Make Up Forever Aqua XL Color Paint M-56

Disclaimer: This was a Sephora Point Perk sample with purchase.

One of the Sephora 100 point perks that I picked up in July was the Make Up Forever Aqua XL Color Paint in M-56, a medium taupe brown cream shadow with a matte finish.  The full size is $25, and these can be used as a liner, eye shadow, or as a base.

Per Sephora, these are supposed to "glide on seamlessly, and it’s flexible texture makes it easy to blend and layer for perfectly vibrant color that’s waterproof, smudge-proof, and crease-resistant. Enriched with mango butter, this nourishing formula hydrates skin, leaving lids comfortable throughout the day."

I love a good cream shadow and was hoping that this one could serve as an easy one and down eye tint, but the finish was not smooth enough on my less than perfect lids.  You can see some areas where the pigment is bunchy and just did not want to smooth out.

Consequently, I used M-56 as an eye base, and I thought the looks came out quite pretty.  I experienced no fading or creasing (worn over primer) after a full day's wear.

Shadows do apply nicely over the color paint as the texture is quite smooth and not 'grabby'.  I used Estee Lauder's Fierce Safari #5 above, which was part of a GWP eye shadow quad and is a gorgeous color.

In this look I applied a more concentrated layer of M-56, but still could not get it smooth enough to wear on it's own. For shadows, I used a GWP shadow palette from Ulta called "Essentials".

Bottom line, I don't think the Aqua XL Color Paints are for me, as I could not wear this one on it's own as a shadow.  There are different finishes and the more shimmery ones would probably work just fine as a shadow, but $25 is rather pricey IMO.  Glad I got to try this one out as a Sephora point perk though!

NYX Night Glow and Sweet Cloud Lid Lingerie Eye Tints

Disclaimer: I purchased these.

I've got a weakness for cream eye shadows, and the NYX Lid Lingerie Eye Tints are reasonably priced at $6.99 and have gotten some pretty good reviews, so I decided to try out a couple.  Specifically, the taupe Night Glow and the rose gold Sweet Cloud. Let's see how that turned out!

To begin with, you are getting a decent amount of product (.13 oz) in the tube, although I can't say I've actually finished a cream eye shadow to date.

The wands have a dip in the tips that collects the shadow, and I typically have to wipe some off in order to not deposit too much on my eye. Alternatively, you could put some on the back of your hand and use it as a palette, which is what I usually do with using a brush to apply shadow along my lower lash line.

The lid tints are described as "seductively sheer" on Ulta's site, and you can in the swatch of Night Glow that it is not completely opaque. However, it did not apply patchy on my lids and I was easily able to get smooth color using a cream shadow brush (Sephora Collection, now discontinued) to smooth out the pigment.

Sweet Cloud does have some glitter in the mix and has more of a metallic finish that Night Glow. It is also more opaque right off the bat than Night Glow, which may be why it translates as more metallic. Gorgeous color and super easy to use!

Both shades wear very well over primer on my oily lids and I experienced no creasing or smudging over the course of a very long day (10+ hrs). Considering you can usually find NYX on sale, I'd say these are a great bargain cream eye shadow!

I'm curious as to how these differ from NYX's previous cream eye shadows that I remember trying about 4 years back (swatches below), but I'm unable to find an ingredient list to compare the two. There were 20 shades of those, although I see that NYX has just released a matte version of the Lid Lingeries, which brings the shade count to 24 (12 shimmers, 12 mattes). Interesting.

From top to bottom:  Suede, Chocolate, Aqua, Pinky Beige

Loving Your Unloved v. 5: EmphasEYES Cream Shadows by Tarte

Here is something I don't understand:  why do cosmetic companies discontinue good products?  Because the emphasEYES cream shadows by Tarte were really good.

I was able to accumulate five of them a few years back, and sadly they are starting to get hard and dry.  I was still able to create a couple of really pretty eye looks with them, but it took a stiff brush and some digging into the pots, so these lovelies are gasping their last breath, sadly, and will be tossed after this series.

My favorites were Champagne Pink, Shimmering Taupe, and Shimmering Golden Beige.  Plum Smoke saw the least amount of love from me, but I'm just not a purple shadow wearer in general.  I try every once and a while, though.

