Review: Midnight Velvet m.vie Mineral Makeup

 

I'm baaaaack! Hopefully I wasn't gone long, please don't be mad! I've actually been prepping for this post, trying out the make-up to it's fullest. Back at the very end of June, I was "pitched" in regards to reviewing products from a online retail company called Midnight Velvet. Along with the product(s) to review, there would also be a sponsored giveaway (I'm going to do a separate post for this, due to the length of this one so stay tuned!).

In July, options were given to review, and of course what did I go for? The Cosmetics! Now, just a FYI, when I see the word "mineral" or "powder" foundation, I slightly cringe. I've tried mineral cosmetics before with no such luck, however that was years ago. I wanted to give mineral cosmetics, especially powder foundations, a try again before I finally rule them out entirely.

What I want to note though before going into the review, it might look like a lot of products, but I want everyone to know, it's four pieces. One is a Starter Kit, full details of course, will be in the review.

Don't forget! Right after this post, is the giveaway post! So stay tune ^-^

So, before I start going on and on, lets go onto the reviews!

Review: J.Cat Beauty Shimmery Powders

I'm back! Ok, I didn't really go anywhere, but blogger has been having a few issues (uploads, doesn't want to upload, half loads my pictures, etc.), it could very well be my browser though. Being it's being nice today, I wanted to get this review up.

On a completely unrelated note to this review, I've dyed my hair dark O.O I actually freaked out a tad because it wasn't suppose to get terribly dark! But I think I will do another post about it :D

Up for review today is J.Cat Beauty Shimmery Powders. As I mentioned in a previous review post on J.Cat Beauty's The Big Eye Pencils, I was fortunate to receive some of their products to review. This happens to be the second half to the eye products that I was sent (I still have lip products, but my skin has decided to be the devil and blemishes pop up around my lips, seriously?!).

Onward to the review!

Rediscovering: Club Eyeshadow from MAC

Ever purchase a product (skincare, cosmetics, perfume, etc), use it maybe once, then you forget about it or just don't find yourself reaching for it as often as you do other products?

That's what happened when I purchase the MAC eyeshadow in Club ages ago (2 years ago maybe). I used it once, and ever since it's just been sitting in the back of the storage drawer. Back then I was always trying to go for the neutral look when it came to eye make up that I just couldn't see myself using it. Yes, back then question came to mind as to why I even purchased this as well. Instead of taking it back, I decided to keep it, just in case on day I could find a use for it. And guess what?

Last Sunday, while digging around in the drawer, I came across it. Figured why not. Honestly, I don't know why I wasn't using it more often! What on earth was I thinking 2 years ago?!

If you're unfamiliar with Club, this is a duo-chrome eyeshadow with a satin finish. The main base of this eye shadow is a red-brown with a green/teal shimmer. Wearing this without a base or using a natural base (eyelid primer), then the red-brown is more dominate than the green. If you use a dark base, or I've found if you use a base that remains a bit tacky, that gorgeous duo-chrome effect comes through. More so with a dark base though.

I've been wearing Club during the work week without a dark base. Then yesterday, being I was going into work at noon, I had a bit more time to play around with it. I used a dark base all over the lid (save for the inner corners) and along the lower lash line. I only went to the crease though with the base, because I wanted that red-brown to show above that (hopefully that makes sense).

After being at work for 9 hours.

Products Used

• PIXI Lid Last Shadow Pen in Shell Sheen
• PIXI Lid Last Shadow Pen in Brun Beam
• Urban Decay Venus
• MAC Eyeshadow in Club
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rockstar
• Maybelline Volum'Express The Rocket Mascara

 

Has anyone rediscovered a product that they've had

and not know why they weren't using it all along?

Review: E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadow Set in Earthly

Probably about a little more than a year ago, I ended up purchasing one of the E.L.F. Mineral Eye Shadow sets that was available at Target. The set name was Earthly and came as a 3 piece. I believe I only used the shadows once after I made the purchase. This morning though I decided to use them again.

I have no idea why I didn't use them besides that one time before! In fact, I can't recall why I didn't use them more often.

