Ariel Storylook Palette Review and Swatches

Boy do I feel lucky! This morning the UPS man dropped off this beautiful new palette from Sephora. Ariel is the newest addiction to the collection of Disney Reigning Princessss and this palette does not disappoint (aside from a shade or two). 

The back of the box displays all the shades that are included. They are generous in both number and finish. The names are from the Disney film which adds just the right amount of childhood  to this big girl palette

Once opened the palette itself features a beautiful aquatic scene of Ariel gazing at the surface where she longs to be. Both dramatic and beautiful, this was an excellent choice for a cover. Inside there is a navy colored velvet box which the shadows sit upon. The pull tab is silver ribbon. Just the right touch. 

The shadows themselves have an, overall, great quality to them. They are

Soft and easy to blend, yes even the mattes. Those shades which do lean a little sheer like Flounder, Sebastian, and treasures untold are the perfect contrast to the more pigmented Flotsom, Jetsam, and Sea Witch. Each row could easily be an eye look by itself or colors from all over the palette could be combined. I love the inclusion of shades like Fins , a glittery mermaid green, Sha La La, matte dark fuchsia,  Blue Lagoon, shimmering opaque blue, and Triton, shimmering gold.  The only shade I had a major issue with was Sick of Swimming. It was crumbly, hard to apply evenly, and not very pigmented. It would have made a good highlighter shade had it not been so hard to apply. Your Voice, which has micro glitter, gave me a lot of fallout. I didn't have this same issue with Triton which is similar in formula. 

You can purchase this palette at Sephora for 55$

Overall I liked this palette, the nautical themed shades, perfect for summer. Loved most of the finishes and overall formula. If you love Disney, the little mermaid, beautiful makeup or just love beautiful packaging, this is a must have. So place this baby right next to your Cinderella and Jasmine! It's story time.

Here are some looks!

Ariel Storylook Palette Look- Wearing Atlantica on the lid, fins on the crease, and sick of swimming on the inner corner of the eye. Ruby Woo by mac on the lips lined with Sephora nano liner in Choco Chic

Ariel Storylook Palette Look- Wearing Atlantica on the lid, fins on the crease, and sick of swimming on the inner corner of the eye. Ruby Woo by mac on the lips lined with Sephora nano liner in Choco Chic

Ariel Storylook Palette Look- I used Unfortunate Souls on the middle lid, Your Voice on the inner corner of my eye, and Sea Witch on the outer corner. I used Heroine on my lips by MAC lined with Nightmother lip liner.

Ariel Storylook Palette Look- I used Unfortunate Souls on the middle lid, Your Voice on the inner corner of my eye, and Sea Witch on the outer corner. I used Heroine on my lips by MAC lined with Nightmother lip liner.

Ariel Storylook Palette Look- I used Scuttle on the lid, Caspian Seas on the crease, Treasures Untold on the browbone and Sha LaLa under my lower lash. I also used Sushi Kiss by MAC on my lips.

 

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Review

Recently i got to try a product i always wanted to try, but for some reason never did, Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream and Cleansing lotion. I have heard a lot of hype about this brand and was really starting to wonder if these products were just all hype or really just that worth it. I learned they really are worth it!

I have always cleaned my face with facial scrubs, makeup remover towelettes and sometimes just soap. I always found these to get the job done. I never really thought of using lotion to clean my skin (though as a kid my grandmother always told me to use cold cream). After applying this product to my skin i understood what my grandmother had been suggesting. Using this lotion to cleanse makeup off your face is so gentle so soft, so moisturizing, and so easy without the worry of splashing water everywhere or worrying about getting soap in my eye. I rubbed this over my whole face and gently on my eye lids and mascara area. I then used a dry cotton ball to remove and all my makeup was gone and my face felt clean. I wont lie, i did then use soap in the shower, but i did feel it was as abrasive on my skin.

After my showers, i usually apply various toners, anti-wrinkle creams, eye creams, serums, and moisturizers. I applied everything as i normally do but as a last step i choose Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream and i didn't have to apply my toner or my serum. I felt that, even though this product has somewhat of a thin consistency, i was able to really feel it adhering to my skin. I felt my skin becoming softer and i felt it being slightly damp. Not wet or uncomfortable, somewhat like after a shower and you dry your face but it still feels moist, like that. When i woke up in the morning i felt my face as very soft. I felt like i didn't even have to use a  makeup base or BB cream (and i didn't!). It was nice to have a more natural looking face due to one simple step the night before. That really does save some time in the morning.

