre-exsisting skin concerns, I have not tried the microderm abrasion sponge head. But it seems intriguing and is pleasing to poke.

The body brush is about 4x the size of the small face brush. It is soft, but stiffer than the small face brushes. The texture and feel of this brush is similar to the Clarisonic brush heads, only the bristles on this head are are about double the length on the Clarisonic bristles. It does a nice job of cleaning and smoothing large areas of skin. I use this almost exclusively on my neck, chest and shoulders.

Here is a quick comparison photo of some Spa Sonic Heads and a Clarisonic head. These were all damp, hence the tissue paper back drop. Also, I smooshed the body brush head in a mesh bag so the dent there is my fault. You can see the Spa Sonic Small Face Brush on the left, the Clarisonic Sensitive Brush Head in the middle and the Spa Sonic Body Brush on the right.

I think most people looking at this product want to know if this is similar to a Clarisonic. The answer is yes.....and no. The big difference between the two products are the brush head mechanisms. The Clarisonic vibrates, the Spa Sonic rotates. Here is a link to video posted by 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic showing the Clarisonic and the Spa Sonic side by side.

*Video by Christine at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

So you can see when you view these two products side by side they function quite differently. But does that effect how the product cleans and exfoliates your skin? Not really, at least not in my opinion.

When I tested the Spa Sonic Skin Care System, I cleaned one half of my face with the Spa Sonic Skin Care System and I washed the other half with my Clarisonic Plus. I disregarded the usual timing feature of my Clarisonic and I used them exactly for the same length of time on each side.

When I clean my face with my Clarisonic it leaves it with a distinctly clean and smooth feel. It's unmistakable for me. So how did my skin feel after using the Spa Sonic? Exactly the same! After using both products I could not feel any difference between the two halves of my face.

Now, there are some distinct differences worth noting.

First, the rotating vs vibrating brush heads. While they seem to yield the same end result, the Spa Sonic rotating heads take getting used to. I was used to moving my Clarisonic across my skin in a circular motion. However, when I did this with the Spa Sonic the wand sort of wobbled and lurched across my skin. I had to learn to just glide it across my skin, not move it in circles.

The second difference are the brush head sizes. At first, I thought the smaller brush head was going to be a drawback, however, it turned into a big plus in my book. One of my problem areas is my nose. The skin is flaky, prone to black heads and redness and using the Clarisonic on my nose has been comical. I have to stick one finger up my nose and wiggle my nostril around to fit the Clarisonic in the relevant crannies. I hate that! However, the smaller and softer brush heads fit around my nose perfectly! The fact that the head rotates just makes it that much easier.

The third difference worth noting is the absence of a base or brush cover. This is one thing I wish the Spa Sonic had. I like to keep my skin care systems in the shower, but I wont do that without a brush cover. Right now, I keep my spa sonic in a mesh bag that hangs on the outside of my shower door. It works, but it is not my ideal since it can smoosh the brush heads. I could find other storage alternatives, but hey, I'm lazy.

The last and perhaps biggest difference is the price. You can find the complete Spa Sonic Skin Care System at retailers like Target for about $60. Replacement heads cost about $10-$11 dollars for two! A single Clarisonic replacement head will run your $25 I haven't used the Spa Sonic Skin Care System long enough to tell you how long a brush head lasts, but I can tell you my Clarisonic has fell silent for months at a time because I could not bring myself to cough up $25 for a replacement head.

Final Thoughts

The Spa Sonic Skin Care System has a lot going for it. First, it has a very comfortable price point. It retails for about $60-$70 (varies by retailer) compared to $120 for an intro Clarisonic Mia. Both the Spa Sonic and Clarisonic Mia offer a single speed wand that cleans and exfoliates. With The Spa Sonic Skin Care System, you also get 3 additional, unique brush heads. The Spa Sonic wand isn't quite as sturdy as the Clarisonic, but I threw it on the floor once by accident and I found it handled the impact quite well. The rotating head mechanism, likewise does not feel quite as solid as the Clarisonic, but the product cleaned my face identically and in the case of my nose, more easily then the Clarisonic.

I think if you are in the market for a skin care cleaning system and the Clarisonic is giving you some sticker shock, then you should check out the Spa Sonic Skin Care System. It does what it says it will do, they make a variety of brush heads, half of which Clarisonic does not offer and does it for half the price. It also comes in a variety of colors and can be purchased from several major retailers including Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS.

Where to buy: Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and other large retailers
Price: $60-$70 depending on the retailer.

Until May 5th 2013 you can purchase the Spa Sonic Skin Care System at Drugstore.com for $49.99 this is a really great deal and makes a great gift for Mother's Day!

Press Sample

Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil Bling Bling and Hot Chocolate

2013-04-24T19:16:00.002-07:00

I Bought This

Popping in for a quick rave post! I wish I had the energy to be more detailed, but we are busy with school stuff and spring colds. However, the Essence Cosmetics Long Lasting Eye Pencils are something everyone needs!

Essence Cosmetics has several different types of eyeliners: sharp-enable pencils, markers and these beauties which are self advancing, no sharpener needed...my favorites!!

The formula of the Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencils is soft and very easy to use. They aren't dry feeling, nor do they tug or pull as you apply. They feel amazing! They very much reminded me of the texture and consistency of an Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil.

The two colors I bought were Hot Chocolate, a dark rich matte chocolate brown and Bling Bling, a shimmering golden copper.

