Each Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascara is decorated with a psychedelic 70′s print and appropriate font. There’s a colorful 7.5g/0.26 US oz. of product, meant to give your lashes some fierce bangitybangness.

They come in four colors:

• Electric Blue – bright turquoise
• Flipside – bright teal
• Black Cherry – burgundy
• Indigo – ink blue (looks like a deep violet to me)

If you love the extra-thickening powers of Big Fatty Mascara, round out your collection with these wearable shades. Turquoise and navy hues give brown and blue eyes a jolt, purple shades make green eyes more dangerous, and burgundy adds drama to any eye color-a refreshing alternative to basic black.

Check out photos!

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras
packaging (front)

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras
packaging (back)

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras
packaging – top

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras
Electric Blue wand

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras
Indigo wand

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras
Black Cherry wand

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras
Flipside wand

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras

Urban Decay Big Fatty colored mascaras

Urban Decay Big Fatty mascara
Electric Blue

Urban Decay Big Fatty mascara
Indigo

Urban Decay Big Fatty mascara
Black Cherry

Urban Decay Big Fatty mascara
Flipside

PROS

• Incredible color payoff!
• Shows up wonderfully on very dark lashes (mine are black)
• Because they’re so pigmented, you may not even need two coats
• Provides decent lash thickness

CONS

• Dries out quickly in the tube
• Can flake pretty badly
• Urban Decay could have sealed these to help prevent them from drying out so quickly
• Slightly fume’y…causing light irritation

OVERALL

My review is pretty subjective, only because I do not know if the mascaras I received are even how Urban Decay usually makes these. There is a huge possibility that they’ve been sitting on the Hautelook shelves for a good year before they arrived to me. Or, this could very well be how they are. I’ll get into the cons a little further, but here’s a positive..they are super pigmented! Crazy pigmented. My lashes are very black, and with just one coat of this mascara you can see the color very vividly. The only color that didn’t show up on me as well was Black Cherry — but my lashes are black, and it’s already a dark color. It’s pretty though, and would pop on blond or even brown lashes.

To elaborate a bit more on my cons, I think that if Urban Decay sealed these mascaras then there would be less of a “Did I get a bad mascara?” ponderation, and more certainty that it just might be the actual formula. Since I can only speak on the mascaras that I have, if they are dried out, it’s a shame because they’re actually very bright, gorgeous mascaras. Sadly, my favorite color of the four — Electric Blue, was also the driest of the bunch. I gently flicked my lashes around after it dried and several flake-balls fell off. I was pretty heartbroken, the color is amazing. The other three also felt slightly dried out, and were less clumpy than Electric Blue — I still don’t know if that’s because they’re slightly younger than the Electric Blue mascara, or if that’s the formula prime of their production. Since these were a little dried out, they were also a tad fume’y. My eyes didn’t water full-on, but they had that “someone’s blowing air in my eye” feeling — even hours later. That sucks.

I’m going to give Urban Decay the benefit of the doubt and say that these mascaras aren’t normally like this. I know my other mascaras turn like this when they’re starting to get too much air into the tube. I’ve also noticed this happens a lot more with smaller mascara tube sizes. You know how MAC used to give away those mini Zoom Lash mascara samples? These are around the same size as those, and therefore dry out at the same rate. Most mascaras can last me a good 6-8 months with cycled use — but anything in the smaller packaging only lasts about 2-3 months. So yea…I said all that (LOL!) just to say that they do dry out fast — or at least that’s my assumption.

I’m very curious to know if anyone else has tried these, but who might have purchased them directly from Sephora or the Urban Decay website — and if there are any differences/similarities in formula. I did get these from Hautelook, and it took about 2 weeks to ship..so, who knows. For now, I have to give these mascaras the following grade below. Who knows, this may change if I’m able to try a guaranteed fresh mascara and compare.

