ABH x Alyssa Edwards Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches: On Deep Set Eyes, Tan Skin

ABH x Alyssa Edwards Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches: On Deep Set Eyes, Tan Skin

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, July 11, 2019

After Modern Renaissance - reviewed here - no Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow palette wowed me enough to make me buy it. Not Subculture, not Prism, not Soft Glam, not Norvina, nor Riviera.
Until the Alyssa Edwards palette.
Let me confess - I wasn't familiar with RuPaul's Drag Race until recently. And, when I first heard about this collab, I expected the shades to be even brighter than Riviera. This was, after all, a Summer palette. I expected neons. Electric hues.
But when I saw the colours, I was pleasantly surprised. Apart from a bright yellow, the rest weren't scary at all! Okay, there is a PURE white in there, but I can live with it (or even ignore it). The rest? Wearable. Fun to play with. Easy to subdue.
I call it my favourite non-drugstore palette of 2019 SO FAR. Why? You'll find out.

Scroll down for the review, swatches, and demo of the Anastasia Beverly Hills x Alyssa Edwards eyeshadow palette, and multiple looks on deep-set eyes.

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Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Palette Review, Swatches, Duochrome Makeup Tutorial

Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Palette Review, Swatches, Duochrome Makeup Tutorial

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, June 04, 2019

Are you ready for this? Duochrome eyeshadows! Magical blending! Easy-to-do EOTDs with depth and dimension!
Meet the Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Eyeshadow Palette, launched by Revolution Beauty in collaboration with beauty YouTuber Carmi MUA. This is Makeup Revolution's second collab with Carmi.
The Carmi Make Magic Palette is very different from the Tammi Tropical Carnival Palette, that I reviewed here - that was a lot bolder, more summery - this one isn't seasonal, you can use it at any time. 
The palette costs just £10, and contains 20 eyeshadows, of which six are a bit larger, and include duochromes, foils, metallics, glitters, and shimmers. The rest are matte or pearly/shimmery, no glitters. The colour scheme includes something for everyone. There are perfectly work-friendly neutrals, including the ideal base shades for those who are tan/warm/medium/olive hued. There are pops of colour that will see you through Summer. There are rich, smoky shades. There are ice-queen pales. Best of all, there are warm and cool eyeshadows in here. In short, I think this is one of the most universal palettes I've seen in a long while.

Scroll down for my review and swatches of the Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Palette, and a duochrome eye makeup tutorial.

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GRWM: Summer Night Makeup Look With Givenchy

GRWM: Summer Night Makeup Look With Givenchy

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, June 13, 2018

It has been a while since I did a full-face makeup look or tutorial. A bad breakout - as usual - was the reason. Now that things are slowly clearing up, I've been playing with makeup again.
My YouTube and Instagram followers may have seen my first haul of the year, from Sephora, a couple of months ago. I bought quite a bit of Givenchy makeup, including my first cream eyeshadow - a gorgeous purpley black affair. These are the products I used for my makeup look.
This is a purpley-black smoky eye makeup look for Summer nights out.

Scroll down for a Summer night out makeup tutorial with Givenchy products.

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Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs Swatches, Demo, Review

Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs Swatches, Demo, Review

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, April 06, 2018

I hope you enjoyed your Easter break. Remember I told you about the Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs a few days ago? I got mine finally, and, as promised, I have swatches, review, and a makeup look for you.
For those who came in late, the Easter Surprise Eggs are Makeup Revolution's Easter launch. They are metallic "Eggs" that contain five eyeshadows and two highlighters apiece. Each one costs just £5. There are six eggs in all. I accidentally ordered only five - don't ask me how; it was an oversight.
The eggs are colour-coordinated, and four of them are named of mythical creatures - Unicorn, Mermaid, Dragon, and Angel. The other two are Gold and Rose Gold, and you can guess the colour scheme inside.

Scroll down for the review, swatches, demo, and makeup look of the Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs. 

