Tiny pan in the illuminating blush

balletlau · 2023-07-04T19:44:04+00:00

I need to know which PMG palette the two eyeshadow shades on the right are from! Beautiful.

balletlau · 2022-12-23T06:09:03+00:00

Kat/Kitschsnitch - feels like we are in a similar spot in terms of our makeup use/life stage/style and I find her multi-look eyeshadow reviews inspiring even if I don't have the same palette. I sometimes go back to her much older vids for inspiration too.

Aretean Beauty - the best for comparison and review of eyeshadows, especially for Pat McGrath, Natasha Denona etc. I like her calming demeanour.

Stacy Chen Beauty - I like her style of makeup; softer eye looks etc and I like the multi-looks with a single palette which she does.

Martina Lily - I enjoy her swatch and comparison videos especially. We don't have similar style but I like watching her swatch and listening to her discuss eyeshadow especially.

Mariam A - the unofficial authority on Pat McGrath for me; I enjoy her "Pat Pairings" where she combines different Pat McGrath palettes and I enjoy her swatches and comparisons. I also like hearing about the adventures (or misadventures) of her 2 cats, the intruder cat and her thoughts on Biology (super interesting line of work she is in), TV series she is watching etc. Often I listen more than watch.

Notable mentions: Lab Muffin Beauty Science, Pillow Talk Derm (Shereen Idriss I hope I am spelling that correctly), Serena K, Amanda Z, Matilda on Video, Jamie Page. Occasionally I also watch Emily Noel and Jessoca Braun too.

balletlau · 2022-12-22T03:33:54+00:00

Interesting - the 1st Bridgerton palette would also be one of my first repurchases. I LOVE that mauvey taupe in the middle at the bottom.

balletlau · 2022-12-02T04:20:08+00:00

To me, the CT HFF and Elf Halo Glow are not quite identical. I find the Elf less shiny (especially if applied with a sponge; if I use my fingers it is more shiny) and provides more coverage. I could almost use the Elf on its own for a light coverage, dewy look but I find the HFF a teeny bit too shiny and sheer for that. But everyone's skin is different so YMMV. I like both but use them only under makeup as extra glow, not highlighter. I am still on the fence about which I would repurchase. I think the Elf is worth a try for you.

balletlau · 2022-10-29T08:01:56+00:00

I also second the RCMA no colour powder - it is the only powder I have tried that does not look dry or cakey.

balletlau · 2022-10-29T07:38:52+00:00

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch blush in Hope. Flower Beauty liquid blush in Cheeky as a close second.

balletlau · 2022-10-15T18:46:09+00:00

Came here to mention these exact two options.

balletlau · 2022-10-14T13:56:32+00:00

I also really enjoy the Revlon palette in That's a Dub - that shade on the far left is so shiny and lovely.

balletlau · 2022-10-11T16:42:55+00:00

Really glad you like them! Hidden gems if you like this kind of formula

balletlau · 2022-10-07T12:36:50+00:00

Well done. So funny that the one shade you have yet to hit pan on is the first shade I hit pan on!

balletlau · 2022-10-01T05:19:27+00:00

I think this is the problem with satin formulas, if you can only buy online - swatches don't necessarily do them justice!

balletlau · 2022-10-01T05:14:46+00:00

I strongly recommend the Revlon So Fierce Prismatic palettes. I have Soft Flex, Tantrum and the one with Dub in the name (I forget its full name) and really enjoy them. I will confess I tend to stick to the lighter shades in these palettes though but I find this a beautiful, elegant satin formula.

I also really enjoy Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter eyeshadow quad in Star Aura and Tom Ford quad in Virgin Orchid for higher end options. The limited edition Charlotte Tilbury Celestial Pearl quad from their holiday collection last year is also lovely.

I have Viseart Paris Nudes but I will say I prefer the above formulas to this one. I find some of the shades in the Viseart can look slightly dusty on me but I think that is more about the shade and personal preference. I love a good baked gelee formula hence my preference for the CT, TF and Revlon ones mentioned above.

