Company Overview! Epically Epic Soaps!

Nothing to Disclose

Despite being called the "Epically Epic Soap Co," I've actually heard a lot more about this company's lip balms than anything else. In fact, until recently, their shop was populated with just a couple soaps and with a huge variety of lip balms.

However, a couple weeks ago, Epically Epic released a huge collection of lip balms, solid scent balms, and solid soaps with the theme of Vamos pa' Cuba (loosely translated to "Let's go to Cuba" - I think. Please correct me if I'm wrong!).

The shop also recently moved away from having just an Etsy Shop to operating their own storefront. All products can be found on both sites with the exception of the roll-on perfumes that come in six different scents. It definitely seems like this shop is growing away from being just a lip balm storefront.

Packaging: 

At the time of my purchase, there were only a couple solid soaps available but I've been on a lemon kick lately so I grabbed the Lemon Poppyseed Cake soap bar as well as an assortment of lip balms and one of the Valentine's Day Lip Tints. 

The solid soap packaging was really nice. Not only was the soap itself plastic wrapped and labeled professionally but it was gift-wrapped on top of that in a cute, slightly transparent paper. 

The lip products came tucked in plastic baggies. The labeling on the tubes looks crisp and professional though from the facebook page it looks like the brand might be trying out some new labeling for their newer tubes.

Selection: 

Epically Epic tends to do collection-based releases and their collections are LARGE. When I placed my first order, my interest was perked by the 18 different ice cream "flavors" (scents, really) of lip balms that were being offered at the beginning of this year. Unfortunately, that particular set is no longer being offered but as I mentioned earlier, Epically Epic has just released their Vamos pa' Cuba collection which is 15 lip balm flavors, 12 solid scent balms, and 15 solid soaps. A few of these scents have also been translated over to an Argan Oil Hair Mist form along with some scents that seem to be part of a general catalog but aren't available in any other form.

There are also a few products being offered as part of a Mother's Day set (though it may be too late to order them in time for the day itself). There are three scents in this set and they can be purchased in lip tint/shimmer, solid scent balm, or argan oil hair mist form.

Samples: 

Epically Epic does not offer samples.

Quality: 

I've been really enjoying the lip balms. I originally purchased them with the intention of writing up a huge lip balm comparison post across brands but then realized that I didn't have much to say at all about specific lip balms in general.

I definitely went a little overboard here in adding to my lifetime collection of indie lip balms but I grabbed Chocolate Chip Cookies, Dreamsicle, Mint Chip, and Pistachio Ice Cream. They've all been nice and moisturizing, with accurately named scents. I got a bit of a weird plastic-y hint with Pistachio Ice Cream that didn't occur with any of the others so I wonder if one of the scents in this one is just weird to my nose.

Epically Epic looks to be good at keeping their ingredients listings specific to each individual product so anyone with allergies should be sure to take a look at the specific listings for each lip balm.

The bar soap is nice and lathers well. This particular bar has poppy seeds in it but I didn't find that they added or detracted at all from it being a soap. Maybe there's something about poppy seeds that I don't understand since I felt the same way about the Lemon Poppy Seed Soap from Naiad Soaps. The scent lingers in a tasty way.

Sadly, I was pretty disappointed by the last item in my order. It looks like Epically Epic soaps offers tinted lip balms for special occasions and I picked up Dark Chocolate Raspberry in the Valentine's Day set. It does smell tasty and as a lip balm, performs its function well, but as a lip tint? Nada.

After several swipes on my arm, I finally got a bit of a tint going for a swatch (please forgive the bit of bunny fluff stuck to the swatch) but on the lip? I couldn't tell I was wearing any kind of color at all. This might work better for someone with a very pale lip color who is looking for a slight tint to even out their lip color. Unfortunately, for me, this one is just going into my lip balm stash.

Cost:

Prices are consistent between the Etsy shop and the Epically Epic storefront. Lip balms and tints are $3.75, solid scent balms are $8.50, and solid soaps are $6.00. On the Epically Epic store, roll-on perfumes are $10.

Customer Service: 

No personal experience here but the owner seems pretty active on their Facebook page.

TAT: 

In their shop header, TAT is stated: All orders will be shipped within 3 weeks.

I received a shipping notice within 9 days of placing the order and it was in my hands 3 days after that.

Shipping: 

Very reasonable. Shipping for a single lip balm is $1.95 and additional lip balms are 5c added to the shipping cost. I assume this is on a by weight shipping model since solid soaps ship at $2.50.

