Product Review -- Urban Decay Naked Cherry and Elements Eyeshadow Palettes

Like many makeup lovers, the news that Urban Decay was retiring the original Naked Palette left me feeling strangely emotional.

I remember how much trouble I went to get that palette, how excited I was to play with it, how it seemed to start the whole natural/neutral palette trend back in the day. I've used it a ton over the years to the point where I'd hit pan on a few of the shades (and yes, I took advantage of all discounted pricing after its retirement was announced to buy a brand spanking new one).

To drown my sorrows over the news, I bought a couple of new Urban Decay palettes -- the Naked Cherry Palette from the Naked line and the Elements Palette.

Product Review -- Strobe Cosmetics Divinity Palette

I love supporting smaller, indie makeup brands, so Strobe Cosmetics has been on my radar for a while now.

In fact, a couple of years back, I purchased their American Horror Story-inspired palettes even though I've never seen a single episode of the show -- and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.

The shadows in those palettes are richly pigmented, easy to blend, and just a dream to work with.

I'd been waiting for Strobe Cosmetics to put out other palettes, and while they introduced the Creepy Cute Palette earlier this year, I wound up passing on it because I just didn't think I'd get much use out of the neon-pastel shades in it.

So I was very excited when they came out with the Divinity Palette this fall, which had shades that were much more up my alley.

Product 411 -- New(ish) ColourPop Releases

I've been such a slacker lately that I've got a pile of products to review that's about waist-high at this point. In particular, I've got a ton of ColourPop stuff that I've bought over the past few months and haven't gotten around to writing about yet.

(Because seriously, they seem to put out a new collection every single week -- in fact, at the time I'm writing this, they're releasing a new collection tomorrow or the day after, and I know I'll probably buy some stuff from it... I just can't help myself.)

To get through my backlog a little more quickly, I figured I'd do an overview of all of these new-ish ColourPop items in one post. I also don't feel like there's a need to do an in-depth review of the items because the quality and formula is pretty consistent across the board and I've already reviewed most ColourPop product categories, so it just seems redundant.

So here's just a general rundown with some swatches. I'll be sure to point out my favorites, though.

Product Review -- elf Hydrating Face Primer

I've mentioned before that I have a hard time finding a face primer that works for my skin concerns.

That's because my skin is dry but I also have enlarged pores that I want to minimize.

Hydrating primers don't tend to fill in texture that well, and pore-minimizing primers aren't usually very hydrating.

Over the past year, I've fallen in love with the Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer, which somehow manages to do both of the things that I need it to.

But it is $18, which, while not super expensive, is a little pricey for everyday use, so I've been on the hunt for a slightly more budget-friendly option.

The elf Hydrating Face Primer seemed like a good place to start.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Revolution Pro Foundation Drops

I've been on kind of Makeup Revolution (or is it just Revolution now? Have they officially changed their name? I'm a little confused...) shopping spree lately.

I love brands that offer quality products at affordable prices, so it's kind of hard to control myself.

So even though the last thing I need is another foundation, I couldn't resist trying out the Revolution Pro Foundation Drops.

It's meant to be more of a natural, breathable foundation, so if you're a fan of full coverage makeup, this may not be the best option for you.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution The Emily Edit The Needs and The Wants Palettes

I've bought quite a few makeup products that were collaborations between a brand and a YouTube beauty influenster but in most of those cases, I only bought the items because the specific shades or products appealed to me, not because I had much invested in the influenster in particular.

When I heard that Emily Noel was coming out with some palettes with Makeup Revolution, though, I knew that I'd buy them no matter what they looked like.

I've been watching Emily for 10 (maybe more even) years, and I appreciate pretty much everything about her. Supporting her is a no-brainer.

It doesn't hurt that I've become a big fan of Makeup Revolution over the past few years too -- they put out a lot of really quality products at an affordable price point, so there's plenty to like about the brand.

Product Review -- LORAC PRO Eye Shadow Palette 4

My apologies for disappearing for a couple of weeks. I was a little under the weather for a bit, and then I started breaking out like crazy (for no apparent reason) and took a little break from makeup for a while. 