Shimmering Taupe

 Champagne Pink made for an effortless nude eye look.

Pink Champagne (flash)

Champagne Pink + Plum Smoke

Rest in peace, EmphasEYES cream shadows.  I probably should have loved you more, but you will be missed.

Sweet Spice 5-in-1 BB Cream Eyeshadow by bareMinerals

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I've mentioned my extreme fondness for bareMinerals's 5-in-1 BB cream eyeshadows ($18) before here and here, and the romance continues.  I've added a few more to my collection, and since today is Thanksgiving I'm showing the appropriately named Sweet Spice, a light cocoa tan.

If you are not familiar with these cream eyeshadows, they have several selling points for me:

• SPF 15 - how many eye products have SPF?  I wish more did, as I've got one freckle each on my lids, no doubt from sun exposure.
• A lovely texture that spreads easily and minimizes texture on my increasingly crepey lids.
• Long-lasting formula, although my uber oily lids still need a primer underneath.  If your lids are not oil slicks like mine, you probably won't.
• Nine different neutral tones that work well as shadow bases or on their own, particularly if you like natural looking eyes.

Seriously, there is nothing that I do not like about these babies.  Sweet Spice is one of the darker colors (which is relative, as these are not intense colors to begin with).  It is several shades darker than my skin tone so shows up well on it's own for a one and done type of look, or as a base shadow for more complex looks.

I also really like that these are in tubes as I'm hoping they will last longer than pot cream shadows do.  The doe foot makes it easy to apply and then I use my finger to blend.  There are no harsh edges in sight, just smooth and flattering satin/matte color.  These are not flat at all, as there is a very subtle shimmer in the mix.

I hope those that celebrate Thanksgiving are having a lovely day!  My Thanksgiving meal continues my families' recent trend of non-traditional dishes for this holiday, with Chiles Rellenos on the menu.  I did get a request for my red beans and rice as well, so I guess it's a mashup of Mexican/Cajun this year.  So, adios and soignez vous-autres!

Tarte's EmphasEYES Cream Shadows for the Next Loving Your Unloved

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

After a bit of thought I decided on Tarte's EmphasEYES cream shadows for the next volume of my Loving Your Unloved series, where I give some love to items that have languished neglected.  I have 5 shades and they are starting to dry out, so it's time to use'm before I lose'm!

These have gotten some use over the years but I do find the pots a bit small and therefore cumbersome when it comes to application.  Fortunately I have a small but dense brush that is working for me that I will use.  Below you can see how four of them looked brand new, and it will be interesting to see how much of a dent I put in them over the next month.

These were originally sold via QVC in 2011, but I purchased mine on sale from Sephora in December of 2012, so they are actually going on 4 years old.  I do see a few of these still for sale on Amazon (from Tarte), but I'm guessing they are few and far between having been limited edition.

Elegant Taupe 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow by bareMinerals

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I have mentioned how much I really, really like the 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance cream eye shadows ($18) by bareMinerals?  Because I really, really do.  Let me tell you why.

• It contains sunscreen SPF 15, which is important for all skin, especially the delicate lid area.  I wish more eye products had built in SPF.  
• It has skin enhancing ingredients such as mango seed butter, safflower seed oil, and Camellia Oleifera leaf extract.
• It makes my increasingly crepey lids look smoother.  Thank you.  
• The formula is extremely easy to work with.
• The colors are great for nude/natural/neutral lovers.
• They wear like iron on my oily lids.

Elegant Taupe reminds me of wet cement, except prettier.  The finish is not flat at all, as there is a very fine, almost imperceptible shimmer that keeps it from being a flat matte. I use the applicator to apply a dab on the center of my lids and then smooth it out with my finger, although I imagine a brush would work fine as well.

I always use an eye primer due to the extreme oiliness of my skin, but those with normal to dry skin probably won't even need to with this formula.  With primer, I get all day (8-9 hrs) of wear without any fading or creasing.  As such, these make for great base shadows, which is how I'm wearing it below.

I like this formula so much I'm slowly acquiring more colors (Sephora has 5 listed, but I believe originally there were as many as 11).  Given that neutral tones dominant the available shades and you are really just talking about differences in tone and intensity of color, I doubt I need them all.   I did just pick up Sweet Spice, however....