Personal Thoughts:

Though I honestly have more lip balms than I'll ever use - and I found out recently that they actually expire!!! :( - I can see myself picking up more of them. Epically Epic Soap Co has a fun vibe to it and I think they do a great job with scents.

Oh also, if you place an order of over $30, you get a free, limited edition lip balm. I think it'd be really hard to make it to that $30 mark but I have faith in you guys. :)

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Swatch Post! Shiro Cosmetics : Chimera, Hodor, No Men Like Me, and Salt and Stone!

Purchased

Note: Trying out a new swatch style. Let me know what you think in the comments! Do you prefer the old style? Any suggestions for improvement?

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From the website: A complex and unique blend – looks coppery in the jar, then applies as tarnished gold and silver shimmer over a blackened background. 

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica, carnauba wax, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, tin oxide.

Lip-safe!

Personal Comments: From the Fullmetal Collection. A satin grey with a bit of a green note and a coppery highlight. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: Medium near-matte taupe. 

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica, carnauba wax, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, methicone.

Lip-safe!.

Personal Comments: From the Seven Kingdoms Collection. Pretends to be a matte without a glitter fixative but over this definitely has a shimmer to it. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: Gold-burnished plate cloaked in ashy white. 

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica, carnauba wax, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, bronze powder, silica, zinc oxide, methicone.

Lip-safe!

Personal Comments: From the Seven Kingdoms Collection. This is one of my all time favorite Shiro shadows. Maybe even one of my overall favorites. On bare skin, this shade looks almost grey in a soft way but there's a strong gold note that comes out over any kind of fixative. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: Blackened green of House Baratheon, shining with the red light of R’hllor. 

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica, carnauba wax, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, copper powder, silica, chromium oxide.

Not lip-safe.

Personal Comments: From the Seven Kingdoms Collection. A deep forest green with a red shimmer. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link



Perfume Review! Supercell from Sixteen92

Purchased

Tornado Alley. There's a stillness, a quiet chaos of an oncoming storm.

Sometimes when shopping for more ethereal, "conceptual" fragrances, I can't help but feel like a fraud. Standing in a crowded modern art gallery, sampling fancy hor d'oeuvres from a plate while nodding along as someone explains the deeper meaning behind the exhibits. "Yes, definitely! I completely see it!" and hoping no one can see through your facade (or worse, accuse you of being there for the free food)!

But every so often I really want to venture beyond the free appetizers and try to better understand and appreciate more conceptual pieces, and the world of indie perfumes is no exception. Unfortunately, many of the more conceptual fragrances tend to either be a little too "weird" for my tastes or wind up just not working well on my skin.

Sixteen92 went all out with their newest fragrance, Supercell - what kind of indie fragrance has its own freaking trailer video?! When you dangle the word "limited edition" and "you need to preorder from this batch because the last release sold out in three hours"... what can I say?  I have no restraint.  I know good marketing when I see it. 

Swatch Post! Femme Fatale Blushes in Moonberry and Snowplum, Eyeshadows in Moonrest and Phantasm!

Purchased

From the website: It is a medium dusky rose mauve with cool pink undertones. It is what we call a ‘mostly-matte’ blush; it has a very SMALL amount of shimmer to it which is only really noticeable in direct sunlight.

Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines, Iron Oxide (77491), Mica, Carmine, Magnesium Stearate, Carnauba Wax.

Non vegan or lip safe; eye safe.

Personal Comments: A soft, mid-toned pink blush with a bit of purple that comes out more when sheered out. I, personally, didn't notice any shimmer at all and this blush came across as entirely matte from my perspective! Applied over bare skin. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: A deep mid-range purple blush which blends out to have a warm reddish tint. Snowplum has a very small amount of shimmer and is mostly-matte.

Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Manganese Violet (Pigment Violet 16), Iron Oxide (77491), Carmine, Mica, Magnesium Stearate, Carnauba Wax.

Non vegan; eye & lip safe.

Personal Comments: A darker red blush that sheers out really well. I didn't see any shimmer in this blush either. Applied over bare skin. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website:  a super pale ivory/cream with pink sparks and a slight green shimmer at an angle to the light.

Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide (77491), Tin Oxide (77861), Silica, Boron Nitride, Synthetic Fluorophlogopite, Magnesium Stearate, Carnauba Wax.

