Christmas Haul 2020

This year, with a baby on the way, I knew I wanted to add some key items to my Christmas list as I probably won’t be buying a ton in the new year. As you may know, I am a huge fan of ColourPop and there are some newer releases that I have not picked up. I do collect the 9-pan plastic palettes but besides that, I tend to save other releases for birthday and holiday wishlists.

This year, I was lucky enough to receive four palettes and a Sephora gift card. I don’t know what I am going to use the gift card for yet but I am thinking of saving it for a sale as I have a knack for not realizing that there is a sale coming up and buying things about a week or two before the sale and then I regret not waiting.

The first ColourPop palette that I got was a bit of an older one. I am so excited to say that I have added the So Jaded palette to my collection! This is the first of their 30-pan palettes that was released in collaboration with the wonderful Kathleen Lights. This is a beautiful jewel-toned rainbow palette and while it does have two pressed glitters (which aren’t my favorites), as a whole, it is just stunning and I am looking forward to testing it out and creating some beautiful looks with it.

Next was the Stone Cold Fox palette. This is a bit more recent of a release but also a 30-pan palette. I am not normally a huge fan of larger palettes but this and the above mentioned palette are both ones I am willing to make exceptions for. This one is a beautiful range of cool tones, which I prefer when it comes to neutrals. This is a stunning palette and I also am very excited to create some cool looks with this beauty! I also plan on using this as a companion palette. That may seem weird, but personally I find that larger palettes are harder to use primarily because I run into choice paralysis. However, when I use a larger palette in conjunction with another, much smaller palette, it can change a typical look into something unique and it makes it much easier because I am only initially looking for a shade or two.

The next palette that I got was the At Forest Sight. This is another ColourPop collaboration, this time with RawBeautyKristi. This stunning palette is so unique in my collection! It is so grungy and sultry but still a rainbow palette and I have just never seen a palette like this one. I will be honest, this is going to push me out of my comfort zone but I am really looking forward to using it and creating some looks that I can’t do with any other palette.

Lastly, I was surprised with a palette that I did not add to my wishlist but upon receiving it, I might be most excited about this one and that is the Nude Mood. I think I am most excited about this one because it is a 9-pan palette, which is my preferred size, but also it is full of neutral shades (which is not more normal interests) that are just stunning! It’s perfect for an everyday look, a one and done look, or even a sexy cat eye look. It’s one of those palettes that is great to use when practicing new techniques because no matter what, all of the shades meld together great and it is very hard to create a look with this palette that doesn’t look good.

If you celebrate a holiday during this time, then I hope you had or will have a wonderful celebration! If you received or picked anything up, I would love to know what your got and what you are looking forward to playing with. Drop a comment down below and let me know if there is anything I need to add to my wishlist!

Makeup Haul! B.O.M.B. Makeup from Juvia’s Place

I am so excited to have brought in three new eyeshadow palettes with my current makeup haul. Earlier this month, I placed two orders with Juvia’s Place and one with a black-owned indie brand (look forward to that post soon). One of those orders has come in and today we are going to go over a brief overview of these three palettes.

The first palette is the Nubian Mini eyeshadow palette. This palette includes six shades in neutrals and bronzes. This palette is perfect for travel, with the pan sizes being smaller that the typical shadow size allowing for the palette itself to be smaller. This is a good palette for an everyday look, but appears to have some depth to take a look from day to night.

The second palette is the Nubian Three: Coral palette. This palette has twelve shades, with the pan sizes being that of a typical eyeshadow. The primary colors in this palette are coral (as the name would imply), brown and grey. This palette sparks a lot of inspiration in me and is something I would consider more of a neutral palette for my color loving preferences.

Finally, we have the Zulu palette, which consists of nine shadows with much larger pan sizes. This palette is quite colorful and offers different shadow types then the other palettes. This one includes two duo-chrome shades which again allows for even more variety and uniqueness from the other palettes.

Please stay tuned as I will be doing separate reviews on each of the palettes with much more detail in the future. I am greatly looking forward to playing with these palettes and updating with my findings.

Haul Update: Natasha Denona Mini Palettes

Today, we are coming back to my haul that I did back in March. At the time, I picked up three mini Natasha Denona palettes: the Mini Star Palette, the Mini Tropic Palette, and the Mini Lila Palette. Each retails for $25 and can be found on the Sephora site or Natasha Denona’s site (with the exception of the Mini Lila Palette which has been discontinued).

To start with, my least favorite of the three was the Mini Star Palette. While the palette is beautiful and performs very well, the colors that come in this five pan palette do not lend themselves to a variety of different looks. The pigmentation of the shadows is impressive, but I have a hard time feeling as inspired by these colors as I hoped to. This palette is great for an on the go, everyday look or to vamp up a day time look for a date night. As I did still enjoy this palette, I would recommend it to people who enjoy doing the same look everyday and enjoy neutral looks, or if this color scheme inspires you.

