Zoya Mystery Shades Review and Swatches

Back in the beginning of January Zoya ran a "New Year, New Hue" promo where you could get three polishes plus a set of three mini "Mystery Shades" for only the price of shipping ($15).  I jumped at the offer because I wanted to grab a few Pixie Dust shades before they were retired, plus I was curious about the mystery set, because the shades were selected by Zoya's creative director and were never available for purchase previously.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by See, Shop, Love!

I had been frantically searching the web for any spoilers about what the mystery shades were and I was bummed when I couldn't find any.  I just got my order today, though, and I wanted to share the trio with everyone in case someone else was just as curious as I was!

I just did some hasty swatching, but from left-to-right, the shades are: Charlotte, Severine, and Anais.  Charlotte is the only creme of the bunch, and it's got yellow undertones.  Severine is a gold shimmer, and Anais is a very dark brown shimmer with gold undertones.  I'm not sure if Zoya will be releasing these as full-sized shades in the future.

Bottom Line: I am a huge fan of the Zoya brand, but to be honest I don't love these polishes.  The formula is as great as it always is, but the colors are so bland and boring!  I guess the gold shimmer is fun, but I already have a bunch of polishes that are very similar.  The other two are not shades I would pick out on my own.  That being said, I'm still glad I took advantage of this deal because getting three full-sized Zoyas for only $15 is a steal!

What do you think of the Mystery Shades?  Did you purchase any Zoyas during this promo?

Beyond Polish Spring Review, Part II

Beyond Polish is a nail polish addict's paradise.  They have an extensive collection of polishes from various brands, as well as gels, acrylic supplies, tools, and much more.  Their new releases for spring include the OPI MLB Fashion Plate and Muppets Most Wanted collections.  They sent me five polishes to review, three of which I reviewed in my Part I post.

I requested two Jessica Cosmetics polishes for this review, one creme and one shimmer.  This one is obviously the creme; it's called Windsor Castle and it is a rich, gorgeous plum shade.  I love purple polishes and this one did not disappoint.  The formula was very smooth and glided on easily without any streaking.  It was fully opaque after two coats.  I was really impressed with Jessica Cosmetics after trying these polishes (see the first one in my Part I review), so I will definitely be purchasing more from them in the future.

China Glaze is one of my favorite nail polish brands, and their "Tranzitions" line was one that I hadn't tried before.  This shade is Shape Shifter, and it's a dark gray shade with a muted shimmer effect.  The fun thing about these polishes is that when you apply a top coat the color changes.  This one changes from the gray to a dark blue.  The difference is a bit difficult to pick up in the photo below, but I tried my best to get an accurately colored swatch picture.

The first and third nails (from left to right) are painted with a top coat, and the second and fourth are not.  I think the top coat blue/purple shade is most apparent in the first nail, and you can see in the second nail that without the top coat the polish is more gray.

• Visit Beyond Polish's website to view their full inventory and new spring releases

Bottom Line: I was very pleased with both of these polishes.  I highly recommend shopping at Beyond Polish, with so many products to choose from I'm sure everyone can find something to suit their fancy!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette Review and Swatches

My friend Linze spoiled me for my birthday this year and bought me the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, and I couldn't thank her enough!  She knows I'm obsessed with neutral eyeshadows and that I shop cruelty-free, so the thoughtfulness behind this gift made it all the more special to me.

When I first learned of this palette's existence, I thought it was called "Chocolate Bar" because it contained a lot of browns and other neutrals, but then I learned that it's also so-called because the shadows are mixed with actual cocoa powder!  I think that is so fun and unique, and you can definitely tell that they have cocoa powder in them because I can actually smell it in the shadows.

The outer packaging of the palette is a sturdy tin that's shaped to look like a candy bar.  As you can see from the first photo in this post, the inside has a mirror on the upper flap and 16 shades inside.  There is a plastic sheet covering the shadows with their respective names; I wish they had instead included the names underneath the shadows on the actual palette, but this works too.

