Coastal Scents Hot Pots: Swatches and First Impressions

Hello Pandas! 
Some quick updates before we get into this post:

• I have switched to using Disqus for my comments, so let me know if you experience any difficulties
• Impressionist Nails is being regularly updated again!
• I have a new life/style blog called Wit With My Tea on Wordpress. So far there are only TV posts, but it will include fashion, accessory, travel, book, and movie posts.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled Pretty Panda Makeup :)
I have wanted to try Coastal Scents products for a long time. Even despite the low price range, I've heard great reviews about the quality. Their 'Hot Pots', which are single, magnetic eyeshadow pots that snap into empty palettes, seemed to be the best place to start.
The 12 pan palette is $5.95 and each hot pot is $1.99, but they will occasionally have sales where you can snag the hot pots for only $.99! 

Above is what my palette looked like when it was completely put together (which took all of five seconds to plop the pots into the pan). So pretty! And all for under $20 because of sales! Coastal Scents seems to always be having sales, so wait before you make a purchase.

The palette, even for being so cheap, is relatively sturdy and has a plastic lid. There are little indents to help you remove the hot pots for easy switching.

Now, I am going to go through swatches of all 12 pots I picked up:

Bungalow Gold is a fairly deep, bronze gold with a metallic finish. It applied smoothly and had a creamy feel on the skin, which was surprising. This was also very opaque.

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!

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette Review and Swatches

Hey Pandas! I am beyond excited to show you the Too Faced Pretty Rebel Eyeshadow Palette for Fall 2013. I knew, even if I only picked up one big fall palette, this would be the one. 

 This palette is $46 and comes with 10, completely gorgeous, full-sized eye shadows, all housed in one of the coolest package ever! 

 I am loving the gold case with black and pink detail. So very fun! I am also loving the Francesca Eastwood is their model for this collection, she is gorgeous! 

 Here are the first four shadows and my thoughts on them: Dainty: Pretty matte light pink. Makes a great base for eye looks and is a good neutral for this palette. A bit on the chalky side though. Charming: Pretty eggplant matte shade. Has a bit of brown it as well, and is a good crease color. Very pigmented but also a teensy bit chalky. Ringleader: Gorgeous shimmery pink champagne color. Useful as a highlighter in this collection. Nice payoff. Gangsta: Medium brown shimmer with tiny bits of red, pink, and gold glitter. Very unique shade and good color payoff. 

 These are the more neutral shades of the pallete, but they are still very fun and easy to work with. I am really impressed by the opacity of each shade! 

 Girly: This is one of the coolest shades ever! A duochrome dark teal with a red flash as the undertone. Simply stunning, very smooth and creamy as well! Totally Fetch: Can I just say the name here is amazing. One of the few hot pinks that actually translate onto skin as such! One of  my new favorite shades! Instigator: Think 24k luxe! Super shimmery and pigmented. Badass: Glittery navy with a hint of purple and silver. Stunning. 

 Seriously, if I could marry this palette, I would. 

 And the last two shades: Miss Sparkles: An inky black base with lots of silver sparkle. Very fresh and young as well as rebellious! Jailbird: Icy silver with a hint of blue. Easy to apply. 

 Overall there is nothing I hate about this palette. All of the colors are fresh, on-trend, easy to apply, and pigmented. The colors work well together, but they may not be right for those who wear mostly neutrals. However, the palette is labeled 'Pretty Rebel' and with these eyeshadows, you get looks that are exactly that! I think this is one of Too Faced's best palettes and they really stepped up their game here. I couldn't be happier! Panda Totally Approved! Have you tried anything from the Pretty Rebel collection yet? What do you think of these colors?  

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette Review and Swatches

Hey Pandas!   I am beyond excited to show you the Too Faced Pretty Rebel Eyeshadow Palette for Fall 2013. I knew, even if I only picked up one big fall palette, this would be the one.  

  This palette is $46 and comes with 10, completely gorgeous, full-sized eye shadows, all housed in one of the coolest package ever!  

  I am loving the gold case with black and pink detail. So very fun! I am also loving the Francesca Eastwood is their model for this collection, she is gorgeous!  

  Here are the first four shadows and my thoughts on them:   Dainty: Pretty matte light pink. Makes a great base for eye looks and is a good neutral for this palette. A bit on the chalky side though.   Charming: Pretty eggplant matte shade. Has a bit of brown it as well, and is a good crease color. Very pigmented but also a teensy bit chalky.   Ringleader: Gorgeous shimmery pink champagne color. Useful as a highlighter in this collection. Nice payoff.   Gangsta: Medium brown shimmer with tiny bits of red, pink, and gold glitter. Very unique shade and good color payoff.  

  These are the more neutral shades of the pallete, but they are still very fun and easy to work with. I am really impressed by the opacity of each shade!  

  Girly: This is one of the coolest shades ever! A duochrome dark teal with a red flash as the undertone. Simply stunning, very smooth and creamy as well!   Totally Fetch: Can I just say the name here is amazing. One of the few hot pinks that actually translate onto skin as such! One of  my new favorite shades!   Instigator: Think 24k luxe! Super shimmery and pigmented.   Badass: Glittery navy with a hint of purple and silver. Stunning.  

