cream eyeshadow

Holiday parties? Try these five drugstore beauty items!

December 25, 2015 by beautyin ·

‘Tis the season for holiday parties! The drugstore is my favorite friend because it has pretty much everything needed to get party perfect. Here are five picks to help you get smooth, styled, and glammed up gorgeous.

*pr samples

Venus Snap Razor

GET SMOOTH! Venus Snap Razor, $9.99-12.99 How cute is this? I’m often in a hurry when getting ready and the Venus Snap Razor‘s no-slip-grip is perfect, giving a super close shave while also hydrating skin. If you are going out of town for your parties, this is the perfect razor to pack.

Hair Food Moisture Hair Mask

GET STYLED! Hair Food Moisture Hair Mask, $11.99 The Hair Food Moisture Hair Mask is a once a week treatment, and it’s terrific to use for party perfect hair. This isn’t a mask you need to pile on…a little goes a long way. Be sure to rinse well because it’s so moisturizing it can leave hair feeling a little sticky when it’s wet. After hair dries it is unbelievably smooth, shiny, and soft – exactly what want for a holiday party!

COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation

GET GLAM! COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation, $9.79-12.79 This a liquid foundation that is great for those with normal skin. It really does last and last, which is what you want when you are going to party all night. It gives medium coverage and a natural look. It does have a slight fragrance. I find that it’s better to use a foundation sponge than a brush or even fingers – sponging it on gives the best coverage and finish.

COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick in Magnetic Mauve

GET EVEN MORE GLAM! COVERGIRL Outlast Longwear Lipstick, $6.99-8.99 Get some major glam and keep it with Covergirl Outlast Lipstick. It’s a cross between a lipstick and a gel-based balm and it feels divine on the lips. I am loving the Magnetic Mauve shade, which is a flattering, pretty holiday berry.

Swatches of COVERGIRL Magnetic Mauve and Bombshell Shine Shadow in Platinum Club

GET SUPER GLAM! COVERGIRL Bombshell Shine Shadow in Platinum Club, $6.99-8.99 Have you tried the Covergirl Bombshell Shine Shadows yet? If not, you need to get some stat!! It’s a soft, sort of powdery mousse that goes on in sheer layers. It takes only a few moments to dry into a beautiful shimmery finish. Platinum Club, a multi-hued purple/brown/gray is my pick for a holiday perfect shade. It’s fantastic alone, although it’s wonderful paired with a matte pink or light gray shadow. The staying power is excellent, even without using an eye primer.

Get to the drugstore and get ready to party on!! – Lisa

*sent for editorial consideration

Filed Under: Cover Girl, cream eyeshadow, drugstore, Foundation, hair mask, Lipstick, Venus Razors · Tagged With: Cover Girl, cream eyeshadow, drugstore, foundation, Hair Food, hair mask, Lipstick, razors, Venus

Winter weather needs some Mohair and Flannel from Face Stockholm

December 14, 2015 by beautyin ·

What comes in 20 shades and will keep you gorgeous this winter? FACE STOCKHOLM has the answer to that question with their Krämögonskugga Dream Cream Eye Shadows.

Siden	Mohair	Charmeuse	Bomull	Tyll	Chintz	Crêpe	Jersey	Satäng
Sammet	Nylon	Flannel	Lamé	Brokad	Denim	Angora	Linne	Cashmere
Taft	Paisley

Krämögonskugga cream shadows are the most long wearing, waterproof creams I’ve ever worn and I’ve worn a lot of brands! When they featured their newest shades in Mohair and Flannel I couldn’t wait to get those and happily they were sent for review.

Face Stockholm Krämögonskugga Dream Cream Eyeshadows in Mohair and Flannel

I’m crazy about these. I apply them with a fluffy brush and smooth them out with my fingers and the brush. There’s no primer needed where I apply them since they don’t crease on me or fade. They stay true from morning to late night. While these are highly pigmented you can easily control the intensity of them since they are buildable and quite easy to blend.

Face Stockholm
Krämögonskugga Dream Cream Eyeshadows in Mohair and Flannel

The jars are quite small but you use so little of the product that they’ll last forever. I have some from 2 years ago that are still as smooth and easy to apply as these newer ones.

Face Stockholm
Krämögonskugga Dream Cream Eyeshadow in Mohair

MOHAIR surprised me when I went to swatch and wear. It’s so much prettier on than it looked in the pot. It’s a lightly shimmered golden bronze. Since these layer well I’ll wear it in the crease with a powder highlighter shadow and a complementary lid shade. It can also be worn in the crease with Flannel on the lid for a very striking look.