In the set you get two mineral eye shadow (loose) and one eye shadow brush. I own several other E.L.F. brushes and love them, sadly though this one came defective. I'm not sure if it was just the set I purchased or if this happened to anyone else. It's an easy fix though.

With that aside, onto the shadows!

What E.L.F. says about their mineral eye shadows:

Bring a touch of natural beauty to your eyes with these natural mineral eyeshadow shades that add subtle highlights for daytime or increased drama for night. With key vitamins A, B, C & E these eyeshadows hydrate and minimize the appearance of fine lines. Available in an array of light-reflecting color options they can be worn wet or dry, together or alone, for countless shimmering styles and trends. The all natural consistency makes them incredibly easy to apply and blend for a flawless finish. All our mineral makeup is 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.

- [source]

The first shadow that the Earthly set comes with, is the sets namesake. Earthly.

Color: I would describe this as a sage type color with a gold sheen to it, along with silver glitter particles.

 

Texture: Smooth, buttery with a powder-like feel. There is glitter in there, but it's almost like a finely milled glitter.

Pigmentation: Completely pigmented! For the swatch, I didn't use any primer on my hand. 

Next color is Caffeinated

Color: A rich bronze-brown with the same silver glitter particles mixed into it.

Texture: The very same as Earthly.

Pigmentation: INSANELY pigmented! Letting the swatch wear off, it does leave a slight tint to my skin, I'm sure this is only due to me not washing it off or removing it with make-up remover/baby wipe.

Overall impression of both shadows? I absolutely love both, even more so in love with Caffeinated. Both are rich in color and in pigmentation, it's insane. They blend easily, and look beautiful together. These two make me want to purchase more from the mineral eye shadow line!

Price of the set: I believe it was around $5.00

Price of individual shadow: $3.00

Essential Eye Shadow Brush: $1.00

Would I suggest these Mineral eye shadows to someone else? YES! As long as you don't mind shimmery eye shadows.

Disclaimer: Products mentioned in this review were purchased by myself.

Review: The Color Workshop 4 Palettes

After tossing this back and forth I figured why not. Back in December one of my co-workers gave me one of The Color Workshop gift sets which came with four (6 shades) eyeshadow palettes, a mascara, a liquid glitter eyeliner, and I believe a brush as well (I don't rightfully recall). Sadly I had thrown out the box, but I do believe it was part of the Dazzling Eyes collection. And just so it can be noted, every single eyeshadow is a frost.

Review: Pixi Beauty Shades of Taupe

I've had this little quad since the beginning of October of last year. It was when Target had several Pixi items on clearance (as well as Jemma Kidd items). As it always is with beauty items on clearance at Target, majority of the items I was interested in, had either been open and out of the box or severely damaged. I lucked out though, finally finding a quad that was still intact. Out of all the palettes I own, I reach for this one the most, and I'm sure any one can tell that by the little dips in the shades (oops!).

Quick note, PIXI offers three of these Shade Quartettes (retail for $22.00). This one, Shades of Peach and Shades of Nude.

As the name implies, Shades of Taupe, this quad is exactly that. Three shades fall into the taupe family with a very light dusky pink. I almost want to say it can be viewed as a gradient wheel of sorts. The PIXI website describes their Shade Quartette as a tone-on-tone. Which in my opinion is spot on.

For the record, I cannot say anything bad about this quad, I absolutely love it!

Very Light Dusky Pink

Dusky Light Taupe

 The first shade, is the very light dusky pink shade. No matter how much product I put on to swatch it, it basically blends into my skin (I guess I'm a very light dusky pink ha!). This is a matte shade, I want to say that it's a matte-satin though because it isn't completely mattefied. There is a slight sheen to it, but one would hardly notice it. This would be lovely as an inner corner highlight or to highlight the brow bone.

The next shade (to the right of the pink), starting to go into the taupe field is a dusky light taupe. I almost want to say it is a light gray taupe. This has the appearance of being matte, but upon closer inspection, there are some subtle shimmer in there. Not BOOM in your face shimmer, more along the lines of a satin. This is a gorgeous all over the lid color, I actually use this the most often.

