Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collection - Review, Photos, Swatches

A dreary and dark day in my area sets the perfect setting for curling up on the couch with a mug of hot dark chocolate for some good old-fashioned blogging!  Today I have one of my purchases from the Sephora F/F sale from a couple weeks back - the Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collection, a set of two full-sized liners (0.04 oz.; in Mat Black 0L [black] and Pearly Brown 2L [pearly medium brown]) and four mini liners (0.025 oz.; in Dark Grey 21L [shimmery gunmetal], Blue with Green Highlights 12L [metallic teal], Champagne 23L [warm metallic champagne], and Black Purple 6L [blackened purple]). 

L to R: Mat Black 0L, Pearly Brown 2L, Dark Grey 21L, Black Purple 6L, Blue with Green Highlights 12L, Champagne 23L

I think most are familiar with Make Up For Ever's Aqua Liners, but if not, they are a solid, long-wearing staple that I keep on rotation in my makeup collection. They have good pigmentation and can be purchased individually for $18 at Sephora. As for this set, it is a lovely little classic collection that offers a variety of colors, none of which are too crazy, and a great value at $36 (basically, it's like purchasing two full-size and getting four minis free). Unfortunately this set seems to be out of stock and the moment, but if any of these shades speak to you you can purchase the full-size pencil from Make Up For Ever's permanent line. Sephora frequently offers MUFE value sets, so keep an eye out!

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Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Star-Crossed - Photos, Review, Swatches

D'oh! This entry has been sitting as a draft for a few weeks now, figure I should post it!

I have a love/hate relationship with Kat Von D makeup products, either coveting them like precious treasures or resisting urges to throw them across the room (I exaggerate, but only just!). Luckily, the True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Star-Crossed falls into the former category! Here it is:

Cute, tattoo-like design packaging

Four deep, gorgeous, shimmery shades:

In terms of quality, this palette is about all I can ask for - long-lasting, pigmented, exquisite shades that don't fade for a good while following application. All swatches are over primer, and with that base these colors hold up quite well. The color story seems surprisingly warm and cozy, perfect for cold wintery evenings. I'm sure this isn't exactly the edgy and dark image Kat Von D had in mind, but I can't help what I imagine! :P

Overall, I feel the Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow in Star-Crossed in a decent addition to any collection!

Bonus - This palette is currently on sale at Sephora for $13 (down from $20)! You can find it here.

Sephora F/F Sale Haul of Shame!

Oh dear. It's that time of the year again (we all know what I'm talking about). Anyway, before I have a mental breakdown and fall to my knees cursing the tempting makeup gods and my weak willpower, I present to you my ultra, ultra shameful haul.

The bright spot? I stayed within budget. I've also vowed for no extravagant makeup purchases until February. I must say, however, the Illamasqua mystery box is pretty darn awesome, especially for the $48 with the sale! More on that later...

Did you take advantage of Sephora's sale?

Lynnderella Nail Polish in Evermore, Ghost of a Chance, Undead Red, VamPink - Review, Swatches, Photos

Happy Halloween! 

This is the last installment of my barrage of festive polishes. I do have a few more which I hope to get to eventually...

But now; Lynnderella!

Because all of Lynnderella's lacquers are horribly, terribly, awesomely complex, I think I do them the most justice by quoting official color descriptions from her site.

Evermore - According to Lynnderella, this consists of "black shapes with a potent multi-coloured microglitter". This is one coat of Evermore atop OPI Rumple's Wiggin':

 Ghost of a Chance - "Multiple- sized and shaped translucent white and pastel glitters in a sheer multi-shimmer base with a dash of rainbow dust. Inspired by the wardrobes of wraiths and fashionable ghosts attending New York Fashion Week." Swatched as one coat over OPI Skull and Glossbones:

Undead Red -  "A complicated mix of metallic and matte reds as well as holographic and iridescent blue glitters in a red base." One coat over OPI The Spy Who Loved Me:

VamPink - "Burgundy, magenta and holographic with a burgundy base." Shown is one coat atop of Orly Plum Noir.

What to say, what to say? All of these are lovely. And complex, and beautifully unique. Evermore is positively drool-worthy and quickly becoming a favorite. The only somewhat challenging application came with Ghost of a Chance, but only because I wanted to make sure I represented the hearts, diamonds, and other fun shapes. Otherwise, great formula! These provide a dollop of spooky sophistication to any Halloween outfit!

As far as I know, Lynnderella polish may only be purchased at the Lynnderella ebay shop.

Enjoy your Halloween and stay safe!

Pretty and Polished Nail Lacquer in Blood Clot - Photos, Review, Swatches

Today I have a stunning Pretty and Polished Halloween shade called Blood Clot! This is a bright red jelly with slightly darker red glitter. Swatched in three thin coats:

The name is so very fitting, and I totally get blood clots from the appearance of this polish. The formula is amazing and smooth; can't think of any criticism (nor do I want to!). A perfect color not only for Halloween but for when you're in the mood for a sexy and unique bombshell red lacquer.

You can purchase Blood Clot for $8.50 at the Pretty and Polished Etsy shop here (I'm not positive that it'll be back in stock, though), or on sale for $8.00 at the Llarowe shop.


Lastly - Because I’m a hopeless nerd through and through, and I shamelessly seize any opportunity to unleash my nerdiness on others, I'll crowbar in a few fun (?) facts about blood:

1. The basics: Red blood cells (RBCs), the biconcave discs that make up a large portion of blood, have been emptied of nearly all organelles (including the DNA-housing nucleus) in order to maximize their oxygen-carrying capability. The lifespan of your average RBC is 120 days, roughly 2.4 million are created in your body per second, and full circulation of a RBC takes about 20 seconds.

2. In our RBCs, hemoglobin is the molecule that binds oxygen for transport. At the center of this molecule is an iron atom, which gives oxygenated blood its red color. Most crustaceans, however, utilize hemocyanin, which contains a copper atom instead of the iron one found in hemoglobin. Because of this copper atom, these hemocyanins have blue blood rather than red!

3. My lab pays donors $7 per tube of blood (roughly 10 mL). Based on this pricing, as a woman, all of the blood in your body is worth about $3500.

Hemoglobin; Picture from Wikipedia

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Dollish Polish Nail Lacquer in Spectral Pup, Vampire's Coven, I'm the Boogieman - Photos, Swatches

It's a race to post all my Halloween swatches before the 31st, so expect this post to be less talk and more photos. (Or, as I like to say, drive-by swatches!) Feast your eyes upon some of the gorgeous Dollish Polish lacquers from her Nightmare Before Christmas inspired This is Halloween collection -

L to R: Spectral Pup (glow-in-the-dark), I'm the Boogieman, Vampire's Coven

Spectral Pup - One coat over OPI Pink Friday. This is a glow-in-the-dark orange and white glitter in a shimmery pinkish base -

Vampire's Coven, a red and purple glitter (including squares!) in a sheer black jelly base. Three coats -

I'm The Boogieman, a shimmery spring green base packed with green glitter of all shades. Two coats -

Lovely, no? (Not that I was expecting anything less from the amazing Dollish Polish!) Unfortunately I don't think these are available anymore, but please check out her beautiful offerings at her shop here. Full sized bottles are $8.75 each.