Review: Detrivore Cosmetics

I've had these shadows for a little while.  Things got pretty hectic with school....add that to my super-procrastinator spirit and it made for not-so-successful blogging.

I bought these during a 10 eye shadows for $20 sale.  What makeup addict can resist a sale like that?  Not me, that's for sure!  I also grabbed their eye shadow primer. 

Everything arrived pretty quickly and was packaged very neatly.  A few samples were included.  I haven't opened them as I was planning to use them in a small giveaway that I'm planning.

DETRIVORE EYE SHADOW PRIMER

This primer cost five dollars.  It comes in three colors:  black, white, and original.  I bought the original.  It isn't soft or creamy like other primers.  It's sort of waxy and you need to warm it up in your fingers before applying to your eye.  I'll admit that I'm completely a wee bit lazy and it's a small (very, very small) inconvenience.  But considering what other primers cost, it's absolutely worth it.  This primer works great and it's easy on your wallet!

Now on to the.....EYESHADOW!!!

(First Row: Broken Glass, Decomposition, Ghoul, Vacancy.  Second Row: Abnormal, Brine, Sacred, Paradoxia.  Third Row:  Below and Plague.  These swatches are over NYX JEP in Milk)

My plan was to buy some colors that were way out of my comfort zone.  I succeeded with a few of them, but I did get sucked in by some blues, teals, and purples.  At first, I was disappointed with my order...not because of the products themselves, but because I felt that I just made bad choices.  But color choice is my fault....I'm the one who wanted to go outside my comfort zone.  After working with them a bit, I quite enjoyed the colors that aren't my 'usual shades'.  The only thing that I wouldn't do again is order both Decomposition and Paradoxia.  In my opinion, if you own one...you really don't need the other as they are quite similar.

The product is fantastic.  The colors are bold and have fantastic staying power.  I am extremely happy with my purchase overall and I would happily order again.  In fact, they are running a 10 for 20 sale right now...I just might hop over there next!

They also sell powders, blushes, and perfumes--none of which I've had the opportunity to try...yet.

I definitely think you should check Detrivore out!

Have you tried out Detrivore Cosmetics?  What did you think?  What are some of your favorite shades?

2 Maybelline Mini-Reviews (and a random look!)

I have two mini-reviews for you guys today.

The first one is Maybelline Lots of Lashes mascara.  It has this nifty "heart shaped" (heart shaped?  Well, that's what Maybelline calls it--doesn't look heart shaped to me.) brush.  The idea is that the brush is tapered to make reaching the lashes in the inner corners of your eyes easier. 

As far as the product goes, it's just plain ordinary mascara.  It does what it's supposed to do.  It's not amazing, but it's not terrible either.  It cost about five bucks and I'd say it's exactly what you would expect from a five dollar mascara.

I suppose the brush is kind of cool.  My only question is this:  Do you guys switch hands or turn your wand around when you apply mascara?  Because I don't.  Which pretty much makes this brush only useful on one of MY eyes...and sort of awkward on the other.

The next one is Maybelline Unstoppable eyeliner.  I'm on a mission for the perfect eyeliner.  I hate Urban Decay 24/7 and Milani Liquif-eye is awesome but it causes irritation on my eyes.  My go-to drugstore eyeliner is Maybelline Define-a-Line.  But I'm searching for something with a little more staying power. 

This isn't it.

The displays at the drug store promised a product that glides on smoothly and stays put (boy, did I get sucked in!).  This eyeliner was much harder than I'm used to.  It also isn't retractable (unless I bought a faulty one).  It also didn't stay put.  At one point, I was trying to line my eyes and a big chunk of product popped out and broke off!  I paid almost ten bucks for this!  Worst eyeliner I have ever tried.  Even the pencil liner you can buy for ninety-nine cents was better than this!

Oh! One last thing.  I just wanted to share this look that I did for the Facebook group Never Too Much Sparkle.  The theme for this week was Lunar Eclipse.  I was really happy with the way this came out!

Review: My Pretty Zombie

I placed an order with My Pretty Zombie when the shop was having a 33% off sale.  I'd heard good things and I wanted to give these beautiful eyeshadows a try...but I haven't really been in the greatest position to be purchasing non-essentials lately.  When I saw the sale, I jumped on the opportunity because...honestly, I only spent slightly over twenty bucks...and twenty bucks, in the grand scheme of things, really wasn't going to make OR break me...right?

Yep....that's how we justify stuff over here at Simply Stephtee ;-)

The Order....

