Review: Masarrat Misbah Makeup

As my fellow makeup junkies will agree, there's no makeup thrill quite as exciting as trying new stuff. Add new, international brands that aren't readily available to you, and the thrill increases quite substantially. 😁 Earlier this year (before all of this quarantine scariness began), I was visiting Pakistan. As with each of my trips, I was itching to explore some of the popular brands there, and to see if I could find some new favorites that fell beyond the scope of brands that I am already familiar with.

No matter whom I asked, Masarrat Misbah came up as a "must-try" brand, particularly, the Silk Foundation. Given Masarrat Misbah is one of the biggest names in the Pakistani beauty industry (with 70 (!) branches of her Depilex Salon open all over Pakistan), I knew her products would be high-performing. I will be honest, though -- I wasn't completely on board with trying a new foundation. This is because my sensitive skin keeps me on a very short leash when it comes to trying new complexion products. I generally tend to stick to one-two favorites, and re-purchase the same items that I know will work for years on end! Alas, I decided to take the leap, listen to all of the fantastic reviews I was hearing, and give the foundation a try.

When I got back to the States, I was eager to try the foundation out, but was not sure what to expect. You. Guys. I was NOT prepared to fall in love as hard as I did with the Masarrat Misbah Silk Foundation. 😍 I feel as though this foundation literally meets every single requirement I maintain for a "holy grail" foundation:

• Full Coverage without feeling like a mask (the fullest of full coverages)
• Matte without looking powdery (stunning satin matte finish that still looks like skin)
• Long-wearing (wore it for 10+ hours -- shocked to see it still looked fresh)
• Comfortable (yup, yup, and YUP)

Most importantly, the color match was excellent! I always have a hard time finding the perfect shade in foundations, and given Masarrat Misbah's brand caters primarily to Pakistani skin tones, I was thrilled to see how close my match was (more on that in a bit).

Shortly after falling hard in love with the Silk Foundation, I was thrilled to find out that her products are available to be purchased online from the States! I was so pumped to try other products from the brand. Here's what I got:

I was so impressed by the foundation, that I figured the rest of the complexion line would be equally impressive, and so I picked up the Silk Primer and Silk Pressed powder to go with the foundation. As for the foundation itself, I was originally matched with the shade Almond when I picked up the foundation live in Pakistan. After a few wear tests, I realized Almond is aaaalllmoooost my exact shade, but I felt the undertone was just a little cool for my NC40, yellow undertone skin. As such, I picked up the next two shades up, Natural Warmth and Warm Golden. Here are the swatches:

As you can see, Almond and Natural Warmth are definitely more neutral than Warm Golden, and Warm Golden (as to be inferred from the shade name) has a very warm undertone. One very important thing to note about the MMM foundations is that they tend to dry down approximately one shade darker when applied. As such, Warm Golden and Natural Warmth ended up being a bit too dark for me once dry, so Almond is definitely the winner for me (in the non-Summer months, anyway. I think Natural Warmth will be my jam in the summer when I'm more tan.).

My remedy for slight lightness I get with Almond on its own is the Silk Powder!! As with the foundation, I was super impressed by the powder. Silk is definitely the right title, because the powder is super silky soft -- so much so that I couldn't get a good swatch photo! Here are the powders in the pan.

The Silk Pressed Powder is a light as air powder that provides a very subtle level of coverage to the Silk Foundation, and helps to set it in place, and tie the look together. I am really impressed by how soft and subtle the powder is. I think it's the perfect partner to the Silk Foundaiton, and the two have been formulated to be the perfect partners. For me, the Almond foundation and Rich Nude powder have been the perfect, perfect match. (The powder adds the touch of warmth I need in Almond.)

I also picked up the Silk Primer:

This primer has a really unique texture. It feels very emollient at first, but once blended into the skin, it provides, again, a really silky, demi-matte finish. It provides a lovely blurring effect that comes with a subtle glow. I think this is a great partner to the very matte Silk Foundation, as the primer provides a nice boost of hydration under a very matte foundation that can last through your full day, and then some! The only downside for me is that my combination skin doesn't do well with hydrating primers. As such, the primer was great for me for the first 3-4 hours, but after that, my skin was looking more glowy than I'd like (I prefer a matte finish for foundation). The Silk Foundation stays totally matte with other primers (I've been loving pairing it with the Tatcha Silk Primer), so for me, while the MMM Silk primer is amazing for shorter wear-time, I'll need to use a different primer for long-day wear. 

Last in the complexion products is this beautiful Stay On Blusher in Satin Apricot!

I am SUCH a sucker for peachy blushes, and this guy is right up my alley. Perfect peachy flush in a satin matte formula that is super silky and easy to either keep soft, or build up intensity. Love this shade, and am pumped to use it in the upcoming spring/summer months. 

Lastly, and to top it all off, of course I had to grab some eyeshadow and lipstick. 😁 As for the lipstick, I actually had picked up Foxy Brown and Queen Bee from the Matte Luxe line in Pakistan. I loved the formula, and so grabbed Desire (also Matte Luxe) in this recent haul. Here are the swatches. 

