A Brush by Any Other Name...

A Brush by Any Other Name...

First let me apologize about the delay in posts. With graduation for my daughter approaching and the end of my oldest daughter's Freshman year, combined with work; I've not had enough time to pick through my huge stash of products I would like to post a blog about. That being said, this blog is one of those essential tools that women use. An applicator.

The hot new product of the year has been these brushes.

These brushes (and there are several brands now) are the "big" thing lately. There are countless YouTube videos, vlogs and blogs about these applicators.

The first, and undoubtedly best, came from arti's. The price tag definitely reflects the pioneer brush, and without a doubt it is probably worth it. The raves on the foundation brush are through the roof. You can pick up one of these brushes for $55.00

I didn't want to spend that kind of money on a brush so I found a set on Amazon and thought, "Holy crap this is a great deal! I can get a set of these for $20.00." Wahoo! I was extremely excited about trying these out and with such a range of brushes, I was confident that I would finally master the art of blending beautifully. I would be able to chuck my beauty blender, and MAC stipple brush to the "seldom use" drawer.

The brushes arrived and were unboxed quickly. The first tell tale quality alert came with the packaging. It was very cheap but I pushed on because I couldn't wait to try them all.

I grabbed my favorite foundation and tried out the largest. Nope...too big. Then I came to the 2nd and 3rd brushes. Excellent. Now to try out the smaller brushes for my eyes and eyebrows.

Failure. They were cumbersome and didn't blend well and I felt like I was about to snap them off.
And that was even true of the larger ones that did successfully apply my foundation. The narrow neck, combined with flimsy plastic handles, made application a bit awkward and I felt like there was no support to the brush head.

I've used these brushes for over a month now and I can say, without a doubt that the 2nd and 3rd round brush absolutely work. The 2nd to largest is not pictured because Maesin snagged it from me. But that's okay because the 3rd largest (shown as the 2nd from the left) really did the job perfectly for me.

If you notice the small oval brush pictured 3rd from the left, you'll see that it has been used. I tried to use this brush for concealer and it was an epic fail.

Concealers, in my opinion, have to be applied with a damp beauty blender. It is the only way to really get that product into the skin and produce a flawless finish. This holds true to under eye circles as well as highlighting.

I do give one or two of these brushes a solid A. They do not absorb as much foundation as a beauty blender, however you shouldn't apply the foundation directly to the brush. Your best bet is to dot your face with foundation and then let the brush do its magic.

The brush is very densely packed with soft bristles. It is that denseness that makes this brush a far superior applicator than other makeup brushes. All of my other makeup brushes for foundation tend to leave swirls that have to be blended and blended. And I have some very high end brushes. MAC ain't cheap y'all! But this brush, even though it is the knock-off from the original, works. I get an airbrushed finish and I get compliments on my makeup. I was told that I had beautiful skin. That is definitely a WIN! Your makeup foundation should give you that flawless finish. That's the goal of any foundation you use.

Before I leave you to your day, I do want to pass along a tip that I learned by watching other's videos. Many of the MUA will remove a bit of product from areas that tend to get cakey. For me these are the lines around my mouth and the edges of my cheeks. I tried it and it definitely helped removing the wrinkles and/or made them less visible. You should try it sometime.

My final advice is this: buy one or two of the round brushes. Don't buy the largest because it is way too big to use on your face for foundation and it does diddly squat for powder. It's just awkward.

Pick up one that is a bit smaller and try it out. Be forewarned though that it is something you will have to get used too because it has a different feel in your hand.

My score:

Blending: A+
Construction: a very weak C
Price: varies (start off a bit cheap and then invest in a high quality oval brush)
Does it work?: Yes but it takes some practice.

Be A Goddess: Lime Crime's Venus I and Venus II Review PLUS a Bonus Tip

Be A Goddess: Lime Crime's Venus I and Venus II Review

Lazy, rainy Saturday's are the perfect time to practice some makeup so while I hear Maesin and her friend giggling before they start dolling up for prom, I thought I'd finally get around to reviewing Lime Crime's Venus I and Venus II palettes. (I'm also throwing in a "HD Powder Tip"

Let me first start off by apologizing about the grunge hair. It's a Saturday and I'm absolutely ready to get rid of this mop. It spends a lot of time pinned up. This is actually the longest my hair has been in decades. But we aren't here to bemoan that.

