TokyoMilk Dark Everything & Nothing

 

Perfume/fragrance/scents...these aren't words that come up often here at PrettyPanda. In fact, I had briefly sworn off all fragrance. I have awful allergies, and I figured that fragrance would only hurt the issue. It took me a while to realize there are certain notes I do well with, that do not give me a headache, and do not irritate my allergies. Still, fragrance is something I can't wear everyday, but now that I know I can enjoy it, I am amassing a little collection I will be sharing with you.

Keep in mind, as with any product I review, what works for me may not work for you. You may sneeze with this perfume, whereas I don't, etc.

 

Everything & Nothing comes housed in a 1.6 oz spray bottle for $36 and it available at Sephora or online at TokyoMilk.com. 

The bottle itself is sturdy: glossy black with a gunmetal cap and the image associated with the perfume printed on it in white (this one is a feather) with the number (10) and description in faded blue. This particular perfume is part of a line called TokyoMilk/Dark, also known as the Femme Fatale collection. All of the names (Arsenic, Bulletproof...etc) evoke a sexy, alternative vibe that I love.

I really love that the design of the perfume is unassuming yet sleek, which can make it very unisex as well if a man in your life likes it!

Now, let's get to the notes of this and how it smells and dries down on me!

The main notes that are both printed on the bottle and Margot Elena (the creator) describes Everything & Nothing are Sweet Orange, Pressed Petals, Desert Moss, and Tea Leaves.

After the first spray, the clear top note is the Sweet Orange. It is fresh and vibrant and has quite a throw to it. A few minutes in and black tea leaves and a bit of muskiness are present. It really smells like sour orange gummy worms for a while! I like it, but not everyone will.

About an hour in and the scent loses a bit of it's throw, although I am always aware of it on me. The pressed petals seem to be the middle note and have the most presence here. They aren't cloying and 'old' smelling, but are definitely romantic and vintage.

On me, the moss and tea leaves are the base, and the orange does linger throughout the wear, which was a good 6 hours. This is not a fragrance that will last all day (you will still smell it on your skin until you take a shower, but the throw disappears), but it is good for going out.

Overall, I feel very sexy but also strangely comforted by wearing Everything & Nothing. It shows how much of a duality there is to the fragrance, as the name implies. It is familiar, yet fresh. If you love citrus scents, give this one a smell!

Also, Happy Memorial Day! I know the night is waning, but take some time to think of our troops serving and who have served!

Baby Now We've Got Bad Blood

 

I have mixed feelings about Ms. Swift. It is a long, complicated, boring story. But what I DO like is the awesome film noir, black and white, gorgeous makeup looks in her new music video for the song 'Bad Blood', so I wanted to create my own 'persona' to join in the fun.

Naturally, my superhero name is PrettyPanda, and I wield concealer and red lipstick. If you like T Swift or even this idea, I challenge you to make up your own. It's nothing but a few basic Photoshop tricks. (I stress the word basic, my skills are so sub-par)

For the eye, I decided to do a very graphic liner that almost covers my whole lid. Any funky black liner would work though, a double or triple line would be cool too! I also did a lower line with an inverted wing.

The key to this look is a strong, dark brow, the graphic liner, and a clean base. I didn't use any blush and instead lightly contoured with bronzer. You can tone down this look and make it less editorial with a lighter brow and a slightly thicker cat-eye than normal (I wear a cat eye everyday. If you don't wear a cat eye, even trying one can be fun and new!)

I also think that a glossy lip works better here than a matte. Since my eye look is very black matte, I thought the glossy texture was a fun addition. Alternatively you could do a vampy matte red lip and a vinyl eyeliner look!

This look isn't so much dependent on specific products, but more how you use them.

1. Prime your eyes. Draw a rough outline of a thick cat eye with black liner (I used Rimmel Scandaleyes in Black). Fill it in, but don't worry, you will refine it later!

2. Fill in your brows! I used the Espresso shade from the Lorac Pro Palette.

3. Prime for your base and use your favorite foundation. I preferred a matte one for this look so used the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation and set with Rimmel Stay Matte powder.

4. Conceal blemishes and dark circles because the dark eyeliner will bring out shadows! I used IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under eye Concealer.

5. Contour lightly under the cheek. I used Too Faced Sun Bunny bronzer.

6. Head back to your eyes. Define the edge of the cay eye with liquid liner. I used NYX Matte Liquid Liner. 

7. Mascara! I used L'Oreal Miss Manga because it is so messy but when your eyes are covered in black, mascara smudges don't matter! (Blogger logic).

8. Gloss those lips with a red gloss or liquid lipstick. I used L'Oreal Extraordinaire by Colour Riche in Scarlet Concerto.

9. Embrace your inner femme fatale!

I hope you liked my corny look/post! Have a great day! 

Clinique Cheek Pop in Pansy Pop: Swatches and Review

Things are hectic right now here at Panda Headquarters, but I wanted to share this review before the weekend got underway, especially because I love this blush so much that it will be on my face tomorrow at my Master's graduation. That is high honors for a blush, I tell ya!