What I love most about these Matte Luxe lipsticks is that, much like the foundation, even though the formula and finish is completely matte, they are SO comfortable. Soft and light on the lips, not drying at all, and yet they all impart a very modern matte finish on the lips. I especially fell in love with Foxy Brown, as on my lips, it's literally the lipstick form of one of my all time favorite lip liners -- Hover by Mac. The two together give me the perfect, not-to-deep, slightly 90s nude, which I lOVE. As for Queen Bee, as you'll see in the photo, it's an orange based peach which can be toned down or brightened up with various lip liners. As for Desire, I've always struggled to find my perfect hot pink because hot pinks end up looking too cool or too coral on my skin tone. Desire is the first hot pink I've fallen in LOVE with, and that gives me the perfectly balanced hot pink! Highly recommend all three of these shades.

Finally, last, but certainly not least, and ode to my eyeshadow obsessed heart, we have the Sunrise Palette, which houses a well-balanced array of neutral browns, golds, and champagnes.

The metallics in this palette are a treat -- super creamy, pigmented, and easy to apply. As with most metallics, using a wet brush elevates an already dazzling formula to  a celestial level. As for the mattes, there's one true mate, which I found to be very buttery and easy to work with. As for the darker brown with glitter, I was pleased to see that the glitter remains very visible on the eye. I find that often times, glittery shades like this tend to incorporate a very dense base, which essentially "eats" the glitter, making it difficult to get what you see in the pan to show up on the eyes. The glittery shade in this palette is a welcome exception, in that what you see is what you get on the eyes. Friendly tip, though, as with all glittery shadows like this, be sure to use a sticky base / glitter glue to make sure the glitter stays put. 

Overall, I am beyond impressed with the Masarrat Misbah Makeup brand!! While I have loved each of the items I purchased, the foundation is the undoubted standout star of this brand. It's such a workhorse that I anticipate will be a solid partner for all-season wear, with variations of primers/powders. I've quickly gone from a curious consumer to a dedicated fan of this foundation and brand, and I am so eager to see what else the brand comes up with!!

Masarrat Misbah Makeup is available at various retailers in Pakistan, and online on their site linked here. 

Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills x Carli Bybel

I am willing to bet that the team at Anastasia Beverly Hills has been clocking some major OT hours lately because it seems the past several months have been just dominated by ABH releases. The most recent of these is the ABH x Carli Bybel collaboration palette.

Honestly speaking, when I first saw the palette, I wasn't intrigued. The color story felt underwhelming and didn't speak much to my warm-tone-loving heart. Also, I've never been familiar with Carli Bybel, so I wasn't seeing the broader aesthetic. (I have read in many reviews by long-time followers of hers, though, that the color story is very much in line with her style.) I've been collecting ABH's palettes since Modern Renaissance, and realized this may be the first one I will skip.

I happened to stumble across the palette unexpectedly at Nordstrom ahead of my local Sephora's launch, and obviously, I had to touch it. Upon doing so, I went from not interested at all to 100% interested because the swatches were just beautiful! The mattes felt creamy and the metallics were beautifully opaque and shiny. 

I went straight to check out, and was pumped to come home and pull together some looks to review the palette. I'm disappointed to say that's precisely where the excitement ended.

I did a few separate looks with this palette, two of which are pictured here:

Chai in the crease, Boie in the outer corner, Bybel on the lid with
Mandala on top, Boli in the inner corner.

Cindy in the crease, Stev in the outer corner, Jode in the middle of the lid,
OA on the inner third, Boli in the inner corner.

While the palette swatched beautifully, from first application on the eyes, I realized the formula was very unusual, and unlike the typical reliable ABH formula. In the first look, you will see that both the crease and the outer corner are not blended well because the more I tried to blend the shades, the more they would fade away. When I tried to blend the edges, the color would get muddy and would almost feel like the shadow was just fading way to nothing. No matter how much I tried to build up Boie, I just could not get it to the depth you see the pan. It felt like the shadow gets to 40% capacity on the lid, and just does not build up from there. I did enjoy Mandala as a topper, but as you can see, there was transfer, even though I used a glitter glue.

The second look was disappointing in that Stev was one of the colors I was most excited for, but similar to Boie, it just would not build up to full color saturation. I went into the pan and onto the eye at least 5 times to get the color to the brightness you see in the pan, but it was just not happening. Further, you will see that it's impossible to see any difference between Jode and OA,and that OA also transferred, despite my using a glitter glue under it. Not only did I have transfer, but I also had glitter fallout all over my face as the day went on, as well as major creasing a few hours in. (I normally never have trouble with ABH shimmers like this.)

As I mentioned earlier, I've happily collected every ABH palette since Modern Rensaissance, and have been genuinely pleased with the quality of each (yes, even Subculture). As such, I am very familiar with the traditional ABH formula, and while it has always been more powdery than most, I find that the soft formula contributes to easy and seamless blending, and regardless of being powdery, the colors always build up easily, to full pigment, and they last until removal. In this case, the softness seems to be the result of missing some essential ingredients, and makes for very weak shadows. I'm disappointed to say this is the first and only ABH palette I have ever had to return!

