Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Palette - Full Review

I have spend the last few days playing around with the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette and I am finally ready with my full review on this palette.  I really liked this palette on my first impressions but I have found that many of my eye looks like very similar no matter what shades I end up using from this palette and two of shades have proven to be complete duds when I tried using them in looks.  Overall, I do like this palette and I know that I will get a good amount of use from it but I can't give it the flawless review that I initially thought that I would be writing...

"A sweetly tempting array of 16 matte and shimmer shadows scented with real chocolate.  Too Faced Co-founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandino learned of the healing properties of cocoa while getting a chocolate facial in Maui.  With Chocolate Bar, he created a first-of-its-kind palette that combines the healthy benefits of chocolate with richly pigmented, velvety smooth shadows.  Chocolate has been used for centuries for its soothing properties and to protect, condition, and heal skin that has been damaged by sun and wind.  Studies have shown that the scent of cocoa powder can increase memory and brain power.", states the Sephora website when describing the palette.

The shades that are included in this palette are...

- Gilded Ganache - deep chocolate brown satin
- Milk Chocolate - medium brown matte
- Black Forest Truffle - deep warm brown shimmer
- Triple Fudge - deep warm chocolate brown shimmer
- Salted Caramel - warm brown matte
- Marzipan - medium champagne shimmer
- Semi-Sweet - medium brown matte
- Strawberry Bon-Bon - pale pink satin
- Candied Violet - bright violet purple satin
- Amaretto - medium warm brown shimmer
- Hazelnut - medium neutral brown shimmer
- Crème Brulee - medium warm golden shimmer
- Haute Chocolate - deep chocolate brown matte
- Cherry Cordial - deep plum satin
- White Chocolate - cool champagne matte
- Champagne Truffle - cool champagne shimmer


We will start with a quick recap of my first impressions and initial thoughts on the palette and then I will explain my thoughts in more depth and if my initial thoughts have changed.  I still love that the White Chocolate and Champagne Truffle shades are much larger than the other pans, I use White Chocolate to set my eye primer and Champagne Truffle on both the lid and inner corner.  I hope this is something that we see in more Too Faced eye palettes and I wouldn't mind seeing other brands follow this brand's lead.  I still love the mix of shimmers and mattes that are contained in this palette, the mattes work well in the crease and on the outer V, the shimmers apply well to the lid.  The range of brown shades is very nice and I can use this palette for both day and night.

All four of the matte brown shades perform well; Milk Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Semi-Sweet, and Haute Chocolate are true to the colors that they appear in the pan and blend out nicely.  Haute Chocolate is too dark for the crease and I only use it to really deepen up the outer V and along my lower lash line.  I get the majority of use in the crease from Milk Chocolate and Salted Caramel, Semi-Sweet is best used in the crease only when creating a nighttime brown smoky eye, I only use in my outer V when creating day looks.  

All of the neutral shimmers perform very nicely on the lid, my favorite shades are Marzipan, Crème Brulee, and Hazelnut.  The two best shimmer shades for daytime looks are Marzipan and Crème Brulee, the rest of the shades are richly pigmented deep brown shades and work best for more dramatic brown smoky eye looks.  I can't say that I can tell much difference between any of the warm brown shimmer shades and the same issue holds for the cooler brown shimmer shades.  When applied on the lid, there isn't much variation in the shades and I took pictures of eye looks that I made with each of the brown shimmers and there was little to no difference in most of the looks.  Cherry Cordial is described as a "deep plum satin" but applies as a plum brown shade on the lid.  It applies as a mildly different shade than the brown shades but still pulls more brown than plum.  Too Faced could have reduced the amount of brown shimmer hues in this palette and I still could have created many of the exact same looks that I already did.  

There are two shades in this palette that are complete duds.  I am aware that every palette has a few duds but I was really disappointed with which shades were the issues in the Chocolate Bar palette.  Candied Violet was simply awful, I tried using it on the lid and there was little to no pigment payoff.  I then used it along the lower lash line and it came out as a muddy brown hue.  I can't use this shade at all and I was so excited at how pretty it looked in the pan.  The other really disappointing shade was Strawberry Bon-Bon, this pink matte shade applied very chalky and had no pigment.  I wasn't happy that the only two shades that aren't neutrals in this palette can't be used and this palette has even less of a shade range than I originally thought that it did.  

I go back and forth on the chocolate fragrance of the palette, I originally loved it but I have found that it made a headache worse one morning when I tried to use it.  I can't use this palette when I have a headache or any other type of sinus issues.  I am sure that many people do love the fragrance of this palette but there are a few people that can't stand the fragrance and it would make the palette unable to be used for them.  

Overall, the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette is a solid neutral palette with a great mix of matte and shimmer shades.  This company could have reduced the number of browns in this palette and either made it smaller or added a few more pops of color to this palette.  The two pops of color are the two the weakest shades and I don't plan on trying to use either of them again.  The fragrance could be a huge selling feature to some but a deal breaker to others.  I know that I will use this palette throughout the rest of the winter and into the beginning of spring but I think many of the hues are too deep to use in spring and summer.  Chocolate Bar is a very good choice if you are looking to add another neutral palette to your collection and/or you are a die-hard Too Faced fan and I would recommend purchasing it if these are the types of eye shadow shades that you enjoy wearing.

photo courtesy of Google

Brand Spotlight 2014 - Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick

I wanted to return to my Brand Spotlight slightly earlier than I had planned on, I was going to look at more spring collections today however this blog series is rapidly becoming one of my favorite topics.  Today we are going to look at one of my new favorite products and one that I already know will be on my list of top favorite products of the entire year.  I loved the Smokey Eye Mascara that I reviewed the other day and I have already decided that this brand has some of the best eye makeup products that I have ever used.  

I started my shopping of Bobbi Brown eye makeup products last summer when I tried out a few of their cream eye shadow formulas and now I am in love with their stick cream eye shadow formula.  I have been playing around the Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks for the past few weeks and I needed to force myself to put these down so that I could start working with the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Palette.  I am going to review these shadow sticks today so that I can get back to working on my thoughts of that palette.  

"A long-lasting, do-it-all eye shadow that's a stroke of genius - just swipe and go.  This budge-proof formula stays put for 8 hours.  Glides on lids tug-free and can be used to shade, define, smoke up, and highlight eyes.  Comes in subtle to eye-popping shades that last for up to 8 hours without creasing, flaking, or fading (and its completely water-resistant).", states the Bobbi Brown website.

The colors available on this product are...

