The Summer Palette That Will Only Set You Back A Fiver

 

Hey Pandas!

Before I get into this review, I want to thank you all for the birthday wishes and support while I was in NYC recently! I am thankful for all of the positivity that Pretty Panda brings into my life and am glad to still be writing on this blog!

Now, enough of the mushy stuff. I know a lot of brands are releasing their summer palettes and shades right now and trust me...I want them all! But until you can afford one of those high-end ones, if you are on a budget like myself, tide yourself over with this little gem from Essence Cosmetics.

Essence has a line of palettes called 'All About...' and they retail for $4.99.  The one I have is called 'All About Paradise' and I found it in a summery Essence display at Ulta. There was also one called 'All About Sunrise', which had some neutrals and a pretty yellow, but of course I had to go with this one for all of the colors!

There are 6 pans in each palette. The top row contains a shimmery cream color, an orange/peach, and a hot pink. The bottom row contains a slightly greenish yellow, a teal, and a shimmery navy.

These are swatches over a thin layer of primer. Realistically, I never go without eye primer, so this is the intensity that will show up on my lids. I think for the price the quality is there. I love all the shades and they are easy to work with except for the navy, which pulls patchy and is a bit dry. It takes a bit of work to get right, but it won't stop me from using it.

Above are light swatches of the navy, cream, and teal without primer. Pigmentation without primer is only okay, as you can see, but there is potential to create a wash/watercolor effect if you choose not to wear primer. But pandas, you should be wearing primer! (I have my eye on the new UD Enigma for my next one!).

Here is a quick look I created with the peach shade in my inner corner, yellow in the middle of the eye, and the hot pink in the crease and slight outer corner. I blended everything with the cream shade. Wear time was 9 hours no creasing with primer and they were easy to blend. I do recommend a sticky or white base or at least a primer and a dense brush to really get vibrant results. I got tons of compliments!

For five bucks, you can't go wrong with Essence. They aren't the best eyeshadow formula ever, but they blow the water out of the NYX square shadows and Revlon, for sure! If you don't want to make a spendy commitment to bright colors, this is for you!

#28daysoflippies Instagram Round-up Finale! Wildcard Week!

Thanks everyone who followed and liked my #28daysoflippies challenge on Instagram. Now that February is over, so is the challenge...and I am here to recap the last week of the challenge, which was Wildcard week, showcasing my funnest and most unexpected lippies!

Wildcard week was so fun because I got to really push myself out of my comfort zone!

Wildcard Lippies:

Butter London Lippy in La Moss $18: A gorgeous semi-opaque deep wine.

Lancome La Laque Fever in Electric Pink $27: Vibrant hot pink and purple sparkles in a hot pink base.

Rimmel Stay Glossy in Black Diva $4.99: Buildable semi-opaque black gloss.

L'Oreal Le Gloss in The Muses' Shine $5.99: 24k glitter and shine.

Beautifully Disney lip gloss in Change Your Fate $14.95: Merida inspired--a bold, creamy orange.

Essence XXXL Shine gloss in Rock On $2.49: Darkened plum with lots of sparkle.

NYX Matte Lipstick in Alabama $5.99: Dark brick and perfectly matte. 

Thanks for joining me for this fun challenge. I hope you found some new favorites!

I Want To Look Like: Narcissa Malfoy

Hey everyone!I honestly couldn't be more excited for this post. It is going to be a long one, and picture heavy, but hopefully really fun! The 'I Want To Look Like' series will be ongoing, and is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I will be getting inspiration from characters in movies/tv shows/actors/ads/etc, and of course...any suggestions you have! Each post will include the original look, and a look modified for daytime wear. I will also include all the products used, and there will be posts on my two other blogs, Miss Molotov and Impressionist Nails to help round out the look.Let's get started!

For my inaugural post, I chose Narcissa Malfoy. Being a huge Harry Potter fan (and nerd in general), she is someone I have always loved. Her style progresses throughout the films (sadly mentioned next to no times in the books), from very classic and stuffy to darker and more natural. These looks aren't a complete copy of her makeup, but are inspired by her.

I also had a ton of fun with photoshop and being a geek with this in general. It was fun trying to get that 'Malfoy' attitude while posing. I don't have half-blonde hair though, but we will have to make do. And Helen McCrory is flawless.Both of my looks started with the same base products:

1: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk: Used as a base/primer on eyes.

