Category: Eyeshadow

Femi Cosmetics by LaToya Stephens!

5/10/2012

Pigmentation! Pigmentation! Pigmentation!

     I love finding Independent Companies on Facebook that make pigments of all sorts of colors. It's just something about them not being some big branded company, you can just tell there is more love and time put into these products. Speaking of finding companies online, I have been a Facebook Fan of Femi Cosmetics for quite some time now. She was super sweet and had sent me the items above to test and share with you guys!! I was beyond excited because every time she posts a picture of a new color she made I instantly enlarge it to see the great quality and pigmentation it has.
     Here is what she sent in that super cute bag above: 5 pigment eye shadows and a jar of her lip glaze in Cotton Candy. Below is some swatches I took WITHOUT a primer or a base!! The pigmentation of these is to die for! I literally just dipped my finger into the jar and rubbed on my hand.... I was so impressed with the pigmentation that came off, that I didn't need to use my white NYX Jumbo pencil to make the color more vibrant.
    What I also really enjoy about these is the super soft texture. They almost glided onto my eyelid and was super easy to blend together with each other and with other brands. I did a little 'blow' test too. That's when I rub it on my hand and blow on it to see if there is a lot of pigment that just easily blows away, this didn't move. That means it has some good staying power! I think I'm in love. <3 and I'm not exaggerating. Okay, not IN LOVE with the eyeshadows but I do love them a lot! The only one thing I would change is to have some sort of designed label/branded sticker on the tops of the jars, or even on the bottom. Right now they are a white sticker with hand written labels.

Here are some swatch photos!

Ocean Island Blue

Metalilc Lilac

Metallic Pink

Metallic Sand

Metallic Tan (little lighter than Metallic Sand)

Cotton Candy Lip Glaze

Lip Glaze applied to my lips!

Just look at the shimmer and silkyness to those colors! The lip glaze has a consistency like a depotted lipstick. I found it to be super moisturizing with a buildable color. So I could apply it lightly for a slight shine or make it thicker for more color. Love having that kind of control. I strongly suggest you 'Like" her page, show her some love and support and try her pigments, I promise you will not be disappointed!

Femi Cosmetics Facebook
Femi Cosmetics E-mail: femicosmetics@gmail.com

6 Comments

NUDE'tude by theBalm

2/23/2012

5 Comments

I finally got my hands on the NUDE'tude palette thanks to theBalm. Now when I first saw it online I obviously thought okay this is going to be a similar palette to the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Which in a sense it is but I like the options in this palette BETTER than the Urban Decay one.

Description: "These amazing palettes consist of 12 beautiful shades that make wearing nudes fun! These satiny smooth colors can be applied naturally ‘i.e. let me slip into something more comfortable” or beautifully layered. The wide range of naked neutrals gives you light highlighters as well as brazen bold shades that work to add definition and emphasis. Nude’Tude allows you to dramatically dress up your eyes (if nothing else)!"

Perfect size mirror which is great for the traveler!

When ordering you can pick the Naught or Nice design as well. I love the personality this brand has! The naughty one is pretty funny and you should definitely take a quick glance at it. The Nice one is the one that I have which is like a living room scene in the background. (they contain the same colors)

Look done using just this palette on the eyes.

Below are the swatches without a base used

I adore this palette. The colors range from light to dark, shimmery to matte and are all highly pigmented! I prefer this one over the Urban Decay (and you all know how much I love UD!) The packaging is slim and sleek and has all the colors you'd need for any outfit. I'm so happy with this and recommend it! Plus it's cheaper than the UD Naked Palette!

This palette is only $36 and VERY useful!
Check out theBalm on FACEBOOK

5 Comments

Johnny Concert Glamour - Mineral Eye Pigment

2/8/2012

4 Comments

"Johnny Concert expresses individual style as a form of art while creating a cosmetic line that is great for our planet and well-being. Our luxurious Avant-garde cosmetics incorporate organic, natural, mineral, eco-savvy and vegan makeup with an edge. Our 100% cruelty free products utilizes a variety of colors so both men and women can truly express themselves while formulating their own makeup identity."

Vegan

I'm always on the hunt for new pigments that have bright bold colors and look just as pretty as they do on my eye as it does in the container. So I chose to try out the color "Story of Euphoria". It is described as "euphoric glow of light gold with iridescent shimmer" and I would say that they were pretty accurate. According to the photo on their site, the color was pretty close, but in person I'd say it was just a little more golden color than on their site.

All of their pigments don't have any of that filler or chemicals in their ingredients which is what makes me love them even more! The more 'pure' the better! As soon as I opened mine up I smiled with excitement because I knew this color was going to be gorgeous on the skin and very easy to match with other colors.
You can use these pigments just by applying with a brush onto the lid and blending with other colors or use water to wet a brush and use it as an eyeliner or wet shadow for a more metallic look. When I was playing around with this color I loved the way it almost melted into the skin and looked so smooth and easy to blend out or even blend other colors into.