Bronze-Taupe

Deep Rose-Taupe

The third shade (to the left of the pink), comes across as a bronze-taupe, and it is a shimmer. This as well is a gorgeous color and would work well as an all over the lid color or even a crease color.

The last shade, which is directly across from the pink, is the darkest shade in the quad. I want to say, to my eye, it's a deep rose taupe. There's definitely a pinkish rose sheen to it in the quad. The same with the third shade, this one is a shimmer as well. Perfect for the outer crease and lower lash line for a smokey look.

The texture on all four of the shades are wonderful, very smooth and silky. Not chalky in the slightest with no fall out. 

Depending on your preference, each of one these shades can be worn on it's own or all together. This is an absolutely gorgeous quad and I'm still very happy with it. I actually want to get the other two as well.

Disclaimer: Product mentioned in this review was purchased by myself.

Review: Naturally Gorgeous

Last time I was at Walmart, they finally had the Hard Candy Naturally Gorgeous (it's either $5 or $6) palette back in stock.

Naturally Gorgeous is a nude/natural palette from Hardy Candy's Top Ten Eyeshadow Collection. There is a total of five different palettes, ten shadows each with two sponge tip applicators (the Walmart site states that it comes with a brush, not true).

I really and truly can't say whether or not this little palette could be a suitable dupe for either one of the Urban Decay Naked palettes as I don't own either.

So, without further delay, onward to the review!

One of the applicators went missing!

Packaging. It's typical hard plastic. Very sturdy, snapping shut with no problem. Behind the black and silver panel is a mirror. Speaking of the panel, it isn't something I care for, and seems to pull away because of how tightly the top of the palette closes. That might just be with mine though.

I should say right off the bat, all ten of these colors are shimmer and as far as I know, the other four palette are also all shimmers.

None of the eyeshadows have names, so I'll split it down the middle, starting with the first five on the left, which I'll say is the light to medium shades of the ten.

A quick note, a primer was not used with the swatches.

First five shades on the left of the palette.

The issues I had out of these five were the first three from the left. The lightest shades are both champagne colors, one being slightly different than the other. I did my very best to try and get those two to show up, but they didn't want to cooperate with me. The third color (which seems to be a brownish-champagne color), does have more color payoff than the first two, but is still light, it can work if it's packed on though. From the copper color on, the color payoff improves. Just the three lightest seem to be tricky.

Five shades on the right.

As I said, from the copper color onward, the payoff is perfectly fine. I haven't had any problems with these shades.

Texture wise with all ten shades, in my opinion, they're very soft with fall out. While I was doing the swatches, I noticed that I'd get lumps of the shadows on my fingers. I suppose it'd be safe to say the eyeshadow caked on my fingers. The same thing happened when I used the applicator. There's no problem though when using an eyeshadow brush. Tapping the brush off is a must with these shadows.

Would I recommend this? Yes, unless you're fussy about shimmers, soft eyeshadows that can cause fallout and the color payoff being iffy on three out of the ten shades.

I can definitely say that I do want to get the other four palettes to see how they are.

Disclaimer: Products mentioned in this review were purchased by myself.

Review: Pixi Beauty Lid Last Shadow Pen

In my Eye of the Day I said I would do a review on the "primer" that I've been using on my eyes since October 2012. That happens to be Pixi Beauty's Lid Last Shadow Pen.

As far as I know, Pixi Beauty is sold exclusively in the states at Target (correct me if I'm wrong about this), but you can also purchase the products from their website as well if you don't have a Target near you.

Pixi Beauty - Lid Last Shadow Pens

I first started off by purchasing Peach Pavé (retail: $18.00), this was after I swatched it on the back of my hand and tried to rub it off. It wouldn't budge (SOLD!). After that, a duo set called Good Morning Eyes, came out that contained Shell Sheen and Brun Beam (retail: $12.00).

Something I want to point out is by definition, these are non-creasing eyeshadows. So, you could wear these alone, or do as I do and use these as a "primer" of sorts. 