Vegan

Lip safe

Personal Comments: A shimmery off-white with a satin finish. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: It is a pale purple with violet tones and copper orange shimmer, and makes a great pastel-looking upper lash-liner when foiled.

Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide (77861), Ultramarines, Pigment Violet 15, Methicone, Carnauba Wax, Magnesium Stearate.

Vegan

Not lip safe

Personal Comments: Phantasm has a matte eyeshadow base which can look a little uneven when foiled over Pixie Epoxy. It's a pale purple with added orange shimmer. The shade takes on an orange duo-chrome over a black base. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link



Jessye Gets Bubbly! Bath time with Lady of Windsor!

Purchased

Lady of Windsor Bath and Body
Bath Soak

I’m going to call this one Serendipitous Timing. With Mother's Day right around the corner, gift ideas are running rampant. So, unintentionally, this is mine. This beautifully decorated bottle holds 16 oz of your choice scent in bath soak or bath salts. And there are a lot of choices. Isn't it gorgeous? The stopper is cork, not rubber- just so you’re aware.

I chose the scent Spring Meadows in bath soak- I was going through a florals phase at the time of purchase. But there are tons of scents to choose from- do not be limited by scent or bottle! There are some other bottle options too! I'm hoping you can see the blue tinge in the photos. I'm sorry if you can't; you'll just have to take my word for it. It turned the water a lovely pale blue-grey.

Spring Meadows is akin to what I'd expect of a woman's boudoir in the 19th century. It's a powdery wildflower scent. It's not an especially strong scent, nor was the product very oily. There was a lovely display of dried flower bits in the bath (You can have these left out if you prefer). It's a great relaxation bath, very calming and soothing.

The bottle was $27, which I’m sure pricing is in part due to the decoration of the bottle. If you’re looking for a gift about that price for a bath-loving Mom, this is a great way to go, especially with that gorgeous bottle. I obviously can't get enough of it. While simple enough, I still love it.

Kristin adds: The shop is having a 15% off sale for Mother's Day with the code MothersDay15. The shop page doesn't specify when the sale ends but I assume on Mother's Day which is May 10th.

Purchase Link

Have you found any awesome indie products that make great Mother's Day gifts? Let us know in the comments!

Random Product Review! Hello Waffle Cosmetics' The Pet Duo

Nothing to Disclose

Hi everybody! Today I'd like to show you two eyeshadows by Hello Waffle Cosmetics, Corgi Butts and Cat Fluff, also known as and packaged together as the Pet Duo. They are named after owner Christine's pets. They are only available in full size, but you are able to request only one in a mix and match set of five or ten if you don't want both shades. I must admit, I picked these up purely for the names - who doesn't love Corgi butts? (I will never tire of this video).   

Swatched over Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Cat Fluff is described as a "dark grey, leans green with green and gold sparkles." On me it comes off more as a blackened green because it is so dark. Sorry for the inconsistent lighting in the photo, a giant cloud decided to block the sun while I was in the middle of photographing :( The swatch on the left is in direct sunlight, and the swatch on the right is taken indoors using a flash to show off the gold sparkles.

Swatched over Urban Decay Primer Potion

Corgi Butts is described as a "soft peach with red hilites and sparkle." I was a little surprised by how pink this is on my skin tone, since most Corgis are more tan/beige-y, but it is still a very pretty shade and makes for a great all-over lid colour.  

Have you tried any/both of the eyeshadows from the Pet Duo? Let me know your thoughts below in the comments!

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EOTD: What to wear when meeting your makeup idol?

Press Samples, Purchased

Hey everyone! A few weeks ago I knew I was going to be seeing Caitlin - the mastermind behind Shiro Cosmetics - at a local event, so I wanted to make sure I was wearing some of my favorite products from her store. This has actually become one of my favorite eye looks in general, so I'm really happy to share it with you all.

Disclosure notes: The Krampus and Team White/Gold shadows were gifts/press samples. I purchased all other products mentioned in this post. The links below lead to my reviews of the products mentioned.

Here's how I achieved the look:

* As always, I started with silicone primer (I used Urban Decay Primer Potion) and a base shadow close to my skin tone (I used Detrivore Ossuary) to help with longevity, pigmentation, and blending.

* I patted a layer of Shiro The Red Viper on my upper lid from my lashline to the fold in my eyelid with a small paddle brush.