2. Clinique Even Better Foundation in Alabastor: My base of choice right now.

3. Cocoa Star Too Faced Shadow from the Natural at Night Palette: Used to fill in brows. Heavy in the first look and lighter in the secocnd.

4. Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Fair: Under eye

5. NYX Liquid Black Liner: A larger wing on the first look, and simpler on the second.

6. Benefit They're Real Mascara

Here is the first look---full on Narcissa glam.

For the full look, I used the products below:

1. bareMinerals loose shadow in Treasured Terri: Foiled and used on whole eye.

2. NYX single eye shadow in Exotic Green: used in crease

3. Mally Ever Color Automatic Eyeliner in Fierce Forest: used on bottom lash line.

4. Essence Renesmee Red blush: No longer available, but any red blush will do.

5. Essence Bella's Secret: for highlight.

6. NYX Retractable Waterproof liner in Red: line lips

7. Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb: Fill in lips with the perfect Narcissa-red.

8. bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie gloss in Game Changer: a dab on the middle of the lower lip.

This look was so fun to do, but now, let's lighten it up for everyday wear!

For the softer version, I used the following products:

1. Clinique All About Shadow Quad in On Safari: used the cream as highlight, olive on the whole lid, and forest green on the crease.

2. Milani Baked Blush in Red Vino: a little on the cheeks gives a strong blush and highlight.

3. Sephora Flashy Liner in Flashy Ultra Green: on lower lash line.

4. NYX Butter Lip Balm in Red Velvet.

I had fun playing with all of my green shadows, and a ton of fun doing this in general!

For Narcissa inspired nail polishes...click HERE.

For Malfoy-worthy accessories...click HERE.

Hope you enjoyed! If you have someone you would like me to do a feature on for the next volume of "I Want To Look Like..." tell me in the comments!

xx

I Want To Look Like: Narcissa Malfoy

Hey everyone! I honestly couldn't be more excited for this post. It is going to be a long one, and picture heavy, but hopefully really fun! The 'I Want To Look Like' series will be ongoing, and is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I will be getting inspiration from characters in movies/tv shows/actors/ads/etc, and of course...any suggestions you have! Each post will include the original look, and a look modified for daytime wear. I will also include all the products used, and there will be posts on my two other blogs, Miss Molotov and Impressionist Nails to help round out the look. Let's get started!

For my inaugural post, I chose Narcissa Malfoy. Being a huge Harry Potter fan (and nerd in general), she is someone I have always loved. Her style progresses throughout the films (sadly mentioned next to no times in the books), from very classic and stuffy to darker and more natural. These looks aren't a complete copy of her makeup, but are inspired by her.

I also had a ton of fun with photoshop and being a geek with this in general. It was fun trying to get that 'Malfoy' attitude while posing. I don't have half-blonde hair though, but we will have to make do. And Helen McCrory is flawless. Both of my looks started with the same base products:

1: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk: Used as a base/primer on eyes.

2. Clinique Even Better Foundation in Alabastor: My base of choice right now.

3. Cocoa Star Too Faced Shadow from the Natural at Night Palette: Used to fill in brows. Heavy in the first look and lighter in the secocnd.

4. Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Fair: Under eye

5. NYX Liquid Black Liner: A larger wing on the first look, and simpler on the second.

6. Benefit They're Real Mascara

Here is the first look---full on Narcissa glam.

For the full look, I used the products below:

1. bareMinerals loose shadow in Treasured Terri: Foiled and used on whole eye.

2. NYX single eye shadow in Exotic Green: used in crease

3. Mally Ever Color Automatic Eyeliner in Fierce Forest: used on bottom lash line.

4. Essence Renesmee Red blush: No longer available, but any red blush will do.

5. Essence Bella's Secret: for highlight.

6. NYX Retractable Waterproof liner in Red: line lips

7. Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb: Fill in lips with the perfect Narcissa-red.

8. bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie gloss in Game Changer: a dab on the middle of the lower lip.

This look was so fun to do, but now, let's lighten it up for everyday wear!

For the softer version, I used the following products:

1. Clinique All About Shadow Quad in On Safari: used the cream as highlight, olive on the whole lid, and forest green on the crease.

