Collective (Drugstore) Haul & Swatches - Things I've Hauled While I Was Away

So while I was away, I did buy makeup here and there. I was intrigued by the LA Splash liquid lipsticks so I picked up a few shades. There was many other shades that appealed to me but decided to just pick these colors to see how I liked them. I love and hate these, lol. Will tell you more on my review.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Pop - Swatch and Review - Is It Really Worth The Hype???

I'm a little tardy to the party but after hearing everybody and their mama raving about this highlighter. I decided that I wanted to be cool too!
For those who don't know, Champagne Pop is a limited edition shade created by Jacklyn Hill in collaboration with BECCA Cosmetics. Jacklyn is a popular beauty Youtuber and to be honest I don't really follow or watch much of her videos but from the ones I've seen she seems pretty cool and fun to watch. Anyways, I didn't buy it because of her but I think since people raved so much about it, I figure I needed to see it for myself. I was really relieved that received it in pristine condition. I've seem a few reviews where the product arrived completely shattered. Apparently, the powder crumbles easily so must be very careful when handling this product and try avoid traveling with it.

Packaging

• The cardboard packaging had a nice touch and detail to it. It has embossed champagne bubbles. 
• The case has a unique design and feels pretty sturdy. It also include a mirror inside.
• .28 oz or 8 g 

Product

• Champagne Pop is described as a soft white gold with pinky peach undertone. It does look that way in the pan but once swatched it looks more like an shimmery golden peachy beige. This color will look good on a broad variety of complexion, between light and medium dark skin tone. 
• The formula feels incredibly soft, silky, and buttery. Makes me wanna to rub my finger in it all the time, lol. It is also very pigmented and intensely shimmery. It blends effortlessly and you can use less for a subtle sheen or layer it for an intense glow. 
• I find the shimmer particles not as fine as I would personally like and for some reason they emphasize pores and skin texture I didn't know was there. It looks beautiful in photograph and on camera but in person it looks like a disco ball, especially if you don't use a light application. 
• It last up to 6 hours before fading on me.

Final Thought

I can see why almost everybody raves about this highlighter. It has such a divine silky feel to it and the color is flattering for most skin tone. It is the most intense and shimmery highlighter I have in my collection. If you want to go all out and want people to notice your strobing face, this is for you. I love how illuminating it looks in pictures. The only thing I dislike is how it emphasizes skin texture. It's weird because I have fairly smooth skin and small pores but it makes my skin look a bit more bumpy and rough. If you have dry skin, large pores, or textures, you probably won't like how this will magnify them. I like it but not loving it. The price is more than what I am willing to pay but I will still keep it since I have nothing like it in my collection.

Rating: 9/10

Price: $38
Availability: Sephora

What do you think? Is it worth the hype? Personally, I think the hype an excitement of others was a bit exaggerated and misleading. It is pretty but still got a noticeable flaw. For $38, I really wished it made my skin look smoother.

Here, I have Champagne Pop on my cheek bone, nose bridge, forehead, brow bone

Here's a close up. You can see how grainy/pixelated it looks on my skin.

MAC Instigator Swatch and Review

Looking for a nice vampy fall shade? May I suggest Instigator? Wait what? I can't believe it's September already!

Packaging

• It's your standard bullet case with a nice weight to it.
• .1 oz or 3 g

Product

• Anyways, I was saying Instigator is described as a deep blackened plum. I would say that's pretty spot on. 
• This shade is opaque, creamy, and have that nice vanilla scent. It's supposedly a matte finish but I find it to look a little more like a satin at first. 
• The formula has very good pigmentation and applies smoothly and fairly evenly. Didn't feel drying or moisturizing. 
• I didn't do a wear test but judging from the opacity and formula, I'm sure you can easily wear this shade for at least 4 hours. 

Final Thought

Overall, I really dig it. Love this color. The formula is good too.

Watchu think? Would you wear this color?

Rating: 9.5/10

Price: $17
Availability: MAC, Macy's, Nordstrom

Sparkling Violet Makeup Look Featuring Colour Pop

Hey everyone,

Long time no see. I guess you can say I've been on a long vacation away from my blog. The sad thing is yes I still buy makeup and play with makeup. The blogging part just got left out. I'm trying to save money for a new and faster computer. I really dread using this computer for editing pictures and blogging.