The good news is I'm feeling better and my skin has cleared, so it's back to playing with makeup again (and thank God, because I certainly missed it!). 

I am a huge fan of LORAC's eyeshadow formula, so I'm pretty sure that I've bought every single PRO and Mega PRO palette that they've put out.

So it's no surprise that when they announced the PRO Eye Shadow Palette 4, I knew I would be picking it up.

Product Review -- Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick

I've never been that big a fan of matte lipstick.

Most of the time, they just don't feel that great on the lips, and they only really look good if your lips are perfectly smooth and moisturized.

I also just personally prefer a little shine on my lips, so while we've been in the midst of the matte liquid lipstick craze the past couple of years, I definitely gave them a try but I'd almost always top them with some type of gloss or at least a cream lipstick.

So I've been really happy to see a resurgence in glosses and creamy lipstick over the past few months.

And the Maybelline Color Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick definitely fits the bill.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation

I've become a pretty big fan of foundation sticks in recent years.

They're just so quick and easy to apply, so when I'm in a rush, I feel like they're often the best bet for getting my foundation on.

But shopping for foundation sticks is always a little dicey because there are some formulas that have a drier texture with a matte finish that work really well for oily skin -- and are pretty much crap for dry skin because they cling to every single dry patch and flake that you might have -- and then there are formulas that have a creamy, almost moisturizing formula that glides easily over dry skin -- and is a disaster for oily skin because it'll probably slide right off.

If you choose the wrong foundation stick for your skin type, you're going to hate it -- I've learned that the hard way.

So I was a little nervous about trying the Makeup Revolution (have they changed their name to Revolution Beauty? That's how their websites seem to refer to themselves these days, but Ulta still has them listed as Makeup Revolution ... so I'm a little confused) Fast Base Stick Foundation -- I feel like drugstore foundations are usually matte and geared toward oily skin, though budget-friendly cream products often have a greasy texture than even my dry skin doesn't really enjoy.

Product Review -- Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Eyeshadow Palette

I'm a big fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow palettes, so I am always interested in the new stuff that they put out.

(While I admit that some palettes are better than others, I think I'm one of the rare makeup junkies who's never been really disappointed by any of the ABH palettes. Even the Subculture Palette works pretty well for me.)

But when I saw promotional photos of the Norvina Eyeshadow Palette, I was even more excited than usual.

All the purples and pinks and gorgeous rich metallic shades?

Definitely right up my alley.

Product Review -- bareMineral Gen Nude Powder Blushes

I love blush -- I am so pale that if I don't add at least a hint of color to my cheeks, I can look sick or my eye makeup can look a little too harsh -- but in recent years, I find that it's not a makeup product that I tend to buy all that frequently.

Which is weird.

So recently I decided I needed to introduce a few new blush options to my collection and I came across the bareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blushes.

I've been a big bareMinerals fan since I first tried their Original Loose Foundation back in college, and I've enjoyed their foray into pressed powder and liquid foundation products in recent years.

Which is why it was kind of a no-brainer to try their new blushes.

Product Review -- Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick

I am a highlighter fiend, which means I've never met a highlighting product that I didn't want to try.

I'll admit that I'm not quite as good at using cream or liquid highlighter products as I am with powder, so I don't have quite as many cream highlighters in my collection.

Which was why I so keen on trying the Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick -- I am a big fan of the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation, which has a lovely texture, so I was hoping that the Vanish Highlighting Stick would be similar.

Product Review -- Beauty Bakerie Cake Mix Demi-Matte Foundation

I've been on a big indie beauty brand kick for a while now, and Beauty Bakerie is one brand that has really impressed me over the past year or so.

I've tried some of their palettes and their fabulous Flour Setting Powder (whose packaging and whole marketing scheme is beyond adorable and ORIGINAL), but I was really excited to hear that they were coming out with a foundation.

That said, I knew that the Cake Mix Demi-Matte Foundation probably wasn't the best fit for my normal to dry skin -- the brand fully discloses that the product is best for oily skin in its marketing information -- but I still wanted to give it a try because I figured it might be an option that could work for my skin in the summer.