2. Milani Baked Blush in Red Vino: a little on the cheeks gives a strong blush and highlight.

3. Sephora Flashy Liner in Flashy Ultra Green: on lower lash line.

4. NYX Butter Lip Balm in Red Velvet.

I had fun playing with all of my green shadows, and a ton of fun doing this in general!

For Narcissa inspired nail polishes...click HERE.

For Malfoy-worthy accessories...click HERE.

Hope you enjoyed! If you have someone you would like me to do a feature on for the next volume of "I Want To Look Like..." tell me in the comments!

xx

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?

I Love Punk! Essence Chubby Liner

Who doesn't love chubby, punky, black liners? I know that they have a huge draw for me, especially when under $3!

 

This is the I (Heart) Punk jumbo eyeliner pen in black. I found it at Ulta and it is by Essence. I really like Essence because their products are cheap, cute in a novelty way, and tend to work nicely. Cheap thrills!

 

Another cool thing about this pen is that it come with a plastic cap underneath the original cap to keep the marker-like tip from drying out.

 

 

Here are the three thicknesses that this can create. The tip is the top of the liner only. The middle was me smushing it across my hand horizontally (the side of the liner) and the bottom is swiping it with the liner vertically to create a really thick line.

 

 

On my hand it looks really black, but this took two go overs to get this opacity, otherwise it is more grey. It is really easy to work with and wing out and dries semi-glossy.

 

 

Not the most pigmented in the world. It also has a kinda sweet scent. Not offensive and not lingering, but not what you would expect an eyeliner to smell like. It also takes a while to dry. In one way this is cool because you can press your finger to it and blend it upwards to create those messy, Taylor Momsen eyes. But if you want something quick, this isn't going to be it.

 

Overall, a fun cheap thrill. I like the mini cap, the packaging, and the versatility. But it does have a learning curve that may not be worth even the few dollars.

 

Price: 10/10

Performance: 7/10

Color/Wearability: 8/10

Packaging: 10/10

Overall Quality: 7/10

Total: 42/50 = B = Pleased Panda

 

Have you tried this? Do you like the chubby eyeliner trend?

 

 

I Love Punk! Essence Chubby Liner

Who doesn't love chubby, punky, black liners? I know that they have a huge draw for me, especially when under $3!

 

This is the I (Heart) Punk jumbo eyeliner pen in black. I found it at Ulta and it is by Essence. I really like Essence because their products are cheap, cute in a novelty way, and tend to work nicely. Cheap thrills!

 

Another cool thing about this pen is that it come with a plastic cap underneath the original cap to keep the marker-like tip from drying out.

 

 

Here are the three thicknesses that this can create. The tip is the top of the liner only. The middle was me smushing it across my hand horizontally (the side of the liner) and the bottom is swiping it with the liner vertically to create a really thick line.

 

 

On my hand it looks really black, but this took two go overs to get this opacity, otherwise it is more grey. It is really easy to work with and wing out and dries semi-glossy.

 

 

Not the most pigmented in the world. It also has a kinda sweet scent. Not offensive and not lingering, but not what you would expect an eyeliner to smell like. It also takes a while to dry. In one way this is cool because you can press your finger to it and blend it upwards to create those messy, Taylor Momsen eyes. But if you want something quick, this isn't going to be it.

 

Overall, a fun cheap thrill. I like the mini cap, the packaging, and the versatility. But it does have a learning curve that may not be worth even the few dollars.

 

Price: 10/10

Performance: 7/10

Color/Wearability: 8/10

Packaging: 10/10

Overall Quality: 7/10

Total: 42/50 = B = Pleased Panda

 

Have you tried this? Do you like the chubby eyeliner trend?

 

 

Cheap Thrill: Essence XXXL Shine Gel-Look Top Coat

Who doesn't love shiny and sparkly things? I swear I am a magpie sometimes. I have so much glitter!

 

So of course I want my nails and manicures to be as shiny as possible right? Right. Now read on.

 

I have become disillusioned with Seche, so I have been on the look out for a new top coat. This struck my fancy, and for $2, you can't beat it. It is a small bottle though, so I will be needing back ups.

 

This XXXL shine gel-look topcoat is amazing. It gives flawless shine for the duration of your manicure, prevents chips, and looks like a professional job. Don't let the "gel" fool you, it removes as easy as regular topcoat. I am in love!

 

Find this at Ulta or Ulta.com.

 

How do you like this cheap thrill of the day?