- Vanilla - white cream

- Truffle - creamy beige

- Sunlight Gold - beige gold

- Malted Pink - deep nude pink

- Taupe - medium caramel

- Stone - medium gray brown

- Nude Beach - grayish taupe with a hint of shimmer

- Pink Sparkle - light pink sparkle

- Dusty Mauve - shimmering lavender
- Soft Peach - pastel peach
- Sand Dune - medium beige tan
- Golden Pink - shimmering peach pink
- Goldstone - shimmering brown gold
- Golden Bronze - deep bronze sugar
- Shadow - smokey blue gray
- Heather Steel - deep gray purple
- Bark - rich brown
- Violet Plum - deep shimmer eggplant

I purchased a few of the neutral shades in this product and now would like to order even more shades.  I didn't see all the shades at the counter in Sephora so I will need to visit the counter to find more of these shades.  I purchased the following shades: Vanilla, Truffle, Sunlight Gold, Sand Dune, and Golden Pink.  These shades have either a satin or a shimmer finish and I use each finish a different way.  My favorite finish is the shimmer finish but every shade that I have used is very high quality and pigmented.

The satin finish shades I use right over a primer, I draw them right onto my lid and then buff the edges out with a MAC 224 brush.  I will one shade all over my lid or I will combine two shades to create more definition on my lid.  The shimmer finishes can be used in exactly the same way but I do set down a matte bone colored shadow and a subtle transition shade before applying the shadow sticks.

Bobbi Brown has always preferred a more natural, polished beauty look and enjoys creating products that are effortless to use and last all throughout the day.  These Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks certainly fit the bill and I love that they take very little time to apply in the morning and then last on my lids all throughout the day.  The neutrals are very easy to work with and Golden Peach is my favorite shade of the group.

I want to grab a few more of these shadow sticks, I am hoping that some of the deeper shades will work to quickly add drama to an eye look or to create the gradient needed for a smoky eye.  I want to order the following shades to round out my collection of this product: Nude Beach, Goldstone, Golden Bronze, Bark, and Violet Plum.  I would like to see these in a deep charcoal hue or a pale gray hue, most of these shades trend to warmer or neutral hues.  I would love to see more cool shades offered in this product.

We will be picking back up on my Brand Spotlight series next week, I will be picking back up with a face product and then rounding out this month's spotlight with a new fragrance!

photo courtesy of Nordstrom

Brand Spotlight 2014 - Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara

We are going back to the Brand Spotlight today and I have been enjoying testing out all kinds of new products for this series.  Today we are looking at the Smokey Eye Mascara from Bobbi Brown, everyone knows that I love to try new mascaras.  I am sure that I will trying new versions from all different brands in the coming months and will be adding quite a few new formulas to my list of favorites.  I have always seen Bobbi Brown mascara formulas recommended in Allure magazine and I have been wanting to try one for quite a few months now.  I decided to visit the Bobbi Brown counter for my mascara purchase in order to make sure that I could see and choose from every single formula.  I have found that my Sephora doesn't have all of the products in the Bobbi Brown brand and I have to visit the counter for the best selection.

Bobbi Brown is well known for having a mascara to suit every single need and makeup look.  The company's website has a "Mascara Finder" and I took this quiz before visiting the counter.  I have always preferred volumizing mascara formulas and the quiz decided that I should try the best-selling Smokey Eye Mascara.  This is actually one of the formulas that I was the most interested in from the beginning so I was more than happy to head to the counter and pick up a tube of this.  The makeup artist working at the counter assured me that I had made a great choice and this Smokey Eye is a favorite formula of hers.

"The perfect complement to a smokey eye look, this kohl-pigmented mascara delivers high drama by creating extremely black, stretched-out lashes in an instant.  Plus, the long-wearing formula holds its own against flaking, smudging, sweat, and humidity.  Builds volume lash by lash as opposed to traditional volumizing formulas that create the appearance of volume by clumping lashes together.  Plus, a thicker brush base evenly combs through eyelashes from roots to ends, while a tapered tip grabs those small, hard-to-reach lashes.", states the Bobbi Brown website.

This mascara is only available in a black shade and this is one of the most pigmented black shades that I have used.  I prefer volumizing formulas over lengthening formulas and my mascara formulas tend to be wetter and then cause clumpy lashes.  I am used to this type of formula so I was a bit disappointed when I first worked with this formula and it didn't instantly volumize my lashes.  I had to get used to building this formula up a bit more than I would with the Too Faced Better Than Sex formula but the extra effort turned out to be worth it.  Many traditional volumizing mascara formulas tend to work in one coat but then the second coat will then start clumping up (until the formula begins to dry out with usage).  The first coat of this formula will provide natural-looking volume and definition and then the second coat is needed to build up the volume.  The second coat doesn't clump up like many other formulas do but it takes slightly longer to apply and perfect.

I feel that Smokey Lash Mascara is one of the "updated" volumizing mascara formulas.  Brands have been alternating traditional volumizing formulas with ones that can be used to create natural-looking volume but can be built up to create much more volume.  One coat of this product works very well for work but then a second coat can be applied to build up the look for going out at night.  I have also found that this is one of the few volumizing formulas that can be used successfully over a primer.

This is my first Bobbi Brown mascara and I am very impressed with this formula, I will be purchasing more tubes of this product and then trying even more formulas from this brand.  I think my next Bobbi Brown product to review will be another eye makeup product before I start moving onto other categories.

photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Urban Decay Primer Potion Eden

I have been trying a newer version of my favorite Urban Decay Primer Potion and I have to say that I think this version is the best one that I have tried so far.  I have used the traditional Primer Potion for years and I have always gone back to it after trying other formulas.  This company has released multiple special versions of the product but I have always found the original to be the best of the group.  I was on the fence about trying yet another version of the Primer Potion as I always end up preferring the original but I was in the mood to branch out and find a new product to review.  I have been playing around the Lorac eye primer since last month but I wanted to try another formula and see which one I prefer.

The Urban Decay Primer Potion Eden is one of the newer versions of the best-selling Primer Potion and was out of stock on the Sephora website when I originally wanted to order it.  It had been out of stock for so long that I had actually forgotten about it when I started using the my new Lorac eye products and then I decided to order the Urban Decay product once it came back in stock.  I have been using it the past few days and comparing it to the Lorac product, I didn't love the Lorac eye primer so I was looking forward to trying something different.  I was attracted to this version of the Primer Potion as Eden is supposed to resemble more of a concealer finish on the skin and leave a smooth canvas for eye shadow application.

The Sephora website provides the following description of this newer version of the Urban Decay Primer Potion, "A creamy, nude matte primer that gives you vibrant, crease-free eye shadow for 24 hours.  Get a primer with multiple benefits.  This 24-hour wear, crease-free shadow provides vibrant color and smoother application.  Eden, a nude matte shade, glides on effortlessly, reduces the look of redness, and delivers full coverage for a gorgeous, subtle look when worn alone.  Its innovative polymer technology fills in any imperfections on the skin's surface, prepping lids for all day shadow."

