Pür Cosmetics Eye Polish in Suede

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Pür Cosmetics came out with a rather unique liquid eyeshadow formula a few months back and I picked up the brown shade Suede to try out.

Housed in a round plastic jar with a squishy net/sponge to keep the liquid in, you also get a silicone tipped applicator that can be used to pat the liquid shadow on. I preferred using my fingers, as I found it easier to get smooth color that way.

The shadow dries quickly, which means smoothing out edges can be a bit of a challenge, but it's doable. Suede was fairly budge proof and I did not experience fall out from the substantial gold glitter in the darker brown base. You can get an idea of the amount of glitter in the blurry shot below.

Wear time was a good 7-8 hours before Suede started to fade as opposed to creasing.  Primer is built into this formula but I still wear over primer, as I've got oily lids that make mince meat out of most shadows.

The Eye Polishes are rather pricey at $26 each, and I picked mine up during an Ulta 20% off sale. Suede is very pretty but I'm not enamoured enough with the formula to want to acquire more at that price. That could be just a passing frugal mood, you never know. Or a glut of eyeshadow that will see me into my 8th decade, should I live that long.

Dial Up Your Glam Multidimensional Orbital Eyeshadow in Luna by Julep

Luna ($18, Maven price $14.40) is one of Julep's eyeshadows from the Dial Up Your Glam line, which are billed as "multidimensional eyeshadow with triple the pigment for intense brightness".  I chose Luna in December's Maven box as I thought it would be a good highlighting shade, and after about 3 weeks of use I thought it was time to give my impressions.

Luna is a white gold that does indeed pack good pigment and provides a really nice pop of shimmer on my lid.  You get a hefty 3.5 g, which is over double the size of a Urban Decay shadow, for example.  Packaging is a bit bulky IMO, although it feels sturdy and you do get a small mirror in the lid.  I use my finger to apply and it only takes one or two swipes to build up just the right amount of color.

Julep also claims that these shadows blend the color payoff of a cream shadow with the layering power of a powder, and I do think the texture is more creamy in the sense that I do not get much powder kickup.  Since Luna is more of a highlight than all over kind of color, I haven't really tested it for blending out or wet, which is supposed to intensify the color.

Finger swipe, dry

I also like using Luna as a highlighter on my cupids bow and on the bridge of my nose, again generally using my finger.  Overall, I'm impressed with Luna and think Julep is definitely improving in their development of cosmetics.  I know there were lots of not so happy rumblings when Julep started branching out from nail products, but I've been a fan of several of the cosmetics, such as the gel eye pencils and pressed facial highlighter.

Loving Your Unloved for January: Estee Lauder 2014 Color Portfolio

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

If you are unfamiliar with the "Loving Your Unloved" series, it's where I focus on an item that's been languishing largely unused in my collection and use it for a month.  It gives me an opportunity to really delve into the product(s) and form solid opinions that help me to know if it should stay or go in the long run.  

My pick for the January edition of "Loving Your Unloved" is Estee Lauder's Color Portfolio from 2014.  It features 30 eyeshadows, 3 blushes, one bronzer, and 16 lipsticks, so I shouldn't feel deprived for options.  It will also give me an opportunity to really delve into how I feel about Estee Lauder's eyeshadows.

I already know I love the blushes and my impressions of the lipsticks have been positive overall.  Here is an initial FOTD and the colors used are starred. The momentous occasion for this FOTD (besides being a work day)?  A dentist appointment to get a temporary crown for a tooth that broke over the Christmas break while eating caramel corn.  Exciting, I know.  My face is still numb as I'm typing this.

I used Nude Fresco all over the eye up to the crease/brow bone, with Pretty Penny and Raisin blended together in the crease and upper/lower lashline area.  I've been going for more subtle eye looks lately and I liked how this one turned out. The liner is Urban Decay's discontinued 24/7 eye pencil in 1999.

The lips are a blend of the Pure Color lipsticks in 118 Bois de Rose and 187 Sunstone.  Considering I was sneezing all morning and popping Zicam Rapidmelts like they are Pez candy, I'm surprised my makeup was even still on when I took pictures.

On my cheeks I'm wearing a blend of Lover's Blush with Mauve Mystique. Lover's Blush leans warm and Mauve Mystique cool, so it made for a nice mixture.  Initial impression:  Mauve Mystique has silver shimmers in it and I get more shimmer than color.  I'll have to play with this one.  I bronzed lightly with Sun Goddess in medium.

Clinique Skinny Meets Chubby Set: Review and Swatches

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

I picked up the Clinique Skinny Meets Chubby gift set ($27.50) back in November, as it seemed like a good way to try two of Clinique's eye products that were new to me: the Skinny Tints eye liners and the Chubby Shadow Tints. Mine arrived with two of the bullets loose (hence the damage you see above), but it was easy enough to fix so I did not return them. The set does give you a bit of savings as it's worth $45, and it's still available at Nordstrom, which is also having a Clinque GWP offer at the moment.

