BH Cosmetics Dark Rose Palette

IMG_3088

This was actually a cyber Monday treat that just arrived in the mail today. BH Cosmetics was having a sale where this palette was $8.95 + I found a 10% off code and I got back 15% through ebates. This is a limited edition palette, so when I was able to get it for that price I was very happy! I love BH Cosmetics to begin with, and everything about this palette is so alluring to me. The colors and the packaging…it looked perfect.

IMG_3090

Shipping was a bit delayed for BH Cosmetics, but they did say on the website before ordering that shipping could be delayed, and that was fine. However, when this came in the mail I seriously opened it up before anything else and immediately started admiring it and playing around with it. The inside is so beautiful! This palette is pretty big, and there’s a pretty decent amount of product in it. There are 12 eyeshadow colors, 3 blushes, and 1 liquid eyeliner that come in this set. I was excited that this came with a liquid felt tip liner instead of a pencil. I tend to just throw pencils away or gift them. I’m a liquid/gel liner kind of gal.

IMG_3091

These are swatches of all 12 eyeshadows. The glittery ones aren’t as pigmented, but for the most part they are all very smooth and pigmented! Very impressed with the quality of these shadows. I’ve had my eye on this palette since it came out, but didn’t buy it in fear that the colors might have been too random. However, once I saw the review that Dani from CoffeebreakwithDani did and the look she created I was sold, and from there I knew that it would go on sale. EVERYTHING on BH Cosmetics eventually goes on sale for 50% off or more…just wait. That’s my friendly brand tip of the day.

Anyway, once I started playing around with these colors on my eyes (one look for one eye and another on the other eye, duh) I realized all of these colors truly do compliment each other, strangely enough. I absolutely love the brown shades and plum shades in this palette.

IMG_3092

These are the swatches of the 3 blushes that come in the palette. I love that there are both warm and cool options in terms of blushes. I wear cool toned blushes myself most days, so the third mauve type color will probably be the one that gets the most usage from me!

IMG_3105
This is a look I created using the palette. The only color I didn’t use from the palette was the tranisition shade which was “creme brulee” by makeup geek. That’s my only con to this palette…there’s not a true transition shade unless you lightly use one of the matte shades as one. Anyway, I used the shimmery champagne shade all over the lid and on my brow bone as a highlight, the darker matte brown in the crease well blended and the shimmery dark brown shade in the outer v blended into the crease as well. I used the matte purple shade on the bottom lash line as a “pop” of color to the look. I have the matte mauve shade on my cheeks (it’s not very pigmented) and I used the liquid eyeliner to create a cat wing. It was very easy to use, surprisingly. Overall, I’m very happy with this palette and can’t wait to play around with it some more 😀

Halloween Clearance Find: Elf Beauty Books

The only thing that cheers me up after Halloween ends is the clearance shopping. The candy, the cute kid things…I am all about it. Typically I go after candy and things to prepare for next year, but I stumbled on a few of the Elf Halloween Beauty Books on an end cap for 50% off. I already own the Vampire one, and I love it. I actually just used it for the first time on Halloween to give my mom a glamorous witch makeup look, and I was incredibly impressed by the pigmentation of the shadows. I tried to use the false lashes, but I have never been a huge fan of the elf brand false lashes. They seem flimsy and hard to work with for me, but I have read where they do work for many others. So, I just wanted to go over them and do swatches and give my insight in case anyone has a Target nearby (where I found them) and can possibly score these as well. There were not many left when I got to my closest Target at 5 pm, so if you want some I would run to Target.

IMG_2548

First, these were normally $6 before Halloween. My local Target had all of their Halloween things for 50% off, making these $3 per book! I was able to snag Diva and Enchanted, but I am sad that I couldn’t find Wicked anywhere, because then I would have all 4 of them since I already have the Vampire book. I think these are sooo pretty. They are not thin and sleek at all, but pretty none the less.

IMG_2549

IMG_2551

This is the Diva book. This one is my favorite of the two I found. The colors in this book are so buttery and soft. The lighter shades are a bit chalky and didn’t come up very well in the swatches, but I am also super pale and I did not use primer to swatch them. The gloss this one comes with is a fuchsia colored gloss, but I am not a lip gloss fan at all so I will probably be passing that on to a friend.

IMG_2550

IMG_2552

This one is the Enchanted book, and while it is not my favorite, the colors are pretty. They’re just not colors that I use very often. Blues don’t typically work well with my eye color, but for $3 I will play around with them a bit. As you can probably tell by the swatches, some of the colors are kind of chalky and patchy. I don’t know how they will look with a primer though. The lip gloss color in this one is a very peachy-pink nude color.

Since I will probably be giving the lashes and gloss away, I am still very happy with these finds. The eyeshadows in both books are very pretty. I may try to go to another Target and find the Wicked book so I can have all of them. My personal favorite is the Diva book, and as mentioned earlier the Vampire book is so amazing. If you come across it, get it. Don’t even think about it…thank me later.

I just watched a video by KathleenLights on youtube saying that the little (usually useless) eyeshadow applicators can be used for ColourPop eyeshadows and work BETTER than your fingers! Mind. Blown.
If you have no idea what I am talking about, please check out ColourPop. I have a review on my blog on their eyeshadows.
Other things I found clearance shopping: a cupcake costume for Piper next year. Cheap costumes for Harmony’s dress up wardrobe, and candy for me.
Anyone else find some amazing Halloween clearance items? Tell me! I love hearing about bargains 😀