ColourPop Tassel Super Shock Shadow + Birthday Girl

I have this whole 4th of July look that I have planned with Super Shock Shadows, it's going to be so over the top.  So, I knew I needed to get a white shadow.  After reading about Tassel, it seemed like the color to fit my needs.

Tassel

ColourPop's Tassel is $5.00 for 2.1 grams of their white shadow in the metallic formula.  Now, for white shadows to show up on me, it's pretty much a surprise.  So, I understood that this most likely wouldn't be all that I hoped for the red, white, and blue eye look I'm planning.  That's why they invented Nyx Cottage Cheese (omg I dislike that name) or any number of white primers.

It has the same consistency where it's very creamy but almost a powder.  Because it's a metallic, it is easily applied with the fingers.

One swipe

As you can tell, it is very glittery.  It has okay pigmentation, but can be layered to be more of an opaque white.  Someone who has some color in their skin might find that this will show up better on their skin.  This color probably won't be in most people's day time looks.  It is very glittery.  It will look good on the inner corners, but still might be too much.  If you're planning a dramatic look, or if you're just a person who likes a little more dramatic glittery looks, this one will work for that.

Overall, I think this is okay, it has a small amount of fall out.  It does show up even on my skin, so that's pretty nifty.  They do have colors that are more impressive than this one, so you might want to look at other things if you have limited money to spend and are looking at picking up a few colors.

Birthday Girl

As a bonus gift this time ColourPop was giving out a free eye-shadow to celebrate their first birthday.   I thought that was very sweet of them.  I like getting free gifts :)

Cute packaging

 It is also a metallic formula.  It's also 2.1 g and came in pink packaging.

One swipe

On me it is a pretty gold color with good pigmentation.  I was very happy to get this as a gift and I really like that they did this as a gift with purchase.

* I did receive Birthday Girl free, but so did everyone who made a purchase at that time.  I purchased  Tassel with my own money.

Shaaanxo x ColourPop Super Shock Quad

I've wanted to get this quad for quite some time.  I have watched Shaaanxo for quite a while now and several months ago she collaborated with ColourPop to create a palette.  After I've discovered that I do like ColourPop shadows, I decided I wanted to try this out as well.

So shiny!

The Shaaanxo x ColourPop Super Shock Quad is $20.00.  It has four containers, packaged in their usual little round pots that have to be closed tightly to keep the consistency preserved.

The box hides the magic

There are two shades in matte and two in pearlized.  They are all 2.1 grams and have the same wonderful creamy powder consistency.

Selfie

The first shade is Selfie.  It's a warm toned peachy brown.  It's a matte shade that really works as a transition color.  It's kind of like the thought behind Too Faced color, Peanut Butter.  It's good to warm up a cool look.  If you are warm toned this would also look good all over the lid as a simple look.  It has decent pigmentation and blends out well.

Rebel

The next matte shadow is the color Rebel.  It's a pretty shade of khaki green.  It is better suited to warm skin tones, but if you have hazel or brown eyes I think this would look very good on you.  The pigmentation on this one is decent, not as good as some of the others.

Deluxe

Deluxe is the third color in the quad.  It's a gorgeous dark bronze in a pearlized finish.  Maybe the pearlized are a little less glittery than the metallics?  This one has good pigmentation and blends out well.  This is more suited to warm tones as well, but would look really pretty with just about any color.

XO

The last color is my favorite, it's called XO and is pearlized.  It's a pretty champagne color.  It has good pigmentation, blends out well, and like all the others, lasts all day.  This color really is the star of the show.  It is great as an inner corner highlight, brow bone highlight, all over the lid, in the center of your bottom lip, or for the more daring, on the cheek bones.  It's very intense, but unlike a powder, it doesn't cling to lines or anything.