I am not an ingredients expert by any means, but it almost feels like there's not enough binder in these shadows. Oddly enough, this palette reminds me a lot of the ABH x Mario palette in that I found the shadows in the Mario palette to be unusually "thin" and soft, too. The difference, though, is that with the Mario palette, the whole color story is neutral, and so you can get away with a lighter, diffused application using just 1-2 shades. Given the ABH x Carli Bybel palette has so many bright and deep colors, however, I feel there's no room for weak application. I think the Carli Bybel palette might be somewhat workable for someone aiming to do very simple looks only with one or two shadows at a time, but if you like incorporating a lot of different shades and blending colors together for depth, this may be a frustrating palette for you.

PROS:

• The packaging is beautiful and super unique. The sequins on the top look 3D, and while they are not actual sequins, they have a texture and reflectivity to them that is super eye-catching and beautiful to look at. The white packaging is new for ABH, too, and is just beautiful in my opinion.

• The color story is very unique and diverse. You can get a lot of differing looks out of this color story, and there's a nice mix of cool tones. (I know there are a lot of people out there wishing for more cool toned palettes.)

• As I mentioned earlier, based on reviews by her followers, it appears this color story is very much on-brand for Carli, which I am sure is very appealing for anyone who is looking to emulate Carli's style.

CONS:

• The formula is just shockingly lacking. The mattes leave a lot to be desired, and the metallics fade easily and transfer way too easily. 

• The shades Jode and OA are nearly identical. Seriously. It's like someone accidentally sprinkled some glitter in Jode, and decided to call it OA. I see no need for two shades that are this close in color and finish to be in the same palette. (OA is advertised as being a duochrome, but I don't see it.)

• The two deepest colors in the palette (Bybel and Boie) don't quite build up to the level I was expecting to deepen or smoke out looks. Again, I am not sure if this diffused look is what Carli usually goes for, but I found that neither of these shades were successful in giving my looks any depth. 

The Carli Bybel Palette retails for $45 USD, and is available on the Anastasia Beverly Hills website, online and and in-store at Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom.

Overall rating:

C

Fall-idays 2019!

Hello, everyone, and happy fall! While I am always sad to see the summer weather drift away, the silver lining for me is always fall makeup releases! Warm burgundy and mustard tones, glittery deep coppers, and sparkly, deep rose golds -- fall tones speak directly to my makeup-loving heart. The one part of these new launches that I always find to be strange, though, is that along with the fall releases, we get an influx of holiday releases! It always kind of feels like we are fast-forwarding through fall and straight to winter. I guess the early holiday releases could be targeting (very) early holiday shoppers, but I've always felt it would be nice to have a bit of a staggered timeline. 

This rapid-fire melding of makeup seasons, my friends, is what we can refer to as FALL-IDAY releases! With that said, here are my "Fall-iday" picks from all of the recent fall/holiday 2019 launches! Scroll down to see my thoughts on each product, what drew me to it, and a (100% non-affliate) Sephora link to the product if you'd like to read more about it! 

1. Tarte Chrome Paint Shadow Pot in the shade Caramel Apple -- This is a loose metallic shadow that is a part of the recent Tarte Fall Feels collection. It's a beautiful copper toned rose gold shade that applies extremely smoothly, and has a stunning metallic finish! I like to apply this shadow with a flat, synthetic brush, using either the Too Faced Glitter Glue or the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glitter Adhesive under it. (Both of those items are fantastic, by the way, and especially beneficial for avoiding transfer of glitter and metallic products on hooded eyes.)

2. Too Faced Gingerbread Extra Spicy Eyeshadow Palette -- Ah, Too Faced. The undoubted leader of high-volume holiday releases. I am usually not drawn to their holiday releases, but last year, the first Gingerbread palette caught my eye from the initial sneak-peek. Last year's Gingerbread Spice palette is one of the best quality items I have ever tried from Too Faced, which is why I was eager to try this year's sequel, the "Extra Spicy" version. 

Top: Gingerbread Spicy (2018); bottom: Gingerbread Extra Spicy (2019)

The "Extra Spicy" name is a surprise to me, as when you compare the two palettes, the initial version is definitely the "spicier", more vibrant version, but overall, I am a fan of the interweaving color story between the two palettes. As you will see, both versions are pretty similar, and I see "Extra Spicy" serving as a warm, more subdued (and more matte) partner to the original Spicy version. I'm really looking forward to using both together this fall.

3. Dominique Cosmetics Celestial Storm Eyeshadow Palette -- This was one of the first fall releases I saw advertised towards the end of the summer, and was immediately drawn to its unconventional approach to fall looks! I love that it has a deep brown, orange, and plum to meet the more traditional fall spectrum, but also mixes in the deeper fuchsia, teal, and taupe to elevate the color story quite a bit. The palette also has two shimmery topper shades intended to add some soft, twinkle-like glimmer to your look. 