The eight shades on the left side of the palette are perfect for classic neutral looks.  The shimmers have great pigmentation and are really soft, but one (small) complaint I have about this palette is that the mattes are just the slightest bit chalky and don't have as good of a color payoff as the shimmers.  I mostly use the mattes as blending shades, though, so it's not too big of a problem for me.

The right side of the palette has colors that are a bit more adventurous.  My favorite eyeshadow in the palette is "Amaretto," the one in the third column, second row.  It's a deep, rich, brown shimmer with hints of red and I just think it's absolutely gorgeous.  My least favorite is "Strawberry Bon Bon," first column, second row.  It's a bright pink matte that's very chalky and not flattering on my skin tone.  It's the only one in the palette I probably won't use often, but the others will all get a lot of use.

Bottom Line: I give this palette a 9 out of 10!  I love (almost) all of the colors, especially the shimmers, and I also think it's really fun that they're made with cocoa powder.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

See my swatches after the "read more."

Beyond Polish Review and Swatches - Zoya and China Glaze!

If you're a nail polish addict like I am, you need to check out Beyond Polish.  They're a small, online store that sells tons of different nail polishes, and when they contacted me to see if I was interested in doing a review I jumped at the chance!

Beyond Polish carries gift sets, gel polish, regular nail lacquer, acrylic supplies, and various nail care and spa products.  They have lots of popular brands, including my personal favorite, Zoya.  They also carry plenty of colors from brands like Essie, China Glaze, and more.

The first color I picked was Cosmic Dust by China Glaze, from their Spring/Summer 2013 Hologram collection.  I had been coveting the holos in this line for a while, so when I saw that they were available at the Beyond Polish site I knew I had to try one!  Have you seen that video of the guy talking about Five Guys (the songified version)?  All I could think when I swatched this polish was, "This is how holos are supposed to be!"  The photo above doesn't do it justice at all.  I tried my best to capture how absolutely shimmery and perfect and wonderful it was, but I promise that it's 10 times more gorgeous in person!  As with all China Glaze polishes, this one had a great formula that applied evenly and smoothly.

My second polish was Put A Bow On It, also by China Glaze, from their Happi HoliGlaze 2013 holiday collection.  As you can see, it's a slightly textured microglitter in a gorgeous shade of fuschia.  I really liked the other swatches I had seen of this polish, and it did not disappoint once I tried it myself.  I would definitely recommend using a pure acetone remover with this one, though.  Even with the pure acetone it was difficult to remove, but it's so beautiful that I think it's well worth the effort!

I had to choose a Zoya polish as my last pick, and I went with LC from the Summer 2008 Gossip collection.  All of the polishes in that collection are named after members of the cast of The Hills, which is a show I loved to watch when I was in high school.  This polish is a bright coral/orange that had been on my wish list for a while.  Zoya is my favorite brand because they're vegan-friendly, big five free, and cruelty-free.  Their formula is also the best I've ever used: application is so smooth and you don't need many coats for it to be opaque (the photo above is with two).  My only gripe about this polish is that when I removed it, it left a lot of staining around my cuticles; but it was nothing that an extra swipe of polish remover couldn't take care of.

• Visit Beyond Polish and browse their full line of products

Bottom Line: I am so glad I was introduced to Beyond Polish and I will definitely be shopping there again in the future!  I think all polish lovers should check it out, because they have a broad range of products and colors.  They're also currently advertising a 10% off coupon: use epkb4 at checkout!

*Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Beyond Polish.  I received no monetary compensation.

Cargo Cosmetics The Mediterranean Kit Review and Swatches

I decided to finally use my $10 credit at Rue La La and treat myself to something I really love: new makeup! I had never used Cargo Cosmetics before, so when they had the Mediterranean Kit on sale for only $19 I had to snatch it up, and I'm really glad that I did!

