Review: Dior 5-Colour Designer All-in-One Artistry Palette in Green Design

Hello everyone!


I got the Dior 5-Colour Designer All-in-One Artistry Palette in Green Design a while back, but never had the opportunity to use it.  Since the mint color seems to be all the rage this summer, I thought this would be a good opportunity to put this palette to use! 

The palette includes four eyeshadow colors: forest green, sheer glittering mint, sea foam green, shimmering ivory, and an eyeliner in matte dark green cream color.  


The texture of the eyeshadows are soft, but not too soft enough to be too powdery.  However, the pigmentation is severely lacking in these shadows.  I wanted to use the ivory and mint color, but found that they appeared too alike on the eye.  The dark green cream color was hard and was difficult to apply as an eyeliner without dragging it along my eyelid.  Overall, I am disappointed in this palette and the quality does not justify its price.  

Review: NARS Joie De Vivre Cheek Palette

For Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, NARS released an exclusive cheek palette, Joie de Vivre.  It is very similar to the Danmari palette that was released exclusively for Sephora last year.  I had skipped on the Danmari palette because only half of the shades appealed to me, but this year's offering made my heart skip a beat.  It is currently available for Nordstrom cardholders, but will be available to the public on July 20.  It retails for $65.00 and features 4 blushes (Gaiety, Orgasm, Luster, Angelika), one highlighter (Albatross), and one bronzer (Laguna) with 0.12 oz of product each.  A regular sized NARS blush retails at $27.00 for 0.16 oz of product, so you're getting quite a deal! :) 

The packaging itself is like all other NARS packaging -- it has a rubberized covering with the NARS logo across the front.  I find that anything left on your hands will stick to the cover and make it look very dirty.  

From L to R: Albatross, Laguna, Gaiety, Orgasm, Luster, Angelika

The formula is very dry and hard (especially when swatching), but the color is certainly buildable when applying on the face.  The only color that required very little work was Angelika since it was very pigmented.  If anything, I would be careful with Angelika and apply with a light hand.  I think that this palette is a very good palette for those who are looking to explore NARS cosmetics or for makeup artists.  While I already own two of the blushes and the Laguna bronzer, I think that it is a welcome addition to any travel bag with its wide variety of colors.  It'll help you with any kind of look you're trying to achieve while on vacation!

Review: theBalm Shady Lady Vol. 2 Eyeshadow Palette

Hello! 

Continuing with the Shady Lady eyeshadow palette reviews, here is Vol. 2! Like the previous eyeshadow palette, Shady Lady Vol. 1, the eyeshadow formula is velvety smooth and blends like a dream.  The only problem with this eyeshadow formula is that it is not as pigmented as it could be.  I find that it is very important to use an eyeshadow primer underneath to enhance the color.  Other than that, this is a very versatile palette with neutral and colorful shadows that I like to use when traveling.  

The packaging itself is made of cardboard and I find that it can be easily dented and damaged, especially during travel.  Luckily, it is very lightweight and easy to add to any makeup bag.  There is a large mirror that is useful for on the go application or touch ups.  

From Left to Right: 

Caught in the Act Courtney (shimmery medium brown with gold sparkles) 

Feisty Felicia (matte brownish grey) 

Insane Jane (satin taupe with a hint of purple undertones) 

Bossy Bobbi (satin cornflower blue) 

Makeout Mary (satin light mossy green) 

Just This Once Jamie (light satin purple with a hint of pink) 

Mischievous Marissa (shimmering light copper rose gold) 

Tempting Tara (satin pearl white) 

Devilish Danielle (shimmering gold beige) 

Overall, there is a wide variety of colors in this palette that make it a very go-to palette for me! 

Review: L'Oreal 24 Hr Infallible Eye Shadows

I have had these for a while now and thought that it would be a good idea to do a review on them, especially since new colors have been released in the newest L'Oreal collection.  :)

These L'Oreal 24 Hr Infallible Eye Shadows hit stores at approximately the same time as the Maybelline 24 Hr Color Tattoo Shadows. They are very different in the fact that these are much like pressed eye shadows.  It comes in a plastic pot with a lid to hold the packed shadow in place.  The texture is silky and buttery smooth.  It is also extremely pigmented - one swipe of the product and you'll be set with a nice wash of color on the eyelids.  I haven't tested it to see whether it stays up to 24 hours like it claims, but the color does last for me throughout a normal 9 to 5 work day with a primer underneath.

From L to R: 

892 Amber Rush 

890 Bronzed Taupe 

333 Golden Sage

I personally like using the Amber Rush and Bronzed Taupe together or individually as a single wash of color over the lids - especially if I am in a rush.  I like pairing the Golden Jade with other colors for a more polished look.  While the Golden Jade is not an everyday color, I do love that it makes my brown eyes pop.  

These have been likened to Giorgio Armani's Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow and I can understand why.  However, I do believe that while they are similar, they are still very different.  I own a couple of both and while the texture of both are very smooth, the color options are very different.  Most of the Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows are complex and multidimensional.  They are unique in that you can see a mixture of different colors to form one complete color.  In comparison, the L'Oreal 24 Hr Infallible Eye Shadows are simple and yield one shade of color.  

It ultimately depends on how much you are willing to spend and what your taste preference is.  If you prefer a more multidimensional and unique color and are willing to spend the money, head on over to an Armani beauty counter and pick up one of the Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows.  If you are looking for a simple everyday color, definitely give these L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows a try! 

Review: NYX Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Pink

Hi everyone!
I picked up the NYX Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Pink as a last minute addition to my basket at IMATS last weekend.  The only reason I decided to pick it up was because I saw an attendee apply some to her eye and I knew that I had to have it -- especially since it was only $4.00! It's not a very practical color, but I thought it would be a fun color to wear, especially during the summer! 

Crystal Pink is a glittery pinkish purple with a sheer pink color base.  Having worn this for the past week, I have found that I need to layer it at least two times to properly show off the glitter.  It can apply a bit sheerly and patchy with just one coat, so be sure to apply a second (or even third) to make sure that the color pops! I also tried wearing on top of a black gel eyeliner and an eggplant purple pencil eyeliner, and found that it helps to enhance the color. 

For the price, it is a nice addition to my collection and will be fun to wear during the summer months.  :) 

Review: Inglot Freedom Palette

Having heard so many rave reviews about Inglot, a Freedom Palette was the very first thing on my "Must Have" list when I attended IMATS this year.  There happens to be an Inglot store about an hour and a half away from where I live, but I just couldn't justify making a purchase like that, especially since I already have more than enough eyeshadows to last me a lifetime.  But... I figured that since it was my very first time at IMATS and there was a discount, why not? 

The colors from left to right: 

397P (shimmering pink champagne)

337M (matte light beige tan with purple undertones)

420P (pearly light violet)

434P (shimmering dark greyish purple)

423P (shimmering medium brown with red undertones)

I can understand why Inglot was a very popular booth at IMATS.  These eyeshadows are buttery smooth, apply like a dream, and blend very easily.  My favorite part about this is that I can choose my own colors and create the kind of palette I want.  The only cons I can say about this product is the packaging.  While I like the magnetic closure and the fact that you can stack different palettes, it is difficult to travel with.  During a recent trip, I found that if you don't open it correctly, you can end up scratching the eyeshadow.  However, once I got the hang of opening it (I like to push the lid off at the same angle as opposed to pulling it up at a 90 degree angle), it became more manageable.  


There are only a couple of Inglot stores throughout the United States, but I would definitely consider stopping by one if you have the chance.  If not, they are available online; however, it is difficult to choose what colors you want without swatching them first hand.