MAC "Woodwinked" Eye Shadow Swatch + Review

MAC "Woodwinked" Eye Shadow

It's time for another MAC eye shadow review! Surprisingly, I've found that these are really fun to write. When I first started getting into makeup, reading beauty blogs and watching videos from the beauty community on YouTube, I kept hearing about this MAC eyeshadow called "Woodwinked". Elle Fowler (aka All That Glitters) loved it. Lollipop26 loved it. Everyone and their mother loved this stuff. 

MAC "Woodwinked" Eye Shadow

Every time I went to MAC, I would always stop and swatch "Woodwinked". It was a lovely color, sure, but could I justify spending so much on an eye shadow? This was back in high school when the only time I got to buy MAC products was when I got my makeup done for a special occasion like Homecoming or Prom. Back then $15 was a lot of money for an eye shadow. Heck, even now it's a lot of money. But, in the end, I finally picked up this shadow when I got my makeup done for Prom. I still remember how excited I was to use it.   

MAC "Woodwinked" Eye Shadow

 "Woodwinked" is an interesting color. It looks brown and a little olive-y in the pan but swatched on the skin it becomes this beautiful copper-brown color. It's a lovely color but I've heard from a lot of people with very light skin tones that the color can look a bit orangish on their skin. However, "Woodwinked" is stunning with a tan. It is my go-to summer shadow.

"Woodwinked" is a luxurious eye shadow. It is so soft and easy to blend. I always forget how soft high end eye shadows feel in comparison to drugstore brands. In all honesty, even though I love using drugstore eye shadows, there is a noticeable difference between the two. If you have the money to splurge, I highly recommend this shade. But, be sure that you try it on to make sure it suits you.

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MAC "Purple Haze" Eye Shadow Swatch + Review

For today's post we're going to take a walk down memory lane. We're going to go back, way back, to when I was a little ninth grader and I was getting ready for my first big dance. I was nervous and excited and absolutely clueless when it came to makeup. As an early birthday present, my mom took me to the MAC counter to get my makeup done. She allowed me to all of the eye products the girl had used to create my makeup look plus two other eye shadows. She was being very generous. "Purple Haze" was one of those extra shadows that I picked up because the girl at the counter told me that purple eye shadow would make my brown eyes pop.

MAC "Purple Haze" Eye Shadow

To be honest, if I could go back in time I would've helped my mom save some money and I wouldn't have purchased this shadow. It's a nice color but it isn't something that I use a lot. [sidenote: I know that it looks like I've put a major dent in this eye shadow but that's only because I dropped it and a huge chunk fell out.] I know that I should throw this product out. It is super, super old. But, even though I don't really use it anymore, a part of me wants to hold onto it. It was one of my first MAC eye shadows. [sidenote: I know I sound crazy right now and feel free to tell me so in the comments.]

"Purple Haze" isn't a popular MAC eye shadow--and, for good reason. It's a dull, flat dark purple matte color. It's nothing special and doesn't have a smooth, easy to blend formulation. It goes on sheer and sort of looks like a foggy, dark purple. It takes a bit of patience and skill to create a makeup look with this color that doesn't look like it belongs on an episode of a TLC makeover show. The most common way I would wear "Purple Haze" was as a pop of under my bottom lash line. 

In conclusion, "Purple Haze" is a nice color but, unless you know that you will be wearing purple eye shadow enough to use up 1.5 grams of product, I would recommend buying a cheaper version from the drugstore. It isn't worth the price tag considering how much most people would use it. 

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MAC "All That Glitters" Eye Shadow Swatch + Review

MAC "All That Glitters" Eye Shadow

 Last weekend I went home and spent sometime tidying up my room. Imagine my surprise and delight when I stumbled upon my MAC eyeshadow pallete tucked away in one of my drawers. Don't ask me how or why it was in that drawer, I have no idea, but I'm glad that I finally found it. I don't have a ton of shades--only about eight--and I'm always amazed, and slightly horrified, when I see other beauty gurus with four or five palletes filled to the brim with MAC eye shadows. I mean, that's hundreds of dollars on eye shadows. It blows my mind when I stop to think about it.
But enough about that, let's get on with the review!

MAC "All That Glitters" Eye Shadow

"All That Glitters" is famous on the internet, not only because it is a cult favorite amongst beauty gurus, but also because it is the namesake of one of the most popular YouTube beauty guru's channel, Elle Fowler. And I can see why Elle chose to name her channel after this shadow. On the MAC website,  this shade is described as a beige with gold pearl. It is a lovely all over the lid color for a natural, everyday look. It's also really great to blend with, if you're going for a shimmery smoldering look. It's probably tied for the MAC eye shadow that I get the most use out of--the other two are "Naked Lunch" and "Brule".

