Hi lovelies! Today I wanted to share this highly requested review of the new Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette with you. I have been playing around with it for the past few months and can honestly say that it's GREAT quality however, there are a few unfortunate cons that I wanted to touch on. For my full review please check out this video then scroll down for detailed photos!
- In the video I accidentally mention that there are only 3 matte shades but there are actually 5 in total!
- While swatching these I did notice a bit of inconsistency with the feel of the shadows. The majority of them are that lovely silky smooth texture which is very opaque and pigmented in one swipe. However Lucid, Entombed, and Tornay are a bit harder to work with and can feel a bit chalky.
- I think my favorite shade out of this palette is Melancholia!
I hope you enjoyed today's review and make sure to comment below with your guess for the next Mystery Review Monday! What do you think about this palette?
Hi lovelies! This post in particular is one that I have wanted to do ever since I started blogging. Being the beauty lover I am you better believe I have tons of holy grail products and this is the one that started it all.
Back in my early years of high school I came across the 'new' Sunsilk line at my local grocery store. I can't remember why I gravitated towards this product but thank goodness I did because I can't picture my life without it. The Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme has become my most used product EVER and for good reason.
Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme Price: $24.41 on Amazon (link here) Size: 7 oz. Marketed As: "Put those messy, bothersome hairs back in their place with Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme with Nutri-Keratin. It's not a conditioner, not a gel- it combines the best of both. So it tames unruly flyways for softer, more manageable hair that flows together". Directions: "It's easy- just smooth 1 or 2 dollops through damp hair and style as usual. If needed, re-apply on dry hair for extra TLC during the day".
First of all this stuff smells INCREDIBLE! I use it every now and then after getting out of the shower to help make my hair 100% manageable and unbelievably soft. The only reason I don't use this every single day is because I am rationing it haha. It is super hard to come by now that Sunsilk has been put on the back burner which is one of the only down sides and a huge bummer!
I have pretty thin, naturally curly hair and I like it to be as soft as can be. I've noticed that when I apply this my hair feels instantly smoother and once I air dry OR blow dry it's completely frizz free and easy to work with. Since it makes the hair so soft it does exactly what it says it will do by smoothing all the flyways and making it flow together flawlessly. It by no means makes my hair greasy which can be an issue with other products and I use about a nickel size amount on my medium length hair.
Out of the entire arsenal of products I have blown through in the past 5-7 years this has always remained my constant favorite and no matter how hard it is to find I promise you I will track it down! Thankfully a bottle will last you forever and I believe I've only repurchased once in that time frame leaving me with about 1/4 of the bottle left.
PLEASE let me know if any stores near you sell this brand because I am looking to try the other Hydra TLC products as well (esp. the shampoo and conditioner) to see if they live up to this wonderful item.
What is your favorite hair product that you can't life without?
Hi lovelies! Today I bring you a long awaited post based solely around natural products. After getting in touch with Malea Rhodes, creator of the BEbathworks shop on Etsy, I was able to finally dive into the world of organic and natural beauty items. She let me try 4 of her best sellers and in return I created this in-depth review video for all of you! If you're interested in my thoughts and opinions on each individual item I'd definitely check it out. Demos are also included!
As promised I wanted to include the ingredients of each product on my blog because I completely understand the importance of knowing what's in the products you put on your body. I have never been one to stress over reading every label but after trying these items I have a new found interest in paying a little more attention.
Directions: Rub 5-8 drops into skin, ring out a hot damp washcloth, press onto face, allow a moment to open pores, wipe clean.Also, use as a moisturizer by rubbing 1-2 drops into damp hands and press into face.
Calendula Essential Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Neem Oil, Angelica Oil.
Coupon Code
I also wanted to provide the coupon code she generously gave to all of my readers!
If you are interested in any of these items use: LACEY14 for 15% offyour entire order!
I love the fact that Malea was on board with my little interview idea because the answers she provided really help explain how and why she created her shop. I hope you enjoy reading over this as much as I did! 1. What got you interested in all natural and organic beauty products? One day I was looking at the ingredients in my high end store bought lotion. It contained high amounts of alcohol and mineral oil. They add alcohol to help the lotion dry fast when you apply it but it also drys your skin so it's really not doing you any favors. And mineral oil is like pouring motor oil on your skin. It's harvested the same way. Yuck. So I set out to find products that would actually moisturize my skin and that I would feel good about putting on my body. After I started making products for my family, I had an excess of product so I took it to a show I was already doing for my pottery (maleaspottery.com) and sold out of bath products and got two wholesale orders out of it. A new business was born!
2. Did you always have plans to create an Etsy shop? I have always been a huge fan of Etsy. It seemed a natural platform for my products and has done very well for me.
3. Out of all the products you offer which one is your favorite? It's a tie. I love my Cheeky, organic cheek color because it's just so good for your skin and it gives just the right amount of color to look like a natural blush of color on your cheeks. I am also a huge fan of my Cleansed, cleansing serum. It's a mix of a dozen organic and wild crafted oils that break down the skins sebum deposits, lift dirt and grime and wipes away smooth. My skin has never looked more radiant.
4. Do you have any future plans on expanding your line? If so, what do you want to include? I am looking at a few other colors of Cheeky to be able to accommodate all skin tones and and also make one that is more color and less moisture for people who want organic color but might have oily or combination skin. I am also going to be working on more lip tint colors but replacing the beeswax with carnauba wax as it is harder, will stand up to summer heat and will make all my products vegan friendly.
5. What is your favorite beauty product at the moment and why do you love it? Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian clay eye pencil. I don't wear a lot of make up but this portable pencil can look natural and is buildable for more intense evening looks. That plus my Cheeky and Lip Tint and I'm good to go!
Thank you so much for reading and please let me know if you enjoyed this post!
Hi lovelies! Do you remember the Black Radiance post I did a few weeks ago? It was all about their latest lip product and if you haven't seen it I'll link it here because I love that post! Today I am back reviewing yet another new product from this underestimated brand and again I am BLOWN AWAY! A few days ago I was checking out the display which is located right new to Wet N Wild in my local Meijer when I came across these babies. The bright, bold colors caught my eye because that is one world I'm a little afraid of when it comes to eyeshadow. I never typically incorporate color like this into my eye looks because I like experimenting with lip shades so much more but my curiosity got the best of me when it came to these summery hues. I HAD to see if they were worth it and if the pigmentation was as good as that of their sister company Wet N Wild and I must say I was incredibly pleased.
Product Information
Price: $2.84
Size: 0.08 oz./ 2.4 g
Shades: Cute (pink), Correct (green), On Point (brown), Ambition (purple), Alluring (blue)
Shade Selection: 5
Marketed As: "NEW Urban Identity™ Shadow Trio delivers tone on tone definition with intensely beautiful textures that blend easily for a stunning impact. Each trio compact features pearl, metallic, and matte textures of the same shade family to create a gorgeous waterfall color effect. The smooth, crease-resistant formulas can be worn alone or layered for endless looks day or night". Where To Buy: I found these at Meijer but they can also be found at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid or anywhere else Black Radiance is sold.
Swatches of Shades
♥ Across the board these shadows are very consistent and the pigmentation is wonderful. Each contains a nice mix of shades and as far as the layout goes the finishes stay the same throughout the entire line. The top left shade is shimmery with a slight sparkly quality, the top right shade is matte, and the bottom shade has a satin finish.
♥I LOVE the color choices they supply in each trio because even though they stick with the certain color theme they are uniquely different yet still complementary of one another.
♥ I definitely think applying a primer helps with these and in this case I used my favorite NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. I'm sure you can tell by the swatches but with the primer these went on smoother and with more color than on bare skin. As far as the formulation it is very smooth and silky. Keep in mind though I did find the darkest purple shade to be quite a bit more powdery than the rest.
All in all I can't explain to you enough how much I am falling in love with this brand and these shadows. For under $3.00 you can't beat the quality and if you are looking to add a little more brightness to your bland eyeshadow collection these are a wonderful and inexpensive addition. With all of these palettes you can practically have every family of colors and even though I don't feel like these could create single looks individually, they would be great supplemental shadows to any look.
If you want to see these in action check out my latest
Get Ready with Me video featuring the On Point and Ambition trio.
As always I hope you had an amazing weekend and please let me know if you have tried anything from this awesome line. I need to know what to pick up next!
Hi lovelies! Today I wanted to give you my thoughts on some great products I recently received. Lipstick Queen was a brand I had never heard of until I reached out to them and they were more than generous when working with me. They sent me 3 of their newest product launches and I must say I am INCREDIBLY impressed which is why I featured them in my recent GRWM video! This company mainly focuses on lip products after it's founder Poppy King was unable to find her perfect formula in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. She has even written a book that takes you through her years as a young entrepreneur which I would love to read someday. Her story seems incredibly inspiring!
Marketed As: "Invisible Lip Liner works wonders with any lip color. The perfect way to stop lipstick from feathering, color stays put and you can create a defined lip line. It's the liner that goes with every single lip color and skin tone".
I love the idea behind this, it's as simple as that. $18 for one lip liner may seem a bit pricey but just think... this is a one stop shop! Honestly, out of everything they sent me I haven't used this that much but that's only because I'm not much of a lip liner person. That may surprise you because I am obsessed with all things lip related but that's just one world that completely overwhelms me! With that being said I have really liked trying it out. The consistency is very smooth and lining the lip line is super easy. I love that this is a twist up pencil so there is no need for a sharpener and this does create a great base for the formula of lipstick I will talk about in a second. I am totally a fan of the idea of having a universal shade to cover all lip options.
Marketed As: "Just in time for spring, the Oxymoron collection is being joined by a vibrant new shade, Open Secret! In a romantic pop pink hue, this ultra-moisturizing lip and cheek tint, housed in a luxurious, soft touch gold case, looks perfect on your pout and pretty in your purse as well".
After laying my eyes on the beautiful color I was immediately hooked and have been using it almost every day since. This item can be used on both the cheeks and lips but personally I prefer using it as a cream blush. I did try the color on my lips one day but it came off a little too cool to flatter my skin tone and it felt a little drying. On the cheeks though it's a dream. A little goes a super long way and after picking up a tiny bit on my Elf Small Stipple Brush I am ready to blend. I begin on the apples of my cheeks and use my brush to dab the product out and upward towards my temples (I demo this in the video). They do offer 4 shades in their original line but each color is very natural looking so I feel like this shade in particular was a great addition for summer.
Marketed As: "A color-popping coral suspended in a super-nourishing formulation, Jungle Queen flatters all complexions and is 100% fabulous when paired with your favorite big cat prints. Rrrroar"!
I have really fallen in love with this shade and formula of lipstick. If all of their other colors are this easy to work with you better believe I'll be trying many more! This formula is very unique in the fact that it's pretty thin and very light on the lips. Don't think color pay off and opacity are compromised though! This is the most beautiful and bright summery coral that is said to look great on anyone. The warmth of this lipstick brings out my blue eyes and seriously warms up the complexion like no other (see what it looks like on in the video below)! Staying power is pretty average due to the light formula but the color does seem to hang around for a good while.
I can't even begin to explain how satisfied I am with this brand and these products- they are absolute must haves! They've impressed me so much that now I have many more of their items on my radar. On the top of my "must try" list is their Hello Sailor lip product. It looks deep blue coming out of the tube but turns to a sheer plum shade on the lips. I love things like this during the week when I wear minimal makeup and they say it's very moisturizing while also making your teeth appear whiter! The two other items I am dying to try is the darker shades from their Endless Summer collection as well as their Medieval shade which they claim is a universally flattering red.
I hope you enjoyed today's review and make sure to see these products in action in my latest video!
Make sure to keep an eye out for that Black Radiance post coming this weekend
and please let me know if you've ever tried anything from Lipstick Queen!
Hi lovelies! A few weeks ago I got an email from Birchbox because I am part of their BirchBloggers program. From time to time I receive emails containing information on how to enter simple giveaways on Twitter featuring products I could win to review and guess what... I recently won! They sent me 2 Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips- 1 to review and 1 to giveaway! How nice was that?!
Marketed As: "Packed with all-natural ingredients, Dr. Lipp’s thick, rich, long lasting formula is clinically proven to repair rough, flaky lips and smooth dry skin patches. Purified Lanolin is the closest thing to your skin’s own natural oils so it provides instant effective relief and the complex combination of lipids replenishes dryness and seals in moisture. Bonus: This versatile lip balm and gloss also heals cuticles, split ends, sunburns, and even diaper rash".
Directions: "Squeeze a small amount onto your fingertip and apply to lips. Reapply when necessary".
My first impression of this little guy was completely different than I imagined! I think all of us beauty lovers research products like crazy once we see something we like and I did just that with this. However, when I opened up this adorable yet hilarious box for the first time I couldn't believe how EXTREMELY thick the balm was! The product itself was so hard to squeeze out of the tube I initially thought that I got a defective batch haha. Once some finally came out I realized that that was the actual texture and I moved on with my life. As for the consistency it is identical to that of regular Vaseline and it really feels the same as that going on, it's just a bit more thick.
I have been using this on my lips for the past few days and I really like it. You just need a tiny bit and after getting used to the consistency I don't have much of a problem getting it out of the tube. I do think it's made my lips softer over the time I've been using it and it beats the staying power of a typical lip balm due to its thickness.
It feels a little bit heavy on the lips but I love that in a lip balm product because it makes me feel like it's actually doing something! It also has sort of a tacky texture which normally would bother me but it is so slight I actually prefer it because it prolongs the wear! It lacks any type of scent as far as I can tell and they do say that it is 100% natural which is pretty cool! I LOVE the idea of products you can use in multiple places and you better believe I will be keeping this multi tasking product in my purse because it is the perfect size. Since receiving it I have only used this on my lips but I can't wait to try it on my cuticles and feet next!
Hi lovelies! Today I wanted to do a review of a new palette (to me) that I am falling in love with. Believe it or not the Too Faced Boudoir Eyes palette debuted in the spring of 2013 but never made it onto my "I have to have that" radar. Maybe it was because I didn't hear much about it but I can't believe I missed out on this for so long!
This past Valentine's Day Jerome and I went to dinner and he took me to Sephora where I got to pick out a few items- he definitely knows the way to my heart! :)When I walked in I had my sights set on the new Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette but after seeing the configuration of neutral colors I was on the fence. Owning all of the ever popular Urban Decay NAKED palettes I couldn't justify yet another similar set up. I was then lost as to what to get until I looked straight down and saw this beauty. I know I know, it's still in the neutral family BUT the colors were gorgeous and I felt as though they were a little different than anything else in my growing collection. Also, I wanted to explore these smaller Too Faced palettes a bit more. The only other one I own is the Matte Eye Collection!
Once I started playing around with this I instantly knew it was a game changer for me. Within the past year I have fallen in love with grey shadows on my blue eyes and this really struck me due to the cool undertones of some of the taupe shades. In this post I am going to walk you through my opinions of the packaging, color set up, shade selection, as well as my favorite look to create!
Shades: In The Buff, Fuzzy Handcuffs, Voulez-Vous, Satin Sheets, Sugar Walls, Garter Belt, Birthday Suit, Lap Dance, and French Tickler
Marketed As: "This handpicked collection of eye shadows offers boudoir-worthy colors including five new shades just for this palette for a total of nine soft and sexy colors. Created with high concentrations of color, what you see is what you get: pigment-rich shades with a brilliant finish. As with all Too Faced palettes, a show-and-tell centerfold Glamour Guide is included to give you instructions on creating three Boudoir Eyes looks".
Overall Setup: As many palettes do these days they have the colors set up in 3 different categories: Day, Classic, and Fashion. Even though I don't see myself sticking to one row for one entire look I think it was a nice way to organize it. The day and classic rows contain a great variety of finishes with the exception of the fashion row which lacks a matte shade. I like how they include 3 bigger shadows to the left but I would've liked seeing the 3 matte shadows featured there instead. Overall Color Selection:
In The Buff: A matte off white
Fuzzy Handcuffs: A light flesh toned matte with a hint of brown
Voulez- Vous: A deep taupe purple with satin finish
Satin Sheets: A light champagne with golden sheen
Sugar Walls: A warm medium mauve taupe with silver glitter
Garter Belt: A completely matte medium grey
Birthday Suit: A satin finish light grey with brown undertones
Lap Dance: A satin finish medium grey with a hint of purple
French Tickler: A very opaque dark black with noticeable gold glitter
-swatched without primer-
At first glance the color selection of this palette was great. It provides countless shades for many every day looks as well as some deeper ones to spice things up a bit. However, Birthday Suit and Sugar Walls are very similar once swatched. I would have liked to see a deeper matte crease shade offered in place of one of those. Also, Satin Sheets doesn't do it for me. Out of the whole palette I could have done without this shade because it hardly shows up on my fair skin. I do love the addition of Fuzzy Handcuffs and Garter Belt though because out of the whole palette those seem the most unique.
Overall Formula: All of the formulas seem very consistent and have minimal fall out which is great. Even with Sugar Walls and French Tickler holding a good amount of glitter the pigmentation and buttery-ness is still present! These blendable shadows glide on very easily and require little effort when creating a nice bold look due to their color pay off (with the exception of Satin Sheets on my skin tone).
Moving on to my recent video where I show you how to create the perfect daytime smoky eye using some of these great shades!
Hi lovelies! I can’t remember the last time I was so excited
to do a review. If you have been with me a while you know that there is a
special place in my heart for complete and detailed reviews of products so that
is what I am bringing you today!
About a week ago I was taking a walk down the makeup aisle and I came across a new lip product from a line called
Black Radiance. If you don't know, Black Radiance is a sister company
of Wet-N-Wild (under the umbrella of MARKWINS®) and you can clearly see that by the similarities in packaging and items they carry. Even
though Black Radiance caters their products to deeper skin tones I usually take a look at their display because I've heard that
their “bullet lipsticks” are amazing! As I was browsing I discovered this brand new line hidden near the bottom! The bright bold colors immediately caught my eye so I had to pick up my 3 favorites!
Size: Lip Balm- 0.06 Oz. & Lip Gloss- 0.22 Fl. Oz.
Shades: 5200 Hibiscus, 5201 Fuchsia, 5202 Plum
Shade Selection: 6
Marketed As: “The dual-ended lip case features a highly pigmented lip balm, formulated with botanical extracts to help moisturize and condition lips. The high coverage lip gloss is enriched with vitamin C & E to soften lips with anti-oxidant protection. The multi-benefit lip duo gives you luscious lip service with a hint of delicious berry flavor”.
Finish: Satin- Glossy
What did I think?
Overall Application: How about 2 words? A dream. The balm glides
on with the most beautiful shine and comfortable texture. However, I do find
that during application both ends of this product are a little small for my
lips. It’s not a terrible issue but one that I definitely noticed when trying
to apply the color evenly. As for the gloss, the doe foot applicator was nice but due to it being so small I had to go in and pick up more product frequently.
Overall Color: Even though I wouldn’t consider the balm to be as “highly
pigmented” as it claims it’s exactly what I look for in a balm like lip
product. Color is definitely buildable so you can achieve your perfect shade and these 3 were BEAUTIFUL! I absolutely love how the gloss bumps up the color of the balm and it's the perfect item to pop in the center of your lips for extra fullness. However, I do have some issues in this category and they all come down to selection. These are the only colors out of the line that suit my skin tone (with the exception of possibly Mauve 5205) which squashes my hopes of owning every single one! Maybe in the future there will be more to choose from but for now it is very limited. How about a few more shades of pink and a nice red? That'd be really nice!
Hibiscus (5200)
The perfect every day pick me up
-without gloss-
-with gloss-
Fuchsia (5201)
A beautiful bright pink with purple undertones
-without gloss-
-with gloss-
Plum (5202)
A sultry berry lip color
-without gloss-
-with gloss-
Overall Formula: I know I keep going on and on but the formulas were amazing as well! I didn't feel like the balm alone was as moisturizing as my Korres Lip Butters but applying the gloss overtop really helps in that department. As for lip gloss I normally hate it… but I have really grown to love this stuff! It is very opaque and also not sticky AT ALL making it the most comfortable and hydrating gloss I have come across.
Overall Packaging: Talk about great quality! The packaging was the first thing I noticed with these because it is so sturdy! The balms twist up very nicely and all in all I love how compact and travel friendly they are. I love how it contains 2 products that you can use interchangeably as well. Wear both together or pair the gloss with a totally different lipstick or balm! It's a great idea! The only complaint here is that the shade names come off with the plastic wrapping and you are left with only the number on the bottom. Why do companies have to do that?
Overall Scent: This category was really hard for me to nail down this week! I have come down with a nice little cold and have hardly been able to smell anything. From what I remember these do contain a nice berry scent that is very sweet but not overpowering. As far as the taste claims though, I haven't noticed anything in that department.
Overall Wear: I was happy with the wear time of these balms but they didn't blow me away. If I wear these out to dinner the product is pretty much completely gone once I am done eating. If anything there might be a hint of color around my lip line (especially with the deeper shades) but reapplication is definitely needed. Bottom Line: These are an AMAZING new addition to drugstore shelves for bright lip lovers like myself. I will be keeping all three shades and recommending them to everyone I see- I mean come on they're only $3.99! For a company to get both formulas so spot on shows me that quality is top priority and I love that! I am so impressed by these you better believe I'll be checking out other products this line has to offer. The only downside is the shade selection! I know the brand is catered to deeper skin tones and I think that is a wonderful idea but if all of their products are as great as these, I don't want to have to miss out! Bravo Black Radiance, Bravo!
