Cycle 5: Women of Comic Books/BH Cosmetics- BATGIRL

Batgirl
Featuring the BH Cosmetics California Collection- Hollywood Palette

I decided against doing a tutorial for the look, but here are the photos! For this look I used only the BH Cosmetics Hollywood Palette, which is just amazing. The price point and the pigmentation of these palettes is crazy. Certainly, there are better quality eyeshadows on the market, but the way these perform is well worth the $10 or less you'll be spending on them. They're especially awesome if you want to try and play with color without committing to an expensive product. Even if you've already decided colored eyeshadow is for you, you can stretch the lifespan of your Sugarpill, etc products by using mostly BH with a bit of the expensive stuff on top. I would definitely recommend BH Cosmetics eyeshadow to anyone!

\

The BH Cosmetics Hollywood Palette
Picture from bhcosmetics.com

I used the blues and yellows from the right hand side for most of the look, and the white from the top left as my browbone shade. Then, I promptly left the batcave to go kick some Gotham criminal ass.

Don't forget to comment with any questions you may have, and vote in the poll on the right hand side of the blog!

xoxo

Cycle 5: Women of Comic Books/BH Cosmetics- POISON IVY

Poison Ivy

featuring the BH Cosmetics California Palette Collection

So for my first look in Cycle 5, which spotlights the brands BH Cosmetics and Coastal Scents, I decided to do a look based off of the comic book character Poison Ivy. I am hopelessly inspired by her brown, red and green combination and was so stoked when I realized I had the colors in my BH California Collection to rock the look! I used all 3 of the palettes, but you could get by using only the Malibu palette, seeing as that's the one I used the most. 

Image from BH Cosmetics

Start with your choice of base or primer. I used the Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.

1 For the base of the look, I used the chartreuse (yellow based green) on the  right side of the Malibu palette, pressing it down in the middle of my eye using a sponge tip applicator.

2.After about two layers, I began shaping the look by applying the dark brown directly underneath the green in my crease. Kind of like a cut crease, apply it in a swift one-stroke brushing motion that wings out slightly. 3.Blend the matte brown into the green. Blending two matte shades is hard, so it might take a bit of time. 

4.Next, use the lighter matte brown to the left of the dark brown as a transition shade, blending it from the dark brown in the crease into the brow bone and toward the actual brow. Do not take the light brown all the way to the brow, however, because that's where we'll be putting our highlight. 

5. Take the eggshell color on the bottom right of the left side of the palette and apply it in your brow area as a highlight. For best results, pack the color with a small sponge tip then blend.

6. Next, to reinforce the shape, take the dark brown on the right side of the palette (the third shade in on the left side of the right side) and place it carefully in the crease ONLY in the outer v. Blend the shimmery brown you just applied into the matte brown you already had on, thinning it out as you blend and pull it toward the inner corner.

7. Take the eggshell color you used earlier and apply it in a similar fashion in your inner corner. Carry a bit of the shadow over to where the green and brown end. Blend in all three spots toward the inner corner.

The rest of the steps are optional. I did use the other two palettes a bit for this look, but as I said it it possible with just Malibu. The rest of the steps will reference other palettes.

8.Take a bit of the matte red from the BH Cometics Hollywood Palette on a fluffier brush. Dust the color lightly over the brown as a blender shade. This is also a good way to tie in the reds of Ivy's color palette into the look. Of course, after you do this, you'll want to lightly go over the area with the browns you used in steps 2, 4, and 6. 

9.  Use your sponge tip applicator to apply the mint green shade from the BH Cosmetics San Francisco Palette over the chartreuse color you applied in step one. Blend the two colors up into the crease a bit, but avoid making the colors have lil bald patches. You are aiming to seamlessly blend the colors into a different shade of green. Apply another layer of the original chartreuse color and blend to your discretion. 