This kit retails for $34, so the price I got it at was a steal.  I like getting kits like this, even though I don't really need them, because I like to try different types of products all at once (especially from a brand that's new to me).  Here's what the kit includes:

• Blush - Mendocino, .31 oz
• Eye Shadow Duo, .12 oz
• Better-Than-Waterproof Mascara, .33 oz
• Swimmables Waterproof Eye Pencil - Teal, .028 oz
• Lip Gloss - Morocco, .105 oz

My favorite item is definitely the Eye Shadow Duo.  The shadows themselves don't have names, but it's a great brown and gold combination inside of the pan.  My everyday makeup for work consists of those colors, which is one of the main reasons why I decided on this kit (Rue La La had a few up for sale).

I also really enjoy the Swimmables eyeliner.  I've heard a lot of great things about them, so I was excited to finally try one out for myself.  It definitely didn't disappoint - the color glides on incredibly smoothly and is nice and vibrant.  I haven't actually worn it yet, though, so I can't comment on how long it stays on for.

The Mendocino Blush is absolutely gorgeous.  At first I wasn't sure if I would like it since it's darker than what I usually use (The Balm's "Hot Mama,"), but I think it looks really flattering.  I have medium skin with yellow undertones, and the little gold flecks in the blush really make it complimentary to my tone.  I have to apply it with a light hand, though, because it is very pigmented.

As far as the Better-Than-Waterproof Mascara and the Morocco Lip Gloss, I could take them or leave them.  The lip gloss is actually a really beautiful shade and I do enjoy it, I just don't get too excited about lip glosses in general.  This one has a nice formula and doesn't feel sticky at all, which is nice.  The mascara is probably my least favorite item.  I'm picky about my mascaras, and this one doesn't really do much for my lashes.  They're on the short side and tend to stick straight out, thanks to my Korean genes, so I need a mascara that adds more volume and length.

Bottom Line: I am so happy with this kit!  All of the color products are wonderfully pigmented and really great quality.  I would definitely recommend them to everyone.  The cosmetic bag it all came in is an added bonus, and I adore the little dolphin charm on the zipper (you can see it clearly in the first photo of this post).

Check out more photos of the packaging behind the "read more."

March Square Hue "O'Hue" Collection Review

This post is coming a little late and I apologize for that; I've gotten a bit behind on my blogging but I'm queuing up some posts tonight to get back on track.  I received my second Square Hue collection this month, but it's my first official shipment that I paid for since February's box was sent to me to review.

I was really excited for the O'Hue Collection because green is my favorite color, and I knew that they pretty much had to include some green shades for the St. Patrick's Day theme.  I liked the colors this month, but I didn't love them as much as I was hoping to.

I was kind of hoping that the box would have more than one green shade, but I guess that would be redundant of them.  I did like that they used the colors of the Irish flag (kind of), however; I didn't care for the titles of the polishes.  I know that, for the most part, St. Patrick's Day just means drinking to most Americans.  My nationality is South Korean but I was adopted into an Irish-American family, and one of my pet peeves is that it's just a day for people to drink and go crazy.  That's not the only thing Irish people should be known for!  Ah, sorry for the mini-rant -- back to the polishes.

What I do love about Square Hue's polishes is that their formula is just amazing.  The brush is the perfect size and the polishes glide on incredibly smoothly.  Right now I only have Patty's Pint swatched, which you can see below (left is with flash, right is without).  It's a dark forest-green with hints of shimmer.  Amber Lager is a copper shimmer, and Blond Ale is a light cream/gold shimmer.  I would have liked to have had at least one matte in the collection, but I do love my shimmers, too.

 

Bottom Line: I'm still loving Square Hue's polishes and I think that for $21 a month this service is a steal.  The polishes are high quality and also cruelty-free.  Learn more and sign up by clicking here.

*Disclaimer: I purchased this and was not asked to review it.  I received no compensation for this review and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.

Square Hue Review (February's Box)

I recently found Square Hue in my wanderings around the world of subscription services, and I'm in love!  I am a nail polish addict (even though I don't post swatches that often), and I change my nail color at least twice a week.  My cuticles don't like it, but I just love buying up new colors.  I've tried the one main nail polish subscription that you're probably thinking of and I didn't care for it at all.  I have been hoping for one with high-quality polishes to make its debut, and it's finally here: Square Hue!