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GRWM: Easy Rose Gold Daytime Makeup Tutorial With Foil Eyeshadow

GRWM: Easy Rose Gold Daytime Makeup Tutorial With Foil Eyeshadow

Rose Cosmetopia Digest   Saturday, December 09, 2017

I did this quick and easy rose gold eye makeup look with foil eyeshadow - this was the first time I played with foil eyeshadows, and boy, AM I impressed! They are so creamy, glide on so well, and are easily blendable. Not to mention how opaque they are, and how they last even without primer. The only problem is that you may have to use your fingertips to pat or glide them on, rather than a brush. Or maybe a very stiff-bristle brush could do the job; since I've gone out of my way to buy only soft-bristle brushes, I cannot prove this theory.
You can wear this look to daytime parties over the Holiday season; it's just about subtle enough!
Enough of that, though - the tutorial is right ahead.

Scroll for an easy-peasy rose gold makeup look with foil eyeshadow. 

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Best Eyeshadow Palettes for Fall 2017

Best Eyeshadow Palettes for Fall 2017

Wycon Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, October 17, 2017

My favourite eye makeup for this time of the year involves orange, and ruddy hues. And, we've seen a plethora of palettes with those shades recently. To the extent where you might as well label burnt orange the eyeshadow colour of the year.
I've picked my favourite cruelty-free eyeshadow palettes in terms of pigmentation, performance, and shade choices, and have swatches and eye makeup looks for each palette - do watch this video, give me a thumbs-up, and subscribe to my channel. 


There are older releases in here, such as Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance, and newer launches such as TheBalm's Nude Beach, reviewed here. All palettes mentioned in this video are cruelty-free.

I prefer the burnt-orange/ruddy palette to the beige and brown based neutrals that were in vogue not so long ago. The former adds a bit of interest to my skintone, while remaining subtle enough for day-wear.

Which is your favourite palette for Fall 2017? Tell me in the comment box below.

SHOP THE BEST FALL 2017 EYESHADOW PALETTES:

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TheBalm Nude Beach Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches, FOTD

TheBalm Nude Beach Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches, FOTD

TheBalm Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Every time TheBalm releases an eyeshadow palette, my heart beats faster. I love their palettes so much, not only for the packaging, but also for the quality. That said, I was a bit meh after all the endless Balm Voyage and the Meet Matt(e) launches.
This time, TheBalm has launched the third installment of their famous neutral palette series - meet the Nude Beach Eyeshadow Palette. It follows the Nude'Tude and the Nude'Dude eye palettes, both of which are much-loved in my routine.
Yes, all three are sufficiently different from each other, as well as from other brands' neutral palettes. More details, including packaging, pigmentation, and performance, below.

Scroll down for the review, swatches, and demo of TheBalm Nude Beach Eyeshadow Palette.

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Makeup Geek Duochrome Eyeshadows Review, Swatches, EOTDs

Makeup Geek Duochrome Eyeshadows Review, Swatches, EOTDs

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, July 13, 2017

A few months ago, Beauty Bay had a lovely offer on Makeup Geek, and I indulged in some of their duochrome eyeshadows.
I've become so hooked to these that I will have to get all the duochromes they have. The beauty of these is that you only need the one eyeshadow for a look - and maybe a highlighter or base that can go into the corners.

Scroll down for the review and swatches of seven of the Makeup Geek Duochrome Eyeshadows.

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TheBalm Appetit Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches, EOTDs

TheBalm Appetit Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches, EOTDs

TheBalm Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, March 30, 2017

If you have been visiting this blog for a while, you know I'm infatuated by theBalm's eyeshadow palettes. I have pretty much every palette they've released, from theBalm and the Beautiful onwards.
TheBalm Appetit is the latest offering from theBalm. It is as cute as previous palettes. Thankfully, they have moved on from travel and hunky-dude themes; this one is about food. TheBalm's early themes included television, the Muppets, and rock music, so I was disappointed when a few consecutive palettes were themed on either travel or blokes.