Product Review -- Hourglass Cosmetics Graphik Eyeshadow Palette

The very first high-end luxury makeup item I ever purchased was an Hourglass Cosmetics eyeshadow duo way back in the day.

That's what started my love affair with the brand, and despite their pretty steep prices, I'm always very curious about the new items they put out.  I don't always buy them, mind you, but I always at least consider it.

A few years back when they came out with brand new eyeshadow palettes (The Modernist Palettes, I believe they were called), I picked one up as soon as they were available -- so it was a serious bummer when I was pretty underwhelmed by the shadows.

Don't get me wrong... they were perfectly fine, but for $58 for just five shades, I'm expecting a little more than fine.

Still, when Hourglass came out with the Graphik Eyeshadow Palettes a few months ago, I picked one up without hesitation. The brand's track record still carries a lot more hits than misses in my book, so I figured it was definitely worth a try.

Product Review -- Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Eyeshadow Palette Vol. 1

I've really been enjoying my subscription to Boxycharm because it's gotten me to try a lot of products that I wouldn't have otherwise but have wound up really liking.

The most recent case?

The Alamar Cosmetics Reina Del Caribe Eyeshadow Palette Vol. 1.

Alamar Cosmetics is a new brand, but while I'm always up for trying new brands, the color scheme of the Reina Del Caribe Vol. 1 Palette isn't one that I would necessarily gravitate towards on my own.

Product Review -- Viseart Petit PRO 1 Eyeshadow Palette

I've had the Viseart Petit PRO 1 Eyeshadow Palette for so long that when I purchased it, it was only known at the Petit Pro because versions 2 and 3 hadn't come out yet.

Why I'm only getting around to reviewing it now, I don't know -- but I have been using it quite a bit recently so it seemed like as a good a time as any.

Viseart is known for having some of the best quality shadows on the market, and while I do think they're excellent, I'm not sure that I think they're worth the $80 that their full-size palettes go for.

That's no shade toward the brand -- I have a hard time believing any shadows are worth that kind of money.

(Which is why I've never purchased a full-size Natasha Denona or Pat McGrath eyeshadow palette, both of which are even more expensive. I'm sure if I worked out the price per gram of some of these shadows, I'd find that I'm paying more for some mid-range shadows, but there's something about shelling that amount of money out at one time that gets me, regardless of what kind of value it might actually work out to. But that's just me.)

So I think these smaller palettes that Viseart puts out are a great way to try the brand if you're leery of spending that kind of money on a palette.

Product Review -- ColourPop No Filter Natural Matte Foundation, Setting Powder, and Sheer Pressed Powder

It's been fun to see ColourPop gradually expanding their product line to include pretty much a full range of makeup. Foundation seemed to be one of the final frontiers for them (I think all they're missing now for a full face is mascara?), and with the introduction of the No Filter Natural Matte Foundation, it appears they've finally conquered that.

Along with the world of setting powder -- No Filter Setting Powder -- and pressed powder -- No Filter Sheer Pressed Powder.

I'm a pretty big fan of the No Filter Concealer that came out about a year ago, especially since they've expanded the shade selection, so I was pretty excited to give the foundation a try.

I have to admit that I did get a little nervous when I saw the word "matte" in the product name, though. My skin is normal to dry, so matte foundations aren't usually the best fit for me. This one describes itself as natural matte, though, which did make me feel a little bit better -- and for only $12, I figured it was worth a try.

Product 411 -- ColourPop Fame and Fortune Shadow Palettes

It's pretty hard to keep up with all of the new products that ColourPop puts out.

Don't get me wrong... I certainly try to, but they put out new items at a pretty prolific rate, so it's impossible to stay on top of all of them.

I have done a pretty good job of keeping with their shadow palettes (I think there's only one in the line that I haven't snagged yet), though, so I picked up the Fame and Fortune Shadow Palettes that ColourPop put out for their birthday.

One of them features cool-toned shadows! How could I possibly resist?

