New Hard Candy Stuff : Birthday Suit Eyeshadow Palette, Brows Now Pencil, & Plumping Serum Lipstick

When I saw this lipstick in store, without having touched it or swatched it, just by looking at the lipstick in the tube, I thought it would be matte and very opaque.  However, when you use it on your skin, the heat of your body warms it up and it no longer looks like that matte, opaque lipstick I thought it would be.  This formula is very buttery, smooth, and comfortable on the lips.  I would compare it to a lip-butter instead of a lipstick.  However, it has plenty of pigmentation, it just wasn't what I was expecting. 

I really enjoy this brow product.  It is a cool toned brown, not warm or red.  I hate red-toned browns for my brows.  It is also very creamy and can actually be used to fill in the eyebrows completely.  You don't just have to use it as a final step to set your brows, you can pretty much paint it onto your brow hairs or skin and you're good to go with just this one product.  It's not waterproof and can smudge away if you happen to rub your brows for any reason.  It can be a bit splotchy, so be sure to go back through with a clean spoolie brush to help the product distribute evenly throughout your eyebrows.  The highlighter end of this product is decent.  Not waterproof, once again, however, it isn't too shimmery and performs well as a highlight in the inner corner or under the brow.  However, I purchased this product for the brow gel, the highlighter was just a bonus.

These eyeshadows are an improvement over the last couple of hard candy shadow purchases I have made.  A couple are powdery, but overall, I really enjoy this palette.

Let me know if you have tried any of these new products!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Alaina

Lush Henna Caca Noir on Short Medium Brown Hair Before & After Second Application

This blog post covers the second time I've henna-ed my hair, if you want to see other posts/videos about previous times, etc. check out these links...

Blog post using Caca Rouge for the first time

Henna-ing my sister's hair for the first time using Caca Marron Video

Henna-ing my own hair with Caca Noir Video

(this is the video from the first portion of what you'll read here today)

Blog post on first time I henna-ed my hair with Caca Noir

outdoors, overcast day, phone camera, no flash (hair is still somewhat greasy from the henna)

15 min to apply 

left on 3 hours uncovered 11/13

left on overnight (8 hours) covered 11/18-19

I used 1/4 of the entire brick this time around on my short hair (it took the whole thing when my hair was really long). I grated the entire thing, added about 2/3 cup water, and the consistency was wonderful, not chunky.  The mess was not bad at all, probably because of the nice consistency I ended up with, but also maybe because my hair is way shorter than before and it took less time to complete.  Less time = less chance for mess I believe. :)

indoors, bathroom lighting, filmed on my video camera

As you can see in this "before" picture, the top portions of my hair are a little lighter than the underneath sections.  When you scroll down and see more of the "after" pictures, you can still see that difference in my hair.  I like it.  The Lush Henna allows your natural high and low-lights to still shine through.

first application, uncovered

Left uncovered 3 hours. In picture below, my hair was still a little greasy (could have rinsed it one extra time), so it looks a little darker than it ended up the next day after a good rinse.

indoor, bathroom lighting, filmed on my video camera (hair is still somewhat greasy from the henna)

_________________________________________________________________

I applied the henna twice this time, a few days apart.  I kept reading in various reviews that the color would intensify if you built the color up on top of itself like so.  I didn't find that it was really that big of a difference in the depth of the color, but one thing I did learn is that the second time (when I covered my hair and slept on it) is that the color took on almost a purple-y tint instead of a dark brown color.  Everything I read said if you want more red color, cover it, and if you want more blue-black, leave it uncovered.  I think covering it over night did really bring out the red.  After all, henna is red and indigo is blue, and red and blue make purple.

