Celestial Eye of the Day + Tutorial

This is not actually the eye look I wore today, but rather a couple of days ago. I used a couple of products which I will list, but then provide swatches to show the colors one would need to replicate this look.

So, I used:

1.) Strawberry Mousse from Looxi

2.) Inglot Matte 362
3.)  Two Matte purples (depotted) from the BH Cosmetics Zodiac Palette

4.) Crown (depotted) from the Coloured Raine Queen of Hearts palette

5.) Calypso by Nabla

The swatches, in order of how I applied the shadows:

I first placed the very light cool pink in the transition and blended it pretty far upward. This particular one by Looxi is quite powdery. I then took the Inglot shadow, which builds up extremely well, into the crease. 

After putting down glitter glue, I added the shimmer shades. I first applied Crown to the inner third of my lid, and then Calypso blended into that, to the middle. 

As much as I try, I am not the best with blending darker shades on my outer lid. I took the two BH burgundy purples on the outer corner, and diffused it even more with the Inglot pink. 

Overall, though, I really like this look! It has my favorite colors, including my favorite purple shimmer, which I feel like I have been looking for forever. I tend to like warmer purples. If I did this look again, I would probably blend my transition colors further up and closer to my brow. 

Finally, the look would not be complete without my highlighter, which I found in my stash as a loose pigment from Shiro, in the shade Milk-Light of Moon, basically a green toned highlighter on me:

So that's it! Thanks for reading! 

Maybelline Snapscara in Pitch Black: Review

With some fanfare, Maybelline recently released a small line of mascaras that claim to be super easy to wash off. Unlike other mascaras, this is a tubing mascara (I think) that does not contain any wax. It's been a couple of weeks, but I believe I purchased mine from Target for $6.00.

A little about my eyes before we proceed: they are quite sensitive and protrude slightly. My lashes curl, but they tend to go in many different directions. I also use castor oil/serums on my lashes, as well as just take mascara breaks, because prolonged mascara use tends to make them stubby. 

Now, let's get into the product. It contains .34 fl oz and is contained in a hard plastic, rounded rectangular tube. The wand is tipped with a curved pine-cone shaped applicator, which is too wide at the base for my liking. I tend to like more uniform, thinner applicators. 

The formula is not too wet and is very easy to brush on. This is what my eye looks like without mascara:

Without redipping the mascara wand, this is what my eye looks like when brushed through with the mascara a couple of times. Also, for more pictures, I believe I have been wearing this mascara in most of my recent pictures from this month. 

It is a very light mascara, and I agree warm water is best for easiest removal. The product does come off in little clumps. 

I really enjoy using this mascara, and I like the look it gives me. I don't think it extends my lashes that much, but it creates a lot of depth and volume that makes my lashes look really wispy and full. 

My work day is 6+ hours, and by the end of it I have noticed a little bit of flaking, but nothing crazy. 

Overall, I stand by my original stance that Maybelline makes some of the best mascaras, and if you have sensitive eyes, I think you would enjoy this product. 

Products I Wish Specific Brands Would Release (text post)

So this is an article I pulled out from the Vault...and by that I mean my drafts. I don't remember when I began making this- whenever Nisipisa made her excellent video which included a point about how ABH should just release singles from their Glowkits.. anyway, not only do I want to add to this list, I will also provide my commentary on my original thoughts.

BH Cosmetics

Single pressed shadows. I don't know if you know this or not, but if you looked at swatches from their Studio Pro Palette, the Carli Bybel Palette, and the Zodiac Palette, it is clear that BH has a winning formula on its hands. If they could sell single shadows, they would definitely give Colourpop a run for its money.

Present-day me: I still agree with this. I am now noticing, though, that BH is more amenable to making palettes that are smaller, and some that even look like Colourpop or earlier Sigma palettes. Case in point:

So maybe, just maybe we are one step closer. I would like that matte formula, BH. Do not disappoint me.

Sugarpill

Blushes and face powders that are permanent. I never have tried Sugarpill eyeshadows before, but from what I have seen they are terrific. The brand is a lot of fun, and I think they would put colors on the market that people have not seen before. I know some of their palettes could be used on the face, but again, those are limited edition. I am talking about compacts.

