Review! SEPHORA COLLECTION - Moonshadow Baked Palette - In the Nude

The Moonshadow Baked Palettes from Sephora are awesome.  I love the high-sheen and rich colors.   Today I'll show you the "In the Nude" palette.

One thing I have seen many other people comment on is the fallout inside the case.  When you use the colors dry, the pigment and sparkle will scatter everywhere, and there isn't anything you can do about it.  There is a simple way to ensure that you don't have any fallout, if you intend to use the colors wet most of the time, though.

Wet a clean eyeshadow brush until it is completely full of water, and then touch the brush to the top of the eyeshadow dome.  It will immediately soak up all the water in the brush.  Re-wet the brush, and then swipe the brush on top of the eyeshadow dome, going all the way around the dome, so that you get the entire surface swiped down with water.  I haven't experienced any fallout in the case.

EDIT: All of that said, I don't recommend using them wet.  If you want the intense color, and keep it in place all day, you will need a special primer; Pixie Epoxy.  A very thin layer of Pixie Epoxy, over your regular primer, will hold all of the sparkle, and almost all of the color.  I'm going to go ahead and call this a necessity.  When using the Pixie Epoxy, these colors become extremely wearable for daytime looks, and the shimmer makes it transition to night-time without further application.  You can build up your layers, to the point where you nearly reach the "applied wet" intensity.  This post has been edited to reflect further use of these shadows, finding that they flake off when applied wet.

The packaging is hard plastic case, and on the entire inside of the lid is a mirror.  The case is difficult enough to open to assure you that it's not going to fly open in your makeup bag, but not so difficult that you'll have to wrestle with it.  The top has a golden lace pattern screenprinted on it.

You can use these shadows wet or dry.  If you use them dry, you won't get much color out of them, but you will get a very pretty, very sheer, glittery look.  You have to use primer when using them dry, otherwise none of it will stick to your lid.

If you use the colors wet, the pigments become very intense, and the finish is a very high sheen, and almost foiled looking. 

To use them wet, first get your eyeshadow brush really wet.  Place the bristles on the top of the eyeshadow and let it soak up the water.  Gently start patting at the eyeshadow, and see if it starts to move around and look more like a cream.  If not, re-load your brush with water, and try again.  Before too long you'll get a little puddle on the top of your eyeshadow dome, and it will have a creamy consistency, and that is what you apply to your eyelid.  Your little puddle will dry up pretty quickly, so you may have to apply more water to finis your application.  It sounds like a lot more work than it really is, and you'll get faster at it the more you do it.

This is what the shadow domes look like after you get them wet. 

With flash:

All of the swatches were applied wet, without primer.  I had so much fun swatching and photographing these colors.  They are truly beautiful in person, and became kind of mesmerizing as I was inspecting the swatches.  They shimmered differently in different lights and different angles.

One thing I really like about this palette is that the names are descriptive instead of cutesy.  When I'm thinking of what colors I want to wear, I'm actually thinking of colors, not brand names.  It helps me to know what the color will be once I have applied it, as colors can often look different when worn versus when in the pan.

Here is one look; a soft gold and purple that really makes green eyes pop.  All of the colors were applied wet.  Soft Gold above the crease, Deep Brown in the crease, Plum on the lid, Cream at inner corner.  To blend the colors together and make them a little less shiny for the office, once the shadow had completely dried, I swept over the entire application, from inner corner to outer, one time lightly with a clean kabuki brush.  It lifted just enough glitter off to make the look more office appropriate.  Finally, I did add some more Cream, dry this time, to the inner corners to put the glitter back on there.  Since you make your little eyeshadow puddle on the top of the eyeshadow dome, you can just take some dry shadow from the side of the dome. 

This application was done over primer.  Because I applied it wet, I should have skipped the primer.  I put the primer on because that is part of my automatic routine.  The color lasted for about 4 hours before it started to fade.  The very center of my lid faded almost completely off, while the rest of it just dimmed a bit.  The inner corner and my lower lid did not fade or dim, which makes me think the problem was either using primer underneath, or swiping it with the kabuki brush.

Overall, I love this palette.  I'd buy it again.

Lip Swatch! - Wet n Wild Megalast Matte Lipstick - Sand Storm 913C

I swatched out 13 more Wet n Wild Megalast Lipsticks here.   Today is 913C - Sand Storm!

This color is a red-orange.  When I think coral, I think a pinky-orange, rather than red-orange.  It is a pretty color, but I think you need to be very warm toned to pull it off.  I'm a neutral, and I think it's very close to not suiting me.  It looks more red in the photographs.  In the full lip application, you can see more of the orange.  This color is a lip-diminisher. Straight on, it looks fine, but just about any other angle made my lips look smaller.  I don't like that.  However, it is a pretty color, and I can see myself wearing this during the summer.  As the application wore off, I topped it with a sheer berry glittery lipgloss, and it looked really pretty.

