Category Archives: Makeup

Stila Sunset Serenade Convertible Color Palette (Review & Swatches)

Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade

I’ve seen people swoon over the Stila Convertible Colors for yearrrrs. And yet, I could never commit to owning a huge pan of cream blush at that price tag just because I never really wear cream blush that much.

Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade
Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade

But now that I’ve got the option to try out five shades in one palette? I’m all over that! The Stila Convertible Colors are primarily marketed as a lipstick that you can also wear as a blush. However, I’d have to say that I notice far more people wearing these as cream blushes, and that was my intent for this palette.

Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade
Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade

The Dual Lip & Cheek palettes come in a warm version (Sunset Serenade, the one I have in this post) and a cool-toned version (Sunrise Splendor).

Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade
Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade

The five shades featured are Petunia, Peach Blossom, Gerbera, Camellia and Twilight Rose. Only Petunia and Camellia can be found in Stila‘s permanent range (or at least, that’s what I see on Sephora’s site!).

Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade - swatches
Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette in Sunset Serenade (Petunia, Peach Blossom, Gerbera, Camellia & Twilight Rose) – swatches

Swatched out, the colours look immensely shiny. Honestly, they look quite a bit like a thick milkshake-type lipgloss.

Wearing Gerbera and Camellia mixed together on cheeks
Wearing Gerbera and Camellia mixed together on cheeks
Wearing Peach Blossom on cheeks
Wearing Peach Blossom on cheeks
Wearing Twilight Rose on cheeks
Wearing Twilight Rose on cheeks

My Thoughts

I’ve used enough cream blushes over the years to figure out that in general they usually aren’t for me. In fact, I’d pretty much decluttered all of the cream blushes out of my collection because I just didn’t reach for them. This Stila palette is going to turn out to be exception to that rule because these are PHENOMENAL! I have zero interest in wearing these as a lipstick because I just don’t like potted lipstick, so for me these are only cream blushes. I apply them to my face with a small stippling brush that fits perfectly into the pan. You barely need anything on your brush because these are so, SO pigmented. They melted into my skin really easily which made blending a dream. I found myself so impressed with the finish on my skin. They keep a slight bit of their sheen which makes for a really healthy glow, however, they’re not tacky, so you don’t have to worry about your hair sticking to your cheeks. I also had no problem applying a powder highlighter on top of the cream.

I finished trying these blushes out about a week ago for the blog… but I found myself continuously coming back to them over the following week even though I’ve got tons of other blushes I could be playing with. If that’s not a sign of an amazing product, then I don’t know what is! Two enormous thumbs up for this palette!

The Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palettes can be purchased on sephora.ca for $51 CAD or on sephora.com for $39 USD.

The product featured in this review was sent to me for consideration.

Challenge Week: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Modern Renaissance

Yessss! OH YES! It’s time for my Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Challenge Week!

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Modern Renaissance
Anastasia Beverly Hills – Modern Renaissance

From the moment I saw this palette, I was EXCITED! Never before has easily accessible palette had so much red tones in it! I’m so happy to see brands branching out into far less conventional colours and red is definitely one of the most underused eyeshadow colours.

A note on the formula: I think the pigmentation, blendability and shades are excellent, HOWEVER this palette is incredibly powdery. Easily the most powdery palette I have. It works well, but it’s just something to be aware of. For swatches of this palette, please see my swatch post.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Looks

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Warm and rusty, just how I like my looks!

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Eyes

  1. Burnt Orange through the crease.
  2. Primavera on the lid and inner tearduct.
  3. Realgar on the middle of the lower lash line and on the middle of the lid.
  4. Red Ochre on the outer corner and outer lower lash line.
  5. Cyprus Umber to deepen up the outer corner

I used Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner in Trooper to create the wing and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara to my lashes. I tightlined my upper and lower waterline with Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer. I also have a paid of House of Lashes Au Naturale lashes on as well.

Face

  • Primer: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Pink
  • Foundation: BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation in Fair
  • Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
  • Blush: MAC Gingerly with Tarte Natural Beauty on top
  • Highlighter: BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Prosecco Pop
  • Lipstick: MAC By Special Order

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Although I love red eyeshadow, I don’t often use it on the lower lash line. For this look I decided to try that out while keeping the rest of the eyeshadow fairly neutral.

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Eyes

  1. Warm Taupe through the top of the crease.
  2. Buon Fresco through the crease.
  3. Vermeer on the lid.
  4. Antique Bronze on the outer corner.
  5. Cyprus Umber to deepen up the outer corner and on the outer lower lash line.
  6. Tempera on the brow bone.

I used Venetian Red on the lower middle of the lash line.  I created the wing with the Wet n Wild H20 Waterproof liquid liner and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara on my lashes.

