Silk Naturals Eyeshadow Swatches and Short Review

Ever since my last Silk Naturals review, I've been making a few mock carts on the site because I've wanted to basically get everything. My friend Judi further enabled me by sending me a few samples of her eyeshadows so I have to thank her for enabling me.

I got samples of Boom, Chocolate Twinkle, Frills, and Thrills.

Swatches done over Coastal Scents Shadow Worx Matte Eye Primer and taken under an Ottlite

Boom: "Warm creamy oyster color with a shimmery pearl finish" This is their MAC Shroom clone but I don't own MAC Shroom so I can't attest how close or accurate it is. I do like this as a wash of color. I did use this shade as a highlight shade in a look that I'll post after this, but I think it's a little too shimmery for that.

Chocolate Twinkle: "Complex brown with shimmery plum and coppery bronze undertones" I don't see the plum undertones in this but I do see a bit of the bronze. There's such a gorgeous red sparkle to the eyeshadow. It turns out that this was my favorite of the bunch, although I loved the rest.

Frills: "Midtoned warm nude pink" Frills is so pretty, I originally didn't think much of the shade when I saw it, but it works nicely as a transition shade between other pinks or as a wash over your lids.

Thrills: "Satin finish nude brown with a hint of pinkie purple undertones" Judi originally asked me which eyeshadows of hers I wanted to sample and she was kind enough to include an extra one that she thought I would like. I'm pretty sure it was this one. I normally don't like plummy colors but damn it all this is awesome. This is my second favorite of the bunch.

I also took this picture to show off the gorgeous red sparkle in Chocolate Twinkle.

To sum these eyeshadows up, they're awesome, pigmented, apply well, etc. Everything you want in a good eyeshadow is here. Sigh, I think I'll need to get more. Thanks Judi :(

Anyway, I hope this swatch post has been helpful!

Milani HD Advanced Concealer in 02 Medium & 04 Medium Honey Swatches, Review, and Dupe Alert!

I've been eyeing these Milani HD Advanced Concealer Pens for quite some time but I didn't want to spend the $9.39 (8.49 on the Milani website) for each pen. Luckily Nouveau Cheap just posted about some Milani products on sale for 75% off at CVS so I managed to get each pen for $2.35. I actually only paid 99 cents since I had $4.00 in Extrabucks (You can combine extra bucks if you weren't aware of that, just ask your cashier first!) Each pen has .045 oz of product.

I've seen this compared to the YSL Touche Eclat but having never tried it, I can't attest to the similarities. Still though, they do look similar because both are encased in a gold metal tube with a brush dispenser and a click mechanism.

All pictures have been taken under an Ottlite!

02 Medium (the tube in the back) is more peachy/pink based whereas 04 Medium Honey (the tube closest to you) is much more yellow toned.

Closeup of the brush tip. The bristles are soft, they're not scratchy at all.

and Swatches! 02 Medium is on the left and 04 Medium Honey is on the right. Medium Honey really isn't that yellow toned, it's closer to the shade that's in the pen. Medium is actually pinker/peacher than in the pen!

The concealer "covers imperfections, dark circles, with a weightless, good-for-your-skin liquid formula that leaves a natural finish as it brightens with a soft focus for flawless skin" (From the Milani description)

Indeed, the concealers are liquidy and they don't get cakey on me. I don't have very dark circles under my eyes, just a light hint of blue discoloration and I feel like I get pretty decent coverage out of the concealer., maybe light/medium coverage? I like to use 02 Medium as a color corrector and 04 Medium Honey as a concealer over that. 04 Medium Honey is too yellow toned and dark for the rest of my face but when over 02 Medium, it works out perfectly. I didn't see any shimmer in the product. I feel like the peachy undertones in 02 do do a good job at brightening up the area, I'd say 04 Medium Honey is better as a light concealer.

I've read of people saying that it does have some longevity issues but personally I didn't experience that. I took some time lapse pictures and it lasted about 8 hours and there was still some residue after about 10 (but not enough to cover).

Here's a gif showing what my undereye area looks by itself, after an application of 02 Medium, and after an application of 02 Medium and 04 Medium Honey

The only caveat is the packaging, it's a little finicky. The first time you use it, you'll have to click quite a few times to get it to dispense. 60-80 clicks to be precise (I counted it out) and it rapidly dispenses all at once you've gotten it started the first time. When you go to use it after it's dispensed the first time, it tends to continue dispensing a little bit after you've stopped clicking. I usually do a few clicks, check to see if any has come out, and then click again. The pens do have a bit of weight to them which makes them feel a little more luxe and not cheap.