Overall, I like this palette, even though it isn't really for cool skin tones.  If you have cool skin tones you might like this best if you're a fan of Shannon.  Or if you've fallen for XO.  If you have hazel eyes, you'll love Rebel (although because it's a matte formula and the pigmentation is so-so you might fall out of love).  If you're warm skin toned, this would be very nice on you.  Even on me the Selfie color does need a little layering to show up, so it will need some work if you are darker in skin tone than me.

* I bought this quad all by myself.  No one sent me XO with hugs and kisses.

Estée Lauder Little Black Primer

As you probably know KathleenLights could sell me ice cream in a blizzard and I'm lactose intolerant.  She mentions something and I start think I need or want that thing.  It's worse than the Jaclyn Hill Effect for me, because of how rigorously Jaclyn pumps Gerard Cosmetics, and Kathleen just feels so sweet and honest.  Not that Jaclyn doesn't do that to me, I just use more caution now.

In her February Favorites (it was a special video to me or something) she mentioned an eyelash primer.  I love fake lashes and I used to wear them all the time, but I've been a little more lazy in the mornings.  Like some mornings I have 15 mins to do my makeup and hair and get dressed.  I seriously don't know what's wrong with me other than insomnia.  Anyways.  I like primers now and then.

Little Black Primer

So, I decided to give the Estée Lauder Little Black Primer a go.  It isn't cheap.  It's $24.00 for the full size.

"Tint. Amplify. Set."

What makes this different from most primers is that it is black.  You won't get that grey lash look or random white clump.

As far as a primer, it's pretty decent.  Nothing especially special and there are cheaper ones that amplify your lashes just as much.  The brush tends to get a lot of product on it and if you have very basic eye lashes like I do it may star them together a little like you have been crying or something.  Make sure to clean the excess of your brush, especially if it's new.

If you do the Wayne Goss, this will be avoided, and it will really help you get the curl to stay.  Which is great, because my lashes are stick straight and hate to curl.  A waterproof mascara works wonders with this technique and applying your favorite mascara over it.  It makes wanting a primer kinda obsolete.

The brush, out of focus ><

However, I'm not calling this hype just yet because of the last part of their claim.  The "set."  That's where I fell in love with this.  If you have a mascara that you love, that does wonderful things to your lashes but tends to flake (TooFaced Better Than Sex), this will set it and it won't flake off.  It will prevent you from going all panda at the end of the day.  That is where this really shines.  Will a waterproof mascara applied over mascara do the same?  Maybe?

• If you have long luscious lashes, this will probably work best for you, although, why would you need this?  To show off more?  Okay, point taken, you now look like you've double stacked lashes.  
• If you have trouble holding a curl, this will help a little, but Goss technique will work just as well.  
• If you just want something that will darken your lashes and look very natural, this will work for you, but you can always use the Goss technique as well.
• If you want a black primer, this is one of those.
• If you want to make that flaking mascara work for you, this is the product.
• If you have multiple problems like shorter lashes, flaking mascara, straight lashes, this might make you happy.

This is decent, a little pricey, but there are makeup techniques that can make up for this product.  The thing I like the most about it is that it makes your mascara stay all day, without flaking off.  As such it is almost like trying to take off a water proof mascara.  I use oils or makeup remover to take it off.

One thing to keep in mind that mascaras and eyelash primers are some of the most subjective makeup products.  It is very easy to love something someone else hates and vice versa.  I do really love this with Urban Decay's Perversion mascara.  I like the curved brush.  I do like this product but I don't think it's a must have or the world will end sort of product.

* I bought my own Estée Lauder Primer.  No one told me to get into the prime time.

Birchbox Man June 2015 First Look

So, I keep mentioning that Birchbox has a men's box that is $20.00 per month.  This month I decided to show you that one as well.  For $20.00 men can get some grooming and other stuff in a monthly description box.  They make me jealous sometimes as just as I'm picking my sample choice, his comes in the mail.  The points system is the same, you get points for reviewing products (10) and for referrals (50) and for buying things from the store.  You can use those points to purchase things in their store 100 pts = $10.00.

I distracted my boyfriend with cupcakes and a video game and promptly stole his box.