TIP: If you don't want to mess with the bright matte red of the Hollywood palette, you can use the darkened reddish color in the San Fran palette. It's on the left side, top right. The effect won't be the same but will still get the point across. 

Then you're done! Apply eyeliner, or don't! Apply mascara, or don't! I wasn't wearing mascara in the photos and I didn't wear mascara all day. 

As far as these palettes go, they are 100% worth the price. If you apply them correctly, they are packed with pigment. The matte shades are a little powdery and a little harder to blend, but the turnout is totally worth the bit of extra work.

Keep an eye out for my BATGIRL tutorial and don't forget to check out the POLL in the bottom right hand of the screen, beneath the search bar. 

xoxo

MELT COSMETICS Holiday Haul and Review: Space Cake, Bane, and Blow

Melt Cosmetics Review and Haul

Not too long ago, insta-famous lipstick company Melt Cosmetics relaunched and refueled their website, fully loaded and including 2 NEW shades- Bane and Blow. I got my hands on Blow and Space Cake and got Bane by accident (they sent me a tube of Bane instead of Blow, so I emailed the company and they sent me Blow.) 

These lipsticks are ULTRA MATTE, and SUPER pigmented. They each retail for $19.99 on Melt's website. Blow, Space Cake and a few other shades are extremely unique colors.  The lipsticks smell like French Macrons and are totally, totally fierce.

Let's get started.

SPACE CAKE

Blue-based, flat matte grey. Possibly my favorite lipstick ever.

OVERALL RATING: A+

Certainly one of the most unique colors I've ever come across, and much more flattering than you'd think. For a matte lipstick, it is creamy and fairly easy to apply. Have a lip brush handy for touch ups, and be sure to keep moisturized. Long lasting and out of this world. 

BANE

Ultra matte black, packed with pigment. Darker than dark. Surprisingly creamier than a matte black should be. The trickiest of the three to apply. Keep some q-tips near by. Moisturize before application. This lipstick goes on like a MAC Ultra Matte so if you don't like that, you will not like Melt Bane. This lipstick is perfect for people who will actually wear black lipstick. It would be a bit harder to layer with than Portland Black Lipstick Co's Black. Way more pigmented than what I've seen of Hautecore, but it does require a few extra swipes due to the matte finish.

OVERALL RATING: A-

The lipstick is really hard to apply. The pigment is intense, but due to the stiffness in application it can be really really tricky. If the color wasn't so ridiculously pigmented it'd be receiving a B. This is a black lipstick for serious lovers of the shade. Consider Portland Black Lipstick for playing around or layering before you get Melt. 

 BLOW

Blow is a darkened teal with heavy forest green undertones. By FAR the creamiest of the three, this color was packed with pigment and a dream to apply. The color is just gorgeous. If you are a lover of the color teal like me, or a connoisseur of strange lipsticks, this is something you NEED in your collection. The color is plain ol sexy, and the look that Melt pairs it with in their look book is equally beautiful.

OVERALL RATING: A++

I cannot stress enough how pleasantly surprised I was with the pigment to creaminess ratio in this shade, as it is a green MATTE lipstick. One swipe creates a fully packed lippie that will last you a couple hours. If you're in love with the color or itching to try something new, give it a shot. It's absolutely fantastic and I will be wearing it out. I'm impressed!

Happy lipsticking, ladies! Melt did not disappoint and I feel was totally worth the wait and price. The pigment in these lipsticks is enough to make you give up MAC for good. Bane was the only shade I wasn't super impressed with, but it was still a fantastic lippie. And shout out to Melt for having fast and friendly customer service! I will ABSOLUTELY be buying more from this company. 

xoxo

HOLIDAY HAUL 2013: LIPSTICK REVIEW PART 2

HOLIDAY HAUL 2013: LIPSTICK REVIEW 

PART 2

Hello again lovelies! As promised, here's my second part of my Holiday Haul 2013 Lipstick Review. I bought a lot of lip products this Christmas (among other things!) and figured I'd review them for you guys in case you're looking for your dream lip! All pictures are with natural light and no base underneath the product. Let's get started!

