Holy Grail by Violet Voss

   Violet Voss was a brand I was familiar with but hadn't given a try until I saw a glimpse of their limited edition, summer staple - the Holy Grail palette - because it made my heart excited for fall (?!?!). It sold out during pre-orders on the Violet Voss website, but when I contacted the company curious about when it would restock, they had me head to the Ricky's NYC site because they had them in stock (and they were slightly less expensive)... I received my package in one week, between processing and shipping, and noticed that the palette was wrapped in bubble wrap inside the box packaging; odd, but super effective.

   The box packaging is identical to the palette itself, other than the box having a short paragraph on the back about Violet Voss. The palette is similar to the smooth texture of the Lorac Pro palettes, but less soft, and ten times more likely to look dirty... Oh my goodness, it has been bothering me so much, because I try to keep my palettes so clean and neat, but UGHHH... This palette is lucky I like it so much because that is legitimately grounds for me to return it in some instances (I'm that serious about keeping makeup clean and crisp - it'll drive me mad)... But keeping the plastic sheet that came covering the shades helps to prevent some of the internal smudging!
   I hadn't seen the colors swatched when I ordered this palette - just in pan, and on good word from some other bloggers who like the Violet Voss formulas... Want to know the only color that blew me away and I NEEDED to try, thus ordered the palette? Wine N Dine... One color was so beautiful I ordered a whole palette to be able to have it, but lucky for me, photos don't do justice to the other colors and there are several impressive and unique shades in the mix.

   The other predominant reason I ordered this palette is due to how large it is, and being full of warm tones and shimmer... I usually wear neutrals with some sort of winged liner, and I really want to broaden my eye makeup looks/confidence.
   Since I hadn't seen these colors swatched before, I was wonderfully surprised at the color payoff! These colors match their pans beautifully, and it was a lot of fun seeing so many unique colors for the first time. When I say unique, you may think I'm just fluffing this review, but I promise you that I'm not - this palette was honestly so full of surprises, and although it is a warm palette there are cool toned versions of warm colors (which I was ecstatic to see)... The formulas for the mattes, shimmers, and metallics in the Holy Grail palette are all very silky. I do want to caution that Wine N Dine is not as soft as the others and not to press too hard on the shimmers... I'm going to get a bit more descriptive with my favorite shades for this palette because without the swatch photos, its hard to really get a feel for these colors - like So Jelly is a gorgeous metallic, light baby pink with an iridescence to it so it looks different in one form of lighting to another in a very delicate way (yet in the photo above it just look like a sparkly, peachy pink).

• Wine N Dine - Although its the least smooth to the touch, it wears beautifully and honestly my dream berry-red shade of eyeshadow.
• Glamping - Its just the perfect warm brown for summer and fall, and blends like a dream.
• Cool Beans - A to-die-for cool toned gold, bordering rose gold, and looks gorgeous in direct sunlight... And most of you know how I'm much more into silver tones than gold tones (other than rose gold), so this is obviously a bomb af shade.
• Crystal/Ploof - The inner corner/hightlight shades of inner corner/highlight shades... I'm saying both because I mix them or use them in some sort of gradient, rather than alone.
• Teddy Bear - My dream brown shade come true with amazing staying power.

   So, is the Violet Voss Holy Grail palette a holy grail item for me? Not yet, because I'm still learning to use it to its potential and become comfortable with more color in my eye makeup, but it will be - I'm sure. I have been loving learning more about eye makeup lately and highly recommend this palette if you are looking to expand your makeup style and/or collection.
   I hope you all have enjoyed this Palette Week theme, and I promise to get the swatch photos taken/put up as soon as I am able to use makeup on my arms/hands again!

Note: The ingredients for this palette can be found HERE!

*This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Lorac Pro 3

   The Pro palettes by Lorac are a staple for many people in their makeup collection, and the Lorac Pro 3 palette lives up to expectations... And surpasses them, if you ask me.
   If you would like me to be upfront and honest, this is not only my favorite Pro palette of the series but it is my favorite "essentials/neutrals" palette - beating out all of the Urban Decay Naked palettes.
   With the Pro 3 palette comes a sample size of the Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, just like the Lorac Pro 1 and 2 palettes, and to be brief about my feelings on it... It is a decent eyeshadow primer, I just prefer ones that color correct and mattify a bit more. I do know people who swear by this primer, so definitely utilize the sample given with these palettes! I used mine for swatching this palette, but as you all know by now, the swatch photos magically disappeared and now that my skin is flaring up a bit I have to wait to retake the photos (and I'm not sure when my skin will calm down)... I'm sorry.

