{Review} Sephora Eyeshadow in Choco Excess

I don't buy a lot of Sephora brand makeup, so when something really really catches my eye it is usually something spectacular. This color, Choco Excess (number 19) is absolutely STUNNING!!! The problem is everything else about it. Not even the gorgeous color can even come close to making up for how difficult it is to work with this eyeshadow.

Look at this color!!! Click on the pic and zoom in, cause it absolutely gorgeous!!! It's a warm brown loaded with A TON of silvery glitter.

A swatch:

Another swatch:

And now, you can kinda see what I was talking about before. This eyeshadow is HARD. HARD AND CHUNKY AND GRITTY. If I use a brush to apply this product then I end up with not only fallout but also glitter every where all over my face and clothes. If I use a sponge tip applicator (like I used to swatch) same thing happens. If I apply it wet it becomes impossible to blend it out. There's no winning with this eyeshadow!

I don't know why the texture of this shadow is so hard. I've used Sephora brand eyeshadows before and while they've never been my favorite I've never had an eyeshadow be this hard, scratchy, and gritty. Part of the problem is that there is nothing holding the glitter in the shadow so after you blend out the shimmery, glittery goodness of the eyeshadow in the pan doesn't translate onto the eye.

For $12 you cold buy several drugstore eyeshadows that are much better quality than this one from Sephora. Or add a few bucks and get a MAC shadow. I wish I could say I love this shadow cause the color is so pretty and unique, but sadly the formula of it just doesn't cut it.

Pros:

-Very pretty color.

-Reasonably priced.

-Nice packaging.

Cons:

-Gritty and very hard.

-Glitter doesn't stick, ends up EVERYWHERE.

-Hard to work with, even to just et it on a brush.

-Doesn't blend well.

Info:

Price: $12

Ingredients: Polyethylene Terephthalate, Mica, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Magnesium Myristate, Talc, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Phenyl Trimethicone, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimethicone, Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyurethane-11, Phenoxyethanol, Maltodextrin, Sorbic Acid, BHT, CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tin Oxide.

Disclosure: The product featured in this post was purchased by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure don't hesitate to ask in comments.

Review: Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Groupie

Just in time for the holidays, especially New Year's, I thought I'd do a review on this glitter liner I got as a gift a little while back. I know that New Year's Eve is when everyone breaks out the silver, the shimmer, the glitter and I thought I'd give you a review on something that works very well for the type of product it is.


The shade I got it in is Groupie, a glittery (well, obviously, lol!) pale pink.


Isn't it stunning!? There's also a pale golden shade that I've been eyeing.

The brush:

I really like the brush on just about all of Urban Decay's liquid liners. I usually don't like the brushes that come with liquid liners. They tend to be too thick for my liking as well as carry too much product making application messy. I usually use my own small liner brush with them. I don't have to do that with this liner or Urban Decay's regular liquid liners. The brush is very thin and is just flexible enough to make lining very easy.

Some swatches:

As you can see, it is just glitter suspended in a clear gel of some sort.

Another swatch:

It's sooooo pretty!!! I love pale pinks and lately I've been loving anything with glitter and sequins on them. I went through a huge matte phase these last couple of years, but lately I've been craving glitter, haha! As you can see from the swatches above, the liners are on the sheer side, but really I think this a good thing because I think most people who wear this liner want just a hint of glitter, not a straight line of just glitter. If you do want a more opaque look it's easy enough to layer this liner. just give it a few seconds in between layers to dry a bit. What really impressed me was the lasting power of this liner. It stayed put all night! I was worried that I would end up with glitter all over my face, but I didn't have to worry at all! This liner is perfect for glamming up a simple look or just going out for the night. At $18 it isn't cheap, but then again you probably won't be using this everyday so it should last you a long while.

As much as I love this liner, I do have to warn CONTACT WEARERS that glitter liners, or any kind of glitter product, around the eyes isn't a good idea. I actually ended up giving this to my sister because it got into my eyes and I ended up ruining a pair of contacts. If you're careful and don't rub/touch your eyes you may get away with wearing this liner, but I don't recommend that you risk your eyes. I wore the liner on the upper lash line and then I also put some on my lashes for a bit of extra oomph, which is what I think did me in. I had a couple pieces of glitter end up in my right eye and let me tell you, it wasn't fun. If you do wear this liner with your contacts, I highly urge you to completely wash all of your eye makeup off before going to bed. And don't just use a wipe because you may end up rubbing the glitter into your eyes. Try using a liquid makeup remover on a cotton bud. This works best for me. If you don't wear contacts and are looking for something to give your eye makeup a little punch on New Years Eve, I highly recommend this one!!!

Info:

Price: $18 (for .25 oz)

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Polyethylene Terephthalate, Propylene Glycol, Glycerine, Acrylates Copolymer, PVP, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Polyurethane-11, PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben.

Disclosure: This product was given to me as a gift for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, feel free to ask in comments!

Early Christmas Gift!!!

So the other day a friend of mine gave me my Christmas gift early cause she's leaving on vaca for the next month to Italy (so jealous!). I know, not really a haul, but I thought I'd share anyway!

Here's what she got me:

Urban Decay Glitter Eyeliner in Groupie
Sephora Brand Cream Liner in Made in Manhattan
Sephora Brand Bronzer in Bahamas

I've kinda been wanting to try these, especially the two liners, so I was really happy. I'll be posting reviews soon! Especially on the liner!

Review: Mac Smoky Thrillseekers Pigments

First review from my Black Friday hauls!!! I got Mac's Smoky Thrillseekers mini pigment set. I have to say that these are stunning! You get five mini pigments for $32.50, definitely a value!


L to R: Jigs & Jive, Blue Brown, Naked, Reflects Blackened Red (glitter), Dark Soul.

Some swatches (sorry for blur):

Top to Bottom: Reflects Blackened Red, Dark Soul, Blue Brown, Jigs & Jive, Naked.


L to R: Naked, Jigs & Jive, Blue Brown, Dark Soul, Reflects Blackened Red.


L to R:Naked, Jigs & Jive, Blue Brown, Dark Soul, Reflects Blackened Red.

First off, one def plus for these is versatility. Included are shades that you can use for an everyday look or a going out look. I know a lot of people are concerned about Blue Brown looking too strange, but although it is duochrome, the teal shimmer is very understated when you blend. I've been using Naked all over the lid and brow and then putting a bit of Blue Brown into the crease. You can't really see the blue until I move my head and catch the light. I'm very fair, so if I works for me (pretty much casper, lol!) it should work for someone with a darker complexion. I've actually been getting a lot of compliments and a lot of people have asked what I've got on my eyes, which is always nice! My favorite of the bunch is the Reflects Blackened Red. It's gorgeous!!! I don't have anything like this in my collection. I wore it out to a party the other night just over a smudged black shadow stick (from NYX) and it was so glittery and shiny. My eyes looked wet/sequined! And it makes my blue eyes pop! I highly recommend this set. My only complaints are the small vials --very difficult to get product out sometimes when I'm in a hurry, and the fact that except for Jigs & Jive, all of the colors are permanent. If you already have some of these, it may not be worth buying this set. If you're new to pigments though, I highly recommend!!! And this is one of the Mac holiday releases that actually saves you money!!!

Info:

Price: $32.50

Ingredients: Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. Pigment may contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Chromium Oxide Green, Chromium Hydroxide Greens, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Manganese Violet, Ultramarines, Bismuth Oxychloride, Red 7.

Disclosure: The products featured in this post were bought by me for the purpose of my personal use. If you have any further questions about disclosure, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.