All posts tagged: swatches

Make That Face Monday: Easy Smokey Eye with NARS Duo in Dogon

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Hello everyone! Today, I have a very quick review on a NARS eyeshadow duo called Dogon, and I figured I could make it a tutorial for a super easy smokey eye, too. I told you, I’d try! 😀 So, first of all, Dogon is supposedly a limited edition NARS duo from the Summer 2011 collection, but I still see it for sale everywhere, including the NARS website. It has a metallic taupe shade with an icy green sheen, and a charcoal black shade. I rather like this duo; I think I’m a sucker for duochromes and different-sheeny shades. The quality is OK; the taupe is really, really pretty, but the charcoal matte may apply patchily on the lid without a base (cream shadow or primer), or if you try to blend it out too much. Still, layering the shades over each other creates a lovely effect. Look at that pretty shimmery, sheeny green in the Venn Diagram intersection of both shades. This is a really pretty duo that I think you can make a lot …

Quickie: Le Métier de Beauté Indelible Inks in Castalia and Artemis

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I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to things. Which is how I ended up with both colors of the Le Métier de Beauté Indelible Inks. These are great liquid liners with amazing colors: Artemis, which is a deep navy blue that has a little sheen to it, and Castalia which is a creamy, eggplant-y purple. I initially wanted to just get Artemis, but I can’t resist a pretty purple liner. The formula is a little thicker than I’m used to, definitely more creamy than liquid-y. Which I find kind of weird because the brush bristles are super duper thin and fine. I don’t know if the formula is to be blamed for this disaster: Or… if it’s just because of the brush’s super fine-ness. D: Now I have to heavily apply the formula to get the lines straight. I’ll try to apply it with a separate brush, though, but that just has “TOO MUCH EFFORT” written all over it. Still, it’s a beautiful color, don’t you think? Additionally, the formula is very long-wearing. To …

Lipstick Week, Day 3: How to Wear Red Lipstick & Other (Rather Vampy) Alternatives

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(This happened because I don’t have red lip liner and I don’t know how to count.) Hello everyone! I just wanted to first say thanks to everyone who’s been interacting with me on my current series, Lipstick Week! I’m trying to switch things up and make things a bit more interesting while featuring as many lipsticks as possible. Once again, thanks to Tellie for tagging me. 🙂 SO. We are at Day 3. I thought I would do this feature now (instead of after my “How to Make Your Lipstick Last Longer” post), just in time for the Manila screening of The Great Gatsby. When I think of the 1920s, I think of luscious jazz parties, flapper dresses and bubbly, fizzy drinks—and of course, red lipstick! I’ll tell you right away—red is not my color. I wish it was. Red lip lovers, like my friends Reggie, Abi, and Krysty, seem to cull some sort of magic confidence elixir from wearing red lipstick. AND I WANT THAT. Alas. I have always shied away from red, even …

First Shiro Cosmetics Purchase: The Tributes Collection & There and Back Again: A Hobbit Collection

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I first heard about Shiro Cosmetics from Jen of Barely Organized Chaos, when she posted her loose shadow inventory. And you know me—I’m a sucker for geeky things and aptly-named things. I literally buy shit (not literal shit) because of what they’re called. Shiro Cosmetics released two collections that I fell for—hook, line, and sinker. The older collection is called “The Tributes,” and it’s based on Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, which I love. The newer/newest one is called “There & Back Again,” and it’s based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” which I LOVE MORE. So I pretty much was headed to Mount Doom at this point. Still, I did manage to hold back, and didn’t purchase the entire collections. In hindsight, I kinda wish I did, but it’s always good to not be a total hoarder. A little background: Shiro Cosmetics is owned by Caitlin, who loves makeup and geeky things. Their products are vegan and 100% cruelty-free. As you can see from the picture above, it’s basically mineral makeup, though they do have …

Swatch Experiment: Goldy Purple Eyeshadows

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I was writing about the Le Métier de Beauté Melange de Colour Fashion Palette, when I noticed that one of the shades looked remarkably like one of the eyeshadows I already owned, MAC Trax. They had the same flecks of gold and purple base. I pulled it out to compare and decided to look at all my other shadows as well. These seemed to be the strongest contenders. From left to right: Laura Mercier’s African Violet. The gold is very strong in this shade. It was part of my Artist’s Palette for Eyes, which is Limited Edition, but you can buy this shade individually. Le Métier de Beauté’s Tapestry. This is very close to Trax, but it has a more opaque base. This is part of the Silk Road Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, which is Limited Edition. Le Métier de Beauté’s Ikat. This is actually more of a frosty plum-gold, with the gold infused in the base, rather than as a separate component/glitter element. This is part of the Silk Road Kaleidoscope Eye Kit, which is …

My MAC Haul Swatch-fest: Part II

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Hey all, So here’s the rest of the swatches from my MAC haul, on my part at least. I will ask my sister, Isabel, if I can borrow her stash and show you some swatches. We’ll see. Today, I have a paint pot, two eye kohls, three blushes, and five lipsticks, so it’s still exciting times over here at Softly Sometimes. To transition from Part I’s eyeshadow bonanza, let’s start with eye product swatches then go downwards on the face. Swatches from L-R: eye kohls in Teddy and Prunella, MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study and Rubenesque (for comparison) I didn’t think it would be possible, but I feel like I do love Bare Study as much as I love Rubenesque, though this swatch makes it look meh. Here’s a better one: The level of love I had for the Rubenesque made me think I didn’t really need or want another Paint Pot, but Bare Study is proving that to be false. I love both. As for the eye kohls, I haven’t tested wear time, …

My MAC Haul Swatch-fest: Part I

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Hello everyone! Today, I come bearing most of the swatches from my MAC haul, which caused quite a stir. I hope you all know that I am posting these items as a means to be informative and as a way to connect with other makeup-lovers. I don’t do it to brag or anything gross like that. Just saying! Here are some swatches. I’ve used most of what I got a few times, and I’m quite happy with what I’ve had a chance to use. If I’ve used a particular shade, I’ll note it down below, but if you were thinking of getting these shades, I hope my quick, little reviews can help you out. I’ll start with eyeshadows. These are the lighter neutrals in my palette. In the first row, we have Cork (muted golden brown, Satin), Quarry (soft muted plum-brown, Matte), and Malt (soft pinkish beige, Matte). These are fairly light, so I use them as a lid color, and sometimes I use Malt as a highlight. It’s also good for evening out the …