Final Thoughts

These liners aren't just good for a budget brand, they are good period. I used MAC Technakohl in Photograuve for years and honestly the texture and payoff of the Essence is just remarkably better...by a wide margin. And you are paying $2.49 compared to $19.50. I find these to be very long lasting. They look essentially unchanged at the end of the day. I get a little minor fading under the eye, but that's normal for me and no worse then any other eye liner I've used. Essence Cosmetics Long Lasting Eye Pencils are currently available in 8 shades. I plan to go back and buy them all.

Where to buy: ULTA or Fred Meyer, H-E-B
Price: $2.49 for .28 grams]

I Bought This

butter LONDON Nail Lacquer in Knackered

2013-04-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

Quite a while ago, I got in on a really great deal on 3 bottles of Butter London Nail Lacquer. This was my first foray into the Butter brand and I was really excited to try them out. I'll admit, when I received the package, I was bummed out when I saw Knackered. I felt like I already had 4 of this same color, but I was about to be surprised.

Butter London Knackered is described as "a sheer, twinkling oyster shade flecked with micro glitter particles"

In the bottle I'd say this reminds me more of abalone, then oyster. It is a duochrome that swirls with blues, greens and violets with tiny bits of multi-color glitter.

One coat on the left, two coats on the right. On their own, over a naked nail, the color is almost imperceptible. But when you layer this over black?????......

SNAP! All of a sudden this color comes to life. It shifts strongly between violet, blue and green.

You can see how when the nail is turned, the green starts to take over and the violet becomes far more subtle. It is a truly beautiful effect. What sets this apart from some other sheer duochromes is the micro glitter throughout. While it looks a bit coarse here, the effect is quite smooth and looks a bit like stars, especially when layered over a black base. It's like a galaxy mani in a bottle.

Final Thoughts

I like the color, I love the glitter effect, but the verdict is still out on the formula. I've only tested a few, but I've noticed a tendency for their glitter polishes to flake and chip around the edges. Butter London Knackered is not as a big flaker as some, since you can use so little of it when applying over another base. For the $15 price tag, I wish I was more sold on the formula and the uniqueness of the color. I do think if there was a reasonable sale, I would try more. They have some colors that look achingly beautiful. Dosh anyone?

Where to buy: Butter London or Sephora
Price: $15.00 for 0.4 oz

I Bought This

Reviva Labs Non-Chemical Light Skin Peel

2013-04-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

Press Sample

Ever since I I started following beauty blogs a few years ago, I've seen Reviva Labs reviews and heard raves about their products. A few months ago, I was given the exciting opportunity to use and review a few Reviva Labs products. One area I specifically wanted to target was tired, dull looking skin. Cause face it, none of us are getting any younger. The wonderful people at Reviva Labs suggested I try the Non-Chemical Light Skin Peel.

This product was provided for me to review, all opinions are my own.

From the Reviva Labs website: "Peeling" is a European term for one of the most unique European items in the entire cosmetic field. THIS IS NOT A HARSH CHEMICAL PEEL. It doesn't "peel skin" as we know it, but gently lifts off more hardened, dried skin cells than can be achieved by scrubs or any other "exfoliating" product.

I am only 38, but I've started to see big changes in my skin. My complexion is uneven, dull and looks lifeless. I've also noticed an increase in milia across my cheeks. One of the least invasive ways to remove milia is to let them naturally exfoliate themselves as your skin sloughs off and is renewed. So you can see where a peel that helps accelerate that process would intrigue me.

One thing that strikes me about all the Reviva Lab products are their unique textures. Take the Non-Chemical Light Skin Peel, I've been struggling for days with just how to describe this product. In the jar, the product looks like a beige cold cream with some small bits of crushed almonds (it does not say shells and it doesn't feel like hard shells) and some small black flakes. However, when you touch the product it changes

The texture and consistency is so cool, I really can't stop playing with it. It is hard to describe, imagine you mixed a cold cream, a scrub, and the glow in the dark slime we all loved as kids, minus the glow of course. It's not sticky, rather it is very elastic. You can see in the image above how elastic the product is. It has a fairly strong smell. It would appear this comes from the Oil of Thyme listed on the ingredients. It has an ever so subtle mediciney smell underneath the Thyme, but nothing overpowering. I would describe it as an herbal astringent scent. I quite like it myself.

The directions state you should apply a light coat over the face and let dry 3-5 mins. The product applies quickly and easily and you have a few seconds to spread it out before it dries down. There is a pleasant cooling/tingling sensation as it dries. After 3 mins you will be amazed how much this tightens your skin...I mean crazy tight. My son asked me a question and I could barely open my mouth enough to form words. I think it actually kind of freaked him out. However, at no point did the peel crack or crease. That was a huge plus as any sort of mask usually bugs the hell out of me as it dries.

Per Reviva Labs, you can remove this product a few different ways: rub it off with your fingers, a dry wash cloth or a cosmetics sponge. I tried them all and I recommend the finger method. Dry wash cloths were too rough and abrasive for my skin, wet ones melted the peel and negated the exfoliating properties. Cosmetics sponges were too small and I struggled to get the product off. Fingers were perfect. The mask balls up easily and the bits of almond gently exfoliate as you go. The almond pieces are not jagged so they don't feel like they are tearing you up as you remove the product.

