What's in my travel makeup bag? Las Vegas Edition!

Hey everybody! By the time you see this I'll probably be home from Vegas. But that's alright. All you need to know is I'm packing up my stuff and heading to celebrate my 21st birthday with my friend. I'm bringing probably an excessive amount of makeup, but honestly, I don't care. Isn't Vegas all about excess?

Seriously though, it's my 21st birthday celebration and I want to be lookin' good. I probably won't use everything that I'm bringing, but I think that's generally the case when it comes to traveling. I want to make sure I have everything I might need.

Let's get started.

First up is eye products.

I've got four pairs of falsies, three are Ardell and one is from one of my Ipsy bags. The brand is J.Cat. I'm not a huge falsies wearer, but I'm going to do it!
I also have two mascaras, Lash Blast Volume and Maybelline the Rocket in waterproof. I want some waterproof mascara for trips to the pool, or to help hold a curl. I love Lash Blast- it's my every day mascara. I often layer these two when I want something really dramatic.
I have two Maybelline Color Tattoos, one in Inked in Pink and one in Pomegranate Punk. I brought the NYX single shadow in Rust to go over Pomegranate Punk for a dramatic eye.
I brought some glitter by Wet N' Wild, because, why the heck not?
I also have my Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid liner, because, well, duh.
I brought my eyelash curler for obvious reasons.
And for the rest, I have my Urban Decay Primer Potion (can't go a day without this stuff), both of my Naked palettes, and my Sonia Kashuk Eye on Netrals Palette.
I think I'm covered.

On to face products.

I've got three foundations, two are my Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundations in the colors SP30 and SP40. I've been mixing the two. I also brought my Revlon Colorstay Whipped foundation in 200 Sand Beige. I brought this in case the darker shade of my Shiseido runs out and I need a darker foundation. I'm down to the last bit of my Shiseido, so I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I have Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and my MAC MSFN in Medium. I'm dark enough to wear the MSF now, so I'm bringing it. I also want some mattifying powder for when I go out at night.
I brought my Mary-Loumanizer highlight by The Balm, because I love it. I also have a deluxe sample of Too Faced Chocolate Soileil Bronzer and two Milani Blushes in Rose D' Oro and Luminoso.
I brought a few concealers. My NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and my Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch concealer for the under eyes. Also my MUFE Full Cover Concealer and my Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Concealer, in case I need something a touch darker.
I've got my Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, because this stuff works.
And I've got a shimmer mist body spray from Bath and Body Works. This isn't for my face, but I didn't know where else to put it.

Last but not least, lips.

I've got three Revlon lipsticks, a L'Oreal one and a Milani one. I think the Revlon ones are Wink for Pink, Primrose, and Blushing Mauve. The L'Oreal one is Fairest Nude. Milani is Nude Creme. The last two are my favorite nudes.
Two NYX glosses and an Avon one. Sorry- not sure what they are called.
I also have my Physicians Formula Gloss Stain (I did a whole review on this stuff) in the color Hot Pink.

And that's it!

It's a lot, I know. But it's alright. You only turn 21 once!

Much love!

Gianna

Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutrals Palette Review (Alternative to Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette!)

Hey everybody! The latest hype concerning Urban Decay is centered around the new Naked Basics Palette. It's priced at 27 bucks for a palette with six neutral, and in my humblest opinion, unexciting shades. They are all matte with the exception of one shade, which is the lightest of the bunch. I've heard mixed reviews on this palette. Some say they love it and use it every day, some say it's nothing special. I personally I am not a huge fan of matte shades. Although I think they are beautiful on others, I have trouble working with them. I think it takes a lot of precision to have an all-matte-eye look good. But matte shades certainly come in handy when you're doing something neutral, or you want a matte shade to pop in the crease so your eye isn't resembling a disco ball.

Here is what the UD Naked Basics palette looks like, if you haven't seen it. I don't own it personally, so I do not have my own photo of it.

I mean, I kind of get it. It's small and convenient to have all those matte shades in one place. But I am the proud owner of a drugstore option that I think is very comparable to the Naked Basics Palette. Perhaps not in the exact shades, but in the concept.

The Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutrals Palette (I think they recently renamed it the Eye Couture Palette) is sold at Target and the Sonia Kashuk website for $19.99. Okay, yes, it's only $7 cheaper. But you get 12 shades. That's right people, double the amount of shades. And not only do you get twice as many shades, they are super soft, highly pigmented (all except one), and easy to use. It comes in a really nice palette that's sturdy and travel friendly. Check it out:

Sorry my palette is such a dirty mess, you guys. It's well loved. I tried to clean it up but it wasn't working out.

Anyways, as you can see, the palette has twelve neutral, all-matte shades. I have used this palette for neutral eye looks and all-matte dramatic looks. It also has a little pull out thing on the side, which reveals three eye looks with specific instructions. It has a "softly contoured eye," a "wash of neutral," and a "smokey eye."

This is a nice touch, I think. Good for beginners or if you just want something easy.

I have swatches for the whole palette. The swatches go from left to right, top to bottom.

Look at that black, you guys!

The only color I think is a dud is the second one. It just lacks that same level of pigmentation that the rest of the shades have. Other than that one shade, this palette is wonderful. Highly pigmented shades, an excellent selection of browns, peaches, matte highlight colors, and a freakin' fab black shade. They are also super soft. The only thing I think it needs its a matte plum shade. But hey, the Naked Basics palette doesn't have that either.

My advice: go with the Sonia Kashuk palette. You get more shades for cheaper. Remember that you can mix the shades to get an even better selection of colors.

That's all I've got for today, everybody.

Much much love as always!

Gianna

Drugstore Liquid Liners: An Overview

Hey everybody! I'm back from vacation! It feels good to be blogging again. The last few posts have been written before hand, so I'm excited to be back at the keyboard for a quick minute before I leave for Vegas.

Anyways, on to the good stuff! I'm a liquid liner lover. For a long time I hated the way eyeliner looked on me, but after some experimentation I figured out that I love me a good liquid liner to use on my upper lash line. Gel and cream liners are not really my thing. Though I enjoy the formula of them, they are difficult for me to apply.

I know that liquid liner is a scary product. When I was a beginner, the whole idea of it freaked me out. It just seemed too risky applying a black liquid substance to my lid like that. What if the line was too thick, or jagged, or in the wrong place? Trust me guys, it takes practice. The more you do it, the better you'll be. Now it's just second nature to me.

I've tried out a good amount of liquid liners from the drugstore. Now, by no means have I tried them all. But I think I've tried a lot of the popular ones, and I want to share a bit of an overview of my thoughts on them.

Liquid liner pens are pretty popular right now. If you're a beginner, check out one of these products. They are so user friendly, and less threatening to those who are fearful. First up on the list is the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen.

This retails for around 8 bucks. I personally think that's a little steep, but whatever. This is a good product. As the name suggests, this stuff lasts on your lid. I don't recall having any problems with staying power at all. However, the tip on this pen is a little bit short. It's still really easy to use, but it might be a bit easier if it had a longer tip. It's not a huge deal, but just a thought. If you have trouble with keeping your liner in place, give this a go. The only thing is that this product will tend to skip after a little while of use. The line doesn't go on as smooth or straight. I found that this pen was relatively easy to use, but didn't give me a really crisp line. That's just my opinion, though. This is my mom's favorite eyeliner pen. But she has mentioned having the same issue- it can skip, which is annoying.


Next up in the pen category is the Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Ink Pen Eyeliner. Damn that's a long name.

This is similar in price to the Revlon one. This is a good product too, but I won't repurchase. This did not have the lasting power that the Revlon did for me. But I have oily lids, and pretty much everything smudges on me. By the end of the day, this would be gathered up in the outer corners of my eyes. I will say that this is easier to use than the Revlon one. It has a longer tip, which means you can get more precise application.


Next and last of the pens is the Jesse's Girl Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner.

I believe this is only sold at Ride Aid and the Jesse's Girl website for about seven bucks. This is another good liquid liner. The tip on this thing is super thin. However, something about this product makes it less user-friendly than the other two. Maybe it's just me, but I found that it was harder to work with. This eyeliner pen makes a really, really thin line. This is good and bad. I personally like to make my liner thin at the inner corner, and thicker as it reaches the outer corner. I found that because the tip is so thin, it was hard to draw that gradual thickness that I wanted. If you are someone who likes a really thin line all the way across, this is great. If you like a little thickness, this might not be the best product. I'm not saying you can't achieve that thickness, I'm only saying it's harder to get that look with this pen. As far as staying power, I don't think I had any major issues. Just a little smudging. Remember though, guys, most things don't want to stay where I put them on my eyes.


On to the liners with felt and plastic tips. First up is the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner.

This is a product where you shake it up and the product gets on to the plastic applicator. Yeah, it's plastic. That's kind of the thing about this stuff. The applicator is not the most comfortable on your eye. But the product itself is good. It lasts on my eyes. The application process could be easier, in my opinion, but it's not terribly difficult. I have one major issue with this stuff. It irritates my eyes. I was using it for a while and then my eyes started getting really sensitive. I realized that this stuff kind of stings right after I apply it. If you have sensitive eyes, I would suggest staying away from this product. This retails for about seven to eight bucks.


Next product is the Wet N' Wild H2O Proof Liquid Eyeliner.

This stuff is good and cheap. It retails for about three dollars. It's a lot like the Revlon one I mentioned right above. It has good lasting power. I don't have any irritation from this. I find that it's not the easiest to apply, but that's okay. If you want something cheap that works, buy this.


The next product is probably going to be controversial. It's the L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt tip Liquid Eyeliner.

This retails for anywhere from seven to nearly ten bucks. Okay, there is one really good thing about this product. The applicator. The felt tip is nice and really easy to use. I personally think felt tips are the easiest. Even easier than pens. I know that this eyeliner has a cult following, but I just didn't love it. I found that it wasn't super pigmented. I could not take the applicator out of the bottle, do one swipe, and be done. I had to re-dip the applicator into the bottle half way through my line, screw the lid back on, shake it up, and then finish my line. And if I was attempting a wing, I could just forget about it. I'm sorry everybody, I just didn't see what the hype is about. Try it out for yourself and see. Maybe I just got a dud.


Last but certainly not least, I have my beloved Maybelline Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner.

This retails for around seven dollars. I love this stuff. It has the glorious applicator of the L'Oreal Lineur Intense, but the staying power and pigmentation of the Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner. It doesn't irritate my eyes. It's easy to use. I can get a really thin line, or a really thick one, depending on what I want that day. It's just lovely. I suggest checking it out.


Okay guys, that's all I have for today. I know this was a lot of information, but I hope this helps you guys find a good, cheap liquid liner that you love!

Gianna

Curly Girl Method Question: Build Up, Weighed Down, or Just Plain Gross?

Hey everybody! I haven't done a curly hair post in a while, so I wanted to take some time to get one up today. I didn't do a hair update for week 3 of the curly girl method because I was on vacation for the last week. My hair was all out of wack due to weather and elevation changes and all that stuff, so I decided to skip it. I'm not sure about whether there will be one up for week 4 or not. I am leaving for Vegas soon, so we shall see.


Anyways! I was on Instagram today and I saw that somebody I follow had posted a picture of some sulfate free shampoo and conditoner, and somebody had commented saying she didn't like those products at all because they weighed her hair down. This got me thinking about my own hair and what I experience with my own sulfate-free products. Now, I don't know the girl who commented on the picture, and I don't know anything about her hair. Maybe these products really did weigh her hair down, I can't say for sure. But I would venture to say it was probably not the shampoo and conditioner, but the products she was using to style her hair in conjunction with the sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. More than likely she uses products with silicones in them. She was trying to wash the products out of her hair with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Well, obviously, that won't work. So she experienced build up, greasy-ness, and hair that was weighed down. I could be wrong, because I don't know this girl. But I'm basing my theory off of the knowledge I have of the Curly Girl Method.

Remember guys, silicones are not water soluble, unless they have the prefix PEG-, for example, PEG-Dimethicone. We can spot silicones in ingredients lists because they have the suffixes -cone, -conol, and -xane. Silicones need sulfates to be washed away. Without those harsh cleansing ingredients to wash silicones away, we will probably experience build up. I'm not saying this is the case all the time for everybody. I don't know everybody's hair. All I'm saying is that there's a science behind this whole Curly Girl method that really makes sense.

I imagine that most people who know I don't often use regular shampoo on my hair think my hair is greasy, gross, dirty, and weighed down.

So here's the ultimate question:
Does the Curly Girl Method make your hair dirty?

Answer: No! I have taken silicones out of my hair's diet. Therefore, I no longer need sulfates. When I co-wash my hair with silicone-free conditioners, my hair rinses clean of the water soluble products that I put in it when I style. Water soluble products, obviously, rinse away with water. I don't need the harsh sulfates to clean my hair anymore. I can rely on the gentle cleansers in my co-wash to clean my hair without stripping it. When I get out of the shower, my hair is perfectly clean.

Once a week, after I swim, or whenever I feel like I need it, I wash my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo to get a bit of a deep cleaning. I used to do the same thing when I wasn't CG, except I used a really harsh, clarifying shampoo that left my hair stripped and dry. Some Curly Girls only use sulfate-free shampoo once a month. Some don't have any routine, and do it whenever they think about it. Some probably never do it at all. My point is that it's entirely up to you. I feel that my hair is quite clean with just a co-wash and a rinse out. I use a sulfate-free shampoo once a week because it's just part of my routine that I feel comfortable sticking with. You decide what you want and what your hair wants. Don't think that CG's have dirty hair, because that isn't the case.

Much love to all you curlies out there! If you would like to get the low-down on the curly method, click here.


Gianna

Makeup: Where to Spend, Where to Save

Hey everybody! As a self-professed makeup junkie, a good chunk of my spending money goes towards makeup. Drugstore, high end, whatever. I love makeup, and I love a good deal if I can find it. My collection is probably split half and half between drugstore and high end. I personally think that a lot of high end products are not special or unique enough for the price tag. There are tons of gems at the drugstore that perform just as well (or better) than the stuff you find in Sephora or at makeup counters. You just have to look. This post is going to be all about what I think you should save on, spend on, or do a little bit of both. I will try to stay away from placing products in the "both" category, but sometimes a girl just can't make up her mind. Let's get to it.


First up is foundation.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Spend.
A good foundation can work wonders. I have found that when you spend a little bit more on foundation, you get exponentially better results. Better looking skin, a finish you love, good staying power, coverage you want, etc. When you have a good foundation, everything seems to just look better. Your blush and bronzer stay on, your foundation stays put, and you can go longer without touching up. A lot of foundations are really pricey, but I personally think shelling out the money for a foundation that really works for you is worth it. If you're going to spend money on anything high end, make it foundation. This is one instance where I think you get what you pay for. I'm not saying there aren't good foundations in the drugstore, because there are. I'm simply saying that if you're looking for a foundation that is going to perform at a higher standard, your best bet is to spend a little more. My personal favorite is the Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation.

Concealer.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Spend.
When it comes to concealer, I have the best luck with high end products. I haven't found anything from the drugstore that I love for my under eye area that covers and doesn't cake, crease, or dry me out. As far as blemishes, I still say go for high end. High end concealers just sit better and stay longer. My current favorites are the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for my under eyes and the Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer for blemishes. They sit on my skin without being obvious. They cover, stay put, have minimal creasing, and just perform well all around.

Powder.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Spend.
Sorry, guys, I know it's my third "spend" product in a row. But I have to keep it real. Powder is just something I think you get better results with when you spend a little bit more money. The Rimmel Stay Matte Powder is nice, but I've found that my MAC MSF Natural and Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder are nicer. They have a better finish and softer texture. They are powders that don't look powdery. I haven't found anything at the drugstore that is as finely milled as these.

Are we sensing a trend here? When it comes to makeup for the face, I think high end is the best way to go.

Next up is Blush.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Save.
Defintely save! Sure, there are nice high end blushes out there. But there are good ones at the drugstore that I love. The Milani Baked Blushes are my personal favorite. The Wet N' Wild Color Icon Blushes are freakin' fab as well. You can find highly pigmented, soft blushes at the drugstore that perform extremely well. It's fun to splurge sometimes, but I say in general it's better to save on blushes. When you have a good base that works for you, whatever you put on top should stay put, no matter how much it costs.

Bronzer.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Both.
I think there are a lot of good drugstore bronzers out there. NYC Bronzer in Sunny is a good one for people who are very fair like myself. However, I recently dabbled in the world of high end bronzers with the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer and it was wonderful. I think that it really just depends on your own preference. If you're not huge into bronzer, the drugstore is a great place to go. If you have a deep skin tone and you need something that's really pigmented, high end might be a better choice. I personally enjoy both.

Highlighter.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Spend.
I honestly haven't found a drugstore highlight that I adore as much as my MaryLoumanizer by The Balm. I find that the high end stuff is simply more pigmented. There are drugstore options that work fine. But if you love highlighter the way I do, high end is the way to go. Also, it seems that there are more options in the high end highlight world. Also, something like MaryLoumanizer will last you forever. You only need a tiny bit. It also doubles as an eyeshadow. Also, just as a small tip, I got mine on Hautelook. High end product, extremely reduced price!

Eyeshadow.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Both.
This is such a hard one for me, you guys. I absolutely adore Urban Decay eyeshadows. They have excellent palettes that rock my world. MAC Shadows are another favorite. Tons and tons of colors, super blendable, and just downright awesome. But Wet N' Wild eyeshadows come in and take the cake for best drugstore eyeshadow. They are soft, ultra-pigmented, blendable to high heaven, and come in nice palettes as well as singles. My only gripe is I WANT MORE COLORS! If Wet N' Wild had half the amount of colors that MAC has, my answer would be to save.

Eyeliner.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Both.
Okay, let me explain why I said "both." When it comes to liquid eyeliner or gel/cream eyeliner, save all the way. However, if you're looking for that super long lasting pencil that won't move from your waterline, I think high end is the best option. But hey, that's me and my oily lids talking. Maybe you have a drugstore pencil that works for you. I just don't...yet. Also, I think high end has a better selection of colored eyeliners, if that's what you're into. I really love the Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner and the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner from the drugstore. For high end, I like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil for staying power and color selection.

Lipstick.
Save, spend, or both?
My answer: Save.
Save, without a doubt. I have a few MAC Lipsticks and I have to tell you, I'm not amazed. Maybe I just have colors that I'm not absolutely nuts for, but I just don't see what they hype is. I love my Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick. I have ten shades at least. They last well, feel fine on the lips, have nice pigmentation, there's a good range of colors, and they are reasonably priced. What else could I ask for? Revlon is only one example. There are lots of good lipsticks at the drugstore that do exactly what I want a lipstick to do.

Whew. There you have it, guys. Remember that your answer may be different than mine according to the products that you like the most. I like highlighter a lot, so it's worth it to me to spend a little more. Maybe you adore liptsick, and think there's nothing better to spend your money on than all the MAC lipstick shades. That's fine. This is only my opinion.

Much much love!

Gianna

What's in my July Ipsy Bag?

Hey everybody!

Seems like subscription boxes are really popular right now. There's seriously one for everybody. I've seen some with items for men, all natural products, jewelry, full sized items, etc. They range from really cheap to far too expensive. I personally am subscribed to Ipsy, which costs 10 bucks a month. After tax, I pay a total of $10.80. It's really a steal, and I enjoy it a lot. Each month you get about five items pertaining to makeup, skincare, or haircare. A lot of the time they have brands that aren't really well known. Once in a while you get something from a high end brand that everybody adores. It's a lot of fun. Also, a subscription would make a fantastic gift for one your girlfriends.


My Ipsy bag for July came in the mail, so naturally I tore that sucker open right away. This is what I found:

Each month you get a small bag that can be used for makeup or any old thing you need to carry around. This month it's transparent pink and has a rubbery/plastic texture. I think it's adorable. As you can see, it's not too big. A little bigger than my hand.

On to what's inside...

It's a nice selection of goodies! First up on the list is...

A Coola Tinted Moisturizer. I've never heard of this brand before. I'm not super into tinted moisturizers, but this is cool anyways. It's a nice deluxe sample size. I got a little out and swatched it on my hand. Seems like a pretty good match. Obviously, not a lot of coverage. It has SPF 20. I'm a little nervous because it's not oil free. But it didn't have anything nasty like Mineral Oil in it. I'll give it a shot.

Next is Big Sexy Hair Weather Proof Humidity Spray.

I was slightly disappointed by this product. Not that it's bad, I just can't use it on my hair. It's a good size though. Definitely big enough to decide whether you like it or not after a couple of uses. I'll be passing this on to my Mom.

Next is a deluxe sample of Benefit Benetint.

This product gets a lot of love in the makeup world. I haven't tried it, so I'm excited to give it a go. This is an example of one of those high end products that everybody loves. I think this sample will last me forever too.

Next up is the Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon.

Now this, I am excited about. I swatched it on my hand as you can see. The color is really pretty and appropriate for summer. It had a lovely, moisturizing texture when I swatched it. I'll be taking this on vacation.

Last is a BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow Trio.

I wasn't thrilled with this. These colors are not colors I would generally wear. Plus, they didn't swatch well at all. The only one that had a decent amount of pigmentation was the color Malibu, which I didn't love. Oh well.

For ten bucks, I think it's an awesome deal. Sometimes you get products that you don't love, but that's okay. Part of the fun is experimenting with new things. Also, you always get a cute bag to put stuff in.


If you haven't checked Ipsy out, I suggest doing so. There is probably a wait list. I waited for a while to finally get in. But it was worth the wait, and I don't think I'll be cancelling my subscription for a long while.

Much love!


Gianna

Favorite Drugstore Product: Milani Baked Blushes

Hey everybody! I've got a mini review here for you on a product that I freaking love from the drugstore. I don't have too many high end blushes. I don't know why, I just don't. Lately I've been grabbing for my Milani Baked Blushes every single day. Even over my NARS Orgasm (say what?!).

Yeah, really.

Left to right: Rose D' Oro, Berry Amore, Corallina

Left to right: Corallina, Dolce Pink, Luminoso

And of course, swatches:

Left to right: Rose D' Oro, Berry Amore, Corallina, Dolce Pink, Luminoso
Clearly, I love them, seeing as I have five of the seven. I might go back for one more, just because.

These blushes are just awesome. They're around seven bucks and there's a shade for pretty much every occasion. I don't think the swatches are doing a good job of showing the true finish of these blushes. They are sparkly. Not like WHOA HEY SPARKLE FACE, just like a pretty hint of shine. I like Rose D' Oro a lot. I'm quite fair, as you can see, but I think it looks really nice with my olive complexion. Berry Amore is also nice, it's got this plummy color going on. Corallina is bright, girlfriend. If you like coral, you'll like Corallina. Dolce Pink is so pretty. It's quite a bright pink that I think would look fab on just about everybody. And good old Luminoso. I swear Luminoso has a cult following. Everybody and their mother is wearing this blush.


As far as texture, I wouldn't call it soft, necessarily. But it isn't super powdery or annoying to work with. Also, it's pigmented enough. I think sometimes really pigmented blushes can be a little hard to work with because you have to be careful. The Milani Baked Blushes are pigmented for sure, but not to the point where you're stressing out over whether you got too much on your brush. They blend really nicely. They last all day. They're awesome, seriously.


I suggest checking them out next time you're at your local drug store! Be on the lookout for Buy One Get One deals. That's how I ended up with so many. No regrets though, I love every shade.

That's all for now, much love ladies and gents.

Gianna

Current Favorite Eue Dyo: Wearable Color!

Hey guys. So I recently took a trip to my Estee Lauder counter and asked about the eye duo in the shade Raisins. It's a beautiful duo with a light, pink shimmery shade and a deeper, burgundy/cranberry color. I had been wanting some colors like this for an every day look that has a pop of color but is still totally wearable. However, I was sad to find out that the duos are discontinued! Apparently, Estee Lauder is coming out with some trios in the near future that are supposed to be way cool. Honestly, I was disappointed. I wanted that duo! I went straight home and looked it up online. I found that I could still order it from a few websites, and I was this close to ordering it. But then, I talked myself out of it. I thought, Gianna, if you're going to blog, you need to blog about products that are readily available to the public. So, alas, I decided to look elsewhere.

It just so happens that I'm currently trying to build my MAC eyeshadow collection. It's coming along slowly but surely. This whole Raisins obsession was actually inspired by a MAC shade- Naked Lunch - that I wanted something to pair with. I thought, you know what? What the hey, let's look at MAC and see what they have to offer on the burgundy/cranberry front. MAC obviously has every shade under the sun, so I was browsing through some shades I have written down on my phone that I want to purchase eventually. I came across Star Violet on my list, which is a lovely burgundy/plummy/cranberry shade that I've been lusting after for a while. Mac describes it as "pink-brown plum." I guess that's a pretty good way to describe it.


So, you guys can probably guess what happened from here. I ordered it, and I've been loving both Naked Lunch and Star Violet ever since. Here's a picture of Naked Lunch.

Gosh, isn't it beautiful?

Here is Star Violet.

Oh my word. It's lovely.

And of course, some swatches.

The left is Naked Lunch, the right is Star Violet. It's a match made in heaven, ladies and gents!

I love it so much. It's fantastic because you can just pop Naked Lunch on the lid, Star Violet in the crease, and go. Or you can make it a little more complicated with a defined outter-V and a really light highlight like Shroom or Phloof! in the corner of the eye. If you wanna do something more dramatic, you can pop Star Violet all over the lid and use Naked Lunch as a highlight with dark brown or black in the outter-V.

If you choose to just do Naked Lunch on the lid and Star Violet in the crease, it's a fantastic day-to-day look. It's color, but so wearable. If you're looking for a way to spice up your all-too-often neutral eye, I suggest going with pinks and purples.

I have fair skin with yellow undertones, dark hair, and hazel eyes, and I think these colors make my eyes pop. However, I think that these colors would look great with any skin tone, any eye color, and any hair color. It's just all around beautiful.

If you're looking for a drugstore alternative, I don't have any specific duo to recommend or exact dupes. I can say that the Eyelid color in the Wet N' Wild Walking on Eggshells pallette is a good substitute for Naked Lunch. NYX eyeshadow in Rust is a nice cranberry color that would work. It's closer in color to MAC Cranberry rather than Star Violet, though.


Anyways, that's all for now.

Much love!

Gianna