Mally Beauty Eye Shadow in, "Bright Eyes"

In my Mally Black Friday gift bag that I blogged about here , there was one of her full size single eyeshadows included in the color, "Bright Eyes". I have never tried out any of her powder eyeshadows so I was very excited to try something new from her line, because you know by now, if you have kept up with my blogs lately, that I love Mally products!

Now, I could not find these particular eyeshadow singles for sale on her website anymore... However, I did find these for sale on eBay, ranging from anywhere from $13-$17, so I am thinking that these may be discontinued and replaced by her Effortless Airbrush Nourishing Eyeshadows that retail for $29.00 a piece on her website.

Not sure how I feel about receiving discontinued products in her Black Friday goodie bag, because if I really love it, I won't be able to repurchase it nor could I recommend it to others since you cannot purchase it directly from Mally Beauty. So, that's a bit of a bummer...

However, if you are someone who runs into this particular eyeshadow, either on eBay or other resale websites, let me share my thoughts on this with you!

As always, Mally hit it spot on with her packaging! I love the shiny mint green of the eyeshadow compact, it is so sleek and glamorous that I think any beauty lover would cringe at the thought of throwing this one away once it is empty.

This is a pretty hefty sized compact for one single eyeshadow and it will take up space, so this is probably one that you will not be traveling with.

As I have consistently found, Mally makes sure that her products are well protected and the tops/covers of her packaging securely snap back on. You never have to worry that the cover is flimsy and will fall open!

Mally Eye Shadow in, "Bright Eyes"

I did manage to find an older YouTube video on Mally's channel that was published in 2012 that explains this eyeshadow and what to expect. I discovered this video a few days after I had been using this eyeshadow, so below I talk about the expectations I had about this product before I knew what the claims of it was.

Mally says that these single eyeshadows give a sheer wash of color to the lids. From the sound of it, she never meant for this to be a huge pigment of color. She wants people to be able to still see your skin underneath the eyeshadow. These shadows will give you a shimmer of color to make them look bright and awake.

With that said, I do love the texture of the powder, because it is velvety soft when I watched and applied it. I do agree with her claims on the product, though; it definitely is more sheer than I was expecting and hoping for. When I swatched it (above) it looked amazing and beautiful. Yet, when I applied it to my lids, I did notice that it was not as pigmented as I thought it would be. I did build it up to give it more noticeable color, because I really wanted that rosy-peach color to come through on my lids!

Let's just say that I was disappointed in the lack of intensity of this eyeshadow... Even knowing now  that this eyeshadow truly lives up to its claims of being a sheer shadow, I am the girl who prefers pigmented eyeshadows. I would recommend these for people who do want more of a natural look, these would be right up your alley.

But, as for me, I will pass on these... I am now curious about her other eyeshadows, though. Maybe they are more pigmented than these ones. Please, if anyone has tried her other shadows, please let me know what your thoughts are on them and which ones you would recommend!



Have A Great Day!

Sephora Favorites Glitz And Glam: Party Essentials Sampler

I just adore these goodie bags Sephora puts out frequently because it gives us a chance to try out full sized and deluxe sized samples of various high-end beauty products. This time I purchased the Glitz And Glam Party Essentials Sampler bag, which is a $156.00 value for only $45.00!

I received this in the mail yesterday and have to share this with you!

I must say that I really do like receiving these products in a makeup bag that they seem to always stuff the products inside of.  I use these to help keep my makeup sorted and for miscellaneous items like pens and such things as that. Basically, I always can find a use for these!

Below is a picture of all the goodies that came inside of here:

1.) Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up- Deluxe sample!  (I already have a deluxe sample of this, so I      am giving this one away)

2.) Deborah Lippmann nail polish in Girl Gone Bad- Full size!  (I have never tried her nail polish, so I am excited to test this beautiful color out!)