To preface the review, the entire eye shadow review is solely done with each respective palette. I wanted to show the versatility of this highly pigmented eye shadow.

As I've mentioned before, high pigment eye shadows are absolutely wonderful but I also want to mention that they can be extremely treacherous when just starting out. High pigment eye shadows are a beast. You have to carefully layer the colors and be gentle. If you pack a lot on right away, it is so hard to distribute. The payoff for layering and building is definitely worth your time to try and master them.

Let's begin with some pictures. Try to ignore the incredibly red skin because after the eyes I decided to go full on full coverage. I'll mention what I used as I go.

Here is the Venus I palette is a treasure trove of warm, rich colors. They definitely fall into the Reds and I love that. My favorite palette is Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette and it is for just this reason. For being a red head, surprisingly red tones in eye shadow play out beautifully. Here is the look:

 Now let me remind you to please ignore the red skin with the broken capillaries around my nose. This entire look was created with just the Venus I Palette. I did not borrow any other colors and the only thing not from the palette is my mascara. (Unlike a lot of makeup enthusiasts...I'm not really into the false eyelashes. Maybe because I suck putting them on. Meh...maybe I'll start practicing or just saving up for lash extensions!)
Anyway...back to the eye shadow. I did a very high cat eye but it didn't turn out that well. The brown I used I didn't go bold enough and I am not always a fan of cat eye. I've learned to do it well with just about any media but it doesn't suit my face. I guess I'm just old school.

Next up on the other eye is the Venus II Palette

 This one is a terrible picture. I went out of my comfort box and played around with the mustard yellow, the bright Robin egg blue and the very sparkly black. You'll be able to see it them both better here. One note...the black used for the eyeliner is more like a deep purplish black with a lot of sparkles. I love it!

 There...now you can see the differences. This also features a full face makeup with contouring (not easily seen on this picture.) It is with Kat Von D's Lock-it Foundation (please see previous review). Younique's Scarlet concealer. (I think that is the color.) and LA Splash matte lip stains and two different colors of shimmer. I think all told I used 4 different lipstick products to get that gradient effect.  I am also wearing a taupe eye shadow as a contour. Why? Because people with fair skin like mine often do far better with shades of grey and taupe as contours because anything else makes us look a bit orange. Mascara is one coat of Lights Camera Action by tarte. And Makeup Forever's HD Powder.

I really, really like the Venus Lime Crime world of products. Palettes aren't cheap but these would hit into the affordable line. No, not as affordable as drug store lines but still pretty great considering that a little goes a long way.
Shop here for the best Venus I and II deal You can get both palettes cheaper than buying them separately.


All told the whole effect is pretty good, I'd say. I do think I need to apply more of the stand out colors, like the blue, to really showcase how great these colors are. And next time I'll take more time when doing the whole look but as I said, rainy Saturday.

Oh...by the way. I haven't forgotten my bonus tip. None of these pictures have a filter. They have no enhancement besides makeup. But I do want you to see how a flash and lighting can change your look entirely. Have you ever seen a celebrity on the runway have a lot of white powder beneath their eyes? I see commentary from everyone when that occurs. It's almost a crime (ha! You get it...considering we have talked about Lime Crime.) Moving on.
HD powder is awesome but it can catch you unaware. I blended my powder, contouring and foundation very well. But I still missed taking some of the HD powder away after baking.

That is the effect with flash. You don't see the powder in the previous pictures because it is in different lighting and not using flash.
So beware! The cake and bake can catch you looking like your eyes are trying to do drugs. :)

I hope you have enjoyed our time together today. it has been fun for me and now the makeup has been washed away.

Lime Crime Venus I and Venus II Palette rating: Pardoned by the Judge with a slap on the wrist (4 out of 5)
Pigmentation: 5 piggies
Blending ability: Moderate blenders so 3 out of 5 blenders.

Kat Von D's Lock-It Foundation...Cover it up!

Review: Kat von D Lock-it Foundation

I’ve been such a bad girl with my reviews and blogs. It’s been chaotic lately and I’ve had a lot going on but the good news is that I have at least 3 reviews coming to you.

Today I want to cover Kat von D’s super, duper full coverage foundation, the Lock-It Foundation.

The Lock-It Foundation is not new to the makeup world but it was one of those items that were marketed to a select audience. The original audience was primarily for people looking to cover tattoos. And this foundation addressed that perfectly with only one other type of makeup that is absolutely the best for covering up anything. Krylon is the makeup of choice for Fx and it is one used heavily in the Drag community. It’s why they have the best makeup and can transform their faces into virtually anyone.

