Studio Gear Holiday Palette Swatches, Review, and Look

*Sponsored Post: Powered by Studio Gear and Brandbacker*Hey everyone! Can you believe we are right on the cusp of December? With the holiday season looming before us with all of its festivities, parties, and good eats in store, your makeup has to be ready to match the glam of the winter season.I was given the opportunity to test the new Studio Gear Holiday Palette ($25), which includes 4 eye shadows in the perfect holiday colors and one blush (which in my opinion is worth the price of the whole palette).

The palette comes in a slim, small cardboard container with a step by step-how to on the fold out of how to create a holiday smokey eye. The shadows and blush do not have names, but clockwise from top left, I will give you descriptions:A frosty cream white, a little patchy, performs much better on the eyeA dark, sparkly black. Perfect crease colorA beige gold which can also be used as a highlighterA shimmery medium grey, perfect all over lid colorBlush: Bright pink with gold shimmer

The outside sleeve of the palette is festive and looks like holiday lights. Pretty! Got me in the mood to decorate instantly!

This is my first experience with Studio Gear. I like the sturdiness of the packaging and the clean layout of the products. You get a lot of product here and everything coordinates well. There isn't that one color that is 'off'.

The texture of the shadows is buttery and smooth, but they don't swatch well on hands...luckily they perform much better on the eyes, which is where they are meant to be anyway. This gives you an idea of the colors. All are sparkly or shimmery, so if you like mattes, this is not the palette for you. But hey, its the season to be glimmery! 

The blush was my favorite part. Smooth, easy to blend, and this brilliant pinky-orange with a hint of gold. Gorgeous! A great compliment to the smokey eye look that this palette creates. Careful though, a little goes a long way. This is super pigmented!

I created a very simple look with this palette in under five minutes to show you that holiday glamour can be as easy as can be! I took the silver shade and applied it all over the lid, blended the black into the crease very lightly, added the cream on my brow bone, and lit the inner corner with the gold highlighter. You can see a hint of the blush on my cheeks here too!

Here is an up close. Sorry my lashes are so wonky (I took a nap before I did this look and they are a little smushed). A smokey eye doesn't have to be intense and black, and you can use the shades in this palette to create looks ranging from day to night easily!

Get the palette here: HERE

And because Studio Gear is so awesome, they have given my readers 10% off any purchase!

Use discount code: SGHOLIDAY

Do you love studio gear? Have you tried this palette? They are having good Black Friday deals too so go and shop your little heart out!

Studio Gear Holiday Palette Swatches, Review, and Look

*Sponsored Post: Powered by Studio Gear and Brandbacker* Hey everyone! Can you believe we are right on the cusp of December? With the holiday season looming before us with all of its festivities, parties, and good eats in store, your makeup has to be ready to match the glam of the winter season. I was given the opportunity to test the new Studio Gear Holiday Palette ($25), which includes 4 eye shadows in the perfect holiday colors and one blush (which in my opinion is worth the price of the whole palette).

The palette comes in a slim, small cardboard container with a step by step-how to on the fold out of how to create a holiday smokey eye. The shadows and blush do not have names, but clockwise from top left, I will give you descriptions: A frosty cream white, a little patchy, performs much better on the eye A dark, sparkly black. Perfect crease color A beige gold which can also be used as a highlighter A shimmery medium grey, perfect all over lid color Blush: Bright pink with gold shimmer

The outside sleeve of the palette is festive and looks like holiday lights. Pretty! Got me in the mood to decorate instantly!

This is my first experience with Studio Gear. I like the sturdiness of the packaging and the clean layout of the products. You get a lot of product here and everything coordinates well. There isn't that one color that is 'off'.

The texture of the shadows is buttery and smooth, but they don't swatch well on hands...luckily they perform much better on the eyes, which is where they are meant to be anyway. This gives you an idea of the colors. All are sparkly or shimmery, so if you like mattes, this is not the palette for you. But hey, its the season to be glimmery! 

The blush was my favorite part. Smooth, easy to blend, and this brilliant pinky-orange with a hint of gold. Gorgeous! A great compliment to the smokey eye look that this palette creates. Careful though, a little goes a long way. This is super pigmented!

I created a very simple look with this palette in under five minutes to show you that holiday glamour can be as easy as can be! I took the silver shade and applied it all over the lid, blended the black into the crease very lightly, added the cream on my brow bone, and lit the inner corner with the gold highlighter. You can see a hint of the blush on my cheeks here too!

Here is an up close. Sorry my lashes are so wonky (I took a nap before I did this look and they are a little smushed). A smokey eye doesn't have to be intense and black, and you can use the shades in this palette to create looks ranging from day to night easily!

Get the palette here: HERE

And because Studio Gear is so awesome, they have given my readers 10% off any purchase!

Use discount code: SGHOLIDAY

Do you love studio gear? Have you tried this palette? They are having good Black Friday deals too so go and shop your little heart out!

Essence Match2Cover! Cream Concealer Swatches and Review

Who doesn't love cheap thrills?Essence's Match2Color! Cream Concealer ($3) caught my eye the other day, as I am in a market for a new one and hey...you never know where you might find your HG!

This comes with a slightly darker (but still very fair) shade and a pinky, brightener shade. These are creamy, but need a little warming up, are on the drier side of formulation, and are buildable but sheer if you only apply one layer.

I like the idea of mixing and matching to create a custom concealer and this formula did not irritate my eyes or settle in any fine lines.

The texture is very natural, and blends into skin easily. However, this will not make my HG concealer list. It just doesn't cover all of my dark circles. This would be a great concealer/brightener for someone with very little under eye tiredness or circles, but unfortunately I have those problems in spades.

I really love the formula, and I might use this for concealing small blemishes, as it looks very natural, but this won't be for under eye (granted, it wasn't marketed for under eye...but I think most concealers should be able to work there).

Have you tried?

Essence Match2Cover! Cream Concealer Swatches and Review

Who doesn't love cheap thrills? Essence's Match2Color! Cream Concealer ($3) caught my eye the other day, as I am in a market for a new one and hey...you never know where you might find your HG!

This comes with a slightly darker (but still very fair) shade and a pinky, brightener shade. These are creamy, but need a little warming up, are on the drier side of formulation, and are buildable but sheer if you only apply one layer.

I like the idea of mixing and matching to create a custom concealer and this formula did not irritate my eyes or settle in any fine lines.

The texture is very natural, and blends into skin easily. However, this will not make my HG concealer list. It just doesn't cover all of my dark circles. This would be a great concealer/brightener for someone with very little under eye tiredness or circles, but unfortunately I have those problems in spades.

I really love the formula, and I might use this for concealing small blemishes, as it looks very natural, but this won't be for under eye (granted, it wasn't marketed for under eye...but I think most concealers should be able to work there).

Have you tried?

Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing

Okay, despite the mixed reviews of this product from fellow blogging friends...I caved and bought the new Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing ($7).What? It was red...and shiny...and reminded me of Christmas. Guilty as charged.

I just couldn't resist the pretty display, and I chose Enticing, which I thought would look like the outside packaging.But in fact, it is much more subdued.

I like the way this smells/tastes. Kinda minty (think the Tarte lip crayons) and it feels nice going on the lips.

The red, however, is not very lacquer-ish or shiny. This is a plain ol' lip balm crayon in a subdued red. I am very sad the shimmer didn't translate well to the lip and I was hoping for a wow-finish (against my better sense, of course).

Oh Enticing, how you look so pretty and yet, very different from my expectations. 
But this isn't necessarily a bad thing!I am thinking this would be a good base for a lip gloss of a similar color...or maybe I can try it as a cheek stain? It slips around a little bit on my lips (making the wear 2 hours or less), but I do like the moisturizing feel.I recommend Enticing if you do not have something similar in your stash! Anyone else love/hate these?

Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing

Okay, despite the mixed reviews of this product from fellow blogging friends...I caved and bought the new Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing ($7). What? It was red...and shiny...and reminded me of Christmas. Guilty as charged.

I just couldn't resist the pretty display, and I chose Enticing, which I thought would look like the outside packaging. But in fact, it is much more subdued.

I like the way this smells/tastes. Kinda minty (think the Tarte lip crayons) and it feels nice going on the lips.

The red, however, is not very lacquer-ish or shiny. This is a plain ol' lip balm crayon in a subdued red. I am very sad the shimmer didn't translate well to the lip and I was hoping for a wow-finish (against my better sense, of course).

Oh Enticing, how you look so pretty and yet, very different from my expectations. 
But this isn't necessarily a bad thing! I am thinking this would be a good base for a lip gloss of a similar color...or maybe I can try it as a cheek stain? It slips around a little bit on my lips (making the wear 2 hours or less), but I do like the moisturizing feel. I recommend Enticing if you do not have something similar in your stash! Anyone else love/hate these?

My November Ipsy Bag

Hey everyone!
There are a ton of "what's in my Ipsy bag posts" going around...so I won't bore you with the details...just what I got!
Kiss eyelashes (double back $6.99)Starlooks eyeliner in Amethyst ($14)Em by Michelle Phan eyeliner in Turquoise (what? two eyeliners?) ($20)Be a Bombshell lip crayon in Shameless ($14)Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched (mini size $10)Nailtini Nail Polish in Caviar Cocktail ($13)
Grand total: $77.99...and yes, everything is full size except when stated)
Wow.
Although I wasn't totally amazed with every product, I do recommend Ipsy because you get all of the above for $10! Best beauty bag around!
Now...let's get to swatches...

I have never tried be a...bombshell before, so I was happy to get this in my bag. The shade is Shameless, which is a pinky/berry, although it looks like a dark red rust in the crayon. 

Very pretty, but goes on a little dry on the lips. I feel I need balm or gloss with this, but I do like the grown-up shimmer.

I think Ipsy did a good job matching this color to my skin tone...I wonder if those corny quizzes they make you take really do work?!

This is a twist up-balm crayon style but has the texture of a lipstick.
The next thing I got was a Pixi bronzer in a dusty bronze/pink color. I like Pixi, but find it is a little too expensive for me when labelled as drug-store beauty, so I was jazzed to get this in my bag.

The pigment is kinda lacking, but it does give a nice sheen...which is good I guess, considering it is winter and no one should be bronze...kinda makes you wonder why they put this in a November bag, eh?

The two eyeliners were actually a better surprise than I initially thought. I am kinda over them putting Starlooks in the bags, but this time...I spoke too soon and once I swatched, I loved! I also liked the em. by Michelle Phan eyeliner. I was curious about the quality of her products, and the eyeliner lasted a long time!

I created a look with both of them (Starlooks Amethyst on upper lid and em. Turquoise on lower lash line). The Amethyst is very glittery and got into my eyelashes a bit, but the color is unique and unlike other things I have. I think Turquoise runs a little greener than its namesake, but still pretty.

Overall, November was a pretty good month to be an Ipsy member. Did you love your bag?

My November Ipsy Bag

Hey everyone!
There are a ton of "what's in my Ipsy bag posts" going around...so I won't bore you with the details...just what I got!
Kiss eyelashes (double back $6.99) Starlooks eyeliner in Amethyst ($14) Em by Michelle Phan eyeliner in Turquoise (what? two eyeliners?) ($20) Be a Bombshell lip crayon in Shameless ($14) Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched (mini size $10) Nailtini Nail Polish in Caviar Cocktail ($13)
Grand total: $77.99...and yes, everything is full size except when stated)
Wow.
Although I wasn't totally amazed with every product, I do recommend Ipsy because you get all of the above for $10! Best beauty bag around!
Now...let's get to swatches...

I have never tried be a...bombshell before, so I was happy to get this in my bag. The shade is Shameless, which is a pinky/berry, although it looks like a dark red rust in the crayon. 

Very pretty, but goes on a little dry on the lips. I feel I need balm or gloss with this, but I do like the grown-up shimmer.

I think Ipsy did a good job matching this color to my skin tone...I wonder if those corny quizzes they make you take really do work?!

This is a twist up-balm crayon style but has the texture of a lipstick.
The next thing I got was a Pixi bronzer in a dusty bronze/pink color. I like Pixi, but find it is a little too expensive for me when labelled as drug-store beauty, so I was jazzed to get this in my bag.

The pigment is kinda lacking, but it does give a nice sheen...which is good I guess, considering it is winter and no one should be bronze...kinda makes you wonder why they put this in a November bag, eh?

The two eyeliners were actually a better surprise than I initially thought. I am kinda over them putting Starlooks in the bags, but this time...I spoke too soon and once I swatched, I loved! I also liked the em. by Michelle Phan eyeliner. I was curious about the quality of her products, and the eyeliner lasted a long time!

I created a look with both of them (Starlooks Amethyst on upper lid and em. Turquoise on lower lash line). The Amethyst is very glittery and got into my eyelashes a bit, but the color is unique and unlike other things I have. I think Turquoise runs a little greener than its namesake, but still pretty.

Overall, November was a pretty good month to be an Ipsy member. Did you love your bag?