RATING

(a very hopeful C+ lol)

Availability: Urban Decay

Each Rock & Republic eyeshadow is $28 and weighs in at a good 0.11oz/3g, and is gorgeously tucked away into it’s signature metal case donning the super sexy R&R logo. There’s a little mirror inside of each eyeshadow compact, which is something you don’t get with most eyeshadows (but will find in a few high-end brands). You get double the amount of product as you would a MAC eyeshadow (which is 0.5oz/1.5g and $14.50). However, If you hurry, you can buy these babies at $14 $7 a piece (use code ROCKCOSMETICS to get the additional 50% off)…

Available in three finishes: matte, satin or shimmer

Long wearing, formulated for easy application

Richly pigmented

Fine jet-milled powder

Full range of shades

So I ordered 26 additional Rock & Republic eyeshadows, after being beyond pleased with the first 12 I purchased. I also ordered an additional color, Snakeskin, which should be here soon. When it arrives, I’ll update this post with a swatch.

Rock & Republic eyeshadow packaging

Rock & Republic eyeshadow packaging

Rock & Republic eyeshadow packaging

Rock & Republic eyeshadows

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
how I’m storing them as of now…

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Fade, Asphalt

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Corrosive, Jaded

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Emerge, Hangover

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Chain Link

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Love Rocks, Scorch

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Adrenaline, Privilege

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Femme

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Wicked, Revenge

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Provocative, Paranoid

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Fiend, Electric

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Brink

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Lost, Diffused

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Vintage, Sabotage

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
Veil, Carat

Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches on nw43 skin
Fade, Asphalt, Corrosive, Jaded, Hangover

Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches on nw43 skin
Corrosive, Jaded, Hangover, Emerge, Chain Link

Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches on nw43 skin
Love Rocks, Scorch, Adrenaline, Privilege, Femme

Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches on nw43 skin
Wicked, Revenge, Provocative, Paranoid, Fiend

Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches on nw43 skin
Provocative, Paranoid, Fiend, Electric, Brink

Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches on nw43 skin
Lost, Diffused, Vintage, Sabotage, Veil, Carat

Rock & Republic eyeshadows
wearing: Exile, Chronic, Ambition and Tribal

You can see 12 more Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches here.

These are my favorite eyeshadows that I own, brand’wise. To me, they’re everything an eyeshadow should be — smooth, silky, richly pigmented, non-chalky, long-lasting, blendable, buildable, and beautiful. Rock & Republic totally nailed the formula, it’s gorgeous and these eyeshadows have the best texture. I really do love all of these, and feeling rather foolish after saying just last year, “Ehh, I don’t need anymore eyeshadows…I’m not interested in these at all”. Welp! That was a lie LOL!

Out of the 38 shades I have, here are my personal favorites:

• Exile
• Denim
• Ammo
• Alloy
• Chronic
• Tribal
• Hangover
• Brink
• Love Rocks
• Lost
• Diffused
• Sabotage
• Vintage
• Corrosive
• Scorch
• Ambition
• Privilege
• Fiend

A lot, I know…I do love them all but those are my top picks. There are a good 4 or 5 shadows that I didn’t buy yet, but will more than likely pick up soon. I think that you guys would truly love these eyeshadows if you haven’t already tried them. To pretty much have $21 taken off the $28 price is simply music to my wallet.

Hope this post was helpful to some of you Don’t forget to check out more swatches here.

-Stay beautiful

Availability: Rock & Republic

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara comes in a “gold” tube with a fat, spiky, rubberized wand that tapers on both ends to allow you get every lash on your inner and outer corners. You get 0.03fl oz. of product for around $8 or so, wherever L’Oreal products are sold.

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara – the wand

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara – the wand

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara – the wand

my bare, uncurled lashes

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara
-two coats

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara
-two coats

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara
-two coats

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara
-two coats

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara
-two coats

extreme closeup of L’Oreal Voluminous Million Mascara
-two coats

PROS

• Inexpensive and easy to find
• Doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes
• Great wand design allows you to get just about every lash
• Decent formula, smooth and not super clumpy
• Lengthened and volumized my lashes really nicely
• Really makes my lashes stand out and more noticeable, even behind my glasses
• Buildable up to 3 coats, so I can go for something subtle or really dramatic without risking a clumpy mess
• My lashes hold their shape with this mascara all day until I’m ready to remove it

CONS

• For me, after a good 8 hours this stuff can seriously flake
• Weird scent, as typical with most drugstore mascaras