Product Review -- ColourPop Lux Lipsticks

When they first started out several years back, ColourPop's lip products are what really put them on the map.

Well, the Lippie Stix and the Super Shock Shadows anyway.

So it's been pretty cool to see how their lip products have evolved over time. Their Lippie Stix are still great, but now they have a ton of liquid lip products to choose from too.

At the end of the day, though, I'm more into traditional lipsticks than liquid lip products, so I was really excited to hear that ColourPop was introducing their Lux Lipstick line.

Product Review -- bh cosmetics Studio Pro Total Coverage Concealer

Several years back, I bought a brush set from bh cosmetics.

The main selling point for me was the adorable polka dotted handles, but the brushes themselves turned out to be quite nice. They have shorter handles, so I use them mainly for travel but they've come in quite handy over the years.

Yet, despite that pretty positive experience with bh cosmetics, I never purchased any actual makeup from the brand. I had it in my head that they just sold those 88 shimmer eyeshadow palettes and the like that you can get from a bunch of websites, so I never really felt the need.

 In recent months, though, I've bought quite a few items from the brand, and I've been pretty happy with everything I've tried.

Case in point: the Studio Pro Total Coverage Concealer.

Sure, I need another concealer like I need a hole in the head, but I couldn't help myself.  Just as with foundations, I'm always game to try a new concealer.

Product Review -- Maybelline Lemonade Craze Eyeshadow Palette and Burgundy Bar Eyeshadow Palette

A year or two ago, Maybelline revamped the formula that they use for their eyeshadow palettes.

The shadows became a whole lot softer and creamier, which certainly made them easier to work with, and while they aren't always the most pigmented, they're usually buildable so you can get a very pretty look with them.

So while I wasn't crazy about the Nudes or Blushed Nudes Palettes that I tried a few years back, the more recent City Mini Palettes were a big improvement.

Which is why I couldn't resist the new Lemonade Craze and Burgundy Bar Eyeshadow Palettes when they came out.

The color schemes positively screamed my name, and since I knew the formula to be better, they both seemed like a safe bet.

Product Review -- ColourPop Shayla x ColourPop Perception Eyeshadow Palette and Shayla Lux Lipsticks

Everytime that ColourPop puts out a new pressed eyeshadow palette, I know that I'm going to pick it up even before I see the promo photos.

That's because the quality is always excellent and the price point is always reasonable, and I'm willing to go outside my comfort zone in terms of shade selection because I can get in makeup ruts pretty easily.

So I was all over the Shayla x ColourPop Perception Eyeshadow Palette the minute it was announced. I've only started watching Makeupshayla's YouTube videos over the past year or so, but I enjoy her quite a bit so I definitely don't mind supporting her either.

The palette features the same type of packaging that all of ColourPop's other palettes do -- it's made of sturdy cardboard that's nice and slim for easy storage. But it does include a mirror on the inside, which most of ColourPop's other palettes don't. The palette doesn't stay open by itself, though, so you'll need to prop it up against something if you want to use it to do your makeup.

Product Review -- Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer

Back when Milani first introduced the Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer a couple of years ago, I purchased it in what was the lightest shade at the time.

I believe the shade was Creamy Vanilla, which is now the fourth lightest shade, so, as you can probably imagine, it was way too dark for someone like me with Casper the Friendly ghost pale skin.

It really goes to show you how a poor shade match can affect your opinion of a foundation, though, because I remember not really being disappointed that the shade didn't work because I was pretty sure the foundation was garbage.

Too thick and heavy and cakey for my tastes.

But over the years, I've seen so many positive reviews of the Conceal + Perfect that I started to wonder if I'd been too hasty in my assessment. When I saw that Milani had added a bunch more shades in the line, including several paler shades, I decided it was worth my $10 to give the product another try.

And boy am I glad I did.

Product Review Roundup -- Tarte Hamptons Weekend Contour Palette, Park Avenue Princess Chisel Palette, Clay Play Volume II, Shape Your Moneymaker Eye & Cheek Palette, and Foil Finger Paints Shadow Palette

I've purchased quite a few Tarte palettes in recent months, and instead of doing separate reviews on each and every one, I figured a product review roundup was a more efficient way to share my thoughts.