Square Hue kindly sent me their February collection to review, and I can't gush enough about it.  Most importantly, the formula is amazing.  The polishes glided on so smoothly and were sufficiently opaque in three coats.  The brush is a good size, not too long like that other service (sorry to keep bringing them up, but Square Hue is just so much better than them), and the colors themselves are beautiful.

February's collection is titled Vintage Love, obviously for Valentine's Day.  They could have just stopped there, since the shades are pinks and reds and that makes sense, but I am really loving how much they tied the names into the theme, too.  Maybe it's the former English major in me, but the way they really tied the theme through is just fantastic.  The names tell a story, as do the colors--"High School Crush" is an innocent pink cream, "Wartime Romance" is a bit darker fuschia/pink cream, and "Dear John" is a vampy, dark red shimmer.  The colors progress in maturity, and the fact that it ends with "Dear John" instead of a happy ending is really clever.  If you don't know what Dear John letter is, it was when a soldier would receive a letter (especially during the WWII era) that their girl back home was leaving them.

I already mentioned how great the formula was, but I also really like the design of the bottles.  They're .5 ounces, so the standard size for most polishes.  I think they would look really pretty on display; I like the simple but bold "hue" logo.

Bottom Line: I am in. love. with Square Hue!  Here is everything you need to know about the service, aside from what I've written above:

• The service costs $21/month, including shipping.  They currently only ship to the continental U.S.
• You can cancel at any time, and also suspend your account (skip a month).
• Each collection is only sent out that month--they currently do not have a shop where you can purchase past colors.  So each polish you get is a limited edition!
• Cruelty-free, Big 3 Free (DBP, Formaldehyde, Toluene), and camphor-free
• Made in the USA
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr

Check out my swatches after the "read-more!"

Earth's Beauty Eyeshadow Review and Swatches

I received three Earth's Beauty eyeshadow samples in my January Daily Dose of Green box, and I was really excited to try them because I love trying new natural cosmetics.  I didn't get around to swatching them as soon as I originally though I would, but my review is finally here.

The shades I received were, from left to right in the above photo: Moonstone, Lavender Dust, and Pebble. I really wanted to love them because, like I said, I enjoy supporting companies that use natural ingredients.  Earth's Beauty developed their mineral cosmetics for those who have sensitive skin or allergies to traditional cosmetics, and they use ingredients such as arrowroot and iron oxides.  They contain no titanium dioxide or nano particles.

Even though I tried to love these eyeshadows, I have to be honest and say that they were not for me.  I found them to be too loose and difficult to work with, which is due to the arrowroot mentioned above.  I think the loose quality would work well in a face powder, but not so much in these eyeshadows.  It was difficult for me to even swatch them; they didn't have very good color payoff.

Moonstone is a very light yellow, and it's difficult to see in the swatch because it's pretty close to my skin color and undertones.  Lavender Dust reads more as a maroon than a purple, which wasn't what I expected since it looks pretty purple in the jar.  Pebble is a nice gray, which I think would work well in a smokey eye look.

Bottom Line: I wouldn't purchase these eyeshadows, but I would be willing to try other Earth's Beauty products.  I like that when they say they use only natural ingredients, they mean it (and that they are cruelty-free).  I would definitely try their lip glazes and face powders.

theBalm Nude 'Tude Palette Review and Swatches

I bought theBalm's Nude 'Tude palette from HauteLook and it finally arrived today!  This is the second palette I bought from HauteLook, the first being the Urban Decay BOS IV.  I like getting them on flash sale sites because they're deeply discounted, but it does take a few weeks for them to ship.  I'd say it was worth the wait, though!