"Heroine"

MAC Lipstick 

$15.00 

matte finish

MAC Heroine is back! So naturally I snagged myself a tube. It was sold out on MAC's website, so I picked it up from Nordstrom's with free shipping and a few free samples! Can't beat that!

Heroine is a purple matte lipstick, with red undertone. It's a very BRIGHT purple. Fantastic if, like me, you're a fan of the purple lip but do not want to limit the color to winter. Heroine plays well with my olive skin, and I must say, is equal parts beautiful and unique. It has more magenta in it than my previously reviewed lippie NYX butter lipstick in Hunk. Subsequently, it is much brighter.
             
PROS                                                                                                                        

• Unique, head-turning color     
• MAC quality- highly pigmented, smells delicious, etc.
• Now available in the permanent line

CONS

• Very vibrant, hard to downplay
• Drying, due to matte finish (I would recommend a chapstick under it!)
• Expensive! Small tube.

OVERALL RATING: A

Simply in love with this lipstick. If you love the color too, try it out! Just be sure to wear something moisturizing underneath. 

"Emily"

Addixt'n Cosmetics

Limited Lip Collection

creme finish

$7.99

addixtn.com

So this lipstick is not named after me but does share my name! And by some coincidence, I loved the color so I decided to give it a shot!

I heard of this company via Instagram- and I'm very impressed with the product! I would recommend the lipsticks. The price is hard to beat for the quality. Companies like this are the real heart of the industry- small, consumer-friendly companies owned by makeup enthusiasts trying to make the best product possible while keeping the price realistic. Gotta love it! And the packaging is adorable.

PROS

• Very pigmented, creamy lipstick. 
• Multi-faceted glitter with a bit of background color
• Stays where you put it
• Perfect for layering

CONS

• A little stiff in application

OVERALL RATING: A

A very unique, versatile, and fun color. The Addixt'n Cosmetics lipstick formula is very creamy and pigmented. Love it!

"Blair"

Addixt'n Cosmetics

Limited Lip Collection

creme finish

$7.99

addixtn.com

Ahh, yes, a lipstick for my alter-ego. And again it's gorgeous. It's like this collection was made for me.

Blair is a bright, bright red with an almost copper-y tint to it, laced with gold glitter. But! Not overwhelmed by gold glitter. Again, I've not seen a lipstick like this. 

PROS

• Very creamy, pigmented lipstick.
• Multi-faceted, bright red with a gorgeous gold overlay.
• Stays where you put it

CONS

• A little stiff in application

OVERALL RATING: A

Just beautiful color. Perfect partner for a smokey eye, or a new spin on the ever popular "winged eyeliner and red lipstick" look.

"Black"

Portland Black Lipstick Company

creme finish

$12.00

portlandblacklipstickco.com

Portland Black Lipstick Company is a popular indie lipstick company based in Oregon. I heard about them from an article in Beautylish on the best black lipsticks. I was researching alternatives to MAC Hautecore. Beautylish gave PBLC's classic black a raving review, so for the price I was more than ready to give it a try. Let me tell you, I am really impressed. Not only was the customer service wonderful (Kim, the owner, answered my inquiry about shipping promptly and included a free sample because my products shipped late) but the product itself is absolutely wonderful. I bought my haul about a month ago, and since then the price of the lipstick has risen from $10 to $12 (and the samples from $1 to $2) but it IS WORTH IT. 

PROS

• Creamy, moisturizing lipstick that also packs a pigmented punch
• One swipe = completely opaque 
• The price is right!
• Sturdy packaging
• Smells like mint!
• All natural product!
• Excellent customer service
• Company willing to work around allergies
• Does not stain skin (like MAC dark lipsticks do!)

CONS

• The lip-balm style container is both a blessing and a curse, providing a very wide swipe. 

