theBalm: "Nude 'Tude" review

Hey everyone. I have my third post about theBalm cosmetics today- this is likely my last, or second to last, unless I purchase more of their products. Today I will be doing a short review of their " Nude 'Tude" eyeshadow palette. Have you heard of it? This is the original, and there is also a "Nude Dude" which I have yet to get my hands on.

What it is: This is a nude eyeshadow palette which features 10 different eyeshadows- some matte, some shimmer. It costs $36 for 11.08 grams of products- thats about $3 per eyeshadow which contains about one gram of product per color. Like the other products, I purchased this for half off on Hautelooks sale.

Packaging: The packaging is quite awesome like their other products- while the cover is more bland, featuring a sepia toned living room ( I believe) it opens up to show a decent sized mirror on the top portion and a glamorous yet hysterical design on the bottom. What is it? 6 beautiful ladies, posing "naked" with the eyeshadows covering all their private areas. I think it is hilarious and classy, also innovative and I LOVE it!

Colors: Now there are 12 colors. They are as follows: Sassy (shimmer white), Stubborn (a shimmer mauve pink), Selfish (a shimmer cool toned taupe), Sophisticated (a shimmer medium brown), Sexy (a matte burgundy/brown), Serious (a matte black), Snobby (a shimmer golden tan), Standoffish (a shimmer/pearl baby pink), Sultry (a matte light brown), Seductive (a shimer brown with golden tones), Sexy (a shimmer deep purple with chunky glitter) and Sleek (a matte super dark brown).

These are my OWN interpreations of the colors- I am no expert here! As you cant tell most of the shadows are shimmer, some are matte. I actually prefer the texture, application and pigmentation in the shimmer shadows over the mattes. However, the matters are some of my favorite colors. I only see one, maybe two, highlight colors and the rest are lid, crease and outer corner colors.

I was not impressed with the pigmentation quality sadly. :( I felt some colors didn't apply well, and that they did fade with time. I noticed some minor creasing even with a primer and a base on some of these as well. My favorite colors are: Sexy, silly, sultry and stubborn. I would STRONGLY reccomend a high quality base for these!

Wearability and application: As said, this is a nude palette so as far as being work friendly this is absolutely great. These colors would go well with other nude palettes, or look awesome on its own as well. I was not impressed with pigmentation, nor how long it lasted. On the shimmers theres more of a 8/10, certain mattes and lighter colors almost a 5.

theBalm: "Mary-Lou Manizer" & "Cindy-Lou Manizer" review

The third (and fourth) product I have to review for you from theBalm cosmetics are two of their most very well known cheek products. Mary-Lou & Cindy-Lou Manizer are both known as highlighters and shimmer eyeshadows- like the other products I have reviewed from them, they are marketed with multiple uses! Here is my basic rundown of these products and what I think.

What it is: Both of these products are described as highlighters and shimmer shadows, that means you can use them for multiple things! They are both $24 for 8.5 grams of product- that's a whole lot! I got this for half off on Hautelook for $12 each! 

Packaging: Like all of theBalm packaging- I'm in love. These products come in round circular silver containers with a picture of a woman's "mugshot" and description of her crime. You open up the package and the product has a nice mirror on the top, product on the bottom. Only thing I have heard bad about these, is that they tend to break and shatter easily! I would keep this product in a safe place to avoid having to re-press them!

Colors: Mary-Lou is described as an "innocent honey luster". This highlighter is shiny and sparkly as heck! A little bit goes a LONG way as this product is very intense. I love me some glitter and sparkles so it's not scary, but be careful because it can make the rest of your blush/face products a blur. This highlight is intense- it will definitely be the focus. 

Cindy-Lou is described as a "reflecting pinky peach hue". It still has a shine and a luster that catches the eye, but is far less intimidating than Mary-Lou. I have been wearing this one every day and I find that it blends beautifully with blushes, and really compliments them- especially pink and peach tones! Far less intense, still beautiful.

Wearability and Application: Cindy-Lou is definitely more work friendly and for those who dont like a massively intense highlight, while Mary-Lou is great for a ton of shimmer and for those who like a night out on the town. The application is smooth, not splotchy and long lasting. They can transfer glitter if you often touch your face, so beware! 

Recommend? Yes! I would recommend Cindy-Lou as a primary color for beginners into the highlighting world, and Mary-Lou for those who are more adventurous.

theBlam: "Cabana Boy" review

My second theBalm cosmetics review is going to be on Cabana Boy. You've probably heard about it if you ever hear about theBalm. This will be a pretty short and summed up review seeing as it is only one product.

