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| Tiny Ice Bees - what's all the buzz about? |
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Perfume Review: Darling Clandestine's Tiny Ice Bees
Monday, September 29, 2014
Collection Spotlight! Aromaleigh's Halloween 2014 Collection, Diavoli!
Press Samples
I admit it. I've never read Dante's Inferno. I like to think of myself as relatively well-read so this is pretty embarrassing to admit. The Divine Comedy has always been on my to-read list but passively in a "I'll get around to it eventually" kind of way. This collection by Aromaleigh Mineral Cosmetics has me re-evaluating its position.
It's clear how much love the creator has for the Inferno. Ignoring the fact that this is a wonderful collection (we'll get back to that in a minute), each product page has a descriptive blurb on the origin of the name and potentially the inspiration that Dante drew from. I feel like I've almost gotten a primer on the Inferno just from reading through the product descriptions.
But as for the collection itself, it is a set of 13 eyeshadows, each named after one of the 13 demons (or Malebranche) of the Divine Comedy. Each has been made with "multichromatic pigments" and as such, this is a set of strong duochrome shades.
I had a really hard time capturing the color shifts of this collection. (Well done, Aromaleigh!) This is a really beautiful set and one that you definitely have to see for yourself.
One thing to note: Some of the eyeshadows leave a bit of a stain, particularly the red ones, but they come off with some hard scrubbing.
I'll let AG tell you a little more about the individual shades. After you AG!
Purchase Link
Individual shades after the page jump!
I admit it. I've never read Dante's Inferno. I like to think of myself as relatively well-read so this is pretty embarrassing to admit. The Divine Comedy has always been on my to-read list but passively in a "I'll get around to it eventually" kind of way. This collection by Aromaleigh Mineral Cosmetics has me re-evaluating its position.
It's clear how much love the creator has for the Inferno. Ignoring the fact that this is a wonderful collection (we'll get back to that in a minute), each product page has a descriptive blurb on the origin of the name and potentially the inspiration that Dante drew from. I feel like I've almost gotten a primer on the Inferno just from reading through the product descriptions.
But as for the collection itself, it is a set of 13 eyeshadows, each named after one of the 13 demons (or Malebranche) of the Divine Comedy. Each has been made with "multichromatic pigments" and as such, this is a set of strong duochrome shades.
I had a really hard time capturing the color shifts of this collection. (Well done, Aromaleigh!) This is a really beautiful set and one that you definitely have to see for yourself.
One thing to note: Some of the eyeshadows leave a bit of a stain, particularly the red ones, but they come off with some hard scrubbing.
I'll let AG tell you a little more about the individual shades. After you AG!
Purchase Link
Individual shades after the page jump!
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Jessye Gets Bubbly!
Press Sample! Is that not the coolest phrase ever! Sorry, I’m very excited since it was my first. So, let’s get to it.
Geeks of the World! A very amazing Etsy Seller, Veelightful, has made bath goods just for you!
Foot soaks, bath bombs, lip balms, and cuticle cream made just to whet your whistle. I’m not going to lie - the Dalek-shaped bath bomb was what got me. And I got to try a couple! The Very Amazing Vanessa sent me a Dalek bath bomb and four foot fizzie soak thingies! So take it away, Dalek!
Lavendar Vanilla
Dalek Bath Bomb
Get your “Exterminate” jokes out of the way now while you can. I know I made a ton when I was playing with it.
If you have read any of my previous reviews, you know I hate vanilla. Hate it. And I’m not a big fan of lavender. It can be very astringent and overpowering. This was a huge surprise. It’s lavender that has been rounded out and lovingly crafted to be soft and wonderful and the perfect aromatherapy to soak in before bedtime. And no, this isn't propaganda. I loved it. I was shocked and amazed, especially since I went in with so much trepidation towards it. I wish I had three more, so every sleepless night, I could go soak in one of those and then been lifted off to Dreamland. I honestly loved it beyond belief. There are some dried flowers in it, but they are few and easily washed right down the drain. It also left less of an oily residue on my body than some bath bombs do, which could be because it was somewhat smaller than others, but that didn't diminish my joy.
