Starry CD Eyeshadow Palette

by Vanessa Garcia, nessasarymakeup.com

The Starry CD eyeshadow palette features a wide array of 12 soft, pigmented colors for an amazing price of $2.99. It comes in 3 colors: “Rock N' Roll”, “Pixi”, and “Blue Magic”, and they all come with a double-ended sponge-tip applicator for easy application as well as a good-sized mirror- a one stop shop!

As you know, I love palettes because they are such a space saver and make it so much easier to carry around in your purse for any quick touch ups during the day, or when you are traveling. I was so excited to try this palette! This palette itself has a nice variety of colors to suit anyone, any outfit, or any occasion, as it has smoky, neutral, and even bright colors making it ideal for anyone to use!

The texture of these eye shadows are creamy smooth, they go on like a dream with just one swipe since they are so pigmented and you get amazing smooth color the first time. The Starry CD eyeshadow palette is definitely right up my alley because it has no outrageous shimmer or glitter, but a nice smooth satin finish, almost matte, so it is perfect for everyday wear at school or in the office. The pans are also wide enough to use your makeup brushes or the applicator that comes with it, and you get a lot of product for your penny. I like the see-through lid so that I can see all the colors and the round CD shape definitely is cute and really saves space when you store your makeup and that in itself makes it unique among other makeup or eyeshadow palettes out there.

This is truly the only thing you need to carry with you when it comes to your eye makeup and the possibilities and color combinations you can make are endless.

To make your eye shadows more vibrant in color, you can prime your lids with an eye base, or neutralize your lid with your foundation or concealer; this gives the eye shadows something to “adhere” to and in turn makes these eye shadows just pop with the perfect amount of color.

Styli-Style Shadow 24

by Vanessa Garcia, nessasarymakeup.com

Who doesn't love an easier way to apply eyeshadow? Take it from me, I am always in a rush traveling from point A to point B, soI love time-savers, especially when it comes to makeup. Any product that makes applying makeup a cinch in a short amount of time catches my attention; and by default I love Styli-Style products which is why I was excited to try the Styli-Style Shadow 24 because I am always looking for innovative makeup products, especially eye shadows or eye makeup that's designed to make life a lot easier!

It is described as a cream-to-powder formula that comes in a pen-like wand and has a soft, velvety sponge-tip for easy application that lasts 24 hours. The eye shadow color itself is located inside the actual cap of the wand, you just twist with the cap each time, and you have finely milled powder on the sponge tip. I tried out the “Sand” color, since I figured it would make a great highlighter on the brow bone. The color was great I just didn't really like this particular product from Styli-Style, I personally thought it was hard to apply with, and it didn't last 24 hours on me like it claims and I even have dry eyelids. Also because the sponge is pointed and tiny, it's hard to get color all over your eyelid and seems like the way it was designed is similar to that of an eyeliner where you have a pointed tip to work with. However it is easy to apply in general as the powder itself is pretty pigmented and finely milled for best results.

However, I do think this is perfect for lining your eyes if you are looking for a pop of color on your eyes to make your peepers stand out; especially on the lower lash line since it gives you perfect control and precision and the sponged tip part allows you to smudge the color in for a more smoky look. It's also in a nice pen-like packaging which makes it easy to just travel with or carry with you in your purse for touch-ups throughout the day, and is mess free since the powder is located deep inside the cap. These pencils come in a wide range of colors to suit everyone's style and are available for only $8 each, if you planning on nabbing one of these definitely check out the other Styli-Style products to compliment your look as their eyeliner and lip pencils are awesome!

Sinful Colors Single Eyeshadow

by Vanessa Garcia, nessasarymakeup.com

I love Sinful Colors' products, they are very affordable and pigmented from what I have noticed. I first fell in love with their eye-catching and vibrant nail polish colors, so when I saw that they had other products under their belt on CherryCulture.com I was very eager to try them. First thing I wanted to have the opportunity to try was their eye shadows because I am always on the look out for new makeup brands, new shades, and of course for a good bargain that won't hurt the wallet.

At first glance, I noticed the elegant yet simple and sleek looking packaging; all black with a screw on see-thru top to easily see the eye shadow color which is great because it gave me easier access to these soft, finely-milled eye shadows for a much easier application. It's also round in shape so it takes up less space and makes it a lot easier to take along with you anywhere.