I did this look a couple months ago. Oh and yes I chopped my hair. It's not too short. I like how light my head feels and how much easier it is to maintain. I miss my long hair a bit. I like how they look in picture better.

Product Used

Face

• I can't remember what bronzer I used but I used MAC Warm Soul as blush. I got it from the OCC store not long ago and really been loving it.

Eyes

• I primed my eyes with Estee Lauder double-wear Shadow Creme in Cafe au Lait
• On the inner corner of my eyes, I used Colour Pop Cricket, on the center I used Colour Pop Dare
• On the crease, I used Flump from the Sleek Candy palette.
• On the outer V, I applied Inglot 446 pearl 
• On the lower lash line, I lined MAC Chromographic pencil High Def Cyan and smudge Inglot 332 matte on the outer lower lash line.
• I lined the waterline with Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon Blacquer and the upper lash line with Revlon Colorstay Skinny liquid liner Black Out
• Filled my eyebrows with Anastasia Dipbrow pomade dark brown

Lips

• I filled my lips with OCC lip tar matte Pagan mixed with OCC lip tar matte Feathered to lighten the color just a bit 
• with a shimmer teal eyeshadow, I brushed a bit of it toward the center to give the lips more dimension

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick Feel The Love - Swatch and Review

Packaging

• Rose gold metallic case. I find the packaging neat, simple, with a high end touch to it. The cover slides all the way down to the base. 

Product

• Feel the Love is a medium rosy brown nude with a shiny cream finish.
• The formula feels a bit thick but it's very creamy, pigmented, and applies smoothly and flawlessly. 
• It's very hydrating and the color last for up to 5 hours before I notice signs of fading.
• It has a delicious cup cake scent. 

Final Thought

I'm not sure if this is a limited edition shade but I found it at the Bare Minerals outlet store. I wished the formula was a bit lighter but otherwise, it is an outstanding formula. The fact that it is thicker also helps with keeping the lips hydrated for hours and prolong the wear of the color. 

Rating: 9.5/10

Prom Makeup & Quick Life Update

I'm still alive...in case anyone is wondering. There are a few reasons why I haven't been around much on my blog lately. 

1. My computer is extremely slow. Yes, it's time for an upgrade and I'm hoping to get a new one in the next couple months. Because of that, it makes my time on the computer not very enjoyable since I don't have the patience to wait around, I've lost the desire to be on it.

2. Most importantly, I've hit a huge lack of motivation. I don't feel like anyone cares much my posts so I figure it wouldn't matter much if I don't stick to a routine schedule. 

3. Prom, graduation...wow, this is happening too fast for me. I can't believe my second kid is done with high school already. I feel like I blinked and a decade has gone by already. I'm at a point in my life where I feel something is still missing. Not quite sure what I should do with myself.

Prom week was pretty hectic for me. I wore many hats: seamstress, hair stylist, makeup artist, and photographer. First, we received my daughter's dress just 2 weeks before prom even though we ordered it like a month ago. I was gonna have it altered by a tailor but was too busy with work to find one so eventually I decided to save some money and do it myself at the last minute, smh....

Also at the last minute, I discovered that my daughter's dress was too small. At that point I was seriously freaking out. I'm not sure what happened because the size that we tried in store fitted her perfectly. The one she got even though the size was supposedly the same, it was a couple inches too small! I had to think fast and had the genius idea of creating a corset-like deal on the back of the dress. I purchased a few round jewelry hardware from the craft store and sew them along the zipper line and then used a medium size ribbon and weaved through the loops, which made the top of the dress totally adjustable. One problem solved, one more to go. The dress was way too long for her and had too many layers of tulle I needed to cut out. This project literally took me 8 hours to complete.

I curled her hair but hair styling is not my strong suit and by the time we were ready to take pictures, the curls went flat. Sorry for the lack of detailed pictures on the makeup. I was rushed rushed and forgot.