I found it is pretty easy to peel this product off your skin, even though you want to manually exfoliate. When I was a child I used to be obsessed with putting Elmer's Glue on my palms and then letting it dry so I could peel it off, like a second skin. That is exactly what this felt like after it dried. OMG, I wanted to peel it off so bad, major grade school flashbacks. Might need to make a run for some Elmer's Glue. Once the peel is completely removed I did not notice any sort of residue, film or greasiness on my skin. My skin felt soft and clean.

So does it work? Yes, it totally does! After using the Reviva Labs Non-Chemical Light Skin Peel once weekly as suggested my skin feels softer, tighter and brighter and I don't have as much flakey skin around my nose and mouth. After a few uses I've also noticed some diminished pore size on my cheeks. I haven't used it long enough to see if it will improve my milia, but given the results I've seen thus far, I think it will.

Final Thoughts

This is a product I would buy again. I've been very pleased with the products I've tried and I plan to buy some of Reviva Labs other skin care products as well. I am consistently struck with how unique their products are, sometimes in ways that aren't obvious or easy to articulate. They have a staggering catalog of products for all sort of skin care concerns. You are sure to find something to get excited about.

Where to buy: Reviva Labs
Price: $20.00 for 1.5 oz or 42 grams

Press Sample

Hard Candy Crushed Chromes: Crush on Lava Nail Polish

2013-04-15T20:54:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

Finding Hard Candy Nail Polishes has been tougher then finding proof of Bigfoot. I have access to several retailers that sell Hard Candy and every single one looks like it was on the wrong end of the beauty apocalypse. So, when I finally stumbled upon a nearly intact display, I pretty much cookie monstered my way through the entire thing. One of my must have polishes was Hard Candy Crushed Chromes: Crush on Lava.

Hard Candy Crushed Chromes: Crush on Lava is a charcoal based fiery polish with color shifting properties. It shifts between shades of wine, greens and golds. It is a lively and interesting color.

Close up (even looks amazing in the bottle)

One coat on the left, two coats on the right

One single coats imparts little more then glitter, two coats gives you more depth and color accuracy, but still has translucent coverage

However, layer this polish over a black base and you really see what this beauty can do. This shows 1 coat over the top of Wet 'n' Wild Ebony Hates Chris.

Final Thoughts

My collection is shockingly light on duochrome type polishes, so this was a nice addition. The formula of this polish is pretty thin, however since this is best used layered over a dark base, the thinness is a good thing. It also means this polish is only as good as the base color you use. I experienced no chipping of this polish. It grabs that base color and doesn't let go. One coat is all you need to get the fiery effect.

Where to Buy: Walmart
Price: $4.00

I Bought This

Meow Cosmetics Egyptian Treasures: Eye of Horus Collection

2013-04-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

I'll start by admitting that I've totally sucked about updates this week. My kids started off the week sick, then I got sick, now we are about to be knee deep in bark dust, so this weekend looks full as well. However, I am trying to get a few posts on deck and I thought I would start with 4 gorgeous shadows from Meow Cosmetics.

The four shadows I'm reviewing are from the Egyptian Treasures: Eye of Horus collection. Eye of Horus is a collection of rich metallic finished shadows. Meow Cosmetics has quickly become a huge favorite of mine. Their colors are beautifully pigmented and surprisingly complex. Take a look!

Obelisk

Obelisk is a rich gold layered over a charcoal base, making a complex metallic golden olive

Asp

Asp is a rich metallic antique gold

Ancient

Ancient is a orange over a charcoal base which turns it into a metallic russet

Pyramid

Pyramid is a metallic coppery burnt orange

Final Thoughts

Although I am not the world's biggest fan of metallic finishes, I really like these shadows. Pyramid is the knockout shade. It is lush, velvety and looks killer on the outer corner of your eye. If you like to get your metallic on then I would grab up some samples of the Egyptian Treasures: Eye of Horus collection.

Where to buy: Meow Cosmetics
Price: $1.00 for 1/16 tsp sample baggies $8.00 for 1.6 grams in 5 gram sifter jar

I Bought This

Essence Cosmetics More to Love Lipstick

2013-04-06T22:35:00.001-07:00

I Bought This

I am back from oblivion! I have no big revelations about my absence, I was just tired and suffering from a huge lack of motivation. I pretty much frumped around all week in my Big Lebowski robe. I did however attend my very first women's roller derby match last night and it helped me regain a spark of energy. I figure I will ease myself back into the flow with Essence Cosmetics More to Love Lipstick.

If you've never tried an Essence lipstick, they are really quite nice. They go on medium opaque, with a glossy finish and pleasant fruity scent. I've loved every shade I've tried. And with a $2.49 price tag, you can afford to take a risk.

More to Love is a sheer berry pink with raspberry grainy sparkles.

I say grainy, because I am not sure else how else to describe the "sparkle" in this shade. It looks pinky silver in the bullet, but on the lips leaves like little micro grains of raspberry sand. Is that clear at all? It's not as noticeable in person, but you can really see it in the images. It does not really feel gritty on the lips, but I get a feeling these sparkles may have worked better in a creamier, more opaque formula.

Final Thoughts

More to Love is not exactly what I expected from an Essence Cosmetics Lipstick. It is definitely more sheer then the other shades I've tried. It is a "my lips but better" shade that I think would be flattering on most people. I did end up liking the "sparkle". I think it gives the color a little kick and keeps it from looking like every other sheer berry lip butter on the market. The wear time isn't much, maybe 2 hours, but with a glossy, sheer shade, that is what I would expect. I did not experience bleeding or migration and it did not dry out my lips. If you like Essence Cosmetics lipsticks, More to Love won't lead you astray.

