Tag Archives: swatches

Mani Sunday: Essie’s Imported Bubbly

For some reason, the search engine term that leads people to my blog the most is Essie Imported Bubbly. Is this a highly coveted color or something? Not widely swatched, maybe?

Anyway, the only picture I had previous to these was this one, and it’s not the best representation of the color because of the glitter on top of it. So, I decided to give the people what they want and swatch Imported Bubbly by itself.

It’s quite a lovely color. Classy. Something you would wear with pearls. The finish even looks like a pearl. I think it’s pretty as long as I don’t look too closely at it. The finish is a bit unforgiving as you can see brush strokes. It’s also not quite opaque; you can still see my nail line.

Admittedly, this was a rush manicure, and I know it looks a bit sloppy in the picture. I didn’t bother to clean off my cuticles before taking this picture. I’ve been busy lately; ain’t nobody got time fo’ dat!

In other news, I will be leaving for London (I know, AGAIN, I’m so spoiled! I fully realize how lucky I’ve been lately to be able to travel so much!) on Monday afternoon. I’ll be bringing my laptop this time, so hopefully I’ll keep posting while I’m there.

Happy Sunday!

Swatches: Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in Silent Treatment

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I don’t know why this palette is askew. The rest of my product photos are generally straight up and down. Mystery!

Also, while going through my photos, I found that I had already taken photos of this when I first got it, before I opened it. But I took them in Chicago, where the background was the white carpet, and the lighting was different.

The open lid picture was also askew, look:

Color temperature-wise, they won’t match my swatches AT ALL. I don’t even know why I took two sets of pictures.

I have no idea what I’m doing.

Swatches: Shiro Cosmetics – I Survived the Apocalypse (And All I Got Was This Awesome Eyeshadow)

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This is the last of my haul from Shiro Cosmetics. Every month, Caitlin of Shiro Cosmetics takes suggestions for the next Color of the Month on her Facebook page. January’s Color of the Month was called I Survived the Apocalypse (And All I Got Was This Awesome Eyeshadow). The name makes me laugh, and the color described was really pretty, so I ordered one.

Unlike the mini sizes, full sized ones come with a sticker. This one is a nod to the Mayan prophecy of the end-of-the world.

According to the website, the color is described as “Rosy champagne with lots of gold and silver sparks, very celebratory!”

I think you can still order previous Color of the Month eyeshadows, so here’s the link.

The color doesn’t look as “rosy champagne” on me as they do on the website. I try my best to get these as color accurate as possible, to my own eye and what I can see on my computer monitor. I use Google Chrome, so if you use a different browser, that will affect how my pictures appear. Also, lighting and skin tones will change how a color appears from person to person.

Close-up. I need to figure out a better lighting set up.

Blurry close-up, for sparkles!

I’ve used this color a few times, and I really like it. It’s a neutral, everyday color, but the sparkles make it extra special. :)

Again, check out the product description, swatches, and order one here.

Swatches: Shiro Cosmetics – There and Back Again: A Hobbit Collection (Farewell, Wherever You Fare; When the Thrush Knocks; King Under the Mountain; Lingered in Twilight; Attercop, Attercop; Riddles in the Dark)

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And the award for the longest blog title ever (with an excessive use of semi-colons) goes to…

My friend Krystal and I (and sometimes my sister Jackie) like to combine cosmetics orders to save on shipping. Back in January, we made an order from Shiro Cosmetics because the Hobbit Collection launched!

I ended up only getting one from the collection (Riddles in the Dark), but Jackie got a good number of them, so I swatched them for you. :)

shiro cosmetics hobbit swatches From L to R: Farewell, Wherever You Fare; When the Thrush Knocks; King Under the Mountain; Lingered in Twilight; Attercop, Attercop; Riddles in the Dark

By the way, I’m using semi-colons because a couple of these shadows have commas in their names and I’m an anal-retentive crazy grammar person (even though I’m fully aware my writing itself isn’t stellar). In case you were wondering.

I really hope Jackie lets me filch some of King Under the Mountain and Lingered in Twilight. They’re SO PWETTY!! (But I’m totally okay with baby-talk and using too many parentheses. I’m not a writer, okay? I’m a tortured artist!*)

*not true

Here’s a blurry pic so you can see some sparkles. I love sparkles. (But not Twilight sparkles. KILL IT WITH FIRE!)

And, some link love: Krystal has finally started a beauty blog on Tumblr, where she showcases the many stunning makeup looks she’s done over the past few years. Please check it out; her artistry continues to inspire and amaze me every time she does something new!

Also: check out my sister Jackie’s blog and bug her to start blogging again because she hasn’t posted since January 1st, wtf. Unlike me, she is actually a writer, so if my drivel drives (see what I did there?) you insane, then go read some of her stories. She has mostly fanfiction posted so far, but she has original stories, too.

Lastly, because I’m still getting the hang of taking good swatch pictures, better ones can be found over at Shiro Cosmetics!

See anything you like? Are you a fan of The Hobbit? (The only correct answer is yes, obviously.)

P.S. If I seem a little stranger than usual in this post, it’s because I’m writing this at 2 in the morning, I’m le tired, and I’m starting to have a headache. Cue craziness.

Swatches: Shiro Cosmetics – The Tributes Collection (Beyond the Fence, Star-Crossed, Mockingjay, Remake, Baker’s Boy, and Rebellion)

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Sorry for the unwieldy title, but you know. Google search terms! :P (I’m being serious, and I know that’s really sad.)