Face Stockholm
Krämögonskugga Dream Cream in Flannel

Face Stockholm
Krämögonskugga Dream Cream, Mohair and Flannel

FLANNEL is also lightly shimmered but not metallic like Mohair. It’s a beautiful forest green. Face Stockholm mentions layering these shadows under powder shadows but I also like them on top of a powder. Flannel is too dark for me to wear as a base shade although if I layer a black powder over it creates a very hot smokey eye.

Whether you like to be enveloped in mohair or flannel you’ll surely find these shadows to be the stuff that dreams are made of. — Marcia

Mohair

Flannel

*sent for review consideration

Filed Under: beauty, cream eyeshadow, Eyeshadow, Face Stockholm · Tagged With: cream eyeshadow, Eyeshadow, Face Stockholm

Wondering about Wander? Wander Beauty 4 Piece Paris Collection

October 7, 2015 by beautyin ·

Nothing makes me as happy as a new cosmetics line and Wander Beauty, creation of supermodel Lindsay Ellingson, has definitely put a big huge smile on my face. QVC sells this really cool line and I have to say that it’s true…not all who wander are lost. (All you Lord of the Rings fans out there know exactly what I mean!)

Wander Cosmetics 4 Piece Paris Collection

Wander Beauty 4 Piece Paris Collection

Wander Beauty sent me the QVC exclusive 4 Piece Paris Collection ($49.96) which includes:

0.22-oz Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow in Dove Gray
0.07-oz Catch the Light Highlighter in Ivory
0.07-oz Love Lock Hydrating Lip Gel in Parisian Red
0.20-oz Wanderess Cheek Tint in Dusty Rose

Wander Beauty Four-Piece Paris Collection

The colors and formulas were created to capture the spirit of Paris. have to admit, I haven’t been to Paris so I can’t say if the collection accomplishes that goal…but I can say it’s a set well worth a shopping trip to QVC.

Catch the Light Highlighter in Ivory

The Catch the Light Highlighter in Ivory is a lipstick-sized cream-to-powder highlighter. Just sweep it on then blend with a sponge for a beautiful luminescence. I wear this on my cheeks, the inner corner of my eyes, and my favorite trick – straight down the bridge of my nose. It is very pretty and wears well, even with my rather OCD nose powdering habit.

Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow in Dove Gray

First let me say that the Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow truly is absolutely exquisite – I am very, very picky about cream eyeshadows and this is one of my favorites of all time. It is just as beautiful at the end of the day as it is when first applie, and it doesn’t crease at all…a minor miracle for me since I have oily lids. Ingredients include green tea, aloe extracts, and vitamins C and E The doe-foot applicator is fine for application, although I blend it out using a MAC 242 brush.

You may have noticed that my Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow pictured above is called Dove Gray. Don’t let the name fool you – this eyeshadow is definitely not gray. It’s a beautiful champagne taupe. It’s my favorite item in the set.

Wanderess Cheek Tint in Dusty Rose

Wanderess Cheek Tint fooled me at first…I would have sworn this was a lip gloss. But it’s a creamy cheek tint that dries into a light stain that doesn’t accentuate pores. It also has great lasting power. I love the Dusty Rose color, which is a very natural shade that makes you look healthy.

Love Lock Hydrating Lip Gel in Parisian Red

The Love Lock Hydrating Lip Gel is certainly interesting. It has a unique gel texture that applies with lots of slip, but then dries down to almost a stain. Ingredients include rose extract and vitamins C and E. I like this…can’t say I love it though. The Parisian Red is a beautiful shade, just not really on me. I also find that when I reapply it after the initial application it ends up looking uneven and rather spotty. I know people rave about the Love Lock Hydrating Lip Gel so maybe it’s just me and my particular body chemistry.

Overall, I think the set is a keeper. If you are wondering about Wander, the 4 Piece Paris Collection is a perfect introduction to the line. – Lisa

*received for editorial consideration

Filed Under: beauty, cheek stain, cream eyeshadow, Highlighter, Lipstick, Wander Beauty · Tagged With: cheek stain, cream eyeshadow, Highlighter, Lipstick, Wander Beauty

Vapour Organic Beauty now has a carmine free line

June 24, 2015 by beautyin ·

If you know about Vapour Organic Beauty then you know that this is an independent brand founded by three people who only create and sell what they believe in. It’s made entirely from pure minerals, essential oils and organic plant ingredients. Many consumers that are interested in Vapour Organic Beauty only use cruelty free products and vegan lines. Carmine is a beetle that is found in South America. The beetle is a parasite that lives on the prickly pear cactus. Their dye is used in clothing dye, food dye, and in cosmetics as well as other items. The beetle is basically boiled to remove the color. Knowing this, it makes sense why many want to only use carmine free products.