3.) Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo- Deluxe sample!  (I love dry shampoo for those lazy days, so I am truly excited to try this)

4.) Lancome Artliner in Noir- Not sure if this is Full or Sample sized... (I adore a liquid liner, so this will be great to add to my collection!)

5.) Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Rose Gold- Not sure if this is Full or Sample sized... (I wonder how this compares to Mally Beauty's eyeshadow sticks?)

6.) Make Up Forever HD High Definition Microfinish Powder- Deluxe sample! (I have this already and will surely add to my collection, because this size is perfect for travel!)

7.) Sephora Collection False Lashes in Astonish- Full sized! (of course!) (I am not a false lash kind of gal, and already and two other pairs that I am not sure if I should give away or try out for myself...)

8.) Smashbox Cosmetics Be Legendary Lipstick in Infrared Matte- Full sized! (A true matte red! Need I say more?)

9.) Stila Cosmetics Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in Metallic in Dusty Rose- Deluxe sample! (This one intrigues me... Looks interesting to test out... The only thing is that this did not come with the liquid eye primer that is supposed to help prep, prime and add adhesion to the lids. I shall play with this and let you know what I think)




There you have it, all the fun beauty products that this kit comes with. Go get this for yourself so you can experience a few different goodies that you just might fall in love with!



Have A Great Day!

Coastal Scents Revealed Palette

I do enjoy a beautiful eyeshadow palette, and I am definitely attracted to a gorgeous nude/natural palette these days. If you have ever read any of my earlier posts from when I first started this blogging journey, you know that I was very into colorful eyeshadows. Oh, how times do change...

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that inside my BoxyCharm last month was Coastal Scents Revealed Palette. They have two versions of this palette and this one is the first version with neutral colored eyeshadows for every skin tone and every preference. I have heard about this palette for awhile and am happy to bring to you my personal thoughts!

This retails on coastalscents.com for $39.95 and you get a total of twenty eyeshadows. There are five matte eyeshadows that are great for crease or blending colors, while the rest have either a metallic or satin finish.

The packaging on this is a sturdy cardboard with a very strong magnetic closure, which I appreciate immensely! As you can tell from the photos above, this palette is very thin and it is light so it will travel with you exceptionally well, especially since it has every color in every finish that you will need to create that perfect eye for you!

(I will admit here that I was convinced I was going to be taking Too Faced Chocolate palette with me to NYC in a few months, but now I am torn! eek!)

I will say that the downside to this product is that there is no mirror... And I feel as if this palette has an amazing opportunity for a mirror right where the huge Revealed name is printed inside. That would have made the palette complete to me if it came with a mirror because it would save me from having to pack an extra compact with a mirror when I take this on the go. Oh well... Not a deal breaker for me, though, just something I would have loved for them to have incorporated.

These eyeshadows have no names to them, but the pictures above show you the top row from left to right.

These are pictures and swatches of the bottom row from left to right.

As you can see, the colors come in an array of finishes and in warm tones and cool tones. This palette gives you a lot of beautiful colors to play around with!

While the formula is soft and velvety, it is powdery, so do use it with caution and tap off your brush, because you will experience fall out with these shadows. But, the pigmentation on these are mind-blowing and the finishes are breathtaking! Even the lightest shade in this palette you can see in the swatch above!

The only eyeshadow in here that disappointed me was the black color on the very end of the swatch above. In the palette this looks like it should be highly pigmented, and I was looking forward to using it as a true black liner. But, when I swatched it, it comes off more as a dark grey and the formula isn't consistent, as it applies patchy. But, the other colors do thrill me, so the black will not hold me back from using this palette!

Overall, this is a wonderful alternative to higher-end neutral palettes out there because of the amount of colors that you get and the variety of finishes.

Definitely check this out and give it a whirl! I am so happy to add this to my collection!



Have A Great Day!

