Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow: Rich Beach (More colors coming soon)

The name says it all, it is like pure velvet in eyeshadow form. I love this eyeshadow! It is perfect for anytime of year or occasion, It can be worn with or without a primer. Its is a beautiful light rich brown with shimmery dark brown undertones & light gold highlights that give it that beautiful "velvet" effect. It looks beautiful on all skin colors & in any light. This is a beautiful color for all skin types.(Click on the pictures to enlarge)



                                                      I LOVE the packaging on this, it's super easy to open, yet it stays securely closed without opening on its own. I love their signature bird design on their shadows. It gives it a more luxurious feel to it, though the shadows alone are luxurious...hehe.


                                                       Okay, so now we open it... As you can see, I've used this many times, it is very versatile for any look & is one of my favorite shadows. Don't let pictures fool you, though it might look like a nice light brown with slight shimmer, It will appear SLIGHTLY darker on the skin, so be careful if you have a heavy hand when working with shadows. It appears darker because the dark undertones show though onto the skin. The light gold shimmer helps highlight & enhance the color without making it look too dark and dramatic.
                                                    
                                            My swatch, you can see the undertones and light gold highlights giving it that 3D effect. Depending how dark you want it all depends on primer and how much you pack on. I suggest if you want a light shadow, don't use primer, because this shadow is very pigmented and will last long even without the use of a primer. If you want the color suggested like my swatch, use a primer, and lightly pat the color on. These can be perfect for brown smokey eyes.

NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Pigments: Yellow Gold, Jade, & True Purple Pearl

For a low price, these have excellent quality when used with a primer. The texture is very fine, making the application super easy. The colors are very intense depending on how much you apply and whether it's used with a primer or not. I only have 3 colors, but I do plan on buying more in the future & doing future reviews on these. I will post pictures and review each color underneath the picture.




                                          The jars look big in the picture but they are each a little over 1 & 1/2 inches tall. (I would have had a picture to compare size, but my camera died) :(



              
                                  What I don't like so much is the packaging. The inside of the lids have gaps for the glitter to seep in if turned upside down, so be careful with it unless you want a big mess when you open the jar. I also don't like the fact the the opening is so small, you would only be able to fit a tiny brush inside. (if you are even lucky without ruining the bristles.) I would suggest putting it in a better container with a wider lid for easier access for your brush.
                                  


                            Here are the swatches in order of the picture (not numerically in order)

                           YELLOW GOLD: LP17 - This is probably my favorite one so far. This is a beautiful gold color, and is very pigmented even without  a primer, but if you want the color to stay, a primer is highly suggested. It's not too yellow to where it overwhelms it, it just has a tiny hint of yellow to enhance and brighten the gold. It can be worn alone or with other shadows. Applied lightly, it can be a great highlight.

                           JADE: LP30 - The name stays true to it's color, it's a very bright, lighter shade of green. It's not a grass green, it has more of blue tones to it. Very hard to explain the color, but the picture can help. It is very pigmented when applied with a primer. You might have to pack this on to get a brighter effect, but the color stays and is amazing.

                           TRUE PURPLE PEARL: LP29 - Purple base with blue iridescent highlights, very pretty color, especially when it hits the lights. It is more of a 2- toned purple and colors will vary in different lighting. Very pigmented, and just like the green, you might have to pack this on a little more if you want to get more intensity. Goes great with applying over other shadows or also can be used as a beautiful sheer shimmery purple shadow alone when applied lightly.

Maybelline Line Stiletto Review & Swatches

I personally LOVE this drugstore brand liquid eyeliner. I think Maybelline is one of the best drugstore brands out there. This is an amazing eyeliner because it has a felt-tip instead of a brush, making it easier to apply thick and thin lines with great precision. And it is is super easy to come off, but stays on all day. All you do is shake it to get the fluid to absorb in the tip, just like a marker, and apply. If it starts to fade, then twist the cap back on and shake, the color will be absorbed by the sponge-like tip. I personally recommend this eyeliner to anyone who likes felt-tip liners and for people who are new to using liquid eyeliners. Here are some pictures. **Make sure to click the images to get make them larger.**

                                                    Nice sleek bottle with silver inscription.
                                                           Felt tip for easy application.
                       The picture shows the precision of thick and thin lines created by the felt-tip.