ArtOnIt Cosmetics: Beautiful Blue

Today's look was created using gorgeous blues! I often mix and match different shades but sometimes colors within the same range also compliment each other well. For this look I paired dark and light blue and I deepened the crease to create an effect similar to a smokey look. Since the shadow is so vibrant I balanced the look with even foundation and neutral blush and lipstick.

Back in December I brought you a review on a stylish brand called ArtOnIt Cosmetics. The packaging represents the uniqueness and individuality of woman and displays interesting sketches and contemporary art.

The shade I am wearing on my eyelids is from this line and the shadows are quite impressive and bold! The texture is smooth, easy to blend and the formula is highly pigmented, non-creasing and long-wear.

This beautifully vibrant blue I used is called Marseilles 

The eye shadow retails for $21.50 and you can check out the rest of the line HERE

**Disclaimer: This product was provided for review. All opinions stated in this review are my own and based on my experience with the products. Results may vary based on individual use.**

Essence Cosmetics: Metal Glam Eye Shadow Review

This spring essence launched some interesting new eye shadows to create edgy, glamorous looks. The Metal Glam collection includes 6 eye-catching shimmery shades that are made to be “high coverage,bold, soft and long lasting.” 

The colors I have are: 02-Coffee to Glow which is a bronze with silver shimmer, 01-Jewel up the Ocean which is a stunningly bright blue and 03- Frosted Apple.

The first layer of shadow has a lot of mesmerizing glitter but keep in mind that this layer is an over-spray and will wear away as you use it. Although the top layer of glitter is enticing, to get to the solid metallic pigment underneath you have to dig a bit deeper but once you do the texture is silky smooth and the colors are shimmery. 

Each eye shadows retails for just $2.99 and they are rather large. I did find that some of the colors have more pigmentation than others. The shade coffee has subtle color pay-off whereas the blue and red appear richer. Frosted Apple also shows up as more of a metallic pink.

Swatches (with primer)

To get the most out of these shadows I recommend using a good primer and layering them on with a sponge applicator for a bold look. I have purchased a few great shadows from essence in the past including the 3D shadows and the single eye shadows which are some of my favorites. The Metal Glam line is great for such affordability and I had no trouble working with them. The shadow also lasted all day without creasing.

Below is a makeup look I created using the Metal Glam shadow in the shade Jewel Up The Ocean. I love how pigmented it is! 

Other essence products used in photos include:

*essence Get Big Lashes Triple Black Mascara (reviewed below)

*essence Lash Mania Reloaded False Lase Mascara (reviewed below)

*essence Sun Club bronzing highlighter (review coming up!)

*essence Long-Lasting lipstick in the shade Wear Berries (Stay tuned for review!)

When applying mascara I usually apply it in a few layers. The Get Big Lashes mascara has an ultra black formula and a mega fiber brush "for maximum volume." Although I did not get ultra thick, voluminous lashes it did separate well without clumping and retails for just $4.99.

The Lash Mania Reloaded false lash mascara has an "innovative star shaped brush" that is meant to create a "dramatic push up effect" while "separating, defining and adding volume and length." The brush did a great job gripping my lashes and combing them upwards to create decent length although using both mascaras together was most effective. It retails for $3.99.

To check out these shadows and more great products from essence click HERE

Currently essence is running a contest; you can enter for a chance to win a $500 gift card! Details can be found by clicking HERE. Contest ends June 5th 2014.

Silk Naturals Cosmetics

On my hunt for more beautiful eye shadows I came across a brand called Silk Naturals. This company strives to use more natural ingredients and offers gluten free and vegan options.

After testing these shadows I can confirm that my hunt was a success! The loose mineral shadows from Silk Naturals are stunning, bold, highly pigmented and great quality. The website offers an impressive 300 colors to choose from and although the swatches online are a bit one dimensional you will be pleasantly surprised at how dazzling the shadows are once they arrive.

Let’s take a look at the colors I have

 Swatches

The shadows come in 5g jars and retail for just $4.50 each. The colors adhere well to the skin so they are easy to work with and highly buildable. 

Tip: I suggest applying these shadows before the rest of your makeup to avoid fall-out getting stuck in your foundation or face products. Use a flat eye shadow brush and pat the color onto the lids for more precise placement and tidier application.

I usually find loose eye shadows to be more pigmented than pressed shadows so they tend to be my favorite to work with. The color Paranormal is one of the most electrically, remarkable blue pigments I have ever used and shadows contain fine glitter fragments that appear mesmerizing under lights.

Since Paranormal is my favorite shade I could not wait to try it! This deep blue definitely stands out and many women stopped me to inquire about this color. Before application I primed my lids with the Stick Em shadow enhancer by Silk Naturals (reviewed below).  I also used the color Aubergine right above my crease and blended it well to create a faded effect. I lined my lower lash line and highlighted my tear duct area with the color  Ruffian. 

Eye Shadow Enhancer

The eye shadow enhancer is a gel primer that intensifies each shade and makes them stand out and last longer. The gel goes on clear and wet and dries quickly. A little goes a long way and although I do have other shadow primers I like how the Stick Em enhancer works with these particular shadows. This primer is only $4.99 and a must when working with such gorgeous shades. You can find it HERE.

Chromatic Cream Eye Shadow

Silk Natural also offers Chromatic Cream eye shadows that come in a tube with a gloss-like applicator. I received the color called Grand Central which is a saturated foil gold shade.

The cream eye shadow applies very wet and highly pigmented but dries matte. You do have to be careful with how much you apply because one drop spreads and covers a lot of surface. The wand is not my ideal method of shadow application and I do have to use my finger to blend and smooth. Once dry the color does not transfer and stays put all day! The creams come in 24 pretty shades which you can find HERE. They retail for $4.99 each. 

Photo courtesy of Silk Naturals 

To see more great products from Silk Naturals visit SilkNaturals.Com

**Disclaimer: These products were provided for a sponsored review courtesy of Silk Naturals. All opinions stated in this review are my own and based on my experience with the products. Results may vary based on individual use.**

Dramatic Makeup

Today I have a quick makeup post mixing different shades of purples, lavender and blue. I love mixing my shadows together and creating my own custom shades. Sometimes I don't quite know what I will end up with which makes it even more interesting!

To get this look I used:

Eyes:

*Coastal Scents 120 (palette 2 ) -crease colors

*Madison Street Beauty Wisteria- lid color (mixed with purples from the 120 palette)

*NYC liquid eye liner

*Urban Decay Primer Potion

*Maybelline Rocket mascara

Lips: 

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lip tar in the color Strumpet

Face:

*e.l.f face primer

*MAC Studio Fix foundation

*MAC Pro-Long Wear concealer

*MAC Studio Fix pressed powder

*Make Up Forever HD powder

*NYX blush in the shade Pinched

*e.l.f shimmering facial whip

Inglot Palette: Peacock colors

So since I got my Inglot palette in Abu Dhabi I have been trying out different looks with it. I love how pigmented the shadows are and how I am able to build them up. The texture also makes them quite easy to apply.

For this look I used the first three colors in the palette. This look and these colors actually reminded me of  the blue and purple hues in a peacock feather. When my friend saw me with these shadows on the first thing she said was "I love your eye shadow, it looks like a peacock." 

Purple and Blue eye shadow

Hi everyone,
 I decided to experiment with purple and blue eye shadows from my Coastal Scents palette. I have to admit, blue eye shadow is not a color I often wear because I associate it with bright pink lipstick and old tie dye jeans back from when I was a baby and people's style was a bit...shall we say different.

I decided to be brave and use some of the blue shades in the palette and I have to say I like how the colors look.

To get this look I used:

*My Coastal Scents 88 Shimmer palette

*I used the same outer V color on the outer 2/3 below my waterline

*I used the same inner eyelid color to highlight my inner tear duct