4. Pat McGrath Labs Blitz Astral Quads -- These quads were a total and pleasant surprise, as the first time I saw them was when they became available at Sephora. The quad is a new offering for Pat McGrath, as she's previously only put out 12 and 6-pan palettes, and there's currently two quads available (as well as a third Selfridges exclusive). What drew me in most about these two quads was that they exclusively feature Pat's "special" shades -- the sparkly beyond belief, multi-dimensional shades that make the brand stand out so uniquely. I'm happy to see there's a more "wearable" neutral option, as well as a more bright and colorful option. Keep a look out on my Instagram page for looks with these!

5. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette -- I feel like the Hourglass holiday releases are always one of the most highly anticipated releases at Sephora, and also one of the first to sell out! I have a trio of their Ambient Lighting Powders, and so this year, I opted for the newly introduced blush quad, as I have not yet tried Hourglass blushes. I really like that the quad offers a good mix of shades that can be worn on their own, or layered for unique effects. I'm super excited to dive into this and will surely post a review after I have broken it in a bit. As for the packaging, I really like it! I know a lot of people have been turned off by the plastic bottom, and honestly, I was, too, at first. But, I was pleasantly surprised to see it looks much nicer in person. (To me, at least!)

6. Urban Decay Naked Honey Eyeshadow Palette -- Not gonna' lie -- I did a complete 180 on this palette. When I first saw photos, I was convinced this would be an easy pass for me. Not to mention that I have not been drawn into Urban Decay releases for quite some years now. When I saw the Naked Honey palette in person, though, I was pleasantly surprised! At first glance, it certainly looks like just another neutral palette with a pop of yellow. Upon closer inspection, though, I realized theres a lot of rich yellow and amber tones that would make for some beautiful fall looks. Topped by the coincidence that I've been super into neutral looks lately, I was happy to add this palette to my collection.

7. Natasha Denona Metropolis Eyeshadow Palette -- In a market that's flooded with new releases literally daily, it often seems like there's not many products that stand out in a superior way. Enter Natasha Denona eyeshadows. 😍  I've said this countless times before, and will say it countless times more -- Natasha Denona makes the absolute best eyeshadows I have ever tried. The formula is so incredibly unique, easy to work with, and just so breathtaking, that this is one of the few high-end items I sincerely feel is worth the high price tag. The Metropolis palette not only screams fall, but has so much diversity that it can easily serve as an all-seasons palette. Is there some overlap between this and her previous palettes at first glance? Absolutely. But what I have come to learn with her shadows is that although shadows look similar in the pans (both within single and across multiple palettes), once applied, each shadow's unique undertone shines. I love that she's going with small pan sizes and incorporating more shades, and I cannot wait to dive into this beauty! (Apologies in advance for the flood of looks you will soon see on my Instagram page! 😂)

Thank you so much for visiting! Wishing you all a vibrant, fun, and sparkly "Falliday" season!! 😄

Review: Kayali Fragrances

Left to right: Citrus, Vanilla, Musk, Elixr

While I love collecting (read: aggressively hoarding) makeup, fragrance is something I’ve never been much of a collector of. This is mainly because I’m a huge fan of signature scents. In other words, I love the concept of one’s identity being punctuated by a specific, consistent scent, vs. rotating through multiple options. As such, for the past several years, I’ve worn the same 2-3 fragrances that I rotate depending on the summer/winter seasons. I had no intentions of expanding my collection (much less by 4 new additions) until I saw promotions of this new brand, Kayali (launched as a sub-brand to Huda Beauty by beauty moguls, Huda and Mona Kattan). Huda and Mona launched this collection to expand on the concept of layering fragrances, and based on the individual scents, I knew these fragrances would be something special, and I was not wrong. 😍😍😍😍 I’m blown away by how beautiful these Kayali fragrances are. Each one is captivating and unique, and when layered together, they pair seamlessly to create a beautiful melody of complimentary fragrance notes.

☆ Elixr is the deepest and most complex of the bunch. The exotic friend that’s dark and mysterious, but always kind and friendly. Notes of patchouli and amber are lightened by softer notes of rose, jasmine, and red apple, and they pair together to make a perfect blend of east meets west, a concept that’s deeply definitive of my own identity.

☆ Musk is the warm sweater of the bunch. Warm, comforting, and one of those beautiful scents that elevates any fragrances paired with it. Jasmine, musk, and sandalwood combine to make a soft, powdery scent that I find very appealing. I find this is not the most unique musk scent I’ve ever smelled, but it’s definitely a beautiful one.

☆ Vanilla is the sweet and grounded element of this collection, and the one I was most hesitant about. I find vanilla scents often tend to smell extremely synthetic, and often come with a nauseating scent of burned sugar. In that regard, Kayali Vanilla was an extremely pleasant surprise. It’s a mix of vanilla, tonka, and some subtle jasmine. It’s sweet, soft, and not the least bit synthetic. It smells truly like fresh vanilla should, and adds a wonderful level of sweetness to any other fragrance. This was certainly the biggest surprise of the bunch, and I’m very happy to have it.

☆ Citrus is the spunky, sparkly friend of the group. It is the boost of positivity and energy that helps to add freshness to any of the other scents. Bergamot, pink grapefruit, and pink pepper make this an extremely appealing light and spunky fragrance. Fresh and sophisticated, it’s a nice, lighter addition the the collection.

