Product Review -- Revolution Beauty Reloaded Eyeshadow Palettes

As I've said before, I definitely enjoy plenty of high-end makeup products, but there's always something exciting about finding a budget-friendly product that performs well.

Who doesn't want to save a little money when you can?

Revolution Beauty is a brand that puts out plenty of high-quality products at a very affordable price point, so I'm always willing to give their new items a try.

Their Reloaded Eyeshadow Palettes have been out for a while, and I've slowly been collecting them. I only have four at the moment, but I feel like the quality is consistent enough among those that I have to assume what the others are like as well.

The palettes are only $7 each, but you get 15 shades in each one so they're a serious value.

Product Review -- BECCA Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder

I've mentioned before that I have a very difficult time finding a setting powder.  My skin's gotten drier as I've gotten older, so most powders, whether they're loose or pressed, just accentuate all the flaky, dry patches or wind up looking cakey.

And I try them all with a variety of foundation so it's not just the combination that's the problem -- it's just that my skin doesn't play nice with powder.

So I was intrigued when I heard about BECCA's Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder because they claimed it has "a revitalizing mist-like effect on skin."

When you've got dry skin, that sounds pretty promising.

Product Review: a2o Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Kits

I'd heard a lot about the MissA website for a while, and over the past year or so, I've picked up quite a few products from the website's in-house brands.

If you're not familiar, the brand is focused on budget-friendly makeup items. Many of their AOA products are only $1 (and I've tried some, which are really quite good so I'm sure I'll get around to talking about them at some point), though they do have a slightly more expensive line, a2o Labs, which includes a variety of pressed powder eyeshadows, highlighters, and blushes in pans, as well as empty magnetic palettes, so you can put together custom palettes.

(The empty magnetic palettes have become a real favorite of mine, because the largest size, which holds 28 traditional sized eyeshadow pans, is only $7.50. They're made of sturdy cardboard, feature fun designs, and have a large mirror inside. If you don't need a mirror in your palette, though, they're only $6.  You can also opt for small empty palettes that can hold 9 shadow pans for $4 (without a mirror) or $5 (with a mirror).)

But there are also some curated eyeshadow kits that include 9 shadows and an empty mirrored magnetic palette with the kit's name on the front.

All for just $10.

I couldn't resist picking up all 5 of the kits (because I've been obsessed with pan eyeshadows and making my own custom palettes for the past year or so and am determined to try as many different brands as I can) to see just how well the shadows perform.

Product Review -- Ace Beaute Paradise Collection Classical Paradise and Blossom Paradise Eyeshadow Palettes

About a year ago, I started seeing ads on Instagram for Ace Beaute and was definitely intrigued.

The ads were mainly for the Quintessential Eyeshadow Palette, which is certainly stunning -- but I hadn't really heard anything about the brand or the quality of their products at all and I kept dragging my feet about actually making a purchase.

Fast forward several months later, when the brand released the Paradise Eyeshadow Palette Collection and not only were these palettes all gorgeous but I saw plenty of positive reviews for them, which mean I couldn't risk trying them myself.

All of the palettes are lovely, but there were two that I could see myself using more than the others so I picked up the Classical Paradise Palette and the Blossom Passion Palette.

A Few of My Favorite Things -- 3 Things I'm Loving at the Moment

2018 was such a blur for me that the idea of doing a yearly favorites post is just mind-boggling.

But there are a few products that I've been loving at the moment that I don't see myself doing full reviews of but are still worth sharing.

So here are some of my late 2018 faves:

Product Review -- Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette

I've had my eye on the Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette for quite a while.

But I talked myself out of it for a long time because it's not like the shades in the palette are particularly unique -- though they are stunning, which was what had me so torn.

Well, that and the fact that I saw so many positive reviews for it that made me think I was really missing out.

So I eventually caved during the holiday season when I was shopping for others and decided I should treat myself to a gift too.

Fortunately, I don't regret the purchase in the least.

Hello 2019!

It's almost impossible to believe that a new year is upon us. 2018 was somewhat of a blur for me, and if I'm honest, it was really the greatest year for me or those closest to me (and really, the world in general, in my opinion).

So I'm ready for 2019 and firmly committed to doing everything that I can to make it more positive than 2018.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share some of my makeup-related resolutions for the New Year as a way to start 2019 off on the right foot.  Please feel free to share your resolutions, beauty-related or otherwise, below -- I can definitely use all the inspiration I can get!