Notoriously Morbid Cosmetics REVISITED!

*products in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own and 100% honest. 

Good evening zombies!

I hope you are all well. School starts soon for my littles and I'm excited for both them and for me! ;)

A few years ago, I did a review on an up and coming indie cosmetic company Notoriously Morbid Cosmetics. Their business has grown exponentially since then, and I decided I'd like to order a few goodies to see how things are going with them these days.



The goods!


(descriptions from the NM website)

I ordered mini sized eyeshadows in:
 **The jars came sealed but had no sifters.

Philosophoscope: A plum toned burgundy with intense red/gold shift.
Chaos Reigns:An eggplant purple with INSANE gold and green sparkle atop a slight red sheen.
Love Reigns: A salmon pink with cool blue sheen.
Pure Passion: A ruddy brown with gold, blue and green shimmer.
Speak to the Devil: A brown based golden olive with a green highlight.

Samples in:
Grindhouse: not listed on website (to my eye it's a dark peach color with tons of sparkle and gold flash)
Reali-Key: not listed on website (to my eye, it's a light sea foam green with a gold sheen)
The Grand Empress: More than just a purple, The Grand Empress is a dark blue with a mad dash of red on top. Making it a velvety purple to deep red duo-chrome.
I received a sample in She's Full of Secrets: A sweet classic pink, but not for long. The cool blue shift overpowers the pink the more you build.



SUCH SPARKLE! MUCH WOW!



Swatches! I used Tick:Tock Cosmetics "Milky Way" base under my swatches.

"Chaos Reigns" is HANDS DOWN 110% my favorite from this lot! It's a deep purple with a gold sheen and tons of sparkles. The sparkle also transfers from jar to swatch, which I love. It's a gorgeous color. My second favorite is "Speak to the Devil". In the jar it's nowhere near as unique looking as it is once swatched. It takes on a far more olive color on the skin, and is again, FULL of gorgeous sparks. "Love Reigns" has an amazing green flash to it, which sets it apart from the others in terms of being unique, as does "She's Full of Secrets". I'm a sucker for a good duo-chrome. The most pigmented from this lot (and they are all pretty rich and buttery) is "The Grand Empress". It's like, 6 colors in one. It's got red, and some blue, some purple, and some gold in it (if you looked I'm sure you'd see a few more colors in there). It's SUPER pigmented and lovely. A little of this shade goes a long way. Overall, I'm really happy with the quality and the shades from my order. Everything is pretty spot on to their descriptions from the websites and the colors are insanely beautiful.

And what's even cooler about Notoriously Morbid, is that the eyeshadow are all very reasonable priced. Here is a break down of cost and quantity:

Sample size-approx. 1/4 tsp of product in baggie- $1.25
Mini-size-approx. 1/3 tsp of product in a 3g jar- $2.75
Full size-approx. 1/2 to 3/4 tsp of product in a 5g jar- $5.50
Deluxe size-approx. 1 to 1 1/4 tsp of product in a 10g jar- $7.50

In my opinion, the sample sizes are pretty generous and you can easily get quite a few looks from them. I'll probably never go through ALL of my mini sized jars that I ordered from them, as they are also nicely filled with product.

NMC doesn't just have eyeshadow. They also carry a wide variety of face products such as bronzers, blush and highlighters and lip products such as top coats, lip gloss, lipstick, and matte liquid lipstick. My next order will consist of lip products as I've heard wonderful things about them. AND, their products are all themed, so it's fun to look through the names and find things that are familiar to you and your geeky/gothy/girly side. There is something for everyone!

Have you tried Notoriously Morbid Cosmetics? What are some of your favorite products from them?

Espionage Cosmetics Review and SWATCHES!

Good evening Zombies and Happy Hump Day!

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I traveled to Denver, CO to the Denver ComicCon with my husband and our friend. I was also able to meet up with my best makeup buddy Sam from Kiss My Sparkle.