The box

The theme this month was write your own adventure.  It also has a card, like with the women's box that tells you what items you received and how much they were.

Are you feeling the adventure?

My boyfriend gets excited about his box every month and practically runs to the mail when he knows it's here.

SU

His first item was the Davines SU Hair and Body Wash.  Davines is a brand he gets a lot of and he really likes it.  It is made in Italy and focuses on sustainability.  This particular product has carbon neutral packaging, is supposed to help prolong your tan, and has a nice light scent (fruity/woody with a touch of floral).  It is $22.50 for a full size 8.45 oz.

Wake me up...

His next item was Ernest Supplies Awake & Exfoliate Body Bar.  I have not met a guy who couldn't use this.  It is an exfoliate to gently cleanse all that build up.  It smells like peppermint and eucalyptus and has finely milled lava rock and coconut shells to do the dirty work.  This site has some cool stuff on it, I really liked their travel roll with the razor.  It is $15.00 for the 6 oz full size.

Cédrat Enivrant

He also received a cologne sample, this one by Atelier Cologne is their Cédrat Enivrant.  The full size of this would range from $70.00 (30 ml) to $180.00 (200 ml).  It smells like lime and lemon with a twist of juniper.  I guess if a gin and tonic were squeezed into a cologne.  Women can also wear this one, but it is very masculine.  Because of the concentration of oils in this is should last quite a while when worn.

Grooming Lotion

There was also a Baxter Grooming Lotion.  I don't know about him, but I was excited to see this in his box for him.  It's a hair cream that has a light hold, helps control frizz, and adds shine.  It can also be used on beards, which he has entered the world of since he moved on to a new job where he could have one.  It is $20.00 for 100 ml.  It doesn't have much scent and comes out thick but works into the hair easily.

Bottlehook

His last item was his favorite.  It was a bottle hook by Corter Leather.  I love look the slightly aged look on the copper colored hook.  It is actually steel and comes in other colors like red and black.  The "o" ring is actually copper.  They all have a life time warranty against breakage.  This was full size and is $36.50.

Should I steal his box more often for a quick review?

* He paid with this box with his own money.  No one sends him free stuff either.

ColourPop Chipper Super Shock Shadow

I saved my favorite in the bunch for last.  I truly wasn't expecting to love this quite as much as I do, but love it I do.  It's the Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Chipper.  It is $5.00 for .21 g pot of green gorgeousness.

Minty goodness

Chipper is a beautiful sea foam color in a pearlized finish.  CoffeeBreakwithDani uses it in a collaboration video.  Nelly Toldeo uses it in this St. Patrick's day video.  BabsBeauty uses it in this mermaid look.

Chipper

I couldn't honestly tell you what the difference in the finish in this one and say, I Heart This, which is metallic.  They're both very sparkly.

Swatch of Chipper

It is so beautifully pigmented.  It has that same creamy consistency that requires you to keep those containers on lock down.  It lasts all day.  It has very little fall out and does not need a damp brush, eye drops, or any of the other fun techniques one uses to bring out the pigment and sheen of a shadow.

 If you watched the videos above, you'll see how pretty it looks on brown and blue eyes.  But if you have green eyes, do not stop, do not pass go, just go buy it.  It does something for green eyes.  It lights mine up and really brings out the green.  From the videos I've seen this looks great on all skin tones.

As with the other pearlized or metallic finishes, this is very easy to apply with your fingers or a synthetic brush.  It is just...sorry went into a mint coma over here.  I just love this color, it's so perfect for spring or summer.

I will be buying more Super Shock Shadows, I have a slight addiction, but please let me know if you have other ideas of things for me to try!

* I got Chipper the usual way.  I bought and paid for it and waited what felt like forever for it to ship lol.

ColourPop Eye Candy Super Shock Shadow

I love purple.  I would paint my self purple and be happy if this were a socially acceptable form of self expression.  Unfortunately, I don't belong to that culture.  Let me know if you find these people.  ColourPop's Eye Candy Super Shock shadow is one of the socially acceptable ways I can show my love for purple.