What it is: Cabana Boy is a blush/eyeshadow powder. It is 8.5 grams for $21. I also got this for half off on Hautelook so I paid about $10.50. The fact that this product can be used for multiple things always interests me, as you get a better deal for the money you spend!

Packaging: The packaging is a small square, flip lid "box". The cover shows a lay lounging at some resort with what I assume is the "Cabana Boy". I'm not a huge sucker for packaging, but theBalm has my favorite packaging hands down. Open it up and there is a small mirror on the top portion outlined with a green/leaves themed border and the bottom contains the product.

Color: There is only one color for this product. It is described as a dusty rose, which I do agree with. It has a "mauve" type feel to it and is beautiful for almost any skin tone. I can see it being a very pretty warm crease color as well if you wanted to wear it on the eyes. It does have a glow/sheen, but I would not define it as sparkly.

Wear and Application: I wore this blush the first 3 days I got it with one of their highlighters and I was in LOVE! The product is super pigmented, so a little goes a long way. It can be applied subtly and built up for more intense color as well. It blended in smoothly for me on top of a foundation/powder and into the highlighter. This is definitly an everyday/work friendly cheek color. The wear was decently long, although I can imagine in humidity it may budge a little bit.

Overall Cabana Boy is one of my all time favorite blushes, the color is gorgeous and gives you a nice subtle warm glow, it blends in nicely and looks great with multiple eyeshadow and lip colors.

Reccomend?: YES! 

theBalm; "How 'Bout Them Apples?" review

While I know this is no new product by any means, I finally was able to get my hands on some of theBalm cosmetics, and wanted to share my experience with them. I find this product reviewed less often online, so it would be a good one to start with! Shall we?

What it is: This palette comes with 6 cream colors which can be used as a blush, or lip color. It retails for $32 for 20 grams of product. That is about 3 grams and $5 per color. I was able to purchase this for half price on Haute look,and I've heard they have regular sales so keep your eyes peeled if you're interested!

Packaging: The thing that interests me about theBalm the most is the packaging- its always cute, flirty, and maybe a little bit provocative. The colover of this one is a girl having a picnic with her dog. The cover flips up to reveal a huge mirror on the top protion and the 6 colors on the bottom half, all with pictures of attractive men next to them.

Colors: The 6 colors have 6 colors that can be blended into the skin for a more wearable look, or built up for more intense color. With one red, two peaches, one nude and one brighter pink. I actually love all of the colors in this set, some are more "wearable" than others- but each color I've worn so far is beautiful.

Wear and Application: As stated before, some colors are more wearable than others, but it also depends on your skin tone and idea of wearable! When blended right, they can all be worn. I applied them as blushes with my ELF stippling brush, dabbing it and then blending in circles. Since they are creams, I do reccomend setting with a translucent powder or a blush. I have been topping mine with Benefit & Milani blushes. They lasted relatively all day, only appearing sightly less vivid mid day.

Right to left: Cider, Pie, Candy Cobbler, Crisp and Caramel. Same for below, top to bottom. 

As lips I have not tried to wear this product all day, as I prefer my matte lip creams and dark colors. I would say these lean more towards tinted balms with a slight glossy finish. I tried them on for texture, and they didn't make any dryness show, and did feel smooth and creamy.

Would I reccomend? Yes! I love this palette for cheek coloring especially. Its great to play around with, learn how to use creams and layer underneath other blushes. I would wait until you can find one of their 50% off sales, if you can! 

Dermal Piercings- My Experience

 (WARNING; There is a picture with "cleavage" below, don't wanna see it, don't scroll!)

INTRODUCTION

I thought I would do a post on my experience with my dermal piercings. Mostly because I always get questions about how they work, what it was like, etc. Everyone's experience is different, and I would like to point out that I am not a professional! I am simply a girl who likes to write who thought it would be a good addition to her blog. ;) 

I put them into categories in case you were interested in certain aspects but not others. 

WHAT IS MY EXPERIENCE?

These are my only dermals. I have had them for almost 2 months now. I have actually had the same chest dermals done before in the exact same spot, but they unfortunately rejected. You can learn more about that experience in the sections below!

WHAT IS A DERMAL? HOW DO THEY WORK!?

The term dermal actually stands for 'sub dermal anchor' which is exactly the explanation for how they stay in as well. Most people don't understand how they can go in, but not come out the other side. What a dermal piercing does is pierce underneath the skin, beneath the "dermis" (skin) and implant a bar. Dermals are considered semi/permanent because of this. 

