Category Archives: Makeup

Review: Makeup Geek Foiled Shadows (Full Collection)

January 30, 2015Makeup, Reviews, SwatchesMakeup GeekChelle

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One of the more interesting makeup releases at the end of 2014 were the Makeup GeekFoiled Eyeshadows. Highly touted by Marlena (founder and CEO of Makeup Geek), these foiled shadows complement her regular line of shadows. They feature a soft, smooshy texture that’s supposed to give an effect similar to foiling your own eyeshadow onto your eyes.

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Each shadow comes in a pan (no palette or pots for these babies yet) and retail for $9.99 USD, which is $3 more per pan than her regular line. The higher price tag is attributed to the ingredients needed to produce this new formula. If you’re interested in picking up all the shades, you can get an $11 discount since they’re bundled together with a price tag of $89.00 on the Makeup Geek site.

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At first I put off getting them – I wasn’t really into shiny eyeshadows much anymore and had gravitated towards bright mattes instead. However, over the holidays, I was putting in an order with MUG to get more of her regular shadows and thought I’d throw inFlamethrower just because it was “such a me” colour. As soon as I stuck my finger in it, I was hooked. This shade was like molten lava on my finger in all it’s foiled goodness.

Yep, now I was screwed… now I had to have them all!

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So I placed another MUG order at the start of January and finally… THEY ARE ALL MINE. MWHAHAHAHA!

The internet was right! The texture on these shadows is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. While some of the colours are fairly typical, others are just pure insanity on the lids. They weren’t kidding when they said one layer was all you needed.

One downside though… I do find these crease on me after several hours even with using multiple primers. It’s a bit disappointing, but it hasn’t deterred me from using them. It’s not *completel* and utter creasing, but it’s a little bit. (As a note, I have quite hooded eyelids so my eyelids have a crease 100% of the time… unless I blink.)

Anyway, you’re here for swatches aren’t you? 😉

Makeup Geek Foiled Eyeshadow Swatches

This is what I meant by a more “typical” shade. Magic Act is a lovely pale gold, and while quite pretty, I think it one of the more dupe-able shades.

In The Spotlight is a peach shade if ever I saw one. Gorgeous pigmentation. Since it can lead quite pink, I’ll probably try to pair it with reds and oranges to make it look more peachy-orange than peachy-pink.

I’m not even sure what to call this shade really. Grandstand is like a bronze that has some red in it. It’s not a shade I would gravitate towards, so I’ll have to find some way to use it with something vibrant.

The taupe colour of the bunch. I’m sure there are loads of you out there salivating over Mesmerized! On me, this is the kind of shade I’ll place all over the lid and then darken up the outer corner and crease with a dark, matte brown.

Looking at this one now, I see a lot of the Marsala bajankle that everyone’s going on about lately. Showtime was less compacted in the pan than the others which makes me think it’s part of the original launch of colours. (Marlena has said that they’ve had a few of the eyeshadows break in transit, which they promptly replaced of course, but she said they were going to start asking her lab to press them harder to prevent that. My order arrived without issue however.)

Okay. THIS ONE. Flamethrower. FLAMETHROWER. This thing is FIRE. Absolute hands down my favourite out of the whole bunch. This is what I wish MAC‘s Coppering was – absolute pure molten copper. I recommend this one the most out of the entire collection.

Very similar to MAC’s Golden Olive pigment, Jester one goes on like a dream. Green with gold reflects.

I struggled a bit with the pigmentation of Houdini, but it’s a very interesting tealy/turquoisy shade. Try using a black base to make this one pop more.

I always thought this one was blue, till I wore it, then it looked purple. Center Stage is what I wish MAC‘s Contrast looked like.

Caitlin Rose has received a lot of disapproval on the internet due to its pigmentation. While my swatch isn’t entirely in focus, I will say that because this shade doesn’t seem to have a black base (like Houdini or Center Stage seem to) it just doesn’t have the same colour punch as those. Not that that’s a bad thing really – the colour payoff is what I would expect looking at the pan.

I pulled together a few looks while I was testing these shades out so have a gander:

Wearing Flamethrower on the inner half of the lid (Bitten on the outer half)

Have you picked up any of the Makeup Geek Foiled Shadow? What did you think of them? Did you run into any creasing like I did? And my god, what did you think of the pigmentation?!

