Who would do a Ben Nye Essential Eyeshadow review at this time?

Well, I would.  If your are lost somewhere between holiday sets, ABH Palettes, MUFE, UD sale, or if Natasha Danone worth the money or not, just step back and take a deep breath before you invest your pension fund on one of these.  WTF am I saying???  We all know that we will do it again and again, right?  After all, who needs a new car ....  And my kid is only five months old so college fund can wait.


All the shelves are packed with tempting sets and palettes and I chose to review Ben Nye Essential Eye Shadow palette.  Here is why:

• Because it is book definition Essential.  It is so essential that, they put two of the same colors into the palette; Vanilla and shell is almost the same thing just Shell is better because it is more pigmented.  Also, black and black-brown looks the same on the eyes.  

 You do not hear Bne Nye eyeshadows often. Couple of makeup artists mention them here and there but that is about it.  On the other hand, the brand is Uber in professionals' kits.  I came across this brand in 2014 IMATS and hooked ever since.  

The formulation is a tough nut to crack.  They are designed for stage makeup.  So you are working with hard powders.   But, the addictive part is that, they last even without a primer; no fading, no creasing, no color transfer, melting...  They stayed the way they are applied for hours and hours.  That is golden. So, I highly recommend them and I think they are worth trying. 

 I have been after this palette for so long.and I put off buying it simply because it looks dull in comparison with what is crowding the shelves.  I was hoping that it would be an economical option since I would be getting 8 for the price of 5/6 (each refill pan is $9.00).  Even though I do not regret it, as mentioned above, some colors are simply dupes.  There could have been better colors in this palette like Raisin and Mossberry.

Overall, I love Ben Nye Matte eye shadows but the palette is disappointing. If you are after a palette, Theatrical Eye Shadow palette looks like a better option. bye the way,  Camera Ready Cosmetics have the best Ben Nye collection. I am going to purchase from them from now on.

I did two looks showing the colors on the eye together with hand swatches. first one is the Browns.  I hope you find the review helpful.

Darn it!  I am going to say it:  I WANT A NATASHA DENONA EYE SHADOW PALETTE!!!! Yes, the large one.

Stay positive!!!  

When in doubt, pat a Beauty Blender on it!!!!

I am serious!  I am going back to Beauty Blender days and this time around I have much more appreciation for it.  I am aggressively using it with all my cream products and I am switching fast to the cream based, multi purpose products in the name of practicality.  At this point in my life,  I do not have time for all the shenanigans. Baby is watching.....

So I made a video about some honorable mentions to my all time favorite make up brushes and tools.  List seems long but actually is not with minimal space requirement.  Please consider that all these products have been in use for years now.

Baby is crying so bye now.

About New Makeup related .... Disclaimer: I still look the same.

I do not get this.... There are so many help groups for any type of addictions but none for makeup addiction.  Seriously! I watched any if not all "anti-haul" videos out there and do you know what I did?  I purchased fake ups from Ali Express.  I need HELP!  And, yes: I have no problem with my husband.  We are still doing it!!!

I was in between investing on Colour Pop or Ben Nye and than all my money went to Ali Express; one fake lash lead to new makeup travel bag and next thing you know I invested in bunch of fake makeup palettes.

AM I ashamed?  Little bit because literally I should not have purchased fake ABH. I have so much respect for this brand. But on the other hand, I purchased my first Sigma brush because it was an exact dupe for a famous MAC brush. And I loved it as much as I loved my MAC brush.  Same thing goes for Morphe.  Even MakeUPGeek got super famous for being a cheaper and better alternative to MAC.  Now MAC eyeshadow pans are same price as with MakeUp Geek.   Sooo..... Bad for MAC but better for the consumer.

Ok, today's post is gilt free.  It is the unbranded makeup travel bag; sturdy, little dude for a very reasonable price.  I rumbled about it in great detail if you are interested.  Store and item links are in the description box under the video.  I am debating on doing the videos for makeups tough.  Looks like it is going to be another several days before I receive any of them,  So lets see.  If they blow my mind away of course I will deliver.   Otherwise, it is gong to be 'why I will never buy makeup from AliExpress again' video.  Interesting psychology. But in all honesty, I have not felt this excited about receiving a makeup package for so long.  Maybe 'risky business' is the new trend after having too much.

Enjoy!

If you think you are not a morning person....

I have a case of Sundays because I hate Mondays.  So I hate both days and it is too much.  I read once that suggests something like this:  Do things that you like doing on those days; like go for shopping or movies.  So by doing your favorite things on those days, you will clean the negative image on your mind.  Eventually, you will be looking forward to these days.

