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."

Studio Gear Cosmetics Holiday Smokey Eye Palette Review and Swatches

The Studio Gear Cosmetics brand was new to me prior to this review.  I was interested in reviewing their Holiday Smokey Eye Palette because I thought the eyeshadow shades were really pretty, and I had read good things about them from other reviews.

The palette's packaging consists simply of an outer sleeve, pictured above.  The actual palette cover is a simple black, white, and gray, which I was actually a little disappointed in.  Overall the packaging isn't too big of a deal to me, but I think it would have been fun if they kept the design consistent with the bokeh lighting on the outer sleeve, especially for a holiday product.

The palette contains four eyeshadows and one blush, which could also double as an eyeshadow if you wanted it to.  The shades are (going clockwise from top left): Platinum, Frost, Glimmer, and Coal, and the blush is Snowy Glow.  Well, at least, that's how they're listed on the inner flap (pictured below).  I think this is mislabeled, though, and that the order should actually be: Platinum, Coal, Glimmer, and Frost.  This caused me a brief moment of confusion when trying to recreate the look they have on the inner flap, but I'm pretty certain I'm correct in thinking that it was mislabeled.

I think this look is perfect for a holiday party, or really for any night out.  It's a little too dark for my work routine, but I had fun playing around with the different shadows when trying to recreate this.  My eyes are monolids, so shading in the crease doesn't work quite as well for me, but I can definitely adapt it to fit my eye shape.

Here are swatches of the eyeshadows without primer (I neglected to swatch the blush, sorry!).  As you can see, they aren't very pigmented, which I found to be very disappointing.  Their texture was very chalky, and I had to build up the swatches with three or four swipes of the shadow.  Applying these with my brushes was almost pointless since they barely picked up any color.  Applying them with my fingers worked better for pigmentation, but then of course you lose the precision of a brush.  Overall, I was not pleased with these shadows.

• Purchase a Holiday Smokey Eye Palette on the Studio Gear website (currently on sale for $25).  Use code SGHOLIDAY for 10% off; this coupon never expires.
• The palette will also be available at select ULTA locations starting this month!
• Enter the Studio Gear Cosmetics "Holiday Hottie" contest to win even more free makeup!

Bottom Line: I wouldn't say I loved this palette, but I wouldn't completely disregard it, either.  I think it's a good starter palette for people who are just getting into makeup, and it has fun colors to play around with.  I do wish that the shadows had a smoother texture and more pigmentation.

*Disclaimer: This post is powered by BrandBacker

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.

Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow Review

A few months ago I happened upon Dragonfly Beauty Blog, a fantastic blog with plentiful natural beauty resources.  Tiffany, who writes the blog, hosts monthly "Green Your Routine" giveaways that feature high quality natural beauty items, and I was lucky enough to win the September giveaway (you can view the package here, if you're interested).  I was obviously very excited to have won, especially because there were a bunch of new brands in the package for me to discover.  I was already familiar with Tatcha and Revolution Organics, but a new favorite emerged: Alima Pure.

The two shadows I received in this package were Aubergine and Opal.  Aubergine is a gorgeous purple and Opal is a shimmery white.  I had heard of Alima Pure in the past but had never tried any of their products.  I'm so glad I was introduced to these eyeshadows because they're amazing!

Aubergine is on the left and Opal is on the right in the above swatches.  Clearly you can see how great their pigmentation and color payoff are.  I love anything purple, so Aubergine is so perfect for me.  I don't know if I'll use Opal as often, but when I do need a good highlighter color it's an excellent choice.  Since it is so very pigmented, though, you only need a very little (meaning the 2.5 grams will last you a long time!).  These shadows also have a silky texture and apply easily and evenly, both with fingers and with a brush.  I like to pair Aubergine with gold for a fun weekend look.

Another reason to love Alima Pure is because they're certified cruelty-free by PETA.  The shadows are made in the USA and contain only five ingredients, mainly mica.  The others are naturally-occurring oxides that may be byproducts, I'm assuming--given the "may contain" disclaimer.

• Visit Alima Pure's website and view their entire line of products
• Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

Bottom Line: I think these two eyeshadows by Alima Pure are amazing, and I can't wait to buy more!  They retail for $12.50 and are available in 46 different colors.

Check out more photos after the cut.

Stila In The Know Palette Review

I recently won a giveaway for a Sephora gift card, and I had it in my mind to treat myself to a Stila palette since I had never tried their eyeshadows before.  When it came time to spend it, though, I talked myself out of the palette because I thought, "I don't need another palette."  But then I realized that I don't actually need any makeup, so I went ahead and got what I wanted!

I have heard great things about Stila before, and I really wanted to get their "Stylish In Seoul" palette because that's where I was born, but it was out of stock online and my gift card was an e-gift code.  My second choice was the "In The Moment" palette because I love purples, but I ultimately chose the In The Know palette because it's new to their collection and is made up of all mattes.  I usually gravitate toward shimmers, but I wanted to try something different.  The shades are also really gorgeous.

The palette retails for $39 and comes with 10 shadows and a full-sized Smudge Stick.  I was drawn to the shades because they're all "Earth-inspired," and I have an affinity for neutrals.  So I guess this is the third neutral palette I've acquired, but they make me happy!

Another aspect of this palette that I really liked was that it came with a little booklet that contained tutorials for six looks.  These shades can definitely be worn to work and played up for night.  For work I used Air, Clay, and Earth.  I think Clay is my favorite color in the palette because it's so pretty; it's slightly peachier than my skin tone so I just love the way it looks all over my lid.  The shadows apply decently with a brush, but when I swatched them I noticed that they didn't feel as soft as I had envisioned them to be.  By "soft" I mean that I was expecting a really smooth application, and in reality their color payoff wasn't as solid as I was hoping for (Fire is definitely the most pigmented).  I have yet to try the Smudge Stick (shade: Halfmoon), but I did swatch it on my hand out of curiosity and it applies super smoothly!

Bottom Line: I think this is my second-favorite neutral palette that I have in my collection.  The colors go together very well and I like that it comes with a full-sized Smudge Stick, too.  I would recommend this for someone who wants a great set of eyeshadows but might not want to pay as much as some other palettes cost.

Check out my swatches after the cut!

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.

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.