Face

  • Foundation: Clinique Chubby in the Nude in Intense Ivory
  • Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronzer 01 Light Matte
  • Blush: BECCA Amaretto
  • Highlighter: BECCA Champagne Pop
  • Lips: Nothing

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I tried playing around/creating purples/lavenders with the palette while also sticking with an orange crease.201607_anastasiabeverlyhills_modernrenaissance_look3.2

Eyes

  1. Golden Ochre through the crease with Warmp Taupe on top.
  2. Realgar at the top of the crease.
  3. Buon Fresco on the lid with Vermeer on top.
  4. Cyprus Umber to deepen up the outer corner.
  5. Tempera on the brow bone.

I created the wing with Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara to my lashes. I’ve also put on a pair of House of Lashes Au Naturale lashes.

Face

  1. Primer: Make Up For Ever Step 1 Smoothing
  2. Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 52 Vanilla
  3. Blush: Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera and Camillia
  4. Bronzer: MAC Refined Golden
  5. Highlighter: BECCA Champagne Pop
  6. Lips: Tarte Drench Lip Splash Lipstick in Skinny Dip

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Hands down this is my favourite look I’ve done so far with this palette! LOVE!

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Eyes

  1. Raw Sienna in the crease.
  2. Burnt Orange on the lid.
  3. Primavera on the inner corner
  4. Venetian Red on the outer lid, through crease.
  5. Cyprus Umber to deepen up the outer corner.
  6. Tempera on the brow bone.

I created the wing with the Wet n Wild H20 Waterproof liquid liner and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara on my lashes. I applied a pair of Bombshell lashes by House of Lashes and tightlined my upper and lower waterlines with the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer.

Face

  • Foundation: BECCA Aqua Luminous Perfecting in Fair
  • Bronzer: MAC Refined Golden
  • Blush: BECCA Songbird
  • Highlighter: BECCA Champagne Pop
  • Lips: Too Faced Melted Matte Drop Dead Red

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I sometimes go for the halo/spotlight look every now and again, but there’s something about it that I really don’t think works for me. I think it’s the darkness on the inner corner that I’m just not a fan of. Anyway, it can look really lovely on people, I just don’t think I’m one of them.

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Eyes

  1. Buon Fresco through the crease.
  2. Love Letter at the top of the crease.
  3. Antique Bronze on the outer and inner thirds of my lid.
  4. Primavera in the middle of the lid.
  5. Tempera on the brow bone.

I applied Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara to my lashes.

Face

  • Foundation: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD stick in Y225
  • Bronzer: Benefit Dew the Hoola
  • Blush: Stila Twilight Rose
  • Highlighter: Too Faced Candlelight Warm Glow
  • Lips: Too Faced Melted Matte in Bend & Snap!

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette is supposed to be a permanent product, but I’m struggling to find it on Sephora’s site! 🙁

Swatch Sunday: THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia

THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia

I did a video tutorial using this THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia a while back, but never got around to swatching it. So here you go!

THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia

THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia Swatches

THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia - silver
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia – silver
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia - yellow
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia – yellow
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia - peach
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia – peach
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia - brown
THEFACESHOP Lesson 03 Artist Touch Shadow in Peach Fantasia – brown
The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.

Too Faced Melted Matte (Review + Swatches)

Too Faced Melted Mattes

Guys… I mean come on… Too Faced kills me. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I’ll never tire of the products they come out with. The packaging is gorgeous, the products are lovely, the colours entrance me… it’s just a brand that I feel is creating things that gets me excited every single time. And these new(ish) Melted Mattes are no exception.

Too Faced Melted Mattes
Too Faced Melted Mattes

The Melted Mattes are Too Faced‘s answer to the “dry as the Sahara” matte liquid lipstick phase. These are very different from the original Melted lineup (the one I’m obsessed with) in the sense that they go on with a soft formula, but dry down to that matte lacquered paint aesthetic that has become so popular in recent years. They come boxed in the same style as the Melteds, just with “matte” emblazoned on the bottom. Also worth noting – when I first saw these I thought the clear plastic would be soft and bendable like the original Melteds – they’re not! These are hard acrylic and they can actually stand fully upright on their own! They also come with a doefoot wand applicator, unlike the Melteds.

Too Faced Melted Mattes
Too Faced Melted Mattes

The range of colours is quite different (to me). It has a range of nudes/brown vampy shades with a mix of hot and vibrant pinks and reds. There isn’t a lot of middle ground (although there’s one hell of a gorgeous vibrant orange shade in there called Mrs. Roper) so for those looking for a soft pink, you may not find that in this range. For me, though? This collection is right up my alley!

