Haul Time: Makeup Geek Foiled Eyeshadows & Blush!

Just the Beginning!

I finally placed an order on the Makeup Geek website and I'm super content with the products I got! After the release of the Foiled Shadows I knew I needed to give them a try. I only ordered two but they've wowed me so much that I have a few more on my wish list! ;-) Shipping is very affordable and takes about 4-5 days, not bad at all.

The Foiled Eyeshadows are $9.99 each. I'm not one to pay that much for just one eyeshadow but these looked so promising... and they are awesome! They are buttery, pigmented and they have the most stunning metallic finish! They work best with a wet brush or with your finger.

The blushes also retail for $9.99. I only picked up one shade just to give it a try and see if I like the formula. It's really great and so smooth! This blush is so easy to blend and it's so cool that they are talc and paraben free. This one was the slightest bit powdery but nothing too bad.

Here's a close up of the pans. The top right shadow is "In the Spotlight" which is a beautiful light peachy color, amazing as a lid shade or just as an inner corner highlight. The one next to it is my favorite, "Flame Thrower" which is a really warm burnt copper shade... gorgeous! It's so smooth and the color payoff is out of this world. Spellbound is the blush I chose, it seemed the most wearable and it's super pretty! It's a unique pink color, very pretty salmon tones to it which I adore.

Everything is swatched with just one swipe so you can tell that the color payoff is amazing. The foiled shadows are such a unique formula. They do get crumbly since it's such a soft shadow but nothing to make me stray away. If you've been eyeing any of these I definitely recommend them! :-)

Review: NYX Matte Lipsticks!

Most Long-wearing!

A few months back when I was in my "bridezilla" stage I went on a mission to find the perfect lipstick shade for my Wedding Day. So... somehow I ended up with six of the NYX Matte Lipsticks in my possession haha. I wanted a pretty neutral pink shade for my big day and NYX had such a great shade range, plus they were only $6 each! (plus an additional % off!) Granted, I didn't end up wearing any of these that day but these turned into one of my favorite matte lipstick formula for days that I want something to stay put.

The color payoff of these lipsticks is insane! Just one swipe and you get amazing pigmentation. What I love about the formula is that it goes on smooth but it's on the drier side (in a good way!) which makes them stay on forever! It doesn't dry out your lips at all. I wore one of the colors on my birthday and after eating, drinking, laughing etc it was still there! It didn't seem to breakdown easily like other matte lipsticks I own.

Here are the colors I chose! If you compare these to other lipsticks in the market these a truer matte finish. Any sheen in the lip swatches is most likely the lip balm I wore because lip swatches are hell for your lips haha.

*Alabama- a brick red, really beautiful on! It makes your teeth look ultra white because it's blue toned. I also go it because Judy from It'sJudyTime wears it a lot on her vlogs haha. 

*Natural- a mauve pink, great every day shade.

*Perfect Red- a brighter red shade, great one for the Holidays and special occasions. Really love this one!

*Tea Rose- a brighter mauve pink, super pretty! Perfect shade for the days that you have a deeper eye look.

*Whipped Caviar- a muted neutral pink. I thought I was going to wear this one on my Wedding Day for sure but found another one I loved more. Pretty shade nontheless haha.

*Aria- a bright violet shade... my favorite! In certain lights it looks slightly blue which I think is so unique! This is the shade I wore on my birthday and it lasted all day. Show stopper :-)

Bottom line- The formula is amazing! You can find these at Ulta on sale more often than not which is great for my bargain shoppers. The range of colors is very extensive so you'll definitely find a color you'll love. These aren't the creamiest matte lipsticks if compared to the Maybelline Creamy Mattes but that's OK. Unlike those, these don't budge nor transfer so its a lipstick that you can put on and not worry about for the rest of your day! :-)

Must Haves: Jordana Cosmetics Powder Blushes! (Marsala Edition!)

Rock the Color Of the Year!

If you're loving the color of the year but you don't know how to incorporate it into your makeup routine this is the post for you! Marsala is such a gorgeous color and my first thought was "this will make such a pretty blush!" It may seem scary and a bit out there but when worn lightly it's beautiful! Normally for trends that come and go I prefer to search for some budget friendly options (just in case it doesn't suite me! haha) Jordana Cosmetics makes one my favorite blush lines and luckily I found two colors within the Marsala family that you guys need.