I am so in love with this color payoff and how finely milled this pigment is that I wish I could try out every single color they have! They have such a great selection and I highly suggest you check them out. You're bound to find a color for you.
Also while you are there, browse around their cute website and find a bunch of other gorgeous products such as lipsticks, lip gloss, eyeliner, cheek tints and more!

Save 10% just by being their Facebook Fan! Also by being a fan you will get updates when they are doing giveaways for FREE products!

$16 a jar

4 Comments

Alima Pure Eyeshadow from Saffron Rouge

2/7/2012

4 Comments

Alima Pure is another great product that Saffron Rouge carries on their website. Before I go into the actual eyeshadows, I invite you to check out the review of the company and other product that came in this adorable package by clicking here!

Inika Face Primer & Alima Pure Shadows

Below are two photos of Alima Pure loose eyeshadows in "Pink Coral" and "Obsidian". I have done a previous review on Alima Pure before and would love to have you take a look at it to read my thoughts on how I used and and what I thought of them.
These two shadows sent by Saffron Rouge are from a Holiday Makeup Collection that they have on their website for $45.99. This kit comes with a Nourishing Tinted Lip Balm, Luminous Shimmer Blush, deluxe samples of these two shadows and a shadow brush! It's an already packaged gift waiting to be given to someone!

Let's take a closer look at the shadows:

"Pink Coral" a creamy, pearly peach. Apply dry for a soft, romantic eye or wet for a rich glowing caramel.

"Obsidian" a wonderfully shimmery dark grey brown that makes a gorgeously dramatic shadow and can pull double duty as a liner.

You almost don't even need a swatch photo to see how beautiful and pigmented these two colors are. I love that they give you these two colors in the kit, because they are extreme opposites of each other but also work so well together and just as good when used by themselves.
I found them to be buildable so if you like more intense color you can do just that by adding more or wearing a sheer amount on your lid to give a pretty sparkle without going overboard. Below are a couple swatches in different lighting.h

Lighting 1

Lighting 2

These photos were also taken without a primer! Even without an eye primer being used, I did a 'blow test' on the shadow to see if it would blow away and it didn't move. So imagine using this with a primer, you will get long wear and bold colors! I love all of Alima's eyeshadows I have tried and they are very consistent with their formula, texture and quality.
You can also visit Saffron Rouge and buy individual containers of any color on their website for $10.95 a jar (2.5 grams)

4 Comments

E.L.F. 144 Palette (Swatches)

12/19/2011

2 Comments

In it's pretty package

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

My arm got tired from me twisting it to be able
to do the swatches on bare skin.. lol so
switched to this method!

Column 6

Column 7

Column 8

Column 9

Column 10

Column 11

Column 12

My makeup remover wipe after finishing all the swatches! Hahaha

2 Comments

MAC Dazzlesphere! - Plum (photos only)

11/22/2011

0 Comments

These are photos only of the Plum Dazzlesphere! Below this post is a more in depth review of the same product just in a different color set. Click HERE to be taken to original review.Enjoy!

A futuristic ornament packed with four limited edition, mini-sized, stackable Crush Metals in a passionately perfect array of sultry, sweet and sophisticated plums. A dazzling gift for all. Limited edition.

Plum Dazzlesphere

Closer View

The Four Colors Included

"Misty"

"Seasonal Cool"

"Light Violet"

"Grape"

Swatches

Each Sphere containing 4 (6 g.) pigments is $32.50
To me this is a lot of pigment for a decent price compared to how much MAC's single pigments cost at $20 each!

0 Comments

MAC Dazzlesphere! - Smokey Blue

11/22/2011

0 Comments

Smokey Blue Ornament

"Silver Sleet, White as Snow, Winter Sky and Dark Moon - 4 cool and smoky Crush Metal shades to shake up those holiday - and spring - looks! Tucked inside our couture-future ornament, ready to gift. Limited edition."

So excited when MAC put out their Holiday Collection. I'm a hugeee MAC junkie and want everything (as do most other girls haha) I finally had a chance to get this Dazzlesphere! It's a little round packaging to look like an ornament and inside are 4 pigments that are SO gorgeous. Check out the cute matching bag they put it in too!

These colors that come in this sphere are so perfect for the holidays, especially the silver! The silver comes out just like tinfoil color! Oh speaking of the holidays, how cute would this be to give to someone for a gift?! I know I'd be pretty pumped for it!
With that being said, another thing I like most about this Dazzlesphere is the fact that they come in stackable clear jars. Makes it easier for storing them and seeing the colors from afar.

Stackable Jars

Swatches

    As you can see, the colors are really pigmented and bright. But just as any other pigment, these can get quite messy. The jars do not have a filter on them so if you spill a jar, most likely it's all coming out and going everywhere! I'd be one very sad girl if that happened.
    They are easy to use but the top two colors were a little more hard to work with, I believe it was because of the glitter in them, but after working with them a little they looked awesome on the lid.
    There are two other sets of Dazzlespheres in this Holiday Collection as well, they are: Plum and Berry!

