Essie: Grow Faster

Essie Grow Faster

For a while there, my nails were quite weak and prone to breakage. I could hardly grow them out because they'd soon begin to peel. I bought Essie's Grow Faster as a remedy, and I have to say I like it.

I'm not sure anymore why I decided to get Grow Faster when I probably should've gotten something for strength instead. Still, this has been sufficing as I have found my nails to grow longer and stronger than before. While they do still peel, it happens at the point where I've always found my nails to give out, whereas my nails were breaking much sooner during that bad period. My nails haven't broken in a very long time, so Grow Faster may have helped with that. Ironically, I'm not sure about faster growth. Since I was looking more to prevent weak nails, I haven't paid much heed to growth time. It may speed things up a bit, but not noticeably so.

The formula is a thin green lacquer that dries very quickly, and is thus very easy to use. I use it as my base coat because I do believe that it strengthens my nails, so I might as well paint it on if I'm going to bother with polish at all. I believe I got this last winter so I have been using it for quite a long time. Even so, there is still a lot of product left. Because the formula is so thin and liquid, you don't pick up or use very much at a time. A bottle should last a long time, which I think is another plus.

I believe I got this for about $8 at Target, which is the standard price of an Essie polish. I have found it to strengthen my nails so that they grow longer before peeling, and it seems to have stopped breakage. The formula is a breeze to work with and should last you a long time. I do recommend this product if you're suffering from weak, brittle nails that refuse to grow.

UPDATE 1/27

I decided to test Grow Faster to see if it does what its name claims. I used Grow Faster as the base coat on my left hand and Seche Bright (a nail whitening treatment) on the right. As you can hopefully see, Grow Faster did not enhance the rate of nail growth on the left hand. To be fair, this may be because I've been using Grow Faster as my base coat on both hands for many, many months, so its effect may linger on on the right side. Even so, I am not convinced that this does anything to speed up nail growth.

Nails on Jan 12th with Essie Grow Faster on left hand

Nails on Jan 19th with Essie Grow Faster on left hand

Essie: School of Hard Rocks

Essie School of Hard Rocks

I'm awful. I had a very bad lapse in Project Pan that is inexcusable. I basically splurged on a bunch of drugstore goodies one day last week. It was triggered by the restocking of the Revlon Lip Butters, which I adore and indulged in, but I also ended up getting several nail polishes, including this one.

Essie's School of Hard Rocks is a lovely grayed teal in a creme finish. I don't have much to say about it other than that I really like the color, and the formula was wonderful and easy to work with. Good opacity with respectable dry-time.

Essie School of Hard Rocks (with flash)

Essie School of Hard Rocks (natural light)

Zoya Nail Lacquer: Dakota

Zoya Dakota

Here is a quick post featuring Zoya's nail polish in Dakota, a dark vampy sort of red with a glossy finish. I am loving deep reds at the moment because of the holidays. This particular polish seems a bit thinner and runnier, but it applied very nicely with good opacity. It had great, fast dry-time, probably because the formula is thinner. It did chip quite a bit on my dominant hand after four days of wear, so that may be something to be aware of. I had Seche Vite on over the top, which normally provides me with at least a week of wear time. Still, the chipping does not bother me much because I was ready to change out the color anyway. I enjoyed the color while it lasted- very sophisticated and festive!

Zoya Dakota (with flash)

Zoya Dakota (natural light)

Origins: VitaZing Moisturizer

Origins VitaZing

My skin routinely goes haywire on me for no apparent reason. It is currently dry and bumpy, yet also prone to breakout. In the past, I would opt either for the Bare Minerals Foundation or to go without face makeup at all. Neither of these options were my favorite. The mineral foundation did not sit well on dry skin, and going without meant leaving my skin looking dull and uneven.

This is where the Origins VitaZing comes in. I heard rave reviews about this product so I decided to give it a try when I had a 25% off coupon for Beauty.com. I received it at a time when my skin was equally erratic a few months back. The reviews I saw claimed that this product has color-matching ability, and that it offers light coverage while mainly functioning as a moisturizer. I thus turned to this as something to keep my skin moisturized while evening and brightening my complexion. I have to say, VitaZing has been quite good for those times of need.