For Vanessa's makeup I did a smoky teal/purple:

• Benefit Creaseless Creamshadow Tidal Rave on the lid
• Sephora Mermaid Tail eyeshadow on the lid
• Urban Decay Flash eyeshadow and Mehron Pressed Powder Pigment Tornado on the crease
• Mehron Pressed Powder Pigment Hurricane Blue on outer corner
• Rimmer Scandaleyes eyeshadow stick blamed blue on waterline
• MAC Pearlglide Eyeliner Designer Purple on lower lash line.
• Physicians Formula Eye Booster Ultra Black on upper lash line.
• Anastasia Dipbrow pomade Dark Brown on brows
• NARS Laguna bronzer for contour
• Tarte Amazonian Clay blush Daydream on cheeks
• Yves Rocher Luminelle Mauve Poudre on lips

For Mandy's makeup, I did a gold/black cut crease smokey look:

• MAC Paint Pot Treasure Hunt on lid
• MAC Pigment Old Gold and MAC Glitter Reflects Gold on lid
• On the crease, Kat Von D Shade + Light palette (Samael and Shax)
• Anastasia Dipbrow pomade Dark Brown on brows
• NARS Laguna bronzer for contour
• Milani Baked Blush Rose D'Oro for cheeks
• Revlon lip butter Tutti Fruitti

Mandy's dress is by Charlotte Russe --> HERE

Vanessa's dress is from Peaches Boutique --> HERE

To view the rest of the prom photo session, you can hop over to my photo blog HERE.

Urban Decay Electric Palette - Swatches, Review, and Makeup Looks

Hey yall...I'm very tired at the moment. My sleep pattern has been out of wack these past couple days but fortunately, I have this review ready for you before I pass out.

Packaging

• Made of sturdy plastic with colorful clouds/smoke design that suit the colorful theme of this palette
• 10 eyeshadow pans, .04 oz or 1.2 g each. They are about the size of a quarter.
• wide mirror
• 2 sided eyeshadow brush with synthetic bristles. One side is ideal for applying eyeshadow on the lid and the other is ideal for lining the eyeshadow. I'm actually liking this brush. 

Product

• There is a warning that Slowburn, Savage, Jilted, and Urban are not for use around the eye. I personally didn't get any allergic reaction when I used them on the eye area but still a little bummed that Urban Decay would put out a gorgeous palette like this and have half of the colors with such a warning.
• Scroll down to the swatches for the description of each shade.
• Most of the shades have a pretty good pigmentation and are easy to work with. The texture and finish vary a bit between shades but most of them feel velvety and smooth.
• You can use a few of them together to create fun and bold makeup looks or use a wash of color for something more simple. 
• It's hard to pick a favorite shade because they are so beautiful in their own way but I'm super excited to have Chaos on hand. It's a truly stunning royal matte blue. My least favorite shade is Revolt since it's less pigmented and very frosty. I wished it looked more like liquid metal. 
• They last all day with a primer.

Final Thought

Overall, this is one of the best colorful eyeshadow palette I have in my collection. I love the bright packaging, large mirror, and handy dandy brush. Although I wouldn't call this a compact palette, it's a fairly good size and not too bulky. The quality of the eyeshadows are excellent. If you have sensitive skin you may experience an allergic reaction to some of the shades that they don't recommend to use on the eye area but I didn't have any issues with them personally. If you love to play with bright and bold colors, I would highly recommend this palette.

Rating: 9.5/10

Price: $49.00
Availability: Urban Decay, Sephora, Ulta

Revolt - shimmery light silvery. It's no doubt my least favorite shade of the palette. It's more of a frosty finish so the pigmentation is less intense. You can make it more intense by applying it wet though.
Gonzo - cerulean blue with slight shimmers
Slowburn - slight shimmery bright medium orange with red undertone
Savage - matte neon pink
Fringe - shimmery teal

Chaos - matte royal blue. One of the most stunning blue eyeshadow I've seen.
Jilted - fuchsia with blue shimmers
Urban - shimmery purple with blue shimmers
Freak - light warm toned shimmery green
Thrash - medium chartreuse with slight shimmers

Lastly, you probably remember these makeup looks if you have been following me for a while. Click on the link to view more pictures and detail of product used.

Look#1

Look#2

Look#3

Look#4

NYX Glam Liner Aqua Luxe Swatches - Glam Nude, Glam Platinum, Glam Pink

I've previously done a review on these NYX Glam Liners liners in different shades if you are interested in reading the review you can head over this post HERE, which includes swatches for the shades: Glam Azure, Glam Golden, Glam Lagoon, and Glam 24 Karat.

The only differences I noticed between these shades and the ones I previously purchased is that these were not thin and are pretty pigmented on the first pass. The other shades started out with a thin formula but eventually thickened over time.