Purchase Link
Star Trek Insignia
Foot Fizzies
Orange with a Kick, Chamomile Peppermint, Moccachino, and Green Tea with Lemon and Honey. I had some problems telling Orange with a Kick and the Green Tea one apart, which was probably just because they were bagged together. I used the first one while playing a video game. Very nice. The perfect mix of Gamer and Girly. I used pretty hot water so that I could let my feet soak as long as I wanted.I gave one of them away to The Roommate and one to The Editor, otherwise known as Kristin. The Roommate had Moccachino and loved it. The Editor had either Green Tea or the Orange. I’m pretty sure it was the Green Tea (Editor's note: It was the Orange one). I like to give the reader multiple opinions where possible, so share the love! All of the smells though are soft and rounded and lovely. These left my feet feeling smooth but not oily or dry. I let them air dry on a towel so they could keep all those good-for-your-skin oils on them as long as possible and then moisturized them before bed. It was bliss. They were just lightly perfumed and felt loved. It’s pretty awesome.
Kristin adds: The product listing also notes that you can use 3-4 of them in a bath if you'd like the full immersion experience. As I mentioned above, I tried the Foot Fizzie in Orange Bergamot. This was the first foot soak product that I've ever tried so I'm not entirely sure what it's supposed to be like but I enjoyed the experience that I had with this one. It was lightly scented, even when in water, and I managed to sniff my foot after and could smell only a hint of the citrus notes left. The fizzie dissolved entirely in the water and there were bits of dried flowers that were a nice touch (the product listing says that you can also order these without the flower bits).
Purchase Link
Final Thoughts:
Honestly, go check her out. She’s just starting out, but she’s awesome. Her bath bombs come in several different shapes, from the Death Star to Hello Kitty. They do not have a strong smell if you want overpowering, but they were a great find regardless. I loved them personally. And I cannot tell you enough how much I want more.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Company Overview! Taking a look at the wildly popular Sugarpill!
Okay, I think this is a little far from the usual companies we post about but even though they're wildly successful - even when compared to some of the smaller mainstream lines, Sugarpill Cosmetics is still an indie company at heart.
Before I'd started researching the brand, I'd been under the assumption that Sugarpill had been around for ages! It can take awhile to build up the type of cult following that Sugarpill has following it but to my surprise, Sugarpill first launched in 2010 and was an immediate hit, winning Temptalia's Editor's Choice Best Indie Brand of the Year award for 2010. They have also been the winner for Temptalia's Best Budget Loose Eyeshadow from 2010-2013.
The owner, Amy (known by her internet persona, Shrinkle) started selling hand-made clothing online in 2000 and after many inquiries after the colorful cosmetics she wore, she began selling bright stage makeup next to her clothing line. She started to develop her own line of cosmetics in 2005 and launched Sugarpill's first collection for Valentine's Day 2010.
It's been awhile since I've purchased directly from Sugarpill but everything comes in a flat-rate box stamped with the Sugarpill cat logo. Products are wrapped in pink tissue and every product has an individual box.
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| Burning Heart, Sweet Heart, and Heart Breaker |
Though they've expanded their product line recently with the a couple new product lines, they still have a fairly small set of offerings.
Sugarpill has been teasing their followers by offering their highly anticipated Sparkle Baby collection at IMATS conventions but haven't released it to their online public yet. It is scheduled to launch on the website on October 1st with both the four eyeshadow palette and the shades in individual compacts. This is a collection with very shimmery shades in a more pastel theme compared to their other, matte and vividly-colored pressed eyeshadows.
Earlier this year (back in February), Sugarpill released a line of pink, vegan, brushes. There are, so far, only four brushes in the set, including a flat eyeshadow brush, eyeshadow blending brush, pointed eyeliner brush, and lip brush.
The Cold Chemistry palette and individual singles were released at the end of 2013 as well as Electro Cutes, their set of five bright neon loose pigments (not FDA approved in the US as the FDA has not yet approved neon pigments as safe for the eye area). Both sets have shimmer though Cold Chemistry is on the muted side of the color spectrum.
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| My Burning Heart palette lacks the back artwork for some reason. It should be similar to the Sweet Heart (middle) art. |
They offer two pressed shades that are not available in palette form. Bulletproof (shown above) and @#$%! which was previously only sold at conventions.
