Femme Fatale Cosmetics | Swatches Part 2

...and my final blog post of the year! Time to say goodbye to 2012 and ring in 2013 on the fabulous right foot. :}

For details on Femme Fatale Cosmetics, see my previous post {HERE}.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

*All products swatched over Smashbox Photo Finish primer and Darling Girl Glitter Glue. Photographs were taken under an OttLite to capture the true-to-life colors and effects.* 

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My favorite color from this round is Moonglow — I ended up buying a bigger size later on, because I wear Moonglow all the time. It's the most perfect gray-blue with golden sheen, and it works in so many different combinations. Shooting Stars was a close second, being a gorgeous pink-based purple with strong violet duochrome. It's just lovely! Riptide is a fantastic blue with aqua duochrome, bringing to mind what I would think the color of the ocean in paradise would look like. :} Incantation was a freebie sample I received, and I've worn it as a nice burgundy liner a few times with much success.

Any of these part of your list of FFC favorites? I'll have part 3 of my Femme Fatale Cosmetics swatches coming soon!

Stay Fabulous!

 

Zoya Zara Mani

This NOTD was done months ago, when I first purchased Zoya Zara. The pictures were taken pre clean-up, so it's not perfect. But I love the color - it's a lovely amethyst purple with a gold sheen/shift. The formula was easy to work with, and was opaque in only two coats. The finish was somewhat metallic, and in the sunlight it lights up like crazy. Zara is a shade that I will always keep around as a favorite in the purple family. :}

Stay Fabulous!

Femme Fatale Cosmetics | Swatches - Part 1

I finally finished putting together my Femme Fatale swatches for you! It took forever and a day, since these colors are so complex and amazing - it's hard to capture them in pictures that accurately display their beauty! But, I tried, and here are the results. I have split the swatches into multiple posts, with this being the first.

:::  THE SPECS  :::

Sophie is the owner of Femme Fatale Cosmetics, which is based out of Australia. FFC stormed onto the indie makeup scene within the past year, and has captured many dedicated fans ever since. I count myself as one of them! FFC offers eyeshadows, blushes, illuminators and nail polishes so far. FFC doesn't ship nail polish internationally at the moment, but international customers can still order their nail polish favorites for reasonable prices from FFC's stockists: Harlow & Co and Llarowe are two that I've shopped with before and had good experiences.

Since I have only purchased eyeshadow so far, I'll only speak to these details. You can opt for any of the following:

:::  Sample Baggies - $1.10 for 1/8 tsp
:::  Mini Jars w/Sifter - $3.10 for 3g
:::  Mini Jars w/o Sifter - $3.00 for 3g
:::  Full-Size Jars - $5.75 for 5g

There are also many product sets that offer discounted prices for larger orders.
Shipping obviously depends on where you live; for fellow USA customers, you can expect it to be approximately $11.00 for Air Mail without insurance {orders under $75} and it can take anywhere from 3-15 business days for delivery {after processing}. However, for sample-only orders, FFC ships worldwide for free! All of my orders have arrived within the stated TAT and delivery timeframe. If you have questions about international orders, the FFC website is extremely helpful and easy to navigate, so I suggest starting there. The site is one of the best indie makeup websites out there, from a design and usability standpoint.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

*All products swatched over Smashbox Photo Finish primer and Darling Girl Glitter Glue. Photographs were taken under an OttLite to capture the true-to-life colors and effects.*

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:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

How could I *not* love these colors?! As you'll see in the coming days, all of the colors I chose from Femme Fatale were fantastic; I broke these posts up into four featured colors at a time, to give each group a fair amount of attention {which they all deserve}. My favorite from this group is Faerie Fire — it's a color I wouldn't think to wear as often, but the duochrome effects are simply amazing. I wear it at least once a week, which is quite often considering the size of my makeup collection. :}

Have you purchased anything from Femme Fatale Cosmetics? What are your favorites? If not, which colors are you most interested in? I may be taking note of others' favorites for a future giveaway, so let me know! :}

Shiro Cosmetics: Why Not Zoidberg?

What can I say about Shiro Cosmetics that hasn't already been said? I mean, really — it's a fantastic indie company with a lovely {and super-gorgeous} owner, and the products are stellar. I have a collection of new eyeshadows to swatch and post in the near future, but I thought I'd start with the first Intertube I purchased from Shiro: Why Not Zoidberg?

