Colour Pop Haul - Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I feel really late jumping on the Colour Pop bandwagon, but I just placed my first order with them back in May when they did their anniversary special with a free limited-edition eye shadow. Add that in with the $5 coupon code that comes with signing up for their email newsletter, and it was a deal that couldn't be passed up.

When I was planning my order, I wanted to try a little bit of everything except their lip products, but that's just because I don't typically wear colored lip products. I ended up getting four eye shadows, one blush, and two highlighters.

Before we look at individual products, here's a quick shot of the packaging:

Their standard packaging for their eye and face products is a clean white jar with a screw top lid. I didn't think to take a picture of it, but the sides of the lid go down really far, about 3/4 of the way to the bottom of the jar itself. I'm guessing that is because the texture of their products is a cream/mousse type of consistency, so they run the risk of drying out if the container isn't sealed tightly. Because of that texture, you can't expect to see any palettes from this brand. It just wouldn't work.

The label on the back obviously gives you the name of the color as well as the type of product. What I think is a really nice touch is they also include the finish of the product (it's hard to read here, but it is under Super Shock Shadow).

On to the eye shadows! I didn't notice it when I placed my order, but you'll begin to see a trend here....

Plunge (Pearlized): Colour Pop describes this shade as a light warm beige with a golden sheen. That is pretty accurate. To me, it looks like a soft, golden bronze shade.

Truth (Satin): Colour Pop describes this as a neutral light beige with a warm satin finish, I don't really have anything to add to that description.

I Heart This (Metallic): Colour Pop describes I Heart This as a cool-toned silvery taupe with multi-colored glitter. Again, I would consider their description to be spot-on.

Birthday Girl - Limited Edition (Metallic): As I mentioned up above, part of what made me order was a free, limited edition eye shadow that was part of their birthday celebration. I don't have an official color description, but I would describe it as a warm golden bronze with multi-colored glitter, with silver being the prominent glitter color. It is deeper than Plunge but distinctly warmer than I Heart This. You've probably noticed the hot pink packaging. It is currently unique to this color.

Did you notice the trend? If not, let's see if this helps:

From left to right: Plunge, Truth, I Heart This, Birthday Girl

I don't know how I didn't realize it until I got my order, but I chose colors that were all very similar. Thinking back on it though, it makes sense. I had read a review from a smaller blog that complained about the ease of application. I was worried about a brush being able to pick up the product, so I wanted to choose lid-shades just in case I was only happy with finger application. The unexpected advantage of this choice was that I get to compare finishes within a very similar color family. 

Top to bottom: Truth and Plunge

Top to bottom: Birthday Girl and I Heart This

I have to say that I've fallen in love with the pearlized finish of Plunge. It's got more of a shimmery kick than Truth's satin finish, but it isn't bordering on over-the-top glitter like Birthday Girl and I Heart This. 

I'm happy to say that brush application isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I do have to work a little harder than with a normal shadow to get the brush loaded with product, and I tend to dip back into the pan more times to get the coverage that I want, but it is doable. Finger application is really easy too. I might venture out enough to get a crease or liner color the next time I place a Colour Pop order. 

As for wear time, these shadows are awesome! I use primer because I always use primer, but these look almost if not as good by the end of the day as they did in the morning. I haven't experienced any creasing, and there is little to no fading. They've even lasted through an entire workday and an intense workout at the gym. 

I wore I Heart This recently, and I did notice some glitter fallout by the end of the day. It wasn't an excessive amount where I wanted to run and hide instead of running errands after work. I don't think the people that I was interacting with during errands would have noticed anything, but when I looked a little closer than normal in a mirror, I could see it. The glitter factor is definitely something to keep in mind if you are looking at buying any of the metallic finish shadows. 

On to face products: 

Monster (Pearlized): Colour Pop describes Monster as a light pink with a highly-opalescent duochrome finish. To me, the base looks more white than pink because it is that pale, and the base color really disappears on the skin. The pink opalescence is absolutely beautiful.  

Lunch Money (Pearlized): Colour Pop describes this highlighter as a soft light gold with a reflective golden duo-chrome finish. I don't really see how this is a duo-chrome shade, but it is still beautiful.

Mochi (Matte): Colour Pop describes Mochi as a bright blue-pink, and I consider that to be accurate.

From left to right: Monster, Lunch Money, and Mochi

Although the formula is a similar cream/mousse texture like the eye shadows, there are distinct differences. The highlighters feel thinner and creamier than the eye shadows, and the blush feels much drier than the other two. 