The first palette -- and the smallest -- is the Hamptons Weekender Contour Palette. It's only a little bit larger than a credit card, though considerably thicker, and it contains a blush, bronzer, and highlighter.  The packaging is made of sturdy cardboard, and its convenient size definitely makes it ideal for traveling.

Product Review -- Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Full Coverage Concealer

I'm a pretty big fan of the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer.

It's a full coverage concealer that somehow manages to look natural and not at all cakey or dry under the eyes.

But it is $24, so it's not exactly the most budget-friendly concealer on the market.

That's why I was excited to hear that Makeup Revolution was coming out with their own answer to Shape Tape -- the Conceal and Define Full Coverage Concealer is certainly inspired by Shape Tape, though I don't personally find them to be identical.

Product Review -- The Balm Take Home The Bronze Anti-Orange Bronzer

Being as fair as I am, bronzer is always a tricky product for me.

Nine times out of ten, the bronzer is either too dark or too orange to work with my skin tone, so it's not a product that I necessarily wear every day.

Sure, there are some days when I like a little extra warmth in my face or want to give it a little more shape without hardcore contouring, and I reach for one my favorite bronzers (the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Milk Chocolate Bronzer, Benefit Hoola Light, and a limited edition MAC bronzer that's no longer available anymore are my usual go-to's), but in general, bronzer just isn't a makeup item that I get excited about.

But I was pretty interested in trying out The Balm's new Take Home The Bronze because not only is it available in three shades, so there would likely be an option light enough for me, but the bronzer's mission statement is right in its product description -- it's designed to be an anti-orange bronzer.

Sign me up!

Product Review -- Tarte Be a Mermaid and Make Waves Eyeshadow Palette

I'm always (at least) a little resentful of gimmicky makeup products.

That's because I feel like a lot of brands put more thought into the gimmick, which usually means the packaging or marketing campaign, than they do into the products themselves, so you wind up with mediocre makeup that you can't do much with.

That's how I felt about a lot of the unicorn-themed makeup items that came out over the past year or two -- though I will admit that I've never been into unicorns, even when I was a kid.

Now, mermaids, on the other hand, well, I've always been pretty into them. As a kid, I was obsessed with these little mermaid dolls that came with a foam float so you could bring them into the tub with you (I googled them, and at the risk of dating myself, they were apparently called See Wees). The Little Mermaid is at the top of my favorite Disney movies list too. I was even a mermaid for Halloween one year.

I've always been pretty into them.

So I can't say that I wasn't tempted by Tarte's mermaid collection as soon as I saw it -- but I worked hard to talk myself out of it. The Be a Mermaid and Make Waves Eyeshadow Palette was the item that called to me most, and while the packaging is certainly striking, I looked at it and thought it would be difficult to store because it was an unconventional shape and kind of bulky.

Product Review Roundup -- PUR Soiree Diaries, Pur PRO x Etienne, PUR x Boxycharm, Visionary, and Creator Eyeshadow Palettes

Note: My apologies for the lack of posts last week. I was swamped with work and feeling a bit under the weather, so I needed quite a few naps... which ate into my blogging time. ;)

A few years ago, I bought a PUR Minerals eyeshadow palette on a whim, though I'd never tried any products from the brand before.

I quite liked the palette, and actually still use it to this day.

But despite a pretty positive experience with the brand, I never tried any more PUR products ... until recently.

Over the past several months, I went on a little bit of a binge and picked up not one, not two, but five PUR eyeshadow palettes since the end of last year. Instead of doing individual palettes for each of them, I figured I'd group them all together just to make it a little easier.

Product Review -- The Balm SmokeBalm Vol. 4 Foiled Eyeshadow Palette

I'm always down for a big eyeshadow palette that offers a variety of shades and finishes.

But sometimes, you just want a few basic shadows that you can put a quick look together with whether you're in a hurry to get out the door for school or work or traveling. 

The Balm makes some of my favorite eye shadows, and I love the smaller trios and quads they put sometimes -- partly because they're very affordable but mainly because they provide everything you need for those fast eye looks. 