The Marsala color family is a mixture of reds, browns and plums so you have the choice to pick a shade that will for sure suite you! :-) The Jordana Cosmetic blushes are only $2.50 so you can't go wrong with them. Plus, they blend so effortlessly, I truly adore them! Here are the swatches:

*Terracotta Treasure- just like the name states it's a stunning terracotta shade, more red tones with a matte finish. Super smooth by the way!

*Warm Cider- this is a shimmery more burgundy shade. It leaves a really pretty sheen on the cheeks!

If you've been wanting to try out the color of the year make sure to give these a try! They are the definition of affordable and very accessible. You can typically find these at Walgreens and Kmart. :-)

Haul Time: Silver Glitter Z Palettes from Beautylish.com!

Amazing Customer Service!

I was on the hunt for some Z Palettes after placing an order on the MakeupGeek website. My MakeupGeek haul needed a home and Beautylish.com was having a great "New Customer" promotion so everything worked out perfectly (and affordable, just how I like it! haha) I ordered two Z Palettes and some additional magnets which was waiting for me on my doorstep within 2 days, yes 2 days! I was amazed by how fast the order was processed, their customer service is top notch... so impressed! :-)

Everything came packaged so well and secure! Extra cushion and even a wonderful handwritten note. I love it when when companies add their own little touch to make us consumers feel special. Definetely makes me want to shop on their site again!

Shipping is free on orders over $35 which is amazing. On their site they have so many cool things like makeup, Z Palettes, brushes and much more. When I signed up they had an awesome promotion, $10 off your order of $50. I've never owned a Z palette, didn't really think I needed one to be honest. But now that I'm adding single pans to my collection I needed somewhere to store them and these palettes are perfect! I purchased the Large Silver Glitter Palette ($25) and the Small Silver Glitter Palette ($16). I fell in love instantly with the design so if you've been eyeing them I'd say go for it!

The palettes are really sturdy, perfect for travel. The glitter doesn't rub off at all! I love how these look but if you're wanting something different they have tons of colors and patterns to choose from.

Overall I'm so impressed by the palettes but specially Beautylish.com! Everything was so simple, from the signing up process to placing the order and having it at my house within 2 days. Highly recommend you guys checking out the site, there's tons of great things on there! :-)

Review: Urban Decay Naked Palette!

Throw Back!

Today I'm taking it way back to the creator of my makeup obsession! haha. The Urban Decay Naked Palette was all the rage when I found the beauty community on YouTube. I didn't purchase it a few years back because it wasn't within my budget but now that the tables have turned and I can afford to treat myself every now and then I decided to go for it! It currently retails for $54 but I ordered it when Sephora sent me a $20 off coupon (gotta take advantage of the discounts!). I owned the Naked 2 Palette first but never used it enough to keep it so I sold it. This one suites me way more and I'm so happy to have this palette in my collection! :-)

The packaging is really cute, a velvet exterior. I don't find it to be sturdy enough to travel with it though.

Here's an overview of the palette! There's a total of 12 shades, a mixture of mattes, metallics and shimmers. It's the original neutral palette, leaning more on the warmer side. All the shades are so smooth and buttery, the best quality!

You can truly get a wide range of looks from this palette, anywhere from natural looks to a smokey eye. The shades are all just so stunning!

A little added bonus to this palette is the brush it comes with. I find that in a pinch it gets the job done.

Here are the swatches! The two matte shades are the best transition and crease colors. I think I might run out of those first because I like to use them with other palettes too.

The metallic shades are so pigmented btw! These shadows last all day over primer without creasing.

Bottom line: I can now see why this palette was the one to obsess over back in the day (and now!). I'm such a sucker for a great neutral palette even though I own way too many haha but somehow I find a difference between them. This one has gorgeous bronze and copper shades which I love to use. I know that Urban Decay has increased the price of this palette throughout the years, kinda sucks for the consumer but I suggest you wait for a 20% sale or gift card to get it because the price is pretty steep. The Coastal Scents Revealed Palette is a great alternative too and much more affordable! But there's nothing like owning an original :-)

Review: Sephora Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Colors! (+ Swatches!)

Matte... But in Liquid Form!

Ladies and Gents (and more ladies haha) I present to you the Sephora Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Colors! :-) The Sephora Collection gets super overlooked but these managed to find the spotlight! I've had these for a few months now and have been enjoying them to the fullest. They are $16 at Sephora which is actually pretty affordable for being sold there. There's a nice range of colors, plenty that are perfect for the upcoming season. I decided on these two, Mulberry and Fig and here are my thoughts!