    Onto the actual palette itself! Thanks to the wonderful perks of Ulta Platinum Rewards, I was able to purchase this palette just shy of a month early. I first saw the original sneak peak on Tati's YouTube video via GlamLifeGuru, and knew I needed to get it early. The packaging for the Pro 3 is soft/smooth to the touch and pleasing to the eye in a minimalistic way, and the size is great compared to most non-travel size palettes. Keeping on the travel topic, the magnetic close for the lid is ideal because it is secure enough for storing in a multitude of bag sizes, which combined with the size is lovely since it takes up barely any space at all... The mirrors in these palettes are nice, but I do always wish they were slightly larger, and it did come with a protective seal stuck onto it... As far as the box, it looks exactly like the palette but a bit lighter in color with a preview of the colors on the back of the box.

   The color selection is from my neutral-loving dreams, and I think this palette is a lot more versatile for all skin tones as a whole than most nude/neutral palettes... As usual with better quality palettes, there was a plastic sheet over the eyeshadows to protect them. The color payoff for most of the colors is identical to what you see in the pan - Terracotta, Truffle, and Medallion are a bit lighter, but they are still buildable. All of the formulas are a breeze to apply, but each a tad different in consistency. The mattes are some of my favorites because they aren't chalky in the slightest and still have a more creamy feel, whereas the metallics/shimmers are like butter and I am honestly so impressed with them. I'm not sure if its just my palette, but Medallion is a bit chunky when picking up on a brush or finger, but it evens out as you layer - just be mindful to tap excess product off your brush... The only colors I'm not crazy about are Terracotta, Medallion, and Light Gold (though its nice as a highlight) but this is only due to my personal style preference. My favorite shades are Almond Pearl, Canvas, Amethyst, and Rose Bronze and I catch myself using one or more of these colors on a daily basis.

   Just in case you missed my two previous Palette Week posts, I do not rate eyeshadow palettes... But the Lorac Pro 3 palette is officially on my holy grail list from now on. If you haven't tried any of the Lorac Pro palettes, I recommend investing in this one - its my favorite of the four I picked up between late May-early June.
   Which Lorac palette is your favorite? How do you feel about their other products? I can't wait to hear on here or over on Instagram!

Note: You can find ingredients for this heavenly palette by clicking HERE!

*This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Modern Renaissance by ABH

    When I saw the sneak peak photo of the Modern Renaissance palette on the Anastasia Beverly Hills' Instagram my heart fluttered... It was so gorgeous and pleasing to the eye that I knew I had to get it. Then I saw that it was inspired by the renaissance art era and would be ABH's first permanent palette, plus being someone who has admired their limited edition palettes, so I made up my mind that I would order it the moment it was released online... And I did, with it arriving just about a week after being shipped, safe and sound.

   Now, this isn't a blow to the company as a whole, but I do have a bit of frustration with ABH's customer service center - as far as how they handled talking to me about my order. The day I expected my order to ship out, I received an email that my order was canceled and I would be refunded my money... I called the customer service number to investigate what the issue was, since the email didn't specify, and was told my bank canceled the order seconds after the representative pulled up the order. I panicked, because I work so hard to keep track of all my finances and knew I had the funds to make this purchase, but clearly something was wrong. Right?
   I call my bank and express my concern with what had happened, asking why they canceled the order. I was then told that they did not cancel the order and was emailed a screen shot of the representatives screen, showing how the funds had gone through and on their end everything was 100% approved. They advised I call Anastasia Beverly Hills back and find out the true reason, and to contact the bank again with any information that may concern them/my account... I called ABH back and explained to them what the previous representative had told me and also that the bank did not cancel the funds. Basically, I was bounced around from one person to another with everyone blaming other representatives for the false information that I was given about my funds, my order, and the time frames I was given... Why I'm mentioning this, and what really bothered me, was that no one would take responsibility and was mad at me for being told the wrong information... ?!?!... I was being as sweet as humanly possible to the representatives... ?!?!... In the end, I reordered my palette over the phone and the money cancel itself out on my card a week later.