The palette's outer packaging

I've always liked neutral eyeshadows best (I never could pull of the vibrant eye look), and only recently did I realize that there are entire palettes of neutral shades.  I know, I'm a late bloomer.  But with a full time paycheck came lots more spending money than I was ever used to, so I am now indulging my cosmetics-obsessed side with lots and lots of eyeshadow!  This palette retails for $36 on theBalm's website.  It has 12 shades and comes with a shadow/liner brush.  After taxes and shipping, mine from HauteLook cost me $31, so I still saved $5.

As you can see, the palette is rectangular in 2-D terms and has a mirror on the top flap.  It secures shut with a magnet, and it's pretty strong so I'm not worried about this ever flying open unexpectedly.  The shadows themselves have cute names, and the pans cover the racier bits of the nude women on the palette.  This is the "Feeling Naughty" version, due to the nude women, but I don't think there's anything overly-racy about the design.  The "Feeling Nice" version has a background of a bedroom and no women, but that one is currently out of stock on theBalm's site.

One thing I noticed right away was that one of the names of the shadows is different than versions I have seen before.  My palette has a shade named "Seductive," which was "Schitzo" in previous versions.  It may seem like a minor detail, but I think it's nice that theBalm changed the name because I felt that "Schitzo" was a little, well, rude, considering that mental health issues really aren't something to joke about.

I am really pleased with the quality of these shadows.  There is a nice mix of mattes and shimmers, so you can play around with different textures.  What I liked the most is that they feel so silky on application--I really noticed this when I swatched them using my finger.  They're incredibly smooth and apply well.  The color payoff on all of them was exceptional, except for maybe "Sassy."  But then again, that one is white, so maybe it isn't supposed to be as strong.

Bottom Line: For $31, I'm glad I picked up this palette!  It would even be worth it for the full price, especially compared to some other palettes out there.  The quality is great, the color selection is nice and varied, and so is the texture selection.  Overall, I think this is a good option for someone who wants to play around with neutrals without having to spend a ton of money.

Check out my swatches and close-up photos behind the cut.

Zoya Jem vs. Zoya Valerie

I recently won a giveaway for four Zoya nail polishes which was awesome because I'm a Zoya addict!  "Valerie" had been on my list to buy for a while, so this was a great opportunity for me to grab her.  I saw Temptalia's swatch and thought she was so pretty, and I especially loved the black base.

Valerie was the first of the four polishes I chose that I painted on when I received them, and I was disappointed with what I found.  She's still a beautiful color, but in my eyes she's almost identical to Jem, which I already own.  I was glad that I at least didn't pay for the polish, but had I realized they were so similar I would have picked a different shade.

These photos might not be the best guides, but the only visible difference between Jem and Valerie is that Valerie has a blacker base, and even then it's hard to tell unless you really look up-close.

Bottom Line: Valerie and Jem aren't exact dupes (I don't think Zoya would ever do that to us), but they're so similar that I don't think there's any need to buy both of them.  If you want a redder base, go with Jem; if you want a black base, go with Valerie.  Either way, you're getting a beautiful purple polish with great shimmer!

Balmbini Vol. 2 Review and Swatches

I was lucky to win a giveaway that included theBalm's Balmbini Vol. 2 recently, and I was really happy because I've fallen in love with theBalm.  Of the products I've used, I feel that they're very high-quality and underrated.

At the theBalm website, the Balmbini palettes (there are two volumes) are described as "The Babies of theBalm."  I'm not really sure why they call them that, but I think it sounds cute nonetheless.  Volume 1 is currently sold out on the site, so you'll have to look elsewhere if you're interested in purchasing it.  These palettes retail for $28, which I think is a very fair price considering what's included.

The products in the Vol. 2 palette are:

• Promiscuous Pearl Highlighter/Shadow
• Jinxy Jasmyne Shadow/Liner
• Manic Maribel, Open to Offers Olwen, and Lavish Latoya Shadow/Liners
• Strawberry Lip/Cheek Cream
• Nude Lip Gloss

My favorite is Manic Maribel because I love gold, shimmery shadows.  Lavish Latoya is also a really fun shade.  I don't think I'll use Open to Offers Olwen, but it's still a beautiful and vibrant shade.