Back to my review…

Lock-It comes in a wide array of colors and that is always great, but they took it a step further and addressed cool and warm tones. You can pick your shade and then pick the tone. Fabulous!

I chose the lightest shade and it was a mistake. I should have gone one darker but it isn’t something absolutely horrid. A little powder and it is fine. That being said, when they advertise this as full coverage…they ain’t talkin’ about your normal drugstore full coverage foundation. I’m a die hard fan of Urban Decay’s Born this Way which is marketed as a full coverage. When you compare that to Lock-It…all the others look sheer.

We have all seen YouTube videos where someone grabs their foundation and goes to town on their face. They all look like flawless coverage that can hide any imperfection. I’ve even seen people mark their face with a Sharpie. Those are really deceptive practices because they NEVER show you up close and personal and never show it at the end of the day. I can promise that the Sharpie will eventually come through. Lock-It? You will never see it. Period.

The problem I had with this foundation is that it really is too much coverage for my face. I have problems with red tones (which this completely addressed) but I don’t have wide spread breakouts, scars or really big issues that need a full coverage.

The second issue to be aware of is application. Do you know how you have some foundations that you can dab on a brush, or beauty blender, and then just run with it? I don’t recommend doing this with the Lock-It foundation. You really need to dot your face and then connect the dots, so to speak. The thickness of the formula does not spread as easily as others and this is completely a consistency issue. I dotted my face and used my brand new awesome make up brush (I’ll review another time.) The application went on well. I also tried it with a damp beauty blender and it took more work but it left a smooth finish.

Third issue: it does not do well if you try to thin it out. I didn’t want the heaviness of a full coverage on hot days when I tend to get sticky. (Y’all know what I mean ;) When you are flushed and feel like you are in a swamp. We don’t have humid days here but when it gets warm, I do not want to feel caked down.)

Trying to thin this out with a BB cream or lotion just didn’t work as well as I thought it should. I think it goes back to the formula. This is not ever meant to be a sheer foundation. I’m sure there are people who can make it sheer but for me it was just not as successful as I wanted it to be.

Fourth Issue: Dry spots. If you have any rough spots, dry spots, or flakey bits…this will accentuate those. You MUST exfoliate and moisturize WELL and use the appropriate primer. In this case I would highly recommend using Kat Von D’s Lock-It Primer. Typically I have one or two primers that I use for every foundation in my arsenal. One for water based foundations and one for silicone/dimethicone and I don’t often buy ones that match the foundation. In this case I highly recommend you making that additional purchase.

 

All issues aside, I still plan on keeping this foundation in my lineup. I usually always have at least 5 different types of foundation at any given time and this one solidly rounds out the full coverage.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 Shonté’s approve.

Get Naked! Urban Decay's Naked Palette

Get Naked! Urban Decay’s Naked Palette

 

 

Let me first go on record as saying I’m an eye shadow collector. I love eye shadow. I have probably around 6, maybe 10, different palettes. Is it a problem? Eh…depends on who you ask. Some women like jewelry, some like nail polish and some even like shoes. Wait, I actually like all of those as well to almost a compulsive, hording level. It’s a problem. You got me.

But there is a reason why I love eye shadow palettes. (We will talk about the shoes and nail polish at a later time.)

Eye shadow palettes give you amazing versatility in one spectrum of shadow. You can create a finished look only using that palette. And we are talking well above the quick swipe of one color on your lids. Palettes are useful, especially for makeup enthusiasts, artists or even the newbie. A palette combines all of range of tones that can be used to build incredible dimension. Yes, there are some that are one trick ponies, and I have a couple I’ll eventually get around to reviewing, but on a whole when you aren’t sure which shades of eye shadow can be combined easily…go with the palette.

The palette I want to discuss today has been around for a long time. It is Urban Decay’s original Naked Palette.

Look at those beautiful earth tones! This is the basic palette that should be in everyone’s makeup drawer. It has shades that compliment every skin tone.

When I purchase a new makeup product, I test it out multiple times. For eye shadow’s I do the finger test first. You want to look for pigmentation. Great eye shadow’s should be very pigmented. There are always going to be exceptions but on a whole you want to get more bang for your buck. The more pigmentation, the less you need. It also allows you to build with less fall out. The test is easy, simply take a finger and run it up, down and then up again on the eye shadow. Take a look at your finger. Is it barely there? Or does the product adhere to your finger easy. (Yes…the light shades are harder to see but even those should pass this test.)

