Maybelline Palettes Review & Swatches

Hello beauties!!! 

Today I'm going to be sharing with you swatches and my thoughts on the Maybelline branded eyeshadow palettes!

I know I'm late to this train but better late than never right? 

I've had these palettes for quite some time, but if you know anything about me, then you know of my almost phobia of using anything brand new in my makeup collection. 

I sometimes feel like I should buy everything after someone else has swatched it (someone I know of course, and subsequently sanitized it), because then I'd be able to use it no problem. It's the initial 'ruining' of the product I'm afraid to do. 

So Maybelline came out with these palettes some time ago, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on all of them. They are: The Nudes, The Smokes, The Brights, and The Blushed Nudes. In my opinion, this is an attempt at trying to keep up with the high end brand Urban Decay. If you know the brand, these four palettes are what I think they're trying to compare Naked, Naked 2, Naked 3, and Electric to. 

For starters, we have The Nudes. 

The packaging leaves some to be desired. It's plastic with a window so you can see all the shadows. The shadows aren't very pigmented. I swatched everything over an eyeshadow base, and a few still aren't pigmented. In the least. On the eye they're a little patchy as well. Some blend better than others; about as well as you'd expect a drugstore brand eyeshadow palette to perform. 

Next, we have The Smokes. 

These are all extremely cool toned shadows. Which is not my forte or most desired type. The pigmentation on these is quite a bit better than that of The Nudes. A couple were patchy but not more than a few. These shadows would be perfect for someone who loves to do a smokey eye look with cool toned shadows or is even just starting out and can't afford a higher end palette. 

Next we have The Brights. 

This one is probably my favourite as pigmentation and colour payoff goes. As I said, all of these are swatched with an eyeshadow base. I didn't use anything special for these, just my Lorac primer, and I only had a pigment issue with one shade (the first one on the top left corner). I love that a couple neutrals were thrown in the mix too. There are enough that if you wanted to do a neutral look with a pop of colour, this would be the only palette you'd need. Or if you want to do a rainbow eye, you can create that as well. 

Lastly, we have The Blushed Nudes. 

This palette is the nicest packaging only because of the colour change. Instead of simple black, it's a beautiful rose tone that has what looks like swirls of different shades of pink and rose throughout it. This is much more reminiscent of the Urban Decay Naked 3 eyeshadow palette with the rosy and romantic tones. There were a few shades in this palette that lacked pigmentation and were patchy during swatching. There's a good mix of warm and cool toned shades, as well as finishes. You may not be able to create that many differing looks with this palette as the majority are very similar. Unless you use the top row of shades one day and the bottom row of shades the next day. 

All in all, these palettes aren't terrible. I like that I have all four of them to create as many looks as I want. They all have varying shades and finishes to be able to achieve a variety of looks that you desire. They're perfect for someone starting out in makeup and can't afford the higher end brands just yet. The price tag on them varies from store to store here, but they're around the $10-$14 range. 

That's all for today!!! Thanks so much for reading and I'll talk to you later!

Xoxo

Shelby :)

Holiday Beauty Wish List!!

Hi Everyone!!

Ok, so I know this may seem greedy, but this is the season of wants, right?? 

I want a lot. 

This post will be limited to just my beauty wants. These aren't necessarily things I would never buy myself, but these are things that I've either had my eye on, or things that I feel I would benefit from. 

I don't expect any one of my family member or friends to get any of these things for me, mainly because the majority of my family and friends won't understand my need and desire for this amount of makeup products. Aside from maybe April and Shana :)

Don't judge. Only because I know for a fact I may seriously only end up with one or two of these products. 

So for starters, I know I have a shit ton of eyeshadow palette wants, but THEY'RE ALL SO PRETTY!!!! It's so hard for me to decide which one(s) I'll actually buy. I know I for sure want to buy the Morphe 35O palette, but which other(s), your guess is as good as mine. The Natasha Denona palettes are like half my portion of a rent payment for a month, so I will most likely never own those. Unless I somehow make quadruple what I currently do hahaha. The Viseart palettes are expensive as shit too, so I will probably only ever own one of those in my life. The Makeup Geek single shadows would be a dream come true. There are a variety of finishes, including matte, duo chrome, and foiled that I want. The Kat Von D palette is different for me. Mainly because I've never wanted anything from her line. It just never appeals to me. Except that. I know it's bulky and impractical, but the amount of stuff I want is pretty impractical, too. 

I mean, let's be serious. This is a list of wants. Not a list of what I'm going to buy. I feel like I have to continue to clarify that. 

