Review: Eylure Vegas Nay Lashes in Grand Glamor

Hello Loves!

Recently, I saw that Eylure released a new series of lashes in collaboration with Vegas Nay, a makeup artist most popular on Instagram (5M+ followers), and one particular pair caught my eye. My favorite lashes of all time are the style ala Koko Lashes Koko, House of Lashes Pixie Luxe, etc and the style "Grand Glamor" seemed very similar to this style of lash. I bought a couple of pairs of Grand Glamor and today I will be reviewing them for you!

PACKAGING

The lashes are contained in pretty bulky packaging with a picture of the makeup artist on the front and a clear window to see the lashes. On the back of the box, there are pictures and instructions on how to apply false lashes. In the box, you get the lashes, which are glued on the corners to hold them in place, lash glue, and a little instruction pamphlet that has the instructions in other languages. The sides have stickers keeping them closed and to also indicate if someone has tampered with the box.

I think that Eylure could of majorly downsized with the size of the packaging because they could of kept the glue and pamphlet under the lash tray. The size of the packaging makes it a lot harder to travel with or requires you to transfer the lashes to another container. 

Lashes pre-trim

Here are what the lashes look after cutting them down to size:

Lashes post-trimming. About a 1/2 cm was cut off each lash.

Let's see how these lashes perform....

After the jump.

Video Tutorial: Simplest Smokey Eye EVER!

Hello Loves!

So, the other day I did this really simple smokey eye to test out the brushes I received from CDJapan and it turned out beautiful. I figured since it looked so good yet it was simple and quick, it would make perfect material for a new video tutorial!

If you enjoyed the video, why not subscribe to my channel? I upload tutorials on the odd occasion :)

Until next time,
Have a beautiful day!
-Elle

CDJapan Haul featuring Chikuhodo, Koyudo, and Mizuho Brushes with First Impressions and Comparisons

Hello Loves!

Recently, I have been wanting to improve and build up my makeup brush collection. This all started whenever I got my first Chikuhodo brushes (Z-4 & Z-10) for my birthday, and they have turned my world around. They are extremely soft and apply makeup beautifully. As a graduation present, my boyfriend was so kind to help me with this makeup brush collection improving quest and placed an order of several brushes I wanted to try from CDJapan. CDJapan is a site that sells a huge variety of makeup brushes as well as other Japanese goods. Also, prepare for a long and picture heavy post. 

  

CUSTOMER SERVICE, SHIPPING, ETC

The only customer service experience I have with CDJapan is emailing them with a question concerning a promotion. I have not received a reply to said email and wished they did email me back. However, it was not a pressing issue so I did not send the email again. So take this tid bit of my experience how you want.

I ordered from CDJapan on June 9th and opted to get the EMS shipping option. This option is one of the faster and more expensive options and includes tracking and insurance. Since two of my items had a longer process time (8-13 days), I expected a bit of a wait before they sent it out. They shipped out my order June 19th, and I received it in my mailbox June 23rd. This was very fast shipping considering it came from half way across the world. Once opening the packaging, everything was bubble wrapped very well to ensure no damage to the products in their long journey. Very, very impressed with the shipping and packaging, and I will most definitely be purchasing again. 

Just a note but there rewards system is really good. You receive 3% points on every item that you purchase and if you reach certain dollar amounts, you get bonus points. You can also earn extra points by filling out customer surveys sent to you or if asked to review the products you received. These points seem to build up pretty quickly because I am already at ~2500 points and 1 point equals 1 yen off your next purchase.

Continue reading for all the goodies!

Review: Fyrinnae Liquid Matte Lipsticks

Hello Loves!

Today I have a makeup review, specifically a liquid lipstick! For once, I am not reviewing lashes. False lashes are relatively easy to review and I find that makeup is more difficult because it requires more time to test. Lashes are also probably easier to review because I have done it so many times. Time to welcome change :)

Today, I will be reviewing Fyrinnae Liquid Matte Lipsticks. The three colors, Warp Speed, Volcanic, and Desire are in newer packaging and what I also presume is a new formula. The other three colors, Wizardry, Kitten, and Graffiti are in older packaging and an older formula purchased on 3/2015.

All photos are unedited (minus cropping and watermarking) to best represent the color unless otherwise noted. Pictures are taken with a Canon Rebel T5i and a 5400K fluorescent ring light.

I have purchased all the products being reviewed.  All opinions are my own and I was not paid to say anything in this post.

PACKAGING
The newer packaging has a double walled tube with a black cap and a doe foot applicator, and contains 5 mL (~0.17 oz) of product. The older packaging has a plastic tube with a silver cap and a doe foot applicator, and contains 9 mL (~0.33 oz) of product.