Why Not Zoidberg? is a bright coral lip color that can be built up for opacity. It's $6.50 for a full-size tube {approx. 5.5 grams}, or you can opt for a mini size {approx. 4 grams in a tin} or a sample size {approx. 1.5 grams in a clamshell}.

Ingredients: Shea Butter, Organic Jojoba Oil, Candelilla Wax, Vitamin E, Yellow #6, Red #27, Red #40, Iron Oxide.

{Layered over a clear lip balm base}

The formula is like butta. Glides on easily, builds up nicely, lasts quite a while. The color is a perfect coral that seems to work on almost any skin tone. It provides a nice pop of color for any occasion — I highly recommend it!

Stay Fabulous!

More OHWTO Buys | One Hand Washes the Other

I've ordered a slew of products from One Hand Washes the Other in the past few months, so it will take a few posts to get caught up. As I type this, I have yet another order en route to my home. :}

The following products were purchased back in September, based on some of my favorites from the past and also recommendations from friends.

My order consisted of two 2-oz amber bottles of Snake Oil {Snayk Oyle} in All the Fires and Oceanside, and four solid scents in Oceanside, Beach, All the Fires and Exhume. Two sample solid scents were included as freebies: Buttella {a play on everyone's favorite hazelnut spread - smells identical to it!} and I Smell Like a Witch.

All the Fires was a scent I received as a free sample earlier this year, and fell in love with it instantly. It has become my absolute favorite private stock scent from OHWTO. Unfortunately, it was released as a new summer fragrance for 2012, and is currently out of stock/out of season. I'm not sure if it will be restocked at any point in the future, though I seem to remember reading that it wouldn't be returning. So, I picked up a bunch of products in that scent just in case, which are on their way to me now. Anyway, I was able to find the description of All the Fires:

All the Fires: All of 'em. Green Tea, Squash Blossoms, Tomato plants, sweet Osmanthus, tangy Kumquat, Valencia Oranges, Vetivert, and the memory of a Wasabi burn.

This scent is truly amazing. I can't even begin to describe it, as it smells like pure perfection on my skin. I've never smelled anything like it before, and I doubt I ever will. Out of all the private stock scents at OHWTO, I would call this one my "signature scent." And now I'm to the point of hoarding everything in that scent that I can afford. :}

I also picked up Oceanside in both the Snake Oil and the solid scent, based on a recommendation from some super ladies.

Oceanside: "Oh, if I could only coax you overboard, to leave these lulling shores, to get you oceanside"... Inspired by everything ocean-y, most especially my little home by the seaside salt marsh. A cool Ocean breeze, Monoi de Tahiti, Beach grass, Sea moss, Tuberose, an oversized white Linen shirt, and Rockrose and Mimosa blossoms. Gorgeous.

I believe the description of this scent is quite accurate to what I smell when it's on my skin. I personally detect the tuberose note immediately, though it does blend nicely with the rest of the elements to create a nice, smooth fragrance. Oceanside is another Summer 2012 private stock scent that is no longer available. I'm sorry to present so many products that are unavailable — but on the chance that anything does come back next year, it's nice to have documented everything.

The four solid scents I ordered include All the Fires and Oceanside, as well as Beach and Exhume.

Beach: Smells like a day at the beach, the main scent being Coppertone suntan lotion (really!!). I got it to use in soaps and scents for those nasty cold days in February where all you want to do is escape the cold and lay out on the sand, it's one of those "take me to summer RIGHT NOW" scents :)

Exhume: The last olfactory impression one might experience before committing fully to the sweet release provided by Death; sealed inside a casket, buried in the Earth's embrace. Church incense, White spices, nutmeg, cardamom... Peru Balsam, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Sugar... and a lone white rose laid across your hands to carry you into eternity.

Beach is a stock fragrance, while Exhume is an original private stock fragrance that many people have recommended. Both scents are available at this time. Beach smells just like you would imagine based on the description. Exhume is extremely complicated and impossible to accurately interpret based on my own perception of the scent, so I can only suggest trying it out yourself.