Too Faced 3*Way Lash Lining Tool

I love liquid liner for days when I am in a hurry and in a rush to get out that front door, so that was why I was very excited to try out Too Faced 3*Way Lash Lining Tool! This retails for $22.00 and claims that this is a multipurpose tool that can be used as a:

1.) Lash emphasizing dot tool
2.) Tight-liner
3.) Traditional liner

I really like the packaging because it is very slender and easy to handle. It is just like using a pen, if you will, so there is no awkward handling of this tool! The cap also adheres tightly on with a nice satisfying snap, so there is no worry about the cap being lose enough to accidentally come off on its own and drying out that way.

The tip is very intriguing, as you can see for yourself above. It is like a sturdy flexible three pronged felt tip that is saturated with color! At first glance this was intimidating for me because I was unsure of the proper way to use this to get the maximum use, so I had to watch the instructional video that was online by a TooFaced artist their self.

When I applied this, the tip was very pleasant to work with, because while it is firm, it is still flexible. The product glides smoothly across the lash line without having to fight with the tool to get the product out.

If you have ever worried about liquid liner smearing or smudging as the day goes on, than you can stop your worries right this instant, because this liner will not budge! Where you apply it, it is going to stay all day, with no fading or smearing whatsoever! I adore the staying power that this liner provides!

Left to Right:
Thick line
Tight Lining
Thin Line

This was not my favorite tool to tight line with, so when I would wear this, I would just tight line with my good old pencil eyeliner. Neither was I a fan of using it as a dotting tool to emphasize my lashes, it looked too fake on me, but... I really loved using it as a traditional eyeliner! Depending on if you want a thin line (apply it with the three tips aligned side by side along you lashes) or a thick line (apply it with the three tips aligned on top of one another along your lashes) you will get a precise fluid line that is highly pigmented.

If you want to wing out your liner, this tool makes it a piece of cake to get a fine tip on your cat eye! You can even make an outline of the line you want and then fill it in using it as you would when applying a thick line to your eyes!

In other words... This tool will make applying any type of line that you want the easiest thing you have ever done in your entire life of beauty!

So, now here is where the love/hate relationship I have with this tool comes into play... Is it only me, or did this $22.00 liquid eyeliner dry out rather quickly for you, too?  I got this back in October and it was probably a month and a half later it started to dry out on me! I was highly disappointed in the lifespan of this product because I loved it so much.

Now, I did not use this every single day, because I thought that maybe I had legitimately used up all the product inside, but if that was the case, than you really get jipped on how much product you receive for the price tag! Seriously, I have had drugstore liquid liners last me longer than this one has!

Because of the fact that this dried out on me in no time flat, I will not repurchase this liner. I am very sad to say that, because I love how this performs and lasts all day, but I cannot spend $22.00 on a liner that dies on me a short time after. Honestly, there are drugstore alternatives that I really do like that perform to satisfaction that I will buy over this one.

What was your experience with Too Faced 3*Way Lash Lining Tool? Please do tell me, because maybe there was something I should have done to increase the longevity of this product... Please do let me know!




Have A Great Day!

bareMinerals Ready Blush In, "The One"

I have been testing out a few products from bareMinerals this past year and today I bring to you bareMinerals READY Blush in the color, "The One". This is a sample size that fits in the palm of my hand, it's so cute! I have to admit that I gravitate towards sample sized products when I am testing out beauty products because it gives me enough product to determine if I love it enough to buy a full sized version.

The full size version of this retails for $23.00, so lets check this out to see if it is worth the price tag!

This is a pretty pink-rose matte color that at first I thought would look chalky on my medium skin tone. But,  when I first tried this out and applied it, it gave my cheeks a natural looking flush, almost like I had been outside in the cold. It is a very beautiful color and I think that it would look good on most skin tones, as it is surprisingly natural. On darker skin tones, I have to question if this will show up, because it is still on the lighter side of a blush.

bareMinerals READY blush: The One

The formula is very pigmented, just as you would expect from the READY line of beauty products. A little goes a long way and, of course, it is buildable according to your personal preference. The feel of this blush is silky soft so you know you are getting a quality product that will live up to your expectations.