First, bare lips.  I prepped them with a thin application of Lansinoh.  Can you see the difference between this and the last bare lip photos?:

Now, a thin layer, applied from the tube, in a single swipe.  I'm sure you can tell, but yes, I left half of my lips bare for comparison.  I smoothed out the application with a lip brush.

Now for what I would call full strength.  I applied directly from the tube.  Keep in mind that this is a matte formula, but it does go on creamy.  If you put some lip balm on your lips before applying it, the formula will remain a satin finish.  If you apply the lipstick without any balm, the finish will look matte, but will feel satin on your lips.  This color does intensify quite a bit with a second coat. 

Next is full lip.  I applied directly from the tube to the bare side, and I put on about 2 coats.  This lipstick is very opaque when applied directly from the tube.  I smoothed the outside edges with my lip brush.  This color is more orange-brown-brown in person.  It looks more red in the photo, but it really is a fall-brown color.  It reminds me of one of the Revlon Colorstay colors I used to wear when I was a teenager, but more vibrant.  I don't think I'll wear this color often, simply because I have been attracted to brighter, bolder colors lately.  But that is one of the GREAT things about these lipsticks; you can try so many of them for less than you would pay for one high-end lipstick, and I really feel that these are just as good, and maybe even better, than those high-end brands. 

Here is a full-face shot, to give you a better idea of how it works with skin tone.   This was taken in regular indoor lighting.

Review! L'oreal Infallible Lipstick in Refined Ruby - 337

After removing a lipstick color that didn't suit me, I rummaged through my box of lipstick to find something else to wear.  I came across L'oreal Infallible Lipstick in Refined Ruby.  This is a deep, ruby-red lipstick (yeah, duh), and it is one that I swatched when I bought it, thought it too bold, and tossed it in the lipstick pit box for braver days.

Since I had been trying out a pin-up look, I thought it would be a good day to put on a bold red lip!

I cannot believe this poor little guy has been hanging out in the lipstick pit for this long!  Behold!

BAM!  There's a bright red lip, with just the right about of blue to look right against my skintone!  This stuff wore for hours, and then looked beautiful when topped with balm.  To refresh, I just applied a new layer right on top of the balm, and it looked first-application-fresh!  I really love that it doesn't visually diminish my lips.  I am beginning to love bright, bold colors, but I hate it when they make my lips look smaller.

Here's my sexy pin-up pic:

Haha!  Can we say "trying too hard?"  I was trying to mimic that whole pin-up thing, in my defense.

Here is another, less giggle-worthy one:

Lip Swatch! - Wet n Wild Megalast Matte Lipstick - Coral-ine 909D

I swatched out 13 more Wet n Wild Megalast Lipsticks here.   Today is 909D - Coral-ine!

This color is a red-orange.  When I think coral, I think a pinky-orange, rather than red-orange.  It is a pretty color, but I think you need to be very warm toned to pull it off.  I'm a neutral, and I think it's very close to not suiting me.  It looks more red in the photographs.  In the full lip application, you can see more of the orange.  This color is a lip-diminisher. Straight on, it looks fine, but just about any other angle made my lips look smaller.  I don't like that.  However, it is a pretty color, and I can see myself wearing this during the summer.  As the application wore off, I topped it with a sheer berry glittery lipgloss, and it looked really pretty.

First, bare lips.  I prepped them with a thin application of lip balm.  I am using Lip Smackers at the moment.

Now, a thin layer, applied from the tube, in a single swipe.  I'm sure you can tell, but yes, I left half of my lips bare for comparison.  I smoothed out the application with a lip brush.

Now for what I would call full strength.  I applied directly from the tube.  Keep in mind that this is a matte formula, but it does go on creamy.  If you put some lip balm on your lips before applying it, the formula will remain a satin finish.  If you apply the lipstick without any balm, the finish will look matte, but will feel satin on your lips.

Next is full lip.  I applied directly from the tube to the bare side, and I put on about 2 coats.  This lipstick is very opaque when applied directly from the tube.  I smoothed the outside edges with my lip brush.  My lips have been very dry since I misplaced my Lansinoh, so my lips look a bit weird.

Here is a full-face shot, to give you a better idea of how it works with skin tone.   The first one is in front of a widow, and the other is in regular indoor lighting.

Tutorial! - How I do my Hair

Today I'm going to talk about how I "do" my hair.