With these you do need one of those large size sharpeners because they require sharpening, they do not twist up. 

I have used all three of the pens (I reach for Peach Pavé the most), and they all work the same. You have to work quick if you want to blend them because they dry down to a powder-like feel... and then they won't move. 

Swatches

Wearing Peach Pavé, a shimmery peach, I have gone from 8:30am to 11pm, that's the longest I've gone without it creasing on me. It also depends on the quality of eyeshadows being used as well. Even with poor quality eyeshadows, I haven't had any creasing before 5pm, which is when I end my work day.

Shell Sheen, which is pearly white-pink, I tend to use as a highlight by my inner tear duct. It might just be me and my dry skin, but this tends to go on smooth in areas then it'll cake up, and trying to smudge out those caked up areas isn't easy. It could be that it just needs to be warmed up on the back of my hand before applying it, but I did want to mention that. The wear time on it is the same as Peach Pavé.

Brun Beam is a dark taupe brown/bronze, I normally use this on the outer v of my eye, and blend it into either Peach Pavé or Shell Sheen. I have used it all over my eye though when I want a real simple smokey look. The wear time for this is the same as the other two. My only issue with this one is that it can be a little patchy, and a little goes a long way. I do have to say though, out of the three, this one smudges out easier.

I should mention, all three of these colors contain a shimmer or a "glow" to them. They are not matte. I'm not sure if that goes for the other colors that Pixi Beauty offers as well though.

Over all, I absolutely love these pens/crayons. Once I'm done with all three, would I repurchase? Yes!

Disclaimer: Products mentioned in this review were purchased by myself.

EotD: Plum Saturday

I'm not one to do a Face of the Day look, but I will do Eyes of the Day. My make-up routine during the work week is pretty much the same. Quick, easy, and overall boring; which is why on Saturday and Sunday I tend to jazz up my eye make-up.

I normally do my eyes after I've finished putting my foundation and concealer on. I do know some do the opposite, eyes then foundation and concealer. I've done both, I'm just more used to going in the order of foundation, concealer, then eyes. When I do go in this order, I do tend to make sure I tap off any excess eyeshadow off my brush to make sure I get as little fall out as possible. Even when I do get a little fall out, I just use a fluffy face brush to gently get it off. Anyway, onto the look and product run down!

Plum Saturday - Open

Plum Saturday - Closed

Products used to create the look.

 A quick run down of the products that I used. This is actually a simple look, I think. I've used my fair share of eye primers in the past, my HG once was Urban Decay's Primer Potion. That was until the formula changed, or seemed to have changed. 

What I've been using to prime my eyes, I have been using since October '12, Pixi Beauty Lid Last Shadow Pen in the color Peach Pavé (the little mint/peach end crayon). I'll do a review on this in a later post as I absolutely love this product. I've worn this going from 8:30am to 11pm at night without any break down of eye shadows (it really also depends on the quality of the eye shadow too).

 For the eye shadows, I used Missha's Signature Velvet Art Shadow in No. 1 Plum Combination. The only shadow I didn't use from this palette was the taupe-y purple that is to the right of the lightest color. I used the light pink around the inner part of my eye, around the tear ducts. Then took the not so taupe-y purple (the purple that is below the light pink), blended it into the edge of the pink then brought it across my eye, stopping just before the outer corner of my eye. I did the same to my lower lash line. Then took the rich, deep purple, used that on the outer V and into the crease slightly, then did some simple blending of it into the purple. I then did the same thing to my lower lash line. 

Swatches

Then to blend the deep purple, and clean it up if I got any above my crease, I simply used M.A.C.'s Blanc Type. Which for me is perfect, it blends into my skin and can't be seen (wait, is that really perfect?).

Last two things, to line both my upper and lower lash line, I used M.A.C. Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline. Then my HG mascara, N.Y.C. Show Time [review].

No eye lash curlers were used. Let me just say, eye lash curlers and my lids, don't get along. My lids get pinched more than my lashes curl.

And that's it. Nothing really to it. I normally use more eye shadows then just sticking to one palette.

Disclaimer: Products mentioned in this post were purchased by myself.