I have used this palette almost daily since I purchased it from Sephora. I’ve found that the shadows  are well pigmented, long-lasting, and very sparkly. Also, there is very little fallout with the use of a primer (I tend to reach for Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Painterly Paint Pot and/or Urban Decay Primer Potion daily). I have used them both wet and dry. I have been dipping my shadow brush in Makeup Forever Mist & Fix and then picking up some shadow (in lieu of water). The “wet techinique” pumps up the intensity of the shadow. Nevertheless, a dry brush (or finger) is always an option if you are in a rush or if you simply prefer that type of look. Finally, these shadows blend beautifully with each other and also with all of the colors in the Urban Decay NAKED palette.

Check it out at http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P292307&categoryId=B70.

xo,

Katie

Although I have a decent collection of brushes, I found the Sigma Complete Kit to be a necessary purchase for me because it contains every type of brush for the application of eye and face makeup. (I purchased this kit with a coupon. I always check http://www.retailmenot.com/ when purchasing online – the second it takes to look up a promotion code is worth it because it can yield great savings). So I received a total of 12 brushes:  Small Angle E65, Medium Angled Shading  E70, Large Shader  E60, Pencil E30, Large Angled Contour  F40,  Large Powder F30,  Duo Fibre  F50, Foundation F60,  Concealer F70, Tapered Blending E40,  Eye Shading  E55,   and Eyeliner  E05. The brushes came in a classy black mesh drawstring  pouch. I also received a free gift (every purchase over $30 gets one!), which is an E25 travel size brush. There was an insert with the brushes too which contains information on brush cleansing (it is absolutely essential to clean your brushes).

I am impressed with the quality of these brushes and am already enjoying them! This set can also be purchased with a brush roll (for an extra $20). This was not necessary for me because I prefer to store my brushes in decorative mugs. This is a matter of preference, if you would prefer a roll, go for it, at the very least it will allow you to travel with your brush set.

I think that investing in good brushes is a necessity! If you are willing to purchase quality makeup, splurging on great tools and brushes to use in conjunction with your products is definitely essential.

If you are interested in Sigma products, check out their website: http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Default.asp

Let me know what you think!

xx,

Katie

The NYC theme of the package is trendy, bright & cute. It also feels like it is made well so it should hold up for a long time.

The top opens up to display a pop-up NYC scene, with the Brooklyn Bridge, a yellow taxi, the Empire State Building, etc. In the back of the scene is a great mirror. Lights are scattered about to display the awesome image.

Inside the palette, there are 16 Urban Decay eyeshadows. As you know from a previous post (http://organicmakeupgirl.com/review-urban-decay-stardust-eyeshadow/) I love Urban Decay eye products. This palette contains Perversion, Uzi, Loaded, Kush, Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Last Call, Rockstar, Money, Haight, Maui Wowie (personal favorite), Smog, Bordello, Radium, Snatch, Suspect, and Psychedelic Sister. In addition, there are two 24/7 Glide On eye pencils and one mini primer tube of Primer Potion (*This is the one downside – I wish it had a full-size tube of primer potion because there is definitely not enough of it in a mini tube for this palette!).

I LOVE this palette! It is limited edition and at $54.00 a great buy! You definitely get what you pay for: great colors, awesome quality makeup & cute packaging.

x0 Katie

Stila Custom Color Blush

*½~~~ (1.5/5)

As soon as I saw this Stila blush I needed it. A blush that suits every skintone? Impossible!!! At $20.00 I thought it was pricey but decided it was worth it. And now I will warn you: do not make the same mistake I did! Save your $20.00!

This blush is disappointing and unflattering. I have used it on several different skintones and types of skin to see if my expectations held true and they did. I do not find the product to be universally flattering. The color does not seem to be custom! In fact, even when I apply the blush alone there is little variance in the pink hue.

The product creates a bright pink, matte finish. It is possible to blend out the color but it still seems very vibrant and flat. It is quite expensive for the amount of product you actually get. I have no received any compliments on it and subsequently, try to avoid using it. Lastly, in my opinion this blush does not look natural which makes it easy to pass up when I have the option of using other blush products!