    Lets talk about this lovely packaging! Perfectly pastel, velvety pink covers the entire palette - other than the ingredients label on the back. The lid is magnetized nicely, and inside there was a plastic slip covering the brush and eyeshadows while the mirror had a plastic protective film stuck to it. I'm not a fan of the duel ended brush because it is more like two fluffy brushes and the "packing" side is hard to pack on color without a good bit of fallout, not to mention the hairs fall out on the blending side with ease. I expected more from a brush made by ABH, but I know many palette brushes tend to be of less quality. Also, the mirror is really nice, but I do wish it was a tad bit bigger... Is what it is because I still use both when on the go.

   The eyeshadows in this palette are beautiful, with a variety of velvet-like textures - fitting the palette thus far - with the only exception being Love Letter. I am not sure if the pigment being so intense causes this less-smooth texture, or if it somehow reacted to the spritz of alcohol I spray over all my new palettes while sanitizing them. I would also like to note that I have read some people that are more pale have experienced minor skin tinting from the highly pigmented shades in this palette, but it did fade away shortly after; this is why I always recommend a primer or some sort of base between shadows and skin... The colors when worn are identical to the shades in the pan, which adds to how universally flattering these eyeshadow colors are. Very easy for both natural and bold looks!
   Also, there won't be any swatches during my ~palette week~ since the swatch photos disappeared and now my skin is acting up... I'm sorry.

   As you know, I do not rate eyeshadow palettes... But I love the Modern Renaissance palette and am fully enjoying trying new looks with shades that I haven't really believed I could pull-off until now! I'm so thrilled to have this palette in my collection, especially with colors like Buon Fresco, Vermeer, Venetian Red, Antique Bronze, Love Letter, Warm Taupe, and Cyprus Umber - so, half the dang palette, but these shades in particular are my absolute favorites... I really recommend looking up the works of art that helped to inspire Anastasia Beverly Hills to create this palette - you might be surprised how much you recognize, even if you aren't into art at all!

Note: Ingredients for this palette can be found HERE!

*This post is in no way sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Swamp Queen #BunnyXTarte

    Shout-out to Tarte Cosmetics for not only having faith in a YouTuber, but for the fact it is our beloved Bunny (aka Grav3yardGirl), to collaborate with and create two Lip Paints and an eyeshadow palette! When I caught on to the hush-hush about the launch of the limited edition Swamp Queen collection, I text several friends in excitement who I know also consider themselves to be part of the Swamp Family... I missed the pre-launch, but snagged this dream-come-true on the first online launch via Tarte's website and it arrived safe and sound a few days later.   Another shout-out to Tarte for shipping next day even with the site crashing. I think you handled the launch the best you could and I am just grateful to have been a part of it!
   I do want to address that, even now that the single day launches of the collection on the Tarte, Ulta, and Sephora websites have come and gone, I still see a lot of people saying that the Swamp Queen palette doesn't resemble Bunny... The moment I saw the collection (colors, packaging, names, etc), it reminded me of the Swamp Family and who Bunny/Grav3yardGirl is - past, present, and even future - especially after her swatch video where she took the time to talk to all of us about the entire process (from her end)... Maybe the people complaining tend to not pay much attention to her as a person, or rather beyond her themed videos, but whatever it is... We should all be proud of and excited for Bunny.

    Other than the wonderful mirror, I think my absolute favorite part of this palette is the woodgrain texture packaging (box and palette itself). The font and alligator inset into the top of the packaging really ties the theme together, and the photograph and bio for Bunny on the back of the box are perfect for those that aren't familiar with who she is - absolutely love the photo choice. Inside the box, along with the palette, is a small insert with a "day and night" eye look using the palette... The Swamp Queen palette is the perfect weight and magnet strength (for the lid to stay closed but not be impossible to open), and the size is very convenient in my opinion. There is a clear, plastic insert protecting the products (a bronzer, blush, highlight, and nine eyeshadows) and brush; the brush that came with this palette is my all time favorite from any other palette brush I've ever used - props to Tarte, because it is good for packing, shaping, AND blending.