I think the first aspect that I love about this product is the newer packaging that it is in, I have always loved the Urban Decay eye primers but have found that the original packaging left a lot of  product left inside the tube.  The newer tube is more a squeeze tube but does not have the doe-foot applicator.  I miss the doe-foot applicator but I love the new tube and I will be able to get all the product out of it, more than making up for the lack of applicator.

The second aspect of this product that I really love is the finish that it leaves on my eyelids, the original formula dries clear but I think that I really prefer the soft matte finish that it leaves on my eye lid skin.  My eye shadows apply very smoothly on top of this product and it fills in any fine lines on my lids before shadow application.  I apply one drop to my finger and this has been enough to apply all over both eyelids, it applies tacky and then dries down to the soft matte finish.  It has a velvet feel while it is drying down and then it fully dries in about 60 seconds.  It does take this formula longer to dry down than the original formula or the Lorac formula that I have just been using.  I find that I like to apply this product once I finish up my foundation and then let it dry while I am applying the rest of my concealer, powder, and brow products.  My first few uses of this product slowed my morning makeup application down and then I found that I needed to change up my routine in order to save time.

I still set my primer with a matte bone shade, I have not yet applied a bright or deep shadow right over this product and I don't plan on trying.  I will continue to set my primer in this fashion no matter what primer I use.  So far, my shadows have been applying very nicely over it.  I have mostly been using the Urban Decay Naked palettes with it, I will be working with the Too Faced Chocolate Bar next week and then I will be finishing my review on that product but I happy to report that the shades that I have used so far have applied nicely and stayed bright all day.  I haven't paired this primer with every shadow and palette that I already own but it is working well with the Naked palettes and I have high hopes that it will work with everything I own.

I never thought I would say this but...Eden is my favorite of the Urban Decay Primer Potions and I will be repurchasing both this one and the original.  This one ranks with my favorite eye shadow primers and I am happy to see that one of the variations on the original product has actually worked for me!

photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Palette

Too Faced is always one of the first companies to release their seasonal collections, we looked at the spring collection right around Christmas and I started my spring shopping with this collection.  I loved the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Palette from the moment that I first looked at the collection and it lead my Most Wanted list for this month.  It had been out of stock on both the Sephora and Ulta websites since it's release but it finally came back in stock and I was able to order it from Sephora earlier this week and it has finally reached my doorstep.

I liked the way that I did the reviews of the Lorac Pro Eye Shadow Palette late last month and I wanted to follow that format from now on.  Today's post will be an introduction to the palette and some initial impressions upon opening and swatching the palette, a more detailed review will be arriving in the next ten days.  We will re-look at the details of this palette and then go into my first impressions on the overall set up and a few of the shades that I have been swatching.  I have applied this to my eyes once and I have only created one eye look with it therefore I don't feel that I can provide anything more than a first impression at this time.

"A sweetly tempting array of 16 matte and shimmer shadows scented with real chocolate.  Too Faced Co-founder and Creative Director Jerrod Blandino learned of the healing properties of cocoa while getting a chocolate facial in Maui. With Chocolate Bar he created a first-of-its-kind palette that combines the healing benefits of chocolate with richly pigmented, velvety smooth shadows. Chocolate has been used for centuries for its soothing properties and to protect, condition, and heal skin that has been damaged by sun and wind. Studies have shown that the scent of cocoa powder can increase memory and brain power.", states the Sephora website.

I have included a picture of this palette that I found on Google, this photo displays the shades much nicer than the ones on the Sephora and Too Faced websites.  Chocolate Bar is definitely a neutral palette and one that has the potential to be a staple in anyone's collection.  I already feel that I will be getting good amount of use from this palette for the rest of the winter and then into the very early spring.  There is a full range of neutral hues in this palette and I do wonder how different they will all look when applied on the eyes.  

The shades included in this palette are...

- Gilded Ganache - deep chocolate brown satin
- Milk Chocolate - medium brown matte
- Black Forrest Truffle - deep warm brown shimmer
- Triple Fudge - deep warm chocolate brown shimmer
- Salted Caramel - warm brown matte
- Marzipan - medium champagne shimmer
- Semi-Sweet - medium brown matte
- Strawberry Bon Bon - pale pink satin
- Candied Violet - bright violet purple satin
- Amaretto - medium warm brown shimmer
- Hazelnut - medium neutral brown shimmer
- Crème Brulee - medium warm gold shimmer
- Haute Chocolate - deep chocolate brown matte
- Cherry Cordial - deep plum satin
- White Chocolate - cool champagne matte
- Champagne Truffle - cool champagne shimmer

The first aspect of this palette that I really like is how Too Faced decided to make the two palest shades in larger pans than the others.  These are the types of shades that I tend to go through the quickest and then end up dipping into single shadows to use with the palette.  I also love that this palette smells just like milk chocolate and this palette has been pleasure to use in the morning.

I have already stated that I like the mix of the shades and finishes in this palette, I like the mix of mattes and shimmers and I will be able to use every single shade from this palette (with two potential exceptions).  There are three neutral matte hues and all of these will work well as transition shades and then any of the shimmers will work well when applied directly to the lid.  I like that there are three matte transition shades and all three have different undertones in them.  I also really like the range of brown shades, I think that this will be a palette that I can grab on a daily basis.

My only potential concern with this palette is that it contains nearly all neutral shades and I do wonder how different the eye looks will end up looking when I start pairing these shades together.  I did not have great results when I swatched Strawberry Bon Bon or Candied Violet, these are the only two non-neutral shades and I was hoping to use them to add a pop of color to a few of my neutral eye looks.  I don't know that I will be getting much use from either of these shades but I need to work further with them before I can decide how well they do or do not work.  

My first impressions of the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette are quite positive but I will be reporting back in the next few days once I have used every shade in the palette and created several different eye looks with it.  This palette has the potential to be a new staple for me and I can see myself adding it to my eye makeup rotation for the next few months.

photo courtesy of Google

MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow x 4

We have just entered 2014 and MAC is celebrating it with two new small collections that will start the year off on the right foot!  They are both small so we will look at both of them this weekend so that I can begin getting ready to go shopping at the counter next week, the holidays are really over now so I can safely enter a mall again and enjoy a nice afternoon of shopping.  My first stop will be Sephora to see what the status on new products are and then my next stop will be the MAC counter to grab some items from Magnetic Nude and to see what else is new since my last visit.  Then I will stop at Limited and Express to see if they have any nice sweaters left and Barnes and Noble for more Agatha Christie books.  I hope the snow stays away next Saturday afternoon!

MAC has capitalized on the fame of their Mineralize Eye Shadow formula and made a small collection based on palettes comprised on these shades.  I have never tried this formula before and I have heard very mixed reviews on this formula, people either love or hate the Mineralize products and I have never been huge fan of mineral products to start with so this will be hit or miss for me.