My second place palette is the Mini Lila Palette (discontinued). As a color lover, this purple palette called my name. For the most part, the shadows in this palette perform beautifully. As you will see in the swatch pictures, one of the shadows can be a little patchy and this was the case on the eye as well. The solution to this problem is to pack that shadow on. The other shades were buttery and blended beautifully in the eyes. This palette does have a bit more range in the looks that can be made with it, but it’s still only five shadows and mostly purple. I was not disappointed by this palette and feel that unlike others opinions, I didn’t struggle with this palette.

My top mini palette pick actually surprised me. It’s the Mini Tropic Palette, which when you first look at it, seems like a palette full of shades that might look nice together but what will you use as a transition? This palette doesn’t actually need a transition shade from my experience. The colors blend so smoothly together and with good blending, you can create a transition shade out of any of the matte shades in the palette. The palette has been the easiest to work with and I’ve created some of my favorite looks with this palette. I highly recommend this palette!

Haul Update: Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in Baked

Back in March, I placed a large Sephora haul. In that haul, I picked up the mini version of the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in Backed. This is the first Milk Makeup product I have purchased. I’m not usually a fan of liquid or cream products and I am not sure what possessed me to pick up this bronzer, but I am glad I did.

This bronzer is extremely easy to use. I have always been intimidated by cream products and how to use them. To use this product, you simply draw a slight line on the contour of your cheeks, and blend out. My preferred blending techniques is to use a dual fiber small stippling brush and apply minimal pressure while blending in circular motions from the point closest to the mouth, up towards the temple.

The formula of this product is very forgiving and great for beginners, such as myself. You don’t need very much, but if you do apply too much and are worried that you wont be able to blend it out, just do your best, then go over it with a sponge or your foundation brush. The formula has not disrupted the foundation underneath, but if you are concerned about that, you can apply it with a stippling brush by painting the product directly onto the brush then sweeping it in the same motions as mentioned.

My only complaint with this product is the component it comes in. I am only speaking to the mini, as that is the one I picked up, but mine broke the first time I tried to wind it up. Sephora had great customer service and was able to replace it for me, but the second one I received has also broken since then. As I work my way through the product, I will probably have to switch from drawing it on, to using a brush to apply as I will not be able to twist up more product.

Even though I picked up the mini, I think this product will last for a very long time. When I run out, I will be picking it up again, as this product has become a daily step on my makeup routine. I really enjoy this product and recommend it highly!

Sephora Haul

Today, we are going to be talking about a good, old-fashioned haul. I was lucky enough to receive a large gift card to Sephora and I wanted to share with you what I picked up and why. I should state I have not tried most of these items yet and would be happy to do a haul update or even individual posts on the different items in this haul. Let me know if you would be interested in a dedicated post about any of these.

Starting with The Inkey List, I picked up their Retinol Eye Cream. I have been suffering from severe bags under my eyes which is creating very large creases and fine lines. Normally, I believe in embracing your skin and working to just keep it the healthiest it can be, but the creasing has made it very difficult to apply concealer under my eyes and I need all the help I can get to cover up the bags and dark circles. I have only used this product once so far but I am happy to update you with my results when I have been using it for a while. Be sure to remember that whenever you use retinol, it is very important to follow up with moisturizer and spf to protect your skin fully.

The next brand I wanted to dabble in is Huda Beauty. I picked up the Nude Obsessions nine-pan palette in the shade light. I am a huge fan of eyeshadow, like its a problem, but I have only ever tried one of her palettes before in the Emerald Obsessions nine-pan palette. I enjoy the light neutrals with this palette but I have not actually tried the formula out yet. I look forward to seeing the different kinds of looks I can make with this beautiful palette.

Milk Makeup is the next brand I decided to try out. I’ve never tried this brand and I know that it is very popular so I am excited to try the new products I picked up. I picked up the Mini Matte Bronzer in Baked. I was able to swatch this but unfortunately the one I ordered came cracked and I need to get it replaced. I liked the color and can’t wait to replace it so I can use it.

The next Milk Makeup product I got was their new Vegan Milk Moisturizer. I’m always looking for a great moisturizer since my favorite was discontinued from Tatcha. This was a free sample and I will let you know what I think of the sample. It will take me a while to get around to using it as I do not want to combine two new products (the retinol cream and a new moisturizer) just in case one of the products reacts poorly with my skin.

Finally, the brand I am extremely excited to have more of is Natasha Denona. I picked up four eyeshadow palettes and a diamond and blush palette in Darya. I picked up the Love palette, the Mini Lila palette, the Mini Star palette and the Mini Tropic palette. I currently only have the Sunrise palette but I really love the formula, and as I said, I have a serious obsession with eyeshadow.

Please leave a comment, letting me know what you would like for me to try out first and if you would be interested in a haul follow up or if you would like individual posts about certain items.