2.25.2012

More Persephone Minerals | Swatches

I just can't get enough of Persephone Minerals. Obviously. This order was from Black Friday as well, so I apologize for taking so long to finally blog about it. I'm catching up, slowly but surely. I doubt I have to remind anyone about how awesome Persephone's products are. For a refresher, see my first post HERE. This is my second order, and certainly won't be my last. I hear there are more good, new things coming for Persephone, so I'm eager to see what else I'll need to buy.

:::  THE SPECS  :::

For this order I purchased three full-size shadows and a ten-pack of sample baggies, and received two free samples along with it. The full-size shadows are $5.00 for 3-gram jars packed full, and the sample pack of 10 was $10.00 with each baggie filled with 1/8-teaspoon of product. Shipping TAT over the holidays was obviously extended to accommodate an influx of orders, but right now the TAT is 10-20 business days, which is perfectly acceptable and expected for handmade makeup with the complexity that Persephone Minerals has. Shipping to the U.S., Canada and Mexico is $3.00 for the first item and $0.01 for each additional item. International shipping to all other countries is $4.00 for the first item and $0.01 for each additional item.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

*Swatched over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Cottage Cheese. Click images to enlarge.*

{All packaged up}
{Fun Christmas confetti-type snowflakes, jars with shrink wrap}
{Full-size jars, photographed with a flash}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Photographed with a flash and blurred a bit to show sparkles}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Photographed with a flash}

:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

Do I really have to explain why I love Persephone Minerals' eyeshadows? :} They are still just as easy to work with, beautifully blended and have great pigmentation. My favorites out of the bunch are Bicurious {I love the blue shift to pink — it's lovely}, Peppermint Bark {a great white with light pink duochrome} and Taupeless Beach {which I reviewed in my first post when I received a sample baggie, and had to buy the full size}. Victoria, the mastermind behind Persephone Minerals, does duochromes like no other, and if you haven't tried the products yet, I urge you to place an order and prepare to be amazed.

Stay Fabulous!

2.24.2012

Meow Cosmetics: Review | Swatches

This review and swatch post has been a long time coming, but like everything else lately, it was put on the back burner until I could catch up with work and school. Thankfully now I have time to maintain my blog the way I intended to. :} Meow Cosmetics ran a fantastic sale on Black Friday back in November {yep, that's how far behind I am!}, so I took advantage of it and placed my first order with Meow. Warning: this is a picture/swatch-heavy post.

:::  THE SPECS  :::

Meow Cosmetics has a wide array of products available, from eyeshadows to foundation and concealer. I've only purchased their eyeshadows and blush, so I can't provide an opinion on their other products. However, I have read numerous other blogs that have praised Meow's foundations and finishing powders, so it's something I plan to order in the near future. My Black Friday order consisted of solely sample baggies, with mostly eyeshadow and a selection of blushes. Without any sales or promotions, sample baggies of eyeshadow are $1.00 and there is a (2) sample limit per color, per order. Full sizes are $7.00 for 5-gram jars filled with 1 gram of product sold by net weight. They also have 10-gram jars available for $10.25, filled with 2 grams of product. Sample baggies of blush are also $1.00 each, with a 2-sample limit per color, per order. Full sizes are 10-gram jars filled with 2 grams of product for $8.00. There is also a 20-gram jar available for $15.00 that's filled with 4 grams of product. As a side note, I also received free samples with my order.

Other details to note: Meow Cosmetics' shipping for samples only, in the US, is $4.35 for 1-29 samples, and FREE for 30+ samples. This is for first-class mail. They also have priority shipping for an extra charge. Internationally, the website has a detailed list of shipping options and costs, so I recommend reading the shipping info that's applicable to you right HERE. Also, be sure to subscribe to Meow's email newsletters, which are often accompanied by special promotions and sales alerts.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

*Swatched over NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk. Click images to enlarge.*

{Cute leopard-print wrapping}
{All of the samples!}
{Photographed in natural light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Blurred out a bit, with a flash}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Blurred out a bit, with a flash}
{And more! Photographed in natural light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Natural Light}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Again with a flash}
{Blush swatches}
{Photographed with a flash}
{Photographed with a flash}

:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

All of the eyeshadows and the blushes went on effortlessly, were easy to work with and equally as easy to build up for more opacity. Obviously I received a lot of samples with this order, so I haven't been able to wear all of them yet; however, the shadows I've worn so far have lasted all day over UDPP and a good base. My favorites out of the eyeshadows are Duplex from the Santa Baby collection, Calliope, Comet and Vixen. My favorite blushes are Flamingo from the Pink Inc collection and Racy from the Taboo collection. But really, I don't think you can go wrong with any of their products, and when they have their super-gracious sales, it's hard to pass up the great colors at low prices. I'll definitely be shopping at Meow Cosmetics again soon!

Stay Fabulous!