MAC "All That Glitters" Eyeshadow

After months of exclusively using drugstore eye shadows, I had forgotten how creamy and smooth MAC eye shadows feel on the skin. I don't have to struggle to get a nice, opaque swatch. I had almost forgotten what that feels like. However, despite the name, "All That Glitters" doesn't actually have any glitter. Way to be misleading MAC. Instead, it is classified as a veluxe pearl and has a nice, but subtle, shimmery finish. 

This shade is loved because it is extremely versatile and a great everyday color. It's one of the few MAC eye shadows that I know I would repurchase if I ran out--although I don't think that's going to be any time soon. It's a luxurious and beautiful shade. If you have the money to spend, I highly recommend giving it a look the next time make a purchase at MAC.

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Stila "Spectrum" Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner Swatch + Review

Today is a very special day. It's my first liquid eyeliner review and the first time I've ever reviewed a Stila product on the blog. For the longest time I stayed far, far away from liquid liner. I was never very good at applying liquid liner. It also came out uneven and splotchy. It was a mess. But recently I was playing around with the Stila Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in "Sepctrum" and the sparks were flying and you know how this tale goes. One thing led to another and pretty soon I was smitten.

The Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner comes in about eight shades but the one I own--"spectrum"--is a black with rainbow glitter. I hadn't heard anything about this product when I bought it but I was hoping that it would last longer than the few drugstore liquid liners I'd tried in the past. It retails for $22 at Sephora and Ulta. At first, I was disappointed with the product. I had a lot of unfair expectations (like I had hoped that my liquid liner application skills would increase exponentially if I paid a lot of money for a liner) and in my frustration this product got lost in my bathroom drawer.

After using it again this past month, I realized that while the Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Liner is, by no means a perfect product, I was being unnecessarily harsh. I have extremely oily lids and it takes a serious primer to make my eye makeup last all day. This stuff is good for five hours but any longer than that the product will begin to smudge and rub off. However, if you have dry eyelids, I don't think that that would be a problem. The applicator (while it didn't transform me into a liquid liner ninja over night) is a pleasure to work with. The handle is long but  is close enough to the applicator to give you maximum control. The end is a stiff (but slightly flexible) sponge that is easy to maneuver and create different eye liner looks. It is easily the best part of the product. I find brushes too difficult to control and pens don't give enough control. 

One of the things that is kind of annoying is that while the glitter is noticeable on the applicator and even when swatched on the back of the hand, it somehow doesn't translate very well when applied to the lids. Today, I used this product to do my makeup and my friend came to my dorm room as I was getting ready. She saw that my eye liner was supposed to have glitter in it but she commented that she couldn't see the glitter when applied. I hadn't really noticed before--but she was right. From five inches away, you can barely tell that there is a hint of glitter in the product. This is kind of annoying considering that this sparkle liner is more expensive than a basic black Stila liner.

POSTIVES
-Firm but felxible applicator
-Lasts well


NEGATIVES
-Price ($22)
-Once it dries, it can be rubbed off very easily
-Glitter is unnoticeable from a distance

In conclusion, I will probably not be repurchasing this product once I'm done with it. I really liked it but Maybelline's Stiletto Liquid Eye Liner is a very similar formulation with a very similar sponge applicator for a fraction of the price. Maybe in the future when I have a steady job and income, I might think of splurging on this product again but not any time soon.

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First Impressions: Benefit "Primping with the Stars" Beauty Kit

Benefit Primping with the Stars Beauty Kit

This summer I made a bit of splurge. I went ahead and bought the Benefit Primping with the Stars Beauty Kit when I hit the Honolulu Sephora. Beauty confession time: I don't actually own any Benefit products. Shocking, I know! But I'm hoping that this kit will serve as an entry way drug into the wonderful world of Benefit goodies. 

Benefit Primping with the Stars Beauty Kit

Benefit Primping with the Stars Beauty Kit

The kit comes with six products. A mini tube of the Benefit They're Real! Mascara. A mini bottle of Benetint. A Benefit Some Kind of Gorgeous Concealer in Medium. A mini tube of Girl Meets Pearl  Highlighter. A mini tube of Porefessional Beauty Balm. And a mini Stay Don't Stray Primer. 

