Swatches + Review: Nars NARSissist Unfiltered I Cheek Palette (Limited Edition)

Nars NARSissist Unfiltered I Cheek Palette ($59, Limited Edition) - The palette is made of plastic and comes with a full size mirror. Each pan is exactly the same size as the deluxe sample size and contains 3.5g/0.12oz of product. (Nars' full size blushers each contain 0.16oz/4.8g for $30; therefore the palette is valued at $131.25.)

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Swatches + Review: Nars Nordstrom's Best Cheek Palette + Dior Intemporalle Blush Palette

Nars Nordstrom's Best Cheek Palette ($65, Limited Edition) - The palette has the standard Nars rubber packaging and is very sleek. It's valued at $124. Each pan is exactly the same size as the deluxe sample size. 

Scent: It's fragrance-free.

Shades: It comes with 4 blushes, a highlight and a bronzer. So, it basically has all the cheek products that you need and is great for travel. 

• Orgasm (3.5g/0.12oz) is a peachy pink with gold shimmers.
• Deep Throat (3.5g/0.12oz) is a soft pink with a golden sheen. When compared to Orgasm, Deep Throat leans more coral and is less shimmery.
• Albatross (3.5g/0.12oz) is a pale ivory with gold shimmers. When applied to the tops of my cheekbones, it leaves a gorgeous golden sheen and does not look chalky at all. This is a shade that you have to try on your skin because swatches do not do it justice.
• Luster (3.5g/0.12oz) is an apricot shade with a golden sheen.
• Desire (3.5g/0.12oz) is a cotton candy pink with a matte finish. It looks bright when swatched on my arms, but when applied to my cheeks, it looks more wearable and flattering on my warm, NC30/35 skin tone.
• Laguna (3g/0.1oz) is a brown with gold shimmers. The one in the palette looks more neutral toned compared to the deluxe sample, which looks warmer. 

Formula: The pigmentation is sheer, but can easily be layered. They also blend into the skin nicely and are very easy to work with.

Longevity: I generally don't have issues with cheek products in terms of longevity. The ones in the Nars palette last at least 8 hours without fading when worn over foundation + setting powder. (For reference, I have cheeks that are neither dry nor oily.)

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Swatches + Review: Nars Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette, Orgasm Blush, Audacious Lipsticks and Velvet Lip Liners

(Direct Sunlight)

Nars Long Hot Summer Eyeshadow Palette ($45, Limited Edition) - The palette is about three-fourth the size of my hand and measures approximately 3.80 inches x 0.25 inches x 2.20 inches. It's very sleek and travel-friendly. Each shade contains 0.03oz/1g of product. Nars' individual eyeshadows retail $25 (with compact) for 0.07oz/2.2g and $18 in pan form.

• Long Hot Summer I is a shimmering cream.
• Long Hot Summer II is a bronze taupe with a shimmery finish.
• Bellissima II is a matte gray-brown. This shade is also available in the duo compact. 
• Long Hot Summer III is a shimmering copper.
• Long Hot Summer IV is a shimmering warm brown.
• Bengali is a matte rich chocolate brown. Out of all the shades in this palette, Bengali is the only one that's available individually. 

Formula: The eyeshadows have great pigmentation, layer well and blend easily. Just make sure to tap off any excess before applying so you don't experience major fallout. I usually apply my eye makeup before foundation so I can easily wipe away any shimmers that have fallen down my cheeks or underneath my eyes. 

Longevity: They last at least 8 hours without fading or creasing. (For reference, I have extremely oily lids and always wear a primer underneath as a base.)

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Swatches + Comparisons: Benefit Cheekathon vs Tarte Tarteist Blush Palette

Benefit Cheekathon Blush & Bronzer Palette ($58, Limited Edition) 

Packaging: It comes with 4 full-size blushes, including Dandelion (0.25oz), Rockateur (0.17oz), Dallas (0.32oz) and Coralista (0.28oz), a full-size Hoola matte bronzer (0.28oz), a brush made of natural bristles and a sizable mirror. Each shade retails $29, which makes the value of the palette to be $145!