Why Am I saying all this????

Because skin care should not be a hustle.  Instead, it should be something you look forward to no matter what!

I had a bit of a rough time during pregnancy.  I was looking for a powerful team to lift my spirit.  And here they come:

Desert Essence face wash is pretty amazing.  Before I wash my face, I rub my face with the jojoba oil because face wash can be little bit drying.

Than I use C serum form Drunk Elephant. This serum is bit sticky.  BE careful what you are using next because this product may peel off and you know:  IT IS THE MOST ANNOYING FEELING!!!!

Dr. Jart Ceramiding Cream is such a blast.  IT feels like it is pure cream, extremely soothing.  Deeply moisturizes without being oily or greasy,  Amazing for ladies with oily skin.

Than comes the sunscreen by Drunk Elephant.  I love how much glow this product adds to the skin.  It is a mineral sunscreen but it does not leave an annoying white cast. It is glowy and blurring.   However, it is nasty to put on. The texture of the cream is uneven; I believe due to the mineral sunscreen. It is like there is powder in this cream and too much of it.  If there is not enough moisture content, the powder starts to collect and feels like it is peeling off.  Now that there is little bit left in the tube, I am having this issue at every use. I wet my hands and rub the product on my face. This way the product fully gets absorbed by the skin without any residue. If I attempt to put it directly on C Serum, they peel off.

That is about it.  The process takes about ten minutes while my little one watches me.

It is important to find products that make you feel great about your self. Now, I am looking forward to my morning routine.


Stay positive and love yourself!!!!!

Dammnnn Girl! I cracked my Amaze eyeshadow!!!!

What is my obsession with these make up goodies?????   I was thinking about what eye shadow look to put while I was breastfeeding my baby.  Last year this day she was a week old embryo and she was transferred to me.  Now she is 3 and a half months old.  Amazing and I cracked my Amaze eye shadow. But it is all right. BEcause it is from Colour Pop. Colour Pop eyeshadows are not powder.   They are cream like with a bouncy texture.  So, as long as they do no fall somewhere yucky, you can press them back with a minimum drama.

Colour Pop Eyeshadows are so convenient for me because I can simply  layer them over a concealer or my foundation without a primer.  They are reliable most of the time.  I love their dark mattes if they do it right because they do not transfer to my crease.  But their metallics and glitters do travel and they get to my crease but they do not look like  smudged, muddy eye shadow.  So I am ok with them travelling.


I apply them with natural hair brushes, white goat hair being my favorite.  But I guess they soak up so much product because I go over them quickly.

I made a fairly large order; 14 new eyeshadows. And so far I have played with; amaze, central perk, and doe-a-deer. Amaze is a metallic rose gold and it is such a happy topper. It swathes as true metallic rose gold but it looks different over the eye lid. It looks more like pressed multi dimensional glitter wtih a pink shift.  It is not disappointing though.  It is still pretty.

Central perk and Doe - a- Deer are beautiful mattes but I wished Doe- a -Deer was darker.  They are both true to the color and they are good mattes; they blend easily, they do not smudge, and the color pay off is very good.  
  
The funny thing is, most of the time people talk about their metallic shades as mattes can be hit or miss.  But honestly, I am more fond of their mates now because they do not fade and transfer to each other.

I did a look with using there of the new shades,  More will be on the way.

Already established a makeup routine!!! But daily?

Has it already been a morning yet?  Get out when?  Which day is it?

Everything in my life rounds around my new born.  She is still a new born to me util we can establish a routine.  Every day is different but our night time routine is solid thanks o her,  She is my good girl.
I started a blog as a hobby during my struggles with infertility.  I can not believe she is already here and growing.

Ok, back to the subject matter before she starts fussing.   Make up is much needed for a new mommy.  Why?  Because it is still you in there even though you reflection in the mirror may be unfamiliar to you.  Blotting, back pain, and don't get me started with under eye and hair situation.  But it is ok.  I have so much respect to my self.  How would I know this body can handle so much?

Make up at his stage is a help to go back to your regular routine.  It is motivational and hopeful.  It has to be comfortable because your days are filled with million kisses, laughs, and facial expressions.

I tried out a new, light weight foundation but to be honest during the day I only do eye makeup.  I do not wear foundation everyday because I kiss and smell my baby a lot.

Here is the video me putting the foundation.  I have a facial routine coming up.  I come across some amazing products.  My skin is recovering fast.

See you soon!!!!

Make up routine of the new mommy

Sexy Lingerie or Two Faced Sweet Peach Palette?