I think that the pigmentation and color payoff on these shadows is very nice.  Olwen and Latoya were a bit less pigmented than Maribel.  All of these shadows are shimmers, so if you're looking for different textures you won't find them with this palette.

I have to get a good eyeliner brush before I can use Jinxy Jasmine, but I definitely love it!  I take back my statement in the above paragraph--this is a matte shadow, but it's jet black, so I personally wouldn't use it on my eyes other than as a liner.  But I know a lot of people like to play around with black shadows so I think they'd be happy with the payoff on this one.  I'm on the fence about the two lip colors.  The Nude shade doesn't look good on me at all, it's too light.  Strawberry, however, gives a nice wash of color, but if you want a bright pop of pink you'll have to layer quite a lot on.

Bottom Line: For $28, I think the Balmbini Vol. 2 palette is a really good value.  There is a good mixture of shades, but a majority of them are shimmers so if you want texture you might want to look elsewhere.  The two lip colors are nice, but nothing fantastic.  Overall, if you're looking for a fun and affordable palette, theBalm's Balmbini is a great place to start!

Urban Decay Naked Palette Review

Just when I thought I had all the Urban Decay eyeshadow I'd need for a while (see my BOS IV review here), my boyfriend surprised me with the Naked palette!  He gifted it to me this past weekend and I was, of course, very excited and thankful.  He knew I had been lusting after it because I'd always drag him into Sephora while we were at the mall so I could drool over it.  I chose Naked over Naked 2 because I just like the shade selection better.

Yes, you can tell in these photos that I used the shadows.  You really didn't expect me to wait to use it, did you?  You also may be thinking, "Why bother?  Everyone has seen the Naked palette already."  Very true, but I just wanted to be able to write about it because I'm so excited to have it!

The palette came with a Good Karma Shadow Brush and a mini Eyeshadow Primer Potion (the old packaging).  I LOVE THIS BRUSH.  The bristles are extremely soft.  I haven't yet invested in a good set of brushes (I know, I know, I really should), but now I'm definitely swayed toward purchasing some from the Good Karma line.  My only complaint about the brush is that sometimes the less-pigmented shadows don't have as much payoff; for those I prefer to use my finger to just smudge it onto my lids.

I haven't swatched the individual shadows yet, but I plan to.  The palette comes with: Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, and Gunmetal.  My hands-down favorite shade is Half Baked because I love gold and glittery.  I'm also loving Gunmetal and Creep, both of which I wasn't quite sure I would like to begin with.

Bottom Line: If you love neutrals like me, I would recommend investing in this palette.  It's a bit pricey ($50), but worth the splurge if you can afford it.  The shades, as a whole, have good color payoff, so you won't need to use a lot.  The brush and primer potion are added bonuses, which I think helps to add to the value.  There is also a decent mix of shimmers and mattes, so you can play with texture as well as color.

I have up-close photos of the palette and swatches behind the cut.

theBalm Eyeshadow Swatches

Yesterday I posted a giveaway for a Hot Ticket nail polish and Balm Shelter lip gloss that were a part of my Black Tie Kit that I recently bought, and today I bring you swatches of the other items.

• Shady Lady Eyeshadow in Caught in the Act Courtney and Shameless Shana
• Overshadow Shimmery Mineral Shadow in No Money, No Honey
• Hot Mama! Shadow and Blush

I've been wearing all of these for the past few days and I love them all.  I've only used Hot Mama! as a blush, but it's a gorgeous pink/peach color that would look great on the eyes as well.  Just a light dusting along my cheekbones is enough; the color payoff is quite nice.

I'm really loving the Overshadow Mineral Shadow because it's so glittery and gorgeous.  It's definitely a "fun" shade, a light gold. I like to use it along my brow bone and in the inner corners of my eyes.  It's in one of those jars that has the three small holes inside, though, which I think are messy and kind of annoying.  I'd prefer the pressed format, but I guess most mineral products aren't packaged that way.