See how well the color picked up? Next comes the swatch. This will serve two purposes. The first is seeing if that pigmentation will transfer well to your eye lid. The second is to match to your skin. There are some shades that look great in the packaging but when you swatch, you get an entirely different color.

These colors definitely stay true and apply very evenly.

How important is it that an eye shadow applies evenly? Extremely important because it limits fall out, flaking and stays where you need it. Some eye shadows will stick in one area of your eye and that may not be the desired effect you wish. I have some that are so hyper-pigmented that you have to daub them on and it takes forever to blend. I’m not saying that I don’t love those colors but it does take more work to make the colors blend and appear seamless. As you can see in the picture above, the Naked Palette drags very easily and it shades out. The only tool used was my finger.

The last test of an eye shadow is how you look wearing the colors. If Kennedy had not already had this palette, I would have tested it in Ulta or Sephora before buying. Taking back eye shadow can be a tremendous pain in the ass. But since she had this one, I knew that I would like the colors. I’m a devoted fan of Urban Decay so it wasn’t too much of a leap to purchase a few (ahem! All) of their palettes.

As far as how it looked on me?

I loved how seamless the colors blend from light to dark. I didn’t go too crazy with this because I was in a hurry. It was using four colors: Naked, Buck and Hustle as the primary and blenders. And just a dab of wet Smog.

Wet? Yes, I wet an eye shadow sponge and then dipped and tapped. You would be amazed at the intensity you can achieve with that little technique. I don’t recommend it for your entire eye but if you want to add some glimmer or a very distinct looking highlight simply wet and apply. (You don’t have to get it sopping wet and it really lasts a long time if you use a setting spray as the liquid!)

Here is the final look for the day:

I am not entirely pleased with the total effect but the eye shadow was definitely on point. I even used the same palette as my eyeliner.

Final tally for the original Naked Palette:

Pigmentation: A+

Consistency: A+

Even application: A+

Color range: A (I’m not giving this a plus because I think they could have swapped out one of the same glimmer tones for something a bit richer and more distinct)

Contrasting colors: B (Many of the colors are glimmers and it only has one or two true matte eye shadows. I think a great palette has an equal number.)

*Why is matte important in a palette? Glimmer eye shadows tend to make older eyes look even older because it easily settles into the lines. Matte’s are a girl’s best friend if she is over 30. Adding in glimmer shadows for enhancement are A++ for any age.*

There you go! My advice is to give this one a chance to become your “go to” shadow palette. It works for any skin tone, has enough range for any one palette and it is definitely worth the $55

So now Kats and Kittens, you sound off. What shades are your "go to" and what palette can you not live without?

Next time we will be talking about Kat Von D's Lockit Foundation

Mirror Mirror on the wall..Who has the best lashes of all?

Flash those Lashes!

 

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the best lashes of all?

You do my dear!

Well Kats and kittens I have fallen a bit behind on when I was going to post about my favorite mascaras but today is your lucky day! I’m going to share with you a little bit of hard earned knowledge and some of my most favorite mascaras. (Notice I made that plural. I actually switch it up depending on the need for the day…I jump ahead of myself though.)

Mascara is, without a doubt, the most transformative and easy way to come out looking ready for the day. In my opinion it is the one product to take on that deserted island, tuck into your purse, pack in your tiny overnight bag or just hurriedly apply when you are pressed for time.

You apply and go. Beginners can use it. Experts use it. Ladies…never skip those lashes.

But did you know what the secret to the best lashes possibly is and how to get those luscious lashes?

Your brush! The next time you go apply your makeup, take a moment to look at your mascara brush. As mentioned in a previous blog, the mascara wand is relatively a new player in the makeup game. The earliest wands were simple brushes. Today you have a wide variety of brush shapes, bristle textures and density. All of those things are important in choosing the right mascara.

Let me be the first to admit that when I grab mascara I only pay attention to the formula when it applies to color and water fastness.  But there is a lot of science behind that formula! Lengthening mascara adds fibers to extend those blissful tips. Thickening has serums that add density. Honestly…you definitely should pay attention to what ingredients you are packing on your peepers. As I’ve mentioned a hundred times, makeup should make your skin glow and not add distress or be a health risk.