Challenge Week: Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette

January 23, 2015Makeup, TutorialsUrban DecayChelle

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My mom was a sweetheart and picked up the Urban Decay Vice 3 palette for me for Christmas. This was the first Vice palette I’ve owned and the first I was ever really felt drawn to. I mean… just LOOK at it:

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Good god is that ever pretty! While this palette seems to be no longer available at Sephora, at the time of posting (January 23, 2015), it’s still available on urbandecay.com. I’ve been so very tired of the trend of naked this, naked that, that this palette feels like I can finally get some damn oxygen amidst all the browns and neutrals. Oh sure, this palette has its fair share of neutrals, but that’s really helpful for blending out some of the brighter shades.

Anyway, enough yapping, on with the looks.

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Okay so I know I just complained about too many neutrals, but this type of looking is probably the most flattering on me and the easiest one to pull off without thinking about it.

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Eyes

Angel on the lid.
Defy on the outer half of the lid.
Undone through the crease.
Truth on the browbone.

I created the wing with Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner in Trooper and applied Benefit They’re Real mascara to my lashes. I then applied a pair of Femme Fatale lashes in Catwalk with duo lash adhesive.

Rest of the Face

Bronzer: Tarte Park Avenue Princess
Blush: Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass in Cherry

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I was not expecting these colours to come out so bright but man am I ever happy they did. Some of the swatches for the green (Dragon) had looked rather unpigmented, but I had no trouble get really vibrant colour onto my lid!

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Eyes

Dragon all over the lid.
Heroine on the outer half of the lid.
Undone through the crease.
Bobby Dazzle and Truth on the browbone.

I then lined outer lower lash line with MAC‘s Phone Number eye pencil and dabbed someHeroine on top. I then applied Benefit‘s They’re Real mascara to my lashes.

Rest of the Face

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shades 51 Light Vanilla and 52 Vanillamixed together
Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
Blush: Tarte Exposed

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Favourite. My absolute FAVOURITE look that’s come out of this palette so far. Even my husband really liked it, so I’d say it’s an all ’round success!

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Eyes

Lucky on the inner half of the lid and heavily on the inner tearduct.
Sonic on the outer half of the lid.
Vanity through the crease.
Bobby Dazzle and Truth on the browbone.

I finally learned how to freaking blend out my lower lash line properly, so there’s someVanity on the outer corner and Sonic on the inner half. I used Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner inTrooper to create the wing and applied Benefit They’re Real mascara to my lashes. There’s also a few individual lashes glued on as well. On my upper and lower waterline is Urban Decay‘s Black Velvet liner.

Rest of the Face

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shades 51 Light Vanilla and 52 Vanillamixed together
Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
Blush: Tarte Charisma
Lips: Revlon Papaya

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I’m fiiiinally trying out a technique I’ve seen done for years on YouTube videos, but never got around to doing. You basically create an enormous half cat wing, then blend it out. While the photo came out pretty decently, I think I need to make it even larger next time and work with own eye shape more. When my eyes were fully open, it didn’t look as sharp as it does my eyes are closed (thank you very much hooded lids…).

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Eyes

I first created a huge wing with Tarte‘s black gel liner, but didn’t drag it all the way down to my lash line. I then patted Revolver on top of the liner and blended it towards the inside of my lid.
Last Sin was then blended on the inner half of the lid and blended into Revolver.
Bobby Dazzle was applied lightly to my brow bone.

Rest of the Face

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shades 51 Light Vanilla and 52 Vanillamixed together
Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
Blush: Hourglass Diffused Heat
Highlighter: MAC Silver Dusk
Lips: Too Faced Melted Candy

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The blue (Freeze) and purple (Vanity) were some of the weaker shades in this palette. The pigmentation just didn’t come off as strong as I would have liked. Maybe a white base would bring out some more of the impact of the colour.

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Eyes

Freeze on the inner half of the lid.
Vanity on the outer half of the lid.
Alchemy through the crease.
Bobby Dazzle on the browbone.

I lightly lined my outer lower lash line with MAC Phone Number eye liner and patted Vanityon top.

Rest of the Face

Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
Blush: Hourglass Diffused Heat
Highlighter: MAC Soft & Gentle

This palette? Love it! It has enough vibrant shades to keep me entertained and yet enough boring neutrals to balance out any bright eye look. If you’re looking for a good mix of shades, or want to try playing with more vibrant shades, this is a pretty solid choice.