I love the highlighters. They apply like a dream. I have stuck with applying these with my fingers since fingers seem just as easy to apply a cream product like this to small areas of the face. They blend out nicely and last pretty well throughout the day. 

As already mentioned the blush feels really stiff and dry to me. The dry texture makes it harder to pick up product. Since I chose such a bright color, it makes it harder to over-apply it. Sadly, the dry texture also seems to make it a bit harder to blend out on the cheeks as well. It isn't impossible; it just isn't as easy as other cream blushes in my collection. After trying a few different brushes, I've decided that I prefer using a dense brush that still has plenty of movement, like the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. While the blush lasts pretty well throughout the day, I see quite a bit of fading by the time I get home in the evening. 

Final Thoughts

I really like the eye shadows that I got, particularly Plunge with the pearlized finish, and the highlighters are gorgeous. I'm not chomping at the bit to place another order immediately, but it is very likely that I'll order more in the future. The blush is nice, but I don't like it well enough to order more of them in the future. I think the only exception might be if they come out with a really unique color that I haven't seen someplace else. 

Have you tried Colour Pop? What products/colors are your favorite or are on your wishlist?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

Halo Razor - Cruelty-free Razor Option

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Today's post is going to be short and sweet.

In my cruelty-free journey, I'm glad to say that I've found a replacement for my Gillette Venus razors. My fiance looked it me funny when he saw me writing this post because he didn't understand how a razor could be tested on animals. His actual question was, "Do they shave animals?" I explained to him that companies that make razors often make a lot of other products, which can be tested on animals.

The Halo 5-blade razor by the brand Personna is a cruelty-free razor that, for me, works just as well as my old Venus razor did. I'm also happy to say that it is similar in price as well, so I'm not spending more money to buy it.

The package with the full razor (which includes two blades) and the 4-cartridge refill cost me just under $14 on Amazon.com.

My only complaints are minor ones. The razor itself came with a large plastic holder for storage in the shower, and I never use those. It sat around for a few weeks until I finally just threw it in the recycling. I'm sure some people like when razors come with their own holder. I'm just not one of them. My other complaint is that I can only seem to find this razor on Amazon, and my initial order was delayed, so it took much longer to arrive than I expected. I'll just have to remember to order replacement cartridges well before I would actually need them. Since I know I like them, I'll also stock up the next time I order and pick up two packs of replacement cartridges at one time.

What is your favorite razor? If your razor comes with a holder, do you use it?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

bareMinerals Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Topcoat - Review

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I have a love/hate relationship with mascara. I love it because it makes my blonde eyelashes visible, but I hate it because I have so many issues with mascara smudging and flaking. It drives me crazy. I can find a mascara that I like, but once I've gotten a little bit over-heated, I end up with mascara on my browbone. That's not a pretty look. Since I also purchase a lot of value sets, I tend to have a lot of non-waterproof mascaras in my stash. 

In the search for a solution to my dilemma, I decided to try out the bareMinerals Locked & Coated Waterproof Lash Topcoat. 

Price: $12

Packaging

There's not really much to talk about here. It's a pretty standard mascara tube. The brush itself is a skinny brush with rubber bristles. I'm not a fan of really large brushes anyway, and for this product in particular, I think the small brush was a good idea (more on that later). 

Product

The product itself is a clear gel that gets applied over mascara. It doesn't make my lashes clump together, and it does make my mascara waterproof. I haven't had any issues with smudges on my browbone since I started using it with a non-waterproof mascara. For reference, I'm currently using a mini tube of bareMinerals Lash Domination mascara. 

The only minor issue I've had with this product was that I just applied it like I apply my mascara, meaning I brushed it on the bottom of my top lashes. Since then, I start by brushing it over the top of my top lashes first and then brushing it over the bottom. If I don't do that, I still have smudges on my browbone. I do the top first because it pushes my lashes down some. Doing the bottom of my lashes second pushes them back up. 

Final Thoughts

This is a specialty product that isn't really necessary for most people. If someone needs a waterproof mascara, she typically just buy one that is already waterproof instead of buying an extra product and adding an extra step to her routine. However, it is a fantastic product for those who need it. It is making it possible for me to use non-waterproof mascaras in my collection that I would have issues using otherwise. I could see this being a popular product for brides who have a favorite mascara that doesn't come in a waterproof formula. 