Overall I really like this blush formulation and the beautiful color, yet, I also know that I can find drugstore alternatives that compare to the texture and even the color that this bareMinerals blush offers. I know that this is a higher end product, and it is very pretty, which I can appreciate, but this did not standout as unique or different, and because of that reason I feel I can pass on their blushes and spend my $23.00 elsewhere.

Let me know what your thoughts are on this blush!




Have A Great Day!

Best Beauty Confessions Of 2014

Another year has gone swiftly by us and with that, countless beauty products have entered our lives. I want to share with you my most reached for and standout products that I have personally fallen in love with and could not live without this year.



Best Foundation of 2014:
It is hard for me to part from my much loved and repurchased Revlon Colorstay foundation because it is full coverage and masks my imperfections beautifully. Not to mention, the price tag is reasonable compared with high-end foundations that will perform the same way! When I choose to wear foundation, which is not every single day, I will wear this, because I feel if I am going to bother to wear foundation and go through the process of application, it better be worth my while!

Best Foundation Primer Of 2014:
This year I have tried three different foundation primers and the one that stands out to me that I know I will repurchase in it's full sized version is bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer. This smooths out my skin and fills in my fine lines perfectly! When I wear this I can be assured that my foundation and/or powder will not settle into my fine lines. So, I will not go without this when I want flawless application that will last!

Best Eyeshadow Primer Of 2014:
Hands down and no surprise here, is my ever faithful and ever true Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion that I have repurchased several times. I have tried a few that I do like, but this one is the one that I keep  going back to. Maybe it is for sentimental reasons, because it is the first eyeshadow primer that I tried that actually worked on my oily lids. Whatever the reason, this works wonderfully and I love it!

Best Concealer Of 2014:
I am not a concealer junkie and I do not wear it to cover extremely dark under eyes or imperfections on my skin, but when I want a nicely polished look and want to brighten my under eyes, that I reach for Mally Beauty's Cancellation Concealer System. I have done an in-depth review on this so check it out here.  I can see myself repurchasing this over and over!

Best Setting Powder Of 2014:
This year I have really liked bareMinerals Mineral Veil, because it is light weight and doesn't cake up my makeup. It helps my foundation to look as natural as foundation can look. There is no powdery or cakey buildup with this setting powder, so this is a definite winner!

Best Full Coverage Powder Foundation Of 2014:
Now, this is probably going to be controversial, because this isn't exactly marketed as a powder foundation, but on Physicians Formula's website it does say that their Mineral Wear Face Powder will even out skin tone and will give a natural finish. And when I apply this, it covers my imperfections all on its own, but still with a natural finish. So, when I want quick application or I don't want a full face of makeup, I will wear this and it gets me out the door while still feeling put together. So, here's to the most repurchased beauty product of my life, Physicians Formula Talc-free Mineral Face Powder. (Honestly, I have worn this powder, probably for the last ten years, no joke!)

Best Bronzer Of 2014:
I need a matte bronzer, I just feel that it looks more natural compared to one that has shimmer in it. That's why I turn to my Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Bronzer in the color Tan. This has absolutely no shimmer in it whatsoever and is the perfect shade for my skin tone. Some bronzers can lean too orange or red, but this one is a light brown color that adds just enough pigmentation, but it is not stark at all.

Best Blush Of 2014:
I love blush and I wear it all the time. The ones that I adore and reach for the most are my Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes. They are highly pigmented so a little goes a long way and the wear time is phenomenal, they last on the skin beautifully! They leave a natural flush, but just be careful, because they are highly pigmented tap off your brush before applying! I can see these lasting me a long while!

Best Eyeliner Of 2014:
I have tried several, let me tell ya! I have two standouts that I have reached for and will repurchase and they both are at two different price points! First, lets start with high-end eyeliner that I really love, which is Mally Beauty's Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner. This retails for $15.00 a piece, which is a hefty price, but this is so creamy and easily glides on the lids. It is highly pigmented and it truly will not budge, which is important for me! A more affordable option is NYX Slide On Glide On Pencils which are just as creamy and glides on just as effortlessly without budging! These retail for around $9.99 and is pretty much a great dupe for Mally's!