Enough about that because I’ll be bringing it up as a reminder later!

My favorite mascaras currently are:

·         Tarte’s Lights, Camera, lashes

·         Lancomes’ Hypnose Drama

·         Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant

·         Ulta’s Amped Lashes

It is really hard to narrow it down to just one because each offers something different. The Smoky Extravagant wand shape is hard to beat for an all around mascara. It is usually the first one I suggest to someone else. The formula is rich, thick and holds true. And it is easy to apply without looking like you put it on while riding a roller coaster. Perfect for the mascara novice!

 

 
 
It has bristles that are tightly packed which are going to add some volume. It is easy to build some length. You can purchase at Sephora or on the Makeup Forever website. Price: $24

Tarte’s Lights, Camera Lashes is my current daily wear. My one complaint is that it lacks the thickening power due to the bristles. (Notice how most everything comes down to that one trait? Hint…it is all the time.)

This does have the limitation of not being curved so you have to ensure that you use your eyelash curler properly. If you tell me that you don’t prep your lashes with an eyelash curler then I’m not certain we can continue our relationship.

You can purchase at: Tarte, Sephora and Ulta. $21.00

*If you purchase it on  3/26 from Ulta…it is only $10.00*

Just kidding! You’ll get one from me at Christmas. (Just don’t expect a high dollar one.)

Too Faced’s Better than Sex is PHENOMENAL. I love the formula, I love the shape of the brush and I love how my lashes look. My one complaint…it can go on too thick sometimes and you can wind up looking like you have those crappy fake Halloween lashes that are made from plastic. This is one brand that requires diligence when applying. You are definitely going to need to prep the mascara wand with removal of excess product and you’ll have to comb through your lashes to stop clumping. (It’s still worth it!)

Purchase at: Ulta, Too Taced, Sephora. Price: $23 *Get the Deluxe one from Ulta and you will only pay $12. It’s the “trial” size but there is a lot!

Lancome’s  Hypnose Drama: I got a sample from a purchase at Sephora and it may go on my “To Buy” list when the credit card goes down from my recent makeup purchases. This is marketed as an “Instant full body, volume mascara.” And it is an all around great product. I’m not a huge Lancome fan because I believe that they are often overpriced based on Brand name.

BUT…this mascara beats all others in the brush category. It is the perfect blend for volume, length and shaping. I love this wand!

Nab this at Sephora for $27.00 or you can visit any department store and they probably carry it.

Now for the dark horse of mascara, Ulta’s Amped Lashes. This is only making my list because I use it to separate my lashes and add that tiny bit of length. The formula is okay but I hate the rigidity of the brushes. They definitely feel plastic and hard. I can name several drugstore brands that are continuously making that mistake. Stop giving us something so hard! I get that it is about lash separation to lengthen but geez!

See how sparse the bristles are, how flat the shape? Use it as a separator and you’ll do fine but don’t go into it expecting to have those “amped” lashes because it doesn’t do that.

So there you go. It’s my favorite mascaras currently. The Tarte, Too Faced and Makeup Forever mascaras are pretty great and while they don’t give you the YouTube lashes (which you gals already know are just fake lashes? Right?), they do their job extremely well.

One minute before you jump off…I want to remind you, again, about the safety of your eyes. Please toss out those mascaras you’ve had sitting around for more than 3 months. The tubes are an absolute breeding ground and the wand is probably the only makeup brush in your arsenal that does not get cleaned daily or weekly!

If you are not sure you want to invest in a full size tube, go with samples or travel sizes. They cost less and let you experiment more.

Now it is your turn to tell me…what is YOUR favorite mascara and why?

Until we talk again, kats and kittens…MUAH!

Mascara: History, Science & the Magic Wand...

Mascara: History, Science & the Magic Wand

 

Hey All! Welcome back Kats and Kittens.

Today, let’s delve into those beautiful curtains to the windows of the soul, your eyelashes. I wanted to cover some of my current and even past, favorite mascara but when I pondered the subject I began to think about how much more information I could pass along. That being said…

Mascara has quite the history! Our earliest records regarding the first known documented uses take us back to 4000 BC. Ancient Egyptians used “kohl” as a way to protect themselves from those evil spirits that wandered all willy nilly around the place and they used it as decoration around the eyes. Some scholars believe it was also one of the earliest uses of sunglasses, but without the glasses. (The dark material rubbed beneath the eye helps glare and it is still used in this manner today!)