* I used a thin tapered blending brush to add Detrivore Krampus Schnapps around The Red Viper and up to my socket line.

* I used a fluffy blending brush to create a diffused application of  Detrivore Krampusnacht around Krampus Schnapps and up through my socket.

* I used a small detailer brush to foil The Red Viper along my lower lashline. Using it wet brings out the metallic finish; I really like doing this as an accent on the outer half of my lower lashline.

* I applied Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy over The Red Viper on my upper lid and, after about 30 seconds, applied more of The Red Viper over it to intensify it.

* I used a small detailer brush to apply Shiro Team White/Gold as an inner corner highlight.

* As always, I finished up my eyes by applying brow pencil, mascara, and undereye concealer, and tightlining with black liner.

* I paired the eye look with some of my other favorite Shiro products: Gelato Beach blush on the cheeks and Come Out, Come Out tinted balm on the lips.

It's not the most complicated eye look on the internet, but it made me feel confident and proud when meeting one of my makeup idols!

I'd love to know - who are your makeup idols, and what makeup would you wear if you got a chance to meet them?
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Swatch Post! Life's Entropy Cosmetics Lip Theories in Coralation, Transformation, Derivative, and Enzyme!

Purchased

From the website: A pressure sensitive Lip Theory that starts out as a light peach-coral but darkens to medium coral when pressed.

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Palm Kernal Oil, Carnauba Wax, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Kaolin Clay, Peppermint Oil | May Contain: D&C Red #6, D&C Red #7, D&C Red #27, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mica

Made with Vegan, Organic, and Food Grade Ingredients. Gluten free. Face & Lip Safe.

Personal Comments: I'm not entirely sold on the "pressure sensitive" bit but the color does deepen with multiple layers. This is a strongly red-based coral. Applied over bare lips. This picture was taken inside under daylight bulbs. 

Purchase Link

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From the website: A cool toned, vibrant orange. 

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Palm Kernal Oil, Carnauba Wax, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Kaolin Clay, Peppermint Oil | May Contain: D&C Red #6, D&C Red #7, D&C Red #27, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mica

Made with Vegan, Organic, and Food Grade Ingredients. Gluten free. Face & Lip Safe.

Personal Comments: A stronger orange tone than Coralation, this is a bright red-orange. Applied over bare lips. This picture was taken inside under daylight bulbs. 

Purchase Link

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From the website: A light to medium cool toned pink.

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Palm Kernal Oil, Carnauba Wax, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Kaolin Clay, Peppermint Oil | May Contain: D&C Red #6, D&C Red #7, D&C Red #27, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mica

Made with Vegan, Organic, and Food Grade Ingredients. Gluten free. Face & Lip Safe.

Personal Comments: A soft pink. I think this is a great wearable shade. Applied over bare lips. This picture was taken inside under daylight bulbs. 

Purchase Link

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From the website: A pale peach-pink.

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernal Oil, Palm Kernal Oil, Carnauba Wax, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Kaolin Clay, Peppermint Oil | May Contain: D&C Red #6, D&C Red #7, D&C Red #27, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Yellow #5, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mica 

Made with Vegan, Organic, and Food Grade Ingredients. Gluten free. Face & Lip Safe.

Personal Comments: Peachier than Derivative, this is similar in color depth. Enzyme is a soft pink with orange notes. Applied over bare lips. This picture was taken inside under daylight bulbs. 

Purchase Link



Perfume Review: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Aristocratic Couple

Purchased

Every spring, around Valentine's Day, I look forward to Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's Lupercalia releases. They typically include a subseries called the Shungas that are based on old Japanese erotic art. The scent I'm reviewing today, Aristocratic Couple, is part of the 2015 Shunga series. (Click through with caution, as the bottle artwork shown on the BPAL site is not safe for work.)

Price: $24 for a 5 mL amber glass bottle of perfume oil with polyseal cap.
Samples: Not available for this scent.
(More details about price and shipping can be found in our Company Overview post about Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab.)
Description from the website: "Bourbon vanilla, preserved apricot, and cardamom."

When wet, this perfume has the mellow, sweet scent of dried apricots--there is a slight, mouthwatering tanginess to it, but it's a soft, full scent that lacks the juicy and almost green freshness of fresh apricots.

The sweet, smooth vanilla becomes more noticeable as the apricot topnote fades away a bit. It's not a terribly rich gourmand vanilla, but comes across as a smooth, creamy base underlying the apricot.