OVERALL RATING: A+

Do not buy Hautecore. Do not buy Styletto. Buy this, and thank me later.

The product is so black, it matches the container!

"Artificial Amethyst"

Portland Black Lipstick Company

creme finish

$12.00

portlandblacklipstickco.com

I bought the sample size of this, which is packaged in small baggy. Naturally this means you have to use a lip brush to apply it, making it a little more challenging to use. However I was so impressed with this company and loved this color so much I will be buying a full-size, so no worries there! Artificial Amethyst is a deep, dark purple with a wonderful shiny shift. Think MAC Cyber, with a bit more depth and a whole lot more glam.

PROS

• Creamy, moisturizing lipstick that packs a pigmented punch.
• One swipe = fully opaque
• The price is right!
• Smells like mint
• All natural product
• Shade made with common allergen- company willing to make a batch without for allergic persons
• Beautiful, beautiful color
• A lot of product comes in a sample bag!

CONS

• Packaging of sample requires use of lip brush

OVERALL RATING: A+

A notable dupe for MAC Cyber, and a fantastic product in it's own right.

"Pewter Cauldron"

Portland Black Lipstick Company

creme finish

$12.00

portlandblacklipstickco.com

If you're thinking of trying the grey lipstick trend, Pewter Cauldron is your best bet. Described by Portland as "The color of Duct-tape, with bluish undertones," Pewter Cauldron is a creamy grey lipstick over a blue base. This product is a notable dupe for the popular shade Space Cake by break-out company Melt Cosmetics, but is much cheaper and readily available, whereas Melt is $20 per tube and is always sold out.

PROS

• Creamy, moisturizing lipstick that packs a pigmented punch.
• One swipe = fully opaque
• The price is right!
• Smells like mint
• All natural product
• Beautiful, beautiful color
• A lot of product comes in a sample bag!

CONS

• Packaging of sample requires use of lip brush

OVERALL RATING: A

Buy this before you spend the money for Space Cake. This company cannot make a bad lipstick.

"Blood Red"

Portland Black Lipstick Company

creme finish

$12.00

portlandblacklipstickco.com

 According to the website, Blood Red was an accident. In film, we call accidents like these "happy accidents." This color is just amazing. By far the easiest to apply out of the four lipsticks I bought from Portland, Blood Red is a deep red with a distinctly copper base that'll have you feeling gorgeous. This is a unique color, but I like it better than all the other popular reds I've seen for that very reason.

PROS

• Creamy, moisturizing lipstick that packs a pigmented punch.
• One swipe = fully opaque
• The price is right!
• Smells like mint
• All natural product
• Beautiful, beautiful color
• A lot of product comes in a sample bag!
• Unique shade
• Creamy application

CONS

• Packaging of sample requires use of lip brush

OVERALL RATING: A+

A standing ovation is in order for this shade. It stands out of the crowd. It'll drive you batty and leave you thirsty for more (blood.) 

That's all for this review! Keep these shades in mind for Valentine's Day, and all the other important events in your life.

Thanks to all the aforementioned companies for keepin' it real.

xoxo

HOLIDAY HAUL 2013 REVIEWS: LIPSTICKS part ONE

LIPSTICK REVIEW

HOLIDAY HAUL 2013 (Part One)

Since I bought so many lipsticks, I decided to break my lipstick reviews into two parts. This first part features FIVE of my brand new lipsticks!

MAC Lipstick in "Cyber"

$15.00 MAC Permanent Collection

"satin" finish

 Cyber in the tube-
Open and Closed

Cyber is a darkened purple-grape-ish color with a satin finish. The color itself is a gorgeous, darker shade. The payoff straight from the tube is just beautiful and totally worth the pricetag.

