The blackIUp Matte Liquid Lipcolor in LM05 (Red) ($27.50; 0.25oz) is an amazing blue based red with an ultra-matte finish. First, let me tell you - the wand is amazing! It's so soft and easy to maneuver around your lips. I was able to get these precise lines (as if I used a lipliner) just from the wand itself.
Read MoreStila Cosmetics added three new duo chrome shades to their Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow collection
Read MoreThis month, GlossyBox is celebrating women this month! With International Women's Day on March 8th, this box is all about going boldly and feeling empowered.
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Coloured Raine Queen of Hearts Eyeshadow Palette ($50) is a limited edition 12 pan palette that contains 6 matte and 6 foil eyeshadow shades.
It is made in the USA; cruelty free and all shades are vegan free with the exception of Ladyship which contains Carmine so let's just say the palette is vegan friendly.
Photo taken with flash and LED lights (Brush swatches)
Photo taken with no flash and LED lights (Brush swatches)
The palette is incredible quality - the shades are creamy and pigmented - very easy to build up and use. Keep in mind the only 3 shades that I had a slight issue with was Princess, Heir and Ladyship. You can see more of what I mean in the video.
Coloured Raine Queen of Hearts Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatches Read all of the details and see more photos on my blog ➡ http://bit.ly/2iZI5bT Products Mentioned: Coloured Raine Queen of Hearts Eyeshadow Palette ➡ http://bit.ly/2jBICnB Filming Equipment: Camera: Canon 80D ➡ http://amzn.to/2fMJD9S Tripod for the Canon80D ➡ http://amzn.to/2esI29B Lights: StudioPRO SPK11-065 Premium Spot Daylights LED ➡ http://amzn.to/2eOTZBz Contact me: cynira@candycoatedclosets.com ** Ebates - Shop online and earn cash back - It's completely free and so easy to earn cash back for shopping your favorite stores online!
Overall: I ADORE this palette. There aren't too many products that I normally say you have to get but you have to get this palette. It's perfect for creating different day and night looks and the quality of the shadows are worth the price tag.
Availability: Only available on ColouredRaine.com for $50 plus shipping - you can find coupon codes online that will normally knock off 10% of your order total
-Purchased-
Giveaway Time!
I have two sets of this high end Dior makeup to share with you. The prizes include:
Dior 'Diorskin Nude Air' Healthy Glow Invisible Loose Powder in (030) Medium Beige $58 Dior 'Backstage Foundation - Light Coverage' Fluid Brush $46 Dior Couture Color Rouge Dior Lipstick in (475) Rose Caprice $35
How to enter:
Instagram entry (One winner) To enter this giveaway on Instagram:
1. You must follow @candycoatedclosets on Instagram. You must be an active follower/supporter of mine (that also helps your chances of randomly winning #RandomActsofCCC).
2. In the comments on this Instagram photo, tag three friends so they can learn about all of the fun we have on here.
3. You can enter up to 5 times with a new set of tagged friends in each comment.
4. You can repost the photo on your page under the hashtag #CCCDiorMakeup for an extra entry. Please do not tag me in the photo, you only need to add the hashtag to your caption. Remember, your page needs to be public at the time of the random drawing for me to see your extra entry.
Blog giveaway (One winner) To enter this giveaway, simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me what trends are you excited to try in 2017.
Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*
Contest ends Friday, January 13th, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. I will choose one subscriber at random from those who commented on this post after verifying the subscriptions and entries. The Instagram winner will be chosen separately.
No giveaway/spam accounts. Open internationally; 18+ to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Good luck to all!
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Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Sanctuary ($20; .22oz) is described as a cool Sepia cool. To me, it's more of a brown/mauve color with these purple, gray undertones to it. This is one of those liquid lipsticks that are going to show up differently on people depending on their skin tones, undertones, pigmentation in their lips etc. I definitely recommend looking around for more swatches or heading to the store to swatch it on yourself before purchasing.
The formula is very comfortable on the lips - nondrying and it doesn't smudge. Check out the video for additional views of me applying it.