Skip Stila Custom Color Blush – I regret buying it! http://www.stilacosmetics.com/product_detail.asp?pmid=786

x0 Katie

BareMinerals Original SPF Foundation was a huge disappointment! With BareMinerals counters and stores popping up all over, I decided to give the product a trial run. I purchased the starter kit at Sephora and was less than impressed with half of the products within it. As I mentioned in a previous post on primers, I was most dissatisfied with Bare Minerals Prime Time – http://organicmakeupgirl.com/review-smashbox-photo-finish-face-primer-vs-bare-minerals-prime-time/. However, the BareMinerals original foundations (within the starter kit were similarly disappointing.

After using the BareMinerals products on my skin – Prime Time, Foundation, Warmth All Over Face Color and the Mineral Veil – I noticed that my chin was beginning to turn red and breakout. And I am going to be honest, it was not just a little blemish that I could overlook — it was a horrifying breakout that made me not want to leave the house. It was also quite painful! I attempted to conceal the blemishes with the BareMinerals Foundation and the BareMinerals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush and it hurt!

Since I wanted a true sense of the BareMinerals products I continued to use them while omitting one product at a time. I noticed that my complexion improved significantly when I stopped using Prime Time. (I discarded it!) However, my skin was still not looking great with the foundation, warmth and mineral veil. After doing some research on the BareMinerals website, I decided to purchase one more face product before giving up on the brand. I opted to try another foundation. Thankfully, the BareMinerals Matte SPF Foundation was awesome. I realized that the original foundation was also a culprit in the (temporary) destruction of my complexion!

The two main problems I experienced with the BareMinerals Original SPF Foundation: it  made my typically labeled “normal” skin very oily; it led to breakouts on my chin and some blemishes on my forehead. For these reasons, I would not recommend this product to anyone. However, I would definitely advise opting for the Matte version of their foundation if you are thinking of trying it. Just a heads up, the Matte Foundation is slightly more expensive than the original version (+$3.00 USD). Both are quite pricey though!

My advice: avoid BareMinerals Original SPF Foundation! If you MUST try BareMinerals, go with the matte version. If you decide to skip BareMinerals altogether I think Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Powder Foundation is a fabulous (+ much more affordable) alternative!

x0 Katie

This will be the start of a short series of primer reviews, that will, at least for the purposes of this blog be referred to as, time to prime! [:

About 4 months ago I made my first primer purchase. It was a sample size and came as part of a Korres kit. I had never really cared about priming my face and would often use a moisturizer, Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Lotion with SPF (not my favorite day moisturizer but I have yet to find something better) or I would skip moisturizing altogether and jump to foundation.

My experience with primer has led me to believe, firmly, that primer is the most influential step in makeup application. Consequently, I have purchased 5+ primers in the past few months and I am ready to give a comprehensive review on each one. There is no reason for skipping this step! There are primers out there that will work for you and on your skin and it is just a matter of being patient, educated about them, and finding the right one. And not to worry, I can help you do just that!

So, this review will focus on the primer that kicked off my primer-loving persona, Korres Face Primer, and also the most beneficial techniques of application for this type of product.

****½ (4.5/5)

I use this product by placing a dab on my forehead, each cheek, chin & temples. Then, I press it into my skin quickly and wait for it to be absorbed. It contains vitamin E and honestly feels quite luxurious to apply! The moisture in this product makes it a multitasker – there is no need to moisturize ahead of time or prior to your (primer) application with this particular primer.Thankfully, you will not experience an unpleasant oily sheen a couple hours after you apply it either!

After the product is absorbed into the skin, move onto foundation or a tinted moisturizer if you would like, to set up a base for the rest of your products. I enjoy everything – foundation, powder, blush, & bronzer – but in incredibly modest amounts. The natural look is a favorite of mine, especially for day to day makeup application.

Korres is natural product, silicone free and made in Switzerland. It smells great, and is clear. I enjoy using it alone or with the Korres tinted moisturizer. I have used this primer in conjunction with several other types of foundations & products – from drugstore to department store and have found that it consistently performs well and impresses me!

The benefits of primer:

-great complexion (even if you select to skip other products altogether)

-longer lasting makeup

-less creasing

-less traveling (of liquid foundations, cream blushers & bronzers, etc.)

-save money in the long run (you will inevitably use less makeup because you will require less touching up and less makeup altogether to achieve a flawless finish)

-formulas with SPF offer added protection from the sun (which hopefully provides for less wrinkles and a reduced cancer risk)

Get a primer. And check back for a review of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer soon!

x0,

Katie

Minty lip gloss in Nashville ***** (5/5)

This gloss is long-lasting and incredibly minty! It is great on its own or over a nude lipstick. A nude lip works best with a bold look elsewhere on the face. For example, pair smokey eyes with nude lips and nude cheeks for a sultry, sexy look.

Blush in Tickled Pink ****~ (4/5)

This blush reminds me of MAC’s mineralized blush in Love Thing. Use Tickled Pink to create a matte look on your cheeks. Matte blushes are versatile because you can pair them with shimmery or matte eyes and lips. Additionally, the compact comes with a mirror which makes application on the go simple & carefree.

Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Blushed/Bronzed ***** (5/5)

This compact is excellent for traveling. The colors are both matte and will flatter many skin types & hues. The e.l.f. bronzer is similar to my favorite bronzer, which is Physician’s Formula SPF 20 Solar Power Bronzer ($12).

Two Waterproof Eyeliner Pens – Coffee & Black ***~~ (3/5)

The felt tip on these eyeliner pens makes it simple to create a winged or double-winged eye look. There is a downfall to these products, however, once applied, the product tends to travel. Skip using it on your waterline and you can easily avoid the problem!

I spent less than $15 and received all of these e.l.f. products. That is impressive! To put it in perspective, I could buy one MAC lip glass or five e.l.f. products! I will be purchasing different e.l.f. products and also repurchasing some of the products I own (especially the minty lip gloss in Nashville – it is the perfect nude lip color). Visit http://www.eyeslipsface.com/. (Fyi: There is a promotion going on right now on the website – make a $25 purchase and receive a free mineral starter kit! Enter this code: EGEDCQ for the promotion. It is going on until May 15th!)

-Katie x0

*USDA organic – always a plus ;)

*the scent – delicious but light

*the lip balm itself – incredibly moisturizing

*the packaging – easy to use and cute

I would definitely repurchase! I have tried several eos products in the past but this is a new favorite!

x0 Katie

This palette will allow you the create the perfect smokey eye! : ) The makeup is long-lasting and easy to blend.

The best part about this palette is the price right now on sephora.com-$15! That is such a great deal!

Sephora PURE pros: No parabens. No sulfates. No synthetic fragrances. No Synthetic Dyes. No Petrochemicals. No Pthalates. No GMOs. No Triclosan. 95% natural. 10% organic. No animal testing.

This is an awesome palette for $15.00! It is small and lightweight so it is perfect for travel, your bag, work, school, etc.

*If you are into neutral colors, the stargazer edition might not contain the best colors for you! I would recommend that you purchase a different edition, such as wanderlust. :)

According to the Cosmetic Database, this blush is considered to have a high health hazard risk. Another website, http://www.goodguide.com, revealed that the Covergirl blush contained ingredients that were on their list of carcinogens. It seems that many of the ingredients in the Covergirl makeup were potential instigators of both long and short term health hazards.

Although I had used this product for years and it was inexpensive, I decided that I had two options: 1. Stop using all makeup (which was impossible because I love it!, I love applying makeup on me, my sisters, my friends, etc. & I love buying it & I love organizing my collection…) OR 2. Find healthier options that will not force me to compromise my health. Obviously, I picked #2!

My research on healthier makeup options led me to Ecco Bella, a brand that provides natural and organic beauty solutions. I found a blush that was incredibly similar to what I had. Ecco Bella Flowercolor Blush is an awesome, healthier makeup option. It was a bit difficult to locate, however, definitely worth it. I bought the Flowercolor Blush in the color Peach Rose (sounds almost exaclty like the Covergirl one! & it is…). The makeup is made from natural pigments, which are powerful producers of color.

Ecco Bella Flowercolor Blush: ****½ (4.5/5.0)

-no talc

-no fragrances (which is wonderful!! Some of the natural & organic makeup products have an unpleasant odor! That is NOT the case with this blush, it is completely odorless, which is refreshing & healthy!)

-no additives

-infused with sweet almond oil, vitamin E, &  green tea

-is GREEN because the packaging is minimal : ) (*I bought the Ecco Bella paperback duo – a magnetic case that holds up to two individual blushes!)

-can be used as an eye shadow as well

-goes on easily & looks great all day

-very reasonable in terms of price! A little bit of this blush goes a long way…

-most importantly, it is a healthier option!

Check out how your makeup products scored on the websites I provided above. I hope you will be encouraged to choose healthy beauty products & pass the knowledge on to others! Natural & organic products are definitely the best option. : )

-Katie