Bare Minerals Prime Time: Champagne Toast

Prime Time in Champagne Toast

Bare Minerals Prime Time in Champagne Toast is a colored eyeshadow primer in a shimmery light taupe-brown shade. It can be worn in a sheer wash of shimmer or built up further for full pigmentation. The color is beautiful and great for a wide variety of neutral looks. It reminded me of Maybelline's Bad to the Bronze cream shadow (reviewed here) so I swatched them together for comparison. As you can see, Maybelline's Bad to the Bronze is warmer and more brown while Champagne Toast has strong gray and pink tones to it. I  feel that they look quite similar in wear though.

It comes in a little squeeze tube, which is convenient for hygiene and controlling how much product you pick up. The formula is nice and creamy but dries down to a budge-proof state. Important to note is that I experience a slight burning sensation as this product dries down. I'm not sure why that is, nor do I recall experiencing this with other eye products. However, the sensation is short-lived, nor do I see any visible irritation to my eyelids after wear, so I do plan to continue using this product. It wears well throughout the day without fading, smudging, or creasing.

While the color is totally up my alley and the product works just fine, I do worry about the burning that occurs as this product sets. Strangely enough, I don't experience it when swatching it on my hands. This is likely because the skin on my hands is far less delicate than my eyelids. Who knows? I feel like this problem might affect only me. I can't knock the product otherwise so go for it if you're looking for a pretty eyeshadow base that can double as a standalone eye color.

L-R: Prime Time in Champagne Toast; Maybelline's Bad to the Bronze

Champagne Toast across lids

Finished look

(Sorry, I can't remember which shadows I used over the top. I think I only put a darker shadow along the outer edges. )

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure: Earl Grey

Sally Hansen Earl Grey

I had been eyeing Sally Hansen's Earl Grey for a while and nearly taken it to the register at least once before I finally decided to go for it. It's an elegant neutral light gray creme. I have no qualms with the color as I think it is as beautiful in wear as it is in the bottle. The formula, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired. I found it to be rather thick and goopy. It was difficult to spread evenly over the nail in a thin coat, requiring thick coats for decent coverage, and hence long dry time and waiting. Despite all the patience I could muster, I still smudged a few nails. I like the color enough that I'm going to keep it but I warn you that this one is fickle.

Sally Hansen Earl Grey (natural light)

Sally Hansen Earl Grey (with flash)

MAC Sable Dupes: Smashbox ASAP, MUA Shade 11

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11

I was randomly swatching some of my eyeshadows the other night and stumbled upon some potential dupes that I thought I'd share. They looked a lot more similar that night under artificial lighting than when I re-swatched and photographed them in natural light, but close enough.

MAC's Sable  is a Frost-finish eyeshadow in a satiny pink-toned brown. I remember that when I first got it, I thought it had strong red tones but I don't see that anymore. I don't use this color often (probably because of my initial impression that it was too red) though I probably should because it's pretty to me now as I swatch it. The formula is smooth but a little dry (this may be due to its age), causing it to go on just a tad sheer on first swatch. Fear not, for the color is strong and dense by the second swipe.

Now for the "dupes."

By comparison, Smashbox's ASAP eyeshadow leans cooler as it has more of a gray-lilac tone to it. It makes Sable's red tones more apparent when they are swatched next to one another. The formula is a extremely soft and smooth, even crumbly if you pick up too much, but I find that this gives it better color payoff. A little goes a long way with this one. I happen to love ASAP and have definitely utilized it more than Sable. Sadly, it appears to have been discontinued.

MUA's Shade 11 (reviewed previously here) is a touch lighter than ASAP but very similar. Strangely, it appears quite cool and gray-taupe in the pan but goes on warmer than expected as a pinky-brown. The formula is lovely but the sheerest out of the bunch, although color may be built with ease. This one is the most affordable by far, only a whopping 1 GBP (equivalent to ~$1.50).

These "dupes" are far from perfect but perhaps similar enough that you don't need all three. I find that I'm less inclined to purchase eyeshadows these days because I'm finally realizing that I probably have all the versions of browns and taupes that I could ever need, with plenty of dupes to boot. I'll share more as I find them!

