Too Faced Natural Matte Palette Review and 3 looks

Hi Everyone,

So I have now had a chance to play with the Natural Matte palette and can say that I do love it but it is not a must have for everyone.

The palette is available at ulta.com and toofaced.com for $36

The Review: 

Pros: 
The shadows are excellent quality, they are buttery without being too powdery or kicking up too much product. They also blend beautifully and there is a nice assortment of matte brown shades. If you love mattes, browns and Too Faced, you will love this palette.

Cons: 
While I did find the shadows to be unique and could not find too many repeats in my collection. Some of you might find that you already have these shadows. Also while you can get different looks with this palette, don't expect to ket wildly different looks. They really will look very similar.

Ultimately if have a good collection of matte browns, you don't need this palette. If you don't then I do highly recommend it.

The looks: 

Look 1

I used Heaven on top of a primer

Honey Butter on the crease 

Strapless on the lid

Risqué on the outer corner and into the crease

Look 2 

I used Heaven all over as a base on top of a primer 

Honey Butter and Chocolate Cookie on the crease (in that order)

Strapless on the lid 

A little bit of Sexspresso on the outer corner

Look 3

I used Heaven as a base on top of a primer 

Honey Butter on the lid

Chocolate Cookie on the outer corner on the outer corner and in the crease 

** I purchased everything with my own money, Too Faced has no clue who I am. This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my won. There are NO affiliate links. 

Too Faced Natural Matte palette: Swatches and First Impressions

Hi everyone,

Too Faced recently release an all matte palette and while I am still playing with it, I want to show you some swatches. It is an Ulta exclusive and available online only at the moment for $36 ulta.com

The palette: 

The how-to guide is covering a mirror :) 

As you can see the top row is the same as the top row from the Natural Eyes Collection. I don't own that palette but this is something to consider if you are considering getting this one.  

The Swatches: 

Swatches were done without primer on my NC42 skin and all pictures were taken with natural lighting.  

From top to bottom and left to right 

Row 1: Heaven, Cashmere Bunny, Sexpresso

Row 2: Lace Teddy, Strapless, Risqué 

Row 4: Nude, Honey Butter, Chocolate Cookie 

Different angle

First Impressions: 

I've only used the palette a couple of days but I am really enjoying this palette so far. The shadows are excellent quality, they are buttery and the blend like a dream. The only one that does not show up on my skin is Nude, but I've been using it to blend out the edges of other shadows and it has been great for that. 

Most will want to compare this to other all matte palettes. I did not buy the recent Tarte Tertelette palette so I can't tell you how the two compare but I did find similar shades in the Chocolate Bar palette as well as in the A Few of My Favorite Things and Everything Nice Palettes. 

Dupes

Sexpresso is similar to Dark Chocolate (A Few of My Favorite Things)

Strapless is similar to Salted Caramel (Chocolate Bar)

** check back tomorrow for side by side comparisons 

The rest are similar in tone but different enough to justify getting the Natural Matte for me. 

I will have looks with this palette coming this week :) In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions. 

** There are NO affiliate links and I purchased everything with my own money. Ulta and Too Faced have no clue who I am, so no this is not a sponsored post. 

3 looks with the Everything Nice Holiday2014 palette by Too Faced

Howdy everyone,

I've been playing withe the Everything Nice Pallet and want to share 3 looks I did with it.

If you are interested in the palette it is $56 and exclusive to sephora.com *not an affiliate link

The looks: 

Look 1: 

This look is probably replicable from other palettes but I really liked how it turned out and how easy it was to create. 

I used: 

 Fawned of You in my crease and Dram On right above it. 

Honey Pot all ove the lid 

Don't Settle in the outer corner and into the crease

Knockout stamped in the outer corner to deepen the look 

Heaven as a brow-bone highlight 

On my face: 

Sweet Pink on my cheeks

Inner Light as a highlight and

Chocolate Soleil to contour and warm up my face

 Look 2:

This was a bright but very wearable look. 

I used: 

Fawned of You on my crease and Dream on right above it

Live it Up on the lid

Head Over Heels on the outer corner 

After Hours on the center of the lip for a pop

Heaven as a brow-bone highlight 

Be You on the lower lashline

On my face: 

Papa Don't Peach on my cheeks 

Chocolate Soleil to contour and warm up my face

Look 3:

This is a look I want to do again! 