Scroll down for the review and swatches of TheBalm Appetit Eyeshadow Palette, and for EOTDs.

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Makeup Video With HQHair Lust List

Makeup Video With HQHair Lust List

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, March 01, 2017

I did a dusky-neutral eye makeup look with a mauvey-pink lip, using the products on my HQHair Lust List, which I showed you yesterday here. This time, I have actually shared the step-by-step look on video as well.

Scroll down for a full-face makeup look featuring theBalm Appetit Eyeshadow Palette and Laura Geller Spackle Primer.

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Duochrome Eye Makeup Look With Makeup Geek

Duochrome Eye Makeup Look With Makeup Geek

Makeup Geek Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, February 09, 2017

I did a date night makeup look where everything else was no-makeup makeup except for the eyes, which sported a duochrome eyeshadow from Makeup Geek - I love that you can use the duochrome eyeshadows all by themselves. Most of the other products used in this FOTD came from my 2017 Beautylish Lucky Bag, reviewed here.
Scroll down for the look. 

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Light Red Makeup Look With Coloured Raine Cosmetics

Light Red Makeup Look With Coloured Raine Cosmetics

Makeup Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Last week, I did a bold-for-me makeup look with Coloured Raine Cosmetics' Queen of Hearts eyeshadow palette, and Matte Lip Paint in 24 Seven. The latter is a light red lipstick, and I used the red eyeshadows in the palette, to come up with a very 1940s look, combined with my shorter hair - I look rather like an Auxiliary Territorial Service Member from WWII. 
Anyway, scroll down and take a look!

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Kat von D Metal Matte Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches, EOTD

Kat von D Metal Matte Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches, EOTD

Smoky eye Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, January 12, 2017

The Kat von D Metal Matte Eyeshadow Palette launched in Sephora Dubai a couple of weeks ago. My Mum had asked me to get her a couple of brow products, and told me to get something for myself, on her. I decided to pick this one up. 
This palette has sold out online in the US, but those with access to a Sephora which stocks Kat von D can pick it up in-store.

Scroll down for the review, swatches and eye makeup looks with the Kat von D Metal Matte Eyeshadow Palette.

Baking Makeup Technique: What, How To, and FOTD

Baking Makeup Technique: What, How To, and FOTD

Zelens Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Just when I thought I had the hang of strobing and highlighting, the trend changes to "baking". What next, the stir-fried makeup look? Or the parboiled one?
So what is the baking makeup trend? No, you don't stick your head in the oven. There are different ways of "baking" or cooking your makeup out there, but the majority of the beautysphere, particularly on Reddit, follows these steps:
1. After makeup, you apply a tonne of powder. Some recommend baby powder, but you can also use any old pressed or loose powder, or setting powder in your own shade.
2. Then, you proceed to dunk your face in a basin of water. Some do this by liberally spraying on a face-mist, but I find that leaves most of the powder on the face and actually combines with the powder "to create a sort of blancmange".
3. Post-dunk, pat your face dry - gently, please.
Fans of the trend claim your makeup will be set, matte and long-lasting. Let's see what happened when I "baked" my mug.

Scroll down for the lowdown on the baking makeup trend, and for a "baked" FOTD using the Lorac Pro 3 Palette and more. 

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Autumn Makeup Look With Bourjois Cosmetics

Autumn Makeup Look With Bourjois Cosmetics

Makeup Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, September 12, 2016

Bourjois has always been my favourite drugstore makeup brand. The quality of their foundations, eyeliners, blushes, bronzers, lipsticks and mascaras is as good as department store brands. The only thing I don't love about Bourjois is their eyeshadows - the pigmentation isn't awesome, and they don't have the kind of large palettes I prefer anyway.
Feelunique has 3-for-2 on Bourjois right now, and they ship worldwide, so I've just been Bourjois-hauling!
With all the Bourjois love going on, I decided to do a Fall makeup look with six Bourjois makeup products - and other brands as well. Warning: This isn't my usual look; I'm wearing dark lipstick!