As we were perusing the aisles and looking at all things geeky, Sam and I happened upon the booth of Espionage Cosmetics (which Sam had heard good things about) and were instantly time warped into a land of geeky makeup, nail wraps and sparkles. All other *things* faded away. I was surprised that I'd never heard of this company before, especially with the uniquely themed eyeshadow collections they have, such as The Gamer Girl and Eye-Spy. Sam and I had a lovely (and in depth) conversation with Jaimie the owner of Espionage and purchased some goodies to take home and play with, which I've decided to swatch for you!

I purchased 4 eyeshadows as a bundle for $25.00 + 1 (Epic- from the Gamer Girl collection) for $7.50. Because World of Warcraft, duh.

(Be sure to click images for maximum awesome!)



(descriptions from the Espionage website- which I freaking LOVE)

Mata Hari: What's more controversial than a turn of the century exotic dancer executed for allegedly being a spy? We're not sure but we tip our hats to Mata Hari with this explosively sparkletagious shade of gold. Any espionage girl knows the value of gold and this mineral color is one you just can't live without.
Josephine Baker: How do you fit a bad ass story of rags to riches to espionage to fighting Nazis and racism into a single color of awesomeness? We're still working on it. In the meantime, this shimmering color does its best to live up to the super spy's "Black Pearl" nickname. The dark shades of cocoa swirl with iridescent green for a deadly color you don't want to mess with.
E.V.P: Can you feel the presence of something awesome? This chilling black with pumpkin, gold, highlights is sure to speak to others of how awesome you are. Obviously.
Clairvoyant: Commune with your inner vixen with this hot pink shade from a whole new realm! Clairvoyant is a sure fire way to get in touch with your inner hotness.
Epic: Seriously, the name says it all. This highly pigmented purple rocks your face off with a punch of color and a splash of golden shimmer!

 


SWATCHES! I used Pixie Epoxy from Fyrinnae as my base.



Sunshine swatches of sparkle and magic!


Josephine Baker is by far my favorite from the eyeshadow I purchased. I adore the green/teal flash within it's dark base. It's got a strong duo-chrome which I love. Mata-Hari is a lovely olive toned gold with lots of sparkle. It's beautiful in the sunlight! Clairvoyant is a super hot pink with pink sparks throughout. I'm freaking in love with this shade and want to use it all the days. Epic is fun too as it has loads of green sparkles throughout the purple base, also making it slightly duo-chrome. And E.V.P is an AWESOME shimmer, rich dark shade. In the sunlight it bursts with sparkle.

I wasn't sure how unique these shades would be upon first swatching them on my hand but once I swatched them properly and with a base, the colors and sparkles POPPED! And each shade is super blend-able and pigmented. I adore the names of the eyeshadow from Espionage as well as the themed collections. Each eyeshadow is $7.50 (USD) or your can purchase a bundle/collection for $28.00. Espionage not only sells pigment eyeshadow but they also carry Lip Serums and Nail Wraps (there is a Dr. Who themed set which I saw in person in Denver that is AMAZING!)

I'm so happy to have stumbled upon Espionage Cosmetics, especially at a large event like Denver ComicCon. It made my whole weekend to not only see my best friend and meet one of my favorite artists Megan Lara, but to also leave Denver with some gorgeous sparkles. Run (don't walk) to the Espionage Cosmetics website and grab yourself some!

The Chequered Lily "Vampiric Vignettes" Collection!

PR SAMPLE

Good morning zombies!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I had the pleasure of reviewing The Chequered Lily's new "Vampiric Vignettes" Halloween 2014 collection for you! I'm positive there is something in this collection that you'll HAVE to have. Trust me. ;) 

This collection contains:

Eye Shadow #162 Silent As The Snow: Icy metallic pearl white with silver sparkle.
Eye Shadow #163 Form Of Mist: Warm semi-sheer metallic pewter with lavender undertone.
Eye Shadow #164 Bloodflower: Rich metallic burgundy-red with red shimmer.
Eye Shadow #165 Memento Mori: Metallic charcoal grey with dark maroon undertone.
Blushing Powder #B07 The Sinking Night: Cool lavender-tinted matte medium grey.
Glitter Blend #G12 Nightchilde: Ruby & crimson glitters blended with black and silver.
Nail Polish #NP03 Teeny Tiny Bat: Clear polish base with shredded black glitter, grey and pearl white hex glitters, and iridescent blue glitter.
Nail Polish #NP04 Empress Of Shadows: Sheer black polish base with large red metallic dots, smaller transparent red glitter dots, black hex glitter, and small ruby hexes.