OHWTO has Winter 2012 scents available now — I'm really eying up Not Your Grandma's Fruitcake, which is described as "It's not, it's really not! Unless your grandma's from the tropics and throws holiday convention to the wind, anyway. A scent made to whisk you from the frozen tundra straight to the Caribbean- Jackfruit, Acai, Sliced Fruit, Pluots, Passionfruit, Banana, Sugar, Coconut Milk, and Nectarines." You can see all of the returning and new winter fragrances {here}. Are there any new scents you plan to purchase this winter, or any other OHWTO favorites to mention?

Stay Fabulous!

Baby, Baby...Things.

This isn't a beauty-related post, but I wanted to show off some adorable items I purchased for two of my friends who recently had their first babies. And by "recent," I mean between three and eight months ago. :} So, I have an obvious thing for owls — specifically owls with big cartoon eyes. Realistic owls scare me. I decided to pass along my love for owls by purchasing this cute knit hat for my friend Marisa {well, moreso for her daughter, of course}. I loved how soft it looked, which is important for sensitive baby skin. The price was also quite affordable, and it was shipped very quickly. At the time when I bought it, we didn't know the gender of the baby, so I opted for a neutral gray {almost taupe} yarn with cute yellow details. The seller on Etsy, AmiAmigos, was very friendly and easy to work with. I can't help but smile when I look at the pictures of this hat. :}

 

At around the same time that I purchased the owl hat, another friend of mine had her baby. I purchased a personalized necklace in addition to a few other baby shower gifts, and I think it turned out quite nicely. I ordered the necklace from Joy Belle Jewelry, which has an abundance of cute personalized jewelry to offer. The shop is on vacation right now, but the Facebook page continues to be updated with new content and items to look forward to after the holidays. Aside from the lovely packaging and attention to detail, the necklace itself was made from thick metal, which should be quite durable. I've ordered personalized jewelry in the past that was too thin, to the point of being able to see the stamps through the back of the pendant. Additionally, Joy Belle's necklace was beautifully polished and in perfect condition when I received it. I worked with the shop owner to customize the gemstones, adding a third gemstone so that the whole family is represented: mommy, daddy and son. She made ordering very simple and straight-forward, and I highly recommend her products.

I'm working on some swatch posts today, hoping to get them up yet this week sometime, so I hope you'll check back for more. :}

Stay Fabulous!

I'm Baaaaack!

It took long enough, hey?

The primary reason for my quiet blog hiatus was school. I was in my final months of completing my master's degree in business and marketing, and I just didn't have the time to devote to blogging. Usually if I had free time, I felt guilty doing anything other than catching up on reading and studying for class. Since I prefer not to post anything on my blog that I haven't given a respectful amount of time to putting together, I chose to take a little break and return once school was done.

Well, it's officially over! As of December 21st I'll have my MBA, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and I'll be initiated into the Sigma Beta Delta international business honor society. Whew! Obviously my break from blogging was for good reason, and my devotion to my education paid off in the end. I was also lucky enough to work for an employer that truly supports its employees' aspirations in education, so it was all worthwhile in more ways than one.

Now I just need to remember what I did before I went back to school, when I actually had free time! At this point I don't even know where to start, so I'm stepping back and taking stock of all the random projects and responsibilities I've collected over the months/years so I can set some goals and complete everything I've set out to do. My blog is important to me, if nothing else then simply to have a creative outlet of some kind. The fact that someone out there reads my writing is a very special added bonus. :} So, having said that, I invite anyone who is still following my blog to keep an eye out for new posts starting this weekend! I've adopted a new swatching/photography style that more closely reflects the things I see in person, and hope that it shows products in a more true-to-life way.

I hope everyone is doing well, enjoying all that life has to offer!

Stay Fabulous!

Madd Style Cosmetix: Review | Swatches

A few months ago I came across a blog post that showcased a plethora of eyeshadow swatches from Madd Style Cosmetix — and I was instantly enamored with some of the colors I saw. I placed an order the next day, and here is the collection of swatches I have to share with you. :}

:::  THE SPECS  :::

I made my purchase during a sale period, so the price I paid does not reflect the normal cost.
A single full-size jar of eyeshadow is $5.00 and comes in a 5g jar that's filled with product. Each of my jars were filled to the top, which is great to see. You can save some money by purchasing multiple full-size jars using one of Mo's package deals, which is what I ended up doing. I also received a full clamshell sample as a free gift! The listing for each individual product contains ingredient information, directions for use and whether it's lip-safe or not, along with vegan/non-vegan information.