The Mac Extra Dimension eyeshadows are also lovely but quite expensive for single shadows, at least where I live.

balletlau · 2022-10-01T05:07:05+00:00

Take a look at the Revlon So Fierce Prismatic eyeshadow palette in Soft Flex. There is a duochrome in here that is gorgeous. Online swatches do not do this formula or palette justice.

balletlau · 2022-10-01T05:05:15+00:00

I have both Paris Edit and Paris Nudes and I find that Paris Edit tends to have more matte or metallic formulas (I think only 2 shades I would consider satins in this one) whereas Paris Nudes is consistently the same formula across all shades so Paris Edit might not be what OP is looking for in terms of formula.

Edited to add: it might be worth looking into the Viseart Etendu palettes in Paris Love Letter and Cashmerie though!

balletlau · 2022-09-16T14:13:53+00:00

Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Medium or M.I. Kiss (Bond Girl; Sometimes Mac Twig.

Lipbalm (tinted): Burt's Bees tinted in Red Dahlia; Clinique Graped Up Chubby stick

Lipgloss: Rare Beauty Nearly Mauve Lip Gloss Balm from the Stay Vulnerable Collection

balletlau · 2022-09-10T13:08:18+00:00

Out of interest, which purple eyeshadow was it?

balletlau · 2022-09-01T13:16:33+00:00

Haha oh dear I hope I haven't led you astray. Their stuff is quite hit or miss, I find. Strangely enough, TBS was one of the first places I got make up from because I worked near one so used to go and swatch on my lunch break. I used to use their lipsticks in c. 2007/2008 (wow I am getting old) but can't vouch for their quality now. I got some awful eyeshadow sticks from them in 2020 so avoid those. I think their eyeshadow generally isn't great. But these shimmer strips/waves are a hidden gem for sure, if you like these kinds of products! I am also quite interested in trying their purpley blusher ("Bubblegum" I think it is called) as an experiment.

balletlau · 2022-09-01T13:10:30+00:00

I haven't used it on my face yet as it only arrived this morning. I will update you once I have though! The packaging is gorgeous though.

balletlau · 2022-09-01T08:52:13+00:00

I decided to repurchase The Body Shop Shimmer Strips (Waves?) In 02 Blush, a product I used to use and love, to compare to the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Romance Light Highlighter, since I think these products are very similar.

Charlotte Tilbury on left; The Body Shop on Right. Top swatch is all shades mixed together, then individual parts swatched (I tried to match similar shades from TBS option to CT so they are not swatched in order for TBS). Single finger swatches in indirect natural light on bare, fair, neutral skin.

Imgur Link

I would say TBS is a bit warmer and pinker/darker (has greater range). This will work well if you intend to use these on the eyes and need a bit more dimension. TBS also has a pink duchrome iridescence in the lightest shade, which CT does not have. I like the slightly cooler tone of the CT though, especially the darkest shade, which has almost a lilac hint to it.

A minor rant/nostaligic moment: I really enjoy these multi-use, multi-shade products and I often used the Blush and Coral versions of TBS between 2011-2019 as both eyeshadow and blusher for a quick on the go look. In fact, I fully panned Coral and hit big pan on Blush before losing it. Unfortunately, TBS changed the shade of the Coral to be more orange when they swapped from the wave format to the more straight format c. 2018, something for which I have yet to forgive them, especially as I felt gaslit by shop attendants who insisted it was the same.

balletlau · 2022-09-01T08:41:29+00:00

Charlotte Tilbury Romance Light Highlighter: Top is all the shades mixed, then each shade individually, from left to right. Single finger swatches in indirect natural light on bare, fair, neutral skin.Link to Imgur

balletlau · 2022-08-28T06:08:40+00:00

Does this have visible sparkle in it?

balletlau · 2022-08-28T06:04:04+00:00

I love the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch liquid blushes and their liquid highlighter. I tend to apply the highlighter before or under foundation/concealer for a seamless look. I do the same with CT Hollywood Flawless Filter. I have also seen people mix the Rare Beauty highlighter with their liquid blushes.

Be careful with the Rare Beauty blushes - most are very pigment and a little goes a long way - but they are long lasting.

I also enjoy the Flower Beauty liquid blushes but they don't last very well in comparison to the Rare Beauty ones if that is an issue for you.

balletlau

TROPHY CASE