the Balm NUDE'tude Eye Shadow Palette

Hello Everyone,

I know this isn’t a new palette but it is new to me.  I never purchased the Urban Decay nude eye shadow pallets because I thought they were very expensive and looked a little too shimmery for me.  I like a little shimmer but not a lot.  I’ve wanted to purchase the Balm Nute’tude pallet for quite a while because I thought it was similar to the Urban Decay Naked pallets without as much shimmer... and was more affordable.  When I saw it on Hautelook for half the price of retail, I went for it! 

I am so impressed with this palette and am really enjoying it. It has great shades from soft to dark which can be used to create many looks. They are very pigmented shadows with a soft texture that apply and blend beautifully. 

Top row from left to right:

Sassy is a frosty white; Stubborn is peachy-pink; Selfish is a beautiful, shimmery taupe; Sophisticated is a shimmery bronze-brown; Sexy is a matte burgundy; Serious is a matte black.

Bottom row from left to right:

Snobby is a shimmery yellow. I love this color.  I dab a light layer of this on my eyelid and inner corner; Stand-offish is frosty pinkish color; Sultry is a matte medium tan-brown; Seductive is a gorgeous frosty brown – one of my favorites in the palette; Silly is a glittery red-brown and is my least favorite shadow in the palette; Sleek is a highly pigmented matte dark brown.

I like Stubborn and Stand-offish but they are almost the identical color so I find it odd that both are included in the palette.

My favorite look is Snobby on the lid and inner corner, Stand-offish or Stubborn in the crease and Seductive on the outer V.

Included with the palette is a double ended brush that’s not very good quality and I probably won’t ever use it.

I highly recommend this palette.  It’s retails for $36.00 but I bought it on Hautelook for $18.00.  If you want the palette and don’t want to pay full price, keep an eye on Hautelook (http://www.hautelook.com/) because they have a sale on The Balm products about every six months.

I hope you are having a beautiful day.

Take care,
Kat

Tarte Cosmetics - Call of the Wild Palette

When I saw this Tarte Call of the Wild eye shadow pallet on QVC, I didn’t hesitate to buy it.  I have the Tarte neutralEYES Eye Shadow Palette Volume II ( Tarte neutralEYES Eye Shadow Palette Volume II Review ) and I love it so I wanted a second Tarte palette for my collection.  All eye shadows are formulated without mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, phthalates and sodium lauryl sulfate. 

This pallet is a collectors, limited edition eye shadow pallet, featuring 8 full size shadows. 

They are encased in a spotted animal print patent leather-like packaging and includes a nice sized mirror.  

Colors from left to right: Jungle,(medium brown w/gold shimmer) Meow (gold/copper shimmer), Call (peach matte), Instinct (off white shimmer – lots of shimmer), Wild (Deep red-brown shimmer), Lynx (cool greyish beige matte), Primal (grey shimmer), Roar (blue/grey shimmer).

I think these colors are beautiful and would look nice on any skin tone.  As with all Tarte eye shadows, they are soft and velvety smooth and have good staying power.  My only complaints would be that the three colors on the left, Meow, Jungle and especially Call, aren't very pigmented.  I had to pick up a lot of shadow on my finger to get the colors to show on my skin for this swatch.  My other complaint would be that this kit did not come with a double ended brush like Tarte’s other palettes.  I really like their brushes!!  Overall though, I like the palette and think it would be a great addition to any collection.  I purchased mine at QVC for $36.00.  It is also available at Ulta.

Do you have the Call of the Wild palette?  What are your thought about it?

I hope you are having a wonderful day.

Take care,
Kat

Nail of the week - Maybelline Fall 2012 Nail Collection Boho Gold

I was at my neighborhood Walgreens on Saturday and walked by the Maybelline Fall 2012 Fashion Week Nail Collection display.  The colors were beautiful and I purchased two of them:  Boho Gold and Metal Icon.  Both are limited edition and retail around $4.00 (at Walgreens).


Metal Icon



Boho Gold

Boho Gold is a gold/green duochrome but only the gold shows up on the nails.  From what I’ve read online it is a dupe for the Chanel Peridot nail polish.  I can’t verify that because I don’t own the Chanel Peridot. 

This nail polish goes on very, very sheer and while you could get away with two coats, I recommend three to get the best color.  I have on three coats and a top coat.

Three coats and a top coat

I think Boho Gold is a nice polish to add to your collection but you might want to buy it soon because it’s a limited edition.

Have you purchased any of the Maybelline Fall 2012 Nail Collection? 

Hope you are having a great day.

Take care,
Kat