Getting underneath the layers of skin is how they anchor the piercing in. It sounds painful, but they are actually relatively secure this way! The piercing has a bar that goes underneath and then a spot in the top where a gem is popped in. 

WHAT IS THE PIERCING PROCESS LIKE? 

The piercing process is actually relatively quick and simple. I am not adding a picture diagram, or a video, because honestly those scared the crud out of me! No numbing agent is used (or at least on mine) so if you do not have a high pain tolerance, I would expect and prepare myself for moderate pain and discomfort. Everyone's pain tolerance is different as is there experience with the actual piercing. THIS PIERCING MUST BE DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL, please do not somehow attempt to do these at home. 

The piercer will mark on the part of the body where you plan to get the piercing. After you agree with the positioning, they pierce you! For me, I laid down flat on a table. The piercer pinched the skin firmly and then used a relatively thick hollow needle and placed it about 1/3rd of the way under the skin. Next, the needle is twisted to remove a part of the flesh so the anchor can be placed in. This will be the most painful part, but it is done in only a few seconds if done correctly. 

A clamp is then used to insert the bar underneath the skin flat and the gem is then placed on top. My piercer massaged the area with a gauze to help insure it was flush against the skin.... I can admit that this process was not my favorite part either. The piercing is gently cleaned and then gauze is placed on top to stop the bleeding if there is any. 

SIDE NOTE: The first time that I got my piercing done the pain was considerably less. The second time, it was done over scar tissue which meant that it could potentially stay in better but the pain and the healing process could be prolonged. Scar tissue is far more dense and hense can cause a longer piercing process.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Like all piercings dermals to have risks. The main risks are infection, as well as rejection. Infection is caused my improper cleaning or bacteria going under the skin and forming a pocket that is hard to clean. Rejection is from the body disliking the metal, becoming too infected or being irritated to the point of being pushed out of the body. These can be avoided by cleaning properly, not touching/fondling, using titanium vs. stainless steal & making EXTRA sure not to snag them.

My experience the first time came from rejection. Snagging, roughness, bumping of the piercing can simply cause it to reject! It took a few weeks of redness (but no pain) before my skin started to push the piercing up from the bottom of the bar until it simply popped out. Rejection can be sped up when it is too late by getting it "reverse pierced" at a piercing shop. This will help with the appearance as well as the scarring.

HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF IT AND WHAT IS THE HEALING PROCESS LIKE?

The cleaning of dermals is actually super easy! I recommend purchasing some natural sea salt, gauze and band aids. Buying premade saline solutions as well as piercing sprays is also another option. Make sure you can clean or distilled water access as well.

For my piercing it was recommended to clean it 3 times a day, although with time and healing I have begun cleaning it only morning and night. In a cup of warm water, add 1/4th teaspoon of sea salt and allow to dissolve. Using GAUZE NOT COTTON BALLS (to reduce snagging and fibers getting stuck) soak the pad in the water. Use this pad to wipe around the piercing and chest. You can allow to soak for a minute or two but keep in mind that frequent soaking can actually encourage rejection during the healing process. 

When you shower, make sure to rinse and stand underneath the water so the dermal is being cleaned for at least a few minutes. This will help with cleaning, pain and inflammation. It also softens the skin and makes it easier for the dermal to implant. 

During the first month I was also told to keep band aids on them at night to prevent snagging and to help them heal flat. I had a bad reaction to bad aids and would break out in a rash and painful swelling and my piercings became angry. I did this for only 2 weeks and then quit. Another option would be to use gauze and medical tape, but also listen to your body, if it tells you no then stop!

At one point my piercing became slightly infection and was having puss and extreme redness. I cleaned once a day for 3 days with a bactine spray and the infection went away. This is NOT recommended by piercers- but this is simply my experience. 

The pain the first week was pretty bad for me. The cleaning and showers definitely helped with the healing process. Snagging them on something small caused a LOT more pain and irritation when in the process of majorly healing versus now. Its not good to snag them, but be extra conscious during the first month of care. 

END NOTE: I reccomend simply weighing the pros and the cons of the piercing before you get them. I also reccomend talking to a professional and doing plenty of research. Dermals are semi permanent, remember that! 

"Superchiclacquer" Secret Santa Sack!

This year (some time in the beginning of November I believe) I was scrolling through Instagram when Michelle from Reverie Nail lacquer posted that she was being part of a "indie secret Santa sack" by the user Superchiclacquer. Seeing as I am new to indies and have only tried a few brands- I figured this would be an awesome way to try out some other indie brands I've never heard of!