   In every photo/video I have seen of the swatches for this palette, the colors look different... I'm a horrible blogger and do not have swatches for you all because the photos I did take magically disappeared from my phone and the flashdrive I had them saved on. I have since returned this palette (we will discuss why in a moment), so I have no way of posting swatches for you until I have time to run to Ulta and swatch the display palette...   I'm sorry...   But back to the actual product!

   Before I even swatched any of the colors, the (much) strong(er than I expected) scent of sweet milk chocolate filled the air when I opened the lid and started to admire the colors, but the scent faded to a much more pleasant level after a few moments of airing out. The eyeshadows swatched beautifully with a brush and with my finger - consistent, pigmented to heaven, and smooth - whereas the blush and bronzer were patchy, in my opinion, when swatched with my finger and after some wear (when applied with a brush) they became patchy on my face... I'm not big into bronzer because I tan extremely well and just don't feel the need for it, and thanks to this I am very selective with what bronzers I recommend. It is a similar case with blush, since the broken blood vessels on my cheeks make it look like I'm wearing blush (when I wear foundation) on most days, I don't feel the need to wear it often (even though I love it)... These two just weren't my cup of tea.
   I do love seeing people of all different colors wearing looks from this palette and seeing how brilliantly versatile it is!
   Now when it comes to the highlighter, I am totally in love - it is beautiful and the highlight (pun intended) of this palette... I usually don't go for much gold, or any glitter, in my highlight but I would buy this if it was sold individually in a heartbeat! It is great for both subtle and bold looks, and I honestly believe it is a great formula/color for people wanting to highlight for the first time to try... The eyeshadows are ~predominantly~ a breath of fresh air, since most of the shades stray from what seems to be in every single palette launched thus far in 2016. I knew there would be quite a bit of glitter in this palette but it is honestly too much for me - I felt it affected the blendability of colors more than expected from a Tarte eyeshadow... Personal preference, for the most part... My favorite shades in the Swamp Queen palette are #SFS, Haunting, and Uncommon and hope to find the perfect dupes for them soon!
   Okay, so earlier I mentioned that I returned this palette... I'm not sure if its due to there being so much glitter that it caused some sort of irritation and/or my condition being its usual sensitive self, but I had a poor reaction to the eyeshadows. I tried the palette for a few looks for review purposes, and the fact it was designed by Grav3yardGirl and Tarte Cosmetics (two of my lifetime favs), but between not being as blown away as I expected to be and the odd reaction I was having - I returned the palette a few days before this post went live.

   As I have stated in the past, I don't rate palettes because I find them to be so subjective (plus the fact many are manufactured differently and yours can be quite different than mine in one way or another) but I really am happy about the Swamp Queen palette... I am happy for Bunny, Tarte Cosmetics, the Swamp Family, and that I got to play with this palette and try out some fun, and genuinely unique, colors. Would I have kept it if I didn't have a reaction? Not sure. I would like to think so, even for collecting purposes! Even though I am probably the only person who wasn't 100% satisfied with this palette, but I can live with that.
   Are you loving this collaboration, straight from the swamp? Were you able to get your hands on the Swamp Family Lip Paint? (Yes, I will be talking about the Texas Toast shade - I didn't pick up the coveted red shade because I have SO MANY RED LIPSTICKS and I needed to be a smart shopper.)   Tell me all about your feels in the comments or on Instagram!

Note: The ingredients to this vegan friendly palette can be found HERE.

*This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Second Chance: Wet n Wild

   When I first tried Wet n Wild makeup it was around 8th grade, so I wasn't very patient with trying multiple products from the same brand unless I was instantly impressed. With Wet n Wild, two or three items fell very short of my expectations, so I didn't give the brand another chance until a month ago... With lots of new formulations and rebranding, I had a feeling I would really enjoy what the brand had become.

    To start, lets talk about the Photofocus Setting Spray! The Photofocus range is a bit new for Wet n Wild, and meant to be more "professional" - as described to me by a beauty YouTuber... I love the packaging for this spray, with a count on the lid reminding me of science lab gear, and the spray is pretty even.
   From what I've gathered, having a few different family members try it out, it works well with all skin types - even my sensitive, oily skin... I will say that, compared to my ~personal~ holy grail setting spray by NYX, it isn't as comfortable to wear on bare skin but as far as helping makeup stay in place it is a pretty close second.
   I give the Photofocus Setting Spray a 3/5, and will definitely keep it alongside my other setting and toning sprays - but we will see if I repurchase it a second or third time.

