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!

Darling Girl feat. Vicar in a Tutu

It wouldn't be normal if I went more than a month without purchasing something from Darling Girl. :} So without further ado, here are the swatches! If you're looking for specs on sizes, amounts, etc, refer to any of my previous posts here, here and here. The pictures below show my full-size Vicar in a Tutu, petit-size How Soon is Now, and two free sample baggies.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

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

{Photographed in natural light}

{Photographed in natural light}

{Photographed in natural light}

{Photographed in natural light}

{Photographed in natural light}

{Photographed with a flash}

{Photographed with a flash, blurred to show sparkle}

:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

I wish I could have captured the awesomeness that is Vicar in a Tutu. It's part of the Darling Grrl! collection, and looks even better in person than it does in any picture I've seen. It's a gorgeous shimmering pearl with a light green shift and a very duochrome-like finish. I wear it a lot, and always take it with me when I travel out of town. The other three eyeshadows are lovely as well — you really can't go wrong with any Darling Girl products. :}

Stay Fabulous!

Detrivore Cosmetics: Review | Swatches

Finally, it's time for my Detrivore review/swatches! And it's just in time for their awesome 10 for $20 sale {on full-size jars!}... so let's get to the good stuff.

:::  THE SPECS  :::

I ordered way back when... probably in February. I ordered during a sale, so the prices I paid are not the "normal" prices — so I'll list the non-sale prices for the products.

:::  (3) Full-size eyeshadows at $4.00 each for 5g jars {I got the 3 for $10 deal}
:::  (9) Sample baggies at $1.00 each — not sure how much product, but I know it's quite a bit more than other companies' samples.

TAT is currently 1-20 days, which is normal. Shipping costs $3.00 for orders under $50 {U.S.} and $5.00 internationally. U.S. orders over $50 receive free shipping.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

Swatched over Darling Girl Glitter Glue, under warm white lighting. Pictures are clickable to enlarge.

{Photographed under warm white lighting - please excuse the goosebumps once again}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed with a flash}

{Photographed with a flash, blurred to show sparkles}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed with a flash}

{Photographed with a flash, blurred to show sparkle}

{Photographed with a flash, blurred to show sparkle}

:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

My favorites of the bunch are Dust Bunny, Muse, Scar, Luna and Mildew. Topiary is a color that I have heard about from many fellow customers who absolutely love it. It's a nice neutral, but it just wasn't my kind of color. I've seen many great EOTD looks done with Topiary, so if you're looking for a well-loved neutral, I know it's highly recommended. All of the eyeshadows applied like butta — soft and silky, great pigmentation, little fallout. A dream to work with! Detrivore has something for everyone, and it doesn't stop at eyeshadows; check out the lip glosses, blushes, primers and more!

Stay Fabulous!

Victorian Disco: Review | Swatches

I made a purchase with Victorian Disco Cosmetics a while back, after seeing some swatches of "Atrophine" {which you'll see below} on another blog. Here are the deets!

:::  THE SPECS  :::

I ordered five mini jars of eyeshadow for $2.00 each, and one full-size jar for $4.50. Each mini jar comes with approx. 1 gram of product, and full-size jars come with approx. 2 grams of product. I also received two baggie samples for free. You can also order baggie samples for $1.00 each. Shipping is $3.00 for domestic orders in the U.S., $6.00 internationally, or $1.50 for orders consisting of just sample baggies, world-wide. If you live in the U.S. and spend more than $35.00 you get free shipping.

My order was sent out only two days after processing, and I received it in about 3 days, for a total of 5 days from the time I submitted the order to the time I received it.

:::  THE PICTURES  :::

Swatched over Darling Girl Glitter Glue and photographed under warm lighting. Pictures are clickable to enlarge.

{Mini jars come without sifters, and the full sizes have sifters included}

{Photographed under warm white lighting - please ignore my goosebumps, apparently I was chilly!}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed under warm white lighting}

{Photographed with a flash}

{Photographed with a flash, blurred to show sparkles}

:::  THE OPINIONS  :::

The stand-outs for me were "The Force, Use It" and "Archduchess." The former is described on the company's website as a light green with a purple/red sheen, but I see a minty seafoam color with a soft pink shift. Depending on the light, you could definitely see it in a variety of different ways. "Archduchess" is described as a dusty purple with violet, gold and blue sheen. I see it as more of a gunmetal gray with a purple sheen and gold and blue sparkles. Very lovely either way!

After browsing the website again, I've noticed quite a few new colors that have been added since I last ordered {which was a few months ago}, so I may have to place another order when the shop is up and running again. The owner is on a break right now, so you can view the products and create a shopping cart, but you can't check out. I assume it's only temporary, based on the note on the homepage. Keep an eye out for the company's reopening!

Stay Fabulous!

Here, There & Everywhere

I've been meaning to get back to my blog this week, as I took a much-needed hiatus the last few weeks to focus on school and work. Lots going on, the most important of which revolves around my job/career and my future with my current company. I've been holding my breath for almost a week now, waiting for decisions to be made and for people who know nothing about me to decide my professional future. It's really great. *sarcasm*

So my unplanned hiatus took place right in the middle of my fashion/beauty photo challenge, which means I have a LOT of catching up to do. I'll be picking up where I left off, around day 11 or so. Look for those posts to begin again this week. :} I also have a shitton of reviews and swatches to share, which I'm hoping to have underway yet today. I'd like to have a good amount of them done before classes resume on July 9th. Only three classes left until I have my master's degree, and I'm getting really antsy about it. After December I'll have so much free time for blogging, I won't know what to do with it!

I also want to thank those of you who sent me your positive vibes over the weekend, after I requested happy thoughts via one of the FB makeup groups I'm in. While it's not over yet, and I'm still in need of those good thoughts, it's been much appreciated and I know that it's working. It just has to.

Hope everyone is doing well, with lots of peace and makeup to go around. :}

Stay Fabulous!