However the color payoff on their eye shadows are not as vibrant in comparison to the color you see in the pot. They have pigmentation but you just have to pack it on a little bit more than others to get your desired color or effect. But these eye shadows are pretty good and they come in a wide range of colors as well. I also think that the Sinful Colors eye shadows are ideal overall some of the other single eye shadows out there, as these may appeal to everyone in general since some of these eye shadows are matte, or have subtle shimmer; as opposed to other eye shadows that are a bit too kiddie for some as they contain too much shimmer, glitter, or pearl. In which of course may not be work appropriate for some, with these eye shadows there is something for everyone.

The best part about Sinful Colors is that you have a one stop shop of cosmetics to choose from, you can get brushes, nail polishes, lipgloss, lipstick, and eye shadows all at once because they have a lot of variety when it comes to their cosmetics - and the possibilities are endless! There's just always something new to try with Sinful Colors. And I have also tried their lipsticks and their blushes and they are just as awesome, so if you are looking to try some new shades, or a new affordable brand of cosmetics, then definitely give these a try because you truly get quality at a great price with Sinful Colors.

Amuse Diamond Eyeshadow Palette

by Vanessa Garcia, nessasarymakeup.com

The Amuse Diamond Eyeshadow Palette comes with 12 different shades of shimmery colors. There are two different kinds of palettes: The Mood Swing palette is more vibrant with its colors, whereas the Natural Intense palette is more subtle, yet still eye-catching. Both palettes, however, contain eyeshadow that bring out the eyes with its shimmer, no matter the color. It is easy to apply and brings out the eyes with its bold but subtle colors. These eye shadows contain a lot of shimmer compared to your ordinary eyeshadow with shimmer, which may not appeal to everyone; at first glance this palette looks like it was made for little girls but it's not just for the pre-teen target audience.  The “Natural Intense” palette has some sultry colors that contain earthy tones that look so natural and are great for everyday wear as opposed to the “Mood Swing” palette which contains vibrant colors that are flirty and playful for those who are not scared of a little color. Not to mention that these palettes are great for those who are on a budget.

Despite the fact that it's affordable, its actually a neat palette as it contains a wide range of colors in each one so you can create different looks with many combinations. It has tiny bits of really fine glitter, not the sticky or big chunks of glitter but similar to the same consistency of the Urban Decay eye shadows (like “Midnight Cowboy”).  This palette is good for those of you who are make-up fanatics trying to save a few bucks.  For those of you who are new to makeup, this is great for starters. These eyeshadows also makes great gifts. The eyeshadow palette gives you more for your money, not to mention that the packaging is absolutely adorable with its see-thru casing. It's also very light-weight so it's easy to take along and it has a light fragrance, almost like a floral perfume- no strong or overpowering smell here.

So if you are looking for a small eye shadow palette to just have in your purse or makeup bag, or just as a nice addition to a gift, then these are ideal. Or if you are just an avid fan of Amuse makeup or their eye shadows in general, then this palette would be nice to add to your makeup collection.

Check out our current promotions!

NYX Black Label Lipstick

by Vanessa Garcia, nessasarymakeup.com

I love lipsticks and lipglosses and my makeup collection consists more of both more than eyeshadows or blushes. My favorite? NYX lipsticks! I have always been an avid fan of their “Round Lipsticks” (my favorites colors in the Round Lipstick Series are “Rea”, “Thalia”, and “Pandora”), so I was really excited to give their “Black Label” series a try. I chose “Dusty Rose” which a gorgeous medium pink, essentially a rose pink, which gives a nice natural subtle color on the lips, perfect to wear anywhere with any outfit.

The casing of the black label lipsticks are a bit bigger and thicker than the NYX round lipsticks, but it's every bit of “high class” and decadence at an unbelievable price of $7. The lipstick itself comes on velvety smooth and creamy, and with just the right amount of pigmentation in just a few swipes. What I love about the NYX Black Label lipstick, is that it isn't dry nor does it make your lips dry. It is very moisturizing and there is no odd smell or odd taste with this lipstick, unlike other lipsticks I have tried. And if you already have tried the NYX round lipsticks and loved them (I know I did!), then you are definitely in for a treat! You will love the NYX Black Label lipsticks and you will not be disappointed because you get so many great things in one tube: great price, quality lipstick with great pigmentation, and it's moisturizing; not to mention how many colors there is to choose from.

They have a good amount of colors to choose from and the bottom base of the lipstick is clear so you can see what color it is from the outside, making it easy to choose your color of choice. It's really refreshing that NYX constantly expands their line, adding more eye shadows, premium brushes, lipglosses, and of course lipsticks. They have come up with so many variations, formulas, and different colors that for sure you will find one to tickle your fancy or to even match every outfit!

Styli-Style Flat Pencils

by Vanessa Garcia, nessasarymakeup.com

Everyone loves an easy to use eyeliner that just glides on smoothly and doesn't tug. I personally like the Styli-Style 'Line & Seal' so I was sure that I would love the Styli-Style Flat Pencils! The one thing that bothers me about normal eyeliners (rounded tip liners), is simply that- their rounded tip. It doesn't cover a lot of surface area nor does it allow you to create a thick, even line without having to apply a few layers of eyeliner just to get the desired look, then only leave you with a smudgy mess at the end of the day, giving you major raccoon eyes!

With the Styli-Style Flat eyeliner pencils, it really changes the way we look at eyeliners in general; its flat tip makes it easier to hold giving you an amazing grip, as well as giving you an even line of pigmented color making it the ideal eyeliner to line both the upper and lower lash line. It's honestly virtually fool proof in the sense that even if you don't know how to apply eyeliner, it will be a cinch when using any of the Styli-Style Flat Eyeliners.

I had the opportunity to try one of these Styli-Style Flat Pencils (in the color “Venice”) which is a such a gorgeous turquoise color that can make any eye color pop and it's the perfect color for the summer! What's great about these pencils is that they are multi-purpose, meaning you can use the thin side to line your eyes and lips, and the thicker side for eyeshadow or lipstick application. It's also hypo-allergenic and 100% waterproof which is a major plus for me considering that I look for makeup that can withstand and last in this sweltering California heat and surpass sweat and/or tears.

Since it's a flat pencil, this means that you cannot sharpen it using just any sharpener, you need to purchase the Styli-Style pencil sharpeners especially made for the flat pencils.

The Styli-Style pencils are only $7.50 each on CherryCulture.com, and come in a range of colors: Venice (turquoise), Berlin (chestnut), London (green/black), Rio (tanzanite), Madrid (dark blue), Vienna (Italy Blue), and Rome (purple). I think these pencils are essential in any girl's makeup bag, and there's definitely a color for everyone- from the natural, earth-tone loving gal to the bold, daring gal!

Amuse 98-Eyeshadow Kit

by Vanessa Garcia, nessasarymakeup.com

I had another opportunity to try another Amuse palette, this time it was the Amuse 96 piece eyeshadow palette. I like this palette better than the Amuse Diamond Palette because it's a lot smaller in size, and has more eye shadows that are right up my alley. It has two trays on the top that fold out, and those trays are full of powdered eye shadows that are really-pigmented. When you pull out the trays it reveals another set of eye shadows (96 total) that are similar to those shimmer powdered eye shadows that are in the Amuse Diamond Palette; they too are depicted by a cute flower print on them.

The Amuse 96 piece eye shadow is nice with its fold out trays and the different color eye shadows that it comes with. However, I found the palette itself hard to open (unless mine was just defective) but I had to pry mine with a screw driver to open it. It also doesn't have a mirror but has see-thru bubble windows on the lid of the palette so you can see some of the colors inside. The palette is a bit heavy, but not overly heavy, just heavier than some of their other palettes. They also have a slight, but soft fragrance to them just like Amuse's other palettes.

It's $20 and is definitely a cool palette to have because it has a wide range of eye shadow colors to play with, the eye shadows on the top trays are the most pigmented in my opinion and they go on nice and smooth. They are really vibrant in color and you can create countless looks with them. The eye shadows on the bottom are a bit more shimmery, almost metallic, and again these are the ones that have the flower print on them so you can distinguish which ones are which. I also like how this palette has a different set of the powdered eye shadows (the top trays) because it gives you more variety to work with and I actually like those eye shadows better than the shimmery ones hidden under the fold out trays. They also come with two eye shadow applicators to apply these yummy eye shadows with and it's also good for traveling; unlike the Amuse Diamond Eye Shadow palette that was too big to carry around; however this palette of course is a lot thicker than the Amuse Diamond Palette which was a lot thinner.