Present-day me: Frankly, I am surprised I even researched this or knew about this. I do not remember typing this. Oh well. At one point I cared enough to be annoyed at the fact that Sugarpill face products only came in limited edition palettes. But you know what? Even though Sugarpill is a quality brand, I never felt compelled to buy anything from them. I mean I guess I did at one point, if I even wrote that. But I couldn't have cared too much since I've only just been reminded of it.

Fyrinnae

I love Fyrinnae loose shadows. I think this brand is excellent for people who know exactly what they want. Some single shadows are offered in pressed versions, but at a greater expense. It is a more labor intensive product. Buuuuut I wonder what a Fyrinnae palette would look like. It would be expensive, but I know it would be stunning.

Present-day me: Okay, so the successful release of Sydney Grace's Autumn eyeshadow palette makes me think the market would be open for an indie-pressed palette. They wouldn't all have to be duochromes, even though I do remember envisioning an all-duochrome palette (which I documented the drawbacks to in a recent post). I think this would still be interesting, but a high price tag on this fictional makeup item I thought up does not make me excited.

Too Faced

I don't actually mind their cutesy-themed thing. I really don't. The only thing that bothers me (as discussed in my mermaid article) is that the imitation across brands really dilutes the effect and makes brands lose identity. Think about how many fruit-themed things are popping up in the drugstores now.  But the thing is, it certainly is on-brand for Too Faced. I for one would LOVE a Strawberry collection. Cool-toned pink is having a moment. But with that in mind, bring on more themed stuff, Too Faced! Chocolate, then Fruit, Festival, Unicorns, what else?

Present-day me: I cared about Too Faced, huh? And I didn't get the Strawberry idea out of the ether, either. Jarodd Blandino, Mr. "Rich Lives Matter" himself hinted at a strawberry-something a while ago on his Insta. But since that racist message on his birthday cake Too Faced will not be getting my money any time soon.

And now, let me amend the post with some newer, fresher ideas:

Give Me Glow Cosmetics: Smaller eyeshadow pans. Duh.

Pat McGrath Labs: Singles. Did I say a fresh idea? No, this idea has been twice baked. Like biscotti. But only because the people are crying for them!

Colourpop: A clear squeezy-tube multi-functional gloss. A lot of very serious makeup brands have these. MAC (I am just learning now!) has it (AT ONE POINT I SWEAR IT WAS DISCONTINUED OMG). MAC sells it for $23. I have only learned about it because of Dustin Hunter, who swears Mac Clear Gloss (NOT a lipglass) is the best highlighter. And Danessa Myricks has a similar product for $18 called Clear Glaze from her ColorFix line, and Linda Hallberg has something called Infinity Glass for $29. So why is all this information under CP? Because Colourpop is not afraid to produce editorial-like things.  They could make a clear jelly-like face product (whatever that range is called), or just put something in a squeezy tube.

A couple of things that would go against this idea. CP is all about squeezing out new things. So to have a permanent, very functional product (albeit one that could supplement everything else) at a very affordable price I don't know. I think they would be the brand to do it, and do it well.

Physician's Formula: There was a highlighter shade called Full Moon in their face palette they released last summer. I would like it in a single, please.

And that's it! I am stilling reeling from the fact that Mac Clear Gloss is back. If I do end up buying a face gloss, though, it will probably be from Danessa Myricks, because hers is the more affordable option.

Thanks for reading!

Trying New Techniques with the Subculture Palette

Did I mention I bought the Subculture palette?

Probably not. Upon its contentious, controversial, dramatic, tragic, tragicomic, etc. etc. release I stayed far away. Too much trouble, I said to myself. Definitely not worth $40-something, I said to myself.

But what about $22? sang the siren's call of TJ Maxx.

Hm.

And for the most part, I avoided purchasing from TJ Maxx for at least two months since it started popping up.

But eventually I caved. I caved because 1.) I am drawn to iconic color stories, 2.) I am sort of an ABH stan (only sort of), and 3.)  as much as the quality of the palette is debatable, I thought it had a place in my collection.

I plan on reviewing the entire palette later, but I will say that it has pushed me to branch out a little bit and try new techniques, which I very much appreciate. These new techniques are required by the type of products in this palette.