I wonder how seriously we are fallen into the tracks of consumerism?   I mean do not get me wrong; I love make up.  And I have to admit that watching other's hauls on YouTube helped me during my IVF struggles.  I mean it!

It was my escape from the indefinite torture of not knowing whether my baby was going to survive or not.  I have watched maybe a thousand videos and we still have couple more weeks left.  Even writing this makes me nervous so I know that I will be falling asleep while watching someone's ULTA haul.

But seriously, it used to be about creating looks, unbiased reviews, cherished once in a while birthday hauls.  There are still so many great You Tubers but once in a while you get products pushed to your throat. It annoys me.

Also, all these people receiving these products weeks ahead to create the buzz, actually killing the surprise factor for me.  Once I see the application on the eyelid, the magic is gone.  How would you feel if someone told you the ending of Harry Potter while you were reading Half Blood Prince? Ok, I admit it: I am a bit jealous!  But if I do not wait for it, save for it, and pay for it, it does not make me happy in the long run.  Hobby becomes an obligation.

Again do not get me wrong!  I have a shopping list which can not be completed by five makeup shopaholics. My list usually starts with all the 1,625,222 eye shadows from ....

But, why?  It is ok to add a different color to your collection but buying things just to have them is a bit donkey.

Recently I have been watching anti haul videos.  I can not tell you how refreshing they are rather than running after some sold out palette which already was old news the day it was released.

Shopping your stash, smudging out your liner, enhancing your beauty are in, strobing, heavy concealing, and hyped up shit are out for me.  I can not possibly imagine my self in a sexy lingerie just yet but it may be the right direction for you: beauty inside and out, right?


Whatever makes you happy but do not get addicted to things except for Ben Nye Matte eyeshadows.  Opppsss

I also have a video in which my eye look supposed to look plum but due to lighting it looks brown.  Until next time....

Sephora Favorites Soko to Tokyo Review

Before I jumped into long list of productive criticism. let me explain what is going on.  

Couple months ago,  I was trilled to finally getting pregnant.  I was over clouds for about ten days before I faced the hard truth that PREGNANCY IS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK.  It is pretty hard on some women.  

Well, my body changed dramatically beginning with 6th week until 18th week. Constant throwing up, medications, losing 22 pounds.... You name it, I had it.  My skin and my hair was in horrible condition.  

Than I managed to gain 47 pounds in about 12 weeks following the end of my morning sickness. I eat constantly and unfortunately a lot of sweets. 

In summary, other that growing a second nose and beard, I have been having the worst skin discoloration of my life.  All that, urged me to seek immediate solutions and Sephora VIB sale arrived just in time.  

I purchased couple of Best of Sephora boxes in hopes to bring it together.  It also worked so much that I made my video sans makeup. I think I regret it a bit now but I am on a mission until I see a fab skin.

The video is quite in detail but I will summarize. 

Belif, The true cream-Aqua bomb-    There is no cream in this.  It does not moisturized at all.  I think it has too much alcohol and water in it that it does more damage that any good.  

Dr. Jart+, Ceramidin Cream -- Absolutely fabulous.  It moisturizes deeply without any nasty, greasy residue.  It plumps up to 15 years.  I need this cream at all times in my cabinet.  It is amazing under makeup too.  Oily skin friendly but if you are in your teens or twenties and dealing with oily skin, this may not be for you.  

Dr. Jart+, Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45-- Great coverage, velvety texture.  But could not last more that an hour on my skin.  I believe it is due to my oily skin.  It simply disappeared after an hour.  So I pass.  But if it lasts on your skin, you may not need a daily foundation routine ever again.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence-- I know many people who love this.  I value their opinion.  I used this product generously but unfortunately it did absolutely nothing.  I believe the price tag is misleading.  I expected a miracle for that price but it did not happen.  

Skin Inc., Pure Deep Sea Hydrating Mask-- Works if layered a thick coat to seal other facial products.  Especially, it was a dream to use with the Ceramidin Cream. It is quite impressive on its own too.  However, the original comes in a jar which pissed me off. It is a sticky product and I do not like the idea of dipping my polished finger nails inside the products over and over again.  If it ever comes in a tube like the deluxe sample, I will buy it.

Amorepacific, Treatment Enzyme Peel-- Pleasant, temporarily works, but freakin expensive. Pass.

Erborian, Creme Scrub aux 7 herbes-- Lovely.  If you still believe in traditional scrubs, or like to keep one in your cabinet to slab on in the morning for a fresh start, this is the one.  It smells awesome, it is gentle, and comes with a right price tag.  There are couple peeling products I would like to try before I set my mind on this. 