First off the applicator is pretty interesting, it's a flat on both sides to help with a smoother application. BUT... it applies SO much product! You need to make sure you wipe some off before wearing it. The claims on this product is that it has a matte finish with a subtle sheen. It claims to also nourish your lips instead of drying them out. I noticed that the finish is described accurately. For the most part it's matte but you can see a little shine. They never set though which helps with the hydration but also makes this product transfer on everything! I found that it lasted about 3-4 hours which is pretty good. It felt nice but also a little bit heavy so I highly recommend to blot and try to apply thin coats.

The pigmentation is amazing though! The tiniest bit is all you need to get a full application but the applicator makes it so difficult to do that. Being that it's flat on both sides it's kinda hard to get some precision and it just gets messy really quick. You do need patience with this product to make sure it looks good haha. Here are the lip swatches:

*Fig Luster- a neutral pink, really pretty everyday shade! In the tube it has shimmer but you can't see it when you wear it. 

*Mulberry Luster- a BRIGHT reddish pink... gorgeous!!

Bottom line- I feel that even with the minor flaws it's still a pretty good product! I wish the formula would set so I wouldn't have to worry about the color transferring on everything. But it's pretty obvious that the pigmentation is awesome so if it wears away you just dab a little back on and you're good to go. It does require maintenance so that's something to consider. I guess it's preference thing. :-)

Swatches: ColourPop Super Shock Shadows! (New Shades!)

Limited Edition Shades Now Permanent!

ColourPop is constantly releasing new shadows and just like Pokemon I wan't to catch'em all! haha. During the holidays they came out with a few limited edition sets which I passed on since I only wanted maybe one or two colors from each set. But now some of those limited edition shades are being sold separately and *drum roll please*... they are permanent! I have four new shades that I added to my collection, a mixture of old and new. I wanted to share the swatches with you today because these colors are stunning!

 Here's an overview of the shades. As soon as I saw the bottom two I knew I needed them in my life!

 Here are the names for reference :-)

The first two shades were a bit on the sheer side but still pretty. I'm so in love with the last two, LaLa and Drift! They look amazing together too or just alone all over the lid! I used Drift all over the lid for a burgundy smokey eye and I received so many compliments. The best part? They don't crease! I'm such a fan of ColourPop and for only $5 each you can't go wrong! I hope these swatches were helpful. :-)

Here's a look I created using La La as my lid shade! Lasted the entire day, from work all the way to dancing the night away ;-)

Review: Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipsticks!

More Matte Lippies!

You would think with all the matte lipsticks I've being reviewing lately I would be over this trend... but I'm not! haha. Matte lipsticks are a hit with me, specially the formulas that are done right. Milani released their version which they called the Color Statement Moisture Mattes. There's a total of  eight shades in the line and I have three to review for you! They retail for $6 each and come in the signature (and gorgeous!) gold packaging. These are the fanciest looking lipsticks at the drugstore haha.

Milani claims that the formula not only feels great on but it's also long wearing. It definetely leaves your lips feeling hydrated all the day which I love! The texture reminds me a lot of the Maybelline Creamy Mattes but these are just a tad more matte. They are really comfortable on! I wouldn't say they're long wearing by any means. I find myself having to blot to avoid transfer. They leave a beautiful stain behind which lasts a few good hours but you do need to reapply.

The gold... I can't! haha. I'm obsessed with the packaging. I also love the scent of these. Goodbye to the watermelon scent and hello to a yummy vanilla one!

Here are some swatches! The pigmentation on these is lovely. One swipe and you have full color. Plus the color is buildable so you can have it as bright or sheer as you want! The go on like buttah.

*Matte Naked- a neutral brown pink, a stunning nude that pairs with everything! I've worn it as is and with a gloss, looks so pretty on!

*Matte Diva- a bright hot pink, so bright you guys haha. I wore it to work and received so many compliments. It's a little scary at first but it's such a great color!

*Matte Passion- a red-orange, another beautiful shade! Since it's matte I find it to be more wearable and oddly enough it's very flattering!

Bottom line: The formula is amazing! I would recommend them if you're looking for a matte lipstick that won't dry out your lips. They are very affordable so you'll end up with more than just one haha. Plus who can say no to that gold packaging? ;-)

Must Haves: NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette!

Great For Beginners & Experts!

There's been lots of buzz about this NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, good and bad! I'm someone that prefers to try something so I can form my own opinion and I'm I happy I did! I've had this palette for a few weeks now and I'm truly impressed with it! I'll be honest though, I was a little bitter after I got it because when I ordered it the price was $30 and now NYX lowered it to $25. Granted, I got a great discount by using a coupon code ("never pay full price" is my motto haha) but that's still money I could have saved. With that being said, after using it I completely forgot about the $5 and fell in love.