 The combination of the color and texture DOES require careful placement- it's easy to mess up with a shade this dark. But the color is so wonderful it's an easy thing to overlook, as long as you have the time to play with it. As with any serious lipstick, be sure to moisturize your lips a few minutes before application of the lipstick to prevent drying throughout the day, Lipstick does NOT require many swipes to be opaque or several reapplications throughout the day, but will not stand through eating and drinking (I've never found a lipstick that would!)

Overall Rating: A   

if you've been looking for your perfect dark purple lippie, give Cyber a try. This shade has not been making waves in the beauty community for nothing.

ULTA Lipcolor in "Cappuccino"

$4.00 on ulta.com

"shimmer" finish

I got this lipstick in a set from Ulta that the Ulta neat me had on sale- it was their "Autumn" themed makeup bag full of fall-colored makeup. At first I was unsure of this lipstick but after a few swatches I began to really enjoy the color! The payoff is awesome and the formula is really creamy. For $4.00 this shade is a steal! 

Try partnering this shade with a cute nude matte lip liner, or layering it with a pink, brown, or nude lipstick. This one is great for playing with!

"Cappuccino" in the tube

Overall Rating: A

While this lipstick didn't jump out at me at first glance, it really adds a wonderful pop of glimmer to your favorite nude matte lipstick. Totally worth it!

NYX Round Lipstick in "Lala" 

$4.00 on nyxcosmetics.com

"creamy" finish

This lipstick was an impulse buy. I really wanted to try Nyx's lipsticks and the mauve-tinted-purple promises of this color drew me in right away. The lipstick has no added smell so there is a faint smell of lipstick, but it is really only noticeable if you're looking for it. While the application itself is easy and the product is very creamy, it takes a few more swipes than I'd like for the color to be fully opaque. I like partnering this lipstick with other colors. And for $4, I think it's totally worth it. The color "Lala" itself is very unique. Also, the packaging is really sturdy. The lipstick slides up the tube very carefully and does not feel loose in any way. I love that!

Overall Rating: A

I really enjoy this shade and I would recommend Nyx Lipstick to any fan of smooth, creamy lipstick. 

NYX Butter Lipstick in "Fireball"

$6.00 on nyxcosmetics.com

"creamy" finish

This is one of the two lipsticks I picked up from Nyx's new launch, Butter Lipsticks. I've been a matte-finish girl for a while now so I figured it was time to switch it up, and the hype this lipsticks have been receiving made me want to check it out. With Fireball, a bright coral color, I was not disappointed! Fireball slides on like, well, like butter without sacrificing pigment. I can't wait to rock this color for summer time! Fireball is wrapped in very sturdy packaging and has a very slight smell in the tube. I would recommend this to any fan of coral lipsticks or anyone thinking of trying out the Butter Lipsticks- Fireball knocks it out of the park!

Overall Rating: A+

Nyx Butter Lipsticks are just awesome. The consistency is beautiful. and the pigmentation with this shade in particular is just gorgeous. If you're in the market for a creamy coral. definitely try this one. If the rest of the Butter Lipsticks are anything like this one, then good job Nyx!

Nyx Butter Lipstick in "Hunk"

$6.00 on nyxcosmetics.com

"creamy" finish

"Hunk" was a bit of a disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I love love love the formula for these lipsticks. And the color is really beautiful. But looking at the tube, the color of the actual lipstick and the color it swatches to are two completely different colors. I really enjoy it, but it's not what I expected! The color is comparable to MAC Heroine, with more pink. A lot more pink. I can see myself  using this shade in layers more during the summer. But if you're looking for a more purple shade, Hunk is not it. It smells like the other Nyx lipstick and again is packaged really sturdily. Nyx offers real quality for a nice price, and that's one of the reasons I love this company.

The shade is a lot more magenta than I'd like.

Overall Rating: B+

While the formula for Butter Lipsticks is wonderful, this color is very misleading. I was hoping Hunk would be more of a combination of purple and pink, but it is mostly pink. However if you like the color you see here and are interested in the Butter Lipstick formula, definitely give it a try. 

More to come soon bbs!

xoxo