I should note that the name of the color is on the shrink wrap and there's only a small sticker on the end of the click mechanism that tells you which color number it is. There is a small window showing you which color you're using, but if you do like to have the color name on the product, you're out of luck.

Dupe alert time! I occasionally like to use the Benefit Erase Paste in No.2 Medium to help color correct the slight darkness around my eyes. I had a feeling that the Erase Paste and the Milani Concealer Pen were a little similar so I did swatches of the two.

Erase Paste is on the left, HD Concealer is on the right.

Erase Paste is a little lighter/brighter than the HD Concealer but it's a rather subtle difference. For me, I prefer the HD Concealer since I find that the Erase Paste can sometimes look cakey on my undereye. I'd say they're pretty on par with pigmentation and coverage, I couldn't really tell the difference. Also since Erase Paste is a cream, it took a little longer to dry down than the HD Concealer, which felt dryer faster. It's not a big deal but something to point out.

Would I repurchase? For $2.35 hell yes I would. In fact, I may just go to CVS to pick up a few more!

Lunar New Year Inspired EOTD

Today's the first day of the Lunar New Year (For me it'd be Tết or the Vietnamese New Year. Many countries derive the New Year off of the Chinese Calendar but my family specifically celebrates using the Vietnamese New Year customs) so chúc mừng năm mới or Happy New Year!

Anyway, I wanted to do a look based off of two traditional colors for the New Year, red and gold.

I've been getting ready for Tết all week and this Saturday I'll be going to a Tết Festival so I'm pretty excited for that. Tomorrow is my first day of school and I'm not as excited for school because it means break will be ending but I'm hoping school will be good this semester. After 3 1/2 years I've got a Friday class :( I've got a few posts queued up for the next few days and I'm going to try to balance school with blogging or do a little less blogging.

Eyes

Coastal Scents Shadow Worx Matte Eye Primer

Darling Girl Glitter Glue

Sugarpill Goldilux in the inner corner

Fyrinnae Gilded Wings in the outer corner

Sugarpill Love+ in the crease and lower lashline

Urban Decay Naked and Wet n Wild Brulee on the browbone

Stila Smudge Stick Liner in Koi on the lower waterline

Maybelline Master Shape Brow Pencil in Deep Brown in my brows

Physicians Formula Eye Booster Liner in Ultra Black

Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express WP Mascara in Glam Brown

Face

Milani HD Advanced Concealer in 02 Medium and 04 Medium Honey on the undereye

Update on the Lime Crime Chinadoll campaign

*Here's an update to this update! Please read after you've finished this post. If you did not read my original post, please click here to get all the details!*

In the interest of being true and fair, I felt I owed it to everyone who's been keeping up with the Lime Crime Chinadoll campaign for its eyeshadow palette and my blog post on the subject to tell you that the owner of Lime Crime, Doe Deere, has reached out and has messaged me. She told me that she had read my post on the issue carefully and wanted to ask me a few questions. That's all that's been said as of now. I am waiting for her email and will update on things after corresponding with her. I will be as open as I can about this issue since I owe it to you guys who have invested your time into what's happened.

My interests lie in making the best of what's happened while still staying true to you guys as readers (and for anyone else who's interested the events that happened). I will say now that I have no interest in receiving or purchasing any Lime Crime products, for review or for personal use. It would be unscrupulous to accept or purchase anything from the brand at this time and in the future. This is my opinion.

However, I should say that if you choose to purchase from the brand, I won't and shouldn't chastise you for that. It's your money, you should spend it however you like without being judged for it and I'm in no position to tell you that you shouldn't purchase from a company whose products you enjoy. What I do with my money is my business the same way that what you do with your money is yours. I can only offer my opinion and hope that you take that into consideration when you shop (and this applies to all of my posts, not just this one).

I think it may be important to say that I don't necessarily think that companies can't change, mainly because if I did think a company couldn't change, then they don't really have any reason to change and it'd be a self fulfilling prophecy. This is not directed towards any company at all, but a general statement that should apply when companies make mistakes.

Anyway, sorry for the pictureless post, it's not the most exciting one I've ever done.

I'm curious now, in your opinion, what should Lime Crime do about what's happened so far and with the Chinadoll campaign?