Lorac Mega PRO Palette 2 - Review

I got the Lorac Mega PRO Palette 2 at Ulta for $59 (before tax) and it came with a free mini Lorac Pro Plus Fiber mascara with this at checkout. As far as the higher-end eyeshadow palettes at Ulta go.. I do seem to love Lorac's the best of all because they're just nicely pigmented and soft with nice colors. This is my second eyeshadow palette purchase from Lorac as I also have the Unzipped palette. I do feel the Unzipped palette eyeshadows are actually a bit better quality compared to this palette.

On my eyes I'm wearing Custard, Sugar, Burlap, Gold Leaf, and Black

In this palette I found the lighter off-white shades not really as pigmented as the medium to darker shades, and most all the shades are either a matte or satin finish (which I love) although Black Ivy really seemed to be the only shade that was matte with a slight glitter in it. Keep in mind what I'm calling a "satin" Lorac calls a "shimmer". The shades with a * I felt were probably my favorite shades in this palette, although I do feel this is a really nice palette of natural earth tone shades.

Porcelain - Light matte off-white shade
Bisque - A bright light off-white matte shade with a pink undertone
Sugar - A slightly more muted version of Porcelain and it's a satin
Moonlight - A satin off-white shade with a yellow/white-gold undertone

Custard - An off-white matte nude/skintone shade
Lavender* - A matte pale lavender shade
Chiffon - A matte pale light pink shade
Seashell - Similar to Moonlight but has more of a pink undertone

Tawny - A matte medium orange-tan shade, almost like a matte version of Peony, very pigmented
Purple - A deep matte medium-dark purple shade, very pigmented
Prosecco* - A satin light taupe shade
Peony - A satin peachy/coral shade

Burlap - A matte medium tan shade with a yellow undertone, very pigmented
Sorbet* - A muted matte medium pink-taupe shade, very pigmented
Soft Plum - A muted satin medium purple-taupe shade
Dk. Sienna - A deep brown shade with a satin copper finish, very pigmented

Melon* - A bright medium matte peach shade, very pigmented
Goji* - A deep medium matte muted burgundy shade, very pigmented
Cinnamon - A medium satin tan brown shade with a gold tint
Penny - A medium satin brown shade with almost an olive undertone and bronze finish, very pigmented

Tangerine* - A bright but muted matte medium orange shade, very pigmented
Cabernet - A deep matte muted purple taupe shade, very pigmented
Sand Stone - A medium satin taupe shade with a silver tint, very pigmented
Olivine - Similar to sandstone but lighter with more of a gold tint, very pigmented

Saddle - A medium matte brown taupe shade
Ash - A medium-dark matte gray shade with almost a purple undertone, very pigmented
Gunmetal - A medium satin silver gray shade
Gold Leaf* - A medium-light bright satin yellow gold shade, very pigmented

Forest - A deep muted matte forest green shade, very pigmented
Black - A deep matte slate black shade, very pigmented
Blue Quartz* - A deep satin watery blue shade with a lighter blue tint, very pigmented
Black Ivy - A deep matte black shade slightly darker than the shade Black with silver flecks, very pigmented

Colors I like together... 

Tangerine and Gold Leaf
Blue Quartz and Gunmetal
Forest and Sandstone

Comparing Mascara

I wanted to take the time to start comparing mascaras, and in these photos you will see how my blonde natural upper lashes look with each one. There is no additional lash combing, eyeliner, fake lashes, extensions, curling, etc. done to my lashes in these photos, this is just each mascara on its own using the mascara wand it originally came with. I will be applying several coats of mascara (as I see fit) so that you can see the full potential of each product. These images are not enhanced, nor am I being paid to review them, etc. I will probably be adding more mascaras to this post in the future.

Rimmel - ScandalEyes Lycra Flex Mascara

Too Faced - Better Than Sex Mascara

NYC - Big Bold Curl Mascara

Loreal - Manga Mascara

NYC - Big Bold Volume Mascara

Tarte - Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

Benefit - They're Real Beyond Mascara

CoverGirl - LashBlast 24hrs

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara - Review

The other day I 'tweeted' about having received a sweet compliment about how lovely my lashes looked and it happened to be the same day I changed mascaras, and from a perfect stranger. That being said I was glad I found this Physician Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara at Walmart which was a 'buy one get one free pack' at the store so, for under $9 for 2 it was coming home with me.

I would probably compare this mascara to CoverGirls LashBlast mascara's, although I find the PF to be a bit more on the wet side, less eye irritating, and it does remove more easily (for once I was wishing to find a waterproof version of this mascara but it doesn't appear one exists). Since the formula of this is wetter than the CG I find the PF to provide better/easier lash coverage. The main thing you may also like about this mascara is that it is natural, hence "organic wear".

Physicians Formula Mascara after using a Maybelline lash curler

*EyeShadow used is Maybelline's eyeshadow duo in Indian Summer.

For another online review I found on this product checkout the link below!
http://theflaxenowl.com/natural-swap-mascara/

Infinite Spoiled Brat Makeup

Eyes
Prime Lids: NYX eye-base in White
Brow Bone & Lower Lid: Wet N Wild eyeshadow in Brulee
Highlight: NYX eyeshadow in White
Lid & Cat-Eye: Wet N Wild's 'Spoiled Brat' palette in Eyelid (shimmery silver color)
Top Lid Liner: Milani liquid eyeliner in Infinite
Top Lashes: Maybelline MegaPlush mascara in Very Black (Apply 3 quick coats)

*Use a strip of 1-in masking tape along the outside of your eye to help make a clean and sharp cat-eye line, then remove the tape gently once you've applied your eyeshadow.