The Sephora collection of brushes would be a dream come true. I would like to say I'd never need any brushes again, but....... Then there's Morphe Brushes. Brushes AND palettes. They're such good quality at legitimately reasonable prices. And the Sephora 2 pack of makeup erasing sponges is actually something I've tried to buy but they're CONSTANTLY sold out on the website. Makes me angry. Same with the Deborah Lippmann nail polish set. 

I feel like I might actually but one of the foundations eventually. I only own one high end foundation and that because it was given to me. I basically only own drugstore foundations and bb creams. I like to go into Sephora and get samples of high end foundations, and I honestly debate buying a full sized bottle, but I come to my senses most of the time and realize I have bills to pay so I don't buy it. I know; it's a party pooper. Fragrances are something I very rarely finish. I'll have a perfume for years before I use the whole thing up. I only have a couple wants in that department and I don't think they're that unreasonably priced considering how much product is in a bottle and for how long it will last for me. Some may think the Clinique Happy. Heart is a strange fragrance for me to enjoy, but there's a nostalgic story behind why I love it. Which I won't bore you with right now. All you need to know is that I love it and I would like it again. That's why it's on my list. I honestly thought it was discontinued. 

Skin care I really do care about. I have such sensitive skin that I don't mind spending a few extra bucks to get something that won't make my skin angry with me. Just the other day I was trying a new moisturizer because I was out of my regular one, and I continued to put my makeup on. I was sneezing and blowing my nose at least twice a minute and didn't realize what was wrong. I thought I was getting sick until Wayne asked if I was using anything new. He's such a genius. It clicked that I was trying that new moisturizer, so I took off my makeup, washed my face, and used an old-ish one that I knew would work. And I was fine within 20 minutes. I just ordered my favourite moisturizer during the VIB Sale, so I'm good for a couple months, but there's no harm in stocking up, right?

Ok, oh my god this is long. I could continue, but I won't. This is my list of beauty products that I would love to have. Not necessarily for Christmas (I would have a heart attack if I got all of this......wouldn't you?), but eventually maybe kind of stuff. 

I'm rambling. 

Thank you so much for reading if you made it through this whole post. I really appreciate it. Leave me a comment of some beauty products that are on your wish list!! 

Talk to you later!! 💕

Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner Review

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by!

Today's post is dedicated to Cinema Secrets Professional Grade Makeup Brush Cleaner. 

I bought this product at IMATS Toronto 2015 in September when I went with April. I had heard of this product before but I don't think I'd ever seen a demo or anything. Anyways, I bought it at one of the booths for $40CAD. It was the most expensive item I bought. I tried it out a couple of days after I got home, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase!! 

It's such an intense cleaner, and you need the tiniest amount per brush. I either fill the cap with the strongly vanilla scented blue liquid, or I spray some on each brush that I filled a little travel spray bottle with. 

I then rub my brush on a towel. Usually a dark coloured one so to not see the staining, but for this post's purpose, I used a white one. One of my favourite things about this product is how fast it dries. It's basically automatic. I'm not kidding. I've used it in between eyeshadow shades while getting ready going from one shadow to the cleaner to a different shadow in a matter of seconds and I've never had an issue. 

Check out this photo demo. I used my dirty bdellium tools brush for this demo. I had purposely dipped it in a dark eyeshadow to show how well the cleaner works.

See what I mean??

It's amazing stuff!! 

I'm so glad I bought this cleaner, and I just pray it lasts until the next time I go to IMATS. Unless I can find it elsewhere in between now and then. 

That's all for today!! Thanks for stopping by!!

:) Shelby 

Holy Update Batman!

WWWWWOOOOOOWWWWWW

How dare I leave for so long eh????

To be fair, I've been actually posting on my YouTube channel pretty consistently.  So if you haven't checked that out, you should go watch my latest video! https://youtu.be/ppUAXwrF3og 

So what the hell have I been up to you ask??

For starters, I got a job again. I was off work for about 5 months thanks to Target Canada leaving the country. I went back to work almost 3 months ago now. I'm actually loving it this time around. It's at a place called Fred's Farm Fresh. I worked there last summer for almost a month and was miserable because of all the hours I was working in a week. I didn't spend any time with my family and I didn't like that so I had to leave. I was offered the job back with the BEST schedule, so I couldn't refuse and I really do enjoy going to work every day now. 

Wayne and I moved. If you recall, our previous landlords sold the house we were living in for 2 years. We're in a big house now but are more miserable than before because our landlord is a piece of shit and our rent is astronomical. So we've been struggling a little. And I believe we have decided that the next time we move it will be because we have bought a house. Because paying more than the actual value of a mortgage per month to someone else and I will have nothing to show for it at the end of our tenancy is bullshit and I don't like it. 

Moving on. 