Eye Candy

Eye Candy is $5.00 for a .07 oz pot of joy.  It is one of their metallic formulas.  It is a pale lavender with silver shimmer.

So pretty.

It is the color that I have tried with the least pigmentation.  It is a sheer wash of color, however you can pack it on to get that lavender to show up.

Sheer wash of lavender shimmer

It is on the cooler side, but it is translucent, so it won't be something a warm toned person couldn't wear.  If you get this and expect it to have good pigmentation you will be a sad puppy.  If you're okay with it not having that, you'll be able to enjoy this color.  It does last all day with very little fall out.   It is a creamy powder formula.  I do wish it were a touch more pigmented, but overall I'm happy with this color.  I love wearing it at the inner portion on my eyes with Bubbly in the middle.

Left to Right: CP Bubbly and Eye Candy

This looks beautiful with my green eyes, would look great with blue, but I think it would be amazing with brown eyes.

* Eye Candy was delivered to me after I purchased it on their website.

ColourPop 3 Super Shock Shadow

It took me long enough to jump on the Super Shock Shadow Bandwagon but I am all aboard at this point!  I showed you the mattes I just bought, but the other formulas steal the show.  The mattes have the down side of being a little daunting to use.  The pearls and metallics do not suffer from this.  You can simply use your finger to apply.

When I saw ColourPop's 3 I know I wanted it.  It's described as a cool toned bronze.

3

As usual it is $5.00 for a 2.1 container of product.  It does have to be tightly sealed to contain the magic in the pot.  Mine must have been dropped or something.

3 all cracked up

Unlike with a regular eye-shadow the crack didn't make it crumble all over or anything.  It's definitely still usable.

So shiny

The glitter in this is so pretty.  It has good pigmentation.  I see flecks of green and pink and gold.  It is considered one of their metallic formulas.  It's also very easy to apply as I said.  The glitter doesn't fall all over your face although there might be a little fall out.  It is soft and has an almost mousse like texture.  I haven't found it to crease or in any way look aging on the eyes.  BiohazardousBeauty uses it in this tutorial.

Left to Right: CP 3 and I Heart This

* 3 didn't magically appear in my makeup bag.  I paid for it myself.

Stila Patina Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick

Liquid Lipstick is the thing right now.  Most brands have one or are launching one soon.  I purchased Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in the color Patina a while back.

Patina

This is one of those colors that will fall in line with the 90's trend that many people are very into currently.  It is a dusty mauve color.  It is very popular on the Sephora site and is often sold out.  It is $22.00 for  .10 fl oz.

The applicator

The applicator is a lightly cupped doe foot that conforms to the lips well.  It does get a lot of product on it, so you have to be careful to scrape that off and work with small amounts at a time or you could end up looking all Hatchet Face from Cry Baby.  Perhaps start at the center of your lips to get the highest amounts of product and then start pushing it to the out side.

Patina swatch

As you can see it is a lovely shade of dusty rose with a touch of brown.  It goes on very creamy, almost messy, which is another reason to be careful with the application.  It is quite pigmented, but you can control how dramatic this is on you.  If you're darker than me, this would probably be a "your lips but better" color.  It has a light play dough cookie scent.

As usual my bathroom light warmed it up a little.

It does dry down very fast with very little transfer.  And boy howdy, does it dry.  As you can tell from the picture above it dries the heck out of my lips.  It's partially to be expected with a long wearing matte.  However, you really have to make sure that your lips are in good condition before using this.  Like exfoliate, moisturize, and get ready for the Sahara.

Left to Right: TF Melted Chihuahua, CP Lumière, and Stila Patina

Melted Chihuahua is more brown, Lumière is a little pinker but nearly a dupe.

It is a good lipstick if you have lips in amazing condition.  If you don't... There will be cracks and probably flaking.