I only saw this collection on the MAC website so I will be pulling all my information from the company's website.  "The rich pigments of Mineralize Eye Shadow are a cult favourite of M•A•C lovers everywhere, because of their bold, blendable shades and gorgeous shimmer. Now you can create an array of looks for day and evening with Mineralize Eye Shadow x 4, six new compacts in complementing colour waves. Suitable for all skin tones, the pre-filled palettes come with four shades each. For optimal results, apply and blend with the 286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending and 287 Duo Fibre Eye Shadow Brushes."

Mineralize Eye Shadow x 4 - Six pre-filled palettes with four coordinated colours. Featuring our unique Mineral-Rich Yeast Extract, a blend of 77 minerals that nourishes while providing silky smooth coverage. Its sheer, lightweight application allows each shade to build lightly, layer after layer, for dramatic colour with a lustrous glow.
- A Party of Pastels - four coordinated colours, from pastel pink to soft violet
- A Medley of Mauves - four coordinated colours, from deep eggplant to icy pearl pink
- A Glimmer of Gold - four coordinated colours, from soft gold to copper bronze
- A Harvest of Greens - four coordinated colours, from green olive to blackened burgundy
- A Sprinkle of Blues - four coordinated colours, from intense navy to deep blue
- A Waft of Gray - four coordinated colours, from dark charcoal to white frost

287 Duo Fibre Eye Shadow Brush - A rounded, medium sized, double-chiseled, paddle-shaped brush. Perfect for applying and blending Eye Shadow. Made from a blend of soft, natural bristles and synthetic fibres, allowing for a light wash of colour.

286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush - With its soft dome shape, this two-toned, duo-fibre brush of goat and synthetic fibres provides a sheer, more controlled application of M·A·C Mineralize Eye Shadow.

I originally thought that the quad of neutrals would be my favorite of the palettes but a different one caught my eye from this line.  I really like the A Waft of Gray, this combination of grays and whites would make a lovely smoky eye and I would also trying mixing a pale lavender hue in with these shades too.  I will be trying this palette out when I visit the counter and I will see how the formulation and pigmentation are.  If I like this formula than I will purchase the neutral palette (A Glimmer of Gold) and then the pale pink palette (A Party of Pastels) and I will have another eye shadow formula from MAC to obsess over!

photo courtesy of MAC

Lorac Pro Eye Palette - Full Review and Mini Tutorials

About a week ago, I posted about my first thoughts on the Lorac Pro Palette and today I am back with a full review and a few examples of looks that I have created with the palette over the past week.  I will start with a quick description of the palette and the shades that are contained in it (in case anyone missed the original post) and then get into my thoughts on each shade and how I used them.  Let's see how this new eye shadow palette review format goes...

"Go PRO with the LORAC PRO Palette! Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, this PRO artistry palette is packed with 8 Shimmer and 8 Matte Eye Shadows in all the shades you need to create the hottest looks straight from the Red Carpet. LORAC’S velvety-smooth shadows are infused with soothing botanicals and are ultra-pigmented to perform wet or dry so you can shade, shadow, line and define your eyes, just like a PRO.", states the Lorac website.

The shades contained the Lorac Pro Palette are...

- White (Matte),
- Cream (Matte)
- Taupe (Matte)
- Lt. Pink (Matte)
- Mauve (Matte)
- Sable (Matte)
- Espresso (Matte)
- Black (Matte)
- Nude (Shimmer)
- Champagne (Sparkle)
- Gold (Shimmer)
- Lt. Bronze (Shimmer)
- Pewter (Shimmer)
- Garnet (Shimmer)
- Deep Purple (Shimmer)
- Slate (Shimmer)

I used all of these shades with the Lorac Behind the Scene Eye Primer (separate review posted last week) and I am quite happy with this overall palette.  This palette will work for those that are beginners at makeup and will also work equally well for those who are more advanced with their makeup application.  As I stated in the first review, this formula is much softer and more powdery than I am used to working with and it did take some getting used to over the past few days.  I started by dipping into these shades too hard with my brush and I wasn't all that happy with my first look.  I found some reviews on this palette and was advised about the soft formula and how to best use them on my eyes.

We will start with my thoughts on the Matte shades, the Matte shades in this palette are some of the softest mattes that I have ever worked with and I love how well these shades blend on the eyes.  Mattes tend to  be stiffer formulas and are usually harder to work with then satins or shimmers but I had no issues at all with this palette.  White and Cream look exactly alike on my pale skin and are the shades that I use all over my eye area to set down my eye primer.  I use Lt. Pink in exactly the same fashion and see very little difference between any of these three shades on my pale skin.  Taupe and Mauve are the shades that I tend to use with a fluffy brush in my crease, they function as my transition shades and blend well when used with a light hand.  I initially started with Taupe as the transition in my first look and I went in with too much on my brush and created a very patchy look that I couldn't blend out but quickly changed this the next time and really liked how well they blended out.  Sable and Expresso are the two deepest matte browns in this palette and I use them all over the lid to create a deep, smoky look or to deepen the outer corner of my eye looks.  Black is a nicely pigmented black shade and I would use it only to create a smoky eye or smudged into the top lashes as a liner.  I do find that it is a bit too soft to create a more defined liner look with it but I haven't tried wetting my brush before trying this technique.

The Shimmer shades work best when applied with either a finger or a small synthetic brush (I really like ones that came in the second and third Naked palettes).  Nude and Champagne both apply nicely when tapped onto the lid with the finger, they have medium color payoff but tend to look exactly alike when applied to the lid.  Gold is a show stopper, this is one of the truest and most beautiful gold shades that I own and the texture is perfection.  Lt Bronze and Pewter are both medium toned browns infused with shimmer.  Pewter is darker when applied to the lid and works best with a synthetic brush.  Lt Bronze can be used with a finger and is the more wearable shade of the two.  I use these shades when creating a copper eye look.  Garnet applies exactly like all the over shimmers but looks more red on my eyes than copper, I don't love this shade and I would only use it in very specific eye looks.  Deep Purple and Slate are best used right on the lid with a synthetic brush and I only use them on the lid in more smoky eye looks.  I love that all of the Shimmers perform exactly the same and the formula varies very little from shade to shade.

I have created a few easy eye looks with White, Cream, or Lt. Pink all over the eye area and then blending Taupe or Mauve into the crease and then any other shade on the lid.  I have started all of the looks that I have created with this palette with the above shades and then varied what shades/how many shades I apply on the lid.  Sable and Expresso are usually used on the lower lash line and on the outer lid area to create depth.  I can use any of the shimmers all over the lid or on the inner area of the lid.  My favorite looks are Cream, Taupe, and Gold or Pewter all over the lid.