What’s On My Face – Volume 30

January 14, 2015Makeup, TutorialsBenefit, Bite Beauty, Bourjois, Cailyn, CoverGirl, essence, Hourglass, INGLOT, Joe Fresh, Kat Von D, Laura Mercier, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Makeup Geek, Morphe, Naked Cosmetics, NYC, Tarte, Too Faced, Urban DecayChelle

A lot more bright looks in this lot which I’m super happy about. If you notice an increase in quality of some of the pictures, it’s because I picked up an actual DSLR in December instead of using my old point and shoot camera. The reason I say “some of the pictures” is that on some days I unfortunately only have the opportunity to use my phone’s camera at work in the bathroom and the lighting is really, really unfortunate on those. Ah well.

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My New Year’s Eve makeup look. Surprisingly, I didn’t go all out of with glitter, but I’ve really been enjoying the look of a bit of the rainbow silver glitter on the lower lash line.

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Eyes

Inglot Matte 334 all over the lid.
Inglot Matte 325 on the outer third.
Urban Decay Blackout in the outer v.
Makeup Geek Creme Brule through the crease.
Too Faced White Chocolate on the browbone.
Naked Cosmetics Ivory stack in the purple/blue reflected pigment on the inner tearduct.

I applied Make Up For Ever‘s Glitter 13 to the lower lash line, then tightlined my upper and lower waterlines with Urban Decay‘s Black Velvet liner. For the upper lash line, I used Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper. On my lashes is Benefit‘s They’re Real mascara.

Rest of the Face

Bronzer: NYC Fire Island Tan
Blush: Hourglass Diffused Heat
Lips: Too Faced Melted Violet with Cailyn lipgloss in Basic Instinct on top

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Holy crap. Why do I even hesitate on ordering Makeup Geek products? I held off getting one of the foiled shadows because I’ve kind of been going off shiny eyeshadow. But then I bought Flamethrower on a whim and… I’m in love. And I’ve now placed an order for the entire MUG foiled line. This stuff is insane. Pictures and telling you about how wonderful it is just won’t do the product justice – you need to buy this for yourself to experience the amazingness.

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Eyes

Makeup Geek Flamethrower all over the lid.
Makeup Geek Bitten on the outer half of the lid.
Too Faced White Chocolate on the browbone.

I used Tarte‘s black gel liner to create the wing and applied Benefit They’re Real mascara to my lashes.

Rest of the Face

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shades 51 and 52
Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
Blush: MAC Warm Soul
Lips: MAC Mystical

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I did this for a guest posting on Writing Whimsy, but wanted it on here for my own records. I used the Morphe 36 Glam palette and I had a beast of a time applying these shades. While they do look lovely, they would blend away to nothing at all so I would highly recommend using several primers, particularly one with a sticky base to help get these shadows to adhere to the lids.

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Since the Morphe shades aren’t named, please use the guide below to figure out which colours go where:

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Eyes

Teal on the inner half of the lid.
Blue on the outer half of the lid.
Purple through the crease and used to line the lower lashline.
Light pink at the top of the crease to lightly blend out the purple.
Pale peach to highlight the brow.
Naked Cosmetics Ivory stack in the green reflect shade on the inner tearduct.

I used Kat Von D’s Tattoo Liner in Trooper to create the winged liner and applied Benefit’sThey’re Real mascara to my lashes.

Rest of the Face

Foundation: CoverGirl Tone Rehab 2-in-1 (CC Cream) in 110 Classic Ivory
Bronzer: Tarte Park Avenue Princess
Blush: Tarte Dollface
Highlighter: MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish
Lips: essence Wear Berries!

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I picked up the Laura Mercier Artist palette for Eyes and Cheeks during the Sephora November VIB sale, but I haven’t played around with it much. I love the quality of the shadows, but they’re pretty bizarre colours (for me) so I don’t find myself reaching for it that often.

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Eyes
(all Laura Mercier)

Crystal Beige on the lid.
Cashmere in the crease.
Stone Taupe in the outer corner.
Morning Dew on the brow bone.

I used Tarte‘s black gel liner to create the wing and applied Benefit They’re Real mascara to my lashes.

Rest of the Face

Foundation: CoverGirl CC Cream in 110 Classic Ivory
Bronzer: NYC Fire Island Tan
Blush: Laura Mercier Rosegold Shimmer
Lips: Too Faced Melted Ruby

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Playing around with some of my older limited edition MAC products.