The moisturizer comes out as a light grayish cream with little dark flecks. I did not immediately notice any color change as I rubbed it into my skin (it just looked transparent), but I do believe that it happens because I have seen color wipe off onto my towel when I am at the gym. The coverage is hence very light and subtle, but this is to be expected since this is not touted as a tinted moisturizer. What I like about it is that it does help to brighten and even out the complexion while leaving the skin looking like skin. I feel that as a moisturizer, this product sinks into the skin, whereas products like foundation or tinted moisturizer contain obvious pigment that sits on the surface of the skin and emphasizes bumps or flakiness. VitaZing is thus a good option for when your skin can't handle cosmetic products, yet you'd like something to help with your complexion.

As a moisturizer, it is quite good. It's a bit more rich than I usually go for in a moisturizer (I usually like light-to-medium moisture), but I think that it's good for days that I will not be loading additional products onto my skin. I would not recommend this as a moisturizer to be used under foundation because I feel that that would look and feel heavy.

It does have an odd scent that's hard to describe. It is neither fresh nor feminine, but I find it bearable. It's not worse than the scent of Philosophy's Hope in a Jar, which I have reviewed previously.

VitaZing is $35 for a 1.7 oz tube, which is a little pricey. I don't feel that this product should be a must-have for most people. However, for people like me who experience bouts of dryness, bumpiness, and/or flakiness, this product is nice to have around because it combats dryness and offers subtle coverage while allowing the skin to breathe and recover.

P.S. I forgot to mention, it contains SPF 15, which is a great bonus!

Origins VitaZing

L'oreal: Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

L'oreal Magic Perfecting Base

I've hit bottom in my pot of Loreal's Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base (PROJECT PAN ITEM #2)! This is a product that gets quite a bit of love, and deservedly so. It comes as a dense pink cream that glides over the skin to provide a smooth, silky base for makeup to sit on and adhere to. It has a matte finish that's very nice as it does not feel greasy or sticky. It claims to minimize the look of pores and fine lines, which I believe it does since it works by filling in ridges in the skin to create a smooth surface. I use this strictly in my undereye area because I have little folds there which I find concealer to emphasize when I don't first prime the area with this product. I find the Magic Perfecting Base to be quite effective in resolving that problem.

Because I don't use this product all over my face, I can't speak to how it functions in that regard. I personally do not like to have layer upon layer of products on my face. While this is great for smoothing the skin, it does sit on the surface so it may potentially add bulk. I would recommend using this product only in areas of need.

I don't find that this primer helps my concealer to last any longer than it does when I go without, so I don't believe that this product prolongs the wear of one's makeup. However, the product description does not claim for it to do so.

In summary, this is a great drugstore product. While it is on the pricey end of the drugstore range ($13), it is worth it, especially since there are often Buy One, Get One 50% Deals for drugstore brands. If you suffer from lines or pores that products sink into, the Magic Perfecting Base is a good one to for remedying those issues.

L'oreal Magic Perfecting Base

Urban Decay: Naked2 Back In Stock!

Yes, it's back! I just placed my order. Don't forget to sign up for their email list to get 10% off.

Clarisonic: Refreshing Gel Cleanser

Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser

I know I am on a beauty-buying ban, but I'm going to have to make a few exceptions. Firstly, the new Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette is out. I know I don't NEED it, but... come on. Being a makeup junkie AND a neutrals lover, I can hardly say no. Secondly, I broke the ban yesterday to buy some more of the Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser, because it is an incredible product and I've used up my trial-size tube (PROJECT PAN ITEM #1!). I was truly planning to hold off on the purchase but then Sephora sent out $20 gift cards to VIBs, so there was really no reason not to go for it.

I ordered the Clarisonic system quite a while back, I believe during Nordstrom's Half-Yearly sale. I have this strange habit of getting things and then not putting them to immediate use. I didn't actually start using the Clarisonic until around mid-to-late October, and I was astounded. It is AMAZING. Now I know why everyone goes raving mad over it. From the very first use, I could feel a significant difference in my skin. It was smooth and soft as a baby's bottom (or so I imagine)! I literally could not stop stroking my cheeks. I even made my mom feel them, and she was equally impressed.

I thought that the secret was in the Clarisonic itself but I soon learned otherwise. For the first week or so of use, I was pairing the Clarisonic with the Refreshing Gel Cleanser. Then I went to Boston for a week, to which I brought with me the Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser, thinking that it would keep my skin hydrated admist brisk, cold weather. I could immediately feel that there was a difference between the two cleansers. Not only did the Gentle Hydro Cleanser fail to keep my skin hydrated, it also did not leave me feeling as clean or smooth as the Refreshing Gel Cleanser did. That was when I realized that the cleanser matters, and that the Clarisonic was not acting alone to produce the remarkable results I first felt.