Where to Buy: ULTA Fred Meyer, H-E-B,
Price: $2.49

I Bought This

Geek Chic Cosmetics Timey Wimey Collection

2013-03-31T19:01:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

In honor is tonight's return of Dr. Who, I thought I would do a review of a few shadows from the Geek Chic Cosmetics Timey Wimey Collection. For non Whovians, allow me to explain how this time thing works.

"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect... but actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly... timey-wimey... stuff"

It also provides the basis for some totally kick ass eye shadows! Now if I could convince my husband to let me paint the door leading from our kitchen to the garage to look like the TARDIS. Then I could open it and tell everyone "It's bigger on the inside" Come on..how awesome would that be!?

S*xy In Suspenders

S*xy in Suspenders is a light silvery pink with a blue sheen and blue sparkles

Bigger on the Inside

Bigger on the Inside is a dark colonial blue with a gold overlay and gold sparkles. It's hard to describe the effect, it's not green, it's more of a swirling of gold and blue. Kinda like a time vortex.

Bad Wolf

Bad Wolf is a medium violet with golden shimmer and gold sparkle

We Are Coming

We Are Coming is a very complex dark brown with a golden, copper shimmer and red and blue sparkles

Final Thoughts

More winners from the gang over at Geek Chic Cosmetics. We Are Coming, which I reviewed once before, is in my top five shadows of all time. The complexity and beauty of this color can not be overstated. Bad Wolf is a very nice midtone purple that doesn't pull blue or red. I love it as a crease color or brushed over a cream eyeliner. Sexy in Suspenders is a great highlight color for cooler skintones and also works well to brighten up the inner corner of your eye. You could also wear this on your cheeks and give yourself an ethereal glow. The only sketchy color was Bigger on the Inside. When it works it is stunning, but the golden shimmer has a tendency to separate from the blue base. 1/2 the time I get the color pictured above, the other 1/2 I get the blue base with a weird patchy golden halo. I have a few shadows that give me the same effect (usually a gold over a green base) and I will say Bigger on the Inside gives me less trouble then all the others. Just take care when applying.

Where to buy: Geek Chic Cosmetics
Price: Samples $1.25 in a plastic clamshell or Full Sized $5.99 in a 5 gram jar

My question to you... who is your favorite Dr and Companion? You can mix and match!

For me, I never thought I'd say it, because 10 (David Tennant) was iconic and brilliant, but I think 11(Matt Smith) is my favorite. There is a weariness to him that compels me, no small feat since he is also the youngest actor to play the Dr; and boy did he have some big shoes to fill. He also pulls off the Dr's quirks and danger without making him as unstable as 10 was.

Favorite companion? No contest, Donna Noble! All the fun and emotion with zero romantic drama. Katherine Tate's chemistry with David Tennant was electric. That pairing ended much to soon in my opinion.

I Bought This

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup: 3/29

2013-03-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: As a new convert to the Maybelline Color Whispers, Helen has fallen hard for their lovely colors and formula.
Mama Fashionista: March Julep It Girl Unboxing!
Makeup Demon: Looking for nail caring oil? Read the review of Essence Studio Nails Caring Nail Oil.
TheFabZilla: Enter to win Too Faced Better Than False Lashes. Ends April 7, 2013. Full details on TheFabZilla.
Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Destany tests out FEVERshadow from Wishful Bath & Beauty is the stunning Rue's Wildflowers!
Beauty by Miss L: This week Miss L reviewed her favorite hair care products by Keune.
Love At First Site!: MAC Archie's Girls Betty Bright Lipstick International Giveaway! Do you wanna win this Limited Edition MAC lipstick?
Chickettes.com: What's the difference between UV and LED nail lamps? Find out which is best for your gel manicure needs.
The Convenient Beauty: Improve your skin texture with Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser.
Rachel's Makeup and Skincare: Rachel feels the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor hasn't gotten as much love as it deserves and as such has decided to give it some.
Cosmetics Aficionado: Go bold and orange with Milani Sweet Nectar lipstick.
Cult of Taupe: I recently rescued 3 knock out shades from Fyrinnae. Come see what I've been missing!
Beauty Professor: Already in love with the formula, the Beauty Professor reviews her latest lipstick acquisition: By Terry Sheer Rouge.
Midnight Manicures: Check out Jeanie's Milani COLORstatment Naturals and Browns Lipsticks and Lip Liners Review. Another win for Milani Cosmetics!
Baking Beauty: Does Aveeno's Positively Radiant Cleanser really even skin tone and texture?
MakeUpMom123: Don't Be Afraid of Glitter Eyeliner!
The Passenger Element: Tiny purchase @ SiJCP ft Cover FX.

Goodbye Google Reader, Hello Bloglovin'

2013-03-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, a few well known ways to follow your favorite blogs are going away. Google Friends Connect/Google Reader and Hello Cotton are closing up shop. It seems going forward the preferred method for following blogs will be Bloglovin'. Bloglovin' makes it easy to import the blogs you follow with GFC over to Bloglovin', so no need to go back and re-follow your favorite blogs.

Here is a link to blog post with great step by step instructions for importing your GFC list over to Bloglovin'.