The SmokeBalm Vol. 4 Foiled Eyeshadow Palette is the perfect example.

It contains three pretty basic shades, but they can work for pretty much any skin tone and perform so beautifully that it's a pretty nice addition to any collection.

Product Review -- Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation

A while back, I vowed that I wasn't going to purchase any new foundations until I used up some of the ones that I already have.

Unfortunately, I've fallen off the wagon -- I'm just always so curious about new foundations. 

After seeing so many positive reviews for the Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation, that curiosity definitely got the better of me.

Now, full coverage foundation isn't usually my first choice, but I do like to have one in my collection in case I want to go full glam -- or have a particularly bad breakout that I need to hide.

A drugstore full coverage foundation would be pretty great in my book, considering the price would be a little kinder on my wallet.

Product Review Roundup -- Too Faced Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette, Natural Face Palette, and Natural Nudes Lipstick

I tried to resist Too Faced's It Just Comes Naturally Natural Beauty Collection, really I did, but between the natural inspired makeup shades and gorgeous packaging, I just couldn't do it.

Since both of the eye shadow palettes were essentially re-releases, I couldn't justify buying both of them just to see if the new formula with coconut butter was really any different, so I wound up buying the Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette, which had seven new shades. (The Natural Eyes Eye Shadow Palette, with both matte and shimmer shadows, has all repeat shades from the previous Natural Eyes Palette, which I already own).

The packaging for the palette is absolutely lovely -- instead of the old tin box compact, it's housed in a plastic compact with a lace design and gold embossed details. There is a nice large mirror inside too. The palette is slightly difficult to open, though.

Product Review -- Winky Lux Kitten Palette

These days, all it takes for me to get excited about an eye shadow palette is a collection of shades that isn't the same old "warm neutrals" or just warm in general shadows that everyone brand and their mother seems to be offering lately.

Don't get me wrong -- I love warm shadows, particularly since they make my blue eyes pop like nobody's business, but it would be nice to see some variety in the market again.

So I was pretty jazzed to get the Winky Lux Kitten Palette in a Boxy Charm a few months back -- it has some warm shades, but there are some cool and neutral shades too, so it's not the same old color scheme we've seen a hundred times over recently.

Product Review -- Viseart Tryst Eyeshadow Palette

Viseart eyeshadow palettes usually receive plenty of rave reviews, and like a lot of people, I had to find out what all the fuss was about.

I have two of their large palettes (which I swear I'm going to get around to reviewing one of these days!) and a couple of their small palettes. I genuinely like all of the shadows, but I've never really been sure whether I believe the larger shadows are really worth $80. 

I have other shadows in my collection that I think perform just as well at much more affordable price points.

So lately, I've been sticking to the smaller palettes -- I just think those are better values because you may not get as many shades, but you still get high quality shadows and you don't have to break the bank to do it.

When I saw promotional photos of the new Tryst Eyeshadow Palette, I had to have it.

Product Review -- Too Faced Diamond Light Multi-Use Diamond Fire Highlighter

Can a person have too many highlighters?

I'm pretty sure the answer to that question is a resounding yes -- and I've definitely hit way-too-many territory myself.

And yet, whenever a new highlighter hits the market, I feel the itch to pick it up.

I admit that the packaging was at least half the reason why I was drawn to the Too Faced Diamond Light Multi-Use Diamond Fire Highlighter, but the highlighter itself looked too pretty to pass up too.

Product Review -- Too Faced White Peach Eye Shadow Palette

For years, peach has been one of my very favorite shades for makeup.

Lipstick, eyeshadow, blush, highlighter... it doesn't matter. As long as it's peach, I'm probably going to like it.

So it's no wonder that I've been a pretty big fan of Too Faced's  peach themed makeup collection -- the Sweet Peach and Just Peachy Mattes Palettes are both favorites of mine.

Which is why I was excited to hear about the White Peach Eye Shadow Palette, which offers a slightly lighter take on the whole peach theme.