I used: 

Fawned of You on my crease and Dream on right above it

Be You on my lid

Mauvelous int he inner corner and on the center of the lid

Secret Lovers on the lower lashline 

Heaven on my brow-bone 

On my face: 

Papa Don't Peach on my cheeks

Chocolate Soleil to contour and warm my face

Inner Light as a highlight 

The Review: 

Now that I have had a chance to play with it, I can say that I love it! The shadows are beautiful and I like the looks that come out of them. They are also easy to work with and blend, though there is fallout on the glittery shades. 

On the face products: I am really into Chocolate Soleil at the moment, on my brown/tan skin it looks nice, not too harsh but is buildable. Inner Light is a very pretty highlight and does not make my face a glitter bomb, something I was worried about. The blushes on the other hand I don't think work on me. Papa Don't Peach is a bit too light and shinny for me. Sweet Pink is cute but not my favorite pink and does require building up to show up on my skin. 

I have not tried the brushes yet but I already know that I love the mascara :) 

Let me know if you have any questions!

Parting Thoughts: 

-It is still hot in Southern California, why?!

-I hope everyone is having a great week. Only a few more work days until the weekend! 

**I paid for all products used with my own money and all opinions and thoughts are my own. 

xoxo Cynthia 

Too Faced Everything Nice Set: Swatches and Comparisons

Howdy 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and it's just September! Plus we are in the middle of a heat wave here in California.

I got my hands on the Too Faced Everything Nice set exclusive at Sephora and wanted to share pictures and swatches right away. I will also be doing looks as soon as I can.

The set is $56 at sephora.com and should be available in stores soon :) 

The set: 

You get 20 eye shadows 2 blushes, 1 bronzer, and 1 highlighter 

Shadow names from left to right: 

Row 1: Turtle Dove, Dream On, After Hors, Fawned of You, Knockout

Row 2: Paper Roses, Kindness is Free, Mauvelous, Be you, Secret Lovers

Row 3: Heaven, Shiny Happy, Honey Pot, Don't Settle, Girly

Row 4: Totally Fetch, Live it Up, Too Glam, Head Over Heels, Chocolate Moon

Blushes: Aweet Pink, Papa Don't Peach

Bronzer: Chocolate Soleil 

Highlighter: Inner Light 

Plus a super cute brush set, a mascara, and a look book :) 

The swatches: 

The first row: 

Turtle Dove is very light, Dream On is peachy and more noticeable on my skin tone, After Hours which has some glitter but is not chunky, Fawned of You is a nice matte brown great for the crease, Knockout is a matte dark brown, perfect for outer corner work

Second row: 

Paper Roses is a light pink with a sheen, Kindness is a bit darker of a pink, Mauvelous has glitter on it and is a gorgeous lilac shade, Be You is my favorite looking shade, it is a matte lavender shade, and Secret Lovers is a satin deep purple with a sheen 

Third Row:

Heaven is a matte white, Shinny Happy is a gold glitter shade but does not feel to chunky, Honey Pot is a peachy, caramel color with glitter, Don't Settle does not seem to have glitter but it's definetly shinny and has a nice sheen, Girly is a beautiful dual chrome with green and brown, this one is available in the Pretty Rebel palette and I know first hand it is a great shadow

Fourth Row:

Totally Fetch is also in the Pretty Rebel palette and it is a vibrant pink, Live it Up is a gorgeous purple shadow, the swatch was a bit powdery but that does not mean it will be powdery when applied to the eye, Too Glam is a vivid green, it has a sheen but looks almost matte, Head Over Heals is a shinny blue, and Chocolate Moon is a black with glitter in it but the glitter is not too noticeable. 

Top to botton face products: 

Sweet Pink, Papa Don't Peach, Inner Light, Chocolate Soleil 

Comparisons: 

Girly and Totally Fetch are definite repeats so that is something to note. At first impression this palette also look very similar to last-year's palette. This was my main concern when trying to decide if I wanted to purchase it. I did find some very similar colors but it is different enough for me to justify the purchase :) 

Taffy (from last year's palette) is also a light pink and is actually quite similar to Paper Roses though here it looks like Paper Roses has more glitter in it. 

At first I thought that Don't Settle was most similar to Crisp Apple Struddle but as you can see it is actually very much like Buche de Noel. 

Honey Pot and Honey Honey (last year's palette) are also very similar, though Honey Pot appears to be just a tad deeper. 

Now for the shinny colors: Shinny Happy is closest to Tinsel (from last year) than to Snowflakes (from last year) though I have to say that both Snowflakes and Tinsel were a bit hard to work with while Shinny Happy appears to be less chunky and easier to work with and blend. 

Now for the mattes: Heaven and Turtle Dove are both from this palette and swatched look identical and not close to Cream Colored Ponies (from last year). 