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| Asteria and Magpie ChromaLusts |
Less talked about, Sugarpill also makes dramatic false eyelashes.
Samples:
Sugarpill does not offer samples for sale however they do include a small packet sample of a loose eyeshadow with every purchase from their online store. I'm inclined to believe that there are different options for these small packets but I've gotten samples of Goldilux both times that I've ordered.
Quality:
High High High. Sugarpill has a cult following for a reason. Making long lasting and brightly pigmented mattes is an art that many mainstream (and indie) brands have failed at but Sugarpill really nails it on both counts.
Their loose pigments are vibrant and full of shimmer and though also awesome, less remarkable that their mattes when compared to other indies. Also, because they're so shimmery, beware of fallout and make sure to wear a sticky base.
Cost:
The cost is pretty high compared to the indie market but low if you compare them to a mainstream brand.
Palettes are $34 each and individual eyeshadows (either pressed or loose) are $12 with the exception of the Electro Cutes which go for $16.
$12 seems like a huge amount for an indie loose shadow but you do get an exceptional amount of product. To compare to another cult favorite, Shiro Cosmetics offers their eyeshadows at $6 for 2 grams of product. Sugarpill gives you 4 grams for $12. It's exactly the same for cost per gram but I still haven't made it through 2 grams of a Shiro jar and I've never even seen a hint of the bottom of a Sugarpill product.
Customer Service:
No experience here!
I want to note that Sugarpill offers full returns (not including shipping cost) with their satisfaction guaranteed policy.
TAT:
It's been a very long time since I've ordered from Sugarpill but this is what's listed on their website:
All orders are shipped within 1-3 business days. Domestic shipping within the U.S. usually takes 3-10 business days. International shipping times may vary between 2-6 weeks.Shipping:
$6 Flat rate shipping in the US.
From the website:
International shipping rates are based on the following scale:
Orders under $20 ship for $10
Orders up to $40 ship for $14
Orders up to $60 ship for $16
Orders up to $75 ship for $18
Shipping is FREE on orders over $100 regardless of where you live!Personal Thoughts:
Though they're expensive, Sugarpill products kind of take on a decorative feel for me. They both look and feel like mainstream products with the added benefit of still supporting indies. I love having them because I know that I'll be holding a high quality product that I won't have to futz with. Also, their logo is adorable.
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Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Swatch Post! Glamour Doll Eyes: Hello, Brooklyn; Phyrra; Sarcasm; and Undressed!
From the website: Hello Brooklyn is a very unique blend of matte and shimmer. This color includes a matte black mixed with a shimmery green and blue.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Iron Oxide Black, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Tin Oxide, Ferric Ferrocyanide.
Vegan?: Yes.
Approved For: eyes, face & nails.
Personal Comments: A black leaning blue eyeshadow base with added shimmer. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Phyrra (pronounced fear-ah) is hot pink with aqua sparkles
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Carmine, Pigment Violet, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tin Oxide, Silica.
Vegan?: No.
Approved For: eyes, lips, face & nails.
Personal Comments: Part of the Art Deco collection. A bright pink designed after the beauty blogger Phyrra! Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Sarcasm is a chartreuse green with black undertones.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Tin Oxide.
Vegan?: Yes.
Approved For: eyes, lips, face & nails.
Personal Comments: A yellow-green shade with a satin finish. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Undressed: wearing few or no clothes. Dark blackened brown with green shimmers.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide.
Vegan?: Yes.
Approved For: eyes, lips, face & nails.
Personal Comments: Part of the Halo collection. Undressed is a mid-brown with a gold satin finish. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Perfume Review: Violette Market Bag of Bones
Violette Market's recurring Halloween-themed collection is themed around a haunted Western ghost town called Diablo Canyon. The Violette Market site is down right now, but I know Diablo Canyon was up for a bit before they took the site down for maintenance. I'm not sure if it will still be there when the site is back up, but I'm hoping so, so I'm reviewing a past Halloween scent that's been back at least a few times, Bag of Bones. My decant is from 2012.