I jumped on The Hunger Games bandwagon a bit late, but before the movie came out, I read the books, and when Shiro Cosmetics released this collection, I fangirled all over it. I wanted to buy all of them, but I reasoned myself out of a few.

They’re all mini sizes (1g) except Rebellion, which is a sample size (1/4 teaspoon). Rebellion is a deep, dark blue, and I don’t think I’ll wear it very often and therefore I don’t need nor want a lot of it. However, since it came in a little plastic baggy, I wanted to transfer it to a screw top jar. I was clumsy and I spilled some of it. :(

Sigh.

Click here for the color descriptions from Shiro Cosmetics’ website, because I’m crap at describing colors.

But I will provide swatches! (Note: There are also swatches on the website for each color.)

shiro cosmetics hunger games swatches
From L to R: Beyond the Fence, Star-Crossed, Mockingjay, Remake, Baker’s Boy, Rebellion

So far, I’ve only used Baker’s Boy. As with most loose shadows, I apply by patting them on with my fingers, then blending out the edges lightly with a brush. Otherwise, the color becomes overblended and gets lost.

Have you tried Shiro Cosmetics before?

Swatches: Topshop lipstick in Hazard and Barry M Dazzle Dust in 51 (Mushroom)

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Yay! Now onto the fun stuff: makeup swatches!

The colors I picked up were Topshop Hazard and Barry M Dazzle Dust 51 (Mushroom). Topshop has the cutest packaging. I really love it. I like the handwriting font and doodle feel of the the design.

Topshop in Hazard. It looks darker in the tube than on the lips. According to Topshop, it’s a satin matte finish. I don’t find it too matte nor drying. It’s a bold, bright, blue-based red that’s great for a night out, or blotted out to a pretty stain for the day time. I’m wearing it as a stain in this FOTD.

I already have two other red lipsticks that I won in a giveaway, but this one is just different enough to justify having it. It’s also my favorite. In all honesty, I may or may not be influenced by the packaging. :P

And this is Barry M’s Dazzle Dust in 51 (Mushroom). It’s a gorgeous purple-y taupe color with subtle sparkles. It’s a bit of a chameleon; it changes color depending on the light. I’m really glad I picked this one up. However, I do wish the packaging had a sifter top. I’m terrified that I’m going to knock this over one day and spill it all.

Swatched dry on bare skin using my finger and patting it on. It can be used wet as well, and that gives it a metallic foil look. (Not sure what the red lines are under the two swatches, maybe lip liner swatches? I don’t remember.)

I love it as an all-over lid color for an every day look. However, since it is a loose shadow, you need to take your time with these and be prepared for some fall out and overall messiness. I like to pat it onto my lid with a finger, then blend it out with a brush.

Have you tried makeup from either Topshop or Barry M? Thoughts?

Swatches: Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick 908C Sugar Plum Fairy

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I bought this after reading that it was a pretty close dupe for MAC’s Rebel. I fell in love with Rebel after seeing this post by Keiko Lynn, and when I saw the comparison swatches between MAC and Wet n Wild, it was kind of a no-brainer.

Note: these pictures were taken ages ago, before I went on my trip to Europe during the holidays. I lost this tube somewhere along the way. I bought another one when I got home. Some people had mentioned that the lipstick name isn’t printed on the bottom; it’s only on the disposable wrapper. This is potentially annoying if you forget what it’s called, and it’s way easier to tell someone (and have them remember) that you’re wearing “Sugar Plum Fairy” vs. “908C.” The new one I bought has the name on the bottom sticker.

This color is absolutely gorgeous. It applies more fuchsia and less vampy purple than it looks in the tube. It’s a little unexpected, but not too crazy. I wore it a lot during fall and winter, but I’ve been wearing it here in Hawaii too, as it gets closer to spring. I like to blot it out until it’s a pretty berry stain. It is, however, insanely pigmented, so it’s easy to build up the color to a bold lip.

That being said, while I love love love this color, there are a few things I don’t like about this lipstick.

One, the bullet doesn’t twist down all the way. I’ve nicked it more times than I can count while putting the cover back on. I suppose it’s useful if you want to see the color without opening it, but I don’t like having to be so careful when capping my lipstick.

Two, it’s rather drying. I put on lip balm before any sort of lip gloss or lipstick, so it’s not a huge issue, but I do have to reapply lip balm after this wears off.

Three, the black tube gets oddly sticky and grimy really fast. The first tube I had, I dropped it on the floor at work, so I wiped it down… and the black paint on the lipstick tube came off. I wiped the rest of it off so it wouldn’t be sticky, and it ends up being transparent.

However, I can and do overlook all these things because the color is so beautiful. My sister bought one after seeing it on me, and she hardly ever wears makeup. I think this is actually her only lipstick!

Also, it’s about $1.99. Major score.

Swatches: China Glaze Luxe and Lush

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China Glaze Luxe and Lush over Rimmel Black Satin

Holy crap. So I know this is über old, from the Hunger Games collection, but I remember I swatched this and took pictures because Krystal asked me to. Like, months and months ago. Sorry! I was going through my folders and I found this, so. Ta-da!

Swatches: theBalm Shady Lady palette vol. 3

Swatches: theBalm Shady Lady palette vol. 2

barely organized chaos

because life is funner that way.