The Refreshing Gel Cleanser comes in a pretty irridescent gel formula that foams. It has a lovely fresh scent. When I use it in conjuction with the Clarisonic, my skin feels softer, smoother, and cleaner than I have felt it in longer than I can recall. It claims to gently balance and clarify oily, congested skin while promoting bright, even skin tone. I would concur that it is balancing. I have combination skin, and I find that cleansers that help my oily areas to feel clean are usually too drying on my cheeks. The Refreshing Gel Cleanser leaves me feeling clean overall without any dry tightness. I also believe that it helps to promote better skin tone when used with the Clarisonic.

However, this cleanser alone cannot fulfill all my cleansing needs. I noticed that I was getting more breakouts when I stopped using the Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, so I've gone back to that for my nighttime routine (that one also works very well with the Clarisonic). To me, this means that the Refreshing Gel Cleanser is not clarifying enough for me. Still, I think it is great, and I like it for the morning.

At $25 for a 6 oz tube, the Refreshing Gel Cleanser is not an inexpensive product. However, it works so well for me that I am willing to fork out the money. I have tried using it without the Clarisonic, and I don't believe that it left my skin feeling as great as it does when I do use the Clarisonic. Something about using the two in conjuction does something remarkable. For that reason, it is difficult for me to recommend unless you already have the Clarisonic. If you do, then I completely recommend that you give this cleanser a try!

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush: Rose Petal

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal

This post will conclude the series of items I've hit pan on that won't count toward my renewed Project Pan.

The Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal is the first cream blush that I tried, and I have to say, I love it. The mousse texture is divine- very soft, smooth, and airy. It does not feel sticky or greasy, and I find it extremely easy to blend. If anything, it might blend away too easily so don't overdo it. I find that this blush is best applied with a synthetic brush. I use one from Real Techniques.

The color is really lovely, a rosy pink shot through with golden shimmer. I don't find the shimmer to be obvious once it is on the cheeks. The color is neither too dark nor too light. On me, it looks like the perfect hint of a natural-looking flush. I never have to worry about overdoing it with this shade because it never looks clownish. It is very wearable and goes well with just about every look because it is so natural. This shade probably won't show up on darker skin tones but it should be beautiful on light to medium skin.

If it isn't obvious already, I highly recommend this product! I think it is probably my favorite blush because it is the most natural-looking one that I own. I will be sad when I use it all up, but I have no doubt that I will be repurchasing it in the future.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal (rosy pink with golden shimmer)

Philosophy: Purity Cleanser

Philosophy Purity Cleanser

I finally used up the last of my Purity cleanser. My 4 oz bottle lasted me a good, long while. I used it almost daily from the beginning of the year until September .

I don't have very much to say about it other than that it is nice, light cleanser. It is refreshing but I don't feel that it offers a deep clean. I never came away with the squeaky clean feeling. For that reason, I used it as part of my morning routine when my face was void of makeup or other products. The directions suggest use for both morning and night since this is advertised as a "one-step facial cleanser." I don't feel that it cleans deep enough for me to use it at the end of the day.

The product is a creamy, pale yellow liquid that smells faintly like Fruit Loops to me. It does not foam. To me, it is neither drying nor moisturizing.

It retails for $10 for 3 oz, which is not at all a painful price to pay. Still, I have always used drugstore cleansers and they serve me well. I do not see the need for this higher end product. Purity did not do anything special for me so it's not something that I will be repurchasing. While it's a decent cleanser, it is not something I personally recommend just because I think you can get the same clean from a cheaper and more readily available drugstore alternative.

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation: Nude

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in Nude

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in Nude

I am quite proud that I made it through a bottle of foundation! That sounds silly, I know, but I'm just amazed at how much my makeup routine has changed over the last year. I had always feared liquid foundation because of the great risks involved in color matching and proper blending. I finally took the plunge with Revlon's PhotoReady foundation, which I began testing last year in December. I have to say, I love it!

I purchased two shades, Shell and Nude. Shell is the lighter one that I started off wearing first. However, I switched to Nude after I got a bit of sun. I even had to start mixing in a bit of a dark tinted moisturizer after my vacation! Nude is near finished now.