I wash with either a regular sulfate shampoo (Suave Rosemary Mint right now), or the Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Shampoo, OR the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo.  I only really scrub at my scalp, and just rinse the soap through the length.  Then I apply a handful of VO5 conditioner to the length.  I use the pomegranate one, because the Moisture Milk versions have too much protein in them for my hair type, and the other one available at Wal-Mart is the green daily clarifying one.  I loop my hair up into a clip while I continue my shower, periodically taking it down, applying more conditioner, and putting it back up.  I repeat this until my hair isn't absorbing any more of the conditioner (usually 3 times).  Then rinse.  It is VERY important, on hair-washing-night, to make sure you really scrub your scalp clean.  You won't be washing it again for at least two days, so this is your chance to get it really clean!

After my shower, I let it air-dry for as long as possible.  Then I apply a dollop of Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Style Milk to the ends, going about halfway up the length.  Then I blow-dry on low (not cool) heat until it is almost completely dry.  I apply another dollop of the Style Milk, and keep distributing it so it's not concentrated in any one area.  Then I brush it all out, with my head flipped over (I do almost all the drying with my head flipped over, because it's easier to reach my ends that way).

I separate my hair into two sections; the hair from the top of my ears and forward, and the hair from the top of my ears and back.  I create two ponytails, right on the top of my head, or as close as I can get it.  I secure them with scrunchies.  You can use hair ties, but I find that scrunchies work the best and don't leave dents in my hair.  Now, using big, pink foam rollers, I roll up small sections of the ponytails.  I use 3-5 rollers for the front, and 5-8 rollers for the back.  I try to roll them up so that the rollers in the front of each ponytail roll towards my forehead, the rollers on the side roll towards my ears, and the rollers in the back of the ponytails roll towards my neck.  After trying several different placement directions, I feel this one gives the best variety in curl pattern, while still maintaining a "put together" hairstyle.

Don't worry about frizzies or little baby hairs that don't make it into the curlers.  They'll get lost in the curls when you take your hair down.  DO worry about combing each section before rolling it, to make sure you will get a smooth curl.  Making sure the ends of each section are rolled around the curlers properly will avoid kinks in the ends of your hair.  Avoiding kinks in the ends of your hair means you don't have to wash it again the next night in order to remove those kinks.

From the start of blow-drying to being done with the curlers is about 25 minutes.
 
Wanna see some pictures?

You'll notice that I just clipped my bangs (fringe) to the side.  To make my hairstyles last multiple days, I have to wash my bangs each morning, and then blowdry them.  It only takes a few minutes to do that, and it gets any oils and makeup out of my bangs.  Therefore, when my bangs are long, I just clip them out of the way and don't worry about them until morning.  Now, I'm washed, dried, moisturized, and curled.  Time for bed!

Good morning, sunshine!  Let's get those bangs wet and blowdried, and then take those rollers out, gently run my fingers through it, and see what we got:

TA-DA!

Now, after the new day has turned into night, it's time to put the hair back up.  I apply more Curl and Style Milk to the ends; about a quarter-sized dollop.  It will take a few times to figure out how much you need.  It does take a little more than you think it will, because all of these curlers are soaking up some of the product.  After applying that, I brush my hair out, and put it into a single pony tail on top of my head, secured with a scrunchie.  Some times are more successful than others at getting it on top, but as long as it is near the top, you should be fine.  Now it's time to do a fully-rolled sock bun.  Here is a quick tutorial.  Because the hair was curled last night, it is going to be really easy to curl it around the sock.  I put the sock at the end of the ponytail, divide the pony tail in two, wrap one section towards the front, and one section towards the back (so that you are dispersing the hair more evenly around the sock doughnut), and then roll the sock bun doughnut towards my head.

Pictures?  Sure!

HaHa, that front one is a goofy face!  You'll notice the lovely blue clip again!  You'll also notice that this isn't perfect.  It will take some practice until you figure out how messy you can be and still end up with pretty hair the next morning.  This is as messy as I'll allow it to get before I start over.  The good part is that once you figure out how to roll your hair into the sock bun, it only take a few moments.

How do we fare the next morning?

Dun-Duh-Duh-Duuuuunnnn!!!  Viola!  All I did was unroll the bun, remove the scrunchie, shake my head and run my fingers through it a bit, and wash my bangs.  It took 3 minutes.  I timed it.

How about a third day?  Well, that is pushing it for me, but it can be done.  Do the fully rolled sock bun on night number 3.  You might want to wash your bangs tonight too, if you didn't do that this morning.  I washed mine that morning, but I washed them again here, too.  They touch my face, and I wear makeup and I use oil to cleanse my face, so I like to keep that hair really clean.

Third day morning?