Best Eyeshadow Palette Of 2014:
Without having second thoughts, I knew immediately it is Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, because this has all the neutral shades that I adore in a variety of finishes. These are not all shimmer or frost; it includes several much needed matte shades that I use for blending and so forth. This is a travel friendly palette in the sense that you will not need to bring along any other palettes, because this one has it all! Check out the review I did on it here!

Best Mascara Of 2014:
I know, by now you have realized that I have fallen in love with Mally Beauty this year, but I promise you, she does deliver! And when it comes to mascara, Mally Beauty's Volumizing Mascara is amazing! This is my third tube of the stuff and my go to mascara when I need length and volume! Read about this mascara here!

Best Lipstick Of 2014:
You know I love lip products and I have tried several and many, but one that I really have fallen in love with is bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick, because it is very pigmented and creamy! This wears comfortably on the lips and has such a wonderful formula that stands out from all the others that I have used. I can't wait to purchase more of these!

Best Lipgloss Of 2014:
Yup, the crown goes to Mally once again! I just love the formula of Mally Beauty Highshine Liquid  Lipstick Pens and how they wear on the lips. I know, they are called liquid lipsticks, but if you read about them in my review here you will see why I have placed them in the lipgloss category. I just adore these and will continue to add to my collection!

Best Hair Product Of 2014:
Its all about the volume for me! I have flat hair, so I appreciate any volume that I can get, and Big Sexy Hair Root Pump gets the job done for me! It comes out like a foamy mouse and all you need is a little bit of this. Spray it onto the roots of your hair on top and work it in with your fingers. Blow dry and it gives you instant volume and texture! You can style it however you want and it keeps the volume nicely! This is my third bottle!

Best Perfume Of 2014:
That would be Vera Wang Princess, because it is such a girly soft and sweet scent. I cannot describe scents at all, but I can tell you that it is light and sweet... Just go test it out of you haven't before and you will see why I have loved it so much this year!

Best Random Product Of 2014:
I love this stuff and keep it by my bedside all the time. It's C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve that help to keep my lips soft and smooth. Yes, it's just like vaseline, but I love the sweet rosy scent that this has. It definitely does work on dry patches, also. I have used this for that purpose and have had great results! I find this at Bath And Body Works and have repurchased this many times, so you know I can't go with out it!

Best Honorable Mention Of 2014:
I really love Mally Beauty Eyeshadow Sticks. She has two different versions, as far as I know, and I have a few of each of those versions and they are amazing and lovely to work with! While back I did a review on one of her Evercolor Shadow Sticks that you can check out here. Most recently I did a review on her Age Rebel Eyeshadow Sticks that you can read about here. These are a gem that you have to check out!

Top: Mally Age Rebel Shadow Stick
Bottom: Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick

Left: Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick In Saddle Shimmer
Right: Mally Age Rebel Shadow Stick In Burnished Violet

Most Disappointing Product Of 2014:
Now,  I had purchased Too Faced Bulletproof Brows just about a year ago exactly and I used it up until its last drop. I did a full review on this and you can read about it here if you are interested. This product held up well for my brows and kept them in place and filled in the sparce areas without making them look harsh. Yes, you shall notice that there is some product left in the pan, but sadly it is all dried out and comes off crumbly now. I have to say that I had high hopes about this and had a great first impression about this product, but about three months ago I had noticed that it was starting to dry up and was not as creamy as it was when I first purchased it. So, For the price tag and the fact that I did not get through the whole product before it got horribly dried out, this was a bummer of a fail for me!

There you have it! These are my most beloved beauty products for the year 2014!
Hopefully this can help you decide of you want to try out any of these for yourself, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
I know I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for the world of beauty and I will take you guys along in my journey of discovery!





Have A Wonderful Year!