I'm still absolutely very deeply into makeup. As I said, I've been posting on my channel consistently lately. I've also been doing makeup for friends and family and such lately that I'm kind of starting the process of getting my name out there. I even have an opportunity to do makeup for models for a fashion show in Windsor this upcoming weekend. My sisters friend actually thought of me for the job. I'm nervous but excited and anxious to do it. I don't think I'm nearly qualified enough but I've already agreed so I better get my shit together before Saturday hahahha. 

On the makeup front, I have been thinking to switch this 'lifestyle' type blog to being strictly makeup oriented. Since I do my makeup pretty much every day, I think I'll be able to post some selfies with descriptions of what I use on a day to day basis or at least a few days a week. And I'll be doing more product reviews. As much as I love all things makeup, there are still plenty of things that aren't my favourite and I feel like I should start sharing my opinions on all of this. Plus it will give me more of a niche in my blogging style. 

At this point I'm just thinking in text form. I'll stop boring you now haha. 

 

I hope you stick around to learn my opinions and to see pretty pictures!! 

Thanks so much!! 

April Hangouts!!!

Hi Everybody!

This post is dedicated to hanging out with my beautiful friend, April!!

We hung out a couple weeks ago, and it had literally been a month since the last time we saw each other. This poor girl works two jobs, usually averaging 65 hours a week, so she barely has time to sleep, let alone make plans with friends. But I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with her, and it was awesome :)

We went to a 'business' type meeting involving my sister for an hour or so, and then we went back to her house to hang out and talk and catch up and have a couple beers! 

She's so cute!

Friends help friends open beers :) 

Mmmmmm :)

Enjoying our beers on her patio!!!

What we're drinking: Desperados. Tequila flavoured beer. Made in Amsterdam. Figure that out.
#spokeswomen! It's honestly the best tasting beer I've ever EVER had!

I truly love this girl, and I can't wait to hang out with her again. When school starts and she has less on her plate, I hope to see her at least a little more often. *whispers* just a couple more weeks..... just a couple more weeks*

Be Wonderful :)

New Video! Colourful Eyes!

Hi Everybody!!

Go see how I created this super colourful eye makeup look HERE! 

This is the last video I filmed at my old house, so it's a little special to me. It was obviously filmed a while ago, but I kept forgetting to post it!! 

It would mean a lot to me if you gave it a giant 'thumbs up' and subscribed to my channel! :)

Thank you so much!

Be Wonderful :)

Visit From Edmonton & Vlogging!

Hi Everybody!!

It just dawned on me that I haven't posted in a few weeks, and I can't believe it. I'm so sorry. 

I have, however, been posting videos on my YouTube channel. If you haven't seen it, please go take a look and subscribe. I will be your forever friend :):)

This past week has been quite the ride. My beautiful friend, Becka, came for a visit from Edmonton. We had a lot of fun while she was home. She left last night, which was upsetting. I was the only one at the airport with her. She didn't want the big drawn out goodbye process that draws tears, so she had her family simply drop her off at the airport. It's a tradition that I wait for her to get on the plane, so that's what I did last night. 

I've been vlogging for the past week as well. It should be posted on my channel within the next few days (hopefully). I will continue to vlog throughout the month. It is, after all, Vlogust :)

I just got a text from Becka saying she's ready to come home. Like for good. I don't want to get my hopes up, but YYYYYAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!

I need to go look for a job to help give Becka a push to come home :)

Thanks for reading!

Be Wonderful :)

The Balm Shady Lady Palette Swatches!!

Hi Everyone!!

This post is dedicated to all of my 'Shady Lady' palettes from the Balm Cosmetics. I own Vol. 1, 2, and 3. There is a special edition Shady Lady palette, but that doesn't have any different shadows in it. The packaging is different, though. It has a snake skin pattern (to go along with the animal patterns on the other 3 palettes). These palettes usually retail for $39.50, but I never buy them full price. Where I get them always has deals like 20% or 30% off, and that's when I grab them. 

Volume 1

Shadows left to right:

Caught In The Act Courtney, Shameless Shana, Luscious Lani, Jealous Jordana, Risque Renee, Curvy Cami, Jet-Setting Jennifer, All About Alex, and Easy Wheezie

Volume 2

Shadows left to right:

Caught In The Act Courtney, Feisty Felicia, Insane Jane, Bossy Bobbi, Makeout Mary, Just This Once Jamie, Mischievous Marissa, Tempting Tara, and Devilish Danielle

Volume 3

Shadows left to right:

Lusty Lee, Envious Erin, Racy Kacy, Safe Bet Annette, Runaround Rebecca, Come-Hither Heather, Open To Offers Owlen, All The Way Annie, and Guilty Gwen

I have a couple complaints about these shadows. First of all, I don't like that there's a duplicate shadow in Volumes 1 & 2 (Caught In The Act Courtney), and I'm not a big fan of the fact that there are no matte shades. 