For example, Subculture contains these matte shades that are not kidding about being matte. They are so serious, so serious about being matte you guys. They don't move an inch once you place them down. Which is a shame. How am I supposed to blend that?

(Now, I should note I knew about these issues before I bought the palette. )

Well, what about liner? I actually don't mind using powder to line my eyes, as long as I have a good lining brush. In this case, the Luxie 215 Small Angle brush was the one I used for this following lewk:

Now, don't get me wrong. I know this look is super basic. But for me, I was trying things that I normally never do. And I liked the results. 

So we have remnants of Stila Kitten on the lid, and then from the Subculture palette: Dawn as the transition, New Wave on the outercorner. I put down a brown-toned Physicians Formula liner, and packed the shade Rowdy on top of it. 

Using Rowdy, I then made a small wing. I was not liking the appearance of the wing, so I drew a line downwards and connected it. 

I then brought Rowdy further along my lash line. I used Fudge with the Cargo Magic Eye Brush, which is just a small, very densely packed blending brush to blend. And then I took Dawn also on the lower lash line and swept it across the blend Rowdy a bit more. 

My thoughts?

I think I definitely am going to be doing this in the future. It was't too difficult nor time-consuming. I would just work on shrinking down the wing a little bit so it doesn't look so hooked.

Thanks for reading!

Duping Nars Danger Control Palette

Does anyone remember this palette? It came out almost a year ago, and I literally do not remember anyone talking about it. Partly the reason for that is the fact that Nars limited edition eye palettes have a very uniform look to them, so it's hard to distinguish among them.

However,  I was browsing swatches of some new palette on Temptalia's site, and I noticed she listed a shade called "Aeryn Sun" as a dupe. Interesting, I thought to myself. That's the name of one of the best characters in a really great show called Farscape. To what indie brand does this belong to?

And that led me to finding out about this palette- a palette of light duochrome shimmers that was technically limited edition, but still can be purchased on some online retailers, like Macy's.

The palette is called Danger Control, cost $59, and looks like this:

No, this is not a mind-blowing palette. Other brands have done duochromes, and these are very light. I get that.

But I still find this palette very...me. But rather than spend money on it, I thought I would conduct research to see if I could dupe it in my collection.

So, let's begin!

The first shade is called Rave, and I duped it with Colourpop's Prowlin'. Rave is definitely more silver/gray toned, and while Prowlin' has a pale gold reflect. While I definitely am interested in silver tones now, Prowlin' makes a suitable replacement.

The second shade is Elektra, and it has been done to death. This was the shade of 2017-2018, in a way, making appearances in many a palette- basically a warm pink with a gold reflect. I have this in a pressed glittery pigment version in Looxi's Dollface, and the fourth shade in the Carli Bybel Deluxe palette.

Third was surprisingly difficult- the name that began my quest for this dupe palette, Aeryn Sun. The picture above is misleading. It is a really pale champagne shimmer with a silvery shine. The best I could do was Stila Kitten.

Fourth is Bionic, another classic duochrome- a warm white with gold reflect. You can find this in many places, including Coastal Scents Elven Gold and Colourpop Now and Zen. For me, I chose the center highlight shade in the BH Cosmetics Zodiac Palette.


And fifth was the most difficult, because the color shift was really hard to see online. Haedus is a weird light peachy base with a pink/purple shift. Looking at more pictures, Nabla Millennium probably would have sufficed, but I chose Surreal Makeup highlighter in Frost Wyrm, which is described as lilac shifting.

Finally, Tonic is a cool toned purple shimmer. I chose Nabla's Calypso which is warmer, but that is my ideal purple shimmer. Another option is Celestial from the Norvina palette.

And below I swatched Celestial and Carli Bybel #4 for reference.

So what did I learn? As much as I like the idea of an all-duochrome palette, I have to consider that in a palette, the subtleties of each color can get a little lost. Stepping back, the palette just looks very light, and it looks like it can be a face palette for most skin tones, if the actual base color of the shades are sheer enough. Though duochromes are special and fun, I definitely think something got lost in this palette.

If Nars could make face duos or just eye duos with the same formula and the shades broken up this way, I think that would be more consumer-friendly.

So that's all I got, thanks for reading!