Below shows the packaging differences:

Packaging comparison: Left is old, right in new

New packaging

Old packaging

Yes, it leaks

Look how much bigger the opening is on the older packaging, its HUGE. I can see the product!

While I really enjoy the old packaging containing more product (better price to oz ratio: $12.50 for 0.33 oz), I significantly like the newer packaging over the old. The newer packaging feels a lot sturdier because a harder plastic is used compared to the old packaging. I also feel the new packaging helps with using less product because the stopper is a lot better with the new tube. With the old packaging, a lot of product (and I mean A LOT) would clog up on the applicator and you would have to scrap excess off every time. Even then, you could not prevent the wand having tons of product. The older packaging is definitely not as travel friendly either (I swear I remember product leaking out of the old packaging once...). Big two thumbs up on the packaging improvement!

Read on for swatches and the review!

Some of my more recent looks/FOTDs/EOTDs

Hello Loves,

It has been a while since I have done any sort of blog post. I have been spending a lot of time traveling since graduating college and haven't had the time or proper equipment to do any sort of tutorial or review. I thought to do a different post showcasing some of the looks that I have done recently. For any of those who follow me on my Instagram, you have most likely seen these. I usually keep looks to my Instagram but thought I would share on here for a change.

All the looks will include a product list to what I used. I will try my best to remember them to the best of my ability. If there is anything you want a tutorial on, leave a comment down below.

Keep on reading to see the looks and products I used!

Review: Lena Lashes in Tina (from the Pin-Up Girl Collection)

Hello Loves!

Time to tackle one of Lena Lashes collection boxes. Today, I will be wearing one of the four styles out of their Pin Up Collection, specifically the style called Tina. This style jumped out to me because it reminds me a bit of one of my favorite lashes, Koko Lashes in Koko.

These lashes were sent as a press sample for possible review consideration. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to say anything in this post.

PACKAGING

This collection comes in a magnetic black and red polka dot box with gold hearts that have the company name and names of the makeup artists who collaborated for this collection. The back of the box has the social media information of the company as well as the makeup artists. 

Within this box is the name of each lash on the top half and the bottom half contains the trays for each individual lash. A ribbon is attached to the bottom of the box to easily remove the trays. I found that the trays in this box are not secure and will easily come out on their own. This is definitely an unwelcome change compared to the boxes for a single pair of lashes.

The lashes I will be reviewing are on the bottom left.

Lena Lashes Tina close-up

Read on for the nitty-gritty about the lashes!

Video Tutorial: Budget Prom Makeup featuring Indie Makeup

Hello Loves!

I figured I would do something a little different from what I usually do and that is something neutral with winged liner. This video tutorial features indie makeup products, which are relatively cheap to get, and makes this look budget friendly. I'm not sure what the typical prom look looks like but I will call this a prom look.

If you enjoyed the video, why not subscribe to my channel? I upload tutorials on the odd occasion :)

Until next time,
Have a beautiful day!
-Elle

Tutorial: Dawn Eyes Cosmetics Blue-Green and Purple Smokey Eye

Hello Loves!

I got some requests for a tutorial on this look I posted to Reddit and my Instagram. So, this post will show you how to do that look.

Here is the final look!

For those wondering, the blush is Hello Waffle Cosmetics June Bug and lips are Performance Colors Rumor lightly applied. 

Anyways,

Tutorial after the jump!

Review: Koko Lashes in Misha

Hello Loves!

Yes, I am still reviewing Koko Lashes back from when I ordered on Black Friday but this is the last pair of lashes I ordered from back then! Today, I am reviewing Koko Lashes Misha.

PACKAGING

Same as the Foxy, Ariel, Risque, Koko, Iris, Bella, and Goddess style. The packaging is thin, non-bulky, and quite cute. The name of the lash on the back of the box and the tray of the lashes. 

Let's see how these lashes perform....

After the jump.

Swatches: Femme Fatale Cosmetics Mysterious Fortune Collection and February COTM

Hello Loves!

It's been a while since my last blog post. I have been really busy with my 30 day makeup challenge that I am currently doing on my Instagram. It is challenging for the fact that I have to post 30 different makeup looks in 30 consecutive days! I made a calendar for the challenge I like to call "March Makeup Madness" and I am getting close to the end. However, the most challenging days are the last 3 days I have, which I believe is mythical creature, horror, and anything SFX. When I am done with that, I can really get back to blogging and possibly make a Youtube video. Maybe make a video...