I love that I can easily create a variety of looks from this palette and that all the shadows perform very well on the lids.  I can quickly create a work friendly look with my favorite combinations listed above and then add Expresso or Sable to quickly change the look before going out at night.  I am glad that I bought this palette and I know that I will be using it a lot now that I own it.  I can see why many people consider to this to be their "Go To" palette as it performs well and can easily create a beautiful eye look.  My only issue with this palette is that several of the shades look exactly the same when applied to the eyes and I have created several looks using different shades and then they all blend together and look alike.  I love that the shadows blend so well but I do find that they do tend to sometimes blend so well that I can't see differences between the shades I have used.  The lasting power (when used with primer) is about eight hours and I have seen that the shades tend to quickly fade away after that.  I wouldn't use these shadows without a primer as I think that they wouldn't show up very well and would flake off within a few hours.  Gold is my favorite shade in the palette and I think that I will use through the shades on the left side of the palette well before I use through any of the deeper toned hues.

photo courtesy of Lorac

Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer

I have been testing out the Lorac Pro Eye Shadow Palette over the past few days and I decided to test the matching eye shadow primer that came along with it.  I was in need of a new eye shadow primer to begin with and it was just easier for me to test this formula right along with the eye shadow palette.  As many of you already know, my favorite eye shadow primer is the original formula from Urban Decay and there are very few other formulas that I would repurchase over that one.  The Lorac formula is yet another one that will be following that trend, it is a nice eye shadow primer but not one that I would grab over the Urban Decay...

"Get Lorac's Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer and all eyes will be on you! This gentle, lightweight, oil, fragrance and paraben-free formula keeps your eye shadow picture-perfect from daytime to Prime Time. Created by Celebrity Makeup artist Carol Shaw to be used Behind The Scenes on photo shoots and on the Red Carpet, this unique eye shadow primer easily glides on for crease-resistant, silky-smooth color that lasts!", states the Lorac website.

I will start off my review by stating that this is a good product, it is not the best primer but I didn't find any major faults with it.  I said above that I tend to find that most eye shadow primers fall into this category and there is nothing wrong with these primers but nothing can hold a candle to Urban Decay Primer Potion.

The Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer has a light lotion texture and quickly absorbs into the skin on my eyelids without leaving any type of sticky residue.  I like that the squeeze tube allows me to control how much product I use and I will not be wasting any of this primer due to a doe foot applicator, the packaging is much nicer than many of the primers from other brands.  The primer keeps my eye shadow from fading and creasing for about six hours but I have found that most eye shadow formulas that I have used it with so far will start to fade soon after that and I will have slight creasing on my lids at the end of the day.  I have found that the tube is the best aspect of this product and I would love to see more brands bring out eye primers with this type of tube.

I have gotten better results with this product when I use it with matte or satin shadows but it tends to produce fall out when used with glitter-infused formulas.  Again, I have found that result with nearly every eye primer formula (expect the Urban Decay) and I can't say that this product is bad.  I find it to be a good but quite average eye shadow primer and one that I will not be repurchasing when I need another primer.  I am still testing out the palette that this came with and I will have my full review within the next few days.

photo courtesy of Lorac

Lorac Pro Eye Shadow Palette

I have just started to play around with one of the most hyped palettes in the beauty industry, the Lorac Pro Eye Shadow Palette came out in the summer of 2012 and became an instant hit.  I have never tried anything from Lorac before and skipped over this palette for quite a long time.  I have been seeing this palette used in all kinds of eye looks on YouTube and I went back and forth on ordering it for a weeks now.  I decided to order it when I received an early Christmas gift in the form of an Ulta gift card.  The palette just came in the mail yesterday morning so this post will contain the descriptions and photos that Lorac has provided on their website and an overall first impression of the palette.

I will be following this post up with a full review and then provide some examples of eye looks that I have created already with this palette.  I feel that I will need about a week in order to try enough shades for a full review and I believe that I will continue to follow this type of review pattern when I pick up new eye shadow palettes.  Does anyone have any type of feedback or requests on what they would like to see in the upcoming follow up posts on the Lorac Pro palette?

We will start with what expectations Lorac has set up for this palette.  "Go PRO with the LORAC PRO Palette! Created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, this PRO artistry palette is packed with 8 Shimmer and 8 Matte Eye Shadows in all the shades you need to create the hottest looks straight from the Red Carpet. LORAC’S velvety-smooth shadows are infused with soothing botanicals and are ultra-pigmented to perform wet or dry so you can shade, shadow, line and define your eyes, just like a PRO.", states the Lorac website.

One thing that I find very unique about this palette is that the shades are labeled only by the actual color name, Lorac breaks from the trend of creating cute names to name shades in palettes and I think that I might prefer this type of naming system.

The shades contained in the Lorac Pro Eye Shadow Palette...

- White (Matte),
- Cream (Matte)
- Taupe (Matte)
- Lt. Pink (Matte)
- Mauve (Matte)
- Sable (Matte)
- Espresso (Matte)
- Black (Matte)
- Nude (Shimmer)
- Champagne (Sparkle)
- Gold (Shimmer)
- Lt. Bronze (Shimmer)
- Pewter (Shimmer)
- Garnet (Shimmer)
- Deep Purple (Shimmer)
- Slate (Shimmer)

I originally skipped over this palette because the shades look very basic, I still feel that there is nothing unique about these shades and the overall color scheme of this palette.  Lorac Pro is a very good palette for someone that is just getting into makeup but there are few shades in this palette that I do not own already.  I bought this palette only because I kept watching and reading reviews of this very unique eye shadow formula, this formula is rumored to be very soft and very easy to blend.  I have only swatched this palette so far but I am impressed with how soft these shades are and how easy they blended when I took a brush to the swatches.

I find the shimmers to be the prettiest shades in this palette but I am the most interested in the matte shades.  Matte formulas tend to be drier and harder to blend and these mattes seem soft and very easy to work with.  I would not have bought this palette if I had not seen so many raves about the matte shades and I have far fewer mattes than I do shimmers.  We will see how these shades apply and work together in the coming days and I will be following up in about a week as to what I find when I really begin to work with this palette.

photo courtesy of Lorac

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eye Shadow Palette

This has certainly been a weekend full of Urban Decay and we are now ready to start looking at the Naked 3 palette in more detail.  We started talking about this new Urban Decay palette yesterday with a brief review of the first two palettes in this series and then looking at where in the series this new palette fits in.  Naked 3 is different than both of the previous two palettes and I do feel that I need to own all three of them, this new palette contains rose gold shades that I will be wearing in the warmer weather.  I find this palette to be less "neutral" than the other two and this one will be used for a very specific type of eye look in the summer months.