And the site should be back up soon (yay!); an update Violette Market posted a couple of days ago on Facebook read: "It's been a while since I checked-in with everyone here on FB. (If you follow us on Instagram, you are getting the most up-to-date postings and progress from me as we move forward with our new website and new collections) We are very, very close to going live with the new website and once that happens, you will be able to select items from our new Traveling General Collection for Autumn 2014. Our Limited Edition collection will go live closer to the beginning of October, and Halloween. Please be patient with our new website for the first few weeks. There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into building a website from scratch, on the same spot where another website once lived, and little things can arise from all that data. If you have any issues, or would like to drop me a note, for any reason, good or bad, please send me a note from the new website. That will be the quickest and most efficient way for you to get in touch with me from now into the future. Our yahoo account is really only for Paypal (and it gets very confusing if the same customer sends us the same message but utilizes all the mediums to get in contact with us and sending messages on FB is not a great idea because we are not on FB daily, and sometimes it's weeks before we have the chance to login) We look forward to seeing you soon at the NEW VM website and thank you for your love and support of VM. We are changing, we know we are, and once the new website goes live, you will get to experience those changes with us. We are very excited and we hope you will be as well! Love from the VM team, Lori, Liz, and Mike."
Price: Not currently available for purchase; I think the regular price for this series is $17.50 for a 5 mL amber glass bottle of perfume oil with polyseal cap.
Samples: Not available.
(More details about price and shipping can be found in our Company Overview post about Violette Market.)
Description from the website: "Two very dry ambers, scorched-sweet sandalwood, aged vanilla husk, faint clouds of dusty desert air, golden spices, one smiling skull, and one lone bullet."
This scent is quite sweet straight out of the bottle, with an air of corn syrup about it.
That sweetness quickly dissipates, and the perfume blooms into a deliciously smoky sandalwood-vanilla combination that reminds me very much of one of my favorite VM scents, Smoking Plum, but without the sweetness of the plum or the black tea notes involved--just smooth incense goodness.
The amber and vanilla combine to give an impression of beeswax--or there's beeswax in here that's not a listed note. But the scent reminds me of a beeswax candle that's just been snuffed out, with smoke rising from the wick; or the smell of a darkened room lit with candles and wreathed with clouds of incense. (It has something in common with Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's scent The Lights of Men's Lives, a candle wax and smoke scent.) It's soft, subtle, and slightly dark.
In the vintage I have, at least, it's not a very complex or changeable scent. But it's good at what it does, and what I think it does best is this: I see a lot of posts on forums around this time every year from people who want to smell like a bonfire, or like autumn. Bag of Bones is a great scent for this. It evokes smoke and cool air, but not with the aggressive realism that would make people think you'd actually been standing downwind from a fire. You could layer it with your other favorite autumn scents--pumpkin, apple cider donuts, marshmallows--and give anything that extra ghost tracery of smoke and dry, autumnal chilliness.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Collection Spotlight! Shiro's Cheekbones Contouring Collection Swatch & Review!
Hey everyone! I'm very excited to show you this new contouring collection from Shiro Cosmetics! The collection, called Cheekbones, is inspired by Benedict Cumberbatch's incredible bone structure in BBC's Sherlock tv show. Here's what the Shiro team has to say about the collection:
"A 5-piece set of light, smooth, exceptionally blendable contouring powders inspired by Benedict Cumberbatch’s impossible bone structure. Now we just have to figure out how to capture that voice…
Label art by the delightful Amy Zen!"
Amy Zen created the art for the Earth's Mightiest Heroes collection, and she's back with gorgeous label art for the Cheekbones collection. You can also see all the art Amy Zen has done for Shiro here on Amy's blog.
Many of these colors lean warm-toned. I'll admit my personal preference is for cool-toned contouring products, so I was excited to read in the comments on the Facebook announcement that the Shiro team is planning two or three cool-toned colors to expand this collection! So far we only know to expect the shades in winter, so I recommend watching the brand's Facebook page for future updates.
A quick disclosure note - Caitlin unexpectedly and very kindly upgraded my sample of Think. It's the New Sexy. to a full size. Also, the Shiro team kindly sent me a sample of the Shine Sprite bronzer (shown in comparison photos at the end) on request in a previous order.
Let's take a look at the products! For reference, I have pale, warm-toned skin - roughly MAC NC15 or Meow Sleek Korat.