  Seriously, if I could marry this palette, I would.  

  And the last two shades:   Miss Sparkles: An inky black base with lots of silver sparkle. Very fresh and young as well as rebellious!   Jailbird: Icy silver with a hint of blue. Easy to apply.  

  Overall there is nothing I hate about this palette. All of the colors are fresh, on-trend, easy to apply, and pigmented. The colors work well together, but they may not be right for those who wear mostly neutrals. However, the palette is labeled 'Pretty Rebel' and with these eyeshadows, you get looks that are exactly that!   I think this is one of Too Faced's best palettes and they really stepped up their game here. I couldn't be happier!   Panda Totally Approved!   Have you tried anything from the Pretty Rebel collection yet? What do you think of these colors?    

Aqualillies for Tarte: Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye and Cheek Palette: Review and Swatches

Hey Pandas! There has been a ton of buzz surrounding the Aqualillies for Tarte line and today I am going to show you the crazy awesome palette. (Thanks brother for getting it for me, he has good taste no?)

 

This is the Aqualillies for Tarte Palette that comes in a large gilded disc with gorgeous blue and orange scales covering it (almost like a mermaid!) and retails for $38. It is bigger than the palm of my hand, quite hefty and holds a lot of product: 6 shadows, one blush, one bronzer, and one luminizer--all waterproof!

 

 

The packaging is stunning and it comes with a doublesided look card to create 2 distinct looks. There is also a huge mirror!

 

 

There is a ton of product in here, and the blush is nearly full sized! The Luminizer (champagne) is a pretty sand/gold color but it quite pigmented so use with caution. Captivating (the blush) is a gorgeous coral/pink. The matte bronzer (fan fave park ave princess) is also included!

 

As far as the shadows, you get: Hammock ( a chocolate brown), Bikini ( a nude dusky pink), Barefoot (classic nude shimmer), Parasol (cream shimmer), Sundeck (matte light brown) and my favorite, Poolside (a stunning turquoise).

 

Anyone travelling that wants all of their products in one place. Also, if you are going to be in a hot climate this summer, I suggest this because all of the products are waterproof! I did not directly test by jumping in my pool, but they do last all day on a muggy day!

 

 

Here are some swatches, but they perform much better on the face. Still, they are pretty pigmented!

 

 

Here are all the shadows swatched together! So pretty, but most are shimmery!

 

 

I love this palette and I am bringing it along with me to Hawaii (44 days until I leave, yay!) and I know it will work it's magic in the Aloha state. Until then, I am having fun playing around with the colors. This is an amazing value and if you see it, I highly recommend picking it up!

 

Price: 9/10

Performance: 10/10

Color/Wearability: 10/10

Packaging: 10/10

Overall Quality: 10/10

 

Total: 49/50 = A+ = Pandamonium!

 

I am in love with this! A look done with this palette will be coming up shortly!

 

 

 

Aqualillies for Tarte: Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eye and Cheek Palette: Review and Swatches

Hey Pandas! There has been a ton of buzz surrounding the Aqualillies for Tarte line and today I am going to show you the crazy awesome palette. (Thanks brother for getting it for me, he has good taste no?)

 

This is the Aqualillies for Tarte Palette that comes in a large gilded disc with gorgeous blue and orange scales covering it (almost like a mermaid!) and retails for $38. It is bigger than the palm of my hand, quite hefty and holds a lot of product: 6 shadows, one blush, one bronzer, and one luminizer--all waterproof!

 

 

The packaging is stunning and it comes with a doublesided look card to create 2 distinct looks. There is also a huge mirror!

 

 

There is a ton of product in here, and the blush is nearly full sized! The Luminizer (champagne) is a pretty sand/gold color but it quite pigmented so use with caution. Captivating (the blush) is a gorgeous coral/pink. The matte bronzer (fan fave park ave princess) is also included!

 

As far as the shadows, you get: Hammock ( a chocolate brown), Bikini ( a nude dusky pink), Barefoot (classic nude shimmer), Parasol (cream shimmer), Sundeck (matte light brown) and my favorite, Poolside (a stunning turquoise).

 

Anyone travelling that wants all of their products in one place. Also, if you are going to be in a hot climate this summer, I suggest this because all of the products are waterproof! I did not directly test by jumping in my pool, but they do last all day on a muggy day!

 

 

Here are some swatches, but they perform much better on the face. Still, they are pretty pigmented!

 

 

Here are all the shadows swatched together! So pretty, but most are shimmery!

 

 

I love this palette and I am bringing it along with me to Hawaii (44 days until I leave, yay!) and I know it will work it's magic in the Aloha state. Until then, I am having fun playing around with the colors. This is an amazing value and if you see it, I highly recommend picking it up!

 

Price: 9/10

Performance: 10/10

Color/Wearability: 10/10

Packaging: 10/10

Overall Quality: 10/10

 

Total: 49/50 = A+ = Pandamonium!

 

I am in love with this! A look done with this palette will be coming up shortly!