OVERALL

I really like this mascara. Million Lashes is so easy for me to apply without making a huge mess on my eyelids or lower lashline, but then again it took me a while to nail proper mascara application lol. The only thing I really don’t like about this mascara is that when it eventually does start to flake, it’s not just one or two lil specks….it’s a whole mess of flakes. Thank goodness this only happens (to me) after a long day when I’m about to remove it anyway. It won’t flake that bad on me really, as long as I don’t touch my eye lol. I think it can flake on anyone sooner though, if you’re applying too much or if you happen to rub your eyes while this stuff is on your lashes. I think if L’Oreal can figure out how to make a less flaky formula, it would get higher marks from me. I know a lot of people who have used this mascara and have hated it, but your love for any given mascara depends greatly on the current condition of your lashes and your application technique. My mom has shorter lashes than me, so she hates just about every mascara that promises “length” — I mean, it can only do but so much if you already have super short lashes. My lashes aren’t super long either, but they’re slightly longer than hers and mine naturally curl while her’s are straight. I have always liked the L’Oreal “Voluminous” series of mascaras, I think it’s a solid drugstore brand overall. This actual mascara isn’t waterproof, so be careful if you’re emotional and prone to crying a lot. I’m not sure if they have a waterproof version, but it might be worth looking into.

Have you guys tried this?

RATING

Availability: Amazon, drugstores

*this post contains an affiliate link

Each Rock & Republic eyeshadow is $28 and weighs in at a good 0.11oz/3g, and is gorgeously tucked away into it’s signature metal case donning the super sexy R&R logo. There’s a little mirror inside of each eyeshadow compact, which is something you don’t get with most eyeshadows (but will find in a few high-end brands). You get double the amount of product as you would a MAC eyeshadow (which is 0.5oz/1.5g and $14.50). However, If you hurry, you can buy these babies at $14 $7 a piece (use code ROCKCOSMETICS to get the additional 50% off)…

Available in three finishes: matte, satin or shimmer

Long wearing, formulated for easy application

Richly pigmented

Fine jet-milled powder

Full range of shades

Just like their amazing blushes, the eyeshadows are insanely pigmented, lush and gorgeous. Do you know what this means? This means I want them all. Every single last one lol. I MUST HAVE THEM!!! If you could see the maniacal spaced-out yet serious look I’m giving you all right now

But no seriously, they’re beautiful eyeshadows and I’m kicking myself in the ass for not buying them sooner.

Rock & Republic Eyeshadows
l-r: Fatalistic, Denim, Ammo

Rock & Republic Eyeshadows
l-r: Fuel, Envy, Tribal

Rock & Republic Eyeshadows
l-r: Wrath, Spy, Exile

Rock & Republic Eyeshadows
l-r: Alloy, Ambition, Chronic

Rock & Republic Eyeshadow Swatches
l-r: Fatalistic, Denim, Ammo, Fuel

Rock & Republic Eyeshadow Swatches
l-r: Ammo, Fuel, Envy, Tribal

Rock & Republic Eyeshadow Swatches
l-r: Wrath, Spy, Exile, Alloy

Rock & Republic Eyeshadow Swatches
l-r: Exile, Alloy, Ambition, Chronic

All eyeshadows were swatched with a MAC 252 brush, using Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer as a base. I’m gonna try my best to describe the colors and finish of each eyeshadow I have here…don’t laugh..

• Fatalistic – smokey matte charcoal black
• Denim – dark smokey matte blue
• Ammo – shimmery golden bronze
• Fuel – shimmery sunshine gold
• Envy – satin smokey green (similar to MAC’s Humid eyeshadow)
• Tribal – matte chocolate brown
• Wrath – shimmery rosy golden brown
• Spy – satin neutral nude
• Exile – shimmery golden taupe
• Alloy – shimmery rosy peach
• Ambition – shimmery light yellow gold (very similar to MAC’s vanilla pigment)
• Chronic – satin golden army green

So, should you buy these? Well, they’re on sale right now for just $14 $7 each…so my answer for you would be “Heck yes!”. Right now they’re $7.50 cheaper than a MAC eyeshadow and double the product, so they’re MORE than worth it. If you have room for these gorgeous little darlings then I think you’ll be pretty darn happy with your purchase. I will be buying the rest of them over the course of the sale, hopefully. If I don’t buy them all, I will definitely get a good amount lol. I’m completely sold on Rock & Republic, they’ve proven to be a phenomenal brand with incredible sales!