Overall thoughts: 

- I really had to have this set so I did not mind the similarities to last year's palette but if you are on a budget and have that palette, I would definitely pass on this one. 

- I just saw that there will also be a palette exclusive to Ulta and that one seems to be very similar to this one but smaller and cheeper so that one might be a good alternative to this one.

-Let me know if you have any questions. 

-Did anyone else order the set? What did you think of it? Or are you planning on getting it? 

**This set was purchased by me and all thought and opinion expressed on this post are my own. This is not a sponsored post. 

xoxo Cynthia

Weekly Favorites

Howdy all,

So, I've been super tired this week from my teaching schedule and have not felt like being too fussy with my makeup each morning, and these products have helped. I have had oily skin right now and I need my makeup to last all day. I do take it off at the end of the night and have been taking care of my skin but the last few weeks have really been a test to see which products are the most long wearing.

Favorites: 

Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette: this palette makes is it so I don't even have to think about my eye look and get really pretty looks. I do and Cut the Cake are two of my favorite shades :)

Tarte CC colored clay primer and Amazonian Colored Clay liquid foundation in Tan have been my go to for the past 3 weeks. When I first used this foundation, I really did not like it. It looked a bit heavy and too noticeable but I think I was using the wrong primer and now that my skin is oily, this foundation has been perfect. I apply it over the Tarte primer, which I love because it really does hide discoloration all on its own.

Tarte BB tinted under eye corrector in Medium to tan: I love this corrector so much that I have hit pan on it. I hear the new one is even better and I can't wait to try it but for now this guy has been a huge help as a deal with huge undereye circles.

Nars radiant creamy concealer in Biscuit: I got this baby a while back and have tried a few concealers int he mean time but I find that this concealer does the job with minimal work. I don't use it to highlight just to hide my panda eyes and the color is perfect for that. If I also wanted it to highlight I would probably get a lighter color but Biscuit  matches my skin color, so I find it perfect for a quick conceal as I run out the door.

Pumpkin and Poppy Oil Absorbing Mineral Veil: I use this to set my makeup and I feel like it makes a difference and holds my oil at bay for 8 hours

Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender: Unfortunately my oils eventually become noticeable, even with the mineral veil. That is when the face defender comes to the rescue. Just a light application and the oil is gone and my face is matte. Everyone with oily skin needs to have this guy. It's expensive but you can currently find it in a kit at Ulta for $49 Ulta.com. It is worth it, if you can afford it.

Parting thoughts: 

-What have you all been loving this week?
-Anyone else super tired?

Lots of love,
~ Cynthia

August ipsy bag and first impressions

Howdy all!

I've been working and totally exhausted lately but getting my ipsy bag this month has completely rekindled my makeup addiction.

My Bag: 

The goods: 

Urban Decay Perversion mascara 

Absolute New York You're the Balm in grape

Dr. Brandt Pores No More primer

Lord & Berry black eyeliner 

Coastal Scents blush sampler 

I did't get a good shot of the bad but I think that it's super cute! I love the orange polka dots. 

The look:

First Impressions: 

I used everything in this month's bag except for the Perversion mascara because I want to review that one individually :) 

-The Dr Brandt primer worked really well with my Kat Von D Lock it liquid foundation and I think it's making me like the foundation (not my favorite but needs to be used). 

-The Coastal Scents blushes are very pigmented so pigmented that I actually went overboard with them and had to go back in with my beauty blender to tone them down. I did use the Makeup Forever dream HD blush (not from ipsy) as a base and it was so not needed. The cream blush also does not need anything on top of it and is beautiful on its own. 

-The Lord & Berry eyeliner was the one disappointment, it doesn't stay on my waterline and faded throughout the day. Net time I will try toping it with a black shadow but that's a bit too high maintenance for me right now. 

-The Absolute New York balm on the other had was the big stand out for me. My lips are super dry all the time and the balm actually made a big difference, it also really spells like grape. I loved the smell and I like to say that my nose doesn't work (allergies usually stuff it up) so I was happy to get a huge whiff of grape :) 

-As you can see from the picture I also used the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette and a Maybelline color tattoo 

Parting Thoughts: 

-What did you all get in your bags this month? 

-I hope everyone had a great weekend :) 

No-buy July Challenge: 3 Looks

Howdy all,

I have been on a no-buy this month. I'm doing it for several reasons: I want to wait and buy makeup in the fall/winter season when all the limited edition palettes come out, plus I want to use up some of what I have since I've been neglecting parts of my collection.

