Affordable Eyeshadow Palettes

I’m usually very skeptical of uber cheap cosmetics. Why should 28 colors ever cost under three dollars? What did they save money on? Was it color? Quality? Safety? Packaging? What’s the secret!?!MyOwnJudgeMy last trip to Walgreen’s had me come face to face with a Profusion wallet palette, retailing for $2.99. My suspicions were only halfway put to rest by my previous experience with the brand and their lipgloss, and I thought the brand may be a sister company (or even the same?) to the Profound $5.00 palette. Plus, I thought, how much damage can you do with $2.99 I already decided to spend on unneeded items like gum and chocolate (I put them down in favor of cosmetics!)?MyOwnJudgeThe beauty wallets are very space friendly and boast a plethora of different colors. The wallets are in various color combinations and correspond to the color of the packaging. I purchased the violet and lime green, but there were others available. The size of these is slightly smaller than a cd case overall, but pretty much as thick as a cd case is.MyOwnJudgeMyOwnJudgeAs you all may continue to read, I am a packaging junkie. I really like their ‘Beauty Wallet’ premise, but opening the packaging had me verging on temporary insanity. What I thought would be an easy plastic case to remove turned into a rage of ripping up the packaging.

This could have damaged the shadows had I not aimed away, or if I dropped the darn thing (happens often to me). If you decide to purchase this palette, take it from me and use scissors to open it up.MyOwnJudgeMyOwnJudgeThe sleeve on the packaging doesn’t contain much information other than the ingredients. The palette doesn’t name any of the colors (which isn’t the greatest idea, because I’d like to know if they’ve been reused in other palettes), but does have a chart on the back of the sleeve numbering the colors – which aid in depicting swatches for me.MyOwnJudge
I took inventory of how the colors come off by swatching them on paper and then applying with a wet brush to my skin.MyOwnJudgeMyOwnJudgeSome of the colors look very similar to one another, but after trying them all out, I can say I like the combinations and that there is variety to the palette, compared to others having preference to neutral or blush colors.MyOwnJudgeThe wallet looks most attractive without the product sleeve and doesn’t look like a palette from the outside at all.

Pros:

  • This is a definite win if you’re trying to mask your “I need nothing to look like this” plan.
  • The price of $2.99 cannot be beat.
  • The color payoff is pretty good, especially when applied wet.
  • There is a mini tutorial on the inside cover.

Cons:

  • It is not an organic product (meaning it contains talc, mineral oil, and synthetic wax among others).

Verdict:
Skip a machiato or a soda for the day and grab this palette.

Have you tried this? Do you want to?

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Revlon’s Matte Suede Collection

MyOwnJudge - Revlon Matte Suede CollectionDrugstores are slowly turning into temptation centers for me. I have taken to banning myself from most department stores and beauty spots like Sephora as I deal with this financial slump I’m in right now, so I limit myself to drugstores. They must’ve caught on to the plan because what used to be one or two knick knacks that I had to buy, have become bag fulls.

As I walked into Walgreen’s for a snack yesterday, I found myself face to face with the new Revlon Matte Suede polish collection. They had new lipsticks out as well, but I can only be so bad in one day!
MyOwnJudge - Revlon Matte Suede CollectionThe main photo is the collection, applied in two coats and taken with flash. The photo to the left is without flash. Both photos are accurate representations of the colors depending on what kind of light you have shining on your digits.

Upon originally seeing the collection, I was trying to decide if the matte polish craze was a movement that was staying or if it was a departing train. Any polish can now become a matte polish with the correct matte coat. Something about these colors persuaded me though.
MyOwnJudge - Revlon Matte Suede Collection
The four color collection contains three autumn/winter appropriate shades with a snowy white to complete the set. The colors are vibrant and are almost dead on replicas of gem stones. Emerald City reminded me of Zoya‘s Veruschuka from the MatteVelvet Collection. Purple and green shades seem to warrant the most attention when new sets come out.

All the colors have an interesting shimmer to it, one that I can’t say has been identically done before. As Scrangie said, the collection doesn’t come off as that matte. I found that when you apply one coat, the colors are more matte than if you use two to three coats. The runner up favorite was Fire Fox, have you seen a shimmery, fiery, red-orange like this before?! Though not necessarily a favorite, Ruby Ribbon had an impressive finish, and after two coats Powder Puff made me frown.

The white is a little bit out of place and I had to narrate a winter story with Christmas trees, Santa, Cranberries and snow to agree that it was necessary. White is a color that no matte collection should ever have again. Really. The white was the weakest link, but I must have been remiss in the three coat memo, because Ali from Ali’s Nail News got it, and the photos make it look purchase worthy.
MyOwnJudge - Revlon Matte Suede Collection
MyOwnJudge - Revlon Matte Suede Collection
As you may already be able to tell, these photos are the colors with a topcoat, photographed with no flash and then with flash accordingly.

The brand is Buy One Get One half off at almost all drugstores this week, and Rite Aid is having a great sale where all polish is BOGO half off. What are you waiting for?

Do you like this collection?

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Drugstore PSA

MOJ Drugstore ManiaI would be a terrible friend if I didn’t disclose what I found to be a fact yesterday. I was drugstore perusing and found that Rite Aid lost their mind (in the best way possible). I previously mentioned on Twitter that they had a special on mascaras, but this time around? This week all nail polishes and artificial nails are BuyOneGetOne half off. Yes. ALL. This is great for all those polish companies that never have stinkin’ sales unless they are being discontinued are on sale!

But it doesn’t end there! Check out the rest of the beauty and skin care sales they got pumpin’:

Revlon: BOGO Free
Almay: BOGO 50% off (also offering $5.00 single check rebate on any two Almay products)
Prestige: (in store brand) BOGO 50% off
CoverGirl: BOGO 50% off
Neutrogena: BOGO 50% off(including the wave)
Physician’s Formula: BOGO 50% off
L’Oreal: BOGO 50% off
Aveeno: BOGO 50% off body, face, bath products
Scunci: BOGO 50% off hair accessories

They also have a BOGO free/50% off nearly all their store brand items.

——————

Who else is following the trend? CVS
CVS has BOGO 50% off all fragrances.
They also have the BOGO free sale on Revlon, and have BOGO 50% on Maybelline and Physician’s Formula.

——————

Walgreen’s is trying to be different with:
40% off Maybelline products
Pond’s: BOGO Free skin care
Olay Total Effects Skin Care/Body Wash: BOGO 50% off
Neutrogena: BOGO 50% off
Revlon: $3 off

Until Saturday, I will be checking out all the Rite Aids in the area (and knowing me, those far away as well) because their sales for the week are making me one happy gal. I was trying to curb my nail polish additions (as you can see the stash is ever growing), but I might have to make a big exception for all purchases incurred during these sales.

Plan on getting anything? Tell me what you find and what you get!


p.s. Don’t blame dear lil’ Yaya if your nearest drugstore have different sales. Consult your weekly ad to make sure they are honoring the same deals before you bring your purchase to the counter. I will not and am in no way financially stable to support everyone who will have a different drugstore sale (or else I wouldn’t be looking out for sales!).

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What the Wind Blue In

The word is in: Blue is the new Black. Who came up with that phrase anyway? (Some window shopping for you? Why of course, click here for Bergdorf’s take on the shade’s of blue for spring in costs that will cause your wallet to go plenty shades of red.)

Not one to disappoint, here are some swatches from the blues of the nail world! (and an obligatory inspiration board to match!)

Sally Hansen Polish in Navy Baby.

It’s a little more blue-er than this but I just couldn’t make the photos work for Sally. Also – I wasn’t as happy with this polish. Though I’m an avid Sally purchaser, I am not much of a fan, and have yet to be converted. This polish was runny for me and stained my nails. That’s a pet peeve with me and nail polishes. The color still looked great though!
(Walgreens, Sally Hansen)

LA Girl Flare Nail Polish (don’t know the color! it’s not on it the pooper – can’t find it online in that color either – but I got it from Urban) This photo also came out pooptacular but the color is more true to life in the first pic w/all the polishes together.

This one is an alright pick for me. The colors for this entire line are very vibrant and always make a statement. There usually is very minimal guesswork for the color translation from the bottle to the nail, b/c it’s always true to color. If any downside, I’d say the polishes don’t last long as my others (hello Essie, OPI) but they’re affordable ($3.50 – $5) and do the job. A lot of them also accomplish a matte-like finish if you don’t do a top coat or if you have a matte top coat(does that exist ?)
(Urban Outfitters, Cherry Culture)

Milani nail polish in Bolting Blue.
Came out true to color! yay!

Has got to be my favorite right now! This polish is super easy to put on, doesn’t mess too much, is just the right mix of sturdy and liquid (does that make sense? lol) and comes in great colors. Plus it’s a drugstore easy find and pretty cheap. Hello stores? I’m coming for more!!
(CVS doesn’t have this color online, Milani, Walgreens)

Can you tell I love me some Inspiration Boards?

Blues
Blues – by missyaya on Polyvore.com

EOTD/Birthdays

Hey kids

In the month of February, I have been to two birthday parties. Both for cute lil’ one year olds. One for a girl and one for a boy. I find it funny that as I think about these looks they are both using similar makeup. Of course, of course – inspiration boards as well!

Take a look and tell me what you think. Don’t forget about the contest up above y’all!

Olivia’s 1st Birthday


As you can see, I didn’t go over one eye to match the hues, so you have a bright eye and a subdued eye. Oh well – I was late!

Guerlain Eye Shadow Base (got it at Sephora but can’t find anywhere online-stay tuned)
Shiseido Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow (Sephora)
in
H14 Proenza Schouler Blue
Body Shop
Natural Minerals (The Body Shop)
in 06 Molten Bronze
Chanel
Inimitable Mascara (Macy‘s)
in 10 Black

Johari’s 1st Birthday

Shiseido Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow as base (Sephora)
in
H2 White Lights
Milani
Milani Runway Eyes Eye Shadow (Walgreen’s)
in Shamrock
Body Shop Natural Minerals (The Body Shop)
in 06 Molten Bronze
Chanel
Inimitable Mascara (Macy‘s)
in 10 Black