In my opinion ColourPop Lumière is just too close of a color, much more comfortable, easier to apply, has similar longevity, and is so much cheaper that it makes Patina hype.  I would rather pay $5.00 than $22.00.

* I bought all lipsticks pictured myself.  No one held me down and dropped lipsticks into my purse.

May 2015 Boxycharm First Look

I did decide to try out Boxycharm, because it looked like everything I liked about Ipsy and Birchbox, just more of it.  It is $21.00 a month but you get mostly full sized products.  I have no idea how their "charms" work yet, I know you get more for referrals, but I don't know how many you get for what.

The box is very cute.

This is my second box, but I subscribed way late last month and decided that it was too late to do a review.

Lots of pink "worms."

The theme this month was Boldly Beautiful.  The products inside are supposed to get you out of your comfort zone and be boldly daring.  It does have a card that gives you information on the products inside and their prices.  I love that!

Lauren B nail polish

Talk about taking me out of my comfort zone.  I own an obscene amount of nail polish.  I love doing my nails.  I have slacked since Komis passed but I'm sure I'll care again soon.  With as many polishes I own, I don't own any by Laruen B Beauty and I don't own any in this chartreuse green.  The name of this color is #Imjuicing and is $18.00 (ouch).  It is cruelty free, formaldehyde free, and is suitable for vegans.  It does dry fast, but it is rather sheer.  I'm looking forward to trying this.  There were other colors in other boxes.  There was a beautiful watermelon that I'd hoped to get, however, this is is not a color I'd normally use, so I'm excited to try it.  This was full sized.

My next full sized product was the Bodyography Brow Trio.  It has three colors, meant to be used any color of hair.  It is gluten, paraben, and talc free.  It is also certified cruelty free.  It is very creamy and pigmented.  It can also be used as an eye-shadow or eyeliner and used wet or dry.  It is $19.00 for this trio.

My next full sized item was a Bodyography Brow Bush that retails for $19.00.  It's a decent brush.  I do have a brush by Anastasia that has a finer tip, which I think helps for creating a more natural look.  I do like that it has the spooly at the end and I will use it, but for about a dollar less, the Anastasia Brush #12 is more my speed.  Still, a full sized brush of any kind makes me happy.

Another full sized item!  Unfortunately a bronzer.  I know there will be tons of people who will be very exited about getting all of this bronzy joy.  Bronzers and my skin are just...not usually things that mix.  This one was ModelCo Bronze Shimmer and obviously has shimmer.  In the swatch it does turn orange.  I'm not sure if it would do that with a lighter application as I normally would do with a brush.  But still not my thing, so I'll send this to a new home.  It's valued at $22.00.

The coolest packaging

My last item was also full sized.  I had my fingers crossed that I would get the color Purple Rain.  It was a bright purple that some others had received.  

The packaging!!!!

First of all, the packaging is super cute.  It comes in a velvet pouch.  The actual lipstick is in a plastic container with a beautiful black cage like decoration.

Not Purple Rain

I didn't receive Purple Rain.  I received a melon color and I was slightly disappointed, until I swatched it.

Kiss Me

So this is the Lip Bar lipstick in the color Kiss Me.  I cannot find this on the website!  The Lip Bar has a really cool idea and has natural ingredients like vitamin e, shea butter, and avocado oil.  It doesn't have much of a scent but it's not a fragrance, more like scented from the oil and pigments.  They even have a future thing coming where you can mix your own colors and create a really flattering color for you.  They have tons of fun colors with names that follow their bar theme.

How pretty is that color?

This color is totally out of my comfort zone.   It's so pretty.  It doesn't go well with my skin tone, but I will find a way to make it work.  It is $20.00 for the full size.  It has good pigmentation, feels comfortable, and lasts a decent amount of time.

The overall value of this box was $98.00.  I'm very happy with this service so far and even though I just got this today, I can't wait to see what I get next month!

*I bought my own Boxycharm.  No one sent me this great box to try.