Sleek Makeup iDivine Mineral Based Eye Shadow Palette - Ultra Mattes V1

This purchase was by accident.  I was on Amazon looking for the Acid palette and accidentally ordered this one instead.  I really wanted the Acid palette for the neon green color, but I said, "eh, this will do," when I received this palette in the mail.

I am happy with the palette but not ecstatic.

Here's a little shadow-by-shadow breakdown...

Pout & Sugarlite are somewhat patchy.

Floss & Pow are somewhat chalky.

Dragonfly & Cricket both leave behind a pretty intense stain on the skin.

Crete is somewhat disappointing, not a lot of color pay off in that one.

Bolt is a good color, good pigmentation, not patchy.

I love Bamm, Strike, and Chill.  Strike is probably the best of the bunch, not patchy, not streaky, not chalky, just pure smooth color, the most similar to what you see in the pan.  Bamm and Chill surely need some building up to get the color you want, but they're worth it and look beautiful.

Pucker and Pout are too similar in my opinion.

Overall, I would recommend this palette, but don't be expected to have your socks knocked off.  Even with the help of a NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil or another base, the majority of the colors do need some packing on to get the great color you see in the palette.

Thanks for reading!
Love,
Alaina

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush Review

I knew all of the hype on YouTube and elsewhere about this brush, yet I waited so long to finally pick it up!

I am in love.

It does not leave foundation looking streaky at all!  Although it looks a little small, it doesn't take an excessive amount of time to apply product all over the face.  It is an excellent density and I know understand why everyone raves about it so much!

This brush kicks butt at applying foundation (although I honestly still prefer my Beauty Blender), but I particularly love it to death for blending out cream blushes and especially cream contour colors.  I love using my Flower Beauty stick foundation in SF7 under my cheek bones, then pulling this wonderful brush out to buff it in.  Beautiful! Every time.  It doesn't leave the contour looking streaky whatsoever, it doesn't blend it away too much, it is simply just perfect!

I would recommend this brush!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Alaina

NYX Suede Eyeshadow Palette

1.7 grams of product per shadow.

$11.99 at Ulta

I love NYX products, don't get me wrong.  So many of the items I have tried from NYX have been excellent quality, especially given the price point.

However... (you just knew there had to be a "but") this palette made me sad.  I was disappointed in this palette because the pigmentation is just not there!  Even with primers and even with nice sticky bases, such as Maybelline Color Tattoos, these shadows just don't show up as beautifully as they do in the pan.  They are decent, but surely not as intense and pigmented as I would have liked them to be.

I saw this palette and thought, "what an excellent jewel-toned fall appropriate eyeshadow palette," but it simply did not live up to my expectations.

Would I recommend it?
Unfortunately, no.

Thanks for reading!
Love,
Alaina