I hope to see you all over at Bloglovin'!

Fyrinnae Classics: Book of the Dead, Trickery and Serendipity

2013-03-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

I was cleaning and sorting my makeup a few weeks ago and rediscovered some Fyrinnae shadows I had stuffed into a "to be reviewed" box that I completely forgot about. They just happen to be some of my favorite Fyrinnae shades.

Fyrinnae has developed a cult following for their complex, multi-tonal and frankly stunning shadows. They take a little extra care to get them looking their best, but once you try a few trust me you will be hooked. These three shadows are some of their best...Serendipity (formerly Te Amo) practically has a cult following all it's own. I will endeavor to do these beautiful shadows justice.

Book of the Dead

Book of the Dead is a shimmering rich warm gold with silver sparkles

Trickery

Trickery is a golden tan with a very strong green cast.

Serendipity (Formerly Te Amo)

Serendipity is a fiery golden coppery rose over a charcoal base.

Final Thoughts

It took me way too long to discover Fyrinnae golds. Their golds shimmer and flash dramatically. Trickery is a perfect lid color since it changes from tan, to gold to green depending on the light. With every blink you will see a different side of this versatile color. Serendipity, what can I say to describe how perfect this color is? It is like a prismatic fire. The charcoal base is subtle, so no matter which way you look at this shadow you will see it shift from pink, to gold, to copper, to peach. If you like Fyrinnae Fire Opal, then you will love Serendipity.

Fyrinnae shadows work best when patted over a sticky base like Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy or my favorite Whip Hand Cosmetics Thermal Creme Shadow

What are your Fyrinnae must haves?

Where to Buy: Fyrinnae
Price: Minis $2.25 (for 1/3 to 1/4 tsp in 5 gr jar) Full Size $6.25 to $6.80 (for approx 3 grams in a 5 gr jar)

I Bought This

Essence Fruity Collection Polishes in One Kiwi a Day and Very Cherry

2013-03-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

I Bought This

After the rich dark hues of Fall and Winter I am aching for something light and springy. Enter The Fruity Trend Edition from Essence Cosmetics. I happened upon this display a few weeks ago and picked up a few colors to try out.

One Kiwi a Day

One Kiwi a Day is a softly shimmering honeydew green packed with blue micro glitter

Close up

One coat on the left, two coats on the right

This color is true to the bottle color and was nearly opaque in two coats

Very Cherry

Very Cherry is a softly shimmering peachy princess pink packed with purple micro glitter

Close up

One coat on the left, two coats on the right

This color is true to the bottle color and was nearly opaque in two coats

Final Thoughts

Another one of those "why didn't I buy them all"? moments. The polishes have everything going for them. The polish is smooth and easy to apply. Two thicker coats will get you to opacity or you could opt for three thinner ones. The glitter in both is evenly distributed through out the polish, so no fishing for glitter is needed. Also, the glitter doesn't bunch up or look gunky as you layer the polish.

I experienced excellent wear time with both polishes. 3-4 days with minor tip wear.

Contrary to the name, these do not have a pleasant fruity scent, however this collection does have a scented topcoat you can layer over the top.

Where to Buy: ULTA (not sure they carry Trend Editions) Fred Meyer, H-E-B
Price: $1.99

I Bought This

Review: Hard Candy Meteor-Eyes Baked Shadow in Lunar Eclipse

2013-03-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

All items purchased by me.

In my daily life I spend countless hours looking at eyes. It's kind of my job. Well last week the most amazing eyes walked through the door. In this circumstance I usually wouldn't ask someone about their makeup. However, I knew if I let this person leave without asking I would regret it forever.

What was this singularly stunning shadow? Hard Candy Meteor- Eyes Baked Shadow in Lunar Eclipse, I was thankful she remembered the name. So with this knowledge in hand, the hunt was on!

Now I've been on the receiving end of several fruitless searches for Hard Candy products. My local Wal-Marts are usually picked clean of most things I am looking for. I made one last ditch effort yesterday and SCORE!

Lunar Eclipse is a rich velvety olive with shifts of golden shimmer and beautiful gold glitter.

My beauty informant told me she was using the shadow over a heavy black base. I decided to try it out over NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Dark Brown. The creamy base grabs the pigment and pumps up the gold shimmer.

Final Thoughts

The only regret I had was not buying more, as it is, this was the last Lunar Eclipse on the shelf so I count myself lucky for finding it. This is one gorgeous eye shadow. It is richly opaque in one application, there was zero fall out and the texture was not dry, like many other baked shadows I've tried. Best part? It's $6 for 3.15 grams or 0.11 oz

Where to buy: Wal-mart
Price: $6.00

What is you favorite product from Hard Candy?

*Note

With GFC going away soon, I would like to invite you to follow me over at Bloglovin.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Geek Chic Cosmetics: Big Damn Heroes

2013-03-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

I am still pissed Firefly was canceled, and lets face it some things you just never get over. And while Joss Whedon is still under appreciated in my mind (recent blockbusters not withstanding) some of that Firefly awesome lives on in the Geek Chic Cosmetics collection Big Damn Heroes.

Geek Chic Cosmetics is a ridiculously fun indie brand that delivers complex and beautiful eye shadows, based on the guilty pleasures of all things geeky.

This 5 shadow collection is based off the single season cult fave Firefly. I've chosen my 3 favorite colors to review for you today.

