Happy October my cyber friends!

I know it's been October for a couple weeks now but it has reached peak Autumn aesthetic here in Upstate New York!

Anyway... welcome back to my little nugget of the internet. Today I bring to you a battle between two micellar waters. In the blue corner, the cult favorite Bioderma Sensibio H2O. In the red corner, the new comer (relatively new to the U.S.) Garnier Micellar Water (option 2). Bioderma has been around for a while and could be considered and more "high end" micellar water. Garnier's micellar water debuted in the states in the fall of 2015. It was available in the UK prior to that (from where I purchased my Garnier). Which one will reign supreme?

To test these products out, I did my makeup as usual and at the end of the day I took the makeup on one half of my face off using Bioderma and the makeup on the other half of my face off using Garnier. 

One of the main reasons I enjoy Bioderma is I was able to get a bottle with a pump. It was limited edition and they supposedly only come out with them a couple times per year. While the pump is a plus, it has little to no bearing on the product itself.

This product takes off makeup phenomenally. It got the vase majority of my mascara off - which is mainly what I judge any makeup remover on since it's such a pain to get off. Once my skin dried, it didn't feel as though there was any product on my skin. My BIGGEST annoyance with makeup removers is when they leave your skin oily. Back in the day, a lot of eye makeup removers were very oily on my eyes and then it would mess up my vision when it got in my eye and it would make my eyes water. Moral of the story, it was a hot mess. This product did not make my eyes feel any type of way. It wasn't greasy or oily or stinging or anything. Major points to Bioderma for this. Overall, I LOVE this micellar water. It is a phenomenal product. It is $16.90 for 500 mL (16.7 oz) on BeautyLish, so it isn't super pricey, but it is more expensive than Garnier. It'll cost you about $1.01 per ounce.

Similarly to Bioderma, Garnier's Micellar Water does take off makeup well; however, it's not as noticeable that it is taking the makeup off which implies it takes a little more work to remove the makeup. I did notice that there was some mascara residue on my lashes - more so than with the Bioderma. When the Garnier Micellar Water dried down on my skin, it did leave a slightly tacky residue. There was no oil or greasy feeling on my skin though which is a plus. The packaging on this is slightly underwhelming in comparison to the Bioderma. I've noticed with this kind of cap, rather that the pump, I tend to use more product. The site I purchased this on (FeelUnique.com) lists this for $4.62 for 400 mL (13.5 oz), while at Ulta this retails for $8.99 per mL. So depending on where you purchase, you're paying anywhere from $0.34 to $0.67 per ounce.

Overall, both products get the job done. I lean more towards the Bioderma. This is because it takes off my mascara better, leaves absolutely no residue, and has a pump - the pump causes me to use less product and therefore go longer without repurchasing. If you're on a budget, definitely go for the Garnier Micellar Water as it is comparable Bioderma. And hey, you never know, you might just prefer Garnier to Bioderma and completely disagree with me!

As always, if there are any products or topics you'd like to see discussed, let a girl know!

Until next time...

XOXO

- K

Welcome back to this space!

Today I bring to you a review of the NEW Master Palette by Mario from Anastasia Beverly Hills. As of 7pm est time on October 9, 2016, the palette is still available on Ulta.com and Sephora.com. The palette did sell out on the Anastasia Beverly Hills website and they said they WILL NOT be restocking as it is limited edition (which I don't know why because it's more beautiful than the Modern Renaissance palette - but that's just my opinion).

 Let me tell you the struggle bus I road to get this palette. I should have just held off because it would have caused less stress. I was so nervous that it would sell out and I wouldn't be able to get this little nugget of perfection.

On September 28th, I got home from work and furiously checked every Anastasia Beverly Hills page and hashtag relating to this palette. I could find ZERO information on the time of the release. Of course, this was strategic by Anastasia Beverly Hill to try and prevent their website from crashing. And even though I knew that since I lived on the east coast and the palette wouldn't go live on their website at midnight on the 29th, I stayed up past midnight. Just past midnight I called it a night and decided to go to bed (with an alarm set for 2:55am - that would be 5 minutes before midnight on the 29th on the west coast). 

In the middle of the night, I woke up. I had slept through my alarm and when I checked my clock through sleep heavy eyes, it was a few minutes after 4am. I thought just for giggles I'll scroll through Instagram. Several Instagram accounts I follow had posted that the palette was live - it went live at 4am est and 1am pst. I never shot out of bed so quickly in my life. I grabbed my laptop and tried to get on the website. The page wouldn't load and in my half asleep state it took me a few minutes to figure out that the site had crashed. Any normal person would go to bed and try again the next day. Nope. Not me. I spent the next hour with four tabs open in my internet browser just to purchase this palette. Just after 5am I had secured my palette. I received my confirmation email that day and figured it would ship by the weekend. 