Benefit Primping with the Stars Beauty Kit

You also get a handy dandy guide on how to use all of the products. I haven't posted any reviews for any of these goodies but keep your eyes open for a few to be published in the upcoming weeks. There are a few gems but there were also a few products that I wasn't impressed with. 

The kit retails exclusively at Sephora for $32. Unfortunately, the kit only comes with a concealer in a medium shade. However, if you're interested in picking up a similar kit Benefit has a whole slew of kits available at Sephora. Personally, I have my eye on The Bronze of Champions Set next. These kits are a fantastic idea! Benefit products are so expensive that I always find it difficult to commit and purchase something that I might not like. These kits give me the best of both worlds. 

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Revlon "Not Just Nudes" Illuminance Creme Eye Shadow Quad Swatches + Review

Revlon Illuminance Cream Eye Shadow Quad in "Not Just Nudes"

 Another day, another review. I feel like all of my recent reviews have been products that were featured in my What's In My Travel Makeup Bag? post. Anyone else feel that way? But unfortunately (spoiler alert) this review does not end well. I wanted to like this eye shadow quad. I really did. But I just couldn't. 

Revlon Illuminance Cream Eye Shadow Quad in "Not Just Nudes"

 The Revlon Illuminance Cream Eye Shadow Quads are not a new release from Revlon. They've been out for a while but for some reason I was never drawn to them. Then, during my trip to Hawaii, Long's Drugs was having a sale on Revlon products and I was suddenly tempted to picked up a few of these palettes. I got one for everyday--"Not Just Nudes"--and one for a nice pop of color--"Wild Orchids". 

Revlon Illuminance Cream Eye Shadow Quad in "Not Just Nudes"

 The quad comes with a dark shimmery brown, a matte warm medium brown (sort of reminds me of Soft Brown eye shadow from MAC), a shimmery light champagne, and a matte cream. So, it's a nice balance of matte and shimmer colors. Smart move Revlon. 

Revlon Illuminance Cream Eye Shadow Quad in "Not Just Nudes"

Here are the colors swatched on the back of my hand. I was super impressed by the creaminess and blendibility of these shadows. Some of the shades (specifically the dark and medium brown) were a bit sheer when I first applied them but I found them to be very buildable. Applying these shadows was a piece of cake. However, it was later on in the day that I started to have problems. These colors crease like crazy. I tried wearing these shadows with a few primers (Benefit Stay Don't Stray and Urban Decay Primer Potion) but that didn't really seem to stop the problem. 

I found that these shadows don't ever truly set. So they stay creamy throughout the day and they shift and get smudged and crease. I have super oily eyelids and no matter what I did, I just couldn't get these shadows to last until lunchtime, much less all day. 

POSITIVES

-Creamy consistency

-Good pigmentation + blendibility

-Nice balance of shimmer and matte shadows

NEGATIVES

-Crease A LOT 

-Doesn't ever really set (stays creamy throughout the day)

The Revlon Illuminance Cream Eye Shadows have a lot of things going for it--they're creamy, they have good pigmenation, they're extreme easy to blend. But they are not going to last all day. They crease and they fade and they smudge. It's just a nightmare--especially if you have oily eye lids. 

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Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Cream Eye Shadow Swatches, Photos, + Reviews

Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Cream Shadows: Bad to the Bronze, Tough As Taupe, and Barely Beige

I think it's time to mix things up a little, don't you? Your normally scheduled lip product and nail polish swatches will return next week but today let's talk about the Maybelline 24 Hour color Tattoo Cream Eye Shadows. Long name, I know, but these things are magic in a container. They are the best cream shadows at the drugstore. Period. And I'm not the only one who thinks these bad boys are the bees knees. I actually picked up my first color tattoo--Bad to the Bronze--after hearing MissGlamorazzi and Amarixe rave about it on their YouTube channels. And I was not disappointed. 

Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Cream Shadows

Now I know some of you might be asking, "What's all the hullabaloo? What makes these cream shadows so special?" Honestly, I think it's because these are MAC quality paint pots on sale at the drugstore for a fraction of the cost. The Maybelline 24 Hour Tattoo Cream Shadows have a smooth but thick formulation that makes it easy to apply to eye with a brush or with a finger. When worn under powder eye shadows, it makes them appear more vibrant. And this stuff is super long lasting. 

Just for reference  MAC paint pots retail for $18.50 while the Maybelline Color Tattoos retail for about 6.99 depending on where you buy them. That is a significant price difference! 

Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Cream Eye Shadows

 Since I've bought these, I never wear eye makeup without it underneath. It helps make my shadows appear more vibrant and last all day long. I absolutely love sweeping on "Bad to the Bronze" or "Barely Beige" on my lid (these shades look lovely on their own) before I head out the door. These things are no muss, no fuss products and would be perfect addition to a busy woman's makeup bag.

Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Cream Shadows: Bad to the Bronze, Tough As Taupe, and Barely Beige

Here are the colors swatched on the back of my hand. Are they gorgeous? "Tough As Taupe" has excellent formulation but I'm not a big fan of the color. I find that it requires a bit more work than the other two and I find that it's a bit dark for the types of makeup looks I gravitate towards. It's a fantastic color for a smokey eye. "Bad to the Bronze" and "Barely Beige" are the two colors that I reach for the most. As I mentioned before, I really like wearing them by themselves when I want a simple eye look. 

"bad to the Bronze" and "Tough As Taupe" are both part of the permanent range but unfortunately  "Barely Beige" was a limited edition color. You might be able to find it but I doubt it. That brings me to my biggest complaint about the Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Cream Shadows. There isn't a great selection of neutral colors. I wish Maybelline would introduce "Barely Beige" and a darker nude color into the permanent range. Only time will tell, I guess. But I am very impressed with the bold, bright colors they do have. It's only a matter of time before I get my hands on "Tenacious Teal" and "Pomegranate Punk". 

Positives

-Long lasting

-Prevent creasing

-Smooth formulation and application

-Sleek and expensive-feeling packaging

-Many bold, bright color options

-Price ($6.99)

Negatives

-Permanent range lacks many neutral options

In conclusion, I think these are a fantastic product. I've been using them for about a year now and haven't had any major problems with the product. Make sure to keep the lid screwed on tight because they will dry out if you're not careful. The Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Cream Shadows are extremely high quality products at an amazing price point. Don't waste your money on a paint pot if you can find a similar color in this range.

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Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious Mascara Swatch + Review

Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious Mascara

Was anyone else super excited about the newly released Lash Potion by Grow Luscious mascara? I know that as soon as I saw the Emma Stone advertisement, I was hooked. The packaging was stunningly modern AND it claimed that it would make my lashes grow longer. Who doesn't want longer lashes? You can imagine how excited I was when I received this in the mail as part of one of Revlon's Facebook promotions.

Before and After: Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious Mascara

Maybe my expectations were too high but I was largely unimpressed with this mascara. So many drugstores (Maybelline and Physician's Formula come to mind) have been majorly stepping up their game. I have tried so many drugstore mascaras and LOVED them. They gave full, long but natural looking lashes without breaking the bank. I was hoping this would do the same thing. 

The formulation does a great job of lengthening but it is very clumpy. I'm not a huge fan of the spider-lash effect but I convinced myself to try to give the product the benefit of the doubt. Imagine my horror when a few hours later I looked in the mirror and the product had flaked all over my face. I can handle spider-lashes but I draw the line at flaky eyes. 

Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious

I haven't been using this product long enough to tell whether or not my lashes have gotten longer but because it has a very flaky formulation, I don't think I will be wearing it very often in the future.  Here is a close-up of the much-hyped triple-groove wand that is supposed to give a clump-free application. I'm sad to say that I think this latest release from Revlon is more hype than substance. I would recommend passing on this product. It isn't worth the money (despite it's reasonable price tag). 

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Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review

BH Cosmetics 88 Color Matte Eyeshadow Palette Swatches, Photos, + Review

How long has it been since I bought my first BH Cosmetics pallette? I don't even know. I remember I bought it when I first discovered the beauty blogger and YouTube world. It was all so new and exciting. It's still exciting but the novelty has worn off a bit. And I still proud to consider myself an active beauty blogger. 

Back in those days everyone was talking about MAC, BH Cosmetics, and Sigma Makeup Brushes. I was organzing my makeup collection last night and stumbled across this neglected eyeshadow pallete and it brought back so many great memories. There are so many great products on the market that I know a lot of products fail to get the attention they deserve--and BH eyeshadow palletes are one of those products. 

BH has a wide range of 88 eyeshadow palletes available (matte, shimmer, neutral, and many more) but the one that I adored the most when I was beginning to get into makeup was the 88 Matte Pallete. There were so many colors to chose from and it gave me the freedom to explore. Now, when I first received this in the mail I was surprised that not all of the shadows had a matte finish. Odd beacuse this is, after all, a matte pallette. But I wasn't too disappointed (and I don't think too many of BH customers will be either because it's only a couple shadows). 