I never bought Benefit's individual blushes because I find the cardboard packaging to be too bulky. The palette is actually not as thick and is a huge space saver compared to buying the blushes/bronzer individually. (It measures 7 inches x 0.85 inches x 5 inches.) It may not be as travel-friendly as the Tarte Tarteist palette, but I would still take this with me on trips, especially if I'm going to be out of town for more than a week and want to create various looks. I just love that all the shades are conveniently laid out in one palette. 

The insert is removable and pops out easily. So, you can use the box for storing little trinkets when you finish the palette. You can also depot the pans and pop them into an empty Z Palette. 

The brush reminds me of the NARS Ita (review), except the Benefit one is a little bit wider and denser. It works really well for contouring because it's narrow enough to fit nicely on the hollows of the cheeks and fluffy enough to blend out any harsh lines with ease. For blush application, I prefer a domed-shaped brush, such as the Sonia Kashuk #29 (review) because it covers the entire cheek area more evenly and lightly. I also love that the pans are wide enough to fit any type of brush easily.  

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Swatches + Review: Collective Haul (MUFE, MAC, Chanel, Urban Decay)

I'm back with another haul! Some of these items are re-purchases, while others have been in my collection for a while now and have been rigorously tested. 

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Swatches: MAC Vibe Tribe, Brooke Candy, Simpsons, Style Warriors and Indulge Collection (Limited Edition)

I recently purchased a few goodies from MAC's Vibe Tribe 2016 Summer Collection and plan on picking up the Adobe Brick blush as well, which I will review in a later post.

When I was going through my stash to check for possible dupes, I realized that there were a few limited edition MAC products that I never reviewed on my blog. I decided to include them in this post because maybe you guys have forgotten about them too and this may remind you to use them again? You can also call your nearest CCO (The Cosmetics Company Store) to see if they still have them in stock. (The CCO carries products from Estee Lauder-owned companies, including MAC, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Origins, Smashbox and Lab Series, and sells them for around 30% off retail price.)

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Swatches + Comparisons: Matte Contouring and Bronzing Powders

All of the products mentioned in this post have a matte finish. Some shades are more suitable for contouring, while others work better for bronzing. Even though I have a warm NC30/35 skintone, I prefer to use cooler shades to contour my face because it creates a more natural looking shadow. When bronzing my face, I prefer to use warmer shades because cooler shades can make me look dirty or sick.

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Swatches + Review: MAC Haul (Blush, Eyeshadows, Paint Pot & Foundation)

This is really a collective haul of items that I purchased over the past few months. 

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Swatches + Comparison - Collective Haul of Cheek Products

I've been really enjoying products that leave a nice sheen to my skin without the glittery mess. 

The ones mentioned in this post have been great at perking up my dull winter skin.

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Swatches + Review: Sonia Kashuk Instructional Eye Palette in Eye On Dazzling Color 03

Pros:

• more affordable compared to palettes from other brands, such as Mac or Urban Decay
• these eyeshadows have not been tested on animals
• non-sparkly eyeshadows feel silky and buttery
• non-sparkly eyeshadows have great color payoff (when used with a primer)
• non-sparkly eyeshadows applies smoothly
• blends easily
• lasts at least 8 hours without fading (when worn with a primer)
• doesn't crease when used with a primer
• sparkly eyeshadows are sheer, but they compliment the non-sparkly eyeshadows very well

Cons:

• fallouts during application
• palette gets really dusty and messy 
• palette is bulky because there are step-by-step instructions that slide out on the side

The Sonia Kashuk Instructional Eye Palette in 03 Eye On Dazzling Color comes with step-by-step instructions on how to create 3 different looks, which can be useful for those who are makeup beginners, but it also makes the palette bulky. (Sonia Kashuk recently revamped the packaging of her other eyeshadow palettes and removed the instructions.) 