I hope to eventually find a Holy Grail waterproof mascara. I would love it if bareMinerals actually made their Lash Domination mascara in a waterproof formula. In the meantime, I'll occasionally pick this up in order to use my backlog of mascaras from value kits.

Would you pick up a waterproof topcoat for mascara? Why would you use  it? 

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

Jane Blush in Berry Bouquet - Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

I'm spending a Sunday afternoon trying to get some blog posts scheduled while watching a Harry Potter marathon on TV. Does anyone else watch movies on TV that they already own? It seems silly to me, but I do it anyway. Most of the time I do it when I'm just looking for something to have on as background noise.

I've been enjoying trying out products from the relaunched brand Jane Cosmetics. I haven't tried a lot yet, but I have other items on my wishlist for the next time I'm shopping at Ulta and  they are on sale.

One of the products I've been testing out is their Multi-Colored Cheek Powder in Berry Bouquet.

Price: $12

Packaging

The compact is a basic black with a clear window. It is serviceable without a lot of bulk or frills, which I like. When purchased, it comes with a cardboard band with bright and colorful pictures, but that obviously gets thrown away. The flower pattern on the product itself is eye-catching and pretty.

Product

This berry shade is exactly that, a bright berry color with a matte finish. The swatch above is all of the colors mixed together. After some experimenting, I have decided that I prefer avoiding the deepest shade in the blush when I use it. The difference doesn't show up very much when I swatch it, but I notice the difference more on my cheeks. The powder feels smooth and not overly dry and blends nicely on the skin. It lasts well on my skin, making it through a workday without problem.

Final Thoughts 

I like this blush, but at the same time, it doesn't wow me either. It's a little pricey for a drugstore brand as well. I wouldn't have purchased it at regular price; I picked it up on sale. There are only two other colors in the range, and the colors aren't of interest to me, so I won't be picking those up.

Have you tried the new Jane blushes or other products in the range?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

NYX Baked Shadow in Nebula - Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

I don't know about all of you, but I'm really glad that spring is finally deciding to show itself. I've been prepping for the season by doing some clothing shopping recently. I'm also eagerly watching the yard to see flowers starting to pop out of the ground.

Today I'm going to be reviewing a shade from the new NYX baked shadow line.

Price: $5.99; NYX products are regularly on sale, so watch out for a good deal.

Packaging

NYX has gradually been creating a theme with their eye shadow packaging. Most, if not all, of their shadow packaging now has this cute bow over the clasp. It's a nice touch. The configuration of the clear panels also adds some interest to an otherwise basic shadow compact. Probably the only thing I would have changed is shaving off a bit of the extra bulk.

Product

Left to right: swatched dry and swatched wet

I wish I could say that I loved this shadow because I wanted to love it, but I was really disappointed.

My first disappointment was with the color. I purchased this online off Ulta.com, and I thought the color I was getting was going to be much lighter than it was when it arrived. I don't really blame that on the shadow. Whenever I buy something online without seeing it in person first or seeing online swatches, I know I'm taking a chance.

The shadow itself performed terribly on me. I tested it with my regular primer applied dry, my regular primer applied wet, with my regular primer and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy, and with primer and Jordana's Made-to-Last Shadow pencil. With just primer, the shadow had practically disappeared after just a couple of hours. My other attempts only helped marginally.

Final Thoughts

Clearly, I wasn't happy with this particular shadow. I've only tried this one, so I can't say if the others perform better. I won't be purchasing any more of to find out. I've only seen one other review of these, and it was positive, so these might work better for someone else.

Have you tried any of NYX's baked shadows? What did you think? I would love to hear other opinions on these!

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Surprise Love! Physicians Formula Nude Wear Blush in Natural - Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

I usually like products from Physicians Formula, and when there is a good sale on the brand at CVS, I usually can't resist picking something up. It's rare for me to discover a product from them that I'm really excited about though.

I've already posted about picking up a blush and bronzer from their new Nude Wear line when I was able to get them for a fantastic price.

Price: $12.95 on Physicians Formula's website; I got mine for much cheaper at CVS with a sale and coupons.

Packaging

Just like pretty much everyone else out there who buys Physicians Formula, I have a love-hate relationship with their packaging. Their packaging is usually really cute, and this line is no exception. I love how girly it is with the pale pink and the metallic bow.

Just like every other Physicians Formula powder product though, the packaging is really bulky so they can include their terrible, scratchy brush. I would so much rather they skipped the brush (and even the mirror) and made the packaging half the thickness. I don't expect that to happen though, and it is just something that has to be expected with the brand.

