is the Green Art Nail
I’m so excited to tell all of you that my favourite makeup brush brand, Sigma Beauty, is now making eyeshadow palettes. There are 3 different palettes that each hold 8 different colours. Each palette also comes with a double-ended Sigma brush! The reviews that I have seen on the palettes so far have compared them to Urban Decay eyeshadows!
*click the photos below to be taken to the Sigma site to check out the new palettes*
I just got my first NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils! I ordered them on ebay and purchased the colours Milk, Lavender, and Cottage Cheese.
When I first opened the envelope that the came in, I was worried that they were fake because the tips of the pencils were surrounded by plastic rather than wood. With some research I learned that many of the jumbo pencils now come with plastic tips. As for sharpening, I’m not sure how that works but I have heard that the NYX sharpener will sharpen the plastic tips. Once I get the sharpener I will try it out and let you know how it goes.
So far I have not tried the pencils on my eyes but I have swatched them on my hand as you can see from the photos below. Milk is very pigmented whereas Cottage Cheese and Lavender are very sheer. I think that Cottage Cheese will work well as a highlight colour but I am not sure what I will use Lavender for. I was hoping to use it as a base under some of my lighter purple shadows but I am not sure if it is pigmented enough. If not, I can just use Milk.
The pencils have a very creamy texture that blends well. Once I try these on my eyes I will test to see whether or not they crease easily and if they must be worn with a primer.
For those of you that have used these pencils, what do you think of them?
*click photos to enlarge*
Milk:
Cottage Cheese:
Lavender:
I got an email this morning from Joe Fresh Beauty announcing some of their new products for spring. Among these new products are cream eyeshadows and blushes.
If you have never heard of Joe Fresh Beauty, it is a line of products that was launched in the spring of 2009 and offers quality products that are both fashionable and affordable. Products are sold in over 250 Loblaws stores in Canada.
So far, I have not tried Joe Fresh Beauty products but I would love to try the cream blushes, lipsticks, lipglosses, lip stains, and cheek tints. The products really are affordable. For example, the new cream blushes are $8 and the cheek tints are only $4.
Have you tried any beauty products from Joe Fresh? If so, what did you think of them?
To find out more about the new products and see the company’s other products, visit http://www.joefresh.com/en/bath_beauty/
*click image to enlarge*
When I think of spring, pastel purple eyeshadow always comes to mind. It’s fun and colourful without being bright or too overpowering. You can wear it to school, to the office, and even for a night out. The following pastel purple shadows are my favourite for spring:
*click photos to enlarge*
*Bare Escentuals Princess*
If you desire a completely matte look, Princess is an ideal colour for you. This light lavender shadow is opaque and gives the lids an ethereal effect that is perfect for spring.
* MAC Digit*
Digit, a satin formula shadow from MAC, is the newest addition to my collection of purple shadows. It’s a soft violet colour with a subtle pearl sheen. This purple applies very lightly which makes it perfect for daytime. To make it look as vibrant as possible I suggest using an opaque white or coloured base underneath such as one of the jumbo shadow pencils from NYX.
*Bare Escentuals Hugs*
For those who like only a slight shimmer, Hugs is perfect—it is matte for the most part but has some sparse tiny gold shimmers. I find that this colour is more on the warm side and would be perfect for those who do not feel comfortable wearing cool-toned purples.
*Bare Escentuals Sincerely, Heather*
Add shimmer to the eye with Sincerely, Heather. This lilac twilight colour is icy and glowy and is the perfect shadow for a shimmery spring look. Apply it wet for a glimmery night-time eye or pat it on the lids dry for a pretty shine during the day.
Which pastel purple shadows are your favourites for spring?
A few weeks ago I rediscovered these pressed mineral shadows from Pür Minerals while looking through my makeup collection. They were given to me as gifts over a year ago. For the past few years I have used loose mineral eyeshadows from Bare Escentuals. While I love the colours and shade range of loose shadows I don’t like the mess that they can make. I also find that loose shadows take longer to apply considering that they must be packed on to the lid very carefully in order to avoid fallout. That’s why I was excited to remember that I had a few pressed shadows in a mineral formula that is gentle on sensitive eyes.
The Pür Minerals website (www.purminerals.com) states that their “velvety-smooth eye shadow glides on easily, giving you a crease-proof, soft-textured look that lasts all day. Infused with the light reflective mineral mica, this mineral eye shadow imparts a youthful finish that women of all ages will love.” This product is also free of petroleum-based oils, alcohol, talc, fillers, fragrances, preservatives and chemical dyes.
It sounds great, but how does it compare to non-mineral shadows?
After using these shadows for the past few weeks I can agree that they do have a smooth velvety formula that glides on easily and is crease proof. I always wear a primer under shadow and these shadows last just as long as non-mineral shadows when worn overtop a primer.
The formula seems to contain less moisture than non-mineral shadows as it feels a bit drier on the lid. This, however, may be due to the fact that these shadows are matte for the most part. I normally prefer shadows with a bit of shimmer. Also, the shadows are not as pigmented as non-mineral shadows but are fairly buildable. I do wish that the brand produced a larger range of colours as many of its shades are neutral.
As for the colours, Vanilla Feldspar is my favourite. It has a slight sheen and works well as a natural looking highlight or all over lid colour. Rose Quartz is very similar but has more pink undertones and has less of a sheen. I like to use these two colours on a daily basis for a “your lids but better” effect. Chocolate Topaz is my least favourite. I have never liked brown shadows as they make me look tired. This shadow is no exception and its warm undertones are less than flattering on my cool toned skin.
I am very impressed with the packaging. As you can see in the photo below, the bottom of each shadow opens to reveal a tiny mirror and sponge-tip applicator which is perfect for travelling or on-the-go touch ups.
At $14 USD / $16 CAD for .08 oz/2.2 g, these shadows are more affordable than MAC shadows which cost $14.50 USD / $17.50 CAD for 0.05 oz /1.5 g and Bare Minerals shadows that are $13 USD for .02 oz / .57 g
I’m not sure where these shadows can be purchased in the USA or in other parts of the world but Canadians can find the Pür Minerals line at certain Shoppers Drug Mart Stores and at www.theshoppingchannel.com
My rating: 4/5
*click photos to enlarge*
- in all photos the shadows are in order from left to right: Vanilla Feldspar, Chocolate Topaz, and Rose Quartz -
At first glace, Vapour looks like a typical highlight colour—a matte light neutral. However, a closer look will reveal this shadow’s violet pearl iridescence.
Vapour is one of MAC’s velvet formula shadows. When applied to the eyelid or brow bone it appears as a matte peachy pink colour. When it catches the light a pretty violet shimmer becomes visible.
I like to wear this shadow as a highlight colour when I want to add a bit of uniqueness to a neutral eye or when I want my highlight colour to compliment other purple, pink, or blue shadows that I am wearing at the time.
My problem with this shadow is that it is not extremely pigmented. I have to pack on a lot of the shadow to get the effect that I want. I had planned to use Vapour as an all over lid colour but, once applied, it basically matches my skin tone and shows very little colour. I also wish that the violet pearl was more visible.
That said, I really like to use Vapour as a highlight colour because it is subtle and makes the area under my eyebrows look neater and brighter. Also, I like how the violet pearl appears when the light catches it.
My rating: 3.5/5
*click photo to enlarge*