Ordering was a breeze, and shipping was super-fast — even though I only live about 120 miles away from Mo, I know that just about everyone else I've talked to has received their orders well within the 5-8 day TAT{which is quite fast}. Shipping is different depending on how much you order, but in general shipping to the U.S. and Canada is $2.00 for the first item, and $0.50 for each additional item. Shipping internationally is around $2.50 for the first item and $0.75 for each additional item.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

{Swatched over Darling Girl Glitter Glue. Click images to enlarge.}

{The packaging}

{Natural daylight}

{Natural Lighting - Ohm is one of my favorites so far!}

{Natural Lighting - Seedless is a fantastic duochrome}

{Natural Lighting}

{Natural Lighting}

{Natural Lighting - Pisces is a lovely mint green with a golden glow}

{Natural Lighting}

{Another view in natural lighting}

{Photographed with a flash}

{Blurred to show sparkles - Pisces is gorgeous! (the bottom green)}

{Blurred to show sparkles}

:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

My instant favorites were Ohm and Pisces, and they're still some of my favorites. After wearing Seedless and Atomic Dreamland, they also became favorites. It's so hard to capture the sparkle and color-shifts accurately, so I highly recommend placing an order and seeing for yourself how gorgeous these colors are! I received a few additional eyeshadows from my swap partner in a past makeup "Secret Santa/Elfster" exchange, which I'll provide swatches for at a later time.

Stay Fabulous!

MAC Plushglass: Ample Pink

Good Afternoon!

Today I wanted to do a special little "spotlight" post about one of my favorite lip glosses, MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink. I got it back before MAC changed their cruelty-free position, and I am currently looking for a good indie/cruelty-free dupe. I was given the suggestion for Ample Pink by Mandy from PrettyMaking {again, this was when MAC was still cruelty-free}when searching for a lip gloss that had a color that was "my lips but better." This certainly hit the mark! :}

{My kisser}

I regret not taking a "before" picture of my lips. Basically, this lip gloss evened out the overall color/tone of my lips, added a lovely shine and really looks like "my lips but better." The staying power is pretty great as well - I usually wear it over a primer-type product, but even on its own it lasts for a few hours. As I mentioned above, I'm looking for a great indie dupe for this, so leave a comment with any suggestions you might have!

Stay Fabulous!

Pollen Cosmetics: Review | Swatches

Pollen Cosmetics is a fairly new indie company, but they've already established quite a following since their official opening. All I kept hearing from other makeup lovers was "You have to buy Rare Find!" So, of course I did just that, along with a few other eyeshadows that captured my attention. Read on for more details!

:::  THE SPECS  :::

I ordered three full-size jars using the 3-for-$15 option, which ends up saving you $1.50. Otherwise the full-size jars are $5.50 each, and you get 1 gram of product by weight. I received two sample baggies as freebies, which contain approx. 1/8-teaspoon of product. Shipping was $2.00 for domestic {U.S.} shipping, and $2.25 for international shipping. The stated TAT was 7-14 business days, and my order did ship within that timeframe.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

Swatched over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Cottage Cheese. Pictures are clickable to enlarge.

{Photographed in indirect/overcast lighting}

{Photographed in indirect/overcast lighting}

{Photographed in indirect/overcast lighting}

{Photographed in indirect/overcast lighting}

{Photographed with a flash}

{Photographed with a flash, blurred to show sparkle}

:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

Rare Find sure did live up to my expectations! Everyone I spoke with before ordering told me it's a must-have color, and I definitely agree. If you are limited to just one beautiful neutral eyeshadow {for some insane reason - haha}, make it Rare Find. Overall the shadows were velvety-soft and easy to work with, and the color payoff goes above and beyond.

Pollen Cosmetics also just released a gorgeous matte eyeshadow collection, and from the swatches I've seen so far, I think it's going to be a winner! If you've tried Pollen already, what are some of your favorites?

Stay Fabulous!