It comes with 7 pigmented shimmery shades, 1 pigmented shimmery shade with sparkles (the last eyeshadow in the 4th row) and 4 sheer sparkly shades (the entire 2nd column). The eyeshadows are numbered 1 to 12 and they don't have individual names, which I don't mind because the quality of these eyeshadows are amazing for the price. The non-sparkly eyeshadows have great color payoff when used with a primer, and they all apply smoothly & blend easily. 

The sparkly shades don't feel as silky smooth as the other shades, but the texture is not gritty or chunky at all. They contain tiny microglitters that leave a sparkly and wet finish. They're very sheer, but I find that they compliment the shimmery shades very well. I love applying the sparkly shades on top of the shimmery shades to create a shiny metallic finish. It looks absolutely gorgeous! I love the way that they make my eyes sparkle and glisten, especially under direct lighting. The swatches are not doing them any justice! >_<

I recommend applying these eyeshadows before your foundation because there will be fallouts during application. Because of this reason, the palette also gets dusty easily. To minimize the amount of fallouts, tap off any excess from your brush before applying. I really don't mind the fallouts because I can easily wipe off the mess with makeup remover. 

As for the longevity, they last at least 8 hours without fading or creasing when worn with a primer underneath. (I always wear a primer underneath my eyeshadows because I have oily lids.)

(Click to enlarge to read the ingredients list.)

Bottom Line: I'm usually not a fan of glitter, but the sparkly shades blew me away because I love how they make my eyes sparkle and the shiny metallic finish looks amazing. This is a must-have for those who love to create dramatic and smokey eye looks. 

Note: The Sonia Kashuk Instructional Eye Palette (0.34oz/9.6g) retails $19.99 and is only available at Target. It is currently on clearance for $16.98 and will be discontinued.

Do you prefer colorful or matte palettes?

*This post contains affiliate links. The product mentioned was purchased by me, using my own funds.

Review + Swatches: Pixi Nude Shade Wardrobe Eye & Cheek Palette in Café Au Lait

Pros

• texture feels silky smooth
• good color payoff when layered and when used with a primer
• blends easily
• applies smoothly
• minor fallouts during application
• doesn't crease when used with a primer
• lasts at least 10 hours without fading (when worn on the eyes and used with a primer)
• can be used on the eyes and face as a highlighter, blush or bronzer
• price is reasonable because it's multi-functional & it contains a good amount of product (18 eyeshadows & 16.12g of product)
• great variety of matte, satin and shimmery shades
• no chunky glitter
• lightweight and ideal for travel

Cons

• palette gets really dusty and messy because the eyeshadows are too soft
• color starts to fade after 6 hours when worn on the cheeks

Packaging: The Pixi Nude Shade Wardrobe Palette comes in a light green cardboard packaging that's light weight and travel-friendly. When you pull the ribbon on the side, the palette slides out and reveals a mix of matte, satin and shimmery nudes that ranges from "creamy vanilla to deep cocoa and every shade in between." 

The first column can be blended together with a fluffy brush, such as the Inglot 4SS (full review), for a gorgeous glow on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, cupid's bow, chin or anywhere else you want to highlight. The third row on the left palette can be blended together with the tip of a paddle brush, such as the Studio Gear #13 brush (full review), for a nice flush of color to the cheeks. On my NC30/35 skin tone, it just creates a light rosy pink shade. The entire left side of the palette can be swirled all together for a beautiful touch of warmth to the cheeks with a hint of a medium rosy pink color. The finish does not look overly shimmery or frosty. It just leaves a nice sheen to the face because the matte shades balances out the finish.

(Swatched Heavily)

(Blended)

You could, of course, just use the eyeshadows individually because all the shades are very wearable and fool-proof. Also, the possibilities are endless because there are a variety of lid shades, different tones of browns, a pink-toned highlight that's suitable for cool skin tones, a neutral-toned highlight that's suitable for warm, yellow & practically any skin tone, and a matte black color that's great when you need to smoke out your look for a night out.