I decided to challenge myself to use palettes that have been neglected and I started with Too Faced A Few of My Favorite Things. This was a limited edition palette from this recent holiday season. It is a gorgeous palette but I have not been reaching for it lately.

The palette: 

The Looks: 

Shadows used: 

Cream Colored Ponies all over as a base and as a brow bone highlight

Taffy all over the lid 

Ooh la Orchid on the outer corner and crease 

Soirée to deepen up the outer corner 

Shadows used: 

Cream Colored Ponies all over as a base and as a brow bone highlight

Chocolate Milk on the crease and blended up 

Soirée in the outer V 

Coquet all over the lid (wet)

Whiskers on Kittens in the inner corner (wet) 

Shadows used: 

Tinsel all over lid 

Chocolate Milk in the crease and blended up 

Dark Chocolate in the outer corner

Cream Colored Ponies as a brow bone highlight 

The Review: 

I love this palette. You might have noticed but I love Cream Colored Ponies, it is a wonderful matte cream color. Coquet is a mix of pink and gold that comes off golden but the pink is there if you pay attention. Chocolate Milk should be in every palette, seriously it is great for blending shadows and on the crease. Other great shadows are: Honey Honey, Bouche de Noel and Crisp Apple Strudel. I did not swatch everything for you because this palette was swatched by everyone when it came out. 

The palette as a whole is very complete with the inclusion of  Chocolate Soleil, Sun Bunny (both bronzers), and Raindrops on Roses and Melt into Spring (both blushes). I took this palette with me when I was visiting family for the holidays and I had lots of fun with it. I think I stopped using it because it felt like it was a holiday palette but it is actually a great year round palette. Now I know that I can do good summer looks with it. 

I will be using it 3 more days and then I will move on to another neglected palette for 5 days. Not sure which one yet but I might go with the Lorac Pro (original). 

Parting thoughts: 

-Do you have this palette? What looks have you been doing with it? If you have not been using it maybe I can inspire you to use it. If you do, please share pictures with me on instagram :) 

-Is anyone else on a no-buy or low-buy? 

-I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Country and Rock N Roll! Too Faced looks

Howdy all,

I've been playing with my new Too Faced palettes and want to share a couple of looks :)

The looks: 

The Country Nashville Nudes Eye Shadow Collection

I used: 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original

NYX Milk as a base

Paper Roses on my lid 

Dolly on my crease 

Rhinestone on the outer V 

Nashville on the lower lashline 

Cowboy Take Me Away as a browbone highlight 

Rock N Roll Rock Candy Eye Shadow Collection 

I used: 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original

NYX Milk as a base

Rap all over the lid 

Ska on the crease

Punk on my outer V 

Rockability as a browbone highlight 

Also went with a wing: not a great one but I'll keep trying 

Thoughts: 

I am really enjoying both palettes. The Rock N Roll is taking my out of my comfort zone and makes me nervous when I go to use it :) The colors in the Country color are beautiful, I would definitely say to use a base to help them pop. 

Parting thoughts: 

-What looks have you all been trying with these palettes? 

-Is anyone else doing no-buy July? How is it going? I am still going strong, the urges are there but I am still on the wagon!

Too Faced Country and Rock N Roll Haul!

Howdy all, 

I've been on a mini vacation this week and when I got back I had an box from Ulta waiting for me. This is actually the last order I will be receiving in a while as I've decided to go on a no-buy. Not a low-buy not a no-buy until the nest hyped product comes out, no this will be a no-buy for all of July and until October. Yes, October! 

But right now I have some new pretties I get to play with! These two palettes are Ulta exclusives that are available online and will be in stores this month. The retail for $36 

Country Nashville Nudes Eye Shadow Collection

Rock N Roll Rock Candy Eye Shadow Collection

The goods: 

The Swatches: 

The Country palette is on the left and Rock N Roll on the left.

The names are not aligned but they are in order :)

First Impressions: 

I am very happy with both palettes. The Country palette is perfect for summer and I actually don't have a smoky palette in my collection so I am am very happy to have the Rock N Roll. The packaging is beautiful, especially on the Rock N Roll palette. There are not a lot of matt shades on either one of these, so if you prefer matte shadows, I would steer away from these. There are glitter bomb shades in both but I actually did not have a huge problem with those. I have been using a primer and then NYX milk, and I think that really helps. 

If you are interested in more on these palettes, I will be posting looks and more thoughts on different shades tomorrow :)  

Let em know if you are thinking about getting either one of these palettes. I am also happy to answer questions :) 

I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July weekend!

xoxo, 

~Cynthia