For the past couple weeks (especially while I was on spring break) I started using this pallete again and I fell in love with it all over again. The bright pinks, blues, and greens are the colors I love using the most. Probably because, while I have a hundred neutral eyeshadows, I don't have a ton of bright, bold shades. They're the perfect thing to add a little color to a neutral look or to go completely crazy. And even though I've had this pallete for years, I still haven't put a dent in half the shadows. 

Some of the shades take a little more work than others (for example, the black is a bit chalky) but most of them are ultra soft and pigmented. I mean look at those bright colors. How did I ever misplace this thing? It's amazing. And the price is even more amazing! I don't remember how much I paid for my pallete but right now, you can get it for $11.50! 88 amazing colors for only $11.50? I think it's such a steal--especially for girls who are new to makeup. 

However, as much as I love this pallete. I am well aware of its flaws. One) These BH palettes are very inexpensive and as a result, the packaging is not the best quality. I remember being a bit annoyed when mine broke a few months after I'd received it in the mail. Two) These eyshadows are very pigmented but they will fade if not used in conjunction with a good primer. Three) If not used over a  primer, they can stain the skin and be a bit difficult to remove. This isn't so much of a problem with the neutral shades but be wary with some of the darker or bolder colors. 

But despite it's flaws (most of which are minor or can be fixed with the use of a good base/primer), I still love this thing. It is a great product for both new comers and experts. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I've given one of these palettes as gifts a few times and I've heard nothing but rave reviews from the people I've given them to. This is such an amazing product--really, really amazing. 

100% Pure "Vanilla Sugar" Fruit Pigmented Eyeshadow Swatch + Review

A few months ago I wrote a review about the 100% Pure Pineapple Enzyme Facial Peel Mask and I really liked it. It was refreshing and relaxing to use. I was intrigued by their claim that they use "no synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins." And like the makeup junkie that I am, I wanted to try a few of their eyeshadows. I picked "Vanilla Sugar" because I thought it would be a great highlight color like MAC "Naked Lunch".

The packaging is sleek and simple. It is a little hard to open but overall I think the pacckaging is very refreshing.

The formulation of the eyeshadow was NOT impressive. It was flaky and hard to work with. Normally I do my swatches on the back of my hand but I found it hard to get an even, opqaue swatch with this eyeshadow. And I didn't have much luck on my eye lids either. I think that it is impressive that this company wants to create natural products that are good for humans and animals but it isn't a very good quality product.

Even in the swatch above you can see how flaky the product is. I was not impressed. These eyeshadows retail for about $15--you can purchase them here at the 100% Pure online website--but I wouldn't recommend that you do so. There are a lot of products that are easier to work with and are signicicantly cheaper. I was not impressed and I think that this product was a waste of money. Which is kind of disappointing because I thought that the face masks and the blushes are great. If you are intrigued by this company too, I would recommend that you try one of those products first.

Have you ever tried anything from 100% Pure? Tell me about your experience in the comments below! Chat with me on twitter! Check out my second blog!

MAC "Naked Lunch" Eyeshadow Swatch + Review

 Ladies and gentlemen, please let me introduce to you my favorite highlighter of all time. This baby might not have been my first MAC eyeshadow--that honor goes to MAC "Soft Brown"--but it is probably the one that I use the most. It is the perfect champagne-y, nude that I wear on my brow bone and on the inner corner of my eye. I was hoping that CoverGirl "Champagne" eyeshadow would be a much more affordable version of this but oddly enough "Naked Lunch" is the more champagne, golden color while "Champagne" can often look like a frosty white. Side note: please excuse the small water droplets in the picture above. It was starting to rain as I took this picture.

This swatch is a lot heavier than I would wear it on my eyes. It is easy to blend and it is the perfect neutral color. It does have a subtle shimmer to it but it is hardly noticeable on the eye--or even in the pan for that manner. I always have this color in my makeup bag. It is great for traveling and not only can it be used for highlighting but it also makes a great all over the lid color when you are looking for something that is natural and easy. I have nothing bad to say about this product. It is perfection.

What is your favorite MAC eyeshadow? Also, tomorrow is my sister's birthday so please leave a comment below wishing her the best 18th birthday possible!  Chat with me on twitter! Check out my thoughts on movies and books!