One neat element of the packaging is the number listed with each scent, which indicates how many renditions it took to get each fragrance to final form. Citrus was the least complicated at 8, Elixr is at 11, Musk had 12, and, the most demanding of the bunch, Vanilla, took 28 versions before being final! I thought this was a really nice touch to the packaging, and also a bit of a glimpse into how much dedication went into perfecting each fragrance.

I’m pleasantly surprised by how lovely this whole collection is. I’ve been exclusively rotating through these fragrances since I got them in October, and I’ve been greatly enjoying layering them. Fragrance layering is a brand new concept to me, as, like I mentioned above, I’ve always been a minimalist when it comes to fragrance. As such, mixing and matching these Kayali fragrances has been a really fun new experience, and is a nice way to customize scent according to my mood and schedule for the day. I was initially worried that layering so many unique scents would create an overpowering effect, but I find that by alternating the amount of each one applied, you can create a light or deep application, depending on your own preference and occasion.

So far, my most consistent and loved combination for daytime has been Musk and Vanilla. It’s such a perfect blend of warmth and a bit of sweetness, and has been a great daytime winter scent for me. For night/special events, I have loved Elixr, Musk, and Vanilla together, as Elixr adds great depth to the warmth and sweetness that Musk and Vanilla create. I’ve not incorporated Citrus a lot in my pairings, yet, as I prefer citrusy smells for the spring and summer, but I have paired it with Vanilla and Musk (separately), and both combinations have been stunning.

Overall, I find each fragrance to be unique and extremely long-wearing. Another important point to mention is that I’m extremely sensitive to fragrance in that certain scents can be an immediate migraine trigger for me. Super happy to report that these fragrances have not caused any sensitivities.

Each Kayali fragrance is available on Sephora.com, retails for $118, and is 3.4 oz, which is a tremendously generous size for the price. Given how potent each fragrance is, a little goes quite a long way, and through layering, you’re extending the use of each.

Final Rating:

A+

Review: Huda Beauty Rose Gold Edition Eyeshadow Palette

I have a confession: I have an addiction to eyeshadow. Of all of the many products that fall under the big, beautiful umbrella of makeup, eyeshadow has always been the most appealing to me. Throw a bunch of said eyeshadows into one collective palette, and ding, ding, ding, you have my attention!

That's right - I am a self-diagnosed palette junkie, and love to hear about new releases, which, let's be serious, is basically every other week. Most of them end up seeming like more of the same to me ("What's that? Another brand releasing another neutral palette? How riveting."), but sometimes, guys, sometimes, a certain palette comes out that I truly feel is a game changer. The Huda Beauty Palette is one of these rockstar palettes. 

When I first heard that Huda was launching her very own palette, I was waiting, brushes in hand. I was not head-over-heels for the Lip Countours she released earlier in the year (read my review here), but the Liquid Matte lipsticks that followed were a huge home run for me, and have quickly become my number 1 favorite liquid lipstick. As such, I was excited to see what the eyeshadow palette would hold, as every new product release seemed to be getting more and more amazing.

The palette was said to launch on Sept. 28, but due to some major server issues, not only did the palette not go live, but the whole shophudabeauty.com website was deactivated for a period of time. The next day, I saw the site was back up and running, and with a strong internet connection, some patience, and about 100 screen refreshes, I was able to get my hands on the palette!

This was my second time ordering from the website, and while this second time was a lot more work to actually get the order processed, both experiences have been phenomenal in terms of shipping. My first order of the liquid mattes (in July) came via FedEx, and the palette came via DHL. Both times, I received the product within 2-3 business days. Read: Dubai to the USA in 2-3 business days. I have had domestic orders from US-based companies take much longer than that!

Here's the gorgeous prize for all of those screen refreshes: 

The color selection alone makes this palette a perfect palette for me. It has literally everything I would want for any occasion - soft daytime looks, smokey, dramatic night time looks, high impact sparkly looks, mattes, shimmers, transition shades; seriously, this is everything I would ever want in one palette. This will likely be the one palette I take with me when traveling, because everything I'd need is housed nicely in just one sleek palette.

Here's a closer look at the shades:

Huda Beauty Rose Gold Edition Eyeshadow Palette

Huda Beauty Rose Gold Edition Eyeshadow Palette - Left side of the palette

The main selling point of this palette is the introduction of what Huda is calling "3-d pigments", which are the first 5 shades in the palette: Dubai, Fling, 24k, Rose Gold, and Trust Fund. These are high shine and high impact pressed pigments which are supposed to give the eye a dimensional foiled look. Angelic and #Blessed are pearls, and the rest of the palette is matte. 

I used this palette exclusively this week, and here are some of the looks I came up with:

Sandalwood and a touch of Maneater in the crease, Coco in the outer corner, Rose Gold pigment on the lid.

Sandalwood in the crease, Henna in the outer corner, Trust Fund pigment on the lid

Flamingo in the crease, Maneater in the outer corner, Angelic on the lid.