I received samples sizes of all but the nail polish, as well as a few more the glitter blends to try out. Kim also sent along a mini custom blended nail polish.

The extra glitter blends I received are:

Wicked Jack: Burnt orange and copper with gold, pink-violet iridescence.
Ozymandias: Sheer Gold & Bronze Glitter with Gold Iridescence
Silver Bullet: Bright Silver w/Blue and Blue Iridescence

The packaging is adorable.


All the goodies!


SPARKLE!


*Be sure to click images for maximum awesome!

 


Altogether now!



"Sinking Night" blush would be perfect for an "undead/zombie" look. It's also very build-able or you can tone it down for just a hint of the lavendar.


A custom blended nail polish. This has a red base with different sized glitter pieces. I swatched it over a black nail polish. Sadly, the larger glitter bits stuck to the sides of the bottle so I was unable to get them onto my nail with the brush. Next time, I'll use a toothpick to get some out. ;)


So glowly!


This Halloween collection is gorgeous! "Momento Mori" was the wildcard in the lot in my opinion, In the baggie it looked almost like a burnt/brick red, but once swatched, it took on a life of its own! I also really love "Silent as the Snow!" It's such a pigmented silver and will be awesome for a super wintery makeup look. As always, the eyeshadow from ACL are pigmented, smooth and so easy to blend.

My favorite products from this lot however are the glitter blends! The glitter is so fine and do not have a gritty texture to them at all. I am so stoked to get these on my balls! "Wicked Jack" and "Nightchilde" are both just flipping awesome! I feel like I need every single glitter blend from The Chequered Lily!

A quick note on the glitter blends that I found one of the listings (for those who are curious):

Please note: At this time, the FDA has not approved any glitter product as a color additive for any cosmetic formulation. You can find more information here: http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/ColorAdditivesinSpecificProducts/InCosmetics/ucm110032.htm near the bottom of the page. Glitters have a very long history of safety when used properly in cosmetics formulations. I only use the finest sizes of glitter for these blends, all of which are .004” or smaller. That said, by purchasing this product, you agree that you understand the FDA's stance on cosmetic glitter and will use this product at your own risk. Please discontinue use if irritation develops. If you'd like to help indie formulators like me get glitter formally approved for cosmetics, you can sign this petition: https://www.change.org/petitions/the-united-states-food-drug-administration-accept-cosmetic-grade-glitter-as-a-color-additive-and-set-usage-standards?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=url_share&utm_campaign=url_share_after_sign 

Eyeshadow: "Mini" size container consists of a short 3 gram jar with black lid and sifter, packed with .50g of loose powder eye shadow. The “Full Size” option is a 3gram tall profile jar with sifter, packed with 1.50g of loose powder eye shadow (3x the product of the mini size). Sifters will come sealed, simply peel off the sticker before use. Mini sizes are $5.25 and Full Sizes are $11.00.

Glitter: “Mini” size container consists of a short 3 gram jar with black lid and sifter, packed with .50g of loose glitter. The “Full Size” option is a 3gram tall profile jar with sifter, packed with 1.50g of loose glitter (3x the product of the mini size). Sifters will come sealed, simply peel off the sticker before use. Mini sizes are $5.75 and Full Sizes are $12.25. 

Have you tried any of the products from the new "Vampiric Vignettes" collection?

*products in this post were sent for review and consideration purposes only. All opinions are my own and 100% honest.

The Chequered Lily Apothecary Review and SWATCHES!

Good evening Zombies!

It's been far too long since I've dusted off my keyboard and did some blogging. Life has been crazy lately. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday (those who celebrate) and that everyone is healthy and happy in 2014.