    Up next is another Photofocus range product - the Photofocus Lash Primer! I usually don't use primer for my eyelashes because many that I've tried prevent my lashes from keeping a curl (even with a curler and waterproof mascara), but when this product came out I heard really great things about it.
   So, fast forward to my first application of the Lash Primer - I curled my lashes before application of the primer. I let it dry almost completely, then applied two coats of my favorite waterproof mascara. For once, a lash primer wasn't weighing down my lashes and they kept their curl while also having some added volume... For the rest of the week while testing this Lash Primer out, I alternated between curling before and after application of the primer, as well as which mascara I used. Each result was the same - curl kept in tact like using whichever mascara on its own, with added volume, and wonderful comfortability.
   I give the Photofocus Lash Primer a 3.5/5, because it isn't something that I'll likely repurchase because I'm still not crazy about lash primers, but if you are someone who loves them than I'm pretty dang sure you'll love this product!

   The final Photofocus product I picked up was the Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer! I am always on the hunt for a shadow primer that can stand up against my oily eyelids, heat and humidity, and still helps with color payoff.
   Should I just cut to the chase? I think I should... I L-O-V-E this shadow primer. It is everything I wanted the Urban Decay Primer Potion to be, but actually works the way I was told it would. It also evens out (my) skintone wonderfully to where I don't feel the need to use an all over base color (that is my skin color) for eyeshadows - I can go straight into my eyeshadow look for the day... Finally, I want to point out that a tiny amount goes a very long way, and that this is one of the only eyeshadow primers on the market that - no matter how humid it is, how much it rains, or how oily my entire face gets - keeps any and all shadows I've tried from creasing.
   I give the Photofocus Eyeshadow Primer a 5/5 and it is officially a true holy grail product for me that will be used daily from now on! Well, it has been for a about a month now and it is great that my first holy grail primer of any kind is so affordable and cruelty free.

   Last but most certaly not least, I want to talk about the Coloricon Eyeshadow Single in Brulee, and the Coloricon Eyeshadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells! In the photos above there is primer underneath the right side of the swatch and bare skin under the left side of the swatch.
   With the Brulee Single, depending on lighting, it can look anywhere from an off-white to a light tan and is very silky in texture. The Eggshells Trio tends to stay the same in most all lighting and has a more velvet texture to it... Both (all four?) eyeshadows blend nicely and have gorgeous pigmentation that lasts the whole day as long as you use a primer or don't have any issues with oiliness on your eyelids.
   I really love the sturdy packaging and formulas and give both Brulee and Walking on Eggshells a 4/5, and who knows - maybe the other colors are even better and I definitely intend on finding out!

   It is unreal how impressed I am with where Wet n Wild has gone with their company and the products they produce... I already have some of their adorable cruelty free makeup brushes, another eyeshadow single, and some lippies on the way to me in the post. I've also heard amazing things about their blush and highlight singles!   I fully intend on checking in on what is new from Wet n Wild from now on and recommend picking some up at your local drugstore or on their amazing website (where you can get 10% off your first purchase).

*This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Second Chance: Hard Candy

   Hard Candy is a brand that has been around since 1995, and was some of the first makeup I ever tried! I recently noticed they've really stepped up their formulas and packaging, and basically got really excited to give them a second chance. Why? Because this company is not only extremely affordable, but it is an independent company that is cruelty free from start to finish of all products! The only downfalls about the brand were:

• I couldn't find product ingredients anywhere other than the packaging, which was so small I couldn't really read them well enough to type them for you all, so I had to email the company asking for them and was never contacted back (emailed three times).
• This brand is exclusively sold at Walmart... Dear HC Team, please pitch your brand to Target, or at least a more ethical company (or sell on your own site). Thank you!