Face
Moisturizer: Olay touch of foundation
Liquid Foundation: Maybelline 24hr stay in Sand Beige
Powder: Revlon pressed powder in Light

Lips
Prep: Aquaphor Lip Ointment
Lip Gloss: Revlon lip gloss in Peach Petal
Lipstick: A dab of CoverGirl lipstick in Sultry

Brows
Define: Wet N Wild brow pencil in Taupe
Fill: Prestige brow perfection in light to medium in Medium

Contour, Blush, and Highlight
Contour: Milani multitasking face powder in Tan
Blush: Barry M blusher in Strawberry Whip
Highlight: CoverGirl blush in Shimmering Sands

My Go-To Products for 2011

There have been a few products which I find myself loving and using quite often this year, so here's a quick list I put together...

CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara: An oldie by now but still my go-to mascara, I really don't think I'll ever change mascara's as long as this is available as I've tried practically every drugstore mascara on the market. My mom prefers the waterproof formula in this and myself the non-waterproof (in "very black" color). I apply 3-4 coats (one after another) onto my top lashes. I don't use an eyelash curler normally and voila, still lovin' it this year.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss Peach Petal 150: I have become a bit fond of this nice pale nude gloss which has found its home in my purse this year as it gets used very frequently (almost done with my first tube of this) out of all the lipsticks and glosses I own currently. I even bought this in 2 other shades this year which were nice, but this shade is still my fave and has yet to make its way out of my handbag.

Colgate Total Toothpaste Whitening: It's probably a first for me to talk about a toothpaste on here, but even my mom has taken notice that my teeth are looking whiter since I started using this. I discovered this when I stayed at a friends house in Orlando earlier this year and was surprised to feel like there had been an actual change in the color of my teeth (by the next day!). I have used other whitening toothpastes in the past which claimed to whiten but never seemed to do anything for me before, so this product will definitely be hanging around my sink more often.

Emporio Armani - White for Her, Perfume: I read another blog (can't remember who it was though) where the blogger loved this perfume soooo much but it was discontinued, luckily I had found a ton of samples online for a good price this year so I opted to try it out. I really do like this perfume, although I kinda wish it was a little stronger because the scent is kinda addicting to me, haha. It's one of those perfumes where really only the wearer can smell it because even my mom who was sitting next to me in the car didn't notice the scent (as she's usually the first to complain about overwhelming perfumes). It's definitely not like the sickly sweet perfumes I generally go for but it's soft, lovely and I wish I had a huge bottle of it.

CVS Cold Cream: I recently replaced my Pond's Cold Cream, cool classic with this CVS dupe because this has the exact same ingredients in it, it's cheaper and it works just as well. I only use the cool classic type because I noticed the others contain paraffin's and such. To use I wet my face, rub this product all over, rinse, and wipe off with a warm washcloth (if you don't use a washcloth your face will feel super oily so it's a must!). It works great for removing my makeup and it doesn't dry out my face (no need for moisturizer after really!). I love this stuff and wish I had discovered it sooner.

Boots Hawaiian Islands Jasmine and Cocoa Butter Body Scrub: I found this at Target earlier this year not expecting a miracle of course, but something in this seems to work great for me. When used as regularly as possible during my shower/bath it helped to clear the bumps on the back of my arms which I've had since I was a kid. No other scrub has done that for me, yet alone any product except for one lactic type ointment which had been prescribed to me a few years back. I'm not sure if any of the other scented scrubs in this brand do this but this one worked for me!

Mascara Blunders

Some makeup brands make many attempts to re-design their beauty products... unfortunately it doesn't appear they're making any real upgrades to their new designs as the outcome is hideous. My honest opinion is that these funky mascara designs don't work and if you're like me...you'll end up throwing them straight into the trash (unless someone in Makeupalley.com wants it?!) Anyhow, here are some mascaras to NOT waste your money on ;P

Mascara Cons...
Product: L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Explosion
Cons: The brush is so small it makes it unstable and hard to get a continuously even coat/s of mascara applied to your lashes. It definitely doesn't volumize your lashes as they stick together, it goes on a bit gloppy. Although it may make lashes appear longer it's such a messy look with this wand that it really doesn't look good unless you can use a more basic shaped mascara wand.

Product: Revlon DoubleTwist MascaraCons: This space saving gaped design only allows the mascara to fill into the empty spaces inside the wand. Mascara really glops on with this wand, not lash flattering at all and the mascara doesn't seem to be the greatest quality even if you decided to use a better wand.

Product: Maybelline Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection

Cons: First off for $15 drugstore mascara, I'll pass on the purchase. Secondly if people are sooo lazy that they can't wriggle a mascara wand as we've been doing for so many years already then... yea, 'nuff said. Also I read plenty of mixed reviews that the vibrating wand makes you blink too much as if it'll vibrate right into your eye and I've seen review pics online of this and those tarantula lashes just aren't at all cute.