 I'd call that good, aside from the lop-sided bangs!  Those can be clipped back, braided, or re-washed.

So there you have it, how to get two to three days out of one hair washing!  What do you think?  And hey, if you try it, I'd love to know how it works for you!

Review! Smash Cosmetics - The Neutrals!

I came across Smash Cosmetics on Etsy recently.  I first tried out an assortment of mostly bright colors (see the review here).  I also mentioned that if she put together a neutral collection, I would be first in line to sample it.  I sent her a message through Etsy relaying the same idea, and she kindly consented to my request!  You can try out 39 colors for only $28, and the sample sizes are generous!  I have so much eyeshadow now that I hardly know what to do with myself!

Here are the colors you will receive:

I love this collection!  I think they apply best either over primer, or foiled (used wet).  Over primer, they still look more matte, and you will lose a lot of the glitter.  There is a bit of sheen to most of them, but really, I think you end up with more of the color you see on the screen.

Putting them on wet is a completely different ball game.  You have to build the color with some of the shades, but the glitter stays in place.

I used Diamond on my browbone, Pulchritudinous on my lid, and Erratic in the outer V, all wet, last week.  I used a sheer layer, and then smoked it out with Jester, dry.  The glitter nearly all dropped out of Jester, but the color was wonderfully soft and subtle (which I was going for).  It's really easy to build the color, and it wore well for most of the day.  There was noticeable fading by evening, but I thought that it held up well for a day of travel and airports, especially because I didn't use primer.  Here, I've re-created the look, but this time over primer.

You get a lot of blacks with this collection, which is rare for a neutral set.  It seems like some of the blacks have a slightly different shade to them, and certainly they all have different glitter mixes.  I really like how there are different ratios of glitter, and they aren't all super-duper-sparkley.  I've been having a bit of difficulty with the black glitters.  I have some Pixie Epoxy on its way, and it is made specifically to hold glitter eyeshadows in place.  I am still experimenting with some of the color-shifters, like Komodo.  Speaking of Komodo, it looks much darker in the online photo than my sample looks in real life.  In real life it looks like a dusty, dark grey.  Once applied, it does deepen to a darker black, but still isn't that "void of space" black that it looks like online.

The browns are very pretty.  I think there is a nice range of tones which is nice to see.  I've bought many eyeshadow palettes lately, and palettes are designed to work with itself.  That's cool, but it is also encourages a user to limit themselves to just using the ideas that palette gives them.  Many of the colors in this collection do "go together", but some just... don't.  And I think that's great!  It makes me think of other eyeshadows I have that would work great with that color.

The gold colors, Guilded, Dijon, Vegas, and Fools Gold, are up next.  Fools Gold is my favorite.  It really has the color of pyrite.  It looks beautiful foiled, and acts like a brightener and highlighter when used dry at the outer V.  Dijon is one of those colors that I just haven't figured out how to use.  It's very dusty looking, and when used wet it pulls brown hard-core.  This is a color that is going to end up paired with another palette.  I think it needs to go with a vivid plum, and a brown smoked eyeliner.

Here is a look using Umber, Vegas, and Vanilla:

The whites don't look good in their sample photos.  In person, they are brighter, and creamier.  I think the photos look dingy and chalky.  They apply very nicely, without any chalkiness.  I've used them wet and dry, and both ways work well.  Dry will give a very subtle highlight, but either directly over primer or wet, the color will be vivid and much more opaque.

Finally, the unexpected, the purple/grays.  Grape, Erratic, XXX and Pulchritudinous are all lovely purple and purple-pink shades, although they are described as grey on the Smash Cosmetic's website, they look purple on my skin..  These are purples that you are likely to actually see in a person's skintone.   Tea Time looks purple-ish in the photo, but in real life it is a dusty taupe, and it leans grey if you apply it dry.  I like this one wet.  All of these shades closely match my eyelid's natural color.

I've been wearing these by randomly pulling colors out of the bag and then playing with the application.  I recommend swatching them all yourself, and seeing what application method creates the color, shading, and tone that you prefer.  Most eyeshadows merely intensify when wet, but these can actually change color, like Dijon does.  Here is one of Smash Cosmetic's swatches, showing Dijon dry and wet:

See?
Here is another look, I used Nude, Taupe, and Blackest Black.  I was trying out a pin-up look.  I used Nude all over the lid, up to the browbone, at the inside corner, and over my entire lower lid.  I used Taupe in the outer crease, and a bit into the outer V, just to give a bit of contour.  Finally, I lined my upper lashline with Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliner in Zero, and topped it with Blackest Black.  I smudged out the black just a bit, and kept the lower lashline clean.

There are three very different looks, using only 10 of the 39 shades!