The Urban Decay website provides the following product description and descriptions of the shades contained in the palette.  "Experiment with 12 NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN (and insanely beautiful) rose-hued neutrals—from pale, shimmery pink to deep black matte with rosy red micro-glitter. It's finally here: the long-awaited follow-up Naked and Naked2 (two of the industry's all-time bestselling palettes)! And this time around, we're giving you a dozen NEW ways to get Naked. (Yes, we loaded this palette with 12 NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN shades.).  Choose from every finish imaginable: ultra-smooth mattes, gorgeous pearls and glimmering metallics. From the palest, shimmery pink to deep, warm black, these neutrals will make you want to get Naked all over again. Every shade features our Pigment Infusion System™ the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives each shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability.  Naked3 includes a NEW double-ended shadow/blending brush."

I love that this palette contains all brand new shades that are exclusive to the palette, I have some repeats between the first two Naked palettes and my current collection of single eye shadows from this brand.  The shades contained in the newest Naked palette are: Strange (pale neutral pink matte-satin), Dust (pale metallic pink shimmer w/iridescent micro-glitter), Burnout (light pinky-peach satin), Limit (light dusty rose matte), Buzz (metallic rose shimmer w/silver micro-glitter), Trick (light metallic pinky-copper shimmer w/tonal micro-sparkle), Nooner (medium pinky-brown matte), Liar (medium metallic mauve shimmer), Factory (pinky-brown satin), Mugshot (metallic taupe shimmer w/slight pink shift), Darkside (deep taupe-mauve satin) and Darkheart (smoky black matte w/rosy red micro-sparkle).


I have started to swatch and use this palette over the past two days and I already see that I will be using the shades on the left side of this one much more than I will be using the shades on the right side.  This trend has held true with the two previous palettes and I am sure that it will hold with any other palettes that might come out in this line.  Overall, this palette contains more shimmer and satin shades than some of the other palettes and I also think the formula on these is slightly softer and creamier than the previous two palettes.

I have already created eye looks with Strange, Burnout, Trick, and Factory; any combination of these shades will create a pretty rose gold eye look that would look lovely in the summer months.  I haven't created eye looks with any of the more pink-toned shades yet as I am not quite sure how I plan to combine these shades.  In addition, I have only used Darkside as a liner with the four shades that I had mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph.  I think that my least favorite shade of the palette is Darkheart, I can't see myself using this matte black with red shimmer in it and I doubt that I will get much (or any) use from it. 

I will putting this palette aside for the next few months and then pull it out again in the beginning of the summer, Naked and Naked 2 will continue to be in my constant rotation until I change my makeup around for summer.  I also feel that many of the shades in Naked 3 will look better once I pair them with a bronzer on my face and a pretty nude gloss on my lips.  I have to admit that I might not have bought a palette with these shades in if it wasn't put out by Urban Decay and a part of my favorite collection of eye shadow palettes but I have bought it and I will be using it on the days that I want to recreate a sunset on my eyelids.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eye Palette - Where Does It Fit In Your Makeup Collection?

One of the most anticipated releases of the month is the newest addition to the Urban Decay family of Naked Eye Shadow Palettes.  Everyone that reads this blog is aware that the original Naked Palette and the Naked 2 Palette are two of my favorite eye shadow palettes and ones that I tend to reach for over and over again.  I have been using the Naked 2 palette at least three times a week since the middle of fall and I got very excited when I heard that Urban Decay was adding another palette to this collection.  Naked 2 was one of my favorite releases of late 2011 and I feel this Naked 3 will be one of my favorite products of late 2013.  It arrived in the mail yesterday after ordering it late last week from Urban Decay's website and I have started to swatch and play around with the shades in it.

I am saving my reviews and thoughts on the actual Naked 3 palette for tomorrow's post, I wanted to start with a post that quickly reviewed the other two palettes and then looked to see where Naked 3 would fall into the mix.  The original Naked palette is full of warm shades and the second Naked palette is full of cool shades, is this palette closer to one of them or is it completely different creation?

We will start at the beginning...  The Urban Decay website provides the following description of the original Naked Eye Palette and then the following shade descriptions, "It’s the palette that revolutionized neutrals forever. Loaded with 12 bronze-hued shadows in an insane range of textures only Wende and our product development team could dream up—including matte, satin, shimmer and sparkle—Naked proves that neutral is anything but boring. From the palest champagne to the grittiest gunmetal, it’s all here. Whether you’re going for a laid-back, beachy vibe or black-tie drama, you’ll definitely look better Naked.". 

The shades contained in the original Naked palette are: Virgin (cool pale beige shimmer), Sin (champagne shimmer), Naked (nude matte), Sidecar (beige shimmer w/silver micro-glitter), Buck (fawn brown matte), Half Baked (golden bronze shimmer), Smog (deep coppery bronze shimmer), Darkhorse (deep mocha shimmer), Toasted (antique copper penny shimmer), Hustle (plum-brown satin), Creep (onyx shimmer w/gold sparkle) and Gunmetal (dark metallic gray shimmer w/silver micro-glitter).

I dip into the shades on the left side of this palette more than I use the deeper tones on the right side of the palette.  Virgin, Sin, and Naked are the shades I use all over and then I use the rest of the shades right on the lid.  All of the shades are the classic Urban Decay eye shadow formula and only Darkhorse and Buck are on the challenging side to fully blend.  Half Baked applies so smoothly that it feels like I am applying a cream shadow, this is one of the few shades that I can apply perfectly by tapping it on with my finger.

The second palette contains shades that are much more on the cool toned side and features a range of lovely taupe hues.  "You demanded “MORE NAKED!”—and Naked2 delivers. From luminous shades with shimmer and sparkle to the smoothest mattes imaginable, Naked2 is packed with 12 never-boring taupe-hued neutrals (including a gorgeous grayish brown, a glittery copper and our lewdest, blackest black). Expand your Naked range to create even more sultry neutral looks, smoky dramatic looks and everything in between.", states the company's website.

The shades contains in the Naked 2 palette are: Foxy (cream bisque matte), Half Baked (golden bronze shimmer), Bootycall (cork shimmer), Chopper (copper shimmer w/silver micro-glitter), Tease (creamy pale brown matte), Snakebite (dark bronze shimmer), Suspect (pale golden beige shimmer), Pistol (light grayish brown shimmer), Verve (oyster shimmer), YDK (cool bronze shimmer), Busted (deep brown shimmer) and Blackout (blackest black matte).

I find that I also tend to use the shades more on the left of the Naked 2 palette more than I do the shades on the right.  I use Blackout mostly as a liner and use Busted and YDK only in very dramatic smoky eye looks.  Foxy is the only shade that I use all over the eye and I have nearly hit pan on it already.  Chopper is my staple from this palette, it has a beautiful shimmer finish and is another shade that I prefer to tap on with my finger.