There's a total of eight shades in this palette, the top row are for highlighting and the bottom row for your contour. I'm very happy with the color selection! I'm no expert in the highlight and contouring field but this palette made everything so simple! I haven't tried any of the other contour palettes in the market because they are a bit pricey. This is a great starting point for someone like myself who wants to learn and test the waters haha ;-) The packaging is a sturdy plastic, nothing fancy but for the price it's nice.

Here's a closeup of all the shades. The powders are so smooth and silky! The pigmentation is crazy on these so make sure to use a lighter hand. They blend easily too so you don't have to worry about your contour looking muddy at all. The colors seem suitable or light to medium and olive skintones. But, what's great is that the palette is customizable! Refill pans will be sold later on so you can make your own perfect palette.

It's really simple to pop the pans out of the palette, love the idea!

Here are the swatches! This is the first row, the highlighting shades. I wish the shades had names but it's OK. The first shade to the left is a beautiful highlight shade! I was so scared to use it at first since it's a pearly white but it looks amazing on.The third shade is a yellow toned powder which I've been using to set my concealer and it's awesome! It makes my under eye are look so bright, I'm a fan! The last shade is a peachier highlight, gorgeous! Can't wait to use it more during the summer.

Here are the contour shades! I've only used the first and third shade in this row. I originally thought the third shade was best for contouring because of the taupe tones but it didn't show up too much. The first shade was perfect for me.

Bottom line: This palette is a great value! I know there's other well known palettes competing with this one but this is worth a try. The range of colors in this palette is amazing and I've been enjoying the trial and error process of figuring out my ideal highlight and contour combos. NYX did a great job and I recommend it for sure! :-)

Review: Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in L.U.V!

Dare To Wear Purple!

I know I know... the color of the year is no longer Radiant Orchid but I still wanted to embrace it ;-) Today I'm reviewing the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in L.U.V! You can find this at Sephora for $20 and there's many shades to choose from. I wanted Lolita but sadly it was sold out, but this color seemed so bold so I gave it a shot and I'm in love! It's such a great formula and doesn't budge one bit.

First off, the packaging is pretty cool! Kat Von D is a genius when it comes to design. As far as the formula goes it's very impressive! I think it's worth the price for tons of reasons...one being that it's crazy long lasting! I wore this to work recently and at the end of the day the color looked untouched. This was after eating, drinking water, etc. I was so impressed! 

The color is so vibrant and full coverage! The tiniest bit will give you full color so this lippie will last you forever haha. I thought it was going to be similar to the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams but they're really different. I adore both formulas but this one is just so thin which makes it ultra comfy on the lips! There's no flaking or product gathering in the corners of your mouth. Once it sets it doesn't move at all. It's also a matte finish which I've been lusting over recently. The best part? It doesn't leave your lips feeling dry! Here's what it looks like on:

Ughhh I can't get enough of this color! Looks so smooth and opaque, such an awesome formula!

Bottom line: I definitely want to pick up some more colors from this line! I'm truly a fan of the formula and for someone that wants a product that you don't have to maintain this is the one for you. Not to mention the color... gorgeous! It's a very versatile color, you can pull it off year round. It's pure pigment on your lips, highly recommend! ;-)

Review: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara!

New From Maybelline!

After using the L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara I thought I wouldn't find one I would enjoy equally as much (or more! haha) I've been trying out the NEW Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara for a few weeks now and I love it! It's about $6-$7 at your local drugstore which is an amazing price for how awesome this mascara is!

 The packaging is so cute too! I love the pearly pink color.

The wand is perfection! It's a rubber bristle wand with a curvy shape which truly helps keep your lashes curled. The curvier side of the wand has longer bristles for adding length and the opposite side has shorter bristles which helps with adding volume. The formula is pretty wet compared to the Butterfly Mascara which I prefer because it coats your lashes easily and makes them look extremely black! Two coats is where I would draw the line before you get clump central haha. Once your done applying the mascara your lashes look so full, borderline false which I'm loving!

Here's what it looks like with two coats. I love that the wand makes coating your lashes from root to tip quick & simple!

Bottom line: If you're a fan of the L'Oreal Butterfly Mascara than definetely give this one a try! I love that it keeps my lashes curled the entire day and my lashes just look fuller and thicker... A+! Something to consider is that makeup remover wipes won't take this formula off, you need a good eye makeup remover but that speaks to the longevity of the mascara. Have you tried it? If so leave me your thoughts down below! :-)