 I ordered the Husbandry Affliction Trio--which included the colors:  Anthrax, Mad Cow, and Hoof and Mouth.  I also ordered:  Bettie, 996 ,TaraYvonne, Bride, and Unicorn Pee.  Everything came packaged nicely with samples of Quinsy and Disquiet as well as a nifty (plastic) severed finger which my children quickly claimed as their own and ran off with.

**Personal Pet Peeve:  I HATE Easter grass.  Even at Easter.   My order was packed with purple Easter grass.  It looked really nice--but it made me grumble. Obviously, not everyone shares my irrational distaste of the stuff so this probably wouldn't bother most people.  And since the owner of this company doesn't know me or my weirdo peeves....it really wasn't that big of a deal. 

**But I loved:  The jars.  I know it's silly, but I really wanted products in those jars.  I have so many in the normal jars that every indie company uses and I thought these were just cute and interesting.  However, these jars do not have sifters, so be very careful when opening them to avoid unnecessary messes.

The swatches....

 Top Row:  Quinsy, Anthrax, Hoof and Mouth, Mad Cow, Unicorn Pee (on the very end)
Bottom Row:  Disquiet, TaraYvonne, 996, Bettie
My picture doesn't really show off just how pretty these are.  The colors that I picked are gorgeous.  They are super pigmented, full of sparkle and I haven't had any issues blending.  I am extremely happy with my order and I can't wait to actually have money so I can buy more!

Unexpected Joys:  Anthrax looks purple in the jar, but when I applied it over Pixie Epoxy it turned an amazing sparkly green!  Unicorn Pee is an aptly named product.  It contains so much glitter and sparkle...this has to be what unicorn pee would actually look like!  And it makes a gorgeous sparkly liner when used with UD transformation potion too!

Unexpected Sorrow:  I used Unicorn Pee twice and then I found it open and overturned on my bedroom rug!! Mathias had gotten into my stash and spilled it everywhere! I barely have 1/8th of a teaspoon left.  I'm really sad about this!!

My Pretty Zombie In Action....

 996 on the lid, paired with WnW

 Anthrax on lid, Unicorn Pee in inner corners and highlight (Sugarpill Poison Plum in crease)

Bettie on lid paired with WnW

My Pretty Zombie also makes Zombie themed jewelry and dolls.  Addy has been asking for a doll for her birthday...we'll see :)  The shop can be found Right Here.

**I paid for all these products with my own money and all opinions regarding them are my own and not influenced in anyway**

Review: Concrete Minerals Electric Eye Primer

I received Concrete Minerals Electric Eye Primer as a gift when I won a contest on their Facebook page.  I would have taken my own picture of my actual product when I received it....but Mathias likes to sneak into my room and make a stinking mess out of play with my makeup.  The first time I went to use it, I opened the tin to find the primer has been all chopped up inside.  It looked like beige cottage cheese.  I was still able to use it, the product was just unappealing to look at now thanks to my five year old (lucky for him that he's adorable and I love him!)

I swiped this picture from Concrete Minerals website.  I'm hoping she doesn't mind as I'm full of nice things to say.

First off, I have to say that I am not a primer expert.  My knowledge of primer is basically a) you NEED to use one if you want your eyeshadow to last  and  b) you NEED to use one if you want your eyeshadow to last :)  Prior to trying this product, the only two products I'd tried were UDPP and Monistat Anti-Chafing gel (which I use as a face primer and tried on my eyes a time or two).

I LOVE Electric Eye Primer.  It does everything that it's supposed to.  Colors stay vibrant and true...they don't fade on me...and I rarely experience creasing (and when I do...I'm sure it's my fault somehow). 

I can even apply my makeup, go to work and go to sleep (I love my job!).  If I stay relatively still in the night and don't mash my face into the pillow, I can wake up in the morning and look just as good as when I arrived the night before.  (I know, I know....I'm supposed to wash it all off before bed.  Sometimes I'm just lazy!)

Some people might take issue with it not being in a squeeze tube.  It wasn't a problem for me.  I like the way the product is packaged and I don't mind scooping out what I need with a clean brush each time.

I honestly don't have anything negative to say about it.  I've had a great experience with it so far and I plan on buying a new tin of it soon.
.
Concrete Minerals Electric Eye Primer costs $11.00 and can be purchased here.

Review: L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara

Last term, I noticed something about my one of my nursing instructors.

Her lashes looked beyond fabulous.  Week after week, I wanted to ask her what mascara she was using.  This term, she's my math teacher and, on the first day, I got up the nerve to ask her what she's been using. :)

First, she told me that without mascara she has almost no eyelashes.  Then she told me that, ever since she started using it, she's had to keep it in her purse to show people because many people have asked about her lashes....and she pulled a tube of L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara out of her bag.  She then added that everyone she's told about this mascara has become a convert.