 

   I usually use the Anastasia Brow Pomade, MAC Tinted Brow Gel, and/or a variety of brow pencils for my eyebrows. I've liked the look of my eyebrows since a very young age (especially before they started falling out), learning how important they are when framing the face in art classes... So, the first item that caught my attention was the Brow Ink: 24hr Brow Stain - I am constantly on the hunt for better and better gels to not only keep my unmanageable brows locked in place, but also to give them more color. My brows, like my lashes, are sparse due to my illness so I like my brow gels to give the illusion of my eyebrows being more full. In the photo above I'm showing the gel on the left (my right) eyebrow, without any other makeup/grooming products... Lets just say that this product met each of the mentioned standards thus far.
   The advertising for this product describes it as "long wear ink technology with henna" with a "micro precision brush". Now the brush is extremely thin, but was way too long, so I cut almost 1/3 of it off to have better control while using the product... The color I chose was Medium Dark, and the package color made me me assume it would be too light for me but I was dead wrong! This color is beautifully dark and glides on wonderfully; it is a slightly thicker formula than what I'm used to but I really like it. I tried the Brow Ink with and without primers and other brow makeup - the results were always the same. My brows stayed in place all day (as long as I didn't brush against them but it was easy to push them back into place), through rain, humidity, wind, and my oily skin... This hadn't happened before the Brow Ink came into my life... Finally, for how strong this gel is, it was a happy surprise that the Brow Ink: 24hr Brow Stain was quite easy to clean off at the end of the day.
   I give this product a 4/5 and think I'll grow to enjoy it even more as I master using its thin brush.

Ingredients: 

    Next we have the Look Pro! Illuminate & Strobing Mix-In Drops, which are meant to go in foundation for some extra glow or on their own for a dewy highlight... This product is great for thinning out a more thick liquid foundation to make it more wearable in warmer months, not to mention it is great for all skin types (I had some help testing it)... My favorite way to use the Look Pro! is on my brow bone and collar bones as a highlight, or to thin out thick foundation (like I mentioned) when I'm feeling the need to be particularly glowy. The formula is thin, easy to build up/layer, with a pearlized finish but it was hard for me to photograph just how lovely it looks.
   Adorable packaging that looks great on my vanity, but the applicator dropper is a bit loose... I think this might be a new summer staple for me, so I'm giving it a 4.5/5.

    Our third product to discuss is actually three products - the Velvet Mousse Matte Lip Colors in:

• Dahlia, a very deep berry (distinct hints of purple and red in different lighting) - Glides on completely opaque with much thicker formula than I expected. Almost too creamy to be able to control putting it on my lips as effortlessly as some other similar products. Once it had settled on my lips the color became a tad lighter, and continued to fade even before eating/drinking anything... I like the color but most dark shades like this from drug store brands don't do as well as the lighter shades.
• Tulip, a cool red - Very slightly less opaque than Dahlia or Cherry Blossom, and lasted a tad longer than Dahlia. I'm most picky about my red lipsticks, so I think my love for such a select few keeps me from liking this particular color a bit more. It is a very lovely shade though, and I think it is perfect for those that like orange-reds as well as blue-reds.
• Cherry Blossom, a deep rosy pink - I clearly have a love for rosy pinks that I hadn't ever tapped into before the last few months, and this is just another I'm enjoying right now. Glided on remarkably well, lasted much longer than the other shades, and the scent was a bit less intense.

   The applicators are similar to some of the LA Splash wands and I really like the precision I'm able to achieve with them. I did not expect these lippies to dry (not stay wet/tacky) as much as they did, thus having much better staying power than expected as well. The scent is like a vanilla cupcake, a tad too perfumed for my liking, but it fades once the product dries.
   As far as packaging, I find it unnecessarily bulky, but absolutely adorable with watercolor floral patterns, different for each color. When you open the small case there is a nice, slim mirror and the lippies themselves are set into this faux velvet casing (which was cute for branding but it was hard to initially pop the product out). The product itself is extremely sleek and lightweight, so it is great for tucking in a small pocket of a bag and trucking around with.
   Have I used better lippies? Yes, of course, but I was happily surprised by the Velvet Mousse Matte Lip Color range and give them a 3.5/5.