The PhotoReady foundation is quite liquid and blendable. It glides over the skin very nicely and leaves a lovely, dewy finish with medium coverage. I don't find that it looks heavy or cakey. I know that the light reflective particles in it turn some people off but I don't find them to be noticeable. They brighten the complexion without looking shimmery. The foundation also contains SPF 20, which is great! I know that SPF can cause white cast in flash photography but I have not really tested that out. I don't notice my skin looking odd in pictures so I think (and hope) that there isn't any problem there. I do have combination skin that gets oily in the T-zone. I don't find the foundation to break apart as the oil develops but the foundation does nothing to mattify or prevent oil from showing. I never expected it to so I don't mind this, but this may not be the best foundation for people with oily skin.

The packaging is nice and sturdy with a pump. One pump is enough for me to cover my face. The only qualm I have is that the last bit of foundation is hard to get. It also appears to be more liquid in consistency towards the end. It still works fine but it is slightly different.

I have very limited experience with liquid foundations so my knowledge is not vast or profound, but I personally love this foundation and recommend it highly! I know that the kind of foundation people go for will depend on their skin type and needs. This one is great for people with relatively clear skin who just need to even and brighten their complexion without looking heavily made up. These sell for around $13-14, which I find to be pricey for a drugstore product. However, Walgreens frequently has Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off deals on Revlon. I would take advantage of that to buy two shades so that you can make sure you have the one that's right for you, or maybe even mix them to get the best match. I think it'll be worth it!

Project Pan, For Real! + MAC Fluidline: Blacktrack

MAC Fluidline

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

I have completely disregarded Project Pan all year long, but I want to try for real this time. I'm finally at a point where I feel like there's nothing I can get that I don't already have. I also have a whole lot of products that have only ever been swatched and never yet worn! It's awful, I know.

My goal is to hit pan on 20 products. Here are the rules:

1. Hit pan (not necessarily use up) on 20 items before making any further beauty purchases.
2. Cosmetics and skincare count, but not bath and body products.
3. Exceptions may be made for limited edition or discontinued items.
4. Exceptions may be made to repurchase staple items (like skincare products) while still counting the item that was used up.

I will have several posts coming up reviewing products that I have already hit pan on/used up. These will not count toward my 20.

To start things off, I have included a photo of my nearly-finished MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack! This is a staple item in many people's collections, and for good reason. It is the best eyeliner I have ever used. It has the perfect consistency, somewhere between the creaminess of a pencil and the fluidity of a liquid liner. It glides on nicely, dries quickly, and is very long-lasting. It is also resistant to smudging after it dries. The opacity is good but requires some build-up. The color loses intensity as you blend it out, and I think also as it dries. I often end up going over the line with a pencil liner.

Fluidline does have its faults. It can be a bit fickle to work with. Sometimes it will smudge to places that I don't want it to go, and ruin what I've already done. I know that has a lot to do with my technique, but that goes to show that this is definitely not a foolproof product. I've been using this product for about two years now, and I still feel like my technique has yet to be perfected. It can get flaky if you go over the line repetitively. The consistency also changes as the product dries out, which it tends to do because the cap does not provide a perfect seal.

Despite these weaknesses, I still love Fluidline and will continue to use it. I like it better than pencil liners because those fade, smudge, and crease on my lids. I prefer it to liquid liners because I feel that it is more opaque and I like its creaminess. Finally, it avoids the fallout issues I have with mineral eyeliners, while again offering much better opacity and longevity. I've also used one up in Blitz & Glitz, which is a very dark brown with subtle golden shimmer. That one is great too!

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss: Cheers, Spice It Up

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss: Cheers, Spice It Up

L-R: Cheers, Spice It Up

Revlon has released a holiday collection of Colorburst lipglosses with matching nail colors. I decided to try out the glosses because the colors are fun and festive.

Cheers is a deeper berry-fuschia shade. It appears lighter and pinker in my photographs than it does to my naked eye. I like to think of this color as a "party pink." It does contain shimmer, but it is subtle. The finish looks more like a creme.

Spice It Up is a dark, vampy burgundy with obvious shimmer. It is quite goth but I also think it is so appropriate for the cold seasons. Holiday parties will be the perfect excuse for a shade like this!