The palette comes in packaging that's very similar to the Just Peachy Mattes -- it's a hard plastic compact with gold tone trim and an adorable peach-shaped clasp. The lid has a soft pink and gold design, and there's a generous sized mirror inside. The palette stays open on its own too, so it can work well for doing your makeup on the go.

Product Review -- It Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer

One of my favorite face products of all time is the It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream.

I love how lightweight it feels and how natural it looks on the skin -- and I love that unlike most CC creams, it really does deliver some pretty impressive coverage.

Now, I know it's not for everyone -- it has a pretty dewy finish, so if you have oily skin, it's not the best option -- but for me, it's a face product that does pretty much everything I want and need.

So I was curious when I saw that It Cosmetics was coming out with a new product, the Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer -- because it seemed like it would be pretty similar to the CC+ Cream and I couldn't really figure out why both would be necessary.

Product Review -- Urban Decay Backtalk Eye and Face Palette

From the moment that I first saw promo photos of the Urban Decay Backtalk Eye and Face Palette, I knew I had to have it.

Peachy eye shadow tones are probably my favorite makeup item, but rose and mauve shadows are a close second -- the Backtalk Palette is full of nude mauve, berry, and rose shadows, and even includes some matching blushes and highlighters.

It's practically a dream come true.

So I ordered it pretty much the first moment it was available. I just couldn't help myself, and I have very little patience when it comes to new makeup items.

Product Review -- Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid

I've had pretty decent luck with the Josie Maran products that I've tried.

I can't say that any of them have really blown me out of the water -- except maybe her old Argan Oil Tinted Moisturizer, which was my favorite tinted moisturizer of all time but has since been discontinued -- but none have been complete fails.

At the end of the day, I think that's a pretty good track record.

So when the brand came out with the Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation about a year or so ago, I was definitely interested in checking it out but didn't feel the need to rush out and buy it right away.  I waited, getting distracted by other new foundations that hit the market -- until recently when I came across a review that touted it as being fabulous for dry skin.

And when I saw that there was a shade that actually looked light enough for my very fair skin, I definitely had to bite the bullet.

Product Review -- Too Faced Life's a Festival Eye Shadow Palette

When I first saw the photos for the Too Faced Life's a Festival Eye Shadow Palette, I was pretty adamant that I wouldn't be buying it (or anything else from the collection for that matter).

First of all, it features a brighter color scheme that I usually wear so I didn't imagine I'd get much use out of it. And secondly, I wasn't really a fan of the packaging and theme.

Don't get me wrong -- I don't have anything against unicorns per se, but I'm just not particularly into them.

(Though I do I admit I've been absolutely obsessed with the animated version of the Peter S. Beagle novel, The Last Unicorn, since childhood. It's just so good!)

And the packing seems a little cutesy and gimmicky in my mind, so it seemed like a hard pass for me.

But then, I started seeing photos of the actual shadows, and despite being a more colorful shade range, something about them started to speak to me. It was mainly the red, pink, and orange shades that drew me in, but the purples and blues were kind of persuasive too.

So on a whim, I picked up the palette -- and I've got to say, I definitely like it more than I ever thought I would.

Product Review -- NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

I swore that I wasn't going to buy any new foundation until I finished some of the ones already piling up in my drawer, but as soon as I heard about the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, I knew I wasn't going to be able to follow through.

What can I say? I'm weak for any foundation that promises radiant skin.

I mean, NARS describes the foundation as: "Natural, radiant finish, transfer-resistant, sweat-resistant, fade-resistant, non-drying" -- sounds pretty good to me.

Product Review -- Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eye Shadow Palette and Amrezy Highlighter

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like Anastasia Beverly Hills has really been cranking out the eye shadow palettes in a hurry lately.

There was the Subculture Palette (which, unlike a lot of people, I liked just fine) near the end of  last summer and then the Prism Palette for the holidays (which I also liked quite a bit) -- and now, in time for spring, there's the Soft Glam Eye Shadow Palette.

While I liked both the Subculture and Prism Palettes, both color schemes were pretty intense. The Soft Glam's shade range, on the other hand, is right up my alley -- all bronzey, gold, rosy, and neutral tones that are just lovely.