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From the website: The tiniest, most tasteful, ever so subtle *sprinkling* of drama- yeah no he totally just turned up his collar to look cool again
Matte reddened nutmeg brown. Eye & Lip Safe!
Ingredients: magnesium myristrate, serecite mica, iron oxide.
Personal Comments: The Shiro team's description for A Touch of Drama is exactly how I see this color. It's quite similar to The Game is On, but when you get them next to each other you can see A Touch of Drama is clearly more red-toned.
I had a lot of trouble blending this shade, even over well powdered skin. I pulled out the stiffest brush I own (a flat-top buffing brush), and even then I found I could diffuse the edges but not do much to blend the initial line I'd drawn along my features. To be fair, a good contouring product needs to stay more or less in place to maintain definition, but I think A Touch of Drama veers a little too far in that direction. I would recommend contouring newcomers steer clear of this shade.
However, I think this color makes an incredible bronzer - that is, it will work beautifully to imitate a really natural tan on the high points of the face. When skin tans it reddens as well, so a reddened brown is a great choice to make it look like you've spent some time in the sun (but without sunscreen, for shame!). I was happy to find this shade blends out much more easily when I do a diffused application with a fluffy blush brush rather than using a stiffer brush to carve out cheekbones, so this is how I'll be using the rest of my sample.
Purchase Link
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From the website: Better wrap up warm.
Near-matte stormcloud grey with a bluish-greenish cast. Eye Safe, Not Lip Safe
Ingredients: magnesium myristrate, serecite mica, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, ultramarines.
Personal Comments: This is a mid-toned ashy gray shade, and the sheerest of the collection. The swatch on the left is the most I could build up the color. I agree that it's near-matte (and looks effectively matte on the skin) but I didn't see the bluish-greenish cast mentioned in the site description. It blends out beautifully regardless of how I apply it.
An East Wind Coming is probably going to be the most intimidating shade in this collection to some folks, but I honestly found it to be the most natural looking contour shade of the lot. I believe there's nothing like an ashy gray to perfectly imitate shadows. I put this under one cheekbone and down one side of my nose, and suddenly my face looked lopsided! Anyone who's followed mainstream makeup for a while may recall the limited edition Notorious blush from Chanel, which was a gray-taupe shade that flew off the shelves. My contour hero Xiao at Messy Wands modeled it here. Though An East Wind Coming is missing Notorious's taupe tones, it could be a great option for anyone who wants a permanent, cruelty free/vegan alternative to the discontinued Chanel shade. Folks with darker skin may find some of the other Cheekbones colors work better, but as a pale-skinned person looking for a forgiving contour shade, this is my top pick of the collection.
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From the website: And the game is never over. But there may be some new players.
Slightly yellow-toned cinnamon brown with a matte finish. Eye & Lip Safe!
Ingredients: magnesium myristrate, serecite mica, iron oxide, silicon dioxide.
Personal Comments: Once again, I think the Shiro team nailed the description for The Game is On. This exactly matches my jar of cinnamon in my kitchen (though I don't have a swatch of that to share with you, for better or worse). I wasn't able to compare it to popular contouring recommendation Too Faced Chocolate Soleil, but based on online swatches, I'm guessing The Game is On is a little darker and warmer than the Too Faced shade. I had to work harder to blend this one out than the lighter shades in this collection, but it blended just fine so long as I used a stiffer, denser brush. The Game is On is a little too warm and brown for my personal contouring preferences, but it's definitely workable. The swatch collage above shows this product can build up quite well, so I recommend using a light hand to apply it. As with A Touch of Drama, I think I'll find more use for this in adding a bit of sun-free tan to the high points of my face.
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From the website: Stop boring me and think!
Pale creamy highlight, near-matte with the gentlest sheen. Eye Safe, Not Lip Safe
Ingredients: magnesium myristrate, serecite mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, ultramarines.
Personal Comments: Think. It's the New Sexy. is a great creamy highlight, perhaps bordering on beige. It is indeed nearly matte, and you can see the gentle sheen in the blended swatch above. I suspect this might be a little too dark for folks who are paler than I am, but for me, this makes for a really lovely, subtle highlight. It's a great option for folks who find Shiro's previous highlighter, Curaga, to have too dramatic a finish for their tastes. It might also work for a wider range of skin tones than Curaga, which can look nearly white on the skin.