The set contains:

• Bountiful Beige Chubby Stick (0.04 oz.)
• Skinny Jeans Skinny Stick (0.001 oz.)
• Lavish Lilac Chubby Stick (0.04 oz.)
• Petite Plum Skinny Stick (0.001 oz.)
• Ample Amber Chubby Stick (0.04 oz.)
• Slim Sable Skinny Stick (0.001 oz.)

The Chubby Sticks are super easy to use for a one and done lid color and once they set I got a good 8 hours of wear on my oily lids (over primer, always). They are not what I would call impactful colors, as the shades are soft but do have a nice luminosity on the lid. I like 'em for an easy day look.

The Skinny Sticks leave me a bit ambivalent, as I was hoping they would be good waterline liners. I can get maybe 2 hours of wear on the water line but they seem to fade pretty quickly. I would not call these soft liners either, as it takes a bit of pressure to lay down color. I did not have any migration or smudging issues when worn on the upper lids, so there's that.

Ample Amber + Skinny Jeans

Bountiful Beige + Petite Plum

Lavish Lilac + Petite Plum

Overall I'd say I like the Chubby Sticks more than the Skinny, and I'll be reaching for the Chubsters again.

Julep Boho Glam for January: New Year, Fresh Look

January's Maven box got to me really early this time, perhaps because I did no add on's and just got the basic Boho Glam box.  So let's take a look!

The Boho Glam polishes are the dark taupe Marika and the icy blue holo Tali. Marika is one of the newer matte metallic finishes (you can see an example of the finish here with the gold Kerry) while Tali is described as a "Glacier breeze linear liquid holographic".















The holo looks rather muted to me, but I've yet to try either on my nails.  They both evoke colder weather however, which is perfect now that temps are dipping into the 30's here at night in Mobile.  At least the rain stopped.

 This month featured some new neutral colors in the Its Balm Full Coverage Lip Crayons ($20), and I chose Dusty Orchid Shimmer.  I do like the formula of these lip crayons as they feel quite light on the lips yet still provide both color and hydration.  

Dusty Orchid Shimmer is a warm leaning peachy rose that darkens my lips slightly from their natural color and provides a soft glossy look.  I found it quite comfortable to wear while out spending a Christmas gift card on Sunday, with a respectable wear time of 3-4 hours.  Great everyday color.

Bare lips

Dusty Orchid Shimmer

I also got a gift code for a free It's Whipped Matte Lip Mouse (with purchase), but the one Bisou color I'd like to get appears to be out of stock.  Oh well, maybe it will come back in stock before the gift code expires.

Wearing Dusty Orchid Shimmer

And So It Begins....Happy New Year and FOTD

I wish I could say I've got a clear vision of what I'd like to accomplish in 2016, but I don't.  I did do some decluttering of my house over my 2 week Christmas break, a la the KonMari method, or a loose translation of.  I'd like to continue decluttering and organizing my house until it truly does contain only items I need or love, but I'm not gonna set any hard deadlines.  My clothes and books are done, so that's progress.

Pre book purge

Post book purge

I've got a bedroom that I need to totally declutter as it has turned into "that" room where everything you don't want to deal with or don't know what to do with has ended up.  Once it's clean I'm going to move my mother's unused treadmill in so I can get more exercise.  So there's that.

Kale, parsley, beets, blueberries, ginger and turmeric

Looking back at 2015, probably the best habit I picked up was drinking green smoothies in the morning and just eating more healthy in general.  I feel better and I think it's helped my skin, plus I like concocting smoothies.  I don't crave sugary treats as much, perhaps because I'm getting my sugar in the healthier form of fruit.  I also add spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper which adds a nice kick while amping up anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood sugar balancing properties.  Go me.

Today was our traditional New Year's Day meal which consisted of rice, black-eyed peas, turnip greens, fatback, and cornbread.  Yum.  This was my FOTD, and I've linked review of the products I used if available. Happy New Year everyone!

 Foundation:  Pur Minerals Air Perfection Cushion Foundation in Medium
Translucent powder:  Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Loose Translucent Powder
Blush:  Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush (1st pan)

Bronzer:  Julep Glow Pore Minimizing Bronzer
Highlighter:  Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Moonstone (pressed)
Lips:  Le Metier de Beaute Fembot

Eyes:  Cargo Yukon over a base of Maybelline's Barely Beige Color Tattoo.

Mascara:  Estee Lauder Sumptuous Volume Bold Lifting Mascara

Eyeliner:  Kat Von D Immortal Love (upper lashline) and Julep Smoky Taupe Shimmer (lower lash line)
Setting Powder:  Hourglass Ambient Powder in Dim Light