The cardamom doesn't smell especially strong to me--it's just present as a hint of spice, and I don't think I would have been able to identify which one without the scent notes--which is interesting since several reviewers on the BPAL forums said the cardamom was a dominant note on them. It seems like this note may vary a lot by individual or by the bottle.

The throw is rather weak--this perfume lingers very close to the skin, and the longevity isn't very high. It stays on the skin as a general sweetness several hours later, but the apricot becomes indistinct over time.

This is a light, fruity, and not particularly complex or sexy scent, but it smells absolutely delicious. If you're looking for a simple, almost one-note apricot perfume, I would definitely recommend this one.

For other reviews of Aristocratic Couple, you can also check out the BPAL forums or ethaisa.

Note: this scent is vegan.

Swatch Post! Aromaleigh Mineral Cosmetics : Act of Defiance, During the Dark Days, Everlasting Credit, and Random Reaping!

Purchased

Note: These four shades have actually been discontinued by Aromaleigh - with the rest of the Ever In Your Favor Collection - but are still available for purchase on their separate clearance site until stock runs out.

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From the website: A smooth, dark grey frost with brilliant duochrome sparks of cobalt blue/green and bright rose/copper.

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica (CI 77019), titanium dioxide (CI 77891), tin oxide (CI 7786) May contain: nylon-12, ferric oxide (CI 77491), ferric ferrocyanide (CI 77510), chromium oxide (CI 77288), manganese violet (CI 77742), ultramarines (CI 77007), bronze/copper/aluminum powder, calcium aluminum borosilicate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, blue 1 lake (CI 42090), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), red 40 (CI 16035), carmine (CI 75470)

Personal Comments: This is a taupe-y grey with a gold highlight. There is a soft blue sheen to the shade that's visible in softer light. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: A smooth black frost with vivid rose, gold and copper sparks clamoring for your attention.

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica (CI 77019), titanium dioxide (CI 77891), tin oxide (CI 7786) May contain: nylon-12, ferric oxide (CI 77491), ferric ferrocyanide (CI 77510), chromium oxide (CI 77288), manganese violet (CI 77742), ultramarines (CI 77007), bronze/copper/aluminum powder, calcium aluminum borosilicate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, blue 1 lake (CI 42090), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), red 40 (CI 16035), carmine (CI 75470)

Personal Comments: Similar to but darker than Act of Defiance, this is a dark grey with strong brown notes. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: An exquisite wear-all champagne buff with borealis pastel and gold shimmer sparkles.

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica (CI 77019), titanium dioxide (CI 77891), tin oxide (CI 7786) May contain: nylon-12, ferric oxide (CI 77491), ferric ferrocyanide (CI 77510), chromium oxide (CI 77288), manganese violet (CI 77742), ultramarines (CI 77007), bronze/copper/aluminum powder, calcium aluminum borosilicate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, blue 1 lake (CI 42090), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), red 40 (CI 16035), carmine (CI 75470)

Personal Comments: A shimmery tan shade with a brighter golden highlight. The color is more accurate in the swatch than the macro. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link

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From the website: A rich, warm mahogany brown with rose and copper tones and highlights plus multicolor rainbow shimmer.

Eye Shadow Ingredients: mica (CI 77019), titanium dioxide (CI 77891), tin oxide (CI 7786) May contain: nylon-12, ferric oxide (CI 77491), ferric ferrocyanide (CI 77510), chromium oxide (CI 77288), manganese violet (CI 77742), ultramarines (CI 77007), bronze/copper/aluminum powder, calcium aluminum borosilicate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, blue 1 lake (CI 42090), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), red 40 (CI 16035), carmine (CI 75470)

Personal Comments: A darkened orange shade with plenty of shimmer. Applied over Urban Decay Primer Potion and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. This picture was taken outside in natural light.

Purchase Link



Random Product Review! Fyrinnae Liquid Matte Lipstick in Naughty & Nice

Top to bottom: Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red, Fyrinnae Lip Lustre in Dragon's Blood, Fyrinnae Liquid Matte Lipstick in Naughty & Nice

Purchased

As you may remember from our mega-post about them, I am a huge fan of Fyrinnae's Lip Lustres, and I also love good liquid matte lipsticks--my favorite formulas are Sephora's Cream Lip Stain and Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets, which are both intensely pigmented, long-wearing, non-transferring, and non-drying. So when Fyrinnae released a new Liquid Matte Lipstick, I had to pick up one of the colors to try it out!