[embed]https://youtu.be/DiRVckc0DHw[/embed]
-Purchased- -Affiliate Links-
So I picked up 3 metallic liquid lipsticks from the Beauty Bakerie over the holiday because I really wanted to try their formula for these smudge proof liquid lips that I kept hearing about. I ordered:
From left to right we have:Rosè Posè, Berried and The Grape Life 
Above photo taken with flash & in LED lighting
Photo taken without flash & in LED lighting
They are beautiful colors that seriously live up to the smudge proof claim. I had a very hard time removing these from my arm and lips with my usual makeup oil remover and micellar water. I had to grab the regular baby oil to help get it off. Beauty Bakerie does off a lip whip remover ($14) that is designed to easily remove their liquid lipsticks but I opted to use what I had at home.
As for formula, it's honestly not one of my favorites. When it comes to not moving or smearing, this company takes the cake by far for smudge proof. However, I didn't necessarily like the color payoff. In the video below you can see the color payoff that I got with one coat applied. I didn't really get a true color payoff or a color that I was satisfied with until I added two coats which normally isn't a problem for me but after about an hour of wear, I really started to feel the liquid lipstick on my lips and it starting to crack and hurt - and that's because I added on the additional coats.
[embed]https://youtu.be/-ysv21ziKlE[/embed]
Overall: I'd purchase from them again because I want to try out other formulas from them besides the metallic line. Also, I have adjusted the comfort of the formula by just adding in a few drops of bio oil or maracuja oil into the formula so having to layer them is not a deal breaker for me.
-Purchased-
Jouer Cosmetics Tan Lines ($16) vs Bite Beauty Gold Crème Lip Gloss ($22) - I've already reviewed both of these lip "toppers" but a few of you asked for a comparison so figured it'd be best to look at them side by side.
These are both non-gritty, lip toppers that you can wear on their own or on top of another lip color.
-Purchased- -Affiliate Links-
[embed]https://youtu.be/uzIdGqZXvZE[/embed] Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bauhau5 is described as a deep raspberry but on me it shows up like a hot pink with purple undertones; kind of like a fuchsia. It is true to the name that it is an everlasting matte lipstick once applied and dried down - the only issue that I have with it is that it did apply a bit uneven and patchy in some areas that my hyperpigmentation on my lips showed through. It evened out once I applied a second coat, however, that made it a bit thicker on my lips so keep that in mind.
Photo taken with flash and in LED lights:
-Purchased- -Affiliate links-
-Affiliate Links-
I finally got my hands on Jouer Cosmetics Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick in Cabernet ($18) and the Long-Wear Lip Topper in Tan Lines ($16). It seems like every time I try to order from them, one color was out of stock and I refused to pay for shipping or be forced to get another color that I didn't really want.
The products came in this cute light pink box with rose gold trimmer. Cabernet is a very creamy matte deep red with blue based undertones - it kind of reminds me of Coloured Raine's Cherry Blossom. For $18, you will get 0.21 fl oz. Tan Lines is a metallic shimmering bronze lip topper - similar to Bite Beauty's Gold Creme lip gloss except Jouer's is more bronze. For $16, you will get 0.20 fl oz.
Press play in the video below to see Tan Lines in action as I recommend picking this one up for your collection. Jouer's lip toppers are non-gritty, not sticky and actually bring some moisture back to your lips if you use it with a drying matte liquid lipstick.
-Purchased-
YOUTUBE GIVEAWAY ALERT! It’s time to give this beautiful bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream away to one lucky follower for the holidays!
Daisy Dream is best described as a fresh and fruity, wispy floral fragrance. It was created by Alberto Morillas, the original creator behind the first Daisy fragrance, in collaboration with Ann Gottlieb, who was responsible for Marc Jacobs’ Lola, along with Marc Jacobs himself. The notes include:
Top notes: Blackberry, Grapefruit and Pear Heart notes: Jasmine, Lychee and Blue Wisteria Base notes: White Woods, Musks and Coconut Water
YouTube Entry
That’s it!
Contest runs from Wednesday, December 14, 2016 and ends Sunday, December 18th, 2016 at 11:59pm est. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced within 48 hours of the contest ending. Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.
Make sure that you click on the links above if you want to learn more about this amazing product from the giveaway!
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There are no if's, and's and but's about this....if you don't have a proper skin care routine in place then you seriously need to send me a private message so I can put the fear of aging, sagging and brittle skin into you. Dramatic much? Yes it is, but a good skin care routine is essential to a flawless canvas. I can't tell you how many people spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on makeup to get a flawless look but skimp when it comes to their skin care. I know not everyone can afford high end skin care products or are even at a stage in life when they're thinking about putting on sunscreen everyday or what's the difference between a serum and an essence. Trust me, I understand. I just turned 30 and it wasn't until the past year and a half or so that I really started paying to my skin - and it's made a world of wonders.
With all of that said, I wanted to give you guys a chance to either start a skin care regime or try some new products with of course, a new #SkincareSunday giveaway featuring some products from Philosophy.
The prizes include:
So I figured I'd break this up so a few people could try something from this line. On this Instagram photo, I'm going to be giving one person the daytime and nighttime cream along with the eye cream (everything in the above photo). Make sure you follow me on Instagram and head to this photo to enter.
Here are the blog, I'm going to be choosing two subscribers - each will receive one eye cream (photo below).
To enter to win a Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Eye - Refreshing & Refining Eye Cream ($51), simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me some of your skin care concerns (this helps me filter out what kind of content you want to see). Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*
As always, good luck! Be sure to check out the products with the links above if you want to learn more about them and some of the inspiration behind the philosophy line.
Contest runs from Sunday, December 11, 2016 and ends Friday, December 16th, 2016 at 11:59pm est. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced within 48 hours of the contest ending. No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so we can ensure that you are following @candycoatedclosets and see your extra entry if applicable. Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.
-Affiliate Links-
Covergirl Roses Trunaked Eyeshadow Palette ($11.99) is an 8 pan eyeshadow palette with a range of colors - neutrals, rosey pinks, and deep burgandys - that vary in matte to shimmer finishes. It comes housed in a skinny plastic case with a dual-sided sponge applicator.
Honestly, it reminds me of a more affordable dupe to the Urban Decay Naked 3. The only difference is a bit of inconsistency in the formula. Here is a photo of swatches straight out of the pan with one swipe only (You can view more in the video below).
And here are swatches of each color built up.
With Flash
Without Flash
At first swatch, you can already see that these are going to take some working with to get the pigmentation and look desired. To be honest, the shimmers performed fine. It's more so the matte shades that I'm a little concerned with. I haven't done a full look using this palette yet - I will update once I do but take a look at the shades in the video.
[embed]https://youtu.be/iYzqVSG8Rz8[/embed]
Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick is a range of cream lipsticks with a blend of intense pigments and luxurious emollients that saturate the lips with brilliant color that looks amazing and feels feather-light. It's been so long since I've actually purchased a regular lipstick (a non-liquid lipstick) that it honestly felt weird shopping around for these when looking for something else to review from Smashbox.
When researching the formula, I was intrigued by this line because of its formulation. It has a moisturizing satin-smooth formula that is designed to soften and protect your lips with shea butter and vitamins C and and it is formulated without parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates, silicone & talc. They cost for $21.00 for 0.10 oz. of product and are available in two finishes - Satin and Matte. Here are two mattes to take a look at - Infrared Matte and Jam On It.
Above photo taken with flash & in LED lights.
Above photo taken with no flash & in LED lights. 
So even though these are from the matte line, it didn't dry down to a complete matte. They definitely hold true to the moisturizing and creamy light weight feel on the lips. As comfortable as they are, they don't fully set so the color does wipe off and you're going to have to reapply throughout the day. As for the pigmentation, I did have to build these up on my lips to get a full color payoff. I don't mind so much but since these do wipe off easily (when eating or drinking), keep that in mind if you decide to purchase. I recommend pairing them with a lipliner to make them stick a bit more.
Say hello to color with the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Palette Volume 2 – Artistic – Colors You Crave Palette.
Normally, this palette retails for $42.00 for 0.54 oz. of product but it is currently on a promotion at Sephora for $25. Clearly, with my recent obsession with eyeshadow products and our need to save some money, I got it to review.
Here are a few photos taken with flash and without flash:
Overall, I am very happy with the palette from the initial swatches. The only column that I wasn't too thrilled with was the first one:
I haven't had the chance to play with it on my brushes and eyes yet so I will update you on social and on here once I do. Again, overall, I love this palette and it is well worth the price - especially if you're getting for yourself or as a gift. If I could, I would replace the two blushes with a similar shade to the ME-700 and the ME-302.
Availability: It is currently available at Sephora for $25.
Update 12/5/16: I played with it for an eye look twice. Here's a photo of me wearing the emerald green and gold shades from the palette. I had to use a bit of Unseen from Melt Cosmetics in my crease for a neutral transition and I mixed that with a bit of the purple blush to warm it up and add some color.
Additional products used:
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"I don't pop Molly, I rock Tom Ford....Tom Ford, Tom Ford, Tom Ford..." I swear everytime I write about Tom Ford I have to play that Jay-Z song.
Anyway, 'tis the season so let's keep the giveaways going. I wanted to bring back a feature on one of the first editorial photoshoots that I did for in my blogging and social media career - Tom Ford's Velvet Orchid.
This fragrance warrants a woman with a unique character that is looking to deliver a powerful floral signature scent that has a bit of spice to it. It opens with an accord of black orchid blended with notes of velvet orchid, turkish rose oil and jasmine.
In order to distinguish it from its older sibling, Black Orchid, Velvet Orchid’s team of perfumers packed it full of florientals and citrus notes such as orange blossom and rose absolute. The base of the fragrance is more feminine and warm due to the rich flavors of vanilla, amber, sandalwood and suede.
So it's time to give it away!
GIVEAWAY ALERT!
It’s time to give this beautiful bottle to some lucky followers!
Instagram Entry (One winner)
Twitter Entry (One winner)
Blog Entry (One winner)
That’s it!
Contest runs from Monday, December 5, 2016 and ends Sunday, December 11th, 2016 at 11:59pm est. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced within 48 hours of the contest ending.
No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so we can ensure that you are following @candycoatedclosets and @candy_closets. Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.
Make sure that you click on the links above if you want to learn more about this amazing product from the giveaway!
-Affiliate Links-
For the holidays, Laura Mercier released a highlighter palette ($58 for 0.44 oz) that included four miniature sized versions of their permanent highlighters. The shades include Indiscretion, Addiction, Devotion and Seduction (from top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right). Normally, each highlighter costs $44 each for .35oz of product so this is a great way to test out new shades and to mix and match without paying for a full sized one.
[wpvideo coUDZulv]
This palette is a great deal and perfect for those who want to try out the Laura Mercier formula. It's more for someone who likes a bit of a sparkle to their highlight without it being too dramatic. It's actually what I wished the Stila holiday highlighting palette would've been like.
Have you tried these highlighters yet? Let me know if there's anything specific you want to see from this brand!
-Affiliate Links-
Cover FX has introduced 3 new ways for us get our glow on this holiday season - in the form of the Perfect Light Highlighting Powders.
Shown: Moonlight, Sunlight and Candlelight
These powders are a silky, pressed powder that you can use for highlighting your face and body. They are vegan, cruelty-free, and free of talc, gluten, and mineral oil. They are $34 each for 8 gram/0.28 oz of product and are available in three shades:
Moonlight - a soft silvery glow Sunlight - a soft gold glow Candlelight - a shimmering golden bronze
Now these three shades have the same color and undertone as the custom enhancer drops (you can check out the full review here or in the video down below again).
Here are the powders swatched on their own:
Here are the highlighting drops swatched on their own:
And here are the powders swatched on top of the drops.
On each of these swatches, I did use the Cover FX Illuminating Primer which is a silicone-free primer that gives your skin an instant luminous glow packed with powerful skincare ingredients to illuminate the skin for a brighter, more radiant appearance. Then as you can see in the pictures and the video below, I followed it up with the Custom Enhancer Drops to create a buildable highlight for an intense strobe effect or subtle blended out glow and then added some depth to it by layering the Perfect Light Highlighting Powders on top.
I'll have these all shown in corresponding looks that is going up in a few days but to give you a better look at the products now, check out this video demonstrating all of these steps.
[embed]https://youtu.be/tPOCjD38LXs[/embed]
Now as a quick surprise for getting through all of that, I do have a quick giveaway for a PR sample of the highlighting powder in the shade Moonlight (please note that it is brand new but does not come with a box and has PR sample marked on the bottom of it). If you're interested in winning it, all you need to do is leave me a comment on this post letting know what you think of brand Cover FX and if you have a favorite product from them (yes it can be the drops and please don't leave a comment "hope to win etc; pick me; etc." I want meaningful comments to read through to see what you guys want). 18+ or older; open internationally. Good luck!
-Some items were sent to me as a PR Sample and some were purchased by me- -Affiliate Links-