I've never really cared that much about my mascara.  I mean, I use it....but what kind hasn't really mattered all that much to me.  I usually buy a different brand each time I run out....wondering if this time I'll come across something amazing.  My sister swears by a mascara by Too Faced (I forget what it's called) but I can't spend that much money on a mascara--just can't bring myself to do it.  But I figured $7.99 was reasonable enough to give this stuff a shot.

I will say first off that I am not a fan of the packaging.  I realize that this is a drug store brand and that it is 'cheap' but this packaging feels really cheap!  I even placed the tube in Jeff's hand and he was shocked at how lightweight and flimsy it feels.

 The wand is the plastic bristle type.  Not too big or too small.  Just seemed to be pretty much what I expected it to be.

 I've noticed in other mascara reviews that bloggers will mention the smell.  Honestly, I've never noticed a smell with my mascaras before this one.  Maybe I'm just oblivious and not paying enough attention :)  This one does have a bit of a (medicinal?) odor to it but I only noticed it when I removed the wand from the tube and I don't notice any odor when I am wearing it.

So...am I a convert like everyone else my teacher has shown this stuff to?

I think I just might be.

Behold....my mostly bare eye.  Face is washed...eyeliner is mostly gone (at this point I usually take a makeup wipe to my eyes to get off the remaining stuff but I'm going no where today and was feeling rather lazy...my apologies)

 Then I applied two coats of Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara to my top lashes and one coat to my bottom lashes.

I think they look pretty good!  I think they separate pretty nicely and I like the 'blackness' of the product and how my lashes stand out.  Now usually, I would put a little more work into applying my mascara...apply several coats, comb through them etc.  But for two quick coats(and no other makeup)...I think they look pretty spiffy!

I've been using this mascara for about two weeks now and I really like it a lot.  I think it makes my lashes look fuller, longer and darker.  I like the formula better than Falsies and Colossal which are the last two mascaras that I've tried.

This might even be HG territory for me which I haven't ever experienced with a mascara.


Have you guys tried this?  What did you think of it?

Review: Palladio Natural Rice Powder

I hate paying shipping fees.

I know that's an odd way to start this review but I'll explain :)

When it comes to a finishing powder, my absolute favorite is Fyrinnae's Fluff.  LOVE IT. 

But....I'm really poor right now and I HATE to pay shipping (even when it's ridiculously cheap). I want to buy product with my money...with every single penny gosh darnit!!!!!

I'm not complaining about Fyrinnae raising their free shipping limit.  Not at all.  I totally understand why they did it and I would gladly spend forty bucks...get my beloved fluff...and a bunch of other stuff too.  IF I had forty dollars to spend *sigh*  (honestly...I always use the free shipping as an excuse to buy more stuff...don't you???)

So...I was out of finishing powder and I didn't have an extra forty bucks.  What I did have was a $25 gift card for Sally's.

Free stuff ALWAYS wins.  So it was off to Sally's!

I decided to try Palladio Rice Powder in Translucent.

 

A little bit of this...and that....(and what's coming up)

It's hot and it's late.  I haven't done any makeup in days but I do have some posts coming up and I thought I'd share with everybody what's going to be coming up in the next little while.

I have a few LOTD's to share. 

I also have a review of Physician's Formula multi-colored corrector in green.

I checked out a new restaurant--review soon to follow.

And.....

Review: Epically Epic Soap Co.

After reading Grey's review on Epically Epic Soap Co.  I immediately went to the Etsy shop and started window shopping.  Then I immediately starting pouting because I was beyond broke and I wanted to try sooo many of the items that are for sale in this shop.

So I set out to work some overtime, so I could bring some of this delightful stuff home to me where it rightfully belongs!

Since I couldn't buy out the entire site--no matter how much I wanted to.  This is what I picked up:

• Sampler Set of 5 Mini Solid Lotions (Lilac, Grapefruit Gardenia, Oatmeal Milk and Honey, Margarita, and Coconut Vanilla)
• 3 Lips Balms (Fuji Apple, Blueberry Lemonade, and Marshmallow--that one was for my daughter, Addy who is a junior beauty junkie.  I hate marshmallows, it wouldn't be a scent/flavor I picked on my own.)
• Yellow Cake Sugar Cube Body Scrub
• Blue Lilac Handmade Shea Butter Soap

Allison (the owner) has a wide variety of handmade soaps, lotions, lip balms etc. for sale on her Etsy site.  Some of them are vegan, others are not.  I'm not vegan, so that's not necessarily something I look for.  However, I'm increasingly becoming more aware of handmade products and really love the idea of using them.  Epically Epic Soap Co. was a fantastic first foray into this arena for me--I wasn't disappointed in the least!