These come in full-size 9 mL doefoot tubes only, for $12-$14.50 apiece, no sample sizes available, so I chose just one color, Naughty & Nice. Described on the website as "Metallic-matte, vibrant deep warm red with a coordinating red metallic finish," it's a deep warm red with a tonal red shimmer in it that reads slightly lighter and almost coppery.

The formula of this is very different from the Lip Lustres, even though the tubes appear identical. The lipstick is very liquid and runny, and VERY opaque. This can make application very challenging, in the same way that liquid liner is less forgiving than pencil or gel--mistakes or wobbly lines around lip edges are immediately obvious. It might benefit from either lipliner or application with a lip brush. I use my normal application MO with this product--apply a thin layer to lower lip, rub lips together, and then clean up around the edges of my lips with a bit of Kleenex--but my results with this technique are suboptimal compared to using normal lipsticks or Lip Lustres.

It smells pretty nasty, like chemicals, although this smell goes away quickly as it dries. Once it dries, it takes on a very flat true matte finish, although it has a rich, velvety sheen from the shimmer in the formula. Does that make sense? The surface is matte but the lipstick still reflects light due to the shimmer. I'm not usually a big fan of shimmer in my lip products, but I think it works fairly well in this product because of the interesting contrast with the matte finish. The shimmer is still not my favorite, as I feel like it looks a bit dated and emphasizes lip texture--perhaps I should have gotten Vixen instead, but I wanted to see what the "metallic matte" finish was all about.

Bare lips

Wearing Naughty & Nice Liquid Matte Lipstick

I find that it wears very well and very comfortably for hours. It sits on the lips like a film, a bit--I can definitely feel that I have it on--but it doesn't parch my lips like MUFE Aqua Rouge or the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams do after extended wear. It's pretty budgeproof once dry--I get a slight amount of transfer, but it does really dry down in a way that Lip Lustres do not (they act more like traditional lipsticks, staying creamy over the course of wear). However, it does wear off with food and drink, and this is quite noticeable because of its opacity--I imagine it would be even more obvious with the less natural colors like black or green or blue. After my lunch (sandwich, chips, coffee) I had an obvious ring along my inner lips where the lipstick had worn off and I needed to reapply.

I've swatched it alongside similar products here--from top to bottom, the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red (cooler, brighter, lighter, no shimmer), Fyrinnae Lip Lustre in Dragon's Blood (darker, cooler, glossier, no shimmer), and Naughty & Nice, in all its warm-toned metallic-matte glory.

Top to bottom: Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red, Fyrinnae Lip Lustre in Dragon's Blood, Fyrinnae Liquid Matte Lipstick in Naughty & Nice

It's difficult to remove by just rubbing at it. You may need to break out some oil or makeup remover to get it all off. I don't notice much staining--the Sephora Cream Lip Stain was the only color to leave a visible stain after removing my swatches.

I don't have any very close dupes for this shade--Fyrinnae Dragon's Blood probably comes the closest, actually, but it's satin-finish, darker, cooler, and shimmer-free, and as mentioned, it's more like a traditional lipstick in consistency than a traditional-style longwear liquid lipstick, so it's not really all that close.

This is a great product, although it's not quite in my top tier of favorites. For liquid lipsticks, as mentioned above, I prefer my Sephora and Bourjois products by a narrow margin because they are more creamy than wet, and hence more forgiving during application; I also prefer the color selection in the more mainstream lipsticks and Fyrinnae's own Lip Lustres (what can I say? I'm just not really a blue lipstick gal). If Fyrinnae came out with some more day-to-day wearable but still interesting colors, I might pick up another shade (though I'm currently already tempted by the cool deep red Vixen and the brilliant orange Ablaze).

Company Overview! ROYAL by NATURE

Purchased

"Uplift the beauty in you... naturally!"

Typically when I review a company, I try picking one I've already heard of, maybe one I've been meaning to try but just haven't gotten around to it. However, in the case of ROYAL by NATURE, it was one of those random Etsy finds I stumbled across. Initially I was most curious about the gel liner, but I just couldn't help myself and wound up sampling more! So what's ROYAL by NATURE about?

ROYAL by NATURE

ROYAL by NATURE has very special meaning. It simply means that we are all royalty. Our natural beauty should always be allowed to shine.

The shop's owner Asiyah began like many other indie companies, making concoctions with more natural ingredients that caught on with family and friends and eventually blossomed into something bigger. 