Vapour Organic Beauty carmine free products

Vapour Organic Beauty has a big line of carmine free cosmetics and they sent 5 of their newest ones for us to share with you. These glosses, blush sticks and eyeshadow were newly added to Vapour in the spring. You’re going to want them all.

Vapour Organic Beauty Multi-Use Blush in Charm and Cheeky

Vapour has created some fabulous Aura Multi-Use Blush ($36) sticks that I’ve reviewed before. The two new shades are fabulous and I can’t get enough of them. I love a cream blush so these make me very happy. I have normal skin that is only oily in the t-zone. The Vapour Beauty Blush sticks work beautifully on me. They glide on, are easy to blend and last well. I like to have a thin layer of translucent powder on my cheeks on the days that I use a cream blush since that’s going to make them blend better and last longer.

Vapour Aura Multi-Use Blush in Cheeky

Cheeky Multi-Use is a soft cool pink that looks great on a cool skintone as a blush but also as a lip color. You can use these sticks on your eyes too. Charm Multi-Use is a warmer, peachier tone. Vapour describes it as “peaches & cream”.

Vapour Aura Multi-Use Blush in Charm

Vapour also makes cream eyeshadows called Mesmerize Eye Color ($20) or Mesmerize Eye Shimmer. This is my first experience using their cream eye color and I have the shade Ace. This is a beautiful plum tone brown described by Vapour as “smoky plum”. It’s a very subtle shade that can be used alone or with other shadows for more definition. I use an eyeshadow primer with this so it doesn’t crease on me but I think without one it would probably crease and/or fade. I apply it with my finger and then use a taklon brush to smooth it out.

Vapour Mesmerize Eye Color in ACE

Vapour blush in Charm and Vapour Mesmerize Eye Color in ACE

If you love lipgloss then you need to know about Vapour’s collection, Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss ($22). The two new carmine free shades are Flutter and Tickle and both make my heart flutter and tickle my fancy. These are cool toned so they work best for me with Cheeky blush stick. There’s a slight sweet fragrance to them at first and the plumping action is non-stinging. You’ll notice your lips but you won’t feel any discomfort. Elixir Lip Gloss contains Vapour’s unique lip-specific nourishing blend of healing ingredients such as vitamin-rich Lecithin, Jojoba Oil, restorative Lemon Balm, and antioxidant Green Tea.

Vapour Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss in Flutter and Tickle

Tickle is the lighter of the two and could be considered to be a pink nude shade. Vapour describes it as a sugary sweet shimmery pink. When they say shimmer though, it’s not glitter, it’s a luminous quality that makes it look shimmery. Flutter is more pigmented and is described as a “multi-dimensional mauve with a hint of pink” and also “grown up sexy pink”. This is a non-sticky formula that feels very comfortable on because it’s so hydrating. My lips just feel soft when I wear these and never gooey.

Vapour Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss in Tickle and Flutter

Elixir Lipglosses and Aura Multi-Use Blush

Kudos goes to Vapour Organic Beauty for being so socially aware and releasing carmine-free products. This collection is beautiful and filled with ingredients good for you and good for the earth. Do you have a favorite amongst these? — Marcia

You can find Vapour at online at www.vapourbeauty.com, www.spiritbeautylounge.com, www.b-glowing.com

Follow Vapour Organic Beauty #VapourOrganicBeauty on Facebook

*sent for editorial consideration

Filed Under: cream blush, cream eyeshadow, cruelty free, Lip Gloss, Vapour Organic Beauty · Tagged With: carmine-free, cream blush, cream eyeshadow, lip gloss, plumping lipgloss, Vapour, Vapour Organic Beauty

Lots of loving for 3 creamy products from Face Stockholm

March 7, 2014 by beautyin ·

While Face Stockholm has just come out with their spring collection I’ve can’t stop wearing some of the products from their other collections. I love that there’s a timelessness with Face Stockholm’s products. Often when they spotlight what they think is important for a season, they are products from the regular line since they create products that are classics or classics with a twist.