Check out 26 more Rock & Republic eyeshadow swatches!

-Stay beautiful

Availability: Rock & Republic (currently $14 $7 each if you use code ROCKCOSMETICS for an additional 50% off)

The Alima Pure “Fairy Tale” collection is made up of two mini collections (“Happily Ever After” and “Once Upon A Time”), featuring beautiful colors perfect for the upcoming holiday season. The collections are $25 each, with $2 going to the Global Fund for Women — hooray for charitable proceeds! Here’s a bit about the company:

We are a small, independent mineral cosmetics company based in Portland, Oregon. We were the second cosmetics company in the US to receive the prestigious “Certified Natural Cosmetics” seal from the BDIH in Germany. Our foundation contains only four ingredients, and is perfect for sensitive skin. Our brushes are also ideal for sensitive skin, as they are all man-made bristles rather than animal hair, which can be irritating to some people.

“Happily Ever After” ($25) includes:

• Poison Apple – rosy blush with a peachy shimmer
• The End – almost-black eyeliner, sparked with diamond-like silver shimmer
• Magic Wand – magical, do-anything nude shimmer with multi-toned sparkle that can be worn on the eyes, cheeks or décolleté

“Once Upon A Time” ($25) includes:

• Enchanted Forest – soft taupe sprinkled with gold and silver shimmer
• Spun Gold – deep golden shade (this is GORGEOUS ya’ll!)
• Glass Slipper – soft silvery yellow
• Fairy Godmother – medium purple w/ generous serving of silver sparkled

Ingredients: Contains: Mica (CI 77019). May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510).

Photos and swatches for ya!

Alima Pure: Happily Ever After
l-r: Spun Gold, Glass Slipper, Enchanted Forest, Fairy Godmother

Alima Pure: Happily Ever After
l-r: Poison Apple, Magic Wand, The End

Alima Pure: Once Upon A Time
l-r: Poison Apple, Magic Wand, The End

Alima Pure: Once Upon A Time
l-r: Spun Gold, Glass Slipper, Enchanted Forest, Fairy Godmother

Dude, their friggin foundations only have FOUR ingredients?? I can barely make a sandwich with just four ingredients, so you know I’m intrigued lol. Okay that’s a whole ‘nother post, lemme stick to the subject at hand. I found the shadows to be very soft and smooth, and their intensity will heighten the more you pack the color on. The colors in this collection are very holiday friendly, nothing is too scary or too bold — making it perfect for those of you who are still a bit makeup shy.

PROS

• Affordable, all things considered
• Beautiful colors
• Richly pigmented, yet very buildable (can also be sheered out)
• Smooth formula, the powder is very buttery and soft
• Minimal ingredients, perfect for those with sensitive skin
• Blendable
• Versatile (can be used wet)

CONS

• Loose powders will always be messy
• Might be difficult to use if you don’t have decent brushes/tools

OVERALL

I really love these products. I may be biased because I love mineral makeup anyway, but not every mineral is created equal. I’ve had a few crappy experiences with a few other companies I won’t mention, but I love Alima so far. The fact that their products contain so few ingredients is a huge plus because a lot of people are allergic to bismuth, talc, parabens, etc. Just goes to show that you don’t need all that extra stuff to have a beautiful product. These products would go great with your collection if you’re looking for gentle makeup solutions — as well cool stocking stuffers I love that the eyeshadows don’t feel scratchy, gritty or cheap. Instead they’re soft, smooth and very buildable. You can sheer them out or really pack them on — it’s up to you. If you love mineral makeup as much as I do, give Alima Pure a try. I’m definitely ordering more from the line very soon, itching to try those foundations

RATING

Availability: Alima Pure

*this post contains a product sample sent for consideration

So basically you get a tin container (about the size of your palm) full of ingredients designed to make eye-makeup removal a breeze. From Sephora…

Balms Away
What it is:
A vitamin-infused, skin-soothing eye makeup remover.