Today, I got the Femme Fatale Cosmetics Mysterious Fortune collection and February Color of the Month to swatch for you guys!

These eyeshadows were sent as a press sample for swatching and possible review consideration. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to say anything in this post.

My previous experiences with Femme Fatale as well as swatches of some of their other eyeshadows can be found here.

Product photos and swatches after the jump!

Video Tutorial: How I Do My Brows aka Detailed Brow Tutorial

Hello Loves!

I figured I do another basics video and show you how I do my brows! I get several comments about my brows so I figured I show you the "secret" to how I do them. They are done a bit differently to how people typically do their brows.

If you enjoyed the video, why not subscribe to my channel? I upload tutorials on the odd occasion :)

Until next time,
Have a beautiful day!
-Elle

Review: Koko Lashes in Goddess

Hello Loves!

Yes, I am still reviewing Koko Lashes back from when I ordered on Black Friday. I'm slow, I know but that just means I'm really meticulous with this. Just wanna make sure you are getting a good review. Today, I am reviewing what I would say is one of the more popular styles, if not the most popular, Goddess. This is the famous House of Lashes Iconic dupe and it is pretty much dead on dupe for those wondering. 

Let's see how these lashes perform....

After the jump.

Indie Spotlight: Femme Fatale Cosmetics Eyeshadow Swatches and Looks

Hello Loves!

I am very excited to be trying a new brand, Femme Fatale Cosmetics! I have heard many things about Femme Fatale and one of them being that they make amazing duochrome eyeshadows. They are an Australian brand of cosmetics and sell makeup but are more well known for their nail polish. I have always wanted to try them because of the talk about them. However, I have never committed to buying mainly because shipping from Australia intimidates me a little bit. I now have a little experience from them so I won't be as scared to order in the future.

These eyeshadows were sent as a press sample for swatching and possible review consideration. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to say anything in this post.

SHIPPING

I received notification of the items shipping out on Jan 28th. I live on the east coast of the US and received the items on February 11th. The items took 10 business days to ship, which is the normal time of shipping from Australia to the US according to Google.

PACKAGING

All of the items came in a bubble mailer and were packaged in a neon green drawstring bag. I also got a lollipop, which may or may not have been gone by the time I was done taking product photos. All the mini and full size jars came in shrink wrap and then had a seal on the inside preventing products from leaking aka what I like to call the "sifter sticker". Just an FYI but two of the 4 larger sizes I received had the sifter sticker partially removed but the shrink wrap remained undamaged so no product leaked from the jar.

Neon bag! SO BRIGHT.

Sample baggies, 3 minis, and 1 full size

The shrink wrap

Better picture of the shrink wrap

The sifter sticker!

More photos, swatches, and two looks after the jump!

Indie Spotlight: Performance Colors Lipstick Swatches

Hello Loves!

I thought recently how there are many fabulous brands that don't really get a lot of spotlight. We all know about the big brands that Sephora and Ulta carries but what about the small guys? That's where we come to indie makeup companies.

Indie makeup companies are often operated by a small number of people and I have started to dabble into it a couple of years ago. I have been hooked every since I purchased and loved what I got from Shiro Cosmetics. Since then, I have purchased from many other companies and now, I want to show off what I got to the world. Today, I will be swatching some lipsticks that my IMAM exchange partner got me from Performance Colors.

As of the time of the post, the shop is closed. Sad face :(

Swatches after the jump!

Tutorial: Berry Valentines Day Look featuring Hello Waffle and Dawn Eyes

Hello Loves!

Ermergerd. I got two indie makeup orders on the same day! It was pretty exciting to arrive to two packages once getting home, and it was actually a little overwhelming (I may have bought a lot...). I got a lot of stuff from the Hello Waffle Cosmetics anniversary sale and then got the entire sample set of Dawn Eyes Cosmetics Spearl Matte Collection. I have heard much about Hello Waffle and glad to do this tutorial today with many of their eyeshadows! I also used one of the Dawn Eyes matte eyeshadows and really enjoyed using it; I got a recommendation to try these matte shadows from a user on reddit named daisyismydog and really glad to have finally pulled the trigger!

Ok, short story about me being scared of trying Hello Waffle. I have heard lots and lots about them but never tried them because they had so many shimmery shadows. The camera I had before my Canon would make a lot of my shimmery shadows look like garbage when photographed. I would always lean away with anything from shimmer because it just did not look good. Well, my fear was overcame by my new camera because it really captures makeup well and shimmery shades actually look pretty good. No, they do look good. And then they had the anniversary sale... and life digresses.

Anyways, here is the final look!

Tutorial after the jump!