Another thing I've noticed and thought was really weird is that the brush size and length is very inconsistent across the shades. The brush size on Glam Nude is almost twice the length of the others, it's a bit ridiculous.

Swatches from left to right:

• Glam Nude - sparkling shimmery light nude
• Glam Platinum - sparkling shimmery light silver
• Glam Pink - sparkling shimmery light pink

As you can see they are very shinny and sparkly. Definitely more appropriate for a glam or evening look but I think you can still rock these for a daytime look if you like that extra sparkle on your lash line.

Klenspop Contact Review - Bunny Brown and Ruby Queen Gray

Hey everyone,

Today, I have a contact lens review for you. These lenses were sponsored by Klenspop who kindly sent these two pairs for me to review.

The package arrived in a small cardboard box with bubble wrap for extra cushion. The products were in pristine condition. I received it within a week, which was a lot faster than I expected for a package coming from Korea.  

  

Each pair of contact is enclosed in a small box with cute cartoon design and instructions in the back. Inside the box, they also include a plastic looking tweezer to pick up the lenses from the vial and a contact case to store the lenses. I like how the case is transparent and allows you to see the color of the contact inside. I find the tweezers difficult to hold but what I do is pour half of the solution out of the vial and then gently drag them out with the tweezer rather than trying to pick them out.

If you've used circle lenses before then you must already be familiar how to open the vials but for someone new, here's what you should know that might help:

1. There is a notch marking on the vial to indicate where you should start.

2.  Lifting carefully lift the cover

3.  Pull it back

4.  At this point you can either go clockwise or counterclockwise and remove the aluminum seal.

5.  There will be time you may break off the plastic cover before you can break the aluminum seal. 

6.  If that happens, use a pair of tweezers or plier to remove the aluminum seal. Do not attempt to remove it with your bare fingers because you will likely cut yourself.

7.  Remove the rubber cap. \

8.  Prior to using the case, I always wash it with soap and water. Then I dip a Q-Tip in alcohol.

9.  I rub the Q-Tip on case to sanitize and disinfect any possible germs around it.

Here I have the Bunny Brown contacts. It's sold for $15 a pair, which is pretty affordable. It's 14 mm in diameter and has 38% water content. The contact is good for 1 year.

Bunny Brown is a warm dark brown that slightly lighten and add warmth to my natural eyes. They look quite natural and lovely. They offer a noticeable enlargement without looking huge and lastly, they are super comfortable. I can wear them all day without any irritation or dryness. 

On the left is my natural eye and on the right is Bunny Brown

Bunny Brown in natural light

Bunny Brown in natural light

Bunny Brown in natural light

Bunny Brown in flash light

Bunny Brown in flash light

Bunny Brown in flash light

Here I have Ruby Queen Gray. The pair is sold for $21.00. It is also 14 mm in diameter and contains 38% water content. It is also good for 1 year.

The Ruby Queen Gray is a rather unusual pick for me but because I wear a stronger prescription my choices were a bit limited. I decided to go with it anyways and I'm glad that I did. The enlargement is just right and perfect for me. Makes my eyes look bigger but not creepy. The design is really cute. Well at least in my opinion, they are really cute and fun because they have a diamond cut pattern. It's like wearing jewels on your eyes, hehe. I know it sounds weird but it looked better than I thought. I was a bit weary at first cause I wasn't sure about them but after trying them on, I love them. I noticed that they are also super thin. These are like the thinnest and most comfortable contacts I have ever tried. I seriously can't feel them at all. Now, the only thing that I'm not really loving about these is that I find that the power is a slightly off and not as sharp as they should be. It's not too bad. I can still see things just fine but I just can't read certain signs from a distance when I drive.

Ruby Queen Gray on the left and my natural eye on the right

Ruby Queen Gray in natural light

Ruby Queen Gray in natural light

Ruby Queen Gray in natural light

Ruby Queen Gray in flash light

Ruby Queen Gray in flash light

Ruby Queen Gray in flash light

There you have it. I love and appreciate the packaging and the way it was delivered. I've been wearing them for a couple weeks and both contacts are really comfortable and lovely. When I was taking pictures of the contact on one eye and leaving one eye bare, was like OMG my bare eyes are so little! Thank goodness for circle lenses for bigger dolly eyes. If you find the design appealing, they are totally worth a try. 

Feel free to check out Klenspop website HERE for more info and for other lenses they have available.