Product

A shimmery over-spray is another one of Physicians Formula's quirks, so if you aren't familiar with the brand and are hoping that shimmer runs throughout, you are out of luck. If you don't like the shimmer, don't worry. It is gone after one use.

The four tones of the Nude Wear Blush in Natural combine to make a soft pink with just a little bit of sheen. It feels smooth to the touch and blends easily onto the skin.

It honestly doesn't look like anything special, so what makes me love it? There are two things. The first is that the color is practically impossible for me to over-apply, which is a near miracle on my fair skin. The second is that it lasts all day on me. I'm talking 12+ hour wear time here. Those two things combined is probably going to make this a blush I'll reach for regularly.

Final Thoughts

I'm obviously really happy that I purchased this blush. If you have fair to light skin and are looking for and easy-to-apply blush, keep an eye out for sales and give this one a go. I have a feeling this shade might start to look a little bit ashy on medium to dark skintones, but that is obviously just a guess on my part.

Have you tried any products from the Nude Wear line? Have you had any products that surprised you with how much you like them?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Sex Kitten - Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

Was anyone else really impressed with the size of NYX's spring collection release? It was huge! They released a ton of new products, and I have to admit being totally jealous of the people who got the NYX swag bag at LA IMATS.

Even so, I had a hard time picking out a couple of products to try when I placed a recent Ulta order. A big part of that is not being able to see them in person. Colors weren't jumping out at me like they might in the store. I did finally settle on a few items to try out, and I've had some mixed results.

First time going to talk about one of their new Hot Singles Eye Shadows in the color Sex Kitten.

Price: $4.49 on Ulta.com

Packaging

The packaging is pretty standard for a single eye shadow. It's a simple black compact with a clear window on the top to show off the shadow shade. NYX added a little bit of individuality to it with the bow at the clasp. I didn't take any close-ups of it, but it is essentially the same as the bow on the palettes they released last year.

Product

NYX Sex Kitten swatched on bare skin

NYX's website describes Sex Kitten as a peachy pink shimmer, which is pretty accurate. I see a lot more peach than pink, and the shimmer is gold. This shadow would look stunning on blue eyes. My eyes are a mix of blue and green, and I could definitely see the blue popping out when I wore it. I've only done online comparisons, but the shade looks similar to MAC's Jest or Makeup Geek's Cinderella.

Both the pigmentation and texture of this shadow are really nice. It applied smoothly and evenly and wore all day over primer.

Final Thoughts

This shadow is a win for me. I don't think there's anything that I dislike about it. If you've got blue eyes, check it out the next time you see a NYX display. I'll definitely be checking out other colors in the line the next time I get to Ulta.

Have you tried any of NYX's new Hot Singles Eye Shadows? What other colors should I check out?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

Be a Bombshell Blush and Eye Shadows - Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were prizes that I received from a blog giveaway. I was not required to write a review, and I have no affiliation with the company. All opinions are my own. 

Over the summer, I was a very lucky lady, and I won a giveaway hosted by Valentine Kisses for six full size items from the brand Be a Bombshell Cosmetics. I think I had seem this brand mentioned a couple of time before then, but I didn't know much about it. According to their website, they are cruelty-free. If you have heard something different, please let me know.

Today I've got one blush and two eye shadows that I'm finally going to review.

Price: Blush - $16; eye shadow - $14 each

Packaging

There's not really much to say about the packaging. It is pretty standard with a matte black case and a clear window on top. It's functional and isn't overly bulky. I will say that I do like their brand logo on the top. I find it cute.

Product

Be a Bombshell Blush in Raspberry Tart

The blush that I was lucky enough to win is called Raspberry Tart. It's a pretty deep pink that leans just a little coral. It has a little bit of shimmer and sheen, but it isn't excessively shimmery or shiny. It just adds a little bit of glow to the color.

Be a Bombshell eye shadow in Bright Eyes

The first eye shadow that I received was Bright Eyes. I think this shade is relatively unique in my collection. It is a gold, but it has a somewhat strong green undertone. It is a shimmery shade with some gold glitter in it, that, unfortunately, doesn't show up in my picture.

Be a Bombshell eye shadow in Starstruck

The second eye shadow shade in my prize pack was Starstruck, which is a warm leaning purple with rainbow shimmer. It plays right in to the Pantone's Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid. I even happened to pick up a paint swatch of the shade, so I could compare the two.