Ancient Egyptians used kohl to darken the eyes, eyebrows and their lashes. Their tools of the trade were pretty primitive though in comparison to what we have stashed in our beauty drawers now. Back then the ingredients were packed into pressed cake and then applied with a dampened brush.

Those ingredients? Uh yeah…charcoal, soot, honey, water, malachite and crocodile dung. Mmm mmm the smells of fragrant kohl crocodile poop from your local mascara dealer.  At least the brush was high quality though. Today we pay a pretty penny for real hair bristled brushes.

Our version of mascara didn’t arrive onto the scene until the 19^th century when Eugene Rimmel, a chemist, used a brand new creation called petroleum jelly to develop a new formula that was creamier. Still made a big mess though!

Much like rival movie studios that tend to produce similar movies at the same time (Armageddon vs. Deep Impact) a T.L. Williams was hard at work on perfecting his recipe for mascara too. His goal was better mascara for his darling sister, Mabel. Want to take a guess on the name he would eventually give his company? DING! DING! DING! We have a winner on computer number 3! Maybelline.

Let’s fast forward several decades to another intense rivalry between Elizabeth Arden (yes of that Elizabeth Arden) and Helena Rubinstein (not a well known name but you are about to start paying her homage). These ladies were single handedly on a mission to bring makeup mainstream. It would no longer be something looked down upon or brushed off as unnecessary on the fashion scene. They took the world and Europe by force. And as a result makeup grew in popularity.

Rubinstein was not content though and in 1957 she changed the game completely. Rubinstein had been hard at work on the problematic mascara. It was still being used in tins with rod brushes. It was incredibly messy. She worked to create a lotion like mascara she would then package in tubes. This eliminated the open tins and made it incredibly less likely to look like you’ve went to war in a Vaseline coal mine war. Later the mascara “rod” was replaced with the familiar wand shape we have today.

Now let’s look into the magic!!!

Just kidding. We are going to delve into the science, which I know will fascinate you just as much as it does me and because you want to know what is going on your face. You should always, always, ALWAYS know what is going on your body – especially your beautiful peepers!

Some of the most common ingredients found in all mascaras are:

·         carbon black (or in the case of brown mascaras it is iron oxides),

·         Oils: linseed, castor, eucalyptus, lanolin, turpentine, sesame

·         Waxes: paraffin, carnauba, beeswax

The actual ingredients change depending on brand and even the desired effect you want from a mascara. Water-resistant (there is no such thing as truly water proof) mascaras will often have dodecane. Non-water resistant will have water soluble ingredients.

The common ingredient all mascaras have is a stiffening agent and these could range from methyl cellulose, ceresin and gum tragacanth.

Lengthening/thickening mascaras have nylon and rayon fibers. Mascara brands that seemed so revolutionary with their fibers that took your lashes to extreme with the whole two step system? Yep…your favorite mascara had been doing that for decades. They just added in a shit load more fibers.

Speaking of shit…

Know that rumor that bat guano is in makeup, or rather that it is in the really expensive brands, or it was in makeup in the past? No it is actually a misconception due to a similar word. Guanine. That is the ingredient that many…okay probably like one or two affluent people made the mistake when reading the ingredients and then ran with the whole story. Guanine is actually an addictive for color that is taken from fish scales. You’re welcome. Mmm mmm…fishy fishy! (But when you think about it there was once poop in mascara but it was crocodile. No bats here!)

 

Now the stage is set for Part II, Return of the favorite mascaras. I promise that now we have the basics, the mystery, science and history out of the way we can now move on. Just remember! An educated consumer is an intelligent, safe wickedly beautiful diva!

 

Now go on kats and kittens...Be the Beauty in the Mirror and enjoy this day without worrying about poop :)

 

Often Imitated...Never Duplicated

Hey All!

I know I promised that the next post would be one about mascara but I felt that one about quality makeup should come first.

In this instance I'm not talking about how the makeup goes on your skin. I'm talking about the actual ingredients in the makeup. One of the biggest problems in the makeup industry is forgery. High end makeup brands are often targets for scam artists. And scam artists NEVER have your best interests in mind. They definitely are after money and they do NOT care about your health!

I love that we live in a global technological age where we can be informed shoppers. I love a good deal as much as the next gal or guy. And I'll be the first to admit that I've been scammed. I'm always looking for a good deal because makeup can be really expensive. Who legitimately wants to pay wholesale on a bottle of foundation that can run up near $75? What about palette's of eyeshadow around $60??