   Our final product(s) to chat about are the Sheer Envy Primers in Shine Free and Ultra Light... I'm forever on the hunt for a face primer to fall in love with, so I grabbed these:

• Shine Free, "controls shine for a matte finish" - Alright so this formula feels exactly like the POREfessional, even though it looks more like a gel (its not), and it works for me how POREfessional used to work for me (not it just makes me extra oily and makeup melts off my face). It took a bit longer than my more high end primers to settle into/onto my skin before it wasn't "wet" feeling (and made foundation look blotchy), but once settled it smoothed out my skin nicely... It works and seems consistent, and would be good if you ever are traveling and forget your primer or are running low on funds, but it doesn't blow any others out of the water (3/5).
• Ultra Light, "prolongs makeup wear and evens skin tone" - The formula of this primer is like a more whipped, yet somehow thinner, consistency than the Shine Free version. When I first opened it the formula had sort of separated and some oil came out first when I tried to use it, and it takes a tiny bit longer than the Shine Free to settle in/on skin... Honestly, I'm not a fan of this formula, which sort of sucks, because I usually love light/oil free formulas better than matte-specific formulas but not this time (2/5).

   I will admit that I've already gone out and grabbed the new Hard Candy Sheer Envy Pore-Defense Primer Serum and the Fast&Fabulous Setting Spray in hopes that they perform better... I'll keep you all posted!

   All in all I'm quite impressed with how far Hard Candy has come since I first tried the brand, so very long ago. I'll be trying some of their other products in time (such as the primer serum and setting spray I mentioned)... Who wouldn't be willing to try more of such an affordable, cruelty free brand?   Know one of their products that I just NEED to try? Let me know!

*This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Emotional Brilliance Eyeshadow

    So lets talk about how much love the makeup line by LUSH Cosmetics deserves but doesn't seem to receive, at least in the US... The Emotional Brilliance range has made on/expiration date stickers on each product, just like the all LUSH goodies, and consists of the Eyes Right mascara, color supplements/tints (including Feeling Younger which is more of a highlight), liquid eyeliners, the Emotional Brilliance face powder, and cream eyeshadows/lipsticks. Why have I put the shadows and lipsticks together? Because, like with many of their products, LUSH formulated these beauties to be multi-use; shadows as lipstick and lipstick as eyeshadow...

    The eyeshadows I wanted to use as an example and really highlight today is Sophisticated - a gorgeous mocha/copper tone that is as great an eyeshadow as it is a lipstick or eyeliner; I've even know people who have perfected using it as a bronzer (or even contour)... These shadows are great for beginners in makeup and professionals alike thanks to the doe-foot applicator. This small, soft, but sturdy applicator is the perfect size for maneuvering around the eyelid and even creating thin line work with the very tip! The dropper bottle style packaging is not only pleasing to the eye but extremely sturdy, making it great to travel with in your purse/makeup bag/backpack/etc. I personally have never experienced one of these bottles coming unscrewed in my bag and I've used these products for a few years now.

   I personally love Sophisticated as both a base for other eyeshadows or as a color on its own. Even with my oily eyelids, unless it is a pretty humid day, I don't need a primer when using this product! It swipes on opaque and a small amount goes a long way - if you want a more sheer effect, swipe a line on your lash line and use your ring finger to gently pat the color up onto the rest of your eyelid... This line is great for blending with other eyeshadows (cream, pressed, or loose pigments) because when it dries it creates a wonderful base to build next to or over top of, but when it is when it mixes with other pigments in a way that is so effortless looking without needing a transitioning shade. Also, eyeliners lay over-top of this range nicely because they dry so smoothly and don't smear... As far as using Sophisticated as a lipstick, I really like using a burgundy lip liner and shading it in some with the ~shadow~ over-top to create a really unique ombre effect - or patting it in the center of my bottom lip and cupids bow as a highlight.

   The Emotional Brilliance range is... Brilliant! For lack of a more unique word choice *cheesy grin*. The shadow/lipstick range is made for all skin tones and age groups - the first one I ever sold was a deep fuchsia color to a woman who hadn't ever tried non-neutral makeup on any part of her body before! They're that good... That is why I give Sophisticated (and its siblings) a 5/5!
   What is your favorite product from the Emotional Brilliance shadow/lipstick range? Or is there something from another part of the line you'd like me to discuss? Let me know, or head to your local LUSH shop and spin the Wheel of Emotional Brilliance to test something new totally new!

*Although I have worked for LUSH Cosmetics this post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle

Alice Through the Looking Glass Palette

   Once more, Disney sought out Urban Decay for a collaboration and thus the Alice Through the Looking Glass Palette launched this past April. I of course got my hands on it right away in excitement to show to you all... Although I have my issues with Lewis Carroll as a person, Alice in Wonderland and its accompanying stories (and games, media, etc) are one of my childhood favorites that grew with me as I have aged!
   The launch of so many fun collaborations thanks to the new film release has me all abuzz and jumping right down the rabbit hole... Won't you join me?