Both colors pulled more blue in this picture than they are in real life, but you can see that they are pretty close in color.

Swatches:

From left to right: Raspberry Tart, Bright Eyes, and Starstruck

How do these product perform?

The blush is finely milled and blends easily. It lasts well throughout the workday, but it is something that I would probably end up wanting to touch up if I had to head back out in the evening. I like the color because it is slightly outside of my pink comfort zone, but it is still pink enough that I'll still grab for it on a normal day.

The eye shadows are also finely milled. They don't feel as creamy as other shadows on the market, but it isn't something I notice on application since they apply smoothly. I mentioned earlier that Bright Eyes has glitter in it, but that glitter doesn't really transfer to the eyes or, thankfully, to the face. I'll maybe see a fleck or two, but it isn't a glitter bomb that is going to leave you covered in gold glitter. Both shadows wear well over primer (the only way I wear shadows) and last all day.

Final Thoughts

I like these products from Be a Bombshell. They are good quality. I'm glad I got to try them out. Will I buy more of the brand? Maybe. I'm a sucker for sales and deals, and I rarely buy anything at full price. I can't see myself paying $16 or $14 respectively for these products (I've never paid full price for an Urban Decay shadow either). The brand does occasionally run some awesome sales, including 50% off (they did one for Black Friday and another one for Valentine's Day). If something catches my eye, I might grab it during one of those, but my wishlist for products from other brands is so long that I don't see it happening any time soon.

Have you tried anything from Be a Bombshell? Are you a sale-fiend like me who rarely pays full price for makeup?

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were prizes that I received from a blog giveaway. I was not required to write a review, and I have no affiliation with the company. All opinions are my own. 

Tarte Cream Shadow in Slate - Review and Swatch

 Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

I don't know about all of you, but I tend to fall into makeup ruts. In particular, I automatically reach for my powder products when it comes to eyes and cheeks, so I creams tend to sit unloved. It's really a shame, since I have some nice ones in my collection.

Back on Black Friday, I picked up the Tarte Balanced & Beautiful Amazonian Kit, which came with a full size of the original Flush shade of their Amazonian clay blush, a cream shadow in Slate, and an eye shadow brush. It was a fantastic deal! Slate had been ignored because it is a bit darker than I normally use for a lid color. Thankfully, I got over my hesitation and tried it the other day.

Price: $19 for the Balanced & Beautiful Amazonian Kit or for the individual shadow (I told you the kit was a fantastic deal)

Packaging

Tarte's cream shadows come in sturdy glass jars. It looks like the individually sold ones have a square base instead of the round base like this one, but the actual opening for the product looks to be the same. I personally wish the opening was a bit bigger. It's a little hard to get a normal-sized shadow brush in there and run it across the product.

I really like the fact that the sticker on top of the jar indicates the shade in the jar, making it easy to identify what color it is without looking for an actual shade name. However, the shade name is printed on the bottom of the jar, and since the jar it clear, it is also easy to identify the shade if you store your cream shadows upside down, like I tend to do.

Product

Tarte describes Slate as a shimmering silver, but I would consider it more of a grey-taupe shade that makes a really pretty soft, smoky eye. 

I really like the formula of these cream shadows. They aren't too soft or too hard. It is easy to get opaque color with it, but it also blends out well along the edges. Work quickly though. It doesn't take too much time before this shadow sets and isn't going to budge.

I did a wear test the other day over Urban Decay Primer Potion, and it didn't crease at all. I had some fading around the center of my eyelids somewhere around the 8-10 hour mark, but it really wasn't anything that was obvious until I stared at myself closely in the mirror.

Final Thoughts

 I actually like this shade a lot more than I thought I would, and the formula is fantastic. If you like the look of it yourself, I would highly suggest the Balanced & Beautiful set, since you get two extra products for the same price as buying the individual shadow.

Have you tried any of Tarte's cream shadows? What do you think? Do you tend to ignore your cream shadows or blushes like I do?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Eye Shadow Pencil in Continuous Almond - Review and Swatches

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

When Milani came out with their limited edition collection of shadow pencils a while back, I tried really hard to find them. I never had any luck though.

I was thrilled then when Jordana came out with a line of shadow pencils that looked nearly identical. Since Milani and Jordana are made by the same company and Milani's shadow pencils get really good reviews, I had really high hopes that Jordana's eye shadow pencils would be pretty good. As an added bonus, the Jordana pencils are less expensive.