What it does:
TheBalm Balms Away’s moisturizing formula easily removes eye makeup, ensuring that your beauty sleep delivers the restful benefits it should. It’s made with vitamins A, C, and E, and a blend of plant-derived sterols and lipids that hydrate and restore skin.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates

Snazzy.

The skeptic in me said, “Is this just a glorified Vaseline?”. So to put it to the test, I gave myself two smokey eyes and removed the right-eye’s makeup with Balms Away, and used Vaseline on my left-eye. Which one works better? Let’s find out…

The makeup used for this test:

• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• MAC Carbon eyeshadow
• a dark green eyeshadow and a bright peachy eyeshadow from my Coastal Scents double-stack palette
• L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes mascara
• MAC Feline eye kohl

THE RESULTS!

smokey right-eye

smokey right-eye

smokey right-eye with Balms Away applied for just 30 seconds — gross!

smokey right-eye with Balms Away, wiped away with moist towel (just one wipe)

no longer smokey right-eye (wow, it’s clearly time to get my brows done lol)

Vaseline

Vaseline

smokey left-eye

smokey left-eye

smokey left-eye with Vaseline applied for almost 2 minutes

smokey left-eye with Vaseline applied, wiped away with moist towel

no longer smokey left-eye

OVERALL

I used a soft moist paper towel to remove the ghastly disgustingness from each eye. To be honest, both products will remove your eye makeup. One just happens to do it a whole lot faster. Good ol trusty Vaseline will break down your makeup, but you may need to gently massage the product onto your lid for a good minute and a half to break it up all the way — possibly 2 minutes if you’re wearing mascara. When wiped away, you notice a slightly balmy residue and a bit of greasiness. The Balms Away product? As soon as I put it onto my lid, it started working. It removed my mascara a lot faster and with less rubbing back and forth than the Vaseline. Balms Away left my eye area soft and smooth, no greasiness. Neither product irritated my eyes, and I wasn’t left with any greasy blindness — you know that temporary blur you get whenever something oily gets in your eye? Not saying this won’t happen to you, but I’ve been removing my makeup for years now so I know how to better avoid getting gunk in my eyes. If you do get any of the product into your eyes, it won’t kill you or cause blindness. Both products are very gentle. Oh, I forgot to tell you…I had to use twice as much Vaseline to get it to work even remotely close to Balms Away Womp!

So, as I said earlier…at the end of the day they both do the same thing. However, Balms Away is definitely faster and more effective. So that is pretty much why it’s the:

SHOULD YOU BUY BALMS AWAY?

You definitely don’t need Balms Away if you’re on a super tight budget and don’t mind spending extra time smearing Vaseline on your eyes to remove your makeup — if that’s how you’re currently doing it. But if you’re budget-free, and looking for something fun and effective to use then this might be the product for you, as long as you don’t mind getting your finger messy

It’s by no means a must have if you’re already using a great eye makeup remover, it’s just one of those fun makeup products to use that actually happens to work very well. No, it’s not “revolutionary”, and it’s not “cutting-edge”…but it does work. I can literally remove all of my eye makeup a lot faster than I was before, and that makes me happy. I dig the softness of the lid too, anything to moisturize and protect my delicate skin is faaabulous. I procrastinate with eye-makeup removal just because I can’t stand how long it can take — but not with this! I ran out of my favorite makeup remover — Lancome Bi-Facil, so I will definitely put this baby to great use because it’s essentially as potent as Bi-Facil (just a bit messier). Overall, I’m very happy with it

Availability: Sephora

I purchased this palette over a year ago, have used it quite a bit (though you can’t tell) and I still have so much product to go thru before I even remotely hit pan! The actual eyeshadow pans are wide and deep and full of beautifully pigmented, buttery smooth colors for the bold and daring. You can find these palettes online anywhere between $54 and $65 (for 12 shadows) and between $31-35 (for 6 shadows), which if you take things into consideration, is an awesome deal. The eyeshadow refills can cost you between $9 and $12 a piece…so you do the math

Ben Nye is known in the makeup world for providing some of the best concealers, color correctors, eyeshadows and more. They specialize in stage and clown makeup, so lots of their products are made to withstand harsh conditions such as running, jumping, performing, sweating buckets and crying — all that. Word on the street is that they also make incredible matte shadows too.