But before I begin, there is a bit of a story with this one. My momma and I have been looking for these new colors forever. When they first launched, even our Clinique SA's had no idea there were new colors! (Does this ever happen to you?). My Ulta has had an empty display where they are supposed to go for a month. Sephora was picked over/sold out. What was a girl to do?

Finally my momma and I begged the Clinique SA's to go check the stock at Nordstroms to see if they were in. Hmm...they were! The SA's were going gaga over these blushes like they'd never even heard of 'em! Case in point, I got to be the first to swatch the brand new testers and left with the color Pansy, a gorgeous lavendar pink. Patience is a virtue!

 

Pansy Pop (15) retails for $21 and should be able to be found at Sephora/Ulta/Clinique. After swatching some of the colors and seeing dismal pigmentation, Pansy blew me away and I snatched it up!

Pansy Pop is unlike any other blushes I own. I may not have a big stash of blush, but I have mostly pinks, corals, and reds, but nothing cool-toned like this. I've been wearing it non-stop! It lasts for 8 hours on my combo skin and has the dewiest glow to it. I feel that this shade works best applied in layers with a stippling brush for the perfect finish!

 I love the unique hue, the wear, and the finish so much I will be wearing it tomorrow, on one of the most momentous days of my life to date! Yay Clinique Cheek Pops!

Do you have one (or all?) of these?

Butter London Bloody Brilliant Lip Crayon in Primrose Hill Picnic

 

Hello!

As you probably all know, I am obsessed with London. Always have been since I was little. And now that I had the fantastic opportunity to live there for a while, British things mean even more to me. I've always wanted to try some of the Butter London cosmetic line and decided on one of their Lippy Bloody Brilliant Lip Crayons in the shade Primrose Hill Picnic for $20. Not only is the color a gorgeous bright pink that is my cup of tea, the name reminds me of very fun times spent on Primrose Hill. 

 This is a picture from Primrose Hill in London. Although it was winter when I took it, I imagine now it is full of bright spring flowers that make this color aptly named. The town around the park is so fun and colorful as well, so I think the shade name is perfect.

But enough about London, I know you want to see what it looks like!

The lip crayon comes with a built-in sharpener in the cap. According to Butter London, the Bloody Brilliant formula delivers "Intense shine of a gloss and full coverage of a lipstick." For once, I have to agree with this statement! Primrose Hill Picnic is one of the most opaque lip crayons I have tried in a long time!

This is a nearly neon opaque creamy pink. There is a high shine to it but no shimmer. It wears well for four hours and leaves a pretty pink stain behind on my lips. The texture is slightly thicker than a balm and more emollient. You can feel it on your lips but the texture does help it stay and look super glossy. The only downfall for me with this product is that the color is slightly high maintenance and definitely not transfer proof, although Butter London makes no claims that it is. I just prefer my lip products to not get everywhere.

This color has become a staple in my lipstick wardrobe for this spring and I love how the tip can be sharpened to a finer point and that the crayon is already small so it doesn't require a liner or lip brush.

Have you tried any of the Butter London cosmetic line? Is there a product you own with a name that evokes a special memory?

Lorac Alter Ego Heartbreaker Palette

 

You can be pretty in pink (and blues) this summer with the Lorac Alter Ego HeartBreaker palette ($24). This is a Ulta exclusive, which I know many of you don't have Ulta's close, but there is one called Dreamgirl on the Lorac site which looks amazing as well. These palettes correspond the the Alter Ego lipsticks and glosses (the latter of which are brand new!). 

Okay, so I will admit, a large factor in why I purchased this palette is because it is neon pink. The casing is a bit rubberized (think NARS packaging) so it will collect fingerprints, but the inside is a chic pink plastic with a mirror and ten gorgeous shadows.

None of the shadows have names, but they are sectioned into 'looks', which I feel are warm (on the left) and cool (on the right), although I think they are fine for any skin tone to wear. The size of the pans are generous, especially for the highlighting shades.

The warm side includes a satin matte medium brown, a satin matte shell pink, a shimmery berry, a shimmery reddish brown, and a true matte cream.

All swatched with Lorac primer. I felt they were creamy and easy to work with. Some fallout with the shell pink, but nothing crazy. They blend very well and are of better quality than I expected for the price. Almost akin to the pro palettes, but maybe a touch less pigmented.

The cool side isn't a completely cool look, especially when you add in the shimmery brown. It includes a shimmery royal blue, a shimmery silver, a satin matte light blue, a nearly metallic golden dark brown, and a shimmery white.

 

This side of the palette was more impressive with pigmentation. These aren't the most unique colors and you may already have dupes in your stash, but I think the size and price make it a great travel palette. I was absolutely drawn to the blue and I am glad it performed well!

Here is a very quick daytime eye look I did with the warm side of the palette. The shell pink and berry are blended on the lid to make a coral and the light brown is in the crease.

Here is a mix of the silver and the baby blue from the cool side of the palette! So easy to blend! I felt like an 80's Barbie and I loved it!

What do you think of this palette? I think it has a good mix of neutrals and pops of color!