These glosses offer great pigmentation while maintaining some degree of translucency (as glosses should). I love that they are not sticky. They feel nice and moisturizing with good slip. The applicators are wonderful. They're flat on either side, rather than angling toward a point like most. I'm not sure what it is about them but they allow for precise application. It's also nice that you can use both sides of the applicator, whereas with a typical applicator you would need to dip it back into the gloss to pick up more product.

I can't really comment on wear as I have not yet worn these out for an extended period. I had Spice It Up on for an hour or two just to try. The glossiness and color definitely wore off as I drank water and such, which is to be expected. Even so, there was pigment left on my lips at the time I decided to wipe it off. I also felt that my lips looked a bit plumper. These don't contain lip plumping ingredients but I think it was a combination of the moisture of the glosses and a bit of color bleeding that made my lips look fuller.

I believe that these glosses retail for $7-8. I got mine from Walgreens at Buy One, Get One 50% Off. I think that the formula and packaging of these are great, and the colors are perfect for the season. Even if these particular shades don't appeal to you, I would definitely recommend this line of lipglosses, which offers a good range of colors.

L-R: Cheers, Spice It Up

Cheers

Spice It Up

Nude lips

Cheers (with flash, which unfortunately makes it appear more sheer than in reality)

Spice It Up (with flash, which unfortunately makes it appear more sheer than in reality)

Sephora by OPI Nail Colour: Wild About Shimmer

Sephora by OPI Wild About Shimmer (with flash)

Sephora by OPI Wild About Shimmer (natural light)

Wild About Shimmer is a decadently shimmery polish with particles that reflect like moonstone or opals, in shades of gold, pink, and green. It is definitely beautiful. Layered over a dark polish, the shimmer is predominantly golden-toned. I wore it over L'oreal's Owl's Lust, a vampy red shade from their Project Runway collection. I thought that they looked quite festive together, and rather appropriate for the upcoming holidays.

It is difficult for me to comment on the wear of this polish. I experienced chipping more quickly than normal. I can't say for sure if that is due to the L'oreal red polish, Wild About Shimmer, or the Sally Hansen topcoat. I suspect that it is most likely due to the topcoat. I normally use Seche Vite and get at least a good week of wear with my polishes.

If you like the effect of this polish, then definitely go for it. At $9.50 a bottle, I do find it to be a bit pricey. However, the only drugstore alternative that I can think of is a limited edition Sally Hansen polish (Hidden Treasure) that went for $8, but the particles were different and I don't think it's available anymore. Wild About Shimmer should be readily available, and at a decent price point.

Wild about Shimmer layered over L'oreal's Owl's Lust (with flash)

Wild about Shimmer layered over L'oreal's Owl's Lust (natural light)

L'oreal's Owl's Lust

UPDATE 12/2/11:
I used this polish again, this time over a pearlescent whitish-pink shade that has similar tones to Wild About Shimmer. You can see that when used in this way, Wild About Shimmer looks much softer.
I used the Seche Vite topcoat this time and my polish is holding strong, so I will blame the chipping from last time on the Sally Hansen topcoat!

Wild About Shimmer over Gap polish (with flash)

Wild About Shimmer over Gap polish (natural light)

Rare Minerals: Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer

Rare Minerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer

I was not prepared to learn that I had run out of this moisturizer. As you can see, the packaging is not see-through so there was no way for me to know! The bottle is sleek and pretty, sort of iridescent, but I do wish that I could see the amount of product inside.

I don't have much to say about this product other than that I liked it. It was a nice, smooth cream moisturizer that kept my skin happy. It dried quickly without leaving any greasy or sticky residue. It's not a heavy moisturizer by any means. I think it's somewhere between a light and medium-weight formula. It does have a light scent. I always thought mine smelled a bit like it had soured but it was not unpleasant, just a little off. The product still worked nicely and my skin did not have any bad reaction so I think it was probably fine.

It claims to have "skin-renewing benefits" that will make skin look healthier and more vibrant but I cannot vouch for those. I'm still relatively young so it's hard for me to say.

They've since changed their packaging and formula. Mine does not specify the skin type it is designed for but the new ones come in two forms, one for combination skin and the other for normal-to-dry. I don't know what else has changed about the formulas so I can't really make a recommendation. I like what I had and would be open to trying the one for combination skin.

Estee Lauder: Advanced Night Repair Eye

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye

I originally got Advanced Night Repair Eye as part of a gift with purchase. I was blown away with how much I liked it. It is actually my favorite eye care product! I ended up getting the full-size when I finished the sample.