Face Stockholm cream eyeshadow in Taft, Nail polish in #168 and London creme blush

I love creams for my face so when I was sent a few creamy Face Stockholm products for review I was thrilled. To me there’s a youthfulness with a cream product that I don’t always get with powder products. I’m old enough to need all the youth that can be thrown my way.

Face Stockholm Creme Blush in Rio and London

One of my very favorite products from Face Stockholm has been their Crème Blush in Rio. I am totally head over heels in love with it. Face Stockholm makes 14 different crème blushes all named after countries. I’d rather own these blushes than travel to the places they are named after – that’s how much I like them. Rio is a gorgeous candy pink while my newest one, London, is papaya. It’s almost scary bright in the compact but once on, it’s fantabulous. It’s a darker shade than my original Rio so I have to use a lighter touch on my very fair skin. To me there’s no season for these blushes since they work all year long for me.

Face Stockholm London blush indirect light

Face Stockholm London blush in sunlight

Face Stockholm Rio and London blush swatches

Face Stockholm crème blushes are dewy without being greasy looking. I find that they work well over any type of foundation or powder I’m wearing. They are extremely easy to blend. I love a cream blush because of the ability to blend it more seamlessly than a powder blush. Depending on my mood I use my fingers, a sponge, or a brush. But no matter my tool, I end with my fingers to help meld the cream into my skin and make sure that the colors are muted around the edges of the blush. On my normal to dry skin they last a good 8 hours before I have to add anymore.

Face Stockholm KRÄMÖGONSKUGGA in Taft

A new product for me is their KRÄMÖGONSKUGGA which they call their “Dream Cream Eye Shadow”. This comes in 18 shades ($24). You don’t have to know how to pronounce this shadow to love it luckily. I was sent it in Taft which is described as ‘cream sable’. When I think of sable I think of a redder shade though than this is. Taft is a neutral brown that can be worn as eyeliner or as an eyeshadow. I’ve worn it as my actual eyeshadow color, in addition I’ve worn it as a base for powder shadows. Taft is one of the longest wearing cream shadows I’ve ever tried. It doesn’t crease on me and it lasts an entire day. Face Stockholm says it’s waterproof and I believe that. I need a dedicated eye makeup remover to take it off.

Face Stockholm KRÄMÖGONSKUGGA in Taft

My only complaint with KRÄMÖGONSKUGGA is the packaging. When I wear a cream eyeshadow I like to use my fingers to apply it and there’s no way I can do that with this little jar of loveliness. It’s only about ¾ of an inch across so I have to use a brush to get it out. My finger just won’t fit. It’s not a loose cream, it’s on the stiff side which helps make it last so long so you’ll need a firm enough brush to get it out and apply it. For me, the best brush is a taklon one like MAC 242 brush which is a great size and material to fit in the jar and apply it. The shade that is calling my name in this collection is Linne. It’s a shimmer taupe that looks light enough to wear alone or as a base shade.

For a long time you could only buy Face Stockholm in New York or Europe. They now have locations throughout the US though none near me. In addition blush.com (part of Dermstore) carries a lot of the line though not the cream eyeshadows.

If you are a fan of cream products consider searching for the ones from Face Stockholm should be on your agenda. They may be a little harder to come by but once in your possession you’ll be thrilled you made the extra effort.

What Face Stockholm products have won your heart? — Marcia

*sent for editorial consideration

** stay tuned for a review of Face Stockholm #168 polish

Filed Under: beauty, Blush, cream blush, cream eyeshadow, Eyeshadow, Face Stockholm · Tagged With: blush, cream blush, cream eyeshadow, Eyeshadow, Face Stockholm

Boho Rock: Butter London Treacle WINK Cream Eyeshadow and Goss Nail Lacquer

February 20, 2014 by beautyin ·

Butter London Boho Rock Treacle and Goss

A collection from Butter London called Boho Rock? They had me at Boho.

Most people think of nail polish when they see the Butter London name but this line is so much more than that. Don’t get me wrong, they have amazing lacquers…but they also have stunning cosmetics as well. Boho Rock, one of their latest collections, is “a collection of layering shades designed to unleash your Bohemian spirit. Sensuous neutrals combine with ethereal textures for an earthy and feminine finish.”

If I had to choose a ‘style’ that I like best it would definitely be boho, so you can bet I was happy when they sent two shades from the Boho Rock collection, Treacle WINK Cream Eyeshadow ($18) and Goss Nail Lacquer ($15).