The day that I got back from Vegas I arrived to my package which was in a velvety red Santa sack AND each polish was individually wrapped! I realized this would be perfect for gifts or to put under a tree but said f*ck it, and opened them right away, of course. 

I believe the price was $30 for about $40 worth of product. I haven't had a chance to swatch these all, but I thought I would share with you what awesomeness came in this bag.

PLEASE NOTE these are no longer for sale, as they only sold 100 and sold out almost immediately. If you find other secret Santa sacks, please, inform me! 

One polish I got was in CARAMEL SWIRL by Colores de Carol. I have seen her polishes before but never took the bite to get one! This one is a chocolate colored holo. I might want to eat it if I wear it. 

Next up is GILDED HOLY by Alchemy Lacquer. The name sounds familiar, but nothing particular sticks to mind. I suppose I was never too fascinated! This color is SUPER Christmasy, but honestly doesn't appeal to me much- its a light green with dark green, silver and red glitter. I don't fall for polishes with tons of shimmer like this one, most times. Maybe I will love it more swatched! 

*DROOLS* Holy crap. This polish is "JINGLE BELL ROCK" by Above the Curve lacquer....I've ever heard of them but now I am glad that I have! This is a crimson and linear holo. I'm actually wearing this right now and it is beautiful. Probably my favorite in the bunch!

The last full sized polish I got was "JACK FROST" by Smitten polish. Another brand I have never heard of- but is a beautiful light blue that truly does look like a frosty light blue polish with all the holo sparkly goodness. My second favorite!

Lastly I got a small container with Christmas themed glitter- some silver sparkles, candy canes etc. I also got "Sugar Plum Princess" by Crazy Sister Designs- it is a mini sized glitter topper with pink and silver sparkles. Very pretty! NOT PICTURED IS A MINI TOP COAT.

ILNP Ultra Chrome Flakies PART 1

I recently recieved my ILNP Ultra Chrome Flakies collection- that's 13 bottles of holy goodness. However, I do not have the patience nor the time to swatch 13 bottles in one sitting! I found some time today to capture some shots and some swatches of 6 of the polishes to share, and plan to post the rest within the next couple of days. 

PLEASE NOTE I have horrible lighting inside and it is incredibly hard to capture these polishes. They all are very different and have duochromes that make them appear different depending on lighting- and like I said, I have no lighting. 

With that said, check out these pretties! 

Each polish comes in a matte black box, with a heart shape showing the color and the brands label. I love these boxes, and am keeping my polishes in them as a pretty display! 

A list of ingredients and stuff is on the back of the box, sorry its blurry, but this is just to give a general idea. 

Each box has a sticker on the top which tells you the color name. 

As you can see, each bottle has a sticker on the bottom of the bottle as well with the color name. The first color I have here is BRILLIANCE, which is a mostly green, gold and slight purple shift polish. This is 2 coats over bare nail. 

The second polish here I have is GAIA, this is the first polish I used (except when worn was put over a dark jelly green). This color is mostly green with a turquoise and blue shift. This is also 2 coats over bare nail. 

This here is ELECTRIC CARNIVAL, which is probably the most bought and swatched polish from this collection. Its a purple, gold/copper and green shifted polish. This as well is also 2 coats over bare nail, I really like this one but it is not my favorite. 

This color right here is METROPOLIS. It is mostly purple, with a blue purple shift. I realize most of these polishes have the same tones, but in different saturations. As you can see, there is also a goldish tone to this one as well. This is also 2 coats, even though for some reason was more sparse. 

I have NO idea how I forgot a bottle shot of this polish! However, this is OPEN FIELDS which is mainly green with gold and orange duochrome. Very pretty. Also 2 coats over a bare nail. 

Last but not least for this set is SUPERNOVA which is my favorite out of the 6 I posted today! This has so many beautiful shifts but mostly purple and green. This is 2 coats over a bare nail....and I think I would wear it just like this! 

OVERALL OPINION

These polishes are expensive, at about $12.50 per bottle. I bought the whole collection for presale around $160. While they are more expensive, they are worth every penny. These polishes look different depending on the lighting and are super shiny with an almost metallic finish! While they look difficult to remove.... THEY WIPE OFF WITH A BREEZE! I use my normal acetone dip it tub, and they come off quicker and easier than glitter! You can use it by itself and build up over a bare nail, or as a single layer over polish. My only "complaint" is they can be very liqudy- so make sure to dab off the brush and let excess fall off into the bottle before applying.

Overall I give these a 9.5/10!