Check out the Lumiere palette below with swatches!

Ben Nye Lumiere Grande Colour Palette

Ben Nye Lumiere Grande Colour Palette

Ben Nye Lumiere Grande Colour Palette — the back

Ben Nye Lumiere Grande Colour Palette — the color labels are inside down the middle

Ice, Aztec Gold

Silver, Azalea

Cosmic Blue, Sun Yellow

Iced Gold, Tangerine

Chartreuse, Jade

Amethyst, Cosmic Violet

Ben Nye Lumiere Grande Colour Palette

Ben Nye Lumiere Grande Colour Palette

this is how the pans are being held in place, they snap into the bottom like a button

Cosmic Violet — a great dupe for MAC’s Stars & Rockets eyeshadow

Ben Nye Lumiere swatches l-r: Ice, Aztec Gold, Silver, Azalea, Cosmic Blue, Sun Yellow
(taken without flash)

Ben Nye Lumiere swatches l-r: Ice, Aztec Gold, Silver, Azalea, Cosmic Blue, Sun Yellow
(taken with flash)

Ben Nye Lumiere swatches l-r: Iced Gold, Tangerine, Chartreuse, Jade, Amethyst, Cosmic Violet
(taken without flash)

Ben Nye Lumiere swatches l-r: Iced Gold, Tangerine, Chartreuse, Jade, Amethyst, Cosmic Violet
(taken without flash)

a US quarter fits inside the Ben Nye eyeshadow pan

a MAC eyeshadow pan also fits into a Ben Nye eyeshadow pan

MAC vs. Ben Nye (in height)

OVERALL

I absolutely love and adore this palette. The colors are bright and beautiful, you can create a ton of looks, and if you’re ever feeling artsy or creative these shadows can give you what you need. I’m inclined to believe that the word “Lumiere” is stamped on the packaging due to the light reflecting, finely iridescent finishes on all of the colors — but I could be wrong. Some glow more than others, but they’re all beautiful and again — they feel like butter. They aren’t super crumbly and powdery at all. In fact, you can tell by the quality that they’re very finely pressed too. You wouldn’t expect it, but they don’t produce much fall-out either. For example, an Urban Decay eyeshadow will give you way more fall-out than any of these Ben Nye shadows. Blending is a breeze with these colors, you can tell they were made to work together, to give you that airbrushed fantasy face (or simple eyeshadow look). What I really love about these eyeshadows is that despite their richness, they can be sheered out if you needed them to be.

I have had this palette for a while now and the texture of the shadows hasn’t changed at all. When you order, they arrive to you an artsy watercolor-style tin palette, with grooves for each eyeshadow pan to snap into, and an artists brush (which isn’t that fabulous, so I didn’t wanna focus on it).

Even if you’re not interested in this particular palette, don’t sleep on Ben Nye’s makeup because it’s some of the best quality in the market.

RATING

Availability: Bubba Sikes (lowest price), Stage Makeup Online, Party with This

Too Faced stamps “super black” on the packaging, and from afar it does look pretty dark. They also say the following:

This silky rich, super black, chubby eyeliner is pencil perfect for lining and shading shading lids and is enriched with cocoa bean to condition the base of the lashes and hydrate the skin.

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner swatch — taken w/o flash

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner swatch — taken w/o flash

Too Faced Liquid Lava Matte Eye Liner swatch — taken w/ flash

Too Faced Lava Matte compared to NYX Jumbo Black Bean pencil — taken w/ flash

PROS

• I only paid $5 for it

CONS

• It’s not “super black” at all
• It’s not very silky or smooth
• Dry and tugging
• The formula isn’t silky or rich, and pigmentation is dollar store quality
• Fades incredibly quickly
• Irritating – not ideal for the water-line
• Overpriced!

OVERALL

There is absolutely nothing even remotely special about this eye liner that would make me wanna drop almost $20 on it. Having the word “liquid” would make me think it’d be a bit more creamy, hydrating and/or smooth but it’s almost crumbly and kinda waxy — it also tugs. I noticed that this pencil has decent ratings and reviews on the Sephora website, but I just cannot co-sign with those lovely ladies. I personally don’t see anything that would justify this being even a $5 pencil, let alone a $16.50 pencil. It should be standing proudly next to those cheap Wet-n-Wild eyeliners you see at Walmart for a $1 each. I’d honestly rather buy $16 worth of Wet-n-Wild eye liner pencils, than buy this pencil only because it performs like a $1 pencil!