Boscia, Exfoliating Peel Gel-- Very effective, priced fairly.  But this is a very stubborn product.  If it gets stuck on your facial hair, I am afraid you need a shower.  If I am not up for a shower, I keep it within my T-zone. 

More skin care reviews are on the way!

Has It Been a Month Yet???? Time for a new SO Choix review! Focus Kevin Aucoin Color Makeup

Again People,  I subscribed to So Choix, where you can purchase or subscribe to receive samples of luxury make up items.  Sample sizes are $5 each and if you choose to subscribe, it is $20 for 5 samples.

You may rather spend that money to buy full size products, lets say from ColourPop. I absolutely think that it is wise my friend.   However, I did subscribed because, most of my make up shopping is compulsive. Clothes never fit, shoes hurt, and I do not enjoy accessories all that much.  But, make up always makes me feel fabulous.

So I keep buying and stashing and buying and stashing and... with minimum time on hand to actually sit down and try something new.  This way, thinks arrive in neat packaging in small doses.  The amount of money spend or the unimpressive-color-payoff-in-broad-day-light does not overwhelm me.  I use things for about a month, take notes for V.I.P (very impressive products) and right when I get bored, there is a new package to look forward to.

Wow, very long introduction for a colorful makeup review. I will kept the most important part short.

I ordered samples from Kevyn Aucoin AGAIN.  Something about this brand.... The products at first make me seriously angry; I do not get the price tag.  But, somehow they stick with you, maybe it is the smell or elegant representation, or the fact that you never look like clown with too much or too little.  And finally you give up: Maybe, it is worth it.


Fisrt sample; KEvyn Aucoin Expert Lip Color in Expert Bloodroses.

Fast facts:

The Expert Lip Color in Expert Bloodroses

• Amaze Balls- Burry me with this color
• Smells like Cherries
• Very glossy formulation
• Wears of really fast
• Leaves behind an amazing stain
• Bad packaging for a high gloss, super creamy lips stick formulation
• Difficult to maintain through our the day 
• Not cocktail friendly; you will leave a stain on every glass
• $35.00

If you love dark lips, I think this color is amazing.  It also has an amazing formulation; very creamy, glossy, smells awesome. I would definitely buy it if I had the balls to use this color on a regular basis. But I do not.  Soon I am going to be stay home mommy. 

Second Sample;  KEvyn Aucoin Lip Gloss in Bloodroses

Fast Facts; 

   .  

• Very glossy, WTF?  I mean, adds a triple effect shine
• Very Sheer on its own
• You may not think it is worth $30.00.  Then, why do I want to but it?????
• Very healing formulation. It repairs my friend very impressively in comparison with products specifically made to heal. 

Third Sample; Kevyn Aucoin The loose shimmer shadow in Citrine

•     
• Beautiful light, yellow, gold, shimmery loose shadow
• Great for highlighting
• Great to lightly dust over other eyeshodows
• You can easily build up the intensity 
• It has a foiled finish if used wet
• $29.00 originally.  Would last forever but, no.  So Choix sample comes with a ton of product

Forth Sample; Kevyn Aucoin eye shadow duos in 205- Rose Gold, Iced Plum

Not much to say about this because original price is $42.00.  This combination is definitely not worth for that kind of investment.  

• Rose Gold shade is beautiful in color and in formulation ; smooth, easy to blend...
• Plum shade is disaster; poor color pay off, blotchy.  I could not blend it with any of the brushes I owned and end up using it as a liner
• Is it worth the price? ARE YOU MADDDD?????

Last Sample; Kevin Aucoin Creamy Glow Duo in Bloodroses and Nuelle

I realized just now; 

My So choix smaple arrived the opposite way; more bloodroses than nuelle.

So the sample I received has a funny dose of the nude pink color, it is almost undetectable.  So I do not know how this color performs on the cheeks or can it be used a s a highlight.

But bloodroses is a very concentrated, plum shade.  It adds a beautiful flush of color to the face unless you do apply too mush.  I suggest Duo Fiber Brush.  I used ELF Stippling Brush to apply this color.  And never place the product right away to your cheek. First pick the product, swirl the brush at the back of you hand, and then apply it to your face.  It is wiser to build up the color instead up trying to wipe it.  

When it comes to cream blushes, I love Ben Nye though.

Ok, People. Wrapping up my lengthy review with a video version.  For next So Choix order, I focus on powder products from two different brands.  Enough with Kevin Aucoin for a while.  But, I think it is wise to collect Kevin Aucoin loose eyeshadow samples from So Choix.  The sample come with a ton of product.  

Stay positive!!!!