Sleek I-Divine Ultra Mattes pt. 1: V1 Brights

 

I LOVE Sleek!!! I know they are considered a drugstore brand overseas, but they have some of the best products... PERIOD! I often find myself reaching for their palettes over my MAC, MUFE and Inglot shadows because the quality is just that good. The only thing I don't particularly care for is the shipping price to the USA ($13), but that's just because I've gotten used to free shipping for darn near everything!

Anyhoo! I picked up both of the new Ultra Mattes palettes before seeing any swatches based off the fact they've never done me wrong before, and I've got to say I'm glad I did. I love matte shadows, but honestly, they are not the easiest to work with. But these Ultra mattes by Sleek are actually pretty creamy and are easily blended (without the washout effect). There is a bit of fallout from several colors in both palettes, and I've worn with and without primer and have experienced NO creasing. I will say that the V2 Darks palette has the best pigmentation overall, even though I had to build up the black ALOT to get the swatch (more on that later)... anyone else have that issue?

But enough of my rambling, here's what you came here for in the first place... swatches! Enjoy.

Sleek I-Divine Ultra Mattes Palette V1 Brights

** All swatches done dry WITHOUT base/primer **

Part TWO: V2 Darks coming soon...

-Miss Brina

Quick Rave and Giveaway update!

They done went and messed up now! lol

I got my order from Inglot this week, and I have been in absolute makeup bliss since tearing open my box like it was my "birfday!!!!" I picked up a few foundations (two of which were obviously too dark and will be going back... along with the next item), a pressed powder, a lipstick, 2 concealers and 4 gel liners.

I have been waiting for this company for my whole life LMAO... but really, I am so smitten with the quality and range of these products. The gel liners... how should I put this, if they were a man... I'd marry them! They are sooooo creamy and soft, pigmented, easy to apply AND I have found them to have great staying power once set. My latest obsession, I will most likely pick them all up at some point.

In depth review, with pics and swatches coming soon!

Also, I've enjoyed reading your giveaway coments... keep 'em coming! Remember, you have until 11:59 PST on the 31st to enter!

RAVE & REVIEW: Moroccan Oil Hydrating Cream & C. Booth Apricot Oil Lotion

While we really don't get a true winter her in CA, this time of the year does terrible, terrible things to my skin! And since I've had my child, my skin just seems to laugh at most lotions and oils that I apply... it's getting to be a little embarrassing lol I mean, within 10-15 minutes of moisturizing after a shower my skin looks like it's never even heard of lotion before... very sad. But I just so happened to be browsing the aisles at my local Rite Aid and found the last C.Booth's Firming Apricot Oil Lotion on the shelf and quickly snapped it up. Why, you ask? Not because I'd heard great reviews, because I hadn't. And not because it was some sort of sale, because it wasn't. I simply love the brand, as I use the Green Apple Microderm Scrub to exfoliate, and figured since that works so well (and there was only ONE left) I might as well give it a go. And a pat on the back to me for this purchase, because it is my salvation!!! No matter when or how I apply this lotion, is sinks into my skin, leaving it smooth & supple. I can't really attest to the "firming" capabilities of this product since I don't really need it yet, but I can say the light citrus fragrance is soooooooooooo delicious! It's not greasy at all, and for around $6, I WILL be going back to stock up on bottles, since this is the only thing that has been able to combat this dry winter skin of mine.

I also was on the prowl to find a moisturizing, yet fairly natural product to use on my child's hair for styling purposes, and I was directed by a saleswoman at Planet Beauty to Moroccan Oil's Hydrating Styling Cream. Even though I was reluctant to pick up a $32 hair product for a 6 month old, I broke down and bought it... since nothing is too much for my baby ;-) And I LOVE IT!!! First, it smells AMAZING! It has such a clean hair smell to it, and it truly is moisturizing, without feeling heavy or greasy on the hair. I've even begun using it on my hair daily to style and lay down any flyaways.  This is a MUST HAVE AT ALL TIMES product as far as I am concerned. I'm still tempted to try Miss Jessies Curly Pudding (for myself), as I've heard it is great for us curly haired folks.

If anyone has tried Miss Jessies or knows of any other products for curly hair (think Alicia Keys), please leave me a comment. I'm always on the hunt for a good hair product.

Sugarpill... taking over the world! Review w/PICS

I recently placed my 1st order with Amy at Sugarpill after seeing a few great reviews about the brand. First off, there is soooooo much detail and thought put into the brand, imaging and product quality!!! The box itself was stamped in the lower lefthand corner with the sugarpill cat logo (so cute). The actual products were carefully wrapped in bright pink tissue paper, which follows the basic packaging color scheme. Both the actual product AND the box it comes in are decorated gorgeously. I picked up a 4 shadow palette (mirrored) as well as 2 single shadows... and let me tell you... I was PLEASANTLY surprised to see how HUGE the shadows are. They are bigger than a MAC shadow... about the size of a MUFE single shadow (if not a tad larger). Color intensity is great! What you see is what you get. The eyeshadows apply very even and creamy, not at all chalky and would blend well. A neat feature of the palette is the product names and colors are printed on the back so there is no confusion AND it has a magnetic closure so you don't have to worry about it popping open or damaging the shadows trying to get it open. The clasp on the single shadows closes tightly and was very easy to open and close, and has a cute little "tattoo" detail on the clear flip lid. 

Overall, I LOVE Sugarpill!!!! Prices are great, cheaper than MAC and MUFE ($12 for shadows, $34 for palettes), yet you get more product... and the color payoff is AMAZING, as you can see in the pictures below (swatches were done dry WITHOUT primer or base). Have you tried Sugarpill yet? Tell me what you think about their products.

Eyeshadow/Palette Boxes(front)

Palette shadows: Love+, Flamepoint, Poisen 

Plum & Buttercupcake

Single Shadows: Midori & Tako

Back of single shadows

Back of actual palette

Palette & Shadows (back view)

Palette & Shadows (front view)

Swatches!!!! No primer/base