Scroll down for an Autumn makeup look with six products from Bourjois Cosmetics.

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FOTD: Wycon Olive Green Eyeshadow, Korean Cosmetics

FOTD: Wycon Olive Green Eyeshadow, Korean Cosmetics

Wycon Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, August 15, 2016

A few days ago, I received a fun Korean beauty box, which I will show you later this week. I have been playing with the contents of the box ever since. This is a makeup look I did with some of the products, supplementing whatever the box lacked with other cosmetics from my own stash.

Scroll down for a full-face makeup look using olive green eyeshadow, Etude House BB Cream and other Korean cosmetics.

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette Review, Swatches

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette Review, Swatches

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, July 28, 2016

I wish I had actually lived during the Renaissance. I would probably have married Raffaello and Bernini - regardless of either of their feelings on the matter. We live in far less artistic/creative and far more bland (and evil) times now.
So when I heard Anastasia Beverly Hills was coming out with an eyeshadow palette named Modern Renaissance, I had to buy it. A modern rebirth of neutrals, or a neutral take on the Renaissance's most famous colours - very fitting. Incidentally, this is ABH's first permanent palette.
I've already shown you a full-face makeup look with this palette here. Time to share my take on the shadows themselves.

Scroll down for the review and swatches of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette.

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Mauve Makeup Look With Jouer and ABH Modern Renaissance

Mauve Makeup Look With Jouer and ABH Modern Renaissance

Summer Cosmetopia Digest   Monday, July 18, 2016

Jouer's Long-Wear Lip Creme liquid lipstick in Cassis and Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance eyeshadow palette are two makeup products I've been obsessed with this Summer. Both are predominantly mauvey-pinkish.
I'm not incredibly comfortable showing the world my mug after the December infection, and am still grappling with some fading PIH and unevenness, but I figured since this is not a glossy magazine....

Scroll down for a mauve-themed full face makeup look with Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance eyeshadows and Jouer Long-Wear Lip Creme in Cassis.

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Julie Hewett Breathless Makeup Palette Review, Swatches, EOTDs

Julie Hewett Breathless Makeup Palette Review, Swatches, EOTDs

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Why isn't Hollywood makeup artist Julie Hewett's cruelty-free makeup collection more famous?
Just LOOK at those shades! Rosy, taupey, purpley and peachy neutrals. Of course I had to have them!
Julie Hewett decided to launch her own line of products when working on Pearl Harbour, after she found there was a dearth of products that could be used for the "old Hollywood glamour" look. So how did I get to know of her makeup?
In December, when my skin was so bad that I could not even cleanse properly, let alone moisturise, I had to rely on face mists for moisturising . I picked Julie Hewett's vegan Cucumber Water on a whim and fell in love with the mist - it smells just like cucumber and feels divine on the skin. I knew I would explore more from the brand before long. 

Scroll down for review and swatches of the Julie Hewett Breathless Makeup Palette, and an eye makeup look.

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Freedom Pro Decadence Eyeshadow Palettes Review, Swatches

Freedom Pro Decadence Eyeshadow Palettes Review, Swatches

Swatches Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, June 15, 2016

They have gone and invented them. Affordable eyeshadow palettes with everything - pigmentation, staying power, shade range... just £6 for a palette of 20 eyeshadows. And do not, even for a moment, presume that quality is compromised because the shades are so many; wait till you see the swatches.
From the same firm that makes Makeup Revolution and Makeup Academy products in the UK comes Freedom Pro Decadence. I bought three of the palettes last Autumn - one for myself; one for Mum's birthday, and one for my sis.

Scroll down for reviews and swatches of the Freedom Pro Decadence Eyeshadow Palettes.