Too Faced Melted Matte in Miso Pretty

Too Faced Melted Matte in Miso Pretty
Too Faced Melted Matte in Miso Pretty

Miso Pretty is described as a “soft ballet slipper pink”. Unfortunately, this was the weirdest looking shade on me but nudes are so, SO personal.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Miso Pretty
Too Faced Melted Matte in Miso Pretty

It ended up being a bit too concealer mouth on me with a touch of… peach?  This was the patchiest shade I tried and it seemed to crack a bit into my lip line. But guys, seriously, don’t click away from this post yet, the other shades are beautiful!

Too Faced Melted Matte in It’s Happening!

Too Faced Melted Matte in It's Happening!
Too Faced Melted Matte in It’s Happening!

It’s Happening is described as a “bright magenta”. And aside from coral, this is MY SHADE. It’s all pinky-red goodness and I want it all over my face. Of all of the shades in this range, this was the shade I lusted and swooned over the most.

Too Faced Melted Matte in It's Happening!
Too Faced Melted Matte in It’s Happening!

And I’m so happy to report that It’s Happening has no patchiness and slid onto my lips like  a dream. This it the kind of shade my dreams as made of.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Bend & Snap!

Too Faced Melted Matte in Bend & Snap!
Too Faced Melted Matte in Bend & Snap!

A Legally Blonde reference, how could we not fall in love with this one? Bend & Snap! is a deep raspberry. Another favourite shade of mine, I find this shade quite similar to Melted Berry although slightly less red.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Bend & Snap!
Too Faced Melted Matte in Bend & Snap!

This colour was BOMB. Total colour opacity, no patchiness and amazing longevity. LOVE.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Drop Dead Red

Too Faced Melted Matte in Drop Dead Red
Too Faced Melted Matte in Drop Dead Red

Drop Dead Red was the first shade I tried in the range just because it intrigued me the most (and I already knew I was going to fall head over heels for It’s Happening!, so I figured I had to show another colour some love first!). Drop Dead Red is described as a “deep mulberry”.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Drop Dead Red
Too Faced Melted Matte in Drop Dead Red

You’ll notice in the shot above that you can see some patchiness. I’m really confused by that because it’s not evident in person, nor in video (I’m wearing this shade in my June 2016 Favourites on YouTube). I’ve noticed it twice now in bright lightning photography but rest assured that in normal daylight, you don’t see that odd shading. Regardless, this shade blew me away. There is no other shade in my collection that looks like this. It’s dark and vampy while still giving you that hint of red. I think it’s so freaking stunning.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Evil Twin

Too Faced Melted Matte in Evil Twin
Too Faced Melted Matte in Evil Twin

Evil Twin is described as a “deep black cherry” and it’s GORGEOUS.

Too Faced Melted Matte in Evil Twin
Too Faced Melted Matte in Evil Twin

It can look very black, and I assume most people will think it’s a true black on me, but instead of having that blueish tinge that most blacks have, this has the faintest whisper of red. There is ZERO patchiness on this shade – it’s fully opaque!

My Thoughts

I’ll start off with the bad, but rest assured that my general consensus on this product is that they’re a total win. My problem shades were Miso Pretty (patchy/sunk into lip lines) and Drop Dead Red (patchiness). I’d like to reiterate again that my issues with Drop Dead Red were not visible in normal lighting. Studio lighting can be pretty harsh on colour tones and I think it really brought out the worst in that particular shade. The other three shades I have (It’s Happening!, Bend & Snap! and Evil Twin) had no such problems with their colouring and were fully opaque.

Let’s talk texture and feel: The Too Faced Melted Mattes are not nearly as dry as the Colour Pop Ultra Mattes (which I hated). The Melted Mattes come out of the tube rather mousse-y in texture (very similar to the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams), but they dry down within about five minutes to the solid matte texture that we’re used to in liquid lipsticks. You will get “butthole lips” as that’s just the nature of a liquid lipstick. It is essentially matte paint for your lips and there is no smooth edge between where your lips are wet and where they’re dry. I love the longevity of the formula and it’s definitely been one of the more comfortable ones I’ve ever worn (case and point – I wore It’s Happening to work and forgot I was wearing it. Normally, by 3-4 pm, I’m dying to take my lip product off, but that wasn’t the case with this one). They do feel dry on the lips (totally expected), but once I removed them, my lips did not feel DRY, so I’d say that’s a definite win. What I also love about these is that I suffer ZERO lip line bleed out even without using a lip primer. It’s so relieving to know that once I put my lip colour on in a straight line it’s going to STAY that way for the rest of the day!

In short, I love these. I think they’re especially good when you’re at work and haven’t got an opportunity to check on your lip colour. Shades I need now? Mrs. Roper and Lady Balls. SO GORGEOUS.

The Too Faced Melted Mattes can be purchased at sephora.ca for $25 CAD and on sephora.com for $21 USD.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration.