Review: Inglot Eyeshadow Trio No124R, Magenta No74, Purple No445, Light Pink No48 & Gold No25

Recently, I had a bridal group that needed their makeup done for the pre wedding function and the wedding itself. Now for me, as a norm in the way that I work, I always request at least a picture of the outfit prior to the day so I am not caught off guard only to realize that I don't have a particular shade of eyeshadow to complement or match the outfit. I am not the type of artist that would simply be content with applying auxiliary or alternate colors like silver/ gold only as the lid shade if I do not have the color of what the person is actually wearing. And.....so it happens that one of the girls from the bridal party had the most exquisite magenta outfit and I couldn't find anything in my makeup collection that would,for me, be the perfect color for the look that I envisaged creating. So, amidst a very hectic morning, I drove off to my nearest Inglot store to purchase just ONE eyeshadow....and ended up purchasing 9 Freedom Palette eyeshadows and a blusher. So with just over R1000.00 worth of makeup later(so much for self control), I created an amazing pink/purple palette that has become 1 of my favorite favorites...lol.

Notice how satiny and shimmery the # 445, 48 & 25 looks. Inglots Pearl finish eyeshadows are a dream to work with.

What I love about Inglots Freedom system is that you are able to buy refill eyeshadows, blushers and lipsticks individually to create palettes with colors of YOUR choice and know that every shade on that palette will be used as opposed to a pre built palette where most times you end up purchasing a palette just for one or two colors while the other colors remain totally unused. Money wasted....! You additionally score when you purchase more than one refill product by getting the palette absolutely FREE.

Back to my favorite favorite.....I created a 'shades of pink/purple' with the 5 eyeshadow palette with:

No 124R: this is a trio which is made up of burgundy/red/pink. The colors on this trio feels a bit hard initially to the touch and needs a bit of pressure to pick up the color. It has a matt texture which is heavily pigmented and all the colors in this trio have fine, gold reflective shimmer in them.

No 74: is a deep magenta color(the color that I really needed for that day), with specks of silver shimmer. Also deeply pigmented. This is more of a matt finish which blends really well. Easy to build up to an intense finish.

No 445: this is a lovely mix of a medium plum/ deep lilac color blended into one. It has quickly made its way as one of my favorite colors now and is certainly one of the most beautiful shades that Inglot  has invented. It has a pearl finish and is soft and smooth in texture. They are intensely pigmented and requires no effort to blend as I've come to expect from Inglot's Pearl eyeshadows.

No 48: is a light pink color. It also has a pearl finish. Super soft and smooth and literally requiring no pressure to pick up color with the brush. Easy to blend as well as to build up color from a light  to intense look.

No 25: this is a gorgeous warm bronzey gold which is not too bright/shiny or dull. It has an equal blend of shimmer and pigment(one does not overpower the other)- just perfect for day or evening use. Now, I know that this is not a pink/purple shade but it was a must have after I swatched it and I certainly have no regrets purchasing it as whenever I am looking for a gold shade to use, I most often than not, find myself reaching for my #25. It's a pearl eyeshadow that is very easy to work with. The soft, smoothness of its pearl texture is felt immediately when you swipe it.

I've always used a primer and base with these eyeshadows and found them to have sufficient staying on power with little or no creasing. There may be a little fall out- but that also depends on how you apply the shadow. If you pat it into place, it reduces the fallout rather than sweeping the brush over
the lid.

More Inglot eyeshadow reviews coming up shortly.....!

Review: WOW Moisturizing Lipsticks with Swatches

I've never been one to buy a lot of lipstick shades. I generally stuck to the few shades that I was happy with. Recently, I've become more adventurous and ordered a whole lot of shades from the WOW range and find myself recommending it to my clients as touch up lipsticks for their functions as they are very inexpensive and safe to use- (by safe, I mean they are not the 'made in China' brand)

They have 2 types of lipsticks in their range- the moisturizing lipsticks and the long lasting, matt lipsticks. The ones I have swatched is the moisturizing lipsticks which has about 90 different shades. I hope to slowly buy a lot more to build up a collection as I really like the quality of the product-especially since it is not overly priced.

They apply very easily with little effort and have a glide on application with no tugging on the lips. As the type suggests, it's moisturizing and has an amazingly pleasant smell. They are creamy and highly pigmented. The color pay off is excellent and did I mention that they are cheap??? Lol.

I realized after swatching them that I was attracted to shades very similar to each other in color. But, I'm not complaining as I'm thoroughly happy with each and every shade that I've bought. Right now, in Durban, u can purchase it through individual agents and the prices range from R25/R30 for a 3.8gr tube.

The swatch colors on my hand are bang on but the pictures of the lipstick itself is not the best. My apologies....

Review: Essence 3D Duo Eyeshadows- Irresistible Mermaid Kiss, Irresistible Green Dreams, Irresistible Purr-ple

Last week I purchased 3 of Essence Cosmetics 3D duo eyeshadows. Each shadow comes in 2 tones- a lighter shade which can be used as a highlighter or on the inner corner of the eyes and a deeper, darker shade that can be used across the entire lid, on the crease line or just to smoke out the look.

Each of the shadows has a nice soft feel to it and the darker shades are extremely well pigmented. What I like about them is that they are packed with fine, blend-able shimmer(and who doesn't love shimmer?) If you want a deeper intensity, try applying them wet and watch the colors POP. They have a long enough wear time on their own but if you want more than 6 hours of wear, apply them over an eyeshadow primer and base. One thing that I really loved about these eyeshadows is when a bit of pressure is used to apply it, it did not go on patchy- instead it leaves a very evenly pigmented layer that is very easy to build and blend. The lighter colors in this duo pick up powdery but once applied, gets the job decently done. They are currently retailing at R39.95 for 2.8gr of product and can be found at most Clicks, Hub and Dischem pharmacies.

Essence 3D Duo Eyeshadows

The colors that I purchased are:

• Irresistible Mermaid Kiss(No 06)-  this is a mint green color, just like the green of the deep ocean waves.
• Irresistible Green Dream-(No 01)- the lighter shade in this duo leans more towards a very pale mint green but the darker shade is more of a darker avocado green. It's an amazingly beautiful shade which you would definitely enjoy using...alone or accompanied by a complementing shade.
• Irresistible Purr-ple(No 02)- this duo comprises of 2 shades of purple from either extremes...the lighter shade borders more on a silvery lilac shade whilst the main color is an intense mauve color with shimmery blue specks. Here again....a color not to be ignored.

Swatches

Irresistible Mermaid Kiss- No 06

Irresistible Green Dream- No 01

Irresistible Purr-ple- No 02

Colors swatched without any base or primer.

Review: WOW Cosmetics Gel Liner

One of the greatest makeup inventions in my opinion are gel liners. Gel liners offer the same application technique and purpose without all the fuss and mess of pencil and liquid eyeliners. My very first gel liners that I owned were Macs Fluidline in Blacktrack, Sweet Sage and Jadeye. My next purchase of a gel liner was Inglot's No.77- as much as I loved the fact that they stayed on all day without smudging or fading, it either dried up after just ONE use(and trust me, I was very careful with regards to air exposure whilst I was using it) or it dried tight onto the lid after the application, leaving me a bit uncomfortable. Despite them hardening very quickly if proper care is not taken, I don't think I would ever go back to liquid and pencil liners.

With my experiences of gel liners hardening up on me, I wasn't going to invest a lot of money this time round and decided to purchase something that is not quite as expensive as Mac or Inglot. Which brings me back to my latest discovery of an affordable, quality makeup brand.....WOW.

Now, I have reviewed 2 other products of WOW cosmetics and I must say that so far....I am quite impressed. I have been back for my second makeup haul purchase and am seriously loving every use that I am getting out of their products thus far. My experience with their gel liner is also worth raving about....

Comes in a durable, plastic tub

The Price: R60 for a 5gr tub

The Packaging

The liner comes in a neat, clear, plastic square tub that is nestled in WOW's brand labelled box with sufficient information about the product and it's application on the back. Ingredients are listed clearly and it comes with its own mini brush applicator. The container is sleek and small enough to comfortably fit into your handbag or carry along makeup purse.

The Product

I did not use the brush that came in the box to apply the liner. I used a very thin synthetic brush. The consistency of the gel is very creamy allowing for a smooth, glide on application. It does not dry quickly, giving you ample working time. I was able to play around with it to eventually settle on an elongated winged application. It has a brilliant depth of pigmentation and I just had to apply it once over for an intense color pay off. Despite my slightly oily eyelids, I found that there was no smudging or fading and the product stayed on throughout the day... it did not leave a tight, dry feeling on my lids like I've experienced with some major brand gel liners. It dried to a semi-matt finish, which is exactly how I like it.

Applied as a single stroke- look at the intensity
of the pigmentation

My Overall Impression

I honestly believe that this is real value for money. R60 for 5gr of product is certainly a budget friendly replacement for any major brand gel liner. It is long lasting, easy to work with, gives excellent color pay off, is inexpensive and definitely worth the try...now that's certainly getting all the boxes ticked...

My Personal Rating: with eyes closed, a non-hesitant 10/10

Disclaimer

Please note that all products that I review are purchased with my own money and I do not get paid to provide any sort of positive or negative feedback on ANY product. All opinions are solely my own and is 100% honest. What may work for me, may not necessarily work for you. This is just to provide a guideline on what you can expect if you are considering purchasing the product.

Review: WOW Cosmetics Liquid Eyeshadow

I remember purchasing a liquid eyeshadow many years ago and somehow back then, it just failed to tickle my fancy. Thereafter, I found myself steering clear of them despite the attractiveness of some of the shades and colors. In my vague recollection of my experience with it, I recall that it hadn't totally met my expectations and since then, they have never made my favorites list.

With my recent makeup haul of WOW makeup, I couldn't resist a duck egg blue(which happens to be my new favorite color for ANYTHING) shade liquid eyeshadow(No 08). I tried it on the previous day to test its wearability and to see if maybe this time round it cut the grade.

WOW's range of liquid cream liners

The Price: R25 for 5ml bottle vile

Shade No 08

The Packaging

There really isn't much to say about the packaging except that it comes with a sealed, see-through,
tamper- proof plastic and label around it. The label has the importer and ingredient details. Imprinted
on the clear bottle which allows you a view of the shade and color is the company logo. Nothing fancy, pretty simple....

Soft, velvety applicator

The Product

Wow's liquid eyeshadows come in a range of 9 metallic colors. The color range consists of some bright, funky colors (01, 02), a few pastel shades (03, 05, 08) and the basic neutrals (04, 06, 09). They seem to have skipped 07 for some reason, lol, but we can forgive them for that. The mix of colors
cater for every type of makeup lover which is a definite plus.

Applied as a double layer

I swatched the shadow on my inner wrist as well as on my eyelids up to the crease area without any base or primer. It comes with a doe foot applicator for quick and easy application. It applied quite effortlessly to a silky smooth finish. I didn't try building up the color as the metallic aspect served well for an intense enough look- so at this stage, I can't comment on whether it's a build-able product. If I remember to do that on my next use, I will include it in here later.

I have slightly hooded eyelids that tends to fall over my lid area which is also a bit oily. I noticed that the area where the lid touched whilst blinking, the color had faded a bit leaving that area looking a bit patchy. The area below the crease remained intact throughout the day and it resisted color loss exceptionally well. It stayed fast despite me intentionally trying to rub it off. Those that do not have hooded eyelids will especially benefit from this.

I like the fact that due to its excellent staying power, and it can also double as a funky eyeliner. The swatch on my inner wrist stayed on for more than 8 hours despite all the rubbing and touching. I expected it not to budge when washing it off, but warm soapy water was all it took to leave my skin clean and stain free.


My Overall Impression

Pros

• Quick and easy application
• Comes with own applicator
• Dual performance....eyeshadow/eyeliner
• Dries to a silky, smooth finish
• Good range of colors
• Smudge and smear proof 

Cons

• If you do not know how to apply it evenly, it ends up looking a bit blotchy.
• For those that are cursed with hooded lids, keep the shadow away from the crease line to avoid the shadow from fading away.
• Not everyone is fond of metallic, shimmery colors...range should include a few simple colors .

Liquid eyeshadows are an excellent alternative to traditional eyeshadows which require little or no blending skills. It's endless staying power certainly gives it an upper edge over powder shadows. Try it...you may just find yourself a gem product that you are unable to do without. However for me, I'll just wait for WOW to introduce some non- metallic shades in their range...

Was this review helpful...??? Feel free to comment and share your experiences with us.

WOW Cosmetics, South Africa

There's nothing that I love more than finding new make up brands that offer a range of quality products that are both affordable and practical on the pocket. Now that I have started with product reviews on my blog, I find myself more and more in search of products that don't burn a hole in my purse and which also has the ability to impress me to such an extent that I can hardly wait to share it with you. One such cosmetic brand being 'WOW cosmetics'. I had come across this brand a while back when I googled for 'affordable makeup brands in South Africa' but never really followed the search through. Then one our fellow MUnT members, Rita S Ranjith, asked me to check out this cosmetic range...well, to cut a long story short, I have just received my haul of WOW cosmetics and I am sooooooo excited. I feel like I am in makeup heaven and can't wait to create looks and post reviews on them.

My WOW cosmetic makeup haul...

A little bit about WOW cosmetics....

WOW cosmetics originated in Israel in 2005. They boast a vast range of cosmetics, perfumes, face, body and nail products on a budget that almost any woman in any age group can afford. The brand was brought to South Africa in 2007 and is now stocked in over 390 pharmacies and cosmetic shops. Why it hasn't reached brand named retailers yet is a question still left to be answered- in that case though, we would have to be prepared to pay brand retail prices...so I'm not complaining really- it was just a thought. Their prices are ridiculously low- but don't associate it's price tag with its quality. As in all cosmetic ranges, I don't expect every product here to be a winner- and I am sure that a few product items may not be to my satisfaction but you know what....? so is the case with Mac, Estée
Lauder and other high end brands. Not every product is going to hit right on target.

In order not to overwhelm you, I will be reviewing each item individually over the next few days or weeks. I can hardly contain my excitement....

Review: Coloressence Shimmer Highlighter in Silver SS-1

I've  often come across many shimmer highlighters and powders whenever I've  perused makeup studios and beauty shops but was never really drawn to it. I felt it was basically a useless buy as I could never see much use for it. It felt too sheer and well 'un- pigmented' lol. However, my opinion of shimmers have drastically changed ever since I saw a makeup video tutorial that used the Make-up Atelier Paris shimmer as an eyeshadow with no base color at all. Wow....what an effect....I was awe -struck with the outcome and just HAD to get my hands on some shimmer...any shimmer...and I have not been disappointed.

I ended up purchasing the Coloressence Shimmer Highlighter in Silver. I dappled around with it and found that for the price that I had paid, I couldn't really find any fault with the product.


The Price: R100 for a 3g jar

The Packaging

Comes with a removable dispenser cap

It comes in Coloressence's signature packaging...a black outer box with the brand name in Silver. The container itself is a round cute lightweight plastic tub which is very user friendly and as I am constantly dropping my makeup around, I am loving this tub as it will take quite a bit of knocking around before it gives way.

Once the screw on/ off lid is removed, it has a neat dispenser cap which allows for easier control on the amount of product you would want to dispense. This also serves as a hygiene control measure as you don't have to dab your brush into the entire content of the container. If you find this as a hindrance, it can be easily removed and replaced.

The Product Itself & What I Thought of It....

Even the camera captures how light and silky this shimmer is.

• The shimmer is made up of fine micronized pigments to give you any look an accentuated glow.
• There is a GENEROUS amount of product which should last you a very long time. 
• The texture and consistency formulation of the shimmer is a loose snow-white, super fine pigment powder that resembles flakes of crumbling stars or crumbled snow flakes.
• I was impressed by its incredibly soft and silky feel which could be applied sheer for an illuminating glow or a pigmented, dramatic eyeshadow application. 
• Comes in 3 shades- Silver(SS-1), Gold(SS-2) and Bronze(SS-3)

Uses

Swatched directly onto skin with no base color.

• This highlighter is not restricted to use only on the body as a body shimmer. Due to its build-able property, it works exceptionally well as an eyeshadow too.
• It is perfect for use on the inner corner of your eyes to open up the eye area or to give the illusion of wider set eyes.
• It is not heavy and could also be used as a highlighter for contouring and on the arch of the brow bone.
• When used with a mixing medium, you could apply it as a shimmery eyeliner.
• Use over your lipstick or lip gloss to add sex appeal to that pout.
• Above your blusher to catch the light just above your cheekbone.

Overall, this is a soft, shimmery powder that has the perfect combination of sheer and pigment to give any look a radiant, sophisticated glow. 

Rating

I would give this an overall rating of 9.5 out of 10. This product has really impressed me and would certainly buy it again once I have finished off this bottle.

Review- Coloressence 8 Palette Pearl Eyeshadow, EP1

I have already reviewed the Coloressence Pearl palette EP2, and the colors on that palette were bold, bright and bridal. The colors on the EP1 palette are more earthy tones with more the bronzes, gold and green shades. This palette comes in handy when you want to do a simple, neutral look with a hint of glamour. The earthy tones also worked well to highlight the brow bone.

I created 2 looks from this palette to give you an idea of what you can do with this palette, however the colors in this palette is so versatile that if you let your imagination run wild, the possibilities are endless.

Coloressence EP1 8 Color Pearl Palette

EP1- is a true burgundy/ brick red color, ideal for smoking out a bridal look. In the picture, it looks more like a pinkish, plum red- but in reality, it's a maroon, reddish color.
EP2- is a dark brown with a slight hint of plum hidden in its depths.
EP3- a beautiful bottle green shade that can be paired with either silver or gold and smoked out.
EP4- a pure satiny white perfect for highlighting the arches of your eyebrow area or to use at the      inner ducts to open up your eyes.
EP5- a mustard/ gold color that has a hint of orange in its undertones good to be paired with EP1 for the perfect bridal finish.
EP6- is a bronze, gold shade and blends beautifully onto the lid.
EP7- is more of a dull silver with lots of shimmer.
EP8- the most beautiful copper, bronze shade I've ever set eyes on. However, I'm not sure where I could use it just yet...hmmmm...!

Green Smokey Look

Here too, I loved the intensity of the colors. The shades in this palette provided a rich, one stroke application and I was able to blend out the colors in the crease area without much effort. Layering was possible in increasing the depth of the smokey effect. The one thing that one cannot argue with, on these 2 Pearl palettes(EP1 & EP2), is the intensity of the pigment in each color.

I also need to add that with these 2 looks, I used a creamier, softer base primer which was the NYX jumbo pencil.

Silver Smoked out with Coppery Red

The company claims that these eyeshadows are crease proof, fade proof and smudge proof. I did find a bit of creasing, but that could be due to the creamy texture of the base primer. To further enhance the duration of the wear of these eyeshades, you could try using an eyeshadow sealer to lock the colors in.

If you love earthy, neutral tones and if you want to get more out of your buy, then I would suggest giving this palette a try.

Was your experience with the Coloressence Pearl palette any different? Good or bad, we would love to hear from you....

Review- Coloressence 8 Palette Pearl Eyeshadow, EP2

Coloressence is a sub-brand of the company Natures Essence which has its roots in India. It has been available in South Africa for quite a while now but I had never really given much attention to it until a few weeks ago when I happened to see it on display at a local beauticians shop. I was attracted to the intense depth of the dark colors on the 8 shadow palette and it's satiny feel to it. I placed my order for both palettes and received them last week.

 A bit about the cosmetic range of Natures Essence- all products manufactured by Natures Essence are 100% natural ingredients and have NO animal content in them. They have a vast range of beauty products used for facials etc and a complete range of makeup products from foundation to lipsticks. They are well within the reach of the average and below average consumer but as I always say, makeup is a personal choice and what may work for one, may not necessarily work for another.

Having said that, let me tell you about my experience with the Pearl 8 eyeshadow palettes. The packaging is sleek and classy being black in color and slim and light enough to slip into your handbag without causing an unsightly bulge. It comes in a similarly designed box and the eyeshadows are nestled in a plastic casing. When you open it, you have a large mirror, a firm double ended sponge applicator and 8 eyeshadows of 3.5 gr each. The shelf life of the palettes are 2yrs.

I loved all the colors on this EP2 pearl palette with the exception of the light yellow gold and lime green colors. I found that the majority of the colors in this palette are highly pigmented and they scoop up quite a bit of product in a single swipe. They have a satiny, pearlised finish which I love. It packs on perfectly but certain colors move out of place easily leaving certain areas uneven & patchy. You would have to go back and pack on a bit more if this happens to even  it out.  The duration of the wear was about 3-4 hrs after which it started to fade. When applied without a base primer, the lighter colors were sheer and a bit powdery. A good base primer is a MUST.

The white & gold shimmer colors I used as a highlighter in these pictures.

So to sum up my pros & cons.....

Pros

• Darker shades are highly pigmented
• Has a beautiful satiny finish with a lot of sparkle and fine glittery look
• Excellent packaging
• 100% natural ingredients
• R250 for 8 x 3.5gr eye shades(now that is a steal even if 1 or 2 colors  turn out to be not your favorite)
• It has lovely, shimmery bridal colors
• Doesn't really have to be paired with a second color to give it a rich glamorous look(check pictures above) but looks even better when paired with a second shade.

Cons

• Doesn't stay on as long as I would like it to(3-4hrs max before it starts fading)
• Lighter shades are a bit sheer and powdery- BUT this can easily be overcome if you use a good base primer that will grab the product and give it some intensity and depth
• Not as blend-able as I would prefer... takes a bit of time and patience. If you are using it as the lids main color, and another product color to blend out the edges, it will work perfectly to give you the desired look. 
• Slight fallout- but not much more than I've experienced with some Mac and Inglot Matt shades

Would I buy these again? I don't want to be quick to jump the gun just yet and commit to either a yes or no without having another go at it but I certainly am eager to try out their other products eg the eyeliners and jumbo pencil eyeshades.

What do I rate it??? 7 out of 10

What have your experiences been with Coloressence eyeshadows? Let us know if it's worked any better for you than it did for me....

Review: Essence Stay All Day

Less money, more makeup...!

We often judge makeup by their brand popularity and their price tags. In sure that we've all had some experience where we've broken the bank to invest in a single piece of makeup only to come home and realize that the product turns out to be a complete and total dud. Top rated eyeshadows range anything from and above R190.00. If you are like me, then you've definitely splurged well over R300.00 for a single eyeshade which turned out to be an absolute beauty buy bust. Lesson learnt, I now know never to judge products by its price tag. Apart from that, we all now-a-days cannot afford to be lavish with our hard earned money. There are many quality products that is being introduced into the South African market making it accessible to everyone as it can fit even into the tightest of budgets.

I accidentally came across one such product yesterday whilst browsing at my local Clicks store. I found myself swatching one product after another from this brand and left there with my hand looking like I was in a pre-scholar who was just introduced to painting.

The brand I am raving about is called ESSENCE. Most of us will be unfamiliar with this products but after much research last night, I  learnt that it is a European brand that has hit over 50 countries including U.S.A and Switzerland. Its manufactured in Germany. They pride themselves in keeping up with the latest makeup trends and their products include eyeshadows, mascara, nail polish and liners to name a few. And, and, and...what's even greater is that their prices start as low as R30.00.

I couldn't help but grab a few items that impressed me and with what I have swatched, I have no regrets and feel that some of their products could give some high end makeup brands a run for their money.

I will be reviewing more of their products, so keep watching this blog if you want to learn of other quality makeup at affordable prices.

Today, I review ESSENCE'S creme eyeshadow from the STAY ALL DAY range in No 08.

Thicker swatch is product applied alone as eyeshadow & Thinner swatch is used as a base with a  lilac pigment.

PROS....

*What initially attracted me to this eyeshadow was its pearly, dazzley effect that it has as I twisted and moved it around. I found that true to the range name, it certainly was long lasting and stayed put for over 5 hours. It  could be used alone as a creme eyeshadow and still have super color pay off or  as a base which serves a dual purpose of allowing your dry shadow to last all day AND also intensifying its color as can be seen in in picture above. After leaving it on for over 5 hours, I literally had to use a sponge and soap to scrub it off.

*It has a soft, silky feel and texture.

*It only costs R31.00 and you will certainly get many, many uses out of it- so it's definitely worth the buy.

CONS....

*The packaging is not that great and looks like its meant to target teens but their products ARE suitable for all age groups.

*Can get a bit lumpy if not applied evenly.

All in all I feel that this is certainly a must try and would rate it an absolute 8 out of 10.