All of our hair, body and face products are pure and natural and our ingredients are sourced locally when available. No artificial colorants, or fragrance oils are used. 100% pure essential oils are used when scent is desired. We use paraben free and/or vegetable derived preservatives when necessary. Rest assured that we use only the minimal amounts. Each item is handcrafted to order. Bar soaps are made in small batches to allow for curing time.

Selection

ROYAL by NATURE categorizes their shop as such:

• Body
• Hair
• Bar Soaps
• Baby
• Men
• Eyes
• Face
• Lips
• Nails

This is a huge assortment! I was actually a little overwhelmed at first, but I really appreciate how clearly everything is categorized. There are already some items I've bookmarked for future purposes, but this time I was only interested in cosmetics and looked at eyeshadows, lipsticks and the gel liner.

Samples

Generous sample-sized jars make it much easier to decide if a full-sized purchase is right.

The lack of readily available samples usually is enough to drive me away from a shop. If I can't test out something that's going on my skin, I get skittish. Sensitive skin doesn't like to mess around! I shot Asiyah a message asking if there were any samples available, and she put some aside just for me! I really appreciate how she went out of her way to do that for me, but I also think it pushes away potential customers when samples aren't readily available for purchase.

Packaging

My sample sizes all came in little 3 gram-ish jars (I'm estimating that size). The eyeshadows had sifters. I'm not quite sure the size of the gel liner, it's not "full" like the pigments.  Everything was tightly sealed and labeled with a handwritten sticker on the bottom.

Quality

Instead of discussing "quality" as a whole, I'm going to break things down by product since my experience was so varied.

Eyeshadows:

Moonbeam and Amethyst eyeshadows from ROYAL by NATURE

I purchased two shades: Moonbeam and Amethyst. This was kind of a gamble for a couple of reasons. All eye shadows were called "Azalea", but that's not the actual color name. This made it tricky to pick out what I wanted because in the listings they ALL appeared to be named "Azalea" due to the naming convention used. Furthermore, there's no description for each shadow's color, nor are there any swatches. The only information you have to go by is the photo of the pigment itself. Is it matte? Is it shimmery? Is it a duochrome? It's a surprise!

For the record, I actually strongly dislike eyeshadow surprises - I like knowing what I'm getting myself into! So Moonbeam looked like a taupe-ish matte, and Amethyst appeared to be plummy with maybe a bit of shimmer. So was I correct?

Partly. Amethyst really IS a lovely plummy shade with a hint of golden shimmer. It's very pigmented and applies smoothly over both a primer (left swatch) and bare skin (right swatch). It reminds me of the discontinued "Plush" shade from Silk Naturals only a bit cooler.

Amethyst over primer (left) and bare skin (right)

Moonbeam on the other hand... poor Moonbeam. This is such a glitterbomb! Who'd have thought? The glitter fallout is reminiscent of some of the earlier shadows from Backstreets Makeup Co., it's like it's going through some sort of rebellious teen phase. Pat it on your eyelids and blink a few times - voila! 90% of the glitter will probably fall off. Color-wise Moonbeam is a pleasantly neutral peach with a bit of a sheen to it, but it's rather unremarkable. The glitter makes it tricky to apply smoothly. It was a struggle to avoid a patchy finish.

Moonbeam over primer (left) and bare skin (right)

Here's the ingredient list: Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Stearate, Sericite Mica, Mica, Oxide

Lipsticks: 

This was also a gamble for pretty much the same issue as the eyeshadows. Zero swatches and ALL the lipsticks were titled "Ambrosia" despite that not being the actual color names. I sampled four colors:

Aurora looks like a classic pretty-in-pink shade. In the pot it has a bit of golden shimmer. This is a VERY sheer lip color. It took many coats to try and build up anything noticeable. Maybe it's meant to be a classic "my lips but better" color.

Aurora lipstick from ROYAL by NATURE

Cameo appears to be a slightly darker, more brownish-hued sibling to Aurora, but really they're practically identical twins who were separated at birth. I seriously could not tell the difference between the two, although Cameo seems a smidge less shimmery.

Cameo lipstick from ROYAL by NATURE

Cashmere (not to be confused with another infamous lip product) is gorgeous in the pot! Something about its swirling copper shimmers reminds me of the planet Jupiter. This was the most pigmented lipstick of the bunch, and on my lips it's a really lovely rust. Unfortunately, it streaks easily - just smacking my lips together smudged everything! Applying it evenly was a challenge, and getting it to stay put even moreso.