Inevitable Betrayal

Inevitable Betrayal is a golden greyish sage with multi color sparkle

Amabssador

Ambassador is a plum raspberry with gold sparkle

Very Fine Hat

Very Fine Hat is a strong blackened base with a hint of bronze over it and copper sparkle

Final Thoughts

Each of these colors is a solid winner. My favorite is Ambassador. The maroonish shade is neither too bright, nor too dark. It makes a wonderful crease color and looks specially lovely when paired with golds. Inevitable Betrayal is one of those workhorse neutral shades you just can't go wrong with. Very Fine Hat is the only shade I was a little shaky with, but this stems from my own challenges with black based colors. I've seen this this color look like a jeweled golden olive in other swatches, on me the black is very dominant...but I have this problem with almost every black based shadow I own. All that being said, I still think it's a beautiful color and I love using this on the outer crease to deepen a neutral eye.

What's your favorite Geek Chic Collection?

Where to buy: Geek Chic Cosmetics
Price: Samples $1.25 in a plastic clamshell or Full Sized $5.99 in a 5 gram jar

BFTE Color of the Week: Wizard's Wand

2013-03-17T15:12:00.001-07:00

Just putting up a quickie post about the BFTE COTW (Color of the Week) which is currently Wizard's Wand. If you are unfamiliar, each week BFTE offers a COTW deal. For $6.00 ($10 shipped) you get a full sized jar of the COTW + 3 samples of your choosing. It's a super deal, and a great way to build your collection.

Wizard's Wand is an achingly beautiful taupe. It is a perfect blend of brown, purple and pink. This is one of my top taupes ever. If you use any neutrals at all, this needs to be one of them!

Where to buy: BFTE
Price: COTW Deal $6.00 for Full sized COTW and 3 samples. Full sized jars are regularly $6.50

COTW changes Friday mornings. So you have a little less then a week to score this deal. COTW will change 3-22

Hot Product: Essence Cosmetics 3D Duo Eyeshadows

2013-03-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Essence Cosmetics is one of those inexpensive beauty brands that consistently delivers quality products at a very pocket friendly price. But every now and again they put out a product that puts pricier brands to shame. Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of those times.

Essence 3D Duo Eyeshadows are a brand new product that may remind you of similar raised relief shadows released by MAC Cosmetics and Sephora. Essence 3D Duo Eyeshadows have a 3mm relief design with a corresponding accent shadow that can be used wet or dry. And I will tell you up front these are not good shadows. They are phenomenal!

*All swatches done dry over Whip Hand Cosmetics Thermal Creme Eyeshadow

Irresistible Chocolates

Irresistible Chocolates light relief taupe with a dark brown accent

Irresistible Chocolates is a light rosey taupe (relief) and a dark golden brown with sparkle (accent)

Irresistible Mermaid Kiss

Irresistible Mermaid Kiss light relief teal with dark teal accent

Irresistible Mermaid Kiss is a light aqua (relief) and a deep turquoise (accent)

Irresistible Caramel Cream

Irresistible Caramel Cream light relief tan and a medium brown accent

Irresistible Caramel Cream is a light silvery tan (relief) with a deep golden amber brown (accent)

Irresistible Purr-ple

Irresistible Purr-ple dark relief purple and a light accent lilac (does not look this blue in person)

Irresistible Purr-ple is a medium grape w/ blue violet sheen (relief) with a silvery light lilac (accent)

Final Thoughts

Essence 3D Duo Eyeshadows could be the finest product Essence Cosmetics has ever put out and....AND it is part of the standard line up which means you can find this on most Essence Cosmetics displays and at ULTA for those not lucky enough to have a local Essence Cosmetics retailer.

The pigmentation is some of the best of any pressed shadow I've used. They all have a shimmery finish. I was afraid these would be super frosty but they stop just on the verge of frosty. There was almost zero fallout. The only one with any fallout was the relief shade in Irresistible Purr-ple, but it was negligible and I almost didn't notice it. They apply and blend beautifully and are opaque with one application.

The relief and accent shades are perfectly matched. Each duo makes a beautiful, polished look. I did a super simple purple smokey look with Irresistible Purr-ple that brightened my brown eyes and made them pop! Irresistible Chocolate is another pairing that offers a great day to night-time look. The dark accent color is a wonderful neutral tone brown that everyone needs in their arsenal.

I'll be honest, I have not tried these wet yet, but I imagine it will make you squeal with excitement.

My biggest regret is I didn't purchase the other 2 combos, Irresistible First Love (pink/grey) and Irresistible Smoky Eye (grey/black). I had no idea I would love them as much as I do. Rest assured I will be going back to buy them!

Which duo are you dying to try first?

Where to buy: ULTA or Fred Meyer, H-E-B
Price: $3.49 for .09 oz or 2.8 gr

Essence Fruity Blush Sorbet in Smoothie Operator

2013-03-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

Recently I managed to stumble upon a brand new Essence Trend Edition display going up in a local store. It was for a collection named Fruity and it was filled with the most amazingly yummy sounding products, like the Fruity Blush Sorbet in Smoothie Operator.

Let me start by saying this product smells so.........freaking........amazing! It has the most perfectly, fruity berry smell. It reminds me of a giant fruity berry Jamba Juice. You really want to eat this stuff....but don't.

The texture of the blush sorbet is that of thick pudding. Cool to the touch, it isn't runny or spongey like the Maybelline Bouncy blushes. It spreads easily like a cream and gives you a decent amount of time to blend it out before drying to a nice satin finish.