Price: $3.99 on Jordana's website, but watch for sales at Walgreens or Kmart

Packaging

 The packaging for these is pretty much standard for an eye shadow pencil. It is the type of pencil that needs to be sharpened, which a lot of people will consider a negative. I also prefer twist up pencils, but it doesn't really bother me too much here. I don't need it to be really precise, so I don't need to worry about a fine point, and I don't use enough where I need to sharpen it after every use.

I do like that the cap on the product is clear and the bottom of the pencil is the same shade as the shadow, making it easy to pick out of a pile of pencil shadows.

Product 

 

This shadow pencil is creamy and nicely pigmented. It also blends out smoothly. As you can see, Continuous Almond is a flesh-toned shade. Although the actual shade is somewhere around a light skintone, it works well in my fair skin as well since I only apply a sheer layer. I would guess the same would be true for medium skintones.

I tested this wearing it on its own over my standard Urban Decay Primer Potion. I did a few swipes across my lid and then blended it out with my fingers from lashline to browbone. I kept the layer fairly thin since I was really just looking to even out the color of my eye area. I had a little bit of creasing after about an hour or two, which was slightly disappointing. However, the creasing wasn't very obvious, and most of the shadow appeared to stay put the entire day. If I had had to leave the house again, I might have done a quick dab with my fingers to clean up the slight creasing, and I wouldn't have worried about it. I can see grabbing for this on those low-maintenance days when I just need to run to the store and don't want to do a full-on eye shadow look.

My favorite way to use this shadow pencil is to use it as an eye shadow base, and that was the actual reason why I purchased it. It is fantastic under powder shadows! Since it evens out the color of the skin underneath, it helps make the colors on top pop. I don't know that it makes powder shadows stay longer because I always use a regular primer underneath, but my shadows still held up all day, so it didn't hurt the wear time either.

Final Thoughts

The Continuous Almond shade of the Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Eye Shadow Pencils is fantastic!  If you have fair to medium skin and are looking for a flesh-toned shadow base, I would suggest picking this up and giving it a try. At around $4, it's a great deal.

Have you tried the Jordana shadow pencils? Are there other shades I should pick up and try?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. 

Jane Eye Shadow in Lotus - Review and Swatch

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

I'm trying to get ahead with blog posts, so I'm writing this post on January 6, but I plan on scheduling it to post on January 22. For those of you who schedule your posts, do you find that weird? I usually like starting my posts with something a little chatty, but doing that with posts scheduled so far in advance means my chatty stuff will be out of date by the time this post goes live.

Oh well! I think I'm going to chat anyway. :-)

Since this is the second week of January, my resolutions for the year are still going pretty well. I think *knock on wood* I've found a good method for keeping me on track with the routines I want to set up for myself. If things continue to go well, maybe I'll share in another month or two.

The product that I'm reviewing today is one by Jane Cosmetics. Just like a lot of other bloggers, I remember using Jane back when I was in high school. There was a super shimmery loose blush that I loved. I also love their little pamphlets with beauty tips that they had with their display.

I picked up a couple of the new Jane products (available at Ulta) before Christmas.  I had one of the magical 20% off everything coupons and a 5x bonus points offer. I also thought Jane products were 2 for $10 at the time, otherwise I probably wouldn't have grabbed anything. When I got home and looked at my receipt, I realized that I didn't get the 2 for $10 deal. :-(

Price

The Jane Cosmetics single eye shadows retail for $8. Ulta seems to regularly have Jane on sale though (usually buy one get one 50% off), so it is worth waiting to grab products then.

Packaging

The packaging itself is pretty basic. It's a simple black compact with a clear window on top, which shows the beautiful flower pattern stamped on the shadow itself.

Product

Lotus swatched on bare skin

 Lotus is a really basic champagne shade. For reference, the shade is more pink than Stila's Kitten, but it is more peach than Urban Decay's Sin. Lotus is shimmery, but it isn't glittery. It has a soft, smooth texture that applies easily, and it lasted on me all day with primer.

Final Thoughts

This is a really nice, workhorse shadow. I've been loving using this type of shade on the inner half of my lid with a darker outer half, so I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of it. At retail price, the Jane Cosmetics line is a little pricey for being a "drugstore" brand, so if I decide to pick up more items from the line, I'll definitely keep my eye out for sales. If I can find a good deal, I would love to try more of their shadows since Lotus is so good.

Have you tried Jane Cosmetics since their relaunch? Are there other products I should check out or avoid?

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.