Butter London Treacle WINK Cream Eyeshadow

Treacle WINK Cream Eyeshadow is a light beige shimmer that is a perfect base for other colors, or a pretty neutral all on its own. ‘Treacle’ is apparently a ‘term of endearment’ in cockney slang. It has a very slight rosy pink tint and it makes for a deliciously soft and feminine look.

Treacle Cream Eyeshadow

Treacle swatch

Treacle

The perfect nail polish to pair up with a soft, boho eye look? Hands down, Goss Nail Lacquer.

Butter London Goss Nail Lacquer

Goss Nail Lacquer is an opaque rosy shimmer. Oh my, it is gorgeous!! I get tons of compliments on this one, people really notice it – and in a good way. A ‘goss’, by the way, is slang for someone who loves to gossip. Believe me, wear this and you will be the talk of the town. I think it’s one of the prettiest nail polishes I own.

Butter London Goss Nail Lacquer

Goss from the side – check out that stunning rosy shimmer

Butter London Goss Nail Polish

Butter London Goss Nail Lacquer

The dreamy Goss Nail Lacquer

Both Treacle and Goss are absolutely dreamy colors, perfect for a warm boho look. You’ve got to check out all the other fabulous shades in the Butter London Boho Rock collection, which includes nail lacquers, cream eyeshadows, lipsticks, eye pencils, colored mascaras, and a cream blush. It’s a truly lovely collection. – Lisa

*pr samples

Filed Under: Butter London, cream eyeshadow, Eyeshadow, Nail Lacquer, Nail Polish · Tagged With: Butter London, cream eyeshadow, Eyeshadow, Nail Lacquer, nail polish

Makeup Wars brings you our favorite cream eyeshadows

April 15, 2013 by beautyin ·

Welcome back to Makeup Wars. We promise no more tricks. It’s hard to look that foolish on a public beauty blog. This time we’ve chosen to share our favorite creamy eyeshadows. They can be eyeshadow crayons or cream eyeshadows. With my collection I had a lot to choose from. I adore cream products and I adore anything for eyes. Put them all together and I could do 10 Makeup Wars about this. But when I really looked at my collection what jumped out at me and still made my heart go atwitter were the hybrid shadows that are semi-creamy, semi-powdery and all beautiful.

My two choices for favorites are both still available to buy which is one of the reasons I picked them. But I found two surprises when I went to write about them. I chose both Armani ‘Eyes to Kill’ Intense Silk Eyeshadow in #6 ($33) and L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe (about $8). I wear these two more than any others in my stash. Surprise 1 is that they look almost identical on my eyes. I even wore them one day with Armani #6 on my left eye and L’Oreal Bronzed Taupe on my right eye and no one noticed even when I mentioned it. Surprise 2 is that Armani’s #6 is called Khaki Pulse. I think of the color khaki as that army green sort of shade but on my eyes this looks like a brown with gold shot through. L’Oreal’s Bronzed Taupe looks a little browner and a little less gold. I obviously don’t care that I have two similar shadows but for the price I’d probably advise you to get the L’Oreal.

Armani Eyes to Kill Intense in #6 Khaki Pulse (nordstrom.com)

L’Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe (loreal.com)

As some of you know, Armani is owned by L’Oreal as is Lancome. All three brands have this texture of eyeshadow although for some reason I’m not crazy about the Lancome ones I bought as much as these two brands. So why do I like these shadows?

Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow #6 and L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow Bronzed Taupe

1) They wear fabulously on me. I always use an eyeshadow primer and I apply them with either a MAC 217 or 239 brush.

2) They go on like a dream without fallout. Yes they are shimmery but unlike pigments they don’t land on my face.

3) The complexity of the colors draws my eye to them. They aren’t flat. You can play with the intensity by the amount of blending you do. I tend to wear them on the dark side.

4) They don’t fade on me. They look as good at the end of the day as when I started.

5) Because of the consistency there’s no tugging or pulling on my eyelids. I have enough age lines there so I don’t need to add anymore.

Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow #6 and L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow Bronzed Taupe

Top Armani, bottom L’Oreal

I was going to go out and buy something new for this Makeup Wars but when I have what I consider to be perfection then there just isn’t any need to do that. Of course as soon as I click through the links below to see what my fellow Makeup Wars bloggers pick it might just be a moot point as I might just go shopping. Do you have any favorites among this genre of eyeshadow? — Marcia

Please join me in reading what my fellow Makeup Wars friends have chosen.

Nothing to disclose. To see previous Makeup Wars click here.