Nuts!

I recently did a makeup walk-thru with my husband and he nearly had kittens when he did a mental math tally of my makeup collection. His response, "Well this should last you a couple of years!"

"Uh...some may last several months but some you have to replace due to safety reasons." I had to explain that all makeup has an expiration date. Some, granted, have a much smaller expiration window and rightfully so. Mascara is the number 1! Ladies...if you have mascara over 3 months old, throw it out. You are playing Russian Roulette with your eyes. And you do not want those beautiful peepers to weep infection and become crusted over. And you DEFINITELY do not want to risk your eyesight! Here is a great link. (You can take an MD's word for it)

So back to shopping and expensive products. There are Apps left and right to help you be a savvy shopper. I have several that I use consistently. There are several websites that I use to save money. And I get some incredible deals. I recently got a kickass Coach in near new condition for $45. SCHWWING! Steal. Love it! I love saving money.

On the same token several months ago I was so super jazzed about snatching up Urban Decay's Naked Palette 2 at $20. Score! That's $30 cheaper than Sephora, Ulta and Urban Decay's website. It was way cheaper than Amazon too! I caught it off one of those Apps and even saw it on Bonanza.com where people sell stuff. Like an online flea market such as Depop, Top Hatter etc. (I also saw this on one of them too)

I got it in and it looked exactly like Maesin's. It had all the same colors. It was labeled the same. The only apparent difference to the naked eye, without touching the colors, was that the metal to the palette didn't feel the same, it was much thinner. The tin was a muted, washed out shade. The "real" one is pretty solid with a vibrant color. And the smudger/applicator was pretty crappy quality. I dismissed the applicator because, in general, most applicators that come with makeup tend to not be the greatest. (Most. Not all)

I couldn't wait to put it on. I did all the right skin prep. I put on my lotion and primer and started to sweep on color. It started to crumble and the shade barely showed up! Absolutely no pigment. I had to rub the color with my finger several times and swatch it on my inner arm to even get a good swipe.

I read through the ingredients and compared them to my other Naked Palette's and while it seemed to be the same...I knew it wasn't. Time for homework. After reading and watching several experts, I realized the truth. If it seems to good to be true in the makeup world...it probably is. I had a fake. And it was even worse because it was an eyeshadow.

Eye product fakes are the most dangerous. They are near a soft, porous entrance to your body covered by only a small membrane. The people that make these makeup don't care about your health. A recent study by the Staffordshire Scientific Services (They were analyzing 10 products bought online. Only 2 were real.) The ingredients found: high levels of copper, lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and dirt.

Yep not only dirt but deadly ingredients that could endanger your life. The problem is that this is a very wide spread problem. The trick is to buy from trusted sites. And I hate to say but EBay is not a trusted site.

So what can you do? As I mentioned, develop a great relationship with products. The more you know the brands you love, and the type of product you love, the better you know how to spot a fake. Some of the top brands that get fakes are: MAC, Urban Decay, Benefit, Younique, tarte. These are mid-range in expense and are what predominately run the makeup market so these are easy targets. High end stuff like Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel etc are not as replicated due to the complexity of their product design and their packaging design. (Hard to replicate shimmering beads in a glass bottle)

If you are shopping online look at reviews. I know that on eBay there are some sellers that pedal fake crap that have rave reviews. That's because they have some ignorant people that don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. You are NOT going to find a pot of MAC eyeshadow for $5. If you do then it is either used (used eyeshadow is dangerous...that's like sharing a tube of mascara with someone with eye herpes) or it is a fake.

If you can, look at packaging. Forgeries never look as good as the real thing. They are out to make a buck and spending the money on packaging cuts into the bottom line. If you receive your product and it looks cheap...send it back. If you cannot get a refund then report them. Leave negative feedback. Protect your fellow makeup enthusiast! We have to stick together to protect each other for makeup scam artists out to make a quick buck at the expense of our health.

One last note. I've mentioned pigmentation a couple times now in a past blog and in this one. Forgeries and cheap makeup both have this in common. Cheap eyeshadow can often be just as bad for you as a forgery. It can have a lot of "filler" that is no muy bueno! Always just caution on anything that you put on your face. Take some time and do a little research. Ask around. You do a carfax on your car...do a makeup fax on your makeup.

Kisses my Kats and Kittens and you be the beauty in the mirror!