   First and foremost, the Alice Through the Looking Glass Palette is absolutely gorgeous in design! It matches not only the newest film but the general curious and whimsical feelings that the Alice in Wonderland stories bring about... The box, palette, and brush all feature a kaleidoscope pattern on both the front and back, black and white flowers on the sides, and shade previews on the back of the box. When you lift the top panel a framed mirror lays centered with a backdrop of black and white, melting clocks - in the center of the mirror is the quote "we're all mad here"... Below the mirror are two small ~doors~ that say "I'm not strange, weird, off, nor crazy. My reality is just different from yours." and when lifted open they reveal a beautiful, blue, 3D butterfly that represents Absolem.
   As far as the actual palette itself, its slightly hidden on the front/side - which says "I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I must have changed several times since then." - and is pulled out using a fabric tab. This aspect is pretty cool as far as looks go, but as a whole the palette is too bulky to be convenient for travel unless you bring solely the actual palette itself (making sure its safely in a Ziplock or something like that).

   Nestled into the bottom of the palette is a duel ended brush - to me this is more like a duel ended blending brush, and although it isn't my favorite, it is still a nice brush in texture and size... The palette itself features twenty eyeshadows that are named after different aspects of the film - a good mixture of matte and shimmer, as well as neutral and bright, options. The colors in this palette are both unique to the palette and ones that Urban Decay already sells - personally, I hope the color Lily becomes permanent because its my favorite in the entire palette. Worth whatever-the-heck they would charge for it!
   So, now I am going to come off a bit bitter... With all twenty shades, I'm only in love with two - Lily and Salazen Grum. They're smooth as silk, go on beautifully opaque, and have barely any fallout (if any at all). Aside from those two shades, the only other colors I enjoy are Cake, Heads Will Roll, and Time; they are unique, nicely formulated, and fun to play with. Every other color in the palette is either extremely chalky with far too much fallout, so patchy that it took over five swipes to make a decent swatch on my hand (aka Gone Mad), or were - to be blunt - quite generic in the sense I could find them in many other decent palettes or single shadows. I will say that most of the colors were very blendable, and/or worked wet or dry...
   None the less, I did have fun trying some extremely simple, easy-to-wear looks - which are shown below - that were inspired by different parts of the movie trailers!

 "Time Is A He"

Lid: Kingdom

Crease: Chronosphere

Bottom Lash Line: UD 24/7 Liner in Underground

"Excitable, Emotional, Prone to Fantasy"

Lid & Inner Corner: Lily

Crease: Cake

Bottom Lash Line: Heads Will Roll
Liquid Liner: Art-ki-tekt by LA Splash Cosmetics

 "Gone Too Long"

Inner Corner: Metamorphosis

Crease: Time

Lid: Bandersnatch

 "Truest Friend"

Inner Corner: Paradox

Transition: Hatter

Outer Corner: Gone Mad

Liquid Liner: Art-ki-tekt by LA Splash Cosmetics

"Urksome Slurvish"

Lid: Salazen Grum

Outer Corner: Mirror

Liquid Liner: Art-ki-tekt by LA Splash Cosmetics

   This palette sort of had me experiencing every emotion I have ever felt about a makeup product... I really enjoyed this palette during the Urban Decay master class, and expressed how worth-while I thought the Alice Through the Looking Glass Palette was. This was the first palette I had gotten excited for with bright colors! But now I am rather frustrated with the outcome and actually returned it (after calling Ulta and explaining my feelings, they completely understood and said I wasn't alone - yikes)... If you ask me (and I don't mean this is a critical way), enjoying five out of twenty shadows in a palette is not worth $60.00+ USD.
   I'm not rating this product because it really is a gorgeous and well thought out piece of art - if you're a collector of palettes then you may enjoy having this on your vanity, but it isn't for me... I had fun coming up with a few looks, even with the bit of struggle I had with some of the colors, and really hope you all approve of my honesty within this post. Still a fan of the Urban Decay vegan, single eyeshadows and will continue to pick them up from time to time!

*This post is in no way sponsored and all opinions are my own.*

xoxo Elle