To kick 2014 off, I figured I'd do a new indie review. I learned about The Chequered Lily from my friend (fiend) Sam, and decided to take advantage of a recent holiday sale they were having. I ordered two sample packs ($5.50 each)- 10 samples each and received 4 extra samples to play with.




The samples I ordered: (descriptions per Etsy store)

Hearts of Fire: Vibrant true red with red pearl and color-shifting blue-fuchsia-violet iridescent glitter
Lovesong: Metallic burgundy-red with red pearl and blue glitter and iridescence
Galaxy: Rich Metallic Violet with Fuchsia/Blue Colorshifting Sparkle
Under the Stars: Soft & Sheer Dirty Denim-Blue with Strong Gold Shimmer
The Penny Arcade: Soft Black with Copper Sparkle and Shimmer
Oxalis: Rich, grassy, clover green with loads of gold glittering reflects
Fairytale: Fairytale is a pale bluish-pink with purple, pink, and blue sparkle and red and turquoise reflects
Her Familiar: Bright Golden-Orange with Green-Gold Glitter
Dead men Tell No Tales: Rich blackened antique copper/bronze with bronze glitter
Snow Angel: Palest Frosty Lavender with Violet Sparkle & Sterling Glitter
 Haunted: Velvety Black With Intense Violet Shimmer
Mr. Wednesday: Cool Pale French Vanilla with Golden Shimmer
 Mrs. Peacock: Dark Golden Teal with Violet Sparkle.
Haute Cocoa: Medium Cocoa Brown with Intense Gold, Bronze, and Chocolate Glitter.
Circassian Girl: Black with Fuchsia Shimmer and Blue-Violet Sparkle
Jareth V2.0: Smokey Rose-Cocoa Brown with Blue and Violet Reflect
 Pharaoh's Curse: Sheer Metallic Gold With Emerald Glitter & Green-Gold Iridescent Sparkle
Monster's Bride: Plush Olive Green/Antique Gold Duochrome With Gold Sparkle
Hearts in Ice: Royal blue with subtle violet undertone and intense red iridescence.
Cursed Treasure: Richest metallic blackened gold with bronze reflect and green-gold glitter

In addition I received:

Fireflies: Inky Purple/Gold Duochrome with Green/Gold Color-shift
Cast No Reflection: Shimmery Blackened Silver With Pale Gold & Silver Sparkle
Snake Charmer: Blackened Green with Intense Green Shimmer and Green-Gold Sparkle
Love Like Winter: Icy pale blue with red reflect and crimson glitter

Swatches! (I did my swatches over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy)

 

*Dead Men Tell No Tales
 









Yeah, so....do you see the awesome that I see? I was pretty speechless as I swatched the shades I received. Not only are the eyeshadow super smooth and blend-able, but the pigmentation and the sparkle in some of the shades is to die for.

Hearts of Fire and Fireflies for example:


I'm honestly having a hard time narrowing down favorite from the group. Each shade is unique and stunning in it's own right. I'm a sucker for purples, so Galaxy and Jareth V2.0 both stand out to me. Cursed Treasure and Pharaoh's Curse are both amazing and different golds. Pharaoh's has wonderful lime green sparkles within. Lovesong, Hearts on Fire, and Hearts in Ice are all from the newest Valentine's Day 2013 collection. Hearts in Ice is a great blue/purple duochrome that reminds me of Mephisto from Fyrinnae- but it's not as dark based and a bit easier to apply; as you can see below.



I'm completely and totally in love with The Chequered Lily's eyeshadow. Enough so, that I plan on placing another order tonight. I'm stoked to find a (new to me) indie/handmade cosmetics company that takes such wonderful care in the preparation and quality of their eyeshadow. Shipping took 4 days, including a weekend, from order to receipt. It was lightning fast! Sample size packs are $5.50 USD for 10 samples or a full size (1 gram in a 5 gram jar) for $6.50. There is definitely something for everyone at The Chequered Lily. I'd run, not walk, and go get yourself some. ;)

Have a wonderful evening everyone!

*products in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.