Lastly, the Shady Lady shadows.  Caught in the Act Courtney (top) is a deep, warm brown with flecks of gold glitter, and Shameless Shana (bottom) is a rust-brown/gold shimmer.  I like both of them because they're appropriate enough for work, but they're still really fun to wear.  Since they came in a set that was meant to be used all together, they obviously layer perfectly over each other.

Bottom Line: I'm so glad I was able to snag this kit for only $13 (at Marshalls), because I think theBalm products are excellent.  I'm happy with the color payoff on the shadows, and they have pretty good staying power -- although I've only worn them with eyeshadow primer, so I'm not sure how long they last without.

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV Review and Swatches

My BOS IV is here!  There probably isn't a soul in the world (who is interested in makeup, that is) that hasn't already seen a million swatches of the Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, but I can at least give my opinion and insight on the palette.

I snagged the palette for only $24 ($31 after tax and shipping) from Hautelook, which made me really happy because it retailed for $63 when it was first released.  The Hautelook sale is long over, but you can find these in the sale section of UrbanDecay.com for only $29 right now.

I read a few reviews before deciding to get the BOS IV, and they were pretty mixed.  Some loved it, some felt that it didn't live up to previous palettes.  My opinion lies somewhere in between -- I've never owned any Urban Decay shadows before, so I like it a little better than some others may simply because it's my first experience with the brand and I'm excited about it.  I really like Urban Decay because they're cruelty-free.  But I can see where some others who have more experience with the brand might feel that it was less-than-stellar, because the color payoff on some of the shadows isn't as nice as I was hoping for.

Here are all of the shades.  As you can see, my "Midnight Cowgirl" shade is chipped; the palette arrived damaged like that.  I could have returned it for a refund, but I don't think I could have gotten an exchange so I figured I would just keep it.  What I liked most about this palette is the variety of colors.  There are some gorgeous neutrals, as well as some fun and bright shades.  For only $30, I couldn't pass it up.  The palette also comes with travel-sized Supercurl Curling Mascara and Eyeshadow Primer Potion, and a full-sized 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner.  Oh and it came with a mini-speaker and a card with QR codes on it that had tutorials.  I don't have a smartphone (I know, I'm practically prehistoric!), so I can't access the tutorials, and the speaker is nothing special (sound quality kind of sucks).

Check out my swatches and more info behind the read more.

The All Natural Face Mineral Eyeshadow Review and Swatches

My favorite item from my March Eco-Emi box was hands-down the two vegan mineral eyeshadows from The All Natural Face!  The samples were tiny, but they have excellent color payoff so a little went a long way.

The shadows I received are swatched above.  On the left is Rose Gold and on the right is Peach Ice.  I feel like I really lucked out with the random selection I received because they go beautifully together!  Rose Gold has a bit more of a purple-ish tint than the photo shows, but the swatch of Peach Ice is pretty much spot-on.  I applied Peach Ice all over my lid up to my browbone, and then used Rose Gold to define in my crease and eyelid.

I love these eyeshadows!  The Eco-Emi box also came with a 15% off coupon, which is awesome because I will definitely be buying more shadows once my samples run out.  A 5 gram jar (approx 2 g. of powder) costs $3.50 and 10 gram jar (approx 5 g. of powder) will cost you $6.50.  Can't really argue with those prices, even without a discount!  They are available in a variety of shades, both shimmery and matte.  The two I tried are both in the shimmer collection.  The All Natural Face has a multitude of cosmetics to choose from, ranging from lip gloss to mascara, and they even have a line of body care products.

• Browse the entire line of products by The All Natural Face

Bottom Line: The All Natural Face has found a new fan in me.  Based on these two samples, I highly recommend these eyeshadows to anyone and everyone.  The quality is superb, as are the prices.  Best yet, they're vegan and cruelty free!

*Disclaimer: I received these two eyeshadow samples in my March Eco-Emi box, which I paid for with my own money.  I was not asked to review these shadows by The All Natural Face and was not compensated in any way.  The honest opinions here are entirely my own.