I have found that I use the original Naked palette in the fall and then tend to pick up Naked 2 more in the winter months.  Naked 3 is really not like either of the two palettes, I could call this palette "Naked: Summer Edition" and this would be a fitting title for the shades found in it.  It leans more on the warm side so I find it the least like the shades in Naked 2.  I am sure that any makeup collector will be adding this to his or her collection without a second thought and we will look more in depth at the actual palette tomorrow.

photo courtesy of Google
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Benefit Gimme Brow! Volumizing Brow Gel

Today is Cyber Monday and one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, we all know that stores do certain offers only on their websites but many stores also have great offers.  I decided to hit the mall very early this morning and do a bit of shopping for my family before I start cramming for finals season.  My last stop today was Sephora and I already started to pick up some items on my Most Wanted List, many of the holiday products are getting hard to find but I am very excited about my newest purchase from Sephora.  I have been interested in the Benefit Gimme Brow! product for a few weeks now but have never used this type of product on my eyebrows.  I bought this product this morning and tried it on as soon as I got home today.

I must confess that I don't spend much time thinking about my eyebrows, I usually get them cleaned up every few weeks but I keep them on the thicker side and don't change the overall shape of them.  I have dark hair and dark brows so I also don't have many concerns about the color of them matching my highlight/lowlight mix.  I used this brow gel once and I all I could think was "Why did I wait so long to try products like this?!", I love this product!

The Sephora website provides the following description of this awesome brow gel formula, "An award-winning, brow-volumizing, fiber gel that mimics the look of real hair for fuller-looking brows.  Gimme Brow’s innovative brush-on gel has tiny microfibers that adhere to skin and hair, creating lush-looking eyebrows where before there were none. The water-resistant, long-lasting, formula builds easily for thick, full arches, thanks to a tapered brush for blending and precision tip for shaping perfect brows.". 

This product is available in the following shades...

- Light/Medium - matches light brown to medium brown eye brows
- Medium/Dark - matches medium brown to dark brown eye brows

I use the Medium/Deep shade and it matches my hair perfectly, it is a shade deeper than my natural eye brows and the shade change make them stand out and look more defined and groomed.

This is a very easy formula to use, I was a bit worried that I would be having to draw my eyebrows on and run the risk of looking very unnatural.  This product has an applicator that reminds me a very small mascara wand, the product both tints and shapes the brows in one step.  I start with the inner corner of each brow and then sweep the product all the way to the outside.  One dip of the product is enough to do both brows in this fashion, I can just sweep this product on and be done with my brows.  This product quickly tames any stray hairs and makes my lashes look perfectly groomed with minimal effort.

I absolutely love the results of this product and I have fallen in love after using the product for only one day.  I decided that I needed to experiment a bit with the wear of this product, I don't want it to melt down my face in the hot weather or when I am at the gym after work.  I jumped in the shower before writing this post and just let the warm water run over my face.  The product didn't move at all and I had to use eye makeup remover to clean it all off my eye brows, I will be able to use this product every single day and I will be making this a staple of my makeup routine.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Palette

I have been hearing rumors of a third Urban Decay Naked palette and I have been playing around with my first two Naked palettes in the anticipation of adding more to my collection.  The expected release will be in early December so I still have a few weeks to wait until I can add more palettes to my eye shadow collection.  I am not the most patient person when it comes to waiting for new makeup releases so I decided that I wanted to pick up a new eye shadow palette full of great neutral hues while I was waiting.  Smashbox just released their "version" of the Urban Decay Naked palettes and Full Exposure contains a full variety of pretty neutral hues.  My last visit to Sephora was supposed to be for gift shopping but I ended up walking out only with gifts for myself...

"A set with increased-pigment and universal, neutral eye shades, a highly-rated mascara, and a get-the-look chart for six different eye shapes.  This versatile palette includes 14 must-have neutral shades—from nudes to blacks—in long-wearing shimmers and velvety smooth mattes. The clearly organized palette—shimmers on top and mattes on the bottom—makes them easy to work with, and the kit also includes a breakthrough eye shape chart to achieve your most gorgeous look, along with a dual-ended brush to use with both formulas, and a bonus Full Exposure Mascara sample.", states the Sephora website.

This eye palette contains fourteen shades, seven of them are matte and seven are shimmer hues.  The palette contains seven actual shades and then expands those shades by offering them each in a matte and shimmer finish. 

The shades contains in this palette are...

- chocolate brown with gold pearl (Shimmer)
- deep gold brown with gold pearl (Shimmer)
- soft gold with gold and silver pearl (Shimmer)
- light tan with gold and silver pearl (Shimmer)
- golden wheat with gold pearl (Shimmer)
- midtone slate with silver pearl (Shimmer)
- rich gray with multicolor and silver pearl (Shimmer)
- warm chocolate brown (Matte)
- midtone brown (Matte)
- soft midtone tan (Matte)
- creamy beige (Matte)
- soft light taupe (Matte)
- ashy dark brown (Matte)
- suede black (Matte)

The shimmer shades are the better quality of the two formulas, the matte shades have a good amount of formula and pigmentation variation.  The easiest way to use this palette to start with the one shade and apply the matte hue all over the lid and up to the browbone.  I then follow it with the matching shimmer shade right on the lid.  The brush that is provided with this palette is really the best way to apply these shades, one side is designed for the matte hues and the other for the shimmer hues.  I ignored this part of the directions when I first opened the palette and used the eye brushes that I normally use.  My favorite NARS and MAC brushes didn't hurt the product or the application but I found that using the recommended brushes from Smashbox made application easier and the pigment payoff much better from each shade.  The only other way that I recommend applying the shimmer shades is with a finger pad method.

I have moved onto the using multiple shades of the mattes together and then multiple shades of the shimmers together.  I prefer the shimmer hues, the majority of them apply nicer and have a better pigment payoff than the matte shades.  My favorite shades are the soft gold, light tan, and golden wheat shimmer shades.  I had the most issues with the application on the deeper matte shades so I would be more likely to use these wet as a liner instead of all over my lid. 

Overall, I like and recommend this palette if you like neutral hues and want a combination of matte and shimmer shades to play with.  I have been getting a lot of use from this palette and I will continue to work with it a lot even when the newest Urban Decay Naked palette releases.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes Mascara

My newest Glossybox just crossed my doorstep the other day and I could not have been more excited to see it arrive this time around!  I tend to start Goggling the boxes about a week before I am scheduled to get them and then begin checking all the products out well in advance of actually trying them.  I was really excited with this month's box because I saw that it contained a full sized Tarte mascara that I actually wanted to try for some time now.  The best part about this for me is that I am actually getting low on my current tube and haven't gotten around to hitting up Sephora with all the chaos of this semester so far.  This box is just perfect timing for me!

The last time that I used a Tarte mascara was when I purchased the True Blood palette and I remember liking the product but I don't remember what the formula was.  Mascara is not one of the products that Tarte is famous for but I have loved nearly everything else that I have ever used from this line so I am open to trying out their range of formulas.