Smoothie Operator is a deep watermelon/coral shade with a subtle golden shimmer. On my arm it went from sheer to intense with ease. On my cheek, the same. It left a gorgeous rose water stain look. Again, buildable with extra application. It dries down nicely and gives your cheek a youthful glow. The gold shimmer in the product is not in the least overpowering.

Final Thoughts

The only drawback of the Fruity Blush Sorbet was the way the blush streaked when used over a powder foundation. It looked a bit patchy when used on top of my Meow Cosmetics Pampered Puss Foundation. It's not a deal killer for me at all. I would just try it out over powdered foundations to see how your application turns out. I'll be sticking to using this over cream/liquid foundations or over bare skin. Overall, I loved this product. And the smell is driving me crazy...I just want to sit and smell it pretty much non stop. No worries if you are fragrance sensitive, the scent disappears quickly after application.

Where to Buy: ULTA (not sure they carry Trend Editions) Fred Meyer, H-E-B
Price: $3.49

Review: BFTE Full Moon Rising, Guipure, Clara and Spirit

2013-03-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

Who else is sick of dreary and drab winter?? Honest to God if I don't get some warmth on my skin I think I am going to have a huge screaming fit. So before that happens, let's clear some of the murk away with some beautiful gold shadows from BFTE!

BFTE have pigmented, high quality shadows in over 400 colors! Some of my very favorites are the golds. Each is unique and I never get sick of trying out a new shade. These are the last group I tried.

Full Moon Rising

Full Moon Rising is a shimmering silvery blonde gold (Part of the Halloween 2012 Collection, now Permanent)

Guipure

Guipure is a shimmering light gold with gold sparkle

Clara

Clara is a shimmering gold with greenish gold sparkles and slight green cast

Spirit

Spirit is a satin light buttery marigold with blue sparkles

Final Thoughts

Love them all! The standout is Spirit. The yellow is just so damn happy and the blue sparkles are a cool twist to the color. Full Moon Rising and Guipure both make great highlight colors and Clara is a wonderful medium gold, not too yellow, not too orange. If your not already a BFTE fan, you really need to be. Their selection can't be touched. Their customer service can't be surpassed. Seriously it is not unheard of for your order to ship the same day of your order.

They have a weekly COTW deal. For $10 shipped you get a full sized jar of the COTW and 3 samples of your choosing. The color changes every Friday. It's a nice way to build your collection without going into to debt.

Where to buy: Beauty From the Earth
Price: Samples $2.00 Full Size $6.50

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup: 3/8

2013-03-09T22:44:00.001-08:00

Mama Fashionista: Quinn of Mama Fashionista has been on a roll with Lavanila lately! Find out what product she's raving about now!
Beyond Beauty Lounge: DIY Gentle Eyemakeup Remover.
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Burberry Sheer Eye Shadows boast astounding quality and the shades are truly lovely, but Midnight Plum No. 19 is utterly sublime.
Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: Reviva Lab Instant Line Smoother. Makes a Great Makeup Primer!
Makeup Demon: Makeup project: "Business makeup interpretation".
Beauty Fiends: Looking for an effective but gentle clay mask? The Mario Badescu Flower & Tonic mask might be for you!
My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shares her reviews on Mario Badescu products for Combination/Oily/Acne-Prone skin!
Rachel's Makeup and Skincare: Rachel tries many of the new Nars products to come out including the new setting powder, concealer, and tinted moisturizer.
Cult of Taupe: Get ready for beauty bootcamp with Beauty Army and the Whip Hand Cosmetics Camo Collection.
TheFabZilla: I met Matt(e) Nude and I'm ready to kiss and tell!
The Convenient Beauty: Excellent as it could be as a setting powder, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light fails short for the magical lighting correction as promised.
DeyiMizu: Is the L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream a fail?
Très Beau Glamour: Check out part 1 of Nay's Spring 2013 Makeup Trends to see what looks are soon to be in.
Polarbelle: Polarbelle reviews the premiere issue of Nail It! Magazine & gives you a sneak peek of what's inside.
Baking Beauty: Does Kate Somerville's Dscar Scar Diminishing Serum really work?
Lisa's Nail Obsession: Are you ready for spring? Pansies will give you spring fever.
Lipgloss Break: Angela shares her favorite eyeshadow primers to keep her eye makeup in place!
Liesl Loves Pretty Things: Non, je ne regrette rien. Liesl loves Zoya Piaf, and shares why you should, too.
Beauty by Miss L: Check out Miss L´s black & golden manicure.
Beauty Professor: Springtime is here! The Beauty Professor tries a host of Pastel Power products from the fabulous Lise Watier line!
SoFlaJo: New Revlon Moon Candy Nail Polish Review.
Beauty with a Twist: Take a walk on the wild side, with this ocelot-inspired cat-eye!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Natural Beauty Review

2013-03-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

After a few weekends of beauty storage reorganization I came to the conclusion that I am drowning in eyeshadows, while my blush collection is paltry and sad. So, with my Sephora gift card in hand, I decided to make a guilt free purchase of some much needed cheek love in the form of a Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush.

I pretty much don't get excited about blushes. I like them in theory, but I totally fear them. I always pick the wrong shade or apply to heavy or too light. I have no blush game. When I do buy them, I play it safe. Peachy Pinks with just a hint of shimmer. Now I have a friend who LOVES Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes and her love started to rub off on me. I recently purchased the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Glisten and loved the formula, loved the application. Pretty much loved all of it.