In terms of quality, these eyeshadows apply smoothly onto the skin with good color payoff when layered and when used with a primer. They also blend like a dream because they're really silky and soft, but because of this, they also get quite messy in the pan and there are minor fallouts during application. (To prevent major fallouts, remember to tap off any excess before applying.)

As for longevity, they last at least 10 hours without fading when worn on my eyes (with a primer). However, the color starts to fade after 6 hours when worn on my cheeks, but the glow and sheen lasts at least 10 hours (over foundation + setting powder).

(left 9 shades)

(right 9 shades)

Bottom Line: Café Au Lait is the perfect everyday neutral eyeshadow palette because it contains a variety of shades that are suitable for all skin tones and the looks that you can create with this are endless. Moreover, you can use it on your face for a nice flush of color, a sun kissed look or a gorgeous glow without worrying about it being overly shimmery, frosty or glittery. Overall, this palette is great for travel and for creating fresh and natural looks at a reasonable price. 

Note: The Pixi Nude Shade Wardrobe Palette in Café Au Lait contains 16.12g of product and retails $26 at Pixi's online store and Target.

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that Pixi currently has a 25% off coupon deal on all of their products. You can also enter my current giveaway (valued up to $185) for a chance to win the Pixi Lumi Lux Bronze Palette, Pixi Nude Shade Wardrobe Palette and much more. ^_^

Review + Swatches: Pixi Lumi Lux Bronze Palette in No.1 Rosy Sunrise

If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that Pixi currently has a 25% off coupon deal on all of their products. You can also enter my current giveaway (valued up to $185) for a chance to win the Pixi Lumi Lux Bronze Palette, Pixi Nude Shade Wardrobe Palette and much more. =)

Packaging: The Pixi Lumi Lux Bronze Palette* comes in a light green cardboard box. The packaging material is definitely more eco-friendly than the standard plastic compact. When you pull the ribbon on the side, the palette slides out and reveals an all-in-1 gorgeous face kit that's embossed with 3 lovely fairies. Fortunately, the pretty design does not disappear after a few swipes. It actually runs pretty deep. Only the Pixi name is an overspray. 

Rosy Sunrise contains 4 different shimmery shades, including a magenta pink, bronze, rosy pink and champagne shade that can be used to add a flush of color to your cheeks, to warm up your complexion and to highlight any area on your face, even your eyes.

Overall, the product has good pigmentation and glides onto the skin nicely & evenly, but I would be careful with the bronze shade because it can be really pigmented if you use a dense brush or a heavy hand. To use as a bronzer, I sweep either my Japonesque blush brush (mini review) or Studio Gear #13 brush (full review) across the pan, tap off any excess and then apply onto my cheek area. On my NC30/35 skin tone, the color translates into a bronzey peachy tan shade with a hint of rose. To use as a blush, I just swirl my brush all over the left side of the pan to pick up the magenta and rosy pink shade. Lastly, to use as a highlight, I tap my Inglot 4SS brush (full review) or Sonia Kashuk Multi Purpose brush (full review) into the right fairy and then apply onto my cheekbones. It can also be used to highlight the bridge of the nose, cupid's bow, chin, the inner corner of the eyes, brow bone or wherever you want to create a gorgeous glow.

One of the best things about this product is that it doesn't get dusty or make a mess in the pan. Also, it last at least 8 hours without fading when worn on top of liquid foundation + setting powder. 

Bottom Line: The Pixi Lumi Lux Bronze Palette is ideal for those who wants something quick and easy and don't have time to mess around in the morning. Also, it's perfect for travel because it's such a multi-tasker that can be used separately as a bronzer, blush and highlighter or mixed together. This is definitely a must-have for those who love shimmery shades because they brighten and flatter any skin tone. Moreover, who can say no to this adorable palette?

Note: The Pixi Lumi Lux Bronze Palette in No.1 Rosy Sunrise contains 5.68g of product and retails $25 at Pixi's online store and Target.

*This post contains affiliate links. None of the products mentioned are sponsored.

What Pixi beauty products have you tried or would love to try?