Category Archives: Dupes

Urban Decay Alice Through the Looking Glass Lipstick in Mad Hatter

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Mad Hatter:  Have I gone mad?
[Alice checks Hatter’s temperature]
Alice:   I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.

Hellooooo!  Last night I was able to pick up the Urban Decay Alice Through The Looking Glass Collection lipstick in “Mad Hatter.”  I found the Alice Lipsticks at Ulta for $18.00 USD (the eyeshadow palette is here for $60.00 USD).  These products have launched early at Ulta; however, if you are a rewards member at Urban Decay or have Flash Shipping at Sephora, from what I understand, they both will be getting the collection fairly soon.

I really love the limited edition packaging.  Even the box for the lipsticks is psychedelic, man!

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The tube is plastic and feels a bit more lightweight than the regular Revolution Lipstick tubes.  That’s ok, because LOOK HOW COOL this packaging is.  O_O

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I know this is an Alice Through the Looking Glass collection for the upcoming movie, but who else is getting a Price’s Paisley Park video vibe besides me?

Description From the Ulta Site:

Inspired by the fantasy-adventure film release of Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, Urban Decay’s limited-edition shades of Lipstick pay tribute to some of the main characters from the film: Alice, Mad Hatter, Mirana (the White Queen), Iracebeth (the Red Queen) and Time, a peculiar creature who is part human, part clock.

Pair the Lipsticks with the Alice Through the Looking Glass Eyeshadow Palette and you’ll have everything you need to recreate the looks from the film. From sheer nude with a pink shift and bright red matte to gunmetal-navy with silver shimmer, these shades range from classic to edgy. Regardless of the finish (sheer, shimmery or matte), each shade has a super-creamy feel and provides rich payout.

Each Lipstick case features a colorful, kaleidoscopic pattern inspired by the film. Urban Decay debossed the top of the cap and the Lipstick with the UD icon and screened “Urban Decay” on the inside of the case.

My Take On Mad Hatter Lipstick:

Mad Hatter metallic lipstick reminds me a bit of Makeup For Ever’s #15 Pearly Violet lipstick.  However, I always found that lipstick to be quite dry and that it tugged on the lips and was uncomfortable to wear.  Mad Hatter is a little more sheer; however, that means that it can be changed up with different lip liners and be a bit more versatile.  It’s a sort of matte metallic, if that makes sense, and it’s more of a violet purple than a blue purple  It’s not drying and does not tug at the lips, which I definitely appreciate as I have dry lips.  It’s not particularly hydrating, either.  The metallic finish is not the kind that shows every lip imperfection, like some frosts do. I do not feel any glitter particles when I press my lips together (this drives me crazy).  It lasts for around 4 hours before I need a touch up and stays on very well when I’m drinking water/coffee.

PICS!

I loooooooooooooooove this, guys!  Check it!!  (Worn here with NYX Purple Rain lip liner.  Yes, Prince would approve.)

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And for fun, here’s a closed eye shot of my eye look, done with Urban Decay Vice 4 palette (Beatdown and 1985 shadows with Grasshopper):

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Will you be getting anything from the Alice Through The Looking Glass Collection?

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First Impression – Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation 

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With my last Sephora order, something unexpected happened – I actually received a foundation sample that was (gasp) pale enough to work for me!  That product was Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid ($45).  The sample card had many shades to try, so if you get a chance to grab one of these, you may want to do so!

What Sephora has to say about the product:

What it is:
A revolutionary medium-to-full coverage skin care foundation fluid powered by 100 percent pure argan oil and nutrient-rich pigments for vibrant, glowing skin.

What it is formulated to do:
Activate your skin’s vitality with Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid. Like a fresh squeezed juice, Vibrancy utilizes a revolutionary cold-pressed process that preserves the powerful, hand-selected ingredients for the freshest, most effective skin care foundation. Vibrancy energizes your skin with the essential nutrients it craves and is designed to interact and adapt to the movements of your skin with delicate fluidity for a radiant, dimensional finish. The breathable, lightweight, medium-to-full coverage formula features a powerful blend of moisture-enhancing ingredients that help soothe, smooth, and restore skin’s luminosity.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This product is dermatologist tested and clinically proven to hydrate and smooth even the most sensitive skin. Find your ideal shade with confidence. First identify your undertones: R is for rosey undertones, G is for golden undertones, and RG is for neutral or rose gold undertones. Next, you’ll choose the depth of your shade, with 5 being the most fair and 85 being the most rich.

Research results:
In a clinical study after 4 weeks:
– 100% of subjects experienced a significant increase of skin moisture by 106%
– 98% of subjects experienced a significant increase of skin smoothness and softness by 111%

In a consumer study:
– 100% said that their past feelings about foundation improved after experiencing Vibrancy
– 93% agreed Vibrancy helped visibly calm their skin condition, specifically scarring, inflammation, and rosacea

My take:

When first applying this to my skin, I loved the light neutral shade of RG5; however as I was applying this to my face and blending in with my fingers I noticed two odd things:  It felt somehow very heavy, but did not provide full coverage.  I definitely had to go in with concealer around my nose and on my acne scars, but I do with most foundations.  I would call this medium coverage at best.  This foundation feels very oily, which I suppose makes sense since is is an argan oil foundation.  However, it really doesn’t seem to say anywhere in the description that is is for extremely dry skin, which is the only type skin I could really see benefiting from this type of texture.  It is extremely dewy, almost moreso than MAC Face and Body foundation, but feels more heavy than that and has more coverage.  I set it here with MAC Invisible Set Powder for a little mattifying and in hopes that it would keep it on my face!

And then…OH NO!  Complete and utter meltdown in only FOUR HOURS.  Now, I have somewhat combo skin, but it’s combination leaning on the drier side, so this just floored me!  Look at the breakdown around the nose where my glasses were.  The coverage around my nose and mouth is basically gone and my redness is showing.  My chin is a greasy, hot mess!  OH.  Oh hell no.


I feel like this foundation could really only work for someone with super dry and dehydrated skin, especially in colder or dry climates.  However, there is nothing in the description that says that this is for very dry skin.  It does mention increased hydration, but that’s it, really.  I feel like a better description of what type of skin this is for would be beneficial in helping customers chose.  I also feel that calling this full coverage is really stretching. All in all, I’ll not be shelling out $45 on this, especially knowing a humid and hot NC summer is around the corner!

Have you tried any new foundations lately?  What did you think?

Rainbow eyeshadow with Sleek i-Divine palette in Matte V1 Brights 

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So, what do you do when you want to buy a ton of Sugarpill shadows that are all sold out and really expensive anyway?  You search for alternatives!  A little sleuthing led me to the brand Sleek’s very affordable eyeshadow palettes, which are available in the UK, but us US folks can get them on Amazon (with a hell of a long wait)!  I believe I paid around $12 USD for the V1 Matte Brights palette.  I think it also took around 3 weeks to get here – WORTH IT. 

  
  
I used this wonderful tutorial I found online (I did indeed use the NYX Milk pencil as a base as well).

Hope you enjoy! 

Lipstick Destash It and Trash It!

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Y’all, it feels good to get organized.  After consolidating my blushes, I realized I had so much CRAP I need to get rid of.  And let’s face it…as much as we hate it, makeup expires.  At least, the emollient stuff does on a consistent basis! Every one of these lipsticks had gone bad except the Rimmel one, which is the worst shade ever on me.  (OMG 1980s frost, guys.  I can’t even force myself to give it to anyone else.)  The balm lipsticks had SPF that probably stopped working around a year ago.  Sad face…  And OMFG…let’s not get into how many years ago L’Oreal stopped making Endless lipsticks.  I’m just gonna stop right here.

Bye bye, musty crayon smelling lipsticks of yesteryear.  You served me well.  

  
Get out!  I got too much shiz! 

😀 

Makeup of the day – Daytime smoky eye with MAC 

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So, from time to time, I find myself pining for the Urban Decay Smokey palette.  I always talk myself out of it, because I HAVE THOSE COLORS (repeat to self 500 times).  I’m a sucker for packaging and I have the other 3 Naked palettes and will probably keep pining, though…even with my psychology degree, I’m a marketer’s dream come true!  Regardless, here’s a smoky look today I put together with some MAC shadows – enjoy!

  
  
  
Eye look was done with Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone as a base, then I used MAC Copperplate eyeshadow as a transition shade in the crease and MAC Howzat shadow (LE, but substitute any deep frosty grey you like) in the crease below the transition shade and all over the lid.  I used MAC Electra eyeshadow to highlight the center of the lid. I blended Blanc Type on the brow bone as a highlight and used Howzat below the eye with a pencil brush.  I then used MAC Nehru on a 266 angled eyeliner brush for a soft smoky eyeliner…no liquid liner today!

You can take this look even smokier with black or grey liner on the waterline, but spring allergies dictate that I’m not doing this today – LOL! 

Blush is NYX Ombre Blush in Mauve Me and Lipstick is Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft.

What are you wearing today? 

NYX Wonder Pencil First Impression

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I’ve been trying a lot of NYX lately now that it’s available in CVS and Target.  I have quite a few reviews in store!

The NYX Wonder Pencil may just be my new best friend!  For years, I have used the MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NC15/NW20, but it’s always been just a bit too dark for me.  Other skin tone liners have either been the wrong shade or irritated my eyes, plus I wanted something that would work for other makeup multitasking purposes.  Leave it to NYX to make another professional type product available at the drugstore!

  
My MAC pencil is a bit used up.  You do get more with the $16.50 MAC pencil, but the NYX product is only $4.50.

Shade comparison of MAC NC15/NW20 and NYX Wonder Pencil in Light (this comes in 3 shades):

  
I used the NYX pencil today for cleaning up and highlighting around the brow, reverse lip lining (really great since I have freckles around my lip line), and concealing a few dark spots on my face along with lining my waterline.  CAVEAT:  If you use this on your face and the waterline, sharpen that sucker to a clean point for fresh product before going near your eyeballs!  Also, clean your sharpeners from time to time with alcohol.  Ok, enough lecturing. 😉 

  
I am super pleased with this multitasking pencil!  Have you tried it?

Nuxe Reve de Miel – EMPTY!

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I have quite a bit of blogging to catch up on, but before I get to reviewing my latest finds, I just want to say A) this is the richest, creamiest, most luxurious lip balm known to man and B), I use this every day (day and night) and it STILL took me around 4 months to use this up!  BEHOLD:

  
This pot shall be repurposed for DIY sugar lip scrub!

Of course, I had a backup waiting.  🙂

  
What’s your favorite lip treatment? 

Drugstore Makeup for Pale Skin!

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Hallooooo!  If you have truly pale skin (and no, I don’t mean the drug store’s orangey-beige version of “Ivory”), you have probably done countless online searches trying to come up with foundation, concealer, and powder options, both high end and drug store.  Drug store options seem to be the most impossible, but after loads of searching, I’ve found a few options.  Actually, my entire face today is drugstore, and I’ll post a list of what I’m wearing below! 

For reference, in MAC terms, I would be around an N10, shade wise.  I usually settle for NW10 since I lean more cool, but honestly I would prefer a perfectly neutral base.  Studio Fix Fluid in NW10 works fine for me.  Cover FX does have an N10 shade that is fairly perfect for me, but both these lines are pretty pricey and I wanted another option!

What I have on today is Rimmel Match Perfection in 010 Light Porcelain.  Unfortunately, if you’re in the United Stares, you’ll have to order this shade online, as it’s only available in the UK.  American Match Perfection starts at an ivory shade that is rather dark and super pink!  The Light Porcelain is beautifully neutral.  This is a sheer to medium buildable foundation with a satin finish.  This shade is also available in the UK in a few other formulas such as Lasting Finish, which is a heavier coverage, but sadly breaks me out.  I have no issues with this one.  I got this on Amazon for around $10 USD. 

The concealer I’ve used today is a new one to me and I’m praying it won’t break me out, because it looks pretty nice!  This is NYX Gotcha Covered in Ivory.  I saw a Youtuber say this was “really light” and had to try it for $6 USD.  It’s a full coverage cream concealer in a tube.  What a I like about this for under eyes is it has a bit of a peachy-salmon tone, great for correcting dark circles!  I’ve yet to determine if this creases or causes breakouts, so watch this space.  I set this with powder immediately today and it looked bomb.  Which brings me to…

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Powder in Translucent 100!  This is a wonderful, finely milled pressed powder that mattifies oil and sets foundation like nobodies business.  Don’t let the white color fool you – this is basically invisible on the skin, at least if you’re fair like me!  It has a nice sponge and a mirror so it’s good on the go.  Don’t want to shell out for MAC Blot?  Don’t have to!  This product is around $6 at the drug store. 

Here’s my finished look.  You like? 

  
I also have on Wet N Wild’s Comfort Zone palette and I used Rimmel’s “Tower of Mauve” lipstick on the lips and as a cream blush!

Do you have any drug store favorites? 

Makeup of the day – Urban Decay Spectrum palette jewel tones

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Well, I certainly had fun with this look!  I really went for bold color today.  We are having flash flooding after two days of pouring rain and I just wanted something bright and cheerful. Full makeup breakdown below! 

  
  
FACE:  Cover FX Custom Cover Drops in N10 mixed with Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (fantastic, more on the drops later), NYX HD Concealer in Porcelain under eyes, MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC15 to spot conceal, very light setting with MAC Blot Powder in Light, Urban Decay Afterglow Blush in Bittersweet 

EYES:  Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow in Bone as a base, MAC Vanilla eyeshadow as highlight, Urban Decay Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette shades Deep End and Madness (lid), Flashback (crease), Flatline (inner corner) and lid shades also used as lower liner, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in Ebony, ELF Clear Brow Gel, Benefit They’re Real Lash Primer, Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara in Black

LIPS:  NYX lip liner in Purple Rain, MAC Up The Amp lipstick 

What are you wearing today?

Urban Decay Urban Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette Swatches 

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The Urban Decay Urban Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette ($55 USD) is back in stock at Sephora! This was a limited edition item from the holidays that sold out pretty much immediately, well before the holidays, leaving folks like me broken hearted that they had missed out on this item. Urban Decay hinted at re-releasing it again in late January, but it sold out again within hours! Well, for some reason, Sephora has stocked it again and this time its been available for several days. I was able to grab mine with my Sephora Flash shipping and I couldn’t be more excited!

I will get a full review done soon, but for now, here are some beautiful swatches for you and photos of the palette.

The case is a gunmetal box that is lined with velvet. The matte black top has filligree laser cut edges and can be repurposed as a jewelry box.  There is a beautiful green jeweled UD logo on top.

   
 

The palette insert can be taken out when you’re done with it, so you can repurpose the box.  Check out these stunning ombre jewel tones! 

  
Now, on to the swatches! 

First off, please note that any crumbles in my swatches are due to me being a monster and swatching too hard.  This formula is divine and not crumbly at all, but I went at it like a maniac…oops!  

Now…observe the lusciousness!

  

 

Protest, Junkie, Deep End

  
Madness, Evidence, Prank

  
Omen, Flashback, Voodoo

  
Flatline, Bordello, Backlash

  Daybreak, Burn, West

These are all swatched over the original Urban Decay Primer Potion.

A full review and many looks with this palette are on the way!  Will you be picking up this palette?