Cashmere lipstick from ROYAL by NATURE

Caponata was an "out of my comfort zone" choice - purples are not something I typically wear. This is almost as pigmented as Cashmere. Given how dark the color is in the pot, I'd expect it to be super dark on my lips as well, but it's also very sheer. It has streaking/patchy issues but is better behaved compared to Cashmere. On my skintone though it makes me look a bit sickish (no fault of the product itself!) so it's not something I would consider buying.

Caponata lipstick from ROYAL by NATURE

So the naming conventions are tricky to follow, the colors aren't pigmented, and they tend to smudge... but the formula is EXCELLENT. I absolutely love how these lipsticks FEEL on my lips - here's the ingredients list: Grapeseed Oil, Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Rosehip Oil, Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Mica, Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Vit E

Silk Naturals might be my one-true-love when it comes to indie lipsticks, but for formula I am impressed with these. My lips feel so soft and hydrated, and it lasts a long time afterwards. There are also lip glosses that may be more pigmented... if ROYAL by NATURE were to perhaps release a line of lipsticks that were far more pigmented and had better staying power and application, I'd snap them up! The formula feels great.

Gel Liner:

This was what brought me to ROYAL by NATURE in the first place. I'm not much of a liner girl...I rarely ever wear it, and I'm also pretty inept at applying it. But I got a Real Techniques silicone eyeliner brush and was curious to try it out.

Bistre gel liner from ROYAL by NATURE (please pardon my liner novice-ness)

The gel liners from ROYAL by NATURE come in two colors, "Bistre" (dark dark brown) and "Midnight" (black). Again, they're ALL named "Gloriosa" and there are no swatches (sad). I was tremendously grateful that Asiyah allowed me to sample the liner, and I think there should be sample sizes available in the shop regularly! Unfortunately at the time of this post they are all out of stock, but I'll be checking back so I can update the links when they're in stock again.

Here are the ingredients:  Beeswax, Grapeseed Oil,Vit E, Jojoba Oil, kaolin Clay, Serecite Mica, Sweet Almond Oil, Magnesium Stearate, Glycerin, Iron Oxide

I really like this liner. It applies smoothly and doesn't tug at my lids. I'm no eyeliner pro and haven't dabbled too much with other indie liners, but I do struggle with gel liners dragging on my skin. The gel liner also lasts a really long time and doesn't smudge or flake. I had to break out my jojoba oil to remove it at the end of the day! I was really impressed. This little sample jar will last me a long time.

Cost

Since I purchased samples, the prices I paid were not the same as the full sizes.

• Eyeshadow samples: $2.25
• Lipstick samples: $3.50

Most of the products' prices are on-par with other indies. Some are a downright steal ($3.75 for lipbalm) whereas other are a bit on the steep side ($22 for a milk bath soak).

Customer service

Asiyah was so accommodating! I felt special having her put together a sample-sized custom order just for me. She answered all of my questions promptly and even included a thoughtful handwritten thank you note with my order.

TAT & Shipping

It took less than ten days for my order to arrive, and that was including the time it took to assemble custom sample sizes. TAT runs from 3-5 days. The shop's policies page goes into more detail, although it says nothing about international orders. I imagine you could always message to ask.

Bonus EOTD with Moonbeam, Amethyst and the Bistre gel liner

Personal Thoughts

I'm a bit conflicted. Since I only sampled cosmetic items from ROYAL by NATURE, I can't really vouch for the skincare products. I'd be wary purchasing some - the Oil Cleansing Face Serum for example has coconut oil which is highly comedogenic for many people (but a miracle-worker for others). I do really like how there's such a broad variety and am curious to see if there are less shimmery polish colors in the future (but I suspect I can't sample nail polish)!

Another thing that sets ROYAL by NATURE apart is the wide variety of hair products, and I don't typically see as many products marketed towards kinky, curly hair on the indie side of things. My own hair is baby fine, limp and thin, so this is not my forte, but I can still appreciate it.

I think the focus on quality ingredients gives ROYAL by NATURE a leg up. I think with a more obvious naming convention, clear swatch photos, and regularly available samples they could really do well for themselves. The lipstick formula really impressed me. I think we a bit of tweaking to adjust the pigmentation and staying power and it'd be a killer product!

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