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Eyes

MAC Blue Sorcery (applied damp) all over the lid.
MAC Moonlight Night pigment on the outer half of the lid.
Makeup Geek Creme Brulee through the crease.
Too Faced White Chocolate on the brow bone.
The silver glitter from the MAC Blue Sorcery duo was applied to my inner corner.

On my lashes is Benefit They’re Real mascara.

Rest of the Face

Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
Cheeks: Tarte Exposed
Lips: Bite Beauty Retsina

Shopping My Stash for Marsala

January 12, 2015Makeup, Reviews, SwatchesColour of the Year, L'Oreal, MAC, Makeup Geek, NYX, PantoneChelle

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I don’t know who decided they were in officially in charge, but every year Pantone picks a colour of the year. Sometimes it seems to follow trends, and sometimes it seems totally offbase. (Where the hell did Radiant Orchid (2014) come from anyway? I mean really.) This year we got blessed (lol) with Marsala.

Introducing MARSALA Pantone 18-1438. A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and souls.

Now, I don’t know about you, but that’s not the colour of any red wine I drink. This is more of a lazy brick colour. Too much of the brown, not enough of the red. I guess we have Kylie Jenner to thank for this colour.

Leaving out my opinions regarding the Kardashians seemingly influencing this colour of the year, I have to say it’s not bad. It’s an unexciting shade, but it’s very, very workable. I know none of us truly care about the colour of the year, as it certainly won’t be impacting anyone’s makeup or clothes after the month of January, but I wanted to see what the hell I had in my stash that would come close to this colour.

MAC Mystical lipstick and NYX Spongecake gloss

First up are the lip products. MAC‘s Mystical was from this past year’s summer collection and it was about the only lipstick shade I had that fit into the Marsala zone. More of a pink tinge on this one, but it makes it infinitely more wearable on my skin.

NYX‘s Spongecake surprised me. I’d never think of this guy as even remotely brick-coloured, but when I compare it to the Marsala swatch above, it comes out surprisingly close. More orange-toned, for sure, but still in the “zone”.

Unfortunately Mystical was a limited edition item but Spongecake is a year ’round drugstore item for those who have NYX available to them.

This blush is such an odd one to me. MAC‘s Sea Me, Hear Me (yet again, limited edition) looks pinky-er in the pan, orangey-er on my skin and yet somehow still appears “more Marsala” than anything else I owned.

Makeup Geek Bitten and L’Oreal Golden Mahogany

My favourites of the bunch are the eyeshadows. I’m really hoping that people learn to experiment with eyeshadow more and embrace reds, or even just brick reds, on their lids. Red eyeshadow, or any shadow in that family, has a very special place in my heart: It can be a flattering colour or an incredibly loud one depending on how you pair it.

l-r: Makeup Geek Bitten and L’Oreal Golden Mal-r: Makeup Geek Bitten and L’Oreal Golden Mahoganyhogany — l-r: Makeup Geek Bitten and L’Oreal Golden Mahogany

Makeup Geek‘s Bitten is a longstanding favourite of mine and a must-have shade from the brand. I think it fits best with the Marsala theme out of anything I own, so at least I can feel trendy while wearing it.

L’Oreal‘s Infallible in Golden Mahogany is slightly more electrifying however. It definitely adds far more red into the mix, and coupled with that shine, it’s a stunner.

So while I’m not jumping for joy about a colour of the year, I am interested to play around with the colour and see what combinations work out best for me. I hadn’t done it intentionally, but when I look at the blue of the Alluring Aquatics collection mixed with the colour of marsala, I’m thinking I could really work with those together.

How about you? Is this something that interests you? Have you got products that fit into the colour of the year theme?

Use Up 2014: Conclusion

January 7, 2015Makeup, ReviewsCoverGirl, Jack Black, MAC, Physicians Formula, RevlonChelle

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In 2014 I decided I’d try to finish up 14 products I liked, but didn’t love (and had no intentions of repurchasing). The “project” was just a way to move items out of my collection that were good, but not stellar.

So…. I *had* two foundations: The MUA Matte foundation in Shade 1 Soft Sand and theCoverGirl Tone Rehab 2-in-1 (CC Cream) in 110 Classic Ivory. But then, without thinking, I threw out the MUA foundation in disgust because it was turning my face into a greasepit. No thanks. No need for that amount of oil on my face thanks.

CoverGirl Tone Rehab 2-in-1 (CC Cream) in 110 Classic Ivory – FINISHED!

