BA Star 5-Pan Eye Shadow Palette in Spice Natural: Review and Swatches

I've talked about BA Star Cosmetics here before and now, thanks to Brandbacker, I have a chance to introduce you to my favorite product from this brand.
For those of you not familiar, BA Star is an affordable brand that curates their collections around cheerleader, dancer, and performer needs. But considering the most strenuous thing I do is Zumba, I don't need my makeup to last through a sweat-session. However, the long-wear BA Star provides for athletes means that my makeup is going to last through a hot day easily.

This palette is called 'Spicy Natural' and is one of BA Star's 5 pan high pigment palettes. I also recieved a sample of their Body Shimmer Base (which is an allover glitter primer). These palettes retail for $8.75 on their website: http://bastar.com. The packaging is plastic, thin, and rounded, which makes it easy to store. My gold/yellow shadow came a bit chipped but I don't mind at all. It was nothing major, just kicked up some of the fallout you see in the pan. It also comes with a double-sided eye brush (one else a brush, the other a sponge tip).

These shadows have a creamy texture and I recommend patting them on instead of swiping, and then you can blend. Blending does fade them a bit, but they can easily be built back up to the desired pigment. The first three colors are a beige, a gorgeous orange/bronze, and a deep cocoa. They are all extremely shimmery.

The last two colors add the 'spice' to this palette: a plummy purple and a yellow/gold. 

Here are all of the shadows without any primer. Decent pigmentation. Average fallout, but nothing that ruins your look or you can't brush away. 

But...it gets better!

With a thin layer of the BA Star Body Shimmer Base underneath and much less of the eyeshadow, the results are spectacular. Just pat on to well-primed eyes and you get luxurious, almost 'foiled', looking color. I am so loving that purple!

Wear time is great. Lasts the whole day on me! (so 12+ hours) There is some minor glitter fallout throughout the day if I am in a rush and missed a tiny spot during priming because these really perform their best when held to the skin with a base. 

On the eyes, they are very, very glittery, but a wash of the beige on my brown bone is subtle enough for some daytime sparkle!

Every time I try BA Star products, I honestly like them more and more!

Birthday Giveaway! Win a $25 Ulta eGift Card!

Happy Birthday to me! To celebrate, I am giving away a $25 Ulta eGift card!

I was going to do a Sephora gift card because I know more people have access to them, but unfortunately they do not do e-cards anymore. :( This giveaway applies to anyone who has access to an Ulta, though, so enter away! Winner will be announced Monday, April 28th! eGift card will be sent that day! 

Good Luck!
And for those wondering, the FB link is here! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ipsy April 2014

I had unreasonably high hopes for the April Ipsy bag! Why? Well, April is my birthday month (stay tuned for a special announcement tomorrow!) and I wanted this bag to be amazing.
So, was it?

This month, Ipsy subscribers received 5 products an I am pretty sure everyone got the UD Black Velvet liner. The theme was 'Beauty Rocks', which was cute, but the bag could have been done better.
What I got:
St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Anti-Aging Multi-Face Action ($11): Unfortunately I probably won't use this. I wish it was a face/body tanner because I do not have a body tanner right now. I also like my pale-ness.
dr. brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant ($9.75): I like this! Considering the 2oz size retails for $78, I am really happy I can at least try it out!
Rainbow Honey Cosmetics nail polish in Midnight Fountain ($5): Right up my alley---blue glitter polish from a brand I have always wanted to try!
Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-on Eye Pencil in Black Velvet ($17): This is almost full size!! The fact that Velvet is on the packaging and not just in the name makes me wonder if UD is going to release a whole velvet line?! I love this so far. It is creamy and matte. 
Mary Kay At Play Jelly Lipgloss in Berry Me ($10): Full size and a perfect color for me!
Total value: $52.75!!
Even though I won't use the face tanner, the value for me is still over $40 for $10, with some awesome products that I have always wanted to try and that are new (UD Velvet and MK@Play).

What I liked about this month's bag is that I got a good mix of things...lipgloss, skincare, face, eyes, and nails! Perfect! I also love the music/rock theme.

From top to bottom: UD Black Velvet, Mary Kay Berry Me, dr. brandt Microdermabrasion, and St. Tropez Face Tanner.

My favorite thing from the bag is the jelly lip gloss! It feels so comfortable and really wraps around the lips, keeping in moisture and making them look plump and hydrated. There is no discernible smell or taste.

April's Ipsy was a success! Yay!

Want to join Ipsy? Check it out here!

The Fair Foundation Files and My Take on a Classic Look for Spring

The extensive testing process is over and I have come to a lot of conclusions about Rimmel's Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in shade 010 Light Porcelain (retail $4.99 at Ulta, but I received it complimentary from Influenster).

So, what does this wunderkind have to offer us?

• Cheap price tag at around $5 depending on location
• No added fragrance as far as I can tell
• Totally matte
• Fun mousse texture
• Lots of light shades

It claims to offer 'lightweight shine control' as well, but we will get to that claim.

The texture of this is a mousse and is very fluffy, so you will think you need more when you actually don't. A little goes a long way---a lot gets cakey fast. This can be used with fingers, a BB, a flat brush, or a round foundation brush. I have tried all methods and they all basically work the same.

Here is me wearing Stay Matte in Light Porcelain all over my face. It almost covers my hardcore cheek hormonal blemishes, but a little dab of concealer fixes them right up. I just wanted to show you with only this product.

You really need to moisturize and prime well. Even if you have oily skin, this will get into every pore and every fine line. But if you prep well, this can have great results.

My results have been nothing less than spectacular. For over a week, this foundation (Clinique moisturizer and primer underneath) has keep me completely shine/oil free for 12-15 hour days. I have worn this during busy work and school days and I also wore it to a 95 degree day at the Huntington Library (for you non-Californians, it is beautiful, but mostly outside and was hotter than the sun that day). No shine whatsoever. 

But before you go running out and buying this, I have a few words of advice....

This may work for me, but I feel this will probably be a seasonal product for me. It takes a ton of prep time for me to look flawless with it (I have larger pores and my cheeks run drier). Also, I do not see this as 'lightweight'. It certainly isn't heavy, but I would say you can feel it on your skin.

Also keep in mind that this tends to oxidize in my experience about half a shade. If you have a chance, try a test patch on your skin first. Ulta let me return the first shade I bought before the Influenster box with no problem (that shade was Light Ivory, the next one up from this, and ran too yellow).

Overall: If you are drier on at least 50% of your face or have a lot of fine lines, this might be a nightmare for you. Oily girls...grab this and throw away your blotting linens forever.

Now, onto the fun stuff...I decided to make a look for Influenster and @RimmelLondonUS for the #StayMatteSwitch movement.

This is my twist on a classic look---for Spring! Substituting my normal red lip for something pinker and of course, matte skin!

What I Used:

1. Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in Light Porcelain ($4.99)

2. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Creamy Natural ($4.99)

3. Clique Cheek Pop blush in Peach Pop ($21)

4. Benefit They're Real Mascara ($23)

5. Josie Maran Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon in Fair ($20)

6. Nude browbone shadow from Wet N Wild 'Drinking a Glass of Shine' Palette ($4)

7. NYX Collection Noir Liquid Black Liner ($5.99)

8. Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium ($22)

9. Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencil in Chase ($22)

This is a routine I rely on for early morning to still feel fun and fresh

1. Prime, get that foundation on your face---any way you like---and then conceal!

2. Set with powder

3. A little blush on the apple of your cheeks. Something dewy works well!

4. Curl lashes and apply mascara

5. A nude matte wash of shadow on your lid is simple and a no-makeup look

6. A liquid liner baby cat eye keeps things classic

7. A hint of brow keeps things looking put together

8. And a glossy coral pout keeps things fresh!

What is your go-to Spring look?

PrettyPanda Asks: Favorite Palette?

So, I need the help of my trusted beauty friends! Before just going out and shopping on a whim, I wanted to ask you all what your favorite palette available at Ulta is?

I am planning on using my birthday coupon towards a purchase of a palette and I want your advice!

Comment below and if you have a review of the palette you like, link me to it!

Have a great day, and thanks!