12 Wants of Christmas!

Being like most makeup lovers I seem to be collecting more and more individual color eye shadows than entire palettes lately. Don’t get me wrong but sometimes there are just those colors you see that either aren’t included with, or are not the same brand as your usual favorites. These three colors are definitely ones that have peeked my interest. Here they are, my top three eye shadow wants!

1.     Dollip by Sugar Pill can be purchased at www.sugarpillshop.com

This dreamy vibrant shade of hot pink will get you noticed for sure! I’ve been following Sugar Pill’s Instagram for some time now and first saw Shrinkle (Amy) gaining some major popularity about two years ago. With her own flare and pizazz she has been able to turn something simple like eye shadow and lashes into a major branded company. This will HAVE to be an On The Shelf for 2014 for sure!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.     If You’re Rich by The Balm can be purchased at www.thebalm.com

Calling them “Overshadows” The Balm has created an all mineral product line in a limited color range. This one has a nice pewter-purple tint which I know would vamp up a couple looks for me. Hopefully at some point I would be able to try this and see how well it blends as a shimmer or as a standalone with some lashes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.     Simply Marlena by Makeup Geek can be purchased at www.makeupgeek.com

This screams Girly Girl with its pretty pink color and shimmery gold flecks. Having worn Chickadee and Burlesque, Makeup Geek can boast that they not only are affordable but make a quality product that all will love. These shadows are fantastic and I can make only glowing comments because they ARE that good.

12 Wants of Christmas!

 

This week the products are focused again on lips, but more importantly lip maintenance. With so many companies and different ingredients that may do more damage than good how can you tell what works? Just remember K-I-S-S (Keep It Simple Stupid) when it comes to lips, less is more and more is well… just more.

These are my top three lip care products in no specific order:

1.       GlaMER Lips Lip Scrub can be purchased at www.makeupbymer.com

With truly natural ingredients you can’t go wrong with this scrub. Right now with the addition of Holiday scents/flavors there is definitely something for all. If you are like me and have tried your own DIY scrub with refined sugars and honey with warm water STOP! Besides making a mini mess there is something about scrubbing/exfoliating with coarse table sugar that doesn’t exactly work alone. The GlaMER Lips product line has taken the guess work out of the DIY person’s hands and put it in a clear container so you can see exactly what you have.  Having recently won an InstaGram contest sponsored by MakeupbyMER this can actually be happily taken off my list. I am more than excited first off to say THANK YOU SO MUCH, to Mercedes the woman behind GlaMER Lips, for hosting such a FANtastic give away. I’ll be posting an On The Shelf in January about the products I won!

 

2.       Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment can be purchased at www.fresh.com and www.sephora.com

Since I have used Fresh’s Sugar Lip Treatment with better results than your average ChapStick I was after a tinted moisturizer without a plumper or additional additives. Other than the obvious rose tint it is a great moisturizer with SPF as well. Now with the addition of eight colors there may be a sample pack brewing for me to hunt down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.   Lush Lip Scrub in Bubble Gum can be purchased at www.lush.com or at Lush retail stores

Black Friday 2013 was my introduction to Lush in person. And I was BLOWN away by the personal touch this company puts behind their products. Having fun and quirky organic handmade products you feel like a kid in a candy store (of sorts). Having time to sample this I LOVED the taste of it LOL. I know I wasn’t supposed to be eating it but if it melts or falls into your mouth it is 100% safe to swallow. If you have a chance definitely find a retail store in your area for a one on one with a staff member. I for one will be going back after the New Year and ring in 2014 with personalized facial products just by answering some questions and trying samples in store.

 

On The Shelf

For the month of December my On The Shelf mini reviews have been “shelved”.  In its place will be my “12 Wants of Christmas!”  Every Monday (for December only) I’ll post a list of three products that have peeked my curiosity and hopefully I’ll find under my tree or in my stocking.

These are my top three lipstick wants in no specific order:

1.       DGAF by melt can be purchased at www.meltcosmetics.com

After releasing this as one of their newest ultra matte colors in September it sold out immediately! With the onslaught of Lil Aliens wanting to be blue, melt announced they were going to have another limited production available in November and without much surprise it sold out again! I for one will be pounding the keyboard a little harder next time it is in stock.

 

2.       Babette by Lime Crime can be purchased at www.limecrime.com

If pink shades are your thing then you need this. “Pastel coral” is how it is described from Lime Crime but to me it booms pink with a hint of neon without being too much Malibu Barbie for me.

 

 

 

 

3.       6six6 by melt can be purchased at www.meltcosmetics.com

What can I say? I am simply a sucker for deep dark colors. The almost melancholy burgundy feels full of soul in all the pics I’ve seen. Unfortunately this creamy color is sold out for now along with its sister shades. All good things come to those who wait.

On The Shelf

Overview:

OCC Lip Tar (Black Dhalia)

Purchase Price $18.00 + tax

Retailer Sephora (Local Mall)  

Check out www.occmakeup.com for more product info.


Product Review:

It is official, I have OCC! The attraction to OCC’s Black Dhalia Lip Tar is obvious with its deep dark rich burgundy color with hints of brown undertones. Having done a ton of research (June 1^st post) the bar was set extremely high for this product so you can understand my excitement when it came time to review it. My day job requires me to wear a particle mask/shield for a lot of the work day so contact rubbing is going to happen. With this in mind it was very important to me that the lip products I use must have longevity. Through breakfast, lunch, dinner, and countless water bottles the color stayed perfect. My lips never felt dry, tight, or tacky and I believe the blend of essential oils (hemp and peppermint) played an important role in this. This is one of those great products a little goes a LONG way.

Packaging is simple and durable as each Lip Tar individually sold (OCC also sells collections) comes in a clear vinyl travel case with a mini application brush making it perfect for any bag. Be careful as things will get messy if not properly capped. Be sure to purchase the clear Lip Tar as it preps the lips for the color you choose and then seals it making it last all day. Plus the clear Lip Tar makes a great gloss!

On The Shelf

Overview:

J. Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette

Purchase Price $4.99 + s/h

Retailer www.jcatbeauty.com  

Check out www.jcatbeauty.com for more product info.

Product Review:

Having a subscription to IPSY’s Glam Bag, going on year two now, I am always excited to receive my monthly goodies. Months ago this glittery cream shadow palette arrived and I couldn’t wait to get it on my lids. Having a weakness for glitter I always have high hopes for products such as this. Making a comparison between the J. Cat Cream Sparkling Shadows and, my fav so far, Eye Kandy Sprinkles would not be fair since they are two different products.

The colors in this palette are truly fall inspired and I really do love them but that’s where my adoration ends. Between the smearing and the clumping I couldn’t figure which one caused me more of a headache. After three different applications all ended in a huge disappointment. Attempt number one, no prep to the eyelid just the product and it simply would not stay in place and smeared. Next, using a translucent powder to prep my lids the cream reacted the same way as with nothing at all. Last, applying Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance had the worst result of all with the cream shadows as they did not blend.

Trying as I may the applications did not seem any harder or easier than any other eye shadow but it seems as though a lot of product had to be used to achieve any look. For me this is definitely not the “cat’s meow”.

On The Shelf

Overview:

True False Lashes (Gypsy)

Purchase Price $0.75 + shipping

Retailer www.truefalseproducts.com  

Check out www.truefalseproducts.comt for more product info

Product Review:

Obviously the packaging on all the True False lashes make a lasting impression. But the distinctive graphics and colors of the Gypsy lash box is definitely eye catching. You will get a great full thick look when you apply these lashes, added to a darker eye makeup gives you that exotic mysterious appearance.

The lash line is thick enough for a generous amount of glue. Make sure to purchase adhesive since it is not included with this brand, I prefer DUO Eyelash Adhesive and you can find it virtually everywhere. These lashes are stiffer than most so proper application and patience is needed. There were no issues blending mascara from my real lashes into these falsies. 

The Gypsy lashes reminded me of those stiff falsies you buy around Halloween time but without the regret. The WOW factor is there and the price will please even the most budget minded person. Having so many choices from True False you should just buy them all for a different look every day of the week!

On The Shelf

Overview:

The original beauty blender

Purchase Price $19.99 + tax

Retailer Sephora @ JCPenney

Check out www.beautyblender.net for more product info

Product Review:

This is truly a beauty buy that all should commit to. A few months back I purchased it’s horrible wanna-be cousin, an off brand hard foam rubber with absolutely no give and impossible to clean. The Original Beauty Blender is a soft proprietary blend of foam, that you will be hard pressed to find out what exactly it is comprised of, is non-irritating in a great pink tear drop shape makes it perfect for applying concealer under the eyes. By simply adding water it grows, you then pat dry on a towel dab it with your favorite product from concealer to foundation and away you go. The application process may take a couple tries to get the stippling motion down but once you do you’ll love the end result.

Using MAC’s Studio Fix Powder (Aug 27^th Review) and Urban Decay’s Naked Skin Foundation (Sept 23^rd Review) I was amazed how well this worked with both. Although the look totally satisfied my needs the amount of product that was used versus standard brushes was on extreme opposite ends. With the powder I found it did not need as much. On the other hand the liquid soaked right up into the Beauty Blender, which is not to fault it, but perhaps the water content in the Urban Decay foundation is to blame. Clean up is a breeze, use a good makeup cleanser you would on any other brush or you can buy Blendercleanser which is available online.

 

This is another one of those products that was created by a makeup artist who knows what a good tool can do. I am definitely going to buy another one just for my on the go makeup bag.