Next was the CoverGirl Tone Rehab 2-in-1 (CC Cream) in 110 Classic Ivory. This was an interesting one. I used it often but never fell in love with it. It was perfectly adequate: it evened out my skin and it always seemed to match me during transition seasons. It was easy to use, but it would occasionally make my face itch. Now, that may just be a by-product of me not enjoying foundation at all, but who knows.

In summary, it’s an inoffensive foundation that did its job but that I wouldn’t repurchase.

And yep, I finished it! This was an eleventh hour product – I got my last squirt out of this bottle on December 30th! I’m happy to pitch a foundation from my collection as they always seem interminable and take up an awful lot of space.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint

Jack Black‘s Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint has been a longtime love ofTemptalia, a blog I have read daily for what feels like an eternity. There was an uproar in 2012 when it was discovered that Jack Black hadn’t been publishing all their active ingredients on their products and many people felt they had been mislead by the brand. While I was never truly bothered about the ingredients in my products, I didn’t like the shadiness that Jack Black seemed to exude with their products ingredients. (That link above is an interesting read if you’re curious about the situation.)

ANYWAY. I got a tube, and found it rather bland. It’s not any different than flavoured vaseline and for me it just didn’t do a whole lot. Great for windburn outside during the winter, sure, but anything else? Meh. I finished it up in the first half of 2014 and was happy to see it go!

MAC Strawberry Malt lipglass – 70% finished

MAC‘s Strawberry Malt lipglass was a “had to have” for me when the Archie’s Girls collection came out. However it didn’t work out that great for me: The colour would bleed outside my lip lines and it disappeared faster than most lipglasses I had ever had from MAC. I also found myself going off lipglosses completely in 2014 so it was just time to get rid of this one.

In the end, I didn’t finish it. I used it fairly often, but it wasn’t enough to use up the tube. In the last month or so, the scent of the product has gone off a bit so I’m just going to call it quits and Back 2 MAC the product.

I’ve already re-purposed one of the pans, but here are the remanents. I was happy to use up four MAC singles, and I’m soooo happy to put Swish to rest. No one needs a frosty pink eyeshadow in their early thirties…

Physicians Formula Bronzer Booster – DEFINITELY NOT FINISHED! /raaaage

Ughhhh this thing. Physicians Formula Bronze Booster in Light/Medium was supposed to be an easy product to finish. In years gone by, I’ve been able to use up a bronze in about 6-9 months with daily use. This thing went NOWHERE. I used it for probably two months straight at the start of the year and I got so frustrated with seeing so little movement downwards on the pan that I just gave up and switched to something else. I don’t know what the hell this thing is made out of, but good GOD.

And there it is in all its unused glory. You can see the slightest of indentations in the middle of the product, but you never would’ve known I used it for two months without fail. I’m actually so irritated with it, that I don’t reach for it at all anymore. 😐

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Twilight

As Revlon‘s Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm is an opaque product, I really have no progress pictures to show you. I used it consistently throughout 2014 and it eventually dried up/got used up around November. Twilight was a beautiful colour, but I’m kind of over this one.

Revlon Sunset Peach – 90% done – calling it quits

Another lipgloss to move on out of my collection. Revlon‘s Sunset Peach gloss was easy to use in the summer because it seemed to go with everything. The formula is nice, the colour is nice, but I’m just not a lipgloss person anymore. (Plus, I think these are now discontinued.)

It’s mostly done, really. I’m scrapping the sides at this point and I’m over it. That’s been my theme for 2014: So Over Lipgloss.

Revlon Lip Butters – 2 out of 3 finished!

Cherry Tarte was the first one to get finished early on in the year and it was definitely my favourite out of the three of them. I often wore Creamsicle over top of Red Velvet, but in the end I finished up Creamsicle but not Red Velvet. I’m still kicking Red Velvet to the curb though because it’s too slippery for a lip colour for my tastes. (Actually, what I really did was take a Kleenex and smash up the Red Velvet bullet – man was that ever fun!)

And that was it for Use Up 2014. The only thing I’m keeping out of the remaining products that didn’t get finished is the bronzer, all the rest of them have been happily dumped into the garbage! I’m glad I gave these products another year to prove their worth, but a lot of them I just felt like “meh, over it” by the end of the year.

I’ll be doing this again for 2015, but I’m bringing it down to 10 products since 14 felt like too much for me this past year. Anyway else taking part in #useup2015? Or some kind of Project Pan?