Monday October 3rd rolled around and I still had not received a shipping email. I thought this may be because the launch was so huge - a slight delay that most companies would address. Anastasia Beverly Hills was silent. I scrolled through several Master Palette by Mario posts on Instagram and saw several comments that echoed my own thoughts along with several alarming comments. Various customers who had purchased the palette and received a confirmation email had had their orders mysteriously cancelled. Needless to say this worried me. I contacted Anastasia Beverly Hills regarding my delayed shipment (I only just received a reply after my palette finally got delivered). That night, just before midnight, I received a shipping confirmation and all my order cancellation worries were vanquished. My palette was delivered a few days later that same week.

Let me tell you, this palette is even more beautiful in person. I love that this palette has some warm tones and cool tones. This palette is so much more accessible for every day looks - more so than the Modern Renaissance Palette (of course I'm not one for red-ish eye shadows). These shadows wear so beautifully. They blend impeccably. I did my eye shadow in the mid morning and it had not budged or smudged 12 hours later (without an eye shadow primer). 

The eye shadow look I chose was one that I saw on a video a YouTuber I follow had posted. Jamie Paige posted her September Favorites video last week and when I saw the eye look she did with the Master Palette by Mario, I just knew I had to recreate it. 

To create this look I followed Jamie's video (go check it out if you prefer watching an eye shadow tutorial). First I used the shade ISABEL as a transition color in my crease and upper crease with a fluffy blending brush. Then I took VIOLETTA into my crease with a more precise blending brush to deepen the crease. I then took BROOKLYN all over my lid with a flat shade-er brush. Then I sprayed MAC's Fix Plus on a clean flat shade-er brush to intensify 5TH AVE and placed it in the center of my lid and blended out the edges with my finger. Next, I took HOLLYWOOD and placed it on my inner corner and brow bone. Finally, I took BROOKLYN on a definer brush on my lower lash line and smudged it out with a bit of ISABEL on a pencil brush. 

I know this sounds like a lot of steps but it is actually super quick and everything blends so easily that anyone could do it (I'm living proof of that sentiment). I cannot wait to try out more looks with this palette, especially for fall! If there are any other products you'd like me to try out, leave a comment below! Until next time...

XOXO

- K

Long time, no talk.

I'm sorry I have been MIA on here for a few months. Summer was crazy with work and everything, so I had to put some personal projects to the side. But with the start of the new month (and my all time favorite season), I thought I'd get back to doing the things I love.

So welcome to my review of the NEW Lorac Mega PRO 3 Palette!

Oh god, this palette. I am a sucker for packaging. So this palette with the rose gold lettering is beyond aesthetically pleasing. When I opened the box and saw the outside, I knew the array of shadows inside would be just as glorious - and let me tell you, I was right.

I love the neutral shades in the palette with a few deeper shades and the occasional pop of color such as pomegranate. With fall being my favorite season, the names of the shadows made me want to buy the palette even more (I told you, I'm a sucker for packaging). I mean come on: Brown Sugar, Cider, Bark, Walnut, Pecan, Hickory, Sequoia? YAS.

I had never purchased any products by Lorac before so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I've heard nothing but good things about their shadows so I figured this limited edition palette was the perfect first purchase. I am a platinum member at Ulta so I was able to grab this before it officially went on sale. 

When I first reached for this palette, I was immediately attracted to the plum tones - which happens to make for the perfect fall eye look.

For this look, I started out by taking some of the shade TAN throughout my crease and a bit higher as a transition shade. Then I deepened the crease by adding VIOLET GRAY. I then placed ROSE QUARTZ all over my lid. The look felt a bit incomplete so I deepened my outer v with EGGPLANT. I also took EGGPLANT on the outer half of my lash line and used PECAN on the inner half. Add SNOW to the inner corner of your eye to brighten it, top it off with mascara and you are done!

I added a berry toned lip to tie the look together and I felt thoroughly prepared for Autumn in a comfy sweater!

I have to say I am in love with Lorac's Mega PRO 3 Palette. The colors are perfect for Autumn and the quality is amazing. The shadows blend incredibly well and I appreciate the layout of the palette as well; the top two rows are mattes and the bottom two rows are shimmers. If this is a color palette that is right up you alley, snag it before it's gone. If not, check out any of the other Lorac palettes - you can't go wrong with their formulation.

If there are any products or looks you'd like me to try out, just let me know!

Until next time...

XOXO

- K