Some additional information:
Cleanser-
-Comes in two different types - Normal/Dry and Dry/Very dry. I have combination skin and i liked the Normal/dry.
-The Cleansing Lotion eliminates the need for you to use a toner (more time saved in the morning!)
 and removes all makeup and traces of dirt.
-Contains Glycerin to leave skin feeling soft and refreshed.
-Effective way to clean away dirt without removing natural and beneficial skin lipids.

Night Cream-
- Comes in two different types- Normal/Dry and Dry/Very Dry. I have combination skin and i liked the Normal/Dry.
-Eliminates the need to use toner. (more timed saved in the morning or night)




-Includes Cocoa butter, Glycerin and Shea Butter to energize and promote optimum hydration.

- Works with your skin not against it like some moisturizers. It replaces the moisture your skin has lost and you are left only with healthy and radiant skin, no layer of film like some moisturizers.


I received these products complimentary for testing and reviving purposes from Influenster through the VoxBox program.


If you would like to check out these products and more from Boots, please check out their website http://www.shopbootsusa.com/ .

NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact in Dark Shadows Review

So if you have been with me since the beginning of my blog you should know i am no stranger to showing love for both high end and drugstore products. Browsing drugstore products can sometimes be a gamble. Will the color payoff be good? How about pigmentation? Will this product last? Will it be high quality?  Lots of factors to consider. One company that has had consistently great products with amazing quality for their price is NYC - New York Color.

New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compacts (which you may have noticed i have reviewed before in different colors here!) are all in one, all you need, to create a full eye look. This product includes a primer, an illuminator, applicator and four soft complimentary shadows.

While the shadows are soft they blend very easily. Their pigmentation is good. The primer great for the price and brings out the pigmentation in the shadows even more when they are layered on it. The illuminator makes the shades brighter and is great to apply under the brow to brighten the look. Both the illuminator and the primer are cream so you can use your fingers to apply for a smaller foundation/cover up brush. Using the shadows over the primer will allow the shadows to last for about 5 hours without creasing. If you are a bit of novice in terms of applications there is a how to on the back of the package and one below, scroll down to see. This product is a great starter product and introduction to makeup, since it requires so little in addition for a complete look. You can use all the shadows together or use them one at a time. These shades can be used to make a smokey eye look or just a light look with a dark, dramatic crease. You really have so many options with this palette.

There are a few cons. Since the shadows are soft (which isn't a bad thing) you should be careful when pressing your applicator (or brush) into them. Another small con is that because they are soft there is some fall out. Have a blending sponge handy or a fan brush, or even just a tissue to wipe up any that may land on your cheek. Since both the primer base and the illuminator are cream they are prone to having the shadow dust off into them. What you can do is take a small piece of plastic wrap and cover them when using the shadows. This palette is a little fragile so don't carry it in your purse, you really wont need touch up's anyway!

How to create a quick blended look:
Not pictured- apply your primer to your lid and lend it out to right under the brow.
Top to bottom, left side
Step 1- Apply the second shade to your lid and make sure to stop right before you reach your crease. Make sure to pat on gently. You can use your applicator or an eyeshadow brush. 
Step 2- Fill in your crease with the third shade. applying from the inner corner out. Then blend with a soft back and forth motion
Step 3- Apply the first color under the arch of the brow and blend with a back and forth motion with the crease.

Top to bottom, right side.
Step 4- Apply the fourth and darkest color to the fold of the outer crease blending vertically to define the eye and make the shadow dramatic (if you want you can omit this step if you feel it is too dark on your eye, or use it only as a night look.
Step5- use the darkest color as an eye liner both above and under the eye (you can layer liquid liner over it and add mascara if you would like
Step 6- you're done!

If you would like to add even more drama you can always use the third color as your lid color and blend out the crease with the fourth color, and still using the first color as your under brow high lighter. This would make a very dramatic smokey eye!

These are quick and easy looks that should only take about 5 minuets to make.

You can find these in drugstores for about $4.99. NYC New York Color products range from $.99 to $4.99 making them some of the most affordable, chic, makeup that you can find in the drugstore.
 You can't go wrong with these on trend products!

Disclaimer- I received this product complimentary for reviewing purposes from www.Influenster.com . This review contains only my honest thoughts and opinions of this product.

If you would like more information on this product or any other NYC- New York Color product please check out http://newyorkcolor.com/ .