2018 was a fun year for makeup, I experimented with new products this year from a range of brands. Surprisingly, the products I tried for the first time were the ones that impressed me the most. These products became staples in my makeup routine. Most of the products that I discovered this year weren’t necessarily new to the makeup market but they were new to me. Without further ado, let’s dive into my favourite makeup discoveries of 2018.
Urban Decay: On The Run Palette in (Shortcut) Review
Urban Decay never fails to grab my attention with their eyeshadow palettes. Lately, I’ve been trying to add functional palettes with lower shade counts to my collection. For that reason, I was beyond pumped when I saw the On The Run palettes announced. I had a hard time choosing which of the three new On the Run palettes to pick up – (I wanted them all). In the end, the rust and rose tones were speaking to me so I settled on Shortcut.
Continue reading “Urban Decay: On The Run Palette in (Shortcut) Review”
Christmas Haul: Huda Beauty, Urban Decay + the Balm
Christmas 2018 has come and gone – luckily for me that means I have a few new palettes in my collection to play with. I’m extremely lucky to have brothers who are willing to buy me makeup and they made some good choices (I wrote a wish list). I had three new palettes under the tree this year! I’m stoked to finally try out Huda Beauty and add to my mountain of Urban Decay palettes. 🎄🎁✨🎅🏻
Huda Beauty Emerald Obsession – This pocket-sized palette packs a massive green punch! I’ve had my eye on this palette for a while and I was so happy to receive it for Christmas. I have light brown eyes, so I find green shades really pop on me. Brands rarely release green shadows, let only an entire palette offering a variety of greens with different finishes. The shades didn’t swatch particularly well but I found they applied well to my eyelid. I’ll be doing a full review of this palette once I’ve played with it more so stay tuned for that soon. Check out my full review here.
Urban Decay Naked Heat – I’m one step closer to my goal of owning every palette in the Naked line! I was on the fence about buying Naked Heat for myself but I’m so glad it was under the tree this year! The packaging of Naked Heat is so beautiful and looks so stylish compared to my older Naked palettes.
I’m late to the party but all the hype seems true with this one! The shadows are an improvement on the Naked formula for sure. All the shadows swatched beautifully, though some of the darker shades were dryer in texture. Some shades do look similar in the pan but when swatched or applied I can see the differences in them. I recently purchased the Naked Petite Heat (review here Urban Decay: Naked Petite Heat Review) when it was 50% off and a lot of the shades in Naked Heat are nearly identical. The quality seems awesome but I definitely have very similar shades in other palettes.
The Balm Foiled Again – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m a huge sucker for packaging. The Balm does unique and cute concepts better than almost any other brand. The detail and thought that went into the Foiled Again palette is fantastic! I love that the outside looks like a comic book and the inside looks like a newspaper. Even the shade names tell a story! Each row has a little narrative being told using the shade names. I just love when brands are creative with their presentation it makes using the palette that much more fun.
The Foiled Again palette contains eight foiled shadows and four mattes. The foiled shadows are gorgeous and the mattes are perfect for my skintone. I used this palette for my Christmas day look. The shadows I used performed blended well and lasted for 8+ hours without fading on me. I can’t wait to get more use out of this crime fighting palette. Check out my full review here.
I love the products I received this Christmas. All three of these palette were things that I really wanted to try for different reasons. I love eyeshadow more than any other makeup product and I’m always so excited to add to my collection. Here’s hoping Santa is as good to me next year as he was this year! 🎅🏻🤩
To view other products I purchased this holiday season, please see the links below:
Wander Beauty: Wandress Chill Palette Review
Introducing the Wandress Chill palette from Wander Beauty. Just looking at this palette gives me cool, winter vibes. The majestic mountain range on the cover of Wandress Chill looks as pretty and serene as the shades inside. This is my first purchase from Wander Beauty – the brand name alone caught my eye as a serial traveller. I thought I would give this enchanting, travel inspired brand a shot.