PROS

• As I mentioned earlier, this palette is a complete package for me - I could easily use this palette exclusively for weeks, and not feel as though I am missing anything. The shade range is a huge plus for this palette.
  
• The mattes in this palette are the truest matte shadows I have ever used. As such, they feel particularly dry (more on that in the cons), but once applied, they are so, so beautifully matte that they look unlike any other matte shadows I have. I am a huge fan of matte shadows, and hate when something is advertised as "matte" but ends up being more of a satin.
  
• All of the shadows blend together beautifully, both in the palette on and on the eye. Overall, it's just a very cohesive palette, and it shows in every look that results from this arragement.
  
• The pigments do. not. crease. AT ALL. I was shocked to see that the pressed pigments lasted literally all day, and until I removed them. I have tried foiled shadows, Paint Pots by Mac, ColourPop metallic shadows, metallic shadow sticks, and no matter what, the product always creases on me. The pigments in this palette do not budge whatsoever, until I remove them.
  
• The pigments truly are something special. I have never used any eyeshadow that is as eye-catching and shiny as these.
  
• Not only are the pigments long-lasting, but the mattes are, too! Every look I have done has looked perfect until I have removed it at the end of the day.
  
• The mattes have almost zero fallout. I was shocked to see that the product barely moved when I dipped my brush in, and I had no fallout during blending, either.

CONS:

• The packaging of this palette leaves so, so much to be desired. I was genuinely disappointed when I held it for the first time because it feels extremely light and flimsy. It's a cardboard casing with a clear, plastic top. I am fine with the see-through top and even the fact that it's cardboard, but honestly, there's other cardboard palettes out there that still feel sturdy and substantial (Hi, Kat Von D!). I don't even care that there is no mirror, as I never use palette mirrors, but honestly, the packaging is so light and flimsy, that it takes a lot away from the $65 price tag. Because the material is so light, my palette arrived with slightly scrunched up corners, which, again, for $65, should not be happening. I have NYX palettes that cost a fraction of this Rose Gold Edition Palette, and their packaging blows this one out of the water.
  
• The  pigments took up a lot of my pros list above, but they're also not perfect. The main issue with them is that they are best applied with fingers; brushes do them zero justice. Huda made this point clear before the launch, and the instructions on the box also indicate as such. For me, that's not a huge issue, but the main problem comes when you really want to blend them into the crease or inner corner--can't do that well or neatly with fingers. As such, I have to apply it roughly where I want it, and blend the edges out with a matte shade.
  
• The pigments leave a toooon of glitter fallout upon removal. My face looked like a disco ball all this week as I used this palette, because the glitter in the pigment just got everywhere upon removal.
  
• While I really love how the matte shadows looked after application, getting some of them them on the eye is tough because they are very dry. These certainly are not the best mattes I have ever used. The shades Flamingo, Shy, Bae and Sandalwood were the toughest to blend; tough - definitely not impossible - but took some work. Again, this is a $65 palette, so I expect a near-perfect experience, and some of the mattes are just a little to stubborn to deliver that. (To be fair, though, other shades like Bossy, Maneater, and Henna applied with no issues.)
  

SPECIAL TIP TO APPLY THE PIGMENTS:

A lot of reviewers have commented on how difficult it is to apply the pigments, even with fingers. I think I may have found a good way! Rub your finger gently on the pigment (not much pressure is needed), and tap it onto your eyes for a few seconds so as to warm it up. Then, gently glide it over your eye, patting once again at the end to get it to set. Doing this made application extremely easy for me, and also helped to blend the product evenly. Once applied, they look like melted foil, which to me, is well worth the effort.

Overall Thoughts:

While my list of cons is pretty substantial, and although even one of those could easily have been a deal breaker for me on any other palette, I have to say, cons aside, I really, really like this palette. A lot. No, it is not perfect, and no, I can't use this palette in a rush (extra and careful time is needed to blend some of the mattes, and to apply the unique pigments), but, BUT, once I put the time in, the end look is always amazing for me. I absolutely love the final look, and end up being amazed at how nicely every shade melts together to create one, awesome look. 

The pigments, albeit stubborn and with their own imperfections, are like actual lights on the eyes - super sparkly, and the perfect companion to any special occasion look. The mattes are the most matte shadows I have ever used, and this translates to a really cool, multi-dimensional look when paired with the shiny pigments. As I mentioned above, this is a total package palette for me, and I look forward to bringing it on my next trip with the peace of mind that I have every shadow I might need to get an awesome eye-look

This palette will be available on Sephora.com on Tuesday, November 1 for $65 and is limited edition.

Final Rating:

A - 

Thank you for stopping my! Please feel free to reach out with any questions, or your own thoughts on the Huda Beauty Rose Gold Edition Palette!

Review and Swatches: Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

When I think of the products that qualify in my mind as an "exciting makeup launch", I think of palettes, lipsticks, and highlighters. The product I never, ever think of is....concealer. That's why when I first heard that Tarte was coming out with a new concealer, my initial reaction was, and I quote, "Ummm. Ok, that's nice." Had I known then what I know now, I'd have bought myself a tent to camp out at Ulta and wait for its release. (This is an Ulta exclusive product. More on that at the end.) 

I did not pay any attention to the product after it came out because, well, how great could a concealer be? Besides, I have had a long, committed relationship with the Makeup For Ever Waterproof Full Cover Concealer. And as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! It wasn't until I was unable to ignore the buzz around the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer that I became interested. Literally everyone and their mom was raving about this amazing, new, revolutionary concealer from Tarte. 

In my following Ulta visit, I decided to stop by the Tarte display and see if I could find a good shade match. Lo and behold, the display was completely EMPTY. So, obviously, commence Operation Locate and Acquire ASAP. I called two other Ulta locations, and everyone was sold out. I was shocked. WHAT on Earth is up with this CONCEALER? New Naked Palette sold out? Suuuure. Anastasia's latest and greatest sold out? Of course. But CONCEALER? What parallel universe did I wake up in?

Fortunately, Ulta re-stocked online the following week, and I picked up five of the shades to:

A. Find my match since I did not test them in-store

B. Use the darker ones to cream contour and lighter ones to highlight

C. Feed my insatiable appetite for new products

D. All of the above

(The answer is always D, kids.)

The Ulta package arrived a few days later, and I was pumped.

Left to right: Fair, Light Medium, Medium, Tan, Deep

The overall shade range (available on Tarte.com) includes 10 shades. (Ulta carries six of those shades. (The best part is that if one of the shades does not work for you as an actual concealer, they all make for amazing cream contour/highlight products, based on your skin tone.

Left to right: Fair, Light Medium, Medium, Tan, Deep

The packaging is standard in the sense that it's your average tube and doe foot applicator....only, on steroids. The tube itself is noticeably larger, weighing in at an impressive .34 ounces, versus .22 ounces for the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, .23 ounces for the Too Faced Born this Way Concealer, and .16 ounces for the Urban Decay Naked Concealer. 

All that aside, the doe-foot (maybe more like cow foot?) applicator is gigantic:

I was taken aback by just how huge the applicator is, but the more and more I use it, the more I love it. The larger size is great for covering more area at once, and also does some small level of self-blending, as application with this larger surface area inevitably ends up patting in some of the product while you are still applying it. 

Ready for some swatches?? 

Top, left to right: Fair, Light Medium, Medium
Bottom, left to right: Tan, Deep - No flash

Top, left to right: Fair, Light Medium, Medium
Bottom, left to right: Tan, Deep - With flash

For my NC40 skin tone, Medium has worked perfectly for a a concealer, and Light Medium is my perfect shade for highlighting under the eyes. I tested out the Deep shade for cream contouring, and for me, it pulled a little too red; I ended up having to do a lot of work to correct the shade, so for me, it is not a first choice to cream contour. As for actual performance of the product, however, it was a high performer in that it was long-lasting, and really helped to pull together the powder contour powder I had to put over it.

Pros:

• The coverage is incredible; full coverage while still looking smooth and luminous (without looking oily or shiny).
• This is an oily-skin friendly product! Once set with powder, it will last until you remove it.
• The product is so smooth that you don't haaaaave to set it if you don't want to. While I enjoy the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (and others like it), I found that it would begin creasing under the eyes faster than I could screw the cap back on the tube. With the Shape Tape Concealer, the product looks amazing all day, with or without powder. (I always prefer to set it to ensure longevity, but have gotten by without it.)
• A little goes such a crazy, long way. When using it to highlight under the eyes, I did my usual thin slide of product across my under-eye, and found that it was actually way too much! I literally need one small dot under each eye, and that gives me the perfect amount of highlight and coverage. Same story for on the face -- the smallest amount will provide complete, smooth coverage.
• The price is extremely fair, I think - $24 for 10 oz. That's a steal for the amount of product you get.

Cons:

• The Shape Tape Concealer has a very strong floral fragrance. I mean very strong. It's not necessarily bad, but it's not my favorite, either. I have heard a lot of people say they like it, but for me, it's a con. Good news is the fragrance dissipates upon application and blending, but it's worth mentioning, especially for anyone who has sensitivities to fragrance.
• This product is an Ulta Exclusive, which means you can only get it in-store, on the Ulta site, and, of course, on Tarte's website. This is great news for people who have easy access to an Ulta location, but not such great news for those that don't!
• Availability has been a problem since its release. Most shades are frequently sold out (in Ulta stores and on both retailers' websites). Restocks seem to be frequent, though.

Final Thoughts:

No exaggeration, this is the best concealer I have ever used, and I have used a lot of different ones. I've tried drugstore and high-end stick, liquid, and cream concealers over the years, and nothing comes even close to the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. What truly sets this product apart is that fact that it does so. much. more. than just spot concealing. The skin-loving ingredients such as sunflowers seed and olive oil help to hydrate the skin, and keep the concealer looking fresh all day. Whether you use it to conceal or to highlight and contour, the Shape Tape Concealer will be your hardest worker from application removal. Within just a couple months of use, it has skyrocketed to one of my all-time favorite and daily use products. Definitely check this product out; I am sure you will love it!

Overall Rating:

A+ (++++)

Review: Huda Lip Contour Matte Pencils

Beauty trends in 2015 and 2016 have been all about precise definition of facial features, achieved through some of the years' most popular trends: highlighting, contouring, and LIP PRODUCTS. Lips have been having their major time in the sun for quite a while now, which is why the stage was set perfectly for the latest launch by Huda Beauty: Lip Contour Matte Pencils.

Hudda Kattan, the gorgeous and internationally known Dubai-based beauty blogger has gained international fame primarily for her stunning false lash collection. When she announced that she'd be adding makeup to her brand, the beauty world immediately began counting down.

Source: @hudabeauty on Instagram

Earlier this year, Huda announced her Lip Contour Matte Pencils, which she proposed could be used to take the hottest trend of contouring straight to your lips. The pencils could be used to shade/lighten the contours of your lips to dramatically enhance the shape, while still looking natural and believable. 

Source: Huda Beauty and http://www.glamour.com/story/huda-beauty-lip-contour-review-sephora 

My initial reaction to news of this launch was simple -- "Sooooo...it's basically just a lip pencil?" I am intrigued by the idea of using different light/dark shades to manipulate the shape of your lips. For the most part, the life of the lip liner has been reduced to just defining the lips, and, for the more makeup-obsessed, pairing different liners with different lipsticks to transform colors. But when you take out all of the information about this pencil's technique, use, and potential, and look at it solely for what it is, it is just another lip pencil. 

This is not to say that I was not still curious as to what sets this product apart, what makes it more than just a lip pencil, and most importantly, what validates the $19 for .042 oz. 

When the product launched on Sephora.com, I picked the two shades that I thought were most unique to the collection, and also the most wearable for my day-to-day use: Trendsetter and Bombshell:

Left: Trendsetter, right: Bombshell

Packaging:

The lip contours come in a simple but elegant matte black box with the signature white and hot pink Huda Beauty logo. The pencils themselves are very simple -- matte black casing with the bottom tip indicating the color of the pencil.

When I swatched each pencil, my initial reaction was that I was very impressed with how smooth the product was. Traditional lip pencils have a reputation of being dry and patchy. This Lip Contour literally flows like a smooth pen onto the lips, and completely effortlessly lines and fills the lips. Overall, the formula reminded me of my favorite lip pencil, the Pro Longwear pencils by Mac. 

As for the color payoff, it's smooth and pigmented, and true to swatches I had seen in the promo pictures. On my skin, Trendsetter is a medium brown with very subtle caramel undertones. Bombshell is a light peach with subtle pink undertones.

  Top: Trendsetter. Bottom: Bombshell

PROS

• As I mentioned, these pencils are extremely smooth and a pleasure to use. There's no dryness or dragging, and the smooth texture makes it easy to shade/contour.

• The pencils are truly mate  and transfer-proof without being dry. I've gotten 6 hours of wear without transfer or fading.

• These Lip Contours come in 9 colors, which does not seem like a lot, but the 9 colors that do exist are a beautiful range of nude, pinks, reds, and even a burgandy and a deep, vampy brown color.  

CONS

• Availability is an issue simply because the product has so much hype. For US customers, the product is available online only at Sephora.com, but has been sold out for several weeks. To be fair, Huda did announce at the launch in April that there would not be another restock until July, but one of my biggest pet peeves is when products are hyped to the skies without consistent production. Could it be a marketing tactic? Maybe. Probably? I was an English major, so couldn't tell you, but for anyone wanting to test these out, not only will you have to buy without trying, first, but you'll also need to wait for another hyped launch.

• My biggest turnoff for this product, interestingly enough, is also the best part of this product (hello, moral dilemma!): the creaminess. These pencils are so, so smooth, but the downside of that perk is that it yields one-use-per-sharpen (technical terms ftw!). For anyone with bigger lips, or those choosing to over-line, it would likely be even less than that. Since the product is so creamy, you lose a lot of it per use, which means more frequent sharpening, which means more frequent need to re-purchase. I mentioned above that these pencils remind me a lot of the Pro Longwear pencils by Mac in the sense that both have very similar textures and longevity. The Mac pencils are equally creamy and long-wearing, but a have a less frequent need to be sharpened. To be fair, the Mac pencils are also two dollars more expensive for the same amount of product (.04 oz), but I would rather pay the $2 and have the pencil last longer, than have to re-purchase the whole thing over and over.

Overall, the Huda Beauty Lip Contour pencils are nice. They are fun and easy to use, and come in some pretty colors. But, at the end of the day, they don't do anything more than any other creamy lip pencil. The biggest selling point here is that yes, you can use them in different shades to contour your lips, but you can do that with any lip pencil. While Huda deserves major credit for bringing the concept of lip contouring to such a big stage, I think the product itself is not worth the hype. Maybe if the "lip contour" was a pre-made kit that came with a contour shade, another pencil in a lighter highlight shade, and maybe a blending brush, etc, the overall product and concept would stand a little more independently, but for what it is, I don't think it's anything unique. 

Overall rating: 

B+

Have you tried the Huda Beauty Lip Contours? Are you waiting for the July re-launch to pick some of them up? Let me know your thoughts! :-)



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