The description on the Sephora website is better than the one on the Glossybox product card and I will provide that one.  "An amped up, ultra-black mascara that lengthens, curls and magnifies lashes for an intensified look, while instantly increasing lash volume by up to 752 percent. Powered by tarte’s proprietary triple black complex, this long-wearing, vitamin-infused formula emphasizes length and volume while conditioning lashes for a dramatic look that won’t dry out, flake, or budge. The custom-engineered, dual-molded brush boosts even the skinniest lashes for an exaggerated, voluminous look. First, the shorter, denser side of the brush delivers the optimal amount of mascara to volumize and coat each lash perfectly. Then the longer, firmer side lengthens and separates for maximum volume without clumping."

More details are provided on this formula from Sephora.  "Provitamin B5, a vitamin B derivative, helps treat and thicken the appearance of lashes, while beeswax forms a protective barrier between the skin and the environment that supports natural collagen production, and mineral pigments soothe and soften lashes. This product is formulated without mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfates, and gluten. It is ophthalmologist tested and proven to increase lash volume by up to 752 percent."

How can a mascara get lash volume up by 752%?!  I would actually think that was a typo if it wasn't in both the product description and the explanation around the benefits of this formula.  I would love to see how this company even got that number for their research and experimentation since I have been trying to quantify it without successful results.  I am just going to move on from this fact and review the actual formula and how the product performed...

Lights, Camera, Flashes is considered to be a lengthening and volumizing formula that helps to hold curl in the lashes.  It performs nicely in all three areas but is definitely not on par with Benefit's They're Real! or Buxom Lash, I would place it more in the category with Clinique's High Impact Mascara.  One coat delivers a growth to volume and lengthen, two coats are needed for a more dramatic look.  This is one formula that could easily be worn during the day or night based on how the application is done, I am beginning to like formulas like this more and more since I can control the look based on how I decide to apply them. 

If I had to decide, I would say this formula was better at lengthening and holding the curl in the lash than creating really think lashes.  I loved how well it held the curl and opened up my eyes, this is the best aspect of the formula and the one feature that sets it apart rom most others on the market.  It is traditional black shade, nothing special in this regard and it is not offered in any other shades at this time. 

Removal is easy with an eye makeup remover when one coat is used, two coats makes it is bit more difficult and I usually can't get it all off when I take my makeup off at night.  I did find this formula to have some issues with flaking off during the day and this was the worst aspect of the product. 

I liked this formula and am glad that it was in my Glossybox to try out.  I don't know that I would repurchase it again since there are so many other formulas for me to try and I already have a bunch of favorite formulas in my collection.  This is a good, solid lengthening formula that adds a nice amount of volume when two coats are used.  This is good day to night formula but it will not give the huge lashes that I crave.

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Pigments

One of the few MAC products that I have never used is the Pigments, I tend not to enjoy working with loose eye shadows and these are often in shades that I tend not to wear on my eyes (on a normal basis).  I considered trying out some of the more neutral shades in this product and trying to see if I could make this versatile formula work for me.  I have seen many looks done by MAC makeup artists and many of them include a Pigment used in some way.  I have seen them used dry as an eye shadow, used with a wet brush and then applied as an eyeliner, and also used directly on facial bones to act as a highlighter.  I have purchased one shade so far and will be starting be using it both dry and wet as eye makeup.

Pigment is one of the key products in any MAC makeup artist's arsenal and therefore come in a wide range of permanent shades plus new shades come out in nearly every limited edition color collection.  "A highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin.  Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect.  Does not streak or cake.  Easy to blend and long lasting.".  Pigment in one of the most versatile products that MAC makes and I was determined to make use of this product and purchase several shades so that I can use them one multiple facial features.  The MAC makeup artist at my local counter told me that Vanilla is the most popular shade and one that she finds to be the more versatile so I decided to start with this shade and then return for more after trying it out.  I was intending to purchase Vanilla anyway after checking it out online but I wanted to get another point of view.  I have had the fortune to work with the same artist nearly every visit since late 2010 and I am more likely to go to counter if I see her working.  If I don't see her working, I am more likely to pick the testers up and just hand them to whoever is working...she is one of the few people that I will ask questions to.

Vanilla was a great choice to start with and use as eye makeup, I cannot see myself using this on any other facial feature and I guess this type of use will depend on what shades I purchase.  As of right now we are thinking of this product as an eye makeup product only. 

I tried first to use Pigment dry.  I started with my usual eye shadow primer and then used Vanilla as a highlighter.  The best way for me to apply this product was with my fingertip, a brush sent the product flying in all directions on my face.  A "sponge painting" type of technique was needed to get Pigment to where it needed to go.  I dipped my fingertip in and got enough product on to cover the tip and then I patted it right onto my eyelid and brow bone.  This technique worked very well and gave me the results that looked more like those of the MAC makeup artists.  When used dry, Pigment lasts about as long as a typical MAC matte or satin finish eye shadow.

I then tried using the product wet.  I used it wet in two ways, one way as a "cream" type of eye shadow and then the other way as a cream eyeliner.  To use as a more pigmented cream eye shadow, I used the same method of application as I did when I applied it dry except that I wet the tip of my finger before dipping it in the product.  I found this method of application gave me the most pigmented results and they lasted from the moment that I applied the product until I took it off at night.  To use this product as an eyeliner, I dipped a cream eye liner brush into water and then right into the product and applied it to my upper lash line.  I did not like the Vanilla shade used in this fashion but I would use another shade as a liner.  I got the same result when it wet as a liner or cream shadow, it lasted all day without smudging or fading. 

Vanilla is the shade choice that I made but there is a full range of Pigment shades that we will look at right now.

- Blue Brown - medium cool brown satin
- Copper Sparkle - bright bronze shimmer
- Dark Soul - deep charcoal satin
- Fuchsia - bright deep cool pink satin
- Golden Olive - medium warm olive green satin with traces of gold
- Grape - medium blue purple satin
- Kitchmas - medium lavender satin
- Magenta Madness - neon deep cool pink satin
- Melon - medium bronze shimmer
- Naked - medium beige shimmer
- Neo-Orange - bright orange satin
- Old Gold - green gold metallic
- Rose - medium pink rose satin
- Tan - deep tan shimmer
- Teal - medium green teal satin
- True Chartreuse - bright yellow lime green shimmer
- Vanilla - medium warm white shimmer
- Violet - medium periwinkle purple satin

I can already see that this product will present difficulties in using one shade on all facial features.  I can't think of any shade here that I would use (in full pigment) on all of my facial features.  I think that I am going to try and focus this product as a multi-purpose eye makeup product and therefore these are the types of shades that I am going to focus on purchasing.  I want the following: Copper Sparkle, Golden Olive, Kitchmas, Melon, Naked, Old Gold, and Violet.  I will report back if I find shades that I am more likely to use on my cheeks and lips and then if I have been able to do so successfully.

photo courtesy of MAC