So, with all this blush love, I decided to just jump out and buy a vibrant strawberry red blush. Why the eff not right? It's pigmented, whatever, that's what blending is for, right?

Tarte Amazonian ClayBlush in Natural Beauty is a punchy, cheerful, pigmented blush. It is an intense berry pink. I knew from my arm swatch that this beauty could pack a color wallop. So, I figured I'd be safe to throw this on before running out the door to go to work. Here is verbatim how that went down: Open the blush and gently pass the fluffy brush across the surface ONE time. *tap tap swipe across cheek*

"Ohhhh, SH*T"

It was so pigmented I actually felt fear. I used three different brushes to buff the color out, and it was still a little Adam Ant after all that effort. So let this be a warning...lightly tap the brush onto the blush...don't swipe, drag, swirl...just..no. This is the most pigmented blush in the universe and it will laugh at your fail if you don't heed my warning.

Final Thoughts

From what I've seen and from what I've heard Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes are made of winning. They have a wonderful color range and the pigmentation to say the least is epic. I was wary of plunking down $26 for blush, but the size and quality makes it worth the investment.

Where to buy: Sephora
Price: $26.00

Whip Hand Cosmetics Camo Collection for Beauty Army

2013-03-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

Do you have a Beauty Army subscription? If so you may have seen the adorable Camo Collection mini shadows from Whip Hand Cosmetics. I was excited when I heard Whip Hand Cosmetics was joining forces with Beauty Army. I'm a big fan of Whip Hand Cosmetics Loose Pigments and now a large number of you have had a chance to try these for yourselves.

The Whip Hand Cosmetics Camo Collection is made up of 4 limited edition loose pigments with a military theme. Their signature pulp noir vials have been given an army makeover for the occasion.

The four pigments in this collection are Special Forces, Locked and Loaded, Green Beret and Medal of Honor. The colors in this collection compliment each other nicely and being an orange freak, seeing these I immediately got all manner of excited.

Special Forces

Special Forces is a satin light sandy terracotta

Locked and Loaded

Locked and Loaded is a shimmering rich medium golden taupe

Green Beret

Green Beret is a shimmering medium army green (think faded fatigues) with gold sparkle

Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor is a metallic copper orange with gold sparkle

Final Thoughts

The Whip Hand Cosmetics Camo Collection Loose Pigments are solid winners. This was my first time trying their more satin and metallic finishes. Special Forces, which is a satin finish that almost borders on matte is pigmented and opaque on first application. Medal of Honor is a stunner. The finish is molten metallic beauty and the sparkles in the shadow give it fire. They need to do more like this! Locked and Loaded is a wonderful neutral for those who love their taupes. It has the rich finish I've enjoyed in other Whip Hand Cosmetics loose pigments. I've had a hard time getting excited about greens lately, but I will say Green Beret is a shade of green that I don't see much of. It's not sage, it's not olive it reminds me exactly of my Dad's old faded Marine Corp fatigues. The gold sparkle keeps it from looking too flat or drab. Whip Hand Cosmetics Loose Pigments are worth checking out. The quality is superb and the selection is impressive.

Where to buy: Beauty Army
Price: $14.00 for 3 gram

All shadows swatched over Whip Hand Cosmetics Thermal Creme shadow

This review contains sample product sent to me for consideration. All opinions are my own. For more information visit my disclosure page

Review: Essence Dreaming Under a Cherry Tree Quattro

2013-03-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

If you are a fan of Essence then you no doubt know about their "Trend Editions". These are small limited edition collections that come out every few months. Thing is in the US, the timing of these is screwy and they can be tough to find. I stumbled upon the Essence Cherry Blossom Girl Trend Edition at my local Fred Meyer last week....Gorgeous!!

Essence Cherry Blossom Girl Trend Edition is the February Trend Edition launch. Some of my local retailers are in the process of pulling this collection and another just put it out. So your luck may vary. Overall the colors of Cherry Blossom Girl are ridiculously appealing to me. Peaches, taupes and vermillion. Ugh....Heaven!

I am fan of Essence Quattro palettes which have 4 coordinated shades in a variety of color families. So when I spied Dreaming Under a Cherry Tree I had to have it. I am very glad I picked this up. It is stellar, absolutely worth every penny.

The colors in this Quattro from left to right: light taupe with peachy cast, rich cocoa brown, light orangey peach and vibrant vermillion.

Final Thoughts

WOW! The quality of these shadows is superb. They were soft, not powdery, very pigmented and the shades are so complimentary and pleasing. I can't wait to make looks with this. I really encourage you to buy this if you see it. And don't be afraid of those oranges. Orange can feel intimidating, but in my opinion it is a universally flattering color. You only need to find the way you are comfortable using it....and of course...don't over orange you look.

Unfortunately these are stupid difficult to find with any consistency. I've only found a few retailers carry Essence Trend Editions and the ones that do seem to get them at weird times. One near me was replacing this with a Trend Edition that launched in Spring 2012? I've seen Cherry Blossom at Fred Meyers in the Pac NW area, so if you know anyone, make them buy it for you....stomp your little feet and throw a hissy if you must. It's that good.

Where to Buy: ULTA (not sure they carry Trend Editions) Fred Meyer, H-E-B,
Price: $3.49