Each Sphere containing 4 (6 g.) pigments is $32.50
To me this is a lot of pigment for a decent price compared to how much MAC's single pigments cost at $20 each!

0 Comments

Silk Naturals Eye Color

9/20/2011

1 Comment

Eyeshadow in "Neuron"!

    Wooo Wee! This shadow has a ton of sparkle and shine to it! This color that was sent to me is in the color Neuron. "Neuron is full of sparks! It's a medium teal shade with a pearl finish, slight golden overlay and tons of blue twinkle."
    It comes in the same type of container as the photos below, plastic clear jar with a black screw on lid and a sifter! (thank god!) I usually tend to make a huge mess when using loose powders so when some shadows don't have a sifter I end up wasting a lot of product because I'm clumsy!
    When swatching the product I loved how easily it moved around my hand when I was making the swatch circle. That tells me this shadow is going to be great for blending and easy to work with! Also, while I was playing around with it, the way it's formulated, it's easy to build up color as well. So I could wear this as a sheer look or build it up to make a real statement on my eyes!
    The photo they have on the site matches KINDA similar to it in person. To my eye it looks a little blue instead of green like shown in the photo on the website. But none the less this color is so pretty over any color base. I would love to use this over a black base for a gorgeous nighttime look! The shimmer and sparkles are like any other shadows I have so I am excited about putting it to good use! Also they have (take a deep breath) 238 COLORS to pick from!
                                                                                                -Dianna
1 Jar = $4
Check out their shadows HERE

With flash

Without flash

With flash

Without flash

1 Comment

L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Quad

8/4/2011

2 Comments

Okay, I picked this eyeshadow quad in "Fairy Tales" at Ocean State Job Lots, and it was really cheap so I said, eh why not, the colors are really pretty and I am usually really pleased with L'oreals line. But man did this one pull a fast one on me!

I was excited to try the colors since I didnt quite have that blueish color or that dark burgundy color. When I went to swatch them the quality felt really nice and silky, but when I looked at my finger and tried to swatch them they came off really powdery and not all that pigmented. :( I was so upset because the colors looked really pretty together and could have used them with a lot of other colors I already have. It was a good choice of complimenting colors just not enough pigmentation and had to apply a lot to get even a decent amount of color.

Even though I was already disappointed just by the swatching them on my hand, I tried to make them work just for fun. after applying a few layers, the color buildup just wasn't strong enough for my liking so I have to say I'm going to have to advise you pass up this one if you come by it. The only color I can really see myself using up is the vanilla/gold color for a highlight which did look pretty. But this also could be used for someone new to shadows and doesn't want anything to pigmented because that can be intimidating and easy to mess up. I do love L'oreals other products so maybe it's just this palette that didn't have much going on. Swatches below!

-Dianna

2 Comments

Nvey Eco - Eyeshadows

7/30/2011

0 Comments

From the website: "Finely milled with an extra soft base of Corn Silk and Jojoba Oil, NVEY ECO Eye Shadows can be used in combination to enhance and contour the eye or individually for a flush of color. Chamomile and Vitamins A, C, and E make for a smooth and soft formula excellent for dry and sensitive skin. Single shades can be used, or step it up with any combination of your favorite NVEY ECO Eye Shadow shades; can be used wet (with water only)."

I cannot stop collecting different types and colors of eye shadows, I'm beginning to think it may be a problem! Haha, but I feel you can never have to many different shades of neutral colors either for a highlight if it has some shimmer/sheen to it or as a lid color for a neutral smokey eye.

Nvey Eco was sweet enough to send us a tester version of their shadows. The one I was sent is in the number 152. (Pictured below)

Now I get excited about neutrals and some people don't get why, because they seem boring. But to me these are the colors that you know you will get use out of because it can be worn with other shadows and match anything you wear!

When first touching the shadow it's got a very soft formula, and no gritty feeling to it. In the pan it doesn't seem like it has much shine to it, but when I swatched it on my skin in the light it does have reflecting aspects to it and gives off a nice and subtle satin look. This color for me is perfect for the use of a highlight under my brow bone and that's most likely what I will reach for from now on because it's not overpowering but still has decent pigmentation.

Comparing the swatches on the website to the actual product in my hand, I'd say the websites picture to my eye seems a tiny bit darker than the actual color in person, so keep that in mind when selecting one of their 24 colors.

$25
15% off on any full-size product or tool purchase from now through September 22nd 2011, Just enter this code at checkout: BMTS15
Click HERE to go to their website

-Dianna

Although I'm not a huge fan of blue shadow, I have to say... I really do like this shadow. The color I have is #156. In the pan it is a robin egg blue, but on my skin, a bright teal. The finish of this shadow is a silky soft shimmer.

The pigmentation is very nice, and the shadow is packed very tight into the pan. I would compare this quality to MAC, or NARS.

I will definately be trying a few more colors in the future.

~Alyx