Continue reading “Wander Beauty: Wandress Chill Palette Review”
ABH Ride or Die Brow Duo Review: Upgrading My Brow Game
I was meandering around in my local Sephora when I noticed a value set I hadn’t seen online yet – the ABH Ride or Die Brow Duo set. I’ve always wanted to try out Anastasia brow products but I couldn’t convince to buy something my plethora of brown eyeshadows and an angled brush could do. So when I eyed this set at only a $33.00 CAD price-tag – I was on it like glitter on glue!
Continue reading “ABH Ride or Die Brow Duo Review: Upgrading My Brow Game”
Urban Decay: Naked Petite Heat Review
Urban Decay’s Naked Petite Heat has completed my Naked Basics collection! This little fireball was on sale at Sephora for 50% a few weeks back and I decided to pick it up. Who can resist an Urban Decay palette priced at only $18.00 CAD – I certainly can’t. This mini Naked Heat is packed with shades to support any warm, fiery eye look.
Too Faced Gingerbread Spice Review: Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice
Trust Too Faced to release cuteness overload for their 2018 holiday collection. The Gingerbread Spice palette is one of the hottest releases of the holiday season. Nothing says the holidays are here like a gingerbread cookie and Too Faced is channeling that joyful energy with this release. Let’s see what’s inside this holiday themed palette!
Continue reading “Too Faced Gingerbread Spice Review: Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice”
bareMinerals Ethereal Nudes: 6 Piece Neutral Lip Set
bareMinerals Ethereal Nudes is a 6 piece set featuring a variety of neutral shades and finishes. This is my first experience with bareMinerals lip products and I gotta say first times a charm with this set! I love the variety this set provides while keeping all the shades everyday wear friendly. Most lip sets include at least one bold shade I’ll never wear so I was happy Ethereal Nudes keeps it all neutral. 💄
Continue reading “bareMinerals Ethereal Nudes: 6 Piece Neutral Lip Set”
IPSY: November 2018 Glam Bag
I received my monthly bag of makeup mystery – my November IPSY bag is here! I loved the design of the bag I received this month but I wasn’t nearly as impressed with the contents. I wouldn’t have purchased any of these products for myself – but I’ll give them a try for science reasons! 👩🏼🔬 💄
Naked Cherry: Purchase or Pass?
Over the years, I’ve collected a small museums worth of Urban Decay products. Myself like so many other makeup enthusiasts got my start in high end makeup with the original Naked Palette. I currently own 5 of the 6 previous Naked palettes. The more recent additions to the Naked Collection haven’t excited me but my desire to complete my set is strong. Should I cave to my desire to buy Naked Cherry and collect them all?
IPSY: October 2018 Glam Bag
I finally received my monthly dose of makeup mystery – my October Ipsy bag arrived! This was the best assortment of products I’ve received in an Ipsy bag for months! I got a bag loaded with five products I will actually use. I loved the design of the actual bag this month (the last few have been kind of blah).
Anastasia Beverly Hills: Norvina Palette Review
The Anastasia Beverly Hills, Norvina Palette is a cotton candy hued dream. The latest entry into ABH’s permanent line contains vibrant pinks, purples, along with functional neutrals. Using the colours in the palette I can’t help but feel like a shiny, purple, amethyst queen!
Too Faced Tickled Peach Review: The Palette That Smiles Back
Too Faced Ticked Peach Palette is the cutest little peach on the makeup market. This limited edition, little sister to the Sweet Peach palette is so adorable just looking at it makes me feel all warm, fuzzy and ready for a peach look.
Tickled Peach was one of the few Holiday 2018 palettes that caught my attention. Most brands released recycled versions of the same packaging and shades we see every year. Too Faced decided to mix it up and put out something unique and painfully adorable. The little blushing peach on the outer packaging with the embossed peaches makes Tickled Peach irresistibly appealing. 🍑
Continue reading “Too Faced Tickled Peach Review: The Palette That Smiles Back”
Kayla Collects Palettes 