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From the website: Bad news for brain work, good news for breathing.
Matte yellow-y medium tan. Eye & Lip Safe!
Ingredients: magnesium myristrate, serecite mica, iron oxide.
Personal Comments: To my eyes, Three Patch Problem is a light mustard color. It's fully matte and blends out nicely. I'll be honest - this shade had me a little stumped! It's definitely too dark to be a highlight on my skin tone, but I've never seen a contouring product in this sort of shade. It looks an awful lot like Darling Girl's bronzer in Barbados Beauty, but I believe Three Patch Problem is a little darker with slightly more golden or brown tones. Regardless, I dutifully tried it as a contour powder. I found it didn't really show up under my cheekbones, but it did do a passable job along the sides of my nose. I'll be very curious to see how folks with darker skin or yellower undertones than I have get along with this shade. As for me, I'm going to keep experimenting with different ways to use it.
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I was curious to see how the two brown-toned shades in this collection matched up to Shiro's existing bronzers, so I did some comparison swatches:
Left to right: A Touch of Drama, Shine Sprite bronzer, The Game is On, Coconut Mall bronzer
It's really important to note here that I took this photo in light that minimizes the bronzers' very strong finishes, in order to get a good look at the base colors. A Touch of Drama and Shine Sprite look like nearly identical colors, though A Touch of Drama is matte and Shine Sprite has a strong gold highlight and a metallic finish. The Game is On is a shade or two darker than Coconut Mall but they are both slightly warm mid-toned browns. As with the previous comparison, The Game is On is matte whereas Coconut Mall has the same strong gold highlight and metallic finish as Shine Sprite. This photo from our Shiro Face Product Party will give you a better look at the finish on the bronzers.
Let's compare this collection's lightest highlight shade to Shiro's highlighter:
Left to right: Think. It's the New Sexy., Curaga highlighter
Curaga is clearly much lighter and pinker than Think, and it has a very strong sheen as compared to Think's near-matte finish. As with the bronzers, you can get a better look at Curaga's finish by checking out this photo from our Shiro Face Product Party.
And that's the collection! What do you think about these shades? How would you like to see the range expanded? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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Saturday, September 20, 2014
The Edit: What Would Jareth Wear?
Hello, readers! We thought we'd introduce a series called The Edit, where we curate product picks around some central theme like a character or series. This week, AG and I have picked out some scents for Jareth, the crystal ball-fondling, baby-stealing, confusingly sexy king of the goblins from the 1986 Jim Henson fantasy classic Labyrinth, played by David Bowie. If you haven't seen it, you should. And I will say no more about it, aside from leaving this and this for further reading/activities.
AG's pick: When I think of Jareth, I think of his costume: steely grayscale with beautifully structured leather tops to reflect his cold but entrancing personality. I think he would love The Englishman from Paintbox Soapworks. The official description begins "A wickedly proper gentleman's blend of glossy black leather, Earl Grey tea & peaty tobacco. Emphasis on wicked..." To me this blend smells almost entirely of leather, but even though I can't pick out the tea and tobacco, they add richness to the scent to make it more interesting than a pure leather note. When I first tried this decadent glycerin soap (in the form of a generously sized sample bar, as you see here), the scent lingered softly on my skin and quietly enchanted me for hours after my shower. I think Jareth would be quite pleased with a product that crept into the minds of the people around him - it would only add to his stone cold allure.Valentine's picks:
Well, there is an offically licensed Jareth perfume, so this is what he officially smells like, according to the fine folks at the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab:
"Ethereal lilac fougere and gleaming leather with ti leaf, tonka absolute, white musk, and oudh."
This smells to me very much like BPAL's classic scent Dorian, but less sweet and lemony, and a bit more smoky and grownup. Lots of creamy vanilla-ish musk and an almost sweet-and-sour cologne and leather aspect. A little perfumey, a little androgynous. I think it would layer wonderfully over skin freshly washed with The Englishman.