I applied this to my lower lash-line and noticed a burn to my eye about 5 minutes later. It wasn’t a fume issue, a tiny 1-pixel particle of the eyeliner got in my eye…no big deal right? I’ve had all kinds of stuff get into my eye and never cause irritation. This was a different story. That little microscopic speck of eyeliner residue that got into my eyeball gave me fever. I knew it was the eyeliner because I only applied it to one eye, and that was the eye that was burning. Is this why they call it a “Lava” eye liner? Because it burns the crap outta your eye? Girl, bye

Lastly, as for the color it’s an ashy black — it’s definitely not “super black” by any means. It’s not the creamiest, smoothest pencil I’ve used and it’s not very pigmented due to it’s dry texture. In an effort to put it to a bigger test, when I applied it to my water-line, it started to disappear almost as soon as I applied it! I was like, “Wow, really??”. I’m terribly disappointed by this and wouldn’t personally recommend it at all.

The only reason I’m not giving this an “F” rating is because it’s very well possible that I got a faulty pencil, one that was just chillin’ at the bottom of the bin for years (and that’s why it was on sale) — who knows. But please believe, it’s definitely tap-dancing on an “F”…

RATING

Availability: Sephora

I purchased this tube a few weeks ago and have used it several times since, and so far I really like it. Here’s a description of this primer straight from Sephora:

What it is:
A gentle, lightweight eyeshadow primer that is free of oil, fragrance, and parabens.

What it does:
Behind The Scenes Eye Primer is a crease-resistant formula that holds pigment in place for long-lasting, stay-true color. It easily glides on the eye lid and the silky-smooth finish minimizes flaws and imperfections on the lid.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- GMOs

What else you need to know:
This product was developed for use with LORAC eyeshadow products and packaged in a slant tip tube, which allows for a sanitary, finger-friendly application that allows you to control the amount of product being dispensed.

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer swatch

LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, blended in

using MAC Illusionary Burning Ambition mineralize eyeshadow with a 252 brush

LEFT: eyeshadow used without LORAC primer, RIGHT: eyeshadow used with LORAC primer
(taken with flash)

LEFT: eyeshadow used without LORAC primer, RIGHT: eyeshadow used with LORAC primer
(taken without flash)

after taking a cloth and wiping the eyeshadow away with force, here are the results of what’s left
(taken with flash)

after taking a cloth and wiping the eyeshadow away with force, here are the results of what’s left
(taken without flash)

PROS

• Creamy
• No creasing
• Acts as a concealer by correcting eyelid color
• Little to no fragrance
• Eyeshadow’s show up brighter and bolder
• Lasts all day long
• It’s very lightweight
• No irritation
• It dries quickly and it’s very sheer, almost transparent
• Packaging makes it easier to use
• A little goes a long way

CONS

• Not a con for me, but some may view this as “expensive”

OVERALL

This is an awesome primer. You get a great amount of product for the price, 0.53 oz/15.3 grams for $20, compared to Too Faced Shadow Insurance’s 0.35 oz/ 11 grams for $18 (and their price seems to keep creeping up every year). I love that it’s effective without parabens and all those other lil cosmetic ingredients we can all live without. I get beautiful pigmentation out of my shadows with this primer and it lasts a very long time, yet its easy to remove. I really love this one more than UDPP and TFSI, and despite both of those now being in tubes…I’m in no hurry to buy them after using LORAC. This baby here gives me everything I need in a primer (and base). It evens out the skin-tone on my eyelids so that my eyeshadow doesn’t fight against the color of my lids and end up looking altered and strange. I’ve found that everything this primer promises, it delivers. It’s got pretty high ratings on Sephora for a reason! If you’ve tried UDPP or TFSI and found that they haven’t really helped, try this one. It may work better for you — try getting a sample if you can

RATING

Availability: Sephora

MAC describes their Haute & Naughty Lash as follows…

A two-in-one mascara that lets you choose if you want lashes to be naturally defined, or instantly combed and loaded for full-on drama. Easy to use dual-wiper system allows this lightweight formula to go on either way. One wiper refines the application for a clean sweep, while the other loads the lashes for greater impact.

I’m gonna give you guys a warning, my right eyelashes are being VERY disobedient and wonky right now (a few of them are about to fall out, so they’re growing in weird directions). Therefore, you may look at the mascara results like “WTF?” but I promise it’s my lashes and not the mascara. I posted a pic of me wearing it on my left eye also, since my right one is on some other ish…

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash

this is what the wand looks like when you first pull it out, the end of it sticks out of the wiper

for the “daytime” wand, when you pull it out all of the excess formula is left on the end

the “daytime” wand looks like this once pulled out, with excess formula wiped off

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash mascara wand

this is the wand for the “evening” look, when you want a bit more drama — both the pink and glittery purple handle connect together

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash mascara “evening” wand for a more dramatic effect

this is the tip of the dramatic end of the “evening” wand, all of the formula you’d normally have wiped off for the “daytime” look is now packed on

my bare lashes – not curled

1 coat using the “daytime” wand

1 coat using the “daytime” wand

1 coat using the “daytime” wand

2nd coat using the “evening” wand — a few of my lashes are being so disrespectful right now

2nd coat using the “evening” wand

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash on right eye – bare lashes on left eye

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash on right eye – bare lashes on left eye

I put the “drama” on my left eye since my right eye is being wonky lol

PROS

• The packaging is genius and gives you options on how you want your lashes to look
• The daytime/natural look really makes your lashes LOOK natural
• The evening/dramatic wand really makes your lashes LOOK dramatic
• The packaging I feel is kinda cute
• Lot of product in the tube
• Bullet-shaped wand allows you to get the inner lashes easily
• Long-wearing…after seven hours, no flaking!
• You can control how much product ends up on the wand with the wiper inside if you choose to

CONS

• Has a bit of a smell to it
• The size of the wand may be difficult for someone with short lashes to use
• The “dramatic” end of the wand tends to holds way too much product, lashes can get clumpy if you’re not careful
• Don’t you dare cry with this stuff on…it’ll run like Jackie Joyner-Kersee!

OVERALL

Again, I know ya’ll are probably looking at my right eyelashes and shaking your head…and you should. I PROMISE it’s because my lashes are being very wonky and disrespectful growing in weird positions right now, I can’t really do anything about it. My lashes do this “party over heeeere, wave your hands from side-to-side” thing when they’re about to fall out, so they start growing like this –> /\\///))//))\//))(//

The actual mascara is great and really delivers for me. I’ve been cleaning all day, haven’t had any makeup on except this mascara for the past 7 hours and I walked by my mirror and it totally caught my attention! My lashes are so big and noticeable even behind my glasses. I was like “Dang, this is pretty good stuff”. I love like the natural effect, I get great separation and it doesn’t really look like I’m even wearing mascara. The “dramatic” effect takes things to different heights and I’m pleased with the actual formula. It lengthens, holds my natural curl, and really makes my eyes pop. I really like this mascara you guys, it’s one of the best I’ve used this year — and I can’t believe it’s a MAC mascara.

*Here’s a ‘common-sense’ truth about mascara shelf life: Most companies will tell you to toss it after 3 months. In most cases, you should — however, that really only applies if you use it every single day for 3 months. One, you’ll probably run out and two, because you’re using it every single day for 3 months — more and more air is getting to it, drying it out. If you have a million mascaras (okay…maybe 5-8), you’ll probably rotate their usage and find that 3 months later, one is still pretty full and smells just fine. If your mascara has passed the 3 month mark, and it smells fine and the formula isn’t gross and clumpy, it’s probably fine. I’ve had a mascara for over 6 months that was JUST FINE. Bottom line, some mascaras only last a month, some can last 6 months and more…it all depends on the formula and how fast it goes bad. Throw away any mascara that smells like battery acid and looks like paste.

*Tip: if you use this and find that your lashes get too stuck together using the “dramatic” end of the wand, comb thru them with the “daytime” wand with all of the excess product wiped off, it really helps with separation.

RATING

Availability: MAC