Just as before, my hair is so super soft and shiny after henna-ing it.  I am happy with the color and I think I will be able to tell more this time around when it starts to fade, so I will let you guys know how long it lasts.  The first time I henna-ed it, I could never really see my roots growing out, some days my hair appeared darker, other days it just seemed like it was back to normal, so I'm unsure how long it really lasts.  This time I will try my best to keep an eye on it and report back here for you guys.

second application, wrapped up and ready for bed

A few days later, I decided to apply it again (for experiment sake) just to see if it would intensify/last longer/do anything different.  This time I left it on overnight (8 hours) covered in saran wrap, with a bandanna on top just for some extra protection.  (Overnight sometimes I would wake up and the bandanna was slipping off, but the saran wrap stayed put all night really well. Also put a towel over my pillow just in case, but it was all good in the end.)

indoors, bathroom lighting, filmed on my video camera

indoors, bathroom lighting, taken on phone camera, no flash

indoors, bathroom lighting, no flash, probably the most true to color pics I have

indoors, bathroom lighting, no flash, probably the most true to color pics I have

This is my second time henna-ing my hair (both with Caca Noir).  I still believe it all depends on your own hair color to begin with.  I see pictures of really dark black hair after using this stuff, but even after applying it twice and leaving it on overnight, my hair is still not black.  It is very dark though and I love it, but it just wasn't what I was expecting from all of the reviews I've come across.  That's why I want to keep posting about this for my readers.  Everyone's hair is different.  If your hair color is similar to mine, I hope this is helpful and true to how your own henna could turn out.  Please send me pics if you've henna-ed your own!  I love seeing how everyone ends up with different colors!  @lainamarie91 on instagram

___________________________________________________________________

PS

This would not be a good science experiment, there were too many variables lol.  I hope I gave you enough information to help you decide what you want to do with your henna experience though!

Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina

NEW Pixi by Petra Fairy Dust Favorites Light Catchers Loose Pigments + Shea Butter Lip Balm Trio Balmy Winter

Fairy Dust Favorites - $12

Snow Sparkle
Used dry, this color is not very pigmented, it just gives a soft sparkle.
Used wet, it comes off much more intense white and shimmery, glitter can be a little chunky.

Gold Dust
Used dry, this color is also not very pigmented but leaves a very natural sheen, I think it would be great to use as a highlighter on medium to dark skin tones.
Used wet, it come off as a more pigmented, but still not too intense, soft golden champagne.

Brightening Bare
This color is not quite matte, but it doesn't have the shimmer that the others contain.
Used dry it is a very soft deeper peach color. I like the pigmentation even when used dry.
Used wet, it takes on more pigment and has a cooler tone, almost like a purple-y beige color.

Copper Sheen
Used dry, this color has good pigmentation but it gets amped up a little more when used wet.  It is a golden bronze color.

Mocha Magic 
This color packs a punch wet or dry!  It is a very intense chocolate brown with a sheen.  It's not quite sparkly, but has a beautiful sheen

(l to r) dry/wet Snow Sparkle, Gold Dust, Brightening Bare, Copper Sheen, Mocha Magic

(the packaging lists 'mocha magic' and 'copper sheen' in the opposite order that I have put here. Each individual pigment does not have a name on it, but judging by the colors, I have assumed that these two were mixed up on the list on the packaging.  I do have the descriptions listed in order that they come in from top to bottom)

At $12, I think this is an excellent deal! That's less than $2.50 per pigment, and although I may not be in love with them all, I know they will come in useful at some point and I enjoy knowing I have them.

Shea Butter Lip Balm Trio - $16

Comfort Clear
This is a traditional type lip balm.  It has no color, just a slight sheen of moisture.

Honey Nectar
With my particular lip color, this product comes off as a nude.  It tones down the natural pinky/redness of my lips and just gives a nice even coverage.  I would call this a 'my lips but better' color just because it evens out the tone of my lips.  It makes me look put together, without anyone being able to notice I'm actually wearing lip product.  It doesn't give a very shiny finish.  It doesn't look like a gloss by any means, it just looks very fresh and natural.

Ripe Raspberry 
This gives a nice pinky/red flush to the lips.  Another very natural color that can take on a 'my lips but better' look if your lips naturally have more red pigment.  Not too shiny of a finish either.

These all have a very moisturizing, smooth, almost thick conditioning feel on the lips.  They are perfect for my lips.  I am addicted to lip balms, my lips cannot live without having some kind of moisture on them.

The only downside I would have to say is the price. At $16 for the trio, that comes down to more than $5 per lip balm.  They are nice, but honestly, if I'm going to buy one product here, the pigments (in my opinion) are a better deal than the lip balms and I would rather spend the $12 on the pigments than $16 on the lip balms.


Let me know if you have tried any of these products, I just happened to see them while wandering the aisles of my local Target.

Thanks for reading and I hope this was helpful to you!
Love,
Alaina