And of course, there is the unofficial and now-departed Shiro Color of the Month Jareth's Tight Pants, jar shown above. A soft, matte dove gray like those tight pants, with lots of white sparkles strewn throughout as though you were dancing in a snowglobe.
Last but not least, I think he'd need a powerful, dramatic contour like the Life's Entropy Neutrino Contour Stick that we swatched here.
Let us know if you have any ideas or requests for future installments of The Edit!
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Friday, September 19, 2014
Random Product Review: Femme Fatale Cosmetics' Lunar Halo!
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| Bottle shots photographed under a lamp indoors. Swatches photographed outdoors in direct sunlight. |
Today I've got Lunar Halo, described as "a shimmering beige filled with iridescent blue and green shimmers, and accents of silver. Best layered over a matching (light beige/cream) base colour." I was initially drawn to it because it's a neutral with a twist; a natural base colour and shimmery sparkles that remind me of seashells.
I've applied four thin coats of Lunar Halo, even though Femme Fatale recommended wearing a similar base colour underneath. I find most swatch photos of chunky glitter polishes do use a base colour so I wanted to show the polish on its own (and I'm not terribly fussed about using too much; I think I've finished one bottle of nail polish in my life!).
The is a very generous amount of large hexagonal glitter in this nail polish, I didn't have to do any fishing at all! In fact sometimes I would pick up too much glitter and had to re-distribute pieces on other nails or try to put it back into the bottle. As you can see in the photos, in the sun, the blue and green shimmer is not as noticeable and translates more as a sheen.
Have you tried any Femme Fatale nail polishes? What are your favourites?
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Thursday, September 18, 2014
Company Overview! Detrivore Cosmetics!
Hey everyone! Today I'd like to tell you about a brand that's quickly becoming one of my favorite indies: Detrivore Cosmetics! Detrivore has been through some ups and downs over the last couple of years, but ever since Shiro Cosmetics purchased exclusive distribution rights to the brand (read more in our post on this subject), I've heard (and given!) nothing but praise for the company and its products.
Detrivore Cosmetics full size blush jars
Detrivore Cosmetics is based out of Portland, Oregon, USA. Brand owner Distorria is currently working behind the scenes to develop new products. The Shiro team handles packing, shipping, and customer service, and I understand they also assist in making batches of product when Distorria is not able to keep up with orders.
The brand name comes from a term used to describe organisms that eat dead plant and animal material - think of mushrooms, slugs, some bugs, and a ton of ocean invertebrates. The brand's logo is the silhouette of a stag beetle against a black background, and a lot of the product names lend themselves to a dark, mournful brand image.
From left to right: Full size blush jar, full size eyeshadow jar, eyeshadow sample, blush sample
Selection: The selection is relatively small but cohesive. The current lineup includes 25 permanent shadows in the "general catalog", one permanent shadow collection of 9 colors, 9 blushes, and a rotating selection of limited edition eyeshadows. Both blush and eye colors come in a range of "normal" to more unusual shades, though Distorria's focus does seem to be on her beautiful matte formula. One thing I've noticed about Detrivore eyeshadows is most of them seem to appear a little grayed out, as if the saturation were turned down on a photo. I find it really appealing, but folks who prefer their colors as bright as possible may only find a few options in Detrivore's selection.
A few Daedric Princes shades: Boethiah, Hermaeus Mora, Malacath, Molag Bal (full review here!)
Prior to the distribution deal with Shiro, Detrivore's line was somewhat larger, and it included the cult favorite Graveyard Collection of a couple dozen shadows. It's unclear at this time what shadows will be returning (either permanently or in limited supply) and what schedule they're on, but the permanent range does seem to be very slowly growing. New Detrivore releases are generally announced on the first of each month on the Shiro Facebook page.
Samples: Samples are offered for everything except the Embalming Tubes and the limited edition shadows. Shadow samples come in little zip-top bags with 1/8 teaspoon of product (enough for a heavy arm swatch and many eye looks, in my experience!) and blush samples come in the same packaging but with 1/4 teaspoon of product. All samples come with a sticker indicating the brand name, product name, ingredients, and whether it's vegan and lip safe.