A Few of My Favorite Things -- Jan/Feb 2018

I haven't done a monthly favorites post in a good long while -- there are always so many new makeup products to talk about that sometimes it's easy to lose track of older products that can still seriously get the job done.

I really want to stop doing that -- I won't commit to doing monthly favorites, but I really want to try to mention the things that are really rocking my world whether they're new or not.

So here's what I've been loving in January/February:

Product Review -- Urban Decay Distortion Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay always seems to be coming out with a new eyeshadow palette.

I'm a fan, so I pick up many of them -- and I don't ever really find fault with the shadow formula. Urban Decay makes some pretty great matte, shimmer, glitter, and satin shadows, and I feel like the brand is often trying to do something new and different.

The Distortion Eyeshadow Palette definitely falls into that category.

It contains 10 regular eyeshadows and five "transformer" shades that are meant for layering over the other shadows to change their look.

Product Review -- Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner

I haven't used a toner with any regularity since I was in my early twenties.

That's because in my experience, toners are generally a better fit for oily skin -- and even when my skin was an oil slick, most toners were seriously drying.

Even when they didn't dehydrate my skin like mad, they certainly weren't what you would call hydrating.

Now that my skin is normal to dry, I couldn't really imagine any reason to use a toner.

But then I read about the Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner in a blurb on the Allure website, and I was more than a little intrigued.

A deeply moisturizing toner that cleanses and soothes at the same time?

Sounds like the perfect thing for dehydrated, winter-irritated skin.

Product 411: ColourPop x Kathleen Lights Dream St. Collection, Give It To Straight Shadow Palette, and In-Nude-Endo Pressed Highlighter Palette

At this point, I'm pretty much powerless to ColourPop new releases.

They introduce a new product, and I order it a minute later.

I just can't help myself.

The fact that I'm always seriously impressed with everything I pick up definitely doesn't help.

I recently bought the ColourPop X Kathleen Lights Dream St. Shadow Palette and lippies, the Give It To Me Straight Shadow Palette, and the In-Nude-Endo Pressed Highlighter Palette, and they're all pretty fantastic.

Product Review -- Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow 10 Pan Palette

I am a big Wet n Wild fan -- I think they provide pretty impressive quality for such a budget-friendly price on a consistent basis -- so I'm always excited when they come out with new products.

I'm not as excited when they decide to reformulate products that are pretty terrific as is, though -- basically, if it ain't broke, why try to fix it?

That's essentially what's happened with their Color Icon Eyeshadow 10 Pan Palettes -- they've reformulated the entire line, adding some new shade selections too, despite the fact that the old palettes were pretty great already.

The whole thing is a bit of a head-scratcher for me (though I obviously don't have access to WnW's sales numbers, so maybe they know something I don't about how well the old palettes were performing), but of course, that didn't stop me from buying all four of the new palettes to try out.

They're only $4.99 -- how could I resist?

Product Review -- Too Faced Chocolate Gold Eye Shadow Palette

At this point, I'm not really sure that the world really needs another Chocolate Bar from Too Faced.

They've pretty much covered all the bases in this vein, haven't they?

And yet, every time they come out with a new palette in the line, I want it.

Which is why the Chocolate Gold Eye Shadow Palette wound up on my holiday wish list.

If nothing else, Too Faced definitely knocked it out of the park with the packaging for this palette.

Like the other Chocolate Bar Palettes, the compact is long and rectangular and features quilted to resemble a chocolate bar. However, there's a cool dripping gold design on half of the palette, which really makes it a standout.

Product Review -- Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator

Like so many makeup junkies, I love a good highlighter.

I love them so much that I have way more than any one person needs.

And I still want more -- I can't help it.

I'd tried quite a few of Laura Geller's highlighters over the years and I've liked nearly all of them, so I've had my eye on the Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminators for a while now.

Now, I'm always a little leery of baked products because I find that they tend to be pretty hard and don't offer up much pigmentation -- but I'd seen so many good reviews about the Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminators that I decided to give them a try.

And I'm glad that I did.