The formula is amazing. It's not a cream, nor is it a gel. I'd say it's more like a serum but denser. It glides on smoothly and leaves the skin feeling silky. It is incredibly soothing, which is why I love it so much because my eyes are easily and often irritated. It dries quickly and doesn't leave any greasy residue. It is basically everything I could ask for.

I can't vouch for whether or not it reduces or prevents wrinkles. I think I'm young enough that those aren't a concern quite yet. I've seen reviews from people saying that it reduces dark circles. I have not personally had that experience but to be fair, I was never looking for it. I just wanted a product that would moisturize and hopefully protect the skin around my eyes. This does that in a very nice way.

I completely recommend this, especially if you have sensitive eyes! This felt so nice going on when my irritated eyes felt like they could not handle any products. A 0.5 oz pot is $49.50, which I think is average for an eye cream but not a trivial amount by any means. Try it out at a counter to get a feel for the texture. I think you'll be pleased!

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye

Essie: Glamour Purse

Essie Glamour Purse

Essie's Glamour Purse is a shade from their new Fall 2011 collection. I don't know what it is about taupe colors that is so darn irresistible. They seem so neutral and basic that I thought I might have a similar polish already, but luckily I don't!

Glamour Purse is a lovely mushroom brown with just a touch of mauve. I find that a lot of other taupes can be so gray that they end up with strong purple tones. However, the brown predominates here, which I am very happy about. In the bottle and in natural lighting, I can see the hint of plum but it is subtle. When I first painted this onto my nails, I actually didn't see any purple at all. It seems that under artificial lighting, the purple tones are not apparent.

The formula was a bit lacking this time, which is too bad because I've quite enjoyed my other Essie polishes. This one was more watery and it took longer to dry. Quite a few of my nails smudged and had to be redone.

If you don't mind waiting a bit longer for your nails to dry and you're a taupe-lover like me, then I think you'd like this shade. For me, it is the only taupe in my collection that looks more brown than it does purple. However, I imagine that there are many comparable shades out there so perhaps check your collection first.

Essie Glamour Purse (with flash)

Essie Glamour Purse (natural light)

Sleek Makeup: Delivery!

Sleek Makeup Package

I could not help myself when I saw that Sleek had released a nude palette. I bought three of their palettes when I was in London and I love my experience with them thus far (especially with Storm!). I had been been hankering for the Oh So Special palette so when I learned about Au Naturel, I decided to go for it.

I padded the order with as much stuff as possible to justify the shipping cost. Postage was really not bad at all. It's marked on their FAQ as being $13.50 but it actually came out to $10. To put things in perspective, I placed an ELF order today (I know, I'm awful) and the domestic shipping cost is $6.95. Relative to that, $10 for international delivery is certainly acceptable. Still, I prefer not to pay shipping whenever possible so I figured I might as well order everything I might want all at once.

What I was really thrilled with was how quickly it came! It was shipped on the 8th with an expected delivery time of 10 days. I figured that to mean 10 business days or 2 weeks so I was totally thinking it would come around the 22nd. Today's the 12th! What a pleasant surprise!

I thought the items were nicely packed too. The eyeshadows in one of my palettes (Bad Girl) did crumble some but it's nothing major. I'm not worried about it.

The order came with a free gift. I don't remember if you have to spend a certain amount to qualify for it. I believe you do. Anyway, the gift is a mini lip gloss (you get a choice of colors) and I was delighted to find that it's actually on a little keychain! That's adorable! I won't be sticking mine on but it's a nice touch.

I haven't yet tested any of the products (not even swatching) other than the free lipgloss but reviews will be coming. I just wanted to share my experience ordering through their website. I understand that people may have reservations about placing international orders. I know that I do. However, I'm very pleased with this transaction! I'm excited to try out the products!

P.S. I plan to do a review of neutral palettes since I've collected quite a few, from drugstore options to higher end brands. It will probably take me a while to test everything extensively, not to mention my perpetual lack of time. Still, I think it will be fun and informative! Keep an eye out.

Free gift: Mini High Shine In Your Dreams

Sleek Pout Paints: Minx, Peek-A-Bloo, Pin Up, Port, Peachy Keen

Sleek Pout Polishes: Perfect Plum, Electro Peach

Sleek Palettes: Au Naturel, Oh So Special, Bad Girl

Sleek Nude Collection Au Naturel Palette

Sleek Oh So Special Palette

Sleek Bad Girl Palette