While swatching, I noticed that the majority of the shades are super buttery and pigmented, but not all of them. There are a couple patchy shades, and I found that the more creamy ones had a lot of fallout. So I guess I'll have to use Fix + to put on some shadows, which isn't exactly different from what I normally do. 

Volume 1 is very cool toned, so I probably won't get much use out of that one. I think I like Volume 2 the best. The shades are brighter and more my type. Volume 3 isn't super thrilling, aside from that copper shade and purple shade, but since I had the first 2, I had to get the 3rd one, right?

That's all for now!

Thanks!

Be Wonderful :)

Rant!!

Hi Everybody!

If you want to listen to me bitch and complain about Sephora again, go check out my new video right here!

Just a quick disclaimer; I`m not entirely angry with Sephora, I`m just really angry about selfish greedy people.

HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS!!

irenesarah.com
(This is what my rant is about)

Please go check out my video!! 

Thank you!!

Be Wonderful :)

New Video!!

Hi Everybody!

I know I've still been lacking in the post department, but there was a problem with our internet, I swear.

Anyways, I fixed it today, so I am able to post a new video (check it out here), and make a post to let you know about it!

My life in the new house is boring. I'm not working, so I'm not leaving the house like ever, so I don't have a need to put makeup on just to steam clean the floors, so I don't have any new photos or exciting news to share.

With not leaving the house very often, if at all, it makes me stir crazy. I DID go to a stag & doe this past weekend for a couple that I used to work with at Target, and that was awesome. I won the door prize, which was a new GPS system, and a bottle of tequila in the 'Hammer & Nail' game. And the week prior, I went to a wedding shower. Those have been the only 2 times I've left the house since we moved in. So, I have decided I'm going to go shopping in a couple days. Makeup shopping (duh). I know at least 1 thing I will be buying REGARDLESS, and that is the Becca Cosmetics in collaboration with Jaclyn Hill highlighter in the shade 'Champagne Pop'. It launches at Sephora on Thursday, so you better believe this bitch will be first in line when that store opens to get it. I just hope my experience being first in line there goes much better this time than it did last time. If anyone recalls the fucking fiasco from last October........

Anyways! Since the first half of this month has basically been me being a hermit and deep cleaning the fuck out of my new house, I was thinking about doing something for me (and you, hopefully) next month. I need to run this idea by my sister +Missy G first, but I was thinking about vlogging. A lot of YouTuber's do this thing where they vlog for the month of August, and they call it 'Vlogust'. Thoughts??

I think that's it. I'll keep you updated in the makeup department and the vlogging department :)

Thanks so much!

Be Wonderful :)

I've Moved!!

Hi Everybody!!

I'm not sure if anybody remembers when I was super stressed and pissed because mine and Wayne's landlords sold the house that we were living at for 2 years less a month, but the time came and passed, and we had to move. It wasn't an ideal situation; we were looking for a new place to rent for the entirety of the 60 days notice we were given to leave, and nothing was promising. We found a place, signed the papers, gave first and last, and moved everything within a 2 day span. It was stressful (OBVIOUSLY), and I just got the wifi up and running, so this is the first time in a week I've been able to sit the fuck down and concentrate on posting a blog. 

So here it is. I've moved. It's a nice house. It's bigger than the last. The rent is also bigger than the last. By a lot. It's a 4 bedroom + office, 2 bathroom house. The biggest problem we have had since we moved in is cleaning. This place was fucking disgusting. And it stunk to the point of gagging. It's like the place hasn't been cleaned properly or deeply since it was built. For 3 days my aunt and myself have bleached and scrubbed and steamed every single surface of the upstairs. Literally three fucking days. And we haven't even started on the downstairs. 

I'm also almost done unpacking the upstairs. I get a beauty room, so that's extremely exciting for me. I set most of it up yesterday, but I wanted to clean the drawer inserts before I organized everything inside the drawers, so that's not entirely done yet. I wanted to concentrate on cleaning and unpacking the more important stuff first. 

So I'm sorry for the lack of posts. But now I really don't have any excuse. I hope. 

Thanks for reading!

Be Wonderful :)

Fresh Faced Drugstore Look!!

Hi Everybody!!

This post is dedicated to this makeup look I created using only drugstore products. I even filmed a Get Ready With Me type of video outlining everything I used to create this look. Go watch it HERE :)

It was fun to create, and I'm really happy with how it turned out!

I may not be able to film or post for a couple weeks because I have to move. If you haven't read my previous posts, here's your warning. I'm sorry in advance. 

That's all for today! Thanks so much!

Be Wonderful :)