Quality: I fell in love with Detrivore almost instantly because I think the product formulas are just as beautiful as the color selection. The vast majority of the blushes and shadows seem to start with the same creamy matte base, regardless of whether the finish will ultimately be matte or shimmery. The soft, blendable blushes in particular won me over instantly, and I've already purchased five of the nine shades in full sizes. You can read my rave review of the original six shades here, and you can read my review of the rest here.
Macro swatch of Detrivore Azura eyeshadow from the Daedric Princes collection
The shadows are also quite lovely. Like the blushes, they blend beautifully, which would make them really good for eyeshadow beginners and connoisseurs alike. By some sorcery Distorria has managed to make a matte formula that works really well over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy, which generally turns mattes into a patchy mess. I haven't tested the full range yet (I'm in the middle of swatching and reviewing the 25 general catalog shades!) but of the shades I've tried, I've only encountered one that wasn't absolutely perfect. You can check out my review of the Daedric Princes collection here, and I encourage you to check back in the first week of every month to see my swatches of each new round of limited edition shades! To see the limited shades from previous months (many of which are still available), check out all our posts with a Detrivore Cosmetics tag.
We haven't yet reviewed the Embalming Tubes, but if you keep an eye out you might see one here soon!
Cost: The brand's pricing is right in line with many other indie brands. As of writing this post, permanent eyeshadows are $1 for samples and $6 for full sizes, Limited edition eyeshadows are only offered in full sizes and are $5. Embalming Tubes are $4.50 each. Blushes are $1.50 for samples (though do note blush samples are twice as big as shadow samples) and $8 for full sizes.
Customer Service: Since Shiro Cosmetics is currently handling Detrivore's customer service, my comments from our Shiro Company Overview apply here as well. In brief, I think Shiro's customer service is absolutely stellar, so any issues should be rare and resolved immediately.
Detrivore blush in Beloved
TAT: Shiro Cosmetics is handling the packing and shipping side of the Detrivore line, so all Distorria's products fall under Shiro's current turnaround time. Lately this seems to be approximately two weeks, but you can check the Shiro Facebook page for updates and look for the current TAT on the checkout page.
Shipping: Once again, this falls under Shiro's domain. Most orders are generally wrapped in a paper envelope that's sealed shut with a sticker, then put in a padded mailing envelope. I've never had any issues with products leaking or getting damaged during transport.
Personal Thoughts: Detrivore is one of the indie world's success stories, and I'm so happy to use and recommend Distorria's products! I feel the quality is really consistently high throughout the range, and both the color selection and the branding really work for me. I look forward to Shiro's announcements on the first of every month just as much for the new Detrivore shades as the Shiro Color of the Month. Even more telling, I actually had to hide my Detrivore blushes in a box to force myself to use some other colors. I think it's safe to say I'm in love!
Have you tried Detrivore Cosmetics? What are your favorites from the brand?
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Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Swatch Post! Bete Noire from Aromaleigh Mineral Cosmetics! Part 2 of 2.
Press Samples
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From the website: Genissa is a dramatic smokey teal blue with brilliant blue sparks.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: A blue with very light hints of green. Not quite a teal but almost. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Jolie is a lush burgundy wine with bright violet shimmer.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: This is the boldest shade in the collection. It's a bright red with hints of orange. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Lisette is a romantic orchid violet with gold shimmer.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: Lisette is slightly darker than Jolie and with a stronger shimmer in the finish. It's a deeper red shade with a tint of orange. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Mireille is a scrumptious cool purple with pink and coppery sparks.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: A dark blue-tinted purple with a satin finish. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Sabine has vivid sparks of violet and pink within a base of richly pigmented smokey copper.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: An antique gold shade with a satin finish. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Solange is a deep, warm cocoa brown with bright green sparkle.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: With slightly more brown than Sabine, Solange is another antique-gold shade with a satin finish. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Sybilla is a smooth, complex black frost with mauve undertones and brilliant golden sparks.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: A dark, almost matte, black shade with added shimmer. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.
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From the website: Viviane is an intense smokey bronzed violet with bright purple sparkles.
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), May contain: Ferric Oxide (CI 77491), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Silica, Bronze Powder, Copper Powder, Tin Dioxide (CI 778161), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Personal Comments: An orange-based bronze shade with a satin finish. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.