Reviews and Other Stuff

Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Eyeshadow Palette

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow Review + Swatches

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow review

 

Hello guys, Happy Almost Spring! I can’t believe Winter’s almost over, however, it’s still cold from where I’m at and I’m still rocking my dark outfits along with my smokey eyeshadows. Speaking of eyeshadows, there’s one I’ve been playing with lately and it’s the Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow (10 shades: $125). For a long time, I’ve been wanting to have at least one PMG eyeshadow because the shades are just so unique and so stunning to look at, not to mention the glowing reviews. PMG Labs seem to be equated with high-quality makeup along with outstanding ingredients and superb pigments. Out of all the PMG eye palettes, I had my eyes set on the Bronze Seduction eyeshadow because, for me, the colors in this palette seem to be the most cohesive. However, I keep skipping it because it’s really pricey.ย 

 

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow

 

When this Bronze Seduction eyeshadow kept getting sold out for quite some time, I decided, it’s time to pull the trigger and find out how will this eye palette perform on me and does it really live up to the hype? or at least, are the Pat McGrath eyeshadows really worth it?

 

The PMG Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow has 10 ultra-pigmented shades which are composed of 3 finishes: matte (3), shimmer (3), and glitter (4). At first glance, it gives you the impression that it’s mostly full of bronzey and coppery shades. Upon closer look and initial swatch test, it’s actually full of a pretty versatile group of colors because it can create a neutral daytime look and it can also take you to a date night ultra-glam occasion.

 

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow review

 

Skin Show Divine Glow – shimmery golden champagne

Entrapment – mid-terracotta matte

Blaze Bronze – glittery golden bronze

Rose Gold 005 – glittery rose gold

VR Fire Opal – glittery color shifting chartreuse

Xtreme Aubergine – darkened matte violet

Gilty Pleasure – shimmery bronze-taupe

Disobedient – matte mahogany

Blitz Flame – shimmery metallic crimson

Astral Luna Gold – glittery white gold

 

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow swatch

 

Let’s take a moment to admire the packaging of this eyeshadow palette. It is SO beautiful! and so well-thought-out. This probably has the most beautiful presentation for an eye makeup palette that I’ve ever seen. But we all know that PMG cosmetics, in general, puts emphasis on the aesthetics of their packaging.

 

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow review

 

I find the matte shades to be buttery soft and very easy to blend. They’re so pigmented that I have to be really light-handed when applying them and I have to use a very soft blending brush like the ones from Ulta (seen HERE) in order not to overdo my eye makeup game.

 

The shimmery ones are also quite pigmented but they do have a nice soft shimmery effect, but it’s not like they don’t go unnoticed. They’re softly dramatic and they complement the matte shades very well, especially if you don’t wanna go all shining, shimmering, splendid during the day. When it comes to the glittery colors, I find them to be very unique, especially the VR Fire Opal and the Astral Luna Gold. These two shades are kinda out of this world and they shine bright like a diamond, LOL. I love how they transform the lid into this all-out dramatic look-at-me type of eye makeup. These glittery shades are definitely commanding yet they feel soft and not scratchy on the lids. I did see a few subtle fallouts but it’s nothing serious. I love that I could layer the glitter from just a hint of it to a super blinding one if I want to.

 

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow

 

Dupe-wise, I could think of Urban Decay Naked Heat (reviewed HERE), Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in #4 (swatched HERE), and some shades of the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk (HERE) and Rose Gold Palette. Although, I think quality-wise, this PMG Bronze Seduction eye palette feels a bit of a step up among all those palettes mentioned. As for the quality of its glittery shades, they definitely reminded me of the glittery ones from Tom Ford Cream + Powder Eye Color (seen HERE).

 

Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow

 

 

Overall, I highly recommend this Pat McGrath Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow Palette. I think out of all the PMG eye palettes out there, this is probably the best one in terms of color coherence and each shade is truly beautiful and universally wearable, apart from looking very unique. My eye makeup looks stunning whenever I wear this and this lasts the whole day without smudging. However, I still recommend that you use a lid primer when using this palette so as to make sure that your eye makeup stays put no matter what the situation calls for. If you’re going to have just one Pat McGrath eyeshadow in your life, this has got to be the one since this will bring out the best in your eyes.

 

The Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction Eyeshadow is currently available at Sephora and Bergdorf Goodman

 

What’s your favorite PMG Eyeshadow palette?

 

 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 & Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 review and photo

 

Happy Friday Everyone! Lately, I’ve been playing with a few Natasha Denona eyeshadow palettes and today I’d like to finally review her famous eyeshadows and tell you guys what I think about them. For some time, I’ve seen and swatched the Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 on my arms and even the Minis in-store but I’ve never really actually applied the shades on my lids. I did like the way the colors feel on my fingers because they seemed so soft and so buttery, but I was a bit put off at first because I think the price is a bit too much per eyeshadow. Anyhow, eventually I got tempted and decided to try three of the Eyeshadow Palette 5 and also the latest Mini Nude Eyeshadow. I picked the shades based on how universally wearable they are and how they’d complement my skin tone.

 

Eyeshadow Palette 5 (5 x 0.08 oz: $48) – This palette features five creamy buttery eye shades that are well-paired together to create a coherent and beautiful eye makeup look. All shades are really pigmented and very long-lasting and they blend very easily. Each palette has a combination of matte and shimmer finish and you can create a soft daytime eye makeup down to a date night glam look. The formula of these palettes is said to be water-resistant and is infused with real crushed pearls. While that is really something, all I know is that I’ve worn these eyeshadows in the snow and my eye makeup is still intact and on point. I haven’t experienced any fallouts with the shimmery shades from these palettes but I did notice that some of them tend to have a soft shimmery finish when applied with a brush, so if you want to enhance your lid with more shimmers, you may need to apply the shimmery colors with your finger. Other than that, I really love the soft buttery feel of these eyeshadows which kinda reminds me of the texture of my favorite Anastasia Norvina Eyeshadow Palette (swatched HERE) and the Lorac Pro Eyeshadow Palette (seen HERE).

 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in #02 and #04

 

#02 – This eyeshadow palette gives me that plum vibe. Think Urban Decay’s Naked Cherry (swatched HERE) for a slight resemblance. I feel like some of the shades in this palette may be a little too similar to each other but this palette has one of the most wearable color schemes out of all the Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5.

 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in #02 swatch

 

#04 – The color scheme of this eyeshadow palette gives me that rust vibe. Kinda like Urban Decay’s Naked Heat (seen HERE) but not quite like it exactly. This palette also has the most wearable shades out of all the ND eyeshadow palettes I’ve seen.

 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in #04 swatch

 

Camel – This palette has four varying shades of matte browns and one shimmery copper, which reminds me a bit of Chanel Clair Obscur (reviewed HERE), but I prefer the Chanel one better because one of the matte brown shades here called Safari pulled on yellowish on me as if I had jaundice, but it’s still very wearable and so are the rest of the shades.

 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in Camel

 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in Camel swatch

 

Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($25) – This travel-size palette has a very similar color scheme to the Camel palette above but this one has three shimmery shades and two matte ones.

 

Natasha Denona Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette swatch

 

Out of all the palettes reviewed here, my most favorite is actually #04 because it seems to complement my skin tone very well and next would be the Mini Nude Eyeshadow. I do find that names of each eyeshadow don’t seem to correspond to their true colors, and their shades tend to differ a lot when photographed on a natural light versus in a shade.

 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 review

Overall, I love these eyeshadows a lot. On a scale of 1 to 10, one being “very poor”, and ten being “very impressive”, I’d give these palettes a score of 8 to 8.5. I love these for the long-lasting pigment and coherent color scheme, on top of that, they’re great for oily lids since they don’t settle into the crease.

 

Have you tried these palettes before? What do you think? Are you a fan of Natasha Denona Eyeshadows?

 

The Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 & Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette are currently available at Sephora and natashadenona.com

 

 

Sephora Spring 2018 Beauty Insider Event Wishlist and Recommendations, Part Two.

The Sephora Spring 2018 Beauty Insider Event is back again for its second round tomorrow April 20th Friday until April 23rd Monday. If you missed out on some of the beauty products you wanted to buy or had simply been eyeing a particular item for some time, tomorrow is your chance to get them at:

 

15% Off Everything In-store or Online for Rouge Members. Use Code: YAYROUGE.

15% Off Everything In-Store or Online for VIB Members. Use Code:ย YAYVIB

10% Off Everything In-Store or Online for BI Members. Used Code: YAYINSIDER

 

If you’re not sure what to buy and are looking for some guides and recommendations on what products to try, check out the first part of this article-My Wishlist for the Sephora Beauty Insider Event Spring 2018 HERE.

 

I had a lot of fun shopping last week’s Sephora sale. The store was packed and even though some of the stuff I wanted were sold out by the time I reached my local Sephora store, I was still able to find the stuff I missed out on by ordering them online. The shipping was pretty fast too. I’ll be posting some of my Sephora loot on my Insta (@reviewsandotherstuff) very soon, so stay tuned for that. I still have some stuff I wanted to buy at Sephora and I can’t wait for tomorrow’s event to start. So here’s the second part of my Wishlist for the Sephora Spring Bonus 2018 Beauty Insider Event. I also included a list of some of my recommended products so you guys can check them out once you shop online or in-store.

 

 

Sephora Sale 2018

 

 

  1. Lancome Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara (0.33 oz: $25) – I’m a big fan of the original Monsieur Big Mascara because it gives me that big fat lashes that I can only dream of. So, you can imagine my excitement when they finally released the Waterproof version of it. I bet it’s going to be even better, hopefully.

 

  1. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Dreamsicle (0.25 oz: $38) – This is Becca’s newest addition to their famous lineup of pressed highlighters. On the website, this is described as a soft tangerine vanilla gold pearl and it looks really pretty. I have to see and try this in real life.

 

  1. Fenty Body Lava Body Luminizer in Who Needs Clothes?! (3 oz: $59) – I tried this at my local Sephora and I was really blown away by how blinding and glittery this was. I only had to put a little drop on the back of my hand and it’s so shimmery and so pretty. I wanted to buy it right then and there, but I had to stop myself especially after reading some reviews talking about how sticky this could get, and besides, I have to wait for the sale tomorrow anyway. So I want to try this again and see whether I really want this or not. But it’s so beautiful though…LOL

 

  1. Briogeo Donโ€™t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo (16 oz: $36) – This has been on my wishlist for some time. I love Briogeo products because they’re not harsh on the hair, and their stuff always smells amazing. I bet this shampoo is gonna be awesome too, and with the good reviews online, I’m sure my hair is waiting for this.

 

  1. Coola Full Spectrum 360ยฐ Sun Silk Drops SPF 30 (1 oz: $46) –ย Another product I’m dying to try from a brand that is quite underrated yet is actually delivering quality products – Coola. I love everything that Coola makes, especially their sunscreen, and I’m telling you, they have the best scented and lightweight sunscreens in the world. I’m excited to try this newest Sun Silk Drops from them, I bet it’s gonna be good.

 

  1. Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick in 4.7 Cool Beige (0.5 oz: $85) – As I mentioned in my previous Tom Ford Foundations Review (HERE), I need to get my hands on this TF Foundation Stick. I have read good reviews about this particular foundation, and besides, I need a new non-liquid travel foundation in my stash. So this fits the bill.

 

  1. OleHenriksen C-Rush Brightening Gel Crรจme (1.7 oz: $44) – Oh I have to have this one. This is a newly-released moisturizer from Olehenriksen and an exciting addition to his “Truth” line of skincare. There’s already a lot of buzz about this which I am not really surprised because don’t we all love everything that smells delish like OleHenriksen’s Vitamin C and orange-infused gels and creams?

 

  1. Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in O4 Honeymoon (0.35 oz: $85) – I keep seeing this in-store and every time I see this eyeshadow quad,ย I feel like I would have a heart attack. It’s so beautiful, especially the Honeymoon compact. It’s one of those eyeshadow colors that you can’t help but stare in awe and excitement. So, this only goes one way. In my shopping cart, lol.

 

  1. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Le Teint Radiance Awakening Foundation SPF 22 (1 oz: $58) – I’m so curious about this particular YSL foundation. This has been on my wishlist for a long time and I don’t know exactly what made kind of ignore it. I think because there have been some mixed reviews about this before, but lately, it seems like there’s a new liking to this foundation. Also, I’ve tried the YSL Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow Foundation recently and I really love it, so my curiosity for this one is growing. I just don’t know what shade I need to get yet, so I have to try this in-store.

 

  1. Huda Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Brown (0.05 oz: $27) – This is another one of those eyeshadow colors that you can’t help but stare. Then you stare at it again and again, and you swatch it on your arms, then you stare at it again. Yeah, that’s how beautiful and mesmerizing this eyeshadow palette is. Also, each shade of the compact seems to be well-curated, so I bet this eyeshadow palette won’t disappoint.

 

  1. Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser (2.54 oz: $14, 5.07 oz: $26) – I recently a got a sample of this Greek cleanser and I was really impressed. I’ve been a long time fan of some of Korres’ skincare products and this foaming cleanser is definitely worth having in its regular size. It lathers very well on the face and it makes the face feel thoroughly cleaned. Also, this smells fabulous.

 

Sephora Beauty Insider Event Spring Sale 2018

 

 

  1. Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm (0.12 oz: $34) – The Dior Lip Glows are the best-tinted lip balms I’ve ever tried and they should be everyone’s must-have lip products. Try the HOLO Pink, HOLO Purple, Raspberry, Matte Raspberry and the Ultra Pink shades which are so beautiful and so pigmented. Their stain lasts a long time and they’re very comforting on the lips. See the swatches HERE.

 

  1. Tom Ford Nail Lacquer (0.41 oz: $36) – One of my favorite nail polishes are made by Tom Ford, simply because their colors are so vivid and their shades are pretty and unique, not to mention the fact that their names are very catchy. Also, I find that their nail colors tend to last a long time, almost about two weeks or more without chipping. So I recommend the shades in Bitter Bitch, Plum Noir, and Mink Brule. A review of the TF Nail Colors will be out very soon.

 

  1. Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter (8 oz: $35) – Need a lotion that smells so good and so hydrating? I definitely recommend that you try this Argan Body Butter by Josie Maran. This body butter is great for dry skin, and it comes in different scents. I especially love the sweet citrus and it’s one of my staple body moisturizers of all time. P.S. I will also be reviewing some of my favorite body lotions and body butters soon, so stay tuned for that.

 

  1. Urban Decay All Nighter Pollution Protection Makeup Setting Spray Environmental Defense (4 oz: $34) – This is my newest favorite Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray. I like how fine the mist is and it doesn’t have a strong scent. This sets your makeup and makes it last a long time, and it’s also a great facial hydrator any time of the day. I also love the fact that this is a great mist to use in areas where you know you’ll be exposed to some environmental pollutions.

 

  1. OleHenriksen The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser (1.7 oz: $10, 7 oz: $30) – This cleanser is both on my wishlist and on my list of recommended products. That’s because this face cleanser is so good in every way. This literally comes out as a foam and is ready to use on the face. One pump or two is enough for a good thorough cleanse. The formula lathers well, takes off excess oil, and it makes the face feel very clean. I also dig the juicy energizing orange scent too.

 

  1. Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Glow Stick ($55) – If you want that easy breezy beach vibe glow, then get this TF highlighter and blush stick. It’s practically easy to use and it’s so blendable. Its finish and effect on the face will simply set you on a vacation-mode. See the swatches and review HERE.

 

  1. Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Eyeshadow Palette (0.89 oz: $65) – If there’s one eyeshadow palette that I love looking at and love using for its beautiful range of unique colors (not to mention the fact that the palette itself already has a lot of shades to choose from) it’s gotta be the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Eye Palette. This palette is simply gorgeous through and through, and you can get a lot of looks just by using this. Reviewed HERE.

 

  1. Dior Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 35 (1 oz: $52) – This is my most favorite Dior liquid foundation so far. Even better than the Dior Forever Undercover Foundation which has been released recently. I like this one better because this sets fast but it gives you enough time to blend it on the skin, and it’s also nonsticky, and lightweight.

 

  1. Tom Ford Illuminating Primer (1 oz: $75) – Reviewed HERE. This is my go-to primer when I need my makeup to last longer and to be perfect. It does have a funny smell, but it feels really good on the skin, and it works with any TF Foundations or better yet any foundations out there as well. The effect is dewy and gorgeous.

 

  1. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (1 oz: $9.50, 3.8 oz: $29.50) – A classic and still one of my favorite makeup removers out there. This will remove all kinds of makeup and this always works no matter what. A lot of us adore this makeup melter, so if you need to replenish your stash, tomorrow’s the time, until Monday.

 

  1. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Anti-Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner (8.5 oz: $34) – I am currently using these newest additions to the Alterna Caviar line of haircare products. This is currently their “Anti-Frizz” hair product that caters to taming frizzy strands and making the hair silky and moisturized. So far, I’m really liking these shampoo and conditioner. These feel more like the thicker version of the original Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, which are both already good to start with, but these Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner seem to have much better scents.

 

 

So, that comprises the second part of my Sephora Spring 2018 Bonus Event Wishlist as well as my recommendations on what products to look out for when you hit the stores tomorrow or if you shop Sephora online. Remember, the Sephora Sale continues throughout the weekend and ends Monday.

 

 

Have A Happy Shopping Folks! Stay Safe