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11 (natural light)

L-R: Smashbox ASAP, MAC Sable, MUA Shade 11 (with flash)

Orly Nail Lacquer: Gumdrop

Orly's Gumdrop

When the weather was a lot warmer and brighter, I was in the mood for the pastels of spring and summer. I decided it was finally time to get myself a mint green. I chose Orly's Gumdrop, an opaque creme-finish shade of light mint.

All in all, I have to say I'm not a fan. The color didn't really suit my skin tone but beyond that, I was not crazy about the formula or application. It's rather thick and it reminded me a lot of white-out. It's unfortunate because I was so looking forward to having this sort of color on my nails.

Orly's Gumdrop (natural light)

Orly's Gumdrop (with flash)

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer: Boho Gold

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer in Boho Gold

The duochrome nail polish trend seems to be going strong these days! I caved and went for Boho Gold from Maybelline's Color Show line because it reminded me so much of Chanel's Peridot. I don't own the Chanel version so I can't compare but the consensus seems to be that Boho Gold is a dupe.

The polish is sheer but I quite liked the way it applied. It was smooth, easy, and fast-drying. The color can look intimidating and oddball in the bottle but it definitely leans gold in actual wear, which I like because it's much more wearable that way. If you're looking for a strong duochrome, I don't think you'll find it here. I am happy with this color though!

Boho Gold (natural light)

Boho Gold (with flash)

Project Pan Galore!

My, my, it has been a while. I was sidetracked with life and fun but I'm going to try to get back into the routine of updating this blog.

To begin, I've amassed a little stash of used-up products. There are a few items that I actually wrote up reviews for a while back but I never got around to photographing. I'm not sure if I still have the empty containers at home (I've since moved!) but I'll hold onto those posts until I can check. In the meantime, here are some proud additions to "Project Pan" (but not really because I still buy new makeup).

Project Pan Item #12: Three Custom Color Specialists Blush

Sadly, I did not finish this product but it will be going into the garbage because it has spoiled. A few months ago, I used it and smelled something very odd. At the time, I did not make the connection with the blush. For whatever reason, I thought the shampoo I had used on my brushes was to blame. I adored this blush so much that it was one of the few that I decided to pack with me for my move across the country. When I used it here, I noticed the smell again and I finally realized it was the blush. As much as I like it, I will not be repurchasing it because I have so many other blushes to get through. It was, however, much loved. To further justify this claim, it was also the blush that I chose to bring with me when I went traveling for a few weeks last summer. You can see my review of it here.

Project Pan Item #13: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm

This lip balm is hands-down my go-to because it is moisturizing and also provides the perfect wash of rosiness to the lips. I've reviewed it previously here. I finished up a tube a few months ago and repurchased another. On my first day of school in August, my "new" tube broke so I purchased yet another. I can't remember what happened to the last one. It either went missing or also broke sometime in the last few weeks. Whatever the case, I've decided to hold off a bit before getting another because I've gone through too many recently. Rest assured, however, I am certain I will be repurchasing this because I think it's that good.

Project Pan Item #14: Philosophy Eye Hope

I've gone through my second bottle of Eye Hope, which I have reviewed before here. I liked it then and I still like it now but it has been topped by Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye, which is my current eye cream.

Project Pan Item #15: Napoleon Translucent Face Powder

I believe it was almost three years ago that I picked up two of these translucent face powders during a big sale at Napoleon. The one mentioned now is the second that I've used up. I'm not too critical of face powders so I probably can't give the best review. Nevertheless, I don't have any complaints about this one. I used it to set my makeup in times when my skin was more oily. Oil would break through by the end of the day, particularly in the T-zone, but I personally don't mind because I accept that as normal skin behavior. I never put on very much so I did not find it to look too powdery but I'm sure it could if you packed it on. Lastly, I did find it to be translucent so it did not alter the coloring of my face or makeup. I'm not even sure if this powder is still made/sold but I liked it and can't recommend against it if it is.

Project Pan Item #16: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer

Used up the Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer that I've reviewed before here! I have other concealers I want to get through but I would consider repurchasing this one.

Project Pan Item #17: MAC Fluidline

I've gone through yet another Fluidline in Blacktrack (previous remarks about it here). I love this liner but I am currently trying out the L'oreal version, which I am liking so far. I'm sure I will be repurchasing this in the future though.

Project Pan: Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover

This is terribly boring but I wanted to document Project Pan Item #11- yet another bottle of The Body Shop's Camomile Make-Up Remover. If you wish to see my review of it, just click here!