Pages

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Blog Sale Updated!



I've finally gotten around to updating my blog sale! Please click here to see my items for sale.


Saturday, February 28, 2015

Shu Uemura Shu:Palette 16-pan nude eyeshadow palette swatches and comparisons

I probably didn't need this eyeshadow palette, but when there was a 15% off Lunar New Year code a couple weeks ago (the code was "SHEEP" -- double entendre?!), I couldn't help but jump on it! Retail is $89 USD (and 12000 JPY, or $160 Singapore dollars). It looks like the palette is sold out on the website, and I'm not sure if it's going to come back in stock or not. I figured I would throw my swatches here on my blog since I didn't find too many online when I was deciding whether or not to get it. The pans are the same as the full size singles, and the palette also comes with a double ended synthetic hair brush (but I didn't use it). The palette itself is huge! And it's hefty (in a good way) and has a really nice, big mirror. That said, I don't think I would travel with it, as I like to travel light.

It ended up being around $80 USD with tax after the code. Shipping was about 1 week (faster than I expected).

Palette on a pile of makeup and brushes


After getting my fingers and sponge tips into the pans - the pans wiggle around easily, so I suspect they are extremely easy to depot (though my experience with Shu pans is that they are not magnetic)


Back of the palette info


Spongetip swatches (2 swipes each)





Since I'm sure most makeup addicts would have dupes, I did a few comparison swatches:


taupes


lighter shades


matte light-medium browns


variety of browns (not too much overlap here in my collection)




Random Thoughts


  • I like all the matte shades very much. The shades are very flattering on my skintone (NC25, very yellow). Quite smooth and silky textures, but not the butteriest (better than my Inglot mattes, not creamy like RBR mattes). 
  • Blend easily on the lids, but do not overblend or get muddy 
  • Some of the lighter shades are similar on my skin, so maybe not a lot of different looks in this palette - The blue shade is a little sheer to swatch, but I haven't tried it on the eyes yet 
  • The silvery shade (ME471) is quite cool toned, and I haven’t tried it yet 
  • The warm brown creamy shade P 875 goes on my eyes a lot warmer than it swatches 
  • The palette is quite large, has a big mirror, and has a hefty weight to it. I haven’t used or tried the double ended brush (and I don’t plan to). The pans are not glued in that securely (probably glued in with that gooey glue used by many Japanese brands) 
  • I find the shadows look very different on the skin than how they look in the pan, so I’m still trying to giro out combinations. Of the 4 times I wore it so far, I loved 2 of the looks, and didn’t are for 2 others. - Some shades are too shiny/light catching for my preferences (doesn’t look great on my eyelid texture). 
  • Overall, it’s a very complete palette. I like that there’s a big range of light to dark, including a blending shade similar to my squinting, a darker matte brown to deepen my outer corner, and a black matte that works for liner AND (when used lightly) works for my brows as well. 
  • The shadows last well on my lids with primer all day; no complaints here!


Hope this helps someone, and if you're interested, that it comes back in stock!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Blog sale updated!

'ello friends! Sorry to post and run, but I updated my blog sale finally! I thought I was going to have it up in November, but now look at the date >.<

Here's the link! Blog sale - updated February 2015

And a random picture I took this weekend at a farmer's market in Seattle! ♥

Saturday, January 10, 2015

2014 Beauty Favourites

Happy New Year! I finally finished putting together my 2014 Favourites. The non-beauty favourites (household, kitchen, apparel, TV, anime/manga, apps, etc.) are over on my non-beauty blog: Opinionated Homebody.




Muveil Empty Cat Tin: I got this maybe a couple years ago as a free GWP on a Japanese beauty magazine. It's just a little tin I like to use to hold little knick knacks when I travel!

Canmake Lasting Multi Eyebase WP: I ordered this from Ichibankao after reading selphia's positive review of it on MUA, and I like it very much! I find it quite similar to the NARS eyeshadow base, but a bit thicker. I like the packaging (squeeze tube) and price a lot better though!

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Lover: I've had this for a while, but really loved wearing it this year. Lovely matte peachy-apricot blush!

Suqqu Nuancing Loose Powder Glow in Natural: I've had this for a while now too, but especially enjoyed it this year - even with no base. It does nothing to control my oilies, but that's OK. I like that it doesn't make my face feel dry, but has an overall blurring effect.

Hakuhodo B163BkSL Eye Brow Brush angled: This eye brow brush has been a revelation for me this year. I wish I discovered it before my wedding so I could have done my brows better! This is my first water badger brush, and it is AWESOME for brows. It applies brow powder (and even picking up product from an eyebrow pencil) diffusely and naturally. Never looks overdone. Love it.

Dior Addict Extreme in 536 Lucky: This is a mini I got as a Sephora perk a while back (I put the cap on the back to keep it from rolling away), and have almost finished it up! I really like that there is no white base at all to this lipstick. I will purchase a full size when I use this up!

Guerlain Rouge Automatique in 164 Chamade (discontinued): I think I bought this as a potential wedding lip colour, but ended up liking it more for every day wear (and ended up with the more MLBB Surratt Lipslique in Perfectionniste). I kind of hate Guerlain scented lipsticks, but the colour and formula is so perfect, I even purchased a backup when I ran across one in Canada over the holidays! This is easily my most used lipstick.

Moroccanoil Treatment: This is just a mini bottle I use for travel. I started straightening my hair in the mornings, and I love using this to protect my hair and smooth out any fly aways. A little goes a long way, and the smell has grown on me! I always order from eBay, to be honest, though!

Colortrak Tools The Croc Clip: I use these to section my hair when straightening, and I think these are awesome. They are much sturdier than the same style of clips I purchased from Sephora (which broke very quickly). They feel a little like NARS packagining, and the hinge feels very substantial. Highly recommend these clips!

OPI GelColor in You're Such A Budapest: I chose this nail colour for my wedding manicure for my first and only pro manicure, and liked the colour so much, I bought my own bottle and an OPI LED lamp! I'm still getting the hang of gel nails, but I love wearing this colour.

Persistent Favourites from 2012-2013 (Not pictured): Suqqu Cheek brush, Hakuhodo G537s, Hakuhodo K005, Shu Uemura 10N, GA LuSF, GA Master Corrector, Suqqu Himesango